Pastor Sabrina Penn can tell you a lot about Venerable Augustus Tolton and the ongoing effort to have him declared a saint. One largely unknown fact she can tell you about is that he loved music and played the concordia.
National News
Big Pharma Settlement Cash Comes to NYC, But Not to S.I.
Staten Island has often been called “ground zero” in New York City’s opioid crisis. Despite the fact that it’s the smallest borough in terms of population, Staten Island sees an outsized number of opioid-related deaths, according to government statistics.
FBI Targeting Catholics Similar to NY’s Post-9/11 Surveillance of Muslims
While it remains unclear if, or how much, the FBI followed through on an internal proposal to investigate traditionalist Catholics’ association with extremists, the proposal itself somewhat mirrors tactics the New York Police Department used to investigate Muslim communities after 9/11.
Supreme Court Looks for Common Ground for Postal Worker Who Didn’t Want to Work Sundays
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments April 18 about a former postal worker who was forced to work Sundays against his religious beliefs.
Colorado Lawmakers Expand Access To Abortion; Kansas Governor Vetoes Born-Alive Bill
Pro-life advocates encountered set-backs as Colorado’s governor signed a trio of bills to expand access to abortion in the Centennial State, and Kansas Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a “born-alive” bill that seeks to protect infants who survive failed abortion attempts.
Several U.S. Dioceses Lift Pandemic Restriction, Resume Use of Communion Cup
When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the United States in 2020, U.S. dioceses put liturgical restrictions in place, such as no longer using the Communion cup, to avoid potential germs with a shared vessel.
Leading Catholic Lawmaker Calls On Defense Secretary To Back Military Archbishop In Walter Reed Dispute
A leading Catholic lawmaker and religious freedom advocate has called on the Biden administration to support the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services in a dispute over a long-running Catholic pastoral care contract that a leading U.S. military medical center awarded to a secular defense contractor.
Ex-Cardinal McCarrick Charged With Sexual Assault in Wisconsin
While the verdict of assault and battery charges against ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick remains in limbo in a Massachusetts court, another criminal charge of sexual assault has been levied against the disgraced cleric, this time in Wisconsin.
Transgender Interventions Pose Serious Medical Consequences for Minors, Says Surgeon
A former U.S. Navy surgeon with experience in reconstructive surgeries for combat-wounded troops, Deacon Patrick Lappert of the Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama, recently shared with OSV News his insights on transgender interventions for children. Deacon Lappert, who speaks nationally on this topic, warns that gender reassignment poses grave risks to both body and soul.
Cardinal Remembers 10th Anniversary of Boston Marathon Bombing
Ahead of the 10th anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing, Cardinal Seán O’Malley remembered each life lost as a “unique expression of love, concern for others, and courage” and reminded Boston Catholics that despite the violence of that day, they can find faith and trust in the Lord.