Today the Church honors 3 groups of martyrs as Christians worldwide continue to face persecution
“Learn from my torments,“ Arcadius is said to have told onlookers as he was dying. “Your gods are nothing. The only true God is the one for whom I am…
How St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, first female saint of Canada, discovered her vocation
On the feast day of the Virgin of the Rosary, as was customary, the image of the Mother of God was taken in procession through the streets. Shocked by the…
French bishops back Fiducia Supplicans and say it’s ‘an encouragement’
The brief statement from the Permanent Council noted that the declaration reiterated the Catholic Church’s doctrine on marriage as an “exclusive, stable, and indissoluble union, between a man and woman,…
African bishops: ‘No blessing for homosexual couples in the African Churches’
Ambongo said the Vatican’s Fiducia Supplicans declaration, issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on Dec. 18, “caused a shockwave” in Africa and “has sown misconceptions and…
Irish Medical Council strips directive banning ‘deliberate killing’ of patients
The eighth edition, published in 2016, similarly directed that doctors “must not take part in the deliberate killing of a patient.” The ninth edition, dated this year, however, has removed…
Scottish government proposes ‘conversion practices’ ban
“Conversion practices are harmful to individuals subjected to them,” the consultation paper states. “They are promoted within an ideology that views LGBTQI+ identities as wrong and believes that they can…
Church destroyed by ISIS in Iraq completely restored 10 years later
The Latin Church of Our Lady of the Hour, whose official name in Arabic is al-Saa’a, was established in 1873 as the center of the Dominican presence in Iraq. It…
Iowa presents first test of 2024 Catholic vote in U.S.
With the American bishops’ “preeminent priority” of abortion on the minds of many voters, Burch noted that each of the Republican candidates are pro-life at some level, particularly when compared…
Ecuador: Gang violence will not prevail, bishops say
“Any activity contrary to the law, in any area of society and the state, must be considered a betrayal of the homeland, the most sacred values of what it means…
Ohio House votes to override veto of bill banning children’s transgender surgeries
DeWine vetoed the SAFE Act on Dec. 29, saying: “Ultimately, I believe this is about protecting human life. Many parents have told me that their child would be dead today…
McCarrick found incompetent to stand trial in Wisconsin, case suspended
The results of the psychological report on McCarrick were originally filed with the court in November but were not yet available to the public. The Walworth County District Attorney’s office…
Report: Over 130 Catholic priests and religious arrested, kidnapped, or murdered in 2023
Bishop Rolando Álvarez, who was arrested in August 2022 and sentenced to 26 years in prison after refusing to leave the country, is also still in custody. Ortega’s administration also…