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Becket Law Map on Reopening Churches
Leaders in protecting public health Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the Minnesota Catholic Conference and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in Minnesota have been leaders in protecting public health. They voluntarily suspended in-person services to prevent the spread of... Read more -
World’s Marian shrines to join pope’s Saturday rosary for COVID-19 pandemic
On Saturday, Pope Francis will be praying a rosary to implore Mary’s intercession and protection amid the pandemic. He will be praying live from the replica of the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens May 30, the eve of Pentecost, starting 11:30 a.m. EDT. Joining him in Rome will be... Read more -
The Last Words of Norma
“The anti-choice movement will have a field-day with this and exploit it for all it’s worth.” These are words of Kate Michelman, former head of the National Abortion Rights Action League, spoken on the August 10, 1995 airing of ABC News Nightline. Michelman was lamenting the negative... Read more -
Pentecost Sunday: The Birth of the Universal Church
Pentecost is often spoken of as the “birth” of the Church. It is an apt metaphor: The Church, which you could say had been growing in utero in the persons of Mary, the Twelve, and the small community of disciples, now emerges into the world. And when she does, we can already glimpse all... Read more -
George Floyd Left a Gospel Legacy in Houston
The rest of the country knows George Floyd from several minutes of cell phone footage captured during his final hours. But in Houston’s Third Ward, they know Floyd for how he lived for decades—a mentor to a generation of young men and a “person of peace” ushering ministries into the... Read more -
Religious freedom in jeopardy as China passes new Hong Kong ‘security laws’
A Hong Kong cardinal told CNA that changes to Hong Kong’s status in China could threaten the religious freedom of Catholics and other religious believers. The legislature of China on May 28 approved a resolution to impose new “security laws” on its formerly autonomous region, Hong... Read more -
What difference does the Holy Spirit make? All the difference in the world
Pentecost Sunday is one of the feasts of the liturgical year that surprises us with an extra song before the Gospel at Holy Mass. Just when we are ready to launch (or heave, or slowly straighten) ourselves out of our pews for the Alleluia, the musicians seem to get confused and start... Read more -
Vatican moves American, European Catholic giants closer to sainthood
On Wednesday, the Vatican announced that it was moving two towering Catholic figures from different corners of the world forward on the path toward sainthood, approving miracles for Venerable Father Michael McGivney, and Blessed Charles de Faucauld. McGivney, founder of the colossal American... Read more -
Maryland county lifts ban on Communion
Howard County, Maryland, has reversed a policy that banned consumption of any food or drink during religious services, effectively preventing the licit celebration of Mass. A county spokesman told CNA May 28 the prohibition will be removed, and faith leaders will be consulted on... Read more -
New institute to ponder John Paul II’s heavy lifting on Church and culture
St. John Paul II did plenty of heavy lifting during his long papacy, from staring down the Soviet empire to battling what he saw as a metastasizing “culture of death” in the West. Perhaps it’s only fitting, then, that the leader of a new institute devoted to the Polish pope and his... Read more