Decline of civil society, community seen as ‘spiritual crisis’ for nation
IMAGE: CNS photo/Michael Reynolds, Reuters By Carolyn Mackenzie WASHINGTON (CNS) — Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has initiated the Social Capital Project, a research effort that examines the importance of “associational life,” which includes families, religious congregations and other communities. The project found that civil society has declined in America, and …
Religious order welcomes gas pipeline opponents to pray at new ‘chapel’
IMAGE: CNS photo/Mark Clatterbuck, cour By Dennis Sadowski WASHINGTON (CNS) — As chapels go, the simple structure on property owned by the Adorers of the Blood of Christ congregation in Columbia, Pennsylvania, is not much. It’s more of an arbor, really: four posts and several cross boards built on property …
Cardinal hopes church’s history of survival in Iraq will help its future
IMAGE: CNS photo/Robert Duncan By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — To understand the current situation in Iraq — the evolving and complex conflicts there, and the fear and resilience of its Christians — one has to understand its past, which is often ignored or unknown in the West, said …
Cardinal Schonborn: Church doing best to strengthen families of all types
IMAGE: CNS photo/Liam Burke courtesy Pr By Sarah Mac Donald LIMERICK, Ireland (CNS) — The Catholic Church is doing whatever it can to strengthen the family, including families often considered nontraditional, said Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna, the theologian who reviewed Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on the family. “Favoring the …
Saying goodbye to Father Chris Coleman

Church Bells have rung out throughout the centuries marking the passage of time. On some occasions, they ring in joyously. On others, they’re a call to prayer. On a cloudy, humid Friday in Cincinnati, the bells tolled for the passing of a priest, a brother, a friend: Father Chris Coleman. …
Aspiring religious delay entry to pay off debt
IMAGE: CNS photo/Colleen Dulle By Colleen Dulle WASHINGTON (CNS) — For some aspiring priests and religious, the biggest obstacle to pursuing their vocation is student debt. Because many religious orders do not accept members with outstanding debts, 42 percent of individuals discerning religious life in the U.S. are barred from …
Former doctrine chief denies false account of papal meeting
By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The former head of the Vatican’s doctrine office denied reports claiming he was dismissed by Pope Francis due to differences in doctrinal matters. In a story in the German Catholic newspaper Die Tagespost, journalist Guido Horst said Cardinal Gerhard Muller “could not …
Helping teachers become disciples Vocare online catechetical training aims to form teachers who follow Christ

The archdiocese’s new online certification program for catechists, Vocare, will launch this month for Catholic parish catechists, principals and teachers. Developed over 18 months after five years of researching how to best deliver catechetical training in the archdiocese, Vocare (pronounced “voh-CAHR-ay”) will add ongoing formation to one-time training. It will …
Journal: Strip religious garb, fundamentalist tones from U.S. political power
IMAGE: CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — U.S. politics have become increasingly colored by an apocalyptic world view, promoted by certain fundamentalist Christians, that fosters hatred, fear and intolerance, said an influential Jesuit magazine. In fact, this world view shares some similarities with Islamic fundamentalism since …
New fund to grant $2 million+ in tuition aid this fall

The historic One Faith, One Hope, One Love capital campaign conducted in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati by the Catholic Community Foundation will disburse its first tuition grants this fall. Spokesmen for the archdiocese say the student aid program funded by the campaign will allocate more than $2 million for tuition …