Hobby Lobby lawyer encouraged by latest hearing

May 24, 2013 - 05:04 pm .- The lawyer representing Hobby Lobby and its Christian owners in a lawsuit challenging the federal contraception mandate is heartened following the case's hearing before a federal appeals court.

Papal encyclicals expected on faith and poverty, bishop reveals

May 24, 2013 - 02:19 pm .- According to an Italian bishop, Benedict XVI is concluding work on what was to have been his encyclical on faith, and Pope Francis will be writing an encyclical on poverty.

Archbishop Chaput urges Americans to 'wake up' on religious freedom

May 24, 2013 - 01:02 pm .- Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia says Americans need to awaken to threats against religious freedom given the new revelations about IRS targeting of religious groups and the continued burdens of the HHS mandate.

Pope stresses vigilant love of God as guard against laziness

May 24, 2013 - 09:50 am .- Pope Francis counseled the Italian bishops to avoid becoming lukewarm by remaining vigilant in their love for God, as he reflected on Jesus asking Peter if he loved him.

Schönstatt Movement overjoyed at receiving original chapel

May 24, 2013 - 09:00 am .- One of the oldest movements in the Church will be celebrating its 100th anniversary next year, but on Wednesday its members received an early gift when they learned that the chapel where it all started was being given to them.

Canada's politicians targeted for 'failure' to protect children

May 24, 2013 - 04:04 am .- A pro-life group in Canada is renewing its efforts to ignite discussion and conversion in their country by calling out major politicians who support abortion.

Famous exorcist says Pope's simple prayer cast out demon

May 24, 2013 - 03:58 am .- Rome’s most well known exorcist says Pope Francis performed an exorcism in St. Peter’s Square last Sunday and that the man was possessed because of Mexico’s abortion law.

Western culture 'lost God' through demise of family

May 24, 2013 - 02:03 am .- Scholar Mary Eberstadt says most theories of secularization do not take into account the role of the family in religious practice, noting how its demise is critically linked to an increasingly secular West.

Denver archbishop calls for end to Colo. death penalty

May 24, 2013 - 12:03 am .- Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila of Denver has called for the repeal of the death penalty following the Colorado governor’s grant of a temporary reprieve to a death row inmate convicted of four murders.

Boys Scouts of America lifts ban on openly gay members

May 23, 2013 - 04:22 pm .- The Boy Scouts of America has voted in favor of a resolution that lifts the ban on openly gay members but will not allow gay adult troop leaders.

Pope Francis urges Christians to not be 'museum pieces'

May 23, 2013 - 04:07 pm .- Pope Francis reflected May 23 on Jesus Christ's exhortation to be “salt of the earth,” warning that Christians who do not live their faith become “flavorless salt” and are fit to be museum pieces.

Mideast Christians unite in prayer for abducted bishops

May 23, 2013 - 02:55 pm .- Orthodox and Catholic Christians in the Middle East gathered this week to pray for and appeal for the realease of two Orthodox bishops who were kidnapped in Syria one month ago.

US bishops praise immigration bill's advance in senate

May 23, 2013 - 02:02 pm .- The U.S. bishops welcomed a U.S. Senate committee's passage of a major immigration bill as an “important step,” urging the full senate to consider the bill as soon as possible.

New academic post aims to renew Africa's political culture

May 23, 2013 - 08:31 am .- Cardinal Robert Sarah, the president of Benin and officials from the Pontifical Lateran University presented a new chair whose goal will be to study African politics and form new generations of leaders in the Church’s social doctrine.

Nigerian bishops lament disunity among local Catholics

May 23, 2013 - 04:06 am .- As the Catholics of the Diocese of Ahiara protested the appointment of a bishop from a nearby diocese as their shepherd, local bishops expressed sadness at the disunity in the Church of Nigeria.

Health care includes spiritual needs, archbishop tells World Assembly

May 23, 2013 - 12:03 am .- The head of a Vatican delegation to the World Health Assembly on Wednesday called for universal health care coverage and an “integral” approach to health care that responds to a person’s spiritual needs.

US bishops ask government to reassess drone policy

May 22, 2013 - 05:03 pm .- In letters to top government officials, the U.S. bishops' conference urged a public discussion on the use of unmanned targeted killings, also known as drones, and their moral implications.

Pope says everyone can do good, regardless of belief

May 22, 2013 - 04:03 pm .- Every human person despite his or her beliefs can do good, and a sharing in good works is the prime place for encounter among those who disagree, Pope Francis said at his Mass today.

Pope praises Missionaries of Charity's 'beautiful' Vatican ministry

May 22, 2013 - 12:04 pm .- Pope Francis thanked the Missionaries of Charity for their work and described one of their houses for homeless women located inside the Vatican as “a beautiful reality” and “a school of charity.”

Vatican's financial intelligence unit nets suspicious activity

May 22, 2013 - 09:59 am .- The Vatican revealed that its enhanced procedures have enabled it to flag more suspicious transactions in 2012 than it did in 2011.