On the morning of July 20, 1976, roughly 40 minutes after mission controllers received word that the Viking 1 lander had successfully touched down on the surface of Mars, this photo gave us our first view from the surface of another planet.
Read More![Bishop Barres, Catholic sisters sue New York over assisted suicide mandates – #Catholic – Bishop John O. Barres of the Diocese of Rockville Centre and four communities of religious sisters have filed a lawsuit against New York’s attorney general and commissioner of health over a law they say would force them to participate in the process of physician-assisted suicide.The Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York, and the religious communities — the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, the Missionary Sisters of St. Benedict, and the Little Sisters of the Poor — provide care for elderly and terminally ill people and say their Catholic faith prohibits them from participation in the process in any way.Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill legalizing physician-assisted suicide in February, and the law goes into effect in August. Although some facilities can opt out of parts of the physician‑assisted suicide process, the exemptions are limited, and the law imposes additional requirements on the diocese and religious communities.“We will never submit to New York’s culture of death,” Barres said in a statement through his attorneys at the Becket Fund.“Assisted suicide is a grave moral failure that puts the elderly, the disabled, and those suffering from mental and emotional illness at risk of abuse and manipulation,” the bishop said. “Christ the Divine Physician calls us to accompany the sick and dying with compassion, not abandon them to death. The court should protect that millennia-old mission.”The New York’s attorney general’s office and Department of Health did not immediately reply to a request for comment.Requirements in the lawMore than a dozen states have legalized physician-assisted suicide over the past two decades, but New York’s opt out policy “is among the narrowest in the nation,” according to the lawsuit, and it affects some of the religious communities differently.While most of the Catholic-run facilities qualify for the narrow “opt outs,” those that qualify must still follow existing laws to offer counseling to terminally ill patients that explains various options for end-of-life care, along with the “risks and benefits” of their options, or refer them to someone who will.According to the lawsuit, this will now apply to the “option” of physician-assisted suicide, which means nurse practitioners or physicians “must either counsel terminal patients about the availability and benefits of [physician-assisted suicide], or else help the patient find a provider who is willing do so.”Physicians covered by the opt outs must also assist in determining whether patients qualify for assisted suicide through actions such as referring them for mental health evaluations. Facilities covered by the opt outs — if they refuse to directly participate in the suicide itself — must refer the patient to a facility that will administer it, according to the lawsuit.The lawsuit further states that providers must sign a death certificate that says the patient died from his or her underlying condition, rather than the drugs that ended his or her life. It states that facilities may also not be able to take adverse employment actions against employees who act in accordance with New York’s physician-assisted suicide law, even if the facility prohibits it.At least one facility — the Missionary Sisters of St. Benedict — is not covered by the opt outs, which means it must also allow the prescription and the ingestion of the suicide drugs on its property. Those that qualify for the opt out are exempted from this requirement.Adele Keim, senior counsel at Becket, told EWTN News the law essentially requires all the facilities to “take [the patients] through the process” and “allow that very involved process to take place in their facilities.”“[They] will not do that,” she said, explaining that it violates their religious beliefs.First Amendment objectionsKeim said Catholic sisters have offered end-of-life care to New Yorkers for more than 100 years, “providing that personal accompaniment, which in Catholic teaching, is rooted in the example of Mary sitting at the foot of the cross as Jesus died.”“That’s what they believe they’re called to do,” she said. “… [They are] bearing witness to the distinctly Catholic response to the suffering people experience in their final days."Sister Justyna Owsiejko, O.S.B., of the Missionary Sisters of St. Benedict, said in a statement through Becket that “we are simple nuns whose mission is to serve God — and we do that by offering the aged a home in which to live their final days in peace, tranquility, and comfort, cared for by sisters who see the face of Christ in each person they serve.”“New York is trying to force us to abandon that vocation and help our residents commit suicide,” she said. “That is something we will never do. Our foundress overcame war and exile to serve those in need — we will overcome this law to do the same.”Mother Alice Marie Monica of the Little Sisters of the Poor said in a statement that “we have served God by welcoming the elderly poor and dying into our homes for nearly 200 years.”“Our calling is to protect and care for needy seniors, not steer them toward suicide,” she said. “We will remain true to that mission, whatever the cost.”The lawsuit argues that forcing Catholic-run facilities to participate in physician-assisted suicide violates their First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion. The Church teaches that life must be protected from conception until natural death.The suit also argues that the law violates their freedom of speech by compelling them to counsel their patients about physician-assisted suicide.“The sisters’ Catholic faith leads them to accept death as the natural end to a life well-lived: neither artificially prolonging it through burdensome technological and medical interventions that provide no reasonable benefit, nor artificially hastening it,” the lawsuit states.“Above all,” the lawsuit adds, “it means that the sisters seek to personally provide a loving human presence alongside each person — bearing witness to the ending of a uniquely beautiful and unrepeatable life.”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/bishop-barres-catholic-sisters-sue-new-york-over-assisted-suicide-mandates-catholic-bishop-john-o-barres-of-the-diocese-of-rockville-centre-and-four-communities-of-religious-sisters-have-filed.jpg "Bishop Barres, Catholic sisters sue New York over assisted suicide mandates – #Catholic – Bishop John O. Barres of the Diocese of Rockville Centre and four communities of religious sisters have filed a lawsuit against New York’s attorney general and commissioner of health over a law they say would force them to participate in the process of physician-assisted suicide.The Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York, and the religious communities — the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, the Missionary Sisters of St. Benedict, and the Little Sisters of the Poor — provide care for elderly and terminally ill people and say their Catholic faith prohibits them from participation in the process in any way.Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill legalizing physician-assisted suicide in February, and the law goes into effect in August. Although some facilities can opt out of parts of the physician‑assisted suicide process, the exemptions are limited, and the law imposes additional requirements on the diocese and religious communities.“We will never submit to New York’s culture of death,” Barres said in a statement through his attorneys at the Becket Fund.“Assisted suicide is a grave moral failure that puts the elderly, the disabled, and those suffering from mental and emotional illness at risk of abuse and manipulation,” the bishop said. “Christ the Divine Physician calls us to accompany the sick and dying with compassion, not abandon them to death. The court should protect that millennia-old mission.”The New York’s attorney general’s office and Department of Health did not immediately reply to a request for comment.Requirements in the lawMore than a dozen states have legalized physician-assisted suicide over the past two decades, but New York’s opt out policy “is among the narrowest in the nation,” according to the lawsuit, and it affects some of the religious communities differently.While most of the Catholic-run facilities qualify for the narrow “opt outs,” those that qualify must still follow existing laws to offer counseling to terminally ill patients that explains various options for end-of-life care, along with the “risks and benefits” of their options, or refer them to someone who will.According to the lawsuit, this will now apply to the “option” of physician-assisted suicide, which means nurse practitioners or physicians “must either counsel terminal patients about the availability and benefits of [physician-assisted suicide], or else help the patient find a provider who is willing do so.”Physicians covered by the opt outs must also assist in determining whether patients qualify for assisted suicide through actions such as referring them for mental health evaluations. Facilities covered by the opt outs — if they refuse to directly participate in the suicide itself — must refer the patient to a facility that will administer it, according to the lawsuit.The lawsuit further states that providers must sign a death certificate that says the patient died from his or her underlying condition, rather than the drugs that ended his or her life. It states that facilities may also not be able to take adverse employment actions against employees who act in accordance with New York’s physician-assisted suicide law, even if the facility prohibits it.At least one facility — the Missionary Sisters of St. Benedict — is not covered by the opt outs, which means it must also allow the prescription and the ingestion of the suicide drugs on its property. Those that qualify for the opt out are exempted from this requirement.Adele Keim, senior counsel at Becket, told EWTN News the law essentially requires all the facilities to “take [the patients] through the process” and “allow that very involved process to take place in their facilities.”“[They] will not do that,” she said, explaining that it violates their religious beliefs.First Amendment objectionsKeim said Catholic sisters have offered end-of-life care to New Yorkers for more than 100 years, “providing that personal accompaniment, which in Catholic teaching, is rooted in the example of Mary sitting at the foot of the cross as Jesus died.”“That’s what they believe they’re called to do,” she said. “… [They are] bearing witness to the distinctly Catholic response to the suffering people experience in their final days.\"Sister Justyna Owsiejko, O.S.B., of the Missionary Sisters of St. Benedict, said in a statement through Becket that “we are simple nuns whose mission is to serve God — and we do that by offering the aged a home in which to live their final days in peace, tranquility, and comfort, cared for by sisters who see the face of Christ in each person they serve.”“New York is trying to force us to abandon that vocation and help our residents commit suicide,” she said. “That is something we will never do. Our foundress overcame war and exile to serve those in need — we will overcome this law to do the same.”Mother Alice Marie Monica of the Little Sisters of the Poor said in a statement that “we have served God by welcoming the elderly poor and dying into our homes for nearly 200 years.”“Our calling is to protect and care for needy seniors, not steer them toward suicide,” she said. “We will remain true to that mission, whatever the cost.”The lawsuit argues that forcing Catholic-run facilities to participate in physician-assisted suicide violates their First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion. The Church teaches that life must be protected from conception until natural death.The suit also argues that the law violates their freedom of speech by compelling them to counsel their patients about physician-assisted suicide.“The sisters’ Catholic faith leads them to accept death as the natural end to a life well-lived: neither artificially prolonging it through burdensome technological and medical interventions that provide no reasonable benefit, nor artificially hastening it,” the lawsuit states.“Above all,” the lawsuit adds, “it means that the sisters seek to personally provide a loving human presence alongside each person — bearing witness to the ending of a uniquely beautiful and unrepeatable life.”")
The bishop said “we will never submit” to “the culture of death” as the Catholic diocese and religious sisters argue that their faith prevents them from participating in physician-assisted suicide.
In a joint statement, Bishops Daniel García and Brendan Cahill called for the application of immigration law in a humane manner and with respect for fundamental human rights.
Rocket launches this week On Tuesday, July 21, SpaceX opens the week with the Starlink Group 17-39 mission, lifting off from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 10 a.m. EDT. The Falcon 9 booster is expected to land on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean. Watch it here. Later thatContinue reading “A robotic satellite servicer and Starship’s return headline this week’s launches”
The post A robotic satellite servicer and Starship’s return headline this week’s launches appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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The walls of the colonial era church are still standing, but the roof collapsed into the nave. The parish priest estimated restoring the church will cost $2 million.
Faith joins football as Spain and Argentina face off for World Cup title #Catholic – 
(OSV News) — As the July 19 World Cup final approaches, players from two historically Catholic nations can count not only on the prayers of their fans, but also on a rich web of Catholic threads surrounding the showdown between Spain and Argentina.
From the tournament’s origins to the faith openly lived by players and coaches on both sides, this final carries a distinctly Catholic dimension.
The match at New Jersey’s MetLife stadium brings together two football giants whose paths to the final have been marked not only by sporting excellence, but also by visible expressions of Catholic faith.
If anyone wondered where the precision combined with clearly having fun on the pitch comes from in the Spanish team, striker Ferran Torres gave a sense of the answer when he spoke publicly about his Catholic faith.
“I have a cross and an image of the Virgin,” he said in a video shared by the Spanish national soccer team. “In the end, I think it’s something that gives me a lot of support. It gives me great strength in my faith, and for me it’s something very important.”
Spain — a country deeply rooted in Catholic tradition and recently visited by Pope Leo XIV — arrives under the wings of coach Luis de la Fuente — known as much for his personal faith as for his magic tactical skill. After Spain’s record fourth European Championship title in July 2024, the country’s bishops publicly praised his witness.
Archbishop José Ángel Saiz Meneses of Seville described de la Fuente at the time as “a deeply religious man” unafraid of “publicly expressing his faith,” noting his devotion to the Holy Christ of the Expiration in Seville. An image of the coach praying before the famed crucifix went viral at the time, and certainly Spanish soccer fans are turning their eyes heavenward before the July 19 final.
“He has been able to transmit faith, humility, the value of the team above individualities, the spirit of sacrifice, effort, confidence” the archbishop of Seville said of de la Fuente after Spain’s 2024 victory.
Bishop José Ignacio Munilla Aguirre of Orihuela-Alicante also highlighted “the testimony of faith of the coach,” comparing it to that of Argentina’s Lionel Messi and citing the Gospel of Matthew: “Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.”
Argentina, meanwhile, has carried its own strong Catholic identity throughout the tournament — both in the locker room and on the pitch.
Before every match, kit man Mario Di Stéfano sets up a small prayer altar in the team’s locker room. (A kit man is a vital member of a sports team’s backroom staff who manages all equipment and uniforms.)
The prayer altar is centered on a statue of Our Lady of Luján, Argentina’s patroness, alongside images of Our Lady Undoer of Knots and St. Expedite — considered the patron saint of urgent causes.
The tradition dates back decades, echoing practices from the team’s 1986 World Cup run.
Players’ personal devotions have also drawn attention. Lautaro Martínez was seen with a holy card of Our Lady of Luján tucked into his shin guard, while before the tournament began, Lionel Messi’s boots were blessed at the basilica dedicated to the same Marian title.
It was sports journalist Walter Queijeiro who brought the soccer boots of Messi — Argentina’s legendary captain, and the player most credited with the team’s 2022 title, which the Albiceleste are now defending — to the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján.
The boots, a limited Adidas edition called “El Último Tango” (“The Last Tango”), a nod both to Argentina’s musical heritage and to what is expected to be Messi’s last dance in the national jersey, were blessed by the basilica’s rector, Father Lucas García, in a small ceremony before pilgrims and children. Messi wore them on June 16 in Kansas City when he scored his first World Cup hat trick, against Algeria, tying Miroslav Klose’s record for most goals in men’s World Cup history — a milestone in what is Messi’s sixth World Cup.
Messi and his teammates have also welcomed religious gifts from fans in public. After Argentina’s win over Cape Verde, content creator Julián Pérez Regio approached the six-time FIFA player of the match outside the stadium and handed him a rosary blessed at the Vatican, telling him it was meant for him, his wife, Antonela, and their their children, and for his parents, in gratitude for two decades of joy he has given Argentine fans. Messi stopped, visibly moved, and accepted it.
Messi has also spoken openly about his faith. After Argentina secured its place in the final, he said: “God is great, and he always has something else. But honestly, I cannot ask God for anything else. I am grateful for everything he has given me.”
Even the World Cup itself has Catholic roots.
“The World Cup was founded in 1928 at the initiative of Jules Rimet, a French Catholic who was then president of the International Federation of Association Football,” Isabelle de Chatellus, program director for sports at the French bishops’ conference, told OSV News.
Chatellus emphasized that Rimet’s vision of the tournament was shaped by Catholic social teaching and a desire to promote human dignity and social cohesion through sport, particularly among the working classes.
“He was inspired by the social doctrine developed by Leo XIII in his encyclical ‘Rerum Novarum,’ and was committed to defending human dignity, social justice, and collective responsibility toward the most vulnerable,” she said.
“His parents were grocers in Paris,” she said of Rimet. “He immediately saw sports as a popular activity. For him, soccer was the quintessential popular sport and a prime vehicle for promoting attention to the most disadvantaged communities and social justice. He wanted to foster social cohesion through soccer, transcending class distinctions.”
“Rimet was therefore in favor of professionalization and the payment of soccer players, which he saw as a way to make the sport accessible to workers,” Chatellus said. “He recognized that the working classes did not have the luxury of playing sports at the expense of their livelihoods.”
For Chatellus, sport remains a place where competition and conflict can be lived out within rules, respect and shared values — even at the highest level.
“The soccer field remains a place of conflict. But it is a place where conflict must take place with respect, within the rules and guided by team values that are very constructive. There is a unique path to holiness that can be experienced through sports,” she told OSV News.
Chatellus is the director of the Holy Games, the Catholic association supported by the Archdiocese of Paris that provided pastoral care during the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It has since become a permanent structure within the French bishops’ conference.
A soccer fan herself, she expressed her disappointment following the French national team’s defeat in the semifinals on July 14, Bastille Day — France’s biggest national holiday. “It was truly a huge disappointment, and one that took us by surprise, because it was a great team. But the Spanish team played very well,” she said.
As Spain and Argentina prepare to meet on football’s biggest stage, it remains to be seen at the final game which Spanish-speaking team that the patron saint of urgent causes, St. Expedite, will cheer on.
Caroline de Sury writes for OSV News from Paris. Ines San Martin writes for OSV News from Rosario, Argentina. Paulina Guzik is international editor for OSV News.
– (OSV News) — As the July 19 World Cup final approaches, players from two historically Catholic nations can count not only on the prayers of their fans, but also on a rich web of Catholic threads surrounding the showdown between Spain and Argentina. From the tournament’s origins to the faith openly lived by players and coaches on both sides, this final carries a distinctly Catholic dimension. The match at New Jersey’s MetLife stadium brings together two football giants whose paths to the final have been marked not only by sporting excellence, but also by visible expressions of Catholic faith. Spanish
