WASHINGTON – Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington closed its 80-year-old foster care and public adoption program in the District of Columbia so the agency would not have to violate church teaching by licensing same-sex couples as foster or adoptive parents.Read More

“Peace, Poverty and Mother Earth” is the theme of the 31st annual archdiocesan Social Ministry Convocation March 6 at The Seton Keough High School in Baltimore.Read More

WASHINGTON – Two years ago riots erupted in at least 15 developing countries over the rising cost of basic foods. Frustrated that rapidly rising prices were outstripping their ability to buy much-needed food, angry demonstrators torched vehicles and clashed with police in a series of violent confrontations across Africa, Asia, South America and the Caribbean.Read More

VATICAN CITY – For Vatican and Irish participants, the two-day meeting on the handling of priestly sex abuse cases was a major accomplishment, combining a frank admission of mismanagement with truly collaborative discussions on how to avoid such mistakes in the future.Read More

WASHINGTON – In the weeks since Haiti’s Jan. 12 earthquake, major Catholic relief organizations have been on the ground in Haiti helping with medical care and food provisions, and financial donations have been pouring in from Catholic dioceses, schools and colleges.Read More

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI has invited a Salesian priest, an expert in early Christianity, to lead his annual Lenten retreat.Read More

Carolyn and Karl Schumaker will go anywhere to protect and pray for life. The parishioners of St. Mary’s in Annapolis drove through more than an hour of evening traffic to take part in a “40 Days for Life” gathering at St. Agnes parish in Catonsville Feb. 16.Read More

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI will create six new saints Oct. 17, including Blessed Mary MacKillop, who will be Australia’s first saint, and the Canadian Blessed Andre Bessette, who will be the first saint of the Holy Cross Brothers.Read More