Catholic Church

The Feast of St. Joseph, on March 19, is a major celebration for Italian Catholics in Kansas City. Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Columbus Park lays claim to the city's original “St. Joseph Table," with volunteers spending weeks baking 30,000 homemade cookies.

Pope Francis recently called for the decriminalization of homosexuality around the world, saying the Catholic Church should work to put an end to anti-LGBTQ laws. What could that mean for the Catholic Church's relationship with the LGBTQ community?

Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests backed legislation from a Johnson County lawmaker aimed at holding more people accountable when clergy abuse children.

Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, says she'll introduce legislation this week to get rid of the statute of limitations for crimes involving sexual misconduct and abuse. She also criticized leaders of the Catholic Church for failing to support previous efforts to do so.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has identified 188 clergy suspected of committing crimes — including sodomy, rape and child rape — and documented how the church covered up the abuse. Plus: Homeowners in Kansas City's Westside may get some relief for sky-high property tax increases.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests also wants Kansas to change its laws on old cases so that more abusers could potentially face justice.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation found that the church minimized child rape with euphemisms, protected priests accused of rape and supported clergy financially after they had been implicated in sexual assault.

The tech company Twilio said it had been hired to send texts by the political marketing firm Alliance Forge, according to The Washington Post.

Many churches in Kansas, particularly Catholic parishes, have gotten involved in a campaign to change the state constitution removing a right to an abortion. But state law says “electioneering” can’t be done within 250 feet of a polling place door or within the building during election hours.

Religious institutions generally avoid taking a stance during election cycles, but the anti-abortion amendment in Kansas' August primary offers a rare chance for churches to make their positions known. Plus, a drought in Kansas is devastating this year's wheat harvest, even as prices are at a historic high.

Religious institutions normally avoid advocating during election cycles to protect their charitable status under federal law. But the Kansas constitutional amendment on abortion provides a rare opportunity for them to get actively involved.

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the nearly 50-year-old precedent of Roe v. Wade, the response among religious organizations varied widely. But some Kansas City faith groups are urging their congregations to vote in support of bodily autonomy.