IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Nichols, Catholic Moment By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Choosing new members of the College of Cardinals, Pope Francis once again looked to countries and particularly to dioceses that were not and never had been represented in the body that advises the pope and bears responsibility …

By John Woods NEW YORK (CNS) — The Archdiocese of New York has initiated a voluntary Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program to promote healing and serve as a “tangible sign of the church’s outreach and reparation” by providing compensation to victim-survivors of sexual abuse as minors by clergy of the …

By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — Most people who keep an eye on life issues know the shorthand about the Hyde Amendment — that it bars the federal government from funding abortions through Medicaid. But the amendment does more than that — although not everything pro-lifers may wish it could …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Ettore Ferrari, EPA By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Wherever public policy, communities and even religions may have failed, sports and recreation are ready and set to lift wounded spirits and build cooperation and peace in the world, said a number of speakers at a Vatican conference. …

Sister Eileen holds three of the kittens she fostered and socialized. (Courtesy Photo)
By Patricia McGeever Before Sister Eileen Connelly became an army veteran, or a reporter and newspaper editor, or a hospice volunteer or an Ursuline, she adopted a cat. That cat, Katie, helped shape another ministry with which Sister Eileen is very involved – rescuing abandoned and stray felines. “I don’t …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Giorgio Onorati, EPA By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — Typically, the Facebook page for the Diocese of Providence Office of Vocations in Rhode Island gets anywhere from 3 to 40 likes on their posts — most which celebrate seminarians, priests and their ministry. But it took an actor …

IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Malteser International By Dennis Sadowski WASHINGTON (CNS) — Haitian first responders and nongovernmental aid workers were assessing the damage from Hurricane Matthew even as they scrambled to deliver food, water and shelter materials to communities isolated by washed-out bridges and blocked roads. The storm left southwestern Haiti …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec By Nancy Wiechec PHOENIX (CNS) — A popular Alaskan retreat has been designated a national shrine by the U.S. bishops. Bishop Edward J. Burns of Juneau, Alaska, announced the news on the Oct. 1 feast of St. Therese Lisieux, the patroness of Alaska after whom the …

IMAGE: CNS/Reuters By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — If Christians are called to live their faith concretely, then they cannot leave out concrete signs of the unity to which Jesus calls them. And just because the formal Anglican-Roman Catholic theological dialogue has been forced to grapple with new church-dividing …

First Graders learning about the Prayer of St. Francis. (Courtesy Photo)
Mrs. Robyn Tierney’s first grade classroom learned about St. Francis of Assisi on his Feast Day, October 4. The children discussed how to love and care for God’s creation like St. Francis did.  The Prayer of St. Francis mural was painted, in the hallway at St. Ignatius School in Monfort Heights, …