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ACI Prensa Staff, Aug 28, 2025 / 12:30 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday encouraged Catholic politicians to live coherently as Christians and follow the Gospel, even when performing their public duties in a secular polity. 

During an Aug. 28 meeting with a delegation of political representatives and civic leaders from the Diocese of Créteil, France, accompanied by Bishop Dominique Blanchet, the Holy Father stated that "a more just, more human, more fraternal world" can only be "a world more imbued with the Gospel."

Thus, he added, "in the face of the various deviations present in our Western societies, we can do nothing better, as Christians, than to turn to Christ and ask for his help in carrying out our responsibilities."

For this reason, the pope highlighted the importance of political and social leaders being committed to acting in coherence with their faith, because "beyond mere personal enrichment, it carries great importance and usefulness for the men and women they serve." 

In this regard, he underlined that such determination "is all the more praiseworthy considering that, in France, due to a sometimes-misunderstood secularism, it is not easy for an elected representative to act and decide consistently with their faith." 

'Christianity cannot be reduced to a mere private devotion' 

Because the Christian message embraces every dimension of the human person, Leo XIV stressed that "Christianity cannot be reduced to a mere private devotion, since it entails a way of living in society infused with love for God and neighbor, who in Christ is no longer an enemy but a brother." 

To face social challenges, the Holy Father said Catholic politicians must rely "on the virtue of charity that dwells within them since baptism," a gift of God that, as he cited from the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, constitutes a "force capable of inspiring new paths to address today's problems and to renew profoundly from within structures, social organizations, and legal norms," bringing charity from the personal realm into the social and political one because "it makes us love the common good and leads us to effectively seek the good of all." 

Pope Leo XIV also noted that the Christian politician "is better prepared to face the challenges of today's world, provided, of course, that he lives and bears witness to his faith in him, to his personal relationship with Christ." 

In this sense, he warned against the temptation to promote values "however evangelical they may be, but 'emptied' of Christ, their author," since they will be "incapable of changing the world." 

Responding to Blanchet's request for advice to Catholic politicians, Leo XIV replied: "The first and only one I will give you is to unite yourselves more and more to Jesus, to live and bear witness to him." 

Coherence in public life 

"There is no split in the personality of a public figure: There is not, on one side, the politician and, on the other, the Christian. Rather, there is a politician who, under God's gaze and before his conscience, lives his commitments and responsibilities as a Christian!" he added.

To achieve such coherence of life, the pope recalled the call for Catholic politicians "to strengthen themselves in faith, to deepen their knowledge of doctrine — especially social doctrine — that Jesus taught the world, and to put it into practice in carrying out their duties and in drafting laws." 

He also affirmed the enduring validity of natural law, a norm "that all can recognize, even non-Christians. Therefore, we should not fear proposing it and defending it with conviction: It is a doctrine of salvation that seeks the good of every human being, the building of peaceful, harmonious, prosperous, and reconciled societies."

Courage in the face of difficulties 

At the end of his address, the pope acknowledged that "an openly Christian commitment by a public official is not easy, especially in certain Western societies where Christ and his Church are marginalized, often ignored, and at times ridiculed." 

Such a commitment also means facing political pressures, including that of "ideological colonization," Leo said, using a term coined by his predecessor Pope Francis to refer to campaigns by wealthy countries and organizations to influence the values of developing nations.  Leo said that Christian public officials "need courage: the courage sometimes to say 'no, I cannot,' when the truth is at stake." 

"Only union with Jesus — Jesus crucified! — will give you that courage to suffer for his name," the pontiff declared, recalling Christ's words: "In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage: I have overcome the world." 

In conclusion, the pope expressed his support for Catholic politicians and encouraged them not to lose hope in a better world: "Remain certain that, united to Christ, your efforts will bear fruit and receive their reward."

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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National Catholic Register, Aug 28, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

After a pair of out-of-state school shootings in 2022 and 2023 shocked the nation, Minnesota's bishops implored state lawmakers to provide security funding for local nonpublic schools. 

Now, two years after their appeals went unheeded, tragedy has struck one of their own.

On the morning of Aug. 27, a gunman opened fire during an all-school Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, killing two students, aged 10 and 8; 14 other students and three adults were injured.

The tragedy comes after the Minnesota Catholic Conference (MCC), the public policy voice of Minnesota's six dioceses, made requests to state officials to extend funds for security upgrades and emergency-response training to nonpublic schools in both 2022 and 2023.

The appeals, which came after deadly school shootings at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, argued that students at Catholic and other nonpublic schools should receive the same level of protection as their public-school peers.

"We need to ensure that all our schools have the resources to respond to and prevent these attacks from happening to our schools," wrote Jason Adkins, MCC's executive director, in an April 14, 2023, letter to Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who are both Democrats. The letter was also signed by Tim Benz, president of a Minnesota independent school organization.

If MCC's request had been granted, Catholic schools like Annunciation would have been able to use state funds for enhancements like secure entries to facilities or even to hire school resource officers. 

But the Minnesota bishops' appeals were rebuffed in both years, as related bills stalled in the state Legislature, resulting in no additional funding for nonpublic school security. Meanwhile, for the 2023 legislative session, Minnesota enjoyed a historic $17.6 billion surplus.

In the aftermath of the Annunciation school shooting, the issue will assuredly be revisited — including why lawmakers failed to act on the bishops' request.

Responding to a request for comment, Walz's office underscored that the governor "cares deeply about the safety of students" and has "signed into law millions in funding for school safety." The National Catholic Register, CNA's sister news partner, confirmed, however, that none of the previously signed funding bills applied to nonpublic school safety.

"We remain committed to working with anyone who is willing to work with us to stop gun violence and keep our students safe," said the spokesman, noting that Walz meets with MCC on a regular basis.

Meanwhile, Republican state Sen. Julia Coleman told the Register that the tragedy is prompting her to reflect on her "responsibility as an elected official."

"There are no easy answers, but I know our children — our most precious assets — must be protected," said Coleman, a Catholic. "Now is the time to make school security funding a priority."

In his first public remarks following the shooting, Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis begged for prayers for those affected. He also called for an end to gun violence.

"Our community is rightfully outraged at such horrific acts of violence perpetrated against the vulnerable and innocent," he wrote in a statement. "They are far too commonplace."

Adkins declined to comment at this time.

Previous requests

The Minnesota bishops' efforts to secure school security funding came after state lawmakers had passed "Safe Schools" legislation in 2019 that provided money for security enhancements to public schools but not to nonpublic ones.

In 2022, after a bill to expand the funding to nonpublic schools stalled, Minnesota's bishops urged Walz to call a special session and pass an expansion to Safe Schools. The measure would have provided $44 per student for security costs, regardless of their school's affiliation.

"Although no legislation can stop the manifestation of evil, this Safe Schools legislation is an important, commonsense first step to establishing an ongoing funding source for schools to increase security staff, enhance building security, and strengthen violence prevention programs and mental health initiatives," Hebda wrote in a May 2022 letter.

The House version of the bill was supported by multiple members of the Democrat-Farmer-Labor Party, the Minnesota affiliate of the national Democratic Party, indicating bipartisan support. However, Walz did not call a special session to pass the legislation.

The following year, MCC implored Minnesota's lawmakers to make nonpublic schools eligible recipients of a $50 million security grant program included in the state's education finance bill. 

The 2023 letter cosigned by MCC described "the exclusion of one sector of schools" from security funding as "a discriminatory act against our students."

An attack on any school, whether it is a public, nonpublic, charter or another school site, cannot be tolerated or allowed to happen in Minnesota," the letter writers said.

Meeting, but no funding

According to comments Adkins made to The Daily Wire, Minnesota's bishops had raised their concerns with Walz, a former public school teacher, in a meeting. 

"He communicated his belief that people should feel safe in their schools and places of worship," Adkins said. "But the appropriation was not created."

As governor, Walz exerts significant influence over the budget process, including by proposing the initial biennial budget legislators are tasked to work with.

The Daily Wire article suggested that Walz focused on other priorities that year, such as securing Minnesota's status as a "trans sanctuary" state.

MCC's support for nonpublic school security in 2022 and 2023 is part of a more comprehensive effort to reduce gun violence. The bishops have also supported "red flag" orders, which temporarily restrict firearm access to individuals who pose a risk to themselves or others, and expanded background checks.

The Minnesota bishops did not take a public stance on security funding for Catholic schools in 2024 or 2025. Instead, MCC's Catholic school-related efforts in those years included opposing the exclusion of religious colleges from postsecondary enrollment programs and securing religious exemptions from new legislation that included "gender identity" as a protected class under state law.

This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, CNA's sister news partner, and has been adapted by CNA.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 27, 2025 / 09:30 am (CNA).

A Mexican-born Catholic priest who has served in the Diocese of Laredo, Texas, for nine years must leave the United States because his application for residency was denied and his religious worker visa is expiring.

Father Alan Sanchez, the pastor of St. Joseph Church in La Pryor and St. Patrick Mission in Batesville, will return to his native country of Mexico on Wednesday, Aug. 27, amid the visa issues. He will be received into the Archdiocese of Monterrey in northeastern Mexico when he arrives.

"Originally, I was hopeful … [this would] be resolved," Sanchez told CNA.

"I was sad [when I got the news] because of the community I was serving," he said. "This is a very small and poor community in Texas and this was my first role as a pastor."

Sanchez applied for residency two years ago but said the process was repeatedly delayed and then his application was eventually denied in November 2024. He appealed the denial and later applied for a different visa but said he ultimately "ran out of time." He still hopes the matter can be resolved so he can return to his parish at some point.

"I spoke to my bishop about it and the attorney, but there's nothing else that [I] can do except return to Mexico," he said.

Sanchez said the delay was caused by a backlog of applicants and that he was denied because of a lack of available spots for visas. He noted that asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors were given priority and that priests cannot have a "change of status for residency, because the spots are already taken."

He said the prioritization is "understandable" and "certainly fine" but added that many foreign-born priests also need to transition to residency.

"Because there is no availability, they are just denying it," Sanchez said.

Sanchez explained that "I don't think this is political" but rather "this is the process — this is what's going on."

"It's just like the process, the way it is, and of course it's heartbreaking to see that happening but it seems that it's out of my hands," he added.

Sanchez asked the faithful to pray for him and expressed hope that "this can be resolved." He also said he hopes this raises awareness about issues with the current immigration system and warned that other priests are facing the same struggle, which could ultimately exacerbate the priest shortage if it is not addressed by Congress.

"It's a call to make awareness that the immigration system needs to be expanded [to] a point and I think there is room for everybody as long as we can do it in a good way," Sanchez said.

Bishop James Tamayo of the Diocese of Laredo appointed Father Heleodoro Lozano — who is the parochial vicar of St. Jude Church in Laredo — to take over Sanchez's role beginning on Thursday, Aug. 28.

The diocese told CNA in a statement that Sanchez "will temporarily return to Mexico … until this process is resolved" and that the diocese helped him obtain legal counsel and will "continue to walk with him in prayer and assistance."

"We are profoundly grateful for the generosity of spirit, pastoral care, and joy [Sanchez] has brought to the people of St. Joseph and St. Patrick," the diocese said.

"His presence is deeply cherished, and we remain hopeful that he will soon return to continue his mission of faith and service among us," the statement added. "Like all dioceses, we long to keep our priests serving their communities, and we will continue to pray and work diligently so that Father Sánchez may once again minister among the faithful of our diocese."

Sanchez noted that some lawmakers are trying to address the concern with the bipartisan Religious Workforce Protection Act. The proposed legislation would ease the process for extending religious visas.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview earlier this month on EWTN's "The World Over with Raymond Arroyo" that President Donald Trump's administration is "committed" to fixing the backlog.

"I've been in touch with a number of our cardinals here in the United States and bishops about that as well," Rubio said, "and it's not only the Catholic Church — I mean there are other places that are being impacted, but we're trying to streamline that process."

Several bishops have endorsed the Religious Workforce Protection Act and have expressed concerns that without some type of action, the number of foreign-born priests being forced out of the United States will continue to increase.

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CNA Staff, Aug 27, 2025 / 10:41 am (CNA).

At least two victims are reportedly dead, with multiple injuries reported, after a mass shooting incident at a Minneapolis Catholic church and school.

A massive police presence descended on Annunciation Church in Minneapolis on Wednesday morning, with emergency responders having initiated a "mass casualty response" in response to a shooting incident. The K-8 Annunciation Catholic School is located next to the parish.

The active crime log on the city's website showed dozens of responses to a "shooting" near the parish on Wednesday morning. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Wednesday confirmed the shooting, saying he had been briefed on the incident.

Media reports said at least two individuals had been killed at the shooting, with numerous injuries reported.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said he had been briefed on the incident and the White House would "continue to monitor this terrible situation."

And Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said on Wednesday that he had received "reports of horrific violence" and was monitoring the situation as well.

A spokesman with the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis declined to immediately comment on the shooting when reached via email.

This is a developing story.

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CNA Staff, Aug 27, 2025 / 11:13 am (CNA).

Authorities and media reports on Wednesday morning said a mass shooting had taken place at a Catholic parish and school in Minneapolis, one that police were reportedly treating as a "mass casualty" incident.

The local crime watch outlet Minnesota Crime said on Wednesday morning that police reported 20 victims of an "active shooter" at the site of Annunciation Church in Minneapolis, with emergency responders having initiated a "mass casualty response." Annunciation Catholic School is located next to the parish.

Follow here for live updates.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 26, 2025 / 17:27 pm (CNA).

This week hundreds of vocation directors, staff, and collaborators are gathering to draw closer to Christ, grow in brotherhood, and learn best practices for creating a culture of vocations at the annual National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors (NCDVD).

Every year members of the NCDVD organization travel from across the United States and from at least 10 different countries to gather for what many describe as "one of the highlights of their year." They not only receive spiritual renewal and practical knowledge but also enjoy activities and community with brother priests.

The NCDVD is a fraternity of vocation directors who provide one another support as they help guide men discerning priesthood. The organization encourages priests to collaborate on projects and offer insights from their personal experiences. It also welcomes religious brothers and sisters, vocation office personnel, and laypeople to collaborate in the ministry.

NCDVD focuses on a number of key aspects including community, regional gatherings, the annual convention, fundraising, and its Vocare Institute for New Vocation Directors — an in-depth training held for new directors held before the conference.

Vocation directors have a tremendous responsibility that can often draw a lot of pressure. The overall goal of the conference is to provide knowledge to help them feel properly equipped to tackle such an important role.

This year the conference, held at the Retreat and Conference Center of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, New York, welcomed Father Stephen Rossetti as the keynote speaker on Monday, Aug. 25. The well-known exorcist, psychologist, and author held a talk titled "Deliverance Ministry for Priests." He discussed how priests can "safely and effectively assist" the laity who come to them for guidance. 

On Tuesday, Aug. 26, priests also had the opportunity to hear from Father Boniface Hicks, OSB, about "the impact of the spiritual direction relationship on personal discernment and prayer." The discussion tapped into the importance of the formative relationship between a spiritual director and directee.

Throughout the week attendees also participate in workshops held by priests, sisters, and other Catholic leaders. They will address topics including how to operate an effective vocation office, strengthen campus ministries, and encourage younger generations to serve the Church.

Bishop Edward Lohse of the Diocese of Kalamazoo, Michigan, will also join to offer needed guidance for vocation directors as many often struggle to decipher "what can or should be asked of candidates and what should not."

While many aspects of the conference focus on resources and roles of the directors, a number of workshops also tackle hot topics that are relevant to the changing times.

This year Tanner Kalina will lead a workshop called "Create Digitally, Connect Personally" focused on social media. Kalina, who stars in EWTN's online series "James the Less," will discuss how to utilize the tool of social media "in a way that Jesus would if he were in our shoes."

Another workshop will be led by Miguel Naranjo, who is the director of the Religious Immigration Services section of Catholic Legal Immigration Network. He will address immigration issues in the United States with "attention to the religious worker immigration law programs."

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 26, 2025 / 13:53 pm (CNA).

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis announced a new initiative that will "meet families where they are" as it helps them reclaim the Sabbath as a day dedicated to prayer and rest. 

The initiative, "Reclaiming Sundays: Recover Sunday as a Day for the Lord and Family," includes both a video series and an online print edition that will "share ideas for building lasting habits to anchor our weeks in a joyful, prayerful, and restful observance of Sunday," Archbishop Bernard Hebda said in a video announcing the initiative.

The print guide called "Guide to Reclaiming Sundays for the Lord" lays out monthly themes and practical suggestions for families to begin this September and through August 2026. The guide kicks off with its first month focused solely on "Prayer" but includes months dedicated to a number of other topics including "Screen-free Sundays" and "Music and Prayer."

The video series will also begin in September and be uploaded to the archdiocese's social media accounts. Viewers can expect to hear from parents, grandparents, fellow parishioners, and Catholic leaders about "what has worked, and hasn't" when trying to "keep holy the Sabbath" and about how "to make meaningful connections with their families and communities as God intended," the archbishop said.

The initiative focuses on a proposition of the Archdiocesan Synod 2022 process: "Form and inspire parents to understand and fulfill their responsibility as the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith."

The guide was carefully tailored to what works best for parishioners and families as it grew out of recommendations made to the archbishop by the Blue Ribbon Commission on Parents as Primary Educators — a group made up of clergy, religious, educators, parents, and grandparents that works to create practical resources for parents.

"Sunday is essential for keeping family life centered and balanced, and yet so many families are struggling with a frantic pace of life and daily demands that keep them from experiencing the joy, peace, and renewal that God desires for all families," Hebda said.

"The intent of this initiative is not just another activity to add upon already over-scheduled calendars of parishes, schools, and families. Rather … this effort is designed to meet families where they are and help them take meaningful steps to reorient their Sundays (and their entire lives) to reflect the gift of the Lord's Day," he said.

Parish groups, school communities, and Catholic families are encouraged to watch the videos and follow the guide together.

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Houston, Texas, Aug 25, 2025 / 17:57 pm (CNA).

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has directed public schools across the state not enjoined by ongoing litigation to comply with Senate Bill 10 (SB 10), a new law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. 

A federal court ruling last week temporarily blocked its enforcement in nearly a dozen independent school districts (ISDs) across the state.

"Schools not enjoined by ongoing litigation must abide by [SB 10] and display the Ten Commandments," Paxton said in his directive, issued on Aug. 24.

On Aug. 20, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery issued a preliminary injunction after 16 families sued 11 Texas school districts, arguing the law violates the First Amendment's separation of church and state. 

The federal ruling halts the law's implementation, set to begin Sept. 1, in school districts in and around San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and includes Alamo Heights ISD, North East ISD, Lackland ISD, Northside ISD, Austin ISD, Lake Travis ISD, Dripping Springs ISD, Houston ISD, Fort Bend ISD, Cypress Fairbanks ISD, and Plano ISD. 

Paxton's office filed an appeal on Aug. 21, asserting that the law reflects Texas' historical and moral foundation.

"From the beginning, the Ten Commandments have been irrevocably intertwined with America's legal, moral, and historical heritage," Paxton said in an Aug. 25 press release. "The woke radicals seeking to erase our nation's history will be defeated. I will not back down from defending the virtues and values that built this country."

SB 10, signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott on June 21, requires all public elementary and secondary schools to display a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments, measuring at least 16 by 20 inches, in every classroom.

According to Paxton: "While no school is compelled to purchase Ten Commandments displays, schools may choose to do so. However, schools must accept and display any privately donated posters or copies that meet the requirements of SB 10."

Supporters, including Republican state Sen. Phil King, who introduced the legislation along with state Sen. Mayes Middleton, have argued the law promotes values foundational to Texas and U.S. law.

"The Ten Commandments are part of our Texas and American story," King said of the law earlier this year. "They are ingrained into who we are as a people and as a nation. Today, our students cry out for the moral clarity, for the statement of right and wrong that they represent. If our students don't know the Ten Commandments, they will never understand the foundation for much of American history and law."

Attorney Andrea Picciotti-Bayer, director of The Conscience Project, told CNA: "These laws requiring a passive display of the Ten Commandments do not violate either the establishment clause or the free exercise clause."

Of the appeal filed by Paxton, Picciotti-Bayer said: "The 5th Circuit en banc should examine challenges against them, and if it does not, the U.S. Supreme Court will likely make clear that such modest acknowledgements of faith and the foundations of law pass judicial scrutiny." 

The law's opponents, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), contend it unconstitutionally favors Christianity.

Heather Weaver, an attorney with the ACLU's Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, who represented the plaintiffs, acknowledged that Biery's ruling, "as a technical matter," only "covers the school district defendants." Despite this, she went on to say: "Every school district should heed it, even if they are not a defendant in the case."

The 11 school districts affected by the temporary injunction have a combined enrollment of approximately 680,790 students. This represents about 12.38% of the total 5.5 million public school students in Texas for the 2024-2025 school year.

As of the 2024-2025 school year, Texas has 1,246 public school districts, according to the Texas Education Agency. This number includes 1,026 ISDs and 220 charter school districts.

The legal fight mirrors similar battles in Louisiana and Arkansas, where courts have also blocked Ten Commandments display laws. Paxton's appeal could escalate the issue to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 25, 2025 / 18:27 pm (CNA).

In a bid to help strengthen marriages across the state, the California Catholic Conference (CCC)
has launched its first-ever statewide partnership with Communio, a nonprofit organization that equips parishes to "evangelize through the renewal of healthy relationships, marriages, and families." 

News of the agreement follows the CCC''s efforts over the past year to promote marriage and family through its "Radiate Love" initiative, which is set to end on Sept. 26 with a marriage summit in Oakland, where the CCC's partnership with Communio will officially launch. 

"The goal is to quantifiably strengthen marriage, either by self-reported happiness in marriage, by rising marriage rates, or by encouraging people to marry," Communio's director of church growth, Damon Owens, told CNA. 

Ordinarily, Communio partners on a diocesan and parish level to build out the most optimal version of its Full Circle Relationship Ministry Model to suit the needs of the community. Owens said he was inspired about a year and a half ago by the Radiate Love initiative to reach out to the conference about a partnership. 

After speaking with California Catholic Conference Executive Director Kathleen Domingo for some months and traveling to California to deliver talks centered on the theology of the body and marriage and family issues, the partnership — which includes all 12 bishops and dioceses in the state — came to fruition.  

The agreement, Owens said, marks the first time that every bishop across an entire state has bought in to bringing the program to every parish in his diocese.

"Every parish in California will now have access to Communio's relationship ministry model, which is credited with a 24% drop in the divorce rate in Jacksonville, Florida," the conference said in an Aug. 20 press release announcing the arrangement.

"I've been watching the progression of Communio over the years and hearing really great things from our marriage and family life directors, who have always told us that Communio is the gold standard," Domingo said in the release.

She added: "If they could have any tool in their toolbox to help parishioners and parish families, it would be Communio."

"In John 10:10, the Lord said that he came so that we would have life and have it more abundantly. We know that strong marriages and healthy families help us to have this abundant life, so we are excited to partner with Communio," Auxiliary Bishop Timothy Freyer of the Diocese of Orange and executive officer for the CCC also said in the release.

Inside the data-driven effort to reach parishioners

"The core of what we offer is data insight to know what the problems are, but also access to technology and consulting that helps to build a plan of events and encounters where new people come to the parish and parishioners themselves want to come," he explained.

"We have a unique technology that helps to do both the data gathering but also determining which programs are a good fit for them," Owens continued. "So part of the consulting is literally going through almost like an Amazon page where you're selecting facilitator-led programs or on your own or workbook or group or individual."

Communio provides programs tailored to one of four areas: singles, marriage preparation, marriage enrichment, and marriage in crisis. They work with a team of five to six people in a parish to build a calendar of events for the year in a sequence that best helps "to draw people into the Church, but addresses the top needs first."

"It's a very customized way of making sure that they get the results that they want because people are telling us what their needs are through the surveys," he said, noting that this addresses the "deepest concern" for pastors regarding the "specific needs that their people have."

"California represents probably the whole spectrum of the type of parishes that we work around the country. You've got the poor rural, you've got the wealthy suburbs, you've got big cities, you've got mountains, you've got large parishes, small parishes," Owens pointed out. 

"I think for each of those pastors, they want to know, is investing in Communio to invest in those marriages going to bring to them the success that we've been able to achieve around the country?" he said. "And that's why we're so confident and excited about it, because we know that we can."

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CNA Staff, Aug 25, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

When it comes to unborn life, only 19 states in the U.S. protect unborn children from abortion during the first trimester of their lives. As far as assisted suicide goes, in 10 states as well as the District of Columbia, it is legal. And in about half of U.S. states, the death penalty is legal.

CNA is unveiling three new interactive maps to show where each state in the U.S. stands on life issues. The maps will be updated as new information on each issue becomes available.

Here's an analysis of the maps and of the laws around life issues across the United States as of August 2025.

Abortion

After the overturn of Roe v. Wade, abortion legislation returned to the states. But in 2024, Americans had more than 1 million abortions, according to the latest data.

Twelve states now protect life throughout pregnancy with some exceptions. Soon after Roe was overturned in 2022, Texas prohibited almost all abortions, leading the charge alongside a few other states whose pro-life trigger laws went into effect.

Seven states protect unborn children within the first trimester, usually at the times when the child's heartbeat can be detected, which is about five to six weeks. Ohio led the charge for heartbeat legislation — laws that protect unborn children once a heartbeat can be detected. Florida also passed a heartbeat law in 2023 under Gov. Ron DeSantis. Nebraska passed a pro-life constitutional amendment protecting life after 12 weeks.

In 18 states, laws protect life after 18-24 weeks. Most of these states protect life only after "fetal viability," the time when a baby can survive outside the womb with medical support. Viability is usually estimated to be between 22 and 23 weeks by most doctors, but it continues to advance thanks to improving technology. For instance, a baby born last year celebrated his first birthday after being born at 21 weeks.

Abortion is legal up to birth in nine states and Washington, D.C. Alaska, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont have no protections for unborn children at any stage of development. In most of these states, taxpayer dollars fund abortion.

Several states have passed ballot measures in recent years declaring a "right to abortion" or "reproductive freedom" under the state constitution. These states include Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, and New York. In states with a right to abortion, the constitutional amendments leave room to expand already existing laws. While California currently allows abortion up to viability and up to birth in cases of the mother's life or health, pro-life advocates warn that the constitutional right to abortion could lead to an expansion of abortion in the state.

Four states have ongoing litigation over abortion laws, including in Missouri, where courts are determining how the state's constitutional right to abortion will be enforced. In 2024, Montana also approved a constitutional right to abortion in 2024 that is currently being challenged in court. Abortion laws in North Dakota and Wyoming are also in flux.

Assisted suicide

Assisted suicide — sometimes also called physician-assisted suicide — is when a doctor or medical professional provides a patient with drugs to end his or her own life. It is to be differentiated from euthanasia, which is the direct killing of a patient by a medical professional.

The term euthanasia includes voluntary euthanasia, a practice legal in some parts of the world when the patient requests to die; involuntary euthanasia is when a person is murdered against his or her wishes, and "nonvoluntary" euthanasia is when the person is not capable of giving consent. 

Assisted suicide is legal in some U.S. states and around the world, while voluntary euthanasia is legal in a limited number of countries including Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, and Portugal. In Belgium and the Netherlands, minors can be euthanized if they request it.

In Canada, patients with any serious illness, disease, or disability may be eligible for what is known as medical aid in dying (MAID), even when their condition is not terminal or fatal. In 2027 Canada plans to allow MAID for those with mental health conditions; Belgium, Luxembourg, and Colombia already allow for this.

While most U.S. states have laws against assisted suicide, a growing number of state legislatures have attempted to legalize it.

Thirty-eight states in the U.S. have laws against assisted suicide. Some states specify that assisted suicide is illegal, while other state codes say they do not "authorize" assisted suicide.

Other states maintain laws that were enacted before assisted suicide was popularized in the late 1990s. Often, these states ban the practice of "assisting suicide."

Some states have established newer legislation against the practice in recent decades including Maryland, Michigan, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, and Virginia.

The state of West Virginia has taken the lead in opposing assisted suicide. In 2024, the state became the first to approve a constitutional amendment banning assisted suicide.

In 10 states and in Washington, D.C., assisted suicide is legal. Oregon was the first state to legalize assisted suicide in 1997.

In another two states — Montana and New York — legislation that could legalize the practice is still pending. New York's legislation awaits the signature of the state governor, while pro-life voices such as Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan are outspoken against the bill.

Death penalty

The United States is split on the death penalty, which is also known as capital punishment. Twenty-three states have the death penalty, while 23 states have abolished it. In the remaining four states, executions have been temporarily paused via executive action, but the death penalty has not been abolished.

Of the states that have abolished the death penalty, Michigan took the lead, becoming the first state to abolish the death penalty in 1847. Alaska and Hawaii — both newer states — have never had the death penalty.

Five states (Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Utah) allow the death penalty via firing squad as an alternative to lethal injection.

The federal death penalty can be used for certain federal crimes in all 50 states as well as U.S. territories.

A total of 16 federal executions have occurred since the modern federal death penalty was instituted in 1988. The federal death penalty was found unconstitutional in the Supreme Court's decision Furman v. Georgia in 1972 but was later reinstated for certain offenses and then expanded by the Federal Death Penalty Act of 1994. In 2024, President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of 37 men, leaving three men on death row.

Where does the Catholic Church stand on life issues?

On abortion: The Catholic Church opposes direct abortions in all cases, teaching that human life must be protected at all stages. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception" (CCC, 2270).

"Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion," the catechism says. "This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable" (CCC, 2271).

Notably, the Church does not teach that the life of the child must be preferred to the life of the mother but rather instructs doctors "to make every effort to save the lives of both, of the mother and the child."

On assisted suicide: The Catholic Church condemns both assisted suicide and euthanasia, instead encouraging palliative care. 

The Church advocates for a "special respect" for anyone with a disability or serious condition (CCC, 2276). Any action or lack of action that intentionally "causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator," the catechism reads (CCC, 2277).

On the death penalty: In 2018, the Vatican developed the Church's teaching on the death penalty, with Pope Francis updating the Catechism of the Catholic Church to reflect that the death penalty is "inadmissible" in the contemporary landscape. 

St. John Paul II's previous teaching in the catechism permitted the death penalty in "very rare" cases, saying that "cases of absolute necessity for suppression of the offender 'today ... are very rare, if not practically nonexistent" (CCC, 2267, pre-2018). 

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