Barron: With no clergy-penitent exception, WA abuse law threatens religious liberty July 8, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, World News A contested Washington state law that would require priests to violate the seal of confession to report abuse “represents an egregious violation of the free exercise clause of the First Amendment,” Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, who is a member of the U.S. Religious Liberty Commission, told OSV News.
Pope to Ukrainian Greek Catholics: ‘God will have the last word,’ ‘life will conquer death’ July 1, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News Amid Russia’s war on Ukraine, the faith of Ukrainians is being “sorely tested,” but God “will have the last word, and life will conquer death,” said Pope Leo XIV.
Idaho Catholics unite in prayer for firefighters killed in sniper ambush July 1, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, World News Two firefighters were killed and a third wounded after a man began shooting at them like a sniper as they responded to a June 29 blaze on Canfield Mountain, located just over 4 miles from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Experts: Catholic media witness to truth, Gospel and are at ‘kairos moment’ in church June 29, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Journalism, News, World News Catholic media play a vital role in bearing truth and witnessing to the Gospel, especially amid the digital age and a crucial moment for the church, said experts during a panel discussion at the 2025 Catholic Media Conference.
Ceasefire brings some relief, but ‘Gaza is bleeding’ and real peace needed, say experts June 25, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, World News Recent strikes exchanged by Israel and Iran, accompanied by June 21 U.S. attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities, sparked fears of a wider regional war in the Middle East.
Trump orders US attack on Iran nuclear sites, as Pope Leo, bishops plead for peace June 22, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News The U.S. has attacked three nuclear facilities in Iran, in a move that comes amid repeated pleas from Pope Leo XIV and other church leaders for peace and dialogue in ending multiple conflicts throughout the world, including that between Israel and Iran.
Former Catholic high school counselor sentenced for abusing teen student June 18, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Uncategorized, World News A former counselor at an Ohio Catholic high school was sentenced to prison June 10 for sexual battery of a student, with prosecutors alleging in a sentencing document she had groomed others.
A month after his election, most U.S. Catholics view Pope Leo XIV favorably June 18, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Just over a month after his election, Pope Leo XIV is enjoying positive reviews from most of the nation’s Catholics, according to a new poll.
N.J. top court ruling allows grand injury investigations for clerical abuse June 18, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, World News New Jersey’s top court ruled June 16 that grand juries can be empaneled to investigate clerical sex abuse allegations in that state.
Almost half of U.S. adults have Catholic connection, but Mass makes significant difference in Catholic identity June 17, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, World News, Worship & Sacraments Close to half of the nation’s adults have a personal or family connection to Catholicism, but Mass attendance makes for significant differences in what Catholics say is essential to their identity.
U.S. bishop calls for ardent prayer, diplomacy as Israel-Iran strikes continue June 16, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News A U.S. bishop called for ardent prayer and robust diplomacy, as Israel and Iran traded strikes for the fourth day.
Over 20,000 permanent deacons serve church, but death, retirement bring overall number down June 16, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: deacons, Feature, News, Vocations, World News The nation’s Catholic permanent deacons were estimated to number more than 20,000 in 2024 — but “as is the case with priests in the United States, there are not enough new permanent deacons being ordained to make up for the numbers who are retiring from active ministry and dying each year,” according to a new report.
