U.S. bishops’ conference lays off 50 amid migrant funding ‘uncertainty’

By Zelda Caldwell Washington D.C., Feb 7, 2025 / 21:55 pm The U.S. Catholic bishops’ conference laid off 50 staff members in its migration and refugee services office Friday, citing a delay in reimbursements from the federal government. U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ spokesperson Chieko Noguchi, in a statement shared with CNA, said …
U.S., Venezuelan bishops: Ending temporary protected status for migrants ‘counterproductive’

By Andrés Henríquez Caracas, Venezuela, Feb 8, 2025 / 08:00 am The bishops of the United States and Venezuela are both opposed to the Trump administration’s looming elimination of temporary protected status (TPS) for recent Venezuelan immigrants. The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed this week that it will eliminate the …
Human Trafficking is a Rejection of the God-given Dignity of Every Human Being

WASHINGTON – “Human trafficking is not only a serious crime—it is a rejection of the God-given dignity of every human being. It is, as Pope Francis has said, an open wound on the Body of Christ and on the body of all humanity, demanding an ongoing, united response,” said Bishop …
North Carolina bishops: Immigration policy and enforcement ‘complicated and emotional’

By Tessa Gervasini , Ken Oliver-Méndez Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Feb 6, 2025 / 16:50 pm The Roman Catholic bishops of Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina, have issued a joint statement about immigration policy and enforcement in the United States, describing the issue as “both complicated and emotional.” In their statement, Bishop Michael T. Martin, OFM …
Pope Francis to take meetings at home while sick with bronchitis, Vatican says

By Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Feb 6, 2025 / 12:30 pm Pope Francis will hold the next few days of meetings in rooms at his Vatican residence while sick with bronchitis, the Vatican said Thursday. “Due to bronchitis, from which he is suffering at this time, and in order to continue …
St Luke and Beauty

In a visually saturated world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and become desensitized to beauty. Visio Divina, Latin for “divine seeing,” encourages us to slow down and engage in visual contemplation, using art as a profound tool for connecting with the Divine. A Guide to Visio Divina Begin by making …
The Priest who painted Father Trost

STORY BY Matt Hess PHOTO COURTESY Archives of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, US Province The Land of the Cross-Tipped-Churches is a collection of Catholic churches in the northern part of our archdiocese named for the gold crosses atop their spires. Founded by immigrants who were largely German farmers, …
What is the ‘ordo amoris’? JD Vance’s comments on Christian love spark debate

By Jonah McKeown CNA Staff, Feb 4, 2025 / 06:00 am During a recent interview, Vice President JD Vance invoked the Catholic concept of “ordo amoris” — “rightly ordered love” — in the context of the ongoing societal debate over immigration policy, sparking a variety of reactions on social media. Speaking to …
CNA explains: How the Catholic Church partners with the U.S. government to serve migrants

By Tyler Arnold Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Feb 3, 2025 / 18:10 pm The Catholic Church’s service to migrants and refugees has come under scrutiny after Vice President JD Vance criticized the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in a televised interview as the administration continues to crack down on illegal …
Obituary: Brother Andrew Joseph (Joe) Barrish

The Province of the United States recommends to our fraternal prayers our dear brother Andrew Joseph (Joe) BARRISH of the St. Leornard Community in Centerville, Ohio, USA, who died in the service of the Blessed Virgin Mary on January 20, 2025, in Dayton, Ohio, at the age of 95 with …