USCCB

Catholic bishops silent as Ascension hospital system shrinks maternity care

By Aleja Hertzler-McCain — April 8, 2024
(RNS) — The bishops have urged more support for mothers and families, even as Ascension, one of the largest Catholic health care providers in the US, has been closing labor and delivery units at its hospitals.

The Synod on Synodality called for better liturgy. Will anyone listen?

By Thomas Reese — February 6, 2024
(RNS) — If the church is to have a Eucharistic revival, its liturgical texts should promote active participation by all people.

The Catholic Church needs to play a positive role in this year’s election

By Thomas Reese — January 30, 2024
(RNS) — The Catholic partisan divide provides an opportunity for the church to model proper civic behavior.

Let the synodal consultations continue

By Thomas Reese — January 8, 2024
(RNS) — Diocesan consultations for the October 2024 session of the synod must be completed by April 8.

On same-sex blessings, some Catholics celebrate change while others point to limits

By Claire Giangravé — December 19, 2023
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The Vatican’s declaration allowing blessings for ‘irregular’ couples seems to have deepened an already strong divide between conservatives and progressives in the church.

On urgent issues, US Catholic bishops should follow the pope’s lead

By Mark Silk — December 4, 2023
(RNS) — Catching up with Francis on climate as well as democracy.

US bishops fumble the ball on global warming and synodality

By Thomas Reese — November 16, 2023
(RNS) — One can only wonder how different the bishops' meeting would have been if they had consulted in a synodal fashion with the laity.

Fired prelate appears near — but not at — bishops gathering

By Jack Jenkins — November 15, 2023
BALTIMORE (RNS) — ‘I’m a bishop without a diocese, which is a strange place to be. But that’s where I am,’ Strickland, the former bishop of Tyler, Texas, told reporters on Wednesday.

Environmental faith groups laud Pope Francis’ new climate exhortation

By Jack Jenkins — October 5, 2023
(RNS) — ‘As this summer has shown, and as Laudate Deum emphasizes, we no longer have time to spare,’ Jose Aguto, executive director of Catholic Climate Covenant, said in a statement.

The secret synod

By Phyllis Zagano — September 27, 2023
(RNS) — Too many U.S. Catholics don’t know about the global discussion of the church’s future.

We want God to be like Batman

By Thomas Reese — July 26, 2023
(RNS) — Deep in our hearts, we want God to beat up our enemies and punish evildoers.

In targeting Catholic Charities, Republicans amplify right-wing Catholic fringe

By Jack Jenkins — July 24, 2023
WASHINGTON (RNS) — GOP representatives, who seem to be taking their cues from deeply conservative Catholic groups that vow to "#defund the bishops," plan to cut funding to a DHS program that supports Catholic relief centers at the United States' Southern border.

Pope Francis appoints men and women to build a synodal church

By Thomas Reese — July 10, 2023
(RNS) — These recent appointments show that Francis now understands that 'personnel is policy.'

Bishop Strickland subject to Vatican investigation

By Jack Jenkins — June 26, 2023
(RNS) — The investigation, known as an apostolic visitation, comes after years of controversy surrounding Strickland.

This just in: Catholic churches have the worst preaching and music in the US

By Thomas Reese — June 20, 2023
(RNS) — Are Catholic services simply too boring?
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