Concerns raised over Washington state mandatory reporting bill that lacks confession exception April 5, 2023By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, World News, Worship & Sacraments A bill that would require clergy to report child abuse or neglect in Washington state is under consideration by the Legislature, but some have expressed concern that this bill could force Catholic priests to violate the civil law in order to uphold church law regarding the seal of confession.
Catholics can help guard against anti-Judaism during Holy Week, say experts April 5, 2023By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, World News Catholics need to help guard against anti-Jewish interpretations of Christ’s passion, particularly during Holy Week and the Paschal Triduum, said experts on Jewish-Catholic relations.
Florida Senate advances six-week abortion ban with increased pregnancy center funds backed by DeSantis April 4, 2023By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: 2024 Election, Feature, News, Respect Life, World News The Florida Senate April 3 approved a bill to ban abortions after six weeks, a proposal supported by the state’s Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is widely expected to launch his bid for the Republican presidential nomination soon.
Pope names Dominican sister to lead Academy of Social Sciences April 3, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis has named Dominican Sister Helen Alford, dean of the faculty of social sciences at the Angelicum University in Rome, to be president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.
Pope: Politicians must save, not squander, assets for future generations April 3, 2023By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News A nation’s welfare and social service systems are a reminder that everything is connected, and everyone is interdependent on each other, especially the younger and older generations, Pope Francis said.
Holy Land patriarchs in Easter message place ‘ultimate hope only God’ amid increasing attacks on Christian sites April 3, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Easter, Feature, Lent, News, World News Just as early Christians were sustained by the words of St. Peter describing Jesus’ resurrection as offering a “new birth into a living hope,” so too should the Christians of the Holy Land today be encouraged and empowered by this knowledge as they face tumultuous times, when their own faith continues to be tested, said the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in their March 31 Easter message.
Faithful turn to prayer as tornadoes tear through center of US, taking at least 21 lives April 3, 2023By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, World News Catholic faithful turned to prayer as tornadoes carved a deadly path through the center of the United States March 31, killing at least 21, injuring dozens and devastating thousands of homes and businesses.
Pope says be close to those ‘abandoned’ like Christ: unborn, migrants April 3, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, Lent, News, Respect Life, Vatican, World News The unborn, migrants, the elderly and the disabled are “living icons” of Jesus that call Christians to draw close to those who feel abandoned just as Christ did on the cross, Pope Francis said.
Bishops call on Catholics to support U.S. ‘home missions’ with April national appeal April 2, 2023By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Feature, Giving, News, World News An annual collection in support of missionary efforts within the United States, called the Catholic Home Missions Appeal, will be taken up at parishes around the country on April 29-30, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced March 31.
Fraternity as a pro-life issue: Academy publishes theological reflections April 2, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, Vatican, World News If “liberty, equality and fraternity” are essential for human thriving, as has been generally accepted in the West since the Enlightenment, then the last element needs as much attention as the first two, including in Catholic theology, said leaders of the Pontifical Academy for Life.
As pope leaves hospital, he comforts couple, jokes with reporters April 1, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News The 86-year-old pope, who had been hospitalized since March 29 for treatment of bronchitis, stopped his car and got out to greet well-wishers and reporters waiting outside the hospital.
Hate crimes targeting religions on rise in Canada; crimes against Catholics increase 260 percent April 1, 2023By Francois Gloutnay OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, World News The number of hate crimes aimed at religion or the faithful of a given religious group reached an all-time high in 2021 in Canada, after decreasing for a few years.
