By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — People must stand united against the scandal of hunger while avoiding food waste and irresponsible use of the world’s resources, Pope Francis said. People should “stop thinking that our daily actions do not have an impact on the lives of those …

By John Mulderig Catholic News Service NEW YORK — The time has come, it seems, to return to Panem, the dystopian North American nation that provides the setting for the satisfying action sequel “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” (Lionsgate), just as it did for the 2012 first installment in the …

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — In an effort to better implement the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Holy See has begun to draw up its own safe-environment program for children in Vatican City State and to offer human rights courses for its …

Catholic News Service WASHINGTON  — The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Nov. 26 to take up two cases that challenge provisions of the Affordable Care Act requiring employers to provide contraceptive coverage on behalf of for-profit companies whose owners object to the mandate for religious reasons. Probably in March, the court …

By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — In his first extensive piece of writing as pope, Pope Francis lays out a vision of the Catholic Church dedicated to evangelization in a positive key, with a focus on society’s poorest and most vulnerable, including the aged and unborn. …

USCCB Release WASHINGTON—The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a “Special Message” at the conclusion of their fall General Assembly, November 13, in Baltimore. USCCB regulations regarding statements and publications define a Special Message as a statement, only issued at general meetings, that the general membership considers appropriate in …

By Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service BALTIMORE — Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., was elected as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic bishops by a wide margin. The archbishop, the current USCCB vice president, received 125 votes during the first round of balloting during the fall general …

By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON—Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Henry Mansell, 76, from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut, and named Bishop Leonard Blair, 64, of the Diocese of Toledo, Ohio, to succeed him. The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington, October 29, …

By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Amid rising expectations that the Catholic Church might make it easier for divorced and remarried members to receive Communion, the Vatican’s highest doctrinal official reaffirmed church teaching barring such persons from the sacrament without an annulment of their first, sacramental …

By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — Most U.S. Catholics are not looking for spirituality online, in fact, half of them are unaware the church even has an online presence, according to researchers at Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. The most widely used communication tool …