American parishes are not so monolithic anymore. Traditionally European parishes have become places where immigrants and marginalized Catholics increasingly feel at home. While parishes have gone through growing pains as new ways are adopted, in the end, parishioners largely appreciate the diversity.
National News
Polls Show Pope Leads Resurgence of Church
If Pope Francis weren’t headed to the United States in a matter of days, American Catholics would never have known how much others value their opinions.
Francis’ Speech at UN Will Be Fifth by a Pope
Pope Francis’ three predecessors who spoke to the General Assembly – Blessed Paul VI, St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI – addressed issues reflecting the great social and political challenges of their era.
Philly Trying to Calm Papal Pilgrims’ Concerns
It recently became clear that a number of people seemed to have decided they would sit this one out, and watch the television coverage from the comfort of their home.
Byzantine Monk Answers Facebook with Name Change
When Facebook forced Father Moses Wright of Holy Resurrection Monastery in St. Nazianz, Wisc., to change his profile name from Hierodeacon Moses – his identity as a Byzantine monk – to his baptismal name, Michael Wright, he decided to take steps to legally change his name.
From Do-It-All Pastors to Guiding 100 Ministries
In this second installment of Catholic News Service’s ongoing series, “American Parish,” the focus is on how different types of U.S. parishes handle contemporary challenges, including the declining number of priests.
US Priests Had Power to Absolve Sin of Abortion
Pope Francis’ Sept. 1 announcement that priests worldwide will be able to absolve the sin of abortion will have little effect on pastoral practices in the U.S., where most priests already have such authority in the sacrament of reconciliation.
Bishops on Labor Day
“We are in need of a profound conversion of heart at all levels of our lives. Let us examine our choices,” Archbishop Wenski said in the statement, dated Labor Day Sept. 7.
New Mexico’s Bishops Welcome Reversal of Assisted Suicide Law
Catholic bishops of New Mexico welcomed a ruling by the state’s Court of Appeals that reversed a lower court’s approval of physician-assisted suicide.
There Is No ‘Typical’ Parish in the US
If Pope Francis were to have time on his U.S. visit in September to stop at “typical” parishes, it might take a week or two just to see a representative sample.