The death penalty has been getting attention across the country this year with legislation introduced or voted on in several states aimed at limiting, repealing or even renewing capital punishment.
World News
Pope prays newly beatified martyrs inspire greater fidelity to God
The Catholic Church’s newest blesseds are six “meek disciples of Christ,” who showed heroic courage defending the Eucharist from profanation when French troops sacked their Italian monastery in 1799 and scattered the Blessed Sacrament on the floor while searching for any valuables they could carry away, Pope Francis said.
USCCB pro-life chairman calls HHS proposed rule on Title X ‘terrible policy’
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has published a proposed rule to rescind the Trump administration’s enforcement of a Title X provision that “draws a bright line between abortion and family planning,” as the U.S. bishops’ pro-life committee chairman has described it.
Bill introduced to expand Supreme Court to 13 justices
Less than a week after President Joe Biden signed an executive order announcing the formation of a commission to look into possible reforms to the Supreme Court, congressional Democrats are moving ahead with introducing legislation to expand the court from nine to 13 justices.
Sponsor a gargoyle: New fundraiser launched for Notre Dame in Paris
A novel fundraising approach to restore one of the most iconic monuments in the world, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, enables donors to have a piece of history.
PBS documentary explores creator of ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’
MacLowry and Strain, moreover, can be commended for refusing to ignore the unpleasant aspects of Baum’s character, traits that don’t easily square with viewers’ preconceptions concerning the author of a beloved text.
Movie Review: ‘Roe v. Wade’
Allyn and Loeb’s treatment of one of the most controverted political topics in recent history emerges as more ambitious and earnest than successful.
Federal appeals court says Ohio can enforce Down syndrome abortion law
A federal appeals court April 13 upheld a 2017 Ohio law that prohibits doctors from knowingly participating performing an abortion because of a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome.
German legislators consider ending state payments to churches
Germany’s lower house of Parliament is considering replacing state payments to the nation’s two largest churches. The Catholic and Protestant churches received combined state benefits of more than $650 million in 2020.
Pope accepts resignation of bishop who heads Minnesota’s Crookston Diocese
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Michael J. Hoeppner, 71, who has headed the Diocese of Crookston, Minnesota, since 2007.
Cardinal unveils major Vatican conference on priesthood slated for 2022
Increasing vocations to the priesthood, improving the way laypeople and priests work together and ensuring that service, not power, motivates the request for ordination are all possible outcomes of a major symposium being planned by the Vatican in February 2022.
Archbishop Hebda encourages prayers, peace after fatal police shooting
After a night of protests and vandalism April 11 in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, following the police shooting of Daunte Wright, Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis urged prayers for justice and peace.