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While there has been a tendency in the United Sates "to hyper-stress separation of church and state," Bishop Robert Barron said "the roots of our country are deeply religious" and "the basic principles of the country are inescapably religious."

On May 17, thousands gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for the White House event celebrating "one nation under God" and "the connection between religion and our American democracy,"  Barron said.

In an interview with EWTN News' Colm Flynn ahead of the event, Barron discussed the "hugely important" phrase "one nation under God."

"In the written versions of the Gettysburg Address that [Abraham Lincoln] prepared before giving it, the phrase 'under God' is not there," Barron explained.

"But then when he was delivering it he added ... 'under God,'" Barron said. "I think it represented a deep intuition that Lincoln had that you can't really understand our democracy without it."

The phrase "under God" is "meant to hold off tyranny," he said. It is clear that "all kings and all rulers are under God, meaning under the judgment and authority of God. Our founders understood that."

"And that little phrase is meant to hold off that tendency to deify any political establishment, political party, political ruler. We're a nation, yes indeed, but we're under God. Our laws are determined by God," he said.

"I love the First Amendment to our Constitution, which in its opening lines expresses very eloquently … the right balance," he said. "Namely, 'Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion.'"

"But then there's a second part, the second clause of that: 'Congress shall make no law limiting the free exercise of religion,'" he said.

"That's an eloquent balance. So there's no officially state-sanctioned religion, but that does not mean that religion has no role in public life. On the contrary, because there should be no law restricting the free exercise of religion," Barron said.

Catholics' role in public life and public office

Catholics in public office should bring "moral sensibility into their public decisions," Barron said.

"We're not here to impose Catholicism on anybody," he said. "But I think to bring a moral and spiritual sensibility into the decisions that you make at these high levels is altogether valid."

As a member of the White House Religious Liberty Commission, Barron said he met "lots of Catholics in the present administration" and told them to "bring Thomas Aquinas into your public life."

"By which I mean bring these great moral and spiritual principles that indeed undergird our democracy, but make them a lively presence in the work that you do," he said.

Barron further spoke about his time on the White House commission, where he received both criticism and praise.

When asked to be a commissioner, "my first reaction was very positive," Barron said. "I thought … 'They're inviting a Catholic bishop to be a voice around the table in the formulation of this policy. Why would I say no?'"

To say no would be "taking a Catholic voice away from that process," he said.

"I'm not implementing the policy. I'm making suggestions regarding the formulation of policy," Barron explained. "The president could take or leave what we say … So I'm not implementing the president's policies. I'm helping to shape public policy."

"The commission was great. I spoke my mind in every setting. No one censored me," said Barron, who was present at a White House Holy Week event when Pentecostal pastor Paula Cain White compared the president's suffering to Jesus Christ's.

Barron said he was able to address issues within the administration, specifically about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) "detainees in Chicago having access to sacraments and pastoral care."

The bishop took the matter to Homeland Security and "no one questioned" him. It was "a religious liberty issue," because "people have a right to their sacraments and pastoral care," he said.

Barron also spoke out in regard to the president's "critical remarks about the pope."

"I said in an X post that I have deep admiration for the president in regard to religion. He's done wonderful things. But I said I think that was a disrespectful way to talk to the pope," Barron said.

"In regards to prudential judgment," a president can "disagree with the pope," Barron said. "But the pope is not ... just an ordinary hack politician that you can sort of talk in that flippant way to."

"He's the vicar of Christ, successor of Peter. He's our Holy Father. And I just felt that was disrespectful, and I thought it was not a constructive contribution to the conversation," he said.

"He's the Holy Father, so we have a filial relationship to him. He's a father, we're like children … we have a family relationship to the pope. So it's different than just our relationship to a political leader."

"At the level of principle and the moral values that ought to be informing our life … we abide by what the pope is saying, but I think there can be disagreement at the prudential level," Barron said.

Dividing issues in the nation today

Amid numerous wars right now, Barron said "we should study" the just war tradition.

It offers "very useful criteria, and I think the Church's job is to bring these to consciousness and urge political leaders to apply them," he said.

"The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that when it comes to the evaluation and application of the criteria, that belongs to the civil authorities. And I think there's great wisdom there too."

Barron also spoke to the ongoing matters with U.S. immigration enforcement.

"A completely open border invites a lot of moral chaos, and a lot of catastrophe happens because of an open border. So the Church recognizes the legitimacy of that," Barron said. "At the same time, the Church wants us to welcome the stranger and to be open to those who are in great need and those who are seeking refuge."

ICE "is a very legitimate expression of the government's authority, but … I think ICE is way too blunt a tool to use to solve the general issue of people in the country illegally," Barron said.

"I think a political solution has to be found. I don't think ICE is the right instrument to do that," he said. "I'd invite people who are intimately involved in these things to have a good, morally informed conversation about it and come to good prudential judgments."

"I'm not an expert in immigration policy, and I'm not an expert in the economics that are prevailing on the ground in various situations," he said. "I think we have to inform all those who are making those decisions, make sure they have a keen moral sensibility, [and] know what the principles are."

"But I think people of goodwill can, and obviously do, disagree about how they are applied … concretely," he said.

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U.S. Catholic bishops are calling on Congress to allocate the maximum possible funding for housing programs in the 2027 appropriations bill, citing "an alarming rise in homelessness."

"Current federal investments in housing programs do not meet the great need we see in our country," Archbishop Shelton Fabre of Louisville, Kentucky; Catholic Charities USA CEO Kerry Alys Robinson; and National Council of the U.S. Society of St. Vincent de Paul President John Berry said in a May 21 joint letter to Congress. "Ultimately, we urge you to provide the highest level of funding possible for housing and community development programs serving families and individuals who are poor and vulnerable."

Fabre serves as chair of the bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.

The letter comes amid proposed cuts to federal funding for housing programs from $84.2 billion to $73.5 billion for fiscal 2027.

Citing the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 2024, the letter pointed out that homelessness is at its "highest recorded levels for both individuals and also families with children."

HUD has yet to release legally-required data for 2025.

The letter also cited data from 2025 showing that more families and individuals than ever before are spending more than 30% of their income on housing and that "only 1 out of every 4 income-eligible households receives housing assistance."

The letter specifically called for "robust funding" for a wide range of programs, including Section 8 housing, housing programs for the elderly, the HOME Investment Partnership Program, homelessness assistance grants through the Continuum of Care Program, and housing counseling centers.

The letter called for protections for faith-based shelters and organizations, "to enable these groups to continue to serve people in need without forcing them to violate their beliefs or compromise the safety of their clients."

"The Catholic Church, through all its ministries, is one of the largest private providers of housing services for poor and vulnerable people in the country," the letter said. "We serve as many as we can; however, we lack the resources to assist all our brothers and sisters in need."

The letter noted that in 2025 despite providing over 196,000 people access to housing and offering homeless-related services to over 719,000 individuals, the Catholic Charities network has 73,000 families on waiting lists for housing. 

"Considering such widespread, unmet need, it is clear that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) needs more resources," the letter said.

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Cardinal Michael Czerny this week reflected on the martyrdom of Catholics who gave witness to Jesus Christ under communist rule in eastern and central Europe during the "Blessed Martyrs Under Communism" conference in Rome hosted by the Czech Republic's embassy to the Holy See.

Czerny, the Czech-born prefect for the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, discussed the canonization causes of two Czech priests — Father Jan Bula and Father Václav Drbola — who will be beatified June 6.

"The witness of Father Jan and Father Václav addresses each of us individually in our daily struggles, big and small," Czerny said at the May 20 conference, according to the Vatican-run Vatican News.

"Their martyrdom teaches us that there is no human situation — however degrading or unjust — in which Christ cannot be witnessed," he said.

According to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, both priests were imprisoned and killed between 1951 and 1952 amid the Czechoslovak communist regime's persecution of the Catholic Church following World War II. They were in the Diocese of Brno.

Both priests worked extensively with the Catholic youth and were eventually imprisoned. According to the dicastery, both priests were falsely accused in prison of plotting to assassinate communist officials and were subsequently executed.

The dicastery states they were persecuted and killed for their pastoral work and the regime's hatred of the Catholic faith.

"For Jan and Václav, God's hands were their support behind the bars of the Jihlava prison, their defense during long interrogations, and the safeguard of their dignity, which remained intact even amid the most degrading humiliations," Czerny said at the conference.

"The communist regime did not merely want to kill them; it wanted to annihilate their priestly identity," he said. "It wanted them to betray, to deny, to renounce their faith."

Czerny said Bula and Václav "were able to transform the darkness of hatred and the cold of the gallows into the place of their living encounter with the Lord." He said they "testified with their very lives that light can pierce the dark clouds in history."

"We admire the splendor of the grain of wheat that, after remaining hidden for decades in the furrow of Bohemian and Moravian soil — nurtured despite a difficult history and fertilized by sacrifice — now springs forth before our eyes," Czerny said.

This sprout, which broke through the frozen ground of atheism and oppression, is proof that no violence can stifle the life of God in those who entrust themselves to him."

Cardinal Michael Czerny

prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development

"This sprout, which broke through the frozen ground of atheism and oppression, is proof that no violence can stifle the life of God in those who entrust themselves to him," he added.

Czerny said the beatification of the two martyrs shows the reality of Christ's promise in Matthew 28:20 that "I am with you always," with the prefect saying the promise "shines forth fulfilled and written in the blood and joy of these two priests."

"May their sacrificial offering help us to be Christians, citizens, men and women who know how to 'lose' our lives in service, forgiveness, and truth," he said, "that beyond the veil of trial and death, awaiting us is the bright light of God's loving smile and a joy that no one will ever be able to take from us."

Pope Leo XIV approved the beatification of the two priests in October 2025 along with nine servants of God who were martyred by the Nazi regime because of its hatred of the Catholic faith.

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During his papacy and before, Pope Leo XIV has revealed his thought on a myriad of issues in his speeches, homilies, and writings, and several clear themes have emerged.

He has made artificial intelligence a priority and has also not hesitated to speak out against war, calling for, as he has often repeated, a "disarmed and disarming peace." In his first homily as pope, he also underlined his desire for "a united Church, a sign of unity and communion."

What do Leo's writings, both before and after his election, reveal about his priorities for the Church and the world?

Augustinian ideal of authority: His doctoral thesis

The then-Father Robert Prevost successfully defended his doctoral thesis in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome in 1987. His thesis, titled "The Office and Authority of the Local Prior in the Order of St. Augustine," discussed the role of local priors in the Augustinian order based on Augustine's monastic rule.

Considered by many to be his major literary work before he became pope, Prevost argued that the authority of priors within the Augustinian order must serve the common good of the entire community. The thesis also clarified the juridical power of priors and stated that they must find joy in serving before exercising authority.

'Liberi Sotto la Grazia': A collection of Prevost's writings as Augustinian prior general

Earlier this month, the Vatican published a book of the previously unpublished writing, homilies, and speeches of Prevost when he was the Augustinian prior general from 2001–2013.

The book, currently in Italian but expected to be published in English as well, reveals several general themes from addresses he gave as he traveled extensively to support Augustinian communities around the world. These themes include a stress on unity, servant leadership, social justice, and constant spiritual renewal.

Peace, unity, and ethical use of technology: Writings as pope

Since his election as the successor of Peter, Leo's writings and public addresses have revealed key aspects of his pastoral and theological vision for the Church.

• Homily for papal installation Mass: Inaugurating his ministry as universal pastor on May 18, 2025, Leo preached on the twofold dimension of his new ministry: love and unity. He urged Catholics to recommit their efforts to building a united Church as "a leaven for a reconciled world."
• Dilexi Te: Finishing an uncompleted apostolic exhortation from his predecessor, Pope Francis, Leo built upon Francis' legacy of advocating for the poor and marginalized. Underscoring this point, he wrote that "one cannot love God without extending one's love to the poor."
• Homily to the 2025 general chapter of Augustinians: Offering Mass to open the Augustinian general chapter meetings, Leo emphasized the need to promote unity, a key characteristic of Augustinian spirituality. The pope encouraged his confreres to "promote unity, within the order and throughout the order, throughout the Church and the world."
• 2026 address to the diplomatic corps: Considered the "state of the world" address of a pope, Leo denounced the tendencies of war, abortion, religious discrimination, and the mistreatment of migrants.
• Palm Sunday 2026 homily: Starting his first Holy Week as pontiff, Leo spoke vociferously against the wars in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. He famously said that God "does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war but rejects them."
• 60th World Day of Social Communications: The pope, having made artificial intelligence a priority early on in his pontificate, stressed the need to preserve human voices and faces at a time when they are threatened by AI. Regarding AI technologies, he said it is "important to educate ourselves and others about how to use AI intentionally" to "prevent them from being used in the creation of harmful content and behaviors such as digital fraud, cyberbullying, and deepfakes."

Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical is expected to be released on Monday, May 25. The Vatican has confirmed that the full title of the encyclical is Magnifica Humanitas: "On the Protection of Human Dignity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence." Leo signed the letter, which is expected to provide moral guidance on the digital revolution and emerging technologies such as AI, on May 15.

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Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela called a surprise general election for May 30, announcing the vote nine months before his Labour Party's five-year term was scheduled to end. Citing geopolitical turmoil, particularly the war in Iran and volatile oil prices affecting Malta's energy costs, Abela framed the early election as necessary to provide "stability" at a critical moment.

The timing is politically advantageous. Abela's Labour government holds a comfortable parliamentary majority, and opinion polls hint the party is on track to win a record fourth consecutive term.

Yet the election has forced an uncomfortable conversation about abortion, a topic observers note that Maltese politicians often keep deliberately vague.

A country deeply divided on abortion

Since Malta's constitution explicitly names Catholicism as the state religion, the nation's legal framework reflects that foundation by having a near-total prohibition on abortion. In line with Church teaching, treatment for ectopic pregnancies is permitted.

Critics have often labeled the nation as having the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe and regularly called for more abortion rights. As external pressure for liberalization continues to mount, there is also deep internal division between younger, more urban voters who support some abortion access and a significant portion of the electorate that opposes it on moral or religious grounds.

Some note that this tension has made abortion a political minefield. Rather than clearly stating whether they are "pro-life" or "pro-choice," Maltese politicians allegedly employ careful ambiguity. They frame positions using broader language centered on "women's health," "medical emergencies," "human rights," or "legal clarity." The use of such technical language allows them to address sensitive cases without explicitly endorsing wider abortion access.

Pro-life advocates demand clarity

Ahead of the May 30 election, one of Malta's largest and most prolific pro-life groups, the Life Network Foundation, issued a direct question to all political parties.

It demanded that each of Malta's six major political parties participating in the elections clearly state whether they will support changes to Maltese law that would introduce abortion and voluntary assisted euthanasia in the next legislature. The foundation asked for a simple yes-or-no answer.

Notably, the Labour government has already broken ranks on one issue. On May 15, it pledged to hold a referendum on voluntary assisted euthanasia if reelected but remained silent on abortion.

As of May 22, four of the six parties had responded to the Life Network Foundation's questionnaire. The foundation has pledged to publish all responses or publicly note which parties refused to answer.

By asking for a direct answer on pro-life issues, it gives Malta's political factions no room to avoid stating their values directly to voters on these key issues. It also allows for more accountability and transparency in the political arena ahead of elections.

Pro-abortion encroachment

Given Malta's strong anti-abortion history and stance, there has been increased activity by pro-abortion organizations to slowly increase abortion rights in the country. Most notably, Women on Waves, a Dutch pro-abortion organization, announced in mid-April that it had installed approximately 15 abortion lock safes around Malta.

Each safe contains one mifepristone pill and four misoprostol pills, collectively making up the chemical abortion pill regimen. Women interested in accessing abortion would email the organization, which would provide the location of the abortion safes and the code to unlock the safe.

In response to this, the National Council of Women Malta called for legal action into the placement of these abortion pill safes. "Any initiative which appears to facilitate access to abortion pills in Malta raises serious concerns about respect for the law, public safety, the protection of vulnerable women, and the protection of unborn life," the council stated, requesting authorities investigate the placement of these safes.

Questions were also raised about the verification aspects of obtaining these abortion pills and what medical safeguards were in place to ensure they did not fall into the wrong hands. In response, Rebecca Gomperts, the founder of Women on Waves, noted that her organization was simply fulfilling an "unmet demand."

Women on Waves has operated in Malta since 2007. It gained notoriety and visibility in recent years through high-profile campaigns, including at the Malta Maritime Museum, featuring pro-abortion art. The organization has faced backlash in Spain and Poland from citizens and municipalities alike, but its Malta operation is particularly provocative given the country's near-total prohibition on abortion.

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ACERRA, Italy — Pope Leo XIV will spend Saturday morning in Acerra, Italy — one of three "corners" of the so-called "triangle of death" and the epicenter of a dramatic health and environmental crisis caused by the local Mafia's illegal disposal of toxic waste.

To mark the anniversary of Laudato Si', Pope Francis' encyclical on care for creation, Leo will meet May 23 with the community of Acerra and the surrounding area, including those who have prematurely lost loved ones due to the pollution.

"The pope's visit certainly represents a moment of great courage and strength for a population that often feels alone in the face of a problem of enormous proportions," local attorney Valentina Centonze told EWTN News.

Centonze, who monitors compliance to judicial decontamination orders for the area, said: "No one can imagine resolving this situation on their own. The Holy Father's closeness to our land is therefore a source of comfort and support but also a warning to the authorities, urging them to fully understand the suffering of this people and to deploy all necessary means to seriously address the issue."

The Land of Fires

Acerra and the surrounding roughly 400 square miles — dubbed the "Land of Fires" ("Terra dei Fuochi" in Italian) — lie just northeast of the city of Naples, about 140 miles south of Rome.

The territory has a higher-than-average incidence of cancerous tumors and congenital malformations, which studies have linked to the dumping of millions of tons of toxic waste from northern Italian factories — at the hands of organized crime groups like the Camorra clans — and garbage fires that released highly toxic dioxins and PCBs into the air and food chain of the highly-agricultural region.

"We are in southern Italy, a region historically plagued by social problems, unemployment, crime, and a fragile economy. Added to this is the environmental disaster, which has caused illness and death," Bishop Antonio Di Donna, bishop of Acerra since 2013, told EWTN News.

"The greatest challenge," he said, "is coping with a precarious situation, especially from a health perspective. We are dealing with families marked by bereavement, with young people and children who fall ill and die. This is an additional burden on top of an already difficult situation."

During his roughly three-hour visit to Acerra, Pope Leo will visit the cathedral, where he will address bishops, priests, and religious alongside families who have lost loved ones or are currently suffering from illnesses related to the environmental crisis.

"We were deeply committed to ensuring that he could offer them a word of comfort," the bishop said.

Afterward, the pontiff will make his way to the city's main square, where he will address mayors and residents from across the territory before leaving by helicopter to return to Rome.

"I hope that the pope's visit will provide further impetus to keep the issue in the spotlight and to strengthen our commitment," Di Donna added.

A poisoned land

Angelo Venturato, whose daughter Maria Venturato died in 2016 at the age of 25 from a rare leg tumor, will be among the crowd in the cathedral on May 23.

"After Maria's death, I fell ill too: I had a tumor, fortunately benign," Venturato told EWTN News. "But without faith, I wouldn't be here today. Faith helped me not to shut myself away in my grief. It gave me the strength to keep bringing smiles to others."

"The positive thing today is that people have become aware of what happened in Acerra. There are associations, volunteer groups, mothers, and citizens who work every day to defend the area. We know this land has been poisoned, but we won't give up," he said.

Following his daughter's death, Venturato formed an association to help others living through the same thing he and his family experienced.

The name, "Se Allunghi la Mano Troverai la Mia," ("If you reach out, you will find my hand") was inspired by his daughter, who encouraged him with the phrase before she died.

"Today, we provide free transportation to help sick people get to hospitals and treatment centers, especially cancer patients and children. We never leave anyone alone: We accompany them, wait with them during their treatments, and take them home," Venturato said.

Acerra's diocesan Catholic charity, Caritas, is also supporting the local community with free diagnostic tests and other general and pediatric medical care in addition to psychiatric support and general financial assistance. It also runs a community center and a day center for at-risk youth.

"In this region, people are even more afraid of getting sick. They feel this fear deeply, and sometimes they're even afraid to get checked," Caritas Director Vincenzo Castaldo told EWTN News. "They often tell us: 'It's better not to know; we're going to die anyway.' It's hard to hear those words."

The clinic was founded "to provide a free opportunity, to simplify access to care, and to offer a sense of closeness — a comforting touch from the Church in matters of health, a presence that helps people recognize their problems and face them," he explained.

Di Donna drew attention to the more than 50 sites across Italy designated "contaminated sites" — in Italy, "there are many 'lands of fires,'" he said.

The Diocese of Acerra is one of about 10 dioceses in the area that for over 30 years have "heard the cry of the earth and of the poor," the bishop said. "We have embarked on a journey focused first and foremost on raising awareness: against pollution and for the care of creation."

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"It was an adventure that will remain etched in my memory for a long time," said young Frenchman Maël Le Lagadec in describing his feat of carrying a wooden cross to the summit of Aneto Peak in the Pyrenees mountains in Spain after the original one had been knocked down.

The landscape architecture student hiked upward for 14 hours, carrying on his back a 77-pound walnut cross that he had sculpted following the disappearance of the iron cross that had crowned the summit since 1951.

After covering over 17 miles and ascending 6,230 feet with the help of a friend, the 18-year-old managed to reach the highest peak in the Pyrenees, situated at an elevation of 9,840 feet.

Instagram post

Following a report by a group of mountaineers last April, the Spanish Civil Guard confirmed that the original 10-foot cross, weighing 220 pounds, had been toppled and thrown down the slope.

The original cross was installed at the summit of Aneto 75 years ago by a hiking club from Catalonia. Subsequently, the Mountaineers of Aragón also placed an image of the Virgin of the Pillar (the patroness of Spain) and a carving of St. Martial, the patron saint of Benasque, the valley within the Aragonese region where the peak is located inside the Posets-Maladeta Nature Park.

This symbol of faith, situated atop Spain's second-highest peak, has been the subject of controversy and various acts of vandalism. In 1999, it was torn from its base by a storm, and more recently, in 2018, it was found painted yellow, a color associated with the Catalan independence movement.

The mayor of the town of Benasque, Manuel Mora, applauded the initiative and stated that the wooden cross would remain until the original is restored. A group called "Movement Towards a Secular State" denounced the installation of the new cross, however, and urged that disciplinary proceedings be opened against Le Lagadec.

For his part, Le Lagadec took to social media to call for an end to the "degradation of this type of heritage," having documented the entire process from the creation of the cross to its installation atop Aneto.

He also recounted that he had the help of several people who encouraged him throughout the entire ascent, recalling a woman who lent him her hiking stick during the most difficult sections.

"Upon reaching the summit, I still struggled to fully grasp what I had just accomplished," he wrote in one of his posts, calling his feat "an extraordinary human and athletic adventure, culminating in the installation of the cross at the very summit."

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

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In a message to Villanova's Class of 2026, Pope Leo XIV called on graduates to remain faithful to the Augustinian values of "veritas, unitas, caritas (truth, unity, charity)" throughout their lives.

"The world beyond Villanova is waiting for you, sometimes with open arms, and sometimes with truly dangerous intent. You will have the challenge and the opportunity to make a big difference, if you carry with you those Augustinian values of veritas, unitas, caritas," Leo, a graduate of the Class of 1977, said in a written message read at Villanova's May 19 commencement ceremony.

"This being the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, I would invite you to recall in a special way the guiding principles of the foundations of our nation: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all [people] are created equal; that they are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights, and among those are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,'" the pope said.

"May the graduates of 2026 always be faithful to the guiding light that has been so important for these 250 years," Leo said. "Congratulations, and please know that I send all of you my apostolic blessing."

Benedictine College condemns antisemitic leaflet, promises disciplinary action

Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, condemned the distribution of antisemitic leaflets across its campus in late April following a conference on Nostra Aetate, the Vatican II document on non-Christian religions, hosted by the Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism.

The flyer was distributed by a group called "Coalition of Catholics Against Jewish Supremacy" and accused Benedictine College theology professor Matthew Ramage of "blasphemy."

"The college is proud that our students took the initiative to remove these anonymous flyers from cars in campus parking lots, and we are also proud that our student groups were the first to respond to the attacks," the college said in a statement, praising the Latin Mass Society for speaking out and expressing "its disgust and utter disappointment at the content" of the leaflet.

"Questions are now being raised about repercussions," the college said. "Any student who is found to be involved in conduct that violates the Student Code of Conduct is subject to the college's student disciplinary procedures, but this process is confidential to protect students."

Liberty University student challenges Supreme Court on taxpayer funding for religious studies

Liberty University student Bethany Hall is challenging a decades-old Supreme Court precedent limiting the use of taxpayer-funded scholarships for students in religious studies programs.

Hall is suing Virginia officials for blocking her from using a $5,000 per year scholarship she received through the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant program to pay for her degree in youth ministries, considered a vocational religious degree. Majors that "prepare individuals for the professional practice of religious vocations" disqualify students from receiving the public funds, according to the state program.

After a panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against her on May 13, Hall's case is one step closer to the Supreme Court, according to a May 19 report. 

"It's just quite simply wrong and very sad that our Supreme Court made that decision back then," Hall said. "Because whether you agree with Christianity or a different religion or not, it's not up to the court to determine if I get to receive a scholarship paid for by taxpayer dollars."

Canadian university launches 'Pope Francis Institute'

St. Jerome's University in Ontario, Canada, announced it is opening an institute dedicated to the legacy of Pope Francis.

"To honor Pope Francis on the first anniversary of his death, St. Jerome's University is announcing the creation of a new hub for learning, dialogue, and leadership formation," the university said in a press release. "The Pope Francis Institute will be the world's first initiative of its kind dedicated to advancing the legacy of the late pontiff."

The Pope Francis Institute will officially launch with a public event sometime during the 2026-2027 academic year, according to the release.

The institute will host programs "rooted in the spirituality of Francis and the educational tradition of his Jesuit order," including public lectures, retreats, professional development, and research.

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Loyola University Maryland received a $500,000 grant from the Aspen Institute to facilitate community projects and dialogue aimed at strengthening "social trust" among groups historically divided by race and income.

The grant, awarded to the Jesuit university on May 19, is part of the Aspen Institute's Trust in Practice Award grants, which are sponsored by the insurance company Allstate. Loyola is one of 11 recipients of the grant.

According to a news release by Loyola, the grant will establish a program called "Rooted in Trust," which will build on its York Road Community Day program. Its stated goal is to build trust across racial, generational, and socioeconomic divides.

The grant funds a two-year project through April 2028 that begins with several months of community dialogue and listening sessions between people from the east side and from the west side of York Road in North Baltimore, which the news release said was historically divided.

The west side of the divide has a higher white population and higher income, while the east side has a higher Black population and lower income, which is rooted in 1930s efforts to segregate the communities, according to a 2020 article in The Johns Hopkins Newsletter.

According to the Loyola news release, the dialogue sessions will help develop a plan for five greening and public space activation community projects. It's not yet clear what the specific projects will be.

Each project will have one co-lead from the west side and one from the east side. The project site will have signs that explain the history and the culture of the area.

"The Rooted in Trust Program will start with community dialogues in order to understand how historic divides have shaped relationships, access, and use of space," said Gia Grier McGinnis, Loyola executive director of the neighborhood resilience and community engagement.

"Then, through intergenerational environmental stewardship and placemaking activities, we hope deeper connections can form — both among people who might not otherwise interact and with spaces they reimagine together," she said. "We are honored that the Aspen Institute and Allstate have given us this incredible opportunity, and we look forward to sharing what we learn with others across Baltimore and across the country."

Loyola will lead the program that will include three other partners: the Govans-Boundary United Methodist Church; the York Road Partnership, which has more than 30 member organizations; and the York Road Improvement District.

"Rooted in Trust builds upon Loyola's long-standing, place-based community development efforts in the Greater Govans and York Road corridor neighborhoods, which emphasize community-university collaboration and partnership," Deb Cady Melzer, Loyola vice president of student development, said in a statement.

"We are incredibly grateful to the Aspen Institute and Allstate for this transformational award, which empowers Loyola and our neighbors to continue this important work," she said.

The Aspen Institute launched the Trust in Practice Awards initiative in October 2025 with a $5 million donation from Allstate. According to a news release, the initiative is to fund community organizations that support civic engagement, volunteering, and bridging differences with intergenerational participants.

"In today's interconnected world, trust among people is a key part of what strengthens our communities and country," Dan Porterfield, Aspen Institute president and CEO, said in a statement at the time.

"The Trust in Practice Awards are an example of our joint commitment to building and sustaining trust across communities and among individuals of all backgrounds and beliefs," he said. "We are grateful to Allstate for their leadership and partnership in this important effort."

It was launched in response to Allstate research that found 41% of people said they generally trust other Americans.

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EWTN Global Catholic Network will open a new office in Stockholm, the network announced May 21. As part of the expansion, EWTN will extend its Swedish services to reach Scandinavian and northern European audiences.

The move comes amid growth of the Catholic Church in Sweden. The nation, which historically restricted religious freedom, has 130,000 registered Catholics.

The Stockholm office will produce news from the Vatican along with devotional and catechetical content for local audiences and beyond.

"EWTN's mission has always been to bring the truth and beauty of the Catholic faith to people wherever they are," said Michael P. Warsaw, chairman of the board and CEO of EWTN.

Founded by Mother Angelica 45 years ago, EWTN is the largest Catholic media organization in the world. EWTN is the parent company of EWTN News.

"The opening of our Stockholm office is an important step in serving a growing Catholic community in Sweden driven by immigration and conversions," Warsaw said. "For EWTN, the Catholic Church in Sweden represents a dynamic and expanding audience for faithful Catholic media and local-language evangelization."

EWTN looks to reach the growing online audience in Sweden, where 93% of people go online daily, according to a 2025 report by the Swedish Internet Foundation.

"EWTN Sweden is built for the way people in Sweden live and consume media today," said Ulf Silfverling, director of EWTN Sweden. "Through EWTN.se and our media channels, we want to provide faithful, accessible, and relevant Catholic content that speaks to Swedish audiences in their own language and context."

"This office represents more than a new location; it is a commitment to Scandinavia, Sweden, and its growing community of faithful as EWTN continues to work on reaching every home and every heart," said Andreas Thonhauser, chief global officer of EWTN.

"By producing native Swedish content and collaborating more closely with Catholics in the region, EWTN can help deepen the faith and connect northern Europe more fully with the life of the universal Church," Thonhauser added.

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