Lead by example: Pope offers abuse victims open ear, open heart
More than a meeting and homily, Pope Francis laid out a clear road map for the church when he celebrated Mass and welcomed abuse survivors to the Vatican.
Minors at border should be thought of as refugees, speakers say
From the head of the U.S. agency in charge of the welfare of more than 50,000 Central American children who have been apprehended at the Mexican border, to the Honduran cardinal who heads the international Catholic relief agency, Caritas, the message was clear, those minors are as much refugees as the people fleeing upheaval in Syria or South Sudan.
Vatican names committee to help revamp communications, media outreach
Seven months after hiring a consulting firm to study the Vatican's communications structures, the Vatican has set up an 11-member committee -- which includes Our Sunday Visitor's Greg Erlandson -- to suggest ways to increase collaboration and cut costs.
Court may compel priest to break confessional seal in abuse case
Louisiana's Supreme Court has ruled that a priest may be compelled to testify as to what he heard in the confessional in 2008 concerning an abuse case. The priest faces automatic excommunication if he breaks the seal of the confessional. But he also could face jailing if found to be in contempt of the court should he refuse to testify.
Holy Land bishops criticize ‘collective punishment’ of Palestinians
Catholic leaders in the Holy Land called for an end to the cycle of violence and criticized Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and its collective punishment of Palestinians.
New radio program covers life issues, ways to spread culture of life
A new radio program launched in the Palm Beach Diocese in June with a focus on shedding light on pro-life issues, and sharing ways to get involved in promoting the culture of life in the not-so-pro-life world.
From gangs to coffee rust: Push factors for Central American migrants
Emigration from El Salvador has been common in past decades; civil war and poverty prompted many to pull up stakes and flee for far-flung corners of the world. But Central America is experiencing another outflow, as many minors attempt to escape violence or reconnect with their parents who support households they have not seen in years and suspect the law will look kindly upon children arriving in the United States.
Hundreds gather in Washington for Fortnight for Freedom closing Mass
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz said faith-filled service is good for America because thousands of religious communities, Catholic charities and hospitals have put their faith into action in order to serve others, allowing the "light of Christ to shine in our world." The freedom to serve was the theme of this year's Fortnight for Freedom which concluded July 4.
Irish abuse victim who met with pope calls it ‘huge vindication’
One of the Irish survivors of clerical sexual abuse who met Pope Francis July 7 described the encounter as a "huge vindication" for her.
Iraqi patriarch: Situation perhaps ‘darkest and most difficult period’
The patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Baghdad called the current situation in his country "perhaps the darkest and most difficult period in (the church's) recent history."
