Catholic bishops reacted to three pro-life losses in referendum battles, and pro-life groups have weighed in on the referendum results and the impact of the decisive Democratic congressional wins.
The Laudato Si’ Platform launched the map during a press conference at the Holy See Press Office on Wednesday.
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Horses grazing at Trunkol meadow in the Himalayas of India. The meadow is situated on the way to the sacred Gangabal Lake in Jammu and Kashmir.
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Pope Leo XIV has appointed Martial Bernard as the new bishop of Soissons. At 48 years of age at his Dec. 20 episcopal ordination, he will become the youngest bishop in France.
Previously, service members had to leave the military to pursue theological training and then reapply to become chaplains.
Mexican priest Clemente Morales Topete suffered beatings, burns, and death threats after being held against his will by a crime gang. The assailants were trying to extract information he didn’t have.
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Morning fogs in the Skolivskyi Beskids. At the top there is a church, the highest in Ukraine, Skole urban hromada, Ukraine.
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In some states, bishops’ conferences have taken a clear position on initiatives, urging Catholics to either support or oppose the measures.
Pope Leo XIV will return to Chiclayo, Peru, where he once served as bishop, and will visit key sites from his pastoral ministry, including the cathedral, the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace, and Zaña.
Continuing a tradition begun by St. John Paul II in the late 1970s, Pope Leo XIV visited Rome’s Verano Cemetery on Nov. 2.
Bishop Jorge Carrión Pavlich, who led the Diocese of Puno for more than 24 years, has died at 76, two days after Archbishop Richard Alarcón of Cusco.
The pontiff said the Solemnity of All Saints offers a “hope-filled message”: God sees goodness hidden from us and calls every person to holiness.
According to the latest statistics published by Agenzia Fides, Africa’s Catholic population has now surpassed Europe’s, rising to 288.3 million.
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Vodno Telecommunication Tower under construction in Skopje, North Macedonia. Today is the Day of the Macedonian Revolutionary Struggle, a national holiday in North Macedonia celebrated on the occasion of the formation of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization.
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![America’s first martyrs for marriage: The Georgia Martyrs declared ‘blessed’ – #Catholic – SAVANNAH – More than 400 years ago, Friars Pedro de Corpa, Blas Rodríguez, Miguel de Aňon, Antonio de Badajoz, and Francisco de Veráscola surrendered their lives standing for the sanctity of marriage.“We do well to lovingly speak their names, for they are holy members of the family of God,” said Cardinal Frank Leo of Toronto while declaring them “blessed” on Oct. 31 in Savannah.
Sisters of Life from New York attend the beatification Mass for the five Franciscan martyrs of Georgia at the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, Georgia, Oct. 31, 2026. | Credit: Jeffrey Bruno
It was a milestone for the Catholic Church in America: The Georgia Martyrs are the first American martyrs for marriage and the first to be beatified in the southern U.S. Approximately 9,000 people streamed through the doors of the Savannah Convention Center, breaking city attendance records for an indoor event. They traveled from all over Georgia, the U.S., and around the world, arriving by bus, car, and trolley. Some ferried across the Savannah River. Others flew, including priests and lay Catholics representing the hometowns of several friars.María Isabel Inoriza De Villota, a 12th generation descendent of one of Friar Francisco’s brothers, came from Spain with her 16-year-old son, Imanol.“Ever since I was a child, I have witnessed the deep devotion my parents held for Francisco,” she said. “We have always turned to him, seeking his protection and help.”Her mother prayed “fervently” for the beatification, which is “a dream come true,” she said.
Relatives of one of the five Franciscan martyrs of Georgia attend the friars’ beatification Mass at the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, Georgia, Oct. 31, 2026. | Credit: Jeffrey Bruno
Father Pablo Migone, the vicar for mission advancement in the Savannah Diocese and a longtime promoter of the cause, said 2,000 attendees “tops” were projected. But registrations kept pouring in.U.S. beatifications are rare. But it was more than that. The diocese has been educating the faithful about the martyrs for a decade. “The fruit and the story are resonating in people’s hearts and minds,” Migone said.Until learning of the beatification, many residents of La Albuera, Spain, where Friar Antonio was baptized, hadn’t heard of him. Now the town square is being renamed in his honor.“God is full of surprises,” said Father Antonio Jesús Marín Romo, the town’s parish priest. “This comes at a crucial moment when we were in need of a catalyst for the work we wish to begin in the parish.”The Franciscans’ story began in the 16th century when they arrived from Spain. By 1595, they had established missions along the Georgia coast, evangelizing the Indigenous Guale people. Serving like Peace Corps volunteers, they succeeded where other orders had failed. Two years later, however, faith clashed with local custom. A baptized convert in line for chiefdom insisted on a second wife. When the friars refused to compromise Christ’s teaching on marriage, a war party murdered the friars, mission by mission. A sixth friar, Francisco de Ávila, was tortured, but lived to tell the tale. The missions were eventually reestablished, and Catholicism thrived.The bilingual service on Oct. 31 began with a procession down the runway-like aisle created from joining four exhibition spaces, the center’s largest configuration.
The Book of the Gospels is carried in the entrance procession for the beatification Mass of the five Franciscan martyrs of Georgia at the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, Georgia, Oct. 31, 2026. | Credit: Jeffrey Bruno
More than 200 clergy, including Franciscan Friars of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Cardinal Leo, 31 bishops and archbishops, over 100 deacons and seminarians, and the apostolic nuncio, were joined by nearly 200 members of the Knights of Columbus, the Knights of Malta, Knights (and Dames) of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Knights of Peter Claver. Seventy ciboria waited at the altar.
Knights of Columbus descend an escalator at the Savannah Convention Center for the beatification Mass of the five Franciscan martyrs of Georgia in Savannah, Georgia, Oct. 31, 2026. | Credit: Jeffrey Bruno
Cardinal Leo read the apostolic letter and declared the Georgia Martyrs “blessed,” by having “placed the saving truth of the Gospel before their own safety.” Atlanta Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer and Archbishop Joan-Enric Vives i Sicilia, bishop emeritus of Urgell, who represented the Spanish Episcopal Conference, read English and Spanish translations of the apostolic letter, respectively.The letter declared the martyrs’ feast day as Sept. 22, the octave day of Friar Pedro’s martyrdom. Thunderous applause erupted at the unveiling of the official portrait of the martyrs, showing them in humble repose and bathed in golden light. Before and after the beatification, the crowd toured the adjacent Georgia Martyrs Museum and art exhibition.
The official portrait of the five Franciscan martyrs of Georgia is displayed just after its unveiling during their beatification Mass at the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, Georgia, Oct. 31, 2026. | Credit: Jeffrey Bruno
By worldly standards, it might seem like the martyrs failed, Cardinal Leo said during his homily. “But it is not so.”They succeeded by embracing “the call to holiness, which further led them to embrace the call to consecrated life, the call to the sacred priesthood, the call to missionary work, the call to evangelize, the call to share and defend the faith and, ultimately, the call to give their very life.”But “how compelled are we” to “follow Jesus’ call to follow him?” he asked.A holy life requires defending the truth and “always put[ting] Christ first,” he stated, even while striving for unity in the world. “Polarization is not from God.”The martyrs also bore witness to “the Christian doctrine of marriage and held to that divine truth to the shedding of their own blood,” he said, stressing the sacred nature of the family “founded upon the covenantal, sacramental, indissoluble union of one man and one woman.”In his first public audience after recent surgery, Pope Leo XIV said that protecting marriage and family “is more urgent than ever before.”The beatification itself was “perfect timing,” said Christine Camp, who came from Atlanta with more than a dozen other Catholics who had just attended a three-day retreat to pray for restoration of their marriages.Moms and dads with children had traveled from near and far. “It’s our pilgrimage,” said Theodora Ferrant, who came from Pensacola with her husband and two children.“I truly believe through the intercession of Blessed Pedro de Corpa and four companions there will be greater respect for the dignity and character of holy matrimony,” Savannah Bishop Stephen Parkes said.“May the witness of these holy men inspire fidelity between spouses called into the covenantal bond of holy matrimony and help create a renewed commitment to the growth of faith-filled families in the state of Georgia and beyond.”The celebration will continue Nov. 1 with a Mass of thanksgiving at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/americas-first-martyrs-for-marriage-the-georgia-martyrs-declared-blessed-catholic-savannah-more-than-400-years-ago-friars-pedro-de-corpa-blas-rodriguez-mi.jpg "America’s first martyrs for marriage: The Georgia Martyrs declared ‘blessed’ – #Catholic – SAVANNAH – More than 400 years ago, Friars Pedro de Corpa, Blas Rodríguez, Miguel de Aňon, Antonio de Badajoz, and Francisco de Veráscola surrendered their lives standing for the sanctity of marriage.“We do well to lovingly speak their names, for they are holy members of the family of God,” said Cardinal Frank Leo of Toronto while declaring them “blessed” on Oct. 31 in Savannah.
Sisters of Life from New York attend the beatification Mass for the five Franciscan martyrs of Georgia at the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, Georgia, Oct. 31, 2026. | Credit: Jeffrey Bruno
It was a milestone for the Catholic Church in America: The Georgia Martyrs are the first American martyrs for marriage and the first to be beatified in the southern U.S. Approximately 9,000 people streamed through the doors of the Savannah Convention Center, breaking city attendance records for an indoor event. They traveled from all over Georgia, the U.S., and around the world, arriving by bus, car, and trolley. Some ferried across the Savannah River. Others flew, including priests and lay Catholics representing the hometowns of several friars.María Isabel Inoriza De Villota, a 12th generation descendent of one of Friar Francisco’s brothers, came from Spain with her 16-year-old son, Imanol.“Ever since I was a child, I have witnessed the deep devotion my parents held for Francisco,” she said. “We have always turned to him, seeking his protection and help.”Her mother prayed “fervently” for the beatification, which is “a dream come true,” she said.
Relatives of one of the five Franciscan martyrs of Georgia attend the friars’ beatification Mass at the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, Georgia, Oct. 31, 2026. | Credit: Jeffrey Bruno
Father Pablo Migone, the vicar for mission advancement in the Savannah Diocese and a longtime promoter of the cause, said 2,000 attendees “tops” were projected. But registrations kept pouring in.U.S. beatifications are rare. But it was more than that. The diocese has been educating the faithful about the martyrs for a decade. “The fruit and the story are resonating in people’s hearts and minds,” Migone said.Until learning of the beatification, many residents of La Albuera, Spain, where Friar Antonio was baptized, hadn’t heard of him. Now the town square is being renamed in his honor.“God is full of surprises,” said Father Antonio Jesús Marín Romo, the town’s parish priest. “This comes at a crucial moment when we were in need of a catalyst for the work we wish to begin in the parish.”The Franciscans’ story began in the 16th century when they arrived from Spain. By 1595, they had established missions along the Georgia coast, evangelizing the Indigenous Guale people. Serving like Peace Corps volunteers, they succeeded where other orders had failed. Two years later, however, faith clashed with local custom. A baptized convert in line for chiefdom insisted on a second wife. When the friars refused to compromise Christ’s teaching on marriage, a war party murdered the friars, mission by mission. A sixth friar, Francisco de Ávila, was tortured, but lived to tell the tale. The missions were eventually reestablished, and Catholicism thrived.The bilingual service on Oct. 31 began with a procession down the runway-like aisle created from joining four exhibition spaces, the center’s largest configuration.
The Book of the Gospels is carried in the entrance procession for the beatification Mass of the five Franciscan martyrs of Georgia at the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, Georgia, Oct. 31, 2026. | Credit: Jeffrey Bruno
More than 200 clergy, including Franciscan Friars of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Cardinal Leo, 31 bishops and archbishops, over 100 deacons and seminarians, and the apostolic nuncio, were joined by nearly 200 members of the Knights of Columbus, the Knights of Malta, Knights (and Dames) of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Knights of Peter Claver. Seventy ciboria waited at the altar.
Knights of Columbus descend an escalator at the Savannah Convention Center for the beatification Mass of the five Franciscan martyrs of Georgia in Savannah, Georgia, Oct. 31, 2026. | Credit: Jeffrey Bruno
Cardinal Leo read the apostolic letter and declared the Georgia Martyrs “blessed,” by having “placed the saving truth of the Gospel before their own safety.” Atlanta Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer and Archbishop Joan-Enric Vives i Sicilia, bishop emeritus of Urgell, who represented the Spanish Episcopal Conference, read English and Spanish translations of the apostolic letter, respectively.The letter declared the martyrs’ feast day as Sept. 22, the octave day of Friar Pedro’s martyrdom. Thunderous applause erupted at the unveiling of the official portrait of the martyrs, showing them in humble repose and bathed in golden light. Before and after the beatification, the crowd toured the adjacent Georgia Martyrs Museum and art exhibition.
The official portrait of the five Franciscan martyrs of Georgia is displayed just after its unveiling during their beatification Mass at the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, Georgia, Oct. 31, 2026. | Credit: Jeffrey Bruno
By worldly standards, it might seem like the martyrs failed, Cardinal Leo said during his homily. “But it is not so.”They succeeded by embracing “the call to holiness, which further led them to embrace the call to consecrated life, the call to the sacred priesthood, the call to missionary work, the call to evangelize, the call to share and defend the faith and, ultimately, the call to give their very life.”But “how compelled are we” to “follow Jesus’ call to follow him?” he asked.A holy life requires defending the truth and “always put[ting] Christ first,” he stated, even while striving for unity in the world. “Polarization is not from God.”The martyrs also bore witness to “the Christian doctrine of marriage and held to that divine truth to the shedding of their own blood,” he said, stressing the sacred nature of the family “founded upon the covenantal, sacramental, indissoluble union of one man and one woman.”In his first public audience after recent surgery, Pope Leo XIV said that protecting marriage and family “is more urgent than ever before.”The beatification itself was “perfect timing,” said Christine Camp, who came from Atlanta with more than a dozen other Catholics who had just attended a three-day retreat to pray for restoration of their marriages.Moms and dads with children had traveled from near and far. “It’s our pilgrimage,” said Theodora Ferrant, who came from Pensacola with her husband and two children.“I truly believe through the intercession of Blessed Pedro de Corpa and four companions there will be greater respect for the dignity and character of holy matrimony,” Savannah Bishop Stephen Parkes said.“May the witness of these holy men inspire fidelity between spouses called into the covenantal bond of holy matrimony and help create a renewed commitment to the growth of faith-filled families in the state of Georgia and beyond.”The celebration will continue Nov. 1 with a Mass of thanksgiving at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist.")
In a milestone for the Catholic Church in America, the Georgia Martyrs are the first American martyrs for marriage and the first to be beatified in the South.
Archbishop Ronald Hicks joined a suit brought by several orders of religious sisters against the state’s recently instituted suicide regime.
![Pope Leo XIV welcomes thousands from Notre Dame, Villanova to Vatican ahead of historic game – #Catholic – ROME – Pope Leo XIV welcomed around 7,000 team members, students, and fans from Villanova University and the University of Notre Dame at the Vatican Saturday morning, the day before both schools’ men’s and womenʼs teams will kick off the college basketball season in a historic doubleheader. Fans of all ages packed into the Pope Paul VI Audience Hall in Rome for an audience with the pope, who is himself a Villanova graduate.
Pope Leo XIV greets visitors at the Vatican, Oct. 31, 2026. The Holy Father met with delegations from both Villanova and the University of Notre Dame ahead of the “Eternal City Tip-Off” taking place in Rome. | Credit: Vatican Media
“Growing up on the south side of Chicago, we oftentimes heard, ‘Go Irish!’” Pope Leo told the crowd. “But as you all know, Prevost graduated from Villanova. So, the pope doesn’t take sides. Prevost has another opinion, but we won’t do that now,” he added, to cheers from the Villanova supporters.The Nov. 1 event, called the Eternal City Tip-Off, will open the 2026-27 college basketball season for the Division 1 teams. Organized as a collaboration between Fox Sports, On Location, and Players Era, inspiration for the event came from Leo’s election as the first American pope. Leading up to the Sunday games, supporters of both universities — including alumni, faculty, staff, students, and fans — were able to participate in a special Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica along with the papal audience.Father Peter Donohue, OSA, president of Villanova, and Father Robert Dowd, CSC, president of Notre Dame, began the audience by addressing the pope on behalf of their universities. Four student-athletes from each school then presented the pope with gifts, including commemorative basketballs, jerseys, and a special prayer for athletes written by the late Holy Cross Father Theodore Hesburgh, a past president of Notre Dame.
Pope Leo XIV greets visitors at the Vatican, Oct. 31, 2026. The Holy Father met with delegations from both Villanova and the University of Notre Dame ahead of the “Eternal City Tip-Off” taking place in Rome. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo drew laughs and cheers from the crowd when he began to dribble the basketball offered by Villanova team representatives.The pope then addressed the gathered fans, speaking about a “vision of sport” proposed by the Catholic Church centered on “the dignity of the human person, on his or her integral development, on education, and on relationships with others.” He pointed out that the games will take place on the feast of All Saints’ Day, saying that the occasion was a valuable reminder “that God calls everyone to be a saint. … We are invited, therefore, to ensure that every aspect of our lives, including our athletic endeavors, will help us to love God and our neighbor.”Pope Leo emphasized the importance of sport as “a concrete means of bringing people together,” particularly in an age “marked by the distance that can be created by technology.” He added, “Sport is a medicine for both body and spirit when it is practiced well.”Ambrose Weidmann, an architecture student from the University of Notre Dame studying abroad in Rome, attended the papal audience with his friends. “It was great to hear each school’s president’s viewpoint on sports, school, and faith, and even better to hear the Holy Father’s comments on sports and especially our universal calling to sainthood,” he said. Eric Heinz, who was at the audience with his wife and two sons — one of whom graduated from Villanova, the other from Notre Dame — echoed Weidmann’s sentiments. “I think it’s really great to have so many people that you know [in the room],” he said, citing the thousands of supporters from both universities who filled the hall. “It’s really attributed, I think, to the love of not just their schools, but Pope Leo, and having an American as the pope. … Everyone’s in a great mood about it.”Shannon Murphy and Gabriel Alvarez, sitting a few rows down from the Heinz family, had already planned on a trip to Rome for their honeymoon, but when they saw that the dates lined up perfectly with the Eternal City Tip-Off weekend, they were thrilled.“We put it on the calendar, and the minute they went for sale we were refreshing [the page] to get the best tickets we could that were available… we’re very excited,” said Murphy, who is a Villanova alumna. She added that sharing both an alma mater and the Catholic faith with Pope Leo made seeing him “pretty great.”Before the papal audience, fans had the chance to attend a special morning Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Mass was presided over by Archbishop Nelson Perez of Philadelphia and concelebrated by the presidents of both universities.During the homily, Perez praised the discipline, perseverance, and sacrifice of the student-athletes, quoting St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians to remind the faithful that sport is a model for the spiritual life, and offering Mary as a model of this excellence: “She played the game of life, the game of grace, in such a beautiful, powerful, profound way,” he said, offering Mary’s humility and service as an example of “true greatness.”Weidmann commented that the Vatican events on Saturday tied basketball and Catholicism together in an “ideal connection” between faith and sports, and even served as a means of evangelization.“I know a few of my peers who are atheist or agnostic, but went to the papal audience and Mass today and got to hear the voice of the Church calling to them through the Word of God and the pope’s words, which I thought was a really great way to expose more people to our faith,” he said.Villanova and Notre Dame will face off on Sunday beginning with the men’s basketball game at 3:30 pm CET (9:30 am EST), which can be viewed on Fox. The women’s game, aired on FS1, will follow at 6:00 pm CET (12 pm EST).](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/pope-leo-xiv-welcomes-thousands-from-notre-dame-villanova-to-vatican-ahead-of-historic-game-catholic-rome-pope-leo-xiv-welcomed-around-7000-team-members-students-and-fans-from-villanova-uni-scaled.jpg "Pope Leo XIV welcomes thousands from Notre Dame, Villanova to Vatican ahead of historic game – #Catholic – ROME – Pope Leo XIV welcomed around 7,000 team members, students, and fans from Villanova University and the University of Notre Dame at the Vatican Saturday morning, the day before both schools’ men’s and womenʼs teams will kick off the college basketball season in a historic doubleheader. Fans of all ages packed into the Pope Paul VI Audience Hall in Rome for an audience with the pope, who is himself a Villanova graduate.
Pope Leo XIV greets visitors at the Vatican, Oct. 31, 2026. The Holy Father met with delegations from both Villanova and the University of Notre Dame ahead of the “Eternal City Tip-Off” taking place in Rome. | Credit: Vatican Media
“Growing up on the south side of Chicago, we oftentimes heard, ‘Go Irish!’” Pope Leo told the crowd. “But as you all know, Prevost graduated from Villanova. So, the pope doesn’t take sides. Prevost has another opinion, but we won’t do that now,” he added, to cheers from the Villanova supporters.The Nov. 1 event, called the Eternal City Tip-Off, will open the 2026-27 college basketball season for the Division 1 teams. Organized as a collaboration between Fox Sports, On Location, and Players Era, inspiration for the event came from Leo’s election as the first American pope. Leading up to the Sunday games, supporters of both universities — including alumni, faculty, staff, students, and fans — were able to participate in a special Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica along with the papal audience.Father Peter Donohue, OSA, president of Villanova, and Father Robert Dowd, CSC, president of Notre Dame, began the audience by addressing the pope on behalf of their universities. Four student-athletes from each school then presented the pope with gifts, including commemorative basketballs, jerseys, and a special prayer for athletes written by the late Holy Cross Father Theodore Hesburgh, a past president of Notre Dame.
Pope Leo XIV greets visitors at the Vatican, Oct. 31, 2026. The Holy Father met with delegations from both Villanova and the University of Notre Dame ahead of the “Eternal City Tip-Off” taking place in Rome. | Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Leo drew laughs and cheers from the crowd when he began to dribble the basketball offered by Villanova team representatives.The pope then addressed the gathered fans, speaking about a “vision of sport” proposed by the Catholic Church centered on “the dignity of the human person, on his or her integral development, on education, and on relationships with others.” He pointed out that the games will take place on the feast of All Saints’ Day, saying that the occasion was a valuable reminder “that God calls everyone to be a saint. … We are invited, therefore, to ensure that every aspect of our lives, including our athletic endeavors, will help us to love God and our neighbor.”Pope Leo emphasized the importance of sport as “a concrete means of bringing people together,” particularly in an age “marked by the distance that can be created by technology.” He added, “Sport is a medicine for both body and spirit when it is practiced well.”Ambrose Weidmann, an architecture student from the University of Notre Dame studying abroad in Rome, attended the papal audience with his friends. “It was great to hear each school’s president’s viewpoint on sports, school, and faith, and even better to hear the Holy Father’s comments on sports and especially our universal calling to sainthood,” he said. Eric Heinz, who was at the audience with his wife and two sons — one of whom graduated from Villanova, the other from Notre Dame — echoed Weidmann’s sentiments. “I think it’s really great to have so many people that you know [in the room],” he said, citing the thousands of supporters from both universities who filled the hall. “It’s really attributed, I think, to the love of not just their schools, but Pope Leo, and having an American as the pope. … Everyone’s in a great mood about it.”Shannon Murphy and Gabriel Alvarez, sitting a few rows down from the Heinz family, had already planned on a trip to Rome for their honeymoon, but when they saw that the dates lined up perfectly with the Eternal City Tip-Off weekend, they were thrilled.“We put it on the calendar, and the minute they went for sale we were refreshing [the page] to get the best tickets we could that were available… we’re very excited,” said Murphy, who is a Villanova alumna. She added that sharing both an alma mater and the Catholic faith with Pope Leo made seeing him “pretty great.”Before the papal audience, fans had the chance to attend a special morning Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Mass was presided over by Archbishop Nelson Perez of Philadelphia and concelebrated by the presidents of both universities.During the homily, Perez praised the discipline, perseverance, and sacrifice of the student-athletes, quoting St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians to remind the faithful that sport is a model for the spiritual life, and offering Mary as a model of this excellence: “She played the game of life, the game of grace, in such a beautiful, powerful, profound way,” he said, offering Mary’s humility and service as an example of “true greatness.”Weidmann commented that the Vatican events on Saturday tied basketball and Catholicism together in an “ideal connection” between faith and sports, and even served as a means of evangelization.“I know a few of my peers who are atheist or agnostic, but went to the papal audience and Mass today and got to hear the voice of the Church calling to them through the Word of God and the pope’s words, which I thought was a really great way to expose more people to our faith,” he said.Villanova and Notre Dame will face off on Sunday beginning with the men’s basketball game at 3:30 pm CET (9:30 am EST), which can be viewed on Fox. The women’s game, aired on FS1, will follow at 6:00 pm CET (12 pm EST).")
The pope met with basketball teams, students, and fans from both universities ahead of Sunday’s Eternal City Tip-Off
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Jim Buckley’s Red Dragon sculpture from 1985 during River Lee flooding, October 2023
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The archbishop of Guayaquil, Ecuador, has announced a safety plan to prevent accidents like the one that claimed the life of Father Patricio Sánchez, who was struck when a cross fell during Mass.
The global Catholic network has operated a shortwave station since the early 1990s, but high costs and the changing media landscape led to its closure.
Coverage of next week’s U.S. midterm elections by the global Catholic network will be available on multiple platforms.
![Pro-life group protests Cardinal Cupich’s award to philanthropist, Planned Parenthood donor – #Catholic – Pro-life activists will publicly protest the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Rerum Novarum Banquet based on objections to an award recipient who has donated more than $1 million to organizations that promote abortion access, including Planned Parenthood.The archdiocese announced it will give the Nostra Aetate Award to the billionaire businessman and philanthropist Michael Sacks at the Oct. 29 banquet. He is CEO of the investment firm GCM Grosvenor, the president of Sacks Family Foundation, and a board member of the Obama Foundation.Sacks, through his foundation, has donated to philanthropic efforts related to education, arts, veterans, and other issues. His contributions also include $500,000 to Planned Parenthood of Illinois from 2020 to 2022 and $600,000 to the Prairie State Access Fund in 2026, which was created by Illinois Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker with the help of philanthropists to support the “reproductive health ecosystem” of the state and combat federal restrictions “on abortion and gender affirming care.”Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, has not publicly referenced Sacks’ support for these organizations. Rather, in a statement, he described Sacks as a “well-respected leader in Chicago and in the Jewish community.”His statement explained the Nostra Aetate Award is named after the Second Vatican Council document of the same name, which was intended to build stronger relations with non-Christian religions, including Judaism.“Honoring a leader, shaped by his Jewish faith, for the gifts he brings to society through his leadership, generosity and talent, acknowledges this shared divine heritage, distinct from specific contemporary political or doctrinal disputes,” Cupich said in his statement.Cupich said the honor “recognizes [the personʼs] dignity” and role in the community “without implying an endorsement of every statement or stance” the person has. He said the recognition helps bring about “conditions necessary for principled dialogue” and that such dialogue “cannot occur if respect is contingent upon complete agreement on Church doctrine or political policy.”The primary purpose of the banquet is to raise money for seminarians.‘Scandalizing the faithful’Pushback against Cupich for his decision to give the award to Sacks has come from the Chicago-based Illinois Right to Life, which was founded in 1968 to “honor the dignity and sanctity of human life at all stages.”The pro-life group launched a petition “demanding [Cupich] withdraw his award to Planned Parenthood Financier Michael Sacks,” which has garnered nearly 4,000 signatures as of the day of the banquet.Illinois Right to Life President Mary Kate Zander told EWTN News that the archdiocese has not responded to the petition. Because Cupich stood by his plan to give Sacks the award, the group will hold a protest outside of the IBEW Local 134 in Chicago, where the banquet will be held."Weʼre concerned about the scandal that it creates,” Zander, who is Catholic, told EWTN News when asked about the primary motivation for the protest.In addition to concerns about the funding of organizations that promote abortion access, Illinois Right to Life has noted Sacks in 2013 signed a letter endorsing same-sex marriage and helped organize business leaders to advocate for it, according to local media reports. Equality Illinois, an LGBT advocacy group, gave Sacks its 2015 Equality Illinois Business Leadership Award in recognition of his role.Zander said Cupich is “leading people astray and is scandalizing the faithful” by honoring Sacks. She said “we’re also concerned with this man’s soul” and said the cardinal has a responsibility to “hold people accountable … on their public stances.”Illinois Right to Life alleged granting Sacks the award violates rules set by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).The USCCB document “Catholics in Political Life” states: “The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”The USCCB did not immediately reply to a request for comment on whether Cupich’s decision violates any USCCB rules. EWTN News also reached out to GCM Grosvenor to request a comment from Sacks but did not receive a response.Cupich doubles downIn his Oct. 26 statement about the Nostra Aetate Award, Cupich acknowledged his decision created backlash but did not mention any concerns related to Sacks’ position on abortion or same-sex marriage.Rather, Cupich said the archdiocese received criticism for its decision to “honor a person who does not hold to core beliefs of the Catholic Church, primary among them being the divinity of Jesus Christ” and said the backlash was about Sacks’ Jewish faith.“Refusing to honor or engage with Jews solely because they hold conflicting religious or political positions can risk mimicking historic patterns of antisemitism through exclusion and bigotry, which, frighteningly, is on the rise,” he said. “Nostra Aetate urges us to be proactive in separating personal and community respect from doctrinal agreement, ensuring that disagreement does not regress into hostility or social ostracization. This we cannot tolerate.”Nostra Aetate states that the Church “decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.” On the 60th anniversary of the document, Pope Leo XIV said “all of my predecessors have condemned antisemitism with clear words” since the Second Vatican Council, “and so I too confirm that the Church does not tolerate antisemitism and fights against it, on the basis of the Gospel itself.”Cupich’s statement does not name the critics he is referring to. The archdiocese did not immediately respond to an inquiry for clarification. Zander said Illinois Right to Life is “the only organization that has formally put out any kind of statement” about the award and their concern “has nothing to do with that.” She said Cupich’s statement “is confusing for people” who may infer that his decision to double down “is a response to antisemitism” and the disagreement is “an issue of this man not being Catholic.”“[Cupich is] distracting from the fact that this man is clearly a supporter of abortion at a very grand scale,” Zander said. “… He’s trying to distract from the fact that [he is also] a same-sex marriage supporter.”“The cardinal doesn’t want that to be the conversation,” she said. “He wants the conversation to be about that man’s faith background; his ethnic background.”None of the criticisms published by Illinois Right to Life comment on Sacks’ Jewish faith or ethnic identity.Last year, Illinois Right to Life launched a similar campaign against Cupich’s decision to give an award to Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, who consistently voted in favor of abortion access. Durbin, who is Catholic, declined the award amid the backlash, which included criticisms from other bishops.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/pro-life-group-protests-cardinal-cupichs-award-to-philanthropist-planned-parenthood-donor-catholic-pro-life-activists-will-publicly-protest-the-archdiocese-of-chicagos-rerum-no.jpg "Pro-life group protests Cardinal Cupich’s award to philanthropist, Planned Parenthood donor – #Catholic – Pro-life activists will publicly protest the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Rerum Novarum Banquet based on objections to an award recipient who has donated more than $1 million to organizations that promote abortion access, including Planned Parenthood.The archdiocese announced it will give the Nostra Aetate Award to the billionaire businessman and philanthropist Michael Sacks at the Oct. 29 banquet. He is CEO of the investment firm GCM Grosvenor, the president of Sacks Family Foundation, and a board member of the Obama Foundation.Sacks, through his foundation, has donated to philanthropic efforts related to education, arts, veterans, and other issues. His contributions also include $500,000 to Planned Parenthood of Illinois from 2020 to 2022 and $600,000 to the Prairie State Access Fund in 2026, which was created by Illinois Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker with the help of philanthropists to support the “reproductive health ecosystem” of the state and combat federal restrictions “on abortion and gender affirming care.”Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, has not publicly referenced Sacks’ support for these organizations. Rather, in a statement, he described Sacks as a “well-respected leader in Chicago and in the Jewish community.”His statement explained the Nostra Aetate Award is named after the Second Vatican Council document of the same name, which was intended to build stronger relations with non-Christian religions, including Judaism.“Honoring a leader, shaped by his Jewish faith, for the gifts he brings to society through his leadership, generosity and talent, acknowledges this shared divine heritage, distinct from specific contemporary political or doctrinal disputes,” Cupich said in his statement.Cupich said the honor “recognizes [the personʼs] dignity” and role in the community “without implying an endorsement of every statement or stance” the person has. He said the recognition helps bring about “conditions necessary for principled dialogue” and that such dialogue “cannot occur if respect is contingent upon complete agreement on Church doctrine or political policy.”The primary purpose of the banquet is to raise money for seminarians.‘Scandalizing the faithful’Pushback against Cupich for his decision to give the award to Sacks has come from the Chicago-based Illinois Right to Life, which was founded in 1968 to “honor the dignity and sanctity of human life at all stages.”The pro-life group launched a petition “demanding [Cupich] withdraw his award to Planned Parenthood Financier Michael Sacks,” which has garnered nearly 4,000 signatures as of the day of the banquet.Illinois Right to Life President Mary Kate Zander told EWTN News that the archdiocese has not responded to the petition. Because Cupich stood by his plan to give Sacks the award, the group will hold a protest outside of the IBEW Local 134 in Chicago, where the banquet will be held.\"Weʼre concerned about the scandal that it creates,” Zander, who is Catholic, told EWTN News when asked about the primary motivation for the protest.In addition to concerns about the funding of organizations that promote abortion access, Illinois Right to Life has noted Sacks in 2013 signed a letter endorsing same-sex marriage and helped organize business leaders to advocate for it, according to local media reports. Equality Illinois, an LGBT advocacy group, gave Sacks its 2015 Equality Illinois Business Leadership Award in recognition of his role.Zander said Cupich is “leading people astray and is scandalizing the faithful” by honoring Sacks. She said “we’re also concerned with this man’s soul” and said the cardinal has a responsibility to “hold people accountable … on their public stances.”Illinois Right to Life alleged granting Sacks the award violates rules set by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).The USCCB document “Catholics in Political Life” states: “The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”The USCCB did not immediately reply to a request for comment on whether Cupich’s decision violates any USCCB rules. EWTN News also reached out to GCM Grosvenor to request a comment from Sacks but did not receive a response.Cupich doubles downIn his Oct. 26 statement about the Nostra Aetate Award, Cupich acknowledged his decision created backlash but did not mention any concerns related to Sacks’ position on abortion or same-sex marriage.Rather, Cupich said the archdiocese received criticism for its decision to “honor a person who does not hold to core beliefs of the Catholic Church, primary among them being the divinity of Jesus Christ” and said the backlash was about Sacks’ Jewish faith.“Refusing to honor or engage with Jews solely because they hold conflicting religious or political positions can risk mimicking historic patterns of antisemitism through exclusion and bigotry, which, frighteningly, is on the rise,” he said. “Nostra Aetate urges us to be proactive in separating personal and community respect from doctrinal agreement, ensuring that disagreement does not regress into hostility or social ostracization. This we cannot tolerate.”Nostra Aetate states that the Church “decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.” On the 60th anniversary of the document, Pope Leo XIV said “all of my predecessors have condemned antisemitism with clear words” since the Second Vatican Council, “and so I too confirm that the Church does not tolerate antisemitism and fights against it, on the basis of the Gospel itself.”Cupich’s statement does not name the critics he is referring to. The archdiocese did not immediately respond to an inquiry for clarification. Zander said Illinois Right to Life is “the only organization that has formally put out any kind of statement” about the award and their concern “has nothing to do with that.” She said Cupich’s statement “is confusing for people” who may infer that his decision to double down “is a response to antisemitism” and the disagreement is “an issue of this man not being Catholic.”“[Cupich is] distracting from the fact that this man is clearly a supporter of abortion at a very grand scale,” Zander said. “… He’s trying to distract from the fact that [he is also] a same-sex marriage supporter.”“The cardinal doesn’t want that to be the conversation,” she said. “He wants the conversation to be about that man’s faith background; his ethnic background.”None of the criticisms published by Illinois Right to Life comment on Sacks’ Jewish faith or ethnic identity.Last year, Illinois Right to Life launched a similar campaign against Cupich’s decision to give an award to Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, who consistently voted in favor of abortion access. Durbin, who is Catholic, declined the award amid the backlash, which included criticisms from other bishops.")
Cardinal Blase Cupich said the award is not an endorsement of every stance a person has, but Illinois Right to Life accused him of “scandalizing the faithful” at the Oct. 29 banquet.
Many legal scholars and other experts strongly disagreed with the bishops’ claim that excluding noncitizens from the census means they are not persons.
Bishop Guillermo Elías urged the faithful to live out a faith that goes beyond processions and translates into acts of love.
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Cap with curled gills of a Laccaria laccata (deceiver, lackluster laccaria) Focus stack of 13 photos.
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Cardinal Joseph Tobin will undergo surgery to remove a mass in a kidney, which will be examined by doctors. The archdiocese said doctors are optimistic about his outlook.
The Spanish Bishops’ Conference, along with numerous bishops and dioceses, expressed condolences and consternation following a railway tragedy that resulted in dozens of deaths.
A Pew Research Center report found that while religious practice in the U.S. has “remained stable” since 2020, a survey of young adults about religious practice found “mixed signals.”
The survey found that Indigenous and Black Catholics said they have faced racial discrimination at higher levels than other racial and ethnic groups.
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An image of Saint Luke from Grandes Heures d’Anne de Bretagne. Today is the feast day of Saint Luke.
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Big leaguers from Milwaukee and Tampa Bay share how their faith in God and the Virgin Mary inspires them as they compete for their first World Series title.
The proposed rule changes, open to public comment until Nov. 2, would count only citizens and lawful permanent residents in the census and would remove some demographic questions.
![Bishop Joensen says Trump meeting ‘exploited’ for politics, while others clarify backstory – #Catholic – A second bishop is expressing regret over a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House last week and complained that it has been “exploited” for political gain, while others who attended are clarifying the reasons they went.On Oct. 22, the White House posted a video that showed Denver Archbishop James Golka leading a prayer with Trump, surrounded by about a dozen other bishops, who stood beside the president’s spiritual advisor Paula White-Cain and White House Faith Office Director Jennifer Korn.The video was shared by Margo Martin, a White House communications advisor, with no news release to accompany it, nor any description of what was discussed. Golka shared the video on archdiocesan social media and clarified it was not a political endorsement.Bishops who attended the meeting and the prayer have stated they were invited by the White House Faith Office to discuss issues of importance to Catholics: the right to life, the dignity of migrants, religious liberty, and school choice. Several have echoed Golka, emphasizing the meeting and prayer was not a political endorsement, while two have expressed regret for going.On Oct. 25, Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob issued a “public apology” for any confusion the video caused, saying he did not know it would be shared publicly and it was not meant to be an endorsement of the president.A second bishop — Des Moines Bishop William Joensen — also emphasized that it was not an endorsement and conveyed regret over the video being used for political purposes.The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) had no role in the meeting.‘Exploited’ for politicsOn Oct. 24, two days after the meeting, Joensen issued a statement saying “I would have done well to be more mindful Jesus’ admonition [in the Gospel of Matthew]: ‘Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.’”“I wish I had been more shrewd and less simple, like those who exploited our meeting for partisan political purposes,” Joensen said. “I pray I am more prudent and wise going forward, even as I remain resolute in my openness to engaging and praying for political leaders at all levels.”Joensen did not say who he was accusing of exploiting the meeting and a spokesperson for the diocese did not respond to a request for clarification from EWTN News.In his statement, Joensen said he was invited by officials associated with the Faith Office to talk about a variety of issues: immigration, the exploitation of the poor, visas for international clergy, advancement of a culture of life as an alternative to abortion, and support for private education.“There was also a concluding opportunity to pray for and with our president, that God would guide his heart and impel him to lead in a way consistent with the dignity of his office,” he said.Joensen said “there are many things” linked to the administration “at odds with our Catholic faith.” Yet, he said he attended to “have a conversation” and was informed officials “would be interested in hearing our perspective.”When reached by EWTN News for comment, White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in a statement, “there has never been a greater president for Catholic Americans than President Trump, and his strong record proves it.”“He stopped the weaponization of the federal government against Christians, proudly defended and expanded our religious rights, pardoned pro-life activists, stopped the chemical mutilation of our nation’s children, and protected parents’ rights,” Rogers said, but did not respond to a follow up request for a response to the comments made by Joensen and Grob.Explanations by other bishops In addition to Golka, Grob, and Joensen, a few other bishops have issued statements about the reasons they met and prayed with Trump in the Oval Office and what they talked about with administration officials.The Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota provided a statement to EWTN News on behalf of Bishop Scott Bullock, which said the delegation discussed Catholic priorities: abortion, school choice, and the ethical implications of in vitro fertilization (IVF).According to the diocesan statement, the bishops’ prayer over Trump is not an “endorsement,” but is rather based in Scripture and following the instruction of St. Paul, who said “supplications, prayers, petitions and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.”“We went there and we prayed, and we asked the Lord to instill our leaders with wisdom and also to help them remain humble,” Bullock said.A spokesperson for Diocese of Gallup, New Mexico’s Bishop James Wall told EWTN News that “Bishop Wall does want to express that he would accept a meeting with any politician, if invited, to discuss important church matters, regardless of the time of year and the political party, and that he offers prayers for all who hold political office, that they lead with integrity and not division.” The office of Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Naumann, who led the Archdiocese of Kansas City before retirement, also released a statement indicating that during the meeting the prelate voiced concerns about chemical abortion and IVF, while advocating for pro-life reproductive health care. He also discussed religious liberty, immigration, school choice, and protecting children from pornography.According to the statement, Trump expressed gratitude to the bishops “for prayers asking God to bless and guide the president, his staff and the nation.” The archbishop’s office emphasized this was not an endorsement and that the bishops “were assured that no photographs would be made public.”“They came to have a discussion on important policy matters,” the statement indicated. “As Catholic bishops, they pray with everyone, but do not endorse candidates or political parties.”The following bishops also attended the meeting, according to the White House: Bishop Edward Burns of the Diocese of Dallas, Bishop Steven Raica of the Diocese of Birmingham, Bishop Thomas Hennen of the Diocese of Baker, Bishop Michael Barber of the Diocese of Oakland, Bishop Francis Kalabat of the Chaldean Catholic Church, and Bishop Elias Zaidan of the Maronite Catholic Church.Bishop of Palm Beach Jesús Rodríguez — who did not attend the meeting — opined on the matter on X, saying any action perceived as a political endorsement by a member of the Church hierarchy “must not be construed as representing the official position of the Catholic Church.”The meeting was also attended by Mario Enzler of the Heritage Foundation, though the Heritage Foundation has stated it did not organize it.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/bishop-joensen-says-trump-meeting-exploited-for-politics-while-others-clarify-backstory-catholic-a-second-bishop-is-expressing-regret-over-a-meeting-with-president-donald-trump.jpg "Bishop Joensen says Trump meeting ‘exploited’ for politics, while others clarify backstory – #Catholic – A second bishop is expressing regret over a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House last week and complained that it has been “exploited” for political gain, while others who attended are clarifying the reasons they went.On Oct. 22, the White House posted a video that showed Denver Archbishop James Golka leading a prayer with Trump, surrounded by about a dozen other bishops, who stood beside the president’s spiritual advisor Paula White-Cain and White House Faith Office Director Jennifer Korn.The video was shared by Margo Martin, a White House communications advisor, with no news release to accompany it, nor any description of what was discussed. Golka shared the video on archdiocesan social media and clarified it was not a political endorsement.Bishops who attended the meeting and the prayer have stated they were invited by the White House Faith Office to discuss issues of importance to Catholics: the right to life, the dignity of migrants, religious liberty, and school choice. Several have echoed Golka, emphasizing the meeting and prayer was not a political endorsement, while two have expressed regret for going.On Oct. 25, Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob issued a “public apology” for any confusion the video caused, saying he did not know it would be shared publicly and it was not meant to be an endorsement of the president.A second bishop — Des Moines Bishop William Joensen — also emphasized that it was not an endorsement and conveyed regret over the video being used for political purposes.The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) had no role in the meeting.‘Exploited’ for politicsOn Oct. 24, two days after the meeting, Joensen issued a statement saying “I would have done well to be more mindful Jesus’ admonition [in the Gospel of Matthew]: ‘Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.’”“I wish I had been more shrewd and less simple, like those who exploited our meeting for partisan political purposes,” Joensen said. “I pray I am more prudent and wise going forward, even as I remain resolute in my openness to engaging and praying for political leaders at all levels.”Joensen did not say who he was accusing of exploiting the meeting and a spokesperson for the diocese did not respond to a request for clarification from EWTN News.In his statement, Joensen said he was invited by officials associated with the Faith Office to talk about a variety of issues: immigration, the exploitation of the poor, visas for international clergy, advancement of a culture of life as an alternative to abortion, and support for private education.“There was also a concluding opportunity to pray for and with our president, that God would guide his heart and impel him to lead in a way consistent with the dignity of his office,” he said.Joensen said “there are many things” linked to the administration “at odds with our Catholic faith.” Yet, he said he attended to “have a conversation” and was informed officials “would be interested in hearing our perspective.”When reached by EWTN News for comment, White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in a statement, “there has never been a greater president for Catholic Americans than President Trump, and his strong record proves it.”“He stopped the weaponization of the federal government against Christians, proudly defended and expanded our religious rights, pardoned pro-life activists, stopped the chemical mutilation of our nation’s children, and protected parents’ rights,” Rogers said, but did not respond to a follow up request for a response to the comments made by Joensen and Grob.Explanations by other bishops In addition to Golka, Grob, and Joensen, a few other bishops have issued statements about the reasons they met and prayed with Trump in the Oval Office and what they talked about with administration officials.The Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota provided a statement to EWTN News on behalf of Bishop Scott Bullock, which said the delegation discussed Catholic priorities: abortion, school choice, and the ethical implications of in vitro fertilization (IVF).According to the diocesan statement, the bishops’ prayer over Trump is not an “endorsement,” but is rather based in Scripture and following the instruction of St. Paul, who said “supplications, prayers, petitions and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.”“We went there and we prayed, and we asked the Lord to instill our leaders with wisdom and also to help them remain humble,” Bullock said.A spokesperson for Diocese of Gallup, New Mexico’s Bishop James Wall told EWTN News that “Bishop Wall does want to express that he would accept a meeting with any politician, if invited, to discuss important church matters, regardless of the time of year and the political party, and that he offers prayers for all who hold political office, that they lead with integrity and not division.” The office of Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Naumann, who led the Archdiocese of Kansas City before retirement, also released a statement indicating that during the meeting the prelate voiced concerns about chemical abortion and IVF, while advocating for pro-life reproductive health care. He also discussed religious liberty, immigration, school choice, and protecting children from pornography.According to the statement, Trump expressed gratitude to the bishops “for prayers asking God to bless and guide the president, his staff and the nation.” The archbishop’s office emphasized this was not an endorsement and that the bishops “were assured that no photographs would be made public.”“They came to have a discussion on important policy matters,” the statement indicated. “As Catholic bishops, they pray with everyone, but do not endorse candidates or political parties.”The following bishops also attended the meeting, according to the White House: Bishop Edward Burns of the Diocese of Dallas, Bishop Steven Raica of the Diocese of Birmingham, Bishop Thomas Hennen of the Diocese of Baker, Bishop Michael Barber of the Diocese of Oakland, Bishop Francis Kalabat of the Chaldean Catholic Church, and Bishop Elias Zaidan of the Maronite Catholic Church.Bishop of Palm Beach Jesús Rodríguez — who did not attend the meeting — opined on the matter on X, saying any action perceived as a political endorsement by a member of the Church hierarchy “must not be construed as representing the official position of the Catholic Church.”The meeting was also attended by Mario Enzler of the Heritage Foundation, though the Heritage Foundation has stated it did not organize it.")
Bishops who attended the meeting and the prayer have stated they were invited by the White House Faith Office to discuss issues of importance to Catholics.
María Corina Machado made her first public return to Venezuelan soil at the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Divine Shepherdess, in the city of Barquisimeto.
King Charles III was given the title royal confrater and Pope Leo XIV was given the title papal confrater.
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Purple beautyberry, Daisen Park, Sakai, Osaka. Focus stack of 4 photos.
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![Milwaukee Archbishop Grob issues ‘public apology’ over White House meeting – #Catholic – Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee on Sunday issued what he called a “public apology” over his part in the Oct. 22 meeting of bishops at the White House.Grob said that over the last few days, he had “received many questions and comments about the October 22 meeting I and 11 other bishops attended at the White House, which was soon thereafter publicized by the administration without the consent of the participants.”He went on to say that his “intention was never to cause confusion, anger, or disappointment among the people entrusted to my care” and that he issued the Oct. 25 statement to provide context for the meeting.The meeting “was in no way an endorsement of the president, his policies, or his party,” Grob said.Last month, Grob explained, he was invited along with other bishops to a meeting to discuss “matters of importance to the Church and our people, including immigration enforcement, religious worker visas, and human dignity.” The meeting was the second of two such gatherings organized by the Heritage Foundation, he said.“We were told the meeting was to be a private discussion, that several Catholic members of the cabinet might make an appearance, and that there could be an opportunity to pray privately with the president,” he continued.After about an hour and a half of meeting on Oct. 22 with White House staff and policy advisers, the archbishop said, the group entered the Oval Office, where they were greeted by President Donald Trump. After being presented with commemorative tokens, Grob said, the group was directed to stand behind the president to pray, and photos were taken afterward.“Unbeknownst to the group of bishops a video was also taken. But permission for the public distribution or posting of either the video or photos was not given by the bishops,” Grob said in his statement. Not long after, photos and the video of the prayer were posted online.“I soon began receiving messages of serious concern over the possibility that I had inadvertently participated in a political event less than two weeks before a national election,” Grob said. “I also heard from some who felt wounded because of the ways they or their family had been harmed by the president’s policies.”“I feel a heavy sadness, not only over the pain I caused, but also for the fact that something so sacred to a group of religious leaders, prayer to our Heavenly Father, would be manipulated in that way,” he continued. “We came in good faith to try to work for the betterment of our fellow human beings, to ease their suffering, to build up the common good, and to pray with a president, not to pose for a political photo opportunity to benefit the few. We should never have been put in that position by the White House.”Grob concluded his statement by saying that he did not go to the meeting “without reservations” and that he wished he “had heeded them.” “I apologize for any damage my actions have done,” he said.EWTN News reached out to the White House for comment regarding Grob’s assertion that the photos and video were shared without the bishops’ consent and received the following response from White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers: “There has never been a greater president for Catholic Americans than President Trump, and his strong record proves it: he stopped the weaponization of the federal government against Christians, proudly defended and expanded our religious rights, pardoned pro-life activists, stopped the chemical mutilation of our nation’s children, and protected parents’ rights.”Grob’s statement comes after another participant at the Oct. 22 meeting, Denver Archbishop James Golka, who led the prayer in the Oval Office, defended his participation in the event. Golka said he “knew people might be upset” at the event and that it could be "use[d] for political purposes.”“But as I prayed about it, I thought that this is what Catholics do. We pray for people. No matter whether we agree or disagree on anything, we always pray for our country and leaders,” he said in remarks to the Denver Catholic on Oct. 23.Golka, like Grob, also denied that the meeting was in any way an endorsement of the president or his policies. “The bishops of the United States teach that the Church cannot champion any candidate or party,” Golka said. “I hold to that. However you vote, you ultimately belong to Jesus who loves you infinitely more than you can imagine.”This story was updated at 5:22 p.m. ET on Oct. 25, 2026, with the White House statement.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/milwaukee-archbishop-grob-issues-public-apology-over-white-house-meeting-catholic-archbishop-jeffrey-grob-of-milwaukee-on-sunday-issued-what-he-called-a-public-apology.jpg "Milwaukee Archbishop Grob issues ‘public apology’ over White House meeting – #Catholic – Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee on Sunday issued what he called a “public apology” over his part in the Oct. 22 meeting of bishops at the White House.Grob said that over the last few days, he had “received many questions and comments about the October 22 meeting I and 11 other bishops attended at the White House, which was soon thereafter publicized by the administration without the consent of the participants.”He went on to say that his “intention was never to cause confusion, anger, or disappointment among the people entrusted to my care” and that he issued the Oct. 25 statement to provide context for the meeting.The meeting “was in no way an endorsement of the president, his policies, or his party,” Grob said.Last month, Grob explained, he was invited along with other bishops to a meeting to discuss “matters of importance to the Church and our people, including immigration enforcement, religious worker visas, and human dignity.” The meeting was the second of two such gatherings organized by the Heritage Foundation, he said.“We were told the meeting was to be a private discussion, that several Catholic members of the cabinet might make an appearance, and that there could be an opportunity to pray privately with the president,” he continued.After about an hour and a half of meeting on Oct. 22 with White House staff and policy advisers, the archbishop said, the group entered the Oval Office, where they were greeted by President Donald Trump. After being presented with commemorative tokens, Grob said, the group was directed to stand behind the president to pray, and photos were taken afterward.“Unbeknownst to the group of bishops a video was also taken. But permission for the public distribution or posting of either the video or photos was not given by the bishops,” Grob said in his statement. Not long after, photos and the video of the prayer were posted online.“I soon began receiving messages of serious concern over the possibility that I had inadvertently participated in a political event less than two weeks before a national election,” Grob said. “I also heard from some who felt wounded because of the ways they or their family had been harmed by the president’s policies.”“I feel a heavy sadness, not only over the pain I caused, but also for the fact that something so sacred to a group of religious leaders, prayer to our Heavenly Father, would be manipulated in that way,” he continued. “We came in good faith to try to work for the betterment of our fellow human beings, to ease their suffering, to build up the common good, and to pray with a president, not to pose for a political photo opportunity to benefit the few. We should never have been put in that position by the White House.”Grob concluded his statement by saying that he did not go to the meeting “without reservations” and that he wished he “had heeded them.” “I apologize for any damage my actions have done,” he said.EWTN News reached out to the White House for comment regarding Grob’s assertion that the photos and video were shared without the bishops’ consent and received the following response from White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers: “There has never been a greater president for Catholic Americans than President Trump, and his strong record proves it: he stopped the weaponization of the federal government against Christians, proudly defended and expanded our religious rights, pardoned pro-life activists, stopped the chemical mutilation of our nation’s children, and protected parents’ rights.”Grob’s statement comes after another participant at the Oct. 22 meeting, Denver Archbishop James Golka, who led the prayer in the Oval Office, defended his participation in the event. Golka said he “knew people might be upset” at the event and that it could be \"use[d] for political purposes.”“But as I prayed about it, I thought that this is what Catholics do. We pray for people. No matter whether we agree or disagree on anything, we always pray for our country and leaders,” he said in remarks to the Denver Catholic on Oct. 23.Golka, like Grob, also denied that the meeting was in any way an endorsement of the president or his policies. “The bishops of the United States teach that the Church cannot champion any candidate or party,” Golka said. “I hold to that. However you vote, you ultimately belong to Jesus who loves you infinitely more than you can imagine.”This story was updated at 5:22 p.m. ET on Oct. 25, 2026, with the White House statement.")
Archbishop Jeffrey Grob said his “intention was never to cause confusion, anger, or disappointment among the people entrusted to my care” and that the meeting was publicized without consent.
During his Sunday Angelus, the pope reflected on the greatest commandment and called for peace in Yemen and Jordan.
Alliance Defending Freedom has urged Egyptian authorities to free six young Christians after they posted a TikTok video that authorities considered offensive to Islam.
The attack took place during a funeral Friday, and security authorities are continuing their investigation and search for the perpetrators.
![Denver archbishop responds to criticism over Trump prayer meeting: ‘I was being a Catholic priest’ – #Catholic – Denver Archbishop James Golka this week defended his participation in a prayer event with U.S. President Donald Trump at the Oval Office, citing the gathering as an opportunity to publicly pray and evangelize the faith. Golka, who was installed in the Denver Archdiocese in March after serving as the bishop of Colorado Springs for several years, led a prayer during an Oct. 22 meeting at the Oval Office between Trump and several U.S. bishops. During the gathering the archbishop in part prayed for the Holy Spirit to “surround our country, to protect us against any influence of evil.”The prayer event generated some backlash for what critics have argued was a politically motivated photo opportunity on the part of the White House. Golka this week said he “knew people might be upset” at the event and that it could be "use[d] for political purposes.” “But as I prayed about it, I thought that this is what Catholics do. We pray for people. No matter whether we agree or disagree on anything, we always pray for our country and leaders,” he said in remarks to the Denver Catholic. Golka said during the meeting he articulated Church teachings to the president. “As Catholics, we’re called to share our faith in season and out of season and to witness to the dignity of every human person,” he told the Denver Catholic. He denied that the event, including video of the prayer shared on social media, constituted an “endorsement” of the president. “That was never my intention,” he said. “The bishops of the United States teach that the Church cannot champion any candidate or party,” he said. “I hold to that. However you vote, you ultimately belong to Jesus who loves you infinitely more than you can imagine.”The archbishop said he has received criticism from friends about the decision and that he has responded by telling them: “I was being a Catholic priest.” He described himself as “heartbroken” at the anger over the event. He urged Christians to “look beyond the headlines, which are often crafted to provoke, towards the full truth.” “I will keep praying for our president, our governor and everyone who serves in public office, regardless of their party or position on divisive topics,” he said. The Archdiocese of Denver said after the event that praying for public leaders “is a long Catholic practice” that dates back to Apostolic Age.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/denver-archbishop-responds-to-criticism-over-trump-prayer-meeting-i-was-being-a-catholic-priest-catholic-denver-archbishop-james-golka-this-week-defended-his-participation-in-a.jpg "Denver archbishop responds to criticism over Trump prayer meeting: ‘I was being a Catholic priest’ – #Catholic – Denver Archbishop James Golka this week defended his participation in a prayer event with U.S. President Donald Trump at the Oval Office, citing the gathering as an opportunity to publicly pray and evangelize the faith. Golka, who was installed in the Denver Archdiocese in March after serving as the bishop of Colorado Springs for several years, led a prayer during an Oct. 22 meeting at the Oval Office between Trump and several U.S. bishops. During the gathering the archbishop in part prayed for the Holy Spirit to “surround our country, to protect us against any influence of evil.”The prayer event generated some backlash for what critics have argued was a politically motivated photo opportunity on the part of the White House. Golka this week said he “knew people might be upset” at the event and that it could be \"use[d] for political purposes.” “But as I prayed about it, I thought that this is what Catholics do. We pray for people. No matter whether we agree or disagree on anything, we always pray for our country and leaders,” he said in remarks to the Denver Catholic. Golka said during the meeting he articulated Church teachings to the president. “As Catholics, we’re called to share our faith in season and out of season and to witness to the dignity of every human person,” he told the Denver Catholic. He denied that the event, including video of the prayer shared on social media, constituted an “endorsement” of the president. “That was never my intention,” he said. “The bishops of the United States teach that the Church cannot champion any candidate or party,” he said. “I hold to that. However you vote, you ultimately belong to Jesus who loves you infinitely more than you can imagine.”The archbishop said he has received criticism from friends about the decision and that he has responded by telling them: “I was being a Catholic priest.” He described himself as “heartbroken” at the anger over the event. He urged Christians to “look beyond the headlines, which are often crafted to provoke, towards the full truth.” “I will keep praying for our president, our governor and everyone who serves in public office, regardless of their party or position on divisive topics,” he said. The Archdiocese of Denver said after the event that praying for public leaders “is a long Catholic practice” that dates back to Apostolic Age.")
Archbishop James Golka led a prayer during an Oct. 22 meeting at the Oval Office between Trump and over half a dozen of his fellow U.S. bishops.
![Students for Life, Turning Point debate abortion in ‘Feminists Lied’ campus tour – #Catholic – Students for Life of America and Turning Point USA teamed up this month to launch a new tour on college campuses, in which students are invited to debate the ethics of abortion with a pro-life speaker.The tour, titled “Feminists Lied: Prove Me Wrong,” features Students for Life President Kristan Hawkins. It began on Oct. 20 to challenge the view that feminism and a legal right to abortion have helped women rather than hurt them.“For decades, young women were told that career success, a degree, and independence were the keys to happiness, and that abortion was the price of equality,” Hawkins, who is Catholic, said in a statement.“Many Millennial women now ask whether those promises delivered, and Gen Z deserves to hear that conversation before they make the same choices,” she said. “Motherhood is not a weakness to be overcome. If equality requires a woman to end her pregnancy to succeed, then we haven’t liberated her at all. We’ve just handed her a different burden and called it freedom.”The tour includes visits to eight campuses: the University of North Texas, Grand Valley State University, the University of Cincinnati, Boise State University, the University of New Mexico, the University of Arizona, Southern Oregon University, and the University of Washington.Following the first event at the University of North Texas, Hawkins posted on X that her pro-life tour is intended to be in line with “Charlie’s legacy,” referencing Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on Sept. 10, 2025 during a college speaking and debating tour.Kirk, who was a conservative activist, frequently challenged abortion and encouraged young people to start families. He was an evangelical Christian who often blended political activism with evangelism.CatholicVote reaches Hispanics on Virginia abortion initiativeThe conservative organization CatholicVote has teamed up with Eduardo Verástegui — a Mexican actor and star in Sound of Freedom — to reach Hispanic voters in Virginia and encourage them to vote against a referendum that would enshrine a right to abortion in the state constitution.The advertisement, in Spanish, informs voters of the “very important” referendum, and notes that the state’s bishops have spoken with clarity against the proposal. The bishops of both dioceses in the state have said Catholics have a “sacred duty” to vote no.Verástegui also highlighted the bishops’ opposition to a separate ballot initiative to enshrine same-sex marriage in the state constitution.English archbishop voices concern over euthanasia law in Isle of ManArchbishop John Sherrington expressed sadness that an "assisted dying” bill will become law on the Isle of Man, which is a self-governing Crown Dependency of the British Crown.“The Catholic Church continues to teach that life is a most precious gift of God and that we are stewards entrusted with this gift to protect it, treat illness, and care for the good of life,” said Sherrington, whose jurisdiction includes the Isle of Man.“As such, a person should never intentionally end his or her life,” he said. “Catholic teaching, shared by many Christians and others of goodwill, proposes a different approach from that which has been passed into law by the Tynwald.”The law will allow people who are terminally ill to receive physician-assisted suicide.Arizona man wins lawsuit against abortion clinicAn Arizona man named Mario Villegas won a lawsuit against the Phoenix-based abortion clinic Camelback Family Planning after a court found that the clinic failed to follow the state’s informed consent law when his then-wife was prescribed chemical abortion drugs.Villegas was awarded $5,000 in statutory damages and $62,500 in compensatory damages for his psychological, emotional, and physical injuries. He had argued in court that the clinic did not adequately inform his wife, from whom he is now divorced, about the development of the unborn child, risks associated with abortion, and possible alternatives.In awarding Villegas damages, the court outlined that he was unable to properly function, eat, or sleep after his wife decided she wanted an abortion. The court highlighted his statements about feeling guilty after the abortion, saying "my baby was no longer living, and [I was wondering], ‘was there anything else I could have [done] to change the outcome?’”The court noted that he had spoken about his grief, with him expressing his “feeling of loss” and saying, “I lost an opportunity to have somebody in my life.”Villegas carries the ultrasound photo of his unborn child everywhere he goes, according to the court.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/students-for-life-turning-point-debate-abortion-in-feminists-lied-campus-tour-catholic-students-for-life-of-america-and-turning-point-usa-teamed-up-this-month-to-launch-a-new-t-scaled.jpg "Students for Life, Turning Point debate abortion in ‘Feminists Lied’ campus tour – #Catholic – Students for Life of America and Turning Point USA teamed up this month to launch a new tour on college campuses, in which students are invited to debate the ethics of abortion with a pro-life speaker.The tour, titled “Feminists Lied: Prove Me Wrong,” features Students for Life President Kristan Hawkins. It began on Oct. 20 to challenge the view that feminism and a legal right to abortion have helped women rather than hurt them.“For decades, young women were told that career success, a degree, and independence were the keys to happiness, and that abortion was the price of equality,” Hawkins, who is Catholic, said in a statement.“Many Millennial women now ask whether those promises delivered, and Gen Z deserves to hear that conversation before they make the same choices,” she said. “Motherhood is not a weakness to be overcome. If equality requires a woman to end her pregnancy to succeed, then we haven’t liberated her at all. We’ve just handed her a different burden and called it freedom.”The tour includes visits to eight campuses: the University of North Texas, Grand Valley State University, the University of Cincinnati, Boise State University, the University of New Mexico, the University of Arizona, Southern Oregon University, and the University of Washington.Following the first event at the University of North Texas, Hawkins posted on X that her pro-life tour is intended to be in line with “Charlie’s legacy,” referencing Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on Sept. 10, 2025 during a college speaking and debating tour.Kirk, who was a conservative activist, frequently challenged abortion and encouraged young people to start families. He was an evangelical Christian who often blended political activism with evangelism.CatholicVote reaches Hispanics on Virginia abortion initiativeThe conservative organization CatholicVote has teamed up with Eduardo Verástegui — a Mexican actor and star in Sound of Freedom — to reach Hispanic voters in Virginia and encourage them to vote against a referendum that would enshrine a right to abortion in the state constitution.The advertisement, in Spanish, informs voters of the “very important” referendum, and notes that the state’s bishops have spoken with clarity against the proposal. The bishops of both dioceses in the state have said Catholics have a “sacred duty” to vote no.Verástegui also highlighted the bishops’ opposition to a separate ballot initiative to enshrine same-sex marriage in the state constitution.English archbishop voices concern over euthanasia law in Isle of ManArchbishop John Sherrington expressed sadness that an \"assisted dying” bill will become law on the Isle of Man, which is a self-governing Crown Dependency of the British Crown.“The Catholic Church continues to teach that life is a most precious gift of God and that we are stewards entrusted with this gift to protect it, treat illness, and care for the good of life,” said Sherrington, whose jurisdiction includes the Isle of Man.“As such, a person should never intentionally end his or her life,” he said. “Catholic teaching, shared by many Christians and others of goodwill, proposes a different approach from that which has been passed into law by the Tynwald.”The law will allow people who are terminally ill to receive physician-assisted suicide.Arizona man wins lawsuit against abortion clinicAn Arizona man named Mario Villegas won a lawsuit against the Phoenix-based abortion clinic Camelback Family Planning after a court found that the clinic failed to follow the state’s informed consent law when his then-wife was prescribed chemical abortion drugs.Villegas was awarded $5,000 in statutory damages and $62,500 in compensatory damages for his psychological, emotional, and physical injuries. He had argued in court that the clinic did not adequately inform his wife, from whom he is now divorced, about the development of the unborn child, risks associated with abortion, and possible alternatives.In awarding Villegas damages, the court outlined that he was unable to properly function, eat, or sleep after his wife decided she wanted an abortion. The court highlighted his statements about feeling guilty after the abortion, saying \"my baby was no longer living, and [I was wondering], ‘was there anything else I could have [done] to change the outcome?’”The court noted that he had spoken about his grief, with him expressing his “feeling of loss” and saying, “I lost an opportunity to have somebody in my life.”Villegas carries the ultrasound photo of his unborn child everywhere he goes, according to the court.")
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White teatfish (Holothuria fuscogilva), Ras Muhammad National Park, Red Sea, Egypt. This species of sea cucumber, also known as white teeth, is found in shallow waters near islands and around coral reefs in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific ocean. Juvenile cucumbers live in shallower waters (such as inter-tidal zones) and then migrate to deeper waters as they mature. Adult cucumbers weigh between 2.4 and 4 kilograms. They are oval in shape and have a firm texture. This species cucumber has lateral papillae (teats) which are often buried in the sand. As it’s consumed as a food and is part of a large commercial fishery across its range, it was listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List in 2010 due to overfishing.
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Controversy over Bishop Robert Barron’s acceptance of a 2025 award from a German Catholic institution resurfaced this week.
![Catholic ethicists debate morality of embryo adoption – #Catholic – Can embryo adoption be considered morally licit by the Catholic Church? The John Paul II Shrine in Washington, D.C., hosted a debate between two Catholic ethicists Oct. 22 in an event marking the feast of St. John Paul II.The Catholic Church has not issued a definitive judgment that embryo adoption is morally licit. The issue remains debated among Catholic theologians. In the 2008 Vatican document Dignitas Personae, the Church affirmed the dignity and rights of frozen embryos and expressed reservations about proposals for prenatal adoption.John Haas, president emeritus of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, argued that embryo adoption is morally illicit as it requires the artificial transfer of a frozen embryo into the womb of a woman who is unrelated to the unborn child — a practice he said both violates the Church’s teachings about sexual ethics in marriage and deliberately endangers the lives of embryos in the thawing process.Haas further argued that the only moral solution to the question of what to do with frozen embryos is to keep them frozen, as bringing them to life or disposing of them in any way would always be considered illicit. To support this claim, he cited the 1987 Vatican document Donum Vitae, which states: “In consequence of the fact that they have been produced in vitro, those embryos which art not transferred into the body of the mother and are called ‘spare’ are exposed to an absurd fate, with no possibility of their being offered safe means of survival which can be licitly pursued.”Organized by the pro-life organization Defend Life, the event took place after a Mass in honor of St. John Paul II and was livestreamed on the organization’s website.Elizabeth Rex, an associate scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, argued in favor of embryo adoption, saying that neither the Vatican nor the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have “ever formally ruled against embryo transfer or embryo adoption.”
Elizabeth Rex, an associate scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, argues in favor of embryo adoption during a debate at the John Paul II Shrine in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2026. | Credit: Madalaine Elhabbal/EWTN News
While acknowledging the Church’s teaching that in vitro fertilization (IVF) is immoral, Rex argued that the process of IVF and the transfer of the embryo into a mother’s womb should not be separated.“They go together. You donʼt do IVF just to leave [the embryo] in the petri dish or put it in the freezer. That would be an abortion,” she said. “The baby would die. So, the baby now has been conceived, and it needs to be transferred into the womb. Itʼs a person. Itʼs a child. Itʼs a patient, and it needs medical assistance. And that is what the Church teaches there.”Haas countered Rex’s argument that the Church has not ruled out embryo adoption, saying: “The only statement from the magisterium of the Church that has fueled this debate is one half of one sentence from Dignitas Personae that the supporters of embryo adoption often donʼt bother to finish when they quote it.”The paragraph he cited in the document states: “It has also been proposed, solely in order to allow human beings to be born who are otherwise condemned to destruction, that there could be a form of ‘prenatal adoption.’ This proposal, praiseworthy with regard to the intention of respecting and defending human life, presents however various problems not dissimilar to those mentioned above. All things considered, it needs to be recognized that the thousands of abandoned embryos represent a situation of injustice which in fact cannot be resolved.”Haas argued that the ends do not justify the means with regard to embryo adoption and that the Holy See has not made “a single statement on behalf of embryo adoption.”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/catholic-ethicists-debate-morality-of-embryo-adoption-catholic-can-embryo-adoption-be-considered-morally-licit-by-the-catholic-church-the-john-paul-ii-shrine-in-washington-d-c-hosted-a-debate-scaled.jpg "Catholic ethicists debate morality of embryo adoption – #Catholic – Can embryo adoption be considered morally licit by the Catholic Church? The John Paul II Shrine in Washington, D.C., hosted a debate between two Catholic ethicists Oct. 22 in an event marking the feast of St. John Paul II.The Catholic Church has not issued a definitive judgment that embryo adoption is morally licit. The issue remains debated among Catholic theologians. In the 2008 Vatican document Dignitas Personae, the Church affirmed the dignity and rights of frozen embryos and expressed reservations about proposals for prenatal adoption.John Haas, president emeritus of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, argued that embryo adoption is morally illicit as it requires the artificial transfer of a frozen embryo into the womb of a woman who is unrelated to the unborn child — a practice he said both violates the Church’s teachings about sexual ethics in marriage and deliberately endangers the lives of embryos in the thawing process.Haas further argued that the only moral solution to the question of what to do with frozen embryos is to keep them frozen, as bringing them to life or disposing of them in any way would always be considered illicit. To support this claim, he cited the 1987 Vatican document Donum Vitae, which states: “In consequence of the fact that they have been produced in vitro, those embryos which art not transferred into the body of the mother and are called ‘spare’ are exposed to an absurd fate, with no possibility of their being offered safe means of survival which can be licitly pursued.”Organized by the pro-life organization Defend Life, the event took place after a Mass in honor of St. John Paul II and was livestreamed on the organization’s website.Elizabeth Rex, an associate scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, argued in favor of embryo adoption, saying that neither the Vatican nor the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have “ever formally ruled against embryo transfer or embryo adoption.”
Elizabeth Rex, an associate scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, argues in favor of embryo adoption during a debate at the John Paul II Shrine in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2026. | Credit: Madalaine Elhabbal/EWTN News
While acknowledging the Church’s teaching that in vitro fertilization (IVF) is immoral, Rex argued that the process of IVF and the transfer of the embryo into a mother’s womb should not be separated.“They go together. You donʼt do IVF just to leave [the embryo] in the petri dish or put it in the freezer. That would be an abortion,” she said. “The baby would die. So, the baby now has been conceived, and it needs to be transferred into the womb. Itʼs a person. Itʼs a child. Itʼs a patient, and it needs medical assistance. And that is what the Church teaches there.”Haas countered Rex’s argument that the Church has not ruled out embryo adoption, saying: “The only statement from the magisterium of the Church that has fueled this debate is one half of one sentence from Dignitas Personae that the supporters of embryo adoption often donʼt bother to finish when they quote it.”The paragraph he cited in the document states: “It has also been proposed, solely in order to allow human beings to be born who are otherwise condemned to destruction, that there could be a form of ‘prenatal adoption.’ This proposal, praiseworthy with regard to the intention of respecting and defending human life, presents however various problems not dissimilar to those mentioned above. All things considered, it needs to be recognized that the thousands of abandoned embryos represent a situation of injustice which in fact cannot be resolved.”Haas argued that the ends do not justify the means with regard to embryo adoption and that the Holy See has not made “a single statement on behalf of embryo adoption.”")
The 2008 Vatican document Dignitas Personae affirmed the dignity and rights of frozen embryos and expressed reservations about proposals for prenatal adoption.
The number of women on the commission has increased from five to eight, including five laywomen, raising the total number of lay representatives to eight — double that of the previous term.
