News
Bernardine Sister who ministered for 72 years dies in Reading
Sister Lourdine Bielawski of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Third Order Regular of St. Francis, died at age 90. The Philadelphia native studied at Villanova University and served in six states.
Maryknoll Sister Margaret Tryon dies at 90, served in South Pacific
The native of Bucks County entered the Maryknoll Sisters in 1947. She would go on to teach, serve in parishes and in prison ministry in the Marshall Islands and Hawaii.
U.S. Jewish groups react to Vatican decision to release Pius XII archives
Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld of Ohev Sholom, also referred to as The National Synagogue, praised the decision in a phone interview with CNS, relating that the "honesty" of the Vatican's move would strengthen the dialogue between Jews and Catholics.
N.Y. sisters’ concern leads bank to end private prison financing
The Sisters of St. Joseph started writing letters in 2017, and the effort resulted in JPMorgan Chase announcing it would cease financing two leading private prison corporations amid questions of human rights abuses.
Mexican bishops present five objectives for action on clergy abuse
The plan, presented March 5 in Mexico City, outlines five objectives: Diagnosis, prevention, justice and response, supporting victims and promoting respect for the law.
Many migrants surprised to find long wait to apply for asylum in U.S.
"We didn't really know it would take so long" to apply for asylum, said Rodny Pineda, 27, who fled Honduras with his sister-in-law and niece, 2, after his brother was murdered by gangsters in San Pedro Sula.
Bible Marathon aims to help ‘reignite’ love for God’s word, says priest
For the third year, the Bible will be read publicly from cover to cover without pause in a Louisiana Catholic church by 300 lectors from 121 parishes, along with faith leaders of other denominations.
Lent begins with reminder of all that fades away, pope says
Marked with ashes, Christians set off on a Lenten journey where they strive to leave behind everything that will turn to dust and instead focus on drawing closer to God and God's promise of eternal life, Pope Francis said.
As Cardinal Pell awaits sentence, his appeal is fast-tracked to June
The Victorian Supreme Court has set June 5 and 6 for the bid for an appeal to be heard and any subsequent appeal hearing over which three justices of the Australian state's highest court will preside.
Number of priests declined for first time in decade, Vatican says
The global Catholic population in 2017 remained steady at about 1.3 billion. The number of priests dropped slightly while the number of bishops, permanent deacons, lay missionaries and catechists all increased.