Popes Francis, Benedict receive their first doses of COVID-19 vaccine January 14, 2021By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Both Pope Francis and retired Pope Benedict XVI have received the first dose of the vaccine against COVID-19 after the Vatican started vaccinating its employees and residents Jan. 13.
House impeaches Trump a second time; timeline for Senate trial unknown January 13, 2021By Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, U.S. Congress, World News The House of Representatives impeached President Donald Trump, charging him with “incitement of insurrection” for a speech lawmakers said spurred the riot at the U.S. Capitol and making him the first commander in chief to be impeached twice.
Supreme Court says abortion drugs must be obtained in person, not by mail January 13, 2021By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, Supreme Court, World News The Supreme Court Jan. 12 reinstated a federal requirement that women who are seeking abortion-inducing drugs must do so in person, not by mail, as a federal judge had allowed last year due to the pandemic and the high court had let stand.
Lisa Montgomery put to death after Supreme Court reversal January 13, 2021By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, Supreme Court, World News After a flurry of court decisions, the Supreme Court reversed a pair of rulings from federal appeals courts that had put death-row inmate Lisa Montgomery’s execution on hold, and it denied two other last-minute requests to postpone the execution.
History of early American Catholics late author’s crowning achievement January 13, 2021By Nancy L. Roberts Catholic News Service Filed Under: Books, News, World News This highly anticipated second volume in historian Kevin Starr’s history of Catholics in the United States is nothing short of glorious.
For Ash Wednesday, Vatican asks priests to ‘sprinkle’ ashes on heads January 13, 2021By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, Lent, News, Vatican, World News The Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments asked priests to take special anti-COVID-19 precautions this year when distributing ashes on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, including sprinkling ashes on the top of people’s heads rather than using them to make a cross on people’s foreheads.
In message for World Sick Day, pope calls for health care for all January 12, 2021By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Praising those who help the sick and praying for those who are sick, Pope Francis called on Christians to practice what they preach, including by guaranteeing equal access to health care for all people.
Fallout over Capitol siege extends to job losses for those who were there January 12, 2021By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, U.S. Congress, World News Just as the political and criminal fallout has continued over the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol by people seeking to halt the Electoral College certification of President-Elect Joe Biden’s win in the November election, the fallout has extended to job losses for those who have been identified as taking part in the siege.
CHA letter to Biden reveals extensive list of health care priorities January 12, 2021By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, World News The Catholic Health Association issued an extensive list of priorities it would like President-elect Joe Biden’s administration to pursue.
Two Catholic members of Congress reflect on Capitol attack, work ahead January 11, 2021By Mark Zimmermann Catholic News Service Filed Under: 2020 Election, Feature, News, U.S. Congress, World News Seeing the U.S. Capitol building being stormed by a rioting mob Jan. 6 brought a visceral reaction from Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, a Republican from Nebraska. Fortenberry, who is Catholic and often attends daily Mass at St. Peter’s Church on Capitol Hill, called the attack a “desecration.”
Pope amends canon law so women can be installed as lectors, acolytes January 11, 2021By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Divine Worship, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Recognizing “the gifts of each baptized person” — women and men — Pope Francis ordered a change to canon law and liturgical norms so that women could be formally installed as lectors and acolytes.
Pope says he was ‘astonished’ by violence at Capitol January 9, 2021By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: 2020 Election, Feature, News, U.S. Congress, World News Pope Francis said he was “astonished” by the violent breach of the U.S. Capitol, especially because the people of the United States are “so disciplined in democracy.”