Major relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque attract throngs of faithful to the Baltimore Basilica Ezra Jin Mingri, Chinese prisoner of conscience, released to US US condemns detention of Nicaraguan bishop as Church awaits proof of his safety Planned Parenthood to receive Medicaid funds again as defunding provision expires Pope Leo starts his summer break at Castel Gandolfo with cheerful welcome Local News Major relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque attract throngs of faithful to the Baltimore Basilica Rita Buettner July 7, 2026 Hundreds of people venerated the major relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque during a July 5-6 visit to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore. Radio Interview: Catholicism, religious freedom and the early United States Catholic Review Staff July 6, 2026 Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with a fascinating look at the often-overlooked Catholic roots of the nation on Catholic Review Radio. Host Rita Bittner speaks with Dr. Dennis Castillo, professor of Church history at St. Mary’s Seminary, to explore how a small but influential Catholic community helped shape the founding of the United States. In Independence Day Mass, Archbishop Lori calls for continued witness to human dignity Christopher Gunty July 5, 2026 Archbishop William E. Lori said that when Redemptorist Father Patrick Woods invited him several months ago to celebrate an Independence Day Mass on the grounds of the Carroll House, “I knew this is the place I had to be on the Fourth of July.” The Carrolls of America: Young men, educated in France, influenced a new nation Christopher Gunty July 2, 2026 Unable to receive a Catholic education in the British colonies in North America, three young men from wealthy families were sent to Saint-Omer, France, to study at the College of the English Jesuits. More Local News World News Ezra Jin Mingri, Chinese prisoner of conscience, released to US Kate Scanlon July 7, 2026 Ezra Jin Mingri, founder and pastor of an underground church in China and a prisoner of conscience in that country, was released from imprisonment and reunited with his family in the U.S. shortly before Independence Day, U.S. officials said. US condemns detention of Nicaraguan bishop as Church awaits proof of his safety David Agren July 7, 2026 Another Nicaraguan bishop remains missing after being apprehended by police, drawing a rebuke from the United States for the ongoing “attacks on religious freedom” in the increasingly authoritarian country. Vatican unveils agenda for global family summit marking ‘Amoris Laetitia’ anniversary Paulina Guzik July 7, 2026 The Vatican has released the framework for a fall meeting with the heads of Eastern Catholic Churches and presidents of bishops’ conferences, marking the 10th anniversary of “Amoris Laetitia” and focusing on the Church’s pastoral approach to families. Planned Parenthood to receive Medicaid funds again as defunding provision expires Kate Scanlon July 6, 2026 A provision of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” that stopped Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid payments for a year expired July 4, allowing the nation’s largest abortion provider to regain access to hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicaid funding. More World News Commentary How thoughts affect us Effie Caldarola July 7, 2026 Every mom — and everyone who was ever a kid — remembers the occasional chaos of school mornings, grabbing breakfast, homework, lunch bags, negotiating who gets the bathroom next. How do I know if I’m excommunicated due to my past support of the SSPX? Jenna Marie Cooper July 6, 2026 I used to be supportive of the SSPX and have regularly attended Mass at their chapels at different points in my life. How do I know if I’m excommunicated now? Happy 250th to the USA, climbing the Empire State Building, a Cookie Monster geode & more (7 Quick Takes) Rita Buettner July 4, 2026 July is my favorite month of the year. It’s my birthday month, so that adds to the joy, but July is also the heart of the summer—and summertime is the best. Keeping a republic: a 250th birthday meditation George Weigel July 2, 2026 As we mark the national semiquincentennial on July 4, we might well reflect on Benjamin Franklin’s answer to Elizabeth Willing Powel, when the elderly sage left the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and the Philadelphia matron demanded, “Well, Dr. Franklin, what have we got, a republic, or a monarchy?” ‘Alone’: Lessons from the wilderness Sister Hosea Rupprecht July 1, 2026 “Alone” sends 10 trained survivalists into the wilderness to live off the land. Armed with strict limits on their gear, the individual who lasts the longest wins a $500,000 prize. Unlike other reality shows, the participants do their own camera work. More Commentary Featured Video Katie Prejean McGrady is a Catholic speaker, author, radio host, and one of the most recognizable Catholic media personalities in the United States. In this conversation, she reflects on the changing landscape of Catholic media, the rise of religious influencers, and the opportunities and challenges of public evangelization in the digital age.
Major relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque attract throngs of faithful to the Baltimore Basilica Rita Buettner July 7, 2026 Hundreds of people venerated the major relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque during a July 5-6 visit to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore.
Radio Interview: Catholicism, religious freedom and the early United States Catholic Review Staff July 6, 2026 Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with a fascinating look at the often-overlooked Catholic roots of the nation on Catholic Review Radio. Host Rita Bittner speaks with Dr. Dennis Castillo, professor of Church history at St. Mary’s Seminary, to explore how a small but influential Catholic community helped shape the founding of the United States.
In Independence Day Mass, Archbishop Lori calls for continued witness to human dignity Christopher Gunty July 5, 2026 Archbishop William E. Lori said that when Redemptorist Father Patrick Woods invited him several months ago to celebrate an Independence Day Mass on the grounds of the Carroll House, “I knew this is the place I had to be on the Fourth of July.”
The Carrolls of America: Young men, educated in France, influenced a new nation Christopher Gunty July 2, 2026 Unable to receive a Catholic education in the British colonies in North America, three young men from wealthy families were sent to Saint-Omer, France, to study at the College of the English Jesuits.
Ezra Jin Mingri, Chinese prisoner of conscience, released to US Kate Scanlon July 7, 2026 Ezra Jin Mingri, founder and pastor of an underground church in China and a prisoner of conscience in that country, was released from imprisonment and reunited with his family in the U.S. shortly before Independence Day, U.S. officials said.
US condemns detention of Nicaraguan bishop as Church awaits proof of his safety David Agren July 7, 2026 Another Nicaraguan bishop remains missing after being apprehended by police, drawing a rebuke from the United States for the ongoing “attacks on religious freedom” in the increasingly authoritarian country.
Vatican unveils agenda for global family summit marking ‘Amoris Laetitia’ anniversary Paulina Guzik July 7, 2026 The Vatican has released the framework for a fall meeting with the heads of Eastern Catholic Churches and presidents of bishops’ conferences, marking the 10th anniversary of “Amoris Laetitia” and focusing on the Church’s pastoral approach to families.
Planned Parenthood to receive Medicaid funds again as defunding provision expires Kate Scanlon July 6, 2026 A provision of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” that stopped Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid payments for a year expired July 4, allowing the nation’s largest abortion provider to regain access to hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicaid funding.
How thoughts affect us Effie Caldarola July 7, 2026 Every mom — and everyone who was ever a kid — remembers the occasional chaos of school mornings, grabbing breakfast, homework, lunch bags, negotiating who gets the bathroom next.
How do I know if I’m excommunicated due to my past support of the SSPX? Jenna Marie Cooper July 6, 2026 I used to be supportive of the SSPX and have regularly attended Mass at their chapels at different points in my life. How do I know if I’m excommunicated now?
Happy 250th to the USA, climbing the Empire State Building, a Cookie Monster geode & more (7 Quick Takes) Rita Buettner July 4, 2026 July is my favorite month of the year. It’s my birthday month, so that adds to the joy, but July is also the heart of the summer—and summertime is the best.
Keeping a republic: a 250th birthday meditation George Weigel July 2, 2026 As we mark the national semiquincentennial on July 4, we might well reflect on Benjamin Franklin’s answer to Elizabeth Willing Powel, when the elderly sage left the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and the Philadelphia matron demanded, “Well, Dr. Franklin, what have we got, a republic, or a monarchy?”
‘Alone’: Lessons from the wilderness Sister Hosea Rupprecht July 1, 2026 “Alone” sends 10 trained survivalists into the wilderness to live off the land. Armed with strict limits on their gear, the individual who lasts the longest wins a $500,000 prize. Unlike other reality shows, the participants do their own camera work.
