Washington Roundup: Shutdown continues; Hamas agrees to hostage release after Trump Gaza proposal October 3, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, U.S. Congress, World News The federal government shutdown stretched into its third day with indications it would continue after lawmakers once again failed to pass a spending bill.
Cardinal Cupich: Sen. Durbin ‘has decided not to receive’ controversial lifetime achievement award October 2, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Immigration and Migration, News, Respect Life, U.S. Congress, World News Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., has decided not to receive a “Lifetime Achievement Award,” scheduled to be presented in November at the archdiocese’s “Keep Hope Alive” celebration, according to a statement by Chicago Cardinal Blase J. Cupich Sept. 30.
Catholic groups serving the poor call for action to end federal government shutdown October 1, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Social Justice, U.S. Congress, World News Congressional lawmakers failed to pass legislation to fund the federal government, resulting in a federal government shutdown at the end of September. Catholic groups that serve the poor urged lawmakers to end gridlock.
Pope asks for respect in debate about archdiocese honoring Sen. Durbin October 1, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, U.S. Congress, Vatican, World News Asked about some Catholics’ criticism of the Archdiocese of Chicago giving an award to Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, Pope Leo XIV said, “I would ask first and foremost that there be greater respect for one another.”
Bishop Paprocki on Cardinal Cupich, Durbin showdown: It’s not against unity to speak truth September 24, 2025By Gretchen R. Crowe OSV News Filed Under: Immigration and Migration, News, Respect Life, U.S. Congress, World News In an interview Sept. 24 with OSV News, Bishop Paprocki said that regardless of Sen. Durbin’s record on other issues, his public position supporting policies to protect legal abortion disqualifies him from receiving any awards, per policies of both the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Archdiocese of Chicago itself.
Chicago Archdiocese’s plan to award Durbin for immigration work meets pushback over abortion September 22, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Immigration and Migration, News, Respect Life, U.S. Congress, World News The Archdiocese of Chicago is scheduled to present Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., a “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his work on immigration issues in November, but the decision has been criticized by some Catholic bishops over Durbin’s public position on abortion.
Congress faces shutdown deadline as Catholic groups warn nation’s poor at risk September 5, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Catholic Social Teaching, News, U.S. Congress, World News After lawmakers returned to Washington from their August recess, they faced a familiar deadline: Passing legislation to fund the federal government and avert a shutdown at the end of September.
Planned Parenthood defunding remains in question amid legal challenges August 1, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, U.S. Congress, World News Whether Planned Parenthood will ultimately be stripped of its federal funding remained in question amid ongoing lawsuits over a provision in President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda that would cut those funds for one year.
Top Republican appears to walk back probe of Catholic entities amid charged committee hearing July 17, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Catholic Charities, Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, U.S. Congress, World News During a contentious hearing, a top Republican on the House Committee on Homeland Security on July 16 appeared to walk back a previous statement that Catholic entities are among the nongovernmental organizations subject to a probe by the committee about their work with migrants.
White House agrees to exempt PEPFAR from rescissions package July 16, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Health Care, News, U.S. Congress, World News The Senate took up for consideration a request from the White House to rescind approximately $9 billion in previously appropriated funds for international aid programs and public broadcasting, among other cuts. However, Senate negotiators likely will reject cuts to PEPFAR, the U.S. government’s global effort to combat HIV/AIDS, with the White House’s agreement.
House approves Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ after Senate passage July 4, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, U.S. Congress, World News The U.S. House on July 3 approved the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in a 218-214 vote, which would enact key provisions of President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda on taxes and immigration. The legislation now heads to the president’s desk for his signature.
Senate passes Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’; measure heads to House July 1, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, U.S. Congress, World News Senate Republicans on July 1 passed their version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which would enact key provisions of President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda on taxes and immigration, without any Democratic support and losing three members of their ranks.
