News & Commentary

Bishop Alberto Rojas of San Bernardino, Calif., the main celebrant, distributes Communion to a detainee during a Mass on the grounds of the ICE Processing Center near Adelanto, Calif., Dec. 10, 2025. Attendees said the Mass, which took place in the Mojave Desert, was deeply emotional for both the bishops and the roughly 300 detainees present.

California bishops celebrate ‘very powerful’ Mass for detainees in ICE facility

A group of seven California bishops celebrated Mass at the ICE Processing Center outside the town of Adelanto in the Mojave Desert on December 10, providing communion to the roughly 300 detainees present.
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Vatican movie ‘night’: Popcorn, beer, rosaries and Russell Crowe

As soon as the lights dimmed for the start of the show in the tiny Vatican movie theater, the crack of beer cans being opened joined the quieter crunch of popcorn.
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Study of priests shows distrust of bishops, fear of false abuse accusations

A study of U.S. priests released Oct. 19 details clerics' "crisis of trust" toward their bishops as well as fear that if they were falsely accused of abuse, prelates would immediately throw them "under the bus" and not help them ...
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Chicago’s Father Pfleger is removed from ministry over abuse allegation

Father Michael Pfleger, a popular Chicago priest and outspoken advocate against gun violence, gangs, poverty and racism, has stepped aside from his ministry after the Chicago Archdiocese said it received an allegation that the priest had sexually abused a minor ...
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Pope announces a second session for Synod of Bishops assembly

Saying he did not want to rush the process of discerning how the Holy Spirit is calling the church to grow in "synodality," Pope Francis announced that the next assembly of the Synod of Bishops would take place in two ...
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Life without parole for school shooter called ‘severe and just punishment’

There is "no question" the actions of the Parkland, Florida, school shooter "were heinous," but "a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole is a severe and just punishment," said Miami Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski.
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Nuncio urges more accountability by nations for ‘crimes against humanity’

The Vatican's permanent observer to the United Nations told a committee of the world body that "civilian populations continue to be victims of widespread and systematic attacks."
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