Catholic News

The beatification Mass for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen took place at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis on Sept. 24 with tens of thousands of the faithful in attendance. Pope Leo XIV issued a papal decree granting that Fulton Sheen "may henceforth be called blessed." Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, acting as the pope's legate, read the apostolic letter at the Mass in St. Louis.

Blessed Fulton Sheen's feast day will be Dec. 9, the anniversary of his death. That date also marks the first apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego in 1531.

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A pastor in the Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky, has resigned after a parish employee filed a civil lawsuit alleging she was sexually assaulted by her supervisor and her concerns were dismissed.

Father David Sanchez resigned as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and School in St. Matthews, Kentucky, after a civil lawsuit filed last week accused him of dismissing janitor Gladis Garcia Gomez's claim that she was sexually assaulted by her supervisor, former facilities manager Cesar Barahona.

Archbishop Shelton Fabre accepted Sanchez's resignation and the priest has been placed on administrative leave, according to a letter the archbishop wrote to the parish Sept. 23. He wrote that Sanchez "does not want to be the source of further unrest in the parish" and remains a priest in good standing.

Father John Schwartzlose, the parish's associate pastor, has been named temporary administrator. Fabre said he plans to appoint a new pastor in July 2027.

The lawsuit, filed Sept. 17 in Jefferson County, names the Archdiocese of Louisville, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and School, Sanchez, and Barahona. In it, Garcia Gomez says she was hired as a janitor in April 2025 and that Barahona sexually harassed and assaulted her at work over subsequent months. According to the lawsuit, he regularly forced her into the boiler and maintenance room, where he would rape and sodomize her.

Gladis Garcia Gomez v. Archdiocese of Louisville, et al.

She alleges in the lawsuit that when she reported the attacks and sexual abuse to Sanchez in June 2025, he told her he was a close friend of Barahona, did not believe her, and warned her against speaking further. She claims she met with the archdiocese's human resources department in October 2025, which told her to file a police report, which she did that same month.

Her attorney, John Spalding, said in a statement shared with EWTN News: "It is deeply regrettable that this case exists at all. No person should have to wonder whether a report of sexual violence will be taken seriously and promptly investigated and acted upon. Justice for victims requires more than policies. It requires truth, accountability, and the courage to protect people rather than institutions."

A spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Louisville told EWTN News it does not comment on pending litigation.

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The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of Catholic schools in Colorado that want to be included in the state's universal preschool program.

Two parents, two Catholic parishes, and the Archdiocese of Denver are suing the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and the state's Universal Preschool Program. The USCCB's amicus brief argues Catholic schools should be allowed to participate without compromising their faith.

Although Colorado permits secular and faith-based schools to participate in the program, schools are prohibited from discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation in the admissions process. The schools argue that this prevents them from only admitting children if their parents agree with Church teachings on those issues.

The USCCB's amicus brief said the case was the latest example of states and cities using nondiscrimination rules to quietly pressure or sideline certain religious beliefs.

"If this trend continues, it will impair the ability of Catholic organizations and other faith-based service providers to partner with state and local governments to serve the public," it adds. "The resulting harm to the nation's social support infrastructure would be immense."

The bishops urged the court to rule in favor of the Catholic schools and provide "clear instruction to courts across the country that religious organizations cannot be barred from participation in public life merely because they live out their sincerely held religious beliefs."

"[This] will ensure that these organizations can continue providing vital, irreplaceable services in partnership with the states while freely exercising their faith," the court filing adds.

Benedictine College gets candidate status for medical school

Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, announced that its proposed School of Osteopathic Medicine received candidate status by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.

"Achieving Candidate Status is a significant milestone for Benedictine College. It reflects the dedication and hard work of many people who have helped bring this vision forward," Dr. Marla Golden, the founding dean, said in a statement. "Our attention now turns to the next major step of achieving Pre-Accreditation Status."

According to a news release, receiving candidate status allows the college to move forward toward the process of being accredited.

Study shows economic impact of Franciscan University

A study by the analytics company Lightcast found that Franciscan University of Steubenville generates $81.2 million in its annual economic impact and supports 1,146 jobs in the Ohio Valley.

According to a news release from the university, Franciscan's economic impact was equal to about 1.6% of the Ohio Valley's gross regional product. It found the university and its students supported 1 in every 45 regional jobs.

"Franciscan University's first mission is to form men and women in Christ and prepare them to serve God and others through their families, professions, and communities," Father Dave Pivonka, university president, said in a statement.

"This study gives us a remarkable glimpse at another dimension of that mission," he said. Franciscan is also an economic anchor for the Ohio Valley — providing jobs, supporting businesses, bringing students and visitors to the region, and sending graduates into the world prepared to contribute and serve."

New Catholic head of Intercollegiate Studies Institute

The Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) — founded by William F. Buckley and Frank Chodorov to support conservative college students — named Christopher Fisher, who has a background in Catholic education, as its new president.

Fisher serves as superintendent of Catholic schools at the Archdiocese of San Francisco and previously worked as the executive director of the Portsmouth Institute for Faith and Culture at Portsmouth Abbey, a Catholic monastery and boarding school.

"Chris's deep commitment to the enduring ideas of the Western tradition, his record of institutional leadership, and his passion for forming the next generation of thoughtful, engaged citizens make him exceptionally well-suited to lead ISI into its next chapter," read an ISI post on X.

In a post on X, Fisher said he is "honored and humbled to be chosen as the next President of ISI, and am deeply grateful to the Board for the opportunity to lead an institution that shaped my own education and vocation."

Tennessee school district adds Ten Commandments in schools

The Hamilton County School Board in Tennessee voted 6-4 to require all public schools in the county to display the Ten Commandments, joining at least five other counties that have adopted similar rules.

These mandates come less than three months after a state law became effective, which expressly allows public schools and charter schools to display the Ten Commandments alongside the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

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ST. LOUIS — Archbishop Fulton Sheen, despite his humble origins in small-town Illinois, aspired to great things as an academic and as a communicator of the Catholic faith. On Sept. 24, before a crowd of tens of thousands at The Dome at America's Center, the farm-boy-turned-mass-media star was declared "blessed" after the reading of a decree signed by Pope Leo XIV, a fellow Midwesterner.

Via his decree, Pope Leo announced Blessed Sheen's feast day will be on Dec. 9, the anniversary of his death. His feast day is expected to be on the calendar of the Catholic Church in the United States.

Cardinal Luis Tagle, the pope's representative and the principal celebrant of the beatification Mass, reflected on the meaning of "blessed" during his homily — noting that throughout history many who shared the Christian faith suffered persecution, yet their lives were still marked by joy. It is Sheen's deep, humble relationship with Jesus Christ and his radical solidarity with the poor and vulnerable that characterized his life as a missionary, one that all Catholics should emulate, Tagle said.

Despite his massive worldly popularity and the fact that he personally accompanied countless converts in their journey to become Catholic, Tagle noted that Sheen did not "claim" the converts as his own but rather described himself as a mere "porter" who led people to the "open door of the house of God."

"It is for being a zealous and creative evangelizer, an advocate for mission that Fulton Sheen is called 'blessed' or 'fortunate' or 'happy'… Blessed is the Evangelizer, converted by beholding and touching the wounds of the risen Christ in wounded brothers and sisters, blessed is the missionary who digs deep into the heart of the poor to meet Jesus there. Blessed Fulton J. Sheen!" Tagle proclaimed.

Jam-packed crowds of Catholics of all ages — from the elderly who were around when Sheen's shows first aired, to numerous families with small children — had descended on the stadium for the Mass, which began with a lengthy procession of some 1,000 priests, 89 bishops, and hundreds of seminarians and deacons.

The actual moment when Sheen became "blessed" happened early in the proceedings, following the proclamation of a decree signed by Pope Leo XIV. As is customary at beatifications, the decree was read first in Latin by Tagle, the pope's representative and the pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, and afterward in the vernacular — in this case English — by Bishop Louis Tylka of Peoria, Illinois, in whose diocese Sheen was born.

Immediately following the reading, a portrait of Blessed Sheen was revealed showing him with a halo, to thunderous applause. The same portrait was simultaneously unveiled at his tomb at the Cathedral St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria.

Earlier in the day, Monsignor Jason Gray, executive director of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation, announced that six purported miracles are attributed to the intercession of Sheen as part of the process that could lead to his canonization. Any purported miracle attributed to Sheen's intercession that has taken place since Pope Francis announced his beatification in July 2019 can count toward his eventual canonization, which typically requires a second miracle to move forward.

James Fulton Engstrom, recipient of the confirmed miracle that cleared the way for Sheen's beatification, survived in spite of having spent 61 minutes without a heartbeat. The healthy 16-year-old presented several of Sheen's relics during the beatification Mass today.

Catholics from all over the world hailed Sheen's example as a highly creative and effective missionary, who used every means available to him to share the love of Christ.

Father Solomon Patrick Zaku, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Nigeria, flew to the U.S. for his first-ever visit to the country to attend the beatification of Sheen, who previously served as the Pontifical Mission Societies' national director for the U.S.

"While I was in the seminary, I read about his book and about his life, and I was somewhat touched by his life. One of the things I have learned from him is the Holy Hour, spending an hour daily, and that has been part of my daily routine, which has been my source of inspiration," Zaku said. "As the national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Nigeria, [we] promote the Mission Rosary, which Archbishop Fulton Sheen introduced … I pray it daily."

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ST. LOUIS — For Bonnie Engstrom, who witnessed her newborn child miraculously healed through the intercession of soon-to-be Blessed Archbishop Fulton Sheen, the journey to the prelate's beatification has been an "emotional roller coaster."

The Sept. 24 Mass will be "a foretaste of heaven," she predicted, "where we are all going to be worshipping God together and celebrating the Church as a whole, and the power of the body of Christ and every good grace that God has given us. I am so looking forward to it," Engstrom said at a Thursday morning press conference.

Engstrom spoke to the media along with Bishop Louis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, and Monsignor Jason Gray, executive director of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation in Peoria. Gray said it is a relief, after years of technical investigations and paperwork, to see their work finally come to fruition and be able to join in the celebration of Sheen with the faithful.

That said, Gray admitted he has been surprised during the process at how much attention Sheen has attracted, particularly among young people.

"One question that came up early on [was]: Who's going to care? All the people who knew him when his program was on are very old. But we've discovered young people are inspired by Sheen, because he's a voice of integrity that inspires people who did not know him in life, that have discovered him in the years since," Gray said. "So it's just exciting to see how much enthusiasm there is,"

Tylka agreed, highlighting the fact that Sheen pioneered "new media" in his day — attracting wide attention, including from non-Catholics — serving as an inspiration to those looking to do the same in 2026. He also showed how to bridge divisions in the Church and in the world because he "always spoke with the truth of the Gospel, with charity and with clarity."

"Sheen's message is timeless because he spoke the truth and he spoke the truth with clarity and charity. I think a lot of people in the world, especially young people, are searching for purpose and meaning and to have a voice that so convicted, he presents the truth of our faith, our belief in Jesus Christ, the truth that God loves us and that life is worth living. I think that's very appealing," Tylka said.

'Local boy'

The beatification Mass Thursday afternoon will include 89 bishops, about 1,000 priests, about 850 each of seminarians and religious, and 250 deacons, along with about 50,000 total attendees, Gray said. The Mass, which can be viewed live on EWTN with coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET, will be celebrated by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pope Leo XIV's representative.

James Fulton Engstrom, the third of Bonnie and Travis' eight children and the recipient of the confirmed miracle that led to Sheen's beatification, will play a part in the Mass by presenting several relics of Sheen onstage. Gray and Tylka both displayed two of the relics during the press conference: one of Sheen's zuchettos — the reddish-purple skullcap worn by archbishops — and Sheen's pectoral cross.

James Fulton, who was born in 2010, spent 61 minutes without a heartbeat while his mother prayed fervently to Sheen to help her child — whom she and her husband had already named after the famous archbishop. Almost exactly 16 years later, James is a happy and healthy teenager. The fact that James' healing was a miracle was attested to unanimously by the medical experts, cardinals and others at the Vatican tasked with investigating it. In a later on-air interview with EWTN on Thursday, his mother said she sees a connection between Sheen's devotion to spending an hour before the Blessed Sacrament every day and the 61 minutes her son lie lifeless.

"As a laywoman, I was so impressed with how thorough the investigation was. And Travis and I felt very reassured that, wow, when the Catholic Church says something is a miracle, it is a miracle," Engstrom commented during the press conference.

When asked why she chose to call upon Sheen specifically in such a dire moment, Engstrom noted that Sheen had been a favorite of their family for years — a "local boy" with a down-to-earth Midwestern air, a "warm character" who reminded Engstrom of her own grandfather and great-grandfather. In that context, calling on Sheen during the worst hour of her and her husband's life made complete sense, she said.

Despite his highly unusual birth story, James himself is an ordinary kid, a "punk teenage boy," Engstrom joked, who didn't ask to be thrust into the spotlight. Nevertheless, he is also a "delightful young man" who is excited — albeit a little nervous — to play a part in the beatification Mass for the intercessor who helped save his life, Engstrom continued.

"For all of our children, we've put all of our kids under the patronage of a saint and have really built a culture where we are celebrating feast days. We are calling on their intercession. I want all of my kids to feel like they have a squad that surrounds them, that is following them through life, praying for them, interceding, cheering them on," she said.

Gray noted that because the late Pope Francis originally announced Sheen's beatification in July 2019, any purported miracle attributed to his intercession that has taken place since then can count toward his eventual canonization, which typically requires a second miracle to move forward. Gray said the Vatican is considering six different potential miracles involving Sheen's intercession, including an alleged instantaneous healing from cancer and a healing of another newborn from a condition similar to James'. Pope Leo, a native of Illinois like Sheen, is well aware of the archbishop's cause, Tylka added.

Both Tylka and Gray said they have no doubt that Sheen will one day be canonized.

"America's bishop, as Sheen was known, is being beatified during the 250th anniversary of our nation," Tylka said. "And we have a pope from Chicago, a native son of Illinois, who gave the green light for this to move forward. So I think all of those things say it's pretty opportune … I hope that the time between now and actual canonization won't be that long."

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VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV and Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar discussed the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, the impact of artificial intelligence, and other challenges facing Europe during a private audience at the Vatican on Thursday.

Magyar also formally invited the pope to visit Hungary and presented him with a book of memoirs by Cardinal József Mindszenty, the former archbishop of Esztergom and primate of Hungary who resisted both fascism and communism.

Following the audience, Magyar, who won Hungary's April 12 parliamentary elections, ending Viktor Orbán's 16 consecutive years in power, described the meeting on social media as "an honor" and "inspiring."

Magyar said the two spoke about the situation in Hungary, challenges facing Europe, the growing impact of artificial intelligence on society, and loneliness among young people.

He also explained his approach to politics, which he said is based on "honesty, genuine human connection, and hard work."

"At the end of our meeting, I asked for a papal blessing for our country and invited the Holy Father to visit Hungary," Magyar said.

The Vatican said the discussions covered Hungary's socioeconomic situation as well as education and "the protection of the most vulnerable Christian communities in various regions of the world."

The two sides also exchanged views on Ukraine and the Middle East and expressed hope for greater international efforts to promote peace and negotiated solutions to ongoing conflicts.

Magyar gave the pope a book of memoirs by Mindszenty, one of the most prominent figures in 20th-century Hungarian Catholicism. The cardinal, who lived from 1892 to 1975, faced imprisonment and persecution for his opposition to both fascism and Hungary's communist regime.

Portuguese president meets Pope Leo

Pope Leo also received Portuguese President António José Seguro on Thursday in their first official meeting since Seguro became head of state.

Seguro subsequently met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican's secretary for relations with states. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

The Holy See said the talks covered Portugal's socioeconomic situation, the promotion of the common good, and international affairs.

"Some regional and international issues were addressed, with particular reference to the repercussions of conflicts around the world, migration, the importance of multilateralism and respect for international law, as well as the urgent need for a constant commitment to peace," the Vatican said.

The private audience lasted about 40 minutes. Seguro presented the pope with a porcelain sculpture of the crucified Christ made by Portuguese manufacturer Vista Alegre and designed by architect Álvaro Siza Vieira.

Seguro had said Wednesday that he planned to convey "the friendship of the Portuguese people" and renew an invitation for Pope Leo to visit Portugal in 2027, when the country will mark the 500th anniversary of the apostolic nunciature.

Pope Francis visited Portugal twice during his pontificate: in 2017 for the centenary of the Marian apparitions at Fátima and in 2023 for World Youth Day in Lisbon.

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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ST. LOUIS — Six purported miracles are attributed to the intercession of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen as part of the process that could lead to his canonization, Monsignor Jason Gray, executive director of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation, said Thursday.

Gray made the announcement at a press conference with Bonnie Engstrom,?whose newborn child was miraculously healed after she prayed for Sheen's assistance. That confirmed miracle led to Sheen's beatification.

Any purported miracle attributed to Sheen's intercession that has taken place since Pope Francis announced his beatification in July 2019 can count toward his eventual canonization, which typically requires a second miracle to move forward.

Gray said efforts were underway to gather documentation.

"There's a potential healing from Stage 4 cancer that resolved itself instantaneously. That one sounds pretty good," Gray said. "There's another one of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy of a newborn child. I have no idea what that is but it sounds really bad. So we have a couple different candidates, one for healing a cancer, and healing of another child. And that's why it's premature to say anything more than that. We'll investigate and leave it in the hands of the Holy See."

James Fulton Engstrom, in what medical experts characterize as a miracle, survived in spite of having spent 61 minutes without a heartbeat. The healthy 16-year-old will present several of Sheen's relics during the beatification Mass today.

When asked why she chose to call upon Sheen specifically in such a dire moment, Engstrom?noted that Sheen had been a favorite of their family for?years — a "local boy"?with a?down-to-earth Midwestern air, a "warm character"?who reminded Engstrom?of?her own grandfather and great-grandfather.

In?an on-air interview with?EWTN on Thursday,?his mother?said she and her husband, Travis, were impressed with how thorough the Vatican's investigation into the miracle was.

"Travis and I felt very reassured that, wow, when the Catholic Church says something is a miracle, it is a miracle," Engstrom said during the press conference.

The Mass,?which?can be viewed live on EWTN with coverage beginning at?2:30 p.m.?ET,??will?be celebrated by?Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pope Leo XIV's representative.

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Police in southeast Poland arrested a man after a stabbing at a Catholic convent on Thursday, Sept. 24, left one person dead and four others wounded, according to a news release from the regional police.

Police received a report at 9:30 a.m. local time that a Ukrainian man stabbed someone with a knife at the Benedictine Abbey in Jaroslaw, Poland, a small town near the border with Ukraine.

The police report states that initial findings indicate that the 31-year-old man stabbed four men and one woman. It also states that all five were taken to the hospital and three of the men had serious injuries.

Local media reported that one of the injured men died in the hospital, citing the hospital and the police. Some outlets identified the victim who died as a Catholic priest, but EWTN News has not been able to independently confirm this information.

EWTN News reached out to the police and the convent but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

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Pope Leo XIV has appointed Romanian diplomat Monsignor Paul Butnaru as the new permanent observer of the Holy See to the Council of Europe.

The Vatican announced Butnaru's appointment on Sept. 24. The Council of Europe, distinct from the European Union, is Europe's leading human rights organization. Founded in 1949 after World War II, the Council of Europe upholds democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across continental Europe. Its headquarters is in Strasbourg, France.

The Holy See is not a full member of the council, which is limited to democratic states. Diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the council have existed since 1970, and Pope Francis visited the council in Strasbourg in 2014, where he called for a more humane response to migrants.

Francis' plea to Europe to stop migrant deaths

Criticizing the number of deaths resulting from the mass drownings of migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea to Southern Europe, Francis warned the council in his address not to betray their mission by ignoring the suffering of these migrants.

"We cannot allow the Mediterranean to become a vast cemetery! The boats landing daily on the shores of Europe are filled with men and women who need acceptance and assistance," Francis said.

Pope Leo XIV echoed similar concerns during his apostolic journey to Spain in June 2026, calling for an "examination of conscience" regarding migrant deaths during his visit to the port in the Canary Islands.

Butnaru's diplomatic service

Butnaru was born in Piatra Neam?, Romania, on Nov. 13, 1978. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Ia?i on June 29, 2004.

He entered the Vatican's diplomatic service on July 1, 2012. Since then, he has served at the apostolic nunciatures in Ethiopia, Venezuela, and Bulgaria; at the Vatican's Secretariat of State, in the section for relations with states and international organizations; and at the apostolic nunciature in Canada.

Butnaru is the second permanent observer to the Council of Europe who is not a bishop, following his predecessor, Monsignor Marco Ganci.

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