ArcaMax

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court dealt an unexpected blow Thursday to the conservative drive for religious charter schools, with the justices splitting 4-4 and unable to rule in a case from Oklahoma that had the effect of blocking a proposed new Catholic charter school.

If upheld, it would have been the nation’s first tax-funded, church-run ...Read more

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court dealt an unexpected blow Thursday to the conservative drive for religious charter schools, with the justices splitting 4-4 and unable to rule in a case from Oklahoma that had the effect of blocking a proposed new Catholic charter school.

If upheld, it would have been the nation's first tax-funded, church-run ...Read more

The Supreme Court dealt an unexpected blow Thursday to the conservative drive for religious charter schools.

The justices announced they were split 4-4 in a test case heard last month from Oklahoma, which blocks the new Catholic charter school in the state.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett had announced in advance she would not participate in the ...Read more

“Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” – Mark Twain

I have been deeply touched by the flood of mail from Catholic readers who have appreciated that a rabbi could have some spiritually helpful insights on the new papacy of Leo IV. Here, a Protestant reader, R, shares her soul’s ...Read more

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: It is interesting to note how offended people are when something is said about Hell; yet most people use the word like commas in their communication, and they particularly use it when they want to offend someone. This seems hypocritical. Many people get so angry that they declare they want someone ...Read more

While the Illinois village of Dolton is moving ahead with negotiations to buy Pope Leo XIV’s childhood home in the village, it’s unclear how trustees were consulted about the decision, which hasn’t been discussed at an open meeting.

As Mayor Jason House seeks to come to terms with the home’s owner, at the same time the village attorney ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas has revealed what it says are recent substantiated allegations of sex abuse involving three priests, bringing to nearly 30 the number of credibly accused clergy who have served in the archdiocese.

The priests all have died in recent years, according to an announcement last week by ...Read more

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: When I watch the unrest on college campuses, it makes me mad at first, and then it makes me sad because these kids (who are really young adults) are so misled. They may be highly educated, but they are outwardly foolish. They’ve been pumped with hatred by others, and their hatred is toxic. One ...Read more

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: I resent when someone tells me that I am just as bad of a sinner as someone who has committed murder. The worst thing I’ve done is lie to my parents. Where in the Bible does it say that a liar is as bad as a murderer? – A.C.

A: From the human standpoint, some sins seem worse than others – ...Read more

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: When I became a mother, I was fearful that I wouldn’t be able to guide my children spiritually because I was a babe myself in the faith. My mother recalled reading in “My Answer” a response to a question about how to engage children in learning the Bible. A friend then gave me a wonderful gift...Read more

In the United States, where religion is “very” or “somewhat” important according to nearly two-thirds of adults, one racial group stands out when it comes to practicing their faith, a new poll found.

The Public Religion Research Institute American Values Atlas poll based religious activity on three categories: how often people pray, how...Read more

I recently offered up my list of qualities I hoped to see in the new pope and asked you, dear readers, to share with me your hopes.

Now that we joyously have welcomed Pope Leo IV we can begin to match up our lists and his papacy. I did not include in my list a pope who is a White Sox fan, who has a COSTCO card, who loves Chicago deep-dish pizza...Read more

Pope Leo XIV has officially hard launched his papacy.

The new pontiff, 69-year-old Chicago native Robert Prevost, shared a message Wednesday from the official @Pontifex account on X for the first time since being named the new head of the Catholic Church. The handle was first launched in 2012 during the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI.

“...Read more

PHILADELPHIA -- It was afternoon at the convent, and that meant bingo.

A dozen elderly women, some in wheelchairs, others with their walkers pushed aside, studied the triplets of cards in front of them. A life-size cardboard cutout of Pope Francis, newly deceased, waved beneficently down at them.

“Call the right numbers!” joked Sister ...Read more

Robert Prevost, the Chicago-born missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and took over the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops, was elected the first pope from the United States in the history of the Catholic Church. Prevost, a 69-year-old member of the Augustinian religious order, took the name Leo XIV.

In his first words as ...Read more

At a small Catholic elementary school on the south side of Chicago, Michael Winters and Robert Prevost would run in circles on the hot cement during recess.

Even back in 1961, while attending St. Mary of the Assumption School, Prevost — who took the name Leo XIV after becoming the first American elected pope — seemed destined for the role. ...Read more

CHICAGO — Above the door of the church in the last blocks of Chicago, the Virgin Mary still stands with her arms wide open.

The double doors beneath the statue’s feet are shut, but a disintegrating wooden side door swings freely, leading to a set of stairs with chipped paint scattered on them. Above, a pool of blue light from a stained-...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — In the summer of 1973, the war was still raging in Vietnam, the Watergate scandal was unfolding in Washington, and protests roiled college campuses nationwide. But at leafy Villanova University just outside Philadelphia, trouble was on the home front.

The staid Catholic institution on the Main Line stood at a cultural ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — As Philadelphians and Catholics rejoiced at the announcement of the new pope, with his ties to Villanova University, among local Filipinos, there was some disappointment.

The election of Pope Leo XIV meant Filipino cardinals who had been front-runners in the papal process would not ascend to the Catholic Church’s highest post...Read more

CHICAGO — Almost immediately after the Chicago Tribune published an article Thursday mentioning that the newly elected Pope Leo XIV had dined with old friends at Aurelio’s Pizza in Homewood months prior, Joe Aurelio said his friends, family — and what eventually felt like the whole country — started chiming in.

“The world’s calling...Read more