Father Robert Hoeffner and his sister, Sally Hoeffner, were found slain at a Palm Bay, Fla., residence on the evening of Jan. 28, as police investigated a domestic disturbance at another area home that turned deadly.
More ‘nuanced nones’ challenge parishes to become more outward facing, says evangelization expert
“Religious ‘Nones’ in America: Who They Are and What They Believe,” released Jan. 24 by Pew Research Center, found that about 28 percent of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated.
Two years into war, Knights of Columbus steadfast in Ukraine on front lines of aid
As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine reaches the two-year mark, the Knights of Columbus remain steadfast in bringing relief to vulnerable Ukrainians living in some of the hardest-hit areas, one of the organization’s leaders told OSV News.
U.S. bishops’ domestic policy chair hails new bipartisan child tax credit
A recently announced bipartisan agreement on an expanded child tax credit is “exactly the sort of policy” that Congress should prioritize, said the U.S. archbishop who oversees the U.S. bishops’ committee on domestic policy.
Beloved, young Capuchin Franciscan volunteer shot dead in Washington
Ryan Realbuto, a 23-year-old member of the Capuchin Franciscan Volunteer Corps, was fatally shot just after 10 p.m. Jan. 18 while walking with fellow volunteers in the Michigan Park neighborhood of Washington.
Faith and ‘greatest prayer ever’ help Catholic parents forgive son’s killer
John and Sharon Echaniz are living out the reality of that offer of forgiveness, relying on their deeply held Catholic faith to implement what John called in his statement “those pesky words near the end” of the Lord’s Prayer — “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
Suspected gunman arrested during weekday Mass in California
A weekday Mass at a California parish was interrupted as police pursued an alleged armed suspect who had fled into the church.
Two U.S. prelates call for ‘immediate and total’ ceasefire in Gaza Strip
Two U.S. prelates are urging an “immediate and total” ceasefire in the war that has convulsed the Gaza Strip for more than 100 days, while condemning Hamas and urging the release of Israeli hostages taken by the Palestinian militants.
Catholic aid agency’s staff remain in Yemen amid coalition strikes
Staff from Caritas Poland will remain in Yemen following U.S. and U.K.-led strikes on Houthi rebels, mission head Radoslaw Sterna told OSV News.
Catholic publisher pulls priest’s book over plagiarism allegation
Loyola Press announced Jan. 10 it would pull from publication “60 Seconds for Jesus” by Father Jim Sichko, a priest of the Diocese of Lexington, Ky., and a papal Missionary of Mercy known for his motivational talks, generous donations and active social and mainstream media presence.
Women religious gear up for battle against human trafficking with prayer, education
As the nation marks National Human Trafficking Awareness Day Jan. 11, women religious in the U.S. are combating modern slavery with prayer and education.
‘No’ to same-sex blessings, say two Eastern Catholic bishops, citing canon law and catechism
Two Eastern Catholic bishops have issued statements with in-depth theological and canonical reasons for their rejection of a controversial Vatican document on pastoral blessings for same-sex couples and other unmarried couples.