An appeal against a 2013 law that pro-choice advocates claim is unconstitutional and designed to restrict abortion in Texas has been struck down by the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals. The New Orleans-based court upheld most provisions in the law that pro-life groups say sets standards for abortion clinics to ensure women's health is…

Religious freedom, the conflict in Ukraine, and the environment were all discussed in a June 11 meeting between Pope Francis and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, as were the findings of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission into the treatment of First Nations children in State-owned and Church-run Canadian residential schools. The commission described what happened…

Staff Reporter Funny-man Jim Gaffigan has spoken of his family’s firm faith ahead of the launch of his new TV series chronicling their lives as Catholics. The US stand-up comedian, actor and author said his faith is “very associated with the notion of mercy”. “I understand that there is something greater than myself that does…

Bishop Donal McKeown gives a high five to some of the nearly 3,000 students who attended the Fan the Flame Mass in Celtic Park, Derry for children who have received the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Diocese of Derry during the past year. See Page 8. Photo: Stephen Latimer

St Patrick’s Church, Milltown in the parish of Drumlane, Co. Cavan underwent a large restoration project this year. The building, constructed nearly 150 years ago by William Hague, has received a complete facelift in just five weeks; including painting, new lighting, flooring, new central heating and moving the altar of St Patrick. One of the…

Cardinals embrace wide reform agenda The 10th meeting of Pope Francis’ Council of Cardinal Advisers made recommendations on Vatican reform, finance, safeguarding, and communications, and heard plans for the impending papal encyclical on the environment, according to Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi. The ‘C9’ examined a draft preamble to the new curial constitution, before Cardinal…

The head of the Chaldean Catholic Church, Louis Raphael I Sako, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, has told refugees from the city of Mosul that he hopes they can soon return to their homeland.  Addressing his scattered flock through a letter published by Catholic news agencies, the patriarch recalled how a year has passed…

Ireland has ‘turned its back’ on Asia Bibi

Pope Francis has accepted the resignations of Archbishop John C. Nienstedt and Auxiliary Bishop Lee A. Piche of St. Paul and Minneapolis, just days after criminal and civil charges were filed against the archdiocese for alleged failure to protect three boys from sexual abuse by a former priest of the archdiocese. Curtis Wehmeyer, who was…

Ecuadorean sculptor Ramon Guato opens a mould figure of Pope Francis at his workshop in Quito June 12. Guato, a sculptor of religious figures, has prepared about 2,000 figures to be sold at Catholic libraries ahead of the upcoming visit by Pope Francis to Ecuador in July. (CNS photo/Guillermo Granja, Reuters)