Articles by Kevin J. Jones
New Catholic iPhone app ‘ignites’ prayer communities
Nov 12, 2011 / 18:05 pmA new iPhone app called “Ignio” is designed to help Catholics deepen their faith by featuring a digital flame that grows and shrinks according to how much the user prays for friends, attends Mass or reads Scripture.
Maryland bishops warn of rising restrictions on religious freedom
Nov 11, 2011 / 01:29 amReligious freedom is fundamental to a free society, but some political and cultural trends are threatening that freedom, the Catholic bishops of Maryland said in a new statement.
Fewer Democrats tend to be churchgoers, survey says
Nov 9, 2011 / 01:22 amRepublicans are more likely to attend church than Democrats, while Catholics’ presence in both U.S. political parties has dropped slightly, a new Gallup poll says.
Bishop Conley sees ‘atheocracy’ as major threat to pro-life cause
Nov 8, 2011 / 04:11 amIncreasing hostility to religion and growing restrictions on religious expression are “the biggest challenge the pro-life movement faces,” Bishop James D. Conley told a benefit for a Dallas pro-life group.
Contraceptive mandate designed to impact Catholics, CEO tells Congress
Nov 4, 2011 / 00:34 amThe federal government’s new contraceptive and sterilization insurance coverage mandate includes a religious exemption whose language was designed specifically to counter Catholic institutions’ conscience protections, one Catholic health care leader told a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee Nov. 2.
Baltimore video incident exposes lax attitudes towards porn
Nov 3, 2011 / 17:15 pmLax law enforcement and a society desensitized to pornography may be partly to blame for the widespread “viral” distribution of a pornographic video of two Baltimore 14-year-olds filmed on school property, one expert says.
Catholic Answers’ lawsuit against IRS unlikely to succeed
Oct 25, 2011 / 03:59 amThe San Diego-based apologetics group Catholic Answers has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow it to sue the Internal Revenue Service for violating its First Amendment rights for “improperly taxing its constitutionally protected political speech.”
Illinois bishop runs Kansas City Marathon
Oct 20, 2011 / 04:03 amBishop Thomas J. Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois ran the Kansas City Marathon on Saturday to help raise money and awareness for pro-life work.
Bishop Finn, diocese plead not guilty to charge of not reporting abuse
Oct 17, 2011 / 14:38 pmBishop Robert W. Finn and the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph have entered a plea of not guilty to misdemeanor charges of failure to report a priest’s suspected child abuse. The bishop asked for prayers and pointed to new reforms intended to ensure transparency.
NJ monastery to display Shroud of Turin copy
Oct 15, 2011 / 18:42 pmA nearly 400-year-old copy of the Shroud of Turin is now on display for public veneration at a New Jersey monastery in hopes of inspiring more reflection on Jesus Christ’s Crucifixion.
Antonio Gaspari named Zenit’s new editorial coordinator
Oct 13, 2011 / 14:25 pmFollowing the resignation of its director and six editors, the international Catholic news agency Zenit has announced that Italian journalist Antonio Gaspari will be its new editorial coordinator.
LA archbishop charts missionary course for Hispanic theology's future
Oct 13, 2011 / 04:25 amHispanic Catholic theology and ministry should work to recover the “sense of wonder and mystery” that the first missionaries to America experienced, Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles said Oct. 11.
Pennsylvania man’s miraculous healing will canonize Italian priest
Oct 11, 2011 / 04:00 amA Pennsylvania man says his miraculous healing shows God's outreach to those who seem far from their faith. The healing is credited to Blessed Louis Guanella, the Servants of Charity founder who will be canonized Oct. 23.
Possible contraception link to HIV spread in Africa
Oct 7, 2011 / 13:07 pmContraceptive use in Africa may increase the risk of acquiring HIV for both men and women, a new study says.
Foster care fight ends Peoria Catholic Charities’ work with state
Oct 6, 2011 / 17:31 pmCatholic Charities of Peoria is withdrawing from Illinois state-funded social services because state laws and public policy have “increasingly clashed” with Church teachings and the partnership is no longer a “viable option,” Bishop Daniel Jenky announced Oct. 6.
Man targets Pittsburgh bishop with abuse allegation
Oct 5, 2011 / 16:50 pmA 45-year-old man’s accusation that Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik forcibly kissed him as a student has no factual basis and the bishop did nothing wrong, the local district attorney says.
Archbishop Niederauer continues recovery from heart surgery
Oct 5, 2011 / 00:28 amArchbishop George Niederauer is recovering “as expected” from emergency double bypass surgery.
Iranian pastor’s life still in jeopardy
Oct 4, 2011 / 08:50 amIranian Christian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani still faces imminent execution, though officials no longer say he is charged with apostasy.
Report: Facebook, Google, Apple censor religious speech
Oct 4, 2011 / 04:15 amMajor internet media platforms and service providers have policies that hinder Christian evangelization and censor speech on controversial issues of the day like abortion and marriage, a new report says.
Observers see gay agenda threatening religious freedom
Sep 27, 2011 / 04:14 amLegalizing “gay marriage” is having major repercussions for religious freedom, according to observers of the latest developments.