On March 15, Constanza Alva de Urmeneta got in the car behind the hearse for the funeral procession of her 15-year-old daughter, Pía Urmeneta. Typically somber occasions, it was apparent from the second they drove off the church lot that this was instead a celebration of Pía’s life, just as she had wanted.
Author: John Lavenburg
Good Friday Focuses Attention on Plight of Christians in Middle East
When Michael La Civita of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association considers how the agency prioritizes where to send aid, he says the best way to describe it is like a “triage,” given the crises so many countries face.
Winner of America’s Highest Catholic Award Walks Her Own Talk
Carla Harris started her career on Wall Street in 1987, the same year the celebrated Oliver Stone movie that made “greed is good” a national mantra premiered. As Harris recalls it, the actual demography of Wall Street at the time wasn’t much different from Stone’s casting — there were so few Black managing directors that she knew them by name, and only a handful of women in the role as well.
New Staten Island Ferry Will Bear Name of a Revered Catholic Activist
Already a servant of God, Dorothy Day has long been revered by Catholics for her social activism. Now, with the announcement that a new Staten Island ferry will bear her name, thousands of ferry patrons will also recognize her name on a daily basis.
Asian-American Bishop Says No Shortcut to Ending Racism in US
Bishop Oscar Solis of Salt Lake City gets the sense that people want to “shortcut” the result of eliminating and eradicating racism, and don’t put in the effort necessary to create change.
Pope Francis Adds Prominent Clergy Sex Abuse Survivor to Pontifical Commission
On Wednesday, March 24, Pope Francis appointed a prominent clergy abuse survivor and advocate to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Chilean Juan Carlos Cruz joins 15 previous commission members whose terms were all renewed for one year.
Catholic Bishops Meet With U.S. Treasury Head to Discuss COVID Economic Crisis
For the first time in at least 30 years, on March 16 interfaith leaders — including two Catholic bishops — got a seat at the table to discuss global issues with the head of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Washington Cardinal: Catholics, Shia Muslims Must Build on Papal Visit to Iraq
The meeting between Pope Francis and Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Husaymi al-Sistani can make a difference in America, says Cardinal Wilton Gregory, because it demonstrated “that people from different religious traditions can work together in a spirit of dialogue and mutual respect.”
New App Puts Missal in the Palm of Your Hands
When Catholic churches nationwide reopened last summer after a months-long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, parishioners followed along empty handed, as the missals typically found at each pew were removed so people wouldn’t touch the same surfaces.
Bishops Support Measure to Protect Faith-Based Foster Agencies
Three U.S. Bishops Conference chairmen on March 15 gave their support for First Amendment protections for faith-based foster care and adoption providers with legislation introduced that aims to ensure those institutions continue to receive funding.