Mission of Catholic schools to evangelize, sanctify, says archbishop

Amid banner newspaper headlines, and a stream of television stories about Catholic sexual morality clauses in the Archdiocese of San Francisco high school handbooks, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone presented his vision of Catholic education Feb. 6.

Defend life: Economics without ethics are deadly, cardinal says

The economy is a human creation, not a god, so humans have the responsibility to manage the economy in a way that benefits the most people, said Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, president of Caritas Internationalis.

U.S. needs immigration reform, not more enforcement, bishop says

Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas Feb. 11 urged Congress to work for immigration reform but not through the path it is currently seeking with increased border enforcement, tougher criteria for immigrant families seeking asylum and a quicker return of immigrant children to their homelands.

Former ‘drug czar’ warns about dangers of marijuana legalization

Opposition to the legalization of marijuana is on "the side of science and the side of fact," said William J. Bennett, a former U.S. secretary of education and former federal "drug czar."

College of Cardinals to be briefed on progress of Curia Reform

High-level discussions continue on how exactly to reform the Roman Curia, but the idea of consolidating several offices into two large groups -- one with family, laity and life, and the other with justice and peace, migrants and charity -- seems to be taking form, the Vatican spokesman said.

Organizations, annual weeklong observance celebrate, support marriage

While the week leading up to St. Valentine's Day had many thinking about candlelit dinners and those chalky candy hearts, some people were taking a more serious approach by celebrating matrimony.

Vatican’s economic reform on track, resistance from some, cardinal says

As fresh economic reforms begin to take hold throughout the Vatican, the Council for the Economy has faced some resistance from larger offices that had been used to having greater autonomy, said a cardinal member of the council.

Honors given to activists on climate change, social justice causes

The founding director of the Catholic Climate Covenant told a Washington audience Feb. 9 that he hopes people can find unity around the need to stop and reverse climate change "because we are in deep trouble."

Vatican gives tips on preparing homilies, tying them to catechism

A homily at Mass is not a mini catechism class, the Vatican says in a new document on homilies, but it is an opportunity to explain church teaching using the Scripture readings and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Culture determines if 20-minute homily is long or short, cardinal says

As long as it is inspired by prayer, refers to the Mass readings and is in harmony with church teaching, a homily's appropriate length and style are judged largely by the particular congregation at Mass, said the new head of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.