Page 1480 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

WASHINGTON – Warning that a failure to protect conscience rights would move the country “from democracy to despotism,” Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago urged U.S. Catholics to tell the Obama administration that they “want conscience protections to remain strongly in place.”

Pope, on plane, says church can help Africa address its problems

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT TO CAMEROON – Making his first trip to Africa, Pope Benedict XVI said the Catholic Church can help bring answers to the continent’s chronic problems, including poverty, AIDS and tribalism.

Q and A: Schools leader discusses difficult times, decisions

Nearly two dozen elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore reported an operating loss for the fiscal year 2008. In that same period, four high schools in the archdiocese had losses. In some cases, that loss was as much as $300,000.

Sinn Fein leader: Keep perspective on tragic Northern Ireland murders

WASHINGTON – The president of the Irish political party Sinn Fein said the recent attacks in Northern Ireland are a human tragedy but the facts of the events should not be exaggerated.

Fire chief names Archbishop O’Brien honorary fire chief

In recognition of Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien’s support for fire chaplains, Baltimore City Fire Chief James S. Clack has named Archbishop O’Brien “honorary fire chief.”

Pope says trip to Africa will focus on continent’s hopes, challenges

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI said his trip to Africa would be a missionary journey highlighting the continent’s challenges, its enormous potential and its “profound religious soul.”

Cleveland Diocese to have 52 fewer parishes within 15 months

WASHINGTON – Come June 30, 2010, there will be 52 fewer parishes in the Cleveland Diocese.

Bishop Walsh ready to shock basketball world

Just before he took the Millennium Falcon into an asteroid field in the “The Empire Strikes Back,” movie character Han Solo was told his slim probability of survival.

Father Martin, ‘ultimate miracle worker,’ laid to rest

Whether rich or poor, young or old, famous or unknown, recovering substance abusers spent the last few weeks crowding the dining room of Father Martin’s Ashley treatment center in Havre de Grace.

At U.N, College of Notre Dame students promote women’s equality.

As College of Notre Dame of Maryland sophomore Jessica Rohaly recently prepared for a trip with students and faculty to the United Nations in New York, she knew she couldn’t squander her chance to lobby the world’s leaders.

Splendidly pure: Receiving indulgences in the year of St. Paul

VATICAN CITY – As spring started showing its colors in Rome, many of the pilgrims coming out of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls were glowing – and not only because the sun was shining brightly.

Adoration is key attitude toward Eucharist, even at Mass, pope says