School smartphone, social media bans gain momentum across U.S. January 25, 2026By Kimberly Heatherington OSV News Filed Under: 2026 Catholic Schools Week, News, Schools, World News Nationwide, 26 states have mandated complete bans on smartphones in K-12 public schools, while others allow usage with on-campus restrictions. According to Education Week, “31 states either already limit or ban students from using their personal devices in school or plan to do so for the 2025-26 or 2026-27 school years.”
Former ambassadors seek renewed bipartisanship to fight human trafficking January 25, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Respect Life, World News Efforts to combat human trafficking have languished in the first year of the second Trump administration and their revival requires bipartisan support, according to five former diplomats who served as ambassadors-at-large to combat human trafficking.
March for Life rallies thousands to build culture of life as political cracks emerge January 24, 2026By Peter Jesserer Smith OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, World News Tens of thousands of pro-life advocates descended on the March for Life demonstrating their strong motivation to give witness to the importance of protecting the right to life for the unborn.
Marchers celebrate the unique gift of life at 53rd annual March for Life January 24, 2026By Lauretta Brown OSV News Filed Under: News, Respect Life, World News The theme of the 53rd annual March for Life was “Life Is a Gift” and both the crowd and the speakers at the rally embraced their personal experience of the gift of life.
Bishop Bambera: Christian unity is ‘vital’ and ‘not an add-on’ January 24, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, World News Amid the 2026 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan. 18-25, OSV News spoke with Bishop Joseph C. Bambera of Scranton, Pa., who serves as chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs and the Catholic co-chair of the Holy See’s International Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue committee, part of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.
Archdiocese of Paris convenes council in response to historic rise in catechumens January 24, 2026By Caroline de Sury OSV News Filed Under: Evangelization, News, World News, Worship & Sacraments The Archdiocese of Paris is launching a major churchwide council in response to a surge in adult and youth conversions across France.
Cardinal says Ukrainian medal belongs to all Catholics, not him, as he urges continued aid January 24, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: News, War in Ukraine, World News Amid launching a dramatic appeal to help Ukrainians “freezing in genocidal attacks by Russia,” and after coordinating years of humanitarian efforts for the country, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner said he is “unable to accept the medal announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,” the prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity told OSV News Jan. 23.
Vance visits Minneapolis to ‘tone down the temperature’ during immigration enforcement January 23, 2026By Joe Ruff The Catholic Spirit Filed Under: Immigration and Migration, News, World News Vice President JD Vance said he visited with business leaders, federal immigration enforcement officers and local law enforcement in Minneapolis Jan. 22 to better understand how an increase in immigration enforcement was unfolding and to “tone down the temperature a little bit, reduce the chaos, but still allow us as a federal government to enforce the American people’s immigration laws.”
Archdiocese of Baltimore well represented at pro-life events in nation’s capital January 23, 2026By Gerry Jackson Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Knights of Columbus, Local News, News, Respect Life The Archdiocese of Baltimore was well represented at a two-day celebration of life Jan. 22-23 in the nation’s capital that concluded with the 53rd annual March for Life.
Thousands of pro-life Catholics attend Life Fest affirming ‘love is the answer’ January 23, 2026By Katie Yoder OSV News Filed Under: Knights of Columbus, News, Respect Life, World News The morning rally and Mass, which took place hours before the 53rd annual March for Life, drew thousands of pro-life Catholics that made up a largely youthful crowd.
3 U.S. bishops applaud House for passing legislation supporting pregnant women January 23, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, News, Respect Life, U.S. Congress, World News Three U.S. bishops who chair committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops are applauding two pieces of legislation designed to support pregnant women through an array of resources, including continued access to higher education.
Milan Archdiocese unveils ‘For Each Other’ initiative ahead of Winter Games January 23, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: News, Sports, World News As the world prepares for the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Catholic Church in the host city has launched an initiative to ensure that amid the competitions and stress, athletes can find a place to pray and reflect.
