House OKs bill to aid genocide victims; Senate urged to act quickly on it

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The co-authors of a House bill that will provide humanitarian aid to Christians and other religious groups suffering at the hands of Islamic State militants praised the June 6 House passage of the measure and urged the Senate to quickly act on it.

Bishop dedicates new church for St. Bernadette

“From this building members of Christ’s Body, the Church, will be sent forth to bear witness to the kingdom of God,” the bishop said. “He will fill their hearts with love so that they can give it away with joy.”

Bishop ordains three young men to the priesthood

MESA — The Holy Spirit poured out extra gifts for the Diocese of Phoenix on Pentecost weekend: three new priests.

Pence addresses religious freedom at National Catholic Prayer Breakfast

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Vice President Mike Pence and other speakers addressed securing religious liberty and protecting the sanctity of human life both in the United States and worldwide, particularly in the Middle East, at the 13th annual National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington June 6.

Pentecost is celebration of unity in diversity, pope says

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Holy Spirit continues to give Christians different gifts and to call them to share those gifts with each other in a community marked by forgiveness and “unity in diversity,” Pope Francis said on Pentecost.

CDA donors strengthen prenatal, parenting bonds

Dulce Suarez credits Aid to Women Center not only for pre-and postnatal care, but parenting classes that she still attends.

Church leaders welcome leaked HHS draft lifting contraceptive mandate

WASHINGTON (CNS) — A leaked draft rule from the Department of Health and Human Services exempting religious groups from the contraceptive mandate of the Affordable Care Act was welcomed by church officials and attorneys representing the Little Sisters of the Poor, one of the groups that challenged the mandate at the U.S. Supreme Court.

John Nahrgang ordained a deacon, one step closer to priesthood

In his final minutes as a lay Catholic, seminarian John Nahrgang smiled in anticipation of the big moment. That would come immediately following the proclamation of the Gospel at the May 28 televised and livestreamed Mass at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral, when a chair was placed at the foot of the altar and Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted ordained Nahrgang — a convert to Catholicism — a deacon.

Bishops urge Trump to honor Paris climate pact to protect the planet

The United States has an obligation to honor the Paris climate agreement to protect "our people and our planet" and "mitigate the worst impacts of climate change," said the chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace.

Former André House director and Holy Cross priest named bishop for Florida diocese

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Pope Francis has named Holy Cross Father William A. Wack, a former director of André House, to be the bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee.