Kansas, Virginia join states passing new restrictions on abortion
Kansas lawmakers passed a bill declaring that life begins "at fertilization" and Virginia gave its approval on new regulations for abortion clinics.
Politics
Adult stem cells offer ethical, effective cures, speakers say
Finding safe and effective cures to disease and illness does not have to go against moral and ethical principles; that was the message of a three-day conference at the Vatican on adult stem-cell therapies.
"To address global suffering, one does not have to choose between faith and science. ... These two ideas fit together symbiotically," said Dr. Robin Smith, chairman and CEO of the for-profit NeoStem biopharmaceutical company and president of its nonprofit Stem for Life Foundation.
Curbing gun violence 'builds a culture of life,' bishop tells senators
Days before the Senate began debate over gun-control legislation, Bishop Stephen Blaire of Stockton, Calif., urged senators to support a bill that "builds a culture of life by promoting policies that reduce gun violence and saves people's lives in homes and communities."
Blaire, head of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, said in a letter to Senate members Monday that one bill, S. 649, was "a positive step in the right direction."
The bill requires universal background checks for all gun buys and makes gun trafficking a federal crime.
Immigration rally cries out to Congress to fix range of problems
From across the country, by bus, plane and train, tens of thousands of people calling for comprehensive immigration reform covered the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, in one of more than a dozen similar events taking place around the United States.
Cries of: "Si, se puede," Spanish for "yes, we can," and "What do we want? Citizenship. When do we want it? Now!" rose from the crowd in Washington.
Child-rearing, natural law and same-sex marriage at the Supreme Court
Young Voices: One of the arguments for regulating marriage is an interest in regulating child-rearing. But what does natural law say?
Pro-gun Catholics clash with bishops' desire for firearm regulation
"Advocating for the rights of people to defend themselves with the appropriate weapons is part ... of my Catholicism," one pro-gun Catholic said.
Court may hold off California marriage law ruling, justices suggest
The time might not be "ripe" for a national-level ruling on same-sex marriage, the Supreme Court justices suggested Tuesday.
Opponents of gay marriage say they're not bigots
They are moms and dads, authors and activists, a former police officer and a former single mom. They're black and white and Hispanic. One's a Roman Catholic archbishop, another an evangelical minister. Many have large families -- including gay members.
They are among the leading opponents of gay marriage, or as they prefer to be called, defenders of traditional marriage. And they're trying to stop an increasingly popular movement as it approaches two dates with history this week at the Supreme Court.
Bishops remind Congress that poor must be first in budget priorities
Poor and vulnerable Americans must be at the top of the country's spending priorities, the chairmen of two USCCB committees said.
HHS: Seniors saved more than $6 billion because of health care law
According to a March 21 press release from the U.S. Health and Human Services:
As the third anniversary of the Affordable Care Act approaches, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today more than 6.3 million people with Medicare saved over $6.1 billion on prescription drugs because of the health care law.
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In This Issue
May 10-23, 2013
- Illinois parish's ESL program welcomes all
- A different Mary assumes the stage
- A question few seem to consider when the US wages war afar
- [Print Edition Only] Special Section: Summer Listings
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