The Pope’s general prayer intention for July is: “That World Youth Day in Brazil may encourage all young Christians to become disciples and missionaries of the Gospel.”   His mission intention is: “That throughout Asia doors may open to messengers of the Gospel.”

By Bill Howard Catholic News Service DENVER (CNS) — The nation’s heated debate over immigration reform this summer is “a defining historical moment for America” and “a moment for national renewal” Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez told hundreds of attendees at the closing keynote address of the Catholic Media …

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a press release in the wake of the Supreme Court’s rulings on DOMA and Prop 8. The full release is included below. USCCB Press Release WASHINGTON—The U.S. Supreme Court decisions June 26 striking down part of the Defense of Marriage Act and …

Staff Report The Supreme Court of the United States ruled Wednesday morning that the Defense of Marriage Act, better known as DOMA, is unconstitutional. The decision was split 5-4 in the case officially known as  U.S. vs. Windsor. More on this topic: Supreme Court decisions on DOMA, Prop 8 called …

By Veronica Ambuul Catholic News Service DENVER (CNS) — The “dumbing down of the Catholic faith” that impacted catechesis in the mid-1960s “was a pastoral disaster of the first order,” Father Robert Barron told a crowd of about 500 people at the Catholic Media Conference in Denver June 19. Other …

By Catholic News Service  NEW YORK (CNS) — The International Criminal Court declined a request from victims of clergy sexual abuse to investigate Vatican officials and their responsibility for the abuse of children by Catholic priests around the world.

Press Release WASHINGTON—The Communications Department of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOA) have launched www.faithandsafety.org, a resource for adults to help children safely navigate online.

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis told members of the ordinary council of the Synod of Bishops that he was preparing to publish an encyclical on faith written “with four hands” — his own and those of Pope Benedict XVI.

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis ditched a 1,250-word prepared speech to students saying it would be “a tad boring” to read out loud and opted instead to just quickly hit the high points and spend the rest of the time answering people’s questions.

By Jonathan Luxmoore Catholic News Service  WARSAW, Poland (CNS) — A Czech cardinal welcomed final court approval of government plans to pay billions of dollars to churches in compensation for their losses under communist rule. On June 3, the Constitutional Court cleared the way for the implementation of a 2012 …