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IMAGE: CNS photo/Mike Nelson, EPA By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, published several commentaries reflecting on the possibility of allowing laypeople, including women, to preach at Mass. Women already guide retreats, lead conferences and preach in some circumstances, wrote French Dominican Sister Catherine Aubin.  …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec By WASHINGTON (CNS) — A Pennsylvania grand jury report on clergy sexual abuse of hundreds of children over several decades and an Oscar win for “Spotlight,” about the Boston abuse scandal, “brought painful, but important, reminders that we must remain vigilant in our efforts to protect …

By HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. (CNS) — Bishop Mark L. Bartchak of Altoona-Johnstown committed the Pennsylvania diocese to be transparent in its efforts related to the sexual abuse of minors by clergy and to make public the names of all priests found to have a credible allegation of abuse against them and …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Kevin Lamarque, Reuters By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in its first abortion case in nine years March 2 in a challenge by Texas abortion clinics to a 2013 state law that requires them to comply with standards of ambulatory surgical …

CNA/EWTN News — Louisiana law can’t force Catholic priests to violate the seal of the confessional, a judge in the state reaffirmed on Friday. State District Judge Mike Caldwell said in court Feb. 26 that a state law requiring clergy to report sex abuse of minors violated a priest’s religious freedom protections …

IMAGE: CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano v By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Go to confession. Soon. For Pope Francis, the Year of Mercy is all about sharing the experience of God’s mercy with others. But first, he wants people to experience it themselves, in the confessional. Lent is the perfect …

By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — God’s mercy can be understood only by someone who has an open heart and recognizes his or her sins, Pope Francis said. Unfaithfulness to God “hardens the heart, it closes the heart,” the pope said March 3 during the Mass in the …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Speaking out against exploitation and unfair wages for workers, Pope Francis told benefactors to forget about donating money to the church if their earnings came from mistreating others. “Please, take your check back and burn it,” he said to applause. …

IMAGE: CNS/Nancy Wiechec By ALTOONA, Pa. (CNS) — Hundreds of children were sexually abused over at least 40 years by priests and other religious leaders in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, a statewide grand jury found. At least 50 priests or religious leaders were involved in the abuse and diocesan leaders …

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Leaders of faith communities in Baltimore, seeking healing and unity a year after the death of Freddie Gray, carried the pain and the hopes of their faithful to the Vatican, asking Pope Francis to bless their work. When Archbishop William E. Lori of …