The head of the Catholic Health Association of the United States called it “extremely disappointing” that a USA Today article published Feb. 17 “suggested that Catholic health care’s long-standing commitment to providing care that recognizes the sacredness of each individual — from conception to natural death — somehow constrains care.”

A senior Russian Catholic has urged church leaders abroad to commemorate the opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, as armed police dispersed citizens mourning his death at age 47 in a remote prison camp.

On Feb. 9, Bishop Liam S. Cary of Baker, Ore., said he has asked the priests of his diocese “not to bless known co-habiting couples, of the same sex or both sexes” because he does not believe that blessings for couples in such situations could be carried out in a “scandal-free” manner in his diocese.

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna warned of schism as German bishops want to keep to their reform course despite the latest letter from Rome, which halted the vote on the statutes of a Synodal Committee.

Father Mark-Mary Ames of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal had an atypical Ash Wednesday this year after celebrating an early morning Mass for actors Jonathan Roumie and Mark Wahlberg.

The case began as one family’s dispute over gender identity, and involved a state social service agency and the removal of the child. But any decision on the petition submitted to the high court Feb. 15 won’t result in the teen — named in court filings as A.C. and identifying as a transgender woman — being returned to the family home.

As an emergency bill to replenish dwindling ammunition and supplies for Ukraine’s forces languishes in the U.S. House, Metropolitan Archbishop Borys A. Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia warned that failing to support Ukraine as Russia’s war machine relentlessly presses its attack will have a vast impact on religious freedom in the region as well as on global security.

As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine reaches the two-year mark Feb. 24, OSV News sat down with Metropolitan Archbishop Borys A. Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, recently returned from his latest visit to Ukraine, for his insights on the war.

War will never solve problems, Pope Francis said, appealing for prayers that God inspire people to concretely work for peace.

Spain’s top tourist attraction, the Sagrada Família basilica in Barcelona, must give priority to ensuring it is a place where people are inspired to pray, Pope Francis said.