Guantanamo Bay prison poses moral dilemma for White House

A growing chorus of voices -- from international human rights groups to grass-roots faith-based activists -- are pushing President Barack Obama to finally make good on his pledge to close the military-run prison at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba.

Supreme Court rulings set up ‘worrisome’ future, says U.S. archbishop

The "future of our democracy" is "very, very worrisome," U.S. Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone said in reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court's June 26 rulings striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act and refusing to rule on the merits of a ban on same-sex marriage in California.

Catholic leaders respond to Supreme Court ruling on marriage

A divided U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 26 that the federal Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. Catholic leaders both locally and around the country called the 5-4 ruling tragic.

Bishop Olmsted responds to Supreme Court marriage decision

The U.S. Supreme Court had the chance to uphold the importance of marriage and its fundamental role in providing for our children and the future of the United States. By striking down part of the Defense of Marriage Act and failing to uphold California’s Proposition 8, the Court has succumbed to our culture’s radical efforts to redefine marriage and, in a very real sense, is now engaged in the ongoing battle against families, society and people of faith.

U.S. bishops view Supreme Court’s rulings as ‘tragic day for marriage’

U.S. Catholic bishops said the U.S. Supreme Court's June 26 rulings on same-sex marriage were a "tragic day for marriage and our nation." The court, in separate 5-4 rulings struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, defining marriage as between one man and one woman and also refused to rule on the merits of a challenge to California's Proposition 8, the voter-approved initiative barring same-sex marriage.

Pope Francis says ‘All of us’ are equally important in the Church

The stability of the church requires that it be built on Jesus, but its beauty and strength also rely on the contributions of each and every Christian, Pope Francis said.

Supreme Court overturns DOMA, sends Prop 8 back to lower court

The federal Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, defining marriage as between one man and one woman is unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause, the Supreme Court ruled June 26 in a 5-4 opinion.

Syrian priest killed during rebel attack on Franciscan convent

A 49-year-old Syrian priest and hermit was killed June 23, apparently when a group of rebels attacked the Franciscan Convent of St. Anthony in Ghassanieh, a village in the north near the Turkish border.

Indian church groups join rescue, relief efforts in flooded northeast

Church charity groups in India joined security personnel in rescue and relief work for hundreds of thousands of people affected by flash floods and massive landslides in northeastern India's Uttarakhand state

‘Roe’ raised more questions about abortion than it resolved, says speaker

In 1973, many people thought the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision would resolve the abortion debate, but "in fact, it was no resolution at all," said the associate director of the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities.