National News
Advocates call for quick action after U.N.’s climate warning
Catholic organizations called upon parishioners to address climate change through daily actions and advocacy with political leaders following a report that warned that the earth's temperatures continue to rise, risking human lives.
Government to deprioritize some immigration cases
Biden administration officials have told prosecutors to focus on cases involving immigrants who pose a public safety, national or border security threat and set "low priority" cases on a different track.
New health care rule expected on abortion, transgender services
A Catholic insurance group believes the U.S. government will soon announce new mandates on health plan coverage and performance that will pose a threat to religious-based employers including Catholic hospitals.
Groups decry end of Oregon rule on physician-assisted suicide
Oregon will drop residency requirements that were part of its physician-assisted suicide law, under which 3,280 people have received assisted-suicide prescriptions, and 2,159 people died from them, since 1997.
Federal rule change will ease entrance of asylum-seekers
The Biden administration confirmed it will lift a COVID public health measure in May that has kept asylum-seekers out of the U.S., a change sought by Catholic immigration advocates.
Court rules in favor of inmate’s prayer request during execution
The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 in favor of a Texas prisoner who wanted his pastor to pray over him and place his hands on him in the execution chamber. It will likely impact other death-row prisoners with similar requests.
How a saint changed the tax code, and philanthropy forever
If you take a charitable deduction in your tax returns, you can thank the "Philadelphia nun provision" of the tax code, named for St. Katharine Drexel, whose astonishing philanthropy supported Black people and Native Americans.
U.S. joins pope in worldwide prayer for Ukraine and Russia
Bishops in the U.S. took part in Pope Francis' invitation to join him in the consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary March 25, entrusting the people of both countries to the care and protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Court nominee responds to questions about law, life, faith
The confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson included 13 hours of questioning about her role as a judge and her views on abortion, critical race theory and her own faith.
U.S. to accept up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees
The Biden administration said March 24 that the United States plans to welcome the refugees, though "many Ukrainians will choose to remain in Europe close to family and their homes in Ukraine," according to a White House statement.