Cardinal Gregory: ‘Healing of America’s soul’ needed to end racism (CNS) In a major address on confronting the sin of racism and working for racial harmony, Washington Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory, the nation’s first African American cardinal, said a “healing of America’s soul” is needed.
“We need a national reconciliation — a healing of America’s soul from the torment of oppression and hatred. We need to forgive one another for all of those things that belong to the past so that we can move into a better more hopeful tomorrow,” Cardinal Gregory said March 20…
Network names successor to Sister Simone Campbell (NCR) Mary Novak, a lawyer, chaplain and activist, will succeed Social Justice Sr. Simone Campbell as head of Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, the organization announced March 22. Campbell, who has attracted national attention for the organization’s Nuns on the Bus movement, announced her retirement in October after 16 years as the head of Network. Novak will take over as executive director April 1…
Court declines appeal of murderer studying to be a priest (AP) A convicted murderer in Connecticut who says he is studying to become a Roman Catholic priest has lost his legal fight against state prison officials he accused of violating his constitutional rights by blocking his orders of used religious books and other materials. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear Jan Gawlik’s appeal of a Connecticut Appellate Court ruling, which upheld a state judge’s decision that found Gawlik’s rights were not violated and he could have ordered new books…
Pope struggles to contain tensions in Catholic Church (The Wall Street Journal) Pope Francis is struggling to manage powerful bishops in the U.S. and Germany, two groups at opposite ends of the ideological spectrum, as he tries to advance his progressive agenda without jeopardizing the unity of the Catholic Church…
Priest charged with vandalism for altar desecration (CNA) A priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans arrested last year along with two women after filming a pornographic video on a parish church altar has been charged with vandalism. Fr. Travis Clark, 37, along with Mindy Dixon, 41, and Melissa Cheng, 28, were charged March 18 with felony vandalism by the local district attorney. Each face up to two years imprisonment if found guilty…
