By Catholic News Service NEW YORK — A spokesman for the New York Archdiocese said the archdiocese “welcomes and applauds” a Dec. 13 ruling by a federal judge granting Catholic organizations in the archdiocese and the neighboring Diocese of Rockville Centre a permanent injunction on having to comply with the …

Staff Report The Catholic Telegraph is still seeking input from readers in selecting our top 10 stories of 2013 but time is running out. Through December 16 readers can fill in the survey below to rank the top 10 stories of 2013 that appeared in The Catholic Telegraph. 

Staff Report Anymore, the culture would have you believe that the Christmas season begins immediately after Halloween. Stores are decked out in red and green with well-trimmed artificial trees long before the First Sunday of Advent even rolls around. Certainly some tasks, like Christmas shopping, must take place before Dec. …

By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph Some retail outlets began playing Christmas music this year the day after Halloween to remind customers that the shopping days before Christmas were dwindling. Time is running out, they say, to get great last-minute deals on this year’s Tickle-Me-Elmo, ZhuZhu Pet or whatever fad …

Staff Report The Catholic Telegraph is seeking input from readers in selecting our top 10 stories of 2013. With the help of website analytics and staff consultation, The Catholic Telegraph was able to select 10 of the biggest stories that appeared in print or on the website in the past …

By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — In his first extensive piece of writing as pope, Pope Francis lays out a vision of the Catholic Church dedicated to evangelization in a positive key, with a focus on society’s poorest and most vulnerable, including the aged and unborn. …

Staff Report As a monthly publication, the December issue of The Catholic Telegraph serves both as an Advent and Christmas edition of the paper. With that in mind, readers will find a seven-page Advent & Christmas section.

By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph Lectures are often dry academic affairs, but when a lecture series makes its debut alongside the launching of a brand new academic program — and there’s a cocktail reception — they can be a little more exciting. John Connelly, PhD, the author of the …

Staff Report Cincinnati Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr has asked parishes of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to consider taking a second collection either this upcoming weekend, Nov. 16-17, or the weekend of Nov. 30–Dec.1 to respond to the devastation wrought by Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines and Vietnam. Thousands of …

By Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service BALTIMORE — Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., was elected as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic bishops by a wide margin. The archbishop, the current USCCB vice president, received 125 votes during the first round of balloting during the fall general …