While John Rybak has been a versatile standout in indoor and outdoor track and field for Archbishop Curley High School, the 17- year-old senior had never been much of a pole vaulter.Read More

READ THE COMPLETE TEXT VATICAN CITY – Catholics must believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, celebrate the liturgy with devotion and live in a way that demonstrates their faith, Pope Benedict XVI said. “The celebration and worship of the Eucharist enable us to draw near to God’s love and to persevere...Read More

VATICAN CITY – Taking advantage of new media to spread the Gospel, the Catholic Church also has an obligation to point out areas where the media has a harmful effect, especially on children, Pope Benedict XVI said. The pope called on media operators “to safeguard the common good, to uphold the truth, to protect individual...Read More

Archbishop O’Brien’s column (CR, Sept. 10) describes the third Kennedy brother, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, as a “pro-abortion poster boy,” and suggests that in death he might now intercede for America, “if granted Paradise.” By contrast, Cardinal O’Malley of Boston (CR, Sept. 10), in reflecting on the life and political career of Sen. Kennedy, stated:...Read More

OWOSSO, Mich. – Pro-life leaders condemned the Sept. 11 murder of a Michigan man who was protesting against abortion outside a public high school in Owosso. The suspect, arrested by police, said he targeted the man for his activism.Read More

For three children at Ascension School in Halethorpe, the 2006 Cardinal’s Lenten Appeal guaranteed a Catholic school education this year. The outpouring of contributions from Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore last year was just “pennies shy” of the $6 million Cardinal William H. Keeler sought for philanthropic endeavors in the region, and he is...Read More

UPDATED ROME – The Rome diocesan office charged with promoting the sainthood cause of Pope John Paul II has exceeded its postage budget because of increased requests for prayer cards and relics of the late pope. “We were getting about 50 requests a day, but overnight it grew to between 500 and 1,000 requests,” a...Read More

MEXICO CITY – The executions of 18 young men during a prayer service at a Mexican drug rehabilitation center Sept. 2 failed to surprise many church and public safety officials, who say Mexico’s drug cartels increasingly are luring vulnerable youths into lives of addiction and crime.Read More