BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The atmosphere had the feeling of a high-five at Bethlehem Catholic High School as Bishop John O. Barres of Allentown was on hand to shoot a promotional DVD for the upcoming Knights of Columbus’ International Free Throw Championship.Read More

WASHINGTON – In actions to fight state efforts to legalize same-sex marriage during 2010, the U.S. bishops reiterated the church’s teaching on the sanctity of marriage, made their Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage a permanent subcommittee and distributed materials explaining the Catholic view of traditional marriage.Read More

Helen Nale is convinced she’s been to heaven and back.Read More

VATICAN CITY – New revelations about clerical sex abuse cases, particularly in Europe, led Pope Benedict XVI and his top aides in 2010 to look for ways to refine policies for handling accusations and strengthening child protection programs.Read More

WASHINGTON – The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace praised the Senate for ratifying a new arms control treaty with Russia Dec. 22, saying it was important that senators “joined across party lines” to support the New START treaty.Read More

WASHINGTON – A year from now, the liturgical celebrations of the Advent and Christmas seasons will have a different sound, as the new English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal begins being used in U.S. parishes.Read More

WASHINGTON –- Violence continued to feed the flow of Christians leaving the Middle East, with church leaders generally agreeing that only peace would solve the problem.Read More

WASHINGTON – 2010 will be known in many circles as the year of health reform. Among Catholics, it might also be known as the year that caused, as Chicago Cardinal Francis E. George said in his final talk as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, a “wound to the church’s unity.”Read More