‘Religious freedom fosters peace,’ USCCB committee chairs say in joint statement October 27, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, News, Religious Freedom, World News The chairmen of the U.S. bishops’ committees on international policy and religious liberty are calling attention to the repression and persecution of religion as being detrimental to peace.
Annunciation student critically injured in shooting discharged from hospital, met with cheers October 27, 2025By OSV News The Catholic Spirit Filed Under: Gun Violence, News, World News Sophia Forchas, who was critically injured in an Aug. 27 shooting during an all-school Mass at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis, has been discharged from the hospital and was greeted with signs and cheers Oct. 23 in Minneapolis.
In first visit with Pope Leo, Archbishop Hebda delivers Annunciation letters to pontiff October 24, 2025By OSV News The Catholic Spirit Filed Under: Gun Violence, News, Vatican, World News Letters from Annunciation students and their families in Minneapolis made it to Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican Oct. 1 — via Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis as he visited with Pope Leo for the first time.
Archbishop Broglio: Army’s cancellation of religious support contracts harms Catholics October 20, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: DOGE cuts, News, World News Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services said Oct. 17 the U.S. Army has cancelled all religious support contracts for Army chapels, “including those for religious educators, administrators, and musicians.” He said this has placed on Catholics “an insurmountable restriction on the free exercise of religion.”
Bishop Scharfenberger of Albany retires; Boston Auxiliary Bishop O’Connell named successor October 20, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, News, World News Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger, 77, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Albany, New York, and has appointed Auxiliary Bishop Mark W. O’Connell of Boston as his successor.
Just and lasting peace possible through establishment of Palestinian state, patriarchs say October 16, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Patriarchs and heads of the churches in Jerusalem said in a joint Oct. 14 statement they “rejoice at the recent enactment of the ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of those held captive,” which they hailed as “auspicious moment,” noting “the work of peacebuilding has only just begun.”
Georgetown University names Eduardo Peñalver as next president October 16, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Colleges, News, World News Georgetown University’s board of directors unanimously voted to name Eduardo M. Peñalver, president of Seattle University, as the 49th president of Georgetown University in Washington, the Jesuit school announced Oct. 15.
Bishops call for solidarity with immigrants in binational pilgrimage and Mass October 15, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Immigration and Migration, News, World News As the sun set over the international border a small cadre of Catholic bishops processed toward Mexico. Flanked by priests, religious brothers and sisters, laity and immigration advocates, the U.S. prelates walked along Main Street in San Luis Oct. 12.
10 U.S. bishops stand for election in Baltimore as the conference’s next president, vice president October 14, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Feature, News, World News When the U.S. bishops gather for their fall plenary assembly Nov. 10-13 in Baltimore, they will elect the next president and vice president for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Florida bishops plead with governor to stay execution of 72-year-old inmate October 14, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: News, Respect Life, World News “There is a way to punish without ending another human life: life-long incarceration without the possibility of parole,” the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote to Gov. Ron DeSantis, urging the state’s Catholic governor to stay the scheduled Oct. 14 execution of Samuel “Sammy” Smithers.
Spanish government wants to create blacklists of doctors who refuse to perform abortions October 11, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Health Care, News, Respect Life, World News Spain’s socialist government is pushing for regional “blacklists” of doctors who object to performing abortions, sparking backlash from medical and Catholic leaders.
Pope Leo praises Catholic Charities USA for its work, especially in assisting the displaced October 10, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Catholic Charities, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV sent a letter commending the work of Catholic Charities USA, the domestic charitable arm of the Catholic Church in the U.S., to mark its 115th annual gathering Oct. 6-9 in San Juan.
