Gallup poll: Social acceptance of birth control, kids outside of marriage decreases in 2026
Although most Americans view birth control and having children outside of marriage as morally acceptable behaviors, that support saw a significant drop according to Gallup’s 2026 Value and Beliefs poll.
The annual survey tracks American views about 20 subjects with moral implications. The issues that saw the largest decreases in support in 2026 were birth control, having children outside of marriage, sex between teenagers, gambling, and cloning animals.
Pollsters surveyed 1,001 adults from May 1–17. The report has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. Pollsters asked whether the person finds the behaviors “morally acceptable” or “morally wrong.”
Joseph Meaney, senior ethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center, told EWTN News ethics cannot be measured by polling because “what is right is not necessarily popular,” but these polls “help us understand how effectively ethical conduct is being taught and perceived.”
“It is hopeful to see clear moral violations like using birth control and out-of-wedlock pregnancy losing support in American society,” he said.
Shifting views
The issue that saw the largest drop of societal support from 2025 to 2026 was having children outside of marriage, with the poll finding 58% of Americans believing this is morally acceptable and 35% saying it is morally wrong — a nine-point drop in acceptance from last year.
Pollsters found a partisan divide on the subject, with 76% of Democrats viewing it as morally acceptable, along with 56% of independents and 44% of Republicans.
For birth control, 83% of Americans called it acceptable and 11% called it morally wrong, which shows a seven-point drop in acceptance from the previous year. It found a slight partisan divide here as well, with 92% of Democrats accepting it, along with 81% of independents and 79% of Republicans.
As gambling becomes more widespread through websites and mobile applications, the societal acceptance dropped down to 57%, with disapproval rising to 35%. This is a six-point drop from the previous year. It has acceptance from 66% of Democrats, 55% of Republicans, and 53% of independents.
Societal acceptance of sex between teenagers has consistently been low, but it decreased by an additional six points in 2026 from 41% acceptance to 35% acceptance, with disapproval at 57%. It’s accepted by 54% of Democrats, 35% of independents, and 16% of Republicans.
Cloning animals has also been consistently unpopular, but acceptance went down from 34% to 27%, with 64% disapproving. This did not have a significant partisan divide: 29% of independents, 27% of Democrats, and 25% of Republicans view it as acceptable.
Other values measured
Pollsters also asked other ethical questions related to subjects such as abortion and other life issues, gender, human sexuality, and marriage but did not see a major shift from 2025 through 2026.
A majority of people, 52%, believe the death penalty is morally acceptable while 39% say it is not. A plurality of people believe abortion and doctor-assisted suicide are morally acceptable, with 49% approving on both questions. It found 41% say abortion is morally wrong and 45% of people say doctor-assisted suicide is morally wrong.
There was a partisan divide here with Republicans being more likely to view the death penalty as morally acceptable and Democrats being more likely to view abortion and doctor-assisted suicide as morally acceptable.
The poll found societal acceptance for divorce at 74%, for premarital sex at 65%, and for gay and lesbian relationships at 62%. Alternatively, only 38% said it is morally acceptable to change one’s gender.
Societal acceptance for extramarital affairs was found to be 7%, for cloning humans at 9%, for polygamy at 19%, and for pornography 31%.
Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk, senior ethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center, told EWTN News these types of polls “help remind us of the importance of being in dialogue, and actively discussing critical moral issues in an open society, so as to contribute to the formation of human consciences in truth and light.”
“To the extent that Catholics try to stand up for unpopular truths, like the unacceptability of divorce, premarital sex, and birth control, and to the extent that they seek to structure their own choices and lives around these deep moral verities, it has the undeniable effect of sparking interest and even awakening the consciences of more worldly-minded individuals, whether they profess to be atheistic, agnostic, or otherwise unsure about higher matters,” he said.
“Catholics have a particular obligation and responsibility in this regard to strengthen the culture around them, because ‘to whom much is given, much is expected,’” Pacholczyk added.
Cardinal Pizzaballa receives award from Macron, urges support for Holy Land Christians
Following his meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, said the Christian presence in the Holy Land is facing “a difficult reality” amid growing violence and the absence of any political horizon.
Speaking to ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, the patriarch said ongoing instability is increasing the vulnerability of local communities and deepening people’s uncertainty about the future.
The patriarch’s remarks came after an official ceremony at the Élysée Palace attended by French political and Church leaders, during which Macron awarded Pizzaballa the rank of officer in the Legion of Honor in recognition of his service to the people of the Holy Land and his ongoing efforts to promote interreligious dialogue and defend the values of justice and peace.
The cardinal said his meetings with Macron were “important and direct” and that their discussion focused less on political details, which the president already knows, and more on social issues, people’s concerns, and their daily realities in both Palestine and Israel.
He added that Macron showed particular interest in understanding how the Church interprets current developments and in learning about the humanitarian situation of Christian communities in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.
Pizzaballa also noted that Palestinian Christians “do not differ in their suffering from other Palestinians.” Settlements continue to expand, lands are being confiscated, and landowners are often prevented from accessing or working their property, he said. At the same time, attacks by settlers continue amid what he described as a clear lack of security.
He also pointed to the economic crisis that is prompting many Christian families to consider emigration, especially after years of war, declining employment opportunities, and the suspension of development projects.
Pizzaballa called on the international community and churches in the West to “redouble their efforts to create real opportunities, build connections, and develop new pathways that enable families to remain in their homeland and preserve their roots.
Regarding the Church’s mission in the context of the conflict, Pizzaballa stressed that its role begins with speaking the truth and condemning injustice. It also includes promoting mutual respect, helping build dignified lives, and accompanying people as they seek to overcome despair.
The Church, he said, “tries to be a voice reminding everyone of the humanity of the other,” while combining spiritual care with advocacy for justice and peace.
The patriarch also reflected on the region’s broader tensions, noting that conflict has become part of the culture of the region after generations of violence. Overcoming this legacy, he said, “will not happen anytime soon,” particularly in the absence of leadership capable of looking beyond the barriers imposed by violence.
He added that the Church remains committed to serving as “a bridge of hope” at a time when trust is diminishing and fears are increasing.
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 English.
Ecuador to renew its consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Archdiocese of Guayaquil in Ecuador is inviting all the faithful to participate on Friday, June 12, in a Mass during which Cardinal Luis Cabrera will renew the consecration of Ecuador to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which was done for the first time on March 25, 1874.
The Mass, which the cardinal will celebrate on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, will take place at noon at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Guayaquil.
Pablo Moysam, spokesman for the eventʼs organizing committee, told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that “it is evident that in the hearts of ordinary Catholics there is a need to renew our country’s consecration to the heart of Jesus to ask for his protection and mercy and as a people to make an act of faith and hope in union with the whole Church on the feast of the Sacred Heart.”
“It will take place in Guayaquil because it is the city hardest hit by insecurity and the one most in need of this renewal,” he noted.
According to official figures from Ecuador’s Ministry of the Interior, the country recorded 2,778 first-degree murders from January to April. In the area comprising Guayaquil, Durán, and Samborondón, there were 674 homicides during the first three months of 2026. Many of these crimes are linked to disputes between drug-trafficking gangs.
Moysam also told ACI Prensa that Ecuador was the “first nation in the world officially consecrated to the heart of Jesus, on March 25, 1874.” The renewal, he continued, seeks to “place our families, authorities, and communities under his protection once again.”
“This is an open invitation to the entire Church as well as to civil and military authorities. Beyond the numbers, the spirit of this celebration is to call together all Ecuadorians who wish to join in prayer for the country,” he noted.
Moysam also highlighted that this renewal of the consecration serves as a reminder that “God’s love is a source of hope, reconciliation, and commitment to the common good.”
“In a context marked by social challenges, violence, and uncertainty, this act helps renew confidence that the country can build paths of peace, justice, and fraternity through personal conversion and solidarity among all.”
The last time Ecuador renewed its consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was on March 25, 2024, during the 53rd International Eucharistic Congress held in Quito.
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.
6 Catholics held for 48 hours after protesting use of Paris church for contemporary art festival
Six Catholic activists linked to the traditionalist movement Civitas were held in police custody for nearly 48 hours after attempting to block a contemporary art installation from taking place inside the Church of Saint-Laurent in Paris’ 10th arrondissement on the evening of Saturday, June 6 — the opening night of the city’s 25th annual Nuit Blanche (“Sleepless Night”) festival.
According to online reports, they were released on the evening of June 8.
The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed to AFP that the six were detained following disturbances by a group of approximately 30 individuals outside and inside the church on boulevard Magenta.
Two of those held are suspected of voluntary violence against Alexandra Cordebard, the Socialist mayor of the 10th arrondissement, and Pouria Amirshahi, an Ecologist member of the National Assembly, both of whom reported being jostled and said they intended to file complaints.
The four others were held for participating in an unlawful assembly after refusing to disperse following official warnings.
The City of Paris announced Saturday night that it would also file a complaint, accusing “far-right fundamentalist militants” of attempting to prevent the presentation of one of the festivalʼs works.
Authorization for the use of Saint-Laurent was granted by the parish and the Archdiocese of Paris through their established cultural partnership with the association Art, Culture et Foi, which regularly facilitates artistic events in Parisian churches.
Titled “Sous la peau du ciel” (“Under the Skin of the Sky”), artist Marie-Luce Nadal’s immersive sound installation was conceived as an invisible membrane stretched between what represented the atmosphere and human beings. It consisted of playing recordings of wishes from anonymous people collected from around the world, mixed and blended with the sounds of thunder and lightning and then played inside the church.
Among the recorded wishes shared during the evening were: “I hope the true left comes to power”; “I hope everyone’s soul takes over”; “I hope to be happy and in love all the time”; and “more pasta in the school cafeteria.”
The broader controversy, however, centered on the Nuit Blanche’s artistic director, Barbara Butch, a French DJ and LGBT activist who became a polarizing figure after her appearance in a tableau during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The scene, which featured drag queens and dancers seated along a long table with Butch at the center — wearing a silver headdress resembling a halo — was widely interpreted on social media as a mockery of Leonardo da Vinciʼs famous painting “The Last Supper.” Butch later posted a caption on Instagram reading “Oh yes! Oh yes! The New Gay Testament!”
Against that backdrop, the appointment of Butch to lead the 2026 Nuit Blanche — an event that included programming inside several Parisian churches — drew organized objection from some Catholic groups weeks before the festival opened.
Civitas International, along with the Knights of Our Lady (Militia Sanctae Mariae), had publicly called on Catholics to protest the use of church buildings for the festival. Civitas International is distinct from the French political party Civitas, which was dissolved by the French government in late 2023. It remains active in Switzerland and Belgium and continues to operate online.
In a statement issued Sunday, Civitas International president Alain Escada denied that the group had organized a “collective” action and rejected the accusations of violence.
“We challenge anyone to produce a single image of any aggression carried out against Alexandra Cordebard or deputy Pouria Amirshahi by Catholics during this action,” the statement read, calling the accusations an attempt to “intimidate, stigmatize, or even criminalize” Catholics.
Escada also cited the opinion of jurist Grégor Puppinck, director of the European Centre for Law and Justice, that using a place of worship for purposes unrelated to worship constitutes a violation of both Article 13 of France’s 1905 Law on the Separation of Church and State and Canon 1210 of the Code of Canon Law.
Whether physical violence occurred remains contested. The mayor stated on X that she “personally received blows” from individuals who wanted to prevent entry to the church. Those detained offer a sharply different account.
Mathieu Goyer, president of the association Sainte-Geneviève Paris, who was among those arrested, said in a June 9 interview that he was held for 44 hours across three different police stations.
“The mayor of the 10th accused us of violence — that is why our custody was extended,” he said. “But when police reviewed the surveillance footage, the mayor can be seen on the other side of the church gate. She simply wanted her media moment.”
The Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office announced on the evening of June 9 that it had closed the case against the six activists, concluding that “there was insufficient evidence of any offense.”
The Archdiocese of Paris, for its part, has not issued any public statement on the events.
Conservative Catholic commentators, including Olivier Frèrejacques of the political review Liberté Politique, described this silence as “incomprehensible” and questioned why Church authorities had agreed to host a festival directed by Butch in the first place.
Papal nuncio urges U.S. bishops to deepen communion
ORLANDO, Florida — In his first address to the U.S. bishops since becoming apostolic nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia called for deeper communion within the Church and presented Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate as a moment of renewal rooted in continuity with the vision of Pope Francis.
Speaking June 10 at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ spring plenary assembly in Orlando, Florida, Caccia emphasized themes of peace, communion, and mission, describing them as essential both to the Church’s public witness and to the ministry of bishops themselves.
“I wish to be present among you as a brother bishop who journeys with you,” Caccia told the assembly. “My service here is one of listening, trust, and shared discernment within the Church that we are all serving together.”
The address marked Caccia’s first appearance before the full body of U.S. bishops since Pope Leo appointed him nuncio in March, succeeding Cardinal Christophe Pierre, who retired after reaching the Vatican’s age limit.
Caccia began by conveying greetings and a blessing from Pope Leo, telling the bishops that the Holy Father remains close to them in their ministry and prays that the Lord will strengthen them in their vocation.
The nuncio also paid tribute to Pierre, thanking his predecessor for years of service to the Church in the United States and noting his efforts to travel widely throughout the country to better understand local Churches.
Throughout his remarks, Caccia repeatedly returned to the theme of communion, portraying it as a defining characteristic of the Church’s mission and of the new pontificate.
“I see the election of Pope Leo as a gift of the Holy Spirit,” he said, encouraging the Church in the United States to foster what is best in its tradition while continuing to confront difficult chapters in its recent history, particularly the abuse crisis.
The archbishop emphasized that the United States has contributed significantly to the life of the universal Church and now has given the Church its first pope born and raised in the country. Recalling observations by French political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville during his travels in America in the 1830s, Caccia noted that one priest had suggested the United States could someday become the center of Catholicism.
“Perhaps he was very optimistic,” Caccia joked, drawing laughter from the bishops. “But I wonder what Tocqueville would think today, seeing that the successor of Peter has come from this land.”
At the same time, he cautioned that esteem for the Church in America must not obscure the need for continued renewal and purification.
“The Church is at once holy and always in need of being purified,” he said, quoting the Second Vatican Council.
‘We are called to build together’
Another focus of the speech was the bishops’ planned consecration of the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, scheduled for June 11. Caccia described the act as providing a “spiritual center” for the assembly and linked devotion to the Sacred Heart directly to the Church’s efforts to foster unity and peace.
“Rooted in our own communion with Jesus, we can become builders of peace and communion among ourselves and with others,” he said.
Communion, Caccia emphasized, naturally leads to mission. While noting the Churchʼs history as both a recipient and sender of missionaries, he said the missionary vocation is lived not only by going out to others but also by welcoming those who come to us.
“To meet them with the charity of Christ, to recognize their dignity, and to help them find a place in the life of the community is also part of a missionary Church,” he said. The theme was later echoed by Archbishop Paul Coakley, USCCB president, in remarks following the nuncioʼs address.
The nuncio also highlighted what he described as a strong continuity between Pope Francis and Pope Leo.
Referencing Francis’ encyclical Dilexit Nos and Leo’s recent encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, which addresses the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, Caccia said both pontiffs have emphasized the dignity of the human person in the face of modern challenges and technological advancements.
“Here we can see the continuity between Pope Francis and Pope Leo,” he said.
According to Caccia, Francis stressed that no technology can fully capture the depth of the human heart, while Leo is asking how the Church can safeguard human dignity amid rapidly developing technological systems.
“Such a humanism allows the Church to meet new realities without naive enthusiasm or anxious fear,” he said. “It also reminds us that the Church’s response is built in communion, not in isolation.”
Drawing on an image used by Pope Leo in Magnifica Humanitas, Caccia pointed to the biblical figure Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem alongside the people.
The emphasis on unity reflected themes that have marked Caccia’s own diplomatic ministry. Before arriving in Washington, the Milan-born prelate served as the Holy See’s permanent observer to the United Nations in New York from 2019 until his appointment as nuncio, representing the Vatican on issues ranging from migration to nuclear disarmament.
Ordained a priest in 1983, Caccia entered the Holy See’s diplomatic service in 1991 and later served as apostolic nuncio to Lebanon and the Philippines before his assignment to the United States.
As apostolic nuncio, he serves both as the Holy See’s ambassador to the United States and as the pope’s representative to the Catholic Church in the country, maintaining relations with the U.S. government while also playing a key role in communication between the Vatican and the nation’s bishops.
A ‘living tradition’
Near the conclusion of his remarks, Caccia presented each bishop with a pocket-sized volume containing Lumen Gentium and Dei Verbum, the Second Vatican Council’s dogmatic constitutions.
The gesture underscored another theme of the speech: continuity with the Church’s living tradition.
“This continuity is important,” Caccia said. “We are not beginning again from zero. We receive a living tradition; and above all, we receive the love of Christ, poured out from his heart for the life of the world."
As the bishops gather for their first plenary assembly since Pope Leo’s election and under the leadership of newly elected USCCB president Coakley, Caccia’s message offered a vision of the Church centered on communion with Christ, unity among bishops, and a shared missionary purpose.
“May our renewal in the Sacred Heart of Jesus give us the grace to do this together,” the nuncio said, “for the life of the Church and the good of the world.”
Archbishop Coakley offers first presidential address to U.S. bishops
ORLANDO, Florida — Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), on Wednesday offered his first remarks as president to his brother bishops.
At the USCCB spring plenary session in Orlando, Florida, on June 10, Coakley, archbishop of Oklahoma City, detailed what the U.S. bishops have recently accomplished, and outlined the challenges they still face and work they have to do.
The work of the bishops “is good work,” Coakley said. “It is necessary work, as can be seen in the many ways we, as a conference, have responded to the many challenges our world faces today.”
The archbishop said he is “especially pleased to recognize the impact” of the conferenceʼs special message on immigration issued at the bishops‘ November meeting, which expressed the bishops’ opposition to “indiscriminate mass deportation of people.”
“That message demonstrated our united concern as pastors for the dignity of every person, especially our migrant brothers and sisters," Coakley said.
“I am also grateful for our unity: our unity as bishops of the United States, our unity with the Holy Father, Pope Leo, and our unity with all his predecessors since the founding of this nation,” he said.
“For 250 years, the bishops of this country have worked together, alongside priests, religious brothers and sisters, and so many faithful men and women as witnesses to Christ and to make known his love in so many concrete ways,” he said.
This work has been accomplished through parishes, schools, hospitals, and charitable agencies, which are “performing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, including welcoming wave after wave of new arrivals to this land," Coakley said.
“Admittedly, we have not been always perfect in doing this, but overall, I would say our track record is very good,” he said.
The bishops “are commanded to put out into the deep water, to move beyond our comfort zones and the safe places where we can maintain our illusions of safety and control,” he said.
Mission of the conference going forward
The president shared “challenges” that the bishops face and how the Church must offer “hope” in order to address them.
“The Church’s witness to Christ" is especially needed today "in an age of constant flux, of forced migration, polarization, disruptions, climatic and economic upheavals, artificial intelligence, and wars," and when "many are wondering what it even means to be a human person," Coakley said.
The bishop posed the questions “What are some of the challenges to hope that need to be addressed? Where must hope be restored and how, as a conference, can we help?”
“First and foremost,” these questions can be addressed “by continuing to defend human dignity,” Coakley said.
“The dignity of the human person continues to be threatened," he said. Through "threats to the unborn, to the elderly, to the sick and suffering" and "through the violence of war and injustice."
“Society tends to disregard and cast aside what it deems useless, but life, human life, can never be adequately valued based on it being useful or useless. Or a burden or unworthy of protection,” he said.
“To restore hope necessitates preaching exactly that — that life is a gift from God,” he said.
“Human dignity is also threatened by the scourge of racism, by abuse, disdain, and contempt — especially towards the poor, the stranger, the condemned, and the outcast,” Coakley said.
Reducing polarization in our nation
“Another area in which we can promote hope is in our willingness and efforts to work with others — both in and outside of the halls of government — to reduce polarization,” Coakley said.
“Together we are working on ways to promote faithful citizenship — through dialogue, deeper realization of who is our neighbor, and by placing faith before politics — a faith that inspires hope, respect, and the pursuit of the common good," he said.
Following a “cordial visit to the White House last January, which I am grateful to have made, we recognize the need for further progress,” Coakley said regarding his Jan. 12 meeting with President Donald Trump, about four months before the president called the pope “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy” in a social media post that drew a response from U.S. bishops.
The Church must “stay in the conversation,” Coakley said. “As our Holy Father has said in so many contexts and in so many ways, ‘Now is the time for dialogue and building bridges.’”
“Polarization within our country, and even within our Church, is a scandal that can only be overcome through encounter, through the cultivation of interpersonal relationships and conversations between those who may disagree,” Coakley said.
In order to “help restore hope to a world so desperately in need of it,” the bishops must reach “out to all those who are hungry to hear the words of hope that come from the Lord,” he said.
“This year we saw record numbers enter the Church, and this, after last year’s record numbers. This is a great sign of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It is also a further example of how we need to put out into the deep — proclaiming the risen Son of God and sharing the Gospel with others,” he said.
As the bishops prepare to consecrate the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 11, Coakley said: “I am reminded how deep, unfathomable, and profound is the love that lives in that heart, and how it embraces the entire world.”
“Can there be a greater message of hope? Can a greater gift of hope be offered?” he asked.
“It is the love flowing from the Sacred Heart of Jesus that feeds our hope," he said.
“I know that we have much work to do before we rest, but we are comforted by two things — we are in this vineyard working together, and, in the end, it is the Lord who will accomplish it all,” Coakley concluded.
Pakistani churches shift Mass times, offer water amid record heat wave
As an intense heat wave grips Pakistan, churches are providing relief to worshippers through adjusted Mass schedules, water distribution, heat-awareness campaigns, and improved ventilation.
Daily Mass schedules at St. Patrickʼs Cathedral in the port city of Karachi have been adjusted after Archbishop Benny Mario Travas urged Catholics to take precautions during daytime hours, Father Mario Rodrigues, principal of St. Patrickʼs High School and former rector of the cathedral, told EWTN News.
“Prayer timings have been shifted to early mornings and late evenings. Churches have been instructed to install reverse-osmosis water filtration plants and water coolers. We are trying our best to respond to the soaring mercury,” he said.
Rodrigues spoke on June 9, when high humidity pushed the “feels-like” temperature to around 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit) in Pakistanʼs largest city, home to about 200,000 Catholics.
Media reports said at least 14 people died in Karachi last month during a heat spell that saw temperatures reach 44.1 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit), the highest recorded in the city since 2018.
Instagram post
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned that heat wave conditions are likely to intensify across the country, with temperatures expected to remain 4-6 degrees Celsius (about 7-11 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal in northern regions and 5-7 degrees Celsius (about 9-13 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal in southern areas on June 10–11.
Father Anthony Arbaz, parish priest of St. James Church in Karachi, the capital of the southern province of Sindh, said 11 churches in his parish are relying on natural ventilation and community awareness to protect worshippers.
“We are widening windows and opening all ceiling ventilators in our churches. Karachiʼs nights were once famous for being cool even during the hottest months. Not anymore,” he said.
“It is a difficult situation for the entire country. Even ventilation seems helpless under the scorching sun because the fans only circulate hot air.”
Arbaz said cold drinking water is being provided to worshippers, while volunteers add oral rehydration solution and flavored electrolyte drinks to water coolers.
“Doctors and nurses are invited after Mass to educate the faithful on preventing heatstroke through simple measures such as carrying water bottles and covering their heads with wet towels,” he added.
Samson Chris, a medical assistant who has conducted heat-awareness sessions at St. James Church for the past three years, said church youth groups have been encouraged to shift sports activities to the evening.
“The attendance of elderly people at the 10 p.m. Mass has declined because prolonged power outages of 12-16 hours a day are disrupting sleep and affecting their health,” he said.
In Lahore, air conditioning brings new costs
In Lahore, where temperatures have also exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) this week, some churches are turning to air conditioning despite rising electricity costs.
Attendance at Holy Cross Catholic Church increased in the summer after two air-conditioning units were installed in 2024. However, church leaders now face mounting utility bills.
“Authorities at Sacred Heart Cathedral stopped contributing toward the electricity costs after the air-conditioning system was installed. The parish priest initially resisted the move, but parishioners insisted because the church, located above a school building, receives direct sunlight throughout the day,” said Anthony Gill, a member of the church committee.
The churchʼs electricity bill reached 14,000 Pakistani rupees (about $50) in May. Parishioners now take up a special collection on the first two Sundays of each month to help cover the expense.
“We also appeal to relatives, especially those living in Western countries, to support the church financially so that worshippers can find some relief from the heat during prayer services,” Gill said.
New York Archbishop Hicks calls assisted suicide an ‘assault’ on human life
New York Archbishop Ronald Hicks urged people to be “vigilant” about assisted suicide legislation as implementation of the state law draws near.
The New York State Department of Health released proposed rules for the assisted suicide law set to take effect Aug. 5, two days after the comment period ends.
The law enacted Feb. 6 would let people with terminally ill diagnoses of six months or less request drugs to end their lives.
The proposed rules would require two verbal requests from patients separated by at least 48 hours; a written request with two witnesses; and a final attestation form completed by the patient 48 hours before taking the medication. A five‑day waiting period applies to the time between when the prescription is written and when a pharmacy may fill it. Patients would self-administer the life-ending drugs. The death certificate would list the underlying disease or condition as the cause of death.
Hicks described the New York legislation as an “assault on human life, the next step toward a complete throwaway mentality” in a June 2 article in First Things.
“When this law becomes effective, a new and frightening era begins in New York,” Hicks said. “How long before this so-called ‘compassion’ for the terminally ill evolves from a ‘choice’ into an expectation to kill oneself for all sorts of vulnerable individuals, including those with disabilities, the elderly, and those in impoverished and medically underserved communities?”
Jose Hernandez, a disabilities advocate for the New York Association on Independent Living, criticized the law given its negative affect on people with disabilities. He told EWTN News that society already treats many people with disabilities as a “burden.”
For people with disabilities, “everything is a fight,” said Hernandez, who became a C-5 quadriplegic after a diving accident at 15 years old.
As a New Yorker who grew up in the South Bronx, he voiced concerns that insurance companies would be incentivized to approve the cheaper alternative of assisted suicide.
Hernandez said his perspective is shaped by his own childhood: When he was 8, his mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given six months to live — the same prognosis that would make someone eligible for assisted suicide under New York’s law. She went on to live another 13 years.
When asked what he would say to people considering assisted suicide, Hernandez urged people to consider alternatives such as hospice and palliative care, or even induced comas, to pass with “peace” into the next life.
Hicks encouraged people to consider the witness of Pope Francis when he was dying.
“Our lives are sacred gifts from God that we are to protect and cherish,” Hicks wrote.
“We saw the beauty of a natural death exemplified just over a year ago when Pope Francis, clearly weakened by illness and age, traveled through St. Peter’s Square in the popemobile on Easter Sunday, demonstrating the dignity of life even while suffering the afflictions and ailments that would claim his life the very next day,” he wrote.
Jamie Towey, spokesman for Aging With Dignity, told EWTN News that “assisted suicide is the wrong answer to real problems.”
“Americans should be seriously concerned by New Yorkʼs assisted suicide law, not only because it classifies the elderly and people with disabilities as worthy of suicide, but because this isnʼt the end; itʼs just the beginning,” Towey said.
“The original version of the bill was extraordinarily radical — no waiting periods, no state residency requirements — and the suicide-affirming care lobby will fight to bring this version of the bill back. That is their playbook,” Towey said.
Taking inspiration from St. Teresa of Calcutta, Aging With Dignity is dedicated to protecting the rights of people approaching the end of life. Through its “Five Wishes” program, Aging With Dignity helps those who are elderly or nearing death define how they want to be treated.
“The good news is, there are real solutions we can provide the dying and those with serious illness: advance care planning resources, access to palliative care, timely referral to hospice, patient-centered care, quality pain management, and loving, personal accompaniment,” Towey said.
Jessica Rodgers, coalitions director for Patients' Rights Action Fund, criticized assisted suicide laws for failing to protect vulnerable patients.
“Assisted suicide laws across the United States are written to protect prescribers, not patients, and nothing in the proposed regulations addresses that reality,” Rodgers said.
“Current regulations offer no oversight after the drugs are dispensed and no follow-up with the patient,” Rodgers said. “As it stands, we will continue to see vulnerable patients harmed by this discriminatory policy.”
Hicks warned New Yorkers of “the slippery slope” the New York law creates.
“What begins as a personal choice could lead to situations where external forces, such as government agencies or insurance companies, begin to influence or even dictate end-of-life decisions,” Hicks said. “This shift could undermine the respect and protection due to every human life.”
“It’s a future we must guard against with both compassion and vigilance,” Hicks said.
Catholic leaders across Africa, Vatican mourn slain Mozambique bishop, call for justice
QUELIMANE, Mozambique — Catholic leaders' grief over the killing of Bishop Osório Citora Afonso of Mozambique’s Quelimane Diocese continues to deepen as Pope Leo XIV, Catholic bishops in Africa, the Vatican Dicastery for Evangelization, and the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) joined in mourning the 54-year-old bishop, calling for justice.
Authorities in Mozambique said Afonso was fatally shot during a home invasion at his residence in Quelimane during the early hours of June 6.
The Mozambican member of the Institute of Consolata Missionaries (IMC), Afonso had led the Diocese of Quelimane since July 2025 and also served as apostolic administrator of the Catholic Archdiocese of Beira and secretary-general of the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (CEM).
Members of the CEM have demanded urgent action and accountability. In a June 8 letter, the episcopal body condemned what it described as a “vile and cowardly crime” and insisted on a swift, rigorous investigation to uncover both the masterminds and perpetrators of the attack.
Earlier this week, in a message released by the Holy See, Pope Leo XIV said he had “learned with sorrow of the grave act of violence” that claimed Afonsoʼs life and said he was joined in prayer with all the people of Mozambique.
Pope Leo XIV’s message came as Church leaders across Africa and beyond reacted to the killing, describing it as a painful loss for the Church and an attack on the values the late bishop dedicated his life to promoting.
Africa’s bishops condemn ‘barbaric crime’
In a June 6 statement, the leadership of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) expressed “profound shock, sorrow, and indignation” over the violent killing of Afonso.
“This heinous act, perpetrated against a shepherd of God’s people, constitutes not only an attack on the life and dignity of a devoted servant of the Gospel but also an assault on the values of peace, justice, human dignity, and religious freedom that are essential for the flourishing of every society,” said SECAM President Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, OFM Cap, leader of the Archdiocese of Kinshasa.
Ambongo also said they “strongly and unequivocally condemn this barbaric crime.”
“No religious leader, regardless of faith or denomination, should ever become the target of violence,” he said.
He continued: “Those who dedicate their lives to serving God and promoting reconciliation, solidarity, education, charity, and the common good deserve protection and respect, not persecution and death.”
On behalf of Africa’s Catholic bishops, Ambongo called on Mozambican authorities to conduct “an immediate, thorough, transparent, and independent investigation” and ensure that all those responsible are “identified, prosecuted, and brought to justice without delay.”
“The people of Mozambique, the Catholic Church, and the international community deserve the truth,” Ambongo said.
The cardinal went on to urge the Mozambican government to strengthen protection for religious leaders and places of worship, emphasizing that religious freedom is “a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of every democratic and peaceful society.”
He expressed condolences to Mozambique’s Catholic bishops, clergy, women and men religious, and lay faithful of the Quelimane Diocese and Beira Archdiocese, IMC members, and the late bishop’s family and loved ones.
“We join them in mourning the loss of a faithful pastor whose life was dedicated to the service of Christ and his Church,” Ambongo said.
Vatican dicastery recalls missionary service
The Vatican Dicastery for Evangelization, where Afonso served at the Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches before becoming a bishop, also issued a tribute, highlighting the late bishop’s missionary commitment and service to the universal Church.
“With deep sorrow, yet comforted by the firm hope of the resurrection promised by Our Lord Jesus Christ,” officials of the Vatican Dicastery said they joined “in the mourning of the Church in Mozambique” and united themselves spiritually with the pope and the faithful of Quelimane and Beira.
The dicastery officials recalled that Afonso, born in Ribáuè on May 6, 1972, took his solemn vows in the Consolata Missionary Institute and was ordained a priest in 2002.
“Inspired by a genuine missionary spirit and a deep love for sacred Scripture, he generously dedicated his ministry to the service of evangelization in Africa, Italy, and the universal Church,” they said.
Vatican Dicastery officials noted that the late bishop served as an official of the Dicastery for Evangelization from 2017 until his episcopal appointment in September 2023.
“The years spent at the service of the dicastery were marked by competence, dedication, a sincere ecclesial spirit, and a generous commitment to the mission ad gentes and to the growth of the young Churches,” they said.
The dicastery officials recounted his appointment as auxiliary bishop of Maputo in September 2023 and later as bishop of Quelimane in July 2025.
In April, he was also entrusted with responsibility for the Archdiocese of Beira as apostolic administrator.
Reflecting on Afonso’s passing, the Vatican officials said: “His sudden death deprives the Church in Mozambique of a zealous and caring pastor, an exemplary missionary, a man of profound faith, and a faithful servant of the Gospel.”
They added that those who worked with the late bishop remembered “his humility, fraternal kindness, spiritual depth, pastoral wisdom, and his total dedication to the mission entrusted to him by the Lord for the good of the Church.”
The dicastery entrusted Afonso’s soul to “the infinite mercy of the Father” and prayed that the Lord would “comfort all who mourn his death and sustain his Church in its confident expectation of the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.”
ACN sees another ‘dark cloud’ over Mozambique
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) also lamented Afonso’s killing, describing it as another painful moment for the Church in the southern African nation.
Officials of the pontifical charity said the murder “adds yet another dark cloud over the Church in Mozambique.”
They noted that the Church in the country “is already grappling with terrorist violence in the north of the country, particularly in Cabo Delgado Province.”
Officials of the Catholic charity with the mission of supporting persecuted and oppressed Christians worldwide recalled that Afonso had repeatedly warned about insecurity and violence in the region before his death.
Reaffirming their commitment to the local Church, ACN officials said Mozambique “remains a priority country” for the organization, which continues to support the Church through humanitarian assistance, psychosocial programs, and reconstruction projects.
As the Church in Mozambique prepares funeral arrangements for the slain bishop, tributes from Rome, Africa, and Catholic organizations continue to pour in from across the world.
This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.
Texas Catholic dioceses welcome hundreds of thousands of fans as 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off
Texas Catholics are preparing to welcome fans from around the world as the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament officially begins this week.
The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, the Diocese of Fort Worth, and the Diocese of Dallas have launched special initiatives blending hospitality, faith, and outreach for the hundreds of thousands of fans from around the world descending on those cities during the largest World Cup in history, which begins June 11.
The cities of Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth will host 16 matches total, with a tournament-high nine matches taking place at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, which sits in between Fort Worth and Dallas.
The Diocese of Dallas has launched the “Welcome the World, Welcome the Stranger” initiative, encouraging parishes to extend hospitality to the city’s visitors, offering a downloadable resource kit that includes prayers and ideas that “will help your community welcome visitors from around the globe with faith, joy, and generosity.”
The diocese is also offering fans information on Mass times in multiple languages and “everything you need to stay connected to your faith during your visit to north Texas.”
“We are grateful for your presence among us and for this moment that brings the world together in a spirit of joy and unity,” Dallas Bishop Edward Burns said on the dioceseʼs World Cup website. “It is my hope that, during your time here, you will experience not only our hospitality but also the peace that comes from being welcomed as part of one human family.”
Burns celebrated an opening Mass on June 7 at the National Shrine Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe. There are additional Holy Hours planned for specific match days.
Dallas Stadium will feature several high-profile group games such as Netherlands vs. Japan (June 14), England vs. Croatia (June 17), and Argentina vs. Austria (June 22) before culminating in a semifinal on July 14.
The Fort Worth Dioceseʼs initiative, “Together for the Win,” is available in multiple languages and offers visiting fans parish locations, including their distance from Dallas Stadium.
Diocesan spokesman John Cuccaro told EWTN News the diocese also plans to host watch parties during the tournament and will post reels of the matches on social media.
The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houstonʼs dedicated World Cup website, meanwhile, offers a parish locator, information on special Masses and other events, and links to notable Catholic sites in the city, which expects over 500,000 visitors.
NRG Stadium (temporarily renamed Houston Stadium) will host seven matches from June 14 to July 4, including five group-stage games and two knockout rounds.
Portugal will be playing two matches in Houston on June 17 and June 23. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is inviting fans to worship at a special Portuguese Mass at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on Sunday, June 21, at 3:30 p.m.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament opens in Mexico City with the match between Mexico and South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca. The opening ceremony will take place at the same venue about 90 minutes before kickoff, celebrating Mexican culture through music, dance, and folklore.
There will be three separate opening ceremonies — one in each host country — with additional events in Toronto and Los Angeles on June 12.
This expanded 48-team tournament features a record 104 matches across 16 host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, running through the final on Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The 11 U.S. host cities will collectively stage 78 of the tournament’s 104 matches. In addition to the two cities in Texas, matches will take place in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey (East Rutherford), Boston (Foxborough), Miami (Miami Gardens), Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area (Santa Clara), Seattle, and Kansas City.