Missouri bishops warn elimination of state income tax could burden lower-income residents
Missouri’s Catholic bishops are urging state voters to consider “justice and equity” ahead of a state vote that may eliminate personal income tax there, with the prelates warning that such a measure could adversely impact low-income residents.
Voters in the state will decide on Aug. 4 whether to approve Amendment 5, which would reduce and eventually eliminate Missouri’s income tax.
The measure also would mandate the “[reduction of] personal property and other local taxes when local revenues increase.” The amendment would allow sales taxes to make up the difference in state revenue.
In a statement this month, Missouri’s four Catholic bishops urged voters to consider “the moral principles that should guide us in pondering any tax proposal.”
The Catholic Church, they pointed out, does not mandate that governments adopt “any particular tax model,” but the Church does teach that “every system of taxation must serve the common good” and be guided by justice.
The bishops warned that shifting to sales taxes, which are regressive, places a larger per-income burden on lower-income taxpayers and “should be approached with prudence.”
They acknowledged that supporters of the income tax repeal have “a sincere desire to promote the long-term prosperity” of Missouri. But such aims should be “weighed alongside the potential effects on those who are most vulnerable,” they argued.
The bishops further called on the government to preserve tax-based incentives for charitable giving.
The prelates urged voters to “thoughtfully” discern their vote on the amendment in light of the Church’s teachings. They also urged the government to “ensure the needs of the poor and vulnerable remain at the forefront of public policy.”
Polling has shown that a slight majority of Missouri residents favor eliminating the state income tax. An SLU/YouGov poll from February 2025 said 52% of voters there support eliminating the state income tax.
Just 29% of voters in a February 2026 poll, meanwhile, preferred income taxes to sales taxes.
EU lawmakers push special envoy on Pakistan forced conversions ahead of appeal
Members of the European Parliament are urging Mairead McGuinness, the European Unionʼs special envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, to engage with Pakistan over forced religious conversions as the countryʼs Federal Constitutional Court is due to hear 13-year-old Maria Shahbazʼs appeal on Friday.
The calls follow growing concern over reports of the abduction, forced conversion, and marriage of girls from Pakistanʼs Christian and Hindu minority communities. In a resolution passed in the European Parliament on July 9, lawmakers called on Pakistan to investigate and prosecute those responsible, while urging the EU to continue raising the issue in its political dialogue with Islamabad.
Calls for special envoy engagement
Speaking at a conference on forced marriage and religious conversions held at the European Parliament last week, Slovak member of the European Parliament Miriam Lexmann said she had recently met with McGuinness to discuss the issue.
“We urge her to see this as a big priority,” Lexmann said, adding that the envoy “has to make this a key priority for the coming months and coming years.”
Carmen Correas López, legal officer for Europe at ADF International, which is supporting Mariaʼs case, told EWTN News the organization is working to arrange a September meeting with the special envoy to discuss the case and broader concerns about the persecution of Christians.
Mariaʼs appeal
Maria, whose case is unrelated to the separate 2020 case involving Christian activist Maira Shahbaz, was abducted in July 2025 at the age of 12 and was allegedly forced to convert to Islam before being married to a man who was about 30 years old.
Pakistanʼs Federal Constitutional Court is due to hear her review petition on Friday. The petition seeks to overturn an earlier judgment handed down in March that allowed Maria to remain with the man accused of abducting, forcibly converting, and marrying her.
ADF International said Mariaʼs case reflects a broader pattern of forced marriage and religious conversion affecting girls from Pakistanʼs minority communities and could establish an important legal precedent.
According to research published by the Pakistan-based organization Voice for Justice, there were 210 documented cases involving Christian girls between 2019 and 2025. The organization said many victims' ages were falsified in official records and alleges that police, local officials, and religious figures facilitated fraudulent marriage and conversion documents.
Mariaʼs father, Shahbaz Masih, told EWTN News that international support had given the family renewed hope after repeated legal setbacks.
“Repeated failures to obtain justice through the courts had all but extinguished our hope of bringing Maria home,” Masih said. “But the overwhelming outpouring of support and solidarity, not only from Christians in Pakistan but also from Christians around the world, has rekindled our hope that we will one day be reunited with our daughter.”
A test for the special envoy
The increased focus on Mariaʼs case follows the appointment of former European commissioner McGuinness as special envoy in March, ending a vacancy of more than a year that Christian advocacy groups and lawmakers had criticized as undermining the EUʼs engagement on freedom of religion or belief.
Commenting on McGuinness' appointment, Professor Shahid Mobeen of the Pontifical Theological Faculty Teresianum in Rome and president of the Italian Roundtable on Freedom of Religion or Belief said the move should lead to stronger EU engagement with Pakistan.
“The appointment of the European Unionʼs new special envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief makes it necessary that the envoy engages actively with the Pakistani authorities and civil society in support of meaningful reforms,” he said at the conference.
Mobeen also called on the EU to use Pakistanʼs GSP+ status, which grants the country preferential access to the EU market in return for meeting human rights obligations, to press for stronger protections for religious minorities.
“The European Union should, therefore, make full use of the GSP+ monitoring mechanism, paying particular attention to Pakistanʼs commitment to freedom of religion or belief and ensuring that these commitments are effectively implemented and translated into tangible improvements for vulnerable communities,” he said.
EWTN News sought comment from the European Commission, including on whether the special envoy intends to engage with Pakistani authorities following Parliamentʼs resolution, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
Vatican weighing papal trip to Ukraine
The Vatican will study the conditions needed for a possible trip by Pope Leo XIV to Ukraine, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher said following a six-day pastoral and diplomatic mission to the war-torn country.
Gallagher, the Holy See’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations, said the possibility of a papal visit was among the questions he heard most frequently during his stay.
“Almost everyone I met asked me that question. My answer is very simple. The Holy Father takes this invitation very seriously,” Gallagher told Vatican Media in Kraków, Poland, before returning to Rome.
“For our part, we will continue to study the conditions necessary to determine the right time and the most appropriate way for such a visit to bear the greatest possible fruit for Ukraine and for peace in the world,” he said.
Gallagher spent six days in Ukraine, which has been at war since 2014 and has endured Russia’s full-scale invasion since February 2022. He held political, institutional, and Church meetings and took part in several pastoral events.
He met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on July 20. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the Holy See’s continuing support for Ukraine amid the war with Russia.
The principal purpose of Gallagher’s visit was to participate in celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of the restoration of the Latin Catholic Church’s structures at the Marian shrine of Berdychiv. Thousands of faithful attended the celebrations July 19.
Gallagher said Ukrainian authorities had expressed appreciation for the Holy See’s support.
“In our meetings with the authorities, we encountered profound gratitude for the Holy Father’s appeals and his words, and that is a source of encouragement for us,” he said.
“They feel supported by the closeness shown first by Pope Francis and now by Pope Leo. This encourages the Holy See to renew its commitment to dialogue with the international community and with the Russian authorities, and to continue its humanitarian efforts, such as the mission entrusted to Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, who continues working for the return of children, prisoners, and civilians.”
Pope Leo XIV has received several official invitations to visit Ukraine. Zelenskyy renewed the invitation during a conversation with the pope on Good Friday.
During that exchange, Pope Leo expressed his closeness to the Ukrainian people amid the suffering caused by the war and emphasized the urgency of ensuring humanitarian assistance. He also expressed his hope for an end to hostilities and a just and lasting peace with Russia.
A just and lasting peace
Asked about the prospects for a ceasefire, Gallagher said he had seen a strong willingness on the Ukrainian side to work toward that goal.
“During these days I have seen a strong determination on the Ukrainian side to work towards that goal. It is difficult for me to say whether this can be achieved in the immediate future, but we must continue to work in that direction,” he said.
“At the same time, as we saw at the shrine of Berdychiv — and as the history of this remarkable place of Marian devotion reminds us, renowned for many reported healings — we should never rule out the possibility of a miracle.”
Gallagher also reflected on what he had witnessed during the mission.
“For me, this has been a profoundly positive experience. Beyond the logistical effort and the long journey required to reach Ukraine, it has allowed me to touch the reality of today’s world with my own hands,” he said.
“We must remember that not everyone lives as we do in Italy or in my native England. There is a dark and troubling reality in our world today. We must not give in. In our own way, we too are called to strive, doing our part with the means available to us, in order to build peace.”
Zuppi’s humanitarian mission
Gallagher’s visit followed Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi’s second mission to Ukraine as Pope Leo XIV’s special envoy.
The archbishop of Bologna completed four days of meetings in Lviv and Kyiv focused on prisoner exchanges, the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia, and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Zuppi met civil and religious authorities, officials responsible for prisoner exchanges and relatives of military personnel and civilians being held in Russia.
Among his principal meetings was an encounter with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who thanked the Holy See for its humanitarian efforts and requested its support in achieving a comprehensive and lasting peace.
Sybiha also raised Kyiv’s concerns about civilians detained in Russian territory and called for a humanitarian corridor to assist thousands of people in the Russian-occupied communities of Oleshky and Hola Prystan in the Kherson region.
Prisoners were a central focus of the mission. Proposals discussed included a possible comprehensive exchange of prisoners of war, continued efforts to locate missing people, and measures to facilitate the return of civilians.
The parties also discussed the situation of Ukrainian children taken illegally to Russia, an issue in which the Holy See has been involved for years through diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives.
Another topic was the protection of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has recently been damaged amid attacks connected to the war. Ukrainian authorities consider its preservation and restoration a priority.
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.
Priest who fled Nicaragua prays daily for God to free country from ‘cruel regime’
With his hope placed in Jesus Christ and a longing to see his homeland free one day, a Nicaraguan priest carries out his ministry in Costa Rica, the country to which he came after being forced to flee due to the Nicaraguan government’s persecution against the Catholic Church.
“It‘s been 30 months since I had to flee,” the priest told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. He asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals against his family living in Nicaragua.
Although he currently carries out his ministry in a Costa Rican parish, he acknowledges that each day is tinged with nostalgia for the land he left behind.
He fled early one morning in 2024 after the authorities had issued an arrest warrant for him. He left Nicaragua without even being able to say goodbye to his family.
“I left Nicaragua without seeing my mother, without telling her: ‘Mom, I’m leaving.’ I couldn’t say goodbye to anyone; that hurts,” he said sadly.
The persecution began in 2018
The “harassment” against him, as he himself describes it, began in 2018 when street protests against President Daniel Ortega’s government erupted. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the crackdown left hundreds dead and injured.
At that time, he was providing pastoral support to youth groups, which led to his involvement. “I supported the young people in the sense of praying for them and, secondly, by looking for food and medicine for university students and the general population whenever they were mistreated, subjected to violence, or beaten.”
He also began preaching about human dignity and social justice during his Masses. He sought “to call for respect and for the freedom of a people crying out for justice and demanding their rights to be valued.”
“That bothered the government; it made them angry,” he lamented.
As the months went by, he began receiving calls and messages on his personal number. He also stated: “Armed military personnel would arrive and enter the church to record the homilies; in short, I felt constantly watched.”
The priest recounted that in late 2023 he was forced to leave his community and go into hiding. “I spent New Year’s on the run, in hiding.” Finally, in January 2024, an arrest warrant was issued for him, and he decided to flee to Costa Rica.
“I had to leave almost at midnight, trying to save my life. I practically had to flee for no reason at all because I hadn’t committed any crime,” he stated.
His case is not an isolated one. He is among the multitude of the faithful suffering the systematic persecution that the Ortega dictatorship has waged against the Catholic Church. Since 2018, more than 1,030 attacks against Catholics have been documented, and over a hundred priests and four bishops have been expelled or forced into exile.
New opportunities in Costa Rica
“The tears were flowing,” the priest recalled, thinking back to the moment he crossed the border and left his country behind. More than two years after that event, he said that “to this day, I feel a longing for the people I love.”
Despite the pain, he said he has found a new opportunity in Costa Rica, thanks to the support received from the country’s bishops and various priests, who “have given me shelter and stability.
That support enabled him to rebuild his life and resume his priestly ministry. Convinced that God does not abandon those who suffer, he affirmed: “Jesus is with me, and Most Holy Mary, my beautiful, beloved Mother, does not forsake me.”
He said he asks God every day to “free Nicaragua from that cruel, indolent, murderous regime.”
“I ask for justice, I ask for peace, I ask the Lord to grant me the grace to return to my beautiful land, to be able to see my mother.”
Migrant priests: A gift for the Church in Costa Rica
Currently, there are around 25 Nicaraguan priests living in Costa Rica, Father Gustavo Meneses, executive secretary of the National Human Mobility Commission of the Costa Rican Bishops’ Conference, told ACI Prensa.
Far from considering them a burden, Meneses maintains that they represent “a gift from God among us,” as they have come to “meet needs within our dioceses,” especially those with fewer priests.
Recently, a private meeting was held that, Meneses explained, was “an opportunity for them to meet, to get to know each other. Because they themselves are beginning to realize who’s here.”
The priest indicated that many shared the pain of having left their families, “but, above all, it hurts them to have abandoned their pastoral mission.”
He thus considers that one of the challenges for the Catholic Church in Costa Rica is to offer them the human and psychological support that enables them to heal from the effects of exile.
He also called on the authorities to expedite international protection processes and prevent those fleeing persecution from remaining for long periods in a “legal limbo” that exposes them to deportation.
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.
U.S. bishops tighten funeral policies after growth of ‘irregular practices’
Several U.S. bishops in recent months have tightened diocesan funeral policies, emphasizing stricter adherence to the Order of Christian Funerals (OCF) amid evolving popular practices at funerals that depart from Church norms and concern visitations, eulogies, and cremated remains, among others.
‘Liturgical anomalies’
In a video message and accompanying letter, Bishop Thomas Paprocki’s new rules for the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, which went into effect on July 1, address what he described as “irregular practices” and “liturgical anomalies.”
Paprocki explained that his goal is to “ensure that Catholic funerals in our diocese will conform to the norms of the Catholic Church” and maintain the integrity of the three parts of the OCF: the Vigil for the Deceased (the night before the funeral liturgy), the funeral liturgy itself (Mass or liturgy outside Mass), and the Rite of Committal.
Among the “anomalies” the bishop addressed and prohibited was the practice of visitations in the church on the day of the funeral liturgy, as the vigil by definition must occur the night before. Priests or deacons will lead vigil prayers even without a public gathering, although family members are strongly encouraged to participate.
Families may still gather at the funeral home for the brief prayers of the transfer of the body to the church or to the place of committal, which can be led by a funeral director, parish staff member, or relative if clergy are unavailable. The procession to the church — whether on foot or by motorcade — is important, he said, as it serves as a “reminder of when the deceased person first entered the church” in baptism.
Paprocki said eulogies are not permitted during the funeral rite, but “words of remembrance” are, as long as the words “speak about the faith-life of the one who died and give praise to God.” Eulogies make “the person being praised the main focus of attention,” he wrote, while “the homily and the words of remembrance have God as the primary focus.”
Because those speaking at the end of a funeral Mass sometimes say things “that are very inappropriate” or are too overcome with grief, the bishop said all “words of remembrance must be submitted for approval to the pastor … at least three days prior to the funeral. Only the priest or deacon will then read the words of remembrance” at a time other than during or immediately after the funeral rite.
Families themselves may offer eulogies or remembrances at other gatherings, such as a meal after the Rite of Committal, provided they do not immediately precede or follow the liturgical rites.
On cremation, Paprocki reaffirmed the Church’s preference for burial of the body while permitting cremation when not chosen to deny the resurrection of the body.
All cremated remains must be interred intact following the Rite of Committal and ordinarily within 30 days.
‘The Order of Christian Funerals does not envision a viewing in a church building’
Meanwhile, Bishop David J. Bonnar of Youngstown, Ohio, issued a decree in October 2025 ending funeral visitations in church buildings effective December 2025.
Bonnar said holding a visitation or viewing in a church compromises the sacred space “by noise and activity unbecoming of the reverence due to the Blessed Sacrament.”
His decree created a uniform policy across the diocese, addressing growing requests for in-church visitations driven by convenience and cost.
The only exception the bishop permitted is for the funerals of priests or religious, where public visitation in the church or chapel continues as a long-standing tradition.
Families may still hold visitations at funeral homes or other appropriate locations.
‘It is the body whose hands clothe the poor and embrace the sorrowing’
Bishop Robert McManus of Worcester, Massachusetts, issued a decree in May reinforcing the intact burial of cremated remains while emphasizing the Church’s preference for bodily burial.
“Although cremation is now permitted by the Church, it does not enjoy the same value as burial of the body,” the decree states. “The Church clearly prefers and urges that the body of the deceased be present for the funeral rites since the presence of the human body better expresses the values which the Church affirms in those rites.”
“The Churchʼs teaching in regard to the human body as well as the Churchʼs preference for burial of the body should be a regular part of catechesis on all levels,” McManus writes.
All of the cremated remains of a body must be interred following the Rite of Committal in a grave, mausoleum, or columbarium, according to the decree. The remains may not be divided and placed in multiple locations or scattered in any location. Neither may they be kept in private homes or placed into jewelry.
Interment of cremated remains should not be unduly delayed following the funeral rites. If the Churchʼs norms concerning cremation are not respected, the bishop says the celebration of public funeral rites may be denied, at the celebrating pastor’s discretion.
The decree’s pronouncements are “effective immediately.”
Cemeteries are ‘places of Christian hope’
In the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina, Bishop Michael Martin promulgated the decree “Diocesan Norms for the Governance and Stewardship of Cemeteries and Columbaria” on March 19, the solemnity of St. Joseph, patron of the dying.
In a letter accompanying the revisions, Martin said he was “confident” the new norms would “serve the needs of the faithful as they reverently lay to rest the mortal remains of their loved ones.”
The updates set clear eligibility guidelines for interment. While Catholic cemeteries/columbaria are intended primarily for baptized Catholics, the decree states provisions can be made for others, including non-Catholics and even non-Christians.
Catholic cemeteries and columbaria are “extensions of the Church’s ministry … not merely functional places of burial” and are “sacred places set aside by the Church for the corporal work of mercy of burying the dead and for providing a final resting place for the faithful departed as a sign of their hope in the promise of resurrection,” the decree states.
Consequently, such places must be maintained and used in a way that reflects “reverence for the dead and care for nature.”
Burial costs must also remain affordable and accessible.
Parishes within the diocese have six months to align local policies with the new norms, while existing contracts will remain in effect.
‘Prayers after Death’ revised by USCCB
In a March newsletter, the Committee on Divine Worship of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops announced a revision of the “Prayers after Death,” which occur during the rite of the OCF.
According to the committee, the ritual structure, rubrics, and individual elements of the revised prayer are “nearly identical” to the previous edition, “with the exception of the concluding prayers at no. 314” in the Order of Christian Funerals.
“These prayers have been retranslated after the pattern of the Roman Missal and according to the principles of Liturgiam Authenticam,” the committee wrote.
The Liturgiam Authenticam (“Authentic Liturgy”) is a major Vatican instruction issued in 2001 that established precise norms for translating liturgical texts (and Scripture for liturgical use) from the official Latin editions into modern languages, its core principle being fidelity to the original text.
Catholic sisters bring free medical care to Kenya slum, uncover hidden illnesses
NAIROBI, Kenya — Residents in an impoverished informal settlement called “Bangladesh” in Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa turned up in large numbers for a two-day medical camp July 18–19 organized by Mother Amadea Mission Hospital.
Many were seeking treatment for ailments that had gone untreated for years.
During the two-day medical screening, run by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Archdiocese of Mombasa (SSJ), many previously undiagnosed and unmanaged cases of noncommunicable diseases — particularly hypertension — along with numerous skin diseases and suspected cases of cancer requiring further evaluation were identified.
Although thousands turned up for assistance, the resources available could only support 1,140 individuals. Those that could not be assisted at the camp were given appointments for free medical services at the sister-run hospital in Mikindani.
In an interview on July 22 with ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, Sister Veronica Wanjiru, the administrator of Mother Amadea Mission Hospital, said the medical camp is one in an array of community support activities the sisters are engaged in and that it is tied to the SSJ’s charism.
“Our charism is to witness in simplicity the saving mission of Christ among ourselves, those that we serve, and also that we interact with. As sisters of St. Joseph, we are always committed to serving the poor and the vulnerable,” Sister Veronica said.
She added that in the vast Bangladesh slum, many families lack access to healthcare services because of financial constraints, and families also lack awareness about preventive measures to possible ailments. “We therefore organized a medical camp to bring the services closer to them,” she said.
For the medical camp, the SSJ members brought on board several partners, including UCESCO Africa, as well as a team of volunteers from Italy, America, South Africa, and Japan.
Dr. Don Maimba Ocholi, the medical superintendent at Mother Amadea Mission Hospital, told ACI Africa that 63% of those who participated in the camp were female.
Services by the medical team included general consultation and screening for cervical, breast, and prostate cancer as well as counseling and other specialized services such as gynecology, dental, and ENT (ear, nose, and throat).
Ocholi observed a lot of eagerness from the community. “Even though we had announced that our camp would be starting from 8 a.m., there would be people queuing for services from as early as 6:30 a.m.”
Through screening, the experts discovered cases with elevated blood pressure and glucose readings. “Some didn’t even know about their conditions. We found it deeply concerning that there is no regard for screening and early management of these diseases in the community,” Ocholi said.
“We also found that a high number of individuals who had been initially placed on hypertension and diabetes medications had defaulted in management of their conditions due to inadequate social support and financial constraints. So, we had to reinitiate treatment,” he said.
The team also attended to many dermatological and dental cases. Ocholi said that owing to hygiene challenges and the lack of water in the slum community, many residents end up with skin conditions that require medical intervention.
Of the 47 people screened for cancer, one was found “highly suspicious,” according to the doctor, adding: “During the screening, we also discovered some fungal and bacterial infections that were also managed at the site. Those we screened had walked around not knowing they had all these infections.”
The team further discovered general surgical cases that need intervention.
Most medical needs, however, were found not to be covered by the national health insurer, in large part because there is a certain amount of money that must be paid. For most slum residents, the small amount required to enlist for government insurance is a luxury they can’t afford. The sisters have offered to pay this amount for those needing urgent surgery so that the government can cover their operations.
The team at the medical camp discovered that the Bangladesh community needed a lot of counseling and education regarding certain illnesses.
Ocholi spoke about the misconceptions in the community that young people cannot have hypertension and that the poor cannot be diabetic.
He said that in the checkups, however, people as young as 20 were found to have elevated blood pressure.
Some, Ocholi said, blame witchcraft for their diseases.
To curb misconceptions, Mother Amadea Mission Hospital has a 15-member support group for individuals with hypertension. The aim is to help members cope with their conditions and to equip them with skills to create awareness about noncommunicable diseases in the community.
Anne Kamau, director of nursing at Mother Amadea Mission Hospital, painted the picture of an impoverished community unable to access basic healthcare.
Describing the situation of Bangladesh where people wait until it is too late before they seek medical help, Kamau told ACI Africa: “A diabetic lady who had been out of treatment for a while came in with high, unrecordable sugar levels. And because our facility neither has an ICU [intensive-care unit] nor a HDU [high-dependency unit], we had to refer the patient. Unfortunately, she passed on just about an hour after being referred.”
“We live in a community that is sick, a community that needs services. And being a mission hospital, it isn’t just about offering healthcare. We look at this as service to God. We conduct medical camps so that even those who are sick in the villages do not feel forgotten,” Kamau said.
She lauded, in particular, the mental talk that the residents at the camp received, saying: “It is rare to get people in the community coming to seek mental health services even amid the rise in mental issues today. Many people prefer to suffer in silence.”
There was also a talk on cancer. Kamau said the talk on prostate cancer especially encouraged men to be screened. “This was encouraging since men hardly go for such tests,” she said.
Sister Veronica emphasized the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Mombasa, “to reveal Godʼs love to the people,” adding: “By organizing this medical camp I believe that we are living this mission.”
According to the Kenyan sister, locals treat mission facilities, especially run by sisters, as a place where they can experience Godʼs love and care.
“We always see many coming to us even when they do not have money. We still go ahead to give them the services because through this, we are living our mission,” she said, adding: “We are continuing with Christʼs healing ministry. We give our services not just to treat diseases but also to restore dignity, to give hope to the community, starting with those that are very poor and vulnerable.”
In addition to healthcare and wellness, SSJ members are involved in education and care for the destitute and orphans.
This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.
One-of-a-kind spiritual center in Pittsburgh focuses on ‘miracles saint’ St. Sharbel
In Pittsburgh’s suburban neighborhood of Beechview sits a unique Catholic spiritual center focused on a saint known for miracles whose feast is celebrated July 24 in the Latin rite and the third Sunday of July in the Maronite rite.
The Saint Sharbel Spiritual Life Center is “the only one of its kind in the world,” Maronite Bishop Gregory Mansour of the Eparchy of St. Maron of Brooklyn said in an interview with EWTN News when it opened on Dec. 8, 2023. (Its official opening date was April 13, 2024.)
St. Sharbel, canonized in 1954, was a Lebanese Maronite priest and hermit who lived between 1828 and 1898. Although few words are recorded from his life and he lived in solitude, he is the patron saint of Lebanon and is famous for his miraculous healing intercession.
The Saint Sharbel Spiritual Life Center offers retreats, courses on spirituality, daily sacraments, Eucharistic adoration, Scripture studies, prayer, reading, and several other opportunities for growth.
Dr. Anne Borik, a Catholic medical doctor and founder of the worldwide prayer group the Saint Sharbel Global Prayer Net, is director of the center. According to the center’s website, Borik was the lead physician who investigated the miraculous healing of the blind woman who fully regained her sight through the intercession of St. Sharbel in 2016 at St. Joseph Maronite Catholic Church in Phoenix.
The center, which is adjacent to Our Lady of Victory Maronite Parish, also includes a library filled with more than 10,000 books on spirituality and a relic of St. Sharbel Makhlouf.
The saint’s relic that is housed in the center is the same first-class relic associated with the healing of Dafne Gutierrez, the Phoenix woman who was completely blind but healed after venerating the relic in 2016.
Mansour told EWTN News that the eparchy named the center after St. Sharbel “because people know and associate him mostly with miracles and with favors done and intercessions. But sometimes they don’t associate him with a deep and abiding spiritual life.”
“And that’s why we want to focus, of course, on his miracles and his favors and his intercessions, but also developing our love for the Eucharist, our love for Our Lady, our love for the Church, our love for asceticism, our love for silence, our love for solitude that Sharbel not only embodied but lived by extraordinary, heroic example,” he said.
Those visiting the 10,300-square-foot center can learn about St. Sharbel through books, periodicals, and videos, and can attend Mass, retreats, and workshops. The center also offers virtual programs.
In addition to its focus on St. Sharbel’s spirituality, the center also features both western and eastern saints, and has offered the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola and a course in Syriac spirituality.
When it opened, the center was approved to build more than a dozen overnight housing units on the property so that retreatants can stay for a prolonged period of time. The center welcomes funding to continue to realize its mission and grow its programs.
This story was first published on July 25, 2024, and has been updated.
U.S. ambassador clarifies view on pope’s role in politics, war after Vatican response
After the Vatican reframed statements that U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch made to The New York Times, the ambassador has clarified that he understands Pope Leo XIV’s role as a head of state is “inseparable” from his role as the universal shepherd of the Church.
During a July 23 interview with the EWTN News program “The World Over with Raymond Arroyo,” Burch clarified that his July 9 comments to the Times were not meant to imply that Leo’s statements about Iran war policy should be seen as simply diplomatic — rather than spiritual — guidance.
“I think thereʼs a misunderstanding,” Burch explained. “... [The role of] the pope as the universal sovereign of the Holy See and as the universal pastor — a pastor of the universal Church — is inseparable.”
The controversy stemmed from a quotation in the Times article in which Burch said: “When the pope acts as the sovereign leader of the Holy See, he is coequal with world leaders.” The article also paraphrased Burch’s position by saying the ambassador argued that the pope’s comments about the Iran war were not made as the vicar of Christ but rather as the political leader of the Vatican City State.
Without naming Burch, the Editorial Director for the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, Andrea Tornielli, subsequently wrote a July 13 op-ed saying that “even when he speaks about war and peace … the Successor of Peter remains, above all, a spiritual leader.” Even though Leo is a head of state, he wrote, this “does not mean that he acts or speaks as a politician when addressing issues concerning the affairs of humanity.”
In his interview with Arroyo, Burch disputed the Times’ characterization of his views, saying the outlet “doesnʼt exactly understand the nuances of Catholic social teaching and how to apply it.”
“The pope has this dual role,” Burch said. “He is both the head of the sovereign territory of the Holy See, which has diplomatic relations with the world, but inseparable from that is his role as the universal pastor of the Catholic Church. And when he acts, he certainly acts in such a way to call the world to these high moral principles, to the ideals of … how [humanity] ought to live together.”
At the same time, Burch insisted that “there are some very difficult, contingent, practical matters” that play into decisions about going to war, which he said are “the responsibility of the prudential wisdom of those responsible for the common good,” which are political leaders like President Trump.
“I tried to explain [to the Times] where there are certain prudential questions,” Burch said. “For example, what does the intelligence information tell us about the situation in Iran? Where is the dialogue at? What [do] the regional alliances look like? What [does] the war game scenario implicate?”
“These are very contingent, prudential questions that inform this question on the legitimate use of force,” he added. “And I think, to the Holy Fatherʼs credit, he is the universal shepherd that is calling humanity to this high ideal to try to resolve these sorts of conflicts without violence, without the use of force.”
Burch told Arroyo that he does not see disagreement between Trump and Leo on the intended end goal: “Thereʼs no disagreement on peace, on disarming Iran, on the need for interreligious dialogue, for religious freedom.”
“Where the challenge comes is the means to get there,” Burch said. He added that it’s not “a surprise, nor a shock, nor an unwelcome message from the Holy Father that we ought to seek peace, that we ought to seek ways to resolve these sorts of conflicts without the use of force.”
“But as you know, original sin exists, and there are evil people in this world with evil intentions that, if they arenʼt stopped, certainly could do enormous damage, catastrophic damage, in the world,” the ambassador emphasized.
Survey assesses impact of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Spain
Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Spain last month made a profound impact on the Spanish people, according to a survey commissioned by the Spanish Bishops’ Conference.
Conducted online by GAD3 with more than 5,000 of registered participants and volunteers involved in the apostolic journey, 97% held a positive or very positive view of the pontiff’s visit to Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands that took place June 6–12.
Fifty-seven percent of respondents acknowledged that, prior to the popeʼs arrival in Spain, their knowledge of the person, biography, and apostolic message of Leo XIV was limited. That number dropped to 14% following the visit.
The vast majority of registered participants and volunteers indicated that the presence of the vicar of Christ in Spain has strengthened their desire to help improve the world, deepen their personal relationship with God, and reinforce their commitment to the Church.
The visit has also contributed very positively to a better understanding of the person of Jesus Christ and the Church.
Among the emotions most frequently experienced during the days of the papal visit to the country, respondents highlighted joy, enthusiasm, hope, peace, a sense of unity with others, spiritual connection, and pride.
The popeʼs most impactful messages
Among the messages from Pope Leo XIV that had the greatest impact were “the importance of prayer and a personal encounter with God” (19%); “the importance of living out oneʼs faith with joy and hope” (17%); “the call to serve and help others” (13%); and “building peace through dialogue, listening, and reconciliation” (12%).
Among the least highlighted messages were “the value of volunteering” (1%), “the dialogue between faith, culture, and art” (2%), and “welcoming and integrating migrants and vulnerable people” (7%) even though a significant part of the pope’s visit and his messages involved the migration situation in Spain.
Resolutions following the visit
After the pope’s visit to Spain, the survey participants made personal resolutions, including “trying to live with more hope or joy” (45%), “attending more to my spiritual life” (41%), “trying to help others more” (30%), and “talking more about my faith with others” (28%).
Likewise, many have committed to “spending more time in prayer” (27%), “considering an important decision,” “participating in my parish or community,” or “becoming more committed to the Church” (11%).
Digital impact
The vast majority of participants read or listened to digital content about the pope after the visit (91%) or shared photos and videos of the visit via WhatsApp (89%).
Seven out of 10 forwarded messages, quotes, or videos of the pope via WhatsApp or Telegram, while slightly more than half sought out and followed new social media profiles related to the pontiff or the visit, or shared content in parish, volunteer, or attendee groups.
Furthermore, 55% used Instagram, 24% YouTube, 1 in 5 Facebook, 14% TikTok, and only 10% used X. More than a quarter of the respondents did not use social media.
Overall, 91% felt that media coverage accurately reflected the experience to a great or significant extent.
The group of registrants and volunteers consisted of 39% men and 61% women, with an average age of 36; 22% of those attending the various events were under the age of 18.
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.
Man who killed Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman receives consecutive life sentences
Vance Boelter was sentenced to two life terms plus 40 years for shooting one Minnesota Democratic lawmaker and killing another and her husband last year.
Boelter, 58, was sentenced after pleading guilty to stalking and murdering former Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, in their Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, home on June 14, 2025.
Melissa Hortman was a Catholic who once taught Sunday school and volunteered in her parish’s children’s faith formation program.
She and her husband “had been a part of the St. Timothy Parish community,” Father Joe Whalen, the pastor of the Blaine, Minnesota, parish, said in a statement following the murders.
U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim sentenced Boelter in federal court on July 23.
Boelter was also sentenced for the stalking and shooting of Sen. John Hoffman, D-Minnesota, and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, and the attempted shooting of their daughter Hope Hoffman, who all survived Boelter’s attack in their Champlin, Minnesota, home.
Boelter previously pleaded guilty June 11 to the six charges including two stalkings, two murders through use of a firearm, and two federal firearm-shooting offenses. Through his plea agreement, Boelter was able to avoid the possibility of the death penalty.
“Vance Boelter’s crimes rank among the most horrific this office has ever prosecuted,” U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen said in a press release.
“Today, the United States ensured that Boelter will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of release. Those who commit political violence at any level should take heed that the Department of Justice will seek and obtain the longest prison terms available for their crimes,” he said.
In a statement following the attacks, Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, recalled meeting both Hortman and Hoffman at the state capitol a few months before the shootings during a meeting of bishops with state leaders.
“I was deeply impressed by both,” Barron said in a statement. “Rep. Hortman listened to us with sharp intelligence and acute attention.”
Both lawmakers also met regularly with the local Catholic bishops, according to Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis.