Washington DC
-
Cardinal: Newborn in manger a positive sign of a culture of life
By MARK PATTISON, Catholic News Service
Published February 5, 2016WASHINGTON (CNS)—A baby in a manger is proof enough for Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York that Americans can express a culture of life. And it wasn’t the Christ child. Instead, it was a newborn infant left by his mother in the crib of a manger scene at a parish in the New York […] Full Story
-
A cake worthy of kings
By RHINA GUIDOS, Catholic News Service
Published January 21, 2016WASHINGTON (CNS)—The fragrance of the cake is like no other. For Spaniards and some Latin Americans who grew up with it, the aromatic smell of the roscon de reyes is one of the most treasured of childhood food memories surrounding the Epiphany. The roscon de reyes cake makes its appearance on the tables of Spain […] Full Story
-
Catholic advocates join in outcry over ICE deportations at start of year
By KURT JENSEN, Catholic News Service
Published January 21, 2016WASHINGTON (CNS)—Catholic advocacy agencies quickly joined the pushback after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at the beginning of the year arrested immigrants, all Central American families, who were in the United States illegally. After a series of meetings with Homeland Security officials Jan. 11, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, told reporters, “I think you’re […] Full Story
-
Immigration opposition: My country, ‘tis of me, but no room for thee
By MARK PATTISON, Catholic News Service
Published January 21, 2016WASHINGTON (CNS)—“No Irish need apply.” That was a typical sign more than a century ago in cities along the Eastern Seaboard when job openings were announced in store windows. Of course, it wasn’t the Irish alone who bore the stigma of anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States. Name the ethnic group, and suspicions, fears and […] Full Story
-
Catholic schools give high marks to sweeping new federal education law
By CAROL ZIMMERMANN, Catholic News Service
Published January 1, 2016WASHINGTON (CNS)—When President Barack Obama signed the sweeping bipartisan legislation Every Student Succeeds Act Dec. 10, he described it as a “Christmas miracle.” “This is an early Christmas present. After more than 10 years, members of Congress from both parties have come together to revise our national education law,” he said. The other part of […] Full Story
-
Our Lady of Guadalupe shouldn’t be viewed as just a Mexican tradition
By CHAZ MUTH, Catholic News Service
Published December 10, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe has been a religious and cultural hallmark for Mexican Catholics for centuries, but the custom received little attention from Anglo Catholics in the U.S. before the last few decades. With the growing Latino population in the United States, the presence of Hispanics has steadily increased in Catholic […] Full Story
-
Statements on pornography, politics take center stage at USCCB meeting
By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
Published November 26, 2015BALTIMORE (CNS)—The U.S. bishops approved a formal statement on pornography and additions to their quadrennial statement on political responsibility at their Nov. 16-19 fall general meeting in Baltimore. The votes were made during the public portion of the meeting, which ran Nov. 16-17. The bishops met in executive session Nov. 18-19. ‘Faithful Citizenship’ document updated […] Full Story
-
Cardinal, adviser to pope, sees rich, poor responsible to protect earth
By DENNIS SADOWSKI, Catholic News Service
Published November 26, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—People of developed nations share responsibility with the rest of the world to protect the earth from environmental destruction and assist poor communities in escaping poverty, a cardinal who is a chief adviser to the pope said. Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, coordinator of Pope Francis’ international nine-member Council of Cardinals, told reporters at […] Full Story
-
Supreme Court will hear appeals in mandate cases for Catholic and other groups
Published November 12, 2015
WASHINGTON (CNS)—The U.S. Supreme Court justices said Nov. 6 they will hear seven pending appeals in lawsuits brought by several Catholic and other faith-based entities against the Obama administration’s contraceptive mandate. The court will hear appeals from groups in Colorado, Maryland, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and the District of Columbia. Among the plaintiffs are […] Full Story
-
At congressional hearing, stronger global response urged for Europe’s refugee crisis
By CAROL ZIMMERMANN, Catholic News Service
Published October 29, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—Lawmakers and witnesses in a congressional committee hearing room Oct. 20 were not shown pictures of the vast number of refugees crossing East European borders each day. But there is no shortage of images from daily news reports of the throngs of men, women and children walking along streets, open fields and train tracks […] Full Story
-
Archbishop prays at Washington Red Mass that God guide those who administer justice
By MAUREEN BOYLE, Catholic News Service
Published October 7, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—The archbishop of Atlanta called on worshippers to invoke the Holy Spirit for guidance and support of people in the legal profession so that they may “reach greater wisdom” in administering justice. Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, speaking at the 63rd annual Red Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew in Washington Oct. 4, told […] Full Story
-
Pope’s words strike Georgians as call to shake off apathy, take Gospel to heart
By NICHOLE GOLDEN AND GRETCHEN KEISER, Staff Writers
Published October 2, 2015ATLANTA—A Georgetown University student from metro Atlanta and those whose work for the archdiocese drew them to Washington to witness the historic papal events were thoughtful and hopeful about what they heard. Frank Mulcahy, executive director of the Georgia Catholic Conference, saw Pope Francis at the White House Sept. 23, where he was welcomed in […] Full Story
-
Serrans’ prayers answered in missionary’s canonization
By GRETCHEN KEISER, Staff Writer
Published October 2, 2015WASHINGTON—Pat DeJarnett, who prayed for years that Padre Junipero Serra would be declared a saint, witnessed that canonization Sept. 23 among 25,000 people on the lawn around the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. “We have prayed so long for this, and it finally came. It was just incredible,” said DeJarnett, who leads the Office […] Full Story
-
Bishop Hartmayer impacted by pope’s history lesson
By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
Published October 2, 2015WASHINGTON—Savannah Bishop Gregory Hartmayer, OFM Conv., watched Pope Francis speak from the House of Representatives visitors’ gallery, to the left of the podium. He was given the ticket to the historic Sept. 24 address by his congressman, U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter. “As an American citizen and as an American bishop, I was extremely proud to […] Full Story
-
Little Sisters of the Poor get unscheduled visit from Pope Francis
By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
Published September 24, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—Pope Francis made a previously unannounced 15-minute stop Sept. 23 at a Washington residence operated by the Little Sisters of the Poor, where he met with about 45 sisters. Sister Constance Veit, communications director for the Little Sisters, said the pope talked individually with each sister, ranging in age from novices to 102-year-old Sister […] Full Story
-
Pope to Congress: Stop bickering, world needs your help
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published September 24, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—The past, the promise and the potential of the United States must not be smothered by bickering and even hatred at a time when the U.S. people and indeed the world need a helping hand, Pope Francis told the U.S. Congress. Making history by being the first pope ever to address a joint meeting […] Full Story
-
Two rounds by popemobile thrill crowd gathered for canonization Mass
By DENNIS SADOWSKI, Catholic News Service
Published September 24, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—Pope Francis gave the crowd gathered at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception double the thrill before the canonization Mass for Blessed Junipero Serra Sept. 24. His popemobile passed twice through a barricaded walkway before he entered the national shrine to address seminarians and novices. People cheered, waved and prayed […] Full Story
-
Pope canonizes Junipero Serra, says faith is alive only when shared
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published September 24, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS) — Canonizing the 18th-century Spanish missionary, Blessed Junipero Serra, Pope Francis insisted a person’s faith is alive only when it is shared. Celebrating a late afternoon Mass outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Sept. 23, the pope declared the holiness of St. Junipero, founder of a string of […] Full Story
-
Be shepherds concerned only for God and others, pope tells U.S. bishops
By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
Published September 23, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—Acknowledging the real challenges and burdens the U.S. bishops face in their ministry, Pope Francis shared with them his own experience as a pastor and urged them to keep their eyes focused on Jesus and their hearts open to others. “Woe to us,” he said, “if we make of the cross a banner of […] Full Story
-
Pope, ‘son of immigrant family,’ tells Obama he’s ready to learn in U.S.
By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
Published September 23, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—Pope Francis introduced himself to President Barack Obama and all people of the United States as a “son of an immigrant family” arriving in the United States for the first time to learn from others and to share from his own experience. In a country the pope said he knows was “largely built” by […] Full Story