Catholic News Agency As Christians continue to face unprecedented persecution – especially in the Middle East – the Knights of Columbus have announced a new campaign to send humanitarian aid and raise awareness about their plight. “Pope Francis has urged the international community to take action to help Christians in …

CNA/EWTN News Pope Francis has invited the youth of the world on pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2016 –and on Sunday he became the first pilgrim to register himself. “Today we open registration for the thirty-first World Youth Day, to be held next year in Poland,” he said. “I invite …

By Mark Zimmermann Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — Cardinal William W. Baum, the archbishop of Washington from 1973 to 1980, died July 23 at the age of 88 after a long illness. He was a cardinal for 39 years — the longest such tenure in U.S. church history. Cardinal Baum witnessed …

Catholic News Service JERUSALEM  — Christians in the Middle East are facing difficulties ranging from “bad” to “less bad,” said Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem. While describing the condition of the Palestinians in the West Bank as “bad,” he said their situation is better than the challenges faced by …

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY — After decades of world leaders trying to set global goals to address climate change and extreme poverty, city mayors gathered at the Vatican to pledge they will take real action and lead the fight on their streets. Pope Francis told the mayors …

By Catholic News Service  WASHINGTON — Pope Francis has named three auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and accepted the resignation of Auxiliary Bishop Gerald E. Wilkerson, 75. The changes were announced July 21 in Washington by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States. The pope …

CNA/EWTN News The Venezuelan bishops last week warned that marriage and families in their nation will be weakened as a result of a court decision ruling that spouses can divorce without any evidence of wrongdoing on either’s part. “The theoretical basis for the ruling signals a jurisprudence that can dismantle …

By Valerie Schmalz Catholic News Service  SAN FRANCISCO — A video released July 14 appears to show a top Planned Parenthood official discussing the sale of parts of aborted babies for research, including discussing ways the abortion procedure can be altered to preserve specifically requested body parts. The nearly nine-minute edited video …

By Catholic News Service DENVER — The Little Sisters of the Poor and other religious entities are not substantially burdened by procedures set out by the federal government by which they can avoid a requirement to provide contraceptive coverage in health insurance, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled July …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service  ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM PARAGUAY — Before arriving in the United States in September, Pope Francis said, he will study American criticisms of his critiques of the global economy and finance. “I have heard that some criticisms were made in the United States — I’ve …