National Catholic Reporter

Warsaw archbishop asks Vatican to defrock Polish priest charged with the killing of a homeless man Warsaw Archbishop Adrian Galbas on Saturday requested the Holy See to dismiss the priest from the priesthood, the highest penalty in canon law for a cleric.

The archbishop of Warsaw, Poland, has asked the Vatican to defrock a priest charged with the killing of a 68-year-old homeless man who was beaten with an ax and set on fire.

12 years after Jesuit priest's disappearance in Syria, friends and family members still want answers The absence of Jesuit Fr. Paolo Dall'Oglio seen as the tragic continuation of a life defined by radical devotion to peace and interfaith dialogue.

The absence of Jesuit Fr. Paolo Dall'Oglio seen as the tragic continuation of a life defined by radical devotion to peace and interfaith dialogue.

Pope Leo faces first charisma test at Jubilee youth event Pope Leo XIV has not yet had a chance to let his personality break through in a defining way. Yet if history is any guide, the stage is set for something big to emerge when Leo takes the stage with yo...

Pope Leo XIV has not yet had a chance to let his personality break through in a defining way. Yet if history is any guide, the stage is set for something big to emerge when Leo takes the stage with young people this week.

Faith leaders hope bill will stop the loss of thousands of clergy from abroad serving US communities Faith leaders across the U.S. are hoping a bipartisan bill in Congress might finally provide relief to an immigration issue that has been vexing them for more than two years.

Faith leaders say even a narrow fix will be enough to prevent damaging losses to congregations and to start planning for the future again.

Pope appeals to leaders with power to end wars to start peace talks He also greets young people in Rome for the Jubilee of Youth, thanked journalists and reminded people to connect with grandparents and the elderly.

The time for negotiations to start is now, and anything jeopardizing peace must be rejected, Pope Leo XIV said.

Protests planned in Germany as Bishop Barron receives Josef Pieper Prize U.S. Bishop Robert Barron, founder of Word on Fire, is scheduled to receive the Josef Pieper Prize in Münster on July 27. Some groups have announced protests, but other Catholics say the award is dese...

U.S. Bishop Robert Barron, founder of Word on Fire, is scheduled to receive the Josef Pieper Prize in Münster on July 27. Some groups have announced protests, but other Catholics say the award is deserved.

Rome gears up for Holy Year's monumental Catholic youth rally in scorching temperatures Half a million young people are expected to pour into Rome next week for the biggest event of the 2025 Holy Year: a weeklong Jubilee celebration for young Catholics that will sorely test their toleran...

Italian and Vatican organizers on Wednesday outlined plans for the gathering, which Rome authorities said represented the biggest technological setup ever in Italy.

Jesuit leader Fr. Arrupe was warned of abuse allegations against priest candidate. He was still ordained. At a June 6 deposition, a Jesuit said the order would not have needed to let the accused priest minister at any of their institutions if they had ousted him or reported the allegations to law enforcem...

Pedro Arrupe, the late, former worldwide leader of the Jesuits and a candidate for Catholic sainthood, acknowledged in records produced as part of a New Orleans court case that he was warned that one of the group's aspiring priests had been accused of sexually abusing two minors.

Miami archbishop joins Knights on Bikes to pray for clergy access to Alligator Alcatraz Catholic priests have been barred from providing religious services inside Florida's new migrant detention facility — dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz" — nearly three weeks after it opened, said Archbishop ...

Catholic priests have been barred from providing religious services inside Florida's controversial new migrant detention facility — dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz" — nearly three weeks after it opened deep in the Everglades, the archbishop of Miami said.

Norah O'Donnell hopes Pope Leo XIV moves the church forward for women CBS News senior correspondent Norah O'Donnell is watching and waiting to see how Pope Leo XIV widens Francis' legacy of elevating women within the church.

CBS News senior correspondent Norah O'Donnell is watching and waiting to see how Pope Leo XIV widens Francis' legacy of elevating women within the church.

Palestinian leader calls pope as Gaza pastor recounts Israeli shelling of church Fr. Gabriel Romanelli described the carnage from a recent shelling of his parish and asked the universal church community for prayers. "Let's try to convince the whole world to end this war," he said.

Fr. Gabriel Romanelli described the carnage from a recent shelling of his parish and asked the universal church community for prayers. "Let's try to convince the whole world to end this war," he said.

Looking for better ways to evangelize than posting on social media How do we, as a Catholic Church, overcome the problems posed by social media? How do we create a culture that is more humane than the culture of social media?

Having looked at some of the problems posed by social media, how do we, as a Catholic Church, overcome them? How do we create a culture that is more humane than the culture of social media?

Castel Gandolfo: The go-to summer vacation spot for popes for 400 years Leo XIV has brought back the papal tradition of vacationing at Castel Gandolfo. So how did a family castle become part of the pontifical villas? NCR looks at the history and some past popes' connectio...

After a 12-year hiatus, Pope Leo XIV brought back the papal tradition of vacationing at Castel Gandolfo this summer for two weeks in July and three days in August.

Federal court temporarily blocks Washington state confession law U.S. District Judge David Estudillo ruled that the new law, previously set to take effect July 27, singled out clergy for breaking a vow of silence while allowing other professionals to maintain a sea...

A federal court in Washington state on Friday (July 18) temporarily blocked a new law that threatened clergy with jail if they did not break the seal of confession to report suspected child sex abuse.

Funding for Catholic Relief Services and humanitarian aid on the chopping block The Senate voted to claw back billions of dollars from humanitarian aid that would devastate groups helping refugees and people in need. The House is expected to approve the cuts.

The Senate voted to claw back billions of dollars from humanitarian aid that would devastate groups helping refugees and people in need. The House is expected to approve the cuts.

Two dead, Holy Family Gaza pastor injured after mid-morning Israeli attack Two people were confirmed dead and several were injured, including a parish pastor, following what initial reports say was a mid-morning Israeli tank attack on the Holy Family Parish Church in Gaza on...

Two people were confirmed dead and several were injured, including a parish pastor, following what initial reports say was a mid-morning Israeli tank attack on the Holy Family Parish Church in Gaza on July 17.

US, Catholics clash with Washington state over seal of confession in abuse cases One supporter says confession rewards priests for secrecy and that silence protects perpetrators of sex crimes, not victims.

Catholic bishops and priests in Washington are challenging a new state law that requires clergy to break the seal of confession to report possible child sex abuse.

Pope Leo names LGBT+ inclusion champion Oregon bishop Bishop-elect Thomas Hennen was appointed by Pope Leo XIV to lead the Diocese of Baker, Oregon, on July 10. At age 47, Hennen will be the youngest bishop leading a U.S. diocese. Hennen's ministry to LG...

Bishop-elect Thomas Hennen was appointed by Pope Leo XIV to lead the Diocese of Baker, Oregon, on July 10. At age 47, Hennen will be the youngest bishop leading a U.S. diocese. Hennen's ministry to LGBTQ+ people has seen mixed reactions about his pastoral approach.

Again, no irony in this administration that would so brazenly weaponize Scripture to fit their corrupt, godless, heartless and anti-Christian schemes. bit.ly/44TMAgD

Homeland Security weaponizes Bible verse to justify Trump's immigration tactics "Here am I, send me," from Isaiah, is the caption on a DHS promotional video, which also used a clip from the movie "Fury." The message is clear: It is glorifying Trump's military intervention at the ...

The blasphemous post is the latest in a series of heretical use of Scripture to christen an agenda that is an affront not just to the Christian faith, but to God himself.

Immigration policy has become a question of character The United States is beginning to look like a dictatorship seeking to divest itself of anyone who is poor and speaks Spanish. How a person reacts to the sight of armed, masked men assaulting immigrant...

The United States is beginning to look like a dictatorship seeking to divest itself of anyone who is poor and speaks Spanish.

Catholic solar projects in peril as GOP bill slashes clean energy tax credits For religious organizations, loss of the rebates jeopardizes financing options for clean energy projects and is expected to result in millions of dollars less in energy cost savings that could otherwi...

Catholic parishes, schools and houses of worship across the country pursuing wind and solar projects were dealt a major financial blow in President Donald Trump's domestic-policy and tax-cut bill signed into law on July 4.

Gay blessings 'will remain' under Pope Leo, Vatican doctrine chief says An impromptu interview with Cardinal Fernández is the strongest indication to date that Pope Leo XIV will not alter course on blessings of people in gay unions. But the comments fall short of an expli...

The Catholic Church's approval of blessings of couples in same-sex relationships "will remain" under Pope Leo XIV, the head of the Vatican's doctrine office told an Italian reporter in a brief interview.

Carlo Acutis, the unlikely first millennial saint, inspires a new generation of Catholics Acutis' "reputation of holiness," part of any saint's cause, has taken the church by storm. He is referred to by many names: the saint in sneakers, the patron of the Internet, God's jester or — as Fra...

Acutis' "reputation of holiness," part of any saint's cause, has taken the church by storm. He is referred to by many names: the saint in sneakers, the patron of the Internet, God's jester or — as Francis described him — the saint next door.

Editorial: Trump's bill, set to be signed on July 4th, shows democracy in decay Trump prevailed with his domestic policy bill. The House vote was 218-214. And in doing so, he didn't just pass a bill — he marked a turning point in the nation's moral trajectory. This is not reform....

Trump prevailed with his domestic policy bill. The House vote was 218-214. And in doing so, he didn't just pass a bill — he marked a turning point in the nation's moral trajectory. This is not reform. It is retribution.

Sen. Tim Kaine sees Pope Leo XIV following Francis on path of servant leadership Sen. Tim Kaine, a Catholic, writes about his hopes for the pontificate of Leo XIV. As a servant leader, the new pope can orient us toward unity and affect the world far beyond the confines of the Cath...

Sen. @kaine.senate.gov, a Catholic, writes about his hopes for the pontificate of Leo XIV. As a servant leader, the new pope can orient us toward unity and affect the world far beyond the confines of the Catholic faith.

Justin McLellan named Vatican correspondent for National Catholic Reporter A seasoned journalist known for his multilingual fluency and multimedia storytelling, Justin McLellan steps into the role of Vatican correspondent at a pivotal time for both the Catholic Church and NC...

NCR announced today that Justin McLellan will join the publication as its new Vatican correspondent, effective July 14. A seasoned journalist known for his multilingual fluency and multimedia storytelling, McLellan steps into the role at a pivotal time for both the Catholic Church and NCR.

Can the Vatican still shape peace in a fractured world? The world seems more fractured than at any point in recent memory since World War II. Yet amid this turmoil, the Vatican is determined to make its voice heard — not simply in prayer, but in active, en...

The world seems more fractured than at any point in recent memory since World War II. Yet amid this turmoil, the Vatican is determined to make its voice heard — not simply in prayer, but in active, engaged diplomacy.

Liberation theologians in Latin America express hope for Pope Leo "What we do know," said Brazilian-born theologian Leonardo Boff, "is that he's a North American with a Latin American soul."

There is every indication that Pope Leo XIV could follow Pope Francis’ embrace of liberation theology, a politically tinged movement that emerged in the 1970s and championed the liberation from social, political and economic oppression as a path to salvation.

Reveal of Pope Leo's 2011 note to Illinois governor heartens death penalty opponent In 2011, when then-Gov. Pat Quinn signed a law ending the death penalty in Illinois, the future pope thanked him for the move. That recently uncovered news has "delighted" and "energized" Krisanne Vai...

Before he became Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost had already made his views on one key moral issue unmistakably clear: the death penalty.