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Vatican City, Nov 5, 2025 / 16:33 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday addressed a letter to seminarians of the Archdiocese of Trujillo, Peru, reminding them of the need to be close to Christ while discerning a vocation to the priesthood.

In a long letter to men studying at the "San Carlos y San Marcelo" major seminary, who celebrated the institution's 400th anniversary on Nov. 4, the Holy Father emphasized that prayer and the search for truth are not "parallel journeys" but a single path that leads to God.

'Nurture both'

"A piety without doctrine becomes fragile sentimentality; doctrine without prayer becomes sterile and cold," he wrote. "Nurture both with balance and passion, knowing that only in this way can you authentically proclaim what you live and live coherently what you proclaim."

As an Augustinian missionary, Leo XIV once served as the seminary's director of studies. From 1989–1998 he taught San Carlos y San Marcelo seminarians canon law, moral theology, and patristics.

Stressing the importance of forming both the "spiritual and intellectual life" at the seminary, the Holy Father said the combination of study and prayer prepares candidates for a "solid and luminous priesthood."

Focusing on the centrality of Jesus Christ, the pope said the "first task" of all seminarians is "to be with the Lord, to let him form you, to know and love him, so that you may become like him." 

In the letter, he explained that the Church has always wanted seminaries to be places to help foster their personal relationship with Jesus and "prepare those who will be sent to serve the holy people of God."

"For this reason, before anything else, it is necessary to allow the Lord to clarify one's motivations and purify one's intentions," he wrote. "The priesthood cannot be reduced to 'achieving ordination' as if it were an external goal or an easy way out of personal problems." 

The priesthood as 'a total gift of one's existence'

"It is not an escape from what one does not want to face, nor a refuge from emotional, family, or social difficulties; nor is it a promotion or a shelter, but a total gift of one's existence," he added.

Underscoring the importance of freedom in the discernment process, the pope said it is not possible for a man "bound by interests or fears" to freely offer his life for others through the priesthood.

"The will is truly free when it is not a slave," he wrote in his letter, quoting St. Augustine's "The City of God."

"The decisive thing is not to be 'ordained' but truly to be priests," he said.

Warning that the priesthood should not be confused with a "personal right" or a "mere prerogative or bureaucratic function," Leo said a genuine vocation "arises from the choice of the Lord" to share in his saving ministry.

"Seminary life is a journey of inner rectification," he said. "Rectitude of intention means being able to say every day, with simplicity and truth: 'Lord, I want to be your priest, not for myself, but for your people.'"

Encouraging seminarians to be configured to Christ, the Holy Father urged them to devote time to encountering the Lord through dedicated times to prayer and study using sacred Scripture. 

'Those who do not speak enough with God cannot speak of God'

"Time spent in prayer is the most fruitful investment of one's life, because it is there that the Lord shapes our feelings, purifies our desires, and strengthens our vocation," he said. "Those who do not speak enough with God cannot speak of God!"

Speaking about the importance of the magisterium, the pope said: "The Church has always recognized that the encounter with the Lord needs to be rooted in intelligence and to become doctrine."

"Without serious study there is no true pastoral ministry, because the ministry consists in leading people to know and love Christ and, in him, to find salvation," he wrote.

Before concluding his letter with his apostolic blessing, the Holy Father said Eucharistic union and communion with others is essential to understand Jesus' "priestly fatherhood" and "the unity between ministry and sacrifice."

"Dear sons, in conclusion, I want to assure you that you have a place in the heart of the successor of Peter," he said. "The seminary is an immense and demanding gift, but you are never alone on this journey."

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Rome, Italy, Nov 5, 2025 / 17:03 pm (CNA).

The Piazza del Popolo (People's Square), one of Rome's most iconic and monumental spaces, became the stage on Nov. 4 for a powerful campaign against a bill currently under consideration in the Italian Senate to decriminalize assisted suicide. 

Two hundred empty wheelchairs with a rose-colored balloon floating above each one were arranged in meticulously ordered rows in the center of the Italian capital's expansive urban space by the pro-life ProVita & Famiglia association as part of a flash mob with a direct and unsettling message: "Non mi uccidere" ("Don't kill me").

The initiative aimed to denounce what the organization considers a "drift toward assisted suicide" in Italy.

Legislative background

Currently in Italy, anyone who "causes the death of a man with his consent" is punishable by six to 15 years in prison, according to Article 579 of the penal code.

However, in 2019 the country's constitutional court partially modified this legislation, ruling that no one will be punished for killing "a patient who is kept alive by life-support treatments and suffers from an irreversible condition."

This ruling came after the trial and subsequent acquittal of Marco Cappato, who was tried for accompanying producer Fabiano Antoniani, better known as DJ Fabo, to Switzerland to obtain assisted suicide in 2017. Antoniani had become quadriplegic and blind after an accident in 2014. 

Three years later, in 2022, Italy's lower house passed a bill regulating a patient's right to request medical assistance in dying based on certain conditions, such as being of legal age or suffering from an irreversible illness.

The legislation was then sent to the Senate, which has been debating the proposal for three years. The ProVita & Famiglia campaign aims to prevent its final passage.

According to the organizers, the 200 empty wheelchairs represent the sick, disabled, elderly, and vulnerable people who, in the association's words, "are asking Parliament for more care, more rights, more dignity but are instead faced with cynical shortcuts to death." 

"Only 33% of those entitled to palliative care" have access to it, according to data compiled by the organization, "with some Italian regions where coverage drops to as low as 4%-5%." This figure leaves thousands of families without health care assistance.

Drifting toward assisted suicide

Italy has begun a "drift toward assisted suicide that could lead to a veritable state-sanctioned massacre of the sick, the elderly living alone, the depressed, and people with disabilities," ProVita & Famiglia stated in a press release. 

"Any national law in this direction would only accentuate the process, reinforcing in public opinion the idea that the state can offer suicide as just another social and health care service," the group warned.

Massimo Gandolfini, leader of the Family Day movement, also joined the Nov. 4 demonstration, reiterating his rejection of "any form of medically assisted dying." In his address, he warned that "the experience of the 13 countries that have legalized it is devastating: From a few initial cases, it has grown to thousands every year, including young people with depression."

Among the participants in the event was Emanuel Cosmin Stoica, a writer, activist, and disabled person. 

"In a moment of suffering," he said, "I myself might think about death, but it is precisely then that society must help people live and not offer suicide as an escape from pain." Instead, "the state must invest in assistance, psychological support, inclusion, and social networks that leave no one alone."

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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CNA Staff, Nov 5, 2025 / 17:33 pm (CNA).

Father Guillermo Treviño Jr., a 39-year-old priest who advocated for the rights of immigrants in the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa, passed away suddenly on Oct. 31, just hours after returning from a trip to the Vatican. 

His death from sepsis after a fatal stomach perforation was a complication of undiagnosed diabetes, according to his sister, Mariela Trevin~o-Luna, who had traveled with him to Italy.

Due to a shortage of priests in Iowa, Trevin~o served as a pastor of St. Joseph Church in Columbus Junction as well as St. Joseph Church in West Liberty, southeast of Iowa City.

Treviño's national profile stemmed from his immigrant rights work as a founder, board president, and chaplain of Escucha Mi Voz Iowa, a group aiding Latino workers, including immigrants. Treviño had just returned from Rome, where he represented the group at Pope Leo XIV's World Meeting of Popular Movements.

He fought deportations, notably for his godson, 18-year-old Pascual Pedro, a West Liberty High School soccer star U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported this summer despite his Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status. 

In a statement issued on the day of his death by the Diocese of Davenport, Bishop Dennis Walsh said: "Father Guillermo's heart was consistently with those in need. Throughout the current migrant crises, he showed great compassion for the many migrants who find themselves on edge due to aggressive immigration enforcement action." 

As pastor of both St. Joseph churches, Treviño nurtured the meatpacking and farming communities there with "remarkable authenticity," Walsh said. 

"His voice was becoming a beacon of hope and advocacy on this vital issue, gaining national prominence," Walsh continued in the statement. "He was recently invited to be part of a panel discussion at Georgetown University and had the distinct honor of traveling to the Vatican as part of the World Gathering of Popular Movements. His leadership and commitment to justice will be deeply missed by the Church and the wider community he so faithfully served." 

Archbishop Thomas Zinkula of Dubuque recalled Treviño's "playful and serious sides," telling the Des Moines Register this week that "Father Guillermo loved movies, Star Wars, and professional wrestling. But he also was passionate about serving and advocating for immigrants. I was inspired by his total commitment to seeking justice and mercy for people on that particular margin of society."

Born on March 7, 1986, in San Antonio, Texas, to Maria Luna and Guillermo Treviño Sr., Treviño and his family moved to Moline, Illinois, when he was 3. He earned an associate's degree from Black Hawk College before entering seminary at Conception Seminary College and Mundelein Seminary. Despite an initial rejection, he said at the time that his faith — rekindled after his father's early death — drove him forward. Ordained on June 6, 2015, he quickly became a force in rural Hispanic parishes.

According to the diocese's statement, Treviño "received the National 2022 Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award. The award recognizes a 'young faith-filled Catholic who has demonstrated leadership against poverty and injustice in the United States,' according to the USCCB [U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops]."

"It recognizes the leadership, energy, and diverse skills that young people bring to the anti-poverty work of low-income projects and Catholic parishes. It highlights the gifts of young leaders and their Gospel commitment to the poor," the statement said.

Treviño's funeral Mass is set for Nov. 7 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport and will be livestreamed on YouTube. He is survived by his mother, sisters, and extended family.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 5, 2025 / 18:58 pm (CNA).

A Chicago-based federal judge on Wednesday ordered the Trump administration to maintain strict cleanliness and hygiene requirements for migrants detained at an Illinois facility.

The court also ordered the administration to provide detainees with access to legal representation.

The temporary restraining order entered Nov. 5 by Judge Robert W. Gettleman, who was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in 1994 by President Bill Clinton, did not address the plaintiff's concerns about a lack of religious accommodations, including the ability to receive holy Communion.

Gettleman's order Nov. 5 directed the administration to provide adequate food, water, and hygiene practices to detainees along with prescribed medications.

"Plaintiffs and members of the putative class have suffered, and are likely to suffer, irreparable harm absent the temporary relief granted," said the order, which will be in effect until a Nov.?19 status hearing.

Gettleman required detainees to be provided with soap, towels, toilet paper, oral hygiene products (including toothbrushes and toothpaste), and menstrual products.

The order said: "Defendants shall provide each detainee with at least three full meals per day that meet the U.S. recommended dietary allowance … Defendants shall provide each detainee with a bottle of potable water with each meal and bottled water upon request free of charge."

It specified that papers provided to detainees "should include an accompanying Spanish translation."

'Squalid living environment'

The judge's order followed an hourslong hearing on Nov. 4 featuring argument between lawyers for detainees and Trump administration attorneys, and testimony from former detainees at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Broadview facility located at 1930 Beach St.

On Oct. 30, the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, together with the MacArthur Justice Center — a self-described nonprofit civil rights law firm based in Chicago — filed a civil suit (Moreno Gonzalez v. Noem) in federal court alleging detainees at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Broadview facility faced overcrowded, "inhumane" conditions, insufficient nutrition, inadequate medical care, lack of privacy, and a squalid living environment.

"The food provided to detainees is insufficient and lacks nutrition," according to the complaint filed last week by lawyers for several detainees. "At most, detainees receive two to three small, cold sandwiches per day."

The detainee's lawyers say in their lawsuit: "The physical conditions are filthy, with poor sanitation, clogged toilets, and blood, human fluids, and insects in the sinks and the floor." The complaint says overcrowding, "unhygienic conditions, lack of medical care, and deprivation of adequate food" has turned the Broadview ICE facility into "a breeding ground for illness to spread."

"The toilets are filthy and often get clogged, resulting in urine and dirty water on the floor where detainees are forced to sleep," according to the detainees' attorneys in their complaint.

The lawyers argued the ICE Broadview facility was designed to serve only as a short-term (roughly 12 hours) "holding facility" where people are briefly held for processing before being moved to a longer-term detention facility. But in the wake of the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration in the Chicago area, the federal government, including the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, "are now warehousing people at Broadview for days on end," the detainees' attorneys said. "The consequences have been dire, and wholly predictable," including a lack of adequate access to legal representation.

"Everyone, no matter their legal status, has the right to access counsel and to not be subject to horrific and inhumane conditions," said Alexa Van Brunt, director of the MacArthur Justice Center's Illinois office and lead counsel on the suit, in an Oct. 31 statement.  

The complaint also alleges the detainees have been unconstitutionally denied access not only to their attorneys but also to faith leaders and members of clergy, "who have provided religious services at Broadview for years but are now denied the ability to provide pastoral care under defendants' command."

"For many years, faith leaders and members of the clergy … provided pastoral care to individuals detained inside Broadview," the detainees' lawyers told the court.

"Now, no one is allowed inside Broadview. Faith leaders seeking to provide religious services are blocked from providing Communion and spiritual support to detainees, even from outside."

Catholic leaders in Chicago sought to bring holy Communion to Broadview detainees Nov. 1. Auxiliary Bishop Jose María García-Maldonado and others were not admitted despite requesting access weeks in advance and attempting to follow U.S. Department of Homeland Security's guidelines.

Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday said the spiritual rights of migrants in detention must be considered by government authorities. "I would certainly invite the authorities to allow pastoral workers to attend to the needs of those people," the pontiff said. "Many times, they've been separated from their families for a good amount of time. No one knows what's happening, but their own spiritual needs should be attended to."

On Oct. 1, Pope Leo said being "in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don't know if that's pro-life."

The Homeland Security Department's Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin responded to the detainees' lawsuit and told CNA that the Broadview facility was a "field office,"  not a "detention facility."

She added: "Illegal aliens are only briefly held there for processing before being transferred to a detention facility. Religious organizations are more than welcome to provide services to detainees in ICE detention facilities."

McLaughlin said the Broadview facility had recently been the target of numerous attacks and vandalism by anti-Trump administration protesters that presented many public safety dangers, including assaults on law enforcement officers, throwing tear gas cans, slashing tires, firearms possession, and blocking the entrance of the building.

"ICE staff has repeatedly informed religious organizations that due to Broadview's status as a field office and the ongoing threat to civilians, detainees, and officers … they are not able to accommodate these requests at this time," she told CNA, adding: "Even before the attacks on the Broadview facility, it was not within standard operating procedure for religious services to be provided in a field office, as detainees are continuously brought in, processed, and transferred out."

McLaughlin wrote on the X that "religious organizations have ALWAYS been welcome to provide services to detainees in ICE detention facilities. Religious leaders may request access to facilities through proper channels and have those requests approved."

Tyler Arnold contributed to this story.

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CNA Staff, Nov 5, 2025 / 12:50 pm (CNA).

The Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa, is in the midst of a restructuring plan called the "Journey in Faith" initiative that will result in parish mergers and other major changes due to declining church attendance, financial pressures, and priest shortages.

At a homily he gave at the beginning of September, Archbishop Thomas Zinkula cited "dramatic shifts in population, culture, and finances within our archdiocese. We are using only 37% of our church capacities each weekend. Since 2006, Mass attendance is down 46% throughout the archdiocese."

According to archdiocesan data, Catholic marriages have declined 57% and infant baptisms are down 22% since 2006. The only liturgical celebration that has increased is Catholic funerals, up 3% in the same time period.

Regarding the priest shortage, there is currently only one priest for every two parishes in the northeastern Iowa archdiocese of about 182,000 Catholics, with 85 priests actively serving in the archdiocese. The number is expected to continue to decline.

Zinkula told CNA on Nov. 5 that he understands that it is upsetting to parishioners to see, in the initial models of the initiative, their parishes without weekend Masses. 

He said, however, that the cancellation of Masses "is not the same as 'closing' a church, as those churches may still be used for other liturgical celebrations, such as funerals, weddings, and weekday Masses. They also can continue to serve as hubs for charitable outreach in the community and offer opportunities to grow in faith."

"We are exploring models for grouping archdiocesan parishes into 'pastorates,'" Zinkula continued, "and eventually merging each pastorate into a single parish, which typically utilizes multiple churches for weekend Masses. These models focus on strengthening relationships so we can share human and material resources."

In a video message issued Sept. 2, Zinkula told the faithful: "I desperately want and need to hear from you."

As part of the restructuring initiative's three-month public input process, in September the Archdiocese of Dubuque held 34 regional informational sessions for parishioners to learn more about the process. Those meetings preceded the next step, local parish input sessions, that began in October and have allowed parishioners to provide verbal feedback through Nov. 21 as well as written feedback via the initiative's website.

The archbishop explained to CNA that "the models currently under review are not decisions. They are starting points — designed to elicit reactions and perspectives. They have certainly done so, which is a good thing! I'm glad there is so much passion. It would greatly concern me if there was widespread apathy on this important topic." 

Mark Tillman, a parishioner in Dubuque, told KWWL this week that he's concerned "these draconian cuts to the rural parishes will be morally and spiritually devastating to our parishes and our communities will suffer."

Tillman said his parish and the ones around it are financially stable. "It would rip my soul out to have my parish close," Tillman said. "I've developed relationships. I have friends. I've worked with the parish. I go to confession. I do everything the church has asked me to do, and they want to take it away for me. I'm sorry." 

Zinkula said in a statement in September that he knows how "difficult" it is to lose one's parish: "My own home parish was once merged into a neighboring parish, so I understand the sense of loss this can bring. And yet, I believe with all my heart that this journey is worth it — because it can reenergize our parishes, draw back our children and grandchildren, and strengthen our mission to proclaim the Gospel."

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ACI Africa, Nov 5, 2025 / 14:04 pm (CNA).

The Catholic Diocese of Auchi in Nigeria has announced the release of two seminarians who were abducted in July during an armed attack on Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Ivianokpodi while confirming the death of a third victim.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the assistant director of communications of the diocese, Father Linus Imoedemhe, recalled that during the July 10 incident, seminarians Japhet Jesse, Joshua Aleobua, and Emmanuel Alabi were abducted.

"We are grateful to God for the safe release of Japhet Jesse much earlier and, most recently, Joshua Aleobua, who regained his freedom on Nov. 4," Imoedemhe said in the statement shared with ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa. "However, with deep sorrow, we announce the passing of seminarian Emmanuel Alabi, who lost his life in the course of the ordeal."

Imoedemhe went on to extend the condolences of the bishop of Auchi to the families of the victims.

"Most Rev. Gabriel G. Dunia has expressed his deep pain and sorrow over the loss of the young seminarian and has called on security agencies to intensify efforts toward protecting the lives and property of all citizens," Imoedemhe said.

The bishop has cautioned political leaders against "turning a blind eye on the worsening insecurity situation in the nation," urging them to prioritize the safety and well-being of the people over political ambitions ahead of Nigeria's 2027 elections.

In his statement, Imoedemhe invited the people of God to "join us in praying for the repose of the soul of Emmanuel Alabi, and for the peace, healing, and security of our people and land."

"The Diocese of Auchi remains committed to the values of faith, peace, and justice, trusting in God's infinite mercy to bring comfort to the bereaved family, the seminary community, and all those affected by this tragedy," he said. 

"May the soul of Emmanuel Alabi, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen," Imoedemhei added.

The July 10 attack also claimed the life of Christopher Aweneghieme, a security guard at the seminary.

On Aug. 14, the Diocese of Auchi confirmed the authenticity of a viral video showing two of the three abducted seminarians.

The footage shows the two young seminarians with what appears to be a human skull, crying and pleading for their release while surrounded by gun-wielding individuals believed to be their captors.

Following the abduction, Dunia urged the families of the three seminarians to remain steadfast in prayer.

In a July 13 interview with ACI Africa, Dunia addressed the seminarians' parents, saying: "Do not be crushed by fear, threats, or intimidation."

"These things are not happening only at the seminary," he said. "Some seminarians have even been kidnapped from their homes while on holiday. We must remain vigilant and do all we can to protect them," the bishop said.

Dunia appealed to all levels of government — local, state, and federal — to take decisive action to address the challenge of insecurity. 

"There is a vast forest stretching between Edo and Kogi states, and that forest is where these criminals hide and launch their attacks. The government knows how to deal with this — they have the intelligence and the resources — but they must act."

He warned: "If nothing is done, communities will be abandoned, and these criminals will take over our land. We must not allow this to happen."

This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 5, 2025 / 15:19 pm (CNA).

The Archdiocese of Seville in Spain has announced that a young woman with Down syndrome who was initially prohibited from being a godmother at a baptism will be able to fulfill that role after "high-level" consultations with experts in canon law and pastoral care.

In late October, the offended family took their case to the media because a priest had refused to accept Noelia, a 19-year-old woman with Down syndrome, as a godmother.

In a Nov. 4 statement, the archdiocese explained that since the controversy broke out, it has gathered "all the relevant information and testimonies," and "in agreement with the pastor and the family of the child being baptized, the archdiocese authorizes the celebration of the sacrament of baptism on the scheduled date, allowing the parents to put forward the godparents they had initially chosen."

ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, confirmed through archdiocesan sources that one of the auxiliary bishops and the chancellor of the archdiocese participated in meetings with the family and the pastor.

The archdiocese reiterated that the Church wants to "foster the inclusion of all people in the ecclesial community, based on pastoral accompaniment and prudence," saying it regretted "the harm caused by the handling of this situation" and calling "for harmony and dialogue based on the communion that should characterize the life of a parish community."

At the initial meeting with Noelia and the baby's parents, the pastor of Our Lady of the Snows Parish in Benacazón asked Noelia some questions about the baptism and the meaning of being a godparent.

Noelia, who was confirmed in the Seville cathedral by Archbishop José Ángel Saiz Meneses, has "a serious difficulty expressing herself," despite being independent in managing her daily life — for example, traveling to Seville by bus on her own.

The situation was also complicated because Noelia had not enrolled in the formation program for prospective godparents provided by the parish, which requires several biweekly sessions as well as Mass attendance there every Sunday, but had instead enrolled in another parish that offers a shorter preparation period.

The pastor, who, according to the same sources who spoke to CNA, "is not an expert in canon law but is very competent in pastoral care," initially consulted the archdiocese. 

He attempted to resolve the matter according to the guidelines of the Instruction on Christian Initiation in effect in the diocese since 2015 with a unique proposal: Noelia could have a prominent role in the ceremony but would not be registered as the godmother. 

The decision displeased her family, however, and they appealed.

Now that the pastoral issue has been resolved, the outcome of the campaign undertaken by Noelia's father, demanding the pastor's removal "and a public apology," remains to be addressed.

The archdiocese told ACI Prensa that the pastor is a "well-liked person who is doing very well and working very well with his team" in a social context where rules can be "difficult to understand."

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 4, 2025 / 22:10 pm (CNA).

Pennsylvania voters elected to retain three Democratic justices on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court following a campaign with outside groups casting the vote as a referendum on abortion access, election integrity, and the future balance of the court.

The outcome means Democrats will maintain their 5-2 majority on the court.

With more than 54% of the vote tallied, 62.3% voted to retain Christine Donohue, 62.5% voted to retain Kevin Dougherty, and 62.4% voted to retain David Wecht. None of the other justices were on the ballot for 2025.

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee celebrated the victory on X. 

"Thanks to tonight's victories, the court's Democratic majority will continue to protect fair maps, voting rights, and reproductive freedom for Pennsylvanians for years to come," the post read.

In Pennsylvania, state Supreme Court justices are chosen through partisan elections to 10-year terms. When a judge's term expires, voters choose whether to retain them for another 10 years with a "yes" or "no" vote. Only one justice has ever lost a retention vote: Russell Nigro in 2005.

While the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race had over $100 million in total donations and spending, setting a new national record for a state judicial election, the Pennsylvania race totaled a fraction of that, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State. An estimated $15 million poured into the race. Donors included Planned Parenthood and labor unions, among others, plus Jeff Yass, a businessman who is a billionaire and the commonwealth's richest man.

The 2025 campaign for Democratic justices focused heavily on abortion access. 

One campaign advertisement in favor of retaining the three justices detailed the pro-life laws in several other states after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. It called the Democratic justices on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court "our last line of defense" against restrictions on abortion.

Last year, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court revived a 2019 lawsuit filed against the state's Abortion Control Act. The existing law, which the state Supreme Court upheld in 1985, prohibits the use of state funds for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother's life is at risk.

In the decision, the majority ruled that banning public funds for most abortions "discriminates against those women who choose to exercise their fundamental right to terminate a pregnancy" and asserted the state constitution's guarantee of equal protection "includes a right to decide whether to have an abortion or to carry a pregnancy to term."

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court sent the case back down to the appellate court, which could set the stage for a major abortion ruling in the state that could open the door to taxpayer-funded elective abortions.

In Pennsylvania, elective abortion is legal through the 23rd week of pregnancy. 

Reproductive Freedom For All also celebrated the wins on X. The organization wrote Donohue's win would protect abortion access "and will help to fight anti-abortion restrictions." It called Wecht's win "a key success for abortion rights in the state." The account wrote Dougherty would "continue to protect abortion access in the Keystone State."

All three justices were endorsed by Planned Parenthood PA PAC and Reproductive Freedom for All.

Other issues that came up during the campaign included redistricting fights and mail-in voting.

Donohue reaches the mandatory retirement age of 75 in 2027. Both Dougherty and Wecht are 63 years old, which means they will not face another retention vote until 2035.

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CNA Staff, Nov 4, 2025 / 22:17 pm (CNA).

Off-year elections for state leadership roles in Virginia and New Jersey saw Democrats win key races in what pundits had predicted would be a referendum against Republican President Donald Trump's second term in the White House.

Former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Virginia, won the gubernatorial race in that state against current Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears to become the commonwealth's first woman governor, according to the Associated Press, while state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi won the race for lieutenant governor there. Democrat Jay Jones also won the state's attorney general race, beating incumbent Jason Miyares.

In New Jersey, meanwhile, Democrat Mikie Sherrill beat Republican Jack Ciattarelli, with Sherrill keeping the governor's chair in Democratic control and becoming the second woman to lead the state government.

The results will likely be hailed as a rebuke against Trump's second term in office, which over the course of 2025 has been marked by aggressive policy on immigration, LGBT issues, and other hot-button political topics.

Virginia race marked by abortion, conscience rights, violent rhetoric 

In Virginia, the race between Spanberger and Earle-Sears was overshadowed in its last month by resurfaced text messages from Jones, dating from 2022, in which he suggested that then-state Speaker of the House Todd Gilbert, a Republican, should be shot in the head. Jones at the time also indicated a wish for Gilbert's children to die. 

The explosive texts, which were published at National Review in October, led Spanberger and Hashmi to condemn Jones, though neither they nor any major Democrats called for Jones to drop out of the race. Jones himself apologized for the remarks. 

Earle-Sears repeatedly called for Jones to back out of the contest. At the election's only gubernatorial debate on Oct. 9, she pressed Spanberger on Jones' texts, demanding that the Democrat call for Jones' withdrawal from the race.

Spanberger, meanwhile, made abortion access a central part of her campaign, calling on voters to elect her in order to protect Virginia's permissive abortion laws. The Democrat has voiced support for a state constitutional amendment protecting abortion, something to which Earle-Sears has publicly voiced her opposition.

The state's Catholic bishops had warned in October that the results of the state's elections could lead to that amendment's being advanced and codified into law, with this year's winners poised to "decide whether the proposed amendments are advanced or stopped."

In August, meanwhile, a resurfaced video from 2018 showed Spanberger apparently endorsing the policy of forcing religious hospitals to opt out of performing procedures such as abortion and euthanasia. 

"I oppose the ability of religious institutions to put their religious-based ideas on individuals and their health care choices and options," she said at the time. 

Earle-Sears has expressed support for conscience rights, meanwhile, and during the October debate she indicated support for allowing employers to fire employees over their sexuality. "That's not discrimination," she said. 

Abortion safe in New Jersey; candidates differ on LGBT issues

In New Jersey, the Republican and Democratic candidates for governor offered a notable agreement on abortion, with both Sherrill and Ciattarelli stating their desire to keep the procedure legal.

The two differed on specific policy: Ciattarelli had advocated restricting abortion after 20 weeks, while Sherrill said she favored the state's current laws, which allow for abortion up until birth. 

But their broader agreement on the legality of abortion underscored the state's high levels of pro-abortion support among voters and indicated that the issue remains a lightning rod for Republicans even more than three years after the Supreme Court repealed Roe v. Wade. 

Elsewhere, the candidates differed on LGBT issues. Ciattarelli had called for men who believe they are women to be barred from women's sports, while Sherrill voted against federal legislation that would have barred men from competing in girls' sporting leagues. 

The Republican had also advocated rolling back pro-LGBT curriculums in public schools. Sherrill, in contrast, had voted against a federal bill that would have required schools to inform parents if their children began identifying as the opposite sex at school. 

Ciattarelli had also called for a state school voucher program modeled after Florida's successful voucher initiative. Such a measure would "allow parents real choices in the schools their children attend," he said ahead of the election. 

In October, the state's bishops affirmed the Church's teaching on the electoral process by telling the faithful that it is "not the Church's place to tell them how to vote." 

"Each of us has the right — and the responsibility — to follow our conscience, shaped by Scripture and the Church's wisdom," the bishops said.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 4, 2025 / 22:25 pm (CNA).

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist who promotes gender ideology and abortion access, won his bid for mayor of New York City on Nov. 4, decisively defeating his two main opponents: former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and talk show host Curtis Sliwa.

Mamdani, a 34-year-old member of the New York State Assembly and the Democratic Party's nominee for mayor, took 50.4% of the vote on Tuesday. As of 9:42 p.m. ET, 75% of the vote had been tallied.

Cuomo, who served as governor as a Democrat and ran as an independent for mayor, received 41.3% of the vote. Sliwa, the Republican nominee, finished third with 7.5% of the vote.

Mamdani, set to be sworn in on Jan. 1, 2026, will be the city's first Muslim mayor. He will succeed Democratic Mayor Eric Adams, who suspended his reelection bid in late September.

New York City's mayoral race gained significant national attention after Mamdani secured an upset victory in the Democratic primary against Cuomo. Mamdani ran an anti-establishment campaign and called himself "the sole candidate running with a vision for the future of this city" during the final debate.

Mamdani embraced gender ideology during his campaign, vowing to provide $65 million in tax funding for hormone therapy drugs and surgeries as a response to President Donald Trump's executive order to strip federal funding from health care providers that provide such drugs and surgeries to children.

He also intends to create "an office of LGBTQIA+ affairs" and declare New York City a sanctuary for "LGBTQIA+" people. As a member of the Legislature, he also supported a bill to prohibit law enforcement from aiding out-of-state investigations into health care professionals who provide hormone therapy drugs and surgeries to minors.

The mayor-elect's campaign supported abortion access as well. He has promised to double city tax funding for the New York Abortion Access Fund and the city's Abortion Access Hub. He has also vowed to "protect New Yorkers from" pro-life pregnancy centers, which he accused of spreading "false or deceptive information."

Pro-life pregnancy centers have fought numerous lawsuits against states they accuse of censoring their speech in recent years.

Mamdani has also pledged to create a "baby basket" for parents with newborns, which will provide resources, such as diapers, baby wipes, nursing pads, postpartum pads, swaddles, and books. He expects this to cost less than $20 million annually.

The mayor-elect has further vowed to end all city cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and will not use any city resources to help enforce immigration laws. His platform calls for $165 million in funding to support legal defenses for people who are at risk of being deported.

Mamdani has promised to freeze rent for New Yorkers who live in rent-stabilized apartments and eliminate fares for city buses. He plans to establish city-owned grocery stores that he says will provide lower prices and intends to provide no-cost child care for families. He supports raising the minimum wage to $30 by 2030.

To pay for the costs, in part, the mayor-elect has said he will raise the top state corporate tax from 7.5% to 11.5% and add an additional 2% income tax on anyone making more than $1 million annually. He estimates this will generate $9 billion in additional revenue, though critics have questioned those estimations.

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