The COVID-19 pandemic has forced governments and individuals to operate as if every day brings with it a new contingency plan. The Catholic Church is no different, in a sense, at least when it comes ...

CHICAGO — Chicago's Cardinal Francis George is facing a major challenge to his efforts to curb a longstanding practice by some priests of giving penitents general absolution. A group of about 100 ...

There can be few less appealing prospects than penance, so why do some people volunteer to deny themselves? Joanne Savage dons sackcloth and ashes to look at an exploration of the subject by Catholic ...

The experience of the sacrament of penance in the Roman rite will be slightly different this Lent, thanks to approved changes in the English translation set to take effect in a few weeks. Starting Ash ...