Across California, church leaders greeted with joy the news that Pope Francis intends to canonize in September one of the state's most well-known figures, Blessed Junipero Serra, founder of many of the state's Catholic missions.The pope said during a news conference Jan. 15 aboard a flight t

Speakers at a policy summit in Washington Jan. 13 addressed the issue of protecting institutional conscience as it pertains to adoption, marriage and abortion.U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pennsylvania, discussed conscience protections for religious and other adoption agencies, which is the aim of the Chi

Pope's plans news even to Serra's promoters

Dominican Sister Donna Markham has been chosen to succeed Father Larry Snyder as the new president of Catholic Charities USA.The announcement was made Jan. 12 at Catholic Charities headquarters in Alexandria, a suburb of Washington.Sister Donna becomes the first woman to lead Catholic Charities, whi

Nation's first cardinal recognized for work with ethnic groups

A day after a federal judge's Jan. 5 ruling struck down the state's ban of same-sex marriage, Miami Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski sent a letter to archdiocesan employees stressing that they need to "understand the church's position" on this issue.Along with the letter, which he s

Francis will be in U.S. to attend the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia in September

Reflection on U.S. 'racial divide' is personal for Belleville's bishop

He urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene to address concerns surrounding "forcible conversions" across India.

"He's smart. He's bright. He's priestly."