News

By Father Nicola Bux, Edward Pentin’s Substack – “Christ did not waste time criticising the Roman Empire, but founded the Church” — T.S. Eliot, Choruses from The Rock… Popes from John XXIII to Leo XIV have, in different ways, separated the question of peace from the concrete reality of the Church; as a result, their appeals for peace risk becoming utopian — aspirations that lack the means necessary for their fulfilment… This separation appears when peace is framed primarily as a political or humanitarian goal: ending wars, encouraging dialogue, and fostering cooperation among nations. These aims are good, but when they are presented without reference to the Church’s essential mission — the conversion of persons and peoples to Christ — they lose their foundation. …

By David Warren, The Catholic Thing – The pope may be many things in many contexts, but he should avoid becoming a shill for the Democratic Party. This is how he came across when he delivered a political statement just after he had been visited by David Axelrod, Obama’s behind-the-scenes heavy… The effect was redoubled when leading liberal Cardinals, including Chicago’s Blase Cupich, put on a media floorshow to promote the pope’s  “message to America.” It was prattle we had heard many times before, from nice, peaceful politicians like Jimmy Carter: peace-not-war, appeasement, and negotiation at any price. …

By Brian Flood, Fox News – “60 Minutes” teed up a trio of progressive American cardinals to discuss how Pope Leo XIV and the church have emerged as a voice of opposition to the war with Iran and President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in a segment that aired last week… “Liberal TV networks find organized religion useful only so much as it helps sell the liberal view. They want to add the moral authority of organized religion to their viewpoint,” Media Research Center executive editor Tim Graham told Fox News Digital.

Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – John 6:44-51 – 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, `And they shall all be taught by God.’ Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. 46 Not that any one has seen the Father except him who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. …

By Chris Bray, The Federalist – Consider two numbers, side by side, and keep them in mind as you read news stories about fraud in government-funded services… First number, from a news headline last week: “New DOJ fraud division thwarted $340M in benefit schemes during first week.” That’s M for million… Second number, released by the Government Accounting Office during the same week: “In 2024, we estimated that the federal government loses between $233 billion and $521 billion annually to fraud, based on data for fiscal years 2018 through 2022.” ….

By Hannah Hiester, Zeale – SPLC is also known for designating conservative or religious organizations as “hate groups.” Family Research Council (FRC), a conservative think tank and advocacy organization, said a gunman attacked its office more than 10 years ago due to SPLC’s narrative. In a statement on the indictment, President Tony Perkins said the violence FRC experienced indicates that SPLC’s actions have serious implications… “We’ve talked with the FBI to help them understand how these designations have real-world consequences. ..”

By Paul Senz, Catholic World Report – The medical profession naturally involves encountering people at their most vulnerable and dealing with some of the most profound suffering that humans face. But it can also be an experience of profound joy, as when a child is born or when cancer is beaten. It is a life of hard conversations, breaking bad news, but also seeing the depth of God’s love and mercy in the face of these heavy crosses we bear.

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet, Human Life International – On April 9, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its provisional birth data for 2025. The numbers are sobering… How Bad Is It?… To grasp just how serious this situation is, consider that earlier this year the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected that, beginning in 2030 – just four years from now! – the annual number of deaths in the United States will exceed the annual number of births.

By Nick Hallett, European Conservative – Cardinal Reinhard Marx has moved decisively to normalise the blessing of same-sex couples in his Archdiocese of Munich and Freising—an intervention that lays bare the deepening doctrinal confusion at the heart of the Catholic Church in Germany… Marx instructed that the pastoral guideline ‘Blessing Strengthens Love’ should serve as the “foundation of pastoral practice.” The document, a product of Germany’s long-running Synodal Path, explicitly provides for the blessing of couples who cannot receive the sacrament of marriage, including homosexual couples and divorced-and-remarried Catholics. …

By OSV News – Ahead of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s Sept. 24 beatification, the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, recently released a schedule of events, inviting those who plan to travel to The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri, for the beatification to “go deeper” and “transform your trip into a sacred journey.”… “The Sheen Pilgrimage is a spiritual experience centered around prayer, reflection, and celebration,” the diocese said. “Beginning in Peoria, IL, on September 15, this pilgrimage includes the anniversary of Sheen’s ordination ….

By Brandon Harvey, Catholic Exchange – Did you know that the apostles had students? The New Testament was not the only thing being written in those early years. We have writings from Christians that either existed during the time of the New Testament or immediately following. Those that wrote some of these texts personally knew apostles. They heard them preach, they followed them as students, some may have been baptized by them, and some became the next generation of leaders.

By Elise Winland, Zeale – A Virginia circuit court judge on April 22 blocked the state’s newly approved congressional redistricting map, issuing an injunction that prevents state officials from “certifying the results” and from taking “any actions to give effect to the proposed constitutional amendment.”… In a decision issued one day after voters passed the new map, Judge Jack Hurley of the Tazewell County Circuit Court declared the amendment and the referendum “void ab initio” (“void from the start”) and deemed “any and all votes for or against” the proposed measure “ineffective.”

By Gina Christian, OSV News – On March 24, the Guttmacher Institute, a national policy and research firm that supports legalized abortion, released data from its “Monthly Abortion Provision Study” for calendar year 2025… Guttmacher found that the 2025 figures were “largely unchanged from 2024,” when the institute counted 1.124 million clinician-provided abortions… The 2025 estimate marks a 21% increase from 2020, which Guttmacher said was “the last year of comprehensive national estimates” before the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case overturned the 1973 rulings that legalized abortion in the U.S.

By Fr. Kevin Drew, Catholic Exchange – The early Christians called the sacred mysteries Christ commanded them to celebrate “the breaking of the bread.” Why? Probably because they couldn’t think of anything better to call them. Bread and wine became Christ’s Body and Blood. How were they to put that into words?… Today we call it Holy Mass… What does Mass mean, anyway? It’s from the Latin missa, which means “Go, you are dismissed.” Speaking of “going,” listen to a short, 19th century poem in which Christ tells us to “Go”…

By Gabriella Hoffman and Sydney Rodman, The American Spectator – A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes. Scientific models and predictions can’t be taken as fact. This is true of the late biologist and alarmist Paul Ehrlich, whose lies and doomsday predictions about population growth and natural resource depletion traveled the world and negatively influenced people. Arguing for the suppression of the human population was Ehrlich’s unashamed stance behind everything he said.

By Robert Orlando, Catholic Exchange – If we begin where Protestants themselves insist we begin—with the Bible—the prominence of Peter becomes immediately clear. The most famous passage appears in Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus says to Simon: And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. (Mt. 16:18–19)

Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – John 6:35-40 – 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will not cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me; …

By Elizabeth Weiss, Zeale – In an op-ed acknowledging the heartache of infertility and the temptation to use in vitro fertilization (IVF) that Catholic couples may experience, a Catholic author recently offered insight into where couples carrying this cross can turn while remaining faithful to the teachings of the Church… In an April 20 Angelus News op-ed, Leigh Fitzpatrick Snead reflects on her own journey of infertility, which she shares in her book Infertile but Fruitful. She encourages Catholics contemplating IVF to pursue their desire for children in a way that upholds life as a gift from God, the fruit of the loving conjugal union between a man and a woman.

By Anthony Stine, Return to Tradition – Anthony Stine reveals how leftist bishops, the mainstream media and Democrat politicians are working to influence this fall’s midterm elections.

By Arthur Schaper, American Greatness – A friend of mine, an independent journalist from Massachusetts, attended the event a few years back to record the speeches and meet with activists. One of the media agents in attendance? The Southern Poverty Law Center. This hate group from Alabama is not even media in any respectable sense, but a hate group dedicated to fundraising and smearing anyone they disagree with… How could CPAC possibly consider them media and even allow them a table at the event?! … And it gets worse.

By Ryan Burge, X Post, (Complicit Clergy) – Among Catholic priests who were ordained in the late 1960s: 68% describe their theology as progressive. 16% said it was conservative. Among priests ordained in the last few years: 2% describe their theology as progressive. 84% said it was conservative… This graph is featured in my new book – The Vanishing Church …

By Shawn Fleetwood, The Federalist – A federal grand jury indicted the far-left Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) on Tuesday for allegedly making fraudulent payments to racist groups, including the Ku Klux Klan (KKK)… “The SPLC is manufacturing racism to justify its existence,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement announcing the charges. “Using donor money to allegedly profit off Klansmen cannot go unchecked. This Department of Justice will hold the SPLC and every other fraudulent organization operating with the same deceptive playbook accountable. No entity is above the law.” …

By Scott Ventureyra, Crisis Magazine – So it is becoming increasingly clear that Trump is not standing between the people and the elites at the center of the control system. For all intents and purposes, he has joined them or has made it clear where he always stood. He has even outpaced them. He now turns on the ones who were instrumental for his two elections. He attacks anyone who challenges him and supports those who once opposed him. The response to this major shift has revealed more confusion than clarity.

By Mary Rose, Zeale – With a fragile ceasefire set to expire within days, President Donald Trump warned that strikes could follow if no agreement is reached, as the U.S. pushes to restart high-stakes nuclear talks with Iran in Pakistan — even as Tehran publicly casts doubt on whether it will attend… A new assessment also suggests Iran’s negotiating position may be controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IGRC), a designated terrorist organization, which could complicate prospects for a deal… ‘Lots of bombs start going off’ if ceasefire expires …

By M.D. Kittle, The Federalist – “Just so America knows, after two weeks in recess, John Thune is no longer considering the SAVE America Act,” Luna wrote… The congressional source with knowledge of the situation told The Federalist on Monday evening that Luna’s comment “is not true.” He said the bill, which requires documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote and photo identification at the polls, is “still the pending business in the Senate.” …. “We will be considering ICE and Border Patrol funding followed by FISA, all priorities of the president”…

Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – John 6:30-35 – 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, `He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.” …

By Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo, The American Spectator – The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, who have been caring for patients with terminal cancer for over 125 years, are being sent warning letters from the state of New York for refusing to adhere to the Long-Term Care Facility Residents’ Bill of Rights for LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers and People Living with HIV Act… The Spectator P.M. Podcast hosts Ellie Gardey Holmes and Lyrah Margo give insight into the case and how these nuns are being attacked by the state for their religious beliefs.

By Grace Porto, Zeale – A soldier from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on April 19 desecrated a statue of Jesus, located in a family’s personal backyard shrine, in a small Lebanese village. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack… Reuters reported April 20 that Netanyahu said the soldier’s actions went against the Jewish value of tolerance and wrote on X, “I was stunned and saddened to learn that an IDF soldier ​damaged a Catholic religious icon in southern Lebanon. I condemn the act in the strongest terms.”

By Scott McKay, The American Spectator – To this day, well more than a decade after the deed was done, an empty pedestal stands in one of New Orleans’ most prominent locations… The pedestal, some 50 feet high, once housed one of the great triumphs of public art. It was a magnificent statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee built in 1884, and the small park around the statue was known — and still is known — as Lee Circle… (and then) in the 2010s, it suddenly became a “public nuisance” in the eyes of the city’s mayor… Whose name was Mitch Landrieu. …

By Richard Cassleman, First Things – Just war is again being discussed in the public square by policymakers and prelates alike. Recently, the chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Doctrine, Bishop James Massa, made a clarification about just war in response to comments from the president and vice president. Given the war in Iran, there is no better time for such conversation. While much of Bishop Massa’s statement could be interpreted as a defense of the pope, I feel compelled to correct the record on the just war tradition.

By Fr. Jerry Pokorsky, Catholic Culture – Fundamentally, every human being has one purpose in life: to figure out reality. There are two aspects to our God-given quest. What narrative makes the most sense—and how do I fit within it? The Rubik’s Cube is a helpful metaphor… A Rubik’s Cube is a handheld 3D puzzle composed of colored squares. Each face of the cube is one solid color when solved. The goal is to twist and turn the layers until each face is back to a single, uniform color. Despite its simple appearance, it’s surprisingly complex… Like life.

By  David Paul Deavel, Catholic World Report – But what conservatives–and Catholic conservatives especially–must realize is that the Left does not suddenly care about defending the Pope or Catholic teaching. Rather, they hope that by pretending to be on “Team Pope”, they can manipulate Catholics into voting against their own interests–and undermine President Trump in the process.

By John Horvat II, Crisis Magazine – As the number of adult baptisms grows, many Catholics rejoice in the prospect of what is being called a quiet revival. It is a cause of great hope to see so many young people eager to learn more about the Faith… t is also a cause of great mystery. The bishops have announced themselves confounded and “stymied” by the flood of new converts entering their churches this Easter. It does not fit into any new evangelization scheme. No one seems to have an explanation for why Catholicism, especially traditional Catholicism, is suddenly popular among Gen Z. ….

By Gigi Duncan, National Catholic Register – When Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Catholic Church’s top authority in the Holy Land, was blocked by Israeli police from entering Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher this past Palm Sunday, the incident set off a wave of criticism in the U.S. — including from many Generation Z Catholics… Users of the social-media platform X led the charge, accusing the Israeli government of hostility toward Christians and even calling into question American support for the Jewish nation-state.

By Peter Giersch, Catholic Exchange – C. S. Lewis points out that the reason the saints know more about sin than the sinners do is that you don’t really understand rules until you obey them. How many times have you said, under your breath, after a moral struggle, in a flash of understanding, “Oh that’s why…” Understanding is possible. Understanding may come, but obedience comes first… Now of course all of this can be applied to daily temptations. Why can’t I get angry in traffic? Why can’t I watch this video? Why shouldn’t I join in this conversation? Because it’s not allowed. Just obey.

Bellarmine Forum – ANSELM was a native of Piedmont. When a boy of fifteen, being forbidden to enter religion, he for a while lost his fervor, left his home, and went to various schools in France. At length his vocation revived, and he became a monk at Bec in Normandy. The fame of his sanctity in this cloister led William Rufus, when dangerously ill, to take him for his confessor, and to name him to the vacant see of Canterbury. …

By Deacon Frank, Catholic Exchange – “Deacon Frank” is a permanent deacon in the United States. He is involved in the Eucharistic Revival… Everything I am going to reveal to you in this article is true. It happened to me, and it changed the very trajectory of my life for the good. It occurred in the summer of 1995… My grandfather, who helped raise me, was in the final months of his life. His body was riddled with cancer. As his death approached, I had a strong intuition that on his deathbed my grandfather would see his mother, who had died thirty years prior, and that my father would witness it.

By Saint Michael Center for the Blessed Virgin Mary – 3. Offers Powerful Spiritual Protection – The Blessed Mother herself said to St. Dominic: “One day, through the Rosary and the Scapular, I will save the world.”… Praying the Rosary protects against temptation, evil, and spiritual attack… It’s often described as a spiritual armor in the battle against sin. …

By Michael Haynes, PerMariam, (Substack) – The watchdog agency Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned that the controversial 2018 deal between China and the Vatican has “helped the Chinese government to pressure underground Catholic communities to join the official church.”… According to a detailed new report issued by HRW, the Chinese state is only increasing its persecution of underground Catholics, and is doing so aided by the framework of the 2018 deal between Beijing and the Holy See regarding the appointment of bishops.

By Mary Rose, Zeale – Trump (stated) … “Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz. A total violation of our ceasefire agreement.” He added that the shots targeted vessels including a French ship and a United Kingdom freighter… Trump also detailed the seizure of the Iranian-flagged cargo ship TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman… “The U.S. Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS SPRUANCE intercepted the TOUSKA,” he wrote on Truth Social.

By Catholic World News – The typical member of the priestly ordination class of 2026 is a 33-year-old cradle Catholic, according to a newly released survey of 334 of the 428 men slated to be ordained to the priesthood in the United States this year. The survey was conducted for the Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations of the USCCB by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate and posted on the USCCB’s website… The typical ordinand regularly took part in Eucharistic adoration and prayed the Rosary before entering seminary, according to the survey. …

By Brad Miner, The Catholic Thing – When St. John Paul II went to Poland, he made no direct criticisms of the communist government. The closest he came was when he told the crowd in Warsaw’s Victory Square that “at any longitude or latitude of geography, the exclusion of Christ from the history of man is an act against man.” I imagined Edward Gierek turning to Wojciech Jaruzelski and asking, “Are we to believe in Christ now?”… Wedging Jesus into the conflict in Iran or border enforcement in the U.S., while hardly a fool’s errand, risks sinking Roman Catholicism into the very worst version of synodality: as an ongoing, transformational whatsis equal to The Blob. …

The American Conservative – At the recent oral argument in perhaps the most consequential case on the Supreme Court’s docket, the birthright citizenship case of Trump v. Barbara, Chief Justice John Roberts made a telling and illustrative quip. In an exchange with Solicitor General John Sauer concerning the problem of birth tourism, the chief justice responded to Sauer’s concern that 8 billion people around the planet are a “plane ride away from having a child who’s a U.S. citizen.”

By Francesca Pollio Fenton, EWTN News, (Catholic World Report) – According to the World Health Organization, about 1 in 6 people globally experience infertility in their lifetime. In the United States, 1 in 8 couples deal with infertility… This year, National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW) runs from April 19–25. Established in 1989 by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, NIAW is an annual initiative held each April that raises public awareness, promotes policy change — especially regarding insurance coverage — and fosters open conversations to support those struggling to build their families.

By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV, Catholic Exchange – About twenty years ago, I launched a program for daily life that has since changed thousands of lives—one based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Years later, I still frequently encounter people grateful for having gone through this ten-week program… Consequently, I decided, with the help of a team of wonderful collaborators, to format and articulate this work in book form, Ten Weeks to Spiritual Advancement, scheduled for release in mid-April 2026.

By Fr. Joseph Gill, Crisis Magazine – We’ve all been to our fair share of banal, cringe, or even disrespectful Novus Ordo Masses. As a priest who celebrates the Novus Ordo, I can see how easy it is in the New Rite to fall into those traps. It is evermore necessary, then, for a priest who celebrates the Novus Ordo to cultivate a rich interior life of union with Christ because this is the only antidote to the myriad of temptations to trivialize the liturgy.

By Steven Ertelt, LifeNews – HHS Services Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accused the Biden administration of blocking Christian families from fostering children… Kennedy said Biden official were imposing rules that required placements to affirm LGBTQ identities, a policy he said dramatically reduced the pool of available homes for vulnerable kids… Kennedy made the remarks while highlighting efforts to roll back the Biden-era regulations during congressional testimony this week.

By Bishop Joseph E. Strickland, Bishop Emeritus, Pillars of Faith – We are living in a time when the world feels as though it is unraveling before our eyes. Nations rise against nations. Conflicts escalate. Voices grow louder, angrier, more divided. And even among Catholics – among those who should be united in the truth of Jesus Christ – we see confusion, tension, and sometimes even hostility… In moments like this, many people ask, “Who is right? Which side should I support? What position should I take?”… But before we ask any of those questions, there is a deeper and more important one that must come first: “Are we thinking with the mind of Christ … or with the mind of the world?” …

Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – John 6:16-21 – 16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea rose because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat. They were frightened, 20 but he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” …

By Carole Novielli, Live Action – DOJ urged to investigate ‘predatory’ abortion pill manufacturer.. Senator Josh Hawley has sent a demand letter, urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate Danco Laboratories, the original manufacturer of the “chemical abortion drug mifepristone” — including the company’s “its original FDA approval [and] ongoing regulatory compliance.”

By Tyler Arnold, EWTN News – U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch said he intends to focus on issues that unite President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV in his role to foster a relationship between the two leaders rather than on recent disagreements about the Iran War… “As the U.S ambassador for the Holy See, my efforts are many, but one of the roles as a diplomat is to remind stakeholders of what unites us and what must never divide us,” Burch said after delivering remarks on the persecution of Nigerian Christians at the U.S. embassy to the Vatican in Rome.

By Chris Nesi, NY Post – President Trump says Iran has ‘agreed to give us back the nuclear dust’… President Trump had stern words for Israel as he made clear that the US is in the driver’s seat for the 10-day cease-fire between the Jewish state and Lebanon… “Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!” the president wrote in a sharply worded Truth Social post Friday… Trump also threw cold water on a cash component being part of the ongoing negotiations to end the war in Iran ….

By Marcus Peter, Catholic World Report – Christians worship the crucified and risen Son. Muslims reject His Sonship, His Cross, and therefore His saving identity. As the late New Testament scholar Larry Hurtado once wrote, “to speak about God without reference to Jesus is inadequate discourse about God.” Tucker would do well to learn that point. The Islamic Isa is a revised religious character stripped of Calvary and emptied of divinity. Therefore, Tucker’s remark was asinine, as Muslims and Christians do not revere the same Jesus at all.

By Kevin Wells, Wellspring -This past Sunday’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles brought back the memory of an image from a book of stories I used to pull from the blue bookshelf in my childhood bedroom… It covered two pages, showing a small village in a valley, hemmed in by a cashmere blanket of green mountains. A handful of shops, a white-steepled church, and a dozen or so homes rested by a lake fed by a brook that zigzagged down a mountain. On a hill in the distance, a locomotive chugged along, passing by a few tidy homes that clung to the mountainside.  …

Catholic Culture – Esther Blondin was born on April 18, 1809 to a Catholic farm family in a rural community in Quebec, Canada. Her mother taught her to worship at the Eucharist and recognize Divine Providence. Her father taught her to have a strong faith and to be patient in times of suffering.

By St. Thomas Aquinas – (Muhammad) seduced the people by promises of carnal pleasure to which the concupiscence of the flesh goads us. His teaching also contained precepts that were in conformity with his promises, and he gave free rein to carnal pleasure. In all this, as is not unexpected, he was obeyed by carnal men… He seduced the people by promises of carnal pleasure to which the concupiscence of the flesh goads us. His teaching also contained precepts that were in conformity with his promises, and he gave free rein to carnal pleasure… He did not bring forth any signs produced in a supernatural way, which alone fittingly gives witness to divine inspiration; for a visible action that can be only divine reveals an invisibly inspired teacher of truth. On the contrary, Muhammad said that he was sent in the power of his arms—which are signs not lacking even to robbers and tyrants. …

By Bridget Sielicki, Live Action – Mark Houck, the pro-life sidewalk counselor and father of nine who was shockingly arrested when FBI agents stormed his home in September 2022, has been awarded a seven-figure settlement in response to a lawsuit filed against the Biden administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ)… In 2021, Houck was praying outside an abortion facility in Philadelphia when he had an altercation with an abortion facility escort who was harassing Houck’s 12-year-old son. Local police and authorities declined to charge Houck with any crime… Houck was later arrested by the Biden DOJ when FBI agents raided his home in 2022 at gunpoint …

By Samantha Flom, The American Spectator – Behind the mask of ‘reproductive freedom’ lies a strategy to keep women single, childless, and reliably blue… In Democrats’ rush to distribute Washington state’s massive abortion pill stockpile like Easter candy, it’s astonishing they didn’t trip over what they left behind: their narrative… For decades, Democrats have positioned themselves as the defenders of women. They’ve lectured us all about so-called “reproductive freedom” and how the “right to choose” an abortion is necessary for our health. …

By Austin Ruse, Crisis Magazine – The president seems to be surprised that Catholics of all stripes are rushing to defend Pope Leo from his odd attacks… On Tuesday he went after Giorgia Meloni of Italy. She said his attacks on Leo were “unacceptable.” He said, “She’s unacceptable. She’s unacceptable because she doesn’t mind that Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow up Italy in two minutes if they had the chance.”

By Amanda Head, Just the News – Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary, has disclosed to Just The News that the House of Representatives, where President Donald Trump was impeached during his first term over a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, is moving to expunge that impeachment from the congressional record… “You need a majority vote, we need a bill, and it’s actually something we’re looking at,” Jordan told Just The News.

By Gayle Somers, Catholic Exchange – Isn’t it interesting that when Jesus appeared to two “downcast” (Lk. 24:17) disciples on Resurrection Day, He didn’t do the very thing that would have broken through their despair—identify Himself?  Why were these men traveling away from Jerusalem?  Surely it was because Jesus’ death there had deeply disappointed them.  They had been “hoping that He would be the one to redeem Israel” …

Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – John 6:1-15 – 1 After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a multitude followed him, because they saw the signs which he did on those who were diseased. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said to Philip, “How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” …

By Fr. Jerry J. Pokorsky, Catholic Answers – … even the worst of times cannot extinguish our obligation for patriotism, which struggles against national suicide… Patriotism is a form of piety—the acknowledgment that we owe our gratitude to God, our family, and our nation for the gift of life and sustenance. We owe our lives to God, our parents, and to a country that provides the soil and cultural structures for communal living. Piety—and, deriving from it, patriotism—renders the affection and loyalty due to our benefactors. Patriotism is indispensable to our love of God and neighbor. …

By: Shawn Fleetwood, The Federalist – “Progressivism seeks to replace the basic premises of the Declaration of Independence, and hence our form of government,” Thomas said. “It holds that our rights and our dignities come not from God, but from government. It requires of the people a subservience and weakness incompatible with a constitution premised on the transcendent origin of our rights.”

By Craig Bannister, LifeNews – A new Justice Department (DOJ) report details specific ways the Biden Administration weaponized its law enforcement arm to persecute pro-life individuals and organizations… Titled “The Biden Administration’s Weaponization of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act,” the report released Tuesday presents the findings of the Justice Department’s Weaponization Working Group’s review of more than 700,000 internal records and provides more than 800 pages of exhibits documenting abuse of federal law enforcement power.

By Catholic Culture, April 17, 2026 – St. Robert was born in 1027 near Troyes, Champagne, France, of noble birth. At age 17 he entered the Benedictine Abbey Montier-la-Celle, quickly rising to be prior of the abbey. He was made Abbot of Saint-Michel-de-Tonnerre in 1070, but considered it to have lax standards and the monks were quarrelsome, so he returned to Montiers-la-Celle. The same year he was placed over the priory Prior of Saint-Ayeul Abbey, which was connected to Montiers-la-Celle.

By Dr. Jeff Mirus, Catholic Culture – During Lent this year, I emphasized the need to not consider the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as a mere motive of credibility, that is, an attractive concept or circumstance which might predispose us to accept the Christian religion (see The Resurrection: Mere attraction to truth is not enough). Rather the Resurrection is the basis of our faith, and the fundamental fact that conditions our spiritual existence.

By Samantha Kamman, (The Christian Post), The Washington Stand – In a statement provided to The Christian Post, Brave Books noted that, in 2022, the Nation’s Report Card revealed that only 13% of U.S. eighth-grade students performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level, a 2-point drop from 2018… “It’s unfortunately something that happens in a lot of countries before they fall,” Carson told CP in an interview. “They neglect their history, or they allow their history to be rewritten.”… “We have an incredible history with this country, from a bunch of ragtag militiamen to the pinnacle of the world in record time” …

By Christopher Tremoglie, The Washington Examiner – Much has been made about the recent social media post made by President Donald Trump criticizing Pope Leo XIV as being “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.” In typical Trump-responsive fashion, many expressed outrage at the gall of the president to criticize the leader of the Catholic Church. Political charlatans rebuked Trump, accusing him of many false things that accompany hyperbolic and senseless condemnations predicated on emotional outbursts and not facts or reality.

By Fr Richard Heilman, Roman Catholic Man – To those who faithfully follow Our Lady’s requests for the Five First Saturdays, she has made a wonderful promise which she, as Mediatrix of All Graces, will certainly fulfill: “I promise to assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation.” This means that our Blessed Mother will be present at the hour of death with the actual grace of final perseverance, (which after the gift/grace of Faith), is the most important grace.

By Mike McCormick, Substack, “Midnight in the Laptop of Good and Evil” – Pope Leo, CBS and Cardinal McElroy can’t admit to the unholy BILLIONS the cartels earned for the Vatican under Biden… When President Trump states Pope Leo is “weak on crime,” he’s talking about how the Vatican and its media pals are concealing the drug smuggling and human trafficking conspiracy they entered into with Joe Biden and his cartel associates… Cardinal Robert McElroy is an evil man disguised as a Catholic cardinal. Here are the unreported facts—except by me—about his crime of conspiracy as indicated in the Grok assessment I requested of how much government assistance his San Diego diocese pulled in ….

Catholic Culture – St. Bernadette Soubirous (1844-1879). Bernadette, the oldest of six children, was born in Lourdes, France, in 1844. At the age of 14, between 11 February 1858 and 16 July 1858, Bernadette had 18 visions of the Immaculate Conception in a local grotto near the bank of the River Gave, near Lourdes. During the visions, Mary requested prayer and penitence, asked for the construction of a new church, and led Bernadette to a freshwater spring believed to have miraculous healing powers.

By Fred Lucas, The Daily Signal – Two mothers who lost their sons and another whose daughter remains permanently injured will testify before Congress on Thursday about how these tragedies—each involving illegal aliens—could have been prevented through stricter enforcement of immigration law… This forum could be uncomfortable for House Democrats who oppose enforcing immigration laws, said Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, which is holding the hearing.

By Kelli Keane and Cassy Cooke, Live Action News – This week, a CBS News report claimed that “The Trump administration has repeatedly alleged without citing evidence that the Civil Rights Division under former Attorney General Merrick Garland used the [FACE] Act to intentionally target conservative Christians who are morally opposed to abortion.”… Today, that evidence was presented by the Trump Administration in a report nearly 900 pages in length.

By Dan Hart, The Washington Stand – In a historic meeting hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, government officials from Israel and Lebanon met for direct talks for the first time in 33 years amid the Jewish state’s continued strikes against Hezbollah terrorist targets embedded deep within Lebanon’s southern territory. Experts say the talks could be the first step towards eliminating the Iranian terrorist proxy from the region.

By Ngala Killian Chimtom, Catholic World Report – Archbishop Bienvenu Manamika Bafouakouahou of Brazzaville has said that Pentecostal groups disrupt the Catholic Faith by offering “quick fixes” to life’s challenges… The mornings of Everdine Gilla’s childhood were defined by the rhythmic murmur of beads and the scent of incense. Raised in a devout Catholic home by her grandmother, the day did not begin until the Rosary was prayed… “It was routine,” Gilla recalls… “My grandmother would say, ‘Let’s pray the Rosary,’ and we would. I knew all the decades. I could say them in my sleep. But for me, it was just mechanical.” …

Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – John 3:31-36 – 31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth belongs to the earth, and of the earth he speaks; he who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony; 33 he who receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for it is not by measure that he gives the Spirit; …

By Elise Winland, Zeale – President Donald Trump on April 14 directly addressed Pope Leo XIV in another Truth Social post, drawing attention to the Iranian regime’s reported killing of thousands of protesters in the past two months… “Will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed, protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable,” he wrote.

By Marie Brousseau, Catholic Exchange – Pope Benedict XVI was one of the 20th century’s most respected and renowned theologians and, I would opine, one of history’s greatest minds to grace humanity. Few men have been more involved on a global scale in propagating both faith and reason. I have no doubt that he will not only be canonized but will eventually be declared a Doctor of the Church, in God’s own time, after careful study of his entire personal and public life. I personally regard him as a holy genius, because of both his brilliant mind and his great love for God.

By Donald DeMarco, National Catholic Register – T.S. Eliot published The Waste Land in the year 1922 amid the ruins of World War I. The opening lines of this highly enigmatic poem are both disturbing and provocative: April is the cruellest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain… We are currently witnessing unrest on a global scale that threatens to bring about another World War. In our own troubling time, as we approach the month of April, Eliot’s poem has additional meaning for us.  ….

By Scott McKay, The American Spectator – I know that it’s a sin against my own intelligence not to follow Mark Twain’s guidance in matters such as these… Twain said many wise things. Some of the wisest things attributed to him are now said not to have come from him at all. But I have my doubts about the doubters… One was “Don’t wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.”… The other has been offered in two versions — either “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference” …

Patriot Post – “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” —Benjamin Franklin (1789)

By Kate Quiñones, EWTN News – The Archdiocese of Dubuque is halting weekend Masses at more than 80 parishes across northeastern Iowa this summer as part of a reorganization plan… The reorganization, which began in September 2024 in response to declining numbers of priests and churchgoers, is now in its third and final phase. The archdiocese will be organized into 24 “pastorates,” or groups of parishes that work closely together and share resources and ministries. Merged parishes will not yet be closed and may still be used for liturgical celebrations such as funerals, weddings, and weekday Masses. …

By Antonio Graceffo, Gateway Pundit – Currently, more Christians are being systematically murdered in Nigeria than in all other countries of concern combined… In 2025, over 7,000 Nigerian Christians were murdered by Islamic militants, including Boko Haram, also known as JAS, Islamic State – West African Province (ISWAP), JNIM, an Al-Qaeda affiliate, and Fulani and Koyam militias. Countless others have been abducted and held for ransom or never returned. ….

Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – John 3:16-21 – 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18 He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. …

By Mary Rose, Zeale – In the latest episode of the Virtue of Patriotism video series, Cardinal Raymond Burke cautioned against efforts to dissolve national sovereignty in favor of global governance… He argued that proposals for a single global authority — often framed as instruments of peace — contradict the moral order established by God… “The family and the nation are not accidents of history nor products of ideology,” Cardinal Burke said. “They arise from the natural law and are indispensable for the attainment of the common good.”

By Grace Porto, Zeale – The relics of 36 Mexican saints who were martyred in the Cristero War will be hosted in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on April 18… The one-day congress at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels culminates a year-long initiative of regional congresses celebrating the centennial of these Mexican martyrs, according to the archdiocese’s website… “All are invited to take part in the Congress to reflect on the persecution of Catholics during the Cristero War in Mexico and the impact of these events on our Church today” ….

By Thomas Gallatin, Patriot Post – The burgeoning artificial intelligence industry requires gobs of computing power, which in turn requires gobs of energy. As new technology develops and spreads, so too has a new conflict emerged, pitting small towns and residential areas against the construction of data centers… New industries have long clashed with the old ways. In America, it’s a tale as old as our nation. But that doesn’t make the reality of it any easier to navigate. …

By Stefani Buhajla, Daily Signal – Historically, tax season has never been easy for working Americans… But this year feels different… As families made the mad dash to file their taxes in the lead-up to April 15, many found they were keeping more of what they earned. And others, like mine, were astonished to find that, for the first time in a long while, they didn’t owe a few extra zeroes to the IRS. That’s because President Donald Trump made a commitment to put American workers and families first—and followed through.

By Kevin Wells, Crisis Magazine – Just steps from Preterm, Ohio’s blue-ribbon winner each year for most murdered babies, the scene outside resembles a kindly pop-up country fair. Slices of pepperoni pizza, snack bags, racks of sharp-looking maternity wear, shiny new toys, rosaries, and Miraculous Medals circulate like borrowed cups of sugar—passed hand to hand among white volunteers and their black friends outside LaRonde Apartments, a seven-story public housing project in a high-crime area of east Cleveland.

By Shawn Fleetwood, The Federalist – D.C. District Chief Judge James Boasberg suffered a humiliating legal defeat on Tuesday in his efforts to stymie President Trump’s deportation of illegal aliens from the United States… In a 2-1 ruling, a three-judge panel for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals shot down the Obama appointee’s attempted criminal contempt proceedings against Trump administration officials involved in last year’s deportation of suspected Tren de Aragua gang members to El Salvador… the panel granted the government’s request for a writ of mandamus, (said) “…to stop exceeding their authority” …

By Carole Novielli, Live Action NewS – A small study — published as a ‘research letter’ by JAMA Internal Medicine and alleging that the abortion pill [mifepristone (200mg)/Mifeprex] is safe for over-the-counter (OTC) use — was funded by an abortion pill investor and authored by researchers associated with groups working to expand abortion… The research letter, “Accuracy of Self-Selection for Medication Abortion Using a Prototype Drug Facts Label,” is receiving a great deal of abortion-friendly media attention for such a small sample size — 168 — who “completed study activities.” …

By Katelynn Richardson, LifeNews – Abortion advocacy groups routinely helped the Biden Department of Justice (DOJ) track pro-life activists, providing information that became the basis for indictments, according to a new report.
The DOJ’s National Task Force on Violence Against Reproductive Health Care Providers “affirmatively asked the abortion groups about pro-life individuals’ travel and constitutionally protected advocacy,” according to a Tuesday report on the Biden administration’s “weaponization” of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.

By Peter Wolfgang, Catholic Culture – President Trump’s post on April 12th attacking Pope Leo, followed by the blasphemous image of himself as Christ, were a tremendous gift to the people who want to kill unborn babies and trans your kids. He should be required to report these posts as an in-kind contribution to the Democratic Party… Trump says he thought the image portrayed him as a doctor, not Christ. Perhaps the white coat and stethoscope were concealed under the Christ-like robes. At any rate he took down that one, the one that offends both Evangelicals and Catholics. But not the one that offends only Catholics.

By Tyler Arnold, EWTN News – Border czar Tom Homan said Roman Catholic Church leaders should “stay out of politics” when questioned about President Donald Trump criticizing Pope Leo XIV… “I love the Catholic Church. I just wish theyʼd stick to fixing the Church, because thereʼs issues. I know because Iʼm a member. And stay out of politics,” Homan said… he wished Church leaders would sit down with him to understand his experiences as border czar… “Maybe theyʼd understand why a secure border saves lives. A secure borderʼs the most humane thing this country can do” …

By Catholic Culture, April 15, 2026 Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter St. Paternus, Bishop (RM) Saint Paternus of Avranches, also known as Paternus of […]

By T. S. Flanders, OnePeterFive – As you may know, President Donald Trump posted a blasphemous image of himself as Our Lord Jesus Christ. However, he (or someone from his staff, or a robot), strangely changed the original to include some kind of libertas goddess (“horned figure”?), wearing the divinising sun crown (Libertas is the goddess that is the Statue of Liberty)… One of my friends suggested to me that men of God should organise a Novena to the Holy Face of Jesus in reparation for this outrage against Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

By Jim Hᴏft, Gateway Pundit – Three progressive American Cardinals, Blase Cupich…Robert McElroy… and Joseph Tobin… crashed CBS’s failing Sunday night propaganda hour “60 Minutes” to publicly flog President Donald Trump for daring to criticize the newly elected Pope Leo XIV… This was a coordinated election-year hit job designed to fracture President Trump’s exploding Catholic voter base just months before the critical 2026 midterms… Pope Leo XIV has already waded into U.S. politics by slamming President Trump’s decisive military action against Iran and his record-setting mass deportation operation that is finally securing our southern border.

By Scott Yenor, American Greatness – The Senate’s failure to pass the SAVE America Act highlights a deeper divide over election rules, while Congress retains constitutional authority to oversee federal election integrity. … The failure of the United States Senate to pass the SAVE America Act is as regrettable as it is predictable. Noncitizen voting is already a federal crime in America. SAVE would have required voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote. States would have to purge noncitizens from voting rolls, too.

Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word –  John 3:7-15 – 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, `You must be born anew.’ 8 The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can this be?”10 Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand this? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen; but you do not receive our testimony. …

By Paul Kengor, Crisis Magazine – This escalating battle between the American president and American pope is prompting many conservative Catholics to choose a side… It was only a matter of time before President Donald J. Trump exploded at Pope Leo XIV… Unfortunately, Trump seems to eventually explode at most people critical of him or his policies. It’s a lamentable character trait. You may have noticed that since Trump entered the political scene in 2015, not many of his advisers have lasted. They tend to run afoul of him and invoke his wrath. …

By Carole Novielli, Live Action News – A U.S. District Court sided with the FDA by issuing a “motion to stay” an abortion pill lawsuit filed by the State of Louisiana while the FDA completes a safety review of the drug, but said the state is likely to succeed in its lawsuit… The Court also denied “without prejudice” a motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the drug’s manufacturers, Danco and GenBioPro, while the FDA conducts a safety review of the abortion pill… The ruling surprisingly affirmed that the State of Louisiana not only has standing to sue ….

By Alexandra Bedner, LifeNews – Led by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, 78 pro-life groups sent a letter to acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche urging the Department of Justice to stop siding with the abortion drug industry against pro-life states… Louisiana, Florida and Texas, and Missouri, Idaho and Kansas sued the FDA in three separate cases to protect their citizens from the harms of abortion drugs and to stop policies that undermine their state laws, and the DOJ previously moved to dismiss all three cases. …

By Catholic Culture – Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter: Enable us, we pray, almighty God, to proclaim the power of the risen Lord, that we, who have received the pledge of his gift may come to possess all he gives when it is fully revealed. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet, Human Life International – 2026 is shaping up to be an important year in the fight over the rights of the preborn in the United States. In the past week, three significant stories related to abortion have captured my attention… The first story is encouraging: eight Planned Parenthood facilities have closed so far in 2026, continuing a four-year trend of declining abortion clinic numbers across the United States.

By Daniel McCarthy, Chronicles – President Trump and Pope Leo are in a war of words right now—when they should be allies, not enemies. Both want peace, but the president intends to get it by winning a war against Iran, while the pope thinks the war isn’t worth fighting… “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon,” Trump said Sunday on his Truth social-media network, in a post blasting the pontiff as “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy.”… With midterm elections just seven months away, Catholic voters suddenly find themselves in the crossfire between the Vatican and the White House. …

By Diane Montagna, Substack – In a letter dated April 13, which is being sent to the cardinals today, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the Sacred College, informs cardinals that that the meetings will be held on the morning and afternoon of Friday and Saturday, June 26–27, beginning at 9:00 a.m. This is one day earlier than previously anticipated and allows for two full days of sessions without extending into Sunday.

By Mike Robertson, The American Spectator – Democrats are repackaging progressive politics as Christian faith in the Texas Senate race… In the wake of President Trump’s decisive second-term victory, the Democratic Party finds itself in full retreat mode. The old playbook, full of shoving Woke extremism, drag queen story hours, and open borders down America’s throat — backfired spectacularly. So now they’re trying a new tactic: pretending to be one of us. No more rainbow flags and “defund the police” chants in public

By Randall Smith, The Catholic Thing – Many readers here likely witnessed Baptisms recently, especially if they went to the Easter Vigil Mass. By the grace of the Holy Spirit, we seem to have been blessed with a good number of Baptisms this year. Let’s pray that this undeserved gift continues and grows like the proverbial mustard seed… That prayer is one we must make for ourselves too, of course, for our own Baptism is like the weeding and preparation of “good soil” into which the seeds of grace are planted. But we must cooperate with that grace for the new growth to flourish.

By George Caldwell, Daily Signal – Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales, who was facing allegations of sexual misconduct with subordinates, announced his intention to resign on Monday… “There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas,” Gonzales, a Republican, wrote on X… Gonzales’ announcement came an hour after Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., who has also been accused of sexual misconduct, announced he would resign from Congress. Swalwell fully denies the accusations.

By Brooke Brandtjen, The Federalist – Canada’s dominant Liberal Party has introduced legislation that may soon make Christian speech illegal… In March, the Canadian House of Commons passed Bill C-9, also known as the “Combatting Hate Act.” The bill was introduced under the guise of mitigating antisemitic attacks in the wake of Hamas’ violent attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Liberals claimed it was developed to protect religious communities, but C-9 eagerly expanded to prohibit public displays of “hate,” including “Islamophobia, homophobia, and transphobia.” …

By Mark G. Brennan, Chronicles – That day, President Trump issued Executive Order No. 14,160, “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship.” Trump’s edict sought to stop further issuance of citizenship documents to the children of either illegal aliens or temporary visitors. In other words, birthright citizenship—the granting of citizenship to babies born on U.S. soil regardless of their parents’ legal status—would be no more… Not surprisingly, the left erupted in priggish indignation in response to Trump’s frontal assault on their utopian plan to undermine the republic.

By Joseph Pearce, National Catholic Register – If you give the devil enough rope, he’ll hang himself. This is true but it’s not the whole truth. The problem is that he’ll hang you first. The devil hangs his own disciples, which is tragic enough, but he also hangs the innocent. These timeless cautionary thoughts should be kept in mind as we survey the way that the culture of death in the decadent West is collapsing in its own hedonistic too-muchness.

By S.A. McCarthy, The American Spectator – A surprising rise in Catholic conversions points to shifting cultural and spiritual currents in the United States… Over the Easter weekend, the Catholic Church in the U.S. saw a surge in adult conversions. According to an analysis from the Catholic prayer app Hallow, the Church in the U.S. saw a 38 percent increase in conversions from 2025 to 2026, predominantly driven by men in their 20s. …

By Jerry Salyer, Catholic World Report – Back in the late 80s and into the 90s, even as an unphilosophical teenager and avid consumer of comic books, I was well aware of flaws in the fantasy worlds of Marvel and DC… I can, for instance, recall seeing through the thinly veiled propaganda of an “X-Men” graphic novel entitled God’s Country, the villain of which was a small-minded religious bigot who refused to tolerate super-powered mutants. One storyline of The Legion of Super-Heroes depicted a xenophobic dictator taking over the Earth, resulting in a terrible regime whereby hapless space aliens were persecuted.

By Diane Montagna, Substack – U.S. Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke has downplayed what many in the media have described as growing tensions between the Vatican and the U.S. Trump administration, arguing that “the narrative of an ongoing clash is exaggerated.”… In an interview published today in Il Giornale, Italian journalist Nico Spuntoni speaks with the American cardinal ahead of this evening’s Prayer Vigil for Peace in St. Peter’s Basilica. The vigil was announced by Pope Leo earlier this week outside Castel Gandolfo, in remarks to reporters after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that “a whole civilization would die” if Iran failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – 1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” …

By Matthew Walz, The Catholic Thing – John Paul II died on the night of April 2, 2005. It was Easter Saturday and thus the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday. One could hardly imagine a more fitting moment for him to go to the house of the Father… Almost five years earlier, on April 30, 2000, after Mass on the Second Sunday of Easter, John Paul told Dr. Valentin Fuster, “This is the happiest day of my life.” He had just canonized St. Faustina Kowalska as the first saint of the new millennium. …

EWTN News Staff – The president’s social media broadside and comments to reporters came as the Pope prepared to depart for an 11-day trip to Africa… President Donald Trump publicly attacked Pope Leo XIV on social media Sunday evening, calling the Pontiff “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy” in a lengthy post that appeared to be reacting to the Holy Father’s recent appeals for peace and an end to war… In comments to reporters at Joint Base Andrews shortly afterward, Trump said: “I donʼt think he’s doing a very good job. … I am not a fan of Pope Leo.” He added: “He’s a very liberal person.”

Catholic Culture, April 13, 2026 – St. Martin I – The unfortunate victim of Constans’ wrath was the virtuous Martin. Born in Todi of noble birth, he had served as nuncio to Constantinople under Pope Theodore, gaining experience in dealing with the Byzantine court and familiarizing himself with the Monothelite teachings so prevalent in the East. Without waiting for the necessary imperial mandate, Martin proceeded with his consecration on July 5, 649. …

By Newsmax Wires – U.S. Central Command announced Sunday that American forces will begin enforcing a maritime blockade of traffic to and from Iranian ports starting Monday at 10 a.m. Eastern time following a presidential directive… According to CENTCOM, the blockade will apply to all vessels entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including those along the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman… The command emphasized the action will be carried out impartially, regardless of a vessel’s country of origin.

By Matt Lamb, LifeNews – Notre Dame de Namur University will honor former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as its commencement speaker this year… The Silicon Valley Catholic university said it is “deeply honored” to host Pelosi… “Her lifelong commitment to public service, leadership, and advocacy for justice reflects the very values that define an NDNU education and the enduring legacy of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur,” President Beth Martin stated in a news release. …

By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman, Crisis Magazine – When he began his massive assault on Iran, the president was confident in its ultimate success. He had been advised that the Iranian people were deeply dissatisfied with their government and were groaning under the weight of an unwanted clerical autocracy. Furthermore, the country was in political disarray, racked by internal conflict, and would easily capitulate to its attackers, even welcoming them as liberators. Regime change was on the way. Iran would soon be neutralized as a threat.

By Elizabeth Weibel, Breitbart – President Donald Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV, labeling him as “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” and added that he does not want a Pope who opposes the actions of the Trump administration… In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that he likes Pope Leo’s brother “much better” than he likes the Pope. Trump also noted he does not want a Pope “who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon,” or who “thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela.”

By Suellen Brewster, Catholic Exchange – In paragraph 965 of her Diary, Jesus said to St. Faustina: Souls perish in spite of My bitter Passion. I am giving them the last hope of salvation; that is, the Feast of My Mercy. If they will not adore My mercy, they will perish for all eternity. Secretary of My mercy, write, tell souls about this great mercy of Mine, because the awful day, the day of My justice is near… Now that Lent is over, and the Easter season has begun, we can look back and reflect. What did we want to “get” out of Lent?

VATICAN WEBSITE – THE MESSAGE OF FATIMA – INTRODUCTION – Sister Lucia had already given an indication for interpreting the third part of the «secret»‌ in a letter to the Holy Father, dated 12 May 1982: «The third part of the secret refers to Our Lady’s words: ‘If not [Russia] will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred; the Holy Father will have much to suffer; various nations will be annihilated’ (13-VII-1917). …

Dr. R. Jared Staudt, Catholic World Report – Easter is the feast of all feasts, and its fifty-day season stands atop the liturgical year as its climax. While we might recognize this reality, the Easter season can seem like a letdown. While the goal of Lent appears to be clear-cut — fight against sin, do penance, increase prayer and give alms—what about Easter?… What are we supposed to do for fifty days?… If Lent is meant to clear away obstacles to receiving God’s grace, Easter should be the time for entering into it. …

By Steven Ertelt, LifeNews – In a major legal victory against blatant targeting and discrimination from former President Joe Biden’s administration, pro-life volunteer Mark Houck has secured a seven-figure settlement in his lawsuit against the U.S. DOJ… The settlement follows the Biden administration’s widely criticized prosecution and bogus arrest of the Pennsylvania father under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act… In 2022, heavily armed federal agents raided Houck’s home after he intervened to protect his young son from an aggressive abortion escort outside a Planned Parenthood facility.

By Brad Miner, The Catholic Thing – Yes. But so have many people been throughout history. And now some good news, although it’s the only good news… The Pew Research Center recently released a report, What Do Americans Consider Immoral? (We should be cautious about that verb, consider. I suppose pollsters can’t really ask the more pointed question, “What actions do you engage in that you know to be morally wrong?”)

By Hannah Brockhaus, EWTN News – Pope Leo XIV on Friday appointed Father Andrea Ciucci chancellor of the Pontifical Academy for Life. The Italian priest has served as the academyʼs secretariat coordinator since 2016… Originally from Milan, the 59-year-old Ciucci has a doctorate in the philosophy of religion from the Pontifical University of Sant’Anselmo in Rome. After serving as a parish vicar in Milan, he worked at the former Pontifical Council for the Family from 2012–2016.

By Anne Hendershott, Crisis Magazine – The relationship between the Trump administration and Pope Leo XIV has evolved into a kind of diplomatic cold war, shaped by a steady escalation of public papal denunciations and competing moral narratives in how each side interprets the responsibilities of global leadership. Pope Leo’s recent condemnations of U.S. policy—from military actions to the rhetoric of senior officials—have been unusually direct for a pontiff, signaling not just disagreement but a deeper mistrust of the administration’s moral framework.

Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – Mark 16:9-15 – 9 Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. 12 After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. …

By Peter Wolfgang, Catholic Culture – Like many others, I wish the criticisms were clearer and more rooted in what the Church teaches on war and peace. But Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s bloodthirsty prayer, Trump’s threat to end Iranian civilization, these were all things well deserving of condemnation by those whose shoulders bear the burden of apostolic succession… And that is the Catholic Church’s burden. It is the one institution in our society that transcends both left and right. It must resist all efforts to be coopted by either side of the political fence. And continue to call on her children, who labor on each side, to purify and elevate the side we are on. …

By The Editors, National Catholic Register – There are no mere accidents in this life, so it’s clearly providential that the Artemis II moon mission has taken place at such a fraught moment in human history… Down here on Earth, the war in Iran has commanded our attention. Yet up in the sky, something uplifting and even more commanding has unfolded right before us. The breathtaking images of the moon and the Earth, and the Artemis crew’s faith-centered comments, have drawn our gaze heavenward in contemplation of God’s glory and the goodness of the universe he has created for us.

By Steven Ertelt, LifeNews – The number of babies born in the United States declined in 2025 while the number of babies killed in abortions has hit record highs… Provisional figures released this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show 3,606,400 babies were born in 2025, a 1% decrease from 3,628,934 births in 2024. The general fertility rate fell 1% to 53.1 births per 1,000 women and girls ages 15-44, continuing a decline that began in 2007… The figures come more than three years after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision returned abortion policy to the states. Pro-life advocates continue to push for stronger protections for unborn children as the nation grapples with falling fertility rates.

Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – John 21:1-14 – 1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. …

By Auguste Meyrat, The Federalist – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and his new anti-Christian bill (C-9). Not content with the current hate speech laws in force in Canada, Carney is pushing stricter restrictions on speech with a new law that would prohibit using religious texts as a defense of speech the left deems offensive. According to a report in The Telegraph, “Bill C-9, the Act is a wide-ranging piece of legislation aimed at targeting what Carney’s government claims is ‘rising anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia and transphobia.’”

By Ellie Gardey Holmes, The American Spectator – Abortions have only continued to increase post-Dobbs… The data is in, and the conclusion is depressing: Planned Parenthood killed 434,450 babies in 2024, according to a new report released this week… That totals up to an impressive kill-to-patient ratio: 434,450 murders and 2.09 million patients “treated.”… This of course shows that abortions are all Planned Parenthood cares about. The additional services they render, like STD testing and pap smears, are just window dressing for their systematic murder machine.

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet, Human Life International – On Thursday, March 26, Finland’s Supreme Court convicted Päivi Räsänen – a sitting member of parliament and former Minister of the Interior – of criminal “hate speech” for a pamphlet she wrote for her church more than twenty years ago… The pamphlet, titled Male and Female He Created Them, affirmed the biblical understanding of marriage and sexuality. For that, Räsänen now has a criminal record, has been fined €1,800, and the pamphlet has been ordered to be destroyed.

By Harrison Berger, The American Conservative – Indeed, Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization was not an expression of American values but the purest expression, and logical endpoint, of an ideology the United States has attached itself to under both Joe Biden and now Trump: Zionism and the Greater Israel project, first through U.S. support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza and ethnic cleansing of the West Bank, and most recently through the joint war of aggression against Iran.

By Phil Lawler, Catholic Culture – The habitual tendency to favor “dialogue,” as if it were an end in itself, has cropped up again recently, in debates about the wars in Ukraine and in Iran. Again and again, Church leaders have called for negotiations to end the fighting and prevent further bloodshed. Of course it is always preferable to resolve conflicts by talking rather than fighting—if the talks can settle the contentious issues. But there are times when peace talks collapse, when opposing views and competing claims prove irreconcilable. …

By Zeale News, April 10, 2026 – Vice President JD Vance will reportedly lead a U.S. delegation to Islamabad for talks with Iranian officials beginning April 11. The delegation will include special envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner, with Pakistan serving as mediator… Officials are expected to focus on whether the temporary pause in fighting can be extended into a broader agreement, though significant gaps remain between the two sides on core issues, including Iran’s nuclear program and regional security demands, according to The New York Times.

By Chiara McKenna, Live Action News – Anita Petersen was only 47 years old when she died suddenly in October 2024. It took an autopsy to reveal the cause of death. This revealed that she had been suffering from an intracranial meningioma—more commonly known as a brain tumor.  It was bleeding caused by this undiagnosed tumor that led to Anita’s untimely death… But what had caused the tumor itself?… The answer is Depo Provera, an injectable contraceptive containing medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA). 

By Jonah McKeown, National Catholic Register – Rob and Sam Fatzinger live in the Washington, D.C., area. They have 14 children, two of whom are adopted — nine boys and five girls — ranging in age from 9 to 35. Nearly a decade ago, the Fatzingers captured headlines when they revealed that they were living debt-free — despite their many children in college and the fact that they reside in one of the country’s most expensive metro areas.

By Anthony Esolen, PhD, OnePeterFive – Meanwhile, the passage, which tells of the woman caught in adultery, is utterly convincing as an event from the life of Christ. It is another one of those moments that defies imitation. Recall when the Pharisees and the Herodians, enemies of one another but united in their enmity of Jesus, try to set a trap for Jesus by flattery, saying, “Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?”

By Misty Severi, Just the News – (Melania) Trump said she and her attorneys have fought the accusations that she was associated with Epstein and Maxwell, claiming that her response to an email from Maxwell was “casual correspondence,” and she was being polite… Trump read a statement at the White House Thursday that denied ties to the late-financier Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, but acknowledged they ran in overlapping social circles in New York and Florida… The comment comes amid online reports and accusations that the first lady personally knew of the sex offender’s crimes, stating that such “stories are completely false.”

By Jennifer Roback Morse, National Catholic Register – Welcome, converts to Catholicism! Reports from around the world indicate that there are a large number of you… Some of you converted from other faiths. Some of you come from unchurched backgrounds. Some of you had an intellectual journey: You read your way into the Church. Others had a mystical encounter with Jesus. Others were drawn by the beauty of the Church’s music, liturgy and architecture. Still others joined the Church because Jesus bonked you over the head with a two-by-four. …

By Maisey Jefferson, The Federalist – While the SAVE America Act continues to languish in the Senate under the supervision of Republican Leader John Thune, leaders and voters in several states have taken it upon themselves to secure their own elections from noncitizen voting… The overwhelmingly popular SAVE America Act would amend U.S. election law to require proof of citizenship when registering to vote and voter ID when casting a ballot in federal elections. …

Author Don Schwager, Servants of the Word – Luke 24:35-48 – 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. 36 As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them. 37 But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” …

By Fr. Jerry Pokorsky, Catholic Culture – We who subscribe to the Catholic faith are periodically asked a very reasonable question: “What’s in it for me?” At its heart, the Catholic faith does not offer material prosperity or escape. Instead, the faith offers the grace to face suffering honestly and the hope to overcome it with love. It is a faith grounded in seeing reality clearly and finding hope within it.

By R. R. Reno, First Things – What we say matters. And the way we say it matters. This is especially true in times of war, when the moral stakes are high. Which is why I’m troubled by the annihilationist rhetoric coming from the White House. It numbs our souls and corrodes our moral sensibilities… On Easter Sunday, as an often-extended deadline for Iranian acceptance of American terms was approaching, Donald Trump issued a statement on social media threatening the destruction of civilian infrastructure, should their leaders fail to comply.

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú, EWTN News – A new report published by the French Bishops’ Conference presents the latest statistical data from Easter 2026, during which approximately 8,200 adolescents and 13,200 adults embraced the Catholic faith… The report indicates that the majority of converts are young adults between the ages of 18 and 25, closely followed by the 26-to-40 age group… In general, the new catechumens have no prior religious tradition, driven primarily by difficult life experiences, a profound search for meaning ….

By Randall O’Bannon, Ph.D., LifeNews – Clarification for those who will not have time to read the document. Though the service and financial data from the 2024-2025 Planned Parenthood Annual Report spends a fair amount of time complaining about efforts of the Trump administration to shut them down, data from the 2024-2025 Planned Parenthood Annual Report actually covers only the last half of 2024 and the first half of 2025 before Congress actually defunded the group.

By Romy Haber, EWTN News – Lebanon is asking the Vatican to stand with Christian villages in the southern part of the country. In recent days, these communities were widely praised across Lebanese and international media after residents chose to remain in their homes despite the dangers around them. Caught between Hezbollah infiltrations and Israeli strikes, villagers insisted on staying in their ancestral lands. …

By Brian Lonergan, Chronicles – When the Boston Red Sox’s legendary Fenway Park posted archival footage of 1950s Opening Day last week, the team expected a pleasant wave of nostalgia. But the comments section produced something else… The message was clear: The America in the video exposed the unmistakable decline of our current nation. Millions of viewers saw it and immediately understood why… The video touched a raw nerve not just because it was beautiful but because it showed how far we have fallen in what amounts to the span of a single lifetime. …

By John Daniel Davidson, Sr. Editor, The Federalist – After threatening the death of “a whole civilization” on Tuesday morning, President Donald Trump announced a two-week, “double-sided” ceasefire with Iran Tuesday evening, pending the immediate opening of the Strait of Hormuz… The annihilation of Iran, it seems, was averted by a last-minute deal brokered by Pakistan. In his announcement of the ceasefire, Trump said Pakistan “requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran.”

By Fr. Kevin Drew, Catholic Exchange – Something strange is happening, there is a great stillness on earth today, a great silence and stillness… So states an ancient sermon regarding Christ’s descent into the netherworld. … The earth trembled and is now still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear. …

By Catholic Culture, April 9, 2026 – Meditation for the Thursday within the Octave of Easter: Grasping What the Resurrection Means… Keeping in mind the magnitude of the change wrought by the Resurrection—a divine action in history and nature that changed history and nature in a radical way, opening new possibilities of life beyond the reach of death—we can perhaps ponder with a bit more patience yet another gospel reading in which the disciples don’t at first, get it.

By Randall O’Bannon, Ph.D., LifeNews – As you see in the accompanying chart that we have linked to, we have made substantial progress in reducing the number of abortions and lowering the abortion rate over the past thirty years. At the same time, though, as long as abortion is legal, each year we will keep adding to the total of lives lost to America’s greatest holocaust.