Rice Bowl needed ‘now more than ever’ as hunger rises, government aid falls, says leader March 7, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Giving, Lent, News, World News CRS, the official international relief and development agency of the U.S. Catholic community, is marking the 50th anniversary of its Rice Bowl program, which has raised more than $350 million to support domestic and overseas poverty relief efforts.
Amid U.S. foreign aid freeze, CRS’ Rice Bowl could be in ‘its strongest moment,’ says founder March 7, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Giving, Lent, News, World News At the start of Catholic Relief Services’ 2025 Rice Bowl initiative — an annual Lenten program blending almsgiving and prayer to provide aid to overseas and domestic aid — OSV News spoke with Rice Bowl founder Monsignor Robert Coll, a retired priest of the Diocese of Allentown, Pa., about the program as it marks its 50th year.
Bishop Zaidan: Lent a call to support poor, vulnerable as ‘neighbors without borders March 5, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Lent, News, World News Lent marks a call to live out God’s love by supporting those in desperate need across the globe, said Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace.
Connecticut priest put on leave for allegedly taking parish funds for personal use March 4, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: News, World News A Connecticut priest has been placed on administrative leave for allegedly misappropriating parish funds for personal use, with the priest denying the charges and the news prompting protests from a number of stunned faithful.
Gospel values, common good and reform key to immigration, say border bishops March 4, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, World News Catholic bishops along both sides of the Texas-Mexico border are affirming their support for the common good amid the U.S. immigration crisis, while calling for reform of the U.S. immigration system.
‘Unity, rooted in truth’ can stop evil, says Gudziak after Trump-Zelenskyy meeting March 4, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, War in Ukraine, World News “Unity rooted in truth has the power to stop evil,” said Metropolitan Archbishop Borys A. Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and head of the nation’s Ukrainian Catholics, following a tense exchange Feb. 28 on live television at the White House among U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
New Iowa law defines male and female, removes gender identity protections March 3, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: News, World News Iowa has enacted a law defining “sex” as male or female, with “gender” as a synonym, while removing gender identity protections from its code, making that state the first to do so.
Trump administration terminates U.S. bishops’ refugee resettlement contract March 1, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, World News The Trump administration “immediately terminated” its contract with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for refugee resettlement, effective Feb. 27, according to letters issued by the U.S. State Department a day earlier.
Pew: Pope Francis ‘broadly popular’ among US Catholics throughout his papacy February 28, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis, now hospitalized with severe respiratory issues, has been “broadly popular among the nation’s Catholics throughout his tenure,” according to multiple surveys conducted by Pew Research over the past 12 years.
Pew: U.S. Christianity downturn leveling, but Catholics suffer ‘greatest net losses’ February 27, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, World News A multiyear decline in Christianity in the U.S. may have leveled off, according to a new survey by Pew Research Center. However, the Catholic Church, the survey found, is seeing the greatest net losses of believers compared to other religions in the U.S.
‘Ukraine will rise’ as ‘Russia brings death,’ say Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishops February 25, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: News, War in Ukraine, World News As Ukraine marks the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishops are affirming Ukrainians’ belief in “the triumph of God’s truth” — and the recognition that “true peace cannot exist without justice.”
More bishops call for prayers as Pope Francis’ condition remains critical February 24, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The U.S. bishops urged the faithful to join in on a call from Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin to pray the rosary for Pope Francis Feb. 24 as he remains hospitalized.
