European Catholics take stock of year’s mixed progress on life issues December 29, 2024By Jonathan Luxmoore OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, World News When British parliamentarians approved a law to allow physician-assisted suicide on Nov. 29, it followed a year of legislative inroads against Catholic social teaching across Europe.
Report: Most US executions in 2024 come down to 4 states December 28, 2024By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Respect Life, World News Just four states were responsible for three-quarters of the executions that took place in the U.S. in 2024, according to a new report by the Death Penalty Information Center.
In 2024, state laws of interest to Catholics span abortion to IVF to immigration December 27, 2024By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, Supreme Court, World News State laws of interest to Catholics spanned policy areas from abortion to IVF to immigration in 2024. An expected ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court in 2025 could have an impact on state laws across the country banning certain types of medical or surgical gender reassignment procedures for minors who identify as transgender.
Biden commutes most federal death-row sentences to life in prison December 23, 2024By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, World News Several days after speaking with Pope Francis, President Joe Biden announced Dec. 23 that he would commute most existing federal death sentences to life in prison.
Supreme Court takes up S.C. Planned Parenthood defunding case December 18, 2024By Kate Scanlon Filed Under: News, Respect Life, Supreme Court, World News The U.S. Supreme Court said Dec. 18 it will hear a case concerning South Carolina’s attempt to prevent Planned Parenthood from participating in its Medicaid health program, setting up what could be a major case about the nation’s largest abortion provider’s ability to use public funds in states that have restricted abortion.
Texas AG sues N.Y. doctor for prescribing abortion pills to woman in Dallas area December 16, 2024By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Respect Life, World News Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit on behalf of the state against a New York-based doctor for prescribing abortion pills to a woman near Dallas, his office said Dec. 13.
Pope calls for end to foreign debt, death penalty ahead of Jubilee Year December 12, 2024By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Jubilee 2025, News, Respect Life, Vatican, World News Pope Francis has called on all nations to eliminate the death penalty, to divert a fixed percentage of arms spending to a global fund to fight hunger and climate change, and to cancel the international debt of developing nations as concrete ways to usher in a new era of hope.
Trump’s pro-union labor secretary pick surprises some, faces criticism on abortion December 12, 2024By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: 2024 Election, News, Respect Life, World News President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Labor Department, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., surprised some political observers for her union-friendly positions, but also faced criticism from some business groups, as well as from pro-life conservatives concerned about her record on abortion.
Pro-life advocates grapple with Trump’s lack of clarity on abortion pills, next term’s policy December 11, 2024By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: 2024 Election, Feature, News, Respect Life, World News As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House in January, activists on both sides of the abortion debate have been left to grapple with some lack of clarity from him on the issue.
Bishops discuss immigration, abortion concerns ahead of incoming Trump administration December 11, 2024By Lauretta Brown OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Feature, News, Respect Life, World News The church must continue to stand for the dignity of all human life under the incoming Trump administration. That was the message from Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, chair of the bishops’ migration committee, and Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, Ohio, the bishops’ new pro-life committee chair, who both spoke with OSV News at the U.S. bishops’ November meeting.
U.S. bishops join pope, other groups urging Biden to commute 40 death sentences December 9, 2024By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, World News The U.S. bishops’ conference was among the groups that urged President Joe Biden on Dec. 9 to commute existing federal death sentences before President-elect Donald Trump, who has sought to expand the use of capital punishment, returns to the White House.
Catholic theology professor examines the roots and impact of gender ideology December 5, 2024By Charlie Camosy OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Respect Life As the church attempts to address gender ideology with compassion and clarity, studies continue to emerge about its impact on children, families and society.
