Pope leads Good Friday liturgy, begins rite in silent prayer, adoration
Lying prostrate on the floor before the main altar of St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis celebrated the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion. The pope presided at the service March 29 to commemorate Christ's death on the cross.
Self-absorption is root of evils within church, future pope said
Evils within the church are caused by a self-centeredness and "theological narcissism" that forget to share Christ with people outside of the church, Pope Francis said in the days before his election.
British Catholic legislators ask pope to relax priestly celibacy rule
Twenty-one Catholic members of Parliament have written to Pope Francis to ask him to relax the rule on priestly celibacy for Latin-rite priests.
Advocates working to keep needs of poor foremost in U.S. budget debate
Republicans and Democrats set spending parameters for fiscal year 2014 by adopting two starkly different budget plans before recessing a week before Easter. What's expected when Congress returns April 8 is a lengthy debate over whether austerity and lower taxes or modest adjustments in government spending supplemented with selected tax law changes to boost revenues is the way to go.
Pope Francis says good priests bring joy, comfort to those in need
Pope Francis called on the world's priests to bring the healing power of God's grace to everyone in need, to stay close to the marginalized and to be "shepherds living with the smell of the sheep."
Lawyer says judge’s order affects religious liberty of all Missourians
A federal judge's decision to strike down portions of a Missouri law protecting conscience rights of those who object to coverage of contraceptives and abortifacients in their health plans attacks the conscience rights and religious liberty of all Missouri citizens, said the state's Catholic conference.
Arizona Right to Life hires interim leadership
The state’s oldest pro-life outreach has a new face overseeing day-to-day operations. Mary Peterson accepted the role of interim executive director for Arizona Right...
After clashes in Mali, bishop says country faces ‘grave danger’
A Catholic bishop in Mali has warned his country still faces "grave danger" after new clashes between French troops and Islamist insurgents.
Bishop criticizes Catholic health plan for following HHS mandate
Bishop Paul J. Swain of Sioux Falls criticized a South Dakota Catholic health care plan's decision to comply with the federal contraceptive mandate for some of its clients, saying the situation "creates public scandal."
Pope washes feet of 12 young detainees to serve them ‘from the heart’
Pope Francis told young inmates that, just as Jesus came to help and serve others, he, too, was at their service as a priest and bishop.
