Catholic News Service

Pope Francis named Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta, arguably the Catholic Church's most respected abuse investigator, to be adjunct secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Scientists worldwide must serve humanity and the health of the planet, which means they must also propose viable solutions to problems and persuade government leaders and policymakers to implement them, Pope Francis said.

Even in societies increasingly marked by divisions and prejudice, Catholics gather every Sunday "in the Lord's name and acknowledge that they are brothers and sisters," Pope Francis said.

Although China and the Vatican signed a provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops in September, persecution of Chinese Catholics continues.

A bishop must be "blameless" and at the service of God, not of cliques, assets and power, especially if he is ever to "set right" what needs to be done for the church, Pope Francis said.

The latest death penalty case to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court was not about if a death-row prisoner should be executed, but how. And the newest member of the court, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, could be the deciding vote on the outcome.

Atlanta Archbishop Wilton Gregory has released a list of the priests, deacons, seminarians and religious credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor from 1956, when the diocese was established, until now. Atlanta became an archdiocese in 1962.

Archbishop Charles Chaput announced Nov. 8 that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is creating a new reparations program open to anyone abused by clergy in the archdiocese, explaining the archdiocese will fund the program and "pay the amounts that independent claims administrators deem appropriate."

The seven Catholic peacemakers who entered a naval base to symbolically dismantle nuclear weapons-armed submarines acted from the primacy of conscience rooted in their faith, the bishop of Jackson, Mississippi, told a Georgia court.

The Diocese of Nashville, as part of its ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability and pastoral care, has published the names of the 13 former priests who served in the diocese who have been accused of sexually abusing a minor.

A federal appeals court ruled Nov. 8 in favor of keeping in place the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, rejecting the Trump administration's efforts to end it.

Sometime in the weeks ahead, the Archdiocese of Agana will file bankruptcy and reorganize under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, Archbishop Michael Byrnes said Nov. 7.

Pope Francis has recognized the martyrdom of De La Salle Christian Brother James Miller, who was born in Wisconsin and was shot to death in Guatemala in 1982.

The sin of grumbling and complaining is often triggered by a desire to avoid being challenged or upset by seeing Christ's unexpected mercy at work, Pope Francis said.

Buffalo Bishop Richard Malone told reporters at a news conference Nov. 5 that at a meeting earlier in the day with the diocese's priests, two of them had asked him to resign.

A new, local ID system in Baltimore is "focused on helping residents to feel comfortable interacting with the Baltimore City Police Department," according to organizers, who announced the program Oct. 10, to start in Sacred Heart of Jesus-Sagrado Corazón de Jesús parish.

The controversial Israeli Nation State law must be repealed because non-Jews also are citizens of Israel, said the Catholic ordinaries of the Holy Land.

Life is for loving, not amassing possessions, Pope Francis said. In fact, the true meaning and purpose of wealth is to use it to lovingly serve others and promote human dignity.

U.S. Christian leaders expressed "grave concern" about the Trump administration's decision to stop financial assistance to six East Jerusalem hospitals.

The acquittal of a Pakistani Catholic woman sentenced to hang for blasphemy is to be challenged in the country's Supreme Court, according to her husband.