News Briefs

Jean Bethke Elshtain, an ethicist, scholar and author, died on Aug. 11 in Nashville at age 72. • Calling the program “deeply needed” by many, U.S. Agriculture Department undersecretary Kevin Concannon expressed his gratitude on Aug. 19 to Catholic leaders for championing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as it comes under attack in Congress. • Pope Francis will host a meeting of cardinals on Sept. 30 to formally approve the canonization of Blesseds John Paul II and John XXIII and announce a date for the canonizations. • The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced on Aug. 20 that it is exploring the sale of six nursing homes and one assisted-living facility and will seek to outsource management or lease its current and future cemetery sites. • Catholic bishops and priests from major dioceses across the country will preach a coordinated message on Sept. 8 to urge Congressional passage of an immigration overhaul that includes a path to citizenship. • A census study reports that in Ecuador there are 4.2 million child workers (ages 5 to 17) and almost 9 percent of them are exploited in “high risk” labor like scavenging landfills.