Opinion

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A contingent of national Catholic organizations has called on President Joe Biden to undertake steps to have the United States rejoin the Iran nuclear deal in an effort to promote peace and international security. The 26 organizations also said in a Feb. 25 letter that the U.S. could lift economic sanctions against ... read more

ROME — Conversion means believing that God became flesh to make all things new and offer his kingdom to everyone, said Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, offering the first meditation of Lent for leaders of the Roman Curia and Vatican employees. Pope Francis was not present for the meditation Feb. 26 in the Vatican’s Paul VI audience ... read more

CLINTON, New Jersey — The women housed at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility in Clinton, the only women’s prison in the state of New Jersey, seem to have the cards stacked against them. Already facing isolation, suspended visitations and restricted gatherings — all to minimize the potential spread of the coronavirus and exposure to it ... read more

BERLIN — The German bishops’ conference elected a woman as general secretary during a virtual assembly that turned into a crisis meeting focused on the church’s handling of sex abuse. Beate Gilles, a 50-year-old theologian, became the first non-cleric and woman to head the bishops’ secretariat. She will take up her post July 1. “Last ... read more

ROME – An unusual sex abuse trial currently underway in the Vatican took a potentially explosive turn Wednesday, and the response may have a great deal to say about how serious the reforms launched by Pope Francis actually are. Three witnesses testified that Italian Cardinal Angelo Comastri, who was relieved of his position as Archpriest ... read more

MUMBAI, India – A “false conversion” case involving a Hindu former teacher at a Catholic school in India is “unjust,” according to the Metropolitan archbishop. Sister Bhagya, the principal of Sacred Heart Convent School in Khajuraho, in Madhya Pradesh state, was accused by Mrs. Ruby Singh of trying to force her to become a Christian. ... read more

NEW YORK — An Archdiocese of Milwaukee priest claimed Tuesday that what he calls the “Black Catholic exodus” from the Church in America calls into question the Catholic Church’s credibility and integrity. “For years, Black Catholics have realized that if we’re going to have a presence in the church it’s going to be up to ... read more

APPLETON, Wisconsin — Raised in a family where faith is important, Haley Bridges has always followed the Golden Rule. “I’ve grown up with being told to be nice to others, so it’s like second nature to help anyone in general,” said Bridges, a junior at St. Francis Xavier High School. In January, friends and strangers ... read more

President Joe Biden announced Feb. 24 a reversal of a 2020 proclamation by the Trump administration that sought to keep those applying for permanent residency cards, popularly known as green cards, out of the country because of the pandemic. The Trump administration said last year it was taking the action to protect U.S. workers who ... read more

SYDNEY — The need for “deep, spiritual conversion of all members of the church stands out” as a key theme of the “instrumentum laboris,” the working document for Australia’s Plenary Council, due to begin in October, said one of its authors. “Continuing the Journey,” the working paper for Australia’s fifth Plenary Council, was released Feb. ... read more

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom — More than a thousand English Catholics are objecting to the proposed transfer to the United States of the relics of an American-born nun who is on the path to sainthood. Mother Cornelia Connelly, the founder of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, was born in Philadelphia in 1809 but died ... read more

NAIROBI, Kenya — Catholic relief agencies in Ethiopia welcomed a move by the government to allow more access in Tigray, the semi-autonomous region in the north, where a military operation displaced millions and left an unspecified number of people dead. Amid increased international calls for unrestricted access, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali announced Feb. 24 ... read more

BERLIN — The head of the German Bishops’ Conference said Thursday that the country’s Catholic church is suffering from a “scandalous image” amid mounting anger over the Cologne archbishop’s handling of a report on past sexual abuse by clergy, but he defended its overall record in addressing the issue. The Cologne archbishop, Cardinal Rainer Maria ... read more

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Ask in El Salvador about the Feb. 28 legislative and municipal elections and you’ll get two different answers of what the results could bring: a move toward a dictatorship or a chance to move the country forward. Polls show Nuevas Ideas (New Ideas), the party of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, ... read more

CHICAGO — Catholic Extension has joined the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations to engage youth around the globe in raising awareness of religious freedom and cultivating interreligious respect through a campaign called #forSafeWorship. The campaign is part of a global call to action to foster solidarity and protect religious sites and worshippers. Catholic Extension is collaborating ... read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A contingent of national Catholic organizations has called on President Joe Biden to undertake steps to have the United States rejoin the Iran nuclear deal in an effort to promote peace and international security. The 26 organizations also said in a Feb. 25 letter that the U.S. could lift economic sanctions against ... read more

ROME — Conversion means believing that God became flesh to make all things new and offer his kingdom to everyone, said Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, offering the first meditation of Lent for leaders of the Roman Curia and Vatican employees. Pope Francis was not present for the meditation Feb. 26 in the Vatican’s Paul VI audience ... read more

CLINTON, New Jersey — The women housed at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility in Clinton, the only women’s prison in the state of New Jersey, seem to have the cards stacked against them. Already facing isolation, suspended visitations and restricted gatherings — all to minimize the potential spread of the coronavirus and exposure to it ... read more

BERLIN — The German bishops’ conference elected a woman as general secretary during a virtual assembly that turned into a crisis meeting focused on the church’s handling of sex abuse. Beate Gilles, a 50-year-old theologian, became the first non-cleric and woman to head the bishops’ secretariat. She will take up her post July 1. “Last ... read more

ROME – An unusual sex abuse trial currently underway in the Vatican took a potentially explosive turn Wednesday, and the response may have a great deal to say about how serious the reforms launched by Pope Francis actually are. Three witnesses testified that Italian Cardinal Angelo Comastri, who was relieved of his position as Archpriest ... read more

MUMBAI, India – A “false conversion” case involving a Hindu former teacher at a Catholic school in India is “unjust,” according to the Metropolitan archbishop. Sister Bhagya, the principal of Sacred Heart Convent School in Khajuraho, in Madhya Pradesh state, was accused by Mrs. Ruby Singh of trying to force her to become a Christian. ... read more

NEW YORK — An Archdiocese of Milwaukee priest claimed Tuesday that what he calls the “Black Catholic exodus” from the Church in America calls into question the Catholic Church’s credibility and integrity. “For years, Black Catholics have realized that if we’re going to have a presence in the church it’s going to be up to ... read more

APPLETON, Wisconsin — Raised in a family where faith is important, Haley Bridges has always followed the Golden Rule. “I’ve grown up with being told to be nice to others, so it’s like second nature to help anyone in general,” said Bridges, a junior at St. Francis Xavier High School. In January, friends and strangers ... read more

President Joe Biden announced Feb. 24 a reversal of a 2020 proclamation by the Trump administration that sought to keep those applying for permanent residency cards, popularly known as green cards, out of the country because of the pandemic. The Trump administration said last year it was taking the action to protect U.S. workers who ... read more

SYDNEY — The need for “deep, spiritual conversion of all members of the church stands out” as a key theme of the “instrumentum laboris,” the working document for Australia’s Plenary Council, due to begin in October, said one of its authors. “Continuing the Journey,” the working paper for Australia’s fifth Plenary Council, was released Feb. ... read more

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom — More than a thousand English Catholics are objecting to the proposed transfer to the United States of the relics of an American-born nun who is on the path to sainthood. Mother Cornelia Connelly, the founder of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, was born in Philadelphia in 1809 but died ... read more

NAIROBI, Kenya — Catholic relief agencies in Ethiopia welcomed a move by the government to allow more access in Tigray, the semi-autonomous region in the north, where a military operation displaced millions and left an unspecified number of people dead. Amid increased international calls for unrestricted access, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali announced Feb. 24 ... read more

BERLIN — The head of the German Bishops’ Conference said Thursday that the country’s Catholic church is suffering from a “scandalous image” amid mounting anger over the Cologne archbishop’s handling of a report on past sexual abuse by clergy, but he defended its overall record in addressing the issue. The Cologne archbishop, Cardinal Rainer Maria ... read more

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Ask in El Salvador about the Feb. 28 legislative and municipal elections and you’ll get two different answers of what the results could bring: a move toward a dictatorship or a chance to move the country forward. Polls show Nuevas Ideas (New Ideas), the party of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, ... read more

CHICAGO — Catholic Extension has joined the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations to engage youth around the globe in raising awareness of religious freedom and cultivating interreligious respect through a campaign called #forSafeWorship. The campaign is part of a global call to action to foster solidarity and protect religious sites and worshippers. Catholic Extension is collaborating ... read more