Decrying the acts of religious violence that have taken place during the Christmas season, the president of the U.S. bishops declared: “Violence in the name of God is blasphemy.”
National News
Hero’s Salute for Fallen Officer
It was a rainy, solemn occasion as hundreds gathered in Jersey City, N.J., on Dec. 17 for the funeral of Jersey City Police Department Det. Joseph Seals, which was held at St. Aedan’s church, where police and family members paid their final respects to the slain officer, who was Catholic.
Death Penalty Continues to Decline in the U.S. According to New Report
For five years in a row, there have been fewer than 30 death penalty executions and fewer than 50 death sentences, according to a new report that chronicles a continued dramatic decline in the use of capital punishment in the United States.
Expert Reveals ‘Secret Sauce’ of Catholic Schools: Equality of Every Child Before God
A new report claims that values-based education offered by Catholic schools can serve as a model for all schools seeking to reform and to improve the long-term success of their students.
Six Killed in Jersey City Shootout, Catholic School Locked Down
A lengthy shootout in Jersey City, N.J., on Dec. 10 left six people dead, including one police officer, three civilians and two suspects.
Supreme Court Leaves Temporary Stop on Federal Executions in Place
The U.S. Supreme Court has left in place a preliminary injunction prohibiting the Trump administration from carrying out the first federal executions in 16 years.
Catholics Mark Anniversary of Child’s Death at Border
Catholics joined faith groups observing the first anniversary of the death of a 7-year-old girl who died under immigration detention in late 2018 and called attention to other children in similar circumstances. Jakelin Caal Maquin died in December 2018 at the El Paso Children’s Hospital in Texas of a bacterial infection and, at the time, she and her father were under detention by border agents.
Only in Print: Bishop Caggiano Named Chairman of Catholic Relief Services | December 7, 2019
Bishop Frank Caggiano of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn. — who is originally from Brooklyn— was named chairman of Catholic Relief Services, the arm of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that provides global humanitarian aid.
Sisters of Life Work in Face of ‘Extreme Pro-Abortion Ideology’
Sister Virginia Joy is a member of the Sisters of Life, which was founded by the late Archbishop of New York, Cardinal John O’Connor. Joy is the Respect Life Director of the Archdiocese of New York. She spoke to Charles Camosy about the pro-life ministry in the archdiocese
Sheen Beatification Postponed at Request of ‘Few’ U.S. Bishops
Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria said Vatican officials have told him that the upcoming beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen has been postponed “at the request of a few members” of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.