Holy Land•Justice and Peace•Religious Freedom

The Jewish state of Israel bans Caritas, the charitable arm of the Church (and more than 20 humanitarian organizations), from Gaza

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem issued a formal statement defending Caritas Jerusalem, stressing that it is not a conventional NGO but an ecclesiastical juridical person operating under the authority of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land. Its legal status, the Patriarchate recalls, was explicitly recognized by the State of Israel through bilateral agreements signed with the Holy See in 1993 and 1997

Jan 03, 2026 19:33

Elizabeth Owens

Analysis Opinion•Local Church•Persecuted Christians

American missiles, persecuted Christians, and a country that cannot protect them: why did Trump bomb part of Nigeria?

The airstrikes, carried out in coordination with Abuja, targeted militant camps hidden in dense forest areas of Sokoto State, near the border with Niger

Dec 29, 2025 15:55

Elizabeth Owens

Persecuted Christians

Freedom Before Christmas: Nigeria’s St. Mary’s Abductions End, but the Questions Remain

For the Catholic Church in Nigeria, the episode reopens painful questions about the safety of faith-based institutions and the pastoral care of traumatized communities. Bishops and clergy have repeatedly warned that schools and parishes are increasingly vulnerable, even as they continue to serve populations with few alternatives

Dec 23, 2025 15:30

Elizabeth Owens

Cardinals and Bishops•Pope Leo XIV

These are the three topics the Pope will address with cardinals in his first consistory

The announcement, confirmed on 20 December by the Holy See Press Office, puts an end to weeks of speculation in Vatican circles

Dec 22, 2025 15:15

Elizabeth Owens

Local Church

One in two British plan to attend church at Christmas, according to survey

Strikingly, the emotional impact of Christmas churchgoing appears to be strongest among those who do not identify as Christians

Dec 19, 2025 11:31

Elizabeth Owens

Persecuted Christians

1 Catholic priest and 25 secondary school girls kidnapped in Nigeria

The Archdiocese of Kaduna, shaken but accustomed to issuing such statements, urged the country to unite in prayer for the safe return of all those abducted. But in Nigeria—a nation that has lived with kidnappings for ransom on a massive scale for more than a decade—prayer is only one element of a painfully familiar ritual

Nov 18, 2025 17:48

Elizabeth Owens

Local Church•Pope Leo XIV

Ireland: After 500 years, Pope Leo XIV could solve the problem of Dublin’s lack of a cathedral

St. Mary’s, modestly tucked along Marlborough Street just north of Dublin’s city center, was built in 1825 when the Penal Laws still cast long shadows over Catholic life

Nov 13, 2025 13:43

Elizabeth Owens

Homosexuality

Anglicans say no to ceremonies to bless same-sex couples

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, the second-highest-ranking cleric in the Church of England, acknowledged the pain the decision would cause. “We believe we have done the right thing,” he said, citing legal and theological guidance, “but we know it will be difficult and disappointing for some.”

Oct 23, 2025 12:04

Elizabeth Owens

Good News•Pro Life•Young People

Shifting Tides in the UK: A Generation Turns Toward Life Amid Record Abortion Number

Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that the abortion rate for women under 18 fell from 12.8 per 1,000 in 2012 to just 7.6 per 1,000 in 2022, representing a striking 41 percent decrease

Oct 22, 2025 22:27

Elizabeth Owens

Homosexuality•Local Church

England, Belgium, and Germany: the three “most inclusive” countries for LGBT Catholics, according to a study

According to the latest Rainbow Index of Churches in Europe (RICE), published on October 11 by the European Forum of LGBTI+ Christian Groups, the Catholic Church in England and Wales now ranks second in inclusivity among Catholic communities across the continent, tied with Belgium and just behind Germany

Oct 16, 2025 18:05

Elizabeth Owens

Local Church•Young People

Northern Ireland’s Youth Spark Unexpected Religious Revival

The survey offers an optimistic counterpoint to the narrative of a faith in decline

Oct 13, 2025 11:15

Elizabeth Owens

Local Church•Testimonies

Catholic member of British royal family to have Catholic funeral attended by the King and Queen of England

Her marriage to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent—who survives her at 89—gave her a distinctive place in Britain’s royal narrative. When she crossed the Tiber, the 1701 Act of Settlement still forbade heirs from marrying Catholics, a law that would not be eased until 2013

Sep 07, 2025 19:39

Elizabeth Owens