USCIRF praises Pope Leo XIV for continuing Vatican’s international religious freedom work May 19, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent, bipartisan U.S. government commission that monitors religious freedom around the globe, praised Pope Leo XIV May 16 for demonstrating the Vatican would continue its advocacy for international religious freedom during his papacy.
Catholic death penalty abolition group eager for new pope to build on Francis’ legacy on issue May 17, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Respect Life, Uncategorized, Vatican, World News Catholic opponents of the death penalty said they are eager for Pope Leo XIV to build on his predecessor’s legacy of opposition to capital punishment.
Homeland Security vetting reality show idea where immigrants compete for citizenship May 16, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Immigration and Migration, News, World News The Department of Homeland Security is reviewing a pitch for a reality show in which immigrants would compete for fast-tracked citizenship. Catholic immigration advocates expressed concern such a show would undermine the dignity of those seeking U.S. citizenship or legal residency and the challenges they undergo to do so.
Senate protest over USAID closure snares Vatican ambassador pick May 16, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Catholic Social Teaching, DOGE cuts, News, World News The confirmation of Brian Burch, President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, was blocked May 13 amid a hold by a Senate Democrat on State Department nominees in protest of the Trump administration’s closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Justices zero in on consequences for hospitals, gun rights in birthright citizenship case May 15, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Immigration and Migration, News, Supreme Court, World News The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments May 15 over the Trump administration’s executive order to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents without legal status or temporary visa holders, and whether federal judges could properly block that order.
Vance, Rubio to attend Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Mass May 15, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Both Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV on May 18, the vice president’s office said.
House GOP budget proposal includes cuts to Medicaid, groups that perform abortions May 14, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Health Care, News, Respect Life, U.S. Congress, World News A proposed House budget is drawing fire from some critics over its cuts to Medicaid, while drawing praise from others for promises to eliminate funds to health providers who also perform abortions.
Planned Parenthood annual report shows abortions, public funding up after Dobbs May 13, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, World News Planned Parenthood’s latest annual report shows an increase in abortions from the previous year’s report, while also showing a $100 million increase in government funding amid an overall decrease in cancer screenings and prevention services.
Trump signs executive order demanding drug manufacturers lower U.S. prices May 13, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Health Care, News, Uncategorized, World News President Donald Trump signed an executive order May 12 that he said would lower prescription drug costs — an issue the U.S. bishops have flagged in recent years — but the exact potential impact of the order was the subject of debate.
Report: Some House GOP members object to removing Planned Parenthood funds from Trump bill May 9, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Respect Life, U.S. Congress, World News A group of House Republicans have reportedly expressed opposition to eliminating Planned Parenthood’s federal funding through the budget reconciliation process.
Trump, U.S political leaders congratulate Pope Leo XIV: ‘A great honor for our country’ May 8, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: 2025 Conclave, News, Vatican, World News President Donald Trump on May 8 congratulated Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, the Chicago-born prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis, who was elected the 267th pope the same day, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.
Civil rights probe launched over state abuse reporting law’s lack of Catholic confession protections May 8, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Religious Freedom, World News The Justice Department said May 5 it opened a civil rights investigation into the development and passage of legislation in Washington state that requires clergy to report child abuse or neglect but provides no exceptions for clergy-penitent privilege.
