Controversy over tomb rages on
Archeologists are speaking out and refuting the claims that the tomb found in Jerusalem belonged to Jesus, Canada's Catholic Register reports. Several things don't add up for biblical historians and archeologists alike, such as Jesus had no ties to Jerusalem so wouldn't be buried there even if he didn't rise from the dead. "It is a commercial ploy that all the media is playing into," the newspaper reports New Testament scholar Dominican Jerome Murphy-O'Connor as saying.

Men's clocks tick, too
It was always thought that only women had biological clocks that slowed as they aged. Now doctors are saying it looks like men are racing against their own biological clock, The New York Times reports. If confirmed, this could increase production of male fertility drugs.

More persecution uncovered
A Polish priest who was tortured by Nazi officials has published a book naming 39 clergy in the Krakow archdiocese who allegedly were informants for the Communist government. While the Church played an important role in removing communism from Poland, it didn't come out unscathed.

Bury yourself next to Fido
Some Milwaukee cemeteries are considering letting people bury their pets near their owners, The Associated Press reports. A cemetery official said they are always looking for new avenues of revenue. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee does not endorse the idea.

Helping children understand death
The new movie "Bridge to Teribithia" addresses the grim reality of a child's death in an honest way that can help children understand death and hope, says Emily Bazelon on Slate.com. While the book that movie was based upon generated controversy for portraying the child's death, Bazelon writes: "Experts increasingly caution that in shielding our kids from danger, we end up putting them at more serious risk by standing between them and the skills they need to become self-reliant."

Did they find Jesus' bones?
"Producer James Cameron is ready to rock the foundation of Christianity, according to Time.com. In a new documentary, the director of the blockbuster movie ‘Titanic’ claims Jesus wasn't resurrected, that his burial cave was discovered in a suburb of Jerusalem," Newsday reports.

No harm done to chickens
Mepkin Abbey in South Carolina has released a statement saying the Trappist order meets and exceeds guidelines for egg production in the United States, Catholic News Service reports. The statement came after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals on Feb. 20 accused the order of torturing its laying hens.

Education, not silencing
With violence and sex the norm on television and in movies today, some groups are advocating for legislation to curb this content. But others, as the Christian Science Monitor reports, say that educating adults and young people is the best way to go.

Calling Washingtonians back to Confession
Noting that the number of Catholics taking part in the key rite [of the Sacrament of Reconciliation] has plunged, the Archdiocese of Washington is launching its biggest marketing blitz this week, using ads on buses, subway cars, a Route 301 billboard, 100,000 brochures and radio spots in an effort to get people back to the confessional," the Washington Post reports. This story offers some interesting commentary about the decline in the practice of Confession in the United States and the misunderstanding many Catholics have of sin and the sacrament.

Creating the Filet-O-Fish
In 1962, Lou Groen was operating the first McDonald's in the Cincinnati area and looking for new ways to survive the tough competition among local restaurants. He served a heavily Roman Catholic clientele, so he needed a meatless item to sell on Fridays and during Lent. His solution was to create the "Filet-O-Fish" - a sandwich that's now consumed at McDonald's everywhere, at the rate of 300 million a year.

Different Lenten traditions for Hispanics
Various cultures have different traditions that they observe during Lent. For example, Mexicans often take ashes home and bless themselves throughout the season of Lent "as a reminder of the season," says the St. Louis Dispatch quoting a local parish priest. While this story is from Ash Wednesday, it worth the read because it offers a glimpse into the many cultures and practices within the universal Church.

Fasting for immigration
Catholics in Los Angeles and Orange counties are asked to consider fasting on liquids for one day during Lent for immigration reform, the Los Angeles Times reports. L.A. Auxiliary Bishop Jaime Soto was quoted telling parishioners in Anaheim that "So much of the current debate on immigration has fostered a poisonous polemic that does little to bring any sense of security or hope to this anxious and confused world of ours. To this we propose a simple yet personal gesture of solidarity." One note on the story < the writers say Lent ends on Palm Sunday but it actually ends on Holy Thursday when the Triduum begins.

Practical guide to Lent
If you haven't figured out what special sacrifice or action you offer to draw closer to God this Lent, Andrea Gilbert gives some points to consider. "Whatever path you decide to take this Lent, remember that we are trying to grow closer to God, not vainly trying to perfect ourselves and our wills," Gilbert writes.

Priests and seminarians try to save soccer
Recent outbreaks of violence and scandals involving soccer matches in Europe caused Italy to removed fans from any matches recently. In a country that adores soccer as much as Americans adore football, this was a huge blow. Offering a gesture of faith in the sport, clergy and seminarians from 50 countries and living in Rome will play in a soccer 16-team tournament at the Vatican. "The Clericus Cup will run through June and most games will be played at a Vatican soccer field in Rome," The Associated Press reports.

Scalia's stamp on the Court
Justice Antonin Scalia, a Catholic and a conservative, is emerging as a strong voice on the Supreme Court and some are worried his views could have a lasting impact on court decisions, the Los Angeles Times reports. Until now, his views have mostly been heard off the court at speaking engagements and commencements, but last year Chief Justice John Roberts, also a Catholic, turned to him to write two "key opinions," the newspaper reported.

Look to the heart
When choosing a candidate for public office, the most important factor to consider is the person's heart, says The Christian Science Monitor. In an editorial, the paper writes, "Clearly, it's important to know everything we can about a candidate, but outward issues often don't tell us about the candidate's heart. And it's the heart that guides people toward good or bad decisions."

Vocations come from everywhere
Black jack dealer, bar bouncer and mutual fund broker are just three of the previous jobs held by one seminarian in Canada, the Montreal Gazette reports. When trying to cope with the stress of being a broker, Michael Leclerc told the newspaper, "My mind started focusing on the notion that maybe I should do something more with my life. Slowly I came to the conclusion I shouldn't be working with finances, that I should invest in something else - maybe along the lines of becoming a priest."

No more gay bishops
The Anglican Church has told its U.S. members that "it will not consecrate more gay bishops or authorize same-sex blessings," according to the London Telegraph. The communique came following a meeting of the worldwide church in Africa. They also outlined steps to be taken to rectify the schism that has occurred in the United States.

Catholics rising
Researchers at Cambridge University are predicting that within a few years, Catholics in Britain will outnumber all other religious groups, including Anglicans, for the first time since the Reformation. Massive immigration from Catholic countries such as Poland is bringing of hundreds of thousands into the country.

Fighting cell-phone pornography
After the Canadian cellular-phone company Telus said it will offer pornography for download on its cell phones, the archbishop of Vancouver called on parishes and schools not to renew their mobile-phone contracts with the company, Canada's Sun News reports. “Given the increasing awareness about the problem of sexual addiction to pornography through Internet access, and the abuse that this perpetuates of vulnerable persons, Telus’ decision is disappointing and disturbing,” the newspaper reported Archbishop Raymond Roussin telling a Catholic newspaper.

Focus on the cross this Lent, pope says
In his 2007 message for Lent, Pope Benedict asks Catholics to keep in their mind Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Through his suffering, Christ asks for and waits for the love of his children, the pope writes saying: "It is in the mystery of the Cross that the overwhelming power of the heavenly Father’s mercy is revealed in all of its fullness."

An archbishop and a novel
Archbishop John Myers of Newark has teamed up with his old friend science fiction writer Gary K. Wolf to coauthor a science fiction novel entitled "Space Vulture." Wolf is the creator of the "Roger Rabbit" cartoon character.

Stopping abortion one woman at a time
By using ultrasounds at crisis-pregnancy centers so a woman can see her baby before she aborts it is quietly saving the lives of many babies, Time magazine reports. Their use is part of a trend to turn crisis-pregnancy centers into health clinics that focus on caring for the whole woman.

Another abortion issue
Women who have had abortions want birth certificates for their children but have run into criticism from pro-abortion advocates, Newsday reports. In Tennessee, legislation was introduced to allow women to obtain birth certificates up to 10 days after aborting their children. Planned Parenthood told The Associated Press this is "an attempt to terrorize frightened and vulnerable women."

Free condoms for NYC residents
"New York's top Catholic leaders on Thursday sharply criticized the city for 'blanketing our neighborhoods with condoms,' saying city officials were promoting promiscuity and degrading society by distributing subway-themed condoms, The Associated Press reports. New York Cardinal Edward Egan and Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio told the city the money for the condom campaign would be better spent "fostering what is true and what is decent."

Through the lens of the Eucharist
Theologian William Cavanaugh delves into important questions regarding the Eucharist, politics, business and just war in this interview with the Catholic blog Godspy.com. It's a thoughtful discussion about how modern societies appear to be losing God and how we can view the culture through the lens of the liturgy.

Insuring the poor
"In the absence of federal action, governors and state legislators around the country are transforming the nation?s health care system, putting affordable health insurance within reach of millions of Americans in hopes of reversing the steady rise in the number of uninsured, now close to 47 million," The New York Times reports. Some of these proposals include covering more of the working poor, such as single adults. 

Dogmatic disagreements
Leaders of the worldwide Anglican church are meeting in Tanzania to discuss the schism in the U.S. church, which occurred because of dogmatic differences over issues such as ordination of women and same-sex marriage. Archbishop Rowan Williams, leader of the worldwide church, is trying to keep the U.S. church as one. But the U.S. isn't the only problem. African bishops are also threatening schism. 

Visiting St. Joseph
For the past three years, visits to St. Joseph's tomb in the West Bank have been forbidden out of fear of sectarian violence. Officials are now petitioning the government to reopen the tomb to pilgrims.