Washington state's Supreme Court strikes down death penalty

SEATTLE — The Catholic bishops of Washington state Oct. 11 applauded the unanimous decision of the state Supreme Court striking down the death penalty as unconstitutional.
El Salvador celebrates its first saint, whose legacy continues

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Near the end of his homily at a Mass just prior to St. Oscar Romero's canonization, Jesuit Father Jose Maria Tojeira yelled to the crowd outside the Metropolitan Cathedral: "Viva Monsenor Romero!" (Long live Bishop Romero!) The overflow crowed lustily yelled back, "Que Viva!" (Long live!)
Diocese moving from prayer to action in wake of Hurricane Michael

PENSACOLA, Fla. — In the wake of Hurricane Michael, which left 13 known dead and more than 1 million without power two days after it ravaged the Florida panhandle, the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, whose territory was smack in the path of the Category 4 storm, is moving from prayer to action.
Pope accepts Cardinal Wuerl's resignation as Washington archbishop

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl as archbishop of Washington but did not name a successor. When the pope's decision was announced Oct. 12, the Archdiocese of Washington released a letter from Pope Francis to the cardinal, making clear his support for Cardinal Wuerl's ministry and leadership, but also praising the cardinal for putting the good of the church first.
Kavanaugh says he feels no 'bitterness' over confirmation process

WASHINGTON — New Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh said Oct. 8 he has no "bitterness" over a contentious confirmation process that ultimately ended with a Senate vote Oct. 6 to confirm him for the seat on the high court left vacant by the July 31 retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy.
Cardinal Ouellet responds to Archbishop Vigano on McCarrick case

VATICAN CITY— Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington had been told by Vatican officials to withdraw from public life because of rumors about his sexual misconduct, said Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops. However, because they were only rumors and not proof, then-Pope Benedict XVI never imposed formal sanctions on the retired Washington prelate, which means Pope Francis never lifted them, Cardinal Ouellet wrote Oct. 7 in an open letter to Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the former Vatican nuncio to the United States.
Call for senators' 'miserable death' seen as more than 'free speech' issue

WASHINGTON — A Georgetown University associate professor's tweets that white Republican men should die a "miserable death" for supporting Judge Brett Kavanaugh's nomination for the Supreme Court is more than just about free speech, said the head of Students for Life of America.
California governor vetoes measure to extend statute of limitations

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a measure Sept. 30 that would have extended the state's statute of limitations for decades for childhood sexual abuse survivors.
Panel confronts church abuse crisis, urges laity to lead way forward

WASHINGTON — A panel discussion Sept. 25 at Georgetown University on the current church crisis was akin to a very large parish town hall meeting. Panelists and audience members alike shared their pain, shock and complete frustration with recent allegations of abuse and cover-up by church leaders and they also showed a strong desire to somehow forge a path out of this.
Band of friars and nuns from Brazil finds ways to feed LA's homeless

LOS ANGELES — Friar Benjamin of the Most Holy Trinity walked down Towne Avenue in Skid Row, one hand wheeling an ice chest filled with oranges and bottled water, the other clutching plastic bags of peanut butter and ham and cheese sandwiches, chips and fruit snacks.
Today is 'hour of the laity,' Archbishop Gomez tells Encuentro delegates

GRAPEVINE, Texas — Hispanic Catholic leaders are living an important moment in the history of the Catholic church in the U.S. and are called to rise and continue the work of building the church, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez said Sept. 23.
Vatican signs provisional agreement with China on naming bishops

For the first time in decades, all of the Catholic bishops in China are in full communion with the pope, the Vatican announced.
Continue to be an evangelizing church, nuncio tells Encuentro delegates

GRAPEVINE, Texas — Quoting from Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation "The Joy of the Gospel," Archbishop Christophe Pierre encouraged Hispanic Catholic leaders and bishops to continue working toward being an evangelizing church by seeking an encounter with Christ and taking initiative while accompanying those on the peripheries.
New saints highlight care for poor, zeal for Gospel

VATICAN CITY — Hundreds of thousands of people around the world will celebrate when Pope Francis formally declares that Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador, El Salvador, are saints.
In homily, priest says he was abused, hears from dozens of victims

WASHINGTON — To be a voice for victims of clerical sexual abuse, Father Brendan McGuire realized he had to come to terms with the abuse he suffered at the hands of a priest when he was 18. It was a secret he had held for 35 years.
Carolinas brace for hurricane; seminary dedication is set to go on

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With Hurricane Florence bearing down on the Carolinas, leaders in the Diocese of Charlotte leaders began taking precautions and staying in the loop with North Carolina emergency management officials.
Church officials in Philippines prepare 'surge team' for super typhoon

MANILA, Philippines — The social action arm of the Philippine Catholic Church has convened its "surge team" as super Typhoon Mangkhut threatened the country in mid-September.
Clergy sex abuse not about gay priests, top psychologist says

PHILADELPHIA — Misconceptions people may have about sexual abuse, sexual harassment and homosexuality as elements of the ongoing crisis in the church can hinder efforts to address it, according to a leading psychologist and expert on the crisis.
Another legal fight likely looms over child immigration detention

WASHINGTON — In what is likely to result in another legal showdown over immigration, the Trump administration is seeking to set down new rules that would allow government officials to detain children in immigration detention facilities -- this time accompanied by their undocumented parents -- for longer periods of time than currently allowed.
New York latest to launch probe of church sex abuse records

WASHINGTON — The New York State Office of the Attorney General is the latest to announce that it is launching an investigation of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic Church clergy, and at least two of the state's eight dioceses confirmed receiving subpoenas seeking access to its records.
Cardinal Bo slams Myanmar military for brutality in Kachin

MANDALAY, Myanmar — Myanmar's military continues to persecute ethnic Kachin, the predominant Christian group in a conflict-torn part of the country, as well as Rohingya Muslims, said Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon, Myanmar.
At hearing, Kavanaugh highlights his Catholic Charities' volunteer work

WASHINGTON — During the second day of his Supreme Court confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee Sept. 5, U.S. Appeals Court Judge Brett Kavanaugh said his experience serving the homeless with Catholic Charities and tutoring at Washington Jesuit Academy has influenced him as a judge because of the importance of "standing in the shoes of others."
Social justice Catholic group's letter objects to Kavanaugh nomination

WASHINGTON — A Sept. 4 letter signed by more than 1,500 Catholic nuns, priests and other church leaders from around the country addressed to U.S. senators voiced concerns about Judge Brett Kavanaugh, a fellow Catholic, as he faced confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill in early September that may result in a seat for him on the Supreme Court of the United States.
Cardinal Wuerl addresses church's 'pain, confusion and disillusionment'

WASHINGTON — Addressing the clergy abuse crisis in the church will require "wider lay engagement, more realized accountability and evident transparency," said Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl at the end of a Sept. 2 Mass in Washington.
Former nuncio now says sanctions against McCarrick were 'private'

ROME — Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the former nuncio to the United States who called on Pope Francis to resign for allegedly lifting sanctions placed on Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick, now says those "sanctions" were "private" and neither he nor now-retired Pope Benedict XVI ever was able to enforce them.
Australian bishops, religious say seal of confession is sacred

SYDNEY — Australia's Catholic bishops and religious orders, responding to recommendations from the Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, accepted 98 percent of its suggestions, but said they could not accept recommendations that would violate the seal of confession.
San Jose bishop says he won't move into $2.3 million home

WASHINGTON — San Jose Bishop Patrick J. McGrath said he won't move into a five-bedroom home he was set to live in when he retired after news reports in California revealed its price tag: $2.3 million.
Catholic psychologist, abuse survivor, offers abuse advice for families

WASHINGTON — After recent reports describing clergy sex abuse, Paul Peloquin, a Catholic clinical psychologist and a clergy abuse survivor, shared advice for victims and their families.
Slovak teen to be beatified as martyr to purity

A 16-year-old peasant girl will be beatified as a martyr in Slovakia, seven decades after she was shot in front of her family for resisting rape by a drunken Soviet soldier.
Victims say they felt hurt by fellow Catholics' lack of compassion

WASHINGTON — Sexual assault victims say they were hurt not only by individual priests, but by church officials and ordinary Catholics who treated them with intolerance and indifference.
Priests' group says it's 'sad, angry, frustrated' by abuse scandals

WASHINGTON — The Association of U.S. Catholic Priests said its members are "sad ... angry ... frustrated" over continued reports involving fellow priests and a lack of accountability by bishops.
Cardinal says 'sorrow, disgust, rage' are 'righteous' reactions to abuse

CHICAGO — "Sorrow, disgust, outrage -- these are righteous feelings" for all to have in reaction to the latest abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich said in an Aug. 17 statement.