Bishops, pro-life leaders slam Notre Dame pro-abortion appointment as ‘slap in face,’ ‘betrayal’ February 18, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Colleges, News, Respect Life, World News The naming of a pro-abortion faculty member as head of a Catholic university research institute is “a direct slap in the face to the Church’s moral tradition,” an Illinois bishop said, while several recipients of the school’s top pro-life award have called it a “betrayal.”
USCCB calls for adoration hours, works of mercy to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary February 18, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Eucharist, Feature, News, World News As the U.S. prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has encouraged Catholics to participate in initiatives including a collective 250 Hours of Adoration and 250 Works of Mercy. To celebrate the occasion, “America 250,” the initiatives encourage prayer for the unity and healing of the U.S., according to a resource guide the USCCB has
The No. 1 person former President Obama most wants to meet? It’s Pope Leo XIV February 17, 2026By Simone Orendain OSV News Filed Under: News, Racial Justice, Vatican, World News Former President Barack Obama said in a YouTube interview posted Feb. 14 he wants to meet Pope Leo XIV.
From Foreheads to Crowns: How Ash Wednesday looks different worldwide February 17, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Lent, News, World News, Worship & Sacraments Catholics going to Mass on Ash Wednesday will leave church marked, but whether the ashes appear as a bold cross on the forehead or sprinkled atop the head depends largely on where in the world they worship.
Commission issues ‘painful’ abuse report on Polish diocese, a first in the crisis-hit nation February 17, 2026By Katarzyna Szalajko OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, World News A newly released clerical sexual abuse report in Poland’s Diocese of Sosnowiec is being described by investigators as a necessary step toward accountability, while Church leaders call it a painful but essential moment in rebuilding trust after years of scandals.
‘Remember you are dust’: Why people fill the pew on Ash Wednesday February 17, 2026By Kimberly Heatherington OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Lent, News, World News, Worship & Sacraments Why do so many people make an extra effort to get to church on Ash Wednesday — the first of Lent’s 40 days — when it is not a holy day of obligation, and they are not required to receive ashes?
Data on sweeping immigrant detentions underscores U.S. bishops’ concerns, says policy expert February 17, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Immigration and Migration, News, World News Data showing most individuals in immigration detention do not have violent criminal records highlights ongoing concerns expressed by the nation’s Catholic bishops over the Trump administration immigration crackdown, said an official with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
U.S.-led Board of Peace a ‘colonialist operation,’ Cardinal Pizzaballa says February 17, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, strongly criticized the U.S.-led Board of Peace, an international body chaired by President Donald Trump to oversee the governance and reconstruction of Gaza.
Students from L.A.-area Catholic school get surprise meeting with pope after school vandalism February 17, 2026By Mike Cisneros OSV News Filed Under: News, Schools, Vatican, World News Msgr. Figueiredo was able to arrange for the group to receive an audience with Pope Leo and to have their school be named during the ceremony.
Ash Wednesday collection ‘gives hope’ to reborn Church in Central, Eastern Europe February 17, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Giving, News, World News Since 1991, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has held an annual Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe, with funds supporting the Catholic Church in the former Czechoslovakia, Soviet Union and Yugoslavia — a total of 28 current nations.
Latin Mass supporters say SSPX controversy has ‘thrown a hand grenade’ into TLM debate February 16, 2026By Jonathan Luxmoore OSV News Filed Under: News, World News, Worship & Sacraments Supporters of the traditional Latin Mass have urged Catholics not to confuse their movement with the more controversial Society of St. Pius X, commonly referred to as SSPX, whose leaders currently risk excommunication by threatening to ordain their own bishops.
A true parish welcomes everyone, spreads respect, harmony, pope says February 16, 2026By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, Vatican, World News An authentic Christian community knows how to sincerely and joyfully welcome everyone: Catholics, non-Catholics and people of no faith at all, Pope Leo XIV said.
