Lent begins Feb. 14

LGBT advocates banned from Vatican-hosted conference: Cardinal Kevin Farrell has reportedly barred two high-profile speakers from “Voices of Faith” event because of their opposition to Catholic teaching on homosexuality

Oakland priest donates kidney to his mom: Fr. Brandon Macadaeg and mother out of the hospital in four days after surgery on the Feast of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, new kidney began working immediately

Lent begins Feb. 14: Catholics encouraged to make going to confession a significant part of their spiritual lives