By Beth Griffin Catholic News Service  NEW YORK — Religious liberty is under aggressive assault on many fronts in a culture increasingly insensitive to rights guaranteed by the First Amendment to U.S. Constitution, according to speakers at a Sept. 15 forum in New York.

Staff Report The Archdiocese of Cincinnati will bestow its Respect Life Award for 2014 on Debbie Nieport and Susan Willke Enouen. The award will be presented by Bishop Joseph Binzer Oct. 5, Respect Life Sunday, at the 11 a.m. Mass at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral in downtown Cincinnati.

By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Sept. 14, was the day of the 10th annual Blue Mass, held to thank and pray for the men and women who serve as police, firefighters and other emergency personnel. Before the Mass, people gathered …

 Catholic News Agency ROME — The first “selfie” of retired pontiff Benedict XVI is making the rounds on social networks.

Staff Report WEST UNION — The second of two “Farm Masses” celebrated annually in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati took place Sept. 5 in Adams County. Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr celebrated Mass at the property of Randy Louiso in West Union. The host parish was Holy Trinity, also in West Union.

Staff Report The events of September 11, 2001 are burned into the memories of all Americans alive at the time. For arguably the first time in world history, a major international tragedy took place under the watch of a 24-hour news cycle.

Staff Report Back on July 31 nearly 500 students, athletes and coaches gathered to adore the the Lord in the Eucharist and to pray the rosary prior to the start of the high school football practice season. To read the original story, click HERE.

By Rick Musacchio Catholic News Service SAN ANTONIO — As William Carmona lay gravely ill in a San Antonio hospital bed, he repeatedly questioned his classmates from nearby Assumption Seminary: “Where is Bishop Choby?” “When will he get here?” And finally: “How many more hours until he ordains me?” Carmona, …

Report Holy Cross Roman Catholic Lithuanian Church in Dayton has been celebrating a century of faith in a variety of ways. The parish’s 100th anniversary Mass was held June 22, with Auxiliary Bishop Joseph R. Binzer as the main celebrant.  Concelebrants were Father Eric Bowman, Holy Cross Church administrator, Father …

By Ezra Fieser Catholic News Service  SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Poverty, violence and changing social norms are causing the disintegration of the family structure across Latin America, church workers in the region said in advance of the October gathering of bishops in the Vatican to discuss pressures families face.