News
Pope issues new child protection law, guidelines for Vatican City State
Pope Francis established the new norms and legal, criminal and safeguarding procedures with an apostolic letter given "motu proprio" (on his own initiative), published March 29. The law and procedures were to go into effect June 1.
Franciscans give Jordan’s king award for his peace, dialogue work
The annual award, known as the Lamp of Peace, recognizes King Abdullah II's tireless promotion of peace in the troubled Middle East, support of interreligious dialogue, welcome of refugees and educational reforms.
Betraying internal forum is a sin, pope tells confessors
In confession, the privacy of one's conscience before God, also known as the internal forum, must always be protected and not be used to influence decisions outside the confessional, Pope Francis said.
Assisted suicide akin to ‘state-sanctioned execution,’ pro-lifer says
Dozens of advocates, including a quadriplegic woman with cerebral palsy, made their voices heard March 25 in the New Jersey Statehouse as the Aid in Dying bill went to a vote in the legislature.
A holy history: Book tells story of Augustinian saints
“Hearts on Fire” by a local Augustinian priest offers short bios of canonized members of his order -- including a brother and sister -- plus saints in waiting including two Philadelphia men.
Bishops condemn bills to expand abortion, repeal conscience protection
The bishops from Illinois' six dioceses March 28 made a decisive stand against state legislators' efforts to remove all abortion restrictions in the state, as well as the right of physicians to object to the practice.
Four Phila. priests tour ministry for poor in Virgin Islands
Desperate poverty exists in the Diocese of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and four local parish pastors got an appreciation of the church's mission during a trip there March 19-21.
Catholics, Muslims urged to work for peace by respecting ‘the other’
The way to peace runs through seeing one another as brothers and sisters, Catholic and Muslim leaders confirmed March 25 at a session of the National Catholic-Muslim Dialogue held at Catholic Theological Union.
Saint Gianna Beretta Molla 15th Canonization Anniversary Celebration
Saint Gianna Beretta Molla 15th Canonization Anniversary Mass Celebration will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2019.
One-third of Canada’s churches to close within 10 years
Some 9,000 Christian churches will be sold, demolished or abandoned, says a preservation group. One bright spot is the Archdiocese of Toronto, which foresees no closures due to immigrants engaged in their faith.