STEUBENVILLE, Ohio – Archbishop J. Michael Miller, secretary of the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education, told a symposium on Catholic higher education that he objected to the “bleaching” of Catholic identity and said some Catholic institutions have “ignored, hidden or lost their ecclesial identity.” To change this course, he said schools should adopt ways to...Read More

KIEV, Ukraine – The head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church has defended his decision to support President Viktor Yushchenko’s recent dismissal of parliament, which some argue has deepened a constitutional crisis. “Our declaration didn’t back any party – it merely recalled that the church has not forgotten people, nor has God,” said Cardinal Lubomyr Husar...Read More

ST. LOUIS – Saying that it sent a “contradictory message” for a Catholic institution to raise funds by featuring a musician who supports abortion and embryonic stem-cell research, Archbishop Raymond L. Burke of St. Louis announced April 25 that he had withdrawn his support for an upcoming benefit for SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center.Read More

VATICAN CITY – The Bible is a source of Christian unity and is evidence of Christianity’s special bond with the Jewish people, said the outline for the next world Synod of Bishops. The theme of the synod, scheduled Oct. 5-26, 2008, will be: “The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.”...Read More

On Ann Hennessy’s first day of school at St. Anthony of Padua in Baltimore during the Great Depression, the young girl knew she had better be good or her parents would suffer otherworldly consequences. The pastor had given a rabble-rousing homily a few weeks earlier warning that the flames of hell awaited parents who did...Read More

A funeral Mass for Sister Mary Ruth Hening, R.S.M., was offered April 28 at The Villa, Baltimore. Sister Mary Ruth died April 25. She was 93.Read More

Neil Lupton traveled from his home in Boston in early February to attend the Immaculate Conception, Towson, Boy Scout 50th Anniversary Celebration. It was there that he met up with four of his fellow troop members, Robert Carter, David Duley, Ed Bollinger and Michael Topper, whom he hadn’t seen for more than 45 years. The...Read More

ANNANDALE, Va. – Hundreds of parishioners gathered with Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde at Holy Spirit Church in Annandale April 22 for an evening prayer service for the Virginia Tech victims and their families. Many of those in attendance sported the Blacksburg university’s familiar colors of maroon and orange as a sign of solidarity with...Read More