Daily News

Morning must-reads

January 16

Researcher: Moderate congregations are gone in U.S.

As religious belief has become secondary to political beliefs

Archbp. Chaput offers 'thoughts on America, age 250'

Says missionary zeal can overcome recent turn against faith

Kuwait’s first church is elevated to Minor Basilica

Migrant worker Christians are 20% of nation's population

Abp. Gallagher: Surrogacy is 'new form of colonialism'

Urges united front to stop commodification of persons

HHS restores Title X funding to PP due to lawsuit

Trump and HHS head RFK Jr. appeared not to know it

Jerusalem’s Christian schools suspend classes in protest

As Israel restricts Palestinian teachers from West Bank

January 15

Report: 388M Christians face high levels of persecution

Open Doors list's worst: N. Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan

Cardinal Roche doubles down on ‘Traditionis custodes’

Undelivered address to cardinals opposes use of TLM

Vatican newspaper highlights Iran regime’s repression

Reports over 12,000 killed, lauds courage of protesters

DHS: New rule addresses religious worker visa backlog

Eliminates 1-year wait outside of U.S. before readmission

Syro-Malabar Church battles demographic decline

Due to 'thoughtless migration' & declining birth rate

Manila’s feast of Black Nazarene draws 9.6M devotees

The procession lasted nearly 31 hours: longest recorded

January 14

SCOTUS appears likely to uphold trans athlete bans

Can't look past the harm done to girls by woke madness

NY state senator pushes for more church security

After multiple crimes at parishes on Staten Island

Cdl. Czerny on consistory: An excellent experience

Says College of Cardinals worked together as a college

Order of Malta aims to help reconstruction of Gaza

Its Bethlehem hospital, clinics face restrictions, violence

Philippines archbishop forbids gambling advertising

At popular celebrations for Feast of the Santo Niño

Author C. Gress: Feminism 'decapitated the family'

And drove 'much of the decay of the Christian West'

January 13

USCCB president Coakley meets with Trump, Vance

To discuss areas of 'mutual concern,' likely immigration

Irish archbishop: To bless nationalism is blasphemy

Blasts dragging 'the language of faith into political battles'

Nicaragua regime releases dozens of political prisoners

After U.S. statement; Venezuela example sobers Ortega

Vatican expected to announce 2026 Sheen beatification

Delay of Rochester probes & diocesan bankruptcy ends

Turin cardinal presents new website on the Shroud

A 'guided reading' of high-resolution images of the cloth

'Are you dead?' app appeals to Chinese living alone

If no response within 48 hours, then a contact is notified

January 12

Cdl. Zen calls Francis-style synodality 'manipulation'

References to Holy Spirit during 2021-24 Synod: 'ridiculous'

Pope Leo gives first address to Vatican diplomatic corps

Covers discrimination against & persecution of Christians

CMA, NCBC leaders welcome vaccine schedule changes

Which aim to unroll financial, ideological interference

Pro-life leader: Movement is 'not safe' in current GOP

Says base must demand 'what has been promised'

On Feast, Pope baptizes 20 children in Sistine Chapel

Emphasizes importance of baptizing newborn babies

Franciscans release letter on saint's spiritual legacy

At inauguration of 800th anniv. year of St. Francis's death

January 9

Rome: Cardinals to return for another consistory in June

Press sec says Leo plans to convoke annual consistories

Leo's consistory models workable version of synodality

And signals return to institutional norms, calm governance

Austria launches late vocations program for men 45-60

Who can complete it without having to quit current jobs

Ethicists warn on organ donation-assisted suicide link

Utilitarian shift in medicine entails all manner of abuses

'Pray with the Pope' campaign refines monthly video

Supplies intention & specific prayer in a serene format

Custos of Holy Land invites all: 'Return as pilgrims'

Tourism is economic engine of its Christian community

January 8

Cardinals vote to focus on evangelization, synodality

At consistory; de-emphasizing discussion of Curia, liturgy

Duluth diocese gives ‘ad orientem’ worship a shot

Bishop allows trial period per nine pastors' requests

26,000 college students attended SEEK conferences

Which took place Jan. 1-5 in Ohio, Colorado, & Texas

Fed. appeals court affirms religious liberty in hiring

After WA state wrongly pushed anti-discrimination law

Russia's population growth: in Muslim-majority areas

By 2075, adherents of Islam may equal those of Orthodoxy

Czech town plans to build large 3D-printed church

An ark-like structure made of 520 assembled blocks

January 7

Rome: Consistory resets consultation with cardinals

Also on Pope's agenda: Curial reform, synodality, liturgy

Latin American bishops issue message to Venezuelans

Neither praising nor condemning recent U.S. military raid

Cdl. Parolin talks with U.S. Secretary of State Rubio

On Venezuela and promotion of peace & rel. freedom

Catholic author & columnist Russell Shaw dies at 90

Communicator for USCCB & at world Synods of Bishops

Nigeria: Gunmen kill 42, kidnap women and children

Also loot and vandalize Catholic church compound

Ghanaian archbishop: No more cash grants from Rome

Local church must increase 'stole fees' & parish dues

January 6

Pope closes St. Peter’s Holy Door, ending Jubilee

Next is 2033, 2,000 years after Christ's death, resurrection

31 concerned Charlotte priests submit dubia to Vatican

Regarding bishop's authority to make liturgical changes

USCCB announces annual pro-life novena; starts 1/16

Says its overarching intention is an 'end to abortion'

English archdiocese launches apologetics initiative

Treats 'burning questions' of new & practicing Catholics

New Orleans archdiocese issues apology for abuse

Voices 'profound regret' over 'tragic, inexcusable harm'

Wis. bishop opens formal inquiry into Servant of God

Sr. Adele Brice, seer of approved Marian apparitions

January 5

Pope on Venezuela raid: Good of the people is priority

Says he's following situation with 'heart full of concern'

Netherlands: Historic former Catholic church burns

Edifice built in 1880 was sold in 1979, deconsecrated

UN chief calls on Israel to reverse NGO ban in Gaza

Ban includes Caritas Internationalis, Caritas Jerusalem

Speaker urges Denver SEEK attendees to digital detox

Average 18-yr-old spends 93% of free time on a screen

Jubilee closing to end Francis-to-Leo transition period?

Pope soon to convene consistory, meet with diplomats

Immigrant priests serve big, rugged Fairbanks diocese

Challenges echo early years of establishing U.S. Church

December 31

3.18M attended Vatican audiences, ceremonies in 2025

Incl. Jubilee of Hope, Francis farewell, May election of Leo

After 2025 happenings, Christian unity appears stalled

Anglican Communion defunct, Ecumenical Patriarchate frail

Puerto Rico: New law extends all legal rights to unborn

A landmark achievement & example for U.S. lawmakers

17 missionaries were killed worldwide during 2025

Ten in Africa, 4 in the Americas, 2 in Asia, one in Europe

Bethlehem orphanage hosts 80 children, ages 0-6

45 in residence, 35 in daycare service for poor workers

Harvard Catholic ministry sees largest-ever OCIA class

80 converts; Sunday Mass attendance now averages 300

December 30

212 Nigerian priests were kidnapped in last decade

183 were released or escaped, 15 killed, some still held

Ohio bishop grants Mass dispensation to immigrants

Who fear deportation amid ongoing I.C.E. initiative

Cardinal Tagle recounts recent trips to Muslim nations

Reminds that Asian population of 4.8B is only 3% Catholic

Italian nun rescues women from human trafficking

Describes changed countenances 'from despair to serenity'

Christmas in Asia reflects centuries of inculturation

Photo essay shows fireworks, dancing, light projections

Belmont Abbey College boasts motorsport department

Grown from first 'Racing Management' class in 2007

December 23

Leo issues letter on formation, ministry, life of priests

'A Fidelity that Generates the Future' looks at V2 decrees

Mass. halts pro-trans requirement for foster parents

'Will no longer exclude' Christians who believe in biology

Is Diocese of Phoenix now second-largest in the U.S.?

As NYC adjusts down its data & Chicago drops to third

Pope calls for ‘more mission-oriented' Roman Curia

Warns against forces of internal division that take root

Salesians may overtake Jesuits as largest male order

Jesuits have 13,768 members; growing Salesians, 13,694

Albany bishop’s bankruptcy opens grim can of worms

Jury's odd finding of liability may have ill knock-on effects

December 22

Charlotte seminary changes prompt objections

Catholics & clerics in diocese wearied by bishop's ideas

State Dept. set to roll out religious worker visa plan

A 'standalone process' from other competing applicants

Retired Albany bishop files for personal bankruptcy

After court found liability for collapse of pension fund

Twelve Kansas Catholic schools targeted by bomb hoax

Police in several cities are investigating similar threats

Cardinal Pizzaballa visits Holy Family parish in Gaza

Sows hope: 'Here are our roots & here we will remain'

Pope: Peacemaking is 'quintessential Catholic action'

Exhorts youth of Italian apostolate Catholic Action