Day: February 14, 2026

Pope Leo XIV appoints Texas cardinal as administrator of Amarillo until new bishop chosen #Catholic Pope Leo XIV on Feb. 14 accepted the resignation of Amarillo Bishop Patrick Zurek, appointing Cardinal Daniel DiNardo to serve as apostolic administrator of the Texas diocese until a permanent replacement can be found. Zurek has served as the Amarillo bishop for nearly 20 years, having been appointed to the post by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008. He had previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. The diocese on its website identifies him as "the longest serving Bishop in the history of the Diocese of Amarillo." At 77 he was two years past the customary retirement age for bishops. DiNardo previously served as the archbishop of Galveston-Houston from 2006 to 2025. He was created a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007. He has served as both the president and vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Religious sister named deputy director of Vatican press officeOn Feb. 13, meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV appointed Sister Nina Benedikta Krapić, MVZ as deputy director of the Holy See Press Office. The first religious sister to serve in the role, Krapić previously served in the Dicastery for Communications. Vatican News reported that she has also worked "as a journalist and as a legal advisor for women victims of domestic violence and other marginalized individuals."She is currently studying for a doctorate in social sciences at the Collegium Maximum of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. She will take up the post in the Vatican press office in March 1. Krapić replaces Cristiane Murray in the press role. Murray was appointed to the position by Pope Francis in 2019 after having worked for Vatican Radio for more than 25 years.
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Pope Leo XIV appoints Texas cardinal as administrator of Amarillo until new bishop chosen #Catholic Pope Leo XIV on Feb. 14 accepted the resignation of Amarillo Bishop Patrick Zurek, appointing Cardinal Daniel DiNardo to serve as apostolic administrator of the Texas diocese until a permanent replacement can be found. Zurek has served as the Amarillo bishop for nearly 20 years, having been appointed to the post by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008. He had previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. The diocese on its website identifies him as "the longest serving Bishop in the history of the Diocese of Amarillo." At 77 he was two years past the customary retirement age for bishops. DiNardo previously served as the archbishop of Galveston-Houston from 2006 to 2025. He was created a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007. He has served as both the president and vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Religious sister named deputy director of Vatican press officeOn Feb. 13, meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV appointed Sister Nina Benedikta Krapić, MVZ as deputy director of the Holy See Press Office. The first religious sister to serve in the role, Krapić previously served in the Dicastery for Communications. Vatican News reported that she has also worked "as a journalist and as a legal advisor for women victims of domestic violence and other marginalized individuals."She is currently studying for a doctorate in social sciences at the Collegium Maximum of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. She will take up the post in the Vatican press office in March 1. Krapić replaces Cristiane Murray in the press role. Murray was appointed to the position by Pope Francis in 2019 after having worked for Vatican Radio for more than 25 years.

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The Holy Father accepted the resignation of Amarillo Bishop Patrick Zurek, who has reached retirement age.

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Ave Maria University to open campus in Ireland #Catholic Here is a round up of recent Catholic-education-related news:Ave Maria University to open campus in IrelandAve Maria University, a Catholic liberal arts university in Florida, is opening a new campus at a former monastery in rural Ireland, according to an announcement on its website.The new campus will be in County Waterford in the southern region of Ireland at the former Cistercian monastery of Mount Melleray near Cappoquin, the university announced in a video. The abbey closed in January 2025 after almost two centuries.The video announcement pledged that the new campus would be “a fully integrated Ave Maria University experience now embedded in the rich Catholic and cultural heritage of Europe.”Diocese of Brooklyn to close 7 struggling schools Seven Catholic schools will be closing in June in the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York, due to financial challenges and enrollment declines, the diocese announced Feb. 11.The seven schools closing are: Sacred Heart Catholic Academy, Cambria Heights; St. Bartholomew Catholic Academy in Elmhurst; St. Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Academy in Jamaica; Incarnation Catholic Academy in Queens Village; St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Academy in Woodhaven; St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy in Ozone Park; and Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy in Canarsie.“Our responsibility is both pastoral and practical,” said Deacon Kevin McCormack, superintendent of schools for the diocese. “We will walk with our families and employees through this process while continuing to strengthen Catholic education throughout Brooklyn and Queens.”The enrollment decline has been ongoing since 2019, with a sharp decline from 2024 to 2025, according to the diocese newspaper.The diocese has a website to help families facilitate transferring to nearby Catholic schools.Thomas Aquinas College celebrates 100 alumni priestsA Catholic liberal arts college in California with an East Coast satellite location in Massachusetts celebrated its 100th alumni priest.Priest alumni of Thomas Aquinas College include 11 Benedictines, nine Dominicans, eight Norbertines, and 40 diocesan priests, among others, according to a Feb. 12 press release shared with EWTN News.Thomas Aquinas College has a combined enrollment of about 500 students and is designed to be an intentionally small community.“We are deeply honored to have played some small part in these men’s formation, and we pray for their ministry and witness as they serve Christ’s people throughout the world,” President Paul O’Reilly said in a statement shared with EWTN News.The four newest priests were ordained in 2024 at three separate ordination masses.
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Ave Maria University to open campus in Ireland #Catholic Here is a round up of recent Catholic-education-related news:Ave Maria University to open campus in IrelandAve Maria University, a Catholic liberal arts university in Florida, is opening a new campus at a former monastery in rural Ireland, according to an announcement on its website.The new campus will be in County Waterford in the southern region of Ireland at the former Cistercian monastery of Mount Melleray near Cappoquin, the university announced in a video. The abbey closed in January 2025 after almost two centuries.The video announcement pledged that the new campus would be “a fully integrated Ave Maria University experience now embedded in the rich Catholic and cultural heritage of Europe.”Diocese of Brooklyn to close 7 struggling schools Seven Catholic schools will be closing in June in the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York, due to financial challenges and enrollment declines, the diocese announced Feb. 11.The seven schools closing are: Sacred Heart Catholic Academy, Cambria Heights; St. Bartholomew Catholic Academy in Elmhurst; St. Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Academy in Jamaica; Incarnation Catholic Academy in Queens Village; St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Academy in Woodhaven; St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy in Ozone Park; and Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy in Canarsie.“Our responsibility is both pastoral and practical,” said Deacon Kevin McCormack, superintendent of schools for the diocese. “We will walk with our families and employees through this process while continuing to strengthen Catholic education throughout Brooklyn and Queens.”The enrollment decline has been ongoing since 2019, with a sharp decline from 2024 to 2025, according to the diocese newspaper.The diocese has a website to help families facilitate transferring to nearby Catholic schools.Thomas Aquinas College celebrates 100 alumni priestsA Catholic liberal arts college in California with an East Coast satellite location in Massachusetts celebrated its 100th alumni priest.Priest alumni of Thomas Aquinas College include 11 Benedictines, nine Dominicans, eight Norbertines, and 40 diocesan priests, among others, according to a Feb. 12 press release shared with EWTN News.Thomas Aquinas College has a combined enrollment of about 500 students and is designed to be an intentionally small community.“We are deeply honored to have played some small part in these men’s formation, and we pray for their ministry and witness as they serve Christ’s people throughout the world,” President Paul O’Reilly said in a statement shared with EWTN News.The four newest priests were ordained in 2024 at three separate ordination masses.

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Ave Maria University, a Catholic liberal arts university in Florida, is opening a new campus at a former monastery in rural Ireland. Learn more in this Catholic education news roundup.

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New film brings to life the Book of Revelation - #Catholic - A new movie titled “The Apocalypse of St. John” brings to life the Book of Revelation. Not only does the film tackle the challenging messages found in Revelation, but it also makes them accessible to a wider audience.Written, created, and directed by Simón Delacre, the docudrama will air in theaters across the United States Feb. 15–17 after having tremendous success in South America and Latin America.Delacre told EWTN News that he was inspired to make the film because he was a big fan of apocalyptic Hollywood movies growing up.“But of course, being Catholic, I knew that would be somewhat far from the truth, somewhat far from the actual book of Revelation,” he said.He began to dive deeper into the theology of the Book of Revelation because he was “very intrigued” by the symbolism and complex images and explained that what impacted him the most was “how current the topic of Revelation was for our times.”“We are living in a crisis that is global in all aspects of men — like in the moral aspect, there’s a huge crisis, there’s a big crisis in the spiritual aspect, there’s a crisis in the economic aspect, political aspect, all aspects of life. We’re going through a great crisis that is at the same time global,” Delacre said.He added: “Since we are living — well, this is my opinion — the greatest crisis of all time, I think it is very important to give the world the good prophecy that is the Book of Revelation and give it in a Catholic way.”Delacre explained that he worked with many priests, biblical scholars, and theologians to properly depict Revelation and ensured to use language that would be understood by a general audience. A still from the docudrama “The Apocalypse of St. John,” which will be in theaters Feb. 15–17, 2026. | Credit: Caravel Films Amid his research into Revelation and creating the film, Delacre said his own faith was impacted in a way that allowed him to view crises in the world “not with desperation but with hope.”“Every time I see a new crisis, I just see something that moves history forwards to the second coming,” he shared.He recalled being in the middle of studying Revelation when his home country of Argentina legalized abortion in 2020. He spoke with a friend of his who is a priest on that day and despite being disappointed by the news, they “couldn’t feel sad because we saw in that another sign that proves that we are closer to the second coming and that Christ is coming soon.”The filmmaker said he hopes audiences will have a similar experience after watching the film in that it will “bring comfort and solace to people who watch the movie in the midst of this crisis we are living [through].”“Also, to teach them that the book of Revelation is not a book of terror, but a book of hope … Just rip off that fear to the book and encourage them to study more of Revelation.”
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New film brings to life the Book of Revelation – #Catholic – A new movie titled “The Apocalypse of St. John” brings to life the Book of Revelation. Not only does the film tackle the challenging messages found in Revelation, but it also makes them accessible to a wider audience.Written, created, and directed by Simón Delacre, the docudrama will air in theaters across the United States Feb. 15–17 after having tremendous success in South America and Latin America.Delacre told EWTN News that he was inspired to make the film because he was a big fan of apocalyptic Hollywood movies growing up.“But of course, being Catholic, I knew that would be somewhat far from the truth, somewhat far from the actual book of Revelation,” he said.He began to dive deeper into the theology of the Book of Revelation because he was “very intrigued” by the symbolism and complex images and explained that what impacted him the most was “how current the topic of Revelation was for our times.”“We are living in a crisis that is global in all aspects of men — like in the moral aspect, there’s a huge crisis, there’s a big crisis in the spiritual aspect, there’s a crisis in the economic aspect, political aspect, all aspects of life. We’re going through a great crisis that is at the same time global,” Delacre said.He added: “Since we are living — well, this is my opinion — the greatest crisis of all time, I think it is very important to give the world the good prophecy that is the Book of Revelation and give it in a Catholic way.”Delacre explained that he worked with many priests, biblical scholars, and theologians to properly depict Revelation and ensured to use language that would be understood by a general audience. A still from the docudrama “The Apocalypse of St. John,” which will be in theaters Feb. 15–17, 2026. | Credit: Caravel Films Amid his research into Revelation and creating the film, Delacre said his own faith was impacted in a way that allowed him to view crises in the world “not with desperation but with hope.”“Every time I see a new crisis, I just see something that moves history forwards to the second coming,” he shared.He recalled being in the middle of studying Revelation when his home country of Argentina legalized abortion in 2020. He spoke with a friend of his who is a priest on that day and despite being disappointed by the news, they “couldn’t feel sad because we saw in that another sign that proves that we are closer to the second coming and that Christ is coming soon.”The filmmaker said he hopes audiences will have a similar experience after watching the film in that it will “bring comfort and solace to people who watch the movie in the midst of this crisis we are living [through].”“Also, to teach them that the book of Revelation is not a book of terror, but a book of hope … Just rip off that fear to the book and encourage them to study more of Revelation.”

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Written, created, and directed by Simón Delacre, “The Apocalypse of St. John” will air in theaters across the United States Feb. 15–17.

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 Launch – A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev onboard, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission is the twelfth crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Meir, Hathaway, Adenot, and Fedyaev launched at 5:15 a.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to begin a mission aboard the orbital outpost.
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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 Launch – A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev onboard, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission is the twelfth crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Meir, Hathaway, Adenot, and Fedyaev launched at 5:15 a.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to begin a mission aboard the orbital outpost.

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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev onboard, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission is the twelfth crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Meir, Hathaway, Adenot, and Fedyaev launched at 5:15 a.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to begin a mission aboard the orbital outpost.

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On Valentine’s Day, Boston Archdiocese welcomes marriages into Church with convalidation ceremony - #Catholic - About two dozen couples in the Archdiocese of Boston will have their marriages “brought into the Church” this year, part of a now-yearly tradition there in which husbands and wives can take part in “convalidation” ceremonies. Convalidation offers civilly married husbands and wives the opportunity for a valid Catholic sacramental marriage. The Boston Archdiocese describes the ceremony as “an opportunity for couples married outside of the Catholic Church to enter a marriage covenant in the Catholic tradition, be strengthened by God’s grace, and be supported by his Church.” Couples celebrate the convalidation of their marriages in the Archdiocese of Boston on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. | Credit: Gregory Tracy/Archdiocese of Boston Liz Cotrupi, the director of family life and ecclesial movements in the archdiocesan evangelization office, told EWTN News that this year’s ceremony will be the third the archdiocese has held in as many years. “We’ve been doing it during National Marriage Week,” she said. “It just so happens that this year it falls on Valentine’s Day, so it’s a little special.”The program arose in Boston when former Regional Bishop Mark O’Connell began offering convalidation ceremonies in the north region of the archdiocese over which he presided. “When he became the vicar general [in 2023], he said, ‘Hey I’ve been doing this regionally in the north region and it’s had some good feedback — what about doing it archdiocesan-wide?’” Cotrupi said. The program has grown ever since. “We’ll probably have 22 to 24 couples this year,” Cotrupi said. The archdiocese has advertised the ceremony in parish bulletins and on social media, she said, and the reaction has been positive. “People are coming out of the woodwork,” she said. A couple receives convalidation of their marriage by Bishop Mark O’Connell in the Archdiocese of Boston on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. | Credit: Gregory Tracy/Archdiocese of Boston The process is similar, but not identical, to that of preparing couples for marriage. “We’ve learned a lot through this process,” Cotrupi said with a laugh. The archdiocesan canonical affairs office takes part in the marriage preparation, she said, while a priest helps prepare the couple directly. “Each couple, it’s as if they’re making their vows for the very first time,” she said. “They will exchange consent, answer the questions, and then exchange rings, which are blessed.” “Each couple, it’s as if they’re making their vows for the very first time.” Liz CotrupiDirector of Family Life and Ecclesial Movements, Archdiocese of Boston The ceremony is not a full Mass, she said, but rather consists of the Liturgy of the Word, the prayers of the faithful, a blessing, and the marriage ceremony itself. The event often has all the trappings of a wedding, she said. “Some brides come dressed in wedding dresses,” she said. Others are dressed more casually. Some families bring their children. Young guests attend a convalidation ceremony in the Archdiocese of Boston on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. | Credit: Gregory Tracy/Archdiocese of Boston At times, Cotrupi said, couples forget to bring the required two witnesses to the event, in which case she and archdiocesan Family Life Consultant Emily Elliott have often stood as witnesses. Couples are often given a gift on the day of the ceremony, she said, and afterward they often go out to dinner with family and friends to celebrate. Cotrupi said the usual administrative tasks surrounding the process, like “all the paperwork,” can be “a bit much.” Still, she said, “it’s a joyous occasion.”“We’re so happy to do it for them,” she said.
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On Valentine’s Day, Boston Archdiocese welcomes marriages into Church with convalidation ceremony – #Catholic – About two dozen couples in the Archdiocese of Boston will have their marriages “brought into the Church” this year, part of a now-yearly tradition there in which husbands and wives can take part in “convalidation” ceremonies. Convalidation offers civilly married husbands and wives the opportunity for a valid Catholic sacramental marriage. The Boston Archdiocese describes the ceremony as “an opportunity for couples married outside of the Catholic Church to enter a marriage covenant in the Catholic tradition, be strengthened by God’s grace, and be supported by his Church.” Couples celebrate the convalidation of their marriages in the Archdiocese of Boston on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. | Credit: Gregory Tracy/Archdiocese of Boston Liz Cotrupi, the director of family life and ecclesial movements in the archdiocesan evangelization office, told EWTN News that this year’s ceremony will be the third the archdiocese has held in as many years. “We’ve been doing it during National Marriage Week,” she said. “It just so happens that this year it falls on Valentine’s Day, so it’s a little special.”The program arose in Boston when former Regional Bishop Mark O’Connell began offering convalidation ceremonies in the north region of the archdiocese over which he presided. “When he became the vicar general [in 2023], he said, ‘Hey I’ve been doing this regionally in the north region and it’s had some good feedback — what about doing it archdiocesan-wide?’” Cotrupi said. The program has grown ever since. “We’ll probably have 22 to 24 couples this year,” Cotrupi said. The archdiocese has advertised the ceremony in parish bulletins and on social media, she said, and the reaction has been positive. “People are coming out of the woodwork,” she said. A couple receives convalidation of their marriage by Bishop Mark O’Connell in the Archdiocese of Boston on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. | Credit: Gregory Tracy/Archdiocese of Boston The process is similar, but not identical, to that of preparing couples for marriage. “We’ve learned a lot through this process,” Cotrupi said with a laugh. The archdiocesan canonical affairs office takes part in the marriage preparation, she said, while a priest helps prepare the couple directly. “Each couple, it’s as if they’re making their vows for the very first time,” she said. “They will exchange consent, answer the questions, and then exchange rings, which are blessed.” “Each couple, it’s as if they’re making their vows for the very first time.” Liz CotrupiDirector of Family Life and Ecclesial Movements, Archdiocese of Boston The ceremony is not a full Mass, she said, but rather consists of the Liturgy of the Word, the prayers of the faithful, a blessing, and the marriage ceremony itself. The event often has all the trappings of a wedding, she said. “Some brides come dressed in wedding dresses,” she said. Others are dressed more casually. Some families bring their children. Young guests attend a convalidation ceremony in the Archdiocese of Boston on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. | Credit: Gregory Tracy/Archdiocese of Boston At times, Cotrupi said, couples forget to bring the required two witnesses to the event, in which case she and archdiocesan Family Life Consultant Emily Elliott have often stood as witnesses. Couples are often given a gift on the day of the ceremony, she said, and afterward they often go out to dinner with family and friends to celebrate. Cotrupi said the usual administrative tasks surrounding the process, like “all the paperwork,” can be “a bit much.” Still, she said, “it’s a joyous occasion.”“We’re so happy to do it for them,” she said.

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The archdiocese has seen growing interest in the ceremony for several years.

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Pro-lifers rally for baby left to die after failed abortion – #Catholic – Pro-lifers rally for baby left to die after failed abortionBorn alive at 16 weeks at an Australian hospital after a failed abortion, baby Samuel sucked his thumb. Doctors left him to die.“He was left to die. No one picked him up, wrapped him or gave him any medical care to alleviate his pain and suffering,” said South Australian pro-life activist Joanna Howe.The photo was leaked by a whistleblower who Howe said “risked their career” by sharing the photo. Australian authorities are reportedly trying to remove the image from social media.Australian pro-lifers rallied on Feb. 9 outside Queensland Parliament House in Brisbane for a “Public Gathering for Queensland Babies.”In 2024, a legislator introduced a bill to protect babies born alive after abortions. The Archdiocese of Brisbane came out in support of the amendment, saying that even if the child was unlikely to survive, medical staff had a duty to care for the baby.But the motion failed to pass after Queensland Premier David Crisafulli banned discussion of abortion in state Parliament for the next four years.Arizona judge strikes down pro-life laws, citing abortion rights amendmentAn Arizona judge on Friday struck down three pro-life laws in the state, saying they violated the state constitution.The ruling comes as a result of the abortion rights amendment that voters passed in Arizona in 2024. Citing the amendment, Judge Gregory Como ruled that the restrictions violated the state’s constitutional right to abortion.The court overturned state laws requiring in-person visits for chemical abortions as well as a 24-hour waiting period with mandatory ultrasound and a ban on discriminatory abortions.“Each of these laws infringe on a woman’s ‘autonomous decision-making’ by mandating medical procedures and disclosure of information regardless of the patient’s needs and wishes,” Como said in the ruling.Right to Life Michigan suit alleges state hiring law violates First AmendmentRight to Life Michigan, a group that advocates for pro-life policies, is suing the state over its requirements to hire pro-abortion employees.In a Feb. 3 filing, Right to Life Michigan and a pregnancy resource center alleged that a state employment law violates their First Amendment rights.The state law redefined bans against discrimination based on sex to include termination of pregnancy. The law also requires the pro-life groups to offer abortion coverage in their insurance plans.A spokesman from Alliance Defending Freedom, a nonprofit legal group defending Right to Life Michigan, said the law “makes no sense” and “forces these organizations to contradict their beliefs.”“Pro-life groups should be free to share the message of hope and joy with women and families experiencing a difficult season through employees who share their common goal,” Senior Counsel Bryan Neihart said in a statement.Iowa lawmakers propose anti-trafficking law, abortion criminalizationIowa lawmakers are considering several pro-life bills, including one that would screen pregnant women for coercion and abuse before abortions.The proposed bill would require an in-person examination by a physician before prescribing a pregnant woman abortion drugs and would require physicians to screen for coercion and abuse.Another bill introduced Friday would make it a criminal act for a person to cause an elective abortion. A similar bill would criminalize abortion as a homicide at any stage.Iowa law currently protects unborn children after their heartbeats can be detected, at about six weeks of pregnancy.Federal judge dismisses abortion advertisers’ free speech lawsuitAfter the South Dakota attorney general sued an abortion rights group for allegedly misleading and harmful advertisements, a federal judge declined to intervene on the abortion rights group’s behalf.The federal judge ruled the court has no jurisdiction in the South Dakota issue and declined to intervene in a lawsuit.South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has sued the group Mayday Health in state court, alleging that the abortion pill ads were deceptive and harmful to women. Mayday launched a countersuit saying this violated its First Amendment right to free speech.South Dakota protects unborn children from abortions in all cases, except to save the life of the mother.California to give additional million to abortion providersCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Feb. 11 to give million to abortion providers.Designed to replace Trump’s federal cuts, the one-time grant will give funding to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers that lost funding because they offer abortion.The bill follows the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by Trump last year, which prohibited federal Medicaid funding from going to the abortion provider Planned Parenthood.In October 2025, Newsom signed a bill to supplement Planned Parenthood with another 0 million, also citing the Trump cuts.The state already refunds more than 80% of an estimated 1.3 million patient visits to Planned Parenthood via its state Medicaid program, Medi-Cal.Students for Life of America kicks of pro-life tour to reach Gen ZStudents for Life of America is kicking off a college speaking tour designed to reach Generation Z.The “Make Gen Z Anti-Abortion” campus tour “counters the assumption that Gen Z is all in on abortion,” according to the SFLA press release.From February to April, SFLA spokesperson Lydia Taylor Davis will be speaking at University of Florida, Florida International University, University of South Carolina, Liberty University, University of Pittsburgh, and Virginia Commonwealth University.“Gen Z is the largest voting bloc in America, with youth voters now making up over 48.5% of the electorate. Yet they’re easily dismissed by conservatives — and heavily targeted by the abortion lobby,” the SFLA press release said.“But according to recent polling from SFLA’s Demetree Institute for Pro-Life Advancement, roughly 6 in 10 youth voters are in the ‘moveable middle’ on abortion,” SFLA continued.
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Pro-lifers rally for baby left to die after failed abortion – #Catholic – Pro-lifers rally for baby left to die after failed abortionBorn alive at 16 weeks at an Australian hospital after a failed abortion, baby Samuel sucked his thumb. Doctors left him to die.“He was left to die. No one picked him up, wrapped him or gave him any medical care to alleviate his pain and suffering,” said South Australian pro-life activist Joanna Howe.The photo was leaked by a whistleblower who Howe said “risked their career” by sharing the photo. Australian authorities are reportedly trying to remove the image from social media.Australian pro-lifers rallied on Feb. 9 outside Queensland Parliament House in Brisbane for a “Public Gathering for Queensland Babies.”In 2024, a legislator introduced a bill to protect babies born alive after abortions. The Archdiocese of Brisbane came out in support of the amendment, saying that even if the child was unlikely to survive, medical staff had a duty to care for the baby.But the motion failed to pass after Queensland Premier David Crisafulli banned discussion of abortion in state Parliament for the next four years.Arizona judge strikes down pro-life laws, citing abortion rights amendmentAn Arizona judge on Friday struck down three pro-life laws in the state, saying they violated the state constitution.The ruling comes as a result of the abortion rights amendment that voters passed in Arizona in 2024. Citing the amendment, Judge Gregory Como ruled that the restrictions violated the state’s constitutional right to abortion.The court overturned state laws requiring in-person visits for chemical abortions as well as a 24-hour waiting period with mandatory ultrasound and a ban on discriminatory abortions.“Each of these laws infringe on a woman’s ‘autonomous decision-making’ by mandating medical procedures and disclosure of information regardless of the patient’s needs and wishes,” Como said in the ruling.Right to Life Michigan suit alleges state hiring law violates First AmendmentRight to Life Michigan, a group that advocates for pro-life policies, is suing the state over its requirements to hire pro-abortion employees.In a Feb. 3 filing, Right to Life Michigan and a pregnancy resource center alleged that a state employment law violates their First Amendment rights.The state law redefined bans against discrimination based on sex to include termination of pregnancy. The law also requires the pro-life groups to offer abortion coverage in their insurance plans.A spokesman from Alliance Defending Freedom, a nonprofit legal group defending Right to Life Michigan, said the law “makes no sense” and “forces these organizations to contradict their beliefs.”“Pro-life groups should be free to share the message of hope and joy with women and families experiencing a difficult season through employees who share their common goal,” Senior Counsel Bryan Neihart said in a statement.Iowa lawmakers propose anti-trafficking law, abortion criminalizationIowa lawmakers are considering several pro-life bills, including one that would screen pregnant women for coercion and abuse before abortions.The proposed bill would require an in-person examination by a physician before prescribing a pregnant woman abortion drugs and would require physicians to screen for coercion and abuse.Another bill introduced Friday would make it a criminal act for a person to cause an elective abortion. A similar bill would criminalize abortion as a homicide at any stage.Iowa law currently protects unborn children after their heartbeats can be detected, at about six weeks of pregnancy.Federal judge dismisses abortion advertisers’ free speech lawsuitAfter the South Dakota attorney general sued an abortion rights group for allegedly misleading and harmful advertisements, a federal judge declined to intervene on the abortion rights group’s behalf.The federal judge ruled the court has no jurisdiction in the South Dakota issue and declined to intervene in a lawsuit.South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has sued the group Mayday Health in state court, alleging that the abortion pill ads were deceptive and harmful to women. Mayday launched a countersuit saying this violated its First Amendment right to free speech.South Dakota protects unborn children from abortions in all cases, except to save the life of the mother.California to give additional $90 million to abortion providersCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Feb. 11 to give $90 million to abortion providers.Designed to replace Trump’s federal cuts, the one-time grant will give funding to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers that lost funding because they offer abortion.The bill follows the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by Trump last year, which prohibited federal Medicaid funding from going to the abortion provider Planned Parenthood.In October 2025, Newsom signed a bill to supplement Planned Parenthood with another $140 million, also citing the Trump cuts.The state already refunds more than 80% of an estimated 1.3 million patient visits to Planned Parenthood via its state Medicaid program, Medi-Cal.Students for Life of America kicks of pro-life tour to reach Gen ZStudents for Life of America is kicking off a college speaking tour designed to reach Generation Z.The “Make Gen Z Anti-Abortion” campus tour “counters the assumption that Gen Z is all in on abortion,” according to the SFLA press release.From February to April, SFLA spokesperson Lydia Taylor Davis will be speaking at University of Florida, Florida International University, University of South Carolina, Liberty University, University of Pittsburgh, and Virginia Commonwealth University.“Gen Z is the largest voting bloc in America, with youth voters now making up over 48.5% of the electorate. Yet they’re easily dismissed by conservatives — and heavily targeted by the abortion lobby,” the SFLA press release said.“But according to recent polling from SFLA’s Demetree Institute for Pro-Life Advancement, roughly 6 in 10 youth voters are in the ‘moveable middle’ on abortion,” SFLA continued.

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Here is a roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news.

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The Sky Today on Saturday, February 14: A Valentine’s Heart (Nebula)

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  February 13: Catch the zodiacal light This Valentine’s Day, the sky is serving up the perfect target: the Heart Nebula (IC 1805) in Cassiopeia the Queen. Best seen in the early evening after dark, there’s no Moon in the sky to interfereContinue reading “The Sky Today on Saturday, February 14: A Valentine’s Heart (Nebula)”

The post The Sky Today on Saturday, February 14: A Valentine’s Heart (Nebula) appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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