Oregon counselor sues after being fined $90,000 for not affirming client’s same-sex relationship
A Catholic counselor filed a lawsuit this week after being fined nearly $90,000 by the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists after he told a client he could…
Catholic Church leaders in Africa reflect on Pope Leo XIV’s first year
NAIROBI, Kenya — Catholic Church leaders across Africa have described the first year of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV as a period marked by pastoral closeness, missionary renewal, peace…
Spanish bishops: ‘We cannot simply stand by and watch the ship sink’
Just weeks before Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic visit to Spain, the Spanish Bishops’ Conference (CEE, by its Spanish acronym) released a document that establishes seven pastoral priorities for the 2026–2030…
Bransfield, ex-Wheeling-Charleston bishop accused of misconduct, dies at 82
Bishop Michael Bransfield, who was accused of a pattern of sexual harassment and financial impropriety while leading the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, died on May 7 at 82 years…
Pope Leo XIV’s first year: 10 powerful moments
On May 8, 2025, white smoke billowed from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that a new pope had been chosen. On that day, the world…
‘Their very existence is at stake’: Catholic organizations mobilize for Lebanon’s Christians
Caught in the war between Hezbollah and Israel, Christians in southern Lebanon have been paying a heavy price. Churches and monasteries have been destroyed, Christian symbols desecrated, and many families…
New release seeks to revive St. Bartolo Longo’s ‘Fifteen Saturdays’ devotion
When Pope Leo XIV visits Pompeii, Italy, on May 8, the one-day trip will highlight the legacy of St. Bartolo Longo, whose dramatic conversion, influential writings, and promotion of the…
U.S. bishops recount year since Pope Leo XIV’s election
U.S. bishops marked the first anniversary of Pope Leo XIV’s election by recalling the moment they learned he had been chosen, describing their reactions in a video message. “When we…
‘Families fight, but family is forever’: Pope Leo’s brother says the brothers limit political talk
John Prevost, Pope Leo XIV’s older brother, said he, Leo, and Louis, the eldest of the three, talk every week, but “we keep politics to a limit.” CNN’s Erin Burnett…
Pope Leo XIV urges Catholics to read printed books
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday underscored the enduring value of printed books in the digital age, saying reading “nourishes the mind” and offers Christians a valuable opportunity to proclaim Christ.…
India’s religious liberty on ‘downward trajectory,’ commission says
WASHINGTON — Witnesses called for U.S. intervention to end the ongoing persecution of religious minorities in India, including Christians, at a hearing on Capitol Hill. “Religious freedom in India is…
Commission sees opportunities to expand targeted sanctions on religious liberty offenders
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a fact sheet on May 6 that highlights opportunities to expand targeted sanctions against religious liberty violators. “There are various opportunities…