‘Cruel Hoax’ active shooter alert disrupts Villanova’s Opening Mass August 22, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Colleges, Gun Violence, News, World News An active shooter at Villanova University reported late afternoon Aug. 21 was a “cruel hoax,” a university official said less than two hours after the initial scare that led to a campus lockdown.
Pope’s brother, friends in the Chicago area will mark pontiff’s 70th birthday August 22, 2025By Simone Orendain OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV turns 70 on Sept. 14 and some of his closest friends in the Chicago-area will mark the day with him in mind, quietly.
Parish’s mission of accompaniment extends to helping laid-off federal workers find hope August 22, 2025By Mark Zimmermann Catholic Standard Filed Under: DOGE cuts, News, World News Holy Trinity Parish, known for its social outreach, started a job loss support group after these parishioners expressed their concerns about the federal government job cuts.
Bishops meet in Colombia to discuss future of church’s Pan-Amazon region August 21, 2025By Eduardo Campos Lima OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, News, Synodality, World News More than 90 bishops from different parts of the Pan-Amazon region gathered in Bogotá, Colombia, Aug. 17-20 to take a fundamental step in the implementation of some of the Amazon synod’s proposals.
Federal judge blocks Texas 10 Commandments law from being enforced in some school districts August 21, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News A federal judge on Aug. 20 partially blocked Texas from enforcing a law requiring public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments, finding the law violated the First Amendment.
Building God’s kingdom requires listening, dialogue, pope says August 21, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News At a time when many governments seem unable promote peace, justice and development for all, Christians must be prophetic, reaching out to others and daring to try something new, Pope Leo XIV said.
Land transfer including Indigenous sacred site blocked again; Trump plans appeal August 21, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News A federal appeals court temporarily blocked Aug. 18 a federal land transfer to a copper mining giant that would lead to the destruction of a site considered sacred by Indigenous peoples. But President Donald Trump said Aug. 19 his administration would continue to pursue that land transfer.
Vatican studying possible papal trip to Turkey, Lebanon August 21, 2025By Cindy Wooden OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News A plan for Pope Leo XIV to visit Lebanon as well as Turkey in late November and early December is being studied, a Vatican official said.
More states move to copy ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ amid reports of inhumane conditions for migrants August 21, 2025By Tom Tracy OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, World News The migrant detention facility, known for its deliberate placement within the inhospitable environment of Florida’s Everglades, is being used as a model for other states to set up similar facilities.
Ukraine church tensions surface in wake of Alaska summit August 20, 2025By Jonathan Luxmoore OSV News Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, War in Ukraine, World News Ukrainian religious leaders have rejected demands for Russia’s Orthodox Church and language to be guaranteed official status in their country, although a Catholic bishop also warned against a threatened crackdown on Orthodox communities.
Archbishop Gudziak on visit to Ukraine calls for unity to end Russia’s ongoing ‘barbarity’ August 20, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: News, War in Ukraine, World News As the Trump administration seeks to end Russia’s multiyear war on Ukraine, Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians continue, said Metropolitan Archbishop Borys A. Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia.
EEOC says ‘robust’ religious liberty enforcement actions taken, including on vaccine mandates August 20, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Health Care, News, Religious Freedom, World News The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency tasked with enforcing laws prohibiting discrimination in hiring and employment, said Aug. 18 it has taken “robust” actions to prevent religious discrimination in the workplace within the first six months of the second Trump administration.
