Catholic News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Four years after Roe v. Wade was overturned, Catholic bishops and pro-life leaders are reflecting on the impact of the historic Dobbs ruling, citing progress in protecting unborn children while raising concerns about the increasing availability of chemical abortions.

In a statement released on the anniversary of the landmark Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, praised the ruling as a historic turning point while urging Catholics to remain engaged in the pro-life cause.

"On this Anniversary of the Dobbs decision, we praise God for the historic overturning of Roe v. Wade," Bishop Thomas said. "And we beg the intercession of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in building a culture of life."

Dobbs overturned Roe and eliminated federal constitutional protection for abortion, shifting authority back to the states. Since then, any laws restricting or expanding abortion have been carried out by the individual states.

Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, recalled learning of the decision while standing outside the Supreme Court.

"As the opinion was put into my hand, I started reading it, and it said, 'The Constitution does not confer the right to abortion. Roe and Casey are overruled," Hawkins spoke during an interview with EWTN News Nightly. "This decision that came down four years ago today gave states and gave legislators across the country … the ability to regulate or end abortion."

Hawkins described the post-Dobbs landscape as a new phase in the pro-life movement's efforts, with legislative battles now taking place in state capitals across the nation.

"The decision of abortion is now returned to the people and their representatives," she said. "We have 51 playing fields in our country where we're attempting every single day to pass laws to either outright end abortion or to severely restrict abortion."

Abortion pills emerge as a flashpoint

Several pro-life leaders criticized leaving abortion policies entirely in the hands of the states, arguing that abortion regulations should also come from the federal level.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America,  told reporters in a June 23 press call with Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of FAMiLY Leader, an Iowa-based evangelical political advocacy organization "that whole state's-only experiment is a failure. It has been tried and failed."

Dannenfelser said permissive abortion pill policies in states such as California and New York are undermining pro-life laws elsewhere, allowing abortion drugs to be shipped across state lines into states that have enacted abortion restrictions.

"Now, 15,000 children a month are dying in pro-life states. That is the definition of failure," she said.

"We used to say there's going to be abortion destination places," Vander Plaats said. "In Iowa, we were concerned about a state like Illinois being an abortion destination. Now the abortion destination is in your mailbox."

Both the bishops and pro-life advocates raised growing use of chemical abortion drugs as a concern.

"Now with easier access to abortion pills, the abortion rate is tragically climbing. The victory of the Dobbs decision risks being undone by the massive influx of abortion pills," Bishop Thomas said in the statement.

Pro-life leaders said changes made by federal regulators have enabled abortion pills to be prescribed through telehealth appointments and distributed through pharmacies and the mail, despite restrictions enacted by pro-life states.

Hawkins likewise criticized the federal government's handling of abortion pills and called for further action from the Trump administration.

"While we're excited and we're still celebrating the win of Roe being reversed, something that many people told us was impossible, we have not won the war," she said.

"We're going to be celebrating the victory of the Dobbs decision. And we're going to be praying for our future success to see abortion completely abolished in our land," Hawkins said.

Catholics urged to pray and take action

Looking ahead, the USCCB is encouraging Catholics to participate in a national prayer and advocacy effort that will run from mid-August through October's Respect Life Month. Bishop Thomas urged the faithful to pray for women facing unplanned pregnancies, share information about abortion pills, and advocate for policies that protect both mothers and unborn children.

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Pope Leo XIV on June 24 appointed Puerto Rican priest Father Geraldo Ramírez Torres as the new bishop of the Diocese of Ponce in the Caribbean territory.

The pontiff also accepted the resignation of Bishop Rubén Antonio González Medina, C.M.F., who has led the diocese since 2015.

According to a Vatican press release, Ramírez was born in Villalba, Puerto Rico, on Nov. 17, 1967. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Ponce on Nov. 19, 1991.

His academic training included a bachelor's degree in theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico.

He served as a parish priest and chaplain for several parishes in the Ponce diocese before his appointment as bishop. He served as vicar general of the diocese since 2021 and as parish priest of the diocese's Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe since 2004.

Known as "Father Jerry," Ramírez told El Visitante de Puerto Rico in 2016 that he owed his priestly vocation to "a devout family and the example and dedication of the Marianist priests and brothers."

"I accepted the call aware that I wasn't the best clay, but with the conviction that he is indeed the greatest and best potter," the priest told the Catholic newspaper on the occasion of his 25th anniversary of priestly ordination.

The diocese of Ponce is one of six Roman Catholic dioceses in Puerto Rico and is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico, all of which are a part of the Catholic Church in the United States.

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On June 22, the Government of Italy, in collaboration with the Holy See, Chile, and Cameroon, convened a high-level side event on surrogacy at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Representatives of the participating states presented a joint declaration calling for an international moratorium on surrogacy as a step toward its eventual global abolition. In this context, a moratorium refers to a temporary suspension of surrogacy arrangements pending further legal, ethical, and human rights review.

The event, titled "Building Momentum Towards a Moratorium on Surrogacy," was motivated by concerns over the increasing physical, psychological, medical, and ethical harms associated with surrogacy. The rapid growth of the surrogacy industry, projected to hit nearly $100 billion by 2033, was another cause of concern.

The joint declaration presented reflects an abolitionist approach to surrogacy and calls on governments to adopt policies that safeguard human dignity and fundamental human rights.

The initiative follows previous criticism of the controversial practice by Pope Leo XIV, who condemned it in a January address. In March, the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations also raised concerns about surrogacy, warning that it is an area in which "technology and practice have run laps around the law and ethics."

A question of human dignity

Italy's Minister for Family, Birth Rate and Equal Opportunities, Eugenia Roccella, framed the surrogacy debate as a fundamental question about the status of the human person.

She asked whether society still recognizes human beings as persons "who must be respected" or is willing to accept a situation in which they become "a means to satisfy the interests or needs of others."

Roccella described the declaration as establishing "a common political commitment" to support an international moratorium on surrogacy while laying the groundwork for "an international legal framework aimed at abolishing surrogacy worldwide."

At the same time, she stressed that the initiative should be viewed as the beginning of a broader international effort rather than its culmination. Roccella urged governments, international organizations, and civil society actors to engage in a "serious and constructive dialogue" on how best to address surrogacy while protecting the rights and dignity of all those involved.

Serious human rights concerns

Among the keynote speakers was U.N. Special Rapporteur Reem Alsalem, whose 2025 report to the U.N. General Assembly was widely praised as one of the most comprehensive examinations of surrogacy to date.

Alsalem told participants that her scrutiny of surrogacy arose not from ideological opposition but from her mandate to investigate violence against women and girls. She said she began examining the issue after identifying it as a "growing and emerging phenomenon" with "significant and serious consequences" for women and girls, yet one that had received comparatively little analysis through the framework of international human rights law.

Drawing on her findings, Alsalem described surrogacy as a system that "commodifies women and children," turning women's reproductive capacities into services to be purchased and children into objects of contractual arrangements.

She further argued that children born through surrogacy can face abandonment, statelessness, and separation from their birth mothers, circumstances she said may cause lasting emotional harm.

Welcoming the declaration, Alsalem endorsed calls for an international moratorium, explaining that a temporary suspension would allow governments to gather data, improve accountability, and better assess the human rights implications of surrogacy.

"We will no longer accept these abuses," she said, expressing hope that additional states would join the initiative.

Her subsequent 2026 report on violence against women and girls reiterates concerns that surrogacy can facilitate exploitation, coercion, and other serious violations of the rights of women and girls.

Momentum beyond Geneva

Speaking to EWTN News, Giorgio Mazzoli, moderator of the event and director of U.N. advocacy for ADF International, explained that opposition to surrogacy is gaining traction among governments. He referred to Slovakia's 2025 constitutional prohibition of surrogacy and current advancing legislation in Chile that would ban the practice as evidence of a broader shift.

According to Mazzoli, "states are increasingly aware of the need for a coordinated response to the harm surrogacy causes to women and children," adding that the Geneva event was intended to "build and sustain that momentum."

While supporters of surrogacy continue to advocate for its expansion in jurisdictions where the practice remains legal or unresolved, Mazzoli said governments that have not yet confronted the issue directly are nevertheless paying attention.

"Even countries which do not yet face the problem directly — or claim not to — are taking note," he said. "They see where this is heading and want to be ahead of it."

Mazzoli also highlighted Italy's recent legislation extending criminal liability to Italian citizens who commission surrogacy abroad, describing it as a significant attempt to curb so-called "forum shopping," whereby individuals travel to other countries to access services prohibited at home.

Nevertheless, he argued that national measures alone will not be sufficient. Given the increasingly cross-border nature of the surrogacy industry, Mazzoli said the long-term goal should be the development of an international legally binding instrument capable of addressing surrogacy across jurisdictions.

Meanwhile, Ludovine de La Rochère, president of Le Syndicat de la Famille, who attended the event as an observer, told EWTN News that public awareness of surrogacy varies significantly across Europe.

Countries where advocacy groups actively publicize scandals and ethical concerns tend to have a greater understanding of the issue, while in other countries "people are largely unaware of what surrogacy entails."

She noted that most media outlets rarely scrutinize surrogacy practices in depth and that public discussion is often shaped by advocacy groups supportive of surrogacy.

According to De La Rochère, anti-surrogacy organizations defending mothers and children face an uphill battle because they often operate with limited resources. "Large-scale information campaigns are absolutely essential," she said, but she noted that such groups generally lack the financial support available to progressive organizations.

She contended that public education efforts should focus on demonstrating why surrogacy constitutes "an exploitation of women and an objectification of the child," while also drawing attention to cases involving international human trafficking.

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EWTN was recognized with multiple honors at the 2026 Gabriel Awards and Catholic Media Awards, a testament to the quality of its apostolate in Catholic media and storytelling. The network received awards across a broad range of categories, reflecting its commitment to producing compelling, faith-centered content for a global audience. Here is the full list of EWTN winners.

Gabriel Awards

G401: SINGLE NEWS STORY
FIRST PLACE
Christians Fight To Survive: ISIS in Iraq
EWTN News Inc.
Colm Flynn, Producer and Reporter; Patrick Leonard, Videographer

RUNNER UP
EWTN News Nightly – North Pole in New Jersey? This Man Has Been Santa for 60 Years
EWTN News Inc.
Mark Irons, Reporter and Producer; Jack Haskins, Videographer; Camila Monteiro, Editor

RUNNER UP
AI Chatbot Groomed My Son: Heartbroken Mother Shares His Story
EWTN News Inc.
Colm Flynn, Editor, Producer and Reporter; Patrick Leonard, Videographer

G405: BEST VIDEO FOR DIGITAL MEDIA
FIRST PLACE
James the Less – Season 2
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Stephen Beaumont, Studio Operations Manager; Greg Hendrick and Michael Masny, Producers

Catholic Media Association — All Members Division

AI161: PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
FIRST PLACE
Daniel Ibáñez
EWTN Global Catholic Network – EWTN News Inc.

AI171: SOCIAL MEDIA PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
FIRST PLACE
Debbie Cowden
EWTN Global Catholic Network

AW340B: BEST VIDEO – FEATURE, RADIO, TELEVISION STATIONS, AND FILM COMPANIES
FIRST PLACE
From Mohammed to Jesus: The Nikki Kingsley Story
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Ryan Penney, Director and Producer; Daniel Godinez, Producer and Editor; Nick Kubeck, Director of Photography; James Copes, Producer; John Groome, Director of Photography; Clare Gautreaux, Animator; Sam Zamarron, Art Director; Peter Gagnon, Executive Producer; Stacey Box, Executive Producer; The Marian Fathers

SECOND PLACE
John Paul II: Twenty Years Later
EWTN News Inc.
Magdalena Wolinska-Riedi, Journalist and Producer; Alberto Basile, Director of Photography; Fabio Gonnella and Camera Ilaria Chimenti, Video Editor

THIRD PLACE
Eucharistic Pilgrimage in Navajo Nation
EWTN News Inc.
Mark Irons, Reporter; Jack Haskins, Videographer; Camila Monteiro, Editor

HONORABLE MENTION
Mother Angelica Witness to Providence Award: Doug Keck
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Peter Gagnon, Executive Producer; Len Marino, Executive Producer; Jody Copeland, Senior Producer and Director; Katy Ryan, Associate Producer; Sam Zamarron, Segment Designer and Editor; JB Brown, Coordinating Producer; Maria Kaczperski, Coordinating Producer; The EWTN Creative Services Team and The EWTN Studios Production Crew

AW342B: BEST VIDEO – PRO-LIFE ACTIVITIES, RADIO, TELEVISION STATIONS, AND FILM COMPANIES
FIRST PLACE
Canada: Preserving the Life of a Nation
EWTN News Inc.
Holly Shannon, Executive Producer; Mark Irons, Producer and Reporter; Camila Monteiro, Producer and Editor

SECOND PLACE
Flash Mob Against Euthanasia
EWTN News Inc.
Zofia Czubak, Reporter; Matteo Ciofi and Christian Swezey, Producers

THIRD PLACE
National Celebrate Life Rally
EWTN News Inc.
Abigail Galvan, Reporter; Christian Swezey and Andrew Oliveros, Producers; Cathy Smith, Editor

AW344B: BEST VIDEO – SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES: RADIO, TELEVISION STATIONS AND FILM COMPANIES
SECOND PLACE
Baltimore Catholics Confront Gun Violence
EWTN News Inc.
Roselle Reyes, Reporter; Jack Haskins, Videographer; Andy Spangenberg, Editor; Holly Shannon, Executive Producer; Catherine Hadro, Host

AW345B: BEST VIDEO – EXPLAINER: RADIO, TELEVISION STATIONS AND FILM COMPANIES
HONORABLE MENTION
Saints in Italy EWTN Learn Series with Teresa Tomeo
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Teresa Tomeo, Host and Writer; Dianne Ogden, Producer and Editor; Anthony Johnson, Director

AW346B: BEST VIDEO – THE CLERGY: RADIO, TELEVISION STATIONS, AND FILM COMPANIES
FIRST PLACE
Meet the Catholic Hermit Priest Who Records Rock and Roll Music
EWTN News Inc.
Catherine Rubano, Reporter and Producer; Jack Haskins, Videographer and Editor

SECOND PLACE
Meet One of the Only Catholic Priests Born Deaf
EWTN News Inc.
Colm Flynn

AW350A: BEST VIDEO, HOT TOPIC – POPE FRANCIS: DIOCESAN AND NATIONAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS
FIRST PLACE
Before Francis, Who Was Bergoglio?
EWTN News Inc.
Colm Flynn and Paola Arriaza-Flynn, Producers and Reporters; Mattias Bocca, Juan Andres Muñoz, Julieta Villar, Producers; Patrick Leonard, Videographer; Eduardo Berdejo, Photographer

AW357B: BEST VIDEO – PERSONALITY PROFILE: RADIO, TELEVISION STATIONS, AND FILM COMPANIES
FIRST PLACE
Judge Frank Caprio on His Fight Against Terminal Cancer and His Catholic Faith
EWTN News Inc.
Colm Flynn and Claudette Jerez

SECOND PLACE
Before Francis, Who Was Bergoglio?
EWTN News Inc.
Colm Flynn and Paola Arriaza-Flynn, Producers and Reporters; Mattias Bocca, Juan Andres Muñoz, Julieta Villar, Producers; Patrick Leonard, Videographer; Eduardo Berdejo, Photographer

THIRD PLACE
North Pole in New Jersey? This Man Has Been Santa for 60 Years
EWTN News Inc.
Mark Irons, Reporter; Jack Haskins, Videographer; Camila Monteiro, Editor

AW361B: BEST MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE – NEWS
FIRST PLACE
NCYC 2025 — Pope Leo XIV's Historic First Digital Encounter With Young U.S. Catholics
EWTN News Inc.
Victoria Melo Arruda, Ursula Murua and Claudette Jerez

AW381B: BEST USE OF VIDEO ON SOCIAL MEDIA – NEWS ORGANIZATION
THIRD PLACE
Michael Iskander's Powerful Conversion Story
EWTN News Inc.
Francesca Fenton

AW384B: BEST USE OF VIDEO ON SOCIAL MEDIA – ONGOING SERIES – RADIO, TELEVISION STATIONS AND FILM COMPANIES
SECOND PLACE
TV Nun Goes Viral in 2025: Mother Angelica on the Types of Prayer
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Debbie Cowden, Senior Manager of Social Media; Sergio Ramirez, Digital Content Producer

AW385A: BEST USE OF VIDEO ON SOCIAL MEDIA – THE CLERGY – DIOCESAN AND NATIONAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS
THIRD PLACE
Got Relics? with Fr. John Paul Mary — St. Maximilian Kolbe, Patron of those Suffering with Addiction
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Fr. John Paul and Mary Zeller, Host; Daniel Godinez, Producer and Editor; Debbie Cowden, Senior Manager of Social Media

AW511B: SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN: GENERAL INTEREST
FIRST PLACE
EWTN and NCYC Reach the Hearts of Young People
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Len Marino, Vice President of Creative Services; J.B. Brown, Director of TV and Digital Promotions; Debbie Cowden, Senior Manager of Social Media; Maria Kaczperski, Senior Creative Director of Motion Design; Daniel Spada, YouTube Channel Manager; Sam Zamarron, Director of Animation and Brand Development; Sergio Ramirez, Digital Content Producer; Judy Ranelli, Social Media Video Editor; the EWTN Creative Services Team; Montse Alvarado, President and COO of EWTN News

THIRD PLACE
Commemorate the Canonizations of Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Debbie Cowden, Senior Manager of Social Media; Ryan Penney, Digital Media Manager; Ana Sanchez, Digital Distribution Manager; Daniel Spada, YouTube Channel Manager; Judy Ranelli, Social Media Video Editor; Sergio Ramirez, Digital Content Producer; Daniel Godinez, Digital Content Producer; Sean Graber, President of EWTN Digital

AW511C: SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS
SECOND PLACE
James the Less Season 2 — An Unexpected Love Story!
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Len Marino, Vice President of Creative Services; J.B. Brown, Director of TV and Digital Promotions; Debbie Cowden, Senior Manager of Social Media; Sam Zamarron, Director of Animation and Brand Development; Maria Kaczperski, Senior Creative Director of Motion Design; Katy Ryan, Creative Services Project Manager; the EWTN Creative Services Team

AW571: BEST USE OF LIVE VIDEO IN SOCIAL MEDIA
FIRST PLACE
Living the Moment After the Habemus Papam, from St. Peter's Square
EWTN News Inc.
Colm Flynn, Patrick Leonard and Ursula Murua

CMA – Newspaper/ News Service Division

GN111C: BEST NEWSPAPER — NATIONAL/ WIRE SERVICE
FIRST PLACE
National Catholic Register
National Catholic Register Staff

N371B: BEST LAYOUT OF ARTICLE OR COLUMN — PRINT EDITION
HONORABLE MENTION
Melissa Hartog
National Catholic Register

N510: HOT TOPIC — THE JUBILEE YEAR
FIRST PLACE
Assessing the Fruits of the Jubilee of Hope in the Catholic Church
National Catholic Register
Matthew McDonald, Courtney Mares and Msgr. Roger Landry

N513C: BEST REGULAR COLUMN — FAMILY LIFE
THIRD PLACE
5 Things Every Catholic Family Needs to Survive Sickness
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Debbie Cowden

N513D: BEST REGULAR COLUMN — GENERAL COMMENTARY
FIRST PLACE
Alberto M. Fernandez
National Catholic Register

N521D: BEST COVERAGE — RELIGIOUS LIBERTY ISSUES
SECOND PLACE
Judiciary Committee: FBI Spied on Catholic Priest for Not Divulging Info on Parishioner
EWTN News Inc.
Tyler Arnold and Daniel Payne

N521F: BEST COVERAGE PRO-LIFE ISSUES
THIRD PLACE
Where Does Your State Stand on Abortion?
EWTN News Inc.
Kate Quinones

N521H: BEST COVERAGE OF ECUMENICAL AND INTERFAITH ISSUES
SECOND PLACE
Facing Rising Antisemitism, 'Hebrew Catholic' Association Aims to Bridge Judaism, Catholicism
EWTN News Inc.
Jonah McKeown, Madalaine Elhabbal and Daniel Payne

N521I: BEST COVERAGE ON CATHOLIC EDUCATION
SECOND PLACE
From Malawi to Houston: Catholic schools around the world named after Carlo Acutis
EWTN News Inc.
Courtney Mares and Amira Abuzeid

N537C: BEST FEATURE WRITING — NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OR WIRE SERVICE
FIRST PLACE
Did Monastic Life Inspire the Little Black Dress? Chanel Preserves Historic Abbey
National Catholic Register
Solène Tadié

SECOND PLACE
Facing Rising Antisemitism, 'Hebrew Catholic' Association Aims to Bridge Judaism, Catholicism
EWTN News Inc.
Jonah McKeown

N561C: BEST IN-DEPTH NEWS/SPECIAL REPORTING — NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OR WIRE SERVICE
THIRD PLACE
Sacred or Scandalous? Catholic Shrines Take Different Approaches to Marko Rupnik's Art
EWTN News Inc.
Hannah Brockhaus, Almudena Martínez-Bordi Montse Alvarado and Paola Arriaza

N563C: BEST INVESTIGATIVE NEWS WRITING — NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OR WIRE SERVICE
HONORABLE MENTION
CNA Explains: How Do Dioceses Pay for Bankruptcy and Abuse Settlements?
EWTN News Inc.
Daniel Payne

N564C: BEST ANALYSIS/ BACKGROUND/ROUND-UP NEWS WRITING — THE GERARD E. SHERRY AWARD — NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OR WIRE SERVICE
SECOND PLACE
Claiming Newman: Inside the Tug-of-War over the Newest Doctor of the Church — And Why It Matters
National Catholic Register
Jonathan Liedl

HONORABLE MENTION
Victor Gaetan: The State of the Catholic Church in Francophone Africa (Series)
National Catholic Register
Victor Gaetan

N567B: BEST NEWS WRITING SERIES — NATIONAL EVENT
FIRST PLACE
The New Catholic Hubs
National Catholic Register
Zelda Caldwell, Stephen P. White and Jonah McKeown

THIRD PLACE
'A Little Taste of Heaven': Eucharistic Adoration 'High Point' of SEEK Event, Attendees Say
EWTN News Inc.
Kate Quinones

N571C: BEST PERSONALITY PROFILE — RELIGIOUS LEADER
FIRST PLACE
Joy Forged in Fire: This Catholic Activist's Resolve Defied His Torturers — and Put Him on a Path to the Priesthood
National Catholic Register
Zelda Caldwell and Catalina Scheider Galines

N579: BEST REPORTING ON THE CELEBRATION OF A SACRAMENT
FIRST PLACE
'Someone Call a Priest': Sacraments at Time of Crisis Are Not Administered as Often as They Used to Be
National Catholic Register
Matthew McDonald

SECOND PLACE
Here Comes the Bride — and the Groom: Why Catholic Couples Are Walking into Their Wedding Mass Together
National Catholic Register
Jonathan Liedl

THIRD PLACE
Surf, Sand, and Sacrament: Hundreds Attend Long Island's 'Beach Catholic' Summer Mass
National Catholic Register
Alyssa Murphy

N581A: BEST REPORTING OF SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES — CALL TO FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND PARTICIPATION
THIRD PLACE
Catholic Ministry Helps Adult Children of Divorce Find Healing and Love
EWTN News Inc.
Emily Chaffins

N581C: BEST REPORTING OF SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES — DIGNITY AND RIGHTS OF THE WORKERS
HONORABLE MENTION
Catholic Businesspeople Transforming Culture: Legatus
EWTN News Inc.
Emily Chaffins

N581D: BEST REPORTING OF SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES — LIFE AND DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
FIRST PLACE
Pope Leo XIV Meets Catholic Mother Who Lost Son to AI Chatbot Suicide
National Catholic Register
Courtney Mares

HONORABLE MENTION
Defying Death: Catholics Caution Against the Transhumanist Quest for Immortality
National Catholic Register
Jonah McKeown

N584A: BEST REPORTING ON PRIESTHOOD, RELIGIOUS LIFE OR DIACONATE — ONE-SHOT
FIRST PLACE
A Father and Son's Journey from Addiction to the Altar
National Catholic Register
Sharon Delaney

HONORABLE MENTION
Priests Learn to Connect with Their Audiences at Preaching Boot Camp
National Catholic Register
Zelda Caldwell

N591A: BEST SPORTS JOURNALISM — SPORTS FEATURE OR COLUMN
HONORABLE MENTION
Catholic Ultra-Endurance Runner Inspires Men to Strive for Holiness
EWTN News Inc.
Francesca Pollio Fenton

N821A: BEST PHOTO STORY — FEATURE
THIRD PLACE
Holy Saturday Easter Vigil at St. Peter's Basilica
EWTN News Inc.
Zofia Czubak

N831A: BEST STORY AND PHOTO PACKAGE — BY AN INDIVIDUAL
FIRST PLACE
The City of Saints
National Catholic Register
Jeffrey Bruno

N854: BEST PHOTOGRAPH — HOT TOPIC — POPE FRANCIS
SECOND PLACE

Thousands Gather for Rosary in St. Peter's Square After Death of Pope Francis
EWTN News Inc.
Daniel Ibañez

CMA – Spanish Division

S508: HOT TOPIC – POPE FRANCIS
FIRST PLACE
Francisco, el Papa Que Puso a la Iglesia en Modo Verde
EWTN News Inc.
Andrés Henríquez

S509: HOT TOPIC – THE PAPAL CONCLAVE AND THE ELECTION OF POPE LEO XIV
SECOND PLACE
'¡El Papa es chiclayano!': Más de 10.000 fieles celebran Misa histórica por la elección de Le XIV
EWTN News Inc.
Diego Lez Marina and Almudena Martínez-Bordi

THIRD PLACE
Cobertura Especial de ChurchPOP Español
EWTN News Inc.
Harumi Suzuki

S510: HOT TOPIC — THE JUBILEE YEAR
SECOND PLACE
Dos Viudas en el Jubileo de la Consolación: Nuestros Maridos Están con Dios, en un Gozo que No Es de Este Mundo
EWTN News Inc.
Victoria Cardiel

S521A: IMMIGRATION
FIRST PLACE
La 'Monja de los Inmigrantes' en EE.UU. Denuncia Que Muchos Tienen Miedo Hasta de Ir al Supermercado
EWTN News Inc.
Victoria Cardiel

S575A: BEST REPORTING – ON A SPECIAL AGE GROUP
FIRST PLACE
Jóvenes cristianos, musulmanes y judíos desde el Vaticano: 'Hay posibilidad de convivir en paz'
EWTN News Inc.
Victoria Cardiel, David Ramos, Andrés Henríquez

S575E: BEST REPORTING – PRIESTHOOD, RELIGIOUS LIFE, OR THE DIACONATE
SECOND PLACE
Suicidio del P. Matteo Balzano Evidencia la Humanidad de los Sacerdotes: 'Somos de Carne y Hueso'
EWTN News Inc.
Victoria Cardiel, Nicolás de Cárdenas, Almudena Martínez-Bordi

S579D: BEST REPORTING ON SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES – LIFE AND DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
HONORABLE MENTION
El Testimonio de Fe y Fortaleza de una Familia Que Luch por la Vida de Sus Mellizos Nacidos a las 23 Semanas
EWTN News Inc.
Harumi Suzuki

S579E: BEST REPORTING ON SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES – OPTION FOR THE POOR AND VULNERABLE
FIRST PLACE
Encontró a Santa Teresita en la Capilla Más Pobre de África y Conmueve a Miles
EWTN News Inc.
Luisa Restrepo

S598B: BEST WRITING – IN-DEPTH
SECOND PLACE
El Legado Social del Papa León XIV en Perú, Entrega Entre Desastres, Pobreza y una Pandemia
EWTN News Inc.
Diego Lopez Marina

CMA Book Awards

B113: POPE LEO XIV
SECOND PLACE
Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope
Dr. Matthew Bunson
EWTN Publishing

B202: THEOLOGICAL STUDIES
FIRST PLACE
Man's Desire for God
Fr. Brian Thomas Becket Mullady, O.P.
EWTN Publishing

B1502: MEMOIR
FIRST PLACE
I Will Come To You: A Story of Adoption and the Relentless Love of God
Jamie McAleer
EWTN Publishing

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Pope Leo XIV this week emphasized the importance of writing, describing it as a human expression of truth that ultimately leads to God.

In an audience with a group of authors on June 24, Leo discussed the enduring value of literature amid rapid digitalization. In his remarks, he urged authors to inspire readers to seek truth through their work.

The encounter between the pope and writers marked the 100th anniversary of the Vatican Publishing House, also known as Libreria Editrice Vaticana, shortened to LEV, in Italian.

"Writing, as you know, is an act of truth, of revelation, for it reveals who we are, what we believe and hope for, the world we strive toward and the future of which we dream," Leo said. "We are never masters of the truth; if anything, it is the truth that 'conquers' us. That is why I hope you will inspire others to be drawn to the truth, because you yourselves are drawn to it."

Leo also explained that writing, as a human exercise, ultimately leads to God.

"When we delve into the very depths of our humanity, we are not far from God; for there, in the midst of very human stories, God reveals himself," Leo said.

His speech to writers follows a similar address delivered to the Vatican Publishing House employees on May 7, also held to mark its 100th anniversary.

The Vatican Publishing House was founded in 1926 as the official publisher of all texts by the pope and the Holy See.

Encounter through literature in the age of AI

Several of the authors reflected on the pope's speech in comments to journalists following their audience.

Jonathan Safran Foer, a critically acclaimed Jewish-American author, described the encounter as revealing the power of writing to foster empathy for others' suffering.

"Writing is good at opening us up empathically and being aware of the suffering in the world," Foer told EWTN News. "It is very easy to ignore somebody you don't see. It's very hard to ignore somebody who is in front of you. And at its best, art brings the other in front of you. It creates those encounters."

Other authors discussed the challenges faced by writers in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). Paul Elie, an American author and a senior fellow at Georgetown University, praised Pope Leo for highlighting the need for writers in today's world.

"Artificial intelligence — there's no question it's a threat to literature and writing, and the pope addressed that today. 'We need you,' he said. One reason the world needs writers is that we still write as a free act, not as something created by an algorithm," Elie told EWTN News.

Colum McCann, an Irish writer of literary fiction, added: "The Holy Father has been talking about stories and storytelling, language, disarming language, and how AI has penetrated the world of storytelling. If you get to the heart of the human mystery, you get to the heart of proper storytelling and engagement. We would then hope, somehow, to bring [humanity] back together in these divided times."

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NAIROBI — Members of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops are opposing the proposed establishment of an Ebola quarantine and treatment facility for American citizens who will be flown in for care in the East African country, urging the government to affirm the country's sovereignty by protecting Kenyans.

In their statement on Tuesday about the state of the nation, the bishops said that the initiative, which was suspended by the court following public outcry, has been imposed on Kenyans without adequate public consultation or parliamentary oversight.

"We…as your shepherds committed to safeguarding the dignity and protection of our people, express our grave concern regarding the proposed establishment of an Ebola quarantine and treatment facility at Laikipia Air Base, mainly for the American citizens," the bishops said.

The Catholic leaders explained that their opposition stems from the initiative's lack of transparency and disclosure of its governing terms. The prelates said: "Clearly, there is an inherent threat to the lives of Kenyan citizens that must be addressed because we would be importing a deadly disease."

They continued: "What is in this for Kenya? Is this facility in the interest of our nation, whereby Kenya as a country welcomes the treatment of foreign Ebola patients, who are not welcome to their own country, for fear and danger of infection, yet accommodated in our country at the risk of our people? Kenya must affirm its sovereignty," they said.

The facility was reportedly intended to quarantine and monitor Americans who may have been exposed to Ebola during the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 

According to U.S. officials, the plan was designed to keep exposed individuals closer to the outbreak region rather than transport them immediately to the United States.

The project has generated significant public opposition in Kenya, with protests in and around Nanyuki and legal challenges arguing that the government failed to adequately consult the public and disclose the agreement with the United States.

Some demonstrations have turned violent, with reported fatalities.

Kenya's Health Minister, Aden Duale has ordered an immediate halt to construction of the U.S.-backed Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base following a court finding that he failed to comply with earlier suspension orders.

Despite previous court orders suspending the project, Reuters reported that construction activity and deliveries of equipment appeared to continue at the site until the latest order to halt work. Satellite imagery and flight-tracking data indicated ongoing activity at the air base.

The Kenyan government, led by President William Ruto, has defended the initiative, saying it forms part of broader Ebola preparedness efforts and a long-standing health partnership with the United States. U.S. officials have also stated that the project is intended to strengthen regional preparedness.

Reuters in its June 23 report indicated that the construction of the Ebola quarantine facility was ordered to stop but that the project remains embroiled in legal and political controversy.

In their June 23 statement, the Kenyan bishops said that considering the nature of the Ebola disease and what it takes to contain it, government wisdom would have required a public engagement, to build consensus on the necessity, if at all, of the facility.

The bishops further argued that the absence of meaningful public participation had already resulted in serious consequences, noting that the lack of engagement had contributed to the loss of lives during protests in Laikipia, the arrest of residents, and widespread anxiety over the possibility of an Ebola outbreak in the area.

Calling for a different approach, they urged the nation's government to "engage in genuine, transparent dialogue with religious leaders, civil society, healthcare workers, and affected communities to explore alternative solutions" that would strengthen Kenya's own health infrastructure and its capacity to respond to Ebola and other infectious disease threats.

The Ebola outbreak is centered in DRC and is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a relatively rare strain for which there is currently no licensed approved vaccine.

According to the latest reports, the DRC has recorded more than 1,000 confirmed cases and over 250 deaths, making this one of the fastest-growing Ebola outbreaks on record.

The outbreak has also spread into Uganda, where authorities have confirmed 19 cases and two deaths, many linked to importation from the DRC and subsequent local transmission

The bishops also demanded greater openness in government agreements affecting the country, including those involving the exploitation of Kenya's natural resources.

"We demand for transparency in government deals that affect our country, including those recently struck like the exploitation of our minerals," they said, adding that such transparency is a right of all Kenyans because the nation's natural resources belong to its people.

At the same time, the bishops reaffirmed their willingness to collaborate with the government and international partners in strengthening public health systems.

They said they were committed to helping build "robust, equitable public health systems that protect all people, Kenyan and foreign alike, without compromising our constitutional principles or the safety of our citizens," while also recalling that concerns surrounding the Social Health Authority (SHA) remain unresolved.

Emphasizing the need to place human dignity at the center of national decision-making, the bishops said they believe "the renewal of our nation must begin by recovering an unwavering respect for the dignity of every human person," arguing that only a society that protects life can build justice, peace, and lasting hope.

They said that Catholic social teaching regards human dignity as the cornerstone of justice and maintains that honoring the dignity of every individual creates the conditions necessary for genuine peace and human flourishing.

The bishops further expressed confidence that Kenya possesses the spiritual resources, moral wisdom, and collective resolve needed to build a nation where every person is valued, grievances are addressed with respect, and economic systems serve the common good.

The Catholic leaders pledged to continue working alongside both the government and the Kenyan people in pursuing these goals.

"We as the Catholic Church, commit ourselves to walking alongside the government and our people in this sacred work," they said, expressing faith in Kenya's capacity for transformation and in the power of faith to guide the country toward justice and an environment in which human life is cherished.

This article was originally published by ACI Africa, EWTN News' service in Africa, and has been adapted for EWTN News English.

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Florida's Catholic bishops are urging state Gov. Ron DeSantis to spare the life of a convicted murderer set to be executed for killing his wife more than three decades ago.

DeSantis should "grant a stay of the execution of Dusty Ray Spencer and … commute his sentence to life without parole," the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a letter to DeSantis dated June 18.

Spencer is set to be executed at 6 p.m. on June 25. DeSantis signed his death warrant on May 26.

The convicted murderer was found guilty of killing his wife Karen after stabbing her to death in 1992 in the backyard of her Orange County home. Spencer carried out the killing with a brick and a knife; Karen's 17-year-old son witnessed the murder and attempted to stop his stepfather from the killing.

Spencer had carried out the murder after being released from jail on bail. His attorneys had argued that the murder was a crime of passion, though prosecutors said he had threatened to kill Karen prior to getting out of jail and ultimately followed through with the threat.

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Spencer will be 74 if and when the state executes him. Data from the Death Penalty Information Center indicates that he would be among the 10 oldest criminals executed in the U.S. since 1976.

'God is the author of life'

In their letter, written by Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops Executive Director Michael Sheedy, the Florida bishops acknowledged that Karen Spencer's death was "tragic and horrific." The letter expressed "sorrow for the terrible suffering her loved ones have had to live with ever since."

"Mr. Spencer's crime was truly heinous and merits a severe punishment by the state," the letter said. "…Nevertheless, we ask that you spare the life of Mr. Spencer, who was sexually abused as a child by his father and had a paranoid personality disorder."

Like bishops in many U.S. states, the Florida bishops regularly petition the state government to commute death sentences there. Florida is among the most active states in the country for carrying out death sentences.

The state most recently executed Andrew Lukehart, a 53-year-old who was convicted of killing his girlfriend's baby in 1997. The Florida bishops had petitioned the state government to halt that execution as well, though it was ultimately carried out on June 2.

In their plea to DeSantis regarding Spencer, the bishops said a sentence of life in prison was "not [meant] to minimize the heinousness of Mr. Spencer's crime."

"It is rather to recognize with awe that God is the author of life, and to reserve to him the taking of human life except where it is otherwise impossible to maintain the common good," they said.

The letter urged the governor to "uphold justice and..exercise mercy." It further offered prayers for Karen Spencer "and for the consolation of her loved ones."

If it proceeds with the execution, Florida will carry out the killing at Florida State Prison in Raiford, located between Jacksonville and Gainesville.

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St. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, is one of only three people in history — after Jesus and Mary — whose birthday is celebrated in the Church's liturgy.

In fact, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist on June 24 is a solemnity, meaning it is the highest form of Catholic feast day. And because it falls exactly six months before the solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord, it is sometimes known as "Summer Christmas."

"The Church observes the birth of John as in some way sacred; and you will not find any other of the great men of old whose birth we celebrate officially. We celebrate John's, as we celebrate Christ's," St. Augustine of Hippo said in his sermon 293.

In the Mass for the solemnity, the priest prays to God in the preface that in Christ's precursor, "St. John the Baptist, we praise your great glory, for you consecrated him for a singular honor among those born of women."

"His birth brought great rejoicing; even in the womb he leapt for joy at the coming of human salvation. He alone of all the prophets pointed out the Lamb of redemption," the prayer continues. "And to make holy the flowing waters, he baptized the very author of baptism and was privileged to bear him supreme witness by the shedding of his blood."

St. Augustine explained that "John, it seems, has been inserted as a kind of boundary between the two Testaments, the Old and the New. That he is somehow or other a boundary is something that the Lord himself indicates when he says, 'The Law and the prophets were until John.' So he represents the old and heralds the new. Because he represents the old, he is born of an elderly couple; because he represents the new, he is revealed as a prophet in his mother's womb."

John's connection to Christ

Father Mauro Gagliardi, a theologian and liturgist who teaches in Rome, wrote in a 2009 article on Zenit that it is important to emphasize John the Baptist's role as "indicator." John is "a prophet who refers back to Christ."

The liturgy, Gagliardi said, does the same thing, and thus the June 24 solemnity "reminds us of this: The Christian liturgy is a powerful indicator of Christ to the peoples, like [John] the Baptist."

John the Baptist's feast day also has cosmic connections, the theologian pointed out. The fact that June 24 is close to the summer solstice demonstrates the fulfillment of the prophecy in John 3:30 that "he must increase; I must decrease," since after John's birthday the days get shorter, or "decrease," while after Jesus' birthday on Dec. 25, the days get longer, or "increase."

"This interweaving between a figure from the history of salvation — John — and the cosmic rhythms (both guided by the same God) has found a fruitful development in the devotion and liturgy of the Church," Gagliardi said.

Popular customs of 'summer Christmas'

The Church's liturgical commemoration of St. John the Baptist dates back to the fourth century.

Acknowledgement of the saint's importance can also be noted in his shared patronage, together with St. John the Apostle, of Rome's Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, which is also the seat of the bishop of Rome — that is, the pope.

The night of June 23 is known in some countries, including Italy, as "St. John's Eve." Due to the solemnity's timing, shortly after the summer solstice, some of the practices connected to the feast have a pagan character, including that some refer to it as "the Night of the Witches."

Modern-day secular festivities may include concerts and theatrical performances, while Catholics usually celebrate Mass and hold religious processions.

One of the most typical customs related to St. John's Eve, both secular and religious, is the bonfire, called in some countries "St. John's Fires," which are lit in honor of the saint who "was not the light, but came to testify to the light (Jn 1:8)." Fireworks or candle-lit processions can also take the place of bonfires.

In an Angelus message on June 25, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI said the feast of St. John the Baptist "reminds us that our life is entirely and always 'relative' to Christ and is fulfilled by accepting him, the Word, the Light, and the Bridegroom, whose voices, lamps, and friends we are."

"'He must increase, but I must decrease' (Jn 3:30): The Baptist's words are a program for every Christian," Benedict said.

This story was first published on June 24, 2024, and has been updated.

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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision June 23 that a former inmate cannot sue prison guards in their personal capacities for allegedly violating his religious rights while he was in their custody.

In the decision, authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch, the court found that Damon Landor — a Rastafarian whose dreadlocks were shaved in violation of his religious practice — does not have legal standing to seek monetary damages from the Louisiana Department of Corrections officials responsible for the incident.

Every justice appointed by Republican presidents sided with the majority, and every justice appointed by Democratic presidents dissented from the majority in the decision in Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections.

Landor contended that when he was taken to prison, he provided the guards with a copy of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Ware v. Louisiana Department of Corrections, which found that in most circumstances, shaving the head of a Rastafarian violates the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.

Landor alleges the guards threw his copy of the decision in the garbage, took him to another room, handcuffed him, held him down, and shaved his head.

In its decision the Supreme Court determined that the law does not permit lawsuits against the individual guards for such violations.

According to the ruling, the authority of the religious liberty law derives from the U.S. Constitution's spending clause. It states the federal spending power allows Congress to put conditions on the money allocated to entities, such as prisons, but that it cannot regulate the conduct of private individuals under this authority without their express consent, meaning the officials themselves are not liable for any damages.

"Adopting Mr. Landor's proposed cause of action would allow Congress to evade the consent requirement inherent in its Spending Clause authority and regulate directly the conduct of countless nonconsenting individuals in spheres traditionally reserved to the States," the ruling states.

"Such a result would be inconsistent with principles of state sovereignty and a federal government of limited and enumerated regulatory powers," it adds.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, in her dissent, disagreed with the majority's interpretation of the spending clause, asserting that the ruling diminishes constitutional powers and "transforms a federal statute into an invitation to be accepted or declined, deemed binding only if each particular defendant has explicitly agreed to be penalized."

"Prisoners like Landor who suffer violations of their religious freedom in state prisons — no matter how blatant — will often be left remediless," Jackson wrote. "And encroachments on prisoners' statutory rights are likely to happen with fair frequency, as state-empowered prison officials will have little incentive to abide by federal law, even if it is handed to them on a piece of paper."

In another 6-3 decision, which was split along the same lines, the Supreme Court also ruled practitioners of the Chinese spiritual movement Falun Gong had no standing to sue Cisco Systems, Inc. in spite of allegations the company's technology was used by the Chinese government to persecute them for their religious beliefs.

The decision in Cisco Systems, Inc. v. Doe found that the practitioners did not have standing to sue under the Alien Tort Statute. Because there was no standing, the court did not determine whether the company aided the persecution in any way, which it denies doing.

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As Pope Leo XIV carries out his global mission, the Vatican is calling on the faithful worldwide to support him through the traditional Peter's Pence collection this Sunday, June 28, the day before the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul. 

No contribution is too small; every gift counts: It doesn't matter whether you can offer a grain of sand or a mountain; what truly matters is participating and giving what is within your means, according to Peter's Pence Office.

To support this initiative, the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy and the Dicastery for Communication have prepared a series of informational and multimedia materials.

What is Peter's Pence?

The Peter's Pence website explains that it is an offering "which may be small in amount, but holds great symbolic value," as it "demonstrates a sense of belonging to the Church and of love and trust in the Holy Father."

It is also "a concrete sign of communion with him as the successor of Peter, and of concern for the most needy, whom the pope always cares for."

Peter's Pence has two purposes. The first is "to support the mission of the Holy Father, which extends to the entire world through the proclamation of the Gospel, the promotion of integral human development, education, peace, and fraternity among peoples."

A second purpose is "to support numerous charitable works benefiting individuals, families in difficulty, and populations affected by natural disasters and wars, or those in need of assistance or development aid."

How did Peter's Pence originate?

Peter's Pence, as a donation to the pope, began to take place on a regular basis in the 7th century with the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons. Over time, more European peoples joined the practice. In the Middle Ages, the term was used to designate the annual contribution made by states to the Holy See, a custom that eventually fell out of use.

In modern times, specifically around 1870, following the end of the Papal States, the practice of making material contributions to the Vatican picked up again across Europe. The pope was able to provide aid to the needy, such as those affected by an earthquake in Croatia in 1881.

How is the money used now?

The website presents reports on the use of the funds raised. In 2024, for example, donations totaled 58.5 million euros ($66.5 million) of which 13.3 million euros ($15.1 million) were used to help those most in need, funding 239 charitable projects across 66 countries.

The remaining funds — the majority of the collection — supported the broader apostolic mission of the Holy Father and the Holy See. Specifically, 61.2 million euros helped cover essential activities carried out by Vatican dicasteries and offices, including evangelization efforts, support for local churches in difficulty, formation of priests and seminarians, diplomatic work through apostolic nunciatures, education, and the promotion of integral human development and peace.

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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