Movie Review: ‘The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants’ December 17, 2025By John Mulderig OSV News Filed Under: Movie & Television Reviews True to form, SpongeBob emerges from his latest escapades smarter, wiser, pleased with his newly acquired skills and with increased loyalty to his friends. So, although the script’s humor may often fall short, the franchise’s beguiling charm remains.
Attending school Christmas concert, pope thanks children for sharing love December 17, 2025By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Arts & Culture, News, Vatican, World News At the end of his one day off each week, Pope Leo XIV went to the local school in Castel Gandolfo and joined hundreds of excited parents in watching the children’s Christmas concert.
The German bishops’ conference, over the cliff December 17, 2025By George Weigel Syndicated Columnist Filed Under: Commentary, The Catholic Difference It is tragic that this abandonment of theological sanity and pastoral responsibility coincides with the 60th anniversary of the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, in which German bishops and theologians (including the future Pope Benedict XVI) played significant roles.
Readers share favorite Christmas carols December 17, 2025By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Christmas, Feature, Local News, News A recent Catholic Review poll, conducted in print and online, invited readers to share their favorite Christmas carols.
Question Corner: Will the Catholic Church have women deacons? December 17, 2025By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner While we should not expect to see women literally ordained alongside male diaconate candidates, the question of deaconesses in general is a complex and multifaceted one with many positive implications.
Trump, lawmakers call for Jimmy Lai’s release after ‘unjust conviction’ December 16, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News President Donald Trump, the State Department, and members of Congress expressed concern after Hong Kong’s prominent Catholic media tycoon and pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai was convicted of national security offenses under the city’s controversial national security law.
Church beatifies 50 French Catholics killed ‘in hatred of the faith’ by German Nazis December 16, 2025By Caroline de Sury OSV News Filed Under: News, Saints, World News Fifty French Catholics killed under German Nazism were beatified Dec. 13, 2025, during a Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris — an event that recognized their witness of faith during World War II.
Chile’s bishops’ congratulate new Catholic president, ‘worry’ over anti-migrant attitudes December 16, 2025By David Agren OSV News Filed Under: Immigration and Migration, News, World News Chile’s bishops’ congratulated José Antonio Kast for claiming the South American country’s election, but called for the president-elect to “promote an environment of dialogue, encounter, and respect, essential for rebuilding social trust” amid deep divisions and rising concerns over crime and migration.
USCCB president expresses church’s solidarity with Jewish community December 16, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, Gun Violence, News, World News Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, expressed the Catholic Church’s solidarity with the Jewish community in the wake of a Dec. 14 terror attack by two gunmen that targeted Jewish beachgoers at an event celebrating the first day of Hanukkah at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
The Films of Rob Reiner December 16, 2025By John Mulderig OSV News Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Movie & Television Reviews Having first gained fame for his role on the landmark CBS-TV sitcom “All in the Family” (1971-79) in which he played Archie Bunker’s Polish American son-in-law, Mike Stivic — whom the cranky bigot dubbed “Meathead” — Rob Reiner helmed his first film in 1984. His work crossed various genres and included a number of features now regarded as classics.
Little Sisters of the Poor again appeal for protection from contraceptive rule December 16, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Respect Life, Supreme Court, World News The Little Sisters of the Poor appealed an August ruling from a federal district court that struck down a religious conscience rule, their legal representatives said Dec. 15.
Parishes clean up damage, help those displaced by floods in Western Washington state December 16, 2025By Andrew Foster Northwest Catholic Filed Under: Disaster Relief, News, World News Several parishes and schools across Western Washington have shut down operations due to historic flooding in the state.
