Archive for May 26, 2020

Cardinal Reinhard Marx speaks at a Vatican press conference Feb. 23, 2019. ?w=200&h=150

Record numbers leave Church in Munich archdiocese

A record number of people left the Church in the German Archdiocese of Munich and Freising last year, a local... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on Oct. 1 2014. ?w=200&h=150

By Hannah Brockhaus

In letter, Pope Francis asks for prayers for mothers facing the post-pandemic world

In a letter to an Italian journalist Monday, Pope Francis said we should pray for mothers to have courage as... Read more

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles, Ca. ?w=200&h=150

California churches can reopen at 25% capacity

Churches in California can begin holding services again at a limited capacity, the state announced on Monday.  Read more

Pope Francis offers his blessing following the Regina Coeli May 3, 2020. ?w=200&h=150

Pope Francis to return to window overlooking St. Peter’s Square for Sunday prayer

Pope Francis will deliver his Regina Coeli address from the window overlooking St. Peter’s Square this Sunday for the first... Read more

António Guterres, the U.N. Secretary-General since 2017. ?w=200&h=150

By Hannah Brockhaus

UN chief says pandemic should inspire ‘new unity and solidarity’

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said Tuesday the world needs a response to the coronavirus pandemic based on the protection of... Read more

?w=200&h=150

Book calling for Catholic blessing of homosexual couples was requested by Austrian bishops' conference

A book considering how homosexual couples might receive a formal, liturgical blessing of their union in the Catholic Church was... Read more

Cardinal George Pell meets with child sex abuse victims at the Hotel Quirinale in Rome, Italy on March 3, 2016. ?w=200&h=150

Australian journalists face court date over Pell trial coverage

A judge in the Australian state of Victoria has proposed a trial date to prosecute journalists and media outlets for... Read more

Chinese flag. ?w=200&h=150

By Courtney Mares

Chinese bishop who suffered years of forced labor dies at 98

A Chinese underground bishop who was sentenced to 10 years of forced labor in the 1980s for bringing Catholics on pilgrimage... Read more

Minneapolis Police Department patrol car. ?w=200&h=150

By Matt Hadro

Minnesota bishops: Death of black man in police custody a ‘tragedy’

The Minnesota Catholic Conference on Tuesday called the death of a black man while he was in police custody a “tragedy,”... Read more

Fr. Stephen Klasek pretends to shoot water at a baby in this now-viral photo. ?w=200&h=150

Priest says water gun 'baptism' photo meant to be 'funny'

The Tennessee priest in a now viral photograph that seemed to depict a baptism by water gun has told parishioners... Read more

United States Capitol Building - Washington DC. Via Shutterstock?w=200&h=150

COVID relief efforts should remember the poor, bishop says

As Congress considers additional COVID relief efforts in the coming weeks, it should focus especially on the needs of the... Read more

Mexican flag. ?w=200&h=150

Mexican state passes pro-life education law

The Mexican state legislature of Nuevo Leon passed an education reform bill May 21 to foster a “respect for life... Read more

?w=200&h=150

Research aims to quantify and explain drop in US religiosity

The current drop in the number of people in the United States identifying with a religion may not be permanent,... Read more

Little Sisters of the Poor outside the Supreme Court in 2016, for the Zubik v. Burwell case. ?w=200&h=150

By Kevin J. Jones

Briefing shows ACLU has abandoned religious freedom for 'culture wars,' critic says

Longtime critics of religious freedom protections, among them the American Civil Liberties Union, have formed a partnership to oppose the... Read more