IMAGE: CNS photo/Chaz Muth By Chaz Muth MOSCOW, Pa. (CNS) — Bob Simon fell in love with two things at the age of 5 — the Catholic Church and building with Lego. Now, as a 51-year-old priest, Father Simon has discovered a way to merge both of these passions.  The …

IMAGE: CNS/Reuters By Dennis Sadowski WASHINGTON (CNS) — With his election as speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Paul Ryan may have taken the most difficult job in American politics. The Wisconsin Republican is faced with keeping his party’s conference unified as he takes a position that places him …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Diego Azubel, EPA By BEIJING (CNS) — China’s Communist Party leaders announced they would change the nation’s one-child policy, which most strictly applied to Han Chinese living in urban areas of the country. The Oct. 29 announcement was contained in a Xinhua news agency report on the Communist …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Roman Pilipey, EPA By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Catholic Church has long defended the family as the basic unit of society and as a “school of humanity.” The family as a bastion of love and protection in times of war and disaster is a reality, …

IMAGE: CNS photo/M. Migliorato, Catholic Press Photo By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said an apostolic exhortation on the family following the recently concluded Synod of Bishops could be released soon. “I imagine that it won’t take long because usually these …

By MILWAUKEE (CNS) — The Archdiocese of Milwaukee has reached a $21 million settlement with abuse survivors, according to an Aug. 4 announcement. The settlement is part of an agreement on a reorganization plan reached by the archdiocese and the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, which has sought compensation for …

IMAGE: CNS photo/M. Migliorato, Catholi By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The improved relations between Jews and Catholics prove that openness and humility can transform even the most poisonous rapport between religions into genuine fraternal respect, a leading rabbi said. “If such a bad relationship — which it …

IMAGE: CNS/Reuters By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The world expects all people of religious faith to work with everyone for a better future, Pope Francis told representatives of major religions. “We can walk together taking care of each other and of creation” in joint projects that fight poverty, …

By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Catholics are more fortunate than the Old Testament prophets were because in the Eucharist they experience Jesus’ closeness and know that God is not far off on a lofty throne, Pope Francis told thousands of altar servers from across Europe. “In the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Sarah Webb, CatholicPhilly.com By Cindy Wooden WASHINGTON (CNS) — When Pope Francis makes a stop at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia in September as part of his U.S. visit, it may seem like part of the pope’s usual routine. His visits to prisons as part of his …