Remembering child refugees fleeing conflicts and persecution
Reacting to the words of Pope Francis at his Wednesday General Audience catechesis on the courage of Saint Joseph during times of persecution, Msgr. Robert Vitillo, Secretary General of the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) notes how critically important it is today to help modern-day children and their families who forced to flee violence. Read […]
There are no African American saints. A lay Catholic group seeks to change that.
A lay Catholic group in Baltimore is pushing the pope to canonize six Black candidates. They also seek to change the canonization process to recognize the hardships African Americans have endured.
Abortion, religious liberty, vaccine cases top Supreme Court's busy 2021
This past year was busy for the nation’s high court, particularly with issues of interest to Catholics regarding abortion, religious liberty, COVID-19 vaccine mandates and the death penalty.
In 2021, it became obvious the US bishops and the pope are singing from different hymnals
Michael Sean Winters: The life of the Catholic Church in this country in 2021 was characterized by a culture war fit and evidence that Pope Francis will press forward with the reception of Vatican II in ways that will profoundly affect the U.S. church.
Despite vaccines, beating COVID-19 has shown to be tougher than expected
The COVID-19 pandemic remained a significant concern for parishes and schools, as Catholics navigated changing policies and partisan views on mask and vaccine mandates. Despite the pope’s urging, millions of Catholics have refused to get vaccinated.
What a burial service for 1,780 unclaimed dead tells us about dignity
Commentary: On Dec. 1 Los Angeles County held an annual service called the Burial of the Unclaimed Dead for 1,780 persons. The service sought to comfort the spirits of the abandoned and address a tangible failure: How could we let such abandonment happen?
Catholic aid agencies respond to 2021 disasters with immediate and long-term relief
Aid agencies including Catholic Charities and Catholic Relief Services responded this year to natural disasters including wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and winter storms.
Open Letter to Confused Catholics: Chapter 21
“Neither a Heretic Nor a Schismatic” My statement of November 21, 1974, which triggered off the proceedings of which I have spoken, ended with these words: “In doing so…we are convinced of remaining loyal to the Catholic and Roman Church and to all the successors of Peter, and of being faithful dispensers of the mysteries […]
Former head of diocesan child protection office indicted (Fox 5 DC)
Father Terry Specht, who directed the Diocese Arlington’s Office of Child Protection from 2004 to 2011, is accused of sexually abusing a minor in 2000. The Virginia diocese said in a statement that “two separate allegations were brought to the Diocese of Arlington regarding Father Specht, one in 2012 and the other in 2019. The […]
Priest, 2 others held under anti-conversion law in Madhya Pradesh (Kashmir Media Service)
The central Indian state (map) of Madhya Pradesh is 91% Hindu, 7% Muslim, and 0.3% Christian. Father Jam Singh Dindore is accused of “lur[ing] tribal villagers to convert to Christianity by promising them free education and treatment in the missionary-run school and hospitals.”