Congress on Sept. 25 passed a temporary measure to keep the federal government funded into December, averting a shutdown before the Nov. 5 election.

In one of her strongest statements on restoring a national right to abortion as it existed under the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling of 1973, Vice President Kamala Harris has said she would support eliminating the filibuster in the U.S. Senate in order to bring back federal protections for a woman’s right to an abortion as they existed under Roe.

There’s an episode of the 2000s political drama West Wing titled “The Al Smith Dinner,” where the two presidential nominees have trepidation about attending the Archdiocese of New York’s charitable event, but ultimately decide to attend.

Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York said he is “disappointed” that Vice President Kamala Harris will not attend the Al Smith charity dinner Oct. 17, a New York Catholic charities fundraiser that has become a staple for presidential nominees in election years. But he still held out hope that the Democratic nominee could change her plans and join the event which her Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, is now planning to attend.

A Catholic priest who had gameshow fans “swooning,” according to one entertainment reporter, told OSV News he hoped his recent television appearance helps give “a positive impression of the church” and clergy in general.

Vice President Kamala Harris will not attend the Al Smith charity dinner Oct. 17, a New York Catholic charities fundraiser that has become a staple for presidential nominees in election years.

Green nuns. Green sisters. Even “eco-nuns.” Throughout America — and indeed, the world — thousands of religious sisters are daily witnessing to the environmental care commitment urged by Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical, “Laudato Si’,” and its 2023 sequel, “Laudate Deum.” It’s a congregational concern that, for many of them, often predates the pontiff’s writings — but the merging of their own environmental priorities with official papal pronouncements has helpfully amplified sisterly endeavors.

A recent survey conducted by The Wall Street Journal, ranked Benedictine College, a small Catholic liberal arts college, as the sixth most highly recommended college by its students and recent alumni.

The next time former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris face off before a huge audience, New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan will sit between them as host and Catholic comic Jim Gaffigan will serve as Master of Ceremonies.