The Babylon Bee Presents: Free Valentine’s Day Cards You Can Print And Give To That Special Someone #BabylonBee – The Babylon Bee has put together an absolutely incredible set of Valentine’s Day cards that your special someone will absolutely love. The best part? It’s all free! Simply print, sign, and watch the romance happen.
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The Babylon Bee Presents: Free Valentine’s Day Cards You Can Print And Give To That Special Someone #BabylonBee – The Babylon Bee has put together an absolutely incredible set of Valentine’s Day cards that your special someone will absolutely love. The best part? It’s all free! Simply print, sign, and watch the romance happen.

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The Babylon Bee has put together an absolutely incredible set of Valentine’s Day cards that your special someone will absolutely love. The best part? It’s all free! Simply print, sign, and watch the romance happen.

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Historic murals in Iraq emerge from the ruins of ISIS destruction – #Catholic – Restoration work is progressing rapidly on two 13th-century historic mural reliefs at the ancient Mar Behnam and Sarah Monastery in Iraq. The effort is being led by the monastery’s administration in collaboration with the French organization Mesopotamia after the artworks suffered extensive destruction at the hands of ISIS.The monastery was featured in an EWTN News special on Iraq marking 10 years since the rise of ISIS and examining Christianity in Iraq a decade after the extremist group’s occupation. The report highlighted both the destruction inflicted on Christian heritage and the steady efforts toward restoration, with Mar Behnam Monastery standing as a visible sign of endurance and renewal.The murals, depicting the “Martyrdom of Mar Behnam” and “Saint Sarah,” face one another inside the monastery church and are considered unique in both scale and artistic detail. No other monastery today contains comparable works in terms of size, age, and creative intricacy. They have long been objects of popular devotion in addition to their historical value, as Chorbishop Mazen Mattoka, the monastery’s superior, explained to ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. Father Mazen Mattoka, superior of the ancient Mar Behnam and Sarah Monastery in Iraq. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Father Mazen Mattoka ISIS militants devastated the two plaster murals in an attempt to erase Christian heritage and obliterate artworks that had withstood centuries of challenges. Despite the severity of the damage and the high cost of restoration, multiple coordinated efforts, which Mattoka describes as guided by divine providence, have worked to lift the dust and darkness of ISIS from the sacred images.Mattoka believes providence led French journalist Pascal Makosian to visit the monastery and recognize the profound pain caused by the vandalism. Through his organization, Mesopotamia, Makosian undertook the restoration project under the sponsorship of the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Mosul, in consultation with the Nineveh Antiquities Inspectorate and with the work of local artists.The murals are distinguished by rich symbolic colors: royal blue framing the inscriptions as a symbol of heaven; red signifying martyrdom; and green representing continuity and eternal life. Their uniqueness is further deepened by encoded theological meaning. At the center, Mar Behnam is depicted mounted on his horse; below him appears a scene symbolizing the defeat of evil; and above, two angels carry the martyred saint into the kingdom, representing resurrection.The mural of St. Sarah measures approximately 2 meters (6.6 feet) in height and nearly 1 meter (3.3 feet) in width, appearing modest beside the larger Mar Behnam mural, which extends nearly 4 meters (13.1 feet) in length and 2 meters (6.6 feet) in width. Both are framed by inscriptions in Arabic and Syriac, according to Mattoka.Extensive damageThe two plaster murals suffered destruction estimated at nearly 80%, according to sculptor Thabet Michael, head of the restoration team. He explained that ISIS left little more than the outer frame intact, from which the restoration process began.Michael had participated in the previous restoration of the murals in 2011, gaining experience that proved essential in confronting current challenges — particularly the complete disfigurement of sculptural features and the erasure of facial details.He praised the French team’s study of the murals and their history, as well as the preparation of a comprehensive photographic archive. By consulting the oldest available images — including photographs taken by foreign travelers in 1904, despite their lack of color and facial detail — restorers were able to approximate the original appearance as closely as possible.Approaching the originalThe restoration was carried out using the same original raw materials — gypsum mixed with lime — with additional elements to enhance cohesion and durability. The murals’ original colors, which had faded over centuries, were restored using comparable pigments. Surviving fragments of colored sections were analyzed to achieve shades closest to the original work, created by Syriac artists of Tikriti origin known for their mastery of sculpture, calligraphy, and ornamental design.Michael emphasized the necessity of returning to historical sources and studying them carefully in order to reach satisfactory results in restoring any historic artwork. He added that the completed work reflects the Atabeg artistic style prevalent at the time of the murals’ creation, blended with local Iraqi elements and inspired by Assyrian civilization.This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News.
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Historic murals in Iraq emerge from the ruins of ISIS destruction – #Catholic – Restoration work is progressing rapidly on two 13th-century historic mural reliefs at the ancient Mar Behnam and Sarah Monastery in Iraq. The effort is being led by the monastery’s administration in collaboration with the French organization Mesopotamia after the artworks suffered extensive destruction at the hands of ISIS.The monastery was featured in an EWTN News special on Iraq marking 10 years since the rise of ISIS and examining Christianity in Iraq a decade after the extremist group’s occupation. The report highlighted both the destruction inflicted on Christian heritage and the steady efforts toward restoration, with Mar Behnam Monastery standing as a visible sign of endurance and renewal.The murals, depicting the “Martyrdom of Mar Behnam” and “Saint Sarah,” face one another inside the monastery church and are considered unique in both scale and artistic detail. No other monastery today contains comparable works in terms of size, age, and creative intricacy. They have long been objects of popular devotion in addition to their historical value, as Chorbishop Mazen Mattoka, the monastery’s superior, explained to ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. Father Mazen Mattoka, superior of the ancient Mar Behnam and Sarah Monastery in Iraq. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Father Mazen Mattoka ISIS militants devastated the two plaster murals in an attempt to erase Christian heritage and obliterate artworks that had withstood centuries of challenges. Despite the severity of the damage and the high cost of restoration, multiple coordinated efforts, which Mattoka describes as guided by divine providence, have worked to lift the dust and darkness of ISIS from the sacred images.Mattoka believes providence led French journalist Pascal Makosian to visit the monastery and recognize the profound pain caused by the vandalism. Through his organization, Mesopotamia, Makosian undertook the restoration project under the sponsorship of the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Mosul, in consultation with the Nineveh Antiquities Inspectorate and with the work of local artists.The murals are distinguished by rich symbolic colors: royal blue framing the inscriptions as a symbol of heaven; red signifying martyrdom; and green representing continuity and eternal life. Their uniqueness is further deepened by encoded theological meaning. At the center, Mar Behnam is depicted mounted on his horse; below him appears a scene symbolizing the defeat of evil; and above, two angels carry the martyred saint into the kingdom, representing resurrection.The mural of St. Sarah measures approximately 2 meters (6.6 feet) in height and nearly 1 meter (3.3 feet) in width, appearing modest beside the larger Mar Behnam mural, which extends nearly 4 meters (13.1 feet) in length and 2 meters (6.6 feet) in width. Both are framed by inscriptions in Arabic and Syriac, according to Mattoka.Extensive damageThe two plaster murals suffered destruction estimated at nearly 80%, according to sculptor Thabet Michael, head of the restoration team. He explained that ISIS left little more than the outer frame intact, from which the restoration process began.Michael had participated in the previous restoration of the murals in 2011, gaining experience that proved essential in confronting current challenges — particularly the complete disfigurement of sculptural features and the erasure of facial details.He praised the French team’s study of the murals and their history, as well as the preparation of a comprehensive photographic archive. By consulting the oldest available images — including photographs taken by foreign travelers in 1904, despite their lack of color and facial detail — restorers were able to approximate the original appearance as closely as possible.Approaching the originalThe restoration was carried out using the same original raw materials — gypsum mixed with lime — with additional elements to enhance cohesion and durability. The murals’ original colors, which had faded over centuries, were restored using comparable pigments. Surviving fragments of colored sections were analyzed to achieve shades closest to the original work, created by Syriac artists of Tikriti origin known for their mastery of sculpture, calligraphy, and ornamental design.Michael emphasized the necessity of returning to historical sources and studying them carefully in order to reach satisfactory results in restoring any historic artwork. He added that the completed work reflects the Atabeg artistic style prevalent at the time of the murals’ creation, blended with local Iraqi elements and inspired by Assyrian civilization.This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News.

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Restoration work is progressing rapidly on two 13th-century historic mural reliefs at the ancient Mar Behnam and Sarah Monastery.

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The Good Maharaja who sheltered Polish children during World War II – #Catholic – The 1941 Sikorski-Mayski agreement between the Soviet Union and Poland resulted in the release of tens of thousands of Polish prisoners of war held in the Gulag and other Soviet camps. Their number included thousands of displaced children, many of whom were orphans. No one wanted these children; they couldn’t return to Nazi-occupied Poland, and the Soviet Union didn’t want them. Thanks to one man from a small princely state in India, their future became secured.The unexpected intervention of Jam Sahib Digvijaysinhji, the maharaja of Nawanagar, known as “the Good Maharaja,” provided these children a home in his personal estate at Balachadi.Digvijaysinhji had been educated at Malvern College in England and was part of Winston Churchill’s Imperial War Cabinet.  “He was an extraordinary man, and to the Polish people, he became a national hero … an Indian Oskar Schindler,” former Malvern College teacher and housemaster Andrew Murtagh wrote of Digvijaysinhji.Father Piotr Wiśniowski, chaplain of EWTN Poland, told EWTN News: “The Good Maharaja, Jam Sahib Digvijaysinhji, wrote himself into history through extraordinary humanity. When he welcomed Polish orphans to Balachadi, he said: ‘You are no longer refugees. From today, you are the children of Nawanagar, and I am your Bapu — your father.’ These words were not a public-relations gesture but a pledge to take responsibility for the most vulnerable.” During World War II, the unexpected intervention of the maharaja of Nawanagar, Jamsaheb Digvijaysinghji, known as “the Good Maharaja,” provided hundreds of Polish children a home at his personal estate in India. | Credit: Public domain The Poles amnestied by Stalin following the Sikorski-Mayski agreement formed the 40,000-strong Anders Army, which played a vital role in Allied war efforts. But the Polish children — Catholic and Jewish, many of whom were orphaned or had lost a parent — were the unwanted detritus of war. They had been detained in camps and temporary orphanages, often left to die of illness or starvation. Many were sons and daughters of the estimated 22,000 Polish soldiers and civilians murdered by Soviet forces in the Katyn Woods massacre.Responsibility for this humanitarian catastrophe shifted to the Polish government in exile and to British government officials. Many nations were unwilling to offer shelter to the children. The agreed-upon solution was to relocate the refugees to India.Digvijaysinhji moved quickly to alleviate the humanitarian crisis. His state was the first to host 500 Polish children. Other Indian states followed his kindness.“After 1941, when Polish refugees were freed from Soviet captivity, Poland was a nation devastated by war, unable to care even for its own children,” Wiśniowski told EWTN News. “The maharaja understood that tragedy and said, ‘If God has sent me these children, it is my duty to care for them.’ That is why Poland remains grateful to him — for lives saved, dignity restored, and for the witness that mercy knows no borders of nations or cultures.”At first, foster homes were suggested, but the Polish government was opposed to separating the already traumatized children. Other options, such as schools and convents, proved unworkable. The viceroy of India set up The Polish Children’s Fund, supported by the archbishop of Delhi and the mother superior of the Convent of Jesus and Mary. The group raised funds among private donors including the Tata family. Children from Polish orphanages, USSR, 1941-1942. | Credit: Photo from the collection of Wiesław Stypuła Anuradha Bhattacharjee in “The Second Homeland: Polish Refugees in India” explains how India — though not sovereign at the time and not at all prosperous — became the first country in the world to accept and offer sanctuary at its own cost to the hapless Polish population rendered homeless and subsequently stateless.“The first Polish children were hosted in Balachadi in Nawanagar state and were maintained by charitable funds raised in India, subscribed to by several Indian princes and wealthy individuals. They were settled at a camp near Balachadi when no place for the children could be found in the whole of British India. The state of Nawanagar took the bold step of adopting the children to prevent their forcible repatriation to Soviet-occupied Poland at the end of the second world war.”By December 1942, around 640 children had made the 1,500-kilometer (932-mile) arduous journey in trucks from Ashgabat in Turkmenistan to Balachadi. According to accounts, they were extremely thin and miserable, their clothes hanging about their frames, and this was after having already been fed for a few months.Digvijaysinhji converted the guesthouse of his Balachadi palace into a school with a special library shelved with Polish books. The children often put on plays with Digvijaysinhji in attendance. Among their Polish caregivers were Father Franciszek Pluta, who was later denounced by the communists as an international kidnapper after relocating some of the children to the United States, as well as scoutmaster Zdzisław Peszkowski, a survivor of the Katyn Woods massacre who was ordained a priest after World War II. Peszkowski campaigned for the truth about Katyn for the rest of his life and was a contemporary and close associate of St. John Paul II.In the camp the children enjoyed the outdoor life, the beach, and the climate. They camped and played soccer, hockey, and volleyball. Father Franciszek Pluta celebrates a field Mass during the land evacuation from the Soviet Union to India. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Koło Polaków z Niechciał z Niechciał At the end of the war, many children feared living under communist rule, having suffered deportation to Siberia from the Soviet regime. Only those children who wanted to return to Poland were required to go back. Eighty-one children were relocated to the United States to build new lives there with the help of Catholic missionaries. Twelve Jewish children were relocated to Haifa in 1943.In 1989, following the fall of communism in Poland, the kindness and generosity of Digvijaysinhji was formally recognized by the Polish government. In 2012, a park in Warsaw was named the “Square of the Good Maharaja” and a monument was erected. He was also posthumously given the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.
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The Good Maharaja who sheltered Polish children during World War II – #Catholic – The 1941 Sikorski-Mayski agreement between the Soviet Union and Poland resulted in the release of tens of thousands of Polish prisoners of war held in the Gulag and other Soviet camps. Their number included thousands of displaced children, many of whom were orphans. No one wanted these children; they couldn’t return to Nazi-occupied Poland, and the Soviet Union didn’t want them. Thanks to one man from a small princely state in India, their future became secured.The unexpected intervention of Jam Sahib Digvijaysinhji, the maharaja of Nawanagar, known as “the Good Maharaja,” provided these children a home in his personal estate at Balachadi.Digvijaysinhji had been educated at Malvern College in England and was part of Winston Churchill’s Imperial War Cabinet.  “He was an extraordinary man, and to the Polish people, he became a national hero … an Indian Oskar Schindler,” former Malvern College teacher and housemaster Andrew Murtagh wrote of Digvijaysinhji.Father Piotr Wiśniowski, chaplain of EWTN Poland, told EWTN News: “The Good Maharaja, Jam Sahib Digvijaysinhji, wrote himself into history through extraordinary humanity. When he welcomed Polish orphans to Balachadi, he said: ‘You are no longer refugees. From today, you are the children of Nawanagar, and I am your Bapu — your father.’ These words were not a public-relations gesture but a pledge to take responsibility for the most vulnerable.” During World War II, the unexpected intervention of the maharaja of Nawanagar, Jamsaheb Digvijaysinghji, known as “the Good Maharaja,” provided hundreds of Polish children a home at his personal estate in India. | Credit: Public domain The Poles amnestied by Stalin following the Sikorski-Mayski agreement formed the 40,000-strong Anders Army, which played a vital role in Allied war efforts. But the Polish children — Catholic and Jewish, many of whom were orphaned or had lost a parent — were the unwanted detritus of war. They had been detained in camps and temporary orphanages, often left to die of illness or starvation. Many were sons and daughters of the estimated 22,000 Polish soldiers and civilians murdered by Soviet forces in the Katyn Woods massacre.Responsibility for this humanitarian catastrophe shifted to the Polish government in exile and to British government officials. Many nations were unwilling to offer shelter to the children. The agreed-upon solution was to relocate the refugees to India.Digvijaysinhji moved quickly to alleviate the humanitarian crisis. His state was the first to host 500 Polish children. Other Indian states followed his kindness.“After 1941, when Polish refugees were freed from Soviet captivity, Poland was a nation devastated by war, unable to care even for its own children,” Wiśniowski told EWTN News. “The maharaja understood that tragedy and said, ‘If God has sent me these children, it is my duty to care for them.’ That is why Poland remains grateful to him — for lives saved, dignity restored, and for the witness that mercy knows no borders of nations or cultures.”At first, foster homes were suggested, but the Polish government was opposed to separating the already traumatized children. Other options, such as schools and convents, proved unworkable. The viceroy of India set up The Polish Children’s Fund, supported by the archbishop of Delhi and the mother superior of the Convent of Jesus and Mary. The group raised funds among private donors including the Tata family. Children from Polish orphanages, USSR, 1941-1942. | Credit: Photo from the collection of Wiesław Stypuła Anuradha Bhattacharjee in “The Second Homeland: Polish Refugees in India” explains how India — though not sovereign at the time and not at all prosperous — became the first country in the world to accept and offer sanctuary at its own cost to the hapless Polish population rendered homeless and subsequently stateless.“The first Polish children were hosted in Balachadi in Nawanagar state and were maintained by charitable funds raised in India, subscribed to by several Indian princes and wealthy individuals. They were settled at a camp near Balachadi when no place for the children could be found in the whole of British India. The state of Nawanagar took the bold step of adopting the children to prevent their forcible repatriation to Soviet-occupied Poland at the end of the second world war.”By December 1942, around 640 children had made the 1,500-kilometer (932-mile) arduous journey in trucks from Ashgabat in Turkmenistan to Balachadi. According to accounts, they were extremely thin and miserable, their clothes hanging about their frames, and this was after having already been fed for a few months.Digvijaysinhji converted the guesthouse of his Balachadi palace into a school with a special library shelved with Polish books. The children often put on plays with Digvijaysinhji in attendance. Among their Polish caregivers were Father Franciszek Pluta, who was later denounced by the communists as an international kidnapper after relocating some of the children to the United States, as well as scoutmaster Zdzisław Peszkowski, a survivor of the Katyn Woods massacre who was ordained a priest after World War II. Peszkowski campaigned for the truth about Katyn for the rest of his life and was a contemporary and close associate of St. John Paul II.In the camp the children enjoyed the outdoor life, the beach, and the climate. They camped and played soccer, hockey, and volleyball. Father Franciszek Pluta celebrates a field Mass during the land evacuation from the Soviet Union to India. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Koło Polaków z Niechciał z Niechciał At the end of the war, many children feared living under communist rule, having suffered deportation to Siberia from the Soviet regime. Only those children who wanted to return to Poland were required to go back. Eighty-one children were relocated to the United States to build new lives there with the help of Catholic missionaries. Twelve Jewish children were relocated to Haifa in 1943.In 1989, following the fall of communism in Poland, the kindness and generosity of Digvijaysinhji was formally recognized by the Polish government. In 2012, a park in Warsaw was named the “Square of the Good Maharaja” and a monument was erected. He was also posthumously given the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.

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During World War II, the unexpected intervention of the Maharaja of Nawanagar, known as “the Good Maharaja,” provided hundreds of Polish children a home at his personal estate in India.

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Rachel’s Vineyard retreats return in 2026 to offer post-abortion healing #Catholic – Have you or someone you know been affected by abortion? There is hope. There is healing. Two Rachel’s Vineyard retreats are scheduled for 2026 (April 10 and Sept. 25) for those seeking to renew, rebuild, and redeem hearts broken by an abortion. These confidential weekend retreats are rooted in faith, offering compassion, healing, and hope to anyone affected by abortion, including women and men of all ages. In a supportive and welcoming setting, participants are invited to reflect, grieve, and experience God’s love and mercy. “It took me a while to get up the courage to call, but thank God I did,” said Susan Swander in a testimonial she wrote on rachelsvineyard.org after attending a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat. “What a remarkable, healing experience this weekend was. Words do not do justice to the love, compassion, and understanding I found during the retreat.” Some of the symptoms faced by those who experience the trauma of abortion include depression, nightmares, anxiety, withdrawal from family, and even suicidal thoughts. Rachel’s Vineyard offers participants a space to work through these experiences and find forgiveness. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. The retreats are being offered in English and Spanish in a special partnership between the Diocese of Paterson and the Archdiocese of Newark. Cheryl Riley, Respect Life director of the Archdiocese of Newark, and Alyssa Renovales, Respect Life coordinator of the Diocese of Paterson, will co-lead the retreats. Anyone in the Diocese of Paterson seeking support or more information is encouraged to contact Renovales at 973-377-1004 ext. 406 or by email Arenovales@patersondiocese.org. All inquiries are completely confidential. “Echoing the hope proclaimed by St. John Paul II in Evangelium Vitae, Rachel’s Vineyard is a beautiful gift to the Church, a place where hearts are gently restored, burdens are lifted, and all are reminded that the Church is for them and God’s mercy is always within reach,” Renovales said. Rachel’s Vineyard was founded in 1995 by Theresa Karminski Burke, Ph.D., and is now offered in over 33 languages across 50 countries. Learn more about the Respect Life Ministry of the Diocese of Paterson by visiting insidethewalls.org/respect-life.
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Rachel’s Vineyard retreats return in 2026 to offer post-abortion healing #Catholic – Have you or someone you know been affected by abortion? There is hope. There is healing. Two Rachel’s Vineyard retreats are scheduled for 2026 (April 10 and Sept. 25) for those seeking to renew, rebuild, and redeem hearts broken by an abortion. These confidential weekend retreats are rooted in faith, offering compassion, healing, and hope to anyone affected by abortion, including women and men of all ages. In a supportive and welcoming setting, participants are invited to reflect, grieve, and experience God’s love and mercy. “It took me a while to get up the courage to call, but thank God I did,” said Susan Swander in a testimonial she wrote on rachelsvineyard.org after attending a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat. “What a remarkable, healing experience this weekend was. Words do not do justice to the love, compassion, and understanding I found during the retreat.” Some of the symptoms faced by those who experience the trauma of abortion include depression, nightmares, anxiety, withdrawal from family, and even suicidal thoughts. Rachel’s Vineyard offers participants a space to work through these experiences and find forgiveness. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. The retreats are being offered in English and Spanish in a special partnership between the Diocese of Paterson and the Archdiocese of Newark. Cheryl Riley, Respect Life director of the Archdiocese of Newark, and Alyssa Renovales, Respect Life coordinator of the Diocese of Paterson, will co-lead the retreats. Anyone in the Diocese of Paterson seeking support or more information is encouraged to contact Renovales at 973-377-1004 ext. 406 or by email Arenovales@patersondiocese.org. All inquiries are completely confidential. “Echoing the hope proclaimed by St. John Paul II in Evangelium Vitae, Rachel’s Vineyard is a beautiful gift to the Church, a place where hearts are gently restored, burdens are lifted, and all are reminded that the Church is for them and God’s mercy is always within reach,” Renovales said. Rachel’s Vineyard was founded in 1995 by Theresa Karminski Burke, Ph.D., and is now offered in over 33 languages across 50 countries. Learn more about the Respect Life Ministry of the Diocese of Paterson by visiting insidethewalls.org/respect-life.

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Rachel’s Vineyard retreats return in 2026 to offer post-abortion healing #Catholic –

Have you or someone you know been affected by abortion? There is hope. There is healing.

Two Rachel’s Vineyard retreats are scheduled for 2026 (April 10 and Sept. 25) for those seeking to renew, rebuild, and redeem hearts broken by an abortion.

These confidential weekend retreats are rooted in faith, offering compassion, healing, and hope to anyone affected by abortion, including women and men of all ages. In a supportive and welcoming setting, participants are invited to reflect, grieve, and experience God’s love and mercy.

“It took me a while to get up the courage to call, but thank God I did,” said Susan Swander in a testimonial she wrote on rachelsvineyard.org after attending a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat. “What a remarkable, healing experience this weekend was. Words do not do justice to the love, compassion, and understanding I found during the retreat.”

Some of the symptoms faced by those who experience the trauma of abortion include depression, nightmares, anxiety, withdrawal from family, and even suicidal thoughts. Rachel’s Vineyard offers participants a space to work through these experiences and find forgiveness.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

The retreats are being offered in English and Spanish in a special partnership between the Diocese of Paterson and the Archdiocese of Newark. Cheryl Riley, Respect Life director of the Archdiocese of Newark, and Alyssa Renovales, Respect Life coordinator of the Diocese of Paterson, will co-lead the retreats.

Anyone in the Diocese of Paterson seeking support or more information is encouraged to contact Renovales at 973-377-1004 ext. 406 or by email Arenovales@patersondiocese.org. All inquiries are completely confidential.

“Echoing the hope proclaimed by St. John Paul II in Evangelium Vitae, Rachel’s Vineyard is a beautiful gift to the Church, a place where hearts are gently restored, burdens are lifted, and all are reminded that the Church is for them and God’s mercy is always within reach,” Renovales said.

Rachel’s Vineyard was founded in 1995 by Theresa Karminski Burke, Ph.D., and is now offered in over 33 languages across 50 countries.

Learn more about the Respect Life Ministry of the Diocese of Paterson by visiting insidethewalls.org/respect-life.

– Have you or someone you know been affected by abortion? There is hope. There is healing. Two Rachel’s Vineyard retreats are scheduled for 2026 (April 10 and Sept. 25) for those seeking to renew, rebuild, and redeem hearts broken by an abortion. These confidential weekend retreats are rooted in faith, offering compassion, healing, and hope to anyone affected by abortion, including women and men of all ages. In a supportive and welcoming setting, participants are invited to reflect, grieve, and experience God’s love and mercy. “It took me a while to get up the courage to call, but thank God

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The Sky Today on Sunday, February 15: Saturn and Neptune stand close

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  February 14: A Valentine’s Heart (Nebula) This evening, Saturn passes 0.9° south of Neptune at 11 P.M. EST. The two planets stand together in Pisces, located in the west after sunset. An hour after the Sun goes down, the pair is stillContinue reading “The Sky Today on Sunday, February 15: Saturn and Neptune stand close”

The post The Sky Today on Sunday, February 15: Saturn and Neptune stand close appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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Kristi Noem Triggers the Left With Perfectly Reasonable Comments About Voter Integrity (VIDEO) – Trump DHS Secretary Kristi Noem recently offered some comments about voter integrity, saying that we have to make sure that the right people are voting. The post Kristi Noem Triggers the Left With Perfectly Reasonable Comments About Voter Integrity (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Kristi Noem Triggers the Left With Perfectly Reasonable Comments About Voter Integrity (VIDEO) – Trump DHS Secretary Kristi Noem recently offered some comments about voter integrity, saying that we have to make sure that the right people are voting. The post Kristi Noem Triggers the Left With Perfectly Reasonable Comments About Voter Integrity (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Trump DHS Secretary Kristi Noem recently offered some comments about voter integrity, saying that we have to make sure that the right people are voting.

The post Kristi Noem Triggers the Left With Perfectly Reasonable Comments About Voter Integrity (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Senator John Kennedy Talks About His Recently Passed Bill That Ends Payments to Dead Americans: ‘There’s Obviously a Lot of Fraud’ (VIDEO) – Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana recently passed a bill that ends the practice of sending government payments to dead people. The post Senator John Kennedy Talks About His Recently Passed Bill That Ends Payments to Dead Americans: ‘There’s Obviously a Lot of Fraud’ (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Senator John Kennedy Talks About His Recently Passed Bill That Ends Payments to Dead Americans: ‘There’s Obviously a Lot of Fraud’ (VIDEO) – Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana recently passed a bill that ends the practice of sending government payments to dead people. The post Senator John Kennedy Talks About His Recently Passed Bill That Ends Payments to Dead Americans: ‘There’s Obviously a Lot of Fraud’ (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana recently passed a bill that ends the practice of sending government payments to dead people.

The post Senator John Kennedy Talks About His Recently Passed Bill That Ends Payments to Dead Americans: ‘There’s Obviously a Lot of Fraud’ (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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San Francisco Reparations Fund Now Causing Infighting Among Various Groups in the City – San Francisco passed a resolution right before Christmas, creating a reparations fund that is supposed to pay a ridiculous amount of money to black residents, despite the fact that California never even had slavery. The post San Francisco Reparations Fund Now Causing Infighting Among Various Groups in the City appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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San Francisco Reparations Fund Now Causing Infighting Among Various Groups in the City – San Francisco passed a resolution right before Christmas, creating a reparations fund that is supposed to pay a ridiculous amount of money to black residents, despite the fact that California never even had slavery. The post San Francisco Reparations Fund Now Causing Infighting Among Various Groups in the City appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam

San Francisco passed a resolution right before Christmas, creating a reparations fund that is supposed to pay a ridiculous amount of money to black residents, despite the fact that California never even had slavery.

The post San Francisco Reparations Fund Now Causing Infighting Among Various Groups in the City appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 15 February 2026 – A reading from the Book of Sirach 15:15-20 If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you; if you trust in God, you too shall live; he has set before you fire and water to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him. Immense is the wisdom of the Lord; he is mighty in power, and all-seeing. The eyes of God are on those who fear him; he understands man’s every deed. No one does he command to act unjustly, to none does he give license to sin.   A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 Brothers and sisters: We speak a wisdom to those who are mature, not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away. Rather, we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory, and which none of the rulers of this age knew; for, if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him, this God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.From the Gospel according to Matthew 5:17-37 Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny. "You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna. "It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife – unless the marriage is unlawful – causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. "Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one."“Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mt 5:17,20). But what do this “fullness” of Christ’s Law and this “superior” justice that he demands consist in? Jesus explains it with a series of antitheses between the old commandments and his new way of propounding them. He begins each time: “You have heard that it was said to the men of old…”, and then he asserts: “but I say to you”…. (…). And he does this six times. This manner of speaking made a great impression on the people, who were shocked, because those words: “I say to you” were equivalent to claiming the actual authority of God, the source of the Law. The newness of Jesus consists essentially in the fact that he himself “fulfils” the commandments with the love of God, with the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within him. And we, through faith in Christ, can open ourselves to the action of the Holy Spirit who makes us capable of living divine love. So it is that every precept becomes true as a requirement of love, and all join in a single commandment: love God with all your heart and love your neighbour as yourself. (Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus, 13 February 2011)

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A reading from the Book of Sirach
15:15-20

If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you;
if you trust in God, you too shall live;
he has set before you fire and water
to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand.
Before man are life and death, good and evil,
whichever he chooses shall be given him.
Immense is the wisdom of the Lord;
he is mighty in power, and all-seeing.
The eyes of God are on those who fear him;
he understands man’s every deed.
No one does he command to act unjustly,
to none does he give license to sin.

 

A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians
1 Corinthians 2:6-10

Brothers and sisters:
We speak a wisdom to those who are mature,
not a wisdom of this age,
nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away.
Rather, we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden,
which God predetermined before the ages for our glory,
and which none of the rulers of this age knew;
for, if they had known it,
they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written:
What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard,
and what has not entered the human heart,
what God has prepared for those who love him,
this God has revealed to us through the Spirit.

For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.

From the Gospel according to Matthew
5:17-37

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses
that of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you,
whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment;
and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin;
and whoever says, ‘You fool,’
will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.

"You have heard that it was said,
You shall not commit adultery.
But I say to you,
everyone who looks at a woman with lust
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin,
tear it out and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.
And if your right hand causes you to sin,
cut it off and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.

"It was also said,
Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.
But I say to you,
whoever divorces his wife – unless the marriage is unlawful –
causes her to commit adultery,
and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

"Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
But I say to you, do not swear at all;
not by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;
nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Do not swear by your head,
for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’
Anything more is from the evil one."

“Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mt 5:17,20). But what do this “fullness” of Christ’s Law and this “superior” justice that he demands consist in?

Jesus explains it with a series of antitheses between the old commandments and his new way of propounding them. He begins each time: “You have heard that it was said to the men of old…”, and then he asserts: “but I say to you”…. (…).

And he does this six times. This manner of speaking made a great impression on the people, who were shocked, because those words: “I say to you” were equivalent to claiming the actual authority of God, the source of the Law. The newness of Jesus consists essentially in the fact that he himself “fulfils” the commandments with the love of God, with the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within him. And we, through faith in Christ, can open ourselves to the action of the Holy Spirit who makes us capable of living divine love.

So it is that every precept becomes true as a requirement of love, and all join in a single commandment: love God with all your heart and love your neighbour as yourself. (Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus, 13 February 2011)

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Ukraine bishop at New York Encounter: War begins when man rejects God from his heart – #Catholic – Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, survival means remaining in relationship with Christ and in community with one another, according to a delegation of Ukrainian Catholic Church leaders who gave their testimony at the New York Encounter on Feb. 14. Bishop Pavlo Honcharuk of Kharkiv and Father Wojciech Stasiewicz, director of Caritas-Spes of the Kharkiv-Zaporizhia Diocese, shared how they have approached survival throughout the four-year conflict that has ravaged their communities.The bishop and priest spoke during a panel moderated by Bishop Earl Fernandes of Columbus, Ohio. Bishop Pavlo Honcharuk of Kharkiv, Father Wojciech Stasiewicz, and Bishop Earl Fernandes of Columbus, Ohio speak at the New York Encounter, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 | Credit: Jeff Bruno This year’s New York Encounter is centered on the theme “Where Everything Is Waiting for You,” focusing on “the reemerging human desire for authentic belonging amid global isolation, emphasizing how freedom, truth, forgiveness, and dignity foster certainty and openness in true community.” The event will continue through Feb. 15.“We can say that, thanks to God, thanks to our Faith, we have a strong foundation,” said Honcharuk, who compared the current situation in Ukraine to the Titanic. The bishop described the struggles faced by Ukrainians today, including the obliteration of power grids across the country, below-freezing temperatures, and ongoing drone and missile strikes.“We are in the middle of a tempest of suffering and pain,” he said. “In this sense, we're always expecting or waiting for death, but in the midst of all that, we are trying to be able to love, and to help others.”The bishop reflected during his remarks that survival for him has been in keeping busy with the demands of his role, which extend far beyond pastoral care due to the humanitarian aid role the Church in Ukraine has assumed. From traveling to precarious locations to preside over funeral services, to thawing frozen generators, the bishop remains occupied.“If you were to stop and sit and look at it, and try to deepen what is happening, you wouldn’t be able to stand it. There are many instances where people lose their minds, they close in on themselves.” This, he said, “is the most terrible thing.”Honcharuk said Christ’s love is what compels him to remain with his people, and that ultimately, having faith in God is what brings peace.“The beginning of war is in the hearts of men,” the bishop said. “When there is no God, a person does not feel like someone. He has to prove all the time to himself and to others that he is someone. He exploits everything to show that he is someone.”In the end, he said, a person’s encounter with God is where peace begins.Father Stasiewicz also shared how his work with Caritas has acted as both a humanitarian hub for Ukrainians, and as a ministry of faithful presence and community throughout the war. The priest emphasized the need to be in community, especially during conflict, otherwise “you're carrying all this burden by yourself, and you have nobody to help you, or to sustain you.”Papal Nuncio to the U.S. Cardinal Christophe Pierre attended the panel, which took place in the main auditorium of the Metropolitan Pavilion. The event was at maximum capacity, and attendees gave a warm standing ovation to the Ukrainian bishop and priest for several minutes. 
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Ukraine bishop at New York Encounter: War begins when man rejects God from his heart – #Catholic – Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, survival means remaining in relationship with Christ and in community with one another, according to a delegation of Ukrainian Catholic Church leaders who gave their testimony at the New York Encounter on Feb. 14. Bishop Pavlo Honcharuk of Kharkiv and Father Wojciech Stasiewicz, director of Caritas-Spes of the Kharkiv-Zaporizhia Diocese, shared how they have approached survival throughout the four-year conflict that has ravaged their communities.The bishop and priest spoke during a panel moderated by Bishop Earl Fernandes of Columbus, Ohio. Bishop Pavlo Honcharuk of Kharkiv, Father Wojciech Stasiewicz, and Bishop Earl Fernandes of Columbus, Ohio speak at the New York Encounter, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 | Credit: Jeff Bruno This year’s New York Encounter is centered on the theme “Where Everything Is Waiting for You,” focusing on “the reemerging human desire for authentic belonging amid global isolation, emphasizing how freedom, truth, forgiveness, and dignity foster certainty and openness in true community.” The event will continue through Feb. 15.“We can say that, thanks to God, thanks to our Faith, we have a strong foundation,” said Honcharuk, who compared the current situation in Ukraine to the Titanic. The bishop described the struggles faced by Ukrainians today, including the obliteration of power grids across the country, below-freezing temperatures, and ongoing drone and missile strikes.“We are in the middle of a tempest of suffering and pain,” he said. “In this sense, we're always expecting or waiting for death, but in the midst of all that, we are trying to be able to love, and to help others.”The bishop reflected during his remarks that survival for him has been in keeping busy with the demands of his role, which extend far beyond pastoral care due to the humanitarian aid role the Church in Ukraine has assumed. From traveling to precarious locations to preside over funeral services, to thawing frozen generators, the bishop remains occupied.“If you were to stop and sit and look at it, and try to deepen what is happening, you wouldn’t be able to stand it. There are many instances where people lose their minds, they close in on themselves.” This, he said, “is the most terrible thing.”Honcharuk said Christ’s love is what compels him to remain with his people, and that ultimately, having faith in God is what brings peace.“The beginning of war is in the hearts of men,” the bishop said. “When there is no God, a person does not feel like someone. He has to prove all the time to himself and to others that he is someone. He exploits everything to show that he is someone.”In the end, he said, a person’s encounter with God is where peace begins.Father Stasiewicz also shared how his work with Caritas has acted as both a humanitarian hub for Ukrainians, and as a ministry of faithful presence and community throughout the war. The priest emphasized the need to be in community, especially during conflict, otherwise “you're carrying all this burden by yourself, and you have nobody to help you, or to sustain you.”Papal Nuncio to the U.S. Cardinal Christophe Pierre attended the panel, which took place in the main auditorium of the Metropolitan Pavilion. The event was at maximum capacity, and attendees gave a warm standing ovation to the Ukrainian bishop and priest for several minutes. 

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“We can say that, thanks to God, thanks to our Faith, we have a strong foundation,” said Bishop Pavlo Honcharuk.

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Slowing of religious decline points to ‘shifting’ faith landscape, experts say at New York Encounter #Catholic Recent claims of an emerging religious revival in the West may overstate the case, but there are clear signs that belief in God is rising, experts said Saturday at the New York Encounter, the annual conference hosted by members of Communion and Liberation.Speaking at the gathering, Chip Rotolo, a research associate at the Pew Research Center, cited data showing that religious affiliation in the United States has declined steadily for decades. Yet recent findings from Pew’s Religious Landscape Study have offered reasons for cautious optimism among those concerned about the nation’s secularization.According to Pew’s data, the share of U.S. adults identifying as Christian (63%) is down from 2007 levels (78%) but has held steady since 2020. Panelists Brandon Vaidyanathan, Chip Rotolo, Lauren Jackson, and Justin Brierley speak on the panel “Hungry for Belonging” at New York Encounter on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. | Credit: Jeff Bruno “The fact that the religious decline we’re so used to seeing is leveled off is a huge shift,” Rotolo said, noting that recent data shows that the number of Americans who are religiously affiliated, attend church, and pray daily have “been very stable.”He noted that this stabilization began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many might have expected religious participation to drop as churches closed and communities were forced to rethink worship and parish life.“If you already had one foot out the door at your church, it would have been easy to step away,” Rotolo said. “But we’ve seen this remarkable stability. That has drawn a lot of attention, curiosity, and hope.”A second key finding has further fueled interest. According to Pew’s research, 92% of Americans express some form of spiritual outlook — meaning they believe in at least one of the following: that people have souls, that God exists, that there is something spiritual beyond the natural world, or that there is an afterlife. Attendees listen to the panel “Hungry for Belonging” at New York Encounter on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. | Credit: Jeff Bruno “Something is definitely shifting in American religious life,” Rotolo said. “We can disagree and continue figuring out exactly what that is, but it’s certainly an interesting time to study.”Also speaking at the panel was Justin Brierley, author of “The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God.” Brierley said that although there have been questions raised about the methodology of surveys showing an increase in religiosity in the West, there has been a noticeable cultural shift away from the “New Atheism” popularized in the early 2000s by figures such as Richard Dawkins, author of “The God Delusion.”By the 2010s, Brierley said, he began to see public intellectuals acknowledging Christianity’s formative role in shaping Western civilization. Some, he added, have gone further — openly professing religious belief.He pointed to the conversion of the Somali-born Dutch and American writer Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who in late 2023 published a viral essay titled “Why I’m Now a Christian.”“When she came out with that article, it made a lot of people say, ‘If Ayaan Hirsi Ali — arguably one of the most prominent former atheists in the world — has changed her mind, it could happen to anyone,’” Brierley said.Lauren Jackson, a religion columnist at The New York Times, said her outlet recently launched a series titled “Believing,” inspired in part by Pew’s findings on religious life in America.“We took all this data together and made the claim that Americans haven’t found a satisfying alternative to religion,” Jackson said. Through interviews and surveys, she added, many in the U.S. have expressed “an intense desire for belonging, for meaning, for community, for connection to the transcendent.”That desire, however, is not always expressed within the walls of a church. The series has explored other avenues through which Americans seek spiritual meaning and communal identity, including the growing popularity of saunas and the sense of belonging fostered by soccer communities.While the speakers stopped short of declaring a religious revival at work, they agreed that the current moment reflects a significant shift — one marked by a renewed openness to faith and the enduring human search for transcendence.Brierley noted that to most people the once-popular atheists’ arguments in favor of science and technology as an alternative to religion haven’t been convincing.“I think as we’ve lost the Christian story in the modern West, it has led to people looking for other stories to make sense of their life. I think some people did for a while reach for the atheist materialist story,” he explained.“When you look at where culture has actually gone and the science and technology we put in, it turns out we have made ourselves unhappier,” he said.
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Slowing of religious decline points to ‘shifting’ faith landscape, experts say at New York Encounter #Catholic Recent claims of an emerging religious revival in the West may overstate the case, but there are clear signs that belief in God is rising, experts said Saturday at the New York Encounter, the annual conference hosted by members of Communion and Liberation.Speaking at the gathering, Chip Rotolo, a research associate at the Pew Research Center, cited data showing that religious affiliation in the United States has declined steadily for decades. Yet recent findings from Pew’s Religious Landscape Study have offered reasons for cautious optimism among those concerned about the nation’s secularization.According to Pew’s data, the share of U.S. adults identifying as Christian (63%) is down from 2007 levels (78%) but has held steady since 2020. Panelists Brandon Vaidyanathan, Chip Rotolo, Lauren Jackson, and Justin Brierley speak on the panel “Hungry for Belonging” at New York Encounter on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. | Credit: Jeff Bruno “The fact that the religious decline we’re so used to seeing is leveled off is a huge shift,” Rotolo said, noting that recent data shows that the number of Americans who are religiously affiliated, attend church, and pray daily have “been very stable.”He noted that this stabilization began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many might have expected religious participation to drop as churches closed and communities were forced to rethink worship and parish life.“If you already had one foot out the door at your church, it would have been easy to step away,” Rotolo said. “But we’ve seen this remarkable stability. That has drawn a lot of attention, curiosity, and hope.”A second key finding has further fueled interest. According to Pew’s research, 92% of Americans express some form of spiritual outlook — meaning they believe in at least one of the following: that people have souls, that God exists, that there is something spiritual beyond the natural world, or that there is an afterlife. Attendees listen to the panel “Hungry for Belonging” at New York Encounter on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. | Credit: Jeff Bruno “Something is definitely shifting in American religious life,” Rotolo said. “We can disagree and continue figuring out exactly what that is, but it’s certainly an interesting time to study.”Also speaking at the panel was Justin Brierley, author of “The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God.” Brierley said that although there have been questions raised about the methodology of surveys showing an increase in religiosity in the West, there has been a noticeable cultural shift away from the “New Atheism” popularized in the early 2000s by figures such as Richard Dawkins, author of “The God Delusion.”By the 2010s, Brierley said, he began to see public intellectuals acknowledging Christianity’s formative role in shaping Western civilization. Some, he added, have gone further — openly professing religious belief.He pointed to the conversion of the Somali-born Dutch and American writer Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who in late 2023 published a viral essay titled “Why I’m Now a Christian.”“When she came out with that article, it made a lot of people say, ‘If Ayaan Hirsi Ali — arguably one of the most prominent former atheists in the world — has changed her mind, it could happen to anyone,’” Brierley said.Lauren Jackson, a religion columnist at The New York Times, said her outlet recently launched a series titled “Believing,” inspired in part by Pew’s findings on religious life in America.“We took all this data together and made the claim that Americans haven’t found a satisfying alternative to religion,” Jackson said. Through interviews and surveys, she added, many in the U.S. have expressed “an intense desire for belonging, for meaning, for community, for connection to the transcendent.”That desire, however, is not always expressed within the walls of a church. The series has explored other avenues through which Americans seek spiritual meaning and communal identity, including the growing popularity of saunas and the sense of belonging fostered by soccer communities.While the speakers stopped short of declaring a religious revival at work, they agreed that the current moment reflects a significant shift — one marked by a renewed openness to faith and the enduring human search for transcendence.Brierley noted that to most people the once-popular atheists’ arguments in favor of science and technology as an alternative to religion haven’t been convincing.“I think as we’ve lost the Christian story in the modern West, it has led to people looking for other stories to make sense of their life. I think some people did for a while reach for the atheist materialist story,” he explained.“When you look at where culture has actually gone and the science and technology we put in, it turns out we have made ourselves unhappier,” he said.

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According to Pew data, the share of U.S. adults identifying as Christian is down from 2007 levels but has held steady since 2020.

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Urgent search for stem cell donor to save boy #Catholic – Father Jude Salus, a Benedictine monk at St. Mary’s Abbey in Morristown, N.J., is coming to communities he served and the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey —and beyond —with a desperate plea for help for a 15-year-old boy with a rare blood disorder. The priest is asking people of both genders, ages 18 to 35, of mixed heritage, with roots in the Caribbean or South America, who may also have European ancestry, to take a genetic test to determine whether they might be a match as a stem-cell donor for Max Uribe. He was diagnosed with the rare blood disorder more than two years ago. A simple 30-second cheek swab is all it takes to see if someone is Max’s “genetic twin” and possibly save his life. To request a kit or learn more about Max’s story, click here. This vibrant, energetic ninth-grader excels in school, sports, and music. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Father Salus made the plea in a letter published in the bulletin of Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., where he formally served as pastor. Max is the grandson of Joseph and Gloria Uribe, who were Notre Dame parishioners for many years, and the son of Juan Uribe, Joseph and Gloria’s son, and his wife, Lucia. Father Salus taught Juan at Delbarton School, also in Morristown, run by the Benedictine community there. Max’s doctors told the family that Max needs a stem cell transplant to repair his bone marrow. Because of his unique Afro-Latino and European heritage, Max has a rare marker (B*42:02) that makes finding a perfect-match donor very difficult. The prevalence of Max’s rare marker is higher among these groups. A perfect match donor will raise Max’s five-year survival rate from 85 to 95 percent, a 10-percent increase. The reality is that white patients have an 80 percent chance of finding a perfect match, a Latin/Hispanic patient’s chances are only 50 percent, and a black patient’s are only 30 percent. For an overview of the stem-cell donation process, click here.
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Urgent search for stem cell donor to save boy #Catholic – Father Jude Salus, a Benedictine monk at St. Mary’s Abbey in Morristown, N.J., is coming to communities he served and the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey —and beyond —with a desperate plea for help for a 15-year-old boy with a rare blood disorder. The priest is asking people of both genders, ages 18 to 35, of mixed heritage, with roots in the Caribbean or South America, who may also have European ancestry, to take a genetic test to determine whether they might be a match as a stem-cell donor for Max Uribe. He was diagnosed with the rare blood disorder more than two years ago. A simple 30-second cheek swab is all it takes to see if someone is Max’s “genetic twin” and possibly save his life. To request a kit or learn more about Max’s story, click here. This vibrant, energetic ninth-grader excels in school, sports, and music. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Father Salus made the plea in a letter published in the bulletin of Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., where he formally served as pastor. Max is the grandson of Joseph and Gloria Uribe, who were Notre Dame parishioners for many years, and the son of Juan Uribe, Joseph and Gloria’s son, and his wife, Lucia. Father Salus taught Juan at Delbarton School, also in Morristown, run by the Benedictine community there. Max’s doctors told the family that Max needs a stem cell transplant to repair his bone marrow. Because of his unique Afro-Latino and European heritage, Max has a rare marker (B*42:02) that makes finding a perfect-match donor very difficult. The prevalence of Max’s rare marker is higher among these groups. A perfect match donor will raise Max’s five-year survival rate from 85 to 95 percent, a 10-percent increase. The reality is that white patients have an 80 percent chance of finding a perfect match, a Latin/Hispanic patient’s chances are only 50 percent, and a black patient’s are only 30 percent. For an overview of the stem-cell donation process, click here.

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Urgent search for stem cell donor to save boy #Catholic –

Father Jude Salus, a Benedictine monk at St. Mary’s Abbey in Morristown, N.J., is coming to communities he served and the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey —and beyond —with a desperate plea for help for a 15-year-old boy with a rare blood disorder.

The priest is asking people of both genders, ages 18 to 35, of mixed heritage, with roots in the Caribbean or South America, who may also have European ancestry, to take a genetic test to determine whether they might be a match as a stem-cell donor for Max Uribe. He was diagnosed with the rare blood disorder more than two years ago.

A simple 30-second cheek swab is all it takes to see if someone is Max’s “genetic twin” and possibly save his life. To request a kit or learn more about Max’s story, click here. This vibrant, energetic ninth-grader excels in school, sports, and music.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Father Salus made the plea in a letter published in the bulletin of Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., where he formally served as pastor. Max is the grandson of Joseph and Gloria Uribe, who were Notre Dame parishioners for many years, and the son of Juan Uribe, Joseph and Gloria’s son, and his wife, Lucia. Father Salus taught Juan at Delbarton School, also in Morristown, run by the Benedictine community there.

Max’s doctors told the family that Max needs a stem cell transplant to repair his bone marrow. Because of his unique Afro-Latino and European heritage, Max has a rare marker (B*42:02) that makes finding a perfect-match donor very difficult. The prevalence of Max’s rare marker is higher among these groups.

A perfect match donor will raise Max’s five-year survival rate from 85 to 95 percent, a 10-percent increase. The reality is that white patients have an 80 percent chance of finding a perfect match, a Latin/Hispanic patient’s chances are only 50 percent, and a black patient’s are only 30 percent.

For an overview of the stem-cell donation process, click here.

– Father Jude Salus, a Benedictine monk at St. Mary’s Abbey in Morristown, N.J., is coming to communities he served and the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey —and beyond —with a desperate plea for help for a 15-year-old boy with a rare blood disorder. The priest is asking people of both genders, ages 18 to 35, of mixed heritage, with roots in the Caribbean or South America, who may also have European ancestry, to take a genetic test to determine whether they might be a match as a stem-cell donor for Max Uribe. He was diagnosed with the rare blood disorder

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Pope Leo XIV appoints Texas cardinal as administrator of Amarillo until new bishop chosen #Catholic Pope Leo XIV on Feb. 14 accepted the resignation of Amarillo Bishop Patrick Zurek, appointing Cardinal Daniel DiNardo to serve as apostolic administrator of the Texas diocese until a permanent replacement can be found. Zurek has served as the Amarillo bishop for nearly 20 years, having been appointed to the post by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008. He had previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. The diocese on its website identifies him as "the longest serving Bishop in the history of the Diocese of Amarillo." At 77 he was two years past the customary retirement age for bishops. DiNardo previously served as the archbishop of Galveston-Houston from 2006 to 2025. He was created a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007. He has served as both the president and vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Religious sister named deputy director of Vatican press officeOn Feb. 13, meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV appointed Sister Nina Benedikta Krapić, MVZ as deputy director of the Holy See Press Office. The first religious sister to serve in the role, Krapić previously served in the Dicastery for Communications. Vatican News reported that she has also worked "as a journalist and as a legal advisor for women victims of domestic violence and other marginalized individuals."She is currently studying for a doctorate in social sciences at the Collegium Maximum of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. She will take up the post in the Vatican press office in March 1. Krapić replaces Cristiane Murray in the press role. Murray was appointed to the position by Pope Francis in 2019 after having worked for Vatican Radio for more than 25 years.
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Pope Leo XIV appoints Texas cardinal as administrator of Amarillo until new bishop chosen #Catholic Pope Leo XIV on Feb. 14 accepted the resignation of Amarillo Bishop Patrick Zurek, appointing Cardinal Daniel DiNardo to serve as apostolic administrator of the Texas diocese until a permanent replacement can be found. Zurek has served as the Amarillo bishop for nearly 20 years, having been appointed to the post by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008. He had previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. The diocese on its website identifies him as "the longest serving Bishop in the history of the Diocese of Amarillo." At 77 he was two years past the customary retirement age for bishops. DiNardo previously served as the archbishop of Galveston-Houston from 2006 to 2025. He was created a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007. He has served as both the president and vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Religious sister named deputy director of Vatican press officeOn Feb. 13, meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV appointed Sister Nina Benedikta Krapić, MVZ as deputy director of the Holy See Press Office. The first religious sister to serve in the role, Krapić previously served in the Dicastery for Communications. Vatican News reported that she has also worked "as a journalist and as a legal advisor for women victims of domestic violence and other marginalized individuals."She is currently studying for a doctorate in social sciences at the Collegium Maximum of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. She will take up the post in the Vatican press office in March 1. Krapić replaces Cristiane Murray in the press role. Murray was appointed to the position by Pope Francis in 2019 after having worked for Vatican Radio for more than 25 years.

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The Holy Father accepted the resignation of Amarillo Bishop Patrick Zurek, who has reached retirement age.

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Ave Maria University to open campus in Ireland #Catholic Here is a round up of recent Catholic-education-related news:Ave Maria University to open campus in IrelandAve Maria University, a Catholic liberal arts university in Florida, is opening a new campus at a former monastery in rural Ireland, according to an announcement on its website.The new campus will be in County Waterford in the southern region of Ireland at the former Cistercian monastery of Mount Melleray near Cappoquin, the university announced in a video. The abbey closed in January 2025 after almost two centuries.The video announcement pledged that the new campus would be “a fully integrated Ave Maria University experience now embedded in the rich Catholic and cultural heritage of Europe.”Diocese of Brooklyn to close 7 struggling schools Seven Catholic schools will be closing in June in the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York, due to financial challenges and enrollment declines, the diocese announced Feb. 11.The seven schools closing are: Sacred Heart Catholic Academy, Cambria Heights; St. Bartholomew Catholic Academy in Elmhurst; St. Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Academy in Jamaica; Incarnation Catholic Academy in Queens Village; St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Academy in Woodhaven; St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy in Ozone Park; and Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy in Canarsie.“Our responsibility is both pastoral and practical,” said Deacon Kevin McCormack, superintendent of schools for the diocese. “We will walk with our families and employees through this process while continuing to strengthen Catholic education throughout Brooklyn and Queens.”The enrollment decline has been ongoing since 2019, with a sharp decline from 2024 to 2025, according to the diocese newspaper.The diocese has a website to help families facilitate transferring to nearby Catholic schools.Thomas Aquinas College celebrates 100 alumni priestsA Catholic liberal arts college in California with an East Coast satellite location in Massachusetts celebrated its 100th alumni priest.Priest alumni of Thomas Aquinas College include 11 Benedictines, nine Dominicans, eight Norbertines, and 40 diocesan priests, among others, according to a Feb. 12 press release shared with EWTN News.Thomas Aquinas College has a combined enrollment of about 500 students and is designed to be an intentionally small community.“We are deeply honored to have played some small part in these men’s formation, and we pray for their ministry and witness as they serve Christ’s people throughout the world,” President Paul O’Reilly said in a statement shared with EWTN News.The four newest priests were ordained in 2024 at three separate ordination masses.
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Ave Maria University to open campus in Ireland #Catholic Here is a round up of recent Catholic-education-related news:Ave Maria University to open campus in IrelandAve Maria University, a Catholic liberal arts university in Florida, is opening a new campus at a former monastery in rural Ireland, according to an announcement on its website.The new campus will be in County Waterford in the southern region of Ireland at the former Cistercian monastery of Mount Melleray near Cappoquin, the university announced in a video. The abbey closed in January 2025 after almost two centuries.The video announcement pledged that the new campus would be “a fully integrated Ave Maria University experience now embedded in the rich Catholic and cultural heritage of Europe.”Diocese of Brooklyn to close 7 struggling schools Seven Catholic schools will be closing in June in the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York, due to financial challenges and enrollment declines, the diocese announced Feb. 11.The seven schools closing are: Sacred Heart Catholic Academy, Cambria Heights; St. Bartholomew Catholic Academy in Elmhurst; St. Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Academy in Jamaica; Incarnation Catholic Academy in Queens Village; St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Academy in Woodhaven; St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy in Ozone Park; and Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy in Canarsie.“Our responsibility is both pastoral and practical,” said Deacon Kevin McCormack, superintendent of schools for the diocese. “We will walk with our families and employees through this process while continuing to strengthen Catholic education throughout Brooklyn and Queens.”The enrollment decline has been ongoing since 2019, with a sharp decline from 2024 to 2025, according to the diocese newspaper.The diocese has a website to help families facilitate transferring to nearby Catholic schools.Thomas Aquinas College celebrates 100 alumni priestsA Catholic liberal arts college in California with an East Coast satellite location in Massachusetts celebrated its 100th alumni priest.Priest alumni of Thomas Aquinas College include 11 Benedictines, nine Dominicans, eight Norbertines, and 40 diocesan priests, among others, according to a Feb. 12 press release shared with EWTN News.Thomas Aquinas College has a combined enrollment of about 500 students and is designed to be an intentionally small community.“We are deeply honored to have played some small part in these men’s formation, and we pray for their ministry and witness as they serve Christ’s people throughout the world,” President Paul O’Reilly said in a statement shared with EWTN News.The four newest priests were ordained in 2024 at three separate ordination masses.

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Ave Maria University, a Catholic liberal arts university in Florida, is opening a new campus at a former monastery in rural Ireland. Learn more in this Catholic education news roundup.

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Mother of boy healed through intercession of Fulton Sheen celebrates his upcoming beatification #Catholic Bonnie Engstrom, the mother of the child who was healed through Archbishop J. Fulton Sheen’s intercession, said she “laughed out loud with joy” when she heard his beatification was going to move forward.On Feb. 9, the Holy See officially informed Bishop Louis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, that the cause for the Venerable Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen can proceed to beatification. He is credited for the miracle that saved the life of Engstrom’s son James Fulton Engstrom, who was named after Sheen.“We had started getting to know Fulton Sheen and growing in our devotion to him while I was pregnant with James,” Engstrom said in a Feb. 13 interview with “EWTN News In Depth.” “During that pregnancy we had decided to name our son after him … to really put him under his patronage.”On Sept. 16, 2010, James was born at home. It had been a healthy pregnancy, and it was a healthy labor, but there was a knot in James’ umbilical cord that tightened during birth. “He was a stillborn, there was absolutely no sign of life,” Engstrom said.In the “time of crisis, I was in a state of shock,” she said. “I didn’t really know what to do, but I remember calling on Fulton Sheen, just saying his name, ‘Fulton Sheen, Fulton Sheen, Fulton Sheen.’”“While [James] was at home, while he was in the ambulance, and while he was at the hospital in the emergency room, he did not have a pulse for that entire time,” she said. “Right as the medical team was ready to call time of death, all hands were off. And at that moment, his heart started to beat again, and it never stopped after that.”James is a freshman in high school and doing “great,” Engstrom said. “He is doing really well. He loves music. He’s in an art class that he’s really enjoying … he’s a great kid. Hardworking, funny.”While James “has had some medical issues along the way,” there is nothing the family can attribute to his health issues at birth.Engstrom said that her son’s “initial MRI, the first 24 hours of his life, showed extensive brain damage, and the follow-up one was perfectly clear.”Sheen’s beatificationSheen’s cause for canonization was first opened in 2002 under the leadership of the Diocese of Peoria, Sheen’s birthplace, and from then on he was referred to as a servant of God. Pope Benedict XVI declared him venerable in June 2012.On March 6, 2014, the board of medical experts who advise the then-Congregation for the Causes of Saints unanimously approved the reported miracle of James. Pope Francis approved of the miracle of Sheen’s on July 5, 2019, and the beatification experienced numerous delays due to an ownership dispute of his remains and an investigation into clergy sex abuse in New York.While obstacles were eventually cleared, Engstrom said initially her family was “frustrated” and “disappointed” with the delays. “I think as things in the Church just continue to progress and time went by, we realized, we trust in Jesus and he’s got it in control. And so we were able to really lean into that and move past the initial disappointment,” she said.The family is “so excited,” Engstrom said. "We’re so happy about it.” “We really appreciate that in all of Church history, our family has a little footnote in it in a very special way, and it’s remarkable. It is such an honor, and it’s such a joyful thing,” she said.
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Mother of boy healed through intercession of Fulton Sheen celebrates his upcoming beatification #Catholic Bonnie Engstrom, the mother of the child who was healed through Archbishop J. Fulton Sheen’s intercession, said she “laughed out loud with joy” when she heard his beatification was going to move forward.On Feb. 9, the Holy See officially informed Bishop Louis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, that the cause for the Venerable Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen can proceed to beatification. He is credited for the miracle that saved the life of Engstrom’s son James Fulton Engstrom, who was named after Sheen.“We had started getting to know Fulton Sheen and growing in our devotion to him while I was pregnant with James,” Engstrom said in a Feb. 13 interview with “EWTN News In Depth.” “During that pregnancy we had decided to name our son after him … to really put him under his patronage.”On Sept. 16, 2010, James was born at home. It had been a healthy pregnancy, and it was a healthy labor, but there was a knot in James’ umbilical cord that tightened during birth. “He was a stillborn, there was absolutely no sign of life,” Engstrom said.In the “time of crisis, I was in a state of shock,” she said. “I didn’t really know what to do, but I remember calling on Fulton Sheen, just saying his name, ‘Fulton Sheen, Fulton Sheen, Fulton Sheen.’”“While [James] was at home, while he was in the ambulance, and while he was at the hospital in the emergency room, he did not have a pulse for that entire time,” she said. “Right as the medical team was ready to call time of death, all hands were off. And at that moment, his heart started to beat again, and it never stopped after that.”James is a freshman in high school and doing “great,” Engstrom said. “He is doing really well. He loves music. He’s in an art class that he’s really enjoying … he’s a great kid. Hardworking, funny.”While James “has had some medical issues along the way,” there is nothing the family can attribute to his health issues at birth.Engstrom said that her son’s “initial MRI, the first 24 hours of his life, showed extensive brain damage, and the follow-up one was perfectly clear.”Sheen’s beatificationSheen’s cause for canonization was first opened in 2002 under the leadership of the Diocese of Peoria, Sheen’s birthplace, and from then on he was referred to as a servant of God. Pope Benedict XVI declared him venerable in June 2012.On March 6, 2014, the board of medical experts who advise the then-Congregation for the Causes of Saints unanimously approved the reported miracle of James. Pope Francis approved of the miracle of Sheen’s on July 5, 2019, and the beatification experienced numerous delays due to an ownership dispute of his remains and an investigation into clergy sex abuse in New York.While obstacles were eventually cleared, Engstrom said initially her family was “frustrated” and “disappointed” with the delays. “I think as things in the Church just continue to progress and time went by, we realized, we trust in Jesus and he’s got it in control. And so we were able to really lean into that and move past the initial disappointment,” she said.The family is “so excited,” Engstrom said. "We’re so happy about it.” “We really appreciate that in all of Church history, our family has a little footnote in it in a very special way, and it’s remarkable. It is such an honor, and it’s such a joyful thing,” she said.

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Bonnie Engstrom, the mother of boy healed through the intercession of Fulton Sheen, provides an update on her son following the announcement of the archbishop’s upcoming beatification.

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New film brings to life the Book of Revelation - #Catholic - A new movie titled “The Apocalypse of St. John” brings to life the Book of Revelation. Not only does the film tackle the challenging messages found in Revelation, but it also makes them accessible to a wider audience.Written, created, and directed by Simón Delacre, the docudrama will air in theaters across the United States Feb. 15–17 after having tremendous success in South America and Latin America.Delacre told EWTN News that he was inspired to make the film because he was a big fan of apocalyptic Hollywood movies growing up.“But of course, being Catholic, I knew that would be somewhat far from the truth, somewhat far from the actual book of Revelation,” he said.He began to dive deeper into the theology of the Book of Revelation because he was “very intrigued” by the symbolism and complex images and explained that what impacted him the most was “how current the topic of Revelation was for our times.”“We are living in a crisis that is global in all aspects of men — like in the moral aspect, there’s a huge crisis, there’s a big crisis in the spiritual aspect, there’s a crisis in the economic aspect, political aspect, all aspects of life. We’re going through a great crisis that is at the same time global,” Delacre said.He added: “Since we are living — well, this is my opinion — the greatest crisis of all time, I think it is very important to give the world the good prophecy that is the Book of Revelation and give it in a Catholic way.”Delacre explained that he worked with many priests, biblical scholars, and theologians to properly depict Revelation and ensured to use language that would be understood by a general audience. A still from the docudrama “The Apocalypse of St. John,” which will be in theaters Feb. 15–17, 2026. | Credit: Caravel Films Amid his research into Revelation and creating the film, Delacre said his own faith was impacted in a way that allowed him to view crises in the world “not with desperation but with hope.”“Every time I see a new crisis, I just see something that moves history forwards to the second coming,” he shared.He recalled being in the middle of studying Revelation when his home country of Argentina legalized abortion in 2020. He spoke with a friend of his who is a priest on that day and despite being disappointed by the news, they “couldn’t feel sad because we saw in that another sign that proves that we are closer to the second coming and that Christ is coming soon.”The filmmaker said he hopes audiences will have a similar experience after watching the film in that it will “bring comfort and solace to people who watch the movie in the midst of this crisis we are living [through].”“Also, to teach them that the book of Revelation is not a book of terror, but a book of hope … Just rip off that fear to the book and encourage them to study more of Revelation.”
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New film brings to life the Book of Revelation – #Catholic – A new movie titled “The Apocalypse of St. John” brings to life the Book of Revelation. Not only does the film tackle the challenging messages found in Revelation, but it also makes them accessible to a wider audience.Written, created, and directed by Simón Delacre, the docudrama will air in theaters across the United States Feb. 15–17 after having tremendous success in South America and Latin America.Delacre told EWTN News that he was inspired to make the film because he was a big fan of apocalyptic Hollywood movies growing up.“But of course, being Catholic, I knew that would be somewhat far from the truth, somewhat far from the actual book of Revelation,” he said.He began to dive deeper into the theology of the Book of Revelation because he was “very intrigued” by the symbolism and complex images and explained that what impacted him the most was “how current the topic of Revelation was for our times.”“We are living in a crisis that is global in all aspects of men — like in the moral aspect, there’s a huge crisis, there’s a big crisis in the spiritual aspect, there’s a crisis in the economic aspect, political aspect, all aspects of life. We’re going through a great crisis that is at the same time global,” Delacre said.He added: “Since we are living — well, this is my opinion — the greatest crisis of all time, I think it is very important to give the world the good prophecy that is the Book of Revelation and give it in a Catholic way.”Delacre explained that he worked with many priests, biblical scholars, and theologians to properly depict Revelation and ensured to use language that would be understood by a general audience. A still from the docudrama “The Apocalypse of St. John,” which will be in theaters Feb. 15–17, 2026. | Credit: Caravel Films Amid his research into Revelation and creating the film, Delacre said his own faith was impacted in a way that allowed him to view crises in the world “not with desperation but with hope.”“Every time I see a new crisis, I just see something that moves history forwards to the second coming,” he shared.He recalled being in the middle of studying Revelation when his home country of Argentina legalized abortion in 2020. He spoke with a friend of his who is a priest on that day and despite being disappointed by the news, they “couldn’t feel sad because we saw in that another sign that proves that we are closer to the second coming and that Christ is coming soon.”The filmmaker said he hopes audiences will have a similar experience after watching the film in that it will “bring comfort and solace to people who watch the movie in the midst of this crisis we are living [through].”“Also, to teach them that the book of Revelation is not a book of terror, but a book of hope … Just rip off that fear to the book and encourage them to study more of Revelation.”

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Written, created, and directed by Simón Delacre, “The Apocalypse of St. John” will air in theaters across the United States Feb. 15–17.

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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 Launch – A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev onboard, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission is the twelfth crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Meir, Hathaway, Adenot, and Fedyaev launched at 5:15 a.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to begin a mission aboard the orbital outpost.
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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 Launch – A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev onboard, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission is the twelfth crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Meir, Hathaway, Adenot, and Fedyaev launched at 5:15 a.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to begin a mission aboard the orbital outpost.

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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev onboard, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission is the twelfth crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Meir, Hathaway, Adenot, and Fedyaev launched at 5:15 a.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to begin a mission aboard the orbital outpost.

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On Valentine’s Day, Boston Archdiocese welcomes marriages into Church with convalidation ceremony - #Catholic - About two dozen couples in the Archdiocese of Boston will have their marriages “brought into the Church” this year, part of a now-yearly tradition there in which husbands and wives can take part in “convalidation” ceremonies. Convalidation offers civilly married husbands and wives the opportunity for a valid Catholic sacramental marriage. The Boston Archdiocese describes the ceremony as “an opportunity for couples married outside of the Catholic Church to enter a marriage covenant in the Catholic tradition, be strengthened by God’s grace, and be supported by his Church.” Couples celebrate the convalidation of their marriages in the Archdiocese of Boston on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. | Credit: Gregory Tracy/Archdiocese of Boston Liz Cotrupi, the director of family life and ecclesial movements in the archdiocesan evangelization office, told EWTN News that this year’s ceremony will be the third the archdiocese has held in as many years. “We’ve been doing it during National Marriage Week,” she said. “It just so happens that this year it falls on Valentine’s Day, so it’s a little special.”The program arose in Boston when former Regional Bishop Mark O’Connell began offering convalidation ceremonies in the north region of the archdiocese over which he presided. “When he became the vicar general [in 2023], he said, ‘Hey I’ve been doing this regionally in the north region and it’s had some good feedback — what about doing it archdiocesan-wide?’” Cotrupi said. The program has grown ever since. “We’ll probably have 22 to 24 couples this year,” Cotrupi said. The archdiocese has advertised the ceremony in parish bulletins and on social media, she said, and the reaction has been positive. “People are coming out of the woodwork,” she said. A couple receives convalidation of their marriage by Bishop Mark O’Connell in the Archdiocese of Boston on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. | Credit: Gregory Tracy/Archdiocese of Boston The process is similar, but not identical, to that of preparing couples for marriage. “We’ve learned a lot through this process,” Cotrupi said with a laugh. The archdiocesan canonical affairs office takes part in the marriage preparation, she said, while a priest helps prepare the couple directly. “Each couple, it’s as if they’re making their vows for the very first time,” she said. “They will exchange consent, answer the questions, and then exchange rings, which are blessed.” “Each couple, it’s as if they’re making their vows for the very first time.” Liz CotrupiDirector of Family Life and Ecclesial Movements, Archdiocese of Boston The ceremony is not a full Mass, she said, but rather consists of the Liturgy of the Word, the prayers of the faithful, a blessing, and the marriage ceremony itself. The event often has all the trappings of a wedding, she said. “Some brides come dressed in wedding dresses,” she said. Others are dressed more casually. Some families bring their children. Young guests attend a convalidation ceremony in the Archdiocese of Boston on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. | Credit: Gregory Tracy/Archdiocese of Boston At times, Cotrupi said, couples forget to bring the required two witnesses to the event, in which case she and archdiocesan Family Life Consultant Emily Elliott have often stood as witnesses. Couples are often given a gift on the day of the ceremony, she said, and afterward they often go out to dinner with family and friends to celebrate. Cotrupi said the usual administrative tasks surrounding the process, like “all the paperwork,” can be “a bit much.” Still, she said, “it’s a joyous occasion.”“We’re so happy to do it for them,” she said.
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On Valentine’s Day, Boston Archdiocese welcomes marriages into Church with convalidation ceremony – #Catholic – About two dozen couples in the Archdiocese of Boston will have their marriages “brought into the Church” this year, part of a now-yearly tradition there in which husbands and wives can take part in “convalidation” ceremonies. Convalidation offers civilly married husbands and wives the opportunity for a valid Catholic sacramental marriage. The Boston Archdiocese describes the ceremony as “an opportunity for couples married outside of the Catholic Church to enter a marriage covenant in the Catholic tradition, be strengthened by God’s grace, and be supported by his Church.” Couples celebrate the convalidation of their marriages in the Archdiocese of Boston on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. | Credit: Gregory Tracy/Archdiocese of Boston Liz Cotrupi, the director of family life and ecclesial movements in the archdiocesan evangelization office, told EWTN News that this year’s ceremony will be the third the archdiocese has held in as many years. “We’ve been doing it during National Marriage Week,” she said. “It just so happens that this year it falls on Valentine’s Day, so it’s a little special.”The program arose in Boston when former Regional Bishop Mark O’Connell began offering convalidation ceremonies in the north region of the archdiocese over which he presided. “When he became the vicar general [in 2023], he said, ‘Hey I’ve been doing this regionally in the north region and it’s had some good feedback — what about doing it archdiocesan-wide?’” Cotrupi said. The program has grown ever since. “We’ll probably have 22 to 24 couples this year,” Cotrupi said. The archdiocese has advertised the ceremony in parish bulletins and on social media, she said, and the reaction has been positive. “People are coming out of the woodwork,” she said. A couple receives convalidation of their marriage by Bishop Mark O’Connell in the Archdiocese of Boston on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. | Credit: Gregory Tracy/Archdiocese of Boston The process is similar, but not identical, to that of preparing couples for marriage. “We’ve learned a lot through this process,” Cotrupi said with a laugh. The archdiocesan canonical affairs office takes part in the marriage preparation, she said, while a priest helps prepare the couple directly. “Each couple, it’s as if they’re making their vows for the very first time,” she said. “They will exchange consent, answer the questions, and then exchange rings, which are blessed.” “Each couple, it’s as if they’re making their vows for the very first time.” Liz CotrupiDirector of Family Life and Ecclesial Movements, Archdiocese of Boston The ceremony is not a full Mass, she said, but rather consists of the Liturgy of the Word, the prayers of the faithful, a blessing, and the marriage ceremony itself. The event often has all the trappings of a wedding, she said. “Some brides come dressed in wedding dresses,” she said. Others are dressed more casually. Some families bring their children. Young guests attend a convalidation ceremony in the Archdiocese of Boston on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. | Credit: Gregory Tracy/Archdiocese of Boston At times, Cotrupi said, couples forget to bring the required two witnesses to the event, in which case she and archdiocesan Family Life Consultant Emily Elliott have often stood as witnesses. Couples are often given a gift on the day of the ceremony, she said, and afterward they often go out to dinner with family and friends to celebrate. Cotrupi said the usual administrative tasks surrounding the process, like “all the paperwork,” can be “a bit much.” Still, she said, “it’s a joyous occasion.”“We’re so happy to do it for them,” she said.

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The archdiocese has seen growing interest in the ceremony for several years.

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Pro-lifers rally for baby left to die after failed abortion – #Catholic – Pro-lifers rally for baby left to die after failed abortionBorn alive at 16 weeks at an Australian hospital after a failed abortion, baby Samuel sucked his thumb. Doctors left him to die.“He was left to die. No one picked him up, wrapped him or gave him any medical care to alleviate his pain and suffering,” said South Australian pro-life activist Joanna Howe.The photo was leaked by a whistleblower who Howe said “risked their career” by sharing the photo. Australian authorities are reportedly trying to remove the image from social media.Australian pro-lifers rallied on Feb. 9 outside Queensland Parliament House in Brisbane for a “Public Gathering for Queensland Babies.”In 2024, a legislator introduced a bill to protect babies born alive after abortions. The Archdiocese of Brisbane came out in support of the amendment, saying that even if the child was unlikely to survive, medical staff had a duty to care for the baby.But the motion failed to pass after Queensland Premier David Crisafulli banned discussion of abortion in state Parliament for the next four years.Arizona judge strikes down pro-life laws, citing abortion rights amendmentAn Arizona judge on Friday struck down three pro-life laws in the state, saying they violated the state constitution.The ruling comes as a result of the abortion rights amendment that voters passed in Arizona in 2024. Citing the amendment, Judge Gregory Como ruled that the restrictions violated the state’s constitutional right to abortion.The court overturned state laws requiring in-person visits for chemical abortions as well as a 24-hour waiting period with mandatory ultrasound and a ban on discriminatory abortions.“Each of these laws infringe on a woman’s ‘autonomous decision-making’ by mandating medical procedures and disclosure of information regardless of the patient’s needs and wishes,” Como said in the ruling.Right to Life Michigan suit alleges state hiring law violates First AmendmentRight to Life Michigan, a group that advocates for pro-life policies, is suing the state over its requirements to hire pro-abortion employees.In a Feb. 3 filing, Right to Life Michigan and a pregnancy resource center alleged that a state employment law violates their First Amendment rights.The state law redefined bans against discrimination based on sex to include termination of pregnancy. The law also requires the pro-life groups to offer abortion coverage in their insurance plans.A spokesman from Alliance Defending Freedom, a nonprofit legal group defending Right to Life Michigan, said the law “makes no sense” and “forces these organizations to contradict their beliefs.”“Pro-life groups should be free to share the message of hope and joy with women and families experiencing a difficult season through employees who share their common goal,” Senior Counsel Bryan Neihart said in a statement.Iowa lawmakers propose anti-trafficking law, abortion criminalizationIowa lawmakers are considering several pro-life bills, including one that would screen pregnant women for coercion and abuse before abortions.The proposed bill would require an in-person examination by a physician before prescribing a pregnant woman abortion drugs and would require physicians to screen for coercion and abuse.Another bill introduced Friday would make it a criminal act for a person to cause an elective abortion. A similar bill would criminalize abortion as a homicide at any stage.Iowa law currently protects unborn children after their heartbeats can be detected, at about six weeks of pregnancy.Federal judge dismisses abortion advertisers’ free speech lawsuitAfter the South Dakota attorney general sued an abortion rights group for allegedly misleading and harmful advertisements, a federal judge declined to intervene on the abortion rights group’s behalf.The federal judge ruled the court has no jurisdiction in the South Dakota issue and declined to intervene in a lawsuit.South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has sued the group Mayday Health in state court, alleging that the abortion pill ads were deceptive and harmful to women. Mayday launched a countersuit saying this violated its First Amendment right to free speech.South Dakota protects unborn children from abortions in all cases, except to save the life of the mother.California to give additional million to abortion providersCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Feb. 11 to give million to abortion providers.Designed to replace Trump’s federal cuts, the one-time grant will give funding to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers that lost funding because they offer abortion.The bill follows the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by Trump last year, which prohibited federal Medicaid funding from going to the abortion provider Planned Parenthood.In October 2025, Newsom signed a bill to supplement Planned Parenthood with another 0 million, also citing the Trump cuts.The state already refunds more than 80% of an estimated 1.3 million patient visits to Planned Parenthood via its state Medicaid program, Medi-Cal.Students for Life of America kicks of pro-life tour to reach Gen ZStudents for Life of America is kicking off a college speaking tour designed to reach Generation Z.The “Make Gen Z Anti-Abortion” campus tour “counters the assumption that Gen Z is all in on abortion,” according to the SFLA press release.From February to April, SFLA spokesperson Lydia Taylor Davis will be speaking at University of Florida, Florida International University, University of South Carolina, Liberty University, University of Pittsburgh, and Virginia Commonwealth University.“Gen Z is the largest voting bloc in America, with youth voters now making up over 48.5% of the electorate. Yet they’re easily dismissed by conservatives — and heavily targeted by the abortion lobby,” the SFLA press release said.“But according to recent polling from SFLA’s Demetree Institute for Pro-Life Advancement, roughly 6 in 10 youth voters are in the ‘moveable middle’ on abortion,” SFLA continued.
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Pro-lifers rally for baby left to die after failed abortion – #Catholic – Pro-lifers rally for baby left to die after failed abortionBorn alive at 16 weeks at an Australian hospital after a failed abortion, baby Samuel sucked his thumb. Doctors left him to die.“He was left to die. No one picked him up, wrapped him or gave him any medical care to alleviate his pain and suffering,” said South Australian pro-life activist Joanna Howe.The photo was leaked by a whistleblower who Howe said “risked their career” by sharing the photo. Australian authorities are reportedly trying to remove the image from social media.Australian pro-lifers rallied on Feb. 9 outside Queensland Parliament House in Brisbane for a “Public Gathering for Queensland Babies.”In 2024, a legislator introduced a bill to protect babies born alive after abortions. The Archdiocese of Brisbane came out in support of the amendment, saying that even if the child was unlikely to survive, medical staff had a duty to care for the baby.But the motion failed to pass after Queensland Premier David Crisafulli banned discussion of abortion in state Parliament for the next four years.Arizona judge strikes down pro-life laws, citing abortion rights amendmentAn Arizona judge on Friday struck down three pro-life laws in the state, saying they violated the state constitution.The ruling comes as a result of the abortion rights amendment that voters passed in Arizona in 2024. Citing the amendment, Judge Gregory Como ruled that the restrictions violated the state’s constitutional right to abortion.The court overturned state laws requiring in-person visits for chemical abortions as well as a 24-hour waiting period with mandatory ultrasound and a ban on discriminatory abortions.“Each of these laws infringe on a woman’s ‘autonomous decision-making’ by mandating medical procedures and disclosure of information regardless of the patient’s needs and wishes,” Como said in the ruling.Right to Life Michigan suit alleges state hiring law violates First AmendmentRight to Life Michigan, a group that advocates for pro-life policies, is suing the state over its requirements to hire pro-abortion employees.In a Feb. 3 filing, Right to Life Michigan and a pregnancy resource center alleged that a state employment law violates their First Amendment rights.The state law redefined bans against discrimination based on sex to include termination of pregnancy. The law also requires the pro-life groups to offer abortion coverage in their insurance plans.A spokesman from Alliance Defending Freedom, a nonprofit legal group defending Right to Life Michigan, said the law “makes no sense” and “forces these organizations to contradict their beliefs.”“Pro-life groups should be free to share the message of hope and joy with women and families experiencing a difficult season through employees who share their common goal,” Senior Counsel Bryan Neihart said in a statement.Iowa lawmakers propose anti-trafficking law, abortion criminalizationIowa lawmakers are considering several pro-life bills, including one that would screen pregnant women for coercion and abuse before abortions.The proposed bill would require an in-person examination by a physician before prescribing a pregnant woman abortion drugs and would require physicians to screen for coercion and abuse.Another bill introduced Friday would make it a criminal act for a person to cause an elective abortion. A similar bill would criminalize abortion as a homicide at any stage.Iowa law currently protects unborn children after their heartbeats can be detected, at about six weeks of pregnancy.Federal judge dismisses abortion advertisers’ free speech lawsuitAfter the South Dakota attorney general sued an abortion rights group for allegedly misleading and harmful advertisements, a federal judge declined to intervene on the abortion rights group’s behalf.The federal judge ruled the court has no jurisdiction in the South Dakota issue and declined to intervene in a lawsuit.South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has sued the group Mayday Health in state court, alleging that the abortion pill ads were deceptive and harmful to women. Mayday launched a countersuit saying this violated its First Amendment right to free speech.South Dakota protects unborn children from abortions in all cases, except to save the life of the mother.California to give additional $90 million to abortion providersCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Feb. 11 to give $90 million to abortion providers.Designed to replace Trump’s federal cuts, the one-time grant will give funding to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers that lost funding because they offer abortion.The bill follows the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by Trump last year, which prohibited federal Medicaid funding from going to the abortion provider Planned Parenthood.In October 2025, Newsom signed a bill to supplement Planned Parenthood with another $140 million, also citing the Trump cuts.The state already refunds more than 80% of an estimated 1.3 million patient visits to Planned Parenthood via its state Medicaid program, Medi-Cal.Students for Life of America kicks of pro-life tour to reach Gen ZStudents for Life of America is kicking off a college speaking tour designed to reach Generation Z.The “Make Gen Z Anti-Abortion” campus tour “counters the assumption that Gen Z is all in on abortion,” according to the SFLA press release.From February to April, SFLA spokesperson Lydia Taylor Davis will be speaking at University of Florida, Florida International University, University of South Carolina, Liberty University, University of Pittsburgh, and Virginia Commonwealth University.“Gen Z is the largest voting bloc in America, with youth voters now making up over 48.5% of the electorate. Yet they’re easily dismissed by conservatives — and heavily targeted by the abortion lobby,” the SFLA press release said.“But according to recent polling from SFLA’s Demetree Institute for Pro-Life Advancement, roughly 6 in 10 youth voters are in the ‘moveable middle’ on abortion,” SFLA continued.

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Here is a roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news.

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The Sky Today on Saturday, February 14: A Valentine’s Heart (Nebula)

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  February 13: Catch the zodiacal light This Valentine’s Day, the sky is serving up the perfect target: the Heart Nebula (IC 1805) in Cassiopeia the Queen. Best seen in the early evening after dark, there’s no Moon in the sky to interfereContinue reading “The Sky Today on Saturday, February 14: A Valentine’s Heart (Nebula)”

The post The Sky Today on Saturday, February 14: A Valentine’s Heart (Nebula) appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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BREAKING: Two People Taken Into Custody After SWAT, FBI Raid Tucson Residence Near Nancy Guthrie’s Home .. Police Cover Range Rover with Tarp (VIDEO) – Police covered a Range Rover with a tarp as the investigation continued late into the night. The post BREAKING: Two People Taken Into Custody After SWAT, FBI Raid Tucson Residence Near Nancy Guthrie’s Home .. Police Cover Range Rover with Tarp (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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BREAKING: Two People Taken Into Custody After SWAT, FBI Raid Tucson Residence Near Nancy Guthrie’s Home .. Police Cover Range Rover with Tarp (VIDEO) – Police covered a Range Rover with a tarp as the investigation continued late into the night. The post BREAKING: Two People Taken Into Custody After SWAT, FBI Raid Tucson Residence Near Nancy Guthrie’s Home .. Police Cover Range Rover with Tarp (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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NewsNation coverage of a SWAT situation in Pima County, Arizona, featuring reporters discussing developments in the Nancy Guthrie case.

NewsNation coverage of a SWAT situation in Pima County, Arizona, featuring reporters discussing developments in the Nancy Guthrie case.

Police covered a Range Rover with a tarp as the investigation continued late into the night.

The post BREAKING: Two People Taken Into Custody After SWAT, FBI Raid Tucson Residence Near Nancy Guthrie’s Home .. Police Cover Range Rover with Tarp (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Zohran Mamdani Backtracks on Campaign Promise for Rental Assistance, Claiming it’s too Expensive – New York City’s new socialist mayor is already running out of other people’s money. The post Zohran Mamdani Backtracks on Campaign Promise for Rental Assistance, Claiming it’s too Expensive appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Zohran Mamdani Backtracks on Campaign Promise for Rental Assistance, Claiming it’s too Expensive – New York City’s new socialist mayor is already running out of other people’s money. The post Zohran Mamdani Backtracks on Campaign Promise for Rental Assistance, Claiming it’s too Expensive appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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New York City’s new socialist mayor is already running out of other people’s money.

The post Zohran Mamdani Backtracks on Campaign Promise for Rental Assistance, Claiming it’s too Expensive appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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CNN Forced to Report That Inflation is Way Down Under Trump: ‘Lowest Annual Rate for Core Since 2021’ (VIDEO) – Don’t you love it when CNN is forced to report on reality and admit that things are going well under Trump? The post CNN Forced to Report That Inflation is Way Down Under Trump: ‘Lowest Annual Rate for Core Since 2021’ (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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CNN Forced to Report That Inflation is Way Down Under Trump: ‘Lowest Annual Rate for Core Since 2021’ (VIDEO) – Don’t you love it when CNN is forced to report on reality and admit that things are going well under Trump? The post CNN Forced to Report That Inflation is Way Down Under Trump: ‘Lowest Annual Rate for Core Since 2021’ (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Don’t you love it when CNN is forced to report on reality and admit that things are going well under Trump?

The post CNN Forced to Report That Inflation is Way Down Under Trump: ‘Lowest Annual Rate for Core Since 2021’ (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 14 February 2026 – A reading from the First Book of Kings 1 Kings 12:26-32; 13:33-34 Jeroboam thought to himself: "The kingdom will return to David’s house. If now this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, the hearts of this people will return to their master, Rehoboam, king of Judah, and they will kill me." After taking counsel, the king made two calves of gold and said to the people: "You have been going up to Jerusalem long enough. Here is your God, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt." And he put one in Bethel, the other in Dan. This led to sin, because the people frequented those calves in Bethel and in Dan. He also built temples on the high places and made priests from among the people who were not Levites. Jeroboam established a feast in the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month to duplicate in Bethel the pilgrimage feast of Judah, with sacrifices to the calves he had made; and he stationed in Bethel priests of the high places he had built. Jeroboam did not give up his evil ways after this, but again made priests for the high places from among the common people. Whoever desired it was consecrated and became a priest of the high places. This was a sin on the part of the house of Jeroboam for which it was to be cut off and destroyed from the earth.From the Gospel according to Mark 8:1-10 In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets. There were about four thousand people. He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha.Jesus does not want to act alone, he came to bring the love of God into the world and he wants to spread it in the style of communion, in the style of brotherhood. That is why he immediately forms a community of disciples, which is a missionary community. He trains them straight away for the mission, to go forth. But pay attention: their purpose is not to socialize, to spend time together, no, their purpose is to proclaim the Kingdom of God, and this is urgent! And it is still urgent today! (…) These 72 disciples, whom Jesus sent out ahead of him, who were they? Who do they represent? If the Twelve were the Apostles, and also thus represent the Bishops, their successors, these 72 could represent the other ordained ministries, priests and deacons; but more broadly we can think of the other ministries in the Church, of catechists, of the lay faithful who engage in parish missions, of those who work with the sick, with different kinds of disadvantaged and marginalized people; but always as missionaries of the Gospel, with the urgency of the Kingdom that is close at hand. Everyone must be a missionary, everyone can hear that call of Jesus and go forth and proclaim the Kingdom! (Pope Francis, Angelus, 7 July 2013)

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A reading from the First Book of Kings
1 Kings 12:26-32; 13:33-34

Jeroboam thought to himself:
"The kingdom will return to David’s house.
If now this people go up to offer sacrifices
in the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem,
the hearts of this people will return to their master,
Rehoboam, king of Judah,
and they will kill me."
After taking counsel, the king made two calves of gold
and said to the people:
"You have been going up to Jerusalem long enough.
Here is your God, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt."
And he put one in Bethel, the other in Dan.
This led to sin, because the people frequented those calves
in Bethel and in Dan.
He also built temples on the high places
and made priests from among the people who were not Levites.
Jeroboam established a feast in the eighth month
on the fifteenth day of the month
to duplicate in Bethel the pilgrimage feast of Judah,
with sacrifices to the calves he had made;
and he stationed in Bethel priests of the high places he had built.

Jeroboam did not give up his evil ways after this,
but again made priests for the high places
from among the common people.
Whoever desired it was consecrated
and became a priest of the high places.
This was a sin on the part of the house of Jeroboam
for which it was to be cut off and destroyed from the earth.

From the Gospel according to Mark
8:1-10

In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat,
Jesus summoned the disciples and said,
“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,
because they have been with me now for three days
and have nothing to eat.
If I send them away hungry to their homes,
they will collapse on the way,
and some of them have come a great distance.”
His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread
to satisfy them here in this deserted place?”
Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”
They replied, “Seven.”
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them,
and gave them to his disciples to distribute,
and they distributed them to the crowd.
They also had a few fish.
He said the blessing over them
and ordered them distributed also.
They ate and were satisfied.
They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets.
There were about four thousand people.

He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples
and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

Jesus does not want to act alone, he came to bring the love of God into the world and he wants to spread it in the style of communion, in the style of brotherhood. That is why he immediately forms a community of disciples, which is a missionary community. He trains them straight away for the mission, to go forth.

But pay attention: their purpose is not to socialize, to spend time together, no, their purpose is to proclaim the Kingdom of God, and this is urgent! And it is still urgent today! (…)

These 72 disciples, whom Jesus sent out ahead of him, who were they? Who do they represent? If the Twelve were the Apostles, and also thus represent the Bishops, their successors, these 72 could represent the other ordained ministries, priests and deacons; but more broadly we can think of the other ministries in the Church, of catechists, of the lay faithful who engage in parish missions, of those who work with the sick, with different kinds of disadvantaged and marginalized people; but always as missionaries of the Gospel, with the urgency of the Kingdom that is close at hand. Everyone must be a missionary, everyone can hear that call of Jesus and go forth and proclaim the Kingdom! (Pope Francis, Angelus, 7 July 2013)

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Obituary: Franciscan Father Thomas Hartle, former Butler pastor, 81 #Catholic – Franciscan Father Thomas Hartle, of St. Anthony Friary in Butler, N.J., died on Feb. 5 while in Aruba. Funeral arrangements have not been announced. During his 49 years as a friar, Father Hartle was known as a compassionate retreat leader and pastor, with a wonderful sense of humor and a deep joy. Born on Christmas Eve, 1944, in Clarion, Penn., Father Hartle came from a large family that included parents Urban and Bessie (née Myers) Hartle and six siblings. He grew up in Pennsylvania and was educated there, including at Immaculate Conception High School in Clarion and Gannon College in Erie. On May 20, 1971, Father Hartle was ordained a priest at 26 years old for the Diocese of Erie, Penn. He then discerned a vocation to religious life as a Franciscan and was received into the Order of Friars Minor in 1975, professing first vows one year later. He made his solemn profession in 1979 and served at the St. Francis Retreat Center in Rye Beach, N.H., until 1990. Father Hartle was then assigned to reside at the St. Francis Friary Novitiate in Brookline, Mass., and continued to offer spiritual direction, retreats, and workshops at various locales. In 1994, he joined the team at the Franciscan Retreat Center in Andover, Mass. From 1999 to 2008, Father Hartle was pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Butler, N.J., where his compassionate leadership and pastoral care deeply impacted the parish community. During his ministry spanning more than five decades, Father Hartle conducted numerous pilgrimages to Italy, helping the faithful connect with their spiritual heritage. He was widely respected for leading retreats and days of recollection focused on Franciscan themes, sharing his wisdom and spiritual insights with all who sought guidance. Throughout most of his ministry, Father Hartle served as the spiritual assistant for the Poor Clare Nuns of the Holy Name Federation, a ministry to which he dedicated himself since 1989. In a video recorded a few years ago, Father Hartle summarized his Franciscan vocation in one word: love. “The Franciscan journey is an adventure in love, falling in love with God and opening yourself up and being receptive to God’s love for you,” he said. Father Hartle was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Paul (Virginia) Hartle. He is survived by his siblings, Martha Siegel, Gary (Marcia) Hartle, Bruce (Cheryl) Hartle, Emerson Hartle, and David (Stacy) Hartle; numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews; and his friar brothers of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
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Obituary: Franciscan Father Thomas Hartle, former Butler pastor, 81 #Catholic – Franciscan Father Thomas Hartle, of St. Anthony Friary in Butler, N.J., died on Feb. 5 while in Aruba. Funeral arrangements have not been announced. During his 49 years as a friar, Father Hartle was known as a compassionate retreat leader and pastor, with a wonderful sense of humor and a deep joy. Born on Christmas Eve, 1944, in Clarion, Penn., Father Hartle came from a large family that included parents Urban and Bessie (née Myers) Hartle and six siblings. He grew up in Pennsylvania and was educated there, including at Immaculate Conception High School in Clarion and Gannon College in Erie. On May 20, 1971, Father Hartle was ordained a priest at 26 years old for the Diocese of Erie, Penn. He then discerned a vocation to religious life as a Franciscan and was received into the Order of Friars Minor in 1975, professing first vows one year later. He made his solemn profession in 1979 and served at the St. Francis Retreat Center in Rye Beach, N.H., until 1990. Father Hartle was then assigned to reside at the St. Francis Friary Novitiate in Brookline, Mass., and continued to offer spiritual direction, retreats, and workshops at various locales. In 1994, he joined the team at the Franciscan Retreat Center in Andover, Mass. From 1999 to 2008, Father Hartle was pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Butler, N.J., where his compassionate leadership and pastoral care deeply impacted the parish community. During his ministry spanning more than five decades, Father Hartle conducted numerous pilgrimages to Italy, helping the faithful connect with their spiritual heritage. He was widely respected for leading retreats and days of recollection focused on Franciscan themes, sharing his wisdom and spiritual insights with all who sought guidance. Throughout most of his ministry, Father Hartle served as the spiritual assistant for the Poor Clare Nuns of the Holy Name Federation, a ministry to which he dedicated himself since 1989. In a video recorded a few years ago, Father Hartle summarized his Franciscan vocation in one word: love. “The Franciscan journey is an adventure in love, falling in love with God and opening yourself up and being receptive to God’s love for you,” he said. Father Hartle was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Paul (Virginia) Hartle. He is survived by his siblings, Martha Siegel, Gary (Marcia) Hartle, Bruce (Cheryl) Hartle, Emerson Hartle, and David (Stacy) Hartle; numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews; and his friar brothers of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

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Obituary: Franciscan Father Thomas Hartle, former Butler pastor, 81 #Catholic –

Franciscan Father Thomas Hartle, of St. Anthony Friary in Butler, N.J., died on Feb. 5 while in Aruba. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

During his 49 years as a friar, Father Hartle was known as a compassionate retreat leader and pastor, with a wonderful sense of humor and a deep joy.

Born on Christmas Eve, 1944, in Clarion, Penn., Father Hartle came from a large family that included parents Urban and Bessie (née Myers) Hartle and six siblings. He grew up in Pennsylvania and was educated there, including at Immaculate Conception High School in Clarion and Gannon College in Erie.

On May 20, 1971, Father Hartle was ordained a priest at 26 years old for the Diocese of Erie, Penn. He then discerned a vocation to religious life as a Franciscan and was received into the Order of Friars Minor in 1975, professing first vows one year later. He made his solemn profession in 1979 and served at the St. Francis Retreat Center in Rye Beach, N.H., until 1990.

Father Hartle was then assigned to reside at the St. Francis Friary Novitiate in Brookline, Mass., and continued to offer spiritual direction, retreats, and workshops at various locales.
In 1994, he joined the team at the Franciscan Retreat Center in Andover, Mass.

From 1999 to 2008, Father Hartle was pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Butler, N.J., where his compassionate leadership and pastoral care deeply impacted the parish community.

During his ministry spanning more than five decades, Father Hartle conducted numerous pilgrimages to Italy, helping the faithful connect with their spiritual heritage. He was widely respected for leading retreats and days of recollection focused on Franciscan themes, sharing his wisdom and spiritual insights with all who sought guidance.

Throughout most of his ministry, Father Hartle served as the spiritual assistant for the Poor Clare Nuns of the Holy Name Federation, a ministry to which he dedicated himself since 1989.
In a video recorded a few years ago, Father Hartle summarized his Franciscan vocation in one word: love.

“The Franciscan journey is an adventure in love, falling in love with God and opening yourself up and being receptive to God’s love for you,” he said.

Father Hartle was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Paul (Virginia) Hartle. He is survived by his siblings, Martha Siegel, Gary (Marcia) Hartle, Bruce (Cheryl) Hartle, Emerson Hartle, and David (Stacy) Hartle; numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews; and his friar brothers of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

– Franciscan Father Thomas Hartle, of St. Anthony Friary in Butler, N.J., died on Feb. 5 while in Aruba. Funeral arrangements have not been announced. During his 49 years as a friar, Father Hartle was known as a compassionate retreat leader and pastor, with a wonderful sense of humor and a deep joy. Born on Christmas Eve, 1944, in Clarion, Penn., Father Hartle came from a large family that included parents Urban and Bessie (née Myers) Hartle and six siblings. He grew up in Pennsylvania and was educated there, including at Immaculate Conception High School in Clarion and Gannon College in

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Season 3 of EWTN hit series ‘James the Less’ to be released Feb. 14 #Catholic The third season of the award-winning online EWTN series “James the Less” will be released on Saturday, Feb. 14, on the EWTN YouTube channel.The first season introduced viewers to James Little, a student fresh out of college desperate for a job. James is an atheist. However, a “help wanted” sign on the church bulletin board catches his eye and entices him to interview for the position: handyman.James accepts the position at St. James the Less Church and starts to encounter Catholicism. Soon, James finds his ideals challenged by the no-nonsense pastor Father Lambert Burns and through his romantic pursuit of parishioner Anne-Marie.The second season showed James’ growing interest in Catholicism and more questions were answered regarding Anne-Marie’s mysterious past.James is played by Catholic artist and missionary Tanner Kalina, who has participated in ministries such as FOCUS, Ascension Presents, NET, and others.Kalina told EWTN News that in Season 3 viewers can “expect some closure in the story of James and what happens and all the open-ended questions that we have. I think you can find some very satisfying answers.”While filming these three seasons of the series, Kalina shared that the best part has been working with all those involved, “who put a lot of heart and creativity and fun and joy and prayer into it all and by the end everyone became a good, loving family.”He also pointed out that he has learned a lot from James while portraying him, including that the “faith is vibrant.”“It’s just a good reminder that inside all of our hearts we’re aching and longing for the Lord and we’re longing for a guide to just invite us and to bring us to the Lord,” he added. “So playing James has kind of reawakened that reality to me … and that when we just speak truth and when we just put someone in front of Jesus, then it awakens something very deep within someone.”Kalina also pointed out the recent growth in interest among Gen Z in the Catholic faith and the need to provide these individuals with “good content that is rooted in the truth of the faith, that’s rooted in the joy of the faith, and that is something that actually not only feeds the intellect and feeds the time and feeds the scroll, but really feeds the heart.”“So, my hope is that as the younger generation stumbles upon this, it can be an avenue that they can find good content that really feeds them,” he added.He also said he hopes viewers are left “smiling” after watching the series.“I hope that they’re having fun and falling in love with these characters and recognizing that like, ‘Oh yeah, our faith is a great treasure’ and it’s not just like another option amongst options, but we are sitting atop a mound of gold that needs to be shared with the world.”Watch the Season 3 trailer below.
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Season 3 of EWTN hit series ‘James the Less’ to be released Feb. 14 #Catholic The third season of the award-winning online EWTN series “James the Less” will be released on Saturday, Feb. 14, on the EWTN YouTube channel.The first season introduced viewers to James Little, a student fresh out of college desperate for a job. James is an atheist. However, a “help wanted” sign on the church bulletin board catches his eye and entices him to interview for the position: handyman.James accepts the position at St. James the Less Church and starts to encounter Catholicism. Soon, James finds his ideals challenged by the no-nonsense pastor Father Lambert Burns and through his romantic pursuit of parishioner Anne-Marie.The second season showed James’ growing interest in Catholicism and more questions were answered regarding Anne-Marie’s mysterious past.James is played by Catholic artist and missionary Tanner Kalina, who has participated in ministries such as FOCUS, Ascension Presents, NET, and others.Kalina told EWTN News that in Season 3 viewers can “expect some closure in the story of James and what happens and all the open-ended questions that we have. I think you can find some very satisfying answers.”While filming these three seasons of the series, Kalina shared that the best part has been working with all those involved, “who put a lot of heart and creativity and fun and joy and prayer into it all and by the end everyone became a good, loving family.”He also pointed out that he has learned a lot from James while portraying him, including that the “faith is vibrant.”“It’s just a good reminder that inside all of our hearts we’re aching and longing for the Lord and we’re longing for a guide to just invite us and to bring us to the Lord,” he added. “So playing James has kind of reawakened that reality to me … and that when we just speak truth and when we just put someone in front of Jesus, then it awakens something very deep within someone.”Kalina also pointed out the recent growth in interest among Gen Z in the Catholic faith and the need to provide these individuals with “good content that is rooted in the truth of the faith, that’s rooted in the joy of the faith, and that is something that actually not only feeds the intellect and feeds the time and feeds the scroll, but really feeds the heart.”“So, my hope is that as the younger generation stumbles upon this, it can be an avenue that they can find good content that really feeds them,” he added.He also said he hopes viewers are left “smiling” after watching the series.“I hope that they’re having fun and falling in love with these characters and recognizing that like, ‘Oh yeah, our faith is a great treasure’ and it’s not just like another option amongst options, but we are sitting atop a mound of gold that needs to be shared with the world.”Watch the Season 3 trailer below.

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The first season introduced viewers to James Little, a student fresh out of college desperate for a job.

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Shimmering Light in Egg Nebula – NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope reveals the clearest view yet of the Egg Nebula. This structure of gas and dust was created by a dying, Sun-like star. These newest observations were taken with Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3.
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Shimmering Light in Egg Nebula – NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope reveals the clearest view yet of the Egg Nebula. This structure of gas and dust was created by a dying, Sun-like star. These newest observations were taken with Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3.

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NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope reveals the clearest view yet of the Egg Nebula. This structure of gas and dust was created by a dying, Sun-like star. These newest observations were taken with Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3.

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Cuban bishops postpone Vatican visit amid worsening national crisis – #Catholic – The Catholic Bishops of Cuba announced Thursday that they have asked Pope Leo XIV to postpone their upcoming visit to Rome due to the country’s grave situation, which is generating “so much instability and uncertainty.”The bishops had been scheduled to meet Pope Leo XIV on Feb. 20 as part of their periodic ad limina visit, which was set to begin Monday, Feb. 16. During such visits, bishops also customarily pray at the four major papal basilicas and meet with various Vatican dicasteries.However, in a statement on Feb. 12, the bishops’ conference said that “given the worsening socio-economic situation in the country, which is generating so much instability and uncertainty, the Catholic bishops have asked the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, that the ad limina visit be postponed to a later date than originally planned.”“We continue praying for our homeland, and we renew our affection and communion with the pope and with the Apostolic See,” the statement added.Cuba’s prolonged economic and social crisis has intensified in recent days, particularly after the United States government announced on Jan. 29 the imposition of tariffs on countries that send oil to the Caribbean nation, as a way of pressuring the communist regime.In response, the Cuban government has introduced further restrictions beyond those already faced by the population. Last Sunday, the regime also reported that it no longer had fuel for commercial aircraft, a development that is affecting tourism, one of the government’s principal sources of revenue.At the same time, the Trump administration began sending containers of humanitarian aid in January for the Catholic Church to distribute to those affected by Hurricane Melissa. The assistance is being coordinated directly with Caritas Cuba, without the participation of the regime.On Jan. 31, the Cuban bishops warned in a separate statement that the country risks falling into social chaos and violence if the structural changes it urgently needs are not implemented.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Cuban bishops postpone Vatican visit amid worsening national crisis – #Catholic – The Catholic Bishops of Cuba announced Thursday that they have asked Pope Leo XIV to postpone their upcoming visit to Rome due to the country’s grave situation, which is generating “so much instability and uncertainty.”The bishops had been scheduled to meet Pope Leo XIV on Feb. 20 as part of their periodic ad limina visit, which was set to begin Monday, Feb. 16. During such visits, bishops also customarily pray at the four major papal basilicas and meet with various Vatican dicasteries.However, in a statement on Feb. 12, the bishops’ conference said that “given the worsening socio-economic situation in the country, which is generating so much instability and uncertainty, the Catholic bishops have asked the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, that the ad limina visit be postponed to a later date than originally planned.”“We continue praying for our homeland, and we renew our affection and communion with the pope and with the Apostolic See,” the statement added.Cuba’s prolonged economic and social crisis has intensified in recent days, particularly after the United States government announced on Jan. 29 the imposition of tariffs on countries that send oil to the Caribbean nation, as a way of pressuring the communist regime.In response, the Cuban government has introduced further restrictions beyond those already faced by the population. Last Sunday, the regime also reported that it no longer had fuel for commercial aircraft, a development that is affecting tourism, one of the government’s principal sources of revenue.At the same time, the Trump administration began sending containers of humanitarian aid in January for the Catholic Church to distribute to those affected by Hurricane Melissa. The assistance is being coordinated directly with Caritas Cuba, without the participation of the regime.On Jan. 31, the Cuban bishops warned in a separate statement that the country risks falling into social chaos and violence if the structural changes it urgently needs are not implemented.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The country’s growing economic and social instability prompts request to delay meeting with Pope Leo XIV.

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The Sky Today on Friday, February 13: Catch the zodiacal light

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  February 12: Asteroid Nysa approaches a star This dark, moonless Friday the 13th evening is the perfect time to head out after dark and try to catch a glimpse of the zodiacal light. This ethereal, cone-shaped glow is actually the reflected lightContinue reading “The Sky Today on Friday, February 13: Catch the zodiacal light”

The post The Sky Today on Friday, February 13: Catch the zodiacal light appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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Trump Orders Drone Strike On Venezuelan Olympic Cross-Country Skier #BabylonBee – TESERO — Venezuelan cross-country skier Nicolas Claveau-Laviolette was blown off the course on Thursday in what appeared to be a drone strike conducted by the United States military at the direct order of President Donald Trump.
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Trump Orders Drone Strike On Venezuelan Olympic Cross-Country Skier #BabylonBee – TESERO — Venezuelan cross-country skier Nicolas Claveau-Laviolette was blown off the course on Thursday in what appeared to be a drone strike conducted by the United States military at the direct order of President Donald Trump.

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TESERO — Venezuelan cross-country skier Nicolas Claveau-Laviolette was blown off the course on Thursday in what appeared to be a drone strike conducted by the United States military at the direct order of President Donald Trump.

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‘Gunperson’ And 7 Other More Inclusive Terms To Use For Non-Binary Criminals #BabylonBee – When reporting on crime, it’s of paramount importance that journalists adhere to a strict code of ethics, which involves using AP-approved inclusionary terms to identify assailants of indeterminate gender. For example, if a person shoots and kills someone, and you can’t readily discern their gender, try identifying them as the most inclusive "gunperson."
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‘Gunperson’ And 7 Other More Inclusive Terms To Use For Non-Binary Criminals #BabylonBee – When reporting on crime, it’s of paramount importance that journalists adhere to a strict code of ethics, which involves using AP-approved inclusionary terms to identify assailants of indeterminate gender. For example, if a person shoots and kills someone, and you can’t readily discern their gender, try identifying them as the most inclusive "gunperson."

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When reporting on crime, it’s of paramount importance that journalists adhere to a strict code of ethics, which involves using AP-approved inclusionary terms to identify assailants of indeterminate gender. For example, if a person shoots and kills someone, and you can’t readily discern their gender, try identifying them as the most inclusive "gunperson."

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Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Tax the Rich’ Agenda Runs Into a Brick Wall of Reality as He’s Grilled by NY Lawmakers in Albany (VIDEO) – New York City’s new democratic socialist (communist) Mayor Zohran Mamdani was grilled by state lawmakers in Albany this week over plans to fund his agenda by taxing the rich. The post Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Tax the Rich’ Agenda Runs Into a Brick Wall of Reality as He’s Grilled by NY Lawmakers in Albany (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Tax the Rich’ Agenda Runs Into a Brick Wall of Reality as He’s Grilled by NY Lawmakers in Albany (VIDEO) – New York City’s new democratic socialist (communist) Mayor Zohran Mamdani was grilled by state lawmakers in Albany this week over plans to fund his agenda by taxing the rich. The post Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Tax the Rich’ Agenda Runs Into a Brick Wall of Reality as He’s Grilled by NY Lawmakers in Albany (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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New York City’s new democratic socialist (communist) Mayor Zohran Mamdani was grilled by state lawmakers in Albany this week over plans to fund his agenda by taxing the rich.

The post Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Tax the Rich’ Agenda Runs Into a Brick Wall of Reality as He’s Grilled by NY Lawmakers in Albany (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Former Obama Adviser David Axelrod Gets Absolutely RIPPED on Social Media for Complaining About Rising Cost of Obamacare – David Axelrod, the Chicago Machine Democrat considered the ‘architect’ of Obama’s 2008 presidential run, recently complained on Twitter/X about the rising cost of healthcare premiums under the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare as it’s widely known. The post Former Obama Adviser David Axelrod Gets Absolutely RIPPED on Social Media for Complaining About Rising Cost of Obamacare appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Former Obama Adviser David Axelrod Gets Absolutely RIPPED on Social Media for Complaining About Rising Cost of Obamacare – David Axelrod, the Chicago Machine Democrat considered the ‘architect’ of Obama’s 2008 presidential run, recently complained on Twitter/X about the rising cost of healthcare premiums under the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare as it’s widely known. The post Former Obama Adviser David Axelrod Gets Absolutely RIPPED on Social Media for Complaining About Rising Cost of Obamacare appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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David Axelrod, the Chicago Machine Democrat considered the ‘architect’ of Obama’s 2008 presidential run, recently complained on Twitter/X about the rising cost of healthcare premiums under the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare as it’s widely known.

The post Former Obama Adviser David Axelrod Gets Absolutely RIPPED on Social Media for Complaining About Rising Cost of Obamacare appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Kaitlan Collins Claims She and CNN Are Not Biased Against Trump, Cover Him Fairly (VIDEO) – CNN’s Kaitlan Collins recently appeared on the Absolutely Not podcast and claimed that she and her network are not biased against Trump and cover him fairly. The post Kaitlan Collins Claims She and CNN Are Not Biased Against Trump, Cover Him Fairly (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Kaitlan Collins Claims She and CNN Are Not Biased Against Trump, Cover Him Fairly (VIDEO) – CNN’s Kaitlan Collins recently appeared on the Absolutely Not podcast and claimed that she and her network are not biased against Trump and cover him fairly. The post Kaitlan Collins Claims She and CNN Are Not Biased Against Trump, Cover Him Fairly (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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CNN’s Kaitlan Collins recently appeared on the Absolutely Not podcast and claimed that she and her network are not biased against Trump and cover him fairly.

The post Kaitlan Collins Claims She and CNN Are Not Biased Against Trump, Cover Him Fairly (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Prayer against Depression – by Saint Ignatius of Loyola: Prayer of the Day for Friday, February 13, 2026 – #Prayer – O Christ Jesus, when all is darkness and we feel our weakness and helplessness, give us the sense of Your presence, Your love, and Your strength. Help us to have perfect trust in Your protecting love and strengthening power, so that nothing may frighten or worry us, for, living close to You, we shall see Your hand, Your purpose, Your will through all things. By Saint Ignatius of Loyola

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O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness
and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence,
Your love, and Your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
in Your protecting love
and strengthening power,
so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You,
we shall see Your hand,
Your purpose, Your will through all things.

By Saint Ignatius of Loyola

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Catholic bishops to honor 250th anniversary of U.S. independence with adoration, works of mercy – #Catholic – The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is asking Catholics to participate in an initiative to honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence through Eucharistic adoration and works of mercy.“All Catholics are encouraged to join the bishops in praying for the unity and healing of our country,” a bishops’ guideline on the initiative reads.Leading up to July 4, the bishops are encouraging individuals and parishes to contribute to 250 collective hours of adoration and 250 collective works of mercy as Americans approach the anniversary of the country’s formation.The initiative also coincides with the lead up to the bishops’ reconsecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the June 12 solemnity. The consecration is set to happen during a Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.Aaron Weldon, assistant director of the USCCB Committee for Religious Liberty, told EWTN News the initiative was born out of a desire “to do something to kind of celebrate in a prayerful way.” He said the bishops also wanted to “give Catholics a way to participate in the consecration.”The USCCB published a guide with resources on how to participate, which suggests parishes can set up a Holy Hour with Eucharistic adoration on a weekly or monthly basis leading up to the Fourth of July.“While 250 hours seems like a lot, each person present constitutes an hour prayed,” the guide states.It provides resources for setting up Holy Hours dedicated to specific intentions, such as a Holy Hour for life or a Holy Hour for peace. It adds that parishes can also incorporate the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus into the Holy Hour to prepare for the consecration.“You may have other ways to invite members of your community to spend some time in prayer for our country with Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament,” the guide adds.For works of mercy, the USCCB guide states that individuals and groups can engage in existing activities in their parishes or start initiatives on a weekly or monthly basis leading up to the Fourth of July.“Our works of mercy draw from the deep well of our faith and prayer, constantly reminding us that in tending to our brothers and sisters, we tend to Christ himself,” it states.Works of mercy can include a variety of activities, such as assisting women who face a crisis pregnancy, donating to food pantries, sponsoring a refugee family, or volunteering at homeless shelters, among other things, according to the USCCB guide. Sister Betsy Van Deusen, CEO Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany, New York (right), talks with Elisabeth Espinosa, director of Outreach Programs at the Roarke Center Food Pantry, on April 4, 2025, at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Troy, New York. | Credit: Cindy Schultz for The Washington Post via Getty Images The USCCB is asking parishes to document their communities’ participation in the initiative and report to the bishops about ways in which people participated and fruits from the prayers and the actions.Weldon said the bishops hope to “collect stories about the different ways that parishes … or small Catholic groups found a way to put these ideas into actions,” adding that the suggestions are “flexible,” so parishes and other Catholic groups can “do what works best for them.”“I hope that we can start to hear back from people the different ways that people are putting some of these ideas into action,” Weldon said.In September 2025, the White House launched the “America Prays” initiative, which also asks people to pray for the United States and its people leading up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.Weldon said the USCCB initiative is separate and independent from that. He said the bishops’ consecration and the adoration and works of mercy offer “distinctly Catholic ways of celebrating” the 250th anniversary launched by the bishops.
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Catholic bishops to honor 250th anniversary of U.S. independence with adoration, works of mercy – #Catholic – The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is asking Catholics to participate in an initiative to honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence through Eucharistic adoration and works of mercy.“All Catholics are encouraged to join the bishops in praying for the unity and healing of our country,” a bishops’ guideline on the initiative reads.Leading up to July 4, the bishops are encouraging individuals and parishes to contribute to 250 collective hours of adoration and 250 collective works of mercy as Americans approach the anniversary of the country’s formation.The initiative also coincides with the lead up to the bishops’ reconsecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the June 12 solemnity. The consecration is set to happen during a Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.Aaron Weldon, assistant director of the USCCB Committee for Religious Liberty, told EWTN News the initiative was born out of a desire “to do something to kind of celebrate in a prayerful way.” He said the bishops also wanted to “give Catholics a way to participate in the consecration.”The USCCB published a guide with resources on how to participate, which suggests parishes can set up a Holy Hour with Eucharistic adoration on a weekly or monthly basis leading up to the Fourth of July.“While 250 hours seems like a lot, each person present constitutes an hour prayed,” the guide states.It provides resources for setting up Holy Hours dedicated to specific intentions, such as a Holy Hour for life or a Holy Hour for peace. It adds that parishes can also incorporate the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus into the Holy Hour to prepare for the consecration.“You may have other ways to invite members of your community to spend some time in prayer for our country with Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament,” the guide adds.For works of mercy, the USCCB guide states that individuals and groups can engage in existing activities in their parishes or start initiatives on a weekly or monthly basis leading up to the Fourth of July.“Our works of mercy draw from the deep well of our faith and prayer, constantly reminding us that in tending to our brothers and sisters, we tend to Christ himself,” it states.Works of mercy can include a variety of activities, such as assisting women who face a crisis pregnancy, donating to food pantries, sponsoring a refugee family, or volunteering at homeless shelters, among other things, according to the USCCB guide. Sister Betsy Van Deusen, CEO Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany, New York (right), talks with Elisabeth Espinosa, director of Outreach Programs at the Roarke Center Food Pantry, on April 4, 2025, at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Troy, New York. | Credit: Cindy Schultz for The Washington Post via Getty Images The USCCB is asking parishes to document their communities’ participation in the initiative and report to the bishops about ways in which people participated and fruits from the prayers and the actions.Weldon said the bishops hope to “collect stories about the different ways that parishes … or small Catholic groups found a way to put these ideas into actions,” adding that the suggestions are “flexible,” so parishes and other Catholic groups can “do what works best for them.”“I hope that we can start to hear back from people the different ways that people are putting some of these ideas into action,” Weldon said.In September 2025, the White House launched the “America Prays” initiative, which also asks people to pray for the United States and its people leading up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.Weldon said the USCCB initiative is separate and independent from that. He said the bishops’ consecration and the adoration and works of mercy offer “distinctly Catholic ways of celebrating” the 250th anniversary launched by the bishops.

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U.S. parishes and other Catholic groups are expected to participate in the initiative ahead of the Fourth of July.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 13 February 2026 – A reading from the First Book of Kings 1 Kings 11:29-32; 12:19 Jeroboam left Jerusalem, and the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road. The two were alone in the area, and the prophet was wearing a new cloak. Ahijah took off his new cloak, tore it into twelve pieces, and said to Jeroboam: “Take ten pieces for yourself; the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will tear away the kingdom from Solomon’s grasp and will give you ten of the tribes. One tribe shall remain to him for the sake of David my servant, and of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.’” Israel went into rebellion against David’s house to this day.From the Gospel according to Mark 7:31-37 Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, "Ephphatha!" (that is, "Be opened!") And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, "He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."Brothers and sisters, there is an interior deafness that we can ask Jesus to touch and heal today. It is interior deafness, which is worse than physical deafness, because it is the deafness of the heart. Taken up with haste, by so many things to say and do, we do not find time to stop and listen to those who speak to us. We run the risk of becoming impervious to everything and not making room for those who need to be heard. I am thinking about children, young people, the elderly, the many who do not really need words and sermons, but to be heard. Let us ask ourselves: how is my capacity to listen going? Do I let myself be touched by people’s lives? Do I know how to spend time with those who are close to me in order to listen? This regards all of us, but in a special way also priests. The priest must listen to people, not in a rushed way, but listen and see how he can help, but after having listened. (…) Starting a dialogue often happens not through words but silence, by not insisting, by patiently beginning anew to listen to others, hearing about their struggles and what they carry inside. The healing of the heart begins with listening. Listening. This is what restores the heart. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 5 September 2021)

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A reading from the First Book of Kings
1 Kings 11:29-32; 12:19

Jeroboam left Jerusalem,
and the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road.
The two were alone in the area,
and the prophet was wearing a new cloak.
Ahijah took off his new cloak,
tore it into twelve pieces, and said to Jeroboam:

“Take ten pieces for yourself;
the LORD, the God of Israel, says:
‘I will tear away the kingdom from Solomon’s grasp
and will give you ten of the tribes.
One tribe shall remain to him for the sake of David my servant,
and of Jerusalem,
the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.’”

Israel went into rebellion against David’s house to this day.

From the Gospel according to Mark
7:31-37

Jesus left the district of Tyre
and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,
into the district of the Decapolis.
And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment
and begged him to lay his hand on him.
He took him off by himself away from the crowd.
He put his finger into the man’s ears
and, spitting, touched his tongue;
then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,
"Ephphatha!" (that is, "Be opened!")
And immediately the man’s ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,
and he spoke plainly.
He ordered them not to tell anyone.
But the more he ordered them not to,
the more they proclaimed it.
They were exceedingly astonished and they said,
"He has done all things well.
He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

Brothers and sisters, there is an interior deafness that we can ask Jesus to touch and heal today. It is interior deafness, which is worse than physical deafness, because it is the deafness of the heart. Taken up with haste, by so many things to say and do, we do not find time to stop and listen to those who speak to us. We run the risk of becoming impervious to everything and not making room for those who need to be heard. I am thinking about children, young people, the elderly, the many who do not really need words and sermons, but to be heard. Let us ask ourselves: how is my capacity to listen going? Do I let myself be touched by people’s lives? Do I know how to spend time with those who are close to me in order to listen? This regards all of us, but in a special way also priests. The priest must listen to people, not in a rushed way, but listen and see how he can help, but after having listened. (…) Starting a dialogue often happens not through words but silence, by not insisting, by patiently beginning anew to listen to others, hearing about their struggles and what they carry inside. The healing of the heart begins with listening. Listening. This is what restores the heart. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 5 September 2021)

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Two-thirds of aborted babies lost their lives to abortion pills, report finds - #Catholic - About two-thirds of aborted babies lost their lives to abortion pills, according to a Feb. 10 report by the National Right to Life.The 2026 “Status of Abortion in the United States” report, an analysis of developments in abortion policy, found that chemical abortions account for 63% of all reported abortions in the U.S. as of 2023.Mail-order pills, which can be shipped into every state, even if they are illegal, make chemical abortion easily accessible. State safeguards designed to protect women — such as required in-person physician visits — can be easily sidestepped.But studies continue to show high rates of negative outcomes for women who take abortion drugs. Chemical abortion has a complication rate four times that of surgical abortion, one study found. According to a 2025 study, 1 in 10 patients had “a serious adverse event” and 6% of patients needed surgery.The Trump administration has pledged to review the dangers of the abortion drug but has not restored safeguards that the Biden administration removed.National Right to Life looks to establish accountability on the state and local level through legislation.“This is a moment of stark contrast in America,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Some states are racing to entrench abortion at any cost, while others are advancing compassionate policies that recognize the humanity of unborn children and provide real support to mothers.”The Abortion Pill Provider Liability and Education (APPLE) Act is “designed to hold abortion-pill providers accountable and give women legal recourse when harmed,” according to the Feb. 10 press release.The report calls the model legislation a “fresh approach.”“The APPLE Act empowers women to sue any party involved in the abortion pill supply chain — prescribers, sellers, manufacturers — when harm occurs,” the report read. “The goal is accountability and transparency.”Dr. Christina Francis, CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said the removal of safeguards around abortion pill prescriptions was “reckless.”“The abortion industry treats abortion pills like casual online purchases, though the reality is that they are far more dangerous,” Francis told EWTN News. “Known complications for women include hemorrhage, severe infection, and the need for emergency surgery.” Dr. Christina Francis heads the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG). | Credit: AAPLOG “Anyone can order them online — a woman, a minor, even an abuser — with no ID, no pregnancy verification, and zero medical supervision or follow‑up,” she continued.The APPLE Act would ensure a public record of injuries and failures — something currently not in place, as abortion pill complications go underreported.“This report makes clear that while Roe [v. Wade] is gone, the abortion industry has simply shifted tactics — relying heavily on dangerous mail-order pills and legal loopholes to avoid accountability,” Tobias said.“At the same time, we’re seeing encouraging momentum in states working to protect both women and their unborn children,” Tobias continued. “The APPLE Act is one important step toward restoring transparency and responsibility in an industry that has operated for too long without either.”So far, two states — Washington and Ohio — have introduced the APPLE Act.“Because the APPLE Act is fundamentally consumer protection law, it has the potential to gain traction even in states that support abortion,” the report read.“The truth about chemical abortion is becoming harder to ignore,” the report continued.Francis urged the FDA to reinstate the safeguards.“When the FDA recklessly scrapped the last remaining safeguards over these high-risk drugs, it opened the floodgates for extensive harm and abuse of both women and preborn children,” Francis continued. “The result is widespread and reckless distribution of these pills, thousands of preborn lives lost, and more women harmed because they were never given truly informed consent or afforded basic medical care and support.”“This is medical malpractice, and it is time for the FDA to take this situation seriously and do its job by restoring essential safeguards,” she said.
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Two-thirds of aborted babies lost their lives to abortion pills, report finds – #Catholic – About two-thirds of aborted babies lost their lives to abortion pills, according to a Feb. 10 report by the National Right to Life.The 2026 “Status of Abortion in the United States” report, an analysis of developments in abortion policy, found that chemical abortions account for 63% of all reported abortions in the U.S. as of 2023.Mail-order pills, which can be shipped into every state, even if they are illegal, make chemical abortion easily accessible. State safeguards designed to protect women — such as required in-person physician visits — can be easily sidestepped.But studies continue to show high rates of negative outcomes for women who take abortion drugs. Chemical abortion has a complication rate four times that of surgical abortion, one study found. According to a 2025 study, 1 in 10 patients had “a serious adverse event” and 6% of patients needed surgery.The Trump administration has pledged to review the dangers of the abortion drug but has not restored safeguards that the Biden administration removed.National Right to Life looks to establish accountability on the state and local level through legislation.“This is a moment of stark contrast in America,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Some states are racing to entrench abortion at any cost, while others are advancing compassionate policies that recognize the humanity of unborn children and provide real support to mothers.”The Abortion Pill Provider Liability and Education (APPLE) Act is “designed to hold abortion-pill providers accountable and give women legal recourse when harmed,” according to the Feb. 10 press release.The report calls the model legislation a “fresh approach.”“The APPLE Act empowers women to sue any party involved in the abortion pill supply chain — prescribers, sellers, manufacturers — when harm occurs,” the report read. “The goal is accountability and transparency.”Dr. Christina Francis, CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said the removal of safeguards around abortion pill prescriptions was “reckless.”“The abortion industry treats abortion pills like casual online purchases, though the reality is that they are far more dangerous,” Francis told EWTN News. “Known complications for women include hemorrhage, severe infection, and the need for emergency surgery.” Dr. Christina Francis heads the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG). | Credit: AAPLOG “Anyone can order them online — a woman, a minor, even an abuser — with no ID, no pregnancy verification, and zero medical supervision or follow‑up,” she continued.The APPLE Act would ensure a public record of injuries and failures — something currently not in place, as abortion pill complications go underreported.“This report makes clear that while Roe [v. Wade] is gone, the abortion industry has simply shifted tactics — relying heavily on dangerous mail-order pills and legal loopholes to avoid accountability,” Tobias said.“At the same time, we’re seeing encouraging momentum in states working to protect both women and their unborn children,” Tobias continued. “The APPLE Act is one important step toward restoring transparency and responsibility in an industry that has operated for too long without either.”So far, two states — Washington and Ohio — have introduced the APPLE Act.“Because the APPLE Act is fundamentally consumer protection law, it has the potential to gain traction even in states that support abortion,” the report read.“The truth about chemical abortion is becoming harder to ignore,” the report continued.Francis urged the FDA to reinstate the safeguards.“When the FDA recklessly scrapped the last remaining safeguards over these high-risk drugs, it opened the floodgates for extensive harm and abuse of both women and preborn children,” Francis continued. “The result is widespread and reckless distribution of these pills, thousands of preborn lives lost, and more women harmed because they were never given truly informed consent or afforded basic medical care and support.”“This is medical malpractice, and it is time for the FDA to take this situation seriously and do its job by restoring essential safeguards,” she said.

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After a report found that nearly two-thirds of abortions are chemical, advocacy groups are pushing for national and local safeguards against mail-order abortion pill prescriptions.

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More bishops call for Notre Dame to drop appointment of pro-abortion professor #Catholic Nearly half a dozen more bishops have joined the growing backlash against the University of Notre Dame over its controversial appointment of an outspoken abortion advocate to lead a university department.Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, Bishop Kevin Rhoades on Feb. 11 issued a statement criticizing the university for appointing global affairs Professor Susan Ostermann as director of the school’s Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies.Three of Rhoades’ fellow bishops quickly backed the prelate’s remarks, voicing support on social media and calling on the university to drop Ostermann’s nomination. On Feb. 12, five more bishops commended Rhoades for his statement and expressed hope that the historic Catholic university would rescind the appointment. Gallup, New Mexico, Bishop James Wall praised Rhoades for his stance, with the western U.S. prelate offering a quote attributed to Pope Leo XIV: “We cannot build a just society if we discard the weakest, whether the child in the womb or the old man in his fragility, for both are gifts from God.”TweetSan Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone also thanked Rhoades for “speaking up.” “Holy Mary, Mother of God and Our Lady, pray for the university that bears your name,” Cordileone said. TweetGreen Bay, Wisconsin, Bishop David Ricken, meanwhile, wrote: “I fully affirm and stand in solidarity with my brother bishop [Rhoades].” He said Rhoades spoke “with clarity, courage, and fidelity to the Church’s mission.”“[L]et us turn with confidence to our Blessed Mother. Our Lady, pray for us! You are our loving Mother — we love you and entrust this to your Immaculate Heart,” Ricken wrote.TweetMadison, Wisconsin, Bishop Donald Hying described Rhoades’ statement as “a profound reflection on human dignity and the culture of life.”Tweet“We pray that all of our educational institutions support Catholic teaching, especially regarding human life,” he said. Lincoln, Nebraska, Bishop James Conley said he “stand[s] in support of Bishop Rhoades” while sharing his concern over the appointment. “Catholic institutions must faithfully reflect the truth of the dignity of every human life in both their mission and their leadership,” he said. TweetThe University of Notre Dame has continued to stand by its appointment of Ostermann, whose post is scheduled to take effect July 1. Rhoades on Feb. 11 said there is “still time [for the university] to make things right.”Ostermann, meanwhile, told the National Catholic Register in January that her role at the school “is to support the diverse research of our scholars and students, not to advance a personal political agenda.”The professor said she “respect[s] Notre Dame’s institutional position on the sanctity of life at every stage” and described herself as “inspired by the university’s focus on integral human development, which calls us to promote the dignity and flourishing of every person.”
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More bishops call for Notre Dame to drop appointment of pro-abortion professor #Catholic Nearly half a dozen more bishops have joined the growing backlash against the University of Notre Dame over its controversial appointment of an outspoken abortion advocate to lead a university department.Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, Bishop Kevin Rhoades on Feb. 11 issued a statement criticizing the university for appointing global affairs Professor Susan Ostermann as director of the school’s Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies.Three of Rhoades’ fellow bishops quickly backed the prelate’s remarks, voicing support on social media and calling on the university to drop Ostermann’s nomination. On Feb. 12, five more bishops commended Rhoades for his statement and expressed hope that the historic Catholic university would rescind the appointment. Gallup, New Mexico, Bishop James Wall praised Rhoades for his stance, with the western U.S. prelate offering a quote attributed to Pope Leo XIV: “We cannot build a just society if we discard the weakest, whether the child in the womb or the old man in his fragility, for both are gifts from God.”TweetSan Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone also thanked Rhoades for “speaking up.” “Holy Mary, Mother of God and Our Lady, pray for the university that bears your name,” Cordileone said. TweetGreen Bay, Wisconsin, Bishop David Ricken, meanwhile, wrote: “I fully affirm and stand in solidarity with my brother bishop [Rhoades].” He said Rhoades spoke “with clarity, courage, and fidelity to the Church’s mission.”“[L]et us turn with confidence to our Blessed Mother. Our Lady, pray for us! You are our loving Mother — we love you and entrust this to your Immaculate Heart,” Ricken wrote.TweetMadison, Wisconsin, Bishop Donald Hying described Rhoades’ statement as “a profound reflection on human dignity and the culture of life.”Tweet“We pray that all of our educational institutions support Catholic teaching, especially regarding human life,” he said. Lincoln, Nebraska, Bishop James Conley said he “stand[s] in support of Bishop Rhoades” while sharing his concern over the appointment. “Catholic institutions must faithfully reflect the truth of the dignity of every human life in both their mission and their leadership,” he said. TweetThe University of Notre Dame has continued to stand by its appointment of Ostermann, whose post is scheduled to take effect July 1. Rhoades on Feb. 11 said there is “still time [for the university] to make things right.”Ostermann, meanwhile, told the National Catholic Register in January that her role at the school “is to support the diverse research of our scholars and students, not to advance a personal political agenda.”The professor said she “respect[s] Notre Dame’s institutional position on the sanctity of life at every stage” and described herself as “inspired by the university’s focus on integral human development, which calls us to promote the dignity and flourishing of every person.”

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The university has endured sustained backlash for nominating the outspoken abortion advocate to lead an academic department.

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Obituary: Sister Pauline Gambacorto, of the Sisters of the Church of Paterson, 90 #Catholic – A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Mount St. Mary Academy in Watchung, N.J., for Sister Pauline Gambacorto, a member of the Society of Sisters of the Church of Paterson, N.J., since 1986, who died on Feb. 3. She was 90. Born July 6, 1935, in Long Branch, N.J., Sister Gambacorto entered the Religious Teachers of St. Lucy Filippini in Morristown, N.J., in 1949. She received her habit in 1951 and made her final profession in 1952. She taught in many schools throughout New Jersey and New York. Sister Gambacorto touched many lives as a teacher and musician. She taught piano and voice. Her voice was captivating; she frequently led songs at Mass. Sister Gambacorto served the Filippini community for 29 years. In 1978, Sister Gambacorto left the Filippini community and joined the Society of Sisters of the Church of Paterson in 1986. Sister Gambacorto was a loving and giving servant of Christ, living to serve the “least among us.” She was always searching for God and ways to serve him. Sister Gambacorto enjoyed knitting and crocheting, donating many newborn caps and blankets to hospitals, churches, and shelters. She was an artist who created greeting cards for family and friends. She was skilled in calligraphy, personally addressing each of the 310 wedding invitations for one of her nieces. Sister Gambacorto was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Mary (née Clemente) Gambacorto; her brother, Thomas, and his wife (Theresa) Gambacorto; and her sister, Angelina (née Mills). She is survived by her brother, Dominic, and his wife Janet Gambacorto, of Red Bank, N.J.; her sister, Joann (Keith, deceased) Richardson, of Maryland; and many nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces. Her niece, Sister Lisa Gambacorto, RSM, will host the Memorial Mass at a later date at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Mount St. Mary Academy in Watchung, N.J. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.          
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Obituary: Sister Pauline Gambacorto, of the Sisters of the Church of Paterson, 90 #Catholic – A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Mount St. Mary Academy in Watchung, N.J., for Sister Pauline Gambacorto, a member of the Society of Sisters of the Church of Paterson, N.J., since 1986, who died on Feb. 3. She was 90. Born July 6, 1935, in Long Branch, N.J., Sister Gambacorto entered the Religious Teachers of St. Lucy Filippini in Morristown, N.J., in 1949. She received her habit in 1951 and made her final profession in 1952. She taught in many schools throughout New Jersey and New York. Sister Gambacorto touched many lives as a teacher and musician. She taught piano and voice. Her voice was captivating; she frequently led songs at Mass. Sister Gambacorto served the Filippini community for 29 years. In 1978, Sister Gambacorto left the Filippini community and joined the Society of Sisters of the Church of Paterson in 1986. Sister Gambacorto was a loving and giving servant of Christ, living to serve the “least among us.” She was always searching for God and ways to serve him. Sister Gambacorto enjoyed knitting and crocheting, donating many newborn caps and blankets to hospitals, churches, and shelters. She was an artist who created greeting cards for family and friends. She was skilled in calligraphy, personally addressing each of the 310 wedding invitations for one of her nieces. Sister Gambacorto was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Mary (née Clemente) Gambacorto; her brother, Thomas, and his wife (Theresa) Gambacorto; and her sister, Angelina (née Mills). She is survived by her brother, Dominic, and his wife Janet Gambacorto, of Red Bank, N.J.; her sister, Joann (Keith, deceased) Richardson, of Maryland; and many nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces. Her niece, Sister Lisa Gambacorto, RSM, will host the Memorial Mass at a later date at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Mount St. Mary Academy in Watchung, N.J. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.          

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Obituary: Sister Pauline Gambacorto, of the Sisters of the Church of Paterson, 90 #Catholic –

A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Mount St. Mary Academy in Watchung, N.J., for Sister Pauline Gambacorto, a member of the Society of Sisters of the Church of Paterson, N.J., since 1986, who died on Feb. 3. She was 90.

Born July 6, 1935, in Long Branch, N.J., Sister Gambacorto entered the Religious Teachers of St. Lucy Filippini in Morristown, N.J., in 1949. She received her habit in 1951 and made her final profession in 1952. She taught in many schools throughout New Jersey and New York. Sister Gambacorto touched many lives as a teacher and musician. She taught piano and voice. Her voice was captivating; she frequently led songs at Mass. Sister Gambacorto served the Filippini community for 29 years.

In 1978, Sister Gambacorto left the Filippini community and joined the Society of Sisters of the Church of Paterson in 1986.

Sister Gambacorto was a loving and giving servant of Christ, living to serve the “least among us.” She was always searching for God and ways to serve him. Sister Gambacorto enjoyed knitting and crocheting, donating many newborn caps and blankets to hospitals, churches, and shelters. She was an artist who created greeting cards for family and friends. She was skilled in calligraphy, personally addressing each of the 310 wedding invitations for one of her nieces.

Sister Gambacorto was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Mary (née Clemente) Gambacorto; her brother, Thomas, and his wife (Theresa) Gambacorto; and her sister, Angelina (née Mills). She is survived by her brother, Dominic, and his wife Janet Gambacorto, of Red Bank, N.J.; her sister, Joann (Keith, deceased) Richardson, of Maryland; and many nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces.

Her niece, Sister Lisa Gambacorto, RSM, will host the Memorial Mass at a later date at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Mount St. Mary Academy in Watchung, N.J.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

 

 

 

 

 

– A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Mount St. Mary Academy in Watchung, N.J., for Sister Pauline Gambacorto, a member of the Society of Sisters of the Church of Paterson, N.J., since 1986, who died on Feb. 3. She was 90. Born July 6, 1935, in Long Branch, N.J., Sister Gambacorto entered the Religious Teachers of St. Lucy Filippini in Morristown, N.J., in 1949. She received her habit in 1951 and made her final profession in 1952. She taught in many schools throughout New Jersey and New York. Sister

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Learn to encourage mental wellness at Pompton Lakes workshop #Catholic – The Paterson Diocese in New Jersey will host The Mental Health Association of New Jersey (MHA-NJ) for “Mental Health Matters”, an interactive workshop to provide people who work with or accompany others a clear, accessible introduction to mental health in a short, impactful format. The presentation will be on Thursday, March 5, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes, N.J. Attendees of the workshop will gain clarity with a basic understanding of mental-health challenges such as stress, anxiety, depression, and the impact of trauma. They will learn to be confident in ways to support those who might be experiencing these challenges. Adults of all backgrounds and professions are welcome, including clergy, religious, parish and school staff, catechists, youth and young adult ministers, community leaders, parents, or anyone who supports the mental health of others. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. “The workshop will help people who serve others to recognize those who might be struggling with mental illness and how to direct them to get proper treatment,” said John Cammarata, executive director of St. Paul Inside the Walls Evangelization Center in Madison, N.J., and director of diocesan Youth Ministry. He is coordinating the diocese’s event with Salesian Sister Theresa Lee, the diocesan chancellor and delegate for religious. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney will be present and will give the opening prayer for the workshop. Four presenters from MHA-NJ will provide real-world examples and simple, actionable guidance to demystify mental health. They will cover a basic understanding of key mental health concepts, early warning signs and symptoms of mental-health challenges to watch for, strategies for offering supportive, non-judgmental conversations, and steps for connecting individuals to appropriate resources when needed. The workshop will conclude with a question-and-answer period with the MHA-NJ speakers. The MHA-NJ has a rich history of improving the lives of people with mental illness and substance use disorders. This statewide non-profit organization strives for children and adults to achieve victory over mental illness and substance use disorders through advocacy, education, training, and services. St. Mary’s Church has plenty of parking for the “Mental Health Matters” workshop. To register for free, visit https://rcdop.org/mental-health-matters.  
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Learn to encourage mental wellness at Pompton Lakes workshop #Catholic – The Paterson Diocese in New Jersey will host The Mental Health Association of New Jersey (MHA-NJ) for “Mental Health Matters”, an interactive workshop to provide people who work with or accompany others a clear, accessible introduction to mental health in a short, impactful format. The presentation will be on Thursday, March 5, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes, N.J. Attendees of the workshop will gain clarity with a basic understanding of mental-health challenges such as stress, anxiety, depression, and the impact of trauma. They will learn to be confident in ways to support those who might be experiencing these challenges. Adults of all backgrounds and professions are welcome, including clergy, religious, parish and school staff, catechists, youth and young adult ministers, community leaders, parents, or anyone who supports the mental health of others. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. “The workshop will help people who serve others to recognize those who might be struggling with mental illness and how to direct them to get proper treatment,” said John Cammarata, executive director of St. Paul Inside the Walls Evangelization Center in Madison, N.J., and director of diocesan Youth Ministry. He is coordinating the diocese’s event with Salesian Sister Theresa Lee, the diocesan chancellor and delegate for religious. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney will be present and will give the opening prayer for the workshop. Four presenters from MHA-NJ will provide real-world examples and simple, actionable guidance to demystify mental health. They will cover a basic understanding of key mental health concepts, early warning signs and symptoms of mental-health challenges to watch for, strategies for offering supportive, non-judgmental conversations, and steps for connecting individuals to appropriate resources when needed. The workshop will conclude with a question-and-answer period with the MHA-NJ speakers. The MHA-NJ has a rich history of improving the lives of people with mental illness and substance use disorders. This statewide non-profit organization strives for children and adults to achieve victory over mental illness and substance use disorders through advocacy, education, training, and services. St. Mary’s Church has plenty of parking for the “Mental Health Matters” workshop. To register for free, visit https://rcdop.org/mental-health-matters.  

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Learn to encourage mental wellness at Pompton Lakes workshop #Catholic –

The Paterson Diocese in New Jersey will host The Mental Health Association of New Jersey (MHA-NJ) for “Mental Health Matters”, an interactive workshop to provide people who work with or accompany others a clear, accessible introduction to mental health in a short, impactful format. The presentation will be on Thursday, March 5, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes, N.J.

Attendees of the workshop will gain clarity with a basic understanding of mental-health challenges such as stress, anxiety, depression, and the impact of trauma. They will learn to be confident in ways to support those who might be experiencing these challenges.

Adults of all backgrounds and professions are welcome, including clergy, religious, parish and school staff, catechists, youth and young adult ministers, community leaders, parents, or anyone who supports the mental health of others.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

“The workshop will help people who serve others to recognize those who might be struggling with mental illness and how to direct them to get proper treatment,” said John Cammarata, executive director of St. Paul Inside the Walls Evangelization Center in Madison, N.J., and director of diocesan Youth Ministry. He is coordinating the diocese’s event with Salesian Sister Theresa Lee, the diocesan chancellor and delegate for religious.

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney will be present and will give the opening prayer for the workshop.

Four presenters from MHA-NJ will provide real-world examples and simple, actionable guidance to demystify mental health. They will cover a basic understanding of key mental health concepts, early warning signs and symptoms of mental-health challenges to watch for, strategies for offering supportive, non-judgmental conversations, and steps for connecting individuals to appropriate resources when needed.

The workshop will conclude with a question-and-answer period with the MHA-NJ speakers.

The MHA-NJ has a rich history of improving the lives of people with mental illness and substance use disorders. This statewide non-profit organization strives for children and adults to achieve victory over mental illness and substance use disorders through advocacy, education, training, and services.

St. Mary’s Church has plenty of parking for the “Mental Health Matters” workshop.

To register for free, visit https://rcdop.org/mental-health-matters.

 

– The Paterson Diocese in New Jersey will host The Mental Health Association of New Jersey (MHA-NJ) for “Mental Health Matters”, an interactive workshop to provide people who work with or accompany others a clear, accessible introduction to mental health in a short, impactful format. The presentation will be on Thursday, March 5, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes, N.J. Attendees of the workshop will gain clarity with a basic understanding of mental-health challenges such as stress, anxiety, depression, and the impact of trauma. They will learn to be confident in ways to support those

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