Daily News

Morning must-reads

March 31

Supreme Court hears Wis. Catholic Charities case

Will decide whether such agencies are ‘religious enough’

Kansas: Violent ‘black mass’ leader arrested at Capitol

After punching protestors who interrupted his ritual

Total of German ordinations hits record low of 29

Limburg, led by Bp. Bätzing, is among 11 dioceses with zero

U.S. foundation to 'restore & endow' Catholic parishes

Launches 'innovative, Vatican-approved funding model'

Journalist: Human trafficking is at dire levels in Africa

Amid weak law enforcement, corruption, poverty, war

Steady decline in rule of law under Francis pontificate

His disregard for uniform application, clarity harms Church

March 28

Kansas: Prayerful protest is response to ‘black mass’

Adoration & Mass at church directly opposite Capitol

Kentucky lawmakers overturn ‘conversion therapy’ ban

Bill also prohibits use of Medicaid funds for sex changes

Capuchin priest-conman sentenced to 5 years in prison

Stole $500K pretending to run medical clinics in Lebanon

Italian prosecutors investigate illegal sale of relics

Allegedly of Carlo Acutis, to be declared saint in April

Church in Chile rejects opening of stores on Good Fri.

Cardinal & unions decry violation of religion, traditions

SNAP group calls top Vatican cardinals negligent

Includes Victor Fernandez, Farrell, Grech, Prevost, Tagle

March 27

Chicago archdiocese sues over ‘racketeering scheme'

Says group filed false abuse claims against ex-priest

U.S. religious freedom watchdog spotlights Nicaragua

Urges economic sanctions via orgs like the IMF, World Bank

Jesuits extend reparations offer to victims of Rupnik

Lawyer for 20 women thanks them, urges Vatican to act

Trump freezes $120M in Planned Parenthood grants

150 pro-life leaders call on Congress to halt PP funding

Nuncio praises Jordan’s work on behalf of peace

For mediation & promotion of real help to Palestinians

Pew: Christianity loses most in ‘religious switching’

Mostly in disaffiliation; S. Korea is exception with net gain

March 26

Doctor confirms Pope was near death on Feb. 28

Recalls decision 'whether to stop and let him go' or not

Pope asks abuse Commission to work with Curia

But all along the Curia has ignored or stymied them

U.S. lawmakers draft bill to protect pregnancy centers

To prohibit discrimination and 'just let them serve' moms

Judge orders Seton Hall to hand over abuse report

University’s new prez is former secretary of McCarrick

EU: Robt. Schuman’s vision applies to Ukraine peace

Model for a new West-East economic/trade community

Papal general audience, Angelus remain suspended

Francis won't meet with groups until at least end of May

March 25

New Vatican document calls for diocesan pro-life plans

'Life is always a good' marks 30th anniv. of Evangelium Vitae

Texas school choice could be boon to Catholic schools

Legislation would create $10K education savings accounts

Fernández: Vatican is choosing judges for Rupnik trial

Says, 'Some are unsure and need time to think about it'

Indianapolis archdiocese: No local Eucharistic miracle

Biochemical analysis showed presence of fungus, bacteria

Next chapter of Francis papacy to look very different

A return to internat'l travel seems increasingly unlikely

DR Congo bishops face backlash over peace plan

Incl. insistence on direct talks between gov't and rebels

March 24

Pope leaves hospital after balcony public appearance

Stops at St. Mary Major basilica, returns to Casa Santa Marta

JFK files reveal 60s CIA director’s ‘dealings’ with Vatican

Which 'would and could raise eyebrows in certain quarters'

DR Congo: Armed bandits terrorize missionary sisters

Burst through wall, steal all valuables; in capital, Kinshasa

UK pro-lifers keep prayer vigils as court verdict looms

'Thought crime' case was spotlighted in V.P. Vance speech

Pope creates diocese of 171,000 Catholics in Paraguay

Recently did similar in Mozambique, Myanmar, Tanzania

Debate: Vaccine exemption policies at Catholic schools

Diocesan mandates override conscience, special cases

March 21

Worldwide Catholic population up slightly to 1.4 billion

Africa is home to 20% of all Catholics, poised to pass EU

Pro-lifer Ekeocha: USAID came with strings attached

Namely, of culture of death & ideological colonization

Decline in worldwide priestly vocations accelerates

No. of major seminarians fell 11.7% over 12-year period

PP facility in Manhattan closes after decades of prayers

Org cites 'social/political obstacles, structural challenges'

Catholics to speak at Natal Conference in Austin, TX

On effect of religion, prioritizing motherhood, fatherhood

Bishop Barron is latest bugbear of lefty NCReporter

He's a popular, effective, mainstream orthodox Catholic

March 20

Canada's bishops warn about loss of tax-exempt status

Catholic charities won't survive gov't committee proposal

Louisiana uses nitrogen gas for execution for first time

Catholics, including Baton Rogue bishop, aimed to halt it

Kansas City archdiocese sues to stop Black Mass

Says Satanists stole Blessed Sacrament to be used

Maryland passes bill to collect $25M to pay for abortions

Funding program will be first of its kind in the U.S.

St. Mary’s College picks dodgy commencement speaker

Former prez of Ireland McAleese pushes culture of death

University of Dallas community battles casino project

As giant corp sets sights on land parcel next to college

March 19

Parolin: Holy See displeased by EU rearmament plan

Says, 'Sooner or later, the weapons must be used, right?'

Pastor of Gaza's Catholic parish reports bombing nearby

Renewed attacks leave over '350 dead, a thousand injured'

Fargo bishop: Trump immigration policy may be needed

Says Church 'has never advocated for wide-open borders'

Pope's docs reduce his use of mechanical ventilation

Report slight improvements in respiratory, motor functions

U.S. & UK dioceses' Rite of Election figures spike up

E.g.: Detroit reports 977 adults; Westminster, England: 500

Pope sends his U.S. Medal of Freedom to Buenos Aires

Given by Biden; to cathedral, to be exhibited in museum

March 18

Nicaraguan regime now surveils Catholic priests

Police visit, check cellphones, demand weekly reports

Myanmar soldiers set fire to cathedral amid civil war

Civilians protest ethnic militias & forced recruitment

War between Ethiopia, Eritrea could begin any time

Further destabilizing already volatile East Africa region

Immigrant religious worker visa program extended

Used by sisters, religious orders to secure residence

Vatican asks bishops to promote Good Fri. collection

Which is 'essential resource' for Church in Holy Land

OR gov marks 'Abortion Provider Appreciation Day'

Abp. laments 'how far culture can drift from reality'

March 17

Vatican: 3-year 'implementation phase' for Synodality

More diocesan, national, continental meetups in '27-'28

Pope's photo released, first since entering hospital

He's seated before chapel altar after concelebrating Mass

Patriarch: 1054 church division ‘not insurmountable’

'Full of hope' of resolving 1,000 years' worth of problems

UN: Vatican official urges ‘cultural shift’ on motherhood

Children are widely seen as 'obstacle to women’s lives'

Liturgy experts weigh future of 'Traditionis custodes'

After 'conciliatory tone' of recent Cdl. Roche interview

St. Josemaría Escrivá’s ‘The Way’ tops Amazon charts

Due to exposure in Hallow app’s Lent Pray40 Challenge

March 14

Curial retreat preacher calls Francis papacy 'complete'

Says over 12 years he's expressed himself 'in fullness'

Idaho's default execution method now is firing squad

Boise bishop decries offense against human dignity

Luxembourg Church leaders grilled on Caritas losses

Diocese remained hands-off after $66M embezzlement

14 U.S. states now protect churches against shutdowns

And 15 more, post-COVID, offer some level of protection

Senate committee okays pro-life Makary to head FDA

Key vote advances his nomination to full U.S. Senate

Why did King Charles highlight Ramadan & ignore Lent?

No British royal appeared at any church on Ash Wednesday

March 13

Slight improvement to Pope's lungs, x-ray confirms

Francis spends 12th anniv. of his papal election in hosp.

Trump admin. prevails over USCCB in court battle

Judge sends refugee-program lawsuit to fed. claims court

Nominee for NIH head praised by Catholic bioethicists

Will seek alternatives to use of aborted fetal cells in jabs

Bishop: Steubenville's main problem is demographic

Diocese lacks neither money nor priests, but people

Scholar argues birth dearth is greatest threat to West

Feminism spawned fertility crisis worse than WWII, plague

Syrian archbp. pleads for international peacekeepers

To protect religious minorities, watch border with Israel

March 12

Cdl. Zuppi lauds steps toward Russia-Ukraine peace

Calls for new multilateralism, bypassing now hollow UN

Mexico: Cathedrals, churches vandalized by feminists

Who mark International Women’s Day by wreaking havoc

Youth flock to Ash Wednesday Masses in France

Urban and rural parishes report remarkable influx

Senators press Small Business Admin. on COVID funds

Demand to know why Planned Parenthood got $120M

USCCB publishes guidelines on repro technologies

Written by Sister Hannah Klaus, MD, with the NCBC

U.S. bishops appear united at McElroy installation

Past tensions, divisions give way to 'ecumenical air'