Experts in history, philosophy, sociology, political science, psychology and education came together at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University April 17-19 to present talks including: the effects of mass violence waged by colonial powers; the misuse of the memory of the Holocaust; sexual predation in the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages; and slave holding by Jesuits in the the United States.

The Catholic Church’s charismatic renewal is a movement of the Holy Spirit to “bring about a church that is on fire” with God’s love, the new head of the Holy See’s official charismatic body told OSV News.

Catholic bioethicists are sounding the alarm about a critical lack of agreement on what constitutes brain death; and the implications for organ donation are “profound,” they said.

Respecting and loving the earth as well as seeking direct contact with nature “are values that we need so much today as we discover ourselves increasingly powerless before the consequences of irresponsible and short-sighted exploitation of the planet,” he told members of the Italian Catholic Movement of Adult Scouts.

Amid her suffering, Sister Joaquína recounted the most memorable birth stories of her ministry.

A Knights of Columbus council reportedly has called for the removal of artwork by Father Marko Rupnik at a national shrine, following the disgraced priest’s decades-long legacy of sexual and spiritual abuse claims by multiple victims.

By any measure, Louis Anthony “Lou” Conter, a Catholic hero of World War II who died April 1 at his home in Grass Valley, Calif., at age 102, led a celebrated life.

Peace can spread and grow from “small seeds” like including someone who is left out of an activity, showing concern for someone who is struggling, picking up some litter and praying for God’s help, Pope Francis told Italian schoolchildren.

Republican lawmakers in Arizona’s Legislature chose different responses to the question of whether to repeal the state’s 1864 law banning abortion April 17. Some Republicans in the state Senate allowed that chamber to proceed to a repeal vote, while Republicans in the state House blocked a comparable effort.

Planned Parenthood’s latest annual report shows an increase in abortions from the previous year, while also showing a decrease in health services.