The White House has signaled it is open to making some concessions to congressional Republicans on border policy in order to pass an emergency spending bill to provide billions of dollars in wartime aid to Ukraine and Israel amid their respective conflicts.
Supreme Court agrees to review legal challenge to abortion pill
The U.S. Supreme Court said Dec. 13 it would take up a case concerning the abortion pill, the first major case involving abortion on its docket since the high court overturned its previous abortion precedent last year.
Pregnant mother at heart of Texas abortion case flees state after high court’s stay
The Texas Supreme Court has temporarily stayed a district judge’s Dec. 7 ruling in favor of a pregnant mother who sued the state for an exemption to its abortion ban, after arguing her pregnancy would endanger her life and future fertility.
Senate Republicans block Ukraine-Israel emergency aid over border, raising Catholic concerns
Senate Republicans Dec. 6 blocked an emergency spending bill to provide billions of dollars in wartime aid to Ukraine and Israel while calling for strict new policies at the U.S.-Mexico border opposed by some Catholic immigration advocates.
Texas judge grants exception to state abortion ban
A Texas judge ruled Dec. 7 in favor of a pregnant mother who sued the state to seek an exemption to its abortion ban after she argued that continuing with her pregnancy would endanger her life and future fertility.
GOP presidential candidates debate absent Trump, gender transitions for minors
Four Republican presidential candidates participated in a Dec. 6 debate in Tuscaloosa, Alabama seeking to increase their support as their party’s first contests in the primary process are scheduled next month.
Holy Spirit inspires creativity, simplicity in evangelization, pope says
Christians must rely more on the Holy Spirit than on their own plans and strategies if they hope to fulfill their mission to share the good news of God’s love and of salvation in Christ, Pope Francis said.
Tuberville ends hold on hundreds of military promotions over Pentagon abortion policy
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., told reporters on Capitol Hill Dec. 5 that he would end his monthslong blockade on hundreds of military promotions undertaken in protest of a Pentagon abortion policy.
FBI director spars with GOP Senators about memo on ‘radical traditionalist Catholics’
FBI Director Christopher Wray sparred with Republicans during testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee Dec. 5 about a leaked and withdrawn memo from the bureau’s Richmond, Virginia, field office about political extremism in some Catholic groups.
Report: Fewer states use capital punishment, but more prisoners executed in 2023
Just five states — Texas, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma and Alabama — carried out executions in 2023, while a majority of U.S. states have banned or paused the practice by executive order, according to a new report by the Death Penalty Information Center.
Sandra Day O’Connor, first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court, dies at 93
Sandra Day O’Connor, who was the first female U.S. Supreme Court justice, and often a crucial swing vote as a moderate, died Dec. 1 in Phoenix, per a statement from the high court. She was 93.
Henry Kissinger, famed diplomat who shaped U.S. foreign policy and met popes, dies at 100
Henry Kissinger, a former secretary of state who shaped U.S. foreign policy for decades, died Nov. 29 at his Connecticut home, his consulting firm announced. He was 100.