IMAGE: CNS photo/Tomas Bravo, Reuters By Barb Fraze and Dennis Sadowski WASHINGTON (CNS) — While U.S. elected officials have an obligation to protect the security of Americans, denying entry to desperate refugees will not make the country safer, said the president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services. Sean Callahan, head …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Jose Luis Gonzalez, Reuters By Barb Fraze WASHINGTON (CNS) — The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Migration criticized President Donald Trump’s executive memorandum to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, saying it would “put immigrant lives needlessly in harm’s way.” Bishop Joe S. Vasquez of …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The humble counsel of courageous women should never be disregarded but rather embraced as advice full of God’s divine wisdom, Pope Francis said. Women like the biblical heroine Judith are an example of trusting God amid sufferings and difficulties …

By WASHINGTON (CNS) — U.S. House passage of the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, making the 41-year-old Hyde Amendment permanent, puts the country “one step closer to getting the federal government out of the business of paying for abortion once and for all,” said the president of National Right …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Divided Christians need to recognize the gifts God has given to other communities and learn from them “without waiting for the others to learn first,” Pope Francis said. Leading an ecumenical evening prayer service Jan. 25 for the close of …

By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With “post-truth” being crowned “Word of the Year” by Oxford Dictionaries, Pope Francis’ urgent call to communicate trust and hope could not have come at a better time. Helping people see the world with “realism and trust” must be encouraged as well as …

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With the next global celebration of World Youth Day scheduled for Jan. 22-27, 2019, Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell knows many young Catholics in North America and Europe may find it a challenge to attend. “It is a period of intense academic activity” for …

IMAGE: CNS/Maria Grazia Picciarella, pool By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — After weeks of very public tensions with the Vatican, the head of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta accepted Pope Francis’ request that he submit his resignation. The order’s communications office confirmed Jan. 25 that Fra Matthew Festing, …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — After being removed from a list of partner organizations for the Women’s March on Washington, members of a pro-life group based in Texas decided they still would take to the streets Jan. 21 to take part in the historic and …

By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — God “likes to argue with us,” especially when it is difficult to accept his will, Pope Francis said. “Even this is a prayer! He likes it when you get angry and tell him what you feel to his face because he is …