International peace worker Arthur Romano, Holocaust survivor Nesse Godin, documentary film producer Martin Doblmeier and music therapist Dr. Deforia Lane will present keynote addresses March 12-16 at Mount St. Mary’s University, Emmitsburg, during the third annual Calling Conference.Read More
WASHINGTON – Three themes run through black America, according to the Rev. Robert Franklin: celebration of heroic individual and collective achievement; closure of persistent racial gaps in such areas as education and health; and anxiety about losing ground and “mobilizing to reverse negative trend lines.” Rev. Franklin, author of the new book “Crisis in the...Read More
LONDON – A British Catholic aid agency has demanded that charges are dropped against a British activist who was arrested in Angola. Sarah Wykes, who works for the nongovernmental organization Global Witness, was taken from her hotel Feb. 18 by armed police in the oil-rich province of Cabinda and imprisoned amid accusations of espionage. She...Read More
MANILA, Philippines – Bishops in the Philippines have expressed concern over potential human rights violations which could result from an anti-terrorism bill. Bishop Martin Jumoad of Isabela said that, although he is “glad” the Human Security Act was passed by Congress, an independent body is needed to avoid such violations. “There should be another body...Read More
The Eucharist was desecrated at St. Anthony Shrine in Emmitsburg after a frustrated thief or thieves apparently exacted revenge for failing to open a safe and poor box, according to Sister Marietta Culhane, O.S.F., temporary pastoral life director of St. Anthony and Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Thurmont. A cleaning lady discovered the open...Read More
Eleventh-grader Mary J. Maclean, a student at Mount de Sales Academy in Catonsville, was one of six winners in Maryknoll’s 2006 annual student essay contest. Mary won $300 for second place out of 4,000 students writing on the topic, “Continuing the Mission.” Students nationwide wrote about where they would go and what they would do...Read More
Samuel Chairs has always been generous supporting worthwhile causes – especially helping the poor and strengthening education. But the parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ellicott City recently decided to step it up a notch and encourage philanthropy among his seven children by donating $1 million to Catholic organizations through the Catholic Family...Read More
VATICAN CITY – If he looked around the chapel during his Lenten retreat this year, Pope Benedict XVI would have seen an all-male assembly. The absence of women was not deliberate. The invitation to attend the pope’s spiritual exercises goes out to the top two or three officials of Vatican agencies, and almost all of...Read More
CHICAGO – Pro-lifers attending an Illinois conference envisioned a nation without Roe v. Wade, and a speaker told them there are many signs the landmark Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion could be overturned. “We see signs everywhere that an overturn of Roe v. Wade may soon be a reality,” said Ann Scheidler of the Pro-Life...Read More
One may think running 3,400 miles from California to Rhode Island would form a blister or two on a runner’s feet. Not so for one Loyola Blakefield, Towson, alumnus who changed running shoes every 100 miles to ensure his feet were as comfortable and fresh as possible during a five and a half month run...Read More
UPDATED ROME – The Rome diocesan office charged with promoting the sainthood cause of Pope John Paul II has exceeded its postage budget because of increased requests for prayer cards and relics of the late pope. “We were getting about 50 requests a day, but overnight it grew to between 500 and 1,000 requests,” a...Read More
DES MOINES, Iowa – Archbishop Jerome G. Hanus of Dubuque reacted with “deep sadness” after the Iowa House of Representatives Feb. 22 passed a bill to allow the cloning of human embryos for research. “With deep sadness, I regret the recent action by the Iowa House and Senate to change Iowa’s law which banned human...Read More