Catholic News Service

Announcing his desire to visit Iraq in 2020, Pope Francis called for a peaceful resolution to crises in the Middle East.

By virtue of their baptism, all Catholics are called to be missionaries, sharing the good news of salvation in Jesus by their actions and their words, Pope Francis said.

Springfield Bishop Thomas Paprocki issued a decree June 6 stating that Catholic lawmakers in the Illinois Legislature "who promoted or voted for extreme abortion legislation" cannot receive Communion in churches in his diocese.

A senior Dutch priest criticized media reports on the death of a teenager experiencing depression, accusing foreign media of "sensationalizing euthanasia" in his country.

Almost every American has a story to tell about how their ancestors came to this country. It's often a tear-stained tale of hardship, desperation and sacrifice.

An Indian cardinal who faces multiple investigations for allegedly selling church land and incurring a multimillion-dollar loss has been cleared by his fellow bishops even though the Vatican has yet to rule on the case.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services banned the National Institutes of Health from using human fetal stem cells from electively aborted babies for government funded research June 5.

The Maine House of Representatives and Senate have passed a measure that would legalize assisted suicide in the state and the bill reached the desk of Democratic Gov. Janet Mills June 4.

Cardinal George Pell was taken back to prison June 6 at the end of a two-day hearing on his appeal of his conviction on five counts of child sexual abuse.

The former head of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Cardinal Elio Sgreccia, died June 5, just one day shy of his 91st birthday.

Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore released additional details June 5 about the investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and financial improprieties against Bishop Michael Bransfield, former bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia.

Texas Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, denies a characterization of how he handled an accusation by a woman who said she was manipulated into a sexual relationship with his former deputy, a priest.

Iowa's attorney general has asked the state's Catholic dioceses for documents and any other records pertaining to clergy sex abuse in their localities and to comply with the request by Aug. 1.

The chairman of the U.S. bishops' migration committee June 4 praised the U.S. House for passing a measure that gives permanent legal protection to "Dreamers" and those covered by the Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure programs in the United States.

China's ruling Communist Party continues to persecute at least half of China's more than 12 million Catholics despite last September's agreement with the Vatican on the appointment of bishops.

The brothers of the ecumenical Taize community said they have received five reports of sexual assaults on minors committed by three of their members in a period from the 1950s to the 1980s

People need to walk together in harmony to build a more fraternal world, Pope Francis said, reflecting upon his recent trip to Romania

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Robert Cunningham of Syracuse, New York, and has named as his successor Fr. Douglas Lucia, a priest of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, New York, who is a pastor and diocesan director of vocations and seminarians.

Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin issued a statement June 2 saying he regretted comments that "turned out to be so controversial" on Twitter when he said Catholics should not support or "attend LGBTQ 'Pride Month' events" because "they promote a culture and encourage activities that are contrary to the Catholic faith and morals. They are especially harmful for children."

In response to the Supreme Court's May 30 decision to allow the execution of an Alabama death-row inmate, a Catholic group seeking to end the death penalty said in a tweet: "Our work to build a more restorative criminal justice system continues."