Washington DC
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Order in the court: Amid drama, Supreme Court gears up for new session
By CAROL ZIMMERMANN, Catholic News Service
Published October 4, 2018WASHINGTON (CNS)—After the weeks of intense drama focused on Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh, the nation’s highest court was ready to get back to business, full bench or not. The expression “the show must go on” certainly applies because the Supreme Court always starts on the first Monday in October, which this year was […] Full Story
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Next Encuentro phase is action by parishes, dioceses on ideas, priorities
By NORMA MONTENEGRO FLYNN, Catholic News Service
Published October 4, 2018WASHINGTON (CNS)— Fifth National Encuentro participants returned to their dioceses and parishes with many challenges and hopes. Among them, they were called to share their gifts and reach out across race and language barriers in their own parish and diocesan communities; at the same time, they also urged the rest of non-Hispanic Catholics to recognize […] Full Story | En Español
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Church plans third-party abuse reporting system, code of conduct
By JULIE ASHER, Catholic News Service
Published September 27, 2018WASHINGTON (CNS)—Pledging to “heal and protect with every bit of the strength God provides us,” the U.S. bishops’ Administrative Committee Sept. 19 outlined actions to address the abuse crisis, including approving the establishment of a third-party confidential reporting system for claims of any abuse by bishops. It also instructed the U.S. bishops’ canonical affairs committee […] Full Story | En Español
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Report details rape of children, culture of secrecy that fanned it
By RHINA GUIDOS, Catholic News Service
Published August 23, 2018WASHINGTON (CNS)—The report begins dramatically, imploring its readers: “We, the members of this grand jury, need you to hear this.” Plain and simple, at least 1,000 children identified in the investigation were raped in Catholic places of worship, in schools, and in diocesan-owned vehicles, and were “groomed” through diocesan programs and retreats so they could […] Full Story
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Victims say they felt hurt by fellow Catholics’ lack of compassion
By ZITA BALLINGER FLETCHER, Catholic News Service
Published August 23, 2018WASHINGTON (CNS)—Sexual assault victims say they were hurt not only by individual priests, but by church officials and ordinary Catholics who treated them with intolerance and indifference. Four survivors of sexual assaults by priests shared their stories with Catholic News Service. They are: Jim VanSickle and Mike McDonnell of Pennsylvania, Michael Norris of Houston and […] Full Story
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Another busy year ends for Supreme Court with all eyes on next term
By CAROL ZIMMERMANN, Catholic News Service
Published July 5, 2018WASHINGTON (CNS)—“That’s a wrap” could have been said late morning June 27 at the U.S. Supreme Court after the court issued its last two decisions of the term. Except that it was not a wrap by a long shot. Just a few hours after the court released its final decisions, longtime Justice Anthony Kennedy announced […] Full Story
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Catholics mobilize at border and around U.S. to help separated families
By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
Published July 5, 2018WASHINGTON (CNS)—Some have taken their indignation all the way to the border between the U.S. and Mexico, while others have taken action closer to home, protesting while accompanied by their children and fellow parishioners in cities and towns across the U.S. Others are volunteering their services to counsel or visit immigrant children separated from a […] Full Story
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‘Tag’ movie based on three-decade chase game of Catholic school friends
By CAROL ZIMMERMANN, Catholic News Service
Published June 22, 2018WASHINGTON (CNS)—A group of Catholic high school friends has kept in touch—literally—since graduating more than 30 years ago from Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane, Washington. The way they’ve stayed connected—through essentially continuing a version of tag they started in high school—has received mixed reaction from people over the years, but that all changed five years […] Full Story
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Pope ‘most fearless man I ever met,’ says filmmaker Wenders
By MARK PATTISON, Catholic News Service
Published May 25, 2018WASHINGTON (CNS)—Pope Francis, the subject of a new documentary by German filmmaker Wim Wenders, is “the most fearless man I ever met,” the director said in a segment of the CBS newsmagazine “60 Minutes” that aired May 13. “Fearless?” asked “60 Minutes” correspondent Jon Wertheim. Wenders replied, “Fearless. And he is not influenced by polls […] Full Story
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Every child ‘precious gift from God,’ president tells pro-life rally
By JULIE ASHER, Catholic News Service
Published January 25, 2018WASHINGTON (CNS)—In remarks broadcast to the March for Life from the White House Rose Garden, President Donald Trump said that his administration “will always defend the very first right in the Declaration of Independence, and that is the right to life.” He invoked the theme of this year’s march, “Love Saves Lives,” and praised the […] Full Story
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Walls between respect life, social justice camps tumbling down
By DENNIS SADOWSKI, Catholic News Service
Published January 25, 2018WASHINGTON (CNS)—When Cardinal Joseph L. Bernardin offered the idea that the church could approach its concern for protecting human dignity in tackling abortion, euthanasia, poverty and peace under a “seamless garment” during a 1983 speech at Fordham University, there were doubters who said the concept was flawed. For years, the ideological rift between respect life […] Full Story
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Catholic groups decry end of immigration protection for Salvadorans
By RHINA GUIDOS, Catholic News Service
Published January 12, 2018WASHINGTON (CNS)—As the Catholic Church in the U.S. began observing National Migration Week, Jan. 7-13, a time to reflect on the circumstances confronting migrants, immigrants, refugees, and human trafficking victims, the administration of President Donald Trump announced that it would end an immigration program for thousands of Salvadorans, one of the largest groups of modern-day […] Full Story
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With new U.S. administration, USCCB enters policy debates more often in ‘17
By DENNIS SADOWSKI, Catholic News Service
Published January 12, 2018WASHINGTON (CNS)—A new presidential administration and a new Congress kept the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as busy as ever in addressing public policy issues during 2017. Hardly a week passed without at least one reaction, statement or commentary, all based on traditional Catholic social teaching, on a public policy matter from a USCCB committee […] Full Story
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Royal engagement announcement brings attention to Catholic school
By CAROL ZIMMERMANN, Catholic News Service
Published December 7, 2017WASHINGTON (CNS)—When the news broke Nov. 27 of Meghan Markle’s engagement to Prince Harry, reporters descended upon the Los Angeles Catholic school Markle attended: Immaculate Heart High School and Middle School. “They’ve been scaling the walls,” Callie Webb, communication director for the school, said with slight exaggeration, but maybe not too much, of the reporters […] Full Story
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Children’s books show Christmas’ true joy with beautiful stories, art
By REGINA LORDAN, Catholic News Service
Published December 7, 2017The following books are suitable for Christmas giving: “The Watcher” by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Bryan Collier. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2017) 42 pp., $17. “The Watcher” is a rare treasure in the world of children’s books: The verse is poetic, the illustrations are a compelling blend of photographs and drawings, […] Full Story
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Congress urged to ‘fix fundamental flaws’ in final tax reform bill
By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
Published December 7, 2017WASHINGTON (CNS)—Congress must “fix the fundamental flaws” in both the Senate and House versions of the tax reform proposal as lawmakers try to reach an agreement on a final bill, said the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development. Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, the chairman, issued a […] Full Story
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Newtown and gun violence: One place where the political became personal
By MARK PATTISON, Catholic News Service
Published December 7, 2017WASHINGTON (CNS)—The numbers are inescapable: Dec. 14, 26 dead, five years. Those are the basic grim numbers behind the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012 in Newtown, Connecticut. Newtown is where the political became personal. “We decided to not refer to it as an anniversary,” said Msgr. Robert Weiss, pastor of St. Rose of […] Full Story
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Focus on hope, love while fighting racism, urge speakers at Georgetown
By KELLY SANKOWSKI, Catholic News Service
Published November 27, 2017WASHINGTON (CNS)—Government, religious and university leaders encouraged a standing-room-only crowd at Georgetown University not to lose hope in the battle against racism. What drew the large audience was a panel on “Confronting Racism in Our Hearts and in Our Nation,” held Nov. 13 the university’s Dahlgren Chapel of the Sacred Heart. The four panelists were […] Full Story
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USCCB president decries massive shooting at Texas Baptist church
By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
Published November 6, 2017WASHINGTON (CNS)—The U.S. Catholic Church stands “in unity” with the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and the larger community after a shooting during Sunday services took the lives of at least 26 people and injured at least 20 others. Those who died ranged in age from 5 to 72 years old, and included 14-year-old Annabelle Pomeroy. […] Full Story
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Advocates find there’s little to like in White House immigration plan
By DENNIS SADOWSKI, Catholic News Service
Published October 23, 2017WASHINGTON (CNS)—There’s little, if anything, that immigrant advocates like in the Trump administration’s latest immigration plan. The 70-point Immigration Principles and Policies was sent to Congress Oct. 8. The wide-ranging document calls for a major tightening of immigration laws; raising the standard of proof for asylum seekers; and limiting family members of current immigrants who […] Full Story