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Around the nation
Bishops urge prayers, political courage as health debate winds down
By Nancy Frazier O'Brien Posted: 3/19/2010
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- In the final days of the national health reform debate, U.S. bishops called for political courage and for prayers that Congress would come up with legislation that would respect human life and dignity at all stages.
Catholic Church in US, Canada among religious bodies gaining members
By Carol Zimmermann Posted: 3/19/2010
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- In the United States and Canada, membership numbers have gone up for the Catholic Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Assemblies of God, among others, according to the 2010 edition of a yearbook published by the National Council of Churches.
Second group of nuns backs bishops’ position on health care reform
By Nancy Frazier O'Brien Posted: 3/18/2010
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A coalition of U.S. women religious representing more than 100 communities said March 17 that the position on health care reform and abortion articulated by the U.S. bishops is "the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church" and should be followed.
Nuns say vote for Senate health bill would be ’life-affirming’
By Catholic News ServicePosted: 3/17/2010
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The leaders of more than four dozen U.S. congregations of women religious are urging members of Congress to "cast a life-affirming 'yes' vote" on the Senate's version of health reform legislation.
Obama tells immigration advocates he’s committed to quick reform
By Patricia Zapor Posted: 3/16/2010
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Just over a week before tens of thousands of people were expected in Washington for a rally in support of immigration reform, President Barack Obama told grass-roots and faith leaders that he remains firmly committed to passing legislation this year.
Chicago Archdiocese begins sainthood process for first black US priest
By Joyce Duriga and Daniel Smith Posted: 3/16/2010
CHICAGO (CNS) -- Father Augustine Tolton was the first U.S. priest of African descent and may one day be a saint from the Archdiocese of Chicago.
CHA backs health bill; bishops reiterate objection to abortion wording
By Nancy Frazier O'Brien Posted: 3/15/2010
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- "Despite the good" that proposed health reform legislation "intends or might achieve," concerns about the abortion wording in the Senate-passed bill compel the U.S. bishops to "regretfully hold that it must be opposed until these serious moral problems are addressed," Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago said March 15.
Diocese opens inquiry into possible miracle credited to Bishop Baraga
By Catholic News ServicePosted: 3/15/2010
MARQUETTE, Mich. (CNS) -- Nearly 60 years after his cause for canonization began and more than 140 years after his death, an alleged miracle attributed to the intercession of Bishop Frederic Baraga is under investigation.
Chaput: Kennedy’s 1960 speech damaged believers’ role in public life
By Nancy Frazier O'Brien Posted: 3/12/2010
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Although John F. Kennedy's famous speech in Houston nearly 50 years ago could be seen as "a passionate appeal for tolerance," the candidate's remarks about how his Catholicism would affect his presidency "profoundly undermined the place ... of all religious believers in America's public life," said Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver.
Different laws on same-sex marriage bring different church responses
By Nancy Frazier O'Brien Posted: 3/12/2010
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- When San Francisco passed an ordinance more than 13 years ago requiring agencies that contract with the city to provide spousal benefits to employees' domestic partners, then-Archbishop William J. Levada asked for a religious exemption, arguing that it imposed "an unconstitutional condition" on religiously affiliated organizations like Catholic Charities.
Bishops, other Catholics urge bipartisan action on health care reform
By Nancy Frazier O'Brien Posted: 3/5/2010
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- As Democratic and Republican leaders gathered in Washington for a health care summit convened by President Barack Obama, the U.S. bishops and other Catholic leaders urged all parties to commit themselves to health care reform that is affordable, accessible and protects the life and dignity of every person.
Same-sex marriage law prompts changes in agency’s employee benefits
By Mark Zimmermann Posted: 3/5/2010
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Catholic Charities of the Washington Archdiocese has told staff members that a new same-sex marriage law in the District of Columbia has forced the agency to make changes to its health care coverage for spouses of employees.
Proposed alliance for New Hampshire Catholic hospital draws criticism
By Beth Griffin Posted: 3/5/2010
NEW YORK (CNS) -- The largest Catholic hospital in New Hampshire is poised to effect a legal arrangement with a secular health provider that its supporters call a lease agreement and its detractors say is a takeover and an attack on life.
Visitation Nuns mark 400 years of life of prayer, Salesian charism
By Peggy Weber Posted: 3/5/2010
TYRINGHAM, Mass. (CNS) -- Four hundred years ago the Visitation Nuns didn't have a Web site. Nor did they release a musical CD.
Priest finds calling in bringing Christ’s presence to wounded soldiers
By Rick DelVecchio Posted: 3/5/2010
PALO ALTO, Calif. (CNS) -- To watch Capuchin Father James Stump at work is to see a Christ-centered "ministry of presence" in action as a daily routine.
Bishop appeals to US to end violence against Iraqi Christians
By Catholic News ServicePosted: 3/4/2010
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace has asked the Obama administration to ensure that the Iraqi government takes steps to protect minorities, especially Christians, in the embattled country.
Brooklyn bishop says economy, reduced revenue force changes in diocese
By Ed Wilkinson Posted: 3/4/2010
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (CNS) -- Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio March 1 called for the renewal of church life in the diocese by addressing changes he said are needed in parishes, schools and diocesan structures.
Catholic University professor to be Paralympics torchbearer
By Mark Pattison Posted: 3/3/2010
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Catholic University of America sociology professor Leszek Sibilski will serve as a torchbearer for the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games that take place March 12-21 at the same venues as the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Roman church, food play roles in author’s road back from tragedies
By Nancy Frazier O'Brien Posted: 2/28/2010
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- It was only in the quiet of Rome's Church of Santa Brigida -- a silence punctuated by the chanting of the cloistered Italian nuns living there -- that Paula Butturini was able to get angry at the tragedy that had become her life.
Catholic leaders urge bipartisan health reform, differ on time frame
By Nancy Frazier O'Brien Posted: 2/26/2010
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- As the head of the Catholic Health Association expressed hope that President Barack Obama's health care summit would "move health care reform closer to completion," the leaders of a group of Catholic physicians called on Congress to scrap the current legislative proposals and start over.
Catholic agency ends foster, adoption services in District of Columbia
By Laura Wright Posted: 2/26/2010
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington closed its 80-year-old foster care and public adoption program in the District of Columbia so the agency would not have to violate church teaching by licensing same-sex couples as foster or adoptive parents.
Cardinal: Catholics, Mormons must defend religious freedom together
By Catholic News ServicePosted: 2/26/2010
PROVO, Utah (CNS) -- Catholics and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must continue to stand together as a "vital bulwark" against those in American society who want to "reduce religion to a purely private reality," the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops told a historic gathering at Brigham Young University in Provo.
Couple celebrates birth of twin girls doctors had advised they abort
By Michael Wojcik Posted: 2/26/2010
WAYNE, N.J. (CNS) -- Perhaps the birth of the De Mayo identical twins Dec. 29 already might hint at the girls' personalities, now beginning to form: Natalia, the smaller of the two, announced her arrival into the world by screaming. Melania, the larger of the two, came out of the womb sleeping.
Benedictine monastery in Oklahoma diocese elevated to abbey
By Catholic News ServicePosted: 2/22/2010
HULBERT, Okla. (CNS) -- Our Lady of the Annunciation at Clear Creek, a Benedictine monastery near Hulbert in the Diocese of Tulsa, has been elevated to the status of abbey.
Survey finds signs of hope, challenges among younger Catholics
By Nancy Frazier O'Brien Posted: 2/19/2010
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- American Catholic adults under 30 share the commitment of older generations to philanthropy and volunteerism, but are more likely to believe that morals "are relative," according to a new survey commissioned by the Knights of Columbus.
Cardinal: Group’s support of gay marriage not authentic church teaching
By Nancy Frazier O'Brien Posted: 2/19/2010
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has denounced a Maryland-based organization for its criticism of Catholic efforts to defend marriage as the union of one man and one woman and said it does not offer "an authentic interpretation of Catholic teaching."
Bishop says Oregon hospital can no longer be called Catholic
By Ed Langlois Posted: 2/19/2010
PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) -- The Diocese of Baker has ended the church's official sponsorship of central Oregon's largest medical center, citing the hospital's refusal to adhere to some Catholic teachings.
Cell phone seen as a way to help young men hear call to priesthood
By Tami A. Quigley Posted: 2/19/2010
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (CNS) -- Allentown Bishop John O. Barres has taken a new approach to fostering vocations to the priesthood: making sure young men personally receive a call.
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