Catholic News

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=291293&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Jan 18, 2026 / 10:26 am (CNA).

This past week, nearly a quarter of U.S. states sued the federal government for defining biological sex as binary, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments for and against legally allowing males to compete against females in sports, and a Vatican official called surrogacy a "new form of colonialism" that commodifies women and their children.

These are just the latest legal and cultural effects of a "mass cultural confusion" surrounding the meaning and purpose of the human body, and particularly women's bodies, according to Leah Jacobson, program coordinator of the Catholic Women's and Gender Studies Program at the University of St. Thomas in Houston.

On Jan. 9–10, the program sponsored a symposium titled "The Beauty of Truth: Navigating Society Today as a Catholic Woman," which brought together a group of Catholic women who have used their gifts of intellect and faith to serve as what Jacobson calls an "antidote" to the "chaos and confusion" of the cultural moment.

The speakers presented on a wide range of topics concerned with the beauty, truth, and necessity of the Church's teachings on human sexuality in many realms.

'Every act is an act of human subtraction'

In one of the first talks, writer Mary Eberstadt argued that the question "Who am I?" became harder to answer due to the widespread use of the birth control pill, which has led to huge increases in abortion, divorce, fatherlessness, single parenthood, and childlessness. These effects led to a reduction in the number of people in an individual's life, which, she argued, resulted in widespread confusion over gender identity and the meaning and purpose of the body.

While she acknowledged that not everyone has been affected equally, "members of our species share a collective environment."

"Just as toxic waste affects everyone," she said, the reduction in the number of human connections "amounts to a massive disturbance to the human ecosystem," leading to a crisis of human identity.

"The number of people we can call our own" became smaller, she said. "Each of these acts is an act of human subtraction," Eberstadt said. "I'm not trying to make a point about morality, but arithmetic."

Eberstadt also attributed the decline in religiosity to this decline in the number of human connections modern people experience.

"The sexual revolution subtracted the number of role models," she said. "Many children have no siblings, no cousins, no aunts or uncles, no father, yet that is how humans conduct social learning."

"Without children, adults are less likely to go to church," she said. "Without birth, we lose knowledge of the transcendent. Without an earthly father, it is hard to grasp the paradigm of an earthly father."

'A love deficit'

"Living without God is not liberating people," she continued. "It's tearing some individuals apart, making people miserable and lonely."

When the sexual revolution made sex "recreational and not procreative, what it produced above all is a love deficit," Eberstadt said.

At the same time, secularization produced "troubled, disconnected souls drifting through society without gravity, shattering the ability to answer 'Who am I?'"

"The Church is the answer to the love deficit because Church teachings about who we are and what we're here for are true," she said.

She concluded with a final note on hope, saying "it is easy to feel embattled, but we must never lose sight of the faces of the sexual revolution's victims," she said, "who are sending up primal screams for a world more ordered than many of today's people now know; more ordered to mercy, to community and redemption."

The Church's teachings were 'truly beautiful' but 'very, very hard to live'

Erika Bachiochi, a legal scholar and fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center who teaches a class for the graduate program, shared her experience as a mother of seven who tried to live according to the Church's "difficult" teachings.

As her children began to arrive at "a breakneck pace" and each pregnancy was "a bit of a crucible," Bachiochi said being a mother was "very hard" for her, partly due to wounds from her youth (among other troubles, her own mother had been married and divorced three times), and partly because of a lack of community.

Echoing Eberstadt's "arithmetic" problem, Bachiochi described having very few examples of Catholic family life and a very small support system.

Bachiochi said she believes God heals us from our wounds through our "particular vocations," however.

Of motherhood, she said: "I think God really healed me through being faithful to teachings that I found quite hard, but truly beautiful. I was intellectually convinced by them and found them spiritually beautiful, but found them to be very, very hard to live."

"Motherhood has served to heal me profoundly," she said, encouraging young mothers to have faith that though it might be difficult now, there is an "amazing future" awaiting them.

"It's really an incredible gift that Church has given me ... the gift of obedience," she said.

She also said by God's grace, she was given an "excellent husband" and has found that "just as the Church promises, that leaning into motherhood, into the little things, the daily needs, the constant requests for my attention, has truly been a school of virtue."

The Catholic Women's and Gender Studies Program is a new part of the Nesti Center for Faith and Culture at the University of St. Thomas, a recognized Catholic cultural center of the Vatican's Dicastery for Culture and Education.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=291279&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Jan 17, 2026 / 08:16 am (CNA).

Abortions in England and Wales hit a record high as use of the abortion pill continues to rise.

The number of abortions jumped 11% from 2022 to 2023, going from 250,000 to 270,000 according to figures from the Department of Health.

Almost 90% of these abortions were done via abortion pills, and most were performed on very young unborn children, usually aged two to nine weeks. Surgical abortions have been decreasing for the past two decades, according to the Department of Health

The abortion rate is estimated to be at 12.3 per 1,000 women in 2023, almost doubling the 2013 rate, which was 7.1 per 1,000 women. About 40% of women who had abortions in 2023 in England and Wales had already had an abortion in the past.

Pregnancy support line takes 1.3 million calls in 2025

Heartbeat International's pregnancy support helpline broke records with 1.3 million calls in 2025, according to a recent report by the group.

The Option Line tripled the number of calls it received in 2025 --- calls which, more than 90% of the time, come from men and women who are at risk for abortion, according to the organization.

Via its High Risk Response Network, Option Line helps connect those in need to local pregnancy help centers for prompt telecare consultations, as well as in-person visits. According to Heartbeat International, 9 out of ten callers show up for virtual consultation appointments, and three in four callers show up for pregnancy help appointments after they call.

Gov. Newsom rejects abortionist extradition request

California Gov. Gavin Newsom refused to extradite a California abortionist who allegedly provided abortion pills to a man who coerced his girlfriend into having an abortion.

Newsom on Wednesday rejected Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill's indictment for abortionist Remy Coeytaux, who was charged with criminal abortion in Louisiana after Rosalie Markezich's boyfriend allegedly ordered abortion pills from him and forced her to take them. Newsom said in a statement that he would "never be complicit with Trump's war on women." 

South Carolina lawmakers introduce bill to ban coerced abortion 

South Carolina lawmakers introduced several pro-life bills at the start of this year's legislative session, including a bill to protect women from coerced abortions. 

The bill would make it a crime to coerce a woman into having an abortion, with penalties up to one year in prison and $5,000 in fines, or higher if she is a minor or if the perpetrator is the father of the child.

This bill was among several other newly-introduced pro-life bills, including a bill to protect unborn children after conception. The Life Begins at Conception Act, sponsored by Sen Matt. Leber (R-District 41), would protect unborn children after conception unless they were conceived by rape or incest. Legislators also introduced a bill that would ban chemical abortion pills.

Lawmakers also introduced a bill to classify abortion drugs as a controlled substance. This bill, if passed, would make possession without a prescription a felony, while exempting pregnant women from prosecution.

Another bill would make it a felony to pay for or reimburse the cost of an abortion for a South Carolina resident and would criminalize donating to organizations who fund women crossing state lines for abortions. Another bill would permanently bar abortion clinics from receiving Medicaid funds for any services, codifying a 2017 executive order. 

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=291278&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Jan 17, 2026 / 09:00 am (CNA).

Catholic clergy and lay people reported a stronger devotion to the Eucharist after the National Eucharistic Revival.

This week, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) released the report for the National Eucharistic Revival Impact Study. Done in collaboration with the National Eucharistic Congress corporation and Vinea Research, the study surveyed nearly 2,500 lay Catholics, clergy, and Church staff during the summer and fall of 2025.

The online survey asked questions about revival promotion, participation, and impact one year after the initial National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and Congress. The price tag of the Eucharistic congress was more than $10 million, organizers said.

"Never in my tenure of working for the Church have I seen such deep impact," said Jason Shanks, president of the National Eucharistic Congress, in a press release. "The fruits of the National Eucharistic Revival are real, lasting, and will continue to shape the life of the American Church for years to come."

The revival, sponsored by the USCCB, launched in June 2022 with the mission to "renew the Church by enkindling a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the holy Eucharist."

The three-year initiative, which concluded in 2025, included the 10th National Eucharistic Congress and the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in 2024 and 2025.

In a Jan. 16 interview on "EWTN News In Depth," Bishop Andrew Cozzens, chair of the National Eucharistic Congress, said he was "extremely heartened" by the results of the study.

"I had a sense that the revival had a big impact on people and especially on our Church," he said. "But it was great to see that confirmed by the data and to see some of the actual statistics."

Impact on clergy members

Of 249 clergy members of priests and deacons surveyed, 49% reported feeling "more encouraged' since the revival began. Specifically, 38% said they feel "somewhat more encouraged" and 11% said they feel "significantly more encouraged."

Nearly half, 48%, said they feel "more comfortable encouraging others to share their faith."

The research found the revival "refocused clergy on the Eucharist," with the majority reporting changes to their pastoral approach since 2021. The report found that 70% of clergy reported a stronger "focus on the Eucharist in teaching [and] ministry," and 69% said they have a stronger "emphasis on evangelization and outreach."

Clergy also reported personal advancements with their relationship with the Eucharist. More than half (51%) said their "time spent in personal adoration" is stronger now than it was in 2021.

"I was so grateful when I saw that priests found it encouraging. They were encouraged by this opportunity to focus on the Eucharist," Cozzens said. "I know so much more preaching and encouragement about Eucharistic devotion happened in our parishes during this time."

"If our priests are encouraged and they're drawing closer to Jesus in the Eucharist, that's going to help our people so much, and it's going to help our Church so much," he said.

Impact on lay Catholics

Among 1,758 of the lay Catholics surveyed, 874 were labeled as "national participants" who attended the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, National Eucharistic Congress, or both.

"We wanted Catholics to come together and to experience more deeply a profound love for Jesus in the Eucharist, and then from that, to be sent out on mission," Cozzens said. The study "showed that anyone who attended one of our National Eucharistic Pilgrimages or National Eucharistic Congress said they were 50% more likely to do outreach, to share their faith, to do some act of service."

"I think the thing that most stood out to me is that we accomplished our goal," he said. "Our goal was really to bring about a missionary conversion of Catholics."

Another 425 of lay Catholics were "local participants" who took part in local processions, small groups, and revival-specific Holy Hours. Most (83%) of the laypeople surveyed who participated at the national or local level said their "overall level of faith" is stronger now than it was in 2021.

The other 459 laypeople surveyed were "nonparticipating contacts" who did not participate in any revival activities. Most came from the USCCB's newsletter distribution list and they were aware of the revival but not involved. Even though they did not directly participate, 79% reported their "overall level of faith" was stronger following the revival.

When asked to compare their faith practices with those in 2021, lay Catholics overwhelmingly reported praying more, attending adoration more frequently, and going to confession more often.

The research took a deeper look at how lay Catholics' faith evolved, examining the changes in the level of "importance" of faith-related activities over the last three years. The greatest growth in importance was observed in volunteering and spending time in Eucharistic adoration.

In 2021, 57% of lay national participants reported "spending quiet time in Eucharistic adoration" was "very important" or "extremely important" to them. Following the revival, the number had jumped to 76%. There was also an increase for local participants with a rise from 65% to 82%. Among those who did not directly participate, there was the largest increase from 49% to 69%.

Continuing to spread the 'fire'

The bishops have confirmed that the country's second National Eucharistic Congress of the 21st century will take place in 2029.

"As we continue to strengthen the core of our faith and those people who are committed, and they begin to draw closer to Jesus from Eucharist, what the study showed is that they get on fire, and then they start to spread that fire," he said.

"It's the way Jesus worked himself. Jesus certainly did preach to crowds, but most of the time he spent with his 12 apostles and with those people who were with him. Because if he could convert and strengthen them, then they could go out and convert the world," he said.

"I think that's really the goal of the whole Eucharistic movement that we have now is strengthening those people so that they can become the witnesses that we're called to be," he said.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=291273&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Jan 16, 2026 / 17:40 pm (CNA).

The New York Police Department (NYPD) says it will increase officer presence at local churches after several crimes committed at Catholic parishes on Staten Island.

Several Catholic churches on Staten Island have been vandalized or attacked in recent weeks, including a robbery and a violent incident during a morning Mass in which two police officers were injured.

State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton called for increased police presence at churches in the area after the incidents. At a Jan. 15 press conference, local leaders including NYPD Staten Island Borough Commander Melissa Eger said police presence would be heightened at churches across the borough.

Eger said at the press conference that none of the incidents indicated that the Catholic churches had been targeted due to religion, describing the crimes as "acts ... of opportunism and theft" as well as one incident involving a mentally ill person.

"That said, any incident, especially a disruption of service that occurs at any house of worship, generates serious concern from our community and we know that," the commander said.

Scarcella-Spanton said at the press event that "nobody should feel unsafe where they are praying."

Addressing the Catholic community, she said: "I just want you to know that we stand with you."

"We're going to be making sure that this issue is highlighted, because I think it's important to bring light to the fact that this has happened now four times," the state senator said.

Also at the press conference was Father Jacob Thumma, the pastor of both St. Ann's Church and St. Sylvester's Church, both of which were the site of recent criminal incidents.

Referring to the incident at St. Ann's on Jan. 9 where a man violently disrupted morning Mass and injured two responding officers, Thumma said the altercation "highlights an urgent societal concern — the need for enhanced services and compassionate care for those suffering from mental illness."

"We must continue to invest in mental health resources that support families [and] provide timely interventions before crises occur," the priest said.

He further called on the public "to join us in prayer for the individual involved in this incident, that he may receive the healing he needs, [as well as for] for the injured police officers and their families."

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=291272&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Jan 16, 2026 / 18:29 pm (CNA).

U.S. bishops and Catholic pro-life organizations will be watching to see if President Donald Trump's health care plan includes pro-life language.

Trump has faced criticism over the past week from pro-life activists after he urged Republican lawmakers to be "flexible" on the Hyde Amendment when negotiating extensions for health care subsidies related to the Affordable Care Act.

Trump's health plan, outlined in a four-point memo, will be negotiated with Congress over whether to include the strongest possible pro-life protections and prevent federal funds from being used to pay for abortions. The Hyde Amendment, long included in federal spending bills, prevents tax dollars from being used on elective abortions.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has urged Congress to uphold the Hyde Amendment amid the negotiations, saying: "Authentic health care upholds the dignity of all human life, and health care policy must not violate this dignity."

Health initiatives

The White House published a one-page memo that details some of the president's priorities for the health care plan, although details have yet to be released. There was no mention of the Hyde Amendment in the 827-word memo.

According to the White House, the plan focuses on four issues: lowering drug prices, lowering insurance premiums, holding big insurance companies accountable, and maximizing price transparency.

"You're going to get a better deal and better care," Trump said in a video message. He urged the Republican-controlled Congress to take swift action to draft and pass legislation to achieve these goals.

To lower drug prices, the memo states Congress should allow more medicine to be sold over the counter and codify the administration's recent deals with drug companies that require them to sell medicine in the United States at rates that are comparable to other developed countries.

According to the memo, the plan would lower health care premiums by providing health care subsidies directly to Americans rather than to insurance companies and support a cost-sharing reduction program to lower the most common Affordable Care Act premiums by more than 10%.

The plan would seek to hold insurance companies accountable by forcing insurance companies to publish rate and coverage comparisons in "plain English" that is easier to comprehend and by requiring them to publish the percentage of their revenues that are paid out in claims compared with overhead costs and advertise the percentage of insurance claims they reject.

According to the White House, the plan would improve transparency by requiring that insurance companies prominently display their pricing and fees to prevent surprise medical bills.

"Instead of putting the needs of big corporations and special interests first, our plan finally puts you first and puts more money in your pocket," Trump said. "The government is going to pay the money directly to you. It goes to you, and then you take the money and buy your own health care."

Catholic Health Association reacts

At least one Catholic health group has welcomed some of the priorities included in the plan. The Catholic Health Association of the United States generally aligns with Church teaching but has faced criticism for its stances on issues such as abortion.

Sister Mary Haddad, RSM, president and CEO of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, which represents numerous Catholic hospitals, said in a statement that the organization welcomes the initiative.

"We welcome the administration's engagement in the vital work of expanding access to quality, affordable health care," she said. "Ensuring that individuals and families can obtain the care they need is central to the mission of Catholic health care."

Haddad asked Congress and the administration to advance a bipartisan deal on the Affordable Care Act subsidies, which narrowly passed in the House with broad support from Democrats and only a little support from Republicans. A key point of contention was the Hyde Amendment, which was not included in the House-passed version and could complicate the Senate negotiations.

"Renewing them would immediately ease financial pressures on households while helping ensure people maintain their health coverage," Haddad said. "We will continue to work with the administration and with Congress to strengthen health care access for communities across the country."

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=291270&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Jan 16, 2026 / 14:05 pm (CNA).

The European Court of Human Rights is examining a case that seeks to remove Christian symbols, including icons and religious artwork, from public buildings in Greece.

The case began when two atheists asked for the removal of Christian icons displayed in Greek courtrooms during hearings involving religious matters, claiming the icons were discriminatory, compromised judicial objectivity, and violated their rights to a fair trial and to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

Greek courts rejected the requests.

ADF International has intervened in the case, known as Union of Atheists v. Greece, arguing that removing religious symbols in public spaces is a misinterpretation of religious freedom.

The group pointed out in a press release that the European Court of Human Rights ruled previously in a case in Italy that the presence of a crucifix in state classrooms does not "amount to indoctrination or interfere with the right of freedom of thought, conscience, or religion."

Adina Portaru, senior counsel at ADF International, said: "The display of religious symbols in public spaces is in no way incompatible with human rights law. Public spaces should not be stripped of crosses, icons, or other symbols with religious, cultural, and historical significance in the name of pluralism."

"The court has repeatedly affirmed that religious symbols, particularly those forming a country's heritage, do not violate freedom of religion or the right to a fair trial."

ADF International emphasized that any principle of state neutrality must not equate to hostility toward Christianity, pointing out its deep social, cultural, and historical role in Greece.

"The European Convention on Human Rights robustly protects freedom of religion. Culturally rooted religious symbols or artwork, such as centuries-old Orthodox Christian icons, do not impose a belief on anyone nor direct judicial decision-making," Portaru said.

ADF's legal brief stressed that the European Court's case law grants states a wide margin of appreciation in matters of religion in public life, arguing that a religious image alone does not restrict freedom of belief or undermine trial fairness, and that no right exists to be free from offense caused by religious imagery.

According to ADF: "Across Europe, there exists a long-standing practice of displaying religious symbols, including crucifixes, in Italian state institutions, religious artwork in historic court buildings in Austria and Spain, or crosses in every government office across Bavaria, Germany, while in France courts have recognized that religious imagery is permissible in public buildings where it serves a cultural or historical purpose."

The European Court of Human Rights will now review the case as well as third-party interventions before issuing a decision.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=291269&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Jan 16, 2026 / 14:35 pm (CNA).

Bishop Earl Fernandes of Columbus, Ohio, expressed gratitude that the Department of Homeland Security is easing visa restrictions for religious workers and called for passage of a bill to address visa backlogs.

"This rule change provides some much-needed relief!" Fernandes said in a statement released Jan. 15. "We take comfort in knowing that sacramental and pastoral care will not be disrupted in our parishes, schools, hospitals, and prison ministries."

Under the rule, religious workers in the country on R-1 visas would no longer be required to reside outside of the U.S. for a full year if they reach their statutory five-year maximum period of stay before completing their green card applications.

Fernandes said 21 priests and 13 sisters who hold R-1 visas and work within the diocese would have been affected in the absence of the rule change.

"While R-1 religious workers are still required to depart the U.S., the rule establishes that there is no longer a minimum period of time they must reside and be physically present outside the U.S. before they seek readmission in R-1 status," according to a DHS statement about the Jan. 16 publication of the rule in the Federal Register.

Legislative fix

Fernandes said: "I encourage all of the faithful to press for a permanent legislative fix and to support the Religious Workforce Protection Act." The bill, sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, would extend R-1 nonimmigrant visa status beyond the usual five-year limit and waive the one-year foreign residency requirement for those who left the U.S., allowing them to stay and serve their communities while waiting for green cards. Rep. Mike Carey, R-Ohio, introduced a House version of the bill.

Fernandes thanked Carey; Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio; and Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, for their efforts to support the legislation. Moreno, he said, "intervened personally to work for the rule change."

"The impact of our international priests and religious across the United States is pivotal in helping us build a civilization of love, assisting in the growth of the virtues of solidarity and fraternity, and providing the sacramental and pastoral needs of our people, an increasingly diverse group from around the world," Fernandes said. "I urge you to continue to push for the passage of the Religious Workforce Protection Act with your representatives and ask for your continued prayers for all clergy and religious throughout our diocese and around the world, while offering prayers of gratitude for our civic leaders and for our priests and religious who continue to serve the members of our community."

Kaine introduced the measure in April 2025 with support from Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Jim Risch, R-Idaho. The bill would modify rules to allow religious workers to bypass a requirement to be strictly tied to their original job while waiting for green cards.

"Faith communities across America — including my own parish in Richmond — depend on foreign religious workers and suffer greatly when these dedicated members of their congregations are forced to leave the country due to no fault of their own," Kaine said. "This interim final rule from DHS is a step in the right direction and will reduce hardships to temples, churches, mosques, and other religious communities throughout the U.S."

"Now it's time for Congress to take the next step and pass the Kaine-Collins-Risch Religious Workforce Protection Act to further streamline the bureaucratic process for foreign-born pastors, priests, rabbis, nuns, imams, and other religious workers to continue their work here in the United States," he added.

"I joined Sens. Kaine and Risch in introducing the Religious Workforce Protection Act when I noticed Maine parishes where I attend Mass were losing their priests because their R-1 visas expired while their EB-4 applications were still pending. I saw this issue creating a real crisis in our state. We urged the previous administration to fix this issue, but the problem went unaddressed — until today," Collins said. "We will continue working to pass our legislation to provide full and lasting relief to religious workers and the communities they serve in Maine and across the country."

"Idaho's religious communities and their beloved clergy are central to our right to worship. That's why I proudly introduced the Religious Workforce Protection Act," Risch said. "The Trump administration's action aligns with our efforts to ensure Idaho's religious workers can stay in the U.S. and continue serving their congregations while their visas are processed. I will continue working with Sens. Collins and Kaine to pass our legislation and ensure none of Idaho's religious workers face the threat of leaving the communities they love and serve so faithfully."

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=291268&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Jan 16, 2026 / 16:40 pm (CNA).

Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to speak at the 2026 March for Life Rally in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 23.

Vance, who is the nation's second Catholic vice president, will join Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, among other speakers at the 53rd annual pro-life event, organizers said.

"Vice President Vance is grateful to the tens of thousands of Americans who travel to the National Mall each year to speak out in support of life and looks forward to joining them for the second consecutive year," a spokesperson for the vice president told EWTN News.

Vance will be attending and speaking at the event for the second time as vice president. He spoke at the March for Life in 2025 where he delivered his first public remarks in the leadership position.

Addressing the crowd at the 2025 march, Vance said becoming a father helped to solidify his convictions that "an unborn life is worthy of protection."

"You remind us that the March for Life is not a single event that takes place on a frigid January day," he said to the crowd. "The March for Life is the work of the pro-life movement every day from this point forward," he said.

"We will be back next year," he said.

While President Donald Trump will not be attending the 2026 March for Life in person, he told EWTN News' White House correspondent Owen Jensen on Jan. 16 he will address the crowd through a "beautiful" prerecorded message.

"And they're going to play it," he said. "And those are great people. I want to tell you they're great people," Trump said about attendees.

While the president will deliver the virtual message, the Trump administration is receiving backlash from pro-life activists following his claim that Republicans need to be " flexible" with the Hyde Amendment and the reinstatement of funds to Planned Parenthood.

When asked about the Hyde Amendment, Trump said "you're going to hear about it" in the message.

Vance is set to deliver his remarks at the pre-march rally at 11 a.m. on Jan. 23. The March for Life is scheduled to begin after the rally.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=291267&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Jan 16, 2026 / 17:10 pm (CNA).

Here is a roundup of Catholic world news from the past week that you might have missed:

Dutch conservative activist and Catholic convert barred from entering UK

Eva Vlaardingerbroek, a 28-year-old Dutch lawyer, activist, and Catholic convert, announced on X that her Electronic Travel Authorization was revoked as of Jan. 13 and she may not enter the U.K. The U.K. government said her "presence in the U.K. is not conducive to the public good" and that she may not appeal it. The notice came just days after she accused Britian's Prime Minister Keir Starmer of allowing "the ongoing rape and killing of British girls by migrant rape gangs" and criticized Starmer for threatening to block X in the name of "safety."

Vlaardingerbroek was received into the Catholic Church, along with her father, in April 2023 in London by Father Benedict Kiely, a priest in the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. 

Sydney Archdiocese wades into 'globalize the intifada' debate 

The Archdiocese of Sydney has waded into the debate surrounding an inquiry by the New South Wales government into a law banning phrases such as "globalize the intifada" in the aftermath of the Bondi Beach attack in December 2025.

The archdiocese pushed back against the prospect of hate speech laws, according to a Catholic Weekly report on Tuesday, writing in a submission regarding the inquiry: "Our first response to bad speech should be better speech … Engaging in respectful civil discourse should be possible without the threat of arrest and prosecution."

The submission continued: "The better way to protect against hateful rhetoric is to educate people in civil discourse and positive human behavior."

Maronite warning over land purchases in Lebanon

Lebanon's Maronite League has issued a sharp warning over what it describes as an organized effort to purchase land in several key districts, including Baabda, Jezzine, Zahle, and the coastal Chouf, according to ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News.

In a statement from Beirut, the league stressed that land in Lebanon is not merely a commercial asset but a core element of historical and cultural identity, particularly for the country's Christian presence. The council cautioned that unregulated or distress-driven land sales could undermine Lebanon's delicate demographic balance and erode long-standing communal roots. It called for clear legal safeguards to prevent indiscriminate transactions. 

The league urged Christian youth to engage with state institutions despite long-standing governance challenges, reaffirmed its support for President? Joseph Aoun, and reiterated its position that all weapons must remain exclusively in the hands of the state to preserve sovereignty and stability.

Bishop Chami calls for prayer and fasting amid regional turmoil

Against the backdrop of escalating instability across the Middle East, Bishop Jean-Marie Chami, Melkite Catholic patriarchal vicar for Egypt, Sudan, and South Sudan, has issued a spiritual appeal for peace. Addressing both believers and people of goodwill, he called for fasting, prayer, and extended periods of Eucharistic adoration, ACI MENA reported.

Acknowledging widespread feelings of helplessness in the face of violence and uncertainty, the bishop emphasized that faith remains a powerful response when human solutions falter. He encouraged a 40-day spiritual commitment as a preparation for Lent, offered specifically for unity among peoples and healing for a wounded humanity.

Christian schools in Jerusalem suspend classes amid permit crisis

Christian educational institutions in Jerusalem have suspended classes in an unprecedented move highlighting mounting pressure on faith-based schooling in the city, ACI MENA reported.

Fourteen schools affiliated with the Christian Educational Institutions Secretariat, along with several independent schools, halted operations after Israeli authorities restricted teacher access permits. School leaders warn that the measures threaten their ability to continue a centuries-old educational mission that has served students of all backgrounds. According to the schools, more than 170 teachers and staff have been affected, preventing the start of the second academic term. Church officials stress that these schools are not only academic centers but also vital pillars of Jerusalem's cultural and social fabric, and caution that continued restrictions risk undermining the city's pluralistic character.

Ethiopian Catholic eparchy celebrates 10th anniversary 

The Eparchy of Bahir Dar-Dessie, the youngest ecclesiastical jurisdiction within the Ethiopian Catholic Church, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary.

Despite ongoing instability in the region, Eparch Lisane-Christos described the milestone, which comes along with the construction of the eparchy's first cathedral, as "a sign of a new era of grace," according to a report from Fides News Agency. "While the foundation stone will be laid during the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Eparchy of Bahir Dar-Dessie, the construction of the cathedral is a long-term project that will require ongoing support after the festivities end," he said. 

Backlash ensues over Egypt holiday policy that excludes Catholics, Protestants

The Egyptian minister of labor is facing backlash after announcing his decision to grant five paid holidays to Orthodox Christians in Egypt but only three to Catholics and Protestants in the country.

"The Catholic Church in Egypt follows with great concern the recent government decision regarding holidays for Christian citizens," said Bishop Ibrahim Ishaq, patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church, according to a  Manassa News report.

The bishop further emphasized his "deep regret at the lack of full equality among Christian denominations, especially regarding the celebrations of the Catholic Church's children." The bishop noted he is in talks with the Egyptian government to change the policy to include Catholics and Protestants. 

Church in Sri Lanka 'making significant contribution to rekindling hope' after cyclone

The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka is providing hope for people affected by Cyclone Ditwah and flooding that swept through the country late last year, Fides News Agency reported.

"The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka is making a significant contribution to rekindling hope," said Father Basil Rohan Fernando, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Colombo, in the report.

"The Catholic community in Sri Lanka has become involved and is committed to a single goal: to instill new hope," he continued. "We have assumed a special responsibility; namely, to keep hope alive. This is being done by supporting many people with material, financial, but also spiritual, psychological, and social assistance, as was the case during the Christmas season and continues to be the case today."

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=291264&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Jan 16, 2026 / 09:26 am (CNA).

The Diocese of Assisi in Italy will award 50,000 euros ($58,000) to the winner of the 2026 edition of the "Francis of Assisi and Carlo Acutis for an Economy of Fraternity" award.

Inspired by Pope Francis' 2015 encyclical letter Laudato Si', the former archbishop of Assisi, Domenico Sorrentino, instituted the award in 2020 on the day of St. Carlo Acutis' Oct. 10 beatification.

In addition to the 50,000-euro ($58,000) prize money, award winners also receive an icon with the images of Sts. Francis and Carlo Acutis and are symbolically vested with the "cloak of Francis" by the bishop of Assisi during a ceremony to be held in May at the Sanctuary of the Renunciation.

Monsignor Anthony J. Figueiredo, director of international affairs and relics custodian for the Diocese of Assisi, said the prize is not simply a "payout" but a way of recognizing grassroots projects that support a just and "generative" economic model that restores dignity to the poor and vulnerable.

"The whole point of this award is really to encourage new initiatives from the bottom up so people, who are often discarded on the margins of society, can become the protagonists," he told EWTN News.

"With the help of those in business, those in the Church, those in the municipality, they then are able to produce something where they earn," he continued. "It's a wonderful initiative that was born in the heart of Pope Francis and his emphasis on an economy of fraternity."

More than 160 projects from across Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania have been submitted to the Diocese of Assisi since the award's establishment nearly six years ago.

"Initially, a lot of the projects were coming from Europe but, with time, they have come from quite obscure and poor places," Figueiredo said.

Last year, "Project Hope," an initiative led by Caritas Goa in India, won the diocesan prize for its work in supporting disadvantaged women and youth gain financial independence. Caritas Goa provided services including specialized crafts training as well as partnerships with local businesses.

Previous awardees have come from Brazil, Chad, the Philippines, and Italy.

"In a world today that is full of bad news of war, violence, and division, this award points to the goodness from the bottom up, and that gives us joy and hope in going forward in this world," Figueiredo said.

Individuals and organizations from around the world have until Feb. 28 to submit an online application for the sixth edition of the award.

Full Article