Ezra Jin Mingri, Chinese prisoner of conscience, released to US July 7, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News Ezra Jin Mingri, founder and pastor of an underground church in China and a prisoner of conscience in that country, was released from imprisonment and reunited with his family in the U.S. shortly before Independence Day, U.S. officials said.
US condemns detention of Nicaraguan bishop as Church awaits proof of his safety July 7, 2026By David Agren OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News Another Nicaraguan bishop remains missing after being apprehended by police, drawing a rebuke from the United States for the ongoing “attacks on religious freedom” in the increasingly authoritarian country.
Vatican unveils agenda for global family summit marking ‘Amoris Laetitia’ anniversary July 7, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News The Vatican has released the framework for a fall meeting with the heads of Eastern Catholic Churches and presidents of bishops’ conferences, marking the 10th anniversary of “Amoris Laetitia” and focusing on the Church’s pastoral approach to families.
How thoughts affect us July 7, 2026By Effie Caldarola OSV News Filed Under: Commentary Every mom — and everyone who was ever a kid — remembers the occasional chaos of school mornings, grabbing breakfast, homework, lunch bags, negotiating who gets the bathroom next.
Question Corner: How do I know if I’m excommunicated due to my past support of the SSPX? July 6, 2026By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner I used to be supportive of the SSPX and have regularly attended Mass at their chapels at different points in my life. How do I know if I’m excommunicated now?
Planned Parenthood to receive Medicaid funds again as defunding provision expires July 6, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, World News A provision of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” that stopped Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid payments for a year expired July 4, allowing the nation’s largest abortion provider to regain access to hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicaid funding.
Pope Leo starts his summer break at Castel Gandolfo with cheerful welcome July 6, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News When the papal coat of arms was hung at the balcony of the papal Castel Gandolfo residence July 5, locals knew that their main summer protagonist was on the way.
Movie Review: ‘Minions & Monsters’ July 6, 2026By John Mulderig OSV News Filed Under: Movie & Television Reviews Set primarily in the Hollywood of the 1920s, the delightful animated comedy “Minions & Monsters” (Universal) is at once director and co-writer Pierre Coffin’s paean to and satire of early Tinseltown.
Radio Interview: Catholicism, religious freedom and the early United States July 6, 2026By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, CR Radio, Feature, Local News, News, Radio Interview Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with a fascinating look at the often-overlooked Catholic roots of the nation on Catholic Review Radio. Host Rita Buettner speaks with Dr. Dennis Castillo, professor of Church history at St. Mary’s Seminary, to explore how a small but influential Catholic community helped shape the founding of the United States.
Pope visits U.S. embassy July 4 for discussion on peace and freedom, with a side of apple pie July 5, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, News, Vatican, World News After spending the morning praying for migrants on the island of Lampedusa, Italy, Pope Leo XIV celebrated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See and his family.
Mass of Thanksgiving for America’s 250th anniversary held at National Shrine in Washington July 5, 2026By Kurt Jensen OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Feature, News, World News Independence Day is a reminder that Americans’ “inalienable rights” mentioned in the Declaration of Independence — life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — are gifts from God, Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl said July 4 in the nation’s capital.
Pope Leo to pilgrims: ‘Strong eucharistic heritage of US must continue as source of renewal, unity’ July 5, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Eucharist, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Participants in the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage carry on the “great legacy of faith” that has crucially shaped the U.S., now marking its 250th anniversary, said Pope Leo XIV in a message to those gathered for the pilgrimage’s concluding liturgy in Philadelphia.
