WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The recent announcement by scientists at Wake Forest and Harvard universities that the amniotic fluid surrounding a child in the womb can be the source of medically useful stem cells is just the latest in a series of studies showing the research value of the byproducts of live birth, according to the...Read More

WASHINGTON – “Studying was a family affair,” said the nation’s new spelling champ, 14-year old Anamika Veeramani of North Royalton, Ohio.Read More

VATICAN CITY - The president of the Turkish bishops’ conference, Bishop Luigi Padovese, was stabbed to death June 3 at his home in Iskenderun, said the Vatican nuncio in Turkey.Read More

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- "Welcoming Christ in the Migrant" is the theme of the U.S. Catholic Church's National Migration Week Jan. 7-13. "I invite you to welcome Christ in the migrant through prayer, education and parish outreach," said Bishop Gerald R. Barnes of San Bernardino, Calif., chairman of the bishops' Committee on Migration. He said Jesus'...Read More

A Baltimore-based Jewish foundation is pledging $3.5 million to Baltimore City Catholic schools in an effort to boost enrollment and attract even more financial support for urban-based Catholic education. In a Dec. 14 event at the Catholic Center in Baltimore, Cardinal William H. Keeler and Donn Weinberg of the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation announced...Read More

A few Sundays ago, St. Peter Claver and St. Pius V parishes celebrated the “Year of the Priest.” Since both parishes are conducted by the Josephite Fathers, Father. Edward Chiffriller, superior general, celebrated the liturgy, accompanied by a host of Josephite priests, brothers and seminarians. At this liturgy, three Josephite seminarians made their final promises...Read More

Father F. Richard Spencer, who was ordained in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and served in several parishes and at the retreat house in Sparks before becoming a U.S. Army chaplain in 1991, was named by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome May 22 auxiliary bishop of the Military Archdiocese and Titular Bishop of Auzia.Read More

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI does not have a foreign affairs advisory board, and he has not asked former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to become one of his advisers, the Vatican spokesman said.Read More