Death penalty hits historic low in U.S. ‘despite federal execution spree,’ says report December 17, 2020By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, World News A new report Dec. 16 by the Death Penalty Information Center said the use of capital punishment reached a historic low this year in the United States even with the return of federal executions by the Trump administration.
Netflix to release series illustrating pope’s call for ‘alliance’ of young, old December 17, 2020By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Netflix has announced that in 2021 it will release a documentary series based on “Sharing the Wisdom of Time,” a book in which Pope Francis called for creating “an alliance between the young and old people” by sharing their stories.
UM St. Joseph Medical Center’s staff among the first in nation to receive COVID-19 vaccine December 16, 2020By Tim Swift Catholic Review Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News Working in the Emergency Department at University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, Smialkowski was among the first people in the country this week to receive the new vaccine for COVID-19.
Away with the manger? Nativity scene at Vatican generates controversy December 16, 2020By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Christmas, Feature, News, Video, World News The human figures in the Nativity scene are made of rings of ceramic stacked on top of each other. They are cylindrical, not curvy like a natural human form. And the presence of an astronaut and a knight carries the whole thing to another level of untraditional.
Maryland bishops endorse use of Pfizer, Moderna COVID vaccines December 16, 2020By Tim Swift Catholic Review Filed Under: Archbishop's Ministry, Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News, Respect Life The Maryland Catholic Conference – which represents bishops serving the archdioceses of Baltimore and Washington as well as the diocese of Wilmington, Del. – is recommending that the faithful receive COVID-19 vaccines developed by U.S. pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna when available.
In Nigeria, nun cares for abandoned children labeled as witches December 15, 2020By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, World News Throughout Africa, a witch is culturally understood to be the epitome of evil and the cause of misfortune, disease and death. Consequently, the witch is the most hated person in African society and subject to punishment, torture and even death.
Loyola’s 28th annual MLK Convocation to feature bestselling author Ibram X. Kendi December 15, 2020By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Racial Justice New York Times bestselling and National Book Award-winning author Ibram X. Kendi will speak at Loyola University Maryland’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Convocation Jan. 20, 2021, at 7 p.m.
Washington Archdiocese sues over D.C.’s 50-person cap on church attendance December 15, 2020By Mark Zimmermann Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News The Archdiocese of Washington has petitioned the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to lift the 50-person cap on indoor religious gatherings in D.C.
After shipwreck, bishops denounce treatment of Venezuelan refugees December 15, 2020By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News After a boat carrying refugees was allegedly denied entry into Trinidad and Tobago and subsequently shipwrecked, Venezuelan bishops said the treatment of migrants fleeing the country constitutes a serious human rights violation.
Doctrine committee sets standards for evaluating, improving church hymns December 14, 2020By Greg Erlandson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Divine Worship, Eucharist, Feature, News, World News Expressing concern for the doctrinal soundness of some of the lyrics of Catholic hymns now available for use in Catholic liturgies, the U.S. bishops’ doctrine committee in a forthcoming report suggests guidelines for bishops in evaluating hymn lyrics and for selecting hymnals being considered for use in churches.
Bishops: Getting COVID-19 vaccine is ‘act of charity,’ supports the common good December 14, 2020By Julie Asher Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, Respect Life, World News The “gravity” of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and “the lack of availability of alternative vaccines,” are “sufficiently serious” reasons to accept the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, the chairmen of the U.S. bishops’ doctrine and pro-life committees said Dec. 14.
RADIO INTERVIEW: Baltimore’s newest seminarian December 14, 2020By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Advent, Feature, Local News, News, Radio Interview Father Steven Roth interviews the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s newest seminarian. Franz Belleza, a parishioner of Our Lady of Victory in Arbutus, is originally from the Philippines. He shares what it’s like to apply to become a priest in the archdiocese and why he wants to serve people in the Baltimore archdiocese.
