WASHINGTON – The U.S. Catholic Church’s relationship with younger adults is problematic, says a newly published study by four leading sociologists of religion. In one recent survey “just over half of American Catholics said that young adults’ lack of participation in the church is a serious problem,” the 205-page book says. That concern was reflected...Read More

ANNAPOLIS – Gov. Martin J. O’Malley said he will take a leadership role in passing same-sex marriage legislation in Maryland next year, promising in a July 22 press conference that he will sponsor legislation that would legalize gay marriage while also protecting the free exercise of religion.Read More

The U.S. Department of Education reports that 4 million potential college degree recipients have been “lost” during the past 20 years, due to lack of information available to them about admissions, financial aid, SAT preparation and college application guidance. Many of these students are America’s top-performing, lower-income high school graduates.Read More

It’s time for a few true stories. A few weeks ago in the Mass readings, there was the story of Sodom and Gomorrah being destroyed, and Lot’s wife being turned into a pillar of salt. The reading from the book of Genesis read: “The man said to Lot: ‘Take your wife and flee!’ ” A...Read More

ROME – With prayers, song and formal oaths in Latin, officials of the Diocese of Rome concluded the initial phase of the process for the canonization of Pope John Paul II. During this phase, more than 120 people who knew Pope John Paul were interviewed about his actions and character, and studies were conducted on...Read More

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California has become the first state in the nation to require its public school social studies texts to specifically include the role and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.Read More

Not a day goes by when Pat Evans doesn’t receive phone calls and e-mails about ranger rosaries. Ever since the parishioner of St. Mary in Annapolis made a public plea for help crafting the military-style prayer beads, Ms. Evans has been flooded with inquiries from just about every state and several countries including Italy and...Read More

DUBLIN – A judicial report into the handling of allegations of child sexual abuse against clerics in the Diocese of Cloyne has concluded that the church’s own guidelines were “not fully or consistently implemented” in the diocese as recently as 2008.Read More