A White House audience watched Jesuit Father Greg Boyle receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a May 3 ceremony, but the crowd that likely had the most cheers for the 69-year-old priest was back in Los Angeles.
National News
New Hartford Archbishop Pledges to Bring Back Catholic Schools to Connecticut Capital
In his first formal address to the faithful as leader of the Archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut, Archbishop Christopher Coyne announced a lofty goal of not only bringing Catholic schools back to the state’s capital city, but making them tuition free.
Florida Law Prohibiting Abortion After 6 Weeks Gestation Goes Into Effect
A law prohibiting elective abortions after six weeks of pregnancy went into effect May 1 in Florida, as that state also faces a ballot measure on abortion in November.
Catholic Leaders Urge Biden to Push for Cease-Fire in Gaza
More than 200 Catholic leaders signed a letter sent to President Joe Biden May 2 urging for a cease-fire in Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages, and an end to shipments of weapons to Israel.
Bishops Urge Virginia Catholics to Tell Their Governor to Veto ‘Coercive Contraception’ Bills
The Virginia Catholic Conference is urging Catholics to contact the state’s governor, Glenn Youngkin, to veto bills sent to him by the state legislators that would require health insurance companies to provide contraception coverage in their health plans without any religious exemptions or parental rights protections.
Amid Protests, Columbia University Catholic Chaplain Urges Prayer, Charity
Recently, Columbia University in New York has become the epicenter of U.S. college protests and encampments demanding an end to U.S. support of Israel, now at war with Hamas following that group’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on approximately 22 locations in Israel.
Arizona Governor Signs Repeal of 1864 Abortion Ban
Arizona’s state Senate voted May 1 to repeal the state’s 1864 abortion ban, a week after House legislators similarly voted to repeal the ban that the state Supreme Court let stand on April 9.
Nicaraguan Political Exile Thanks DC Parish for Helping Him Get His Bearings
When 25-year-old Miguel Flores arrived at Dulles International Airport just outside of Washington last February, he had nothing but a three-day voucher for a hotel, some cash, and a cell phone provided by the U.S. State Department.
Bishops Say New U.S. Regulations ‘Advance an Ideological View of Sex’
While recent health care-related nondiscrimination regulations implemented by the Biden administration don’t include an abortion mandate, as the U.S. bishops had feared, they’ve taken issue with how the regulations advance what they say is an “ideological view of sex.”
Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, May 1, Highlights Spiritual Value of Work
Although the feast of St. Joseph is celebrated March 19, the earthly father of Jesus gets another day on May 1, the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. This feast day was established by Pope Pius XII in 1955 to coincide with the May 1 International Workers’ Day, dedicated to labor and workers’ rights. By adding St. Joseph to the day, the pope aimed to also emphasize the Christian idea of labor and give workers a spiritual model.