IMAGE: By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — The week had been emotionally draining at the predominantly black parish in Oakland, California. Along with the rest of the country, they had felt the weight of two more fatal shootings of black men by police. Then things got worse July 7 when …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Kevin Lamarque, Reuters By WASHINGTON (CNS) — In a bipartisan 245-182 vote, House members July 13 passed the Conscience Protection Act, which would provide legal protection to doctors, nurses, hospitals and all health care providers who choose not to provide abortions as part of their health care practice. …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A mobile medical unit donated by the Vatican tours Rome’s peripheries, offering free health care to those in need. A local volunteer association of doctors, health care professionals and medical students use the white and blue-striped RV-style vehicle, which carries …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Rick Musacchio,Tennessee Register By Andy Telli NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CNS) -– Throughout his life, Msgr. Owen Campion has had a fascination with words. That fascination led him into the Catholic media as a reporter, writer and editor, a mentor to Catholic journalists, and as a liaison between the Vatican …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Will Oliver, EPA By LONDON (CNS) — An English cardinal said he was delighted by the appointment of Theresa May as Britain’s new prime minister because of the commitment she has shown in the fight against human trafficking. Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster, president of the Bishops’ Conference …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Dale Gavlak By Dale Gavlak NAOUR, Jordan (CNS) — Exuberant Syrian refugee children sang, danced and played with colorful clowns as they celebrated graduation at their Caritas-sponsored school in this sleepy suburb of the Jordanian capital, Amman. Some 170 Muslim children, ages 5-17, proudly strode up on the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Joey Kelly, EPA By Simon Caldwell MANCHESTER, England (CNS) — The British government must take “decisive and courageous steps” toward ridding the country of nuclear weapons, said the Catholic bishops of Scotland. All eight bishops issued a joint statement calling for nuclear disarmament ahead of a July 18 …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Carlo Allegri, Reuters By David Sedeno DALLAS (CNS) — In the week since five Dallas area police officers were gunned down, thousands have gathered in churches, parks, plazas, parking lots and a symphony hall to remember the fallen officers, to cry for hope and pray for peace and …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Catholic Advance By Christopher M. Riggs WICHITA, Kan. (CNS) — Brian Bergkamp, a seminarian from the Diocese of Wichita who was studying at a Maryland seminary, is believed dead after saving the life of a woman who fell into the Arkansas River July 9. By mid-day July 12, …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Jeffrey By Tom Tracy WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CNS) — Low-cost video messaging carried across increasingly video-friendly social media platforms will define this year’s World Youth Day experience, said several organizational leaders finalizing their media strategies. Due to the prevalence of smartphones and tablets, and their improved …