Washington
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Stephen Colbert, in interview, discusses faith, joy and humor
By MARK PATTISON, Catholic News Service
Published September 18, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—Stephen Colbert, who took over Sept. 8 as host of CBS’ “Late Night” program, said in an interview for Canada’s Salt + Light Television that his “Colbert Report” character was intended to be a “well-intentioned, poorly informed, high-status idiot.” “I would say he’s a fool. And though Christ says, “Call no man fool,’ I […]
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Cardinal urges senators to back measure to defund Planned Parenthood
By Catholic News Service
Published August 7, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—The head of the U.S. bishops’ pro-life committee Aug. 3 urged U.S. senators to take the federal money that goes to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and instead fund women’s health care providers that do not promote abortion. “It has long been troubling to many Americans that the nation’s largest abortion network, performing […]
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With Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan, it’s a family affair
By MARK PATTISON, Catholic News Service
Published July 9, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—Jim Gaffigan, the comic actor known both for his funny books like “Dad Is Fat” and “Food: A Love Story” and his inclusion of his Catholicism in his stand-up routines, has a close collaborator: his wife, Jeannie. “We’re truly partners,” Jeannie Gaffigan said during a June 11 teleconference with Jim to promote their TV […]
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Ruling has a myriad of legal implications, say church officials; ‘difficult road ahead for people of faith’
By JULIE ASHER, Catholic News Service
Published June 27, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—Analyzing the ramifications of the June 26 same-sex marriage ruling for the Catholic Church at the national, state and local levels will take time, said Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore. It has implications for “hundreds, if not thousands” of laws at all levels, and there is “a difficult road ahead for people of […]
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Court rules same-sex marriage legal nationwide
By PATRICIA ZAPOR, Catholic News Service
Published June 27, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—In a landmark ruling, a divided Supreme Court June 26 said same-sex marriage is constitutional nationwide. “The nature of marriage is that, through its enduring bond, two persons together can find other freedoms, such as expression, intimacy, and spirituality,” wrote Justice Anthony Kennedy for the 5-4 majority. “This is true for all persons, whatever […]
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People express heartache, outrage as they mourn shooting victims
By DANIEL O'SHEA, Catholic News Service
Published June 25, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—The tragic taking of nine lives at a historically black church in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, brought an outpouring of solidarity, compassion and sorrow from around the country. After an all-night search, police June 18 found the white man suspected of fatally shooting nine people, including the Rev. Clementa Pinckney, a state senator and […] Full Story
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Pope speaks as a pastor in call to protect earth, USCCB president says
By DENNIS SADOWSKI, Catholic News Service
Published June 25, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—Pope Francis speaks with a pastor’s voice and with deep respect for science in calling the world to address threats to all life on earth through environmental degradation and the mindset of a “throwaway culture” in his encyclical, said the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, […] Full Story
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AP: Number of abortions in U.S. down 12 percent since 2010
By MARK PATTISON, Catholic News Service
Published June 12, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)–An Associated Press survey of abortion in the United States this decade has revealed that the number of abortions has gone down by 12 percent since 2010. The news was welcomed by pro-life advocates. “It’s important to realize, first of all, that the factors accounting for this are multiple, complex and often hard to […]
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High court considers place of same-sex marriage
By PATRICIA ZAPOR, Catholic News Service
Published April 30, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—The questions raised by Supreme Court justices as they considered April 28 whether they should rule that same-sex marriage should be made legal nationwide covered a gamut of rights concerns—religious, equal protection, states’ ability to enact their own laws. In two and a half hours of oral arguments, the line of questions and the […]
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Acts of Apostles tells of people, events in Christianity’s early history
By DAVID GIBSON, Catholic News Service
Published April 16, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—Jews from many nations, speaking a wide array of languages, were staying in Jerusalem at the time after Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension when a powerful wind swept in upon a house where his apostles and some others, including his mother, were meeting. Hearing the wind and curious to know what was happening, these […]
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Holy Spirit’s role, growth of community, preaching among Acts themes
By DAVID GIBSON, Catholic News Service
Published April 16, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—Here is a look at some of the themes and events described in the Acts of the Apostles: The Spirit’s coming: The Holy Spirit’s role in the early Christian mission is a theme in the Acts. Benedictine Father Dale Launderville, a Scripture scholar, says that Acts shows “remarkable growth in the church due to […]
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Jesus’ apostles and disciples, men and women among the figures in Acts
By DAVID GIBSON, Catholic News Service
Published April 16, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—The Acts of the Apostles introduces readers to many people of ancient Christian times. There are Jesus’ apostles and disciples, men and women, catechists, members of the Jewish community and others. Let’s meet a few of them: Sts. Peter and Paul: These apostles stand as Acts’ central personalities. Peter’s role is more dominant in […] Full Story
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After mudslide, faith groups form partnership to provide help, healing
By JEAN PARIETTI, Catholic News Service
Published April 16, 2015OSO, Wash. (CNS)—When a headline-making catastrophe strikes a community, it often rallies together, bringing together disparate people who previously had little more than geography in common. Such was the case in Oso and other towns in Washington’s North Fork Stillaguamish Valley, when a devastating mudslide in March 2014 obliterated a neighborhood and claimed the lives […] Full Story
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More action on immigration happening in courts, not so much in Congress
By PATRICIA ZAPOR, Catholic News Service
Published March 20, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—As the Obama administration filed an emergency motion seeking to overturn a judge’s order blocking programs to defer deportation for certain immigrants, a policy adviser for the U.S. bishops said there’s little chance for comprehensive immigration reform through Congress. The Justice Department March 12 filed an emergency motion in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court […]
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Templeton winner hopes L’Arche communities ‘may become sign of peace’
By NATE MADDEN, Catholic News Service
Published March 20, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—Jean Vanier, a Catholic author and theologian who founded L’Arche, an international network of communities where people with and without intellectual disabilities live and work together, has won the 2015 Templeton Prize. L’Arche is dedicated to the creation and growth of communities, programs and support networks for people with intellectual disabilities across the globe. […]
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Texas judge blocks DAPA, DACA expansion; administration to appeal
By PATRICIA ZAPOR, Catholic News Service
Published February 19, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—A little more than one day before an expansion was to take effect in a deferred deportation program known as DACA, a federal judge in Texas issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Obama administration’s effort. In a 123-page memorandum released by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott late in the evening Feb. 16, District Court Judge […]
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Catholics called to do everything in their power to end human trafficking
By KATIE SCOTT, Catholic News Service
Published February 19, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—Highlighting the life, suffering and enduring hope of St. Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese slave, Washington Auxiliary Bishop Martin D. Holley called for reflection and action to combat modern-day slavery during his homily on the first International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking Feb. 8. We must “do everything in our power through […] Full Story
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‘Pro-life warriors’ join together for D.C. march
By NATE MADDEN, Catholic News Service
Published February 5, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—On a chilly and cloudy morning on the National Mall in Washington, crowds gathered Jan. 22 for the annual March for Life, this year marking the 42nd anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion virtually on demand. Tens of thousands gathered first to hear a lineup of speakers, before […]
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Atlanta-area youth travel to national March for Life
By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
Published February 5, 2015WASHINGTON—Area high school students were among the thousands in the nation’s capital to support the March for Life. Students from Holy Spirit Preparatory School, Atlanta, Pinecrest Academy, Cumming, St. Pius X High School, Atlanta, and Blessed Trinity High School, Roswell, traveled to Washington to join the sea of marchers on Jan. 22, many from high […]
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Father Merton at 100: Still inspiring people to get closer to God
By DENNIS SADOWSKI, Catholic News Service
Published February 5, 2015WASHINGTON (CNS)—When Trappist Father Thomas Merton addressed persistent racism in his writing during the 1960s, his message seemingly reached into the future. Appealing to society to recognize that all people are children of God, Father Merton questioned practices that prevented African-Americans from achieving full equality and called for the end of discrimination in all forms. […]
