You may know Chris Rufo from his media appearances or for the work he has done with Ron DeSantis and the Trump administration, particularly in the area of education.
The post Chris Rufo Talks About How DEI Policies Systematically Purged Young White Men From the Workforce (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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All over the country, people are still reacting to Zohran Mamdani’s stunning inauguration speech, in which he embraced the idea of collectivism.
The post Romanian Man Reacts to Zohran Mamdani’s Inauguration Speech: ‘This is Exactly How Communism Came to Power in My Country’ (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Read More![SEEK 2026: Bishop Olson of Fort Worth speaks about what he’s praying for, other issues #Catholic
Bishop Michael Olson of Fort Worth, Texas, speaks to CNA during the SEEK 2026 conference on Jan. 2, 2026. | Credit: Amira Abuzeid/CNA
Jan 2, 2026 / 20:00 pm (CNA).
Bishop Michael Olson, whose diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, is hosting the SEEK 2026 conference, said he is praying for unity in Christ.Olson said he has observed that young people attending the conference have “a real openness to God’s call. They very much want to make a difference for Christ” with their lives.“There’s a sense of communion that the Church has that postmodern reality undercuts. Young people, however, want to be disciples of the Lord. They want to belong, but they want to belong in the way he calls them to belong.”Regarding what is moving him spiritually right now, he said in an interview that “the heart of my prayer is the prayer of Jesus: That all may be one, as he and the father are one.”He said he is praying that “we all find communion and unity in Christ, as his Church, which is his intention.”“With all differences that we’re tempted to be divided over, especially in the sacraments and the liturgy,” he said he prays to help foster a sense of communion among people within the Church.ImmigrationAbout immigration, a prominent issue in Texas, Olson said that along with the majority of the U.S. bishops, he affirms the rule of law and the integrity of borders, “because without that, there is no sense of peace; there’s chaos and lawlessness and the most vulnerable suffer.”He said we all have to stop “defining ourselves by partisan ideologies, which feels like the dominant ‘religion’ in the U.S., for Catholics and non-Catholics alike.”“We have a responsibility to lend comfort [to immigrants] and to provide security. As an international issue and as a nation, we must help other nations to ensure their borders,” he continued.“Some of the challenges for the leadership of other nations are gangs. The most vulnerable are paying the price, terrified by the tyranny of the gangs,” he said.“We have to look at ourselves and say, how have we promoted [those challenges] in areas of foreign policy? We’re reaping what we’ve sown,” Olson said.“What we faced before with abortion and the death penalty, we now face with immigration: The dignity of the human person must be focused on, as well as the primacy of family life as the basis of society,” he said.Parish and school securityAsked about how security at parishes and Catholic schools is handled in his diocese following recent violence at Catholic schools, he said for the past seven years, the diocese has employed the Guardian ministry, which involves fully vetted, trained, and armed parishioners in partnership with the police.Those in the ministry are “proactive in cultivating a spirit and practice of deescalation, in the spirit of discipleship with Christ, in order to protect the vulnerable and weak.”Olson said at the rest of the SEEK conference he plans to spend time with the young people, giving a talk to the seminarians on prayer and St. Thérèse of Lisieux.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/seek-2026-bishop-olson-of-fort-worth-speaks-about-what-hes-praying-for-other-issues-catholic-bishop-michael-olson-of-fort-worth-texas-speaks-to-cna-during-the-seek-2026-conference-on.jpg)
Jan 2, 2026 / 20:00 pm (CNA).
Bishop Michael Olson, whose diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, is hosting the SEEK 2026 conference, said he is praying for unity in Christ.
Olson said he has observed that young people attending the conference have “a real openness to God’s call. They very much want to make a difference for Christ” with their lives.
“There’s a sense of communion that the Church has that postmodern reality undercuts. Young people, however, want to be disciples of the Lord. They want to belong, but they want to belong in the way he calls them to belong.”
Regarding what is moving him spiritually right now, he said in an interview that “the heart of my prayer is the prayer of Jesus: That all may be one, as he and the father are one.”
He said he is praying that “we all find communion and unity in Christ, as his Church, which is his intention.”
“With all differences that we’re tempted to be divided over, especially in the sacraments and the liturgy,” he said he prays to help foster a sense of communion among people within the Church.
About immigration, a prominent issue in Texas, Olson said that along with the majority of the U.S. bishops, he affirms the rule of law and the integrity of borders, “because without that, there is no sense of peace; there’s chaos and lawlessness and the most vulnerable suffer.”
He said we all have to stop “defining ourselves by partisan ideologies, which feels like the dominant ‘religion’ in the U.S., for Catholics and non-Catholics alike.”
“We have a responsibility to lend comfort [to immigrants] and to provide security. As an international issue and as a nation, we must help other nations to ensure their borders,” he continued.
“Some of the challenges for the leadership of other nations are gangs. The most vulnerable are paying the price, terrified by the tyranny of the gangs,” he said.
“We have to look at ourselves and say, how have we promoted [those challenges] in areas of foreign policy? We’re reaping what we’ve sown,” Olson said.
“What we faced before with abortion and the death penalty, we now face with immigration: The dignity of the human person must be focused on, as well as the primacy of family life as the basis of society,” he said.
Asked about how security at parishes and Catholic schools is handled in his diocese following recent violence at Catholic schools, he said for the past seven years, the diocese has employed the Guardian ministry, which involves fully vetted, trained, and armed parishioners in partnership with the police.
Those in the ministry are “proactive in cultivating a spirit and practice of deescalation, in the spirit of discipleship with Christ, in order to protect the vulnerable and weak.”
Olson said at the rest of the SEEK conference he plans to spend time with the young people, giving a talk to the seminarians on prayer and St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
Read MoreAngel of God,
my Guardian dear,
to whom His love
commits me here,
ever this day (or night)
be at my side,
to light and guard,
to rule and guide.
Amen.
A reading from the letter of John
2:29–3:6
If you consider that God is righteous,
you also know that everyone who acts in righteousness
is begotten by him.
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure,
as he is pure.
Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness,
for sin is lawlessness.
You know that he was revealed to take away sins,
and in him there is no sin.
No one who remains in him sins;
no one who sins has seen him or known him.
From the Gospel according to John
1:29-34
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,
‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’
I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel."
John testified further, saying,
"I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God."
Having accomplished his mission, John knows how to step aside, he withdraws from the scene to make way for Jesus. He has seen the Spirit descend upon him (cf. vv. 33-34), he has indicated him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and now he in turn humbly listens. He goes from prophet to disciple. He preached to the people, gathered disciples and trained them for a long time. Yet he does not bind anyone to himself. And this is difficult, but it is the sign of the true educator: not binding people to oneself. John does this: he sets his disciples in Jesus’ footsteps. He is not interested in having a following for himself, in gaining prestige and success, but rather bears witness and then takes a step back, so that many would have the joy of meeting Jesus. We can say: he opens the door, then he leaves.
With this spirit of service, with his capacity to give way to Jesus, John the Baptist teaches us an important thing: freedom from attachments. Yes, because it is easy to become attached to roles and positions, to the need to be esteemed, recognized and rewarded. And this, although natural, is not a good thing, because service involves gratuitousness, taking care of others without benefit for oneself, without ulterior motives, without expecting something in return. It is good for us, too, to cultivate, like John, the virtue of setting ourselves aside at the right moment, bearing witness that the point of reference of life is Jesus. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 15 January 2023)
Read More![Clifton parish honors Holy Family at feast-day Mass #Catholic - St. Paul Parish in Clifton, N.J., greeted Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who celebrated a Mass on Dec. 28, the Feast of the Holy Family, which honors Jesus, the Blessed Mother, and St. Joseph as the holiest of families, and therefore a model for all Christian families.
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BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
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Clifton parish honors Holy Family at feast-day Mass #Catholic – 
St. Paul Parish in Clifton, N.J., greeted Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who celebrated a Mass on Dec. 28, the Feast of the Holy Family, which honors Jesus, the Blessed Mother, and St. Joseph as the holiest of families, and therefore a model for all Christian families.
– St. Paul Parish in Clifton, N.J., greeted Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who celebrated a Mass on Dec. 28, the Feast of the Holy Family, which honors Jesus, the Blessed Mother, and St. Joseph as the holiest of families, and therefore a model for all Christian families. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
![Dublin archbishop challenges politicians to show leadership in promoting peace - #Catholic -
Archbishop Dermot Farrell of the Dublin Archdiocese speaks at a Mass at St. Mary’s in Dublin on Nov. 14, 2025. Farrell spoke at a Mass on Jan. 1, 2026, the World Day of Peace, calling on politicians to promote peace. | Credit: John McElroy/Dublin Archdiocese
Jan 2, 2026 / 12:58 pm (CNA).
In his New Year’s Day homily at Newtownpark Avenue Church in Dublin, Archbishop Dermot Farrell called upon Ireland’s politicians to show leadership in promoting peace and in how they communicate and articulate it.The archbishop was speaking at a Mass for the World Day of Peace where apostolic nuncio Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor and Archbishop Emeritus Diarmuid Martin were among the concelebrants.His appeal comes at a time when Ireland’s traditional neutrality has come under scrutiny and as the country prepares to take over the EU presidency in the second half of 2026, where defense will be high on the agenda. The presidency of the Council of the European Union is a role that rotates among the EU member states every six months. Fifty European leaders are due to visit Ireland during its presidency.“Yes, leaders are important; indeed, good leadership is vital. However, we need to take to heart that good leaders bring people with them,” Farrell said.Speaking before a congregation that included government ministers and representatives of the Irish Defence Forces, Farrell quoted the late Nobel Prize winner John Hume.“Many here this morning will remember the conviction and witness of the late John Hume. For John Hume, ‘political leadership [was] like being a teacher. It’s about changing the language of others,’ he said. ‘I say it and go on saying it until I hear the man in the pub saying my words back to me.’”The archbishop continued: “Ireland has a proud record in international work for peace. Now, in our days, there is a need and opportunity for the Irish state to articulate how this tradition and the values which underpin it will be continued in a rapidly changing international situation.”Farrell said there is a need as well as an opportunity for Ireland to articulate how this peace tradition and the values that underpin it can continue today.“It is not enough to invest in defense capacity or to point to how the circumstances of our traditional military neutrality have changed,” he said. “Ireland’s commitment to promoting a sustainable peace needs a new articulation. We are not in an either-or situation. It is not them or us. When we invest in peace everybody wins.”The Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris have made repeated statements on Ireland’s neutrality, but that has not prevented them from making the state’s views known on international conflicts.On Ukraine and Gaza, for example, Ireland has taken a decisive political stance, which has aroused the ire of the Russian and Israeli governments.Writing in the London’s Daily Telegraph, Barry O’Halloran voiced an opinion shared by some in the U.K. and Europe that Ireland needs to invest to defend itself irrespective of its neutrality: “Irish neutrality is a legacy of Éamon de Valera’s considerable antipathy to all things British and has been the lodestar of Irish foreign policy since the state was founded.”The Irish state relies on the British Royal Navy to protect Irish coastal waters, and the country’s geographical position at the periphery of Europe makes it strategically of interest to Russia.Russian submarines have been mapping the transatlantic cables in Irish waters, which carry about 75% of the data traveling between Europe and the United States.“After decades of underfunding, the Irish Defence Forces have no idea what is going on in the seas around Ireland. The navy doesn’t have the ships, the personnel, or even the electronic equipment to monitor hostile activity in our waters,” Stephen Collins wrote in the Irish Times.Martin has acknowledged concerns about economic security in terms of gas connectors and subsea cables and dismissed a statement by Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that the European Union and Ukraine were attempting to interfere with Ireland’s neutral status.In his homily on New Year’s Day, Farrell was unequivocal that governments clearly have a critical role to play in shaping the course of international events and the onerous responsibility of pursuing the path of peace even in the face of provocation.“Enduring peace is born of compassion and respect; it is born of patience, of attention to the other, of the conviction that the one who presents themselves as different, as other, is actually like oneself, is a true sister or brother of mine. This is what our faith means when we say that peace is born of hope.”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/dublin-archbishop-challenges-politicians-to-show-leadership-in-promoting-peace-catholic-archbishop-dermot-farrell-of-the-dublin-archdiocese-speaks-at-a-mass-at-st-marys-in-dublin-on.jpg)
Jan 2, 2026 / 12:58 pm (CNA).
In his New Year’s Day homily at Newtownpark Avenue Church in Dublin, Archbishop Dermot Farrell called upon Ireland’s politicians to show leadership in promoting peace and in how they communicate and articulate it.
The archbishop was speaking at a Mass for the World Day of Peace where apostolic nuncio Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor and Archbishop Emeritus Diarmuid Martin were among the concelebrants.
His appeal comes at a time when Ireland’s traditional neutrality has come under scrutiny and as the country prepares to take over the EU presidency in the second half of 2026, where defense will be high on the agenda. The presidency of the Council of the European Union is a role that rotates among the EU member states every six months. Fifty European leaders are due to visit Ireland during its presidency.
“Yes, leaders are important; indeed, good leadership is vital. However, we need to take to heart that good leaders bring people with them,” Farrell said.
Speaking before a congregation that included government ministers and representatives of the Irish Defence Forces, Farrell quoted the late Nobel Prize winner John Hume.
“Many here this morning will remember the conviction and witness of the late John Hume. For John Hume, ‘political leadership [was] like being a teacher. It’s about changing the language of others,’ he said. ‘I say it and go on saying it until I hear the man in the pub saying my words back to me.’”
The archbishop continued: “Ireland has a proud record in international work for peace. Now, in our days, there is a need and opportunity for the Irish state to articulate how this tradition and the values which underpin it will be continued in a rapidly changing international situation.”
Farrell said there is a need as well as an opportunity for Ireland to articulate how this peace tradition and the values that underpin it can continue today.
“It is not enough to invest in defense capacity or to point to how the circumstances of our traditional military neutrality have changed,” he said. “Ireland’s commitment to promoting a sustainable peace needs a new articulation. We are not in an either-or situation. It is not them or us. When we invest in peace everybody wins.”
The Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris have made repeated statements on Ireland’s neutrality, but that has not prevented them from making the state’s views known on international conflicts.
On Ukraine and Gaza, for example, Ireland has taken a decisive political stance, which has aroused the ire of the Russian and Israeli governments.
Writing in the London’s Daily Telegraph, Barry O’Halloran voiced an opinion shared by some in the U.K. and Europe that Ireland needs to invest to defend itself irrespective of its neutrality: “Irish neutrality is a legacy of Éamon de Valera’s considerable antipathy to all things British and has been the lodestar of Irish foreign policy since the state was founded.”
The Irish state relies on the British Royal Navy to protect Irish coastal waters, and the country’s geographical position at the periphery of Europe makes it strategically of interest to Russia.
Russian submarines have been mapping the transatlantic cables in Irish waters, which carry about 75% of the data traveling between Europe and the United States.
“After decades of underfunding, the Irish Defence Forces have no idea what is going on in the seas around Ireland. The navy doesn’t have the ships, the personnel, or even the electronic equipment to monitor hostile activity in our waters,” Stephen Collins wrote in the Irish Times.
Martin has acknowledged concerns about economic security in terms of gas connectors and subsea cables and dismissed a statement by Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that the European Union and Ukraine were attempting to interfere with Ireland’s neutral status.
In his homily on New Year’s Day, Farrell was unequivocal that governments clearly have a critical role to play in shaping the course of international events and the onerous responsibility of pursuing the path of peace even in the face of provocation.
“Enduring peace is born of compassion and respect; it is born of patience, of attention to the other, of the conviction that the one who presents themselves as different, as other, is actually like oneself, is a true sister or brother of mine. This is what our faith means when we say that peace is born of hope.”
Read MoreThe Sun has captivated humanity for millennia. And yet, despite being our closest star, studying it is not easy. Its blinding brilliance long defied detailed study. But over the centuries, astronomers have developed ingenious tools to unveil its secrets. From crude sketches of sunspots to today’s stunning images, the journey of solar imaging reflects bothContinue reading “The evolution of solar imaging”
The post The evolution of solar imaging appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
Read More
Jan 2, 2026 / 12:10 pm (CNA).
A Jan. 1 fire destroyed a historic Dutch former Catholic church building in Amsterdam, reducing the famed 150-year-old building mostly to ash in a matter of hours.
Firefighters reportedly responded to a fire at the Vondelkerk, or Vondel Church, around 1 a.m. on New Year’s Day, with the blaze ultimately consuming nearly all of the building and mostly leaving burned walls behind.
The historic church was built in 1880 by Pierre Cuypers, a famed Dutch architect known for designing dozens of churches in the Netherlands. Formerly of the Diocese of Haarlem-Amsterdam, the building was sold in 1979 and deconsecrated, a formal act by the Church to remove the sacred character of the church so it is no longer considered a dedicated sacred space for divine worship. After a century of use as a sacred space, the building was eventually renovated for use as an event venue.
The property owner Stadsherstel Amsterdam (“Urban Restoration Amsterdam”) said in a statement that the fire caused the church’s tower to fall into the nave. Photos show the building completely gutted as of Jan. 2.
“The loss of this beautiful church touches us all,” the restoration group said. “Our thoughts go out to the local residents, the regular tenants of the church who have lost their workplace, and to the people who had booked the Vondelkerk for their wedding, company party, concert, or other special moments.”
“We are doing everything we can to see what we can do for them in the coming days,” the group said. The organization added it was launching a crowdfunding campaign to help restore the building.
It was not immediately clear what started the fire. No deaths or injuries were reported.
The news comes shortly after a deadly fire in Switzerland killed dozens at a ski resort in Crans-Montana.
Pope Leo XIV expressed mourning over the Swiss fire in a telegram to Sion Bishop Jean-Marie Lovey, offering prayers “to the Lord to welcome the deceased into his dwelling of peace and light, and to support the courage of those who suffer in their hearts or in their bodies.”
Read More
Jan 2, 2026 / 11:21 am (CNA).
In Columbus, Ohio, college students are gathering this week for SEEK 2026, the annual conference hosted by the Catholic student ministry FOCUS. The conference is being held simultaneously in three cities — Columbus; Fort Worth, Texas; and Denver — with more than 26,000 students attending across all locations.
The unifying theme across all three sites is “To the Heights!” drawn from the life of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, the young Italian layman canonized this past September alongside St. Carlo Acutis by Pope Leo XIV.
Frassati, who cared deeply for the poor, received the Eucharist daily, and loved the outdoors, frequently used the phrase “Verso l’alto” and wrote it on photographs taken during mountain climbs as a sign of his lifelong pursuit of heaven.
Acutis, who died from acute promyelocytic leukemia at the age of 15 in 2006, became known for his devotion to the Eucharist and for using technology to share Eucharistic miracles online. Both saints show young Catholics today that holiness is possible in ordinary life.
On the conference’s opening night on Jan. 1, speakers began unpacking what the pursuit of “the heights” means in Christian life. Sister Josephine Garrett of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, one of the keynote speakers, framed the theme not as an abstract ideal but as a personal encounter with God.
“The heights that this conference speaks of is only one thing,” Sister Josephine told the Columbus crowd. “It’s the love of God — the love that he has for me, and the love he has for you.”
That love, she suggested, is the force that draws believers upward; not away from the world but rather deeper into it, transformed by God’s presence.
For Father Vincent Bernhard, OP, associate director of the Catholic Center at New York University, Frassati’s witness feels especially relevant for young Catholics today.
A Dominican friar for eight years, Bernhard has attended SEEK three times and recently led 15 young men in a pilgrimage following Frassati’s footsteps through Turin and up to the Rocca di Polona, ending in Rome to pray before his tomb on display for the Jubilee of Youth.
“People are looking for direction,” Bernhard told CNA. “When they come to the Church wanting to live the faith vibrantly, they’re often misunderstood. That was Frassati’s experience too.”
Bernhard described Frassati’s faith as “radical, complete, and holy,” noting that his total gift of self to God often set him apart from others — even within his own family. Yet it was that constant striving for “higher and better things,” he said, that gave Frassati his joy.
“At the end of his life,” Bernhard said, recalling Frassati’s death from polio at age 24, “he understood that his lifelong desire to go ‘to the heights’ meant he was heading toward the height of heights: heaven.”
For many students at SEEK, Frassati’s canonization — alongside Acutis’ — has made sainthood feel newly attainable.
“’To the Heights!’ means striving for heaven every day,” said Gabrielle Nofal, 22, a student attending SEEK with others from the University of South Carolina. “Young people are often told we’re not good enough, but seeing saints canonized around our age shows us that we can be saints, too.”
She noted that witnessing their lives inspires her own faith: “It made me want to replicate their authentic joy; especially the way Frassati just loved people with his whole heart. Carlo, too, even evangelized his nanny and teachers at school. They really just radiated the light of the Lord.”
Sisters Carlie, 21, and Cassidy Foos, 20, who traveled from rural northwest Ohio with different campus groups, said the theme helps them reorient their focus toward eternity.
“This world isn’t it,” Cassidy said. “There’s something higher. It’s about connecting and focusing on eternity, not just what’s in front of us.”
Carlie added: “When I think of saints, I usually think of people from long ago. Seeing ones from our time or around our age, like Frassati and Carlo, is so encouraging. They show that holiness is possible now, and that we can live faithfully and joyfully with heaven in mind, no matter what we’re experiencing.”
The theme is highlighted in playful ways at Columbus’ “Mission Way,” a bustling area of vendors, stands, and activities. Students can try “Jump to the Heights,” sprinting and leaping to hit targets placed high above — an embodiment of the conference’s message of striving upward.
Students from Missouri University of Science and Technology described the theme using Frassati’s own imagery. “It’s like finding that mountain of faith and using SEEK as a stepping stone to grow,” said Blake Schreckenberg, 19.
His classmate Lane Jennings, 19, said SEEK has helped him move beyond a surface-level understanding of Catholicism. “I knew a lot about the faith before, but SEEK goes deeper and ‘to the heights.’ It’s not just answers; it’s understanding how to live faithfully.”
University of Louisville students, including David Deneve, 19, connected the playful activity and theme to a spiritual reflection. “To me, ‘to the heights’ means that God is above us, and we need to keep our eyes focused on him in everything that we do. His will is the best possible path.”
Thomas Davis, 23, added: “Although God meets us at our lowest points, through his love and through the Church, he raises us to something higher. Just like Frassati and Acutis.”
As the conference continues through the week, students will encounter the theme in Mass, confession, Eucharistic adoration, and speaker sessions. Shortly before the opening night Mass in Columbus, Father Kevin Dyer, SJ, offered only a brief glimpse of the excitement that lies ahead.
“We’re going to learn that phrase means together this week,” he said. “To the Heights!”
Read More
![Food assistance, housing top Catholic Charities’ policy wish list in 2026 #Catholic
Credit: Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock
Jan 2, 2026 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Many people who receive assistance through anti-poverty programs faced disruptions in 2025, and Catholic Charities’ wish list for 2026 includes government support for food assistance and housing.The largest disruption came in October when food stamps received through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) were delayed amid the government shutdown. Funding for rental and heating assistance were also disrupted.Confusion about how to implement a memo in January from the Office of Management and Budget calling for a grant freeze also caused delays in funding related to health care, housing affordability, and food assistance.Luz Tavarez, vice president of government relations at Catholic Charities USA, said “people get nervous and scared” amid disruptions.Many Catholic Charities affiliates saw an influx in clients, especially during the shutdown, but Tavarez said there are “very poor people who rely on SNAP subsidies for their meals” and who “can’t get to a Catholic Charities [affiliate] or other food pantry for assistance” when it happens.Long-term eligibility and funding changes to SNAP were also approved in the tax overhaul signed into law in July. Previous rules only included a work requirement up to age 54, but the law extended those requirements up to age 64. It added stricter and more frequent checks for verifying the work requirements.It also shifted some funding responsibilities away from the federal government and to the states.Tavarez expressed concern about some of the SNAP changes as well, saying the government should end “burdensome requirements for individuals and states.”Under the new law, there are stricter rules for verifying a person’s immigration status for benefits. It also limited which noncitizens could receive SNAP benefits, which excluded some refugees and people granted asylum. Tavarez expressed concern about such SNAP changes, encouraging the government to permit “humanitarian-based noncitizens” to receive those benefits.Overall the 2025 tax law gave the biggest boost to the richest families while poorer families might get a little less help than before, according to the Congressional Budget Office.The bill added a work requirement for Medicaid recipients, and this will not take effect until 2027. Under the previous law, there was no work requirement for this benefit. It also shifts some Medicaid funding requirements onto the states.Tavarez said Catholic Charities has “concerns with how [work requirements are] implemented” moving forward but does not oppose the idea outright: “There’s dignity in work so the Church isn’t necessarily opposed to people working as long as there’s some opportunities for people to do other things and other issues are taken into consideration.”She also expressed concerns about funding shifts: “We know that not every state views things like SNAP and Medicaid as a good thing. We don’t know how states are going to balance their budget and prioritize these programs.”2026 wish listLooking forward to 2026, Tavarez said Catholic Charities hopes the government will restore full funding to the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program for food banks and bulk food distribution programs and ensure that funding is protected for school meals and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) made policy changes in November that would focus its homelessness funding on “transitional” housing instead of “permanent” housing. This move is facing legal challenges.President Donald Trump’s administration initially sought to cut federal housing assistance and shift much of those costs to states, but this was ultimately not included in the final version of the 2025 tax law.In December, Trump promised an “aggressive” housing reform plan that focuses on reducing costs. At this time, the specifics of that proposal have not been announced. The increased cost to buy a new home has outpaced the growth in wages for decades.Tavarez said Catholic Charities is focused on housing affordability in 2026 and that the solution must be multifaceted. This includes “building and developing affordable housing,” “a tax credit for developers,” “more affordable housing units,” and subsidies and Section 8 vouchers for low-income Americans, she said.“We recognize that there’s a real crisis — I think everybody does in a bipartisan way — but there needs to be a real bipartisan approach and it’s going to require money,” Tavarez said.Tax credits and economic trendsSome changes to the tax code included in the 2025 tax law are geared toward helping low-income Americans.Specifically, the law reduced taxes taken from tips and overtime work. It also increased the child tax credit from $2,000 to $2,200 and tied the credit to inflation, meaning that it will increase each year based on the rate of inflation.Tavarez characterized the changes to the child tax credit as a “win” and hopes it can be expanded further.The economy has been a mixed bag, with November unemployment numbers showing a 4.6% rate. In November of last year, it was slightly lower at 4.2%.Inflation has gone down a little, with the annual rate being around 2.7%. In 2024, it was around 2.9%. The average wage for workers also outpaced inflation, with hourly wages increasing by 3.5%, which shows a modest inflation-adjusted increase of 0.8%.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/food-assistance-housing-top-catholic-charities-policy-wish-list-in-2026-catholic-credit-jonathan-weiss-shutterstockjan-2-2026-0700-am-cna-many-people-who-receive-assistance-th.jpg)
Jan 2, 2026 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Many people who receive assistance through anti-poverty programs faced disruptions in 2025, and Catholic Charities’ wish list for 2026 includes government support for food assistance and housing.
The largest disruption came in October when food stamps received through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) were delayed amid the government shutdown. Funding for rental and heating assistance were also disrupted.
Confusion about how to implement a memo in January from the Office of Management and Budget calling for a grant freeze also caused delays in funding related to health care, housing affordability, and food assistance.
Luz Tavarez, vice president of government relations at Catholic Charities USA, said “people get nervous and scared” amid disruptions.
Many Catholic Charities affiliates saw an influx in clients, especially during the shutdown, but Tavarez said there are “very poor people who rely on SNAP subsidies for their meals” and who “can’t get to a Catholic Charities [affiliate] or other food pantry for assistance” when it happens.
Long-term eligibility and funding changes to SNAP were also approved in the tax overhaul signed into law in July. Previous rules only included a work requirement up to age 54, but the law extended those requirements up to age 64. It added stricter and more frequent checks for verifying the work requirements.
It also shifted some funding responsibilities away from the federal government and to the states.
Tavarez expressed concern about some of the SNAP changes as well, saying the government should end “burdensome requirements for individuals and states.”
Under the new law, there are stricter rules for verifying a person’s immigration status for benefits. It also limited which noncitizens could receive SNAP benefits, which excluded some refugees and people granted asylum.
Tavarez expressed concern about such SNAP changes, encouraging the government to permit “humanitarian-based noncitizens” to receive those benefits.
Overall the 2025 tax law gave the biggest boost to the richest families while poorer families might get a little less help than before, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
The bill added a work requirement for Medicaid recipients, and this will not take effect until 2027. Under the previous law, there was no work requirement for this benefit. It also shifts some Medicaid funding requirements onto the states.
Tavarez said Catholic Charities has “concerns with how [work requirements are] implemented” moving forward but does not oppose the idea outright: “There’s dignity in work so the Church isn’t necessarily opposed to people working as long as there’s some opportunities for people to do other things and other issues are taken into consideration.”
She also expressed concerns about funding shifts: “We know that not every state views things like SNAP and Medicaid as a good thing. We don’t know how states are going to balance their budget and prioritize these programs.”
Looking forward to 2026, Tavarez said Catholic Charities hopes the government will restore full funding to the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program for food banks and bulk food distribution programs and ensure that funding is protected for school meals and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) made policy changes in November that would focus its homelessness funding on “transitional” housing instead of “permanent” housing. This move is facing legal challenges.
President Donald Trump’s administration initially sought to cut federal housing assistance and shift much of those costs to states, but this was ultimately not included in the final version of the 2025 tax law.
In December, Trump promised an “aggressive” housing reform plan that focuses on reducing costs. At this time, the specifics of that proposal have not been announced. The increased cost to buy a new home has outpaced the growth in wages for decades.
Tavarez said Catholic Charities is focused on housing affordability in 2026 and that the solution must be multifaceted. This includes “building and developing affordable housing,” “a tax credit for developers,” “more affordable housing units,” and subsidies and Section 8 vouchers for low-income Americans, she said.
“We recognize that there’s a real crisis — I think everybody does in a bipartisan way — but there needs to be a real bipartisan approach and it’s going to require money,” Tavarez said.
Some changes to the tax code included in the 2025 tax law are geared toward helping low-income Americans.
Specifically, the law reduced taxes taken from tips and overtime work. It also increased the child tax credit from $2,000 to $2,200 and tied the credit to inflation, meaning that it will increase each year based on the rate of inflation.
Tavarez characterized the changes to the child tax credit as a “win” and hopes it can be expanded further.
The economy has been a mixed bag, with November unemployment numbers showing a 4.6% rate. In November of last year, it was slightly lower at 4.2%.
Inflation has gone down a little, with the annual rate being around 2.7%. In 2024, it was around 2.9%. The average wage for workers also outpaced inflation, with hourly wages increasing by 3.5%, which shows a modest inflation-adjusted increase of 0.8%.
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