Proposed legislation looking to repeal clergy-penitent protections in at least two states is in a head-on collision with the church’s primary legal code, one expert told OSV News.

The theme of bridge-building in community outreach and organizing spanned several presentations at the 2025 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington, aiming to equip participants with practical and timely tools to transform their communities.

The document focused particularly on the moral use of technology and on the impact artificial intelligence already is having or could have on interpersonal relationships, education, work, art, health care, law, warfare and international relations.

Once a month, St. Patrick’s 54 middle school students meet with a staff mentor for 30 minutes to discuss their spiritual, intellectual, moral and physical formation.

Pro-life activists examined their cause as a global one and heard a keynote address about “clarifying” their position at the 26th annual Cardinal O’Connor Conference on Life on Jan. 25.

On behalf of the CMA, of which Kaiser is a member, Alliance Defending Freedom filed a federal lawsuit in early January arguing that the mandate violates members’ conscience rights and oversteps executive authority.

While the Holy Year 2025 refrain, “Hope does not disappoint,” can be difficult for those suffering from illness to embrace, Christians are called to recognize God’s closeness even in moments of weakness or despair, Pope Francis said.

Care for life in all its stages “should be seen as an unfolding and a building upon the defense of life in the womb,” said the homilist at the Washington Archdiocese’s 2025 Youth Mass for Life Jan. 24 at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle.

On Jan. 27, as the world commemorated the 80th anniversary of the liberation of German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau — where 216,000 Jewish children, among 231,000 children from various nations, perished, Mother Matylda was being remembered as a beacon of hope in the midst of Nazi horrors and as one that saved hundreds of Jewish children.

Pope Francis has formally recognized that five Franciscan missionaries ministering in what is now the U.S. state of Georgia were killed for their faith.