If there can be said to be a vanishing population in the United States, one demographic immediately stands out: people living with Down syndrome.
World News
Paulists revamp ministries, showing need to ‘triple the ask’ for religious vocations
The Paulist Fathers, a missionary society of Catholic priests, announced March 13 that it would wind down its presence at two universities and three parishes in the U.S., while folding three other initiatives.
Expert: Racial division is hurting the church — here’s what Catholics can do about it
Daryl Grigsby, the well-known African American commentator, author and convert to Catholicism 25 years ago, hosted a March 7 webinar on the thorny subject of racism, apparent indifference to it and what can be done about it in the Catholic Church.
Work brings back their dignity, say West Bank priests who support unemployed Christians
Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israeli communities that left 1,200 dead and over 250 kidnapped, Lo’ay Ayyad, 48, a father of two and a successful veteran tour guide in the region, has been largely unemployed as the tourism industry has come to a halt and he has used up almost all his savings.
Poland marks 80 years since Ulma family’s death, sees ‘beautiful graces received’ through them
As Poles commemorate the 80th anniversary of the death of Blessed Józef and Wiktoria Ulma with their seven children, the world, six months into their beatification, is stunned to learn about the martyrs from the village of Markowa, who are already working little miracles in peoples’ lives.
Church has a crucial role in combating polarization, ‘Civilize it’ panelists say
The church has a crucial role in combating the rise of polarization, panelists said at a March 20 webinar organized by the U.S. bishops’ conference and other Catholic groups.
Olympic gold medalist tells her story of ‘running from fear to faith’ in new memoir
Over the years, Syndey McLaughlin grew up, learned to prioritize her goals, and leaned into her faith, she reveals in her new memoir, “Far Beyond Gold: Running From Fear to Faith.”
Gospels hold clues for role of women, men in the church, panel says
The Gospels have a lot to contribute to current discussions about the role of women and men in the life of the church, three Italian theologians said during a panel discussion in Rome.
Spending bill grants PEPFAR one-year extension
The U.S. government’s global effort to combat HIV/AIDS was granted a one-year extension in the government funding package Congress is expected to approve, ending an impasse over the program’s reauthorization — for now.
Discernment is essential to discipleship, papal preacher says
The Holy Spirit is like a line prompter at a theater, behind the scenes and constantly whispering to Christians the words of Jesus, said the preacher of the papal household.
Church must rethink its ‘anachronistic’ sexual ethic, priest says
The Catholic Church’s “established, dogmatic models of the theological approach to sexuality have become anachronistic,” a moral theologian told a conference on sexuality and culture at the John Paul II Pontifical Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences in Rome.
Abortions soar to highest number in over a decade post Dobbs, study finds
A recent study from the Guttmacher Institute, an organization that supports abortion access, found that the number of abortions in 2023 has increased to the highest number and rate in the United States in over a decade.