Catholic News

David Ryall, director of Jesuit Refugee Service UK, urged Catholics gathered for the Association of Provincial Bursars conference to walk in solidarity with refugees.

In his keynote speech, "Refugees and Migration in the U.K.: A Catholic Response to People Seeking Sanctuary," Ryall underscored the important role those working for Catholic organizations play in helping to "turn generosity into something practical and sustainable," according to an Oct. 13 report from Independent Catholic News.

Ryall further highlighted the importance of commitment to the preservation of human dignity and necessary reforms that should be made in the asylum system in the United Kingdom. The conference took place Oct. 5–7.

Priest in India arrested for molesting 5 minor boys

A Catholic priest in India has been arrested on charges of sexual assault against five minor boys.

Father Siprian Pinto of St. Vincent Ferrar Church at Valencia, Mangaluru, was arrested after one of the victims' families filed a complaint at the Mangaluru South Police Station on Oct. 15, according to a report from The Hindu.

The victim alleged that Pinto touched him inappropriately on several occasions and that when he confided in four of his friends about the sexual assault, they said they experienced the same thing, the report said. The boy's parents approached the bishop, who instructed them to file a complaint. An investigation is now underway, according to the report.

Maronite bishop appointed in Mexico

Father Milad Yaghi, a Lebanese priest serving in Houston, has been appointed by Pope Leo XIV as bishop of the Maronite Catholic community in Mexico, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported Oct. 12.

Yaghi will serve in the Diocese of Our Lady of Martyrs of Lebanon in Mexico, and his episcopal ordination is scheduled for Feb. 2, 2027, in Harissa, Lebanon.

Yaghi was born in 1964 in the town of Shalifa Bekaa, Lebanon, and has served as a mentor for Christian youth in the country and as the personal secretary for the Maronite bishop of Our Lady of Lebanon in Los Angeles.

Father Elias Suleiman, superior general of the Lebanese Maronite Missionaries, expressed gratitude to Pope Leo XIV and to the Synod of the Maronite Bishops for choosing Yaghi to take care of the Mexican diocese.

Mauritius having 'very difficult time' amid violent unrest

Bishop Jean Michaël Durhône of the Diocese of Port-Louis in Mauritius has appealed for peace and nonviolence as the Indian Ocean island nation grapples with violent protests.

"I am a brother of Mauritius, a brother of the people of Rodrigues, and a brother and sister of everyone living in Mauritius, a country that is going through a very difficult time," he said in a message on Oct. 13, ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, reported.

"We are witnessing a situation of suffering and anger," he said of the unrest following demonstrations that erupted last week over water shortages and living costs and escalated after police shot and injured a 27-year-old woman on Oct. 9.

"We must take this situation seriously and ensure that people remain safe," Durhône said. "There are many people of goodwill working for peace. We are trying to bring everyone together so that peace can return to the country, a peace built on a commitment to non-violence."

Caritas conference in Cyprus highlights global survey on migrant children

Caritas Italy and Caritas Cyprus hosted a three-day meeting in Nicosia on "Migration in the Eastern Mediterranean: Challenges, Responsibilities, and European Perspectives," with protection of migrant children as one of the event's central themes.

"We believe migration policies must be accompanied by safe and legal pathways, as well as effective systems for reception and integration. Here in Cyprus, the need to look beyond borders — and not only political ones — could not be more evident," Paolo Valente, deputy director of Caritas Italy, said in an Oct. 7 press release.

Cecilia Nicoletti of Caritas Internationalis presented a global survey of 73 Caritas organizations on the topic of migrant children, which found "many are under 14 and are fleeing conflict, violence, persecution and the effects of climate change, at a time when the principle of non-refoulement is increasingly disregarded," according to the release. The conference also included sessions on migration routes, integration, and global migration.

Asia-Pacific Augustinians hold congress on digital evangelization

The Asia-Pacific Augustinian Conference (APAC) held its Mission Congress 2026 Oct. 5–11 on evangelizing in the digital age, missionary identity, and "interior tourism."

The congress took place at the pastoral center of the Archdiocese of Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, according to a Licas News report. Joseph Ðinh Ð?c Ð?o, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Xuân L?c, called participants to view digital tools as "secondary to the interior disposition of the evangelizer," the report said. "If you do not have Christ in your heart, you cannot preach and share Him."

Father Augustine Huyn Tran, OAD, prior of the Discalced Augustinian Saigon Community, called for missionaries to stay rooted in their spiritual heritage while also using technology to serve their efforts to carry out real-life conversions.

During the opening Mass of the congress, Father Andrew Batayola, OSA, president of APAC, encouraged delegates to practice "interior tourism" by exploring the depths of their hearts through deliberate spiritual journey.

Chaldean Catholics gather in Rome for special Mass

Chaldean Catholics from Iraq and communities around the world gathered at St. Peter's Basilica for a Mass celebrated by Patriarch Paul III Nona.

With Aramaic hymns, traditional clothing, and Chaldean flags, the celebration brought together believers from different countries," ACI MENA reported Oct. 15. In his homily, Nona emphasized that true Christian unity comes through Christ while respecting each community's identity and traditions.

Chaldeans came to the event from Australia, Canada, the United States, and several European countries, as well as from Iraq, Egypt, and Syria.

Tanzanians urged to pray for founding president's canonization

Bishop Lazarus Vitalis Msimbe of Morogoro, Tanzania, has presented Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere as a role model for leaders, urging intensified prayers for the canonization of the country's first president.

"Let us continue praying for Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere," he said in a homily on Oct. 11, ACI Africa reported. "Twenty-seven years have passed since his death, but the process of declaring him a saint has already begun."

Nyerere, whose cause was initiated in 2005, served as prime minister of Tanganyika from 1961 to 1962 and as its president from 1962 to 1964. Following the union that established Tanzania in 1964, he became the East African nation's first president, serving until 1985. He died in 1999 at the age of 77.

"Some leaders, when defending a position and encountering opposition, eventually back down. However, Mwalimu Nyerere did not retreat from upholding the principles he believed were right and essential for the country's development," the bishop said.

UK bishops merge 3 dioceses

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales has concluded its consultation process with three dioceses merged at the request of Pope Leo XIV and the Dicastery for Bishops.

"The priests and deacons of the three dioceses engaged positively and constructively with the discussions about the possibility of a unified diocese being established by the Holy Father," the bishops said in the conclusion of the consultative report on the merging of the Leeds, Middlesbrough, and Hallam Dioceses, released Oct. 14.

Bishop Marcus Stock of Leeds said in the report that "the unification of the three dioceses would help to strengthen the mission of the local Church, support the work of evangelization more strategically, and provide greater opportunities to fulfill our responsibility to reach out to the poor and disadvantaged within our region."

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Doctors have cleared Pope Leo XIV to leave the hospital; he will return to the Vatican on Saturday afternoon, according to the Vatican.

The pope's personal physician Dr. Luigi Carbone and surgeon Dr. Stefano Margaritora said Oct. 17 that "based on the blood tests and chest X-ray performed this morning, and after evaluating his clinical condition, the Holy Father has been deemed fit to be discharged."

The Vatican also announced that Leo would celebrate Mass at the hospital on Saturday before being discharged, and lead his Angelus at the Vatican on Sunday.

Leo announced during his Sunday Angelus on Oct. 11 that he would undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule. Doctors confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma after his surgery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Oct. 13.

Since his surgery and hospitalization, doctors and the Vatican have confirmed that the pontiff's postoperative recovery is "progressing normally." On Friday, the Vatican released photos of the pope celebrating Mass at the hospital, the first photos since his hospitalization.

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In an exchange that drew sharp responses from Catholic scholars and the local bishop, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico told University of Dallas theology professor Jodi Hunt that "the Bible is silent on the issue" of abortion during an Oct. 14 CNN/Jubilee town hall in Fort Worth.

Hunt pushed back, drawing applause when she said the Bible does address abortion, as one of the Ten Commandments is "Thou shalt not kill," and that Catholics are insulted when it is suggested otherwise.

Following the exchange, Hunt told EWTN News she thinks Talarico was trying to appear as a "centrist" to undecided voters, or Republicans unhappy with the party, but she does not think he was convincing.

"While it's important to look at the whole picture of a candidate when discerning who to vote for," she said, "respect for human life must drive everything else," she said.

Fort Worth Bishop Michael Olson agreed, responding to the exchange on social media: "The right to life is the premier moral issue because all human rights depend upon the human person being alive. The right to life is the common ground for the morality of all issues considered in policies involving human dignity and the common good."

"I've yet to see a candidate where I really have to think about it, where they're pro-abortion but align with me on other issues," Hunt added.

During the town hall, Talarico made a point of calling Pope Francis and Pope Leo "two of my favorite spiritual heroes" for being "consistently pro-life" on poverty, climate change, and war as well as abortion.

"I appreciate that he highlighted some of the social causes Catholics care about and mentioned the popes," Hunt said. "But he was sidestepping. I thought it was a very politician-thing to do."

Hunt said if she had the opportunity to push back more, she would have pressed him on how Catholics can trust he will do the right thing concerning climate change or the poor when he won't defend the lives of the most vulnerable.

"If we can't trust him to protect the most innocent among us, we can't trust he'll do anything he says," Hunt explained.

Talarico went on to reframe abortion as "a public policy problem" rather than a  moral issue, saying both sides share the goal of fewer "unplanned or unwanted pregnancies," to be achieved through "scientifically valid sex education" and access to contraception, the use of which the Church calls intrinsically wrong.

"If I believed that abortion was murder or that it was against the 10 Commandments, then of course I would be against it, but we can just agree to disagree," he said.

Susan Hanssen, a history professor at the University of Dallas, told EWTN News she was "shocked at how deceptive he (Talarico) is."

"He lies to Christians about their own beliefs, and he does it very smoothly," Hanssen said. "He tried to put the idea that abortion is murder into the category of debatable belief. No one in their right mind thinks that abortion kills anything but a baby human. It's not a statement of religious belief, it's just a statement of science and biology."

In the aftermath of the exchange, the University of Dallas beamed about how Hunt handled the moment.

"Dr. Hunt demonstrated how to stand firmly in one's faith while engaging respectfully with those who hold different views," the University said, adding that she "exemplifies UD's mission to form leading citizens who bring their convictions into the public square with courage, clarity, and respect."

Catholic commentator Kathryn Jean Lopez also praised Hunt's participation, saying that in the exchange with Talarico she "demonstrated what it means to be a responsible Catholic engaged in our political life."

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The German Bishops' Conference has joined an initiative that aims to make artificial intelligence safe and suitable for children, citing Pope Leo XIV's call to defend human dignity in the age of AI.

The initiative, called "KI kindgerecht!" ("Child-friendly AI!"), also involves Germany's biggest Protestant body and an association of children's websites.

"AI is already embedded in many digital applications," said Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg, who chairs the bishops' media commission, in a statement Oct. 14.

"With the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV gives the Church a clear mandate: In the age of artificial intelligence, we must defend human dignity — especially where children are easily exposed to danger."

The initiative "combines protection, participation, and responsibility, and makes clear that digital spaces must serve the good of the child," he said.

Responsibility must not be "shifted onto parents alone," Bätzing added. "Precisely because we know how vulnerable children are, we see it as our duty to act as advocates for this group in need of protection — in the digital space as well. Technology must serve the human person, not purely economic interests."

The Church in Germany is working with academics, educators, and interested providers on a code of conduct for child-friendly interactive AI, built on five principles: safety by design, respect for children's rights, age-appropriate spaces for participation, data protection, and human review.

The bishops also said providers "must be obliged to comply with child-friendly standards" and called for lasting investment in media education so children, parents, and teachers can learn to use AI confidently.

Vatican sharpens focus

The German initiative comes as the Church globally wrestles with AI and the Vatican sharpens its own focus on minors online.

At its Sept. 28–Oct. 2 plenary assembly in Rome, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors examined how digital technologies, AI, and websites are used in the pastoral care of children and backed wider collaboration with international partners and Curia offices so that "the dignity, safety, and wellbeing of children remain at the heart of technological development and governance," Vatican News reported.

In March, Pope Leo XIV warned: "We must not allow children to end up believing they can find in artificial intelligence chatbots their best friends or the oracle of all knowledge, dulling their intelligence and their capacity for relationships, and numbing their creativity and thinking."

Receiving participants of a Rome conference on "The Dignity of Children and Adolescents in the Age of Artificial Intelligence" on Nov. 13, 2025, Leo also warned that "children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to manipulation through AI algorithms that can influence their decisions and preferences."

In Magnifica Humanitas, the encyclical on artificial intelligence published May 25, the pope wrote that "online phenomena such as grooming, blackmail, and the sexual exploitation of minors are not uncommon, and are made more insidious by the use of fake profiles, algorithms that facilitate dangerous contact, and AI tools capable of manipulating images and videos."

This story was first published by CNA Deutsch, the German-language sister service of EWTN News, and has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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Bishop Joseph Brennan of the Diocese of Fresno, California, warned that immigration raids in California's Central Valley are instilling "unrest, anxiety and even fear" in the community and that many of his priests are reporting that their parishes have been affected.

"Even if you have not been personally affected by the increased immigration enforcement in our region, many of those who sit alongside you in the pews have been affected, with some already having been detained," wrote Brennan, whose diocese covers a large portion of the southern Central Valley.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have not announced any specific operations targeting California or its Central Valley. However, local media have reported a surge in enforcement in recent weeks.

In his pastoral letter, Brennan said pastors reported to him that "members of their congregations have been taken away abruptly and with little or no information coming from federal agents." He said he has been in contact with priests and interfaith and advocacy partners about ways to "help, comfort and accompany our people" amid the reported surge."

"It breaks my heart," the bishop wrote. "... Many of those caught up in this recent immigration enforcement in our Valley are not strangers to us — they are family, neighbors, and parishioners who are being uprooted from the lives they have built over many years among us."

'Indiscriminate' raids

Brennan noted that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) voted 216-5 to approve a special message that the bishops oppose "the indiscriminate mass deportation of people" during the 2025 Fall Plenary Assembly. He then expressed concern that Central Valley raids appear to be indiscriminate.

"These people are valued and beloved, they are part of the fabric of our community," he said. "It is frightening to them and disturbing to us that these current operations seem to have taken on an indiscriminate nature with little regard for the dignity of the human person."

"Our Church teaches that every human person possesses an inherent dignity," the bishop continued. "This dignity is not granted by governments, economic status, citizenship, or legal documentation. It is given by God."

A spokesperson for DHS did not confirm any specific operation targeting California.

"For operational security and the safety of our officers, ICE will not disclose or discuss law enforcement operations," the spokesperson said. "Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country including in California."

The spokesperson defended ongoing immigration enforcement: "To most Americans our ICE officers are heroes as they put their lives on the line to arrest murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists."

The spokesperson provided a list of five people they labeled as "public safety threats" arrested in California, which included people convicted of vehicular manslaughter, aggravated assault with a gun, burglary, homicide, and selling drugs.

Church 'will not be silent'

In his pastoral letter, Brennan said the Church "will not be silent" and "will accompany our vulnerable neighbors in concrete, sustained ways."

"We will strive to be a loving presence in our society for our brothers and sisters," Brennan said.

"Our parishes will be present to them for healing and comfort," he said. "Accompaniment might take the shape of walking with families through long and complicated legal proceedings, showing up at immigration court, organizing transportation and childcare, and refusing to let anyone face this situation alone. We will speak up for them and will encourage one another to see this work of justice as a part of our baptismal call."

Accompaniment might take the shape of walking with families through long and complicated legal proceedings, showing up at immigration court, organizing transportation and childcare, and refusing to let anyone face this situation alone. We will speak up for them and will encourage one another to see this work of justice as a part of our baptismal call."

Bishop Joseph Brennan

Diocese of Fresno, California

The bishop called for "real change and real reform," saying "our country and our elected officials must do better," calling for "tangible results that reflect meaningful and just immigration reform."

"Until such reform is achieved, the dignity of our immigrant brothers and sisters must remain in the forefront of whatever shape our efforts might take," he wrote. "In the midst of those efforts, to be sure, we are navigating in a chaotic and emotionally charged time. I encourage the faithful to pray for one another and to act out of a spirit of communion in all things, bridging divisions and treating one another peacefully and with compassion."

"We are in this together," Brennan wrote. "God bless you and those you love, always and in every way."

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"The Chosen" released its official trailer for Season 6 on Oct. 15. The upcoming season of the hit series focuses on the 24 hours of Good Friday — culminating in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Season 6 of "The Chosen" will include six episodes — the first three of which will debut on Nov. 15 on Prime Video, followed by the release of a weekly episode through Dec. 6.

The season finale will be a stand-alone theatrical release on March 12, 2027.

"It was painful to shoot, and it's painful to contemplate," Dallas Jenkins, creator of the show, wrote on the show's Instagram account.

He added: "But if there's one thing I want you to take away from this season, it's that Jesus chose this path. He even tells the apostles he could be rescued from it if he wanted. He chose surrender and humility and sacrifice. Knowing that should make this story a little less painful."

"Season 5 was the powder keg. In Season Six, it explodes," he concluded.

The trailer depicts the moments leading up to Jesus' scourging and crucifixion. The episodes will depict the events from the perspective of those who were close to Jesus and those who took part in his condemnation — the Pharisees speak of justice, the Romans of peace, and Jesus' followers see it as a murder.

In a press release earlier this year, Jenkins said: "Everyone knows the basics of this part of the story, but not everyone knows the 'why' of the crucifixion and the extraordinary events of these 24 hours. We realized this not only deserved a season of television but a standalone full-length theatrical event as well. We wrote and filmed all of it with this in mind."

The show's star, actor Jonathan Roumie, has spoken about his experience portraying Jesus' passion and crucifixion.

In an interview with EWTN News at ChosenCon on Feb. 20 he said: "For the first few months afterwards going to Mass — and even thinking about it now — I just get weepy. I get emotional. It's hard. It's left an indelible impression on me — mentally and emotionally sharing even just a percentage, a micron of a percentage, of the Lord's passion; playing it and reenacting it has left me absolutely humbled and moved."

The new trailer already has over 1 million views on YouTube in the 24 hours since its release.

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Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, is undertaking his first official visit to the United Kingdom.

Running Oct. 16–22, the high-profile visit centers on the theme "Together in Prayer and Dialogue for Peace."

Koovakad's itinerary includes visits to London and Birmingham, featuring meetings with representatives from various faith traditions, including members of the Dharmic and Sikh communities.

The weeklong journey includes marking the 10th anniversary of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Great Britain and addressing seminarians to emphasize grassroots bridge-building.

The last official visit to the U.K. by the head of the Vatican's Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue took place in 2013, when Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran undertook a similar high-profile journey to engage with faith communities in Britain.

As Pope Leo XIV recovers at Rome's Gemelli Hospital following a successful surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his lung, high-profile diplomatic initiatives like Koovakad's U.K. visit are vital for maintaining the Vatican's active global engagement and reinforcing the Holy See's continuous commitment to interfaith bridge-building and peace.

Speaking ahead of the trip, the cardinal stressed that interreligious dialogue remains a fundamental opportunity for Catholics to witness to their faith. He noted that fostering mutual understanding, respect, and enduring peace is a shared responsibility for all believers.

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Pope Leo XIV and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by telephone Oct. 16 while the pope remains hospitalized.

According to a Holy See statement, the pope expressed concern about Oleshky in the Kherson region, a city in the Russian-occupied portion of Ukraine where a severe humanitarian crisis is underway and where, according to the United Nations, 1,700 people are trapped in what have become ghost towns because of ongoing attacks. The pope sought a truce to enable the arrival of food and medical aid and the voluntary and safe evacuation of the population, and he reaffirmed the Holy See's commitment to dialogue and peace.

The conversation with the Russian president is the pope's first reported direct communication with a head a state since undergoing lung cancer surgery Oct. 13. The statement issued by the Holy See Press Office was brief and did not specify who initiated the call. It said: "Today, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV spoke by telephone with His Excellency Mr Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation."

Besides calling for a ceasefire, the statement concluded by reaffirming "the Holy See's commitment to promoting dialogue and peace."

A Kremlin statement was more detailed. It said that, while expressing his sincere wishes for the pope's health and speedy recovery following his recent surgery, Putin emphasized "the importance of Russian-Vatican cooperation in promoting shared spiritual and moral values and protecting Christians and Christian holy sites in various regions of the world." Both sides reaffirmed their interest in continuing dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

The Kremlin also said that, during an exchange of views on Ukraine, "Vladimir Putin thanked the pope for his willingness to contribute to resolving the conflict and for his ongoing humanitarian efforts."

In addition, the Kremlin stated that, in response to the pope's concern for civilians in the Russian-held city of Oleshky in the Kherson region, Putin provided what it described as a detailed explanation of the responsibility of the Kyiv government for the area's humanitarian situation. It added that Putin supported the Vatican's intention to help create the conditions necessary to ensure public safety and organize the delivery of essential supplies. According to the Kremlin, cooperation toward that goal was agreed upon.

The Kremlin described the conversation as "constructive and conducted in a spirit of mutual respect."

Papal envoys

Putin's call followed visits in August to Russia by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher and later by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the pope's envoy for humanitarian affairs.

A source familiar with the organization of the Oct. 16 meeting said the conversation had been planned during Zuppi's trip to Russia at the end of September. This date coincided with the pope's hospital stay.

Leo XIV had previously spoken with Putin by telephone on June 4, 2025. According to Vatican News, that conversation focused on matters of mutual interest, with particular attention given to the war in Ukraine and prospects for peace. During the call, the pope urged Russia to make "a gesture fostering peace" and stressed "the importance of dialogue in establishing positive contacts between the parties and seeking solutions to the conflict."

Putin visited the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican three times for meetings with Pope Francis.

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

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Australia's antislavery commissioner, who has hailed the Catholic sector as a national leader in fighting modern slavery, says proposed new penalties against forced labor do not go far enough.

Chris Evans demanded that large companies should be legally required to root out exploitation in their supply chains.

In a paper released Thursday, Evans estimated that Australia imports about $17.4 billion (AU$25 billion) worth of goods each year that may have been produced with forced labor, the Sydney Morning Herald reported Oct. 16.

The Catholic Church in Australia has made the issue a priority. Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher set up an antislavery task force to lead the Church's response to modern slavery in Australia, according to the archdiocese. The task force works on compliance with the Modern Slavery Act across the supply chains of Catholic schools, universities, welfare, and health and aged-care agencies as well as trains parish and agency staff to identify and support possible victims.

Speaking at a Sydney Catholic Business Network luncheon on Nov. 13, 2025, Evans praised the Catholic prelate.

He said the archbishop's "leadership on this issue has been exemplary," given his support for the Australian Catholic Anti-Slavery Network and his establishment of Domus 8.7.

"Through the Australian Catholic Anti-Slavery Network and Domus 8.7, the Catholic sector has become a national leader in implementing the Modern Slavery Act," Evans said at the time.

Under the 2018 act, large Australian companies must report risks of modern slavery in their operations and supply chains but have no legal obligation to address them. Evans wants to close that gap as part of a planned overhaul of the law.

The federal government announced in July that it would introduce a criminal offense for companies that fail to prevent modern slavery along with civil penalties for businesses that breach existing reporting rules.

"The government's announcement sends a clear signal that modern slavery is a serious crime and must be treated that way," Evans said.

His four-part proposal would place mandatory due-diligence obligations on large businesses and the federal government, set criminal penalties for serious wrongdoing, give victims the right to sue for compensation, and strengthen annual reporting.

"Australians don't want the clothes they wear or the food they eat to be made with forced labour," Evans said. "They expect government and business to take responsibility and action."

Business groups have pushed back. Minerals Council of Australia chief Tania Constable said there were better ways to address the issue than threatening executives with criminal penalties over other companies' actions, and the Business Council of Australia has also raised concerns, according to the Herald.

Pope Leo XIV has strongly spoken out against trafficking. In his message for the World Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking on Feb. 8, the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, the pope renewed "the Church's urgent call to confront and bring an end to this grave crime against humanity."

"Awareness enables us to identify the hidden mechanisms of exploitation in our neighborhoods and in digital spaces," he wrote.

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Voters in the Wisconsin midterm elections will decide whether to ban the local government from closing places of worship in a state of emergency, six years after a diocese threatened to sue over Mass restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ballot measure, titled "Prohibit Government Closure of Places of Worship During Emergencies Amendment (2026)," would alter Section 18 of Article I of Wisconsin's state constitution to include the sentence: "nor shall the state or a political subdivision of the state order the closure of or forbid gatherings in places of worship in response to a state of emergency at the national, state, or local level, including an emergency related to public health."

"Although the Wisconsin Catholic Conference did not take a position on the constitutional amendment, we discussed possible changes with the authors," David Earleywine, executive director of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, told EWTN News. Earleywine declined to elaborate on what changes were discussed.

"Religious liberty is the fundamental right to practice one's faith openly without fear or coercion. Pope Leo XIV recently said that it is the 'cornerstone of any just society,'" he said. "Freedom to gather for worship is only one important aspect of religious liberty and religious conduct, both of which extend beyond the four walls of a house of worship."

The measure comes more than six years after the Diocese of Madison threatened to sue the local government of Dane County over its imposition of a 50-person cap on Mass attendance in 2020.

Bishop Donald Hying of Madison told EWTN News at the time that "as bishop, it is my duty to ensure that our sacraments are available to the Catholic faithful, while following best practices when it comes to public health."

"Religious liberty enshrines freedom of conscience, the right to worship, and the right of religious organizations to serve the common good in the public square. A ballot initiative this fall speaks to that right," Hying said in his Oct. 15 column in the Madison Catholic Herald.

Similarly, in an Oct. 2 video message on voting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, Hying addressed the ballot initiative, saying: "There's a ballot initiative in Wisconsin this year that speaks about the importance of the primacy for houses of worship to remain open during potential future pandemics."

"We know that that right to worship, that religious liberty, is a foundational part of our Constitution but also our life as Christians," Hying said. "The Mass for us is everything."

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee declined requests for an interview or comment.

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