Gov. Martin J. O’Malley bowed to political pressure from pro-death penalty lawmakers when he directed the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services to begin crafting rules for the use of lethal injections in state executions.Read More
Father Kevin W. Brooksbank, a 35-year-old associate pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary in Baynesville, died May 25 at St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson after battling a viral infection and kidney failure.Read More
A funeral Mass for Brother Earl Vincent Kent, S.S.J., will be offered May 28 at St. Francis Xavier, Baltimore. Brother Earl, who chronicled Josephite life through his photography and served as an associate at St. Francis Xavier and St. Veronica, Cherry Hill, died May 22 following a long illness at St. Joseph Manor, where he...Read More
WASHINGTON – Two educators, a district court judge, a psychologist and a civic association leader will begin three-year terms on the National Review Board June 1. A judge and another psychologist also have been named to the board for terms beginning June 1, 2009.Read More
WASHINGTON – World Youth Day events typically draw hundreds of thousands of youths and in some countries they have reached or surpassed the 1 million mark. This year’s event in Sydney, Australia, July 15-20 will be on a much smaller scale.Read More
SHANGHAI, China – Chinese pilgrims, mainly from the Shanghai Diocese, read aloud Pope Benedict XVI’s “Prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan” as they celebrated the Sheshan Marian shrine’s feast day on the outskirts of Shanghai.Read More
Any of us who has experienced a loss knows of the social and cultural issues to be addressed as we grieve. To mourn well, we must have the opportunity to express the pain of loss safely and with permission from those around us to do so.Read More
Before moving forward let’s review. One week ago, we saw that the church considers the Liturgy of the Word power-packed. What the liturgy’s actions say, the word of God enacts, or as the “Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “The liturgical word and action are inseparable both insofar as they are signs and instruction and...Read More
WASHINGTON – Five years after the Department of Homeland Security was created as an umbrella agency, its handling of immigration-related situations came in for harsh criticism at an immigration law and policy conference May 20.Read More
WASHINGTON – Christian and Jewish religious leaders May 21 formally threw their support behind a reworked U.S. Senate bill that addresses environmental climate change.Read More
CONCEPCION, Bolivia – While the painstakingly restored churches in eastern Bolivia may be the crown jewels of South America’s colonial Jesuit missions, the real gems were found in several decrepit boxes after nearly two centuries of neglect.Read More