Catholic News

More than 22 million Catholics across the globe make up a network dedicated to praying daily for the challenges facing humanity and the Church, uniting their prayers with Pope Leo XIV's monthly intentions.

The Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network is a pontifical foundation known for its Pray with the Pope campaign through which the Holy Father announces his month's intention in a video message.

While the pope "has an endless list" of prayer intentions, he chooses 12 to offer for each month of the year, Father Cristóbal Fones, SJ, the international director of the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network, explained in an interview with "EWTN News In Depth."

In order to do so, the network will "help the pope to discern the intentions a year ahead," Fones explained. "So we ask many people — all the dicasteries and our national directors — to give us some proposals, and we offer to him lots of them … about 20 of them."

The Holy Father "takes some time to pray on these proposals" and then chooses the 12 intentions for the upcoming year in advance.

"So we published, for instance, the 2027 monthly intentions last February. So you can already know what we are about to pray for next year too, so that we can have some time to make the translations, to create the materials in Indonesian, Hindi, Swahili, Guarani, and so on."

Pope Leo has continued the tradition of Pope Francis, who recorded the first video of the monthly intentions in 2016, but the current pontiff has put his own take on it.

Pope Leo is "not only asking us to pray but praying himself for the monthly intention and inviting us to join him in prayer," Fones said. "That's why we call this campaign 'Pray with the Pope,' because he's the first one interceding for the needs of humanity, and he is inviting us through this campaign to do it with him."

"Some people may watch the video and participate with him by praying. Others can do it [on] their own. But the important thing is to be united in this network of hearts — compassionate hearts for the needs of the world."

Pope Leo is also "constantly asking us to pray for contextual … prayer intentions, like a flood or an earthquake in Venezuela, for instance," Fones said.

All these prayer intentions are then updated "in what we call the pope's prayer profile," Fones said. It consists of "all the requests for prayer that he normally does, whether on Sunday in the Angelus or on Wednesdays during the general audience."

In order to aid the Holy Father, the network is run by a team of an administrative council appointed by the Holy See, international coordinators, formation leaders, and communications teams.

The network "is a participation in the mission of the Church by offering ourselves through prayer, service, and spiritual formation," Fones said. Made up of Catholics in more than 90 countries, the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network is "a very old pontifical work with more than 180 years."

The network started in 1844 and was first called the Apostleship of Prayer. It was later renamed and established as a formal Vatican foundation in 2020 to support Christ's mission of compassion for the world across continents and cultures.

Call for prayers to respect life

Pope Leo's prayer intention for the month of July is for respect for human life in all circumstances.

The Holy Father drew attention to the importance of the intention when he dined with 200 vulnerable people on July 11.

"Having a lunch is just to show a sign [of] what we actually have to do with one another, to sit at the same table, to recognize our common dignity, because we are all sons and daughters of the same God. And when you understand that, you treat others as equal in dignity," Fones said.

"We may think differently. We may have different positions in life — opinions, backgrounds, stories — but we are all sons and daughters of God. So when you recognize that you can treat others as brothers and sisters, even if you disagree with them," he said.

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As the Church prepares to beatify Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen on Sept. 24 in St. Louis, Bishop Robert Barron said the beloved archbishop's legacy extends far beyond his groundbreaking media ministry.

In a July 17 interview on "EWTN News In Depth," Barron said Sheen's enduring influence was rooted in decades of prayer, intellectual formation, and faithful preaching — a model he said he believes Catholic evangelists need now more than ever.

The Church's recognition follows years of investigation into Sheen's life of heroic virtue and the Vatican's approval of a miracle attributed to his intercession. During his priesthood, Sheen became known for proclaiming the Gospel through preaching, writing, radio, and television.

Evangelization built on formation

In the "EWTN News In Depth" interview with anchor Catherine Hadro, Barron, of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, said Sheen's example offers timely lessons for Catholics seeking to evangelize in today's digital media landscape.

While technology has made it easier than ever for individuals to become online personalities, Barron said authentic evangelization requires much more than a social media platform or podcast.

According to Barron, Sheen's extraordinary effectiveness in radio and television ministry was rooted in decades of intellectual, spiritual, and pastoral formation.

Before becoming one of America's best-known Catholic communicators, Sheen devoted years to seminary formation, graduate studies at The Catholic University of America, and doctoral studies at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. His preaching reflected a lifelong engagement with sacred Scripture and the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Augustine, G.K. Chesterton, and St. John Henry Newman.

"He begins his evangelical work only after a long apprenticeship as a teacher, as a writer, as a student," Barron said. "Fulton Sheen had an extremely rich academic formation. Seminary, Catholic University, and the advanced doctorate at Louvain."

For Barron, Sheen demonstrates that lasting evangelization is built upon disciplined study and prayer before public ministry.

"I want you to use the old medium of books," Barron said. "Read and read and read before you dream of getting in front of the microphone."

A warning for Catholic communicators

Barron said today's media environment presents opportunities for evangelization but also significant challenges.

"A lot of people just put a shingle on and say, 'I'm a Catholic spokesman,'" he said.

Without sufficient theological, philosophical, and spiritual formation, Barron warned, Catholic communicators can unintentionally misrepresent the faith.

"I think Sheen would be bothered by that," he said.

Rather than seeking influence first, Barron encouraged aspiring Catholic communicators to imitate Sheen's commitment to study, prayer, and fidelity to the Church before entering public ministry.

A life to imitate

Throughout the interview, Barron pointed to five enduring characteristics of Sheen's life that remain relevant for Catholics today: daily prayer, serious intellectual formation, Christ-centered preaching, personal humility, and joyful evangelization.

Those qualities, Barron said, explain why Sheen's witness continues to resonate decades after his death and why his influence extends well beyond his pioneering work in television.

Barron concluded by responding to comparisons often made between himself and Sheen. Although both men are Illinois natives, graduates of The Catholic University of America, and widely known for their use of media in evangelization, Barron humbly dismissed it.

"It embarrasses me because I'm much unworthy of a comparison," Barron said. "He is the greatest preacher in the history of our country."

Historic beatification

Sheen's beatification is expected to draw thousands of bishops, priests, religious, seminarians, and lay faithful from across the United States and around the world. Pilgrims are planning to travel to St. Louis not only to witness the historic celebration but also to give thanks for the enduring impact of Sheen's ministry.

As interest in Sheen continues to grow ahead of his beatification, Catholic leaders are organizing events examining his legacy. On Sept. 23, the Fulton Sheen Institute will host the conference "America's Saint: The Catholic Hour is Now" in St. Louis, bringing together scholars, clergy, and evangelists to discuss Sheen's relevance for the Church and American culture.

"This conference will rally the voices of American Catholics who championed Sheen when his cause was buried," said Peter Howard, founder and president of the Fulton Sheen Institute and Fulton Sheen Movement. "At a time marked by confusion, fragmentation, and a crisis of identity, Sheen's message cuts through the noise with conviction and clarity."

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Ahead of the 2026 World Cup final, which will see the national soccer teams of Spain and Argentina face off on Sunday, the bishop of Orihuela-Alicante in Spain, José Ignacio Munilla, reflected on the values ??of sport and the risk of idolatry.

Speaking on his program "Sixth Continent" on Radio María Spain regarding the sporting event, the Spanish prelate noted that soccer "possesses values ??that deserve to be recognized."

He said the Church "cultivates the spiritual values ??of sport," which unites families and friends, creates opportunities for social connection in an increasingly individualistic society, and offers a chance to share joys and disappointments, among other virtues.

'Who holds first place in our hearts?'

However, Munilla pointed out that "precisely because soccer stirs the human heart so deeply, it also becomes a magnificent mirror of our contradictions. For enjoying the sport is one thing, but turning it into a religion is something else entirely."

"Our era has a curious way of manufacturing saints, but without holiness," he added, referring to the attention lavished on sports stars, particularly soccer players.

While "it's not wrong to admire someone who has developed an extraordinary talent through effort and sacrifice," Munilla suggested it's worth asking, "Who holds the first place in our hearts?"

The saints, he emphasized, guided generations of Christians for centuries as "models of humility, self-giving, mercy, fortitude, and faithfulness. They weren't perfect, yet they pointed the way to human fulfillment."

At another point in his radio reflection, the prelate said: "We all need role models; we all need points of reference. We all end up resembling those we admire. That is why it's worth asking whether our children are more familiar with the biographies of great soccer players than with those of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. John Paul II, or Blessed Carlo Acutis. It would be a tragedy, of course, not because one must choose between them but because the saints teach us the art of living."

'Idols are always made of clay'

Today, people are fascinated with certain athletes, and "when we turn someone into an idol, they will inevitably end up disappointing us. Idols are always made of clay," he added, because just as "today we raise them to the heavens, tomorrow we will tear them down on social media over a missed penalty kick, a bad season, or making some personal mistake, because idolatry always ends up being cruel."

This reveals "that we are not truly loving the people themselves but rather using their successes to fuel our own emotions."

Munilla also pointed to "the enormous financial disproportion surrounding professional soccer," reflecting that "the market tends to put a price on what we turn into something indispensable."

"The problem is not merely about money. The problem lies in the heart. For wherever we place our admiration, that is where our time, our attention, and our resources ultimately go," Munilla observed, recalling Pope Francis' words: "You roar for a goal, yet you are unable to praise God with that same intensity?"

'Only God can fill the heart forever'

On a purely human level, the bishop of Orihuela-Alicante reflected on a lesson to be drawn from sports: "Not knowing how to accept defeat is a sign of immaturity. But the person who needs to humiliate others doesn't know how to win, either."

He argued that "true sportsmanship lies in discovering that the rival player is not an enemy but someone who made the game possible. Only those who respect the loser truly know how to win. And only those capable of acknowledging the victor's merit without resentment truly know how to lose."

"Let's never confuse a ball with the meaning of life," Munilla concluded, emphasizing that "a championship can fill a public square for a night, but only God can fill the heart forever."

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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A Nebraska man is in police custody after officials say he made threats against Catholic schools and nuns as well as the children of the state's Catholic governor.

The Nebraska State Patrol said they initially arrested 32-year-old Ean Halstead on June 29. The patrol said in a press release that police were investigating a threatening online message against Columbus Catholic Schools and the family of state Gov. Jim Pillen.

The investigation led police to Halstead, who was arrested on June 29 after a standoff at his apartment in Omaha. He was charged with obstructing a police officer and failing to obey a lawful order.

A search at his residence revealed "evidence linking [Halstead] to the threatening message sent to Columbus Catholic Schools," the patrol said. He was subsequently re-arrested on July 17 and charged with "terroristic threats and destruction of evidence."

Local news reported that the message, posted to the Facebook page of Columbus Catholic Schools, had declared: "I'm going to shoot up this school and kill Jim Pillen's children and a few nuns for (expletive) funsies."

A spokesman for Pillen said the governor's office was "extremely grateful" for law enforcement's "quick and thorough work to track down this individual and ensure the security of the First Family."

"We have zero tolerance for political violence here in Nebraska, including threats to carry it out. If you threaten violence against a public official or their family in this state, you will be found and held accountable," the governor's office said.

Pillen has four children with his wife Suzanne. He has been governor of the state since 2023.

Earlier in 2026 he told EWTN News that there was "no way I could possibly be governor without my faith."

His faith life includes the regular praying of the rosary; describing his average day, he said: "I get up and I pray to do God's will."

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"I thought that I was going to die that day."

Haile McAnally's words still ring years after her experience with abortion pills sent her to the hospital.

Alone in her apartment after she took the pills, McAnally was discovered passed out in the bathtub, surrounded by blood.

"I started hemorrhaging, and the only strength I had when I was sitting on the toilet was to take myself into the bathtub," she said in a press call on July 13. "And when I laid down in the bathtub, I thought that I was going to die that day."

Her phone was on the opposite end of the bathroom — out of reach.

"I didn't have enough strength to get up and call anybody, so I laid there," she said. "And that was really all I remember until I woke up in the hospital."

"My friend had let me know that she found me and called 911, and they came and thankfully rescued me," McAnally recalled. "I had a blood transfusion at the hospital, and it was a horrifying experience for someone so young that thought that they could trust these medical professionals."

Now, McAnally is advocating against mail-order abortion pills by signing a letter in support of a woman suing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for not having safeguards for women.

"We have to raise awareness about the danger of these pills," McAnally said.

"I was in a center; I was there where there were nurses and there was a doctor and I had oversight," McAnally continued. "Mailing these [abortion pills] across the country and putting them in dorm rooms and in bathrooms all around the country with no oversight is, I believe, very reckless."

McAnally said she hopes she and the other women who have had similar experiences "will be heard."

"I'm just one story out of many," McAnally said.

McAnally is one of more than a dozen women harmed by abortion drugs who are asking Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to settle a lawsuit over abortion pill guardrails in a July 8 letter.

The women are rallying behind Rosalie Markezich, the leading voice in an ongoing lawsuit against the federal government. Markezich's boyfriend at the time allegedly coerced her into taking abortion pills.

"If mail-order abortion wasn't a thing, I'm 100% sure I would have my child," the letter read, quoting Markezich.

The women are advocating for in-person prescription requirements for chemical abortions.

"We grieve with Rosalie because many of us recognize parts of our own stories in hers: the pressure, the confusion, the fear, the absence of real medical care, and the feeling that the system was designed to move drugs faster than it was designed to protect women," the letter read.

The abortion pill has been left largely unregulated by Trump's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in spite of documented danger to women, including coercion, poisonings, and physical harm.

Numerous cases of abortion pill poisonings and coercions have been documented in recent years in addition to Markezich's.

"No woman should be forced, pressured, deceived, or abandoned into taking drugs that end her child's life and place her own health at risk," the letter said.

"The FDA's illegal abortion drug policy is responsible for this danger, and it is the same policy the department is defending in court," the letter continued.

SBA Pro-Life America's Jamie Dangers urged Blanche to address these issues in Louisiana v. FDA.

"The death toll is climbing, and we need action immediately," Dangers said in a press call on July 13. "This is our new drug crisis. Mifepristone takes more lives every year than fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin combined."

An estimated 15,000 unborn children are killed monthly by the abortion pill in states where it is illegal, according to Dangers.

"As many as 11% of the women who take these drugs will experience really serious complications, including hemorrhage, infection, sepsis, and more," Dangers continued.

Jessica Williams, a registered nurse whose baby was saved through abortion pill reversal, also signed the letter and shared her story in the press call.

She obtained abortion pills without ever meeting with a provider.

"My now ex-husband was pressuring me to abort my pregnancy," Williams said. "At the time, I was also experiencing the emotional roller coaster of going through a divorce."

"I was vulnerable, emotionally exhausted, and experiencing one of the lowest points in my life," Williams said.

"I took the first abortion pill after succumbing to the pressures from my ex-husband," Williams said. "Within the next 24 hours, my mind, body, and spirit spiraled with confusion and a variety of emotions. I wondered if my baby was still alive."

Because of her background as a nurse, Williams knew there might still be a chance that her unborn daughter was still alive. Staff at a pregnancy resource center stepped in to help her and her unborn daughter.

"I was connected with a compassionate pregnancy resource center in Las Vegas, where I obtained a free ultrasound, was prescribed the abortion pill reversal, and was supported through one of the hardest times of my life," Williams continued.

"Because of abortion pill reversal, my daughter, Kaylie, is alive," Williams said. "She is now 3. She's healthy, beautiful, thriving, and one of the greatest blessings of my life."

As a nurse, Williams calls the current system "predatory."

Mail-order abortion lacks the safeguards that in-person visits entail — including ensuring the drugs go to the right person.

"No woman should ever feel trapped, isolated, or without someone to help or understand her options," she said. "As a medical professional we are sworn in to do no harm."

"Every woman deserves to make decisions free from coercion or pressure, and with appropriate medical support," Williams continued.

In addition, Williams is advocating for more information about abortion pill reversal to be given to women. In her own case, she was told that the practice was dangerous.

"As a registered nurse, informed consent has always been one of the most fundamental principles of medicine," Williams said. "Women deserve complete information about their medical options. They deserve compassionate care."

If things had been a little different, Williams might not have her daughter Kaylee with her — and that thought motivates her to advocate for other women in similar situations.

"I often think about what my life would look like had I never learned that another option existed," Williams said. "That's why I continue to share my story."

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"[We] will not receive an extension or any second chances."

That's the urgent message Catholics in western New York are telling the local faithful in their bid to preserve a Civil War-era parish in the small town of Auburn.

The Diocese of Rochester is moving to permanently close and potentially sell Holy Family Church due to structural issues that officials say make it unsafe to use as a parish.

The diocese shut down the church in June 2024, but parishioners of the parish in Auburn — located about 40 minutes outside of Syracuse — are petitioning the Vatican to keep the church an active holy site rather than allow it to be sold off to potential developers.

On its website, Holy Family Organization to Preserve and Endure says the Vatican has requested that the group "demonstrate funding for the purchase, repair, and maintenance of the church."

The organizers say they are working to raise pledges to support the parish but there is a "narrow time window" and numbers "must be provided to the Vatican by mid-late summer 2026."

"If H.O.P.E. fails to demonstrate sufficient evidence to the Vatican by mid-late summer, then Holy Family Church could be sold to a secular buyer and could be destroyed," the group said.

Parish's roots stretch back to early 1800s

The Auburn-based Roblee Historic Preservation said in a "statement of significance" report that Auburn was the site of the first Catholic Mass in the Western New York region in the early 1800s.

The Roblee report was drafted in order to assist the city's historic review board in potentially awarding a landmark designation to the parish. The New York Historic Preservation Office had previously said the property was eligible for listing on both the state and national historic registers.

The Church of the Holy Family was initially dedicated in 1830 in a chapel previously used by local Methodists. The current building was built in 1861 by local Dutch-born master builder John Vanderbosch.

The report described the parish as the "mother church" of Auburn and "an iconic part of its downtown skyline."

On its website, the Catholic preservation group says it hopes to retain the parish for "Catholic religious activity," including rosary groups and private prayer groups, "occasional worship," sacred music concerts, sacred art displays, and architecture tours.

Karen Odrzywolski, the president of the parish preservation group, said the church is also meant to preserve the memory and legacy of Bishop Patrick Byrne, an apostolic delegate to Korea who was martyred in 1950 during a four-month-long forced march while in the captivity of communist forces in North Korea.

Born in Washington, D.C., Byrne spent his formative years in Auburn, living just a few blocks from the parish. His family attended Mass there and he attended the parochial school; he was confirmed at the parish in 1900.

Odrzywolski told EWTN News the preservation group formed in July 2024, a month after the parish was officially shuttered by the diocese.

"We initially put together a preservation plan, which we shared with our pastor and with the Diocese of Rochester," she said. "We've also shared it with the Vatican."

"We've also worked on educating the community as to the significance of the church," she said. "We've had events in honor of Bishop Byrne and of his family, and on the 75th anniversary of his martyrdom we had a prayer vigil."

In addition to the link with Byrne, Odrzywolski said the parish was also once host to another famous Catholic bishop, now-Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen. The prelate, at the time the bishop of the Diocese of Rochester, officiated the funeral Mass of Father William Davie at the parish in 1968.

The Vatican has requested that the group demonstration its ability to fund the church's upkeep, she said. "We're very appreciative of this opportunity. We're hopeful if we can demonstrate the funding they'll allow us to proceed with preserving the church."

Thus far, Odrzywolski said, the group isn't accepting cash donations; instead, it is collecting pledges "so we can demonstrate our ability to fund the maintenance, repair, and preservation of the church."

"We've received over 300 pledges," she continued. "We're extremely grateful to every single person who has pledged. Many people have pledged as much as they possibly can. Many who pledge in general may be of limited or fixed income."

Odrzywolski said the needed repairs are limited to the exterior facade. The interior, she said, has been well maintained over more than a century and a half.

The Vatican, meanwhile, is expecting the group's proof of viability by August. "We're trying our best to aim for an Aug. 1 deadline in order to allow enough time to prepare the documents in a timely manner," she said.

"The truth is, we need the entire community to come together," she said. "The closure of the church impacts the entire community, and we need individuals, families, and businesses to come together."

"It's about the future of Auburn," she continued. "but it's also about honoring Bishop Byrne, and ultimately honoring God."

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Catholic and Eastern Orthodox bishops exchanged dialogue and joined together in prayer at an ecumenical conference in Washington, D.C., this week with a hope that one day the Eastern and Western churches will be reunited.

The conference, held at the retreat house for the St. John Paul II National Shrine on July 13–15, was organized by the Orientale Lumen Foundation. Jack Figel, an Eastern Catholic who founded the group, named it after St. John Paul II's apostolic letter expressing hope for reunification.

Speakers included the secretary for the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, Archbishop Flavio Pace; the primate of the Orthodox Church in America, Metropolitan Tikhon Mollard; Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley; Greek Orthodox Bishop Anthony Vrame; and Romanian Catholic Bishop John Michael Botean.

"I grew up with — I lived with — the tension between East and West my whole life," Figel told EWTN News.

A reunification, Figel said, "all depends on the Holy Spirit." He said: "It is going to be a miracle and it's going to be on God's time."

The conference included speeches by both Catholic and Orthodox bishops and joint panels. Prayer services were held in the Eastern form in which bishops from both traditions participated: a moleben to the Holy Spirit on Monday, daily vespers on Tuesday, and the Akathist to the Mother of God on Wednesday.

Theological hurdles

Recent popes have had friendly relations with Eastern Orthodox patriarchs, and ongoing study by the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church is seeking to resolve theological disputes.

In 2024, the commission set up two subcommittees to analyze two major points of contention: one for papal infallibility and the other for the Filioque.

Papal infallibility refers to Vatican I's teaching that the pope can infallibly define doctrines. The Filioque — Latin for "and the Son" — refers to the West adding the phrase in the Nicene Creed "the Holy Spirit … who proceeds from the Father 'and the Son.'" Catholics argue this clarifies the Latin translation of the Creed, which was originally in Greek; but many Orthodox see it as changing the understanding of the Trinity.

Vrame told EWTN News these theological issues continue to be a hurdle toward Catholic and Orthodox communion.

The No. 1 issue

Speaking from the Orthodox perspective, he said papal infallibility and supremacy is the No. 1 issue. Although Orthodox acknowledge Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew as "first among equals" among patriarchs, "our governance structure allows for each national Church to govern itself," he said.

Dialogue with Rome, Vrame said, must address questions of "how do we begin to understand any claims of universal jurisdiction of the papacy" and "how do we understand any form of papal infallibility." He said the Catholic embrace of synodality could improve dialogue on this issue.

He said a major question is what unity would look like and pointed toward Rome's relationship with Eastern Catholics as a possible example, saying they are "in communion with Rome," but "Rome allowed them to retain their distinctive rites and practices." However, he noted historical complications with Rome's past attempts to Latinize Eastern Catholics and a major question to settle is: "What would unity do?"

Mollard also told EWTN News "the whole question of primacy and synodality" remains a major issue, along with "centuries of separation," which he said "doesn't help either."

Pace told EWTN News that the subcommittee addressing infallibility has to "prepare a very good draft" on the matter that the full committee made up of Catholic and Orthodox leaders "can discuss and approve."

Steps toward unity

As the hierarchy tries to work out millennium-old theological disputes, Mollard said another step is "trying to get from the theological [dialogue] to the implementation" of a stronger relationship but warned "everyone's afraid to do anything."

"We do have to practice these things," he said in his speech. "Let's work together and see if we can find our unity in Christ … [and] work on the structures that could bring that about more formally."

"Prayer and humility are always good," Mollard said.

He told EWTN News that some steps could be jointly "caring for the poor" or "feeding the hungry," which is "the most direct way that collaboration can take place" at this time. In his speech, O'Malley called for joint prayer and study sessions, joint pastoral letters and statements, and joint works of mercy.

Figel suggested Catholic and Orthodox parishes should "pray once a month for unity for at least 10 or 15 minutes."

Ultimately, Vrame said full unity and communion would be expressed "in the Eucharist" if all issues are resolved.

"We don't share the Eucharist," he said. "That would be the culminating moment."

Dialogue and the laity

Many bishops said dialogue and bonds should take place among laity too, with Botean saying in his speech that ecumenism cannot just be "at the level of academics."

"Without the face-to-face stuff, … we're going to get nowhere," he said. "And if our competition is the internet, we have more driving us apart than together."

Botean warned against hostile and uncharitable exchanges, many of which occur on social media, saying: "When we become unloving because of our faith, we're on the wrong track."

Lizbeth Moncada, a senior at Florida Atlantic University who attended the conference, told EWTN News that she has "a lot of friends who are Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox" but agreed that online dialogue can often be "polarizing."

She said exchanges online can be "very disheartening" and she has "wanted to stop engaging in these conversations" at times. Yet, she said discussions like what occurred at the conference are "encouraging."

Andrew Likoudis of the ecumenical Likoudis Legacy Foundation, told EWTN News: "I try not to even engage in online discourse because of how toxic it is." Yet, he said "the discourse here is much healthier" and allows Catholics and Orthodox Christians to "cross theological boundaries and retain the integrity of our own traditions without compromise."

Vrame, commenting on dialogue, said "beating up on somebody else is not very Christian … no matter what you think of their position." He said people can have "respectful disagreements … without having to beat up on somebody," saying that's "no way to show love for your neighbor."

He said it's good that people are passionate about their faith but posed the question: "Are we passionate in a way that reflects Christ and Christianity?"

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The Mexico City attorney general's office announced the arrest of a priest from the Archdiocese of Mexico accused of aggravated child sexual abuse against a 17-year-old girl and stated that a judge has already initiated criminal proceedings against him.

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In a statement issued July 15, the attorney general's office noted that the complaint was filed June 4 by the teenager's mother, who had discovered "conversations with sexual content with a contact identified as 'Winnie Poo'" on her daughter's mobile phone earlier this year.

According to the attorney general's office, the teenager reportedly stated that the contact in question was a priest identified as Enrique "N," who allegedly "forced her to engage in sexual acts on four occasions."

Following the initial inquiries, a supervisory judge ordered the priest to be held in pretrial detention and set a two-month deadline for the conclusion of the supplementary investigation.

Archdiocese initiates canonical investigation

The Archdiocese of Mexico announced in a statement dated July 15 that archbishop Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes had ordered the initiation of an investigation "in accordance with canon law and the procedures established by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith."

The statement expressed its "support for the minor victim, her family, and anyone who may have been a victim of any form of abuse" and reiterated its commitment to the protection of minors and vulnerable persons, "as well as to providing respectful support to those who have suffered any form of violence."

The archdiocese also noted that while the investigation is ongoing, it "will avoid making premature judgments" and "will refrain from revealing the priest's identity while the competent authorities carry out the necessary proceedings."

Finally, the archdiocese urged anyone aware of a possible case of sexual abuse committed by an ordained minister to report it either by phone or email and provided the contact information.

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

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A Catholic teacher based in Arbroath, Scotland, is filing suit after she was fired over her pro-life views.

Supported by pro-life group the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), Sarah Morse, 66, is taking Arbroath High School, run by Angus Council, to court on grounds of discrimination. The move comes after Morse was fired after telling a student, "I am a faithful Roman Catholic and I am against it," when asked her opinion on abortion during a history lesson in November 2025.

"At no time did I attempt to persuade any student to adopt my position. To be 'canceled' and lose my livelihood because of my religious identity is a terrifying precedent for the teaching profession in Scotland," Morse said.

"As a faithful Roman Catholic, Sarah Morse respectfully said she opposes [abortion]. Hours later she was sacked on the spot," SPUC said. "We must all have the right to express our pro-life views without fear of losing our jobs."

Attack on Christians in Egypt raises questions about hate speech

A new attack on Christians in Egypt's Minya Governorate has renewed scrutiny of sectarian incitement and the deeper roots of anti-Christian hostility.

According to ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, Bishop Macarius, Coptic Orthodox bishop of Minya, said extremists attacked Copts in the village of al-Tal al-Qibliya, damaged a priest's car, prevented worshippers from leaving a church, and cut off electricity. Security forces later arrived, arrested those accused of incitement and rioting, and began documenting the damage.

Egyptian senator Bassem Kamel said repeated incidents in Minya point to failures that cannot be addressed by security responses alone, calling for renewed religious discourse, educational reform, media policies that promote acceptance, and faster action on an independent antidiscrimination commission.

Apostolic vicar of Northern Arabia describes pastoral visits amid war

Apostolic Vicar Aldo Berardi, OSST, of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia revealed that he was able to carry out 11 pastoral visits throughout the region despite airport closures and ongoing conflicts.

"Despite the difficulties caused by the attacks and the closure of airports, we were able to carry out the program as planned," Berardi said in a Fides News article, emphasizing the need to visit his flock "especially at a time marked by tension and fear." 

The Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia covers Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. "We gathered to pray for peace and organized special moments of encounter and fraternity," he said. "No priest requested to return to his home country, a source of great consolation for the entire community."

Vatican diplomat highlights HIV crisis among children

Monsignor Marco Formica, counselor of the Holy See's Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations, called for increased attention to HIV cases among children.

"My delegation would like to draw special attention to children, who remain particularly vulnerable to HIV. Gaps in both diagnosis and treatment mean that the 3% of HIV patients that are children account for 12% of deaths due to HIV," Formica said in a statement following a U.N. meeting on HIV and AIDS.

"Quality antenatal as well as perinatal and postpartum care protects both mothers and their children. It is vital to ensure early testing and consistent access to treatment for children with HIV in child-friendly formulations," he said.

Syriac lawmaker says Christians not sufficiently represented

Gabriel Moshe Kourieh, the only Syriac member of Syria's Parliament and a leading figure in the Assyrian Democratic Organization, told ACI MENA that Christian representation in the new People's Assembly remains below the community's aspirations.

Christians currently hold about 3% of the seats, a figure Kourieh said does not properly reflect their historic role in Syrian public life or their place in the country's national consensus. He argued that a future fair electoral law could allow broader Christian participation from different provinces while stressing that Syria's transition must be judged by actions: the building of institutions, separation of powers, judicial independence, and equal citizenship.

Kourieh also placed constitutional recognition of the Syriac-Assyrian identity, language, and culture among his top parliamentary priorities while warning that economic hardship, poor services, and fading hope continue to push many Syrians toward emigration.

Catholic Social Services in Australia urges government to address housing crisis

Catholic Social Services Australia (CCSA) has asked the Australian government to conduct an audit of the country's regulations on buying and building housing.

"Regulation is not inherently negative. It is introduced to address specific problems or market failures," CSSA chief executive Jerry Nockles said in a Catholic News report on Thursday following the proposed audit. "Without regular reassessment, well-intentioned regulations can inadvertently constrain housing supply, driving up costs and limiting access — experienced most acutely by low-income households."

Caritas South Korea named official channel for humanitarian aid

The South Korean Caritas will serve as the primary distributor of humanitarian aid from Caritas International for people north of the border, Asia News reported.

"On behalf of the Caritas Internationalis, we discussed the project of development and cooperation with Kim Seong-il, vice chairman of the National Economic Cooperation Committee of North Korea, who accepted our direct commitment. We also exchanged a letter of intent," Father Lazzaro You Heung-sik, president of the bishops' aid committee, said following a five-day visit to North Korea in May, according to the report.

Under the agreement, Caritas will serve as the "only channel of aid from Catholics from all over the world," Paul Jeremiah Hwang Yong-yeon, secretary of the South Korean Caritas, also said.

Filipino bishop calls for end to stigma around mental health

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines pledged to walk with members of the faithful struggling with mental illness and work toward breaking societal stigmas around mental health.

"Mental illness is not a sign of weak faith. It is not a punishment from God. Like any illness, it deserves understanding, appropriate care, and compassionate accompaniment. Every person, whatever his or her condition, is created in the image and likeness of God and possesses an inalienable dignity that no illness can ever take away," the bishops said in a pastoral statement released on Monday. 

"As a Church, we commit to building communities of encounter, breaking the stigma, strengthening collaboration, and walking together in hope so that every person is welcomed, accompanied, and freed from stigma," the bishops added.

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Catholic leaders are offering prayers and calls for peace and justice after federal immigration agents fatally shot two immigrants in the span of one week.

The Diocese of Portland, Maine, is offering prayers and pastoral support to the family of a Colombian man, Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, 26, who was shot and killed on Monday, July 13, in the small town of Biddeford, Maine.

Archbishop Joe Vásquez of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, meanwhile, called for a "reform that brings about justice to all parties" as well as "peaceful dialogue, mutual respect, and a commitment to charity" after 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national, was fatally shot by an ICE agent during a traffic stop July 7 in Houston's Hispanic Magnolia Park neighborhood.

Conflicting stories

The Maine shooting occurred as Durán "attempted to flee the scene" during a vehicle stop by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, an ICE spokesperson told EWTN News in a statement. 

The spokesperson said the agency was "conducting targeted surveillance on the last known address of an illegal alien with a final order of removal."

Identifying Durán, the ICE statement indicated that "an illegal alien departed the residence in a vehicle," and when the "vehicle attempted to flee the scene and fearing for public safety, an officer discharged his weapon."

The Diocese of Portland said its Hispanic ministry is providing support to Durán's wife and 3-year-old daughter as well as the community.

"We pray that all those affected by his death may experience God's loving comfort, strength, and peace," the diocesan statement added in the wake of the tragedy.

Mufalo Chitam, the executive director of Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition, told the Associated Press that Durán was on his way to work when he was apprehended and shot.

The Colombian native was authorized to work in the U.S. and had been issued a Social Security number, according to the immigrant advocacy group Presente! 

Not the intended target

ICE said Salgado, a father of three who has lived in the U.S. for more than three decades, rammed an ICE vehicle in an East Houston neighborhood and attempted to run over an officer, who then fired in self-defense.

Witnesses, including his brother, who was a passenger in his van, have disputed that account.

In response to the shooting, Vásquez said in a statement on July 15: "As a society, we need to see and treat each other as men and women created in the image and likeness of God, including our immigrant brothers and sisters, our elected officials, as well as our law enforcement officers. Violence and disrespect will only lead to more fear and division," Vásquez wrote.

Vásquez reiterated the U.S. bishops' call for "meaningful immigration reform as opposed to an 'enforcement-only approach.'"

"The U.S. Catholic bishops have repeatedly called for enforcement efforts that are targeted, proportional, and humane," Vásquez continued.

No body cameras used in either shooting

U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said the ICE agents were not wearing body cameras at the time of Durán's shooting, the AP reported of the latest incident.

"The question is, what did he do with his vehicle," King said. "Were officers threatened? Were the threats rising to the level that justified deadly force? That's what this investigation is all about."

Though cameras at local businesses have footage of the incident, Maine State Police have asked for the footage not to be released pending the investigation, per the AP.

DHS told Houston Public Media the officers involved in Salgado's shooting were not wearing body cameras because of recent lapses in federal funding.

State and federal agencies, including local police departments, the attorney general's offices, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the FBI are investigating both shootings.

The law enforcement officers who shot Durán and Salgado have been placed on leave during the investigations.

It is not clear if one of the three men in the van with Salgado was the man ICE was searching for, but a spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia told Houston Public Media she spoke with David Venturella, ICE's acting director, who told her Salgado was not "the intended target."

Aaron Reitz, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas, said in a statement July 16 that on the morning Salgado was shot in Houston, federal officials were investigating two Guatemalan men "who had previously evaded arrest and were potentially subject to deportation." They were also known to be driving a white van.

Reitz said that while searching for the men, federal officers received a report of a similar vehicle in the area, leading police to pull over Salgado's van because the men inside "fit the suspects' description."

"The aliens then fled," Reitz's statement continued, "conducting a rapid U-turn and hopping a median to get away. The agents chose not to pursue."

The federal agents came across Salgado's van again later that morning, according to Reitz, "and again, the illegal aliens attempted to flee, but this time the agents successfully surrounded the vehicle."

The officers "instructed the noncompliant aliens to put the van in park. Preliminary information indicates the driver shifted the van into reverse, then forward again, while an officer was partially inside the van or immediately next to it."

Officers then fired "a single shot" during the confrontation, hitting Salgado. 

Durán and Salgado's deaths bring the number of those who have been fatally shot by ICE agents this year to four.

In January, two people — Renee Good and Alex Pretti — were killed in separate incidents during immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis.

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