Articles by Kevin J. Jones
With freedom for Catholic education uncertain, English diocese charts a path
Jul 13, 2015 / 05:02 amCatholic schools in England could face problems under both a new “British values” government mandate and demands to approve same-sex relationships. But in the Diocese of Portsmouth, new education guidelines focus on Catholic fidelity, love of neighbor, and the love of Jesus Christ.
Okla. ruling against 10 Commandment statue blasted as extreme, inconsistent
Jul 9, 2015 / 23:16 pmResponding to the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s ruling that a Ten Commandments monument on capitol grounds violates the state constitution, critics say that the decision is a legal outlier that ignores the commandments’ historic importance.
Australia's bishops reaffirm marriage – and get reported to government
Jul 8, 2015 / 02:04 amIn a recent pastoral letter on marriage, Australia’s Catholic bishops reaffirmed Catholic teaching. And one of the bishops has countered a leading same-sex marriage activist who said the pastoral letter should be reported to the Tasmanian government for illegal bias.
Benedictine monks' disputed role at Catholic university in Illinois at center of new lawsuit
Jun 28, 2015 / 05:03 amSeven monks of St. Procopius Abbey in Lisle, Ill. have filed suit against the leadership of Illinois’ Benedictine University, saying that the leadership has denied them their rights to help govern the university their abbey founded.
Father Flanagan founded Boys Town. Will he be recognized as a saint?
Jun 23, 2015 / 15:58 pmThe case for the sainthood of Servant of God Edward Flanagan, the priest who founded Nebraska’s famous Boys Town community for orphans and other boys, is now headed to Rome.
Here's what the US bishops expect from the Pope's new encyclical
Jun 10, 2015 / 15:18 pmWith Pope Francis’ encyclical on ecology and the environment to be released next week, the U.S. bishops are reflecting on possible themes of the upcoming document.
Justice, peace and equality: Sarajevo's hopes for papal visit
Jun 5, 2015 / 15:51 pmPope Francis’ visit to Sarajevo could be an opportunity to advance peace, equality, and justice for Bosnia and Herzegovina, despite a declining Catholic population whose refugees have still not returned home.
For St. John's University, affordable tuition is a Catholic cause
Jun 5, 2015 / 10:23 amAiming to reduce the financial burden of a college education, the New York-based St. John’s University has enacted a tuition freeze for the 2015-2016 school year, along with other efforts to keep costs low for students.
Judges shoot down Notre Dame's appeal on contraception mandate
May 21, 2015 / 15:03 pmA federal court has again denied the University of Notre Dame’s request for a preliminary injunction against federal mandates it says violate its religious freedom, though a trial can still go forward.
When detention denies dignity: bishops offer look inside US migrant, refugee policy
May 14, 2015 / 02:20 am“Please help us, please pray for us.” These were the words of detained migrants and refugees at a Karnes, Texas facility who spoke Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller of San Antonio and his visiting delegation of religious leaders last year.
Catholic Charities ready to help tornado, flood victims in Midwest
May 8, 2015 / 14:21 pmAfter a series of damaging tornadoes and flooding in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska, a Catholic Charities affiliate said it is ready to provide long-term help.
Iraqi nun's visa denial raises questions for US State Department
May 8, 2015 / 02:03 amSister Diana Momeka, a Catholic nun from Iraq, intended to visit the U.S. to talk about the persecution of religious minorities in her country – until the local U.S. consulate denied her visa application.
San Fran archdiocese praises Catholic school teachers, rejects 'inflammatory' reports
May 1, 2015 / 16:22 pmThe Archdiocese of San Francisco has stressed its “greatest admiration and respect” for those working in Catholic education, pledging to take into account teachers’ concerns while lamenting that some reports about its proposals for Catholic schools have been “incorrect” and “inflammatory.”
Baltimore archbishop: With God, a broken city can heal
Apr 29, 2015 / 01:43 amAfter both peaceful protests and violent riots following the death of an African American man in the custody of the Baltimore police, the local archbishop appealed to prayer and truth as means of healing and restoring human dignity.
Ireland's defense of marriage leaders speak up for mothers, fathers, children
Apr 26, 2015 / 14:58 pmOpponents of a referendum that would recognize “gay marriage” in Ireland face an uphill fight, but one commentator says they can win if people are willing to speak up and focus on the need for children to have a mother and a father.
Kidnapped Nigerian girls deserve more than just a hashtag, activist says
Apr 15, 2015 / 15:16 pmThe hundreds of Nigerian schoolgirls abducted a year ago by the group Boko Haram deserve a major, sustained rescue effort, says a Nigerian lawyer who urges far more global attention for the wider crisis in the country.
The fix that wasn't: law professor says Indiana legislature demoted religious freedom
Apr 10, 2015 / 15:20 pmA Notre Dame law professor says religious liberty in Indiana was set back by the state legislature’s hasty reaction to strong criticism of a law intended to strengthen religious freedom protections.
Kansas becomes first state to ban 'dismemberment abortion'
Apr 8, 2015 / 16:02 pmKansas became on Tuesday the first state to ban abortions by a procedure known as “dilation and evacuation,” which is common during second-trimester abortions and is called “dismemberment abortion” in the law.
An Arcus news service? RNS denies LGBT money influences religion coverage
Apr 1, 2015 / 16:22 pmThe editor of Religion News Service has denied that a grant from a wealthy LGBT advocacy funder has biased its coverage of traditional religion, which includes a recent controversial story on Cardinal Raymond Burke.
History, truth, and politics: Researcher seeks to clear the record on Junipero Serra
Mar 29, 2015 / 15:22 pmCalifornia missionary Father Junipero Serra’s canonization is “long overdue,” says a university professor concerned that the priest’s history has been politicized and misrepresented.