Seeking forgiveness for abortion — or not
Not all Catholic women who have had an abortion feel shame or the need to seek forgiveness from a priest. Surely some have long been reconciled, in prayer and sorrow, with a merciful, forgiving,...
View ArticlePope Francis: Gossiping is like terrorism
Pope Francis likened a person who gossips to "a terrorist who throws a bomb," telling his followers that sowing divisions is a sickness within the Church.
View ArticleAttorney: Clerk’s contempt hearing was ‘charade’
An attorney for Kentucky clerk Kim Davis said that the licenses that were handed out Friday are void and "not worth paper that they are written on."
View ArticleChurch to Europe: Don’t turn your back on refugees
Catholic aid agencies are urging Europeans not to turn against migrants seeking refuge from Syria and other countries, in what media reports describe as the continent’s greatest refugee movement since...
View ArticleTicket requirements for the pope’s Philadelphia events
Organizers faced an outcry this week over a ticket plan keeping most of Pope Francis' audience at his two biggest Philadelphia events several blocks away. Here are answers to some key questions.
View ArticleRevisiting Elm Street: Wes Craven’s first ‘Nightmare’
Wes Craven's "Nightmare on Elm Street," which subverts slasher tropes in various ways, deepens rather than subverts the genre’s moral leanings.
View ArticleAre you a fallen RC, Catholic-connected, or a cultural Catholic?
A new Pew Research survey goes beyond the standard tally of how many people say their religious identity is Catholic, asking many original questions that Pew has not studied before.
View ArticleNorthern Ireland first minister steps down amid impasse
The coalition government has been seriously weakened and may ultimately be suspended, leading to a restoration of direct British rule from Westminster.
View ArticleSome North Carolina magistrates say no to same-sex marriages
The magistrates' refusal to perform gay-marriage ceremonies comes amid a national furor unleashed by a Kentucky clerk's refusal to issue licenses to gay couples.
View ArticleBehind-the-scenes account of Vatican conflict coming in November
An Italian journalist's behind-the-scenes account of conflict between Pope Francis and opponents in the Vatican will be published in the US on Nov. 10.
View ArticleCatholic heritage sites in Pope Francis’ host cities: NYC, DC, Philly
For travelers with an interest in sacred places, here are some of the top Catholic heritage sites — including several on the pope's itinerary — in those cities.
View ArticleJoe Biden on faith and getting back up
His Catholic faith brings him solace, Vice President Joe Biden told Stephen Colbert Thursday night; comfort in the face of devastating loss.
View ArticleTaking an oath: Marriage, annulments, Kim Davis, and ‘A Man for All Seasons’
The 1966 classic starring Paul Scofield resonates with both the Kim Davis case and the pope's annulment reform in striking ways.
View ArticleThe US will show the pope its panoply of religious life
Francis will kick off his US visit with a White House reception featuring leaders of major evangelical groups, liberal Protestants, the "Nuns on the Bus" leader, and a gay Catholic blogger who says...
View ArticlePope Francis’ address to US bishops could be consequential
If the pope’s tough speeches to bishops during past apostolic visits are any indication, US bishops should prepare for more than just a papal pep rally.
View ArticleThis pope is keeping hope for change alive
The so-called “Francis Effect” lives on for those of us dissenting Catholics who feel welcomed by a pope for the first time in half a century.
View ArticlePart 4: From do-it-all pastors to 100 ministries to guide
US parishes are dealing with a 35 percent decline in priests since 1965 by taking on heavy workloads, merging parishes, using laypeople and deacons, or simply doing without a priest in a daily, weekly,...
View ArticlePope Francis souvenirs: Cheesy, snuggly, silly, solar-powered, and charitable
Creative and commercial attempts to cash in on Pope Francis' upcoming US visit this month know (almost) no limits.
View Article‘Pope Plan’ transforms Havana, a city known for decay
A whirlwind of renewal has hit the capital city, leaving people indignant that the government renovates only when a pope is about to arrive.
View ArticleMy husband and I are on different schedules. Should we choose sleep or sex?
Sex is a sacred act within a marriage, according to the Church. And as a boss of mine used to say, “You can sleep when you’re dead.”
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