IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Carter Habitat for Humanity By Catherine M. Odell SOUTH BEND, Ind. (CNS) — Although stormy skies often interrupted the hammering and sent volunteers ducking for tents, a Habitat for Humanity event in Indiana pulled together almost 2,000 volunteers, generous contributions, celebrities and faith groups. Former U.S. President …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Pete Sheehan YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (CNS) — On his first day back at work Sept. 4, Bishop George V. Murry of Youngstown spoke happily of his return, but he also addressed the somber subject of the sex abuse crisis now in the news. In April, he …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Seng Mai, EPA By MANDALAY, Myanmar (CNS) — 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. Speaking Sept. 1 at a peace forum in South …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Dave Hrbacek, The Catholic Spirit By Jonathan Liedl MINNEAPOLIS (CNS) — Lino Rulli doesn’t have any children of his own. Married two years ago, the 46-year-old and his wife, Jill, are hoping that changes soon. But the Minnesota native and Catholic media personality is already the pater familias …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Ross D. Franklin, Pool via Reuters By WASHINGTON (CNS) — Jesuit Father Edward Reese, the president of St. Ignatius Prep School in San Francisco, offered prayers in both Phoenix and Washington, including a homily at the National Cathedral in Washington, after the death of John McCain, the senator …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Jaclyn Lippelmann, Catholic Standard By Mark Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — 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. In remarks after …

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Jesus himself showed that the best way to respond to scandal and divisiveness is to stay silent and pray, Pope Francis said Sept. 3 as he resumed his early morning Masses with invited guests. “With people lacking good will, with people who seek …

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Water is a gift of God that makes life possible and yet millions of people do not have access to safe drinking water, and rivers, seas and oceans continue to be polluted, Pope Francis said. “Care for water sources and water basins is …

By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) — 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 …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Jenna Teter, The Texas By David Sedeno DALLAS (CNS) — Dallas Bishop Edward J. Burns has asked Pope Francis for an extraordinary synod to address issues in the latest Catholic clergy sex abuse crisis, including “abuse of power, clericalism, accountability and the understanding of transparency in the church.” …