IMAGE: CNS photo/Natalie Hoefer, The Criterion By Natalie Hoefer WASHINGTON (CNS) — In a new letter to members of Congress, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, outlined a sweeping package of changes in pending tax reform legislation to ensure the final bill is “morally acceptable.” Bishop Dewane, chairman of …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Father Nate Wills By Mary C. Uhler MADISON, Wis. (CNS) — When the Wisconsin Badgers’ football team travels to the Orange Bowl to play Miami Dec. 30, the players will take a 12-1 record with them — one of the best in team history. Accompanying them will be …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Carlo Allegri, Reuters By Dennis Sadowski WASHINGTON (CNS) — In Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida, California and Mexico City, recovery was slow and deep pain remained from a string of natural disasters as 2017 ended. Hurricanes, wildfires and earthquakes from August through December caused widespread destruction and claimed hundreds …

By Carol Glatz ROME (CNS) — With so much suffering, poverty and exploitation in the world, missionary work must also include reaching out to people whose hearts are closed to receiving immigrants and refugees, Pope Francis told Jesuits in Myanmar. “Unfortunately, in Europe there are countries that have chosen to …

By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — While the thought of receiving a blessing by text from Pope Francis could have millions of mobile users glued to their smartphones, the Vatican spokesman said that isn’t his style. The spokesman, Greg Burke, issued a statement on Twitter Dec. 13 saying …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Tony Gentile, Reuters By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Just like a plant needs sun and nourishment to survive, every Christian needs the light of Sunday and the sustenance of the Eucharist to truly live, Pope Francis said. “How can we carry out the Gospel without drawing …

By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which mirrored that of the indigenous people of the time, is a sign of Mary’s closeness to those who are marginalized, Pope Francis said. Like St. Juan Diego, who felt of no importance at being …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Melissa Vida By Melissa Vida SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (CNS) — In San Salvador’s traffic jams or at work, people turn on Radio YSAX to listen to Blessed Oscar Romero’s homilies, just as they did over 30 years ago. “I listen to this radio station in Romero’s honor, …

By WASHINGTON (CNS) — The Archdiocese of Washington was weighing its options after a federal judge denied a request for an emergency injunction over the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s advertising guidelines. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson Dec. 8 denied the archdiocese’s request that WMATA be required to post …

IMAGE: CNS photo/John E. Kozar, CNEWA By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Catholic Church’s care for the sick, especially through Catholic-run hospitals, is an antidote to “the business mentality that is seeking worldwide to turn health care into a profit-making enterprise,” Pope Francis said. In his message for …