Catholic
Marymount California University, a half-century-old Catholic school, to shut down
By Alejandra Molina — April 26, 2022
(RNS) — The board of trustees said it voted to close the university on Aug. 31, citing declining enrollment, rising costs of the pandemic and a lack of financial resources.
Activists seek to preserve ‘sacred’ land Japanese immigrants acquired before CA’s anti-immigrant land laws
By Alejandra Molina — April 1, 2022
(RNS) — 'When you remove these things from the landscape that tell other views, other chapters of American history, people lose that connection, and they don’t often consider them part of American history.'
They were killed by death squads in El Salvador four decades ago. Now, these martyrs are closer to sainthood.
By Alejandra Molina — March 11, 2022
(RNS) — As the four martyrs are one step closer to sainthood, Salvadorans in the United States hope the designation could inspire the Catholic Church to center the poor and marginalized.
Pope Francis takes a break from the Vatican to visit local record store
By Claire Giangravé — January 12, 2022
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Add spotting the pope at a local record shop to the perks of living in Rome.
Residents fear sale of Monastery of the Angels, beloved Hollywood home to cloistered nuns
By Alejandra Molina — December 10, 2021
HOLLYWOOD (RNS) — Los Angeles residents say the monastery is 'loved by people of all faiths' and represents 'kindness in an ocean of distraction, indifference and preoccupation.'
Backlash over Planned Parenthood fundraiser continues at Loyola Marymount University
By Alejandra Molina — November 18, 2021
(RNS) — To Elena Sandoval, a junior at Loyola Marymount, the university ‘made it clear they don’t support women’s health and reproductive rights.’
Bishops seek answers in vandalism of churches and Catholic symbols
By Alejandra Molina — November 8, 2021
(RNS) — 'Did they single out the Catholic Church, or is it simply that our symbols of religion are so visible that they make an easy target?' said Aaron M. Weldon, of the USCCB's Office of Religious Liberty.
A student group’s Planned Parenthood fundraiser draws backlash at Catholic university
By Alejandra Molina — November 4, 2021
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — The semiformal event is being planned by LMU Women in Politics, a registered student organization that fights ‘for women’s equality on and off campus.’ All ticket proceeds will be donated to Planned Parenthood, according to an event flyer.
Illinois court rules in favor of Catholic nurse who lost job over abortion objections
By Bob Smietana — November 2, 2021
(RNS) — Sandra Rojas, a Catholic nurse, objected when she was moved from pediatrics to a role that included delivering birth control and making abortion referrals.
A Jewish case for not liking ‘The Sopranos’
By Jeffrey Salkin — October 18, 2021
(RNS) — When it comes to media stereotypes, how did we let this one have a free pass?
Where Serra statues once stood, a chance to honor California’s Indigenous people
By Alejandra Molina — October 1, 2021
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — A year after protesters across California toppled monuments to Serra, Indigenous leaders, artists and others are seeking to activate those sites in a way that would memorialize the state’s Indigenous people.
Switzerland to set up a dedicated embassy to the Vatican
By Associated Press — October 1, 2021
GENEVA (AP) — The Swiss government decided Friday to set up a dedicated embassy to the Vatican, for which Switzerland’s ambassador to Slovenia is currently responsible. Switzerland’s governing Federal Council determined the current arrangement “no longer allows all the work entailed by Switzerland’s diplomatic relations with the Holy See to be accomplished efficiently,” a government […]
Brooklyn bishop retires after Vatican clears him of abuse
By Associated Press — September 29, 2021
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis on Wednesday accepted the resignation of the Catholic bishop of Brooklyn, Nicholas DiMarzio, weeks after a Vatican investigation cleared him of sexual abuse allegations, and appointed a native New Yorker to replace him. DiMarzio is 77, two years beyond the normal retirement age for bishops. Francis accepted his resignation and […]
Study: Religion soothed evangelicals at start of COVID. Politics put them at risk.
By Bob Smietana — September 17, 2021
(RNS) — From the start, religion has divided how Americans respond to COVID.
14 disabled children flee Afghanistan with the help of Catholic priest and nuns
By Claire Giangravé — August 27, 2021
(RNS) — A Catholic priest, four nuns and 14 disabled children were able to flee Afghanistan as chaos takes hold of the country.
