world news
Pope laments ‘liberal’ universities that lack holistic formation
Pope Francis said that some universities are “too liberal” and do not place enough emphasis on forming their students into whole people.
Kentucky Derby jockey says Catholic faith crucial in dangerous sport
Jockey Keith Asmussen calls on his Catholic faith daily as he competes in the high-stakes world of horse racing, and the sport’s stage gets no bigger than the one he will be on May 4, when he rides in his first Kentucky Derby.
Amid protests, Columbia University Catholic chaplain urges prayer, charity
Recently, Columbia University in New York has become the epicenter of U.S. college protests and encampments demanding an end to U.S. support of Israel, now at war with Hamas following that group’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on approximately 22 locations in Israel.
Jordan’s king promises pope Christian holy sites will be protected
Pope Francis received assurances from Jordan’s King Abdullah II that Christian and Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem will be protected amid the Israel-Hamas war.
Cardinal condemns absence of religious voices pressing for peace in Gaza
The prophetic voices of religious leaders working to foster peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land have been largely absent as the war in Gaza rages on, a Jerusalem-based cardinal said.
Virginia Catholic Conference urges Youngkin to veto ‘coercive’ contraceptive bills
Virginia’s Catholic bishops have urged Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin to veto bills that would establish a “right to contraception” and require health insurance companies to provide coverage for contraception.
Arizona governor signs measure repealing state’s near-total ban on abortion
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a measure to repeal Arizona’s near-total ban on abortions just one day after it passed in the state’s Republican-controlled Senate.
New Orleans Archdiocese investigated for child sex trafficking due to decades-old abuse claims
The Louisiana State Police and the FBI are investigating whether Archdiocese of New Orleans officials — including archbishops — covered up child sex trafficking by clergy over several decades, with some alleged victims reportedly taken out of state to be abused and marked for further exploitation among clergy.
Florida law prohibiting abortion after 6 weeks gestation goes into effect
A law prohibiting elective abortions after six weeks of pregnancy went into effect May 1 in Florida, as that state also faces a ballot measure on abortion in November.
Caritas Baby Hospital in Bethlehem remains a ray of hope in war-torn Holy Land
Caritas Baby Hospital is now the only exclusively pediatric hospital in the West Bank serving about 50,000 children a year. Caritas in Switzerland and Germany were the first donors to the hospital, but since 1963 the hospital has been affiliated with the Swiss NGO Children’s Relief Bethlehem.