Page 1919 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

WASHINGTON – Negative opinions about his Mormon faith could hurt former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s chances of receiving the Republican nomination for president, but are not likely to impact the presidential race if he gets the nomination, according to recent polling.

Vatican plans pastoral guidelines for church personnel in AIDS care

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican is committed to publishing a set of pastoral guidelines for church personnel engaged in AIDS care and prevention, but it probably won’t happen for at least a year, a Vatican official said.

Israeli prof’s algorithm looks at linguistic cues to find Bible authors

JERUSALEM – A Tel Aviv University professor has developed a computer program to help Bible scholars distinguish different authors of the various books of the Bible.

Speakers push for reauthorization of US religious freedom commission

WASHINGTON – Current and past members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom urged Congress Nov. 17 to keep the rights-monitoring agency alive and said its work must be given higher priority in foreign policy.

Pope’s critique of global economic system resurfaces in Africa

VATICAN CITY – A few minutes after landing in Africa, Pope Benedict XVI delivered a stern warning against the “unconditional surrender to the law of the market or that of finance” in Africa and throughout the global economic system.

Pope expresses concern over Africa’s illiteracy, educational crisis

VATICAN CITY – In his document on the church in Africa, Pope Benedict XVI addressed the educational crisis on the continent, calling high illiteracy rates “a scourge on par with that of pandemics.”

New Roman Missal includes 17 additions to Proper of Saints

WASHINGTON – Along with the more noticeable changes taking place in the third edition of the Roman Missal come more subtle ones, like the addition of 17 saints on the U.S. calendar.

Revised Roman Missal binds Catholics across a 2,000-year history

WASHINGTON – When the third edition of the English-language version of the Roman Missal is implemented at Advent, it will mark the continuing evolution of the eucharistic liturgy that began in the earliest days of the church.

Missal changes amount to dozens of short, new phrases for congregation

WASHINGTON – When the first Sunday of Advent rolls around Nov. 27 and English-language Masses in the United States are all supposed to follow the updated language in the third edition of the Roman Missal, people’s tongues will undoubtedly trip over some of the changes.

Mid-Atlantic Congress announces scholarships

Co-chairs Paul Henderson, board member of the Association of Catholic Publishers, and Father John Hurley, executive director of the Department of Evangelization, announced that 50 scholarships donated by the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management are available to cover the cost of the registration fee for qualified participants at the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Congress for Pastoral Leadership (MAC).

The challenge of enculturation, a look from Hispanic millennials

On Oct. 24, the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) published a survey highlighting the struggles of Hispanic Catholic Millennials. The report described the difference between Hispanic millennials (making up 45 percent of the millennial generation of U.S. Catholics) and “non-Hispanic” millennials. Key differences between the two groups were largely related to differences in education and economics.

Advent is a time for spiritual preparation