Catholic News

The Department of Justice (DOJ) joined in a lawsuit filed by Catholic nuns against a New York law that forces nursing facilities to require that women's units accommodate transgender women, who are biologically male.

The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, who have cared for terminal cancer patients at no charge for 125 years, sued the state after the New York Department of Health sent them three warnings about not following the transgender policies.

One letter warns about "refusing to assign a room to a resident other than in accordance with the resident's gender identity," "prohibiting a resident from using a restroom available to other persons of the same gender identity," and "willfully and repeatedly failing to use a resident's preferred name or pronouns after being clearly informed of the preferred name or pronouns."

On June 18, the DOJ notified the U.S. District Court of its intent to intervene on behalf of the sisters, asserting that New York's law violates their constitutional right to equal protection as a religious group.

"States should take notice that they cannot require Americans to abandon their religious beliefs in the name of woke gender ideology," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the DOJ Civil Rights Division said in a statement.

"For more than a century, the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne have provided free palliative care to indigent cancer patients in their last days," she said. "New York's law would force these religious women to choose between their faith and their license if they wish to continue serving the dying."

The sisters argue that the state is violating their First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion. They also argue their First Amendment rights are being violated because the state is trying to force them to communicate a point of view with which they disagree.

The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne operate Rosary Hill Home, a 42-bed nursing home in Thornwood, New York.

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Colombia's Congressional Pro-Life and Pro-Family Caucus on June 16 presented a detailed report on its four-year legislative record, highlighting its growth from 24 to 52 members and key victories including the passage of three landmark laws and the successful defense of traditional marriage, while warning of fresh battles as the new Congress convenes on July 20.

The caucus, which first formed in 2020, established ad hoc committees for the defense of life, family, and religious freedom in both chambers, coordinated by Rep. Luis Miguel López and Sen. Karina Espinosa.

Over the 2022–2026 term, the group advanced more than 30 legislative initiatives, three of which became law: Law 2310 of 2023 (the "Empty Arms" Law) providing comprehensive support for parents mourning miscarriage or newborn loss; Law 2361 of 2024 strengthening public policy on breastfeeding and human milk banks; and Law 2495 of 2025 creating the "Made by Family" Seal to support family-owned businesses.

The caucus also successfully modified Bill 155/23C to define marriage in the Civil Code as between "a man and a woman." The bill initially stated that marriage is between "two adults."

Furthermore, the caucus blocked or amended "articles to defend the family, life, and religious freedom."

In the report, members of the caucus addressed not only their achievements but also "the battles fought against harmful bills, many of which were ultimately shelved thanks to the joint action of the caucus members."

"Each victory represents a step toward solidifying the goal of ensuring that the voices of those who defend life and the family have a place in democratic debate," the report notes.

The caucus also successfully eliminated the tax on churches within the Tax Reform and removed Article 277 of Bill 338/23C — the "2022–2026 National Development Plan" — which sought to establish a public policy favoring abortion and other "sexual and reproductive rights.'"

Furthermore, prevented from moving forward in the legislative process were initiatives "seeking to legalize cannabis, the four statutory bills on euthanasia, the more than 10 bills seeking to impose gender ideology, and the three statutory bills seeking to authorize surrogacy, among others."

Nevertheless, the report notes that "the challenges ahead are enormous" for the members of the pro-life caucus during the term beginning on July 20.

Among these challenges are "continuing to strengthen the unity of the pro-life caucus, broadening its influence on public opinion, and confronting with solid arguments and constructive proposals the cultural and legislative challenges that put the values ??we defend under strain."

"The struggle for life, family, and religious freedom is ongoing, and this report stands as a testament to the fact that, with perseverance and commitment, significant victories can be achieved and the groundwork laid for those yet to come."

In the lead-up to the congressional elections on March 8, the citizens' group Unidos por la Vida (United for Life) encouraged candidates to sign the "Commitment to Life and Family."

Following the official vote count, the group reported that more than 30 of the candidates who signed the pledge were elected to the new Congress. They will form the next pro-life caucus in the Legislature, alongside any other lawmakers who wish to join.

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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In a message to thousands of participants on the 50th anniversary of the Steubenville Youth Conferences, Pope Leo XIV encouraged young Catholics to seek "true peace" and "perfect joy" through a deeper relationship with God, drawing inspiration from the life and teachings of St. Francis of Assisi.

Hosted by Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, the annual conferences are large Catholic youth evangelization events for high school students in North America. Since their founding in 1976, the conferences have drawn hundreds of thousands of young people for worship, Eucharistic adoration, confession, catechesis, and fellowship.

This year more than 43,000 teenagers are expected to participate in conferences held in Steubenville and at regional sites across North America. There is no known record of any previous papal message to the Steubenville conferences.

In his message, the pope reflected on the witness of St. Francis of Assisi and wrote on two themes that defined the saint's life: authentic peace and perfect joy.

Recalling St. Francis' traditional greeting, "peace and all good," the pope emphasized that true peace is a gift from God and flows from a relationship with Christ. He encouraged participants to seek moments of silence and prayer during the conferences to discover the peace that Christ promised disciples and to become instruments of that peace in their families, communities, and society.

The Holy Father also addressed the meaning of "perfect joy," drawing on St. Francis' teaching that lasting happiness is not found in material success, popularity, entertainment, or social media. Instead, he explained, true joy comes from knowing God's love and remaining faithful even amid suffering, rejection, and hardship.

The pope recalled St. Francis' explanation for what perfect joy is. He wrote: "One winter evening, as he was walking back to Assisi with Brother Leo, one of the first members of the Franciscan order, St. Francis began to give a long list of apparently 'good' things that do not lead to perfect joy. At a certain point, Brother Leo finally exclaimed, 'Father Francis, I pray that you will teach me about perfect joy!'"

Then, the pope wrote, St. Francis recounted "a tragic situation that implied suffering cold, hunger, and rejection — the opposite of what you would expect — and added that if such difficulties are embraced with patience, without complaining, and with love for God, 'This is perfect joy.'"

"Is it really possible to have joy in such difficult circumstances, we might ask? It is only possible if our life is founded upon our relationship with God as a loving Father," the pope wrote.

"Only the love of God can provide us with true and perfect joy," the pope wrote, reminding young people that they are precious in God's eyes and loved unconditionally by him. He urged conference participants to deepen their relationship with Christ through prayer, the sacraments, and trust in God's providence.

The message concluded with an invitation to discern God's call. Whether to marriage, priesthood, religious life, or missionary service, the pope encouraged young people not to be afraid to respond generously if they sense the Lord calling them to a particular vocation.

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Weekend Masses could be suspended at a total of 90 parishes across southeast Michigan, according to plans revealed by the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Previously released models identified 58 parishes for potential stoppage of weekend Masses. An additional 32 parishes could see a suspension in weekend Masses.

The models released June 18 cover several planning areas across parts of metro Detroit and nearby counties including Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb.

The latest update follows the completion of 400 listening sessions at parishes across the archdiocese amid its two-year restructuring process. While the listening sessions are complete, parishioners are invited to share feedback through an online form available until July 31.

Archbishop Edward Weisenburger announced the restructuring and renewal initiative for the archdiocese on Nov. 16, 2025, saying: "I believe with all my heart that God is inviting us to reimagine parish life, priestly ministry, and our mission with new creativity and deep faith, to build something that will last — something vibrant, sustainable, and full of hope."

Weisenburger said at the time that a reduction in the number of parishes and worship sites was expected and that implementation of the plan would take place in 2027, "with a goal of fostering long-term health and missionary vitality throughout the archdiocese."

A similar suspension of weekend Masses at more than 80 parishes across northeastern Iowa will also take place this summer as a part of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa's reorganization plan that began in September 2024.

Like the Archdiocese of Detroit, the Archdiocese of Dubuque cited a declining Catholic population, lower participation in the sacraments, and a continuously shrinking number of priests as reason for its restructuring.

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The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints recognized the martyrdom of Servant of God Juan Torres Torres and 19 companions from the Diocese of Ibiza in Spain who were killed out of hatred for the faith at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War in 1936.

On June 18, the Vatican published the decree regarding these martyrs as well as the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Clara Andreu y Malferit (1596–1628), a nun at the Hieronymite monastery of San Bartolomé in Inca in Mallorca.

The diocesan phase of the beatification process for these Spanish martyrs was opened in 2008 by Vicente Juan Segura, bishop of Ibiza, and concluded in 2015, when the cause was forwarded to the then-Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

The process was validated in January 2017, allowing work to proceed on the "positio," the extensive report that compiles testimonies and details regarding the candidates' lives and virtues and examines their writings.

The report was approved by historical consultants in 2025, and in 2026 it was submitted for review by the dicastery's theological consultants and member cardinals and bishops.

Born in 1912, Father Juan Torres Torres was martyred at the age of 25; he was the youngest of his companions and the first to die at the hands of his murderers. The eldest was Father José Tur Bennassar, born in 1859, who was a cathedral canon at the time of his death. He died at Ibiza Castle on Sept. 13, 1936, alongside the majority of this group. The Diocese of Ibiza celebrates the feast of these martyrs on that date.

Sister Clara Andreu

Bárbara Andreu Malferit was born on Dec. 4, 1596. Her mother died during childbirth. At the age of 8, she entered the Monastery of San Bartolomé in Inca and took the name Clara, although she did not profess as a novice until she turned 12. She made her religious profession in 1613.

The Royal Academy of History highlights in her biography that "she was notable for the dedication with which she lived out the evangelical counsels and the precepts of the rule and constitutions of the Order of St. Jerome, in every role and wherever obedience placed her."

She also "engaged in intense activity as an adviser to many people regarding their lives and conscience" and suffered from numerous illnesses. Censured "for the spiritual experiences of a mystical nature she claimed to have and had committed to writing" at the request of Bishop Baltasar de Borja of Mallorca, "she bore it all with exemplary resignation; following a special visit by the Franciscan Father Figuerola, spiritual peace was restored," according to the biography.

After she died in 1628, "in light of the favors she performed for those who commended themselves to her," the biography said her remains were placed in a tomb in the convent church in 1702." Her body is incorrupt, which has heightened her reputation for holiness.

The diocesan phase of her cause concluded in 2011, where the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in Rome has studied her case for 15 years.

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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Since last May, the Diocese of Guadix in Spain has been home to a new community of hermits — four Venezuelan men who have settled at the site of the martyrdom of St. Torquatus.

St. Torquatus, beheaded in the first century, was one of the seven reputed disciples of the apostle James, known as the apostolic men, who were the first to preach Christianity in Spain.

Carlos Andrés, Óscar Eduardo, Osmar Moisés, and Emilio José have taken up residence at Face Retama, a desert area within the Granada Geopark and the location of the hermitage of St. Torquatus, the patron saint of the Diocese of Guadix.

The four Venezuelans have formed a community known as the Hermits of Sts. Torquatus, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, receiving their habits in early May.

According to the Diocese of Guadix, this diocesan foundation was established through the efforts of Bishop Francisco Jesús Orozco, who wants to ensure that the diocese "keep[s] the memory of the place alive and pray[s] for the Church proclaimed by St. Torquatus in the first century and that endures to this day."

In recent years, the hermitage of Face Retama has been restored and designated a diocesan shrine, with plans for regular Masses and pilgrimages.

The four new hermits have been preparing for their arrival for three years and, prior to establishing the community, underwent a period of acclimatization to the location.

"They arrive guided by and inspired by the charism of the Congregation of Martha and Mary, which already has two communities of women religious in the diocese, one in Castril and the other in the city of Guadix," the diocese explained.

The ceremony consecrating the four men as hermits held at the Guadix Cathedral was attended by numerous religious sisters from this community, including its founder, Mother Ángela, and the superior general, Mother Rutilia.

Signs of their commitment as hermits

Several signs of the new community's eremitic life were present during the celebration: a white tablecloth, recalling the table Martha prepared for Jesus, the purity of Lazarus's resurrection, and the Eucharist they will celebrate daily; a cross with its nails, a symbol of the self-offering of the family of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, "seeking nothing other than to unite with the sufferings of Christ in order to share in his glory"; and a staff, a water gourd, and sandals, reminding that "the hermit through his seclusion upholds the mission of the Church through prayer."

During the homily, Orozco reminded the newly consecrated men of their new commitments: "In the perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, you will be the beating heart of our diocese, interceding ceaselessly for the needs of the Church and, very especially, for the needs of our Holy Father, the pope."

He also reminded them that their new way of life "is not a flight from the world. It is much more; it is personal intimacy with Christ."

"In the desert of Face Retama you will never be alone. Where a Christian or where a hermit lives, he gives himself, suffers, makes sacrifices, and lives in fidelity to prayer and contemplation; there the entire Church is with him. That is the desert, that is your vocation," he continued.

"In you, dear hermits, we place our rich history of 21 centuries of faith; may Face Retama, through your fidelity, be heaven on Earth," the bishop told them.

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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Pope Leo XIV on Friday highlighted the role of synodality in promoting the common good and avoiding new divisions.

In his private audience with the participants of the Borgo Dialogues at the Vatican on June 19, Leo praised their work as a commitment to the "ecological, social, and economic transformation of the world." He also described their work as grounded in the Church's vision to promote global unity.

"Your dialogues have been structured on the Catholic Church's vision of synodality, listening from the ground up while fostering global unity," Leo said.

In his remarks, the pope drew extensively on his recent encyclical on artificial intelligence, Magnifica Humanitas. He urged leaders to resist the temptation to prioritize profits over a civilization of love.

"In the face of the temptation to build the 'Tower of Babel,' which represents the idolatry of profit at the expense of the most vulnerable and enhances the risk of dehumanization, we are called to contribute to the construction of the New Jerusalem, the civilization of love, in which love is the only guiding principle of economic, political, and cultural life."

The Borgo Dialogues were held June 17–19 at the Borgo Laudato Si', part of the Pontifical Villa Gardens in Castel Gandolfo. Inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si', the meetings brought together leaders from academia, culture, and business to focus on global ecological challenges and related topics.

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Juneteenth, short for June 19, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. For Ryan Bomberger, he also remembers the day his life changed through adoption.

Bomberger was conceived in rape. Even in states with strong protections for the unborn, these protections often don't extend to children conceived in rape. Some consider these exceptions a mercy to women who have suffered assault; others consider abortion a secondary trauma.

"My birth mom chose courage in the midst of the chaos," Bomberger told EWTN News. "She had a strength within that enabled her to be stronger than her circumstances."

"She rejected what the world says was her right and, in some circles, her obligation," Bomberger said. "The world looks at lives like mine and says we should have been aborted."

"I have nothing but love and compassion for the post-abortive, but had my birth mom given in to the lie, I wouldn't be here," he said. "Those beautiful generational reverberations wouldn't exist."

"My family — my heart — wouldn't exist," he said.

As an adult, Bomberger advocates for unborn babies and for adoption through the organization he co-founded with his wife, the Radiance Foundation.

Adopted into a diverse, loving family

After nearly being aborted, Bomberger was adopted into a large and loving family on June 19, 1971.

"I was the first of 10 children adopted and loved by parents who loved Jesus. They had three biological children prior to adopting," he said. "We were a diverse family of white, Black, mixed, Asian, Native American, able, and disabled children from different backgrounds who became one family because of our faith."

"We grew up on a farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania — the perfect place for all of us as we did life together," Bomberger said. "People often looked at us, confused, trying to figure out whether we were a youth group, a team from school, or some other kind of unrelated crowd of kids. It was fun to see some of their reactions when they learned that we were all Bombergers."

"Our family served as a powerful testament to the community about how color isn't what binds us, but love is," he said.

"I knew I was loved, unconditionally," Bomberger said. "And I was a complete handful."

Bomberger's experience of adoption inspired him to advocate for adoption in his work — and to adopt two children.

Bomberger advocates for adoption through AdoptedAndLoved.com, an initiative that "helps defray expenses for Christian families seeking to adopt," Bomberger said.

"I was grafted in as one of their own," he said of the Bombergers. "That's the beauty of adoption."

"In the natural and the supernatural, it makes you a son or daughter without a disclaimer," he continued. "It's an act of love, mercy, and justice that helps brings wholeness and healing to what was broken."

Juneteenth: Self-sacrificial love

For Bomberger, Juneteenth is a reminder of the unity of Christ's love.

"Juneteenth broke through color barriers both in our nation's history and in my own personal life," Bomberger said. "Both situations took courageous white and Black people rejecting the lies about our humanity and choosing self-sacrificial love instead."

"Juneteenth is a great reminder that there's beauty in unity," he said. "Only Christ's love brings perfect unity."

Bomberger advocates especially those targeted by Planned Parenthood, which often places locations in Black communities and has a history of eugenics and racism.

"Juneteenth demonstrates how truth has to get over so many obstacles to be finally heard and bring the freedom that is its very nature," Bomberger said. "Our nation's soul was finally moved by the truth that we're created equal and led to the abolition of the inhumane institution of slavery."

"My prayer is that the work I do helps bring this great nation to that same awakening when it comes to the inhumane institution of abortion," he said.

How is the Black community targeted by the abortion industry?

Bomberger advocates against the abortions of all unborn babies, but especially Black babies.

He described Planned Parenthood as "the leading killer of Black lives."

"Planned Parenthood kills more Black lives in two weeks than the KKK killed in a century," Bomberger said.

Bomberger noted that Planned Parenthood has a past history of racism.

"Planned Parenthood has a long history of targeting the Black community initially through its eugenics programs including the Negro Project," Bomberger said.

"Presently, it overtly targets the Black community with their facility placements, racial propaganda, marketing, and specific programs (i.e., Black Organizing Program, African-Americans for Planned Parenthood, and Stand with Black Women)," he said.

"They even admit in writing: 'The fact is — Black people are our base,'" Bomberger continued.

"Planned Parenthood poses as an ally in a community they ravage with abortion," he said.

Motivated by faith in Christ

Bomberger is inspired by his faith, his family, and love for all people.

"My faith in Jesus fuels my activism," he said. "My resilient and resourceful wife, Bethany, who is the co-founder of our organization, inspires me."

"1 Corinthians 13:6 says: 'Love does not delight in evil, but it rejoices in the truth,'" he said.

"Everything I do is motivated by love for Christ and love for people," he said.

"Our four children, two of whom were adopted, are the reason why we fight for the most marginalized," he said. "They've been involved in our ministry since they were toddlers."

His organization publishes children's books that teach "an age-appropriate pro-life worldview" for kids.

"Each book shares the truth that every human life, whether planned, unplanned, able, or disabled, has God-given purpose."

"We've taught them that every human life has equal and inherent worth from God, not government," he said. "It's been a blessing to see them, over the years, be able to communicate God's heart for the most vulnerable through our original content and to live audiences across the country."

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CHICAGO — Can faith and science be reconciled in the eyes of the world? This question dominated conversations — both formal and casual — at the recent national convention of Catholic scientists.

This year's annual conference, held June 5–8 at Mundelein Seminary outside Chicago, included a new offering designed to address this issue directly. Attendees at the Society of Catholic Scientists conference could choose to arrive early for Science and Faith Speaker Training, a one-and-a-half-day workshop on June 4 and 5 to prepare Catholic scientists to speak on science and faith topics.

While many scientists throughout history didn't even dream of a conflict existing between scientific reason and their Catholic faith, many attendees spoke of the persistent modern "myth" that the two are not mutually compatible. The numbers back up their observation of the myth's prevalence: According to Pew Research, some 59% of Americans believe "that science often is in conflict with religion."

The Society of Catholic Scientists exists largely to combat this myth, founded as it was in 2016 "to witness to the harmony of science and faith." With some 1,500 members so far and about 250 new scientists and students joining each year, its mission is growing rapidly.

The Science and Faith Speaker Training workshop began with guidance on presentation techniques from mentors who have extensive experience speaking and writing about these topics, such as Stephen Barr, president of SCS and author of the book "Modern Physics, Ancient Faith," which argues "that modern scientific discoveries and religious faith are deeply consonant."

Then attendees shared their own sample presentations in small groups and received feedback from experienced mentors. The workshop was supported by a grant from the Templeton Religion Trust.

The idea for the workshop, the first in the society's nine years of conferences, originated with Dan Kuebler, biology professor at Franciscan University, vice president of SCS, and author of the book "Darwin and Doctrine," which offers "a fascinating exploration of the compatibility and mutual flourishing of science and religion." When he proposed the idea, other members quickly saw its wisdom.

"I'm a theologian who's been doing faith and science work for 21 years, and there's nothing that replaces a Catholic scientist who is doing great work in their field and showing that they see the harmony between that work and their Catholic faith," said Chris Baglow, theology professor and director of the Science and Religion Initiative at the University of Notre Dame's McGrath Institute for Church Life.

"The 'conflict' misconception is almost universal in our culture, so it's part of the mission of the society to represent the relationship between faith and science in the public square," Baglow said.

As part of that mission, Baglow recently wrote a high-school theology textbook, "Faith, Science, and Reason," which "unveils the history of science as something that grew out of, rather than in opposition to, the Catholic faith."

When Kuebler first envisioned the workshop, he saw it as an explicit effort to prepare younger scientists to represent this message effectively.

"One of the things that we recognize is that we need more people out there speaking to high schools, parishes, and so forth about science and the Catholic Church to help dispel some of these myths," Kuebler said. "We thought, 'We have all these scientist members here who are interested in that — why don't we get some of the best speakers to come and help train them?'"

Sixteen scientists took part in the workshop, which included not only instruction from experienced speakers but also a chance to put those skills into immediate practice. Each attendee prepared his or her own "faith and science talk" and presented it to a small group of mentors, receiving feedback to improve.

"Many of the attendees have letters of invitation to go speak at Catholic seminaries or at Catholic high schools, and now they feel much more confident," Kuebler said.

Indeed, workshop participants said it equipped them with confidence to speak on these topics.

"The workshop provided a supportive, expert group to receive feedback for developing my faith and science talk," said Anna Lennon, a doctoral student in ecology and evolutionary biology at Indiana University. "We were able to engage in discussion that supported and encouraged us to go beyond our labs and classrooms into our local communities to encounter our Creator together."

Nathaniel Cunningham, Fairchild distinguished professor of physics at Nebraska Wesleyan University, particularly appreciated the chance to practice his own presentation with mentor feedback.

"This was really useful for me to go from general ideas to a concrete science and faith talk," he said. He also appreciated getting "helpful guidelines and guardrails for speaking on faith and science" in the training presentations from speakers with expertise in both science and theology.

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As mental health challenges continue to rise, the head of one of the nation's premier Catholic behavioral health centers is calling for renewed awareness and support for those serving in the Church.

David Shellenberger, president and CEO of the Saint John Vianney Center, which helps those in ministry navigate stress, anxiety, addiction, vocational transitions, and other challenges, stressed in an interview the importance of caring for them.

When asked by anchor Veronica Dudo on "EWTN News Nightly" why it is so important for Catholics to talk openly about the mental health needs of clergy, Shellenberger emphasized the humanity of those called to ministry.

We need "to make sure that we are always aware of the stressors that come up in their lives. While they're called to ministry, they are human first," he said.

They are "just like all of us," he continued, "[who] come preconditioned with certain situations that we may be predisposed to."

Catholics must make "sure that spiritually, physically, and emotionally we are always caring for our clergy and religious," he said. It is "essential because they are being challenged every single day to do more with less. And we as a laity can continue to support them with our time and our talent, and also, most importantly, our prayers."

The Saint John Vianney Center, founded in 1946 in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, is the longest-running Catholic behavioral health and addictions treatment center for clergy and consecrated religious in the world. It also serves clergy from other religious denominations.

Shellenberger highlighted a milestone the center is observing in 2026: "This year we celebrate 80 years of ministry to the Church," he said.

"Our approach begins from Christ's healing presence and addresses the multi-dimensional nature of the healing process — the integration of spiritual, human, intellectual, and pastoral well-being," the website reads.

The center offers residential and outpatient treatment, spiritual direction, mental health counseling and psychotherapy, vocational assessments, and consultation services that integrate Catholic spirituality with clinical excellence. It also offers education programs and wellness initiatives to religious orders and parishes, both online and in person.

The center also maintains outpatient services on the West Coast through a partnership with the Kairos Psychology Group in Oakland, California.

When asked about the role of bishops, parish staff, and parishioners in caring for the psychological and spiritual well-being of clergy, Shellenberger replied that first, we must acknowledge "that the stressors exist for all of our Church ministers."

The next step is "being able to coordinate the supportive services that our clergy and religious need."

"It's not just top-down and it's not just bottom-up. It's both. And when we can care and cradle our clergy and religious in that way, they will be successful in providing us the ministry they were called to," he said.

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