Catholic News Service
Cardinal Etchegaray a key papal envoy
VATICAN CITY -- Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, a longtime Vatican official and papal envoy who was sent to some of the world’s most wounded and challenging places, died in France Sept. 4. He was 96.
Pope Francis to visit Thailand, Japan in November
VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis will finally fulfill his desire to be a missionary to Japan when he visits the country, as well as Thailand, Nov. 20-26, the Vatican announced.
Rep. Smith: Born Alive bill is 'pro-child, human rights' measure
WASHINGTON -- At a Sept. 10 hearing on the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, said the U.S. House "needs to vote now and approve this humane, pro-child, human rights legislation."
Vatican representative calls for electoral reform in Nicaragua
GENEVA -- With increasing concerns worldwide about human rights violations in Nicaragua, a Vatican representative has called for an immediate return to negotiations and a rollout of reforms necessary to hold "free and transparent elections" there.
Sri Lankan government to conduct independent inquiry into Easter attacks
NEGOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has finally won a concession from Sri Lanka's government after widespread criticism of the investigation into the deadly Easter Sunday attacks.
Pope Francis appoints three cardinals to lead Amazon synod
VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis appointed three delegate presidents for the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon.
Catholic organizations provide aid in Florida for Dorian victims
MIAMI -- In the wake of Hurricane Dorian's brutal blasting of the Bahamas, Catholic organizations in Florida continued to raise funds to aid victims there.
Nuns break tradition with birthday party
KOLKATA, India -- Missionaries of Charity nuns in India celebrated the birthday of their order’s founder, St. Teresa of Kolkata, three years after her canonization, breaking a Catholic convention.
Investigation finds McCarrick sexually assaulted seminarians
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. -- A yearlong investigation by Seton Hall University confirmed that Theodore McCarrick, the laicized cardinal who had been archbishop of Newark from 1986 to 2000, had sexually harassed seminarians during his tenure as head of the archdiocese.
Catholic leaders respond with 'heavy hearts' to Texas shooting
WASHINGTON -- Catholic leaders across the United States reacted with sorrow and "heavy hearts" to a mass shooting in west Texas Aug. 31 that authorities said claimed seven lives and wounded 25 others.