María J. Moriarty

María J. Moriarty is a freelance journalist with more than 10 years of experience in the field. She holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication and a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Originally from Mexico City, she started her career in broadcast before pivoting to financial reporting, where she’s spent the majority of her career.

Articles by María J. Moriarty

The oldest known stone tablet inscribed with the Ten Commandments, dating from A.D. 300 to 800, was sold at Sotheby’s on Dec. 18, 2024, in New York City. Expected to sell for $1 million to $2 million, it went for $5.04 million. Inscribed with the commandments in Paleo-Hebrew script, the tablet was discovered during railroad excavations along the southern coast of Israel in 1913. Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Ten Commandments tablet surpasses estimates at Sotheby’s despite authenticity questions

Dec 18, 2024 / 15:40 pm

A contentious Ten Commandments tablet has sold at Sotheby’s for $5.04 million — more than twice its high estimate of $2 million.

St. Austin Catholic Church and School once the construction project was underway. Credit: St. Austin Catholic Church and School

Unused Church properties find new purpose amid serious real estate challenges

Dec 11, 2024 / 06:00 am

Declining congregations, shifting demographics, and aging infrastructure have left thousands of Church properties underutilized or vacant.

The rose window of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral is seen a few weeks before its reopening to the public scheduled for Dec. 7, 2024, on Oct. 25, 2024, in Paris. Credit: Chesnot/Getty Images

U.S. President-elect Trump to attend Notre Dame Cathedral reopening in Paris

Dec 3, 2024 / 09:05 am

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to travel to Paris on Dec. 7 to attend the grand reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral.

Vacated in 2021 when the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity order consolidated, the convent at St. Alphonsus Parish in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood now offers private rooms and shared common areas to teachers and ministry professionals, usually within their first five years of service. Credit: St. Alphonsus Parish/Archdiocese of Seattle

Seattle parish transforms convent into affordable housing for mission-driven teachers

Oct 18, 2024 / 06:00 am

St. Alphonsus Parish in Seattle has converted its former convent into affordable living spaces for young educators and ministry leaders.

St. Junípero Serra. Credit: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Rare 1776 St. Junípero Serra letter fails to sell at New York auction

Sep 27, 2024 / 12:15 pm

A two-page letter from 1776 written by St. Junípero Serra failed to sell at a New York auction this week after the auction house declined a $70,000 offer.

Diocese of Phoenix doubles down on mental health ministry

Sep 24, 2024 / 11:55 am

The soon-to-be Mental Health First Aid trainers are set to serve in each of the diocese’s deaneries, aiming to expand mental health training capacity.