Hurricane Laura destroyed six churches in the Diocese of Lake Charles, left a dozen others “highly compromised” and did heavy damage to chancery offices.
National News
Puerto Rico’s Archbishop Calls Corruption ‘Social, Political and Economic Scourge’
Puerto Rico’s top prelate issued a challenge for the island territory to clean up its political system, warning that right now, corruption “haunts and drowns” its society.
Famed Georgetown Basketball Coach John Thompson Dies at 78
John Thompson, the Hall of Fame college basketball coach who guided Georgetown University in Washington to a national championship in 1984, died Aug. 31 at age 78. No cause of death was given.
U.S. Bishops to Meet Virtually, Not in Person, in November
The U.S. bishops will conduct their annual fall general meeting virtually in November rather than meet in person as has been the bishops’ practice.
Archbishop Says Nation Is at ‘Pivotal Juncture’ in Racial Justice Struggle
Celebrating an Aug. 28 Mass to mark the 57th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King’s historic March on Washington, Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory urged Catholics to continue the dream of the late civil rights leader and to work for reconciliation and unity building.
Archdiocese of Washington Restructures Its Pastoral Center
The Archdiocese of Washington’s Pastoral Center announced a restructuring plan Aug. 21 due to reduced financial support amid the economic downturn of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Four Days Into New Post, Beaumont Bishop Prepares for Hurricane Laura
Growing up in Louisiana, Bishop David L. Toups is no stranger to hurricanes. Yet he never expected that less than a week into his first assignment as bishop of the Diocese of Beaumont, Texas, he’d be preparing to face a major hurricane.
Two Religious Sisters, Two Conventions
During the past two weeks, two prominent Catholic women religious appeared at the conventions the two major parties held.
Recognizing the Role Black Women Played in the Movement
Many black women — such as Ida B. Wells, Elizabeth Piper Ensley, Mary Church Terrell, Juno Frankie Pierce, and Mary McLeod Bethune — who fought for racial equality and gender equality weren’t respected by white suffragists, forcing them to create their own suffragist movements.
Voting Pro-Life: What Exactly Does That Mean?
Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Pro-Life Committee, said Catholics should not leave their pro-life beliefs at home when they go to vote on Nov. 3. Abortion, religious freedom, and racism are all pro-life issues, Archbishop Naumann told Current News in an Aug. 19 interview.