From Catholic News Service and Staff Reports WASHINGTON  — The diverse coalition of faith, labor, business and civil rights activists who are trying to rework the nation’s immigration system celebrated the June 27 Senate passage of a massive reform bill.

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 …

Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr made the following statement about the U.S. Supreme Court decisions of June 26, 2013.  The Supreme Court’s decision striking down the Defense of Marriage Act is deeply disappointing. It means that the federal law government will recognize same-sex “marriages” in states that provide for it, …

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 …

Press Release A young farm family outside Versailles welcomed Archbishop Dennis Schnurr of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, as well as Catholics from the St. Marys and Sidney Deaneries to this year’s Rural-Urban Mass, which took place Thursday, June 20.

Staff Report Openly homosexual youth will no longer be barred from the Boy Scouts, the organization decided earlier this month in a shift from long-standing policy.

Staff Report Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr notified the priests of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati today (June 21) of the following decree from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The decree calls for the inclusion of the name of St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin …

Staff Report “We are Catholics. We are Americans. We are proud to be both, grateful for the gift of faith which is ours as Christian disciples, and grateful for the gift of liberty which is ours as American citizens. To be Catholic and American should mean not having to choose …