HULBERT, Okla. – With a crisp spring breeze in the air, more than 175 volunteers from throughout the southwestern United States came together March 10 to assist the Benedictine monks of Our Lady of Clear Creek Monastery near Hulbert in northeastern Oklahoma. The effort, which was organized by Tulsan Dan Doyle, assisted the monks with...Read More
For those of us involved with preserving Baltimore’s distinctive architecture for future generations, it was highly gratifying to read Matt Palmer’s cover story, “Old Buildings, New Missions” (CR, Oct. 14). Converting vacant parish buildings to new uses preserves some architectural gems. It also preserves more ordinary buildings that have had spiritual meaning to their communities.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
Located high atop the Andes Mountains at an elevation of 14,000 feet, a small feeding center in Pampallacta, Peru, attracts 350 children every day – some of whom walk as many as three hours to get their daily meal.Read More
When Fran and Paul Ibello met a seminarian named W. Francis “Fran” Malooly at St. Joseph, they didn’t know their budding friendship would touch generations of their family – with good-hearted jokes and laughs in the mix.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 – Under persistent criticism from a small but vocal group of activists as well as questions from some bishops, leaders of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development have established “stronger policies and clearer mechanisms” to guide how grants are awarded to poverty-fighting groups and strengthen oversight of how funds are spent.Read More
WASHINGTON – If Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem had a chance to send a message to the next U.S. president, he would urge him to follow his conscience.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
VATICAN CITY – The people at the Vatican newspaper weigh in on any number of serious issues, but they are now being challenged in the blogosphere after they claimed that Homer Simpson is one of their own, even if he doesn’t know it.Read More