world news
Biden administration permits first death penalty trial despite campaign pledge
The terrorism trial of Sayfullo Saipov, who is accused of fatally striking eight people with a truck in New York City in 2017, began Jan. 9 and marks the first federal death penalty case heard under President Joe Biden, who pledged as a candidate to end the practice at the federal level.
U.S. religious liberty expert ‘disappointed’ in Vatican-China deal
The United States’ chief advocate for religious freedom expressed his “disappointment” in the Vatican over its provisional agreement with China on the appointment of bishops in the country.
Papal condemnations of nuclear war ‘indispensable,’ says U.N. official
Pope Francis’ condemnations of the threat of nuclear war are “indispensable,” said the head of the U.N. nuclear energy agency.
Ukrainian bishops say people ‘determined to fight on’ despite worsening conditions
Auxiliary Bishop Sobilo of Kharkiv-Zaporizhzhia said that despite worsening conditions following Christmas and the start of the new year, the people in war-torn eastern Ukraine are determined to fight on.
Catholic agencies in California organize outreach, relief for storm victims amid historic rainfall
Catholic organizations in California, strengthened by years of responding to disasters in the Golden State, responded quickly to bring aid to those affected by the ongoing brutal winter storms.
What’s Lourdes’ secret? The Eucharist, reveals shrine’s chief medical officer
Each year, some 3 million pilgrims — many with terminal medical conditions — visit the shrine in southwestern France, site of 18 Marian apparitions to St. Bernadette Soubirous, who was a young teenager in poverty and could neither read nor write at the time.
Illinois bishops, clergy grateful for new assault weapon ban
Catholic leaders in Illinois are hailing the state’s newly enacted ban on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines and switches.
Read the Gospel, always show people God’s love, pope tells police
To understand the Gospel, its beauty and its power, people need to read it, Pope Francis said.
Congress failed to renew expanded child tax credit — can bipartisanship save it?
Catholics see hope that bipartisanship in Congress may save a valuable tool in the fight against poverty and even abortion.
U.S. House passes two pro-life measures facing steep odds in the Senate
The U.S. House of Representatives Jan. 11 passed two pro-life measures, however neither has a clear path through the U.S. Senate to become law.