The subject of same-sex attraction can be complex, especially when it comes to explaining Catholic Church teaching on the matter.

So for a group of adults who work in different areas of youth ministry, a recent gathering hosted by the archdiocesan Office of Youth Ministry proved insightful when trying to better understand how to minister to teens who have same-sex attraction.

The Nov. 26 presentation, hosted at the Cardinal Rigali Center in Shrewsbury, was led by Jesuit Father...

Rejoice! Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has said that this simple but exuberant word, rejoice, can be called the word that begins the New Testament, the new and eternal covenant between God and His people. It is joy -- not fear or anger or uncertainly or despair or vengeance -- that heralds the reign of God and that should be the fundamental attitude that characterizes the people of God.

"Joy is a basic element in Christianity," Pope Emeritus Benedict says, "for by its very...

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis accepted a proposal to set up a special commission on the sexual abuse of children, which will advise him on ways to prevent abuse and provide pastoral care for victims and their families.

Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston, a member of the pope's advisory Council of Cardinals, announced the decision at a Vatican briefing for reporters Dec. 5, during a break in the council's meetings with the pope.

The cardinal said the new commission would...

Soccer in St. Louis and Catholics are forever linked.

Much of it is attributed to the outstanding program of the Catholic Youth Council, which organized parish teams of children of immigrants, and its former director, the late Msgr. Louis F. Meyer, known as the "Soccer Priest." But it also is linked to coaching, especially at Catholic high schools.

There are past coaches such as St. Louis University High's Ebbie Dunn and Duchesne's David Thurmer and current coaches such as CBC'...