BrianFragaNCR

Supreme Court justices seem skeptical of Colorado's ban on conversion therapy A majority of the court's six conservative judges questioned arguments that the state law does not infringe on freedom of speech and the First Amendment by engaging in viewpoint discrimination.

Via @bfragancr.bsky.social - “It looks like blatant viewpoint discrimination.” Supreme Court justices seem skeptical of Colorado's ban on conversion therapy
#SCOTUS #LGBTQ
www.ncronline.org/news/supreme...

Yakima bishop urges federal government to release misidentified immigrant Bishop Joseph Tyson of Yakima, Washington, is calling for the release of José López, a local man who was arrested by immigration officers in mid-September. "There was a kind of racial profiling here,"...

Via @bfragancr.bsky.social - Yakima, WA bishop urges federal government to release misidentified immigrant.
"There was a kind of racial profiling here."
#ICE #immigration
www.ncronline.org/news/yakima-...

Exclusive: Pope Leo critic now says her lawyer might have had a secret agenda A lawyer seemed to have a conflict of interest when he represented sisters who claimed the future pope covered up their abuse allegations against two priests. Now, one sister says her lawyer "didn't r...

Keep asking questions, keep digging, pursue the truth without fear or favor www.ncronline.org/vatican/excl... @bfragancr.bsky.social began this investigation and @McLellan_Js went to Peru to answer questions

Most US bishops offer prayers, not calls for action, in wake of church shooting The archbishops of Chicago and Detroit echoed the prayers and condolences of fellow bishops, but also called for action to rein in gun violence in America. The bishops' conference statement fell short...

Via @bfragancr.bsky.social - Most US bishops offer typical statements after the Minneapolis shooting — but two Catholic leaders stand out for the forcefulness of their responses…
#Minneapolis #shooting #Catholic
www.ncronline.org/news/most-us...

Archdiocese of Washington, DC, faces $50M deficit, plans layoffs Cardinal Robert McElroy, installed as archbishop March 11, blames COVID-19, fallout from the Theodore McCarrick scandal, and an extended period of inflation and volatile financial markets for the shor...

NEW via @bfragancr.bsky.social - Archdiocese of Washington, DC, faces $50M deficit, plans layoffs
#Catholic #Washington
www.ncronline.org/news/archdio...

US conservative Catholics wine and dine cardinal ahead of conclave to elect the pope In the days leading up to the conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor, wealthy American business leaders, philanthropists and conservative activists have descended on Rome and Vatican City to meet, ...

In the days leading up to the conclave, a bevy of wealthy American business leaders, philanthropists and conservative activists have descended on Rome and Vatican City to meet, fete and dine with churchmen in well-heeled settings.

Read more at @ncronline.bsky.social

Supreme Court hears feisty arguments over tax funds for religious charter school The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments April 30 in a potential landmark case involving a proposed Oklahoma Catholic school that, if approved, would be the nation's first religious public charter schoo...

My coverage of today’s arguments at SCOTUS, regarding the case of a proposed Catholic charter school in Oklahoma. @ncronline.bsky.social

www.ncronline.org/news/supreme...

President Trump has issued a barrage of executive actions in the first 100 days of his term, seeking to expand the scope of his presidential power. Underlying those efforts is a nonstop distortion of basic facts. Here is a fact-check of Trump’s often-repeated claims. nyti.ms/4iIyfYe

Rev. William Barber arrested in Capitol Rotunda after praying against Republican-led budget (RNS) — While arrests of protesters at the Capitol is not unusual, the response to Barber’s prayer was unusually dramatic: After issuing verbal warnings, dozens of officers expelled everyone in the Ro...

Full story on the arrest of Rev. William Barber and two others as they prayed in the U.S. Capitol today:

“Just as Jesus turned over the tables of the money changers, so we have to be willing to put our bodies on the line,” Barber told me after he was released. religionnews.com/2025/04/28/w...

US Supreme Court to weigh in on state taxpayer support for Catholic virtual school Some legal scholars anticipate that the case, to be argued April 30, might result in a landmark ruling with far-reaching consequences for the separation of church and state.

My story today for @ncronline.bsky.social. I’ll be covering oral arguments tomorrow at the SCOTUS.

“Some legal scholars anticipate that the outcome of this case might be a landmark ruling with far-reaching consequences for the separation of church and state…”

www.ncronline.org/news/us-supr...

Catholic Charities agencies halt refugee programs in wake of US aid freeze Due to frozen federal funding, at least a dozen local Catholic Charities agencies since late January have laid off hundreds of employees, and some have begun to wind down their refugee resettlement pr...

My story today for @ncronline.bsky.social

Due to frozen federal funding, at least a dozen Catholic Charities agencies from Florida to California since late January have laid off hundreds of employees. Some have begun to wind down their refugee resettlement programs.

Democrats in Trump-won districts call on party to rebrand Democrats need to flip three seats to take back the House next year – and the path to a majority likely runs through districts President Trump carried. Democrats who won alongside Trump offer their pr...

Democrats need to flip three seats to take back the House next year – and the path to a majority likely runs through districts President Trump carried. Democrats who won alongside Trump offer their prescription for a party they say needs to make big changes.

Thank you!

“When I listen to Pope Francis, I can almost hear Romero speaking,” Julian Filochowski says in the article.

A rock solid long read on #MonseñorRomero from @bfragancr.bsky.social here. Read, learn and enjoy!

#OscarRomero #ArchbishopRomero #SanRomerodeAmérica

The miracle of Oscar Romero As attested to in the Scriptures, prophets do not arrive very often. Not too many people outside ecclesial…

On this his feast day, I'm sharing this 2018 in-depth article I wrote for Our Sunday Visitor on the legacy of St. Oscar Romero.

"Because he so faithfully lived out the Gospel, there is no example closer to Jesus that I can think of in recent history...."
www.oursundayvisitor.com/the-miracle-...

Despite court injunction, immigration agents show up at CBF ministry – Baptist News Global The situation began when a dozen law enforcement vehicles staged in the parking lot of a partner church where ESL classes are offered

Via Baptist News: Despite a court injunction specifically barring ICE agents from conducting raids at Cooperative Baptist Fellowship houses of worship (along with several Quaker groups and a Sikh temple), ICE agents appear to have shown up at one anyway. baptistnews.com/article/desp...

Thank you

Parish talk by transgender hermit rescheduled after negative comments Angry, vitriolic comments on social media prompted organizers in Lexington, Kentucky, to postpone a parish event that was to feature a talk by Br. Christian Matson, a diocesan hermit who is transgende...

My story today for @ncronline.bsky.social

Aswarm of angry, vitriolic comments on social media prompted organizers in Lexington, Kentucky, to postpone a parish event that was to feature a talk by Br. Christian Matson, a diocesan hermit who is transgender.
www.ncronline.org/news/parish-...

YouTube video by Michael Hunn Bishop Michael Hunn Responds to Department of Homeland Security: Defending Our Border Ministry

Oh: Episcopal Diocese of Rio Grande apparently received a letter from DHS suggesting they were involved in human trafficking.

In a video, Bishop Michael Hunn fervently rejects the claims and declares: "We …have been practicing our Constitutionally guaranteed faith." www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wl4...

US bishops fight latest court ruling on federal refugee funding The bishops' conference is appealing a recent court decision saying federal courts lack the authority to order the government to honor its recently terminated contracts with the bishops for refugee re...

My story today for @ncronline.bsky.social

In a March 11 ruling, which the USCCB is appealing, a judge wrote that the federal courts lack the authority to order the government to honor its recently-terminated refugee resettlement contracts w/the bishops conference
www.ncronline.org/news/us-bish...

Catholic refugee contracts canceled, risking life-saving aid in US and abroad A federal judge is weighing a U.S. bishops' lawsuit to halt cuts temporarily. The U.S. government has stiffed the bishops on $13 million owed for care for refugees before Jan. 24.

Catholic refugee contracts canceled, risking life-saving aid in US and abroad | National Catholic Reporter www.ncronline.org/news/catholi... @bfragancr.bsky.social @brianroewe.bsky.social

Catholic refugee contracts canceled, risking life-saving aid in US and abroad A federal judge is weighing a U.S. bishops' lawsuit to halt cuts temporarily. The U.S. government has stiffed the bishops on $13 million owed for care for refugees before Jan. 24.

My story today for @ncronline.bsky.social, reported w/@brianroewe.bsky.social.

"The U.S. State Department has terminated contracts for refugee-related programs with the USCCB and Jesuit Refugee Service, but attorneys for the bishops called the action unlawful...."
www.ncronline.org/news/catholi...

Brief: "Likely many refugee tenants have breached their [housing] leases due to the Refugee Funding Suspension, as most refugees have few assets when they first arrive in the U.S."

According to the brief, the administration's halt of refugee resettlement funding placed the couple with the choice of absorbing the loss of rent money or evicting the refugee family. The couple chose the former, and is as a result experiencing financial harm.

🧵
A Kentucky couple that rents a home to a family of Syrian refugee families has filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' case against the Trump Administration's abrupt halt of refugee resettlement funding.

US bishops' legal challenge to Trump's refugee funding halt goes to mediation A settlement conference has been scheduled for Feb. 27 at U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. Representatives for both sides have been ordered to present proposals and ideas for how the case can b...

My story today for @ncronline.bsky.social

The U.S. Catholic bishops' lawsuit that challenges the Trump administration's abrupt halt of refugee resettlement funding has been referred to mediation.

www.ncronline.org/news/us-bish...

Trump's foreign aid pause hits Jesuit Refugee Service hard Vital humanitarian activities that Jesuit Refugee Service leads in nine countries remain in jeopardy, JRS says, even after a judge's order to temporarily lift the Trump administration's freeze on fore...

New w. @bfragancr.bsky.social:

Jesuit Refugee Service's vital humanitarian work in 9 countries is in jeopardy, even after a judge's order to temporarily lift Trump's 90-day freeze on foreign aid.

Per JRS, $1.25mil is needed to maintain most critical programs providing food, medicine to refugees.

“We’re in no rush on it.”

US President Trump says he is in no rush to implement his plan to take over and redevelop Gaza, which has prompted widespread condemnation.

🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/ooog3i

Setting the record straight

Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago, responds VP Vance's suggestion that Catholic bishops are more concerned with their “bottom line” than humanitarian work.

Cites New York's Cardinal Dolan, calling the suggestion baseless and “scurrilous.” www.chicagocatholic.com/cardinal-bla...

Catholic Relief Services and bishops launch quiet online campaign to halt deep cuts The international relief organization founded by U.S. bishops in 1943 is in crisis after sweeping foreign aid cuts by the Trump administration. The bishops' conference did not respond to a request to ...

Our follow-up story on the situation at CRS for @ncronline.bsky.social, with reporting by @brianroewe.bsky.social and myself

"The response from the bishops about the fate of their global relief organization has been muted and limited largely so far to an online advocacy push..."