Opinion

ROME – As William Faulkner famously wrote, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” It’s actually a very Catholic insight, given that arguably the most sacred phrase of all in Catholic argot is, “Do this in memory of me.” It’s probably fitting that Faulkner made the observation in a novel titled Requiem for ... read more

SÃO PAULO – A group of at least 60 immigrants, most of them from Haiti, have been camped on a bridge that connects Brazil and Peru since Feb. 14, waiting to cross the border. The immigrants are trying to press the Peruvian authorities to allow them to get out of Brazil and continue their journey, ... read more

As we journey through Lent, our focus and hope in on the Paschal Mystery. We devoutly await and penitentially prepare to celebrate the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this spirit, Pope Francis has called Lent “a favorable time to prepare to celebrate with renewed hearts the great mystery of the death and ... read more

ROME — Slovenian Archbishop Mitja Leskovar, the papal ambassador in Iraq, who was supposed to accompany Pope Francis during his March 5-8 visit to the land of the two rivers, tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday and is now in isolation. The news was first reported by ADNKronows, an Italian news agency, but then confirmed ... read more

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is telling California’s Santa Clara County that it can’t enforce a ban on indoor religious worship services put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic. The high court issued an order Friday evening in a case brought by a handful of churches. The justices, in early February, told the state ... read more

CHICAGO — There is no evidence to support allegations accusing Father Michael Pfleger of abusing two brothers in their early teens decades ago, but this doesn’t mean the claims are untrue, Illinois’ child protection agency said in a letter to the Chicago priest Friday. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services won’t list Pfleger ... read more

SANTA FE, New Mexico — Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday signed a bill to shore up abortion access laws in New Mexico, saying a woman has the right to make decisions about her own body. The legislation, which won final approval from the Democratic-led Legislature last week, overturns a dormant 1969 ban on ... read more

ISLAMABAD — Militant attacks are on the rise in Pakistan amid a growing religiosity that has brought greater intolerance, prompting one expert to voice concern the country could be overwhelmed by religious extremism. Pakistani authorities are embracing strengthening religious belief among the population to bring the country closer together. But it’s doing just the opposite, ... read more

ROME – In a candid 2019 interview published Saturday, Pope Francis reveals that he sees himself “dying as pope,” either in active duty or in retirement, and in Rome, because, he said, “I am not going back to Argentina.” In the interview, published by Argentina’s paper of record, La Nacion, Pope Francis acknowledges that he ... read more

ROME – In a candid 2019 interview published Saturday, Pope Francis reveals that he sees himself “dying as pope,” either in active duty or in retirement, and in Rome, because, he said, “I am not going back to Argentina.” In the interview, published by Argentina’s paper of record, La Nacion, Pope Francis acknowledges that he ... read more

ROME – With at least 79 inmates killed in riots in three prisons in Ecuador on Feb. 23,  Catholic bishops are calling for a “humanization” of detention centers. The prisoners were killed — some of them dismembered and beheaded — in a turf war between rival gangs after on of the most powerful gang leaders ... read more

ROME – Several prominent officials in the Congolese Bishops’ Conference have voiced sadness over an incident earlier this week that left Italy’s ambassador to the country and two others dead, stressing the need to do more to promote peace. In comments to InBlu2000, the national radio station of the Italian bishops’ conference, Father Donatienne Nshole, ... read more

NEW YORK — When the Leadership Roundtable has to make a decision, there’s no longer one person in an office weighing the pros and cons. Instead, the organization has adopted a partner-based managerial model that makes sure different perspectives are heard. The organization, which focuses on management, finances, communications, and human resource development for the Catholic ... read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House of Representatives passed the Equality Act in a 224-206 vote Feb. 25. A couple days ahead of the vote, the chairmen of five U.S. bishops’ committees said its mandates will “discriminate against people of faith” by adversely affecting charities and their beneficiaries, conscience rights, women’s sports, “and sex-specific facilities.” The ... read more

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom — A religious order has withdrawn its request to exhume its founder and transfer some of her remains from England to Philadelphia. The Society of the Holy Child Jesus announced Feb. 25 that it was abandoning its plans to move some of the remains of Philadelphia-born Mother Cornelia Connelly from a chapel ... read more

ROME – As William Faulkner famously wrote, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” It’s actually a very Catholic insight, given that arguably the most sacred phrase of all in Catholic argot is, “Do this in memory of me.” It’s probably fitting that Faulkner made the observation in a novel titled Requiem for ... read more

SÃO PAULO – A group of at least 60 immigrants, most of them from Haiti, have been camped on a bridge that connects Brazil and Peru since Feb. 14, waiting to cross the border. The immigrants are trying to press the Peruvian authorities to allow them to get out of Brazil and continue their journey, ... read more

As we journey through Lent, our focus and hope in on the Paschal Mystery. We devoutly await and penitentially prepare to celebrate the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this spirit, Pope Francis has called Lent “a favorable time to prepare to celebrate with renewed hearts the great mystery of the death and ... read more

ROME — Slovenian Archbishop Mitja Leskovar, the papal ambassador in Iraq, who was supposed to accompany Pope Francis during his March 5-8 visit to the land of the two rivers, tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday and is now in isolation. The news was first reported by ADNKronows, an Italian news agency, but then confirmed ... read more

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is telling California’s Santa Clara County that it can’t enforce a ban on indoor religious worship services put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic. The high court issued an order Friday evening in a case brought by a handful of churches. The justices, in early February, told the state ... read more

CHICAGO — There is no evidence to support allegations accusing Father Michael Pfleger of abusing two brothers in their early teens decades ago, but this doesn’t mean the claims are untrue, Illinois’ child protection agency said in a letter to the Chicago priest Friday. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services won’t list Pfleger ... read more

SANTA FE, New Mexico — Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday signed a bill to shore up abortion access laws in New Mexico, saying a woman has the right to make decisions about her own body. The legislation, which won final approval from the Democratic-led Legislature last week, overturns a dormant 1969 ban on ... read more

ISLAMABAD — Militant attacks are on the rise in Pakistan amid a growing religiosity that has brought greater intolerance, prompting one expert to voice concern the country could be overwhelmed by religious extremism. Pakistani authorities are embracing strengthening religious belief among the population to bring the country closer together. But it’s doing just the opposite, ... read more

ROME – In a candid 2019 interview published Saturday, Pope Francis reveals that he sees himself “dying as pope,” either in active duty or in retirement, and in Rome, because, he said, “I am not going back to Argentina.” In the interview, published by Argentina’s paper of record, La Nacion, Pope Francis acknowledges that he ... read more

ROME – In a candid 2019 interview published Saturday, Pope Francis reveals that he sees himself “dying as pope,” either in active duty or in retirement, and in Rome, because, he said, “I am not going back to Argentina.” In the interview, published by Argentina’s paper of record, La Nacion, Pope Francis acknowledges that he ... read more

ROME – With at least 79 inmates killed in riots in three prisons in Ecuador on Feb. 23,  Catholic bishops are calling for a “humanization” of detention centers. The prisoners were killed — some of them dismembered and beheaded — in a turf war between rival gangs after on of the most powerful gang leaders ... read more

ROME – Several prominent officials in the Congolese Bishops’ Conference have voiced sadness over an incident earlier this week that left Italy’s ambassador to the country and two others dead, stressing the need to do more to promote peace. In comments to InBlu2000, the national radio station of the Italian bishops’ conference, Father Donatienne Nshole, ... read more

NEW YORK — When the Leadership Roundtable has to make a decision, there’s no longer one person in an office weighing the pros and cons. Instead, the organization has adopted a partner-based managerial model that makes sure different perspectives are heard. The organization, which focuses on management, finances, communications, and human resource development for the Catholic ... read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House of Representatives passed the Equality Act in a 224-206 vote Feb. 25. A couple days ahead of the vote, the chairmen of five U.S. bishops’ committees said its mandates will “discriminate against people of faith” by adversely affecting charities and their beneficiaries, conscience rights, women’s sports, “and sex-specific facilities.” The ... read more

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom — A religious order has withdrawn its request to exhume its founder and transfer some of her remains from England to Philadelphia. The Society of the Holy Child Jesus announced Feb. 25 that it was abandoning its plans to move some of the remains of Philadelphia-born Mother Cornelia Connelly from a chapel ... read more