Catholic News

The Vatican this week issued a decree declaring that the bishops involved in the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X's illicit consecrations have incurred automatic excommunication and that the group is in schism with the Church.

The illicit ordinations occurred in Écône, Switzerland, on July 2 after Pope Leo XIV had urged the group to "turn back" and refrain from carrying out the unauthorized rite.

The SSPX is a controversial fraternity of priests known for their strict traditional celebration of the Latin Mass and opposition to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council.

The group for years has enjoyed a canonically irregular status within the Church, and the faithful have generally been permitted to attend Masses held by SSPX priests. Yet the declaration of schism has raised questions about whether or not Catholics can still attend those liturgies without incurring canonical penalties.

The Vatican recognizes that the faithful may be able to attend an SSPX Mass without suffering excommunication, so long as there is no "formal adherence" to the SSPX.

Formal adherence was described in an important 1996 explanatory note from the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, on the "Excommunication for Schism Incurred by Members of Bishop Marcel Lefebvre's Movement," which was cited in the new decree's own explanatory note.

It described two key components: an internal one of freely and consciously sharing the substance of the schism and an external one of making outward expression of that choice, such as the exclusive participation in SSPX Masses.

Notably, in the 1996 note, Vatican officials recognized "that occasional participation in liturgical acts or activities of the Lefebvrian movement — without adopting the movement's attitude of doctrinal and disciplinary disunity — is not sufficient to constitute formal adherence to the movement."

It added that in pastoral practice, it is necessary "to take into account the person's intention and how that inner disposition is translated into action," and such situations should "be judged on a case-by-case basis by the competent authorities."

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on July 2 sent a letter to bishops worldwide outlining the means by which clergy and faithful who have taken part in the schism with the Church can return to full communion with the faith.

The letter stipulated that penalties for lay faithful who belong to SSPX "cannot be presumed automatically, but must be assessed case by case."

The dicastery said that "imputably" in the matter "requires full awareness and deliberate consent."

Some cases in which laypeople are not considered "imputable," the dicastery said, include those who have attended SSPX Masses "only for liturgical or spiritual reasons," along with those who "do not reject the magisterium or the authority of the Roman pontiff."

'Strongly discouraged' for risk of schism, scandal

Nevertheless, the new decree's explanatory note strongly admonishes the faithful "to remain firmly united with the Roman pontiff, with the bishops in communion with him, and with the entire Church … and to refrain from participating in the celebrations and activities organized by the aforementioned Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X."

Ronald Bolster, an associate professor of theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville and dean of the theology school there, said it would be "inappropriate and strongly discouraged to participate in the liturgies and activities" of the SSPX.

To do so, he argued, "would imply support for their schismatic act."

"Participation could also be a cause of scandal, causing others to consider that such participation is appropriate, and more broadly, suggest that the laws of the Church and the authority of the vicar of Christ can be dismissed or disregarded without consequence," he said.

William Newton, a theology professor and the chair of Franciscan University's theology department, also argued that Catholics who attend SSPX Masses "collaborate" in the schism, though he noted that there are degrees of responsibility associated with it.

"Certainly, the culpability for this collaboration can vary as with any sin, because of ignorance or lack of freedom of will," he said.

"However, the schismatic character of the SSPX has been confirmed by the Church, so ignorance, while still possible, cannot be assumed," he added.

He noted that there are "alternative valid Masses available to the faithful," which he said "makes the choice to attend an SSPX Mass that much more likely to be willful collaboration with schism."

The faithful "should not attend a Mass of the SSPX," he argued.

Bolster described the schism event as a "most unfortunate situation."

He urged Catholics to "join Pope Leo in praying that the concerns which have motivated this division can be addressed without further loss of unity. "

Cardinal Gerhard Müller, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was last month even firmer in saying Catholics should not attend SSPX Masses.

In his exclusive interview with EWTN News just days before the illicit consecrations, the cardinal was asked what faithful drawn to SSPX Masses should do if a schism follows. Müller said forcefully that they "shouldn't go, and cannot participate in the Masses of schismatic priests and bishops."

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Pope Leo XIV celebrated the contributions of Catholics and immigrants to the United States in an open letter to Americans for the country's 250th anniversary.

The letter, dated June 25 and released by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Friday, also highlighted the principles of religious freedom and the right to life.

Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, wrote that the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, "gave enduring voice to the ideals of liberty, equality, the pursuit of happiness, justice, and democratic self-government."

The pope called religious freedom "among the most cherished of these principles," writing that it is "central to the American promise, protecting both individual dignity and the peaceful coexistence of a diverse people."

That freedom has allowed the Catholic Church to flourish in the U.S., serving the nation in many fields including "education, the preferential care for the poor, healthcare, and basic social services," Leo wrote

The pope also underscored the importance for the country's history of the "God-given dignity of every human life." Recognizing that dignity means "safeguarding human life from its beginning at conception until natural death" and caring for the "vulnerable, the suffering, and the forgotten," he wrote.

It also means "welcoming, protecting, and assisting immigrants," who "have helped to shape the nation's character," Leo wrote.

The pope's letter to Americans closed with an invocation of the "Immaculate Conception, patroness of this country, that she will continue to watch over America and protect all who dwell therein."

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PHILADELPHIA — Pope Leo XIV said he was "honored" to accept the 2026 Liberty Medal from the National Constitution Center (NCC) in livestreamed remarks delivered for the ceremony in Philadelphia on July 3.

"I am honored to accept the Liberty Medal of the National Constitution Center in this year that marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America with the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776," the Holy Father said.

Leo was born in Chicago but earned a bachelor's degree at Villanova University in the Philadelphia suburbs. The NCC presented the award to the pontiff in person at the Vatican on April 30, ahead of the ceremony.

In his remarks, Leo thanked those gathered in Philadelphia for the occasion. The NCC building overlooks the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the country's founders developed and adopted the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

"As a son of this great country, founded by courageous men and women who dreamed of liberty and of a better life for themselves and for their children, I join you in asking God's blessings upon America's future, that the lofty ideals enshrined at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence may continue to guide the flourishing of the nation in unity, justice, and peace," Leo said.

"From our youth, most of us have admired the eloquence of those words, with their resounding appeal to the law of nature and to nature's God as the basis of their assertion that all men and women are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, including the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," he said.

The pontiff said that although the text employed "the language of the Enlightenment," the claim is "ultimately grounded in an understanding of the human person inspired by the great biblical vision of man and woman being created in the divine image."

"It is indeed here that we discover the basis of human dignity; dignity which precedes the establishment of any state and whose custody constitutes its very purpose," Leo said.

Respecting the right to life "in every form and condition," he said, is directly tied to the nation's vitality. He said society must cultivate a reverence for life that "sways the hearts of individuals and inspires laws that recognize and safeguard this gift from the moment of conception to natural death."

The right to liberty, the pontiff said, is much deeper than simply doing what one wants. It is "founded upon the human person's capacity to know the truth and adhere to what is good, even at great cost — a sacrifice well known to many who have labored to shape this country," he said.

"The desire for truth and freedom, as well as the very pursuit of happiness, continues to inspire people of all generations to ask fundamental questions regarding the meaning of life, our ultimate purpose, and indeed about God, and it is proper for magnanimous hearts to endeavor to answer these questions with sincerity," Leo said.

The Holy Father said that religious freedom, to be "free from fear and coercion, as enshrined in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution," is needed to answer those questions.

"It is my hope that this tradition will continue to bear fruit in a public discourse marked by moderation, respect for the views of others, and an ongoing effort to find common ground in promoting the cause of peace and reconciliation, at home and abroad," he added.

The pope said he is praying that the 250th anniversary of the United States "may be the occasion of a solemn recommitment to these ideals that have made America a country that values peace and prosperity, a country characterized by generosity and nobility of heart."

Archbishop Perez, Gov. Shapiro speak

The ceremony was attended by a few hundred guests and included other speakers, such as Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson J. Perez, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, state Attorney General Dave Sunday, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, and local Christian, Muslim, and Jewish religious leaders.

Perez said throughout Leo's life — as priest, bishop, cardinal, and pope — he has defended the "inherent dignity of all people and building pathways to peace," including a defense of religious freedom.

"True freedom stems from defending dignity and the value of every human being," he said.

Perez told EWTN News following the event that the pope's words "bring us back to our origins" as Americans regarding the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

"It was wonderful to hear him once again bring us back to center, that we all were created in a very image and likeness of God," the archbishop said. "Our human dignity and our rights flow from that. They flow from being created in God's image and likeness and from there flows our freedom and the heart that seeks God."

"It's a wonderful day for Philadelphia," Perez said. "It's a wonderful day for the country. It's a wonderful day for the world."

Shapiro congratulated the pope on receiving the award and thanked the Holy Father, on behalf of Pennsylvania, "for using your voice, your power, to advance religious liberty for all people."

The ceremony included the ringing of a replica of the Liberty Bell just outside the building. It was rung by Sunday, the attorney general, who recalled the words of Benjamin Franklin when the Founding Father was asked what form of government they had created after the constitutional convention: "A republic, if you can keep it."

"Our Constitution is the rock upon which we will build in the next 250 years," Sunday said.

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More than 200 women banded together to advocate for access to abortion pill reversal in response to California officials targeting the practice.

In abortion pill reversal, a patient who no longer desires abortion takes the hormone progesterone to save the life of her child after she has taken the first chemical abortion pill. In recent years, abortion pill reversal awareness has been targeted in the states of California and Colorado.

In an open letter, 225 women who have been helped by the Abortion Pill Rescue Network (APRN) expressed their gratitude for being able to access abortion pill reversal.

"The healthcare professionals who spoke with us, whether doctor, nurse, or staff, treated us with compassion and respect," the letter read. "They provided information about a medical protocol that might help preserve our pregnancies."

"We were free to accept or decline that care," the letter continued. "We made our own choices."

"We reached out because we wanted to know if there was any possibility of continuing our pregnancies after taking mifepristone," the letter read. "We are grateful that someone answered."

The women expressed disagreement with the idea that information about abortion pill reversal is harmful.

"Women facing difficult and time-sensitive decisions deserve access to information about all of their options," the letter read.

The women were responding to allegations in a California lawsuit that abortion pill reversal aid was misleading, according to a press release by the pregnancy help center network Heartbeat International, which manages the APRN.

"More than 40 of those women are Californians, from the very state where Attorney General Rob Bonta is seeking to silence Heartbeat International … and punish its speech about abortion pill reversal," the press release read.

Abortion pill reversal is not always successful, though Heartbeat International says the success rate is 64%-68%.

"Some of us gave birth to children we cherish today. Others did not experience the outcome they hoped for," the women wrote. "Yet regardless of the outcome, we are thankful that we were informed of an option and allowed to decide for ourselves."

Shield laws allow hundreds of thousands of abortion pills to be sent to states that protect life

A recent report found that since 2023 nearly 330,000 abortion pills were shipped to states with laws that protect unborn children.

These shipments came from mail-order abortionists who are protected by shield laws in states such as New York and California.

The report, by the Restoration of America Foundation, estimates that "out-of-state abortionists send nearly 15,000 chemical abortion pills per month into states with pro-life laws," according to the report shared with EWTN News.

The report calls on the Trump administration to "act swiftly and decisively."

"If pro-life states have no power to protect their women and babies from rogue abortionists thousands of miles away, the situation they find themselves in is not better than before the Dobbs decision — it's worse," the report read.

U.S. Senate to consider expansion of Mexico City Policy

The U.S. Senate is considering an expansion of the Mexico City Policy, which requires federally-funded aid organizations to refrain from promoting or providing abortions in order to receive federal aid.

The bill, if passed, would prevent U.S. foreign assistance from being used to fund or promote abortion as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, as well as gender ideology.

"U.S. foreign assistance programs have been exploited as a loophole to promote far-left, radical ideology on the dime of American taxpayers for far too long," said U.S. Sen. Ted Budd, R-North Carolina, who introduced the Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance Act.

Army captain sentenced for poisoning his pregnant girlfriend with abortion pill

An Army captain was sentenced to prison for poisoning his pregnant girlfriend with chemical abortion drugs.

Capt. Brandon Jones-Adams was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to killing his unborn child, along with other charges including domestic violence.

Jones-Adams obtained the chemical abortion drugs from an online provider by using a fake name. The unborn baby, who was 13 weeks old, did not survive the forced abortion.

1 in 3 pregnancies end in abortion in England and Wales

The lives of nearly 1 in 3 unborn babies end in abortion, according to recent statistics from England and Wales.

In 2023, a rate of 32.1% of conceptions ended in abortion in England and Wales. Abortion has been on a steady increase there since 2015, according to the statistics from the England and Wales Office for National Statistics.

"The rise in abortions since the pandemic has been linked to the availability of at-home abortions with the 'pills by post' scheme," according to a report by CARE, a London-based Christian organization that aims to bring truth and grace into politics. "This allows women to receive medication to terminate a pregnancy up to 10 weeks after a phone or online consultation with a medical professional."

Delaware Catholics battle abortion, celebrate wins

Delaware Catholics are opposing an abortion amendment; meanwhile, the state has made a legal agreement not to target pregnancy centers.

The Delaware Catholic Advocacy Network urged Catholics to oppose a recently proposed abortion bill that would enshrine a right to abortion in the state's constitution.

Meanwhile, Delaware officials agreed to a court order banning them from enforcing a law against pregnancy centers, settling a lawsuit brought by the centers.

Only 1 Planned Parenthood clinic to remain in Iowa

Planned Parenthood will shrink to a single clinic in Iowa at the end of this month, the organization announced earlier this week.

Planned Parenthood North Central States officials cited "declining and unstable funding streams" as well as a recent Trump administration move to defund the organization through the Teen Pregnancy Prevention program.

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Peter's Pence, the Holy See's fund that gathers donations for the pope's charitable works and the needs of the universal Church, closed 2025 with an income of 57.6 million euros ($65.8 million) and expenses of 59.8 million euros ($68.3 million).

The Vatican attributes the 2.2-million-euro ($2.5 million) deficit to currency exchange rate fluctuations, according to a report published June 30. In 2024, 58 million euros ($66.3 million) were raised.

The donations received total 54.5 million euros ($62.3 million) and came primarily from dioceses around the world (63.6%), followed by foundations, private donors, and religious institutes. The remaining 3.1 million euros came from other income, according to the Vatican.

Contributions from the United States (14.2 million euros, or $16.2 million) were particularly notable, followed by those from other countries such as Italy, Brazil, South Korea, Germany, France, and Spain.

Most donations are channeled through parish collections, direct donations including transfers and online methods, and inheritance legacies.

Of the total donations, 41.2 million euros ($47.1 million) were used to support the activities of the Holy See in the service of the Holy Father's apostolic mission, and 13.3 million euros ($15.2 million) went to projects providing direct assistance to people in need in 74 countries.

A total of 252 projects were funded, with a special focus on evangelization, humanitarian aid, and the strengthening of local churches in need.

The projects supported by the Holy See include educational and social initiatives as well as support for ecclesial communities, particularly in Africa and Asia.

Aid in Europe also includes scholarships for priests, seminarians, and religious from Africa, Latin America, and Asia, as well as humanitarian aid for the people of Ukraine.

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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Pakistani Christians are mourning the death of a 61-year-old Catholic accused of blasphemy who died in custody after months of deteriorating health, renewing concerns over the treatment of vulnerable prisoners and the misuse of Pakistan's blasphemy laws.

Amir Peter, the younger brother of Capuchin Father Henry Paul, parish priest of St. Francis Church in Lahore, died July 1 after suffering severe medical complications while in judicial custody awaiting trial at Camp Jail in Lahore.

The father of three had been admitted to a hospital on the night of June 30 after his condition worsened.

Peter was arrested in July 2025 after a Muslim shopkeeper accused him of making derogatory remarks about the prophet Muhammad. He remained behind bars until his death, although his lawyers said medical experts had declared him mentally unfit to stand trial because of advanced dementia.

EWTN News contacted Peter's son, Tumaar Amir, who declined to comment.

More than 200 people attended Peter's funeral Mass on July 2, celebrated by Archbishop Khalid Rehmat of Lahore at St. Joseph's Church.

"The whole Capuchin community and the Church are with Father Henry Paul and his family. We stand in solidarity with them," said the newly appointed archbishop, who had returned to Lahore just a day earlier after receiving the pallium from Pope Leo XIV on June 29, the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

"We take pride in the fact that my brother didn't leave his Christian faith till the last moment," Paul said.

According to Peter's legal team, his physical and mental health steadily deteriorated throughout his detention.

"He was falsely accused of blasphemy. We repeatedly highlighted his deteriorating physical and mental health and the urgent need for appropriate medical treatment. Regrettably, despite these efforts, he passed away before justice could be served," Katherine Sapna, executive director of Christians' True Spirit, the legal aid organization representing Peter, told EWTN News.

"We mourn the loss of a man whose life was tragically cut short amid a flawed legal process. His serious medical condition was overlooked, and he was denied timely and adequate healthcare," she said.

Sapna called on religious leaders, civil society organizations, and state institutions to work together to ensure that no one is deprived of dignity, due process, or essential medical care because of false accusations or social prejudice.

"The vulnerability of victims of the misused blasphemy laws is extreme. Mental illness offers no protection," Samson Salamat, a Catholic and chairman of the Rwadari Tehreek (Movement for Religious Tolerance), told EWTN News after attending the funeral.

"The Punjab Institute of Mental Health's medical board had already declared Peter unfit to stand trial. No one is safe from the misuse of these laws, not even a priest's brother. Instead of merely reacting to individual cases, Pakistan needs policy reforms. Otherwise, promises to protect religious minorities remain empty," he said.

Concerns over the treatment of mentally ill prisoners

Human rights organizations have repeatedly expressed concern over the treatment of prisoners with mental illnesses in Pakistan.

In its World Report 2024, Human Rights Watch said that limited awareness of mental health contributes to the abuse and neglect of prisoners with psychosocial disabilities. The report also noted that Pakistani prisons face a severe shortage of mental health professionals and routinely fail to provide adequate psychological care.

Peter's death comes months after another prominent Christian blasphemy defendant died shortly after regaining his freedom.

In October 2025, Pastor Zafar Bhatti, founder of the Pakistan-based Jesus World Mission Church, died of cardiac arrest at his home in Rawalpindi three days after his release from prison, where he had spent 13 years facing blasphemy charges.

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As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, the nation's founding offers a reminder that one of the beneficiaries of the American Revolution was a religious minority once viewed with deep suspicion: Catholics.

Long before the First Amendment guaranteed the free exercise of religion, in many of Britain's American colonies, Catholics were barred from holding public office, restricted from voting, and often prohibited from openly practicing their faith. Anti-Catholic laws, rooted in centuries of conflict between England and the Catholic Church, left many Catholics viewed with suspicion, their loyalty questioned simply because of their faith.

Yet within a generation, a Catholic priest would become the first bishop of the United States, a Catholic would sign the Declaration of Independence, and the nation's first president would push Congress to officially recognize and authorize Catholic and Protestant chaplains.

As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, historians say the American Revolution marked a dramatic turning point for religious liberty — especially for Catholics.

Washington's push for chaplains

When Gen. George Washington assumed command of the Continental Army in 1775, the colonies were religiously diverse but overwhelmingly Protestant. Nevertheless, Washington understood that faith was essential to the lives of the soldiers under his command.

At his urging, the Continental Congress voted on July 29, 1775, to appoint a chaplain for every regiment in the Continental Army.

The measure was practical. Chaplains preached, celebrated worship services, comforted the wounded, buried the dead, and reminded soldiers of the moral principles for which they fought.

But it also represented something larger.

For perhaps the first time in American history, the revolutionary government acknowledged that citizens serving their country should not have to abandon their religious convictions.

Although nearly all of the early chaplains were Protestant ministers, the principle established by Congress — that the government should accommodate the religious lives of its soldiers rather than suppress them — set an important precedent for religious freedom.

Father John Carroll and a new place for Catholics

Born in Maryland in 1735, John Carroll belonged to one of the few Catholic families that had managed to flourish despite legal restrictions.

Unable to receive a Catholic education in the colonies, he studied in Europe with the Jesuits before returning home as a priest.

In 1776, the Continental Congress asked Carroll to accompany Benjamin Franklin, Charles Carroll — John Carroll's cousin — and Samuel Chase on a diplomatic mission to Canada.

His presence was deliberate.

Congress recognized that a Catholic priest could help build trust among French-Canadian Catholics and demonstrate that the American Revolution was not a Protestant movement hostile to the Catholic faith.

Although the mission ultimately failed to persuade Canada to join the Revolution, it sent an important message: Catholics had a place in the American experiment.

Catholics prove their loyalty

The Revolution gave Catholics the opportunity to challenge long-held prejudices against them.

Many colonial Protestants had inherited generations of anti-Catholic sentiment from England. Catholics were often portrayed as politically unreliable because of their allegiance to the pope.

The Revolution, however, forced Americans to reconsider those assumptions.

The patriot cause depended upon an alliance with Catholic France. The Continental Congress sought support from the largely Catholic population of Quebec. And American Catholics demonstrated that they, too, were committed to independence.

One of the clearest examples was Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the only Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence.

A wealthy Maryland planter, Charles Carroll had long faced legal restrictions because of his faith, including limits on holding public office under British rule. By affixing his name to the Declaration, he risked both his considerable fortune and his life in support of the patriot cause.

Charles Carroll's signature became a powerful answer to those who questioned whether Catholics could be loyal citizens of the new republic, demonstrating that devotion to the Catholic faith and commitment to American independence could go hand in hand.

Washington's vision of religious liberty

Washington's commitment to religious liberty became even clearer after the Revolution.

Writing in 1790 to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, Washington rejected the idea that religious minorities merely deserved tolerance. Instead, he wrote that the government of the United States "gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance."

Those words represented a profound departure from the European model, where governments often granted limited tolerance while still favoring one established religion.

Washington envisioned something different: equal protection for citizens regardless of their faith.

For Catholics, whose ancestors had endured generations of legal discrimination under British rule, the promise carried enormous significance.

Carroll becomes first American bishop

That same spirit shaped the future of the Catholic Church in the United States.

In 1789, Pope Pius VI appointed Father John Carroll the first bishop of the United States.

Rather than viewing American democracy with suspicion, Carroll embraced the opportunities offered by constitutional protections for religious liberty.

He established Georgetown College, promoted Catholic education, encouraged the formation of parishes, and urged Catholics to become active participants in civic life.

Carroll believed the Church could flourish precisely because the government neither established nor persecuted religion.

His confidence proved well-founded.

Within decades, the Catholic Church would grow from a tiny and often mistrusted minority into one of the nation's largest religious communities.

A legacy for the next 250 years

The American Revolution did not eliminate anti-Catholic prejudice overnight. Catholics continued to face discrimination well into the 19th century.

Yet the Revolution fundamentally changed their legal status.

The same nation that had once inherited England's suspicion of Catholics gradually embraced the principle that citizenship did not depend upon religious affiliation.

Washington's support for military chaplains, his rejection of religious prejudice, and his vision of equal liberty helped lay that foundation. Bishop John Carroll, in turn, demonstrated that Catholics could faithfully serve both the Church and the new republic.

Together, their stories remind Americans that religious freedom was not simply one of the nation's founding ideals — it became one of its greatest achievements.

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Father Valentín Aparicio, vice rector of the major seminary of the Archdiocese of Toledo in Spain and an expert in biblical archaeology, explained how to read the Bible "without getting lost in the process."

Known as "Un cura de Toledo" ("A Priest from Toledo") on social media — where he has thousands of followers — Aparicio shared his advice during an interview on the podcast "Se buscan rebeldes" ("Rebels Wanted"), hosted by fellow Spanish priest Ignacio Amorós.

During the conversation, Amorós defined the Bible as the "bestseller" that never goes out of style, a "fiery book that has changed history" and that tells the story of God's love for humanity.

However, he also pointed out that many Catholics have difficulty understanding it and that some even become scandalized when reading certain passages of the Old Testament.

Considering this, Aparicio advised those who want to read and understand sacred Scripture: Start with the Gospel of Luke.

Reading this Gospel, which recounts the life of Jesus, followed by the Acts of the Apostles, helps one "gain a fairly clear and comprehensive idea of ??what the New Testament is."

"There are times when we do not understand the Bible, but it's because of the cultural gap that exists. We must remember that some parts of the Bible date back roughly to the transition between the Bronze Age and the Iron Age," Aparicio pointed out.

Due to that distance in time and culture "so immense and so wild," in the words of the priest, "if someone doesn't take me by the hand, I don't know how to navigate it." Because of this, he emphasized the importance of having guidance while reading and tools that facilitate understanding, such as those available on the internet.

The priest said his YouTube channel features a series of lessons in which he explains the chapters of Genesis.

He emphasized that reading the Bible is not merely about "stringing words together" but about discovering "what God wants to tell you there."

He drew a comparison with cinema: "What makes a movie good or bad?" he asked. "If a movie is simply a collection of film frames, you end up bored, because you can't put up with two hours of watching frames. You need a plot, a narrative, a common thread that connects all the frames."

In his view, the same holds true for the Bible. Its various books are not isolated accounts but rather form part of a single story with profound internal unity. That unity, he explained, is defined by the Hebrew concept of "berit," or covenant: God's desire to establish a covenant of love with every human being.

"In the Book of Genesis, the first book, God begins by creating the world; and in the Book of Revelation, the last book, he culminates with a new creation, restoring his plan and returning us to the paradise we had lost. Throughout the entire Bible, we witness the reclaiming of that lost paradise," he explained.

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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Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan, Philippines, spoke out against government corruption during a June 28 rally at the People Power Monument in Manila.

"We cannot remain silent while funds meant for the poor are being stolen. We cannot remain silent while the people's treasury is being turned into the personal wealth of a few. We cannot remain silent while corruption continues to destroy the future of our children," Bagaforo said at the White Ribbon March on Sunday, according to Licas News.

The chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines' Commission on Interreligious Dialogue further condemned corruption as "a grave sin of theft and betrayal of the people."

Bagaforo's remarks come in the wake of a corruption scandal last year involving infrastructure projects worth an estimated $2 billion.

Catholic anti-trafficking leaders  meet in Thailand

The sixth international Talitha Kum Leadership Training Course conference drew 30 Catholic anti-trafficking leaders from 23 countries to the Sam Phran District in Thailand this past week.

During the seven-day conference, Talitha Kum Thailand delivered a presentation on education as a form of protection against human trafficking, according to a Licas News report on Monday.

Sister Marie-Agnes Suwanna Buasap, SPC, who was present at the first training course in Rome, announced a K–12 curriculum and textbook series called "Don't Touch Me" aimed at raising vigilance among students and teachers to prevent trafficking cases.

"Preventing human trafficking begins in the classroom, from the heart of the teacher, and from the community of love and safety that the school provides," said Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Thailand.

Australian bishops call on Catholics to pray for work on the sea

The Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference has called on Catholics to pray for mariners ahead of Sea Sunday on July 12.

"Sea Sunday is a time when we reflect on the lives and the work of all the seafarers of our world," Father Tony Cox, SSC, the national director of Stella Maris Australia, said in a press release Wednesday. Cox described mariners as living on the margins of society, recalling how they were unable to set foot on dry land for over a year and a half during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, he said, they must face the war-torn Strait of Hormuz.

"One visiting seafarer said to me: 'People do not see us and because of our invisibility they think we are not human. They do not see what we do and forget that we too have needs,'" Cox said.

Cambodia school takes name of Buddhist and Catholic leaders

A Buddhist primary school for monks in southern Cambodia has adopted the names of Buddhist and Catholic religious leaders in a display of unity between the faith communities.

The "Chomroen Olivier" school was inaugurated June 25 and combines the names of Venerable Nget Chomroeun, the Buddhist abbot of Ang Montrey Pagoda, and Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, MEP, apostolic vicar of Phnom Penh, according to a report from Fides News Agency.

Schmitthaeusler hailed the school as "a beautiful, concrete, and living sign of collaboration between the pagoda and the Catholic Church."

Maronite, Armenian Catholic leaders meet with Pope Leo

Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al-Rai and Armenian Catholic Patriarch Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian shared updates about the faithful in their respective countries with Pope Leo XIV during a meeting Tuesday.

Al-Rai told Leo a new phase of dialogue for peace began after the pope's trip to Cedar, and they emphasized the need for continued dialogue and national unity at a fragile moment for Lebanon, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported.

Minassian and Leo discussed the witness of the Eastern Catholic Churches and the current state of the Armenian Catholic Church.

Irish government proposes abortion leave after removing reflection period

The Republic of Ireland's government is considering proposals to provide paid leave for women who lose a baby before 23 weeks, including those who have an abortion.

The news comes after the Irish government voted to remove the three-day wait period for pregnant women considering an abortion of their unborn baby.

Eilís Mulroy of the Pro-life Campaign said that the government had its priorities in the wrong order. "After the way they voted recently to abolish the three-day reflection period prior to an abortion, senior members of government like Micheál Martin and Simon Harris are now, in effect, saying to women: 'We recognize the grief and trauma you might experience after an abortion, so we believe you're entitled to five days' leave. However, we voted to abolish the three-day reflection period before an abortion despite the fact that it could potentially safeguard you from finding yourself in that awful situation in the first place,'" he said, adding: "The position these politicians are adopting makes absolutely no sense."

Priest who developed video evangelization program named bishop of Arundel and Brighton

Father Stephen Wang has been appointed as the new Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, England, replacing Archbishop Richard Moth, who was recently appointed as the archbishop of Westminster.

Wang described the appointment as "a huge surprise," adding: "I'm grateful to Pope Leo for calling me and putting his trust in me, and to Archbishop Moth for his care for the diocese over these years."

The bishop-elect has spent the last five years as rector of the Venerable English College, one of two English and Welsh seminaries in Rome, training men for the priesthood.

Wang, whose appointment has been widely welcomed, is renowned for having developed "Sycamore," a video-based Catholic evangelization program that explores the Catholic faith through short films and guided discussion. Designed to make the faith more accessible, "Sycamore" is now widely used by Catholic parishes, schools, and university chaplaincies across the world.

German bishops welcome apostolic nuncio from Kenya

Members of the German Catholic Bishops' Conference (GCBC) have welcomed the former apostolic nuncio to Kenya, Archbishop Hubertus van Megen, pledging their collaboration in the Vatican diplomat's new apostolic mission.

"We are delighted by your arrival in our country and wish you God's abundant blessings for your new task," GCBC Vice President Bishop Michael Gerber of the Diocese of Fulda said, according to a report from ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, on Tuesday.

Pope Leo XIV transferred van Megen, who served as the apostolic nuncio in Kenya for seven years, on April 9 to Germany after Archbishop Nikola Eterovic resigned upon reaching the canonical age limit.

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Incoming Wyoming Catholic College student Miriam Washut took home a $150,000 scholarship after winning first place in the first-ever Presidential 1776 Awards, a nationwide civics competition.

Washut, who is the daughter of Wyoming Catholic College President Kyle Washut, emerged triumphant from among 20 finalists and over 8,000 students from all 50 states and territories who entered the competition.

Washut, along with the second and third place winners, met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office July 1 alongside Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.

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McMahon said the award "recognizes students who have demonstrated a deep understanding of America's founding principles and enthusiasm for learning America's story. What better way to celebrate 250 years of this great nation than by honoring those who will carry us into the next 250!"

University of Mary launches graduate school of theology in Arizona

The University of Mary has announced it will open a graduate school of theology in Phoenix in the fall.

The satellite graduate school will offer a four-year master of divinity degree and a 36-credit master of arts in theology, taught in person at the Arizona Center, located across from St. Mary's Basilica and the diocesan pastoral center, the university announced on June 30.

The university described the move as a further development of its "long-standing partnership with the Diocese of Phoenix and Nazareth Seminary," and an expansion of its Arizona mission.

"What originally started as undergraduate formation for the seminarians of the diocese has blossomed into an academic program that now includes master's-level work," said Eric Westby, associate professor of theology at the university. "This formation will help students know their faith more deeply and be equipped to pass it on in a variety of settings," he added.

Benedictine College to open Independence Hall-themed library  July 4

Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, will hold a soft-launch opening of its Moritz Library, built to resemble Independence Hall in Philadelphia, on July 4.

The replica of the Assembly Room where America's Declaration of Independence was debated and signed will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to noon, the college said in a press release. Visitors to the library, which is "in the final stages" of construction, will also be able to view a replica of the Liberty Bell. "The morning's activities will include an exhibition of historical documents, children's games, and costumed reenactors. It is all free and available to the public," the college said.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to view a collection of historic documents through an exhibit titled "Celebrating the American Experiment."

"Thirty-nine documents trace the story of the American founding and its origins in centuries of Western political thought," the exhibit page states. "Among them are works by Aristotle, Cicero, John Locke, and Algernon Sidney, as well as the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers, and a rare 1788 printing of the Constitution of the United States, one of only five known copies in existence."

The exhibit is on loan to the college through November from the Remnant Trust. 

DeSantis blocks funding for security improvements at Catholic schools

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has vetoed a bill that would have allocated $15 million in state funding for security improvements at Catholic schools in Miami-Dade County. The veto came after the Florida Legislature passed the bill on May 29.

The Archdiocese of Miami expressed its disappointment with the veto and thanked lawmakers for their efforts to pass legislation to protect its more than 37,000 students.

"Security enhancements are not a luxury; they are an essential component of providing safe environments where students can learn and thrive," the Archdiocese of Miami said in a June 29 statement. The archdiocese noted that it does not receive any funding to offset security costs, despite other privately-run public charter schools in the state receiving government aid.

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