President Joe Biden awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, the nation’s highest civilian honor, the White House said Jan. 11.
March for Life speakers to include DeSantis, Bishop Thomas
Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., and Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, Ohio, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, will be among the speakers at the 52nd annual March for Life, the group said Jan. 9.
Carter state funeral mourners celebrate former president as man of faith, ideals
Mourners including all five living U.S. presidents attended the late President Jimmy Carter’s funeral Jan. 9 at the Washington National Cathedral, the first time they have all been in public together since 2018, and an increasingly rare occurrence in an era of bitter partisanship.
Catholic climate policy advocates express concern about some Trump proposals
President-elect Donald Trump Jan. 7 reiterated his call for some companies that make investments in the U.S. economy to bypass some environmental regulations.
New Washington cardinal’s tenure to overlap with second Trump administration
With his appointment as new archbishop of Washington Jan. 6, Cardinal Robert W. McElroy’s term in the nation’s capital will begin shortly after President-elect Donald Trump begins his second stint in the White House, possibly creating flashpoints between the pair during their time in the nation’s capital over immigration and a host of other issues.
Report: Homelessness reaches record high amid affordable housing crunch
The United States saw an increase of about 18 percent in homelessness this year, a record high, according to a federal report.
American political life saw a history-making, tumultuous 2024
A historic year in American politics saw former President Donald Trump elected to a second term in the Oval Office four years after he lost his run for a consecutive term.
Jimmy Carter, the first president to host a pope at the White House, dies at 100
Former President Jimmy Carter died Dec. 29 at his home in Plains, Georgia, his presidential library announced. At 100, Carter, who had been in hospice care since February 2023, was the longest-living U.S. president.
Report: Most US executions in 2024 come down to 4 states
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
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
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.
Trump names CatholicVote’s Brian Burch as next Holy See ambassador
President-elect Donald Trump on Dec. 20 announced his intention to appoint Brian Burch, currently the president of CatholicVote, as the next U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See.