WASHINGTON – Saying that communication has broken down between Bishop Patrick J. Zurek of Amarillo, Texas, and himself, pro-life activist Father Frank Pavone is seeking mediation to resolve differences stemming from questions over the financial operations of Priests for Life.Read More
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision May 4 that said the government was wrong to prosecute illegal immigrants for identity theft in certain types of cases was the latest of several rulings and policy announcements that will effectively roll back approaches on immigration initiated by the Bush administration.Read More
diplomatic maneuvering between the Holy See and Muslim leaders has taken several striking turns in recent weeks, the Vatican’s strategic purpose in this conversation has been clear since Pope Benedict XVI’s 2006 Christmas address to the Roman Curia. There, while reflecting on his September 2006 Regensburg Lecture and his December 2006 visit to Turkey, the...Read More
WASHINGTON – It didn’t take long for the “spin” to start after the U.S. bishops reissued their 2007 document, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” with a new introductory note signed by the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the chairmen of nine USCCB committees.Read More
In a major speech shortly after becoming attorney general, Eric Holden stated bluntly that America is “essentially a nation of cowards” because we “simply do not talk enough with each other about race.” I concur with his assessment. Dialoguing, not debating, the topic of race would be so therapeutic for our country, yet we shy...Read More
WASHINGTON – A family of six Iraqis lives in a unheated, single room in Beirut, Lebanon – the adults unable to work legally, the teenager with diabetes unable to get medical care or attend school.Read More
WASHINGTON – In a nationwide poll, half of U.S. Catholics overall supported the University of Notre Dame’s decision to invite President Barack Obama to address college graduates while 28 percent opposed it.Read More
TUCSON, Ariz. – Eucharistic justice calls everyone “to see ourselves and all others in the same light in which the Father sees us,” said Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory in remarks prepared for the Southwest Liturgical Conference study week in Tucson.Read More
VATICAN CITY – Ceremonial and sacred objects from different parts of the world present enormous challenges for art restorers; they must clean, repair and preserve very unusual and delicate materials such as blue kingfisher bird feathers glued onto an 18th-century Chinese metal headdress or hair and reptile skin decorating an Ethiopian string instrument made out...Read More
MEXICO CITY – Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera of Mexico City prayed to Our Lady of Guadalupe and canceled Masses in the archdiocese April 26 due to the swine flu outbreak.Read More
My first Baltimore Christmas has been delightful, days of prayer and celebrations – overflowing congregations at the Basilica of the Assumption for the Christmas Vigil Mass and the Midnight Mass at our Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. Monsignors Hobbs and Armstrong and their staffs offered us all glowing examples of what solemn liturgies can do...Read More