Washington
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Catholics should ‘rekindle’ commitment to end racism, bishop says
By CAROL ZIMMERMANN, Catholic News Service
Published November 27, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—The scenes of chaos and violence in Ferguson, Missouri, Nov. 24 following the grand jury’s decision not to indict the white police officer in the shooting death of Michael Brown, an African-American teenager, reveal deeper issues going on in the country, said one of the country’s black Catholic bishops. “The racial divide that exists […] Full Story
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Faith is getting its due on the small screen
By MARK PATTISON, Catholic News Service
Published November 27, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—Treatments of the Catholic faith are getting their due on various TV networks. Except that, with the fractured nature of the 500-channel universe—a quaint term to anyone with satellite TV—you have to keep your eyes wide open. Blink and it’ll be gone. About the only thing viewers can hope for is that the programming […] Full Story
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As Obama unveils program, other efforts aim to help Central Americans
By PATRICIA ZAPOR, Catholic News Service
Published November 27, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—As millions of immigrants celebrate the possibility of protection from deportation under a new Obama administration plan, among those who cannot take advantage of it will be the 68,445 families and 68,541 unaccompanied minors who were apprehended at the border in the last fiscal year. The children and families, most from Central America, drew […] Full Story
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Mother of James Foley says faith, people’s prayers kept son strong
By SARAH MCCARTHY, Catholic News Service
Published October 30, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—Prayers from around the world and an unwavering faith in God have continued to provide a strong foundation for John and Diane Foley after their son, journalist James Foley, was murdered in Syria by Islamic state militants Aug. 19. “It’s faith in God that’s kept me together,” Diane said in an interview with Catholic […] Full Story
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Muslim leaders worldwide issue stern rebuke to ISIS
By MARK PATTISON, Catholic News Service
Published October 30, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—More than 100 Muslim leaders—clerics and laypeople alike—have signed on to a letter criticizing the Middle East Muslim military group ISIS, short for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. In the 17-page letter, the leaders quote extensively from the Quran, the Muslim scriptures, to rebuke ISIS’ tactics and actions. Since the letter was […] Full Story
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Business leaders explore ways to carry Catholic values to the office
By DENNIS SADOWSKI, Catholic News Service
Published October 2, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—Venture capitalist Frank Hanna believes that just because he’s a Catholic business owner, his faith and values don’t have to be checked at the office door. If anything, Catholic virtue and a deep feeling of solidarity with colleagues, customers and poor people around the world guide his decision-making to, as Hanna puts it, help […] Full Story
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Senate action urged to stop coverage of abortion in health care plans
By SARAH MCCARTHY, Catholic News Service
Published October 2, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—Members of Congress and pro-life leaders Sept. 18 criticized the federal government for failing to ensure federally subsidized health plans will not cover elective abortions. “Health care should always support the dignity and life of the human person. It can never be about taking a life,” said Melissa Swearingen, adviser and spokeswoman for the […] Full Story
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Debating just-war theory in light of Islamic State and past Iraqi wars
By MARK PATTISON, Catholic News Service
Published September 5, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—In the days that followed Pope Francis’ Aug. 18 remarks on U.S. airstrikes earlier in the month against Islamic State, the buzz was about whether the pope had actually given his consent to them. The more sobering post-buzz reality is how one stops what, in the pontiff’s words, is an “unjust aggressor.” Does the […] Full Story
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Ice bucket challenge spotlights pro-life research center
By MARK PATTISON, Catholic News Service
Published September 5, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—Few people think of Iowa City, Iowa, as a hotbed of medical research. But in a roundabout way more Catholics are beginning to take notice of a Catholic, pro-life medical research center. This summer’s ALS ice bucket challenge craze has netted nearly $100 million in donations for the ALS Association as celebrities and commoners […] Full Story
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Groups lash out at new opt-out rules for HHS mandate
By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
Published September 4, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—Pro-life groups that have battled with the federal government since the first rules were issued on contraceptive coverage in 2012 derided the government’s latest rules allowing religious institutions—and potentially some for-profit companies—to opt out of the contraceptive mandate in the Affordable Care Act. “Once again HHS (the federal Department of Health and Human Services) […] Full Story
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Catholic schools, dioceses determine how to take part in ALS fundraising effort
By CAROL ZIMMERMANN, Catholic News Service
Published August 27, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, a major fundraising effort that began this summer to raise money to research a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease, has left many people scratching their heads. The challenge involves dumping a bucket of ice water on someone’s head and nominating others to go through the […] Full Story
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U.S. Dominicans ‘agonizing’ for Iraqi Dominicans, villagers; How to help
By JULIE ASHER, Catholic News Service
Published August 21, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—Dominican Sister Attracta Kelly in Adrian, Michigan, has been able to speak a few times with the superior of a group of Iraqi Dominicans and knows how desperate their situation is since they escaped Islamicists in northern Iraq. Sister Maria Hanna, the superior, and 51 other Dominican sisters, along with their family members and […] Full Story
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Executive order prohibits firing of gays by U.S. government, contractors
By MARK PATTISON, Catholic News Service
Published July 24, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—President Barack Obama’s executive order of July 21 has installed workplace rules forbidding the firing of gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender people by the federal government and federal contractors—a key provision in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act languishing in Congress. The U.S. bishops have opposed the bill, known as ENDA, which was passed by the […] Full Story
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Organizations suggest ways to help unaccompanied minor migrants
By PATRICIA ZAPOR, Catholic News Service
Published July 24, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—With six weeks of steady reporting about the influx of Central American children and families crossing the U.S. border and no quick solutions being presented for what will happen to them, many people are asking their churches and dioceses what they can do to help. Unlike what would happen if a natural disaster generated […] Full Story
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Advocates urge protection of migrant children crossing the border
By PATRICIA ZAPOR, Catholic News Service
Published July 24, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—Petitions and letters to members of Congress and the Obama administration are among the measures being pursued by advocates urging humane treatment of the Central American children who are trying to migrate to the United States. A petition delivered July 10 to members of Congress, President Barack Obama and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson […] Full Story
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Reflections on Civil Rights Act: Progress made, work still to do
By CAROL ZIMMERMANN, Catholic News Service
Published July 10, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—Fifty years ago, when the Civil Rights Act was signed into law July 2 by President Lyndon Johnson, two Louisiana-born men did not feel the earth move, but they knew it was the beginning of a time of change. Norman Francis, president for student affairs at Xavier University in New Orleans at the time, […] Full Story
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Father Martin’s new book takes reader on ‘remarkable journey’
By EUGENE J. FISHER, Catholic News Service
Published July 10, 2014Jesuit Father James Martin, a noted author and media commentator, in “Jesus: A Pilgrimage” takes the reader on a remarkable journey of discovering what he calls “his” Jesus, concluding with an invitation that we undertake a similar pilgrimage to find our own Jesus. The book is organized around a trip he took with a fellow […] Full Story
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U.S. bishops laud court’s Hobby Lobby ruling, but say fight continues
By CAROL ZIMMERMANN, Catholic News Service
Published July 10, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—The Supreme Court’s June 30 ruling that certain businesses, based on their religious objections, can be exempted from a government requirement to include contraceptives in their employee health insurance coverage means “justice has prevailed,” said two U.S. archbishops. “We welcome the Supreme Court’s decision to recognize that Americans can continue to follow their faith […] Full Story
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For Catholic chaplain, serving God and country is best of two worlds
By PRIYA NARAPAREDDY, Catholic News Service
Published June 27, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—For Oblate Father David Kenehan, the military chaplaincy is a convergence of two priorities in his life. “You get to serve God and country at the same time,” said the priest, who is an Army colonel and pastor of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Catholic Parish in suburban Virginia just outside Washington. An Army chaplain […] Full Story
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U.S. official discourages Central Americans from sending children north
Published June 26, 2014
WASHINGTON (CNS)—Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has written an open letter to parents of children crossing the U.S. border, addressing some of the myths circulating in Central America and discouraging families from considering sending their children. The text of the letter in English, as provided by Homeland Security, follows. An open letter to the parents […] Full Story