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USCCB President Condemns Plans for Livestream of Fort Hood Shooter's Execution as ‘a Barbaric Promotion of a Culture of Death’

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WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the U.S. Department of War announced that the firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan, the man convicted of killing 13 people and injuring 32 at Fort Hood, Texas in 2009, would be publicly livestreamed. Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued the following statement sharply condemning the decision of the U.S. government:“It is with shock and great sorrow that I have learned of the Department of War’s decision to publicly livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan. Our God is the God of life. In no way can Hassan’s actions be condoned but this decision is a barbaric promotion of a culture of death and must be reconsidered. The word of God exhorts us: ‘do not repay anyone evil for evil' (Romans 12:17). The public execution even of one who has done grave harm will only further undermine the moral fabric of our nation and be a blight on the conscience of its people.“I pray for the interce

Fostering critical thinking at Catholic universities can counter 'false teachers,' pope says

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pursuing a higher education that values human intelligence can help counter the many "false teachers" exploiting people's deep yearning for truth, faith and meaning, Pope Leo XIV said.Reason, memory and critical thinking are "fundamental for both faith and mission," the pope told students from the pontifical universities of Rome during an evening Mass in St. Peter's Basilica Oct. 8."Reason, posing questions in light of God's word and the Church's Tradition, is an essential part of the journey of faith in following Jesus Christ," he said. Pope Leo XIV gives his homily as he celebrates Mass with students from the pontifical universities in Rome in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Oct. 8, 2026. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) The pontifical universities and institutes in Rome enroll more than 15,000 students from some 125 nations; they study theology and philosophy, but also liturgy, sacred music, communications, canon

U.S. Bishops to Vote for Conference Secretary and for Chairmen of Six Standing Committees at Plenary Assembly in Baltimore

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WASHINGTON – When the U.S. bishops gather in November for their Fall Plenary Assembly (November 16-19), they will vote for a Conference secretary, as well as chairmen for six standing committees for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The position of USCCB secretary is up for a vote due to the fact that Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend was elected during the bishops’ 2025 Fall Plenary Assembly to complete the term left vacant when Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, who was serving as USCCB secretary, was elected as Conference president. Each bishop elected will serve for one year as the chairman-elect of the respective committee before beginning a three-year term at the conclusion of the bishops’ 2027 Fall Plenary Assembly. The following bishops were nominated (listed under committee in alphabetical order):USCCB SECRETARY-ELECT / CHAIRMAN-ELECT, COMMITTEE ON PRIORITIES AND PLANSBishop Earl K. Fernandes, Diocese of

Faithful cannot accept oppression, injustice, pope says

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christians "cannot accept the oppression of the weak and the poor, nor the unjust structures that perpetuate conditions of dependence and injustice," Pope Leo XIV said at his weekly general audience.By worshipping Christ, "the Righteous One who died for the unrighteous," the faithful are called to work for justice, peace and fraternity, the pope said Oct. 7 in St. Peter's Square."The Church, therefore, 'has no fiercer desire than that in pursuit of the welfare of all she may be able to develop herself freely under any kind of government which grants recognition to the basic rights of person and family, to the demands of the common good,'" he said, quoting from the conciliar constitution, "Gaudium et Spes," as he continued his series of talks on documents from the Second Vatican Council.Just as Christ was incarnated to reconcile the world with God, the Church exists within the world as a "sign of the incarnation of God,

Pope Leo XIV Accepts Resignation of Auxiliary Bishop Peter Byrne

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WASHINGTON - Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend Peter J. Byrne, 75, from the Office of Auxiliary Bishop of New York.The resignation was publicized in Washington, D.C. on October 5, 2026, by Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, apostolic nuncio to the United States. The Archdiocese of New York is comprised of 4,683 square miles in the State of New York.###

Federal Scholarship Tax Credit is a Transformative Opportunity for Children Across the Country, says Bishop O’Connell

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WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released proposed regulations to implement the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC), which provides a nonrefundable Federal tax credit for contributions to scholarship granting organizations. States must formally elect to opt-in to the program in order for the children in that state to be eligible for scholarships funded by the program. In a brief message, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Catholic Education, called the scholarship program a transformative opportunity for children across the country:“The Catholic Church teaches that parents are the first and primary educators of our children, and that parents have the obligation of educating their children in the manner best suited for their development and needs. The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit will create opportunities for families to access much-needed resources to expand their

Papal trip showed miracle of rebirth out of tragedy is possible, pope says

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV's journey to France aimed to show that a joyful or serene rebirth is always possible even after tremendous tragedy or terrible suffering, he said.By visiting the newly restored Notre Dame Cathedral, meeting with survivors of abuse and praying at Lourdes, and celebrating the Christian faith openly in the public square of a secular nation, the pope highlighted how the miracle of new life can happen when everyone comes together out of love for one's neighbor and the common good, he said during his weekly general audience Sept. 30.As has been customary, Pope Leo used his first general audience after his Sept. 25-28 trip to Paris, Lourdes and Metz in France to tell people about the purpose of his visit and to thank all those who made the journey possible. Pope Leo XIV greets visitors and pilgrims from the popemobile before leading his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Sept. 30, 2026. (CNS photo/Griffin White) He also repea

Pope's communications day theme targets pitfalls of the 'attention economy'

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV will address the risks of today's "attention economy," in which media platforms compete for and monetize people's limited, valuable attention as the theme for the Catholic Church's celebration of World Communications Day in 2027."A New Gaze: Paying Attention in the Age of Clickbait" is the theme for the day, which the Vatican and most dioceses will celebrate May 9, the Sunday before Pentecost.The Dicastery for Communication made the announcement Sept. 29, the feast of St. Gabriel the Archangel, and the full papal message is traditionally released Jan. 24, the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of journalists.Explaining the pope's choice of the theme, the dicastery noted that "The attention economy, with its struggle for a few moments of interest amid the rapid and endless flow of content, is transforming not only our cognitive abilities but also the depth of our interpersonal communication." Pope Leo

For Respect Life Month, Bishop Thomas Requests Prayer and Action on the Abortion Pill

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WASHINGTON - Each October since 1973, the Catholic Church in the United States observes Respect Life Month and focuses on reflecting more deeply on the dignity and gift of human life. This year, the theme chosen is Mary, Mother of Life. “Our Blessed Mother is our model for upholding the sanctity of all human life in every stage and circumstance. We entrust all our efforts to protect mothers and babies to her motherly care, which we greatly need at this time,” said Bishop Daniel E. Thomas, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities, in a statement inviting the faithful into prayer, deeper reflection, and action during the month of October.“Today, with easier access to abortion pills, the abortion rate is tragically climbing, along with increased health risks,” said Bishop Thomas. “This means that more women, many of whom have been misinformed about the nature and risks of the abortion pill,

Pope Leo says he's not in 'panic mode' over AI, but warns against ignoring risks

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ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM METZ TO ROME (CNS) -- In light of growing concerns about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence, Pope Leo XIV told journalists he can still "sleep at night," even as he cautioned against dismissing warnings about the risks the developing technology could pose to humanity."If someone were to ask me, am I in panic mode? No, I'm not," he said Sept. 28 following his four-day apostolic journey to France. "I sleep at night.""I do think that the concerns raised by many of the experts, specialists in AI, should be taken seriously," he said. "I don't think that that is fake news."Protecting human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence has been a cornerstone of Pope Leo's teaching for months. He dedicated his first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas," to AI and its role in society, urging governments, technology companies and the public to ensure that technological development remains at the s

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