Results from a new Pew survey show that Jews are the most knowledgeable among America’s religious communities about world religions, while only half of American Catholics know what their own Church teaches on core principles such as communion.
National News
Former U.S. Envoy to Vatican Opposes New Commission Headed by Predecessor
One former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican has been tapped to lead the State Department’s new Commission on Unalienable Rights. Another has signed a letter calling for it to be dismantled.
Puerto Rican Bishops Call for Governor’s Resignation With Day-Long Prayer Encounter Amid Protests
Following a tenth straight day of protests calling for Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rosselló to resign, Puerto Rican Catholic bishops have voiced their support for the demonstrations and are now joining the call for him to step down.
Pence Blasts Venezuela, Nicaragua for Crackdowns on Church Leaders
Vice President Mike Pence singled out leaders in Venezuela and Nicaragua for their persecution of Catholic clergy during the closing day of a high stakes summit on religious freedom at the U.S. State Department on July 18.
Moon Landing Inspired a Country and a Career in Aerospace Engineering
Retired Maj. Gen. Mike Wiedemer was an aerospace engineering and ROTC student at the University of Notre Dame in July 1969 when Apollo 11 launched and Neil Armstrong took a “giant leap for mankind” by becoming the first man to walk on the moon.
Puerto Ricans Demand Governor Step Down Following ‘Misconduct’
With their fists raised, their flags waving and through chants of “Ricky Renuncia” or “Ricky Resign,” Puerto Ricans took to Union Square Park to speak out against the island’s governor, Ricardo Rosselló on July 18.
Top Vatican Diplomat Calls Relationship With US ‘Strong and Solid’
Vatican foreign secretary Archbishop Paul Gallagher hailed the relationship between the United States and the Holy See as “strong and solid” on July 17 during a visit to the nation’s capital.
Broken Dreams and Items Left Behind at Border
Tom Kiefer, a photographer who lives in Arizona, is documenting the journey of migrants at the southern border, examining the lives and religious beliefs of those trying to enter the United States.
Census Won’t Ask Citizenship Question
In a July 11 announcement from the Rose Garden, President Donald Trump said he was ending his efforts to add a citizenship question to the census and would instead direct federal agencies by executive order to provide data about the country’s citizens and noncitizens to the U.S. Commerce Department.
Zuckerberg Confirms Facebook Blocked Pro-Life Ads
Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has come under fire after he publicly confirmed that the social media behemoth banned pro-life advertisements during Ireland’s abortion referendum in 2018 — a vote that led to the legalization of abortion in the traditionally Catholic country.