U.S. Church faces these areas of ‘critical concern’ on religious liberty, says bishops’ report February 19, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News The USCCB Committee for Religious Liberty issued Feb. 17 its “Annual Report on the State of Religious Liberty,” which highlights the legislative actions, executive actions, and U.S. Supreme Court cases the U.S. bishops are closely watching.
Rev. Jesse Jackson dies at 84; Catholic leaders praise civil rights leader’s work for justice February 19, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Obituaries, World News Catholic leaders were among those who praised the legacy of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a Baptist minister and prominent civil rights leader, who died Feb. 17. He was 84.
As drought strikes hard, Church leaders in Eastern Africa call for Lenten prayers February 19, 2026By Fredrick Nzwili OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, News, World News As Lent begins, Catholic leaders across Eastern Africa are urging prayers — and action — for millions facing a deepening drought crisis.
Shevchuk: Ash Wednesday collection has helped ‘resurrect’ Church in Ukraine February 19, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: News, War in Ukraine, World News Ahead of the USCCB collection — typically held on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 18) in most dioceses, and which can be supported online anytime at igivecatholic.org/story/USCCB-CCEE — OSV News spoke with Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, father and head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, to discuss the impact of the USCCB’s appeal in Ukraine.
Rhode Island’s Catholic community reeling after deadly shooting during high school hockey game February 19, 2026By Rick Snizek OSV News Filed Under: Gun Violence, News, World News A deadly shooting erupted during a boys hockey game in Rhode Island, involving a co-op with a number of players reported to be from an area Catholic school, and may have been motivated by what law enforcement characterized as a “family dispute.”
Adoption is choosing life February 19, 2026By Katie Yoder OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Respect Life Birth mothers embody this radical, self-sacrificial love by wanting what is best for their children even if that means placing them with another family. Adoptive parents participate in it by loving another’s child as their own.
Holy See will not join Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza, Cardinal Parolin says February 18, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The Holy See “will not participate” in President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” for Gaza, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, said Feb. 17, citing “points that leave us somewhat perplexed.”
Pope Leo XIV calls for ‘countercultural’ repentance on first Ash Wednesday of his pontificate February 18, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Lent, News, Vatican, World News Beneath the Roman pines of the Aventine Hill, Pope Leo XIV led a solemn penitential procession Feb. 18 to Rome’s oldest extant basilica, marking the first Ash Wednesday of his pontificate with a call for “countercultural” repentance for sins from individuals, institutions and the Church itself.
Bishops praise Virginia Legislature for halting assisted suicide bill February 18, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: News, Respect Life, World News SB359, which would have permitted doctors to prescribe lethal, self-administered drugs to terminally ill patients deemed to have less than six months to live, failed to advance in a full state senate committee hearing Feb. 5.
Diocese of Camden reaches ‘long overdue’ $180 million abuse settlement February 18, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, World News The Diocese of Camden, N.J., has announced plans to resolve more than 300 abuse claims with a $180 million settlement.
Question Corner: Why doesn’t the Church require more demanding fasting for Lent? February 18, 2026By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Lent, Question Corner A more demanding common discipline would require far more exceptions, which could make it difficult for the majority of the Church to observe them together as one spiritual family.
Death is close; Jesus and his love are closer, say clergy in Ukraine war zone February 18, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: News, War in Ukraine, World News Amid the ravages of Russia’s war on Ukraine, the human heart finds its home in God and in communion with others, said two Catholic clergy from Ukraine’s embattled east at an annual three-day cultural event in New York City.
