by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Dec 3, 2020 / 06:05 am MT (CNA).- People with disabilities must have access to the sacraments and, as missionary disciples, the ability to be full and active participants in the life of their Catholic parish, Pope Francis said Thursday. “Before all else, I strongly …

CNA Staff, Dec 3, 2020 / 11:00 am MT (CNA).- A Catholic scholar who specializes in dyslexia has warned that children must be exposed to physical books – and not just screens – if they are to develop the skills necessary for analysis and in-depth thinking. Maryanne Wolf was featured …

CNA Staff, Dec 3, 2020 / 10:00 am MT (CNA).- In an apparent victory for religious freedom during state efforts to impose necessary COVID restrictions, the Supreme Court on Thursday vacated the Ninth Circuit’s ruling against California churches. Last week, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of the Brooklyn …

CNA Staff, Dec 2, 2020 / 04:01 pm MT (CNA).- A Michigan proposal to quadruple the maximum lending amount allowed for payday lenders would exploit the poor and trap many people in a cycle of debt when alternatives are available, the Michigan Catholic Conference has told a State Senate committee. …

CNA Staff, Dec 2, 2020 / 01:05 pm MT (CNA).- Three Hong Kong pro-democracy activists, including a Catholic university student, were sentenced to prison on Wednesday for participating in illegal protests. Democracy activists Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow, and Ivan Lam were sentenced to 13.5 months, 10 months, and 7 months, …

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Dec 2, 2020 / 04:00 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis said Wednesday that God does not wait for us to stop sinning to start loving us, but always holds out hope for the conversion of even the most hardened sinner. “There is no sin that …

by Mary Farrow Denver Newsroom, Dec 1, 2020 / 02:55 pm MT (CNA).- For the past 16 years, Elf on the Shelf has become a tradition, both hated and loved, for families in the days leading up to Christmas. Based on a book and accompanying doll, the elf is a …

CNA Staff, Nov 30, 2020 / 06:08 pm MT (CNA).- The Diocese of Pittsburgh has announced that it will initiate its third round of parish mergers early next year, reducing its current 107 parishes to 81. The mergers will take effect January 4, creating 14 groupings of parishes from 40 …

Vatican City, Dec 1, 2020 / 05:45 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis Tuesday appointed Bishop Michael Fisher, an auxiliary of Washington, to be the next bishop of the scandal-ridden Diocese of Buffalo, New York. Fisher, 62, will take over leadership of Buffalo as the diocese faces a new lawsuit from …

Vatican City, Nov 30, 2020 / 06:30 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis told the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Monday that he is confident that Catholics and Orthodox Christians will attain full communion. In a message to Bartholomew I on the Feast of St. Andrew, Pope Francis praised the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s …