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U.S. bishops offer pre-midterms guidance on faithful citizenship

The guide is meant to assist in priestly formation on Catholic Social Teaching, so they can better communicate those teachings to their congregations.

Cana launches wedding registry storefront, partnering with Catholic businesses

“Catholic and Christian couples don't just have to register for their home goods,” but can “also register for sacred arts, sacred jewelry, beautiful wall mounts, and icons,” James Reichert said.

Scottish Catholic bishop: Scotland ‘must stand with both mother and child’

Here is a roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news.

Prayer platform marks St. Teresa’s canonization anniversary by taking petitions to her tomb

In collaboration with the Missionaries of Charity, the prayer social network Hozana has created a way to have petitions placed on St. Teresa’s tomb in India.

Mother turns grief into national AI‑safety campaign for Catholic families

“A Catholic Family’s Guide to AI Safety,” DePaul University partners with the Vatican on sustainability, and more in this week’s education roundup.

Insurers will pay out extra $30 million in Winona-Rochester Diocese abuse settlement

The Minnesota diocese paid out another multimillion-dollar settlement several years ago.

Pope Leo XIV to Arab-region churches: ‘Do not be afraid of your smallness’

The pope met with members of the Council of Latin Bishops of the Arab Regions on Thursday in Rome, offering a message of hope and encouragement in the midst of crisis and uncertainty.

Pope Leo XIV points to St. John Henry Newman as a model for education today

The pontiff urged Oxford scholars to seek truth courageously and promote an education rooted in human dignity, justice and the common good.

U.S. bishops focus on young people, artificial intelligence in Labor Day message

The Labor Day message echoed Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas on artificial intelligence.

Pope Leo XIV to seminarians: ‘As I look at each of you, I see the marvelousness of God’

The pope told the seminarians that the call of God is gratuitous and not based on any merit of theirs, adding that their presence is a sign of hope for the Church in that God continues to call.

10 years a saint: The truth about Mother Teresa’s care for the dying

Critics of the devout religious superior have for years alleged that she refused to administer anesthetics to the sick and dying at her mission in Calcutta.

Human rights group calls Nicaragua’s constitutional reforms a ‘usurpation of power’

The Ortega-Murilla regime has approved reforms that bar the opposition from participating in elections, drawing strong opposition from exiled leaders, the United States, Costa Rica and Peru.

Maine high court says father can prevent daughter from attending mother’s church

The mother will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court over the ruling from the state court, attorneys said.

Cardinal Cupich, Catholic religious sisters sue Illinois to halt assisted suicide law

The state recently began allowing doctors to help patients kill themselves by prescribing lethal doses of medication.

Hong Kong judges uphold Cardinal Zen’s conviction over fund to help protesters

Zen and four others face monetary fines, but it’s unclear whether they will face further prosecution.

Abuse prevention, liturgy central to Vatican courses for new bishops

The program has been a fixture of the Church calendar since 2000, when it was launched by St. John Paul II.

Jonathan Roumie, Bishop Robert Barron to headline first annual ‘Sheen Awards’

The Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation and Peoria Bishop Lou Tylka announced the list of speakers for the Sept. 25 event, which will be held at the Peoria Civic Center.

True ecological conversion passes through the Eucharist, says International Theological Commission

An International Theological Commission document sets out a Christian vision of humanity’s relationship with creation.

Lourdes Shrine finalizes preparations for Pope Leo XIV’s visit as registration caps at 150,000

Preparations for Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Lourdes are in full swing. Registration has been capped to ensure adequate services for those in attendance.

Church in Nepal helping flood victims find hope, apostolic administrator says

Although a small minority in Nepal, the Catholic Church through Caritas is providing what aid it can to help to those affected by the major flooding.

‘God is good’: One of the internet’s most popular nonbelievers announces his return to the Church

Joe Schmid ran a highly popular agnostic YouTube channel for years, but “a gift of God’s grace” has led him back to the faith.

Abuse settlement in Diocese of Ogdensburg will total $83 million with insurance contributions

Parishes in the New York diocese will also undergo a notable bankruptcy proceeding called “rapid pre-pack Chapter 11.”

International apostolate seeks to consecrate businesses to Sacred Heart in Bridgeport Diocese

Bishop Frank Caggiano spearheaded a guild to transform local businesses by placing God at the center.

Religious freedom commission urges accountability for India violators after leader’s U.S. visit

Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a prominent Hindu nationalist volunteer organization accused of targeting Christians, visited the U.S. in late August.

Catholic Church weighs legal challenge to new anti-conversion law in India

The new law in India's most populous western state drew protests from civil society and Catholic leaders. Neighboring Goa dropped a similar measure.

Pope calls for ‘unmasking’ the contradictions of the world, such as seeing war as a solution

The general audience catechesis focused on Gaudium et Spes, Vatican II’s pastoral constitution on the Church in the modern world.

2 Carmelites survive ambush on highway where bandits killed Catholic sisters in South Sudan

The sisters were traveling from Torit toward Juba on Aug. 300 when their vehicle came under attack.

‘Worn-out dictatorships’ never speak of the cross, Nicaragua’s exiled Bishop Báez says

The exiled auxiliary bishop of Managua contrasts the Nicaraguan dictatorship’s empty claim of divine approval with the authentic example of self-sacrifice given by Jesus Christ.

Federal judge delays mifepristone lawsuit until after midterms

A federal judge has delayed a lawsuit over the abortion pill mifepristone, disappointing pro-lifers who are asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to protect women and unborn children.

Pope Leo: Take time out of the daily bustle to ‘listen to the melodious voice’ of creation

The Holy Father encouraged silent contemplation of the wonders and harmony of the created world, which can lead to authentic ecological conversion and awareness of our responsibility for creation.

Texas parish first in world named after 2015 Ghanian martyr

St. Matthew Ayariga was one of 21 Christian migrant workers kidnapped and then beheaded by the terrorist group ISIS on a beach near Sirte, Libya, on Feb. 15, 2015.

‘There is a place for you and your baby’: Pro-life organization seeks to open new maternity home

Life in Mercy has helped around 75 women and their babies so far, and the need continues to grow.

Quebec’s Cardinal Ouellet vindicated in abuse lawsuit

A judge has found sexual misconduct accusations against Quebec’s Cardinal Marc Ouellet, former archbishop of Quebec, to be unfounded and ordered his accuser to pay him $100,000.

Bishop Menjivar appoints priests to assist Latin Mass expansion in West Virginia

The bishop’s purpose is to foster “greater unity among Catholic faithful” and attend to “their diverse spiritual needs,” a diocesan announcement said.

Vatican diplomat says Moscow mission focused on peace despite no concrete breakthrough

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher acknowledged that discussing peace in Russia means engaging in “a difficult dialogue.”

This is Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of September

Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of September is for the care of water.

Wendell Berry, agrarian writer who envisioned a world ‘redeemed only by love,’ dies at 92

The Kentucky-born author extolled the virtues of simple living and urged Americans to reject modern consumerism and destructive agriculture.

Jerusalem Christian schools suspend classes for second time this year

Israeli authorities have not renewed entry permits for approximately 70 teachers and staff members to be able to reach their schools.

Polish bishops call surrogacy ‘incompatible’ with faith as Warsaw event looms

Poland’s bishops are calling on state authorities to block commercial providers as a Ukrainian fertility clinic plans a Warsaw promotional event.

U.S. ‘must balance other interests’ in Nigeria, officials say as Christian persecution continues

“There are solutions out there but the Nigerians have to solve this at the end of the day,” said Tibor Nagy, a former assistant secretary of the Bureau of African Affairs at the State Department.

Carmelite sisters building a monastery to ‘last a thousand years’ in Pennsylvania

Bucking modern architecture and building conventions, the Fairfield Carmelites have opted to build their monastery using old-world methods including traditional stonemasonry and timber framing.

The Church cannot declare war on Latin Mass devotees, Cardinal Robert Sarah says

The cardinal praised Pope Benedict’s 2007 decision to allow the faithful greater access to the Latin Mass but called Pope Francis’ 2021 decision to restrict it neither “sensible” nor “respectful.”

Bishops from Mexico, U.S., Canada see urgent need to speak ‘with one voice’

The bishops discussed the pastoral challenges facing the Church in North America as a whole and concelebrated a Mass on Aug. 30 in the Cuernavaca, Mexico, cathedral.

Bishop Caggiano urges local parish support as immigrant families fear enforcement

“I am asking every parish of the diocese to include a prayer for immigrant families and for all those affected by these events at every Mass in the days ahead,” Bishop Frank Caggiano said.

Religious freedom under growing threat worldwide, experts warn at Catholic gathering in Italy

Speakers at the Rimini Meeting highlighted persecution of Christians, violence in Nigeria and Lebanon, and the importance of defending freedom of belief for people of all faiths.

In fight against antisemitism, Israel steps up U.S. Catholic outreach

The Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism has been tapped by the Government of Israel as part of its latest outreach to American Catholics.

Brazil archbishop establishes rules for use of AI in archdiocesan communications

Archbishop Josafá Menezes da Silva directed that the use of AI must always conform to reality and the truth regarding a person’s appearance, voice, and statements.

Nepal flood: Caritas runs community kitchens, sources body bags as toll reaches 919

As Caritas Nepal is running community kitchens and sourcing body bags, a second emergency, winter, is approaching.

Pope Leo XIV names third Chinese bishop in 3 months

Bishop Paolo Liu Honggang is the third bishop ordained in China in three months and the sixth episcopal consecration during Leo’s pontificate amid implementation of the Vatican-Beijing agreement.

Cardinal invites young people to ‘farm aura’ with Christ

Archbishop Fernando Chomali of Santiago, Chile, took the opportunity to reference a trend among youth to redirect their ambitions in life from looking cool to serving Christ with joy.