In recent weeks South Africans have once again witnessed xenophobic violence The violence broke out after a Somali shop owner in Soweto shot a 14-year old local dead The shop owner claims that the boy part of a gang of youths was trying to steal from him One of the youths dropped a gun in the p

So about a month ago I wrote up a piece about one of the new Cardinals-designate Archbishop Alberto Su rez-Inda for the America blog I rsquo ve been trying to keep up with the troubles going on in Mexico and the appointment of Su rez who has spoken out against the violence and corruption see

ldquo The accountability of bishops is a source of great concern rdquo to the 17 members of the Commission for the Protection of Minors established by Pope Francis in March 2014 Cardinal Sean O rsquo Malley the president of this body told reporters at a Vatican press briefing February 7 ldquo

Two new laws passed by the District of Columbia Council violate freedom of religion, speech and association, said members of several national and local groups, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in a Feb. 5 letter to Congress.The letter urged Congress to protect religious freedom and

Assisted suicide bills working their way through states, courts

Hot showers, a soapy shave and spiffy haircuts are available for free for those whom the Vatican calls "our homeless pilgrims."Thanks to charitable contributions from Pope Francis and private donors, the Vatican has finished remodeling and expanding a public bathroom a few steps from Berni

Catholic and Orthodox patriarchs called for an end to financing terrorists and suggested that borders be closed when necessary to prevent their movement.The leaders also appealed for the creation of a Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem, based on a long-standing proposal for a two-s

Sister Mary Ann Walsh say her experience of cancer “is like a living wake.”

Santa MartaFebruary 6, 2015At Mass on Friday Pope Francis called for people to remember the Martyrs of 2015, the men, women and children who are being massacred right now in hatred of the faith. The martyrdom of Christians is not a thing of the past, today too there are many victims of "people

The poem doesn rsquo t require explanation though some might be surprised to hear such a somber sound from Robert Frost I have been one acquainted with the night I have walked out in rain mdash and back in rain I have outwalked the furthest city light nbsp I have looked down the saddest city lane

Pope Francis made a cybersplash with his recent participation at a Google hangout where he live-chatted with young people from around the world In December he reached out directly to a different group of young people in Arizona volunteers for the Jesuit-sponsored Kino Border Initiative The group

Record snows strain roads and transit, but little political will to fund infrastructure

Fr Robert Barron founder of Word on Fire and creator of the impressive nbsp Catholicism nbsp series a few days ago nbsp published an essay nbsp expressing the impact that Thomas Merton 39 s writings exerted on his Fr Barron 39 s interest in religious life Fr Barron says that Merton quot h

The latest outbreak is a symptom of a much larger problem.

The leaders of the world's bishops' conferences and religious orders must ensure they are doing everything possible to protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse and are offering appropriate care for victims and their families, Pope Francis said."Priority must not be given to any

$330 million of financing will go to aid Ebola-impacted countries.

The classic Christian martyr accepted death when presented with the option "convert or die."When the pagan emperors of Rome carried out bloody campaigns against Christians during the first three centuries of the church's history, the Christian community had no difficulty in recognizing

The Church must proclaim the Gospel "in poverty" and the people proclaiming it must have the sole aim of alleviating the miseries of the poor, never forgetting that this service is the work of the Holy Spirit and not of human hands.  At Mass on Thursday morning in Casa Santa Marta, Po