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US bishops ask Supreme Court to protect Catholic foster agency in Philadelphia

Washington D.C., Jun 4, 2020 / 04:27 pm MT (CNA).- In a brief filed with the Supreme Court, the U.S. bishops argued that a Catholic agency should not be banned from participation in the Philadelphia foster care system due to its beliefs on marriage. “The Catholic Church serves orphans through …
Catholic fraternal groups call for prayer and justice amid George Floyd protests

CNA Staff, Jun 4, 2020 / 06:10 pm MT (CNA).- The Knights of Columbus have announced a forthcoming novena for an end to racism, as Catholic fraternal organizations urge prayer and justice amid burgeoning civic unrest that began with the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed …
How one Catholic priest responded to the ’92 LA riots

by Michelle La Rosa Denver Newsroom, Jun 4, 2020 / 03:11 am MT (CNA).- In the spring of 1992, then-Father David O’Connell was comfortable in parish life in south LA. The Irish-born priest had served the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for more than a decade by then, and he was …
Detroit archdiocese’s parish restructuring aims for more than mergers

CNA Staff, Jun 3, 2020 / 04:01 pm MT (CNA).- The Archdiocese of Detroit has announced a major restructuring process that could combine over 200 parishes into “family” groupings that aim to alter and, perhaps, avoid, aspects of the parish merger model. “Even before the pandemic, we knew God wanted …
Catholic parish offers sanctuary amid Minneapolis riots

by Anna Wilgenbusch Minneapolis, Minn., Jun 2, 2020 / 04:17 pm MT (CNA).- When protests following the death of George Floyd turned violent Thursday night, a small Catholic parish in Minneapolis became a refuge for neighbors who didn’t feel safe in their homes. St. Albert the Great Parish, located in …
Pope Francis prays for the soul of George Floyd and for peace and justice in US

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Jun 3, 2020 / 02:45 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis said Wednesday that he is praying for the soul of George Floyd and all victims of racism, adding that nothing is gained by violence. “Dear brothers and sisters in the United States, I have witnessed …
Nuns praying for looters after attack on Catholic bookstore

by Matt Hadro Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 2, 2020 / 06:00 am MT (CNA).- On Saturday, protests in Chicago over the death of George Floyd turned violent. As rioters targeted the city’s Magnificent Mile shopping district, shattering glass and raiding stores, they picked an unlikely target: A bookstore run by …
Archbishop Gomez on racism: ‘It should not be this way in America’

CNA Staff, Jun 1, 2020 / 11:35 am MT (CNA).- Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles condemned violence and racism on Sunday and called for peaceful protests. The leader of the country’s largest Catholic diocese and the president of the U.S. bishops’ conference addressed the weekend’s violence and civil unrest, …
Vatican Museums reopening unveils restored Raphael Rooms

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Jun 2, 2020 / 03:01 am MT (CNA).- The Vatican Museums reopened Monday revealing newly restored frescoes in the Raphael Rooms depicting scenes from early Church history to the public. “Today is a way that we can in some way share [beauty] with the entire …
Venezuelan bishops: Country’s situation is ‘unacceptable’

CNA Staff, May 31, 2020 / 12:10 pm MT (CNA).- The Venezuelan bishops published an exhortation May 28 calling for “a consensus among all and an inclusive national accord” to save the country from “immense national, material, institutional and social catastrophe.” Under the socialist administration of President Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela …