Reconciliation between the Catholic and Orthodox churches is urgently needed, said Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople in an extensive interview with a prominent Jesuit journal.Due to great suffering and injustice around the world, "today, perhaps even more than 50 years ago, the

Two U.S. senators have sponsored joint resolutions to try to block two new laws in the District of Columbia that they say prevent religious institutions, pro-life groups and individuals from operating within their own belief systems.Sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and co-sponsored by Sen. James

Indiana residents of all faith traditions can be assured the government will not infringe upon their constitutional right to freely exercise their religious beliefs, Gov. Mike Pence said as he signed into law a religious freedom bill passed by the Indiana General Assembly."With the passage of t

Hundreds of Christian religious leaders of various churches signed onto a Holy Week call to end the death penalty in the United States."Torture and execution is always a profound evil, made even more abhorrent when sanctioned by the government in the name of justice when other means of protecti

Catholic parishes, schools and other institutions in Illinois are called on to ring their bells for four minutes at 2:15 p.m. April 9 in honor of the 150th anniversary of the surrender of Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army in Appomattox County, Virginia.The Catholic bishops of Illinois aske

The appointment of a controversial bishop in Chile was made after a careful review found no "objective reasons" to prevent Bishop Juan Barros from taking over the Diocese of Osorno, the Vatican press office said.The bishop had been accused of covering up for a priest who was known to have