Trump signs funding deal to end partial government shutdown, negotiate over ICE February 4, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Immigration and Migration, News, U.S. Congress, World News President Donald Trump signed into law a funding package to end the partial government shutdown Feb. 3, hours after its passage in the House, which included an agreement for funding for the Department of Homeland Security to be renegotiated to include new, stronger constraints on federal immigration officers.
Threats to religious freedom present risks to global security, experts warn February 3, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News The cause of international religious freedom is tied to global stability and is increasingly threatened by authoritarian regimes, said speakers and participants in the sixth annual International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington Feb. 2 and 3.
Lapse of last U.S.-Russia nuclear treaty ‘simply unacceptable,’ says Archbishop Coakley February 3, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, News, World News As global tensions soar, the head of the nation’s Catholic bishops has denounced the lapse of a key nuclear arms agreement, while urging policymakers to hold to its terms.
Speaker and musician Nick De La Torre to lead pre-Lenten mission in Frederick County February 3, 2026By Katie V. Jones Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Lent, Local News, News, Western Vicariate With the theme “Eucharistic Revival,” a two-day pre-Lenten mission at St. John the Evangelist in Frederick will focus on the meaning of the Eucharist and the role it plays in the spiritual life of Catholics as they prepare for Lent.
McElroy: Catholic colleges, universities must help restore ‘order of grace’ to nation, world February 3, 2026By Mark Zimmermann Catholic Standard Filed Under: Colleges, News, World News The nation’s colleges and universities “have a critical and substantive role to play in arresting the eclipse of the order of grace in our society,” Cardinal Robert W. McElroy of Washington said in his homily at the opening Mass of the 2026 annual meeting of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities.
Meloni look-alike angel sparks investigation at historic Roman church February 3, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Arts & Culture, News, World News If anything can electrify Italians on a Saturday, it’s certainly a combination of politics and scandal. This time, angels were involved as Romans rushed to the church of San Lorenzo in Lucina, in the proximity of the tourist-bustling Spanish Steps and Via del Corso, to see an angel in a freshly restored chapel with a face identical to that of Giorgia Meloni, Italian prime minister.
Deacon Lee Benson, who ministered in Harford County, dies at 73 February 3, 2026By Kurt Jensen Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: deacons, Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries Deacon Lee Ashby Benson III, who served St. Ignatius Parish in Hickory as an influential, joyful figure for nearly two decades, died Jan. 23.
Pope adds feast day of St. John Henry Newman to universal calendar February 3, 2026By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Saints, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV has added the feast day of St. John Henry Newman, who is “a radiant light for the Church on pilgrimage through history,” to the General Roman Calendar so that “his Optional Memorial be celebrated by all on 9 October.”
Irish abuse survivor praises Pope Leo’s ’empathy,’ apology after private audience February 3, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Vatican, World News David Ryan, an Irish survivor whose tragic story of the abuse he and his brother suffered was the subject of a 2022 documentary, was overcome with emotion after meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. The pope was reportedly shocked and apologized to the Irish victim.
Traditionalist society to consecrate new bishops in July without papal mandate February 3, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, News, World News The traditionalist Society of St. Pius X said it would proceed with the consecration of new bishops this summer, a move without a papal mandate that could lead to an automatic excommunication.
Sainthood cause formally opened for northwoods catechist of ‘this wild country’ February 3, 2026By Patricia Kasten Filed Under: News, Saints, World News While sometimes called “Sister Adele,” Brice — who was born Jan. 30, 1831, and whose last name is sometimes spelled “Brise” — remained a laywoman all her life, never taking public religious vows.
Illinois pitching for funds to shore up abortion tourism denounced as ‘macabre’ February 3, 2026By Simone Orendain OSV News Filed Under: News, Respect Life, World News The executive director of the Illinois bishops’ conference and an Illinois pro-life leader have decried the state’s call for funding to support Illinois’ abortion tourism industry after recent data indicated a slight weakening in the number of out-of-state women coming to the state to abort their unborn children.
