Lord we pray "Help me to continually increase parish vitality and reflect the presence of Christ in the world."

Browsing News Entries

Browsing News Entries

Street in Brooklyn Heights Renamed to Honor Servant of God Dorothy Day

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Pope Leo XIV: Church Serves Coming of God’s Kingdom in History

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Stockholm diocese urges Catholic voters to consider candidates' position on abortion, euthanasia (EWTN News)

The Justice and Peace Commission of the Diocese of Stockholm, Sweden, urged the faithful to consider candidates’ positions on abortion and euthanasia during the upcoming general election.

The nation of 10.6 million is 57% Christian (54% Protestant) and 11% Muslim.

USCCB to FDA: Mothers deserve better than telehealth mifepristone (USCCB)

Amid adjudication of the delivery by mail of the abortion pill mifepristone, the chairman of the US bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities said that “vulnerable mothers in need do not deserve the isolation and danger of telemedicine chemical abortion.”

“Instead, we must do better to meet mothers with compassionate, meaningful, and authentic support that enables them and their families to welcome their new children into the world,” Bishop Daniel Thomas of Toledo, Ohio, wrote in a May 4 letter to the acting attorney general and the commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “All direct, intended abortions extinguish an innocent human life, and therefore are a grave evil. In the case of mifepristone, we seek to prevent tragedy for both the baby and the mother.”

Bishop Thomas called on the FDA to “proceed as expeditiously as possible with its safety review” of mifepristone. Bishop Thomas also noted that the Trump administration has “moved to stay or dismiss three different lawsuits filed by states to challenge the status of the drug.”

Vicariate for Hebrew-speaking Catholics marks 70th anniversary (Vatican News)

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem commemorated the 70th anniversary of its Vicariate of Saint James, which ministers to Hebrew-speaking Catholics.

“Seventy years is a gift; it is also a responsibility,” said Father Piotr Żelazko, vicar of Saint James since 2021. The task of Hebrew-speaking Catholic communities, he added, is “to remain faithful, attentive and courageous—to listen to the signs of the times, care for the next generation, and continue building bridges of faith, dialogue and compassion.”

Egyptian court fails to grant Easter holiday (ADF International)

An Egyptian court rejected a petition to establish Easter Sunday as a national holiday and ruled that the matter is at the discretion of the prime minister, and not of the judicial system.

“The failure to recognize Easter as an official holiday in the country leaves in place conditions that force Egyptian Christians to choose between participating in Easter worship or facing serious civil, professional, and academic penalties,” stated ADF International, which is offering legal support to plaintiffs in the case.

The North African nation of 112.9 million (map) is 90% Muslim and 9% Christian (primarily Coptic Orthodox); Islam is the state religion.

Legionaries' new leader says he wishes to 'move this congregation forward' (CWN)

The new general director of the Legionaries of Christ said in an interview that he wishes “to help the Church with my priesthood to move this congregation forward, because the congregation can also contribute and give much to the Church in evangelization.”

Synod releases reports on bishops' appointments, doctrinal issues, including testimonies of men civilly married to other men (CWN)

The General Secretariat of the Synod, led by Cardinal Mario Grech, released the sixth of 15 final reports of the study groups established by Pope Francis during the synod on synodality—as well as a portion of another report.

President Trump again assails Pope Leo; Pontiff responds that criticism should be truthful (CWN)

Renewing his criticism of Pope Leo XIV, President Donald Trump charged that the Pope “thinks it’s just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon”—leading Pope Leo to respond, “If someone criticizes me for proclaiming the Gospel, let him do so truthfully.”

Vatican newspaper shines spotlight on Gaza's 'prolonged agony' (CWN)

In the most prominent front-page article in its May 5 edition, L’Osservatore Romano drew attention to the plight of the people of Gaza, where corpses beneath the rubble are fostering massive infestations of rodents and other pests.