Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer of Atlanta has called on all Catholics to counter — with prayers of reparation and penance — the sacrilege of a so-called “black mass” being organized by the satanic temple of Atlanta and scheduled to take place Oct. 25.

The U.S. delegates at the Synod of Bishops on synodality are contributing to discussions on the future of the Catholic Church by bringing the diversity of the U.S. church to the Vatican, a U.S. synod delegate said.

Having returned the previous day from a religious summit in Bkerke, north of Beirut, Archbishop Bacouni struck a tone of cautious optimism regarding the end of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.

A coalition of medical and pro-life groups Oct. 22 launched what they called the Women’s Healthcare Declaration, which they said calls on policymakers, medical boards and other health care entities to enact pro-life policies that enhance “the medical standard of care for pregnant women and women facing miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, an incomplete abortion or any other life-threatening condition related to pregnancy.”

Catholics in Asia and Africa have already been leading the way with synodality, two members of the Synod of Bishops on synodality said.

Pope Francis has expelled two more members and upheld the expulsion of one member of the controversial lay movement Sodalitium Christianae Vitae due to allegations of sexual abuse, abuse of power and financial malfeasance.

A Peru-based Catholic movement active across Latin America and the United States is more of a “political project” than a religious movement, said the archbishop of the Peruvian capital where the movement is based.

The Vatican and the Chinese government are renewing their agreement on the appointment of bishops and extending it from a two-year to a four-year term, both sides announced.

Three states — Nebraska, Kentucky and Colorado — will have ballot measures related to school choice before voters on Nov. 5.

The nation’s Catholic bishops are inviting the faithful to join in a novena highlighting the gift of human life, while praying for its protection.