Montgomery, Ala., Oct 29, 2019 / 11:38 am (CNA).- A federal judge on Tuesday blocked an Alabama law banning most abortions, which passed in May, from going into effect on the planned date of Nov. 15. The “Human Life Protection Act,” which Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed into law May 14, would have made attempting

Washington D.C., Oct 29, 2019 / 09:30 am (CNA).- The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) announced on Monday that it has allocated $9.9 million in grants for evangelization in the United States in the year 2020.  The grants will go to 77 dioceses and eparchies, chosen in September by the USCCB’s Subcommittee on

Los Angeles, Calif., Oct 28, 2019 / 07:11 pm (CNA).- As 16 wildfires continue to incinerate thousands of acres of land in California, destroying businesses and homes, Archbishop Jose Gomez has called for prayers for the victims of the fires. “We are facing a new outbreak of fires in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita

Vatican City, Oct 28, 2019 / 12:15 pm (CNA).- Leaders of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam presented a signed declaration to Pope Francis Monday expressing their total opposition to euthanasia and any form of physician-assisted suicide, as well as voicing their support of palliative end-of-life care. The document was signed at the Vatican Oct. 28 by

Vatican City, Oct 28, 2019 / 06:15 am (CNA).- Pope Francis declared Monday that the Vatican Secret Archive be changed to the title of Vatican Apostolic Archive, to avoid the negative associations which accompany modern interpretations of the word “secret.” In an apostolic letter issued motu proprio Oct. 28, Francis declared that “from now on,

Baltimore, Md., Oct 27, 2019 / 04:08 pm (CNA).- The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will be electing a new president, vice president, and committee chairs, and will vote on seven action items during the upcoming Fall General Assembly. A total of 10 archbishops and bishops are listed on the presidential ballot: Archbishop

Vatican City, Oct 27, 2019 / 12:00 pm (CNA).- Pope Francis Sunday encouraged protesters in Lebanon who have taken to the streets to challenge government corruption and mismanagement of finances. The pope’s message coincided with a series of protests taking place in countries around the world. “I address a special thought to the beloved Lebanese

Vatican City, Oct 27, 2019 / 04:55 am (CNA).- Pope Francis denounced exploitation and “predatory models of development” that plunder the poor and wound “sister earth” in the Amazon Synod closing Mass Sunday.  “In this Synod we have had the grace of listening to the voices of the poor and reflecting on the precariousness of

Vatican City, Oct 26, 2019 / 03:45 pm (CNA).- The Amazon synod final document, published Saturday, laid out the need to define “ecological sins” while calling the Church to walk new paths of “integral conversion.” “We propose to define ecological sins of commission or omission against God, one’s neighbor, the community and the environment,” paragraph

Lourdes, France, Oct 26, 2019 / 03:33 pm (CNA).- As reports of theft are on the rise at a famous Marian shrine in France, Lourdes authorities have increased security and encouraged pilgrims to be more aware of their belongings. Pierre Aurignac, a local prosecutor, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the town has had a “statistical