Only defense against devil, hatred is word of God, humility, pope says

Dialogue doesn't work with the devil; the only defense is the word of God, humility and meekness, especially in response to his works of hatred and persecution, Pope Francis said.

Pope celebrates diversity of popular piety, unity of Church

Pope Francis celebrated popular piety as a means of transmitting the faith and cultivating it in ordinary Catholics but said such piety must be practiced in communion with the hierarchy in order to maintain the church's unity.

R.I.’s same-sex marriage law is ‘serious injustice,’ archbishop says

The legalization of same-sex marriage in Rhode Island May 2 was described as a "serious injustice" by the chairman of the U.S. bishops' Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage.

Pope: Mary is a mother who helps Christians grow

Mary is a mother who helps Christians grow, face the difficulties of life and use their freedom to make lasting commitments, Pope Francis said. Marking Catholics' traditional celebration of May as the month of Mary, Pope Francis led the recitation of the rosary May 4 at the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

Foster care crucial for unaccompanied minors

GLENDALE — As a child, Johnson Toe spent 12 hours a day farming okra, rice, tomatoes and peppers on his grandmother’s farm in Liberia. The...

Second Catholic mortuary opens in diocese

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted blessed and dedicated Holy Cross Catholic Mortuary April 20. The 22,000-square-foot facility, at the southwest corner of 99th Avenue and Thomas Road, joins Queen of Heaven in Mesa in offering mortuary and cremation services for burial or interment at any cemetery.

FDA ‘acted irresponsibly’ in lowering age for emergency contraceptives

The Food and Drug Administration "acted irresponsibly" with its decision to lower the age limit from 17 to 15 for purchasing an over-the-counter emergency contraceptive, said an official of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Pope Francis welcomes retired Pope Benedict back to Vatican

For the first time in history, the Vatican is home to a pope and a retired pope. Pope Francis welcomed his predecessor, retired Pope Benedict XVI, to the Vatican May 2 outside the convent remodeled for the 86-year-old retired pontiff and five aides.

Bishops hail repeal of capital punishment in Maryland

One U.S. Catholic bishop hailed the repeal of the death penalty in Maryland as "a courageous step toward a culture of life." The comment, by Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, Calif., chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, was issued May 2, the day Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Democrat, signed the bill that repeals capital punishment.

Saying ‘yes’ to God’s love makes saying ‘no’ to sin easier, pope says

The Christian faith is about saying "yes" to God's love and forgiveness in a way that saying "no" to sin will come naturally, Pope Francis said at his early morning Mass.