Amid increasing anti-immigrant rhetoric and sentiment, the Catholic Church must remain vocal in its ministry to and advocacy for migrants, Catholic leaders said at a Dec. 21 panel.
National News
Influencers in Christ: Catholic Content Creators Use Social Media to Educate and Evangelize
Matthew Chicoine joined Instagram eight years ago in response to a tragedy. The death of an unborn child, compounded with the demands of his job as a Catholic school teacher, compelled him to turn to writing on his website (www.thesimplecatholic.blog) and Instagram (@thesimplecatholic) to “grapple with the stress and grief” of that year.
Safe at Home! MLB Umpire Grounded by Catholic Faith
In life, we all make mistakes. As Catholics, we believe that since we are human, our mistakes are forgiven through the acts of confession and reconciliation. However, imagine being an MLB umpire — where your mistakes are broadcast live to hundreds of thousands of passionate baseball fans every single night. It sure sounds like a humbling experience!
New Texas Law Criminalizing Unauthorized Migrants’ Entry Into State Called ‘Inhumane’
Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, signed an immigration bill into law Dec. 18 that makes it a state crime for unauthorized migrants to cross into Texas from Mexico. Catholic organizations including the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops have opposed the legislation.
Vatican Note on Blessing Same-Sex Couples Draws Mixed US Reaction
In the hours that followed release of a Vatican note outlining the pastoral grounds for same-sex blessings, reactions among American Catholics seemed to run the gamut from styling it as a major step forward to insisting on hitting the brakes, on the grounds that not much has really changed.
New Year’s Resolutions: Not Just Exercise or Diet, They Can Involve Faith Practices Too
Many people view the new year as a fresh start, a time to reset and get on a path to self-improvement often bolstered by resolutions to lose weight or exercise more. But what if people took this same view and applied it to religious resolutions with the aim to be more spiritually fit?
5 Years After Catechism Update, Catholic Activist Sees ‘Renewed Momentum’ to End Death Penalty
Five years after Pope Francis updated the catechism to clarify the Catholic Church’s teaching on the death penalty, there is “renewed momentum” in the United States to end the practice, a leading Catholic activist said.
Federal Court Strikes Down Illinois Law Restricting Pro-Life Pregnancy Center Speech
A federal court has struck down an Illinois law that restricted what the state’s 100 pregnancy resource centers — but not abortion clinics — could tell patients.
‘Trinity’ Archbishop Protests Cuts in Funding for Nuclear Test Victims
In a year in which the legacy of the world’s first nuclear test has been thrust back into the spotlight due to the success of the Oscar-contending movie “Oppenheimer,” New Mexico’s Catholic archbishop is protesting a recent congressional move to cut long-standing compensation for victims of nuclear testing and uranium mining from a defense bill.
Supreme Court to Take Case on Abortion Pill Availability
The Supreme Court agreed Dec. 13 to look at a dispute over the availability of a commonly used abortion pill, mifepristone, making it the first abortion case it will hear since its decision overturning Roe v. Wade last year.