Catholic News

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday appealed for greater international assistance to Somalia, where violence and extreme weather are worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis, particularly for women and children.

After reciting the Angelus on Sept. 20, the pope said: "With great concern, I am following the humanitarian crisis unfolding in certain areas of Somalia, where acts of violence and extreme weather events are exacerbating the already precarious living conditions of the population, particularly of women and children."

"I hope for the generous involvement of the international community, so that our brothers and sisters may not lack the necessary assistance," he added.

According to UNICEF, about 4.8 million people in Somalia need urgent humanitarian assistance, including some 3 million children. The U.N. agency has also warned that about 1.9 million children are suffering from acute malnutrition, including nearly half a million experiencing severe acute malnutrition.

The pope also used his remarks after the Angelus to emphasize the importance of historical memory.

He sent his blessing to residents of Pescantina, near Verona, who gathered Sunday at a monument honoring those who were deported and held prisoner during World War II.

Leo said the commemoration should serve "to emphasize that we must not forget, but rather learn from history so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past."

God's plans are greater than human calculations

Before the Angelus, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the day's Gospel account of the laborers called to work in the vineyard, some for the entire day, others for only a few hours and still others near the end of the day.

Drawing on the prophet Isaiah, Leo said that God's ways exceed human expectations.

"God's plans are infinitely greater — and, let us say, more 'human'— than those that we men and women, marked by sin, can conceive or bring to fruition," he said.

The pope recalled Isaiah's invitation to turn away from sin and return to the Lord, saying "the prophet's call, which is more relevant than ever, is that we abandon our warped ways and return to the Lord, who is mercy and forgiveness."

Turning to the Gospel parable, Leo said its central moment comes when the vineyard owner pays the workers. Although he keeps the agreement made with those hired first, the owner also gives the same payment to those who arrived later.

"Jesus' parables describe the newness of what God has in store for us; yet they also reveal the resistance we generally offer to a more generous justice and greater love," the pope said.

Leo drew particular attention to the landowner's instruction that the workers be paid "beginning with the last and then going to the first."

"The negative reaction of those who had worked all day, then, could easily have been avoided; it was intentional, however, because the revelation of God's goodness is for everyone, not just for a few," he said.

The pope said the parable also challenges those who see themselves as having earned their place or accomplishments.

"God has different ways and fresh ideas even for those who consider themselves to be first and believe they have earned what they have, that they deserved the results they have achieved," he said.

Leo concluded that God's mercy moves beyond calculations based solely on merit and reward.

"Instead, we all gain joy, wisdom and a better future when the law of love interrupts that of calculation, when the experience of mercy broadens that of merit, and when the gift of peace suspends rivalries and brings us closer together in gratitude," he said.

This story was first published in two parts by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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In southern Lebanon, the story of Christian villages is not defined only by the destruction and isolation left by war but also by a deeply rooted presence and a determination to remain.

Rmeich, Ain Ebel, Debel, and other border towns continue to be home to families who have chosen not to leave their land despite the dangers and hardships they face.

In support of these communities, a prayer walk will take place Sept. 26 from Byblos to Annaya, home to the shrine of St. Charbel, carrying the intentions of Christians who continue to remain in the south, turning the journey into an act of solidarity and hope.

Anthony Jarjour, a native of Rmeich and organizer of the initiative, told ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, that "the goal of the walk is to unite our prayers and offer them for the Christians who remain steadfast in the south."

"Sometimes we feel that the state has abandoned us and that some people are unaware that families are still living there, in the border villages, safeguarding the country's borders simply through their continued presence," he said.

This is not the first time Jarjour has organized a pilgrimage of this kind. Last year, he walked approximately 112 miles from Rmeich to Annaya, offering the journey for those who had died in traffic accidents.

This year, because of road closures, he will begin his own journey Tuesday, Sept. 22, from Tyre, covering approximately 93 miles before reaching Annaya on Saturday to take part in the conclusion of the pilgrimage.

Explaining why Annaya was chosen as the final destination, Jarjour said: "I have a personal experience with St. Charbel, and I felt his presence during the previous walk. I believe he always protects us through Our Lord Jesus. As for Annaya, it needs no introduction."

He said the pilgrimage is being organized in cooperation with several organizations and local authorities, including the Monastery of St. Maron in Annaya and the municipalities of Byblos and Annaya. Lebanon's Civil Defense and Red Cross will provide support and assistance along the route.

Jarjour has served his hometown of Rmeich and other communities along the border through volunteer work with the Red Cross, Caritas, and Civil Defense, taking part in field operations and helping residents during difficult circumstances.

However, he wanted to add a spiritual dimension to that service. Through the pilgrimage, he seeks to turn every step into a prayer for peace and for those who continue to remain in southern Lebanon.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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When the Catholic Church is mentioned, many think exclusively of the Latin Church, to which the vast majority of the world's Catholics belong. However, the Catholic Church is actually composed of 24 "sui iuris" or autonomous Churches: the Latin Church and 23 Eastern Catholic Churches, which are heirs to the ancient Christian traditions of the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa, and India.

These Churches have preserved their own liturgical languages, spiritualities, disciplines, and forms of ecclesiastical organization. Some celebrate the liturgy in Arabic, Syriac, Ge'ez, Coptic, Armenian, or Church Slavonic. Others maintain traditions that date back to the early communities founded by the apostles.

All of them are in full communion with the pope, the successor of St. Peter and head of the worldwide Catholic Church.

One Church, many traditions

The Eastern Catholic Churches stem from five major liturgical traditions: Alexandrian, Antiochene, Armenian, Chaldean, and Byzantine. Each possesses its own theological, spiritual, and cultural heritage, developed over centuries within vastly different historical contexts.

Among them are well-known Churches such as the Maronite Church of Lebanon, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Syro-Malabar Church of India, and the Coptic Catholic Church of Egypt. Many exist as minorities in countries where Islam or Orthodox Churches predominate, and several have endured persecution, war, or mass emigration.

Governance through synods

One of the most distinctive characteristics of these Churches is their internal organization. Unlike the practice often found in the Latin Church, many Eastern Churches operate through a robust synodal system.

Each Church is structured around a synod of bishops, which serves as the primary governing body. This body legislates on numerous aspects of ecclesial life, makes pastoral decisions, and participates in the election of new bishops. In patriarchal and major archiepiscopal Churches, the synod even elects the patriarch or major archbishop, an election that must subsequently be recognized or confirmed in accordance with norms established by Rome.

Pope Leo XIV has recently reformed the canon law governing Eastern patriarchal Churches to address a legal gap that hindered the resolution of internal conflicts. Through a motu proprio the pontiff granted greater autonomy to the bishops, enabling them to convene a synod independently of the patriarch and to seek his removal with a two-thirds majority vote, a measure that remains subject to the pope's final approval.

The 23 Eastern Churches

Alexandrian tradition

Coptic Catholic Church

The Coptic Catholic Church has its roots in the ancient Church of Alexandria, founded according to tradition by St. Mark the Evangelist. It is primarily present in Egypt and uses the Alexandrian rite in the Coptic and Arabic languages.

It entered into full communion with Rome in the 18th century and is headed by the Coptic patriarch of Alexandria. Interestingly, the Coptic language used in the liturgy represents the final historical stage of the language of ancient pharaonic Egypt, making this Church the direct heir to a cultural tradition spanning more than 3,000 years.

Ethiopian Catholic Church

The Ethiopian Catholic Church arose from communities of the Ge'ez tradition that reestablished full communion with the Holy See. It is present primarily in Ethiopia and celebrates the liturgy according to the Ethiopian Alexandrian rite, which is characterized by strong biblical symbolism and numerous distinctive traditions.

It primarily uses the Ge'ez language in its liturgy and is distinguished by the integration of African cultural elements into ecclesial life. An interesting feature is that many of its celebrations include traditional instruments such as drums and sistrums, a practice uncommon in other Catholic Churches.

Eritrean Catholic Church

Established as a "sui iuris" metropolitan church in 2015 by Pope Francis, the Eritrean Catholic Church brings together Catholics of the Alexandrian tradition in Eritrea. It shares the use of the Ge'ez rite with the Ethiopian Church, although it possesses its own hierarchy.

It represents a significant portion of the country's Catholics and is notable for the vitality of its vocations and its strong Eastern liturgical identity. It is one of the youngest Eastern Catholic Churches from an institutional standpoint, even though its Christian roots date back to the early centuries.

Armenian Tradition

Armenian Catholic Church

The Armenian Catholic Church follows the liturgical and spiritual tradition of the Armenian people, the first kingdom to officially adopt Christianity in the year 301. It gradually entered into communion with Rome starting in the Middle Ages and is currently led by the patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenians.

Its liturgy, traditionally celebrated in Classical Armenian, preserves unique elements derived from ancient Armenian traditions. A notable feature is the use of a curtain that is drawn and opened at specific moments during the liturgy, a custom inherited from early Christianity.

Antiochene Tradition (West Syriac)

Maronite Church

The Maronite Church is the only Eastern Catholic Church that has never broken communion with Rome. Its origins trace back to the communities gathered around St. Maron in Syria and Lebanon.

It is headed by the Maronite patriarch of Antioch and follows the West Antiochene rite, retaining the liturgical use of Syriac alongside Arabic and other modern languages. Many liturgical texts contain words in Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus, giving its celebrations a particularly evocative character.

Syriac Catholic Church

The Syriac Catholic Church originated from groups within the Syriac Orthodox Church that entered into communion with Rome during the 17th and 18th centuries. It preserves the spiritual and liturgical heritage of the ancient Syriac tradition of Antioch.

It is headed by the patriarch of Antioch of the Syriacs and celebrates the liturgy in West Syriac and in the vernacular languages ??of its faithful. Its hymns and prayers retain very ancient expressions of Semitic Christianity that have scarcely changed since the early centuries.

Syro-Malankara Catholic Church

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church traces its origins to the Christian community of Kerala, India, which is historically linked to the West Syriac tradition. In 1930, a group led by Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios entered into communion with Rome.

Today, it is a major archiepiscopal church that combines the Antiochene liturgical heritage with Indian cultural traditions. During certain important celebrations, the faithful participate in processions featuring ceremonial umbrellas and floral decorations characteristic of Indian culture.

Chaldean tradition (East Syriac)

Chaldean Catholic Church

The Chaldean Catholic Church originates from the ancient Church of the East and has its primary historical center in Mesopotamia, particularly in present-day Iraq. It entered into communion with Rome during the 16th and 17th centuries and is led by the patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans.

It employs the Chaldean rite and preserves the liturgical use of Eastern Aramaic, a language closely related to the one spoken by Jesus. Its communities maintain some of the oldest Christian traditions in the world, in territories evangelized as early as the first centuries.

Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is one of the largest Eastern Catholic Churches. It traces its roots to the so-called St. Thomas Christians of India, who, according to tradition, were evangelized by the apostle.

It follows the East Syriac liturgical tradition and has been raised to the rank of a major archiepiscopal church. It currently has millions of faithful, both in India and in the diaspora. It is the second-largest Eastern Catholic Church in the world, surpassed only by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

Byzantine tradition

Albanian Catholic Church

The Albanian Catholic Church of the Byzantine rite is a small Eastern Catholic Church found primarily in Albania. It arose from communities that adopted the Byzantine tradition while maintaining communion with Rome.

Although small in number, it stands as an important testament to the religious diversity of the Balkans. Its history was marked by severe religious persecution under the Albanian communist regime, one of the harshest of the 20th century.

Belarusian Catholic Church

The Belarusian Catholic Church follows the Slavic Byzantine tradition and traces its origins to the Union of Brest of 1596. Over the centuries, it endured persecution and long periods of institutional disappearance.

Today, it exists primarily in small communities both within and outside Belarus. For decades, it survived mainly thanks to groups of emigrants scattered across Europe and the Americas.

Byzantine-Slavic Rite Catholics in Bulgaria

The Byzantine-Slavic Rite Catholic community in Bulgaria emerged in the 19th century, when a group of Bulgarian Christians sought communion with Rome while retaining the Byzantine-Slavic liturgical and spiritual tradition. A pivotal moment occurred in 1861 with the reception of Archimandrite Joseph Sokolsky into the Catholic Church and his episcopal consecration by Pope Pius IX.

Today, Byzantine-Slavic Rite Catholics in Bulgaria comprise the Eparchy of St. John XXIII of Sofia, established in 2019 when the former apostolic exarchate was raised to the rank of eparchy. They preserve the Byzantine-Slavic liturgical tradition, celebrating the Divine Liturgy primarily in Bulgarian and Church Slavonic.

At the same time, the Catholic Church in Bulgaria also includes the Latin dioceses of Sofia and Plovdiv-Nikópolis. Thus, Bulgaria is a particularly interesting example of the coexistence of Latin and Byzantine-Slavic traditions within the same jurisdiction.

Greek Catholic Church

The Greek Catholic Church consists of communities of the Byzantine tradition located in Greece that are historically linked to communion with Rome. It preserves the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and other forms characteristic of the Byzantine heritage.

Situated in a country where the vast majority of Christians belong to the Orthodox Church, it constitutes a small but significant minority.

Hungarian Greek Catholic Church

The Hungarian Greek Catholic Church arose from Byzantine-rite communities established in the Kingdom of Hungary. It uses Hungarian in its liturgy and was elevated to the rank of a metropolitan "sui iuris" Church in 2015.

It was one of the first Eastern Churches to widely introduce a modern language, Hungarian, into its liturgical celebrations.

Italo-Albanian Church

The Italo-Albanian Church brings together communities of Albanian origin established in southern Italy and Sicily between the 15th and 16th centuries. It faithfully preserves the Byzantine tradition and has never lost communion with Rome.

The Monastery of Grottaferrata, founded in 1004 near Rome, remains the only territorial Byzantine monastery in Italy today.

Macedonian Greek Catholic Church

The Macedonian Greek Catholic Church is composed of the Byzantine-rite Catholics of North Macedonia. It originated from movements seeking union with Rome during the 19th and 20th centuries. It is one of the smallest Eastern Catholic Churches.

Melkite Greek Catholic Church

The Melkite Greek Catholic Church originated in 1724 following a schism within the Patriarchate of Antioch. It has a significant presence around the world, including in Lebanon, Syria, Brazil, Argentina, Israel, and Palestine.

Its patriarch holds the title of Melkite patriarch of Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem. It is the only Catholic Church whose patriarch simultaneously holds these three great historical patriarchal titles of the East.

Romanian Greek Catholic Church

The Romanian Greek Catholic Church arose through the union of part of the Romanian Orthodox Church with Rome in the late 17th century. It suffered severe persecution under the communist regime, which declared it illegal shortly after coming to power in 1948 until its demise in 1989. Seven of its bishops, who died during the communist persecution, were beatified by Pope Francis in 2019.

Russian Greek Catholic Church

This Church of the Byzantine Rite consists of small communities that preserve the Russian liturgical tradition in communion with the Holy See. It originated in the early 20th century and endured terrible Soviet persecution. Currently, it lacks a fully developed hierarchy, and many of its faithful live in the diaspora.

Ruthenian Church

The Ruthenian Church has its roots in the Union of Uzhhorod of 1646 and is historically linked to the peoples of the Carpathians. It is present primarily in Slovakia, Ukraine, and the United States. In North America, it developed such a strong distinct identity that it has its own metropolitan see in Pittsburgh.

Slovak Greek Catholic Church

The Slovak Greek Catholic Church shares its origins with the Ruthenian tradition and was restored following the communist persecutions of the 20th century.

In 2008, it was elevated to the rank of a metropolitan "sui iuris" church. Among its best-known martyrs are Bishops Pavel Peter Gojdic and Vasil Hopko, canonized for their fidelity during the communist persecution.

Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is the largest of all the Eastern Catholic Churches. It originated with the Union of Brest in 1596 and endured intense persecution during the Soviet era.

It is led by a major archbishop based in Kyiv and has millions of faithful worldwide. For more than 40 years of communist persecution, it was the largest underground Catholic Church in the world.

Croatian and Serbian Greek Catholic Church (Eparchy of Križevci)

The Eparchy of Križevci brings together Catholics of the Byzantine tradition from Croatia, Serbia, and other territories of the former Yugoslavia. Established in 1777, it serves the faithful of diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds.

Services in its parishes are celebrated in Croatian, Church Slavonic, Ruthenian, and other local languages, reflecting the cultural diversity of the Balkans.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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Baltimore Archbishop William Lori this week praised an assembly of women religious major superiors for their witness of "evangelical poverty," with the prelate noting the outsized influence that women religious have had on American society over the past 250 years.

"You and those who came before you have taught our children, tended to the sick, welcomed immigrants, accompanied the dying, consoled the brokenhearted, and proclaimed Christ where no one else was willing to go," the archbishop told the major superiors on Sept. 18 in Florissant, Missouri.

"For that, the Church gives thanks. But gratitude alone is not enough. The Church also looks to you with hope," he said.

The archbishop spoke at the 2026 National Assembly of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, the theme of which was: "250 Years of Freedom: Daughters of the Church from One Generation to the Next."

The council comprises major superiors and vicars from 112 religious communities around the U.S. The group describes its national assembly as "the springboard for collaboration, participation, and dialogue among members" which "promotes unity among the major superiors that gives witness to the joy of religious life."

Addressing the gathering as the keynote speaker, Lori acknowledged the assembly's recognition of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

The U.S. has been instrumental in advancing religious freedom and human dignity across the world, the archbishop argued. He noted that most histories of the founding of the U.S. focus on the Founding Fathers such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and others.

But "the American experiment would have looked very different" without the contributions of "thousands and thousands of women religious," he said.

"Who welcomed wave after wave of immigrants? Who cared for the victims of epidemics when others fled? Who taught generations of children not simply arithmetic and grammar, but honesty, sacrifice, discipline, and love of God?" he said.

Women religious "changed the nation because they first allowed Christ to change them," the archbishop said. He noted the "paradox" in which those who take vows of poverty "enriched countless communities" and those who "renounced worldly ambition" often "exercised the greatest influence upon society."

"The world struggles to understand this paradox," Lori said. "The Gospel does not."

Women religious have historically both upheld the ideals of America while challenging it when it "falls short of the Gospel," Lori said.

He cited the witness of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini's "evangelical poverty" as she carried out the founding of schools, hospitals and orphanages around the world.

And he further pointed to the work of Servant of God Sister Mary Thea Bowman, praising her for her "profoundly Catholic way" of confronting racism while evangelizing about the love of Christ.

Urging the women religious to pursue "an ever-new embrace of the heart of your vocation," Lori told the assembly: "The world needs women who have been seized by Christ."

"It needs women whose lives bear unmistakable witness to the truth that God is real, that holiness is possible, that sacrifice is fruitful, and that love poured out in communion with Christ can transform the world," he said.

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OSOGBO, Nigeria — Members of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) have designated Dec. 8 as a National Day of Prayer and fasting for the success of the country's 2027 general elections, calling on Nigerians to prepare spiritually for the polls.

In a statement issued at the end of their 2026 second plenary assembly held at Our Lady and St. Kizito Pastoral Centre in the Diocese of Osogbo, the bishops urged stakeholders to work toward elections that are "free, fair and credible."

"We announce that 8 December 2026 will be observed as a special national day for prayer and fasting for the success of the elections," the bishops said in the statement following their Sept. 10–18 plenary assembly.

They encouraged eligible voters to participate in the elections and elect leaders who are qualified to serve while urging citizens to make their choices according to their consciences.

"We encourage eligible voters to come out en masse to vote qualified people into offices and in line with their good consciences," the bishops said in the statement that their president, Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, signed.

The CBCN also urged Nigerians to familiarize themselves with its pastoral letter on the forthcoming elections and follow the provisions and guidelines contained in the document.

As part of preparations for the polls, the bishops called on dioceses and parishes across the country to organize civic education and voter mobilization activities alongside end-of-month fasting and prayer.

They further encouraged the faithful to participate in rosary processions from October to December, linking the spiritual activities with preparations for the elections.

The bishops also addressed the role of technology and artificial intelligence (AI), urging politicians and other users to deploy emerging technologies responsibly and ethically, particularly in the context of the forthcoming elections.

"As a vehicle for evangelization, we enjoin all to use it to transform data into knowledge and insights for greater value," they said while calling on political actors to exercise responsibility in their use of technology and AI.

The bishops said technology is closely linked to human freedom and autonomy but cautioned that its use must remain guided by ethical considerations.

"Technology is not inherently evil or antagonistic to humanity, but it is never neutral," they said, referencing Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas.

They also raised concern over what they described as the growing challenge of neo-paganism in Nigeria, particularly among young people, which they attributed partly to economic hardship, cultural revival, and inadequate Christian formation.

The bishops observed that modern forms of neo-paganism spread rapidly through internet culture, media, and books, and called on pastoral agents to make greater use of digital platforms in evangelization and catechesis.

"We encourage pastoral agents to intentionally incorporate the use of digital spaces, social media, and online catechesis in teaching the truth of the Gospel," they said.

They also called for what they described as healthy inculturation that respects positive elements of African cultural heritage while maintaining the foundational teachings of Christianity.

On education, the bishops described access to quality education as essential for human development and the peaceful integration of Nigeria's diverse communities and cultures.

They said the Catholic Church remains committed to education and ready to collaborate with the government in providing quality learning opportunities while urging authorities to fulfill their constitutional responsibility to fund education.

"We, therefore, urge governments to embrace their constitutional responsibility of funding education," they said, adding that children in public, private, and mission schools should have access to free education, particularly at primary and secondary levels.

They further called for policies that promote the development of the human person and contribute to the country's overall development.

The bishops also expressed concern over a bill before the National Assembly that, according to them, could affect churches, mosques, schools, and humanitarian organizations involved in assisting vulnerable and conflict-affected communities.

They said provisions requiring the registration of foreign aid resources and giving authorities powers to supervise their use could create challenges for organizations providing critical assistance.

The bishops particularly raised concern about provisions that would allow authorities to deny or refuse renewal of an organization's registration if its activities are considered not to be in the "national interest," arguing that such provisions could give government officials broad discretionary powers.

They further said the proposed legislation could create additional bureaucracy, duplicate existing regulations, and increase government control over civic organizations.

"Non-profit organizations and Incorporated Trustees including churches, mosques, other religious bodies, and humanitarian groups are already strictly regulated by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and some other extant laws," they said.

The bishops consequently called on the National Assembly and the federal government not to proceed with the bill, citing concerns over freedom of association, religion, thought, and conscience as well as its potential implications for the wider development of Nigerians.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

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In a declaration led by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, Christian leaders are calling on lawmakers to ban the abortion drug mifepristone.

Drafted by a group of more than 30 pastors from around the U.S., the Declaration for Life with Christian Leaders supports pro-life legislation, condemns chemical abortion, and affirms the dignity of unborn children from conception. The four-page declaration has been signed by 100 faith leaders from Missouri as well as 50,000 citizens.

"This Declaration for Life, written by pastors, is calling on everyday Christians across America to stand for life and confront the scourge of chemical abortion," Hawley stated.

"It is the first duty of the Church to defend human dignity where it is denied," the declaration says.

Tony Perkins, who heads the Family Research Council, a national Christian political advocacy group, has been outspoken in his support of the declaration, criticizing the Republican Party's recent silence on abortion.

"There are Republican members of Congress and state leaders who continue to champion the unborn, but the Republican Party has gone all but silent on the issue of life," Perkins stated. "The strong pro-life language that was a part of the GOP platform for decades was removed, and little is said about abortion."

"We are called to defend the defenseless and speak for those whose voices have been silenced," Perkins said.

South Korean bishops oppose abortion pill

South Korean Catholic bishops are opposing the government's expansion of abortion pill use, calling it a "disregard for life."

In response to South Korea's announcement that it will allow the use of abortion pills through nine weeks of pregnancy, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea (CBCK) released a statement opposing the move.

"The CBCK voices deep concerns as this measure would only institutionalize abortion in an 'orderly' manner, without changing its fundamental nature, while allowing a disregard for life to be more deeply rooted in our society," the bishops stated.

"We eagerly ask the government and the National Assembly to deeply contemplate this and choose a path that both protects life while practically helping women," the bishops continued.

Students for Life launches campus campaign showing human cost of abortion

A fall campaign titled "Abortion Victims: Every Abortion Has a Human Cost" by the pro-life group Students for Life of America (SFLA) will span 150 college campuses across the United States.

Educational displays will highlight the victims of abortion and what abortion procedures look like.

The campaign began Sept. 8, near the one-year anniversary of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination on Sept. 10, 2025.

"The goal is to continue his legacy of bringing the fight for free speech and the sanctity of life to college campuses across the nation," the group said.

"So many people are harmed by abortion, most notably preborn children," said SFLA Vice President of Field Programs Reagan Barklage. "Millions of children lose their lives every year at the hands of physicians betraying their oath to uphold life, and so many others experience forced abortions in trafficking and abuse. This tour tells their stories — and why we must act to keep others from suffering the same fate."

EPA to test drinking water for pharmaceuticals

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new study of drinking water that will screen for pharmaceutical pollutants.

Pro-life groups have been calling on the EPA to test for water pollution caused by abortion drugs. The EPA had previously said it would investigate.

Missourians split on abortion, poll finds

An August poll found narrow margins in public opinion on an amendment that would protect unborn children in Missouri.

In November, Missourians can vote on whether to repeal a 2024 pro-abortion amendment. In its place, a new amendment would protect unborn babies except those conceived by rape or incest, or in medical emergencies.

The Missouri polls found that 44% opposed the pro-life amendment and 43% supported it, while 13% were unsure.

The poll by SLU/YouGov was conducted Aug. 13–24 and had a margin of error of about 4 percentage points.

When polled in February, 50% of Missourians were in favor of reinstating the pro-life amendment.

California passes bill requiring community colleges to provide abortions

A California bill that would require community colleges to provide medical abortions is heading to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk.

The bill, which the California Senate passed with a 61-17 vote, would require community colleges with medical centers to offer chemical abortion drugs beginning Jan. 1, 2029. Newsom, a Democrat, is expected to sign the bill.

Wisconsin bishops denounce Planned Parenthood lawsuit seeking to overturn abortion safeguards

Wisconsin bishops are opposing a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin to overturn laws protecting women and unborn children.

The lawsuit, filed in Dane County, argues that two Wisconsin laws violate the state constitution. One law requires a 24-hour wait period between requesting an abortion and receiving one; the other law maintains that only licensed physicians can provide abortions.

Abortion in Wisconsin is legal up to 20 weeks after fertilization.

"These commonsense laws provide critical protection and medical safeguards for Wisconsin's women and their children," the statement by the Wisconsin Catholic Conference read. "The suit aims to eliminate these laws not for patient safety, but for profit and expediency. No woman should be rushed into an abortion. When human life is on the line, every moment counts."

Idaho Supreme Court adjusts abortion amendment language following lawsuit

The Idaho Supreme Court overwrote a pro-abortion group's objection to amendment language in a recent decision.

The court approved revised ballot statements for Proposition 1, an abortion amendment set to be voted on this November that would create a "right" to abortion.

The decision approves a clarification of the meaning of fetal viability and adds a more specific description of how a yes vote would be in support of "codifying a statutory reproductive right to freedom and privacy."

Idahoans United for Women and Families, a pro-abortion group advocating for the abortion amendment, had filed a lawsuit over the language and objected to the newly revised statements.

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The U.S. bishops this week underscored the "deep spiritual bonds" between Catholics and Jews and the need to build "genuine friendship and understanding" between the two religious groups, with the message coming ahead of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

The holy day for Jews involves fasting and atonement and is held in late September or early October. In 2026 it begins at sunset on Sept. 20 and ends by nightfall on Sept. 21.

In a video message released Sept. 18, Scranton Bishop Joseph Bambera, who chairs the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' ecumenical committee, noted that the Jewish holiday "invites a searching examination of the year that has passed and a commitment to the year ahead."

"At the heart of this observance is the recognition that our relationships with God and with one another call us continually to reflection, repentance, and renewal to consider how we can live more faithfully and more generously," he said.

The relationship between Catholics and Jews, Bambera said, is "not simply a matter of dialogue" but rather is "rooted in the deep spiritual bonds" between the two ancient religions.

He noted the shared patrimony between the two faiths as well as the scriptural texts that both share. Building "genuine friendship and understanding" between the two religions "matters so deeply," he said.

Bambera further noted the need to "reject anti-Semitism in all its forms." Catholics, he said, are called to opposite that form of hatred as well as to deepen their understanding of Judaism and Jewish people.

The prelate cited the Second Vatican Council's declaration Nostra aetate, which in part refuted the practice of antisemitism "at any time and by anyone" and which stressed the links between the ancient Jewish faith and the origins of Christianity.

Interreligious dialogue "is not merely an exchange of ideas" but rather "creates friendships, builds trust, and helps us recognize our responsibilities toward one another," Bambera said.

The bishop concluded the video by wishing Jewish viewers "Gmar Chatima Tov," a traditional greeting during the Yom Kippur season.

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"I vividly remember driving home with tears streaming down my face, overwhelmed by the feeling that our young Catholic family had been excluded simply because our son experiences the world differently."

These are the words of Sarah Taylor, a Catholic mother of three whose 9-year-old son, Reid, was excluded from parish activities because of his autism.

"As a mother, it was heartbreaking to see my child denied opportunities to participate in the very community where we sought belonging, acceptance, and spiritual growth," Taylor told EWTN News.

Reid was asked to leave sacramental preparation classes and Vacation Bible School because the parish couldn't accommodate his special needs. His mother described this as "devastating" — but she decided to do something about it.

"In the days that followed, I felt a wide range of emotions — sadness, frustration, disappointment, and a fierce determination to advocate for greater inclusion of individuals with disabilities within the Catholic Church," Taylor said. "My husband and I knew that something needed to change, not only for our son, but for other families who might face similar barriers."

Taylor reached out to her home diocese of Baton Rouge, who put them in contact with the All Are Welcome ministry. Through the ministry, she and her family found genuine, "life-changing" acceptance.

"We were welcomed not despite Reid's autism, but with an understanding that his differences are part of who he is," Taylor said. "That sense of acceptance was life-changing for our entire family."

"The ministry has also strengthened our faith journey in unexpected ways," Taylor said. "During a time when we felt hurt and disconnected from the Church, the kindness, compassion, and support we received reminded us of what it truly means to be the body of Christ. Through the ministry, we experienced the love and inclusion that Jesus demonstrated throughout his ministry."

An estimated 1 in 4 people have a disability, according to 2022 CDC data. About 3.2% of children — 1 in 31 children — have autism. But ministries designed for inclusivity can be hard to find.

Jodi Devore, who has three children with autism, founded All Are Welcome along with another Catholic mom, Edda Dupaquier, after having similar experiences. The Catholic special needs support ministry began as a backyard rosary group and has since expanded throughout the diocese.

"As we prayed and shared our stories, we realized we all carried the same desire," Devore said of the backyard rosary group. "We didn't want a ministry beside the Church — we wanted our families to fully belong within the Church. We wanted our children to know Christ, receive the sacraments, build genuine friendships, and participate fully in parish life alongside everyone else.

"As we prayed and shared our stories, we realized we all carried the same desire," Devore said of the backyard rosary group. "We didn't want a ministry beside the Church — we wanted our families to fully belong within the Church. We wanted our children to know Christ, receive the sacraments, build genuine friendships, and participate fully in parish life alongside everyone else.

The ministry has had a powerful impact on the diocese.

"We've watched families return to Mass after years away. Children have received sacraments," Devore said. "Parents who once felt alone have found a community that truly understands them. Most importantly, we've witnessed families rediscover that they have a place in the life of the Catholic Church."

"Our hope has always been simple: that every individual with special and exceptional needs — and every parent, sibling, and caregiver who walks beside them — would know they are not just welcome in the Church, but that they are an essential part of the body of Christ," Devore said.

Running to the altar: Sensory-friendly Masses

Mass is a key area where families with children with disabilities can feel excluded — but it's one of the most important parts of being Catholic. Sensory-friendly Masses — designed for people with special needs like autism — are "one of the most meaningful parts of our ministry," according to Devore.

These Masses feature lower lighting, softer music, and shorter and more literal homilies.

"Families know they can move around as needed without fear of judgment," Devore explained. "Most importantly, everyone gets Jesus."

Before and after Mass, the environment is full of excitement and beauty, according to Devore.

"Children and adults with disabilities often run to the altar with joy. They aren't afraid. They aren't worried about doing something wrong. They're simply drawn to Christ," Devore said. "Every time I see it, I'm reminded that's what the Church should feel like — a place where people are free to run toward Jesus."

Attending Mass can be incredibly challenging for families with children with special needs.

"For many families, Sunday morning isn't as simple as getting everyone dressed and going to Mass," Devore said. "Sometimes the clothes are too itchy. The smell of incense can be overwhelming. The music may be painfully loud. Sitting still for an hour can feel impossible. A child may need to move, vocalize, or leave the pew altogether."

"As a parent, you're doing everything you can to help your child, but at the same time you're painfully aware of every glance, every stare, and every whispered comment around you," Devore said.

"What hurts most isn't the noise or the outbursts. It's the feeling that you and your child, your family, don't belong in the very place where you should feel most at home," Devore said.

Taylor explained how children with autism may behave differently during Mass, but that doesn't make them any less reverent.

"As a mother of a child with autism, my hope is that every member of the Catholic Church understands how important it is to welcome individuals with disabilities into the Mass — not just occasionally, but as a natural and expected part of parish life," Taylor said.

"A child may wear noise-canceling headphones to manage the sounds of a crowded church," Taylor said. "They may flap their hands when they are excited, rock back and forth for comfort, stim during the homily, or carry a beloved dinosaur up with them when they receive Communion. These behaviors are not distractions; they are part of how that child experiences and navigates the world. They do not lessen the reverence of their worship or the sincerity of their faith."

"The Catholic Church is meant to be a home for everyone," Taylor continued. "When individuals with disabilities are present at Mass, they are not interrupting the community — they are enriching it. Their presence reminds us that God's love is not reserved for those who fit a certain mold. It is for all of his children."

"What matters most is not whether a child sits perfectly still, remains silent, or follows every social expectation," Taylor said. "What matters is that they are there. They are present. They are experiencing Jesus in the way they are able. They are witnessing the miracle of the Eucharist and participating in the life of the Church."

"Our differences are not obstacles to God's love; they are reflections of the beautiful diversity of his creation," Taylor said. "If we truly believe that every person is made in the image and likeness of God, then every person deserves to be welcomed, valued, and embraced within our faith communities. A child with headphones, flapping hands, or a dinosaur in hand belongs at the Lord's table just as much as anyone else. And the Church is stronger, more compassionate, and more Christ-like because they are there."

"These children of ours, they make the ground holy," said Dupaquier, who helps lead the ministry alongside Devore and Deacon Randall Waguespack. "And they make us better people with more virtues, with more patience, with more understanding — capable of loving in ways that we weren't sure that we could love."

Coming home: Communities transformed

The ministry has helped bring families back into the Church; most importantly, it has made the Church feel like home.

Devore and her family experienced feeling "like outsiders in our own Church."

"Not because people were intentionally unkind, but because many simply didn't understand what they were seeing," Devore explained. "Over time, that judgment becomes exhausting, and for many families, it leads them to quietly stop coming."

But Devore said the ministry has given her "hope."

"I've watched parishioners grow in understanding, volunteers embrace these families with incredible love, and parents finally take a deep breath because they know they don't have to apologize for their child simply being who God created them to be," Devore said.

The All Are Welcome ministry hosts family retreats, support groups, and helps support persons with disabilities in participating in the liturgy, not only through sensory-friendly Masses but also through active lay participation.

"We're also passionate about meaningful participation in the liturgy. Individuals with disabilities serve as altar servers, proclaim the readings when they're able, bring forward the gifts, and participate in the Mass in visible and meaningful ways. They aren't simply attending church — they're helping lead the worship of the Church," Devore said.

Through the ministry, Devore has seen transformation not only of families but also of parishes.

"The greatest transformation we've witnessed isn't just that families return to Mass. It's that they begin to believe they belong there," Devore said.

"Parishioners begin seeing gifts instead of limitations. Entire parish communities are transformed because they discover that these families aren't guests in the Church — they're an essential part of it," Devore said.

"We've seen families return to Mass after years away," Devore said. "We've celebrated children receiving the Eucharist when their parents once thought it might never happen. We've watched parish communities discover the incredible gifts these individuals bring to the Church."

"Our greatest hope is that one day no family will wonder whether there's a place for them in the Catholic Church," Devore said. "We want every individual, regardless of ability, to know Christ, receive the sacraments, discover their God-given gifts, and live a life rooted in faith."

Understanding disability: Seeing as Christ sees

Devore and Taylor encouraged people to be accepting of people with special needs, sharing what they believe is most important for others to understand about disability.

"Families affected by disability often face barriers that many people never think about," Devore said.

"I would want people to understand that no two children with disabilities are alike," Taylor said. "My son may communicate differently, process information differently, or respond to situations in ways that others do not immediately understand, but those differences do not diminish his value, his intelligence, or his desire to belong. Like every child, he wants to be accepted, included, and loved for who he is."

It's not about big gestures, but more about the small moments, according to Taylor. "Simple acts of patience, understanding, and inclusion can make an enormous difference for our families," she said.

But acceptance is also about how other people "see."

"Perhaps most importantly, I would want people to move beyond seeing the disability and instead see the child: see their unique gifts, their personality, their sense of humor, their faith, their kindness, and their potential," Taylor said.

"I would simply ask people to see one another through the eyes of Christ," Devore said. "If you see a child making unexpected noises at Mass, an adult who communicates differently, or a family that seems overwhelmed, don't assume they don't care or don't want to be there."

"More often than not, they're doing everything they can just to be present," Devore continued. "A smile. An invitation. Sitting beside them instead of moving away. Those simple acts of kindness can change someone's entire experience of the Church."

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In 2025, John Sansone made his television debut when he appeared on Fox's reality dating show "Farmer Wants a Wife" as one of the farmers in search of love. Today, he has traded in the television screen for cellphone screens as a Catholic content creator.

Sansone, 27, was born and raised in a Catholic family. He and his five siblings grew up in St. Louis, where their faith played an important role in their daily lives.

"Catholicism was ingrained in just about every aspect of my childhood and my life growing up," Sansone told EWTN News in an interview. "We were taught from a very young age that faith was extremely important. It came right before family and then two before hard work."

He added: "We had a little prayer corner in every house that we've lived in that had a picture of Jesus and then right underneath was a kneeler and then a bunch of little pamphlets — prayer cards or funerals of loved ones, and things like that."

Sansone was taught hard work on his family's 170-acre soy, corn, and wheat farm located on his great-grandfather's land. It was here that he learned about farm life.

Fast forward to 2024 and Sansone's mother and sisters were watching Season 2 of "Farmer Wants a Wife," a reality dating series that follows farmers as they search for love among a group of women willing to leave city life behind for a chance at a relationship and life on the farm. The show combines romance with the realities of rural life, as the farmers and contestants get to know one another with the possibility of building a future together.

"They were constantly telling me to come watch it and see an episode and things like that and I just kept saying, 'No, not interested,'" he recalled.

Then Sansone received a direct message (DM) on Instagram from the creators of the show. After thinking about it and speaking to his family about it, he decided to take part in the show.

"Realistically, the motivation for me to actually entertain that DM and to ultimately go on the show was, hey, this is a fun, random, once in a lifetime thing. I can make the most of it … and perhaps even find a wife," he said.

Despite Sansone not finding a wife on the show, he reflected that it "reinforced his faith."

"There were no Catholics in my group. I was the only one … I think what it really did is reinforced my faith a little bit because we would have these faith-based conversations on the show and we would have conversations about our beliefs and things like that and it kind of forced me to reconcile with myself what I actually did believe. So I would say that in doing that it reinforced my faith," he shared.

Coming off the show and once it aired, Sansone began to gain a following on social media. He explained that he came to the realization one day that he "didn't do anything to earn it."

"All of this kind of fame and publicity, I would say in air quotes, is not something that I earned," he said. "So, my way of paying back that opportunity, that was obviously a gift from God, was to use my platform to promote my faith."

Sansone, who goes by @notjohnsansone on Instagram, has 109,000 followers on the platform and uses his growing social media platform to share approachable Catholic content, often drawing from his own experiences to encourage others in their faith. His posts touch on Catholic teachings, prayer, and the realities of striving for holiness while acknowledging the imperfections and struggles of everyday life.

Instagram post

"The social media world is not the friendliest spot for that type of thing," he said. "So, my way of doing it and my strategy is more so kind of to subtly incorporate that into everyday things and make it a relatable thing that people who don't understand the faith or maybe didn't grow up in it, it's something for them to relate to."

Thanks to his content creating, Sansone admitted that it has "forced me to improve my faith" and has "strengthened it."

"I've met a lot of interesting people through it [social media]. People who are much stronger in their faith, know a lot more about the Catholic Church and her history," he added. "And in being around them, I think I've forced myself to kind of become better at my faith."

Sansone's content creation recently took him to Peoria, Illinois, ahead of the beatification of Venerable Fulton Sheen alongside a large group of other Catholic content creators. He called the experience "incredible" and that he also "learned a lot about my faith and it kind of made me realize how far I needed to go still."

Reflecting on Sheen's life and how his legacy can inspire Catholic content creators, Sansone said: "I think what was great about him is that a lot of his messages were, yes, based in the Catholic faith, but they were more relatable to an everyday person. You didn't have to be Catholic to utilize his messages and apply them to your own life. I feel like that's one important thing that a lot of Catholic content creators can do. It's what I try to do."

As for what he hopes viewers of his content take away from it, Sansone emphasized that he wants "people to understand Catholicism for what it really is."

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A 32-year-old man is facing a felony charge for allegedly threatening to kill every person at the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis.

Jeremiah Robinson from Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, was charged with making terroristic threats, which is a Class D felony that carries up to seven years in prison. He was charged on Sept. 16, according to a news release from the St. Louis prosecuting attorney's office.

Brecht Mulvihill, executive director of communications for the archdiocese, expressed gratitude to law enforcement in a statement to EWTN News and said the archdiocese is praying for an end to hatred and threats of violence.

"First, we wish to extend our gratitude to the law enforcement officers who responded immediately to this incident, especially to the Shrewsbury Police Department," Mulvihill said.

"The safety and wellbeing of the men and women who serve the Church are of the utmost importance, and we pray for an end to the hatred and threats of violence that have become so regrettably prevalent on social media," he said.

Prosecutors alleged that Robinson posted a video on TikTok on Sept. 15 in which he said he was two minutes away from the archdiocese and that God had instructed him to use no discernment and that "everyone who walks into that church is guilty and to kill them."

According to the prosecutors, Robinson posted a second video in the parking lot and turned his phone to show archdiocesan offices and said his directions were to leave no one breathing.

The news release states that the FBI's national operations center contacted the Shrewsbury Police Department about the video.

It states the building was evacuated. The building was searched for bombs, which included the use of bomb-sniffing dogs, but there was nothing found.

Robinson is being held on a $100,000 cash-only bond, according to prosecutors.

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