IMAGE: CNS photo/Garry Lotulung, Reuters By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In the heart of Vatican City, dozens of women from around the world gathered to share their stories of faith and activism. A few men were in attendance, but Pope Francis and top members of the Roman Curia …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Mary D. Dillard, One Voice By Mary Dillard BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (CNS) — Religious leaders, civic leaders and community members came together March 3-4 for a conference on “Black & White in America: How Deep the Divide?” in Birmingham. Held at Beeson Divinity School at Samford University, the conference …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Sid Hastings, St. Louis Review By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — Catholic schools in the United States are falling short in serving the growing number of Latino Catholics, according to a new report released March 7. The Boston College report, “Catholic Schools in an Increasingly Hispanic Church,” looks …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Stringer, EPA By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The four Missionaries of Charity murdered March 4 in Yemen “are the martyrs of today,” Pope Francis said. “They gave their blood for the church.” After reciting the Angelus with thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square March …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By David Agren MEXICO CITY (CNS) — An Archdiocese of Mexico City publication questioned a rebuke from Pope Francis, in which he criticized Mexico’s bishops for living like princes and resting on their laurels and called on them to fight “as men, face-to-face” if they do fight …

IMAGE: CNS photo/EPA, via Coalition of Physicians for Social Justice By OTTAWA, Ontario (CNS) — The Catholic archbishops in two of Canada’s largest English-speaking dioceses stepped up their campaign against euthanasia and assisted suicide, calling the faithful to action. Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto and Archbishop Terrence Prendergast of Ottawa …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Rich Kalonick, Catholic Extension By CHICAGO (CNS) — Dominican Sister Gabriella Williams in the Diocese of San Bernardino, California, gives her heart and soul to her ministry with migrant field workers, hourly laborers and their families living in trailer parks in California’s Coachella Valley. Sister Rita Schonhoff, a …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Piyal Adhikary, EPA By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis will preside over a consistory to approve the canonization of five men and women, including Blessed Teresa of Kolkata, the Vatican announced. The March 15 consistory will also determine the approval of canonization of Argentine …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Kevin Lamarque, Reuters By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — The U.S. Supreme Court stepped into some contentious waters March 2 when it heard oral arguments on abortion for the first time in nearly a decade and almost 25 years since it issued a major ruling on abortion. But …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Max Rossi, Reuters By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Exercise a little courage and go to confession, turn away from selfishness and sin and back to God during the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis urged people at a Lenten penance service. “When our desire to be healed …