Pew: In US and other countries, Catholicism loses more members than it gains Disability ministry in the Church is making strides, but needs more widespread adoption in parishes New national garden promises healing for abuse survivors and all Catholics Canadian cardinal urges vote to stop expansion of assisted suicide to those with mental illness Pope Leo encourages death penalty abolitionists as US brings back firing squad and electric chair Local News Community celebrates opening of a place to be seen and heard Katie V. Jones April 24, 2026 “Fill these rooms with your peace and make it a place of refuge for all who find their way here,” Archbishop Lori said in his prayer.”Open the hearts of those who come here so that they may receive not only material help but also the dignity of being seen and being loved.” Bishop Walsh wins state mock trial competition for second straight year Katie V. Jones April 22, 2026 It was a special moment when the small Cumberland-based Bishop Walsh School’s mock trial team qualified to go back to Annapolis and defend its 2025 state title. Sister Joan McCann, O.P., former principal, dies at 85 Catholic Review Staff April 22, 2026 In the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Sister Joan was a former teacher and principal of St. Rose of Lima School in Brooklyn. Elsewhere, she ministered in Illinois, Wisconsin, Georgia, Illinois and Washington, D.C. Maryland Catholic Conference engages wide-ranging state legislation in 2026 Christopher Gunty April 22, 2026 Life issues, immigration, juvenile justice and education were key issues addressed during the Maryland General Assembly session that ended April 13 that the Maryland Catholic Conference followed and took stances on. More Local News World News Pew: In US and other countries, Catholicism loses more members than it gains Gina Christian April 25, 2026 A new analysis from Pew Research Center has found that Catholicism has lost more members than it has gained in most of the 24 countries surveyed, while Protestantism has seen net gains in several nations, especially Latin America. Disability ministry in the Church is making strides, but needs more widespread adoption in parishes Simone Orendain April 25, 2026 On Easter in Chicago’s St. James Catholic Church, a congregation made up mostly of people with disabilities and their families attended the Chicago archdiocesan Special Religious Development ministry’s Mass like any other time of year. New national garden promises healing for abuse survivors and all Catholics Katie Yoder April 25, 2026 A national garden in the nation’s capital proposed by survivors of clergy sexual abuse promises to foster healing not only for survivors but also for the Catholic Church as a whole. Canadian cardinal urges vote to stop expansion of assisted suicide to those with mental illness The Catholic Register April 25, 2026 In letters to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and all members of Parliament from the Toronto area, Cardinal Frank Leo asked that they “choose life and not death” and build a civilization that cares when voting on the Right to Recover Act. More World News Commentary Cardinal Francis Spellman: A dramatic, hard-fought rise to the top Russell Shaw April 25, 2026 Many cardinals have had books written about them, but few have become the fictionalized heroes of best-selling novels. Cardinal Francis J. Spellman, archbishop of New York from 1939 to 1967, was one — possibly the only one. ‘Les Misérables’ and the moral questions behind migration Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio April 22, 2026 On a recent vacation, I read Victor Hugo’s “Les Misérables.” Hugo was truly a poet and philosopher. “Les Misérables” became one of his most popular works through its musical presentation on Broadway and later as a film. It tells various stories about life with distinct and complicated moral issues that need resolution. Question Corner: Is there a time limit on a declaration of nullity appeal to the Roman Rota? Jenna Marie Cooper April 22, 2026 I have a question about appeals to Rome of the declaration of nullity process. The metropolitan tribunal of my local archdiocese has completed their review of the case and stated that it has been proved that there is sufficient ground to find the marriage invalid (“decision in the affirmative”). Pope Leo XIV, the world’s conscience: A Jewish perspective Menachem Z. Rosensaft April 22, 2026 The last thing a Jewish academic like myself with no grounding in Christian theology should want to do at this particular time is to weigh in on the attacks against Pope Leo XIV by President Trump, Vice President Vance, Speaker Johnson and others. The Pope and the President: Means and Ends Father Thomas Ulshafer, P.S.S. April 21, 2026 When President Donald Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV on Truth Social on April 12, he sidestepped the substance of the pope’s message. More Commentary Featured Video On April 21, 2025, Pope Francis died, marking the end of a historic and deeply influential pontificate. His death led to a conclave that elected his successor, Robert Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV.
Community celebrates opening of a place to be seen and heard Katie V. Jones April 24, 2026 “Fill these rooms with your peace and make it a place of refuge for all who find their way here,” Archbishop Lori said in his prayer.”Open the hearts of those who come here so that they may receive not only material help but also the dignity of being seen and being loved.”
Bishop Walsh wins state mock trial competition for second straight year Katie V. Jones April 22, 2026 It was a special moment when the small Cumberland-based Bishop Walsh School’s mock trial team qualified to go back to Annapolis and defend its 2025 state title.
Sister Joan McCann, O.P., former principal, dies at 85 Catholic Review Staff April 22, 2026 In the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Sister Joan was a former teacher and principal of St. Rose of Lima School in Brooklyn. Elsewhere, she ministered in Illinois, Wisconsin, Georgia, Illinois and Washington, D.C.
Maryland Catholic Conference engages wide-ranging state legislation in 2026 Christopher Gunty April 22, 2026 Life issues, immigration, juvenile justice and education were key issues addressed during the Maryland General Assembly session that ended April 13 that the Maryland Catholic Conference followed and took stances on.
Pew: In US and other countries, Catholicism loses more members than it gains Gina Christian April 25, 2026 A new analysis from Pew Research Center has found that Catholicism has lost more members than it has gained in most of the 24 countries surveyed, while Protestantism has seen net gains in several nations, especially Latin America.
Disability ministry in the Church is making strides, but needs more widespread adoption in parishes Simone Orendain April 25, 2026 On Easter in Chicago’s St. James Catholic Church, a congregation made up mostly of people with disabilities and their families attended the Chicago archdiocesan Special Religious Development ministry’s Mass like any other time of year.
New national garden promises healing for abuse survivors and all Catholics Katie Yoder April 25, 2026 A national garden in the nation’s capital proposed by survivors of clergy sexual abuse promises to foster healing not only for survivors but also for the Catholic Church as a whole.
Canadian cardinal urges vote to stop expansion of assisted suicide to those with mental illness The Catholic Register April 25, 2026 In letters to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and all members of Parliament from the Toronto area, Cardinal Frank Leo asked that they “choose life and not death” and build a civilization that cares when voting on the Right to Recover Act.
Cardinal Francis Spellman: A dramatic, hard-fought rise to the top Russell Shaw April 25, 2026 Many cardinals have had books written about them, but few have become the fictionalized heroes of best-selling novels. Cardinal Francis J. Spellman, archbishop of New York from 1939 to 1967, was one — possibly the only one.
‘Les Misérables’ and the moral questions behind migration Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio April 22, 2026 On a recent vacation, I read Victor Hugo’s “Les Misérables.” Hugo was truly a poet and philosopher. “Les Misérables” became one of his most popular works through its musical presentation on Broadway and later as a film. It tells various stories about life with distinct and complicated moral issues that need resolution.
Question Corner: Is there a time limit on a declaration of nullity appeal to the Roman Rota? Jenna Marie Cooper April 22, 2026 I have a question about appeals to Rome of the declaration of nullity process. The metropolitan tribunal of my local archdiocese has completed their review of the case and stated that it has been proved that there is sufficient ground to find the marriage invalid (“decision in the affirmative”).
Pope Leo XIV, the world’s conscience: A Jewish perspective Menachem Z. Rosensaft April 22, 2026 The last thing a Jewish academic like myself with no grounding in Christian theology should want to do at this particular time is to weigh in on the attacks against Pope Leo XIV by President Trump, Vice President Vance, Speaker Johnson and others.
The Pope and the President: Means and Ends Father Thomas Ulshafer, P.S.S. April 21, 2026 When President Donald Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV on Truth Social on April 12, he sidestepped the substance of the pope’s message.
