Arizona House legislators voted April 24 to repeal the state’s 1864 ban on nearly all abortions which the state Supreme Court let stand on April 9.
National News
St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore to Offer Specialized Hispanic Ministry Track
In response to the growing number of Hispanic Catholics in the United States, St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore will soon offer a specialized track where, at the recommendation of their diocese, a seminarian will focus the last four years of their priestly education on Hispanic ministry.
AI ‘Priest’ Sparks More Backlash Than Belief
A new AI priest, launched by a Catholic teaching apostolate to answer questions about the faith, has been “laicized” after sparking more backlash than belief online.
Supreme Court Justices Divided on Law Requiring Hospitals to Provide ‘Necessary Emergency Treatment’
U.S. Supreme Court justices were divided during April 24 oral arguments that considered whether the federal law requiring hospitals to provide “necessary stabilizing treatment” in emergencies overrides an Idaho law that bans most abortions.
Pope Francis Considering September Visit to U.S. Following U.N. Invitation
Pope Francis is contemplating a return to the United States this September to address the United Nations General Assembly, as per reports from the French Catholic newspaper La Croix. While the Vatican has yet to confirm this, a source from the Vatican Secretariat of State informed CNA of a formal invitation from Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, suggesting the Pope’s inclination to accept.
Catholic Medical Community Says ‘Simply Not Enough Nurses’ to Fulfill Mandate
An association of more than 2,200 Catholic health care facilities is “deeply concerned” that controversial new nurse staffing standards for long-term care facilities — implemented this week by the Biden administration — will actually harm nursing facilities and the residents they serve.
Georgia Senator Says He Prayed with and Spoke to Pope Francis About Peace
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat from Georgia, said he and Pope Francis prayed together when they met at the Vatican April 20.
Colorado Bishops Oppose Both Pro-Life and Pro-Abortion Ballot Initiatives
In Colorado, a campaign has secured enough signatures to put before voters this November an abortion amendment on the state’s Constitution while another campaign looking to put an anti-abortion initiative on the ballot failed to gather enough signatures in time to qualify.
Columbia University Chaplain: Anti-Semitism Protests Must Stop
Amid pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University that have led to more than 100 arrests, forced classes online, and left Jewish students and faculty feeling unsafe and unwelcome, the university’s Catholic chaplain says the path forward “must first ensure that such malevolent protests, brimming with anti-Semitism, be stopped.”
Pence: Trump Betrayed Pro-Life Movement by Rejecting Idea of Federal Abortion Restrictions
Former Vice President Mike Pence argued his ex-running mate, former President Donald Trump betrayed the pro-life movement by stating his opposition to implementing federal abortion restrictions should he be elected to another term in 2024.