Catholic News

Deacon Steve Greco, founder of Spirit Filled Hearts Ministry and director of evangelization and formation for the Diocese of Orange in California, has joined with technology company eCatholic to launch the Adore Movement to promote adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

The movement has two components: creation of a website featuring a new adoration finder tool to help Catholics find the location of adoration in their area, and the release of "Adore Him," a full-length feature film promoting adoration. 

The Adore Movement's website went live in February. "Adore Him" is currently in production and will open in U.S. theaters in October.

"In 2022, we launched the 'Jesus Thirsts' movement in conjunction with the kickoff of the U.S. bishops' three-year National Eucharistic Revival to promote the Catholic teaching of the Holy Eucharist," Greco noted. 

"Our movement included a series of in-person diocesan events around the country, which culminated in the release of the 2024 film 'Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist.' It was a major success, and we felt led by the Lord to focus next on Eucharistic adoration."

From business executive to full-time evangelist

Greco is a retired pharmaceutical industry executive who was ordained a permanent deacon in 2007. As a young adult he experienced a conversion from being a "lukewarm to an on-fire Catholic" and has nurtured a passion for evangelization ever since. In 2014, he launched Spirit Filled Hearts Ministry, which engages in a variety of initiatives to promote the Catholic faith. 

Today, he is a full-time evangelist, working under the auspices of the Diocese of Orange from an office in the diocese's famous chancery office, Christ Cathedral (formerly Rev. Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral). He works in conjunction with the bishop of Orange, Kevin Vann, and Orange Auxiliary Bishop Timothy Freyer, both of whom have been regular participants in Spirit Filled Hearts Ministry events. Vann, in fact, is the first on camera to introduce the "Jesus Thirsts" film to viewers.

"The Eucharist is at the heart of our faith. Any revival in our own lives, as well as that of the Church as a whole, must begin with a renewed devotion to Christ in the Eucharist," Greco told EWTN News.

The deacon went on to cite a 2019 Pew Research Center survey that found only 31% of Catholics believe that the bread and wine at Mass "actually become" the body and blood of Jesus at the command of the priest; 69% viewed them as mere "symbols." 

"Combine a survey like this with the reality that many Catholics are leaving the active practice of their faith and it shows us the necessity of focusing on the real presence of Jesus and the power of the Mass and Eucharistic adoration," he said.

Greco came up with the idea for the Adore Movement after prayer. "The Lord wants Eucharistic adoration to be better understood in terms of its grace and power," he said.

The movement's outreach

Visitors to the Adore Movement site can listen to videos featuring Greco; eCatholic CEO Jason Jaynes; Norbertine Father Charbel Grbavac, the movement's spiritual director; and Dan DeMatte, co-founder and executive director of Damascus, a ministry to youth and young adults, and co-host of the radio program/podcast "Beyond Damascus." 

There are print-ready materials suggesting how one may do a Holy Hour of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament as well as postcards and posters that can be downloaded to promote adoration in one's own parish. The site can be viewed in both English and Spanish.

While he's proud of what his team at eCatholic has accomplished, the site is still very much a work in progress, Jaynes said. eCatholic provides technology services to 40% of Catholic parishes in the United States, he said, which means the company can easily access up-to-date adoration information from those sites. For those not contracted with eCatholic, the team requests parishes to send in their adoration information so it can be added or updated.

The site is a "living, breathing, evergreen organism," Jaynes continued, with new videos, adoration sites, and educational materials being added regularly. eCatholic has worked with Spirit Filled Hearts Ministry on other projects previously, he noted, including "Jesus Thirsts." They were particularly excited to be part of the Adore Movement, he said, "because as we're surrounded by so much noise in society, and our team wants to utilize their capabilities to encourage Catholics to regularly spend time in silence before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament."

Jaynes said he believes that eCatholic's patron saint, Carlo Acutis, would be supportive of the Adore Movement, as Carlo believed that "technology should be a tool to bring people offline and back to the Church."

'Adore Him' film in production

Greco explained that the "Adore Him" film will feature interviews with prominent clergy and lay Catholics, including Chris Stefanick of Real Life Catholic, Father Chris Alar and Father Donald Calloway of the Marian Fathers, Deacon Larry Oney of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Curtis Martin of FOCUS, and Mark Hart of Life Teen, as well as Grbavac and DeMatte. Filming is scheduled through April, with the final release in October.

Greco said he hopes the Adore Movement will help Catholics nationwide to grow in their relationship with Christ and begin attending Eucharistic adoration on a regular basis.

"By allowing Jesus to fill your heart with his love, he will lead you to a better participation in the Mass and to more fully appreciate the blessings of Eucharistic adoration," he said.

The deacon also noted that the work of Spirit Filled Hearts was funded entirely by donors and welcomed donations in support of the Adore Movement, which will begin in the U.S. before being launched overseas.

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A video by Egyptian content creator Mahmoud Dawoud has reignited public controversy after he called for a boycott of shops owned by Christians, claiming that purchasing from them "contributes to insulting Islam." Dawoud also accused Pope Tawadros II, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, of inciting insults against the Islamic faith.

The call drew widespread condemnation, most notably from Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris, who argued that what Dawoud said in the video falls, under Egyptian law, within the scope of incitement and contempt of religion.

The debate quickly moved beyond Dawoud himself, once again drawing attention to Article 98 of Egypt's Penal Code, widely known as the "contempt of religion" law — which provides for penalties that can reach up to five years in prison for those convicted of insulting one of the "heavenly religions."

In practice, recent cases suggest that high-profile rulings have largely targeted Christians, atheists, and critics of Islam. Among them is the Copt Augustinus Simon, who received a five-year prison sentence in early 2026.

In a statement, the International Justice Center for Human Rights Studies expressed concern about the circumstances surrounding Simon's trial. It said the defense was not allowed to review the case file or attend sessions, arguing that imposing the maximum sentence raises questions about fair-trial guarantees and whether the punishment is proportionate to the alleged act.

In the same context, the case of Sherif Gaber is often cited; he has faced repeated in-absentia sentences on contempt-of-religion charges.

Abdel Rahman Al-Jady has faced a similar ruling. While Gaber is often portrayed as representing "confrontational atheism" that mocks religion, Simon is presented as an example of "comparative religious critique" rooted in a different Christian theological perspective.

By contrast, convictions for contempt of Christianity remain rare; the most prominent example is the case of Abu Islam (Ahmed Abdullah) more than a decade ago.

Egyptian journalist Ibrahim Eissa, for his part, argued that Article 98 has shifted from being a tool to confront sectarian strife to becoming a "drawn sword" against researchers who raise views already found within Islamic heritage. He called for the article's complete repeal, noting that Egyptian law contains other provisions sufficient to address incitement to hatred. He also firmly rejected custodial sentences in opinion-related cases.

Eissa bases his position on statistics indicating that roughly 98% of contempt-of-religion cases in recent years have involved Muslims or Christians accused specifically of insulting Islam, while Christianity is almost entirely absent from such lawsuits.

In principle, many countries around the world agree on criminalizing incitement to hatred and discrimination. The United States and some European countries draw a clearer line between criticizing religions, which is legally permitted, and incitement against religious followers.

In some Arab countries, the two are often conflated, and criticism of texts and beliefs can become a criminal offense. For that reason, the need is renewed for an open legal and societal debate that balances protecting civil peace with safeguarding freedom of expression.

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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Catalina Davis spent 15 years in the New Age movement. After her conversion, she described it as a "Luciferian sect" driven by Freemasonry. Now she is preparing to found a religious order to guide those living in a "personal hell" toward God's mercy.

Davis just published in Spain "The Great Prison: The Hidden Price of Alternative Therapies," a book in which she describes her entire life and spiritual journey, revealing how immersion in practices such as Reiki, crystals, regression therapy, and quantum coaching poses a danger.

"You don't know you're in prison; you think you're riding a wave, that you're becoming more and more powerful … But the reality is that you're digging your own grave and you don't even realize it. And when you open your eyes, the blindfold falls away, you're surrounded by bars and you can't get out," she explained in an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.

Born in Chile in June 1983, Davis grew up in a superstitious family that soon moved to Spain and, as she recounted, "has always been linked in some way to magic and esotericism." Her aunt "read tarot cards" and her mother had dozens of amulets.

As a teenager, the film "The Craft" (known as "Young Witches" in Hispanic America and "Young People and Witches" in Spain) sparked a desire in her and some friends to practice magic: "I asked my mother to buy me a book on white magic, and she bought it for me the next day. Nothing was stopping me," she said.

Despite having "a scare with the Ouija board," she continued experimenting until she became fully immersed in alternative therapies following an illness: "I was 23 years old, and one day I woke up and had lost more than 50% of my sight and hearing."

The doctors couldn't find a diagnosis or a treatment: "We started with magic, witches, shamans, healers. At that point, I wasn't fully immersed in the New Age movement," she explained, until, at 28, she was advised to see a "holistic therapist."

"He laid me down on a treatment table and said, 'Think about what's happening to you.' He didn't even ask me." The therapist applied a treatment called "bio-energetic restoration" using quartz patches.

Davis was tired of so many "treatments" and spending money without results. During the time they left her alone with those patches, she thought: "That's it, I'm not going to any more therapy, I'm not going to look for any more help, I have to accept that I'm going to stay like this."

The devil 'healed' her to keep her by his side

She had been living for years with "a kind of mental fog that prevented me from thinking and a feeling as if my brain were melting all the time." She was "very desperate; I even thought about suicide," she confessed.

Then, when the therapist returned, she felt healed: "It was as if my pupils suddenly came to life, my ears came to life, it was as if an energy flowed through me, and I was healed. I called my parents, who were traveling at the time, and told them, 'I've recovered, I'm fine.' And that's where, let's say, my crusade began."

"Alternative therapies work for different reasons. One, the placebo effect. Two, they're manipulated by the evil one. Three, there's a grain of truth in them. So, in this specific case, I think it's the second one, because I was very determined to stop the therapies," she explained.

It's as if the devil had said, "I'm going to lose her. I'll heal her, keep her, and she'll stay with us," she added.

'I think Freemasonry is behind it'

And stay she did. She began to learn and apply a great number of these practices "because each therapy offers a different promise to heal a specific thing," so much so that she entered "a kind of endless cycle," where she remained for 15 years.

Many of these therapies "have no risks, no occultism, nothing. However, these other therapies come primarily from the occult and hermetic world." In fact, she emphasized, "the initiatory aspect of these therapies is evident. Someone has to teach you, someone has to initiate you; it's not something you can do on your own."

Davis maintains that the fact that all these therapies are part of a larger body, the New Age movement, is no coincidence: "I think it's the great Luciferian sect par excellence driven by Freemasonry. I believe Freemasonry is behind it; I believe there's a movement that encourages society to undergo these kinds of therapies so that under the guise of well-being, people distance themselves from God."

This accusation is inextricably linked to the fact that Davis herself almost joined a Masonic lodge but ultimately did not.

A conversion in 2 stages

Over the course of 15 years, Davis became an internationally recognized medium. On Nov. 20, 2020, she was in Valencia, Spain. It was a Sunday, and the tarot reader she had arranged to meet canceled their appointment, which they had scheduled "to pull my soul out of the well," as she recounts in her book.

In Carmen Square, she encountered an unexpected sight: some 200 women carrying a figure of the Christ Child. It was an event in honor of Our Lady of Quinche, the patron saint of Ecuador. They invited her to join, and after some initial hesitation, she accepted.

Once inside the church, the priest said: "If anyone is struggling and needs help, please raise your hand." Without knowing why, Davis stood up, took the microphone, and, addressing the crowd, said: "I can't talk about what's happening to me, but I need help." The priest blessed her and sprinkled her with holy water. At that point she began a journey of conversion that came to fruition in December 2021.

'When you look the evil one in the eye, you can't doubt God's existence'

Davis is now convinced that all the progress in "states of consciousness" within the New Age movement does not come from God: "All that knowledge, obviously, is given to you by the evil one."

But before her conversion, she couldn't have suspected that she was under the influence of the evil one and that she needed to undergo an exorcism process for a time.

"I feel incredibly fortunate, and I've always said that the Lord couldn't have given me a better cross because it makes me pray more, love him more, and also have the conviction that he exists. Because when you look the evil one in the eye, you can't doubt God's existence."

Davis' life experience gave rise in 2025 to the Creo (I believe) Movement, approved in July 2025 as a private association of the faithful by the bishop of Orihuela-Alicante, José Ignacio Munilla.

"We bring God's love to all those outside the Church, especially those who practice the New Age movement, through contemplation of Christ's passion," Davis explained. This also applies to those within the Church who, "by mistake or out of ignorance, have begun to frequent these types of therapies."

This apostolate is carried out through spiritual accompaniment and special, completely free programs called "Returning Home." In all of these programs, they promote a personal encounter with Christ through his passion and, especially, through Ignatian contemplative prayer on the five wounds of Christ.

Although they operate from Spain, they serve people throughout Latin America, especially Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia.

"The other day, a young woman was telling us that a priest at her parish in Mexico encouraged her to have an energy surgery performed by St. Gregory Hernandez. Of course, in Santería, that means they invoke a spirit — which is obviously a demon — that physically appears at the location and performs surgery on the person," she explained by way of example.

From the Creo Movement to the Order of the Holy Wounds

On her path of spiritual conversion, Davis has not only experienced moments of consolation. She has also experienced spiritual dryness, moments "of great desolation, of a great desert."

"After much prayer and discernment, my spiritual director provided excellent guidance, and we concluded that my true vocation is to be a nun," she told ACI Prensa from Rome, where she has taken up residence and lives as a consecrated laywoman.

The desolation, they concluded in their discernment, stemmed from the need to respond to the call to consecrated life that she felt "almost at the beginning of my conversion, and even before founding the Creo Movement," and which takes concrete form in "a religious congregation, the Order of the Holy Wounds of Christ." Although not yet a reality, it already has "a structure and solid foundations for a male and a female branch" and even candidates to form the first communities.

Their mission will be "to accompany those who are going through a personal hell so that, through contemplation of the passion of Christ and in the spirit of St. Peter, they may discover the love and mercy of God and begin an ascetic and penitential path that leads them to a profound conversion and to living the Gospel in reality, to the healing of their wounds, and to a true spiritual resurgence."

Davis emphasized that many who fall into the New Age movement do so "because there is something that torments them or causes them suffering," and that, as happened to her, they experience veritable hells.

In this regard, she noted that on Sept. 25, 2025, Pope Leo XIV said in speaking about Christ's descent into hell that the underworld is "not so much a place as a condition, where life is depleted, and pain, solitude, guilt, and separation from God and others reign."

"Christ, on Holy Saturday, descended into hell," Davis explained, "and I believe that in this charism of the Order of the Holy Wounds, the Lord wants to descend into the hells of each one of us to lead us to Easter, to the light of Easter."

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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A statue of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American saint, will replace a statue of Christopher Columbus at Arrigo Park in Chicago — an area known as Little Italy — Chicago Park District officials announced Feb. 18.

Cabrini, who served poor Italian immigrants in Chicago, received roughly 38% of the almost 4,000 votes cast during an online contest to pick three nominees for the honor.

The park district is now looking for artists who want to create the statue and are asking that applications be submitted by March 1.

Here are 10 things to know about this beloved Catholic saint:

1. She was the first American citizen to be canonized.

Though born in Italy, Frances Xavier Cabrini became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1909. In 1946, she was canonized by Pope Pius XII, becoming the first American citizen to be declared a saint.

2. She originally wanted to be a missionary to China.

Inspired by St. Francis Xavier, Cabrini hoped to evangelize in China. Instead, Pope Leo XIII directed her westward, telling her to serve immigrants in the United States, "not to the East, but to the West."

3. She arrived in New York with almost nothing.

In 1889, Cabrini landed in New York City with six fellow sisters and limited resources. What awaited her was not a warm welcome but housing instability and overwhelming poverty among Italian immigrants.

4. She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart.

In 1880, she established the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a religious order dedicated to education, health care, and missionary work. The order continues its work worldwide today.

5. She built an empire of schools and hospitals.

By the time of her death, Cabrini had founded nearly 70 institutions, including orphanages, schools, and hospitals across the United States, Europe, and Latin America.

6. She served Italian immigrants during a time of intense prejudice.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Italian immigrants faced widespread discrimination in America. Cabrini advocated fiercely for their dignity, education, and health care.

7. She became a U.S. citizen in 1909.

Cabrini's naturalization reflected her long-term commitment to serving American communities, particularly in cities like New York and Chicago.

8. She died in Chicago in 1917.

Cabrini passed away on Dec. 22, 1917, in Chicago after years of tireless travel and work. The doctor attributed her death to chronic endocarditis, or heart disease. Her body is preserved for veneration at the National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini.

9. She is the patron saint of immigrants.

In 1950, Pope Pius XII officially named her the patron saint of immigrants, recognizing her lifelong dedication to displaced and marginalized communities.

10. Her legacy remains visible across the U.S.

Hospitals, schools, and institutions bearing her name continue her mission of faith-driven service and education.

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The head of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Havana, Mike Hammer, stated that Cuba is at a decisive moment and that the country will soon achieve "the freedom it hasn't had in 67 years."

"If there is freedom, there will be no suffering because there will be the necessary change. How will it happen? Well, that's what we're working on," the diplomat stated in an interview with "EWTN Noticias," the Spanish-language broadcast edition of EWTN News.

Hammer confirmed that there are currently "high-level exchanges with people within the Cuban regime" as well as "conversations to see what can be done to take the country in a new direction" that would allow for a transition to democracy.

The interview took place shortly after his Feb. 20 meeting with the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, and Vatican Secretary for Relations with States Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.

According to official statements from the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See, the meeting addressed the political, economic, and social crisis in Cuba and the role the Catholic Church can play acting as a facilitator or mediator.

Church support for a peaceful transition in Cuba

Hammer said he conveyed to the Church in Cuba the need for it to openly denounce the Castro regime's disrespect for the human rights of the Cuban people.

"It doesn't do so openly, publicly; it does so through Masses, but the perception is that it is not declaring itself in favor of the dignity and rights of the people," the diplomat said.

He also addressed the situation of political prisoners: "More than hundreds are imprisoned because they dared to complain about the economic situation, the lack of electricity, the lack of water, and because of those peaceful demonstrations. It's important that the Vatican, that the Church, give them a voice so they can speak out and say: These political prisoners must be freed."

The Vatican's role in the Cuban equation has a historical dimension that Washington is well aware of. The Holy See mediated the diplomatic thaw between Cuba and the United States initiated by President Barack Obama in 2014, and Pope Francis facilitated part of the negotiations.

In fact, although the United States has not had an ambassador in Cuba since 1960, diplomatic relations were reestablished in 2015. However, the U.S. mission is headed by a chargé d'affaires, a position that does not hold the rank of ambassador.

A diplomat out on the streets

During his 15 months in Havana, Hammer has displayed an unusual diplomatic approach. He has traveled the island — to all its provinces — to listen directly to citizens and learn firsthand about their concerns and aspirations.

"Many feel that the revolution has betrayed them, and why? Because their parents, grandparents, fought with Fidel, and what happened? When they reached adulthood, there was no state to protect them, to take care of them, it abandoned them, and at the same time they see how members of the Castro regime go to stroll along the Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid or to be educated in Europe," he said.

This closeness with the Cuban people has not pleased the Castro regime, which has tried to scare off onlookers of these encounters by organizing staged harassment by groups tied to the regime. However, the diplomat maintains that the message he receives on the street is unequivocal: "The people want change, that's what they tell me."

Along the same lines, he questioned the privileges of the ruling elite: "How is it that the luxury cars driven by the elite get in [the country]? Where do they come from? How is it that there are restaurants, paladares [high end restaurants], as they say there, frequented by the upper class? This is a dictatorship where those who are part of it live well and the rest of the people are abandoned."

Hammer also denounced a climate of control and restrictions that extends to various aspects of daily life: "They control everything. There is no freedom of the press, of expression, of religion. That has to change. And the world has to see it."

When asked specifically about the degree of religious freedom on the island, he said: "They are arresting women who want to go to Mass."

Humanitarian aid channeled through the Church

Since late 2025, the United States has channeled $9 million worth of humanitarian aid through the Catholic Church and Catholic Relief Services without any mediation from the communist regime. Hammer noted that this is an alternative to prevent the misappropriation of funds.

"Experience has taught us throughout history that one cannot rely on the regime to allow assistance to reach those who need it most, and that is why, I regret to say, this is the reality of Cuba today," he said, after confirming that humanitarian aid from the United States will continue to be distributed through nongovernmental channels to ensure it reaches the most vulnerable sectors.

"Now at least they are allowing the United States to send humanitarian aid, and through the Church — the Church's role. In fact, the Church has been supporting the Cuban people for decades now, and the role of the Church remains extremely important," he indicated.

Washington's objective, he insisted, is a peaceful transition that avoids bloodshed and guarantees the release of those imprisoned for political reasons.

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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Students at the University of Notre Dame gathered on Feb. 27 for a candlelit prayer service to offer thanksgiving for the university's Catholic identity.

The event was originally planned as a protest in response to the university's appointment of abortion advocate Professor Susan Ostermann as the head of the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies.

After Ostermann withdrew from the position earlier this week, the student organizers turned the event into a prayer vigil offered "in thanksgiving and support for Notre Dame's Catholic mission."

A group of about 150 students, community members, faculty and priests from the Congregation of Holy Cross met on the south quad of campus, where they were greeted by students Luke Woodyard and Gabe Ortner, the event's organizers.

After a blessing of candles, those present processed to the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, where they prayed the Rosary.

The event was co-sponsored by the major Catholic clubs on campus: Right to Life, Militia Immaculata, Children of Mary, the Knights of Columbus, and Students for Child-Oriented Policy.

According to Woodyard, while a protest would have drawn a greater number of attendees, organizers agreed that changing the event to a prayer vigil would be a more appropriate response to the news of Ostermann's withdrawal.

"The big reason we changed the protest to a prayer vigil was because we won, we got Ostermann to not be appointed. And even though this was a victory in a battle, not the [larger] war, we can celebrate this victory now," Woodyard said.

"If we came here with a bunch of protests, it would make us seem like we weren't grateful for the university listening to us," he added. "And we really are. We praise [President] Father [Robert] Dowd for any impact that he had on Ostermann withdrawing, and we pray for the future of Notre Dame."

Ostermann, whose appointment was announced in January, has publicly supported abortion on multiple occasions, calling it "freedom-enhancing" and "consistent with integral human development that emphasizes social justice and human dignity."

She has also argued that the pro-life movement has its roots in "white supremacy and racism" and has described pregnancy resource centers "anti-abortion propaganda sites."

Since the appointment was announced in January, the university has faced backlash from Catholics across the country, including students, alumni, faculty, and more than a dozen bishops including local Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend. The university continued to defend Ostermann's promotion amid the criticism, citing her expertise in Asian studies and her past research.

When Ostermann withdrew from the position on Feb. 26, students were surprised at the unexpected reversal but grateful for the desired outcome.

Maria Madigan, a sophomore who serves as the head of service for Notre Dame Right to Life, told EWTN News that the grateful and loving spirit of the prayer service was the same spirit in which the protest had been planned.

"[The planned protest] was never filled with hate or any [kind of] malicious intent. …We love Notre Dame because of her Catholic mission and her identity," she said.

"We wanted to protest the Ostermann appointment because we felt that it went against our mission. And then when Ostermann withdrew, the focus shifted, because… we want to think about having a positive vision going forward for Notre Dame."

Regarding Ostermann's withdrawal, Woodyard said: "We don't know what happened behind the scenes — hopefully that will come out in the coming weeks — but what we do know is that she did withdraw, and so we're thankful for that, and that's why we're here, but at some point, we have to make sure this doesn't happen again."

Organizer Gabe Ortner emphasized that although the planned protest was turned into a prayer vigil, the defense of Notre Dame's Catholic mission is far from over.

"We have to recognize the work that Father Dowd has done in leading this university. He's clearly been working tirelessly on this with Bishop Rhoades, and I admire the direction that he seems to be taking Notre Dame in, and that gives me a lot of hope," Ortner said.

"However, at the same time, there also seem to be particular members of the administration who do not entirely share the Catholic vision of Notre Dame," he said.

"Ultimately, Notre Dame should be united in its Catholic identity among all of the members of administration, with no exception."

If the protest had gone forward, speakers would have included Anna Kelley,  president of the school's Right to Life group; Lucy Spence, editor-in-chief of the Irish Rover student newspaper; and Theo Austin, vice president of Students for Child-Oriented Policy.

Students have expressed concern that the appointment shows a willingness of university administration — particularly on the part of Provost John McGreevy, who approved the appointment — to deviate from the university's Catholic mission.

Max McNiff, a student who attended the prayer vigil, shared his hopes that the controversy that precipitated Ostermann's withdrawal would send a clear signal to the university.

"I think this sets a good precedent for stuff like this in the future. I think that the administration is going to be very cautious, and hopefully nothing like this will happen again."

"I think this also sets a precedent that researchers who are considered maybe 'elite' by secular academic standards, but who very manifestly publicly contradict Catholic doctrine [on matters] such as abortion, should not expect to come into leadership positions at Notre Dame," he said.

Ultimately, however, students expressed their gratitude at the reversal of Ostermann's appointment, calling it a "victory" in the battle for Notre Dame's Catholic identity.

"Having the opportunity to gather together and to thank God for his faithfulness, and the faithfulness of the university, is really beautiful, and I think you can see it in the passion of the students," Madigan said. "Everyone here knew it wasn't a protest anymore, but they were still coming."

"We're all here because we care and we love this university and we want to uphold its Catholic mission and its pro-life mission as much as possible," she said. "And at the end of the day, whether one person showed up, or whether 200 people showed up, this was a prayer service, and it was to God, and the words that were said here were to him."

"And that's what I really want the focus of this whole event to be on, praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for his faithfulness and to Our Lady for protecting her university."

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Meta blocks AI chatbot from discussing abortion with minors

Meta won't allow its AI chatbot to discuss abortion with minors, according to a report from the progressive outlet Mother Jones.

Citing internal Meta documents, Mother Jones reported that Meta's chatbot policy guidelines for interactions with minors prevent the chatbot from advising them on "content that provides advice or opinion" about "sexual health" or offering information helping them obtain an abortion.

According to the report, a Meta spokesperson disputed claims of bias, saying that "any claims of enforcement based on group affiliation or advocacy are baseless" and that the company allows "posts and ads promoting health care services like abortion, as well as discussion and debate around them, as long as they follow our policies. We also give people the opportunity to appeal decisions if they think we've got it wrong."

When asked about the leaked documents, a company spokesperson told EWTN News: "Our AIs are trained to engage in age-appropriate discussions with teens and to connect them with expert resources and support when appropriate."

"They provide factual information on sexual health but refrain from offering advice or opinions. We continuously review and improve our protections so that teens have access to helpful information with default safeguards in place."

The Meta spokesperson also responded to advertisement censorship claims.

"Every organization and individual on our platforms is subject to the same set of rules, and any claims of enforcement based on group affiliation or advocacy are baseless," the spokesperson said.

United Kingdom assisted suicide bill falters as local measures advance

A national assisted suicide bill is failing to pass in the United Kingdom this week, even as local measures advance.

According to a statement by the advocacy group Right to Life UK, on Feb. 26 the national bill was "widely pronounced as dead by commentators after it was revealed that it will 'almost certainly' run out of time."

In Wales, the regional Parliament voted on Feb. 24 in favor of the National Health Service to oversee assisted suicide if the Terminally Ill Adults Bill passes in the House of Lords.

Archbishop Mark O'Toole of Cardiff-Menevia in a Feb. 25 statement called the vote "a sad day for Wales' most vulnerable."

The island of Jersey similarly passed a law to legalize assisted suicide in a 32-to-16 vote on Feb. 26 by members of the States Assembly. The measure applies to "mentally competent" adults with terminal illnesses and who have been residents of Jersey for 12 months.

Before the bill can become law, it will need royal assent.

Ohio appeals court upholds ban on aborted baby burial requirement

Ohio judges on Wednesday upheld a ban on a law requiring abortion clinics to dispose of the remains of babies via burial or cremation.

The appellate court in Cincinnati upheld a lower court ruling permanently blocking the law.

Ohio in 2023 passed a constitutional amendment enshrining a right to abortion.

Executive Director of Ohio Right to Life Carrie Snyder condemned the decision.

"It's unfortunate, but not a surprise, that the First District Court of Appeals sided with the abortion industry to stop Ohio's fetal remains law from taking effect. Sadly, clinics will continue treating these precious little ones like garbage to be disposed of as cheaply as possible," Snyder said in a Feb. 26 statement.

"This really underscores that abortion is not health care and that clinics are going to do everything within their power to boost their profit margin."

A Planned Parenthood spokeswoman, meanwhile, celebrated the decision, claiming the burial law was "cruel" and "nothing more than an opportunity to shame and stigmatize" women who get abortions.

Texas attorney general sues mail-in abortion company for alleged illegal shipments

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued mail-in abortion company Aid Access along with California abortionist Remy Coeytaux and abortionist and founder of Aid Access Rebecca Gomperts for allegedly illegally shipping abortion drugs to Texas.

Aid Access' website advertises its shipping to all states including Texas, according to Paxton's press release.

"These unlawful shipments have had real and devastating consequences for Texas families," the press release read. "In 2025, a Nueces County man allegedly used abortion-inducing drugs obtained from an out-of-state provider to secretly poison his girlfriend, resulting in the death of their unborn child."

"Every unborn child is a life worth protecting," Paxton said, adding that he will "relentlessly enforce our state's pro-life laws against Aid Access and other radicals like it."

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Iran's retaliation to U.S. and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28 quickly spilled beyond Israel, with missiles and drones aimed at multiple countries hosting U.S. forces and key regional infrastructure as the Middle East braced for a wider confrontation.

Reuters reported strikes or attempted strikes involving Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Jordan, with most incoming projectiles intercepted. 

In the UAE, Reuters said loud booms were heard in Abu Dhabi, blasts were reported in Dubai, and one of the city's "plush hotel districts" was hit, bringing the conflict into heavily populated civilian areas as residents reported shock and confusion during the holy month of Ramadan.

In Bahrain, authorities said a service center linked to the U.S. Fifth Fleet came under attack, and video footage showed smoke rising near the coastline.

Kuwait's official news agency reported that a drone targeted Kuwait International Airport, causing minor injuries to several employees and limited damage to a passenger terminal, underscoring the spillover risks to civilian aviation facilities. 

Beyond this, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry said air defenses intercepted projectiles targeting the Riyadh region and the Eastern Province, condemning what it described as Iranian attacks.

In Iraq, regional and local reporting said drones attempted to target Erbil International Airport in the Kurdistan Region and were intercepted, an indication that the alert zone has widened even where independent confirmation differs by outlet. 

Earlier Saturday, Israel said it had launched a "preemptive" strike on targets in Iran, with U.S. action reported alongside it. Reuters reported that the Pentagon named the U.S. strikes "Operation Epic Fury."

A pastoral appeal from the Gulf: 'Remain calm and serene'

As regional anxiety rose, the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, which serves Catholic communities in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen, circulated an urgent message signed by Bishop Paolo Martinelli, OFM Cap.

In the statement, the bishop appealed to the faithful to "remain calm and serene" and to "carefully follow" the instructions issued by civil authorities.

He also urged Catholics to respond spiritually to the crisis, calling it a time to remain "united in prayer for peace" and inviting the faithful to pray the rosary daily for peace and reconciliation, with intentions for peace included at Masses across the vicariate.

According to the vicariate's published statistics, the Catholic population under its care totals 1,122,659, reflecting a large and diverse community, many of them expatriates, watching developments unfold with heightened concern.

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African American Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman's ability to bridge divides shines as a witness needed today, according to those who knew her, and her cause for canonization may create a pathway for other African Americans on their ways to sainthood.

More than three decades after her death, Bowman should be remembered for "her charism, gifts, prophetic voice, charismatic personality, and real strong commitment to the Church — truly being Catholic," Bishop Joseph Kopacz of the Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi, told EWTN News.

Bowman, the granddaughter of a slave, challenged the Church in the 20th century to confront its history of racial exclusion and to embrace Black Catholics through her work as a scholar, teacher, and speaker.

The Diocese of Jackson officially closed its proceedings regarding her potential sainthood on Feb. 9 after Kopacz opened her cause in November 2018. The records are now being sent to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican.

"People around the world will be very excited and will celebrate what we hope will be the occasion of her canonization. And that's because people, Catholic and non-Catholics alike, are drawn to her story," Veryl Miles, law professor and leader of the Sister Thea Bowman Committee at The Catholic University of America, told EWTN News.

Sister Thea's life and legacy

Bowman was born Dec. 29, 1937, in Yazoo City, Mississippi, and was given the name Bertha Elizabeth Bowman. While her family was Methodist, Bowman was called to the Catholic faith at a young age.

"At 9 years old, she told her parents she wanted to be Catholic. The sisters who were teaching at the school, the parish where she was, had such an impact on her. Then six years later, she joined their religious community," Kopacz said.

She joined the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration at age 15 and enrolled in Viterbo University, which was run by the Franciscan sisters. Three years into formation, she took the religious name Thea, which means "of God" and is a version of her father's name, Theon.

"She was so focused on serving the Lord as a religious, and in this community, because they loved her as a young child," Kopaz said. Bowman knew: "This is who I know. This is who I love. This is where I want to be."

She was the first and only African American woman in her religious community, often facing racism both within and beyond the Church, leading her to become an advocate for the dignity of Black people, their culture, and Black Catholic spirituality.

Bowman went on to study at The Catholic University of America, earning a doctorate in English in 1972. Bowman helped found the National Black Sisters' Conference and taught the university's first Black literature course.

Bowman, who taught for many years, was "a master teacher," Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration Charlene Smith, a close friend of Bowman's and co-author of her biography "Thea's Song," told EWTN News.

Smith and Bowman met in 1954 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, at St. Rose Convent. "She was just like me. We both wanted to be Franciscans, we both wanted to teach, and we both wanted to major in English in college, and we did all three of those things," Smith said.

After having moved away for graduate school, Bowman returned to La Crosse to teach in the English Department at Viterbo University. Smith also returned to serve as the school's dean of students.

"When I got back to La Crosse, they told me that I should beware of Sister Thea Bowman because she was 'the most powerful woman on campus.' They didn't know that we were really good friends," Smith said.

"Being the dean, I was able to go to any classroom. I would go to Thea's classrooms, and she would always come bounding in with a song, and she would get everybody into a really good mood," Smith said.

Bowman would also teach at parishes about Black liturgy and music. Eventually she starting to speak at a national level, becoming the first African American woman to address the U.S. bishops' conference.

She often used music to help evangelize and bridge interracial divides, and became a major contributor to the development of "Lead Me, Guide Me," the Black Catholic hymnal published in 1987.

Smith reflected on Bowman's "marvelous" and "magnetic" personality. "We were invited to a dinner at a hotel, and she was going to give a speech. We got there early, so we went to sit down in the lobby … a pianist from Argentina was playing songs from 'Porgy and Bess,' and Thea got up and started singing 'Summertime.'"

"She got a standing ovation and an encore," Smith said. "I think one of the greatest gifts, graces, in my life was my friendship with her. She was very kind to me, and she was very kind to all the people that she met."

At age 54, on March 30, 1990, Bowman died of breast cancer. She was buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee, alongside her parents.

Impact of Bowman's cause

Bowman's journey toward sainthood could have an especially effective impact today with the present division in the nation, as she would preach how we are "all human beings, and we should love everybody," Smith said.

"She was not interested in the melting pot at all," Smith said. "She was more interested in a salad bowl because she said: 'In a salad, people keep their identity, whereas in a melting pot, they're all mushed together.'"

Bowman "welcomed all in the universal body of Christ" Kopacz said. "She said the Church needs to truly be actively universal, and embrace different cultures and all the gifts that people bring."

"So today, more than ever, that voice is needed in our society as we can get more divisive," Kopacz said. "I just think it's perfect for our time and our Church."

"Her message is so universal," Miles said. Especially "understanding the relationship between faith and identity among its members."

"She really understood and articulated so beautifully that we are people of faith and we are people of identities. The Church is a global church. There's so many different people who are part of this Church  — people of different races, different ethnicities, and nationalities."

'An impetus' for other African Americans on their way to sainthood

Currently, there are no canonized African American saints, but the Church honors Black saints from other nations, including St. Josephine Bakhita, St. Martin de Porres, St. Monica of Hippo, and St. Augustine of Hippo, among others.

Bowman is among seven African American Catholics with active canonization causes — dubbed the "Saintly Seven." The group also includes Venerable Pierre Toussaint, Venerable Mother Mary Lange, Venerable Mother Henriette Delille, Venerable Father Augustus Tolton, Servant of God Julia Greeley, and Servant of God Friar Martin de Porres Maria Ward.

Even before her potential canonization, Bowman will "draw attention" to the group, Kopacz said. If she becomes venerable, which the bishop expects she will, he believes Bowman "will be an impetus" for the causes of other African Americans to move forward.

"She's going to be an important part, and she'll move the other causes along," he said.

Since people "can relate" to Bowman's story as it "is so contemporary and so special," Miles said she also hopes the other stories of the seven Catholics "will become highlighted" by her cause.

"People will be more interested in finding out about the other African Americans who are in the process of canonization, because their stories are very special and very unique, too," Miles said.

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Pope Leo XIV voiced concern on Sunday about developments in the Middle East and Iran, urging the parties involved to stop what he called a "spiral of violence" before it becomes an "unbridgeable chasm."

"Stability and peace are not achieved through mutual threats, nor through the use of weapons, which sow destruction, suffering, and death, but only through reasonable, sincere, and responsible dialogue," the pope said March 1. He appealed for diplomacy to "regain its proper role" and for the "well-being of peoples, who yearn for peaceful existence founded on justice," to be upheld.

The pontiff added: "And let us continue to pray for peace."

Leo also appealed for peace in the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, calling for an urgent return to dialogue. He asked Catholics to pray that concord may prevail in conflicts around the world, saying: "Only peace, a gift of God, can heal the wounds between peoples."

The pope also said he was close to the people of Brazil's state of Minas Gerais following severe flooding, offering prayers for victims, families who have lost their homes, and those engaged in rescue operations.

Earlier, before reciting the Angelus, the pope reflected on Sunday's Gospel account of the Transfiguration, describing Christ as the living wisdom who fulfills the law and the prophets. He said the Transfiguration foreshadows the light of Easter — an event of death and resurrection, of darkness and new light that Christ radiates on all bodies scourged by violence, crucified by pain, or abandoned in misery.

Pope Leo said the Lord "transfigures the wounds of history," illuminating minds and hearts with a surprising revelation of salvation. He added that grasping this mystery requires time: time of silence to listen to the Word, and time of conversion to savor the Lord's companionship.

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

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