National News
Texas urges Supreme Court to let state’s abortion law stand
State officials also advised the court not to fast-track abortion providers' challenge to the law that bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
Coronavirus among factors spurring migrants to U.S.-Mexico border
Climate change, COVID-19, faltering democracies and assaults on the rule of law in the Americas are leading to increased migration to the U.S. from many countries. Some 1.5 million migrants will make their way to the U.S. this year, twice the number in 2019.
Debate, vote on eucharistic document will top U.S. bishops’ agenda
The impetus for the document and a planned eucharistic revival is to increase Catholics' understanding of the Eucharist. A 2019 Pew study showed just 30% of Catholics have "a proper understanding of Christ's presence in the Eucharist."
Appeals court again reinstates Texas abortion law
A U.S. court of appeals again reinstated the Texas abortion law Oct. 14, refusing a request from the U.S. Department of Justice to reinstate the ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Similar bans are at issue in Kentucky and Mississippi.
Judge rules group can hold its rally during bishops’ assembly in Baltimore
Church Militant, a group known for its critical comments about Catholic leaders, can have the Nov. 16 rally it wants to hold in a city-owned waterfront pavilion near the hotel where the U.S. bishops' will meet Nov. 15-18.
Prominent Anglican bishop who served in U.S. received into Catholic Church
Michael Nazir-Ali was received into the Catholic Church and the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, which was established in 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI for the reception of Anglican communities. The married father of two will be ordained a Catholic priest Oct. 30.
Initiatives on Eucharist aim to give Catholics better understanding
Ahead of an upcoming nationwide eucharistic revival and document on the Eucharist, two bishops described a three-year process to increase Catholics' understanding of the Eucharist. The initiative will culminate in a National Eucharistic Congress in 2024.
Vandalism at Denver’s cathedral is latest incident against local churches
The cathedral was scrawled with messages of hate written in red paint. At least 25 parishes or ministry locations in the Denver Archdiocese have been the target of vandalism, destruction or theft, and 100 such incidents nationwide, since last year.
Military members deploying conscience in fight against vaccine mandate
Some members of the U.S. armed forces want a religious exemption to the COVID vaccine mandate because of the vaccines' connection to an abortion-derived cell line. The archbishop for the Military Archdiocese says no one should be forced to receive a vaccine.
Effort needed to bridge racial divide in church, society, says Black bishop
The divide of which racism is the most egregious example includes injustices throughout American history to the present, said retired Bishop Edward Braxton, who supports reparations for Black people for as a means of "healing what has been broken."