Israel issues evacuation order for Holy Family Parish's Gaza City neighborhood

Worshippers attend a Sunday morning Mass led by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, at the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City on July 20, 2025. / Credit: OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP via Getty ImagesCNA Staff, Aug 18, 2025 / 15:04 pm (CNA).Father Gabriel Romanelli, the pastor of the only Catholic church in Gaza, Holy Family Parish, said Monday that an evacuation order was issued by Israeli forces for the al-Zaytun neighborhood surrounding the parish in Gaza City.The Aug. 18 order was part of a broader Israeli plan to relocate Palestinians from northern Gaza, where the parish is located, to designated zones in the south. Earlier this month, Israel revealed its plan to occupy Gaza.Romanelli expressed concern about the feasibility of relocating Gaza's 2.3 million inhabitants, however, asking: "Where can they find the space for all the inhabitants?" He said Israel was distributing tents to facilitate the evacuation.The Israeli military said the ...

French archbishop rescinds appointment of priest convicted of rape, asks for forgiveness

Archbishop Guy de Kirimel of Toulouse, France. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Diocese of ToulouseACI Prensa Staff, Aug 18, 2025 / 15:34 pm (CNA).Archbishop Guy de Kirimel of Toulouse, France, has reversed his decision to appoint a priest convicted of rape as chancellor of the archdiocese and asked forgiveness of the victims of abuse, whom he had no intention of offending, according to a statement released Aug. 16."In order not to cause division among bishops, and not to remain at a standoff between those for and against, I decided to reverse my decision; this has now been done, with the appointment of a new chancellor," the archbishop said.The reversal of the appointment of Father Dominique Spina, a priest sentenced in 2006 to five years in prison for raping a 16-year-old boy in 1993, came after the French Bishops' Conference asked the archbishop on Aug. 11 to "reconsider the decision."The French prelates stated at the time that "an appointment of such importance, both canonically...

Planned Parenthood makes nearly $500 million in pro-life states, including tax funds

The American Life League has found that Planned Parenthood has received nearly half a billion dollars from pro-life states. / Credit: American Life League, Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 18, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).Planned Parenthood affiliates based in pro-life states rake in close to a half-billion dollars from various sources in annual revenue, which includes millions of dollars in taxpayer funds, according to a new report.The revenue data, which was unveiled by the Catholic nonprofit American Life League (ALL) on Aug. 18, found that the financial performance of Planned Parenthood affiliates in pro-life states is nearly identical to the performance of affiliates in pro-abortion states.Planned Parenthood still has 11 affiliates that represent 81 facilities in states that have heavily restricted abortion following the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. The average annual revenue for an affiliate in a pro-life state is more than $41.2 million, which means t...

Pope Leo XIV: Bear Christ's 'fire of love' to spread peace throughout the world

Pope Leo XIV preaches at the historic Rotonda church in Albano, Aug. 17, 2025. / Vatican media screenshotRome Newsroom, Aug 17, 2025 / 07:16 am (CNA).Pope Leo XIV celebrated Sunday Mass at the Shrine of Santa Maria della Rotonda together with the poor and Caritas workers, saying Christ's "fire of love" is what can create peace in society. During his Aug. 17 homily, the Holy Father said the Church of Jesus is a "Church of the poor," whose faithful should not seek their own comfort and security at the expense of those most in need.    "The world accustoms us to exchange peace for comfort, goodness for tranquility," he said. "Some will advise us not to take risks, to spare ourselves, because it is important to be at peace and others do not deserve to be loved." "Jesus, on the other hand, immersed himself courageously in our humanity," he said. Expressing gratitude to Caritas staff and volunteers working in the Diocese of Albano, Leo encouraged th...

Chant Camp aims to help children appreciate beauty and tradition of the Mass

Mary Ann Wilson conducts a children's choir during Mass at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan. / Credit: Martin BarillasAnn Arbor, Michigan, Aug 17, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).The setting: a suburban Michigan parish.The agenda: a crash course in Gregorian chant as well as posture, breathing, and other elements of sacred choral music.The attendees: youth ages 8 to 18.Canticle Chant Camp was held at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan, from July 28 to Aug. 1 and was attended by more than 40 children and teens. The camp ended with a sung Mass.Mary Ann Wilson conducts a children's choir during Mass at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Credit: Martin BarillasThe instructor was veteran choral director and educator Mary Ann Wilson. Wilson, who holds degrees in music, was trained in opera and Gregorian chant in Europe and has taught for nearly 30 years. She told CNA that she enjoys sharing "the glories of Gregorian chant, which uni...

Trump vows to do 'everything' to 'save' Jimmy Lai ahead of trial verdict

Police with automatic weapons guard outside the West Kowloon court after Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai arrived for his national security trial in Hong Kong on Aug. 15, 2025. / Credit: ISAAC LAWRENCE/AFP via Getty ImagesCNA Staff, Aug 16, 2025 / 07:30 am (CNA).President Donald Trump has vowed to do "everything [he] can" to "save" imprisoned Catholic activist Jimmy Lai, promising to "see what we can do" to help the longtime human rights advocate who has languished in jail for years.Trump made the remarks during a radio interview with Fox News this week, stating that he has "already brought it up" in government circles.The U.S. president's vow comes as Lai, imprisoned by Chinese Communist Party authorities since 2020, is nearing the end of a lengthy national security trial in Hong Kong. Closing arguments in the trial were postponed repeatedly this week amid inclement weather and medical concerns regarding Lai. The 77-year-old has reportedly experienced heart troubles while impri...

From AI to the White Sox: Pope Leo XIV's first 100 days break new ground

Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims at the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square, Wednesday, June 25, 2025 / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNARome Newsroom, Aug 16, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).Saturday, Aug. 16, marks Pope Leo XIV's 100th day as pope. Since his May 8 election as the first pope born and raised in the United States, the 69-year-old Chicago native has already left his mark on a jubilee year filled with papal liturgies and a surge in pilgrim enthusiasm.Here are some of the highlights of the first 100 days of the new Holy Father:Papal jubilee: Pope Leo offers 16 public Masses in 14 weeksPope Leo XIV began his papacy in the heart of the Church's 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, and he made the most of this opportunity to interact with Catholic pilgrims from across the globe by offering many Masses with the public.Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for the Jubilee of Sport on June 15, 2025, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican MediaLeo XIV offered 16 large public Ma...

Here are 50 notable remarks by Pope Leo XIV during his first 100 days

Pope Leo XIV smiles during his Wednesday general audience on Aug. 13, 2025, in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican MediaACI Prensa Staff, Aug 16, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).Pope Leo XIV has made numerous memorable remarks during the first 100 days of his pontificate (May 8 to Aug. 16). Below are some of the most notable.The peace that comes from Christ1. "It is the peace of the risen Christ. A peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. A peace that comes from God, the God who loves us all, unconditionally" (First greeting after being elected).2. "In a divided and troubled world, the Holy Spirit teaches us to walk together in unity" (Vigil of Pentecost).3. "Today more than ever, humanity cries out and calls for peace. This is a cry that requires responsibility and reason, and it must not be drowned out by the din of weapons or the rhetoric that incites conflict" (Angelus on the solemnity of Corpus Christi).The evangelizing mission4. "These ar...

Catholic bioethics expert on AI: 'It's not too late to put the genie back in the bottle'

Moral theologian Charles Camosy, a bioethics professor at the Catholic University of America and an acclaimed author, speaks to Anchor Catherine Hadro on "EWTN News In-Depth," Aug. 15, 2025 / Credit: EWTN NewsCNA Newsroom, Aug 16, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).As artificial intelligence (AI) has become more widespread, a Catholic bioethics expert is warning against the dangers posed by it, saying it's "not too late" to "put the genie back in the bottle" and avoid the worst effects of the new technology.  Pope Leo XIV has already warned that AI could have negative effects on the development of young people and contribute to a "loss of the sense of the human.""He took the name Leo XIV to connect himself to Leo XIII, who himself was dealing with the Industrial Revolution of the late century, which totally transformed culture," moral theologian Charles Camosy, a bioethics professor at the Catholic University of America and an acclaimed author, told "EWTN News In-Depth" Ancho...

Study: Catholic law grads outpace secular peers in practice, purpose, and civic life

null / Credit: Sora Shimazaki/PexelsWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 15, 2025 / 16:41 pm (CNA).A new study found that 2025 graduates of Catholic law schools are not only more focused on ethics, service, and community, but they are also more likely to be practicing law than graduates of secular institutions.The study, commissioned by the St. Mary's University School of Law and conducted by YouGov, asked a national sample of 1,076 law school graduates across Catholic and secular institutions (844 secular and 232 Catholic) questions about motivation, career trajectory, values alignment, civic participation, and ethical formation.The report revealed graduates of Catholic institutions highly prioritize their career outcomes and professional commitments. It found that 14% more Catholic law school students who graduated this year are currently practicing law than graduates of secular institutions. Also, 13% more Catholic law graduates said their career aligns with their personal values....