Philadelphia
Mount Carmel Cemetery: Stones toppled, stones righted
By guest — February 28, 2017
PHILADELPHIA (RNS) I saw with my own eyes evidence of the darkness of hatred that can enfold us, and I saw with my own eyes the sparks of light and love that shine even more brightly when darkness is thickest.
The word of the week in Philadelphia: Love
By guest — July 29, 2016
(RNS) “Love” has been taboo in Democratic Party politics for so long. But it's back. Big time.
Two Lutheran seminaries to close and reopen as new school
By G. Jeffrey MacDonald — January 15, 2016
(RNS) The new plan comes as mainline Protestant seminaries take steps to weather financial storms caused by an average drop in enrollments of nearly 24 percent since 2005.
Philadelphia monsignor to get new trial in sex abuse cover-up case
By Reuters — December 22, 2015
The court said Monsignor William Lynn, convicted of mishandling reports of child sex crimes, didn't get a fair trial because jurors heard too much about priests who molested children.
Pope portraits bedevil cash-strapped nuns
By Margie Fishman — October 9, 2015
Pope Francis' visit to Philadelphia was a boon to their spirits but the New Castle, Del., nuns -- and other entrepreneurs as well -- were disappointed with souvenir sales.
Iconic ‘POPE’ cover moves magazines in Philadelphia
By Audrey Rose McManus — September 29, 2015
PHILADELPHIA (RNS) Philadelphia magazine crafts its own version of the Obama "Hope" poster to commemorate you-know-who's historic visit to the city.
Pope Francis forever grins over Philly’s ‘Gayborhood’
By Audrey Rose McManus — September 28, 2015
PHILADELPHIA (RNS) The mural became part of the city’s lively public art scene in 2001 when it was first painted. Local artist David McShane added the pope to the mural just a few weeks before the pope's arrival.
Throngs fill Benjamin Franklin Parkway for pope’s final US Mass
By Kimberly Winston — September 27, 2015
PHILADELPHIA (RNS) The crowds waved yellow-and-white Vatican flags, purchased outside the gates, and held handfuls of rosaries brought from home to be blessed -- somehow -- by the passing of the man in the white car.
Pope Francis: Families are ‘factories of hope’ but need economic support
By David Gibson — September 26, 2015
PHILADELPHIA (RNS) He delivered a folksy, off-the-cuff riff on family life -- and in prepared remarks urged society to provide concrete economic support to families.
Pope Francis hails America’s freedoms, but saves strongest praise for the nation’s immigrants
By David Gibson — September 26, 2015
PHILADELPHIA (RNS) The pontiff had a chance to endorse the U.S. bishops' religious liberty battles against gay rights and the contraception mandate. But he passed.
It takes more than two to tango for Pope Francis
By Madi Alexander — September 26, 2015
PHILADELPHIA (RNS) Forty students -- most from underprivileged homes -- danced the tango, the national dance of Pope Francis' native Argentina, at the Festival of Families.
On tap at Philly’s joints, papal brews
By Anne Marie Hankins — September 26, 2015
PHILADELPHIA (RNS) Raising a glass (or eight) of special papal beers brewed to last only a little longer than Pope Francis' visit here.
For sex abuse victims in Philly, pope’s visit means a difficult week
By Taylor Nakagawa — September 26, 2015
PHILADELPHIA (RNS) Advocacy groups took advantage of a lull in this city just before Pope Francis' arrival to take to the streets for various demonstrations -- and with very different results.
Pope Francis brings Rome to Philly in ‘Vatican Splendors’ exhibit
By Anne Marie Hankins — September 26, 2015
PHILADELPHIA (RNS) The well-known science and technology museum, named for Benjamin Franklin, is displaying more than 200 works of art and other treasures from the Vatican.
LGBT Catholics tell their stories in Philadelphia play
By Alex Jacobi — September 25, 2015
PHILADELPHIA (RNS) “Full of Grace: Journeys of LGBT Catholics” is a docudrama based on interviews with LGBT Catholics. It was staged in New York and has now come to Philadelphia in advance of the pope's visit.