Papal academy gives U.S. death row chaplain ‘Guardian of Life’ award
Death row inmates in Florida's prisons refer to their 6-foot-by-9-foot cell as their "house," with some having lived in their "house" for 40 years -- longer than one Catholic lay chaplain said he has lived in his family home in Tallahassee.
There is no better model of priesthood than Father Kapaun, bishop says
God put the desire to be a priest in Father Emil J. Kapaun's heart at an early age, Bishop Carl A. Kemme of Wichita, Kansas, said during a homily Sept. 26 in Pilsen, the hometown of the war-hero priest and sainthood candidate.
Catholics asked to ‘move from indifference to solidarity’ with migrants
Auxiliary Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville of Washington urged people to take up Pope Francis' invitation to "move from indifference to solidarity" to be better understand the plight of migrant people and refugees around the world.
Dialogue needed in addressing vaccine hesitancy, Vatican official says
While men and women have a responsibility to be vaccinated against COVID-19, they also have a responsibility to engage in dialogue with those who are hesitant, rather than trying to force them, said Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia.
Pope says Vatican II shaped his theology, including in social teaching
Pope Francis said the Second Vatican Council so shaped his theological and pastoral vision that perhaps he has not been as explicit as he should have been in highlighting those ties, especially when it comes to his contributions to Catholic social teaching.
St. Joseph, protector of Holy Family, is model for 2021 Respect Life Month
As part of the Year of St. Joseph declared by Pope Francis, the U.S. Catholic Church's annual Respect Life Month celebration in October "highlights the example of that great saint" as protector of life, said the chairman of the U.S. bishops' pro-life committee.
At bicentennial, pope urges Mexicans to focus on present, future
Pope Francis called on Mexicans to focus on the present and look to the future rather than dwelling on the past as the country celebrates the bicentennial of its independence.
Bishops urge Mexico to return to policy of ‘open arms’
The Mexican bishops' migrant ministry has called on the federal government to return to a policy of "open arms" as the country experiences heavy waves of migration -- most visibly with Haitians, who recently traveled the length of Mexico to the U.S. border in large numbers.
Court’s new term to look at abortion, death penalty, religious liberty
The U.S. Supreme Court's new term, starting Oct. 4, returns to its standard routine: hearing arguments in person and taking on hot-button issues.
Defend life, promote access to health care for all, pope says
The fear, sickness, death, mourning and economic impacts of COVID-19 should make people who are relatively well off and have access to health care think about "what it means to be vulnerable and live in precariousness on a daily basis," Pope Francis told members of the Pontifical Academy for Life.
