At a time when a rising tide of secularism threatened the church’s existence in Germany, a young Bavarian woman took a stand for her faith that would touch the lives of millions throughout the world for 175 years.Read More

VATICAN CITY – Supporting legislation that gives legal rights to gay or heterosexual couples who are not married is a position that is not consistent with the Catholic faith, said members of the permanent council of the Italian bishops’ conference. “The faithful Christian is obliged to form his conscience” in accordance with the teaching of...Read More

The long white aluminum siding rancher may look like a typical American icon, yet the mechanisms inside the parish office of Holy Family, Randallstown, are moving for a wide assortment of cultures. Ethnic mixes of parishioners include all ages of Chinese, Filipino, African, Hispanic, American and others.Read More

The moist air failed to dampen the spirits of the candle-holding faithful as they paid tribute to slain Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero in a Fells Point procession March 24 that illuminated the streets and enlightened onlookers. Patti Ferguson of Canton hadn’t heard of Archbishop Romero, who was murdered in San Salvador, El Salvador, while celebrating...Read More

WASHINGTON – A new ad hoc committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will work to raise awareness of the “unique beauty of the vocation of marriage” and the many threats it faces today, according to its chairman.Read More

ST. PAUL. Minn. – Archbishop Harry J. Flynn of St. Paul-Minneapolis said he barred celebration of Mass at a national meeting on homosexuality and Catholicism because the sponsoring organization dissents from aspects of church teaching. People with homosexual orientation “are children of God, not outcasts,” but the truths of the Catholic Church need to be...Read More

WASHINGTON – Given the continuing churning in U.S. financial markets and the resultant worry by many Americans, Catholic News Service asked Frank Rauscher, senior principal at Aquinas Associates in Plano, Texas, a Dallas suburb, questions about personal finance and the recently enacted federal “bailout” or “rescue” bill.Read More

VATICAN CITY – As head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith since 2005, U.S. Cardinal William J. Levada has found that most of his work is behind the scenes. The recent action against Jesuit Father Jon Sobrino was an exception: He was the first theologian to be publicly censured during Cardinal Levada’s...Read More