A struggling global economy has contributed to a budget shortfall at the Vatican for the third year in a row. Catholic News Service’s Carol Glatz and John Thavis make sense of the dollars, in this week’s Vatican Report. To download Flash Player please click here ...read more

As you’ve probably read in the last 24 hours, the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith has released new norms concerning serious crimes — which covers such topics as clerical abuse, pornography, discipline, and the Sacraments of Penance, the Eucharist and Holy Orders. Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, offered an explanatory ...read more

Ninety three years ago today the body of Tom Thomson was recovered from Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park. The death of one of Canada’s most beloved painters is shrouded in mystery.  The official word was that it was an accidental drowning.  An experienced park guide and canoeist, many scoff at that ruling.  They suggest murder ...read more

The name Jacalyn Duffin may not sound familiar. But if you’re a Canadian Catholic, particularly in Quebec, you’ll probably know of St. Marguerite D’Youville (and if you don’t, get to know her and the other Canadian Saints and Blesseds HERE). Both Duffin and St. Marguerite are closely connected. Dr. Duffin, a Canadian hematologist, investigated the ...read more

I admit, I was a little disappointed when Spain beat the Netherlands in yesterday’s World Cup final. That’s mostly because I was cheering for Germany — and Spain defeated them last week! At which point I strapped on my willow-wood clogs and pulled out the miniature windmills that are collecting dust in my desk drawer, ...read more

For our viewers in the Greater Toronto Area: A chance to venerate the relics of a remarkable modern day Blessed on her way to Sainthood. An exhibit of Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s relics will be open to the public today (Friday July 9th) and Saturday July 10th. They are here for the occasion of the ...read more

What’s happening to Perspectives: The Weekly Edition during the summer?  That’s the question many of you are asking yourselves this week as you log in incessantly, hour after hour, to our facebook page and our Perspectives page, looking for a new question and for new updates. We’re taking a break. That’s the short answer. The ...read more

After his Wednesday General Audience on July 7th, Pope Benedict traveled to Castelgandolfo to begin his summer break. The days leading up to his vacation were quite busy. Catholic News Service’s Carol Glatz and John Thavis explain, and take a look at the two months ahead, in this week’s Vatican Report. To download Flash Player ...read more

The first registrant for World Youth Day Madrid isn’t Spanish, but German. It fact, it’s Pope Benedict XVI. The Holy Father registered after a meeting in Rome with Cardinal Antonio Rouco Varela of Madrid and other organizers of the August 2011 event. The Pope described World Youth Day as “not just a mass gathering but ...read more

Many of us are vaguely familiar with how things went for little St. Maria Goretti, but we often overlook the smaller points that make this story a particularly inspiring one. We know that she was a poor, pious farm girl. We know that only days before her 11th birthday, on July 6th 1902, Maria was ...read more