Catholics put focus on immigrant children with rally, civil disobedience

WASHINGTON — A few hundred Catholic activists, including dozens of women religious, gathered outside at the foot of the U.S. Capitol July 18 urging politicians to stop its "inhumane treatment" of immigrant children at the border and reminding people of faith to take a stronger stand against current U.S. border policies.
Congolese church leaders urge international help to contain Ebola

OXFORD, England — Catholic representatives in Congo have urged international action to contain Ebola, after an epidemic in the country's eastern provinces was declared an emergency by the World Health Organization.
Philippine bishops call for 'ecological conversion' amid climate crisis

MANILA, Philippines — Catholic bishops in the Philippines criticized "the continuing destruction of our common home" and called for "ecological conversion" amid "climate emergency."
When Islamic State came, Iraqi monks had just finished hiding manuscripts

BEIRUT — The first time a band of Islamic State militants "visited" the monks, they presented the monks with a kind of suggestion, in a nonthreatening manner: "Why don't you become a Muslim?"
WATCH: In Amazon towns, church workers help indigenous keep languages alive

ST. IGNATIUS, Guyana — In an open-sided circular building beside the Catholic chapel in this Amerindian village, Scarboro Father Ron MacDonell was explaining how the tongue, the teeth and the vocal cords work together to produce sounds.
Plan to change how inflation is measured concerns advocates for poor

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is weighing a plan that uses a different definition of inflation to determine who lives in poverty and who does not. The plan, floated in the spring, has raised concerns among Catholic advocates for low-income and working families. They said that hundreds of thousands of people would no longer be eligible to receive assistance under federal programs if it is adopted.
Conference celebrates African American Catholics' gifts to liturgy, ministry

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Just before the July 6 closing Mass for the Archbishop Lyke Conference that seeks to enrich liturgies and ministries and promote evangelization at parishes serving Black Catholics, Andrew Lyke reflected on the legacy of his late uncle for whom the conference was named.
Bishop calls for prayers after pair of quakes rattle Californians

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Bishop Gerald R. Barnes of San Bernardino asked for prayers for those who were put in harm's way by a pair of earthquakes that struck California on consecutive days in early July.
Lavelle's Catholic alma mater cheers her goals, team's World Cup victory

WASHINGTON — Rose Lavelle skyrocketed from a star player, loping across the soccer fields at her Catholic girls high school in Cincinnati, to a superstar, scoring three goals for the U.S. women's team at the World Cup and winning the Bronze Ball as the third-best player in the tournament.
Mom says miracle in Sheen cause that saved her son a gift to whole church

PEORIA, Ill. — As Bonnie Engstrom watched lifesaving measures being taken for her son, who had been born just moments before without a pulse or drawing breath, she asked for help from the person whose prayerful support she had sought throughout her pregnancy: Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
Chicago woman's healing is miracle in Cardinal Newman's sainthood cause

CHICAGO — A few prayers to Blessed John Henry Newman became a "constant dialogue" and then a desperate response to an emergency for Melissa Villalobos of Chicago.
Greek Orthodox, Catholic leaders look at goodwill 'sister churches' share

WASHINGTON — Catholic and Greek Orthodox clergy hope to continue on a path of collaboration between their two churches with the momentum from the June 22 enthronement of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.
Northern Canadian bishops paying close attention to married priest discussion

TORONTO — When bishops convene in Rome this fall to begin discussions about ordaining married men to serve as priests in remote, indigenous communities in the Amazon, bishops in northern Canada will be listening closely.
WATCH: Indianapolis archbishop, schools' head address issues at two high schools

INDIANAPOLIS — Noting that he tries to be "Christ-centered" in every decision he makes, Archbishop Charles Thompson of Indianapolis stressed two major points as he met with reporters June 27.
Bishop tries to help migrants at international bridge in El Paso

WASHINGTON — Bishop Mark J. Seitz of the U.S. border Diocese of El Paso, Texas, walked and prayed with a group of migrants at the Lerdo International Bridge in El Paso June 27 as they sought asylum in the U.S.
Report details attacks on, abuses against religious freedom worldwide

WASHINGTON — The State Department's newly released annual report on international religious freedom shows continued attacks and abuse by governments and societies against religious minorities in their respective countries. The report, issued June 21, collected data on each nation for the year 2018. The China report itself is 87 pages long.
Pope saddened by drowning of migrant father, daughter at U.S. border

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis was saddened after seeing photos of the lifeless bodies of a migrant father and his daughter who drowned near the U.S. border with Mexico, the Vatican said.
Collars vs. Scholars

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — For the second straight year, the Brooklyn clergy showed their prowess on the softball diamond with a 2-1 win over principals and teachers of diocesan schools.
As immigration policy changes, so does work of Catholic organizations

WASHINGTON — Immigration policies rolled out during the Trump administration have spread fear among immigrant populations in the U.S., but Catholic organizations and parishes have responded with renewed efforts focused on helping those groups, a new survey says.
Historic cross on public property can stay, Supreme Court rules

WASHINGTON — In a 7-2 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of preserving a historic cross-shaped memorial in Bladensburg, Maryland saying the cross did not endorse religion.
Archbishop joins pope in calling for talks to resolve U.S.-Iran tensions

WASHINGTON — Amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services called on President Donald Trump's administration to seek "sustained dialogue ... to de-escalate the current situation that is a danger to both the region and the world."
Georgetown panel discussion examines 'a wounded church and divided nation'

WASHINGTON — An air of resignation and frustration overtook Georgetown University's Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life panel as it discussed the ongoing clergy sexual abuse crisis. It was, moderator John Carr observed, the seventh time the initiative had focused exclusively on it.
Quebec government passes Canada's strictest secularism bill

QUEBEC CITY — A new law in Quebec prohibits the wearing of religious symbols or clothing by some government employees, including public school teachers, state lawyers, judges and police officers.
Synod document raises possibility of married priests, roles for women

VATICAN CITY — The Catholic Church must find ways to reach indigenous Catholics deprived of the sacraments in the most remote areas of the Amazon rainforest, and that may include ordaining married elders, said the working document for the Synod of Bishops on the Amazon.
Bishops' actions at spring meeting called a 'work in progress'

BALTIMORE — The gathering of U.S. bishops June 11-13 in Baltimore was anything but business as usual.
WATCH: Lay groups cautious about bishops' actions to boost accountability

BALTIMORE — Representatives of lay organizations expressed caution over the steps taken by U.S. bishops to boost accountability and transparency in dealing with clergy sexual abuse, saying future actions by the bishops will determine how successful the initiatives ultimately will be.
WATCH: U.S. bishops take action to respond to church abuse crisis

BALTIMORE — During the June 11-13 spring assembly of the U.S. bishops in Baltimore, it was clear the bishops had to respond to the sexual abuse crisis in the church -- and on the last day of their gathering they approved a series of procedures to begin this process.
WATCH: Response to abuse crisis looms large

BALTIMORE — At the start of the June 11-13 spring assembly of the U.S. bishops in Baltimore, it was clear the bishops had a task at hand: to respond to the sexual abuse crisis in the church.
Bishops urged to pass 'effective' policies on accountability, transparency

WASHINGTON — When the bishops gather in Baltimore starting June 11, Bishop W. Shawn McKnight of Jefferson City, Missouri, said he's "hopeful we will have some progress made in moving the football" on the church's response to the abuse crisis by approving several proposals to hold the bishops accountable.
Bishop bars Illinois Catholic lawmakers who back abortion from Communion

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Springfield Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki issued a decree June 6 stating that Catholic lawmakers in the Illinois Legislature "who promoted or voted for extreme abortion legislation" cannot receive Communion in churches in his diocese.
Toronto Raptors' player took a shot at priesthood training

WASHINGTON — When Pascal Siakam was in his young teens attending a minor seminary in Cameroon — and mostly playing soccer in his free time — he likely never imagined he'd be playing in the NBA Finals.