Washington
-
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 […]
-
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 […]
-
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 […]
-
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, […]
-
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 […]
-
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 […]
-
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 […]
-
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
-
Court says rule too rigid for execution exemption over mental ability
Published June 12, 2014
WASHINGTON (CNS)—The Supreme Court May 27 tossed out Florida’s standard for determining when someone’s intelligence level renders them exempt from execution. In a 5-4 decision, the court followed up on a 12-year-old ruling that said it is unconstitutional to execute people who have mental disabilities. The new ruling said states must use more than an […]
-
Bishop weigh in on search for missing Nigerian girls
Published May 29, 2014
WASHINGTON (CNS)—Among the U.S. leaders speaking out for action to track down and return 276 kidnapped schoolgirls in Nigeria are the chairman of a Catholic bishops’ committee and the director of the Africa Faith and Justice Network. In statements May 9, Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, and Dominican Father Aniedi Okure, a […]
-
Supreme Court ruling allows prayers before meetings
By CAROL ZIMMERMANN, Catholic News Service
Published May 19, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—The Supreme Court ruled May 5 that prayers said before town council meetings in Greece, N.Y., do not violate the Constitution. In their 5-4 decision, the judges noted a historical precedent to opening local legislative meetings with a prayer and stressed that the predominantly Christian nature of the prayers in the New York town […]
-
Survey finds ongoing dissatisfaction with new Missal language
By PATRICIA ZAPOR, Catholic News Service
Published May 19, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—A survey of attitudes among priests and lay parish leaders about the revised Roman Missal found just under half dislike the changes to the Mass introduced in the U.S. in 2011, and 75 percent think the language is “awkward and distracting.” Priests, more strongly than laypeople, dislike the liturgical changes, the survey said, with […]
-
Religious leaders pledge to protect persecuted Middle East Christians
By MARK PATTISON, Catholic News Service
Published May 16, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—Close to 200 ordained and lay religious leaders have signed a pledge to commit themselves and the United States to protect Christians in Iraq, Syria and Egypt, who they say are being persecuted for their faith. Key points in the pledge, released at a May 7 news conference on Capitol Hill, are: – a […]
-
Bishops’ Immigration Proposals
Published April 22, 2014
U.S. Catholic bishops support key elements for any legislation to bring about comprehensive immigration reform, including: A Path to Citizenship: Permitting undocumented immigrants to earn citizenship over time after paying a fine, learning English, working, and being placed behind those already in the permanent residency or “green card” line. Future Flow Worker Program: Providing visas […]
-
High court hears oral arguments in companies’ challenge to HHS mandate
By CAROL ZIMMERMANN, Catholic News Service
Published April 3, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—Oral arguments in two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court March 25 focused on whether for-profit corporations have religious grounds to object to the new health care law’s requirement that most employers provide contraceptive coverage in their employee health plans. Crowds on both sides of the issue gathered outside the Supreme Court on a […]
-
Meetings of U.S. presidents and popes: long, but not ancient, tradition
By CAROL ZIMMERMANN, Catholic News Service
Published April 3, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—Although some details have emerged of the conversation between Pope Francis and President Barack Obama March 27, the public may never know all that was said in that 50-minute get-together behind closed doors at the Vatican. And that’s pretty much the story for most of the meetings between 12 U.S. presidents and six popes […]
-
Inertia on immigration law bring pressure for fixes
By PATRICIA ZAPOR, Catholic News Service
Published March 20, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—As frustration grows over the lack of progress on immigration reform and protests about the high number of deportations become more widespread and dramatic, President Barack Obama March 13 and 14 told activists he would consider ways to ease the effects of strict enforcement. The announcement came as immigrants facing deportation have been waging […]
-
Guidance on Lent from the USCCB
Published March 11, 2014
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) provided the following questions and answers about Lent and Lenten practices. Q. Why do we say that there are 40 days of Lent? When you count all the days from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday, there are 46. A. It might be more accurate to say that […]
-
‘Son of God’ movie ‘a love story,’ say husband-wife producers
By MARK PATTISON, Catholic News Service
Published March 6, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—The upcoming movie “Son of God” should be seen as “a love story,” according to two of its executive producers, the husband-and-wife team of Mark Burnett and Roma Downey. “This really is a love story—the greatest love story ever told,” Downey said. The couple brought the 10-hour miniseries “The Bible” to television last year, […]
-
CRS Rice Bowl program has new twists: an app, recipes, contest
By PATRICIA ZAPOR, Catholic News Service
Published February 20, 2014WASHINGTON (CNS)—When trying to change one’s eating habits, especially cutting calories, there’s nothing like getting some made-to-order recipes from a popular chef to help keep one motivated. At least that’s part of the thinking behind one of the new approaches to Catholic Relief Services’ annual Rice Bowl program for Lent, the 39-year-old CRS campaign to […]
