By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service  WASHINGTON — Responding to concerns about Catholic involvement with Girl Scouts, a U.S. bishops’ committee released key points from its dialogue with Girl Scout leaders outlining major concerns of church leaders and the national organization’s responses.

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis said the assassination of “my confrere,” a 75-year-old Dutch Jesuit in Syria, “filled me with deep sadness and made me think again of all the people who suffer and are dying in that martyred country.”

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The season of Lent, as a journey with Christ towards the Cross the Resurrection, always reawakens our sense of solidarity with our sisters and brothers living in the holy Land. It was there that the Apostles first heard the voice of the Lord Jesus, …

As many young adults do, my first inclination in the morning is to grab my phone or tablet to check messages and status updates that came in through the night. Plus, I often use my tablet to say the Office, email, Facebook, Twitter, play a few games here and there, …

Dear Father: In the past my husband and I have donated to various organizations, only to learn that they use donations for embryonic stem cell research. While they do much good, they still support this practice. We have stopped giving, but I also know a lot of Catholics who donate …

By Eileen Connelly, OSU The Catholic Telegraph  As a child growing up in St. Louis, Mo., one of Franciscan Sister Rose Marie Weckenmann’s favorite activities was making a trip to the neighborhood library and returning home with stacks of books. How fitting then, that her love of the written word …

By Patricia McGeever For The Catholic Telegraph  If you ask retired salesman Richard Eisele how he occupies his time he’d tell you, “I’m in the collection business.” It’s serious business, and he’s not in it alone. “I ship humanitarian aid to people who desperately need it,” he said.

By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph  Sometimes people can forget the power of saying thank you. In the zeal to serve and spread the Gospel, dinners and other events related to church affairs often serve multiple purposes. Some are fundraisers and social gatherings, others aim to raise awareness or spread …

By Steve Trosley The Catholic Telegraph  Tom Coz’s title seems almost as long as the stormy history of his office. But as the coordinator of the Office of Safe Environment for the Protection of Children and Youth looks back over that history during national “Child Abuse Prevention Month” (April,) he …

By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph  The Youth Athletics Charter, a document with origins going back to 2009, was officially promulgated by Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr on March 1. The promulgation means that the charter, which deals with governance of elementary-age athletics at Catholics parishes and schools, is in full …