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By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service  WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled May 5 that prayers said before town council meetings in Greece, N.Y., do not violate the Constitution. In their 5-4 decision, the judges noted a historical precedent to opening local legislative meetings with a prayer and stressed that …

By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY — Using what he acknowledged was unusually “blunt” language, the head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office rebuked officers of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious for honoring a Catholic theologian whose work was judged “seriously inadequate” and for promoting futuristic ideas …

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service  ROME — Thanking communications professionals who work for the Catholic Church, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York also shared with them tips he said he learned at the “school of hard knocks.” When facing reporters, he said, “their initial posture often might be …

Retired Pope Benedict XVI embraces Pope Francis before the canonization Mass for Sts. John XXIII and John Paul II in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 27. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano via Reuters) (April 27, 2014) See SAINTS-MASS and SAINTS-COLOR April 27, 2014.
By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY — Canonizing two recent popes in the presence of his immediate predecessor, Pope Francis praised the new Sts. John XXIII and John Paul II as men of courage and mercy, who responded to challenges of their time by modernizing the Catholic …

A woman takes a picture of an illustration depicting Blessed John Paul II, left, Pope Francis and Blessed John XXIII outside a shop in Rome April 23. On April 27, Pope Francis canonized both former popes. (CNS photo/Stefano Rellandini, Reuters)
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY — Just days before Pope Francis was set to canonize two of his predecessors, he expressed his hopes the two soon-to-be saints would continue to inspire the whole church in its mission.

Archbishop Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, the future Pope John XXIII, pictured in 1926
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Blessed John XXIII struggled to shake off many formalities that came with the papacy and often conspired with his valet to sneak out of the Vatican. One covert road trip in the Alban Hills outside of Rome got Guido Gusso, the pope’s valet, in …

By Navar Watson Catholic News Service  WASHINGTON — A small group of Teresian Carmelites from India are quickly adjusting to their new life in the Diocese of Bismarck, N.D., helping out in the Catholic Indian Mission and teaching at St. Bernard Mission School in Fort Yates.

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY — “They call me Holy Father and that is what I must be,” the future St. John XXIII wrote in his diary. A nun who worked in the papal apartments with the future St. John Paul II saw him tired one day …

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.