IMAGE: CNS photo/Darrell Sapp, courtesy Pittsburgh Post-Gazette By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — When Father David Poulson of the Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty Oct. 17 to felony counts in connection with sexual assaults against one boy and the attempted assault of another boy, Jim VanSickle was there to …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Saints are not just the well-known men, women and young people on the liturgical calendar, Pope Francis said on the feast of All Saints. They include simple people "from next door, our relatives and acquaintances who now are part …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec By TULSA, Okla. (CNS) — Halloween is an opportunity for Catholics "to express in every detail of our observance the beauty and depth of the feast of All Saints," said Bishop David A. Konderla of Tulsa. It is important to maintain "the Catholic meaning and purpose …

IMAGE: CNS photo/SRahat Dar, EPA By ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNS) — Pakistan’s Supreme Court has set aside the death sentence of Asia Bibi, a Catholic convicted of blasphemy, and ordered her release from prison. A three-member court bench announced the verdict Oct. 31. The apex court ruled that Bibi be released …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Stefano Rellandini, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Sixth Commandment’s mandate against adultery is a call to fidelity that applies not only to married couples, but to all Christians called to love others through their vocation, Pope Francis said. Married men and women, priests …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Michael Alexander, Georgia Bulletin By Nichole Golden ATLANTA (CNS) — Margaret Alsup of Cumming always considered her nun dolls to be like friends. So, when it came time to look for a permanent home for her beloved figurines in late 2017, she found a place that would help …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — "Synodality," a key concept of Pope Francis’ papacy, was used repeatedly in the final document of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocation discernment. In simple terms, "synodality" means "walking together" with every member of …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Adrees Latif, Reuters By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — As a group from Central America heads to the border between the U.S. and Mexico, the Trump administration is said to be getting ready to send troops to meet them and Catholic groups are asking that the migrants be …

IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Contemplative Outreach By SPENCER, Mass. (CNS) — A funeral Mass will be celebrated Nov. 3 at St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer for Trappist Father Thomas Keating, a leading figure in the centering prayer movement that got its start in the 1970s. He died Oct. 25 at the …

By Christopher Wells At the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Francis expressed his closeness to the city of Pittsburgh, USA, and especially to the Jewish community there. Eleven people were killed, and several others were wounded, on in a shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in the neighborhood of Squirrel …