German bishops announce plans to bless same-sex unions, allow laypeople to baptize and preach at Mass
Another German prelate, Bishop Heiner Wilmer of Hildesheim, added his support, telling staff in his diocese: “It is of great importance to me that LGBTQ people are accompanied pastorally, spiritually,…
Signs of hope and renewal amid the dramatic decline of the Catholic Church in Ireland
“For a lot of young people who are in the faith, it’s very countercultural. It’s not like it was a few generations ago, so you really need to know your…
How the Salesians are helping youth in Syria, a country in its 12th year of civil war
All of this is aggravated by the lack of work and electricity, the rise in the price of fuel, and the devaluation of the currency. But more worrisome is the…
Church in Spain has fewer than 1,000 diocesan seminarians for first time in 21 years
Already in the 2016-2017 academic year, the number of aspirants to the priesthood fell for the first time below 1,300, and in the 2018-2019 academic year there were only 1,203.…
UPDATE: Where are Catholics allowed to eat corned beef on St. Patrick’s Day this Lent?
Here’s what he heard back: “As of Thursday, March 16, 72.6% of the dioceses — 127 — were offering some relief from the no-meat-on-Fridays-during-Lent rule for St. Patrick’s Day. “Of…
Facing hundreds of sex abuse lawsuits, Albany Diocese to declare bankruptcy
“It is very important for me to point out that the mission and ministries of the diocese and parishes will continue during the reorganization proceedings,” he said. He asked for…
Called by God from childhood, triplets from Brazil belong to the same religious order
María Gorete recalled that Lourdes then said: “When I grow up, I want to be like this sister.” “That made us feel the call even more. We grew up with…
Church in Chile says ‘no to the violence’ following arson attack by indigenous militants
“With greater effort, we continue to pray for our people, our land, our blood, and we invoke St. Joseph, patron of the diocese, his protection for all, and that, in…
Catholic gap year program in Ireland prepares young people for lifelong mission
Cullinan remembered: “I listened and I was really taken by the idea. I said, ‘This is the kind of thing we need.’” The Glencomeragh property came to the bishop’s mind,…
PHOTOS: Nighttime eucharistic adoration in St. Peter’s Square
The March adoration was led by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, OFM Conv, who is the archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica. The holy hour was offered for Pope Francis in light of…
U.S. Bishop Daniel Flores to help prepare Synod on Synodality assembly
Born in Texas, he was ordained a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Corpus Christi in 1988. In 2000, he received a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical University of…
Pro-lifers in Mexico call for ban on surrogate motherhood
Pilar Rebollo, director of Steps for Life, charged that surrogate motherhood “or any form of exploitation of female fertility violates women more than what has been done for centuries.” According…