Saint Joseph Catholic Church

commentary

commentary

The president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops met yesterday at the White House with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City “had the opportunity for introductory meetings with President Trump, Vice President Vance, and other Administration officials, in which they discussed areas of mutual concern, as well as areas for further dialogue,” the USCCB stated last evening.

“Archbishop Coakley is grateful for the engagement and looks forward to ongoing discussions,” the statement added.

In his new year’s message to the people of Ireland, the Primate of All Ireland said that he is “saddened when I see people of faith online who seem ‘armed to the teeth,’ and who persist in ‘othering’ and accentuating difference.”

“It is particularly disappointing when you see this from Christians online who label and dismiss others because of their race, religion or some other perceived difference,” said Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh. “This is not of God.”

Archbishop Martin added that “unfortunately, it has become increasingly common to drag the language of faith into political battles, to bless nationalism, and to justify violence and armed struggle in the name of religion. Believers must actively refute, above all by the witness of their lives, these forms of blasphemy that profane the holy name of God.”

An Arizona legislator, Rep. Stacey Travers, has filed a bill that would require priests to violate the seal of Confession when a penitent confesses “ongoing abuse.”

Last year, the State of Washington enacted, and then agreed not to enforce, similar legislation.

The president of the US bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities affirmed the importance of the Hyde amendment, which forbids federal funding of most abortions.

“Authentic health care upholds the dignity of all human life, and health care policy must not violate this dignity,” said Bishop Daniel Thomas of Toledo, Ohio. “In upholding this core principle, the U.S. bishops have long opposed any proposals to expand taxpayer funding of abortion and will continue to do so, including, if necessary, in the current debates in Congress over health care affordability plans.”

President Donald Trump recently called on Republican lawmakers to be “flexible” about the Hyde amendment, provoking criticism from pro-life organizations.

Writing in L’Osservatore Romano, a history professor at the University of Molise critiqued the portrayal of Venerable Pius XII, who reigned as Pope from 1939 to 1958, in the 2025 film Nuremberg.

Matteo Luigi Napolitano examined the “clear distinction between the theatrical invention proposed by [James] Vanderbilt’s film and the historical truth now established by the documents.”

A group of self-styled Tanzanian Catholics attempted to deliver a petition to Pope Leo via the apostolic nunciature criticizing the leaders of the nation’s episcopal conference for alleged political interference.

“Severe doubts have been raised on social media as to whether the petition signatories actually belong to the Catholic Church,” the Fides news agency reported. Last fall, the bishops criticized the violent suppression of political protests and called for an independent investigation.

During an audience with Pope Leo on January 9, Cardinal Roberto Repole of Turin presented Avvolti (“Wrapped”), a website that allows for the digital examination of the Shroud of Turin.

“Each enlargement is accompanied by explanations and links to passages from the Gospels that describe the passion of Jesus,” L’Osservatore Romano reported. “Despite the scientific rigor of the texts and images, the aim was to create a product accessible to all, thus bringing the general public closer to the image of the Shroud.”

The Diocese of La Rioja, Argentina, has begun a jubilee year in commemoration of the martyrdoms of Blessed Enrique Angelelli and his companions.

Bishop Dante Braida of La Rioja “emphasized how the martyrs’ witness continues to inspire a faithful listening to the Gospel, along with a concrete commitment to justice, reconciliation, and closeness to the poor,” the Fides news agency reported.