The beaches of Normandy, France, seem a long way from Bethel, Conn., but many of the lessons about life that Joseph P. Vaghi Jr. learned in his home town probably prepared him to take part in the D-Day landing in Normandy on June 6, 1944.

While President Joe Biden touts new executive actions that limit illegal immigration as necessary to gain control of the southern border, Catholic leaders argue the president’s decision disregards U.S. asylum law, and will have serious human consequences.

President Joe Biden June 4 signed an executive order aimed at reducing unauthorized border crossings by asylum-seekers. The move was expected and comes as Biden faces increasing political pressure on the issue of migration in the midst of his reelection bid.

Armed with guitars, drums, bass and a microphone, two bands comprised of local priests rocked out in the name of the Virgin Mary at a live music venue on The Wharf in Washington’s waterfront neighborhood.

The number of executions around the world increased 30% from 2022 to 2023 when it was also at its highest point in eight years, according to an Amnesty International annual report on global use of the death penalty. 

Surrounded by almost 15,000 military personnel from around the world, Airman 1st Class Quenton Cooper felt a deep sense of fraternity during a May 24-26 pilgrimage to Lourdes, France.

With bipartisan immigration legislation again unable to garner enough support in the Senate to pass last week, the head of the U.S. Bishops’ Conference Migration and Refugee Services said he doesn’t expect immigration reform before the presidential election this November.

After two years serving as the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, Joseph Donnelly will soon step down from the post and return to his home state of Indiana, the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See announced in a May 30 social media post. 

When the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage passed through the Bronx May 24, Father Roger Landry witnessed what he describes as the heroic efforts of an older woman, who insisted on getting out of her wheelchair to kneel before Jesus.

Contraception is becoming a campaign issue in the 2024 election. Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, made comments suggesting openness to regulations on contraception before backtracking on May 21. The next day, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he plans to hold a vote in June on legislation that would protect access to contraception nationwide.