Parents sentenced to prison in Brazil after excluding gender content in homeschool curriculum
A Brazilian couple was sentenced to 50 days in prison related to the homeschooling of their two daughters in an unprecedented case that has raised concerns regarding educational freedom and parental rights in Brazil.
Audato and Ieda Denardi were found guilty of the crime of “intellectual neglect” by a court in the state of São Paulo, even though the prosecution itself had requested their acquittal after concluding that the minors were not suffering from any neglect and were demonstrating appropriate academic and social development.
The Christian legal organization ADF International, which is representing the family in the appeal, denounced the case as “a grotesque abuse of criminal law” and stated that it would continue defending the couple.
The conviction, initially handed down in April 2026 and currently under appeal before the Seventh Criminal Court Chamber of the São Paulo State Court of Justice, will remain suspended while the appeal is being resolved.
‘I cannot conceive of a more dictatorial state’
Ieda Denardi expressed her distress and defended the right of parents to choose their childrenʼs education.
“As a mother, I cannot conceive of a more dictatorial state than the one that wants me in jail because I chose to exercise my right to direct the education and upbringing of my daughters,” she told ADF International.
“My husband and I are hopeful the court will recognize our right to choose the best education for our children and overturn this unjust conviction,” she added.
The couple began homeschooling their daughters in 2020 after realizing the limitations of the remote public education imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since then, they report a significant improvement in their daughters' academic performance and have been able to incorporate family values and faith into their education.
Judge takes into account the girls’ music preferences
One of the most striking aspects of the case is the reasoning the judge used to reach the verdict. According to the ruling, the educational program provided by the parents did not include content regarding “gender and sex education” or “tolerance and diversity.”
Furthermore, the court concluded that the fact that the girls, aged 15 and 11, do not enjoy popular musical genres such as “trap” or “sertanejo” demonstrated an alleged deficiency in their cultural education.
The judge cited this despite the fact that both girls are pianists with advanced training and are fluent in several languages.
In his ruling, the judge further accused the parents of “using their daughters as pawns in an ideological struggle, subjecting them to a form of unregulated education, the effectiveness and quality of which lack adequate metrics within the Brazilian legal system, while completely excluding the state’s involvement.”
The prosecution sought the parents' acquittal
“The prosecutor examined the witnesses and recommended acquittal. An independent educational psychologist found no sign of neglect. The girls themselves described rigorous daily education,” explained Julio Pohl, legal counsel for Latin America at ADF International.
However, “the judge convicted anyway,” he said, “because a fifteen-year-old said she finds some music lyrics morally questionable, and because the curriculum didn’t include state-approved content on gender.”
“A parent has been sentenced to prison not for failing to educate her children, but for educating them according to her own values. This is a grotesque abuse of the criminal law, and we will not let it stand.” Pohl pledged.
First criminal prosecution against homeschooling families
According to ADF International, more than 70,000 children are currently being homeschooled in Brazil. However, a lack of regulation has left thousands of families in a state of uncertainty.
The Denardi case sets a precedent as the first criminal conviction of parents for homeschooling their children.
The situation has even reached the country’s legislature, where hearings were recently held on the matter, and the Denardis asked lawmakers to pass a law guaranteeing families the right to choose this educational model.
Although a homeschooling bill was passed by the Chamber of Deputies (lower house) in 2022, the initiative remains stalled in the Senate.
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.
SSPX issues declaration of faith to Pope Leo XIV and cardinals ahead of consistory
The traditionalist Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) issued an open letter and a declaration of faith to Pope Leo XIV and the College of Cardinals on June 24.
Ahead of the extraordinary consistory of the cardinals at the Vatican on June 26-27 and the SSPX’s upcoming episcopal consecrations on July 1 without papal approval, the group issued the letter as well as the declaration reaffirming their attachment to Church tradition.
“We are convinced that Tradition contains all the remedies for the deepest ills afflicting the Church and the world, for which solutions are sought in vain outside of it,” the SSPX stated in their open letter.
The accompanying declaration contains 154 statements defending traditional Church teachings, including on the sacraments, divine revelation, the Virgin Mary, the rejection of ecumenism, and fidelity to the Traditional Latin Mass.
These documents from the SSPX mark the latest development in a series of public disagreements with the Holy See over the SSPX’s planned episcopal consecrations without papal approval.
The Vatican stated on May 13 that the consecrations would be a schismatic act, resulting in automatic excommunication for the consecrating bishops and those consecrated.
On June 16, Pope Leo warned the SSPX that their planned episcopal conscrations risk schism.
“We have invited them, and I am still considering making another appeal, to say: ‘Do not do this. Let us try to live in communion in the Church.’ But it is their choice. They must understand what it means for them and for the Church,” the pope said, responding to journalists’ questions outside Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo on June 16.
The SSPX exclusively celebrates the Traditional Latin Mass and has rejected certain teachings and reforms of the Second Vatican Council, particularly regarding religious freedom and the Church’s approach to other faiths.
The Holy See Press Office did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.
Vatican publishes Pope Benedict XVI's private homilies in English
The Vatican has published, for the first time in English, a collection of Pope Benedict XVI’s private homilies from 2005-2017.
According to Vatican News, the Vatican Publishing House has published “The Lord Holds Us By the Hand,” previously released in Italian in 2025 under the title “Il Signore Ci Tiene per Mano.”
The book contains Benedict’s homilies delivered during private Masses both during his time as pope and after his resignation from the papacy in 2013.
The volume includes homilies from the seasons of Advent, Lent, and Easter, given at either the private chapel in the Apostolic Palace or the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican, and focused on developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
The book offers an example of the continuity of the late pope’s theological work since his time as Joseph Ratzinger, both as an acclaimed theologian and as head of the then-Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The book also highlights his focus on the person of Christ as an accompanying figure for today’s Christians.
“The Lord Holds Us by the Hand” includes a preface by Archbishop Georg Gänswein, Pope Benedict XVI’s former personal secretary, and an introduction by Father Federico Lombardi S.J., president of the Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation.
A second volume, dedicated to Benedict’s homilies given during Ordinary Time, is forthcoming.
Next year, 2027, will mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Ratzinger, who would later become Pope Benedict XVI.
Florida bishops urge DeSantis to stay execution of 74-year-old convicted of murdering wife
Florida’s Catholic bishops are urging state Gov. Ron DeSantis to spare the life of a convicted murderer set to be executed for killing his wife more than three decades ago.
DeSantis should “grant a stay of the execution of Dusty Ray Spencer and … commute his sentence to life without parole,” the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a letter to DeSantis dated June 18.
Spencer is set to be executed at 6 p.m. on June 25. DeSantis signed his death warrant on May 26.
The convicted murderer was found guilty of killing his wife Karen after stabbing her to death in 1992 in the backyard of her Orange County home. Spencer carried out the killing with a brick and a knife; Karen’s 17-year-old son witnessed the murder and attempted to stop his stepfather from the killing.
Spencer had carried out the murder after being released from jail on bail. His attorneys had argued that the murder was a crime of passion, though prosecutors said he had threatened to kill Karen prior to getting out of jail and ultimately followed through with the threat.
A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Spencer will be 74 if and when the state executes him. Data from the Death Penalty Information Center indicates that he would be among the 10 oldest criminals executed in the U.S. since 1976.
‘God is the author of life’
In their letter, written by Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops Executive Director Michael Sheedy, the Florida bishops acknowledged that Karen Spencer’s death was “tragic and horrific.” The letter expressed “sorrow for the terrible suffering her loved ones have had to live with ever since.”
“Mr. Spencer’s crime was truly heinous and merits a severe punishment by the state,” the letter said. “…Nevertheless, we ask that you spare the life of Mr. Spencer, who was sexually abused as a child by his father and had a paranoid personality disorder.”
Like bishops in many U.S. states, the Florida bishops regularly petition the state government to commute death sentences there. Florida is among the most active states in the country for carrying out death sentences.
The state most recently executed Andrew Lukehart, a 53-year-old who was convicted of killing his girlfriend’s baby in 1997. The Florida bishops had petitioned the state government to halt that execution as well, though it was ultimately carried out on June 2.
In their plea to DeSantis regarding Spencer, the bishops said a sentence of life in prison was “not [meant] to minimize the heinousness of Mr. Spencer’s crime.”
“It is rather to recognize with awe that God is the author of life, and to reserve to him the taking of human life except where it is otherwise impossible to maintain the common good,” they said.
The letter urged the governor to “uphold justice and..exercise mercy.” It further offered prayers for Karen Spencer “and for the consolation of her loved ones.”
If it proceeds with the execution, Florida will carry out the killing at Florida State Prison in Raiford, located between Jacksonville and Gainesville.
Catholic bishops oppose establishment of America’s Ebola facility in Kenya
NAIROBI — Members of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops are opposing the proposed establishment of an Ebola quarantine and treatment facility for American citizens who will be flown in for care in the East African country, urging the government to affirm the country’s sovereignty by protecting Kenyans.
In their statement on Tuesday about the state of the nation, the bishops said that the initiative, which was suspended by the court following public outcry, has been imposed on Kenyans without adequate public consultation or parliamentary oversight.
“We…as your shepherds committed to safeguarding the dignity and protection of our people, express our grave concern regarding the proposed establishment of an Ebola quarantine and treatment facility at Laikipia Air Base, mainly for the American citizens,” the bishops said.
The Catholic leaders explained that their opposition stems from the initiative’s lack of transparency and disclosure of its governing terms. The prelates said: “Clearly, there is an inherent threat to the lives of Kenyan citizens that must be addressed because we would be importing a deadly disease.”
They continued: “What is in this for Kenya? Is this facility in the interest of our nation, whereby Kenya as a country welcomes the treatment of foreign Ebola patients, who are not welcome to their own country, for fear and danger of infection, yet accommodated in our country at the risk of our people? Kenya must affirm its sovereignty,” they said.
The facility was reportedly intended to quarantine and monitor Americans who may have been exposed to Ebola during the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
According to U.S. officials, the plan was designed to keep exposed individuals closer to the outbreak region rather than transport them immediately to the United States.
The project has generated significant public opposition in Kenya, with protests in and around Nanyuki and legal challenges arguing that the government failed to adequately consult the public and disclose the agreement with the United States.
Some demonstrations have turned violent, with reported fatalities.
Kenyaʼs Health Minister, Aden Duale has ordered an immediate halt to construction of the U.S.-backed Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base following a court finding that he failed to comply with earlier suspension orders.
Despite previous court orders suspending the project, Reuters reported that construction activity and deliveries of equipment appeared to continue at the site until the latest order to halt work. Satellite imagery and flight-tracking data indicated ongoing activity at the air base.
The Kenyan government, led by President William Ruto, has defended the initiative, saying it forms part of broader Ebola preparedness efforts and a long-standing health partnership with the United States. U.S. officials have also stated that the project is intended to strengthen regional preparedness.
Reuters in its June 23 report indicated that the construction of the Ebola quarantine facility was ordered to stop but that the project remains embroiled in legal and political controversy.
In their June 23 statement, the Kenyan bishops said that considering the nature of the Ebola disease and what it takes to contain it, government wisdom would have required a public engagement, to build consensus on the necessity, if at all, of the facility.
The bishops further argued that the absence of meaningful public participation had already resulted in serious consequences, noting that the lack of engagement had contributed to the loss of lives during protests in Laikipia, the arrest of residents, and widespread anxiety over the possibility of an Ebola outbreak in the area.
Calling for a different approach, they urged the nation’s government to “engage in genuine, transparent dialogue with religious leaders, civil society, healthcare workers, and affected communities to explore alternative solutions” that would strengthen Kenya’s own health infrastructure and its capacity to respond to Ebola and other infectious disease threats.
The Ebola outbreak is centered in DRC and is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a relatively rare strain for which there is currently no licensed approved vaccine.
According to the latest reports, the DRC has recorded more than 1,000 confirmed cases and over 250 deaths, making this one of the fastest-growing Ebola outbreaks on record.
The outbreak has also spread into Uganda, where authorities have confirmed 19 cases and two deaths, many linked to importation from the DRC and subsequent local transmission
The bishops also demanded greater openness in government agreements affecting the country, including those involving the exploitation of Kenya’s natural resources.
“We demand for transparency in government deals that affect our country, including those recently struck like the exploitation of our minerals,” they said, adding that such transparency is a right of all Kenyans because the nation’s natural resources belong to its people.
At the same time, the bishops reaffirmed their willingness to collaborate with the government and international partners in strengthening public health systems.
They said they were committed to helping build “robust, equitable public health systems that protect all people, Kenyan and foreign alike, without compromising our constitutional principles or the safety of our citizens,” while also recalling that concerns surrounding the Social Health Authority (SHA) remain unresolved.
Emphasizing the need to place human dignity at the center of national decision-making, the bishops said they believe “the renewal of our nation must begin by recovering an unwavering respect for the dignity of every human person,” arguing that only a society that protects life can build justice, peace, and lasting hope.
They said that Catholic social teaching regards human dignity as the cornerstone of justice and maintains that honoring the dignity of every individual creates the conditions necessary for genuine peace and human flourishing.
The bishops further expressed confidence that Kenya possesses the spiritual resources, moral wisdom, and collective resolve needed to build a nation where every person is valued, grievances are addressed with respect, and economic systems serve the common good.
The Catholic leaders pledged to continue working alongside both the government and the Kenyan people in pursuing these goals.
“We as the Catholic Church, commit ourselves to walking alongside the government and our people in this sacred work,” they said, expressing faith in Kenya’s capacity for transformation and in the power of faith to guide the country toward justice and an environment in which human life is cherished.
This article was originally published by ACI Africa, EWTN News’ service in Africa, and has been adapted for EWTN News English.
Pope Leo XIV: Writing is an act of humanity that leads to God
Pope Leo XIV this week emphasized the importance of writing, describing it as a human expression of truth that ultimately leads to God.
In an audience with a group of authors on June 24, Leo discussed the enduring value of literature amid rapid digitalization. In his remarks, he urged authors to inspire readers to seek truth through their work.
The encounter between the pope and writers marked the 100th anniversary of the Vatican Publishing House, also known as Libreria Editrice Vaticana, shortened to LEV, in Italian.
“Writing, as you know, is an act of truth, of revelation, for it reveals who we are, what we believe and hope for, the world we strive toward and the future of which we dream,” Leo said. “We are never masters of the truth; if anything, it is the truth that ‘conquers’ us. That is why I hope you will inspire others to be drawn to the truth, because you yourselves are drawn to it.”
Leo also explained that writing, as a human exercise, ultimately leads to God.
“When we delve into the very depths of our humanity, we are not far from God; for there, in the midst of very human stories, God reveals himself,” Leo said.
His speech to writers follows a similar address delivered to the Vatican Publishing House employees on May 7, also held to mark its 100th anniversary.
The Vatican Publishing House was founded in 1926 as the official publisher of all texts by the pope and the Holy See.
Encounter through literature in the age of AI
Several of the authors reflected on the pope’s speech in comments to journalists following their audience.
Jonathan Safran Foer, a critically acclaimed Jewish-American author, described the encounter as revealing the power of writing to foster empathy for others’ suffering.
“Writing is good at opening us up empathically and being aware of the suffering in the world,” Foer told EWTN News. “It is very easy to ignore somebody you don’t see. It’s very hard to ignore somebody who is in front of you. And at its best, art brings the other in front of you. It creates those encounters.”
Other authors discussed the challenges faced by writers in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). Paul Elie, an American author and a senior fellow at Georgetown University, praised Pope Leo for highlighting the need for writers in today’s world.
“Artificial intelligence — thereʼs no question itʼs a threat to literature and writing, and the pope addressed that today. ‘We need you,’ he said. One reason the world needs writers is that we still write as a free act, not as something created by an algorithm,” Elie told EWTN News.
Colum McCann, an Irish writer of literary fiction, added: “The Holy Father has been talking about stories and storytelling, language, disarming language, and how AI has penetrated the world of storytelling. If you get to the heart of the human mystery, you get to the heart of proper storytelling and engagement. We would then hope, somehow, to bring [humanity] back together in these divided times.”
Full list of EWTN winners at the 2026 Gabriel Awards and Catholic Media Awards
EWTN was recognized with multiple honors at the 2026 Gabriel Awards and Catholic Media Awards, a testament to the quality of its apostolate in Catholic media and storytelling. The network received awards across a broad range of categories, reflecting its commitment to producing compelling, faith-centered content for a global audience. Here is the full list of EWTN winners.
Gabriel Awards
G401: SINGLE NEWS STORY
FIRST PLACE
Christians Fight To Survive: ISIS in Iraq
EWTN News Inc.
Colm Flynn, Producer and Reporter; Patrick Leonard, Videographer
RUNNER UP
EWTN News Nightly – North Pole in New Jersey? This Man Has Been Santa for 60 Years
EWTN News Inc.
Mark Irons, Reporter and Producer; Jack Haskins, Videographer; Camila Monteiro, Editor
RUNNER UP
AI Chatbot Groomed My Son: Heartbroken Mother Shares His Story
EWTN News Inc.
Colm Flynn, Editor, Producer and Reporter; Patrick Leonard, Videographer
G405: BEST VIDEO FOR DIGITAL MEDIA
FIRST PLACE
James the Less – Season 2
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Stephen Beaumont, Studio Operations Manager; Greg Hendrick and Michael Masny, Producers
Catholic Media Association — All Members Division
AI161: PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
FIRST PLACE
Daniel Ibáñez
EWTN Global Catholic Network – EWTN News Inc.
AI171: SOCIAL MEDIA PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
FIRST PLACE
Debbie Cowden
EWTN Global Catholic Network
AW340B: BEST VIDEO – FEATURE, RADIO, TELEVISION STATIONS, AND FILM COMPANIES
FIRST PLACE
From Mohammed to Jesus: The Nikki Kingsley Story
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Ryan Penney, Director and Producer; Daniel Godinez, Producer and Editor; Nick Kubeck, Director of Photography; James Copes, Producer; John Groome, Director of Photography; Clare Gautreaux, Animator; Sam Zamarron, Art Director; Peter Gagnon, Executive Producer; Stacey Box, Executive Producer; The Marian Fathers
SECOND PLACE
John Paul II: Twenty Years Later
EWTN News Inc.
Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi, Journalist and Producer; Alberto Basile, Director of Photography; Fabio Gonnella and Camera Ilaria Chimenti, Video Editor
THIRD PLACE
Eucharistic Pilgrimage in Navajo Nation
EWTN News Inc.
Mark Irons, Reporter; Jack Haskins, Videographer; Camila Monteiro, Editor
HONORABLE MENTION
Mother Angelica Witness to Providence Award: Doug Keck
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Peter Gagnon, Executive Producer; Len Marino, Executive Producer; Jody Copeland, Senior Producer and Director; Katy Ryan, Associate Producer; Sam Zamarron, Segment Designer and Editor; JB Brown, Coordinating Producer; Maria Kaczperski, Coordinating Producer; The EWTN Creative Services Team and The EWTN Studios Production Crew
AW342B: BEST VIDEO – PRO-LIFE ACTIVITIES, RADIO, TELEVISION STATIONS, AND FILM COMPANIES
FIRST PLACE
Canada: Preserving the Life of a Nation
EWTN News Inc.
Holly Shannon, Executive Producer; Mark Irons, Producer and Reporter; Camila Monteiro, Producer and Editor
SECOND PLACE
Flash Mob Against Euthanasia
EWTN News Inc.
Zofia Czubak, Reporter; Matteo Ciofi and Christian Swezey, Producers
THIRD PLACE
National Celebrate Life Rally
EWTN News Inc.
Abigail Galvan, Reporter; Christian Swezey and Andrew Oliveros, Producers; Cathy Smith, Editor
AW344B: BEST VIDEO – SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES: RADIO, TELEVISION STATIONS AND FILM COMPANIES
SECOND PLACE
Baltimore Catholics Confront Gun Violence
EWTN News Inc.
Roselle Reyes, Reporter; Jack Haskins, Videographer; Andy Spangenberg, Editor; Holly Shannon, Executive Producer; Catherine Hadro, Host
AW345B: BEST VIDEO – EXPLAINER: RADIO, TELEVISION STATIONS AND FILM COMPANIES
HONORABLE MENTION
Saints in Italy EWTN Learn Series with Teresa Tomeo
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Teresa Tomeo, Host and Writer; Dianne Ogden, Producer and Editor; Anthony Johnson, Director
AW346B: BEST VIDEO – THE CLERGY: RADIO, TELEVISION STATIONS, AND FILM COMPANIES
FIRST PLACE
Meet the Catholic Hermit Priest Who Records Rock and Roll Music
EWTN News Inc.
Catherine Rubano, Reporter and Producer; Jack Haskins, Videographer and Editor
SECOND PLACE
Meet One of the Only Catholic Priests Born Deaf
EWTN News Inc.
Colm Flynn
AW349B: BEST VIDEO – CATECHESIS, RADIO, TELEVISION STATIONS, AND FILM COMPANIES
THIRD PLACE
Americaʼs National Eucharistic Revival: The True Presence of Christ
EWTN News
Holly Shannon, Executive Producer; Camila Monteiro, Producer/Editor; Tom Haller, Jack Haskins, Anthony Johnson, Patrick Leonard, Videographers; Montse Alvarado, Catherine Hadro, Mark Irons, Roselle Reyes, Reporters; Susan Leber, Sam Zamarron, Graphics; John Sheehan, Media Manager.
AW350A: BEST VIDEO, HOT TOPIC – POPE FRANCIS: DIOCESAN AND NATIONAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS
FIRST PLACE
Before Francis, Who Was Bergoglio?
EWTN News Inc.
Colm Flynn and Paola Arriaza-Flynn, Producers and Reporters; Mattias Bocca, Juan Andres Muñoz, Julieta Villar, Producers; Patrick Leonard, Videographer; Eduardo Berdejo, Photographer
AW355: BEST VIDEO, HOT TOPIC – THE PAPAL CONCLAVE AND THE ELECTION OF POPE LEO XIV: DIOCESAN AND NATIONAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS
HONORABLE MENTION
The Soup Kitchen Pope Leo XIV Founded in Peru
EWTN News Inc.
Jonathan Liedl, Reporter; Camila Monteiro, Editor; Edgardo Castañeda, Videoographer; Diego López,Field Producer
AW357B: BEST VIDEO – PERSONALITY PROFILE: RADIO, TELEVISION STATIONS, AND FILM COMPANIES
FIRST PLACE
Judge Frank Caprio on His Fight Against Terminal Cancer and His Catholic Faith
EWTN News Inc.
Colm Flynn and Claudette Jerez
SECOND PLACE
Before Francis, Who Was Bergoglio?
EWTN News Inc.
Colm Flynn and Paola Arriaza-Flynn, Producers and Reporters; Mattias Bocca, Juan Andres Muñoz, Julieta Villar, Producers; Patrick Leonard, Videographer; Eduardo Berdejo, Photographer
THIRD PLACE
North Pole in New Jersey? This Man Has Been Santa for 60 Years
EWTN News Inc.
Mark Irons, Reporter; Jack Haskins, Videographer; Camila Monteiro, Editor
AW511A: SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS – LITURGICAL SEASONS
HONORABLE MENTION
Having a Holy Lent with EWTN and Mother Angelica
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Debbie Cowden - Sr. Manager of Social Media, Judy Ranelli - TV Graphics Designer and Social Media Editor, Sergio Ramirez - Digital Content Producer, Daniel Godinez - Digital Content Producer, Ryan Penney - Digital Media Manager
AW361B: BEST MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE – NEWS
FIRST PLACE
NCYC 2025 — Pope Leo XIV’s Historic First Digital Encounter With Young U.S. Catholics
EWTN News Inc.
Victoria Melo Arruda, Ursula Murua and Claudette Jerez
AW381B: BEST USE OF VIDEO ON SOCIAL MEDIA – NEWS ORGANIZATION
THIRD PLACE
Michael Iskander’s Powerful Conversion Story
EWTN News Inc.
Francesca Fenton
AW384B: BEST USE OF VIDEO ON SOCIAL MEDIA – ONGOING SERIES – RADIO, TELEVISION STATIONS AND FILM COMPANIES
SECOND PLACE
TV Nun Goes Viral in 2025: Mother Angelica on the Types of Prayer
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Debbie Cowden, Senior Manager of Social Media; Sergio Ramirez, Digital Content Producer
AW385A: BEST USE OF VIDEO ON SOCIAL MEDIA – THE CLERGY – DIOCESAN AND NATIONAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS
THIRD PLACE
Got Relics? with Fr. John Paul Mary — St. Maximilian Kolbe, Patron of those Suffering with Addiction
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Fr. John Paul and Mary Zeller, Host; Daniel Godinez, Producer and Editor; Debbie Cowden, Senior Manager of Social Media
AW511A: SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS – LITURGICAL SEASONS
HONORABLE MENTION
Having a Holy Lent with EWTN and Mother Angelica
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Debbie Cowden - Sr. Manager of Social Media, Judy Ranelli - TV Graphics Designer and Social Media Editor, Sergio Ramirez - Digital Content Producer, Daniel Godinez - Digital Content Producer, Ryan Penney - Digital Media Manager
AW511B: SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN: GENERAL INTEREST
FIRST PLACE
EWTN and NCYC Reach the Hearts of Young People
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Len Marino, Vice President of Creative Services; J.B. Brown, Director of TV and Digital Promotions; Debbie Cowden, Senior Manager of Social Media; Maria Kaczperski, Senior Creative Director of Motion Design; Daniel Spada, YouTube Channel Manager; Sam Zamarron, Director of Animation and Brand Development; Sergio Ramirez, Digital Content Producer; Judy Ranelli, Social Media Video Editor; the EWTN Creative Services Team; Montse Alvarado, President and COO of EWTN News.
THIRD PLACE
Commemorate the Canonizations of Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Debbie Cowden, Senior Manager of Social Media; Ryan Penney, Digital Media Manager; Ana Sanchez, Digital Distribution Manager; Daniel Spada, YouTube Channel Manager; Judy Ranelli, Social Media Video Editor; Sergio Ramirez, Digital Content Producer; Daniel Godinez, Digital Content Producer; Sean Graber, President of EWTN Digital
AW511C: SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS
SECOND PLACE
James the Less Season 2 — An Unexpected Love Story!
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Len Marino, Vice President of Creative Services; J.B. Brown, Director of TV and Digital Promotions; Debbie Cowden, Senior Manager of Social Media; Sam Zamarron, Director of Animation and Brand Development; Maria Kaczperski, Senior Creative Director of Motion Design; Katy Ryan, Creative Services Project Manager; the EWTN Creative Services Team
AW552: BEST USE OF GRAPHICS IN SOCIAL MEDIA
HONORABLE MENTION
Godincidences
EWTN News Inc.
Ursula Murua, Nury Becerra, and Richard Escalona
AW571: BEST USE OF LIVE VIDEO IN SOCIAL MEDIA
FIRST PLACE
Living the Moment After the Habemus Papam, from St. Peter’s Square
EWTN News Inc.
Colm Flynn, Patrick Leonard and Ursula Murua
CMA – Newspaper/ News Service Division
GN111C: BEST NEWSPAPER — NATIONAL/ WIRE SERVICE
FIRST PLACE
National Catholic Register
National Catholic Register Staff
N371B: BEST LAYOUT OF ARTICLE OR COLUMN — PRINT EDITION
HONORABLE MENTION
Melissa Hartog
National Catholic Register
N510: HOT TOPIC — THE JUBILEE YEAR
FIRST PLACE
Assessing the Fruits of the Jubilee of Hope in the Catholic Church
National Catholic Register
Matthew McDonald, Courtney Mares and Msgr. Roger Landry
N513C: BEST REGULAR COLUMN — FAMILY LIFE
THIRD PLACE
5 Things Every Catholic Family Needs to Survive Sickness
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Debbie Cowden
N513D: BEST REGULAR COLUMN — GENERAL COMMENTARY
FIRST PLACE
Alberto M. Fernandez
National Catholic Register
N521D: BEST COVERAGE — RELIGIOUS LIBERTY ISSUES
SECOND PLACE
Judiciary Committee: FBI Spied on Catholic Priest for Not Divulging Info on Parishioner
EWTN News Inc.
Tyler Arnold and Daniel Payne
N521F: BEST COVERAGE PRO-LIFE ISSUES
THIRD PLACE
Where Does Your State Stand on Abortion?
EWTN News Inc.
Kate Quinones
N521H: BEST COVERAGE OF ECUMENICAL AND INTERFAITH ISSUES
SECOND PLACE
Facing Rising Antisemitism, ‘Hebrew Catholic’ Association Aims to Bridge Judaism, Catholicism
EWTN News Inc.
Jonah McKeown, Madalaine Elhabbal and Daniel Payne
N521I: BEST COVERAGE ON CATHOLIC EDUCATION
SECOND PLACE
From Malawi to Houston: Catholic schools around the world named after Carlo Acutis
EWTN News Inc.
Courtney Mares and Amira Abuzeid
N537C: BEST FEATURE WRITING — NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OR WIRE SERVICE
FIRST PLACE
Did Monastic Life Inspire the Little Black Dress? Chanel Preserves Historic Abbey
National Catholic Register
Solène Tadié
SECOND PLACE
Facing Rising Antisemitism, ‘Hebrew Catholic’ Association Aims to Bridge Judaism, Catholicism
EWTN News Inc.
Jonah McKeown
N561C: BEST IN-DEPTH NEWS/SPECIAL REPORTING — NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OR WIRE SERVICE
THIRD PLACE
Sacred or Scandalous? Catholic Shrines Take Different Approaches to Marko Rupnikʼs Art
EWTN News Inc.
Hannah Brockhaus, Almudena Martínez-Bordi Montse Alvarado and Paola Arriaza
N563C: BEST INVESTIGATIVE NEWS WRITING — NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OR WIRE SERVICE
HONORABLE MENTION
CNA Explains: How Do Dioceses Pay for Bankruptcy and Abuse Settlements?
EWTN News Inc.
Daniel Payne
N564C: BEST ANALYSIS/ BACKGROUND/ROUND-UP NEWS WRITING — THE GERARD E. SHERRY AWARD — NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OR WIRE SERVICE
SECOND PLACE
Claiming Newman: Inside the Tug-of-War over the Newest Doctor of the Church — And Why It Matters
National Catholic Register
Jonathan Liedl
HONORABLE MENTION
Victor Gaetan: The State of the Catholic Church in Francophone Africa (Series)
National Catholic Register
Victor Gaetan
N567B: BEST NEWS WRITING SERIES — NATIONAL EVENT
FIRST PLACE
The New Catholic Hubs
National Catholic Register
Zelda Caldwell, Stephen P. White and Jonah McKeown
THIRD PLACE
‘A Little Taste of Heaven’: Eucharistic Adoration ‘High Point’ of SEEK Event, Attendees Say
EWTN News Inc.
Kate Quinones
N571B: BEST PERSONALITY PROFILE — LAITY
FIRST PLACE
A Transformative Tenure: Belmont Abbey College’s Outgoing President
National Catholic Register
SueAnn Howell, freelance writer
N571C: BEST PERSONALITY PROFILE — RELIGIOUS LEADER
FIRST PLACE
Joy Forged in Fire: This Catholic Activistʼs Resolve Defied His Torturers — and Put Him on a Path to the Priesthood
National Catholic Register
Zelda Caldwell and Catalina Scheider Galines
N579: BEST REPORTING ON THE CELEBRATION OF A SACRAMENT
FIRST PLACE
‘Someone Call a Priest’: Sacraments at Time of Crisis Are Not Administered as Often as They Used to Be
National Catholic Register
Matthew McDonald
SECOND PLACE
Here Comes the Bride — and the Groom: Why Catholic Couples Are Walking into Their Wedding Mass Together
National Catholic Register
Jonathan Liedl
THIRD PLACE
Surf, Sand, and Sacrament: Hundreds Attend Long Islandʼs ‘Beach Catholic’ Summer Mass
National Catholic Register
Alyssa Murphy
N581A: BEST REPORTING OF SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES — CALL TO FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND PARTICIPATION
THIRD PLACE
Catholic Ministry Helps Adult Children of Divorce Find Healing and Love
EWTN News Inc.
Emily Chaffins
N581C: BEST REPORTING OF SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES — DIGNITY AND RIGHTS OF THE WORKERS
HONORABLE MENTION
Catholic Businesspeople Transforming Culture: Legatus
EWTN News Inc.
Emily Chaffins
N581D: BEST REPORTING OF SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES — LIFE AND DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
FIRST PLACE
Pope Leo XIV Meets Catholic Mother Who Lost Son to AI Chatbot Suicide
National Catholic Register
Courtney Mares
HONORABLE MENTION
Defying Death: Catholics Caution Against the Transhumanist Quest for Immortality
National Catholic Register
Jonah McKeown
N584A: BEST REPORTING ON PRIESTHOOD, RELIGIOUS LIFE OR DIACONATE — ONE-SHOT
FIRST PLACE
A Father and Sonʼs Journey from Addiction to the Altar
National Catholic Register
Sharon Delaney
HONORABLE MENTION
Priests Learn to Connect with Their Audiences at Preaching Boot Camp
National Catholic Register
Zelda Caldwell
N591A: BEST SPORTS JOURNALISM — SPORTS FEATURE OR COLUMN
HONORABLE MENTION
Catholic Ultra-Endurance Runner Inspires Men to Strive for Holiness
EWTN News Inc.
Francesca Pollio Fenton
N821A: BEST PHOTO STORY — FEATURE
THIRD PLACE
Holy Saturday Easter Vigil at St. Peterʼs Basilica
EWTN News Inc.
Zofia Czubak
N831A: BEST STORY AND PHOTO PACKAGE — BY AN INDIVIDUAL
FIRST PLACE
The City of Saints
National Catholic Register
Jeffrey Bruno
N854: BEST PHOTOGRAPH — HOT TOPIC — POPE FRANCIS
SECOND PLACE
Thousands Gather for Rosary in St. Peterʼs Square After Death of Pope Francis
EWTN News Inc.
Daniel Ibañez
CMA – Spanish Division
S508: HOT TOPIC – POPE FRANCIS
FIRST PLACE
Francisco, el Papa Que Puso a la Iglesia en Modo Verde
EWTN News Inc.
Andrés Henríquez
S509: HOT TOPIC – THE PAPAL CONCLAVE AND THE ELECTION OF POPE LEO XIV
SECOND PLACE
‘¡El Papa es chiclayano!’: Más de 10.000 fieles celebran Misa histórica por la elección de Le XIV
EWTN News Inc.
Diego Lez Marina and Almudena Martínez-Bordi
THIRD PLACE
Cobertura Especial de ChurchPOP Español
EWTN News Inc.
Harumi Suzuki
S510: HOT TOPIC — THE JUBILEE YEAR
SECOND PLACE
Dos Viudas en el Jubileo de la Consolación: Nuestros Maridos Están con Dios, en un Gozo que No Es de Este Mundo
EWTN News Inc.
Victoria Cardiel
S521A: IMMIGRATION
FIRST PLACE
La ‘Monja de los Inmigrantes’ en EE.UU. Denuncia Que Muchos Tienen Miedo Hasta de Ir al Supermercado
EWTN News Inc.
Victoria Cardiel
S575A: BEST REPORTING – ON A SPECIAL AGE GROUP
FIRST PLACE
Jóvenes cristianos, musulmanes y judíos desde el Vaticano: ‘Hay posibilidad de convivir en paz’
EWTN News Inc.
Victoria Cardiel, David Ramos, Andrés Henríquez
S575E: BEST REPORTING – PRIESTHOOD, RELIGIOUS LIFE, OR THE DIACONATE
SECOND PLACE
Suicidio del P. Matteo Balzano Evidencia la Humanidad de los Sacerdotes: ‘Somos de Carne y Hueso’
EWTN News Inc.
Victoria Cardiel, Nicolás de Cárdenas, Almudena Martínez-Bordi
S579D: BEST REPORTING ON SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES – LIFE AND DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
HONORABLE MENTION
El Testimonio de Fe y Fortaleza de una Familia Que Luch por la Vida de Sus Mellizos Nacidos a las 23 Semanas
EWTN News Inc.
Harumi Suzuki
S579E: BEST REPORTING ON SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES – OPTION FOR THE POOR AND VULNERABLE
FIRST PLACE
Encontró a Santa Teresita en la Capilla Más Pobre de África y Conmueve a Miles
EWTN News Inc.
Luisa Restrepo
S598B: BEST WRITING – IN-DEPTH
SECOND PLACE
El Legado Social del Papa León XIV en Perú, Entrega Entre Desastres, Pobreza y una Pandemia
EWTN News Inc.
Diego Lopez Marina
CMA Book Awards
B113: POPE LEO XIV
SECOND PLACE
Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope
Dr. Matthew Bunson
EWTN Publishing
B202: THEOLOGICAL STUDIES
FIRST PLACE
Man’s Desire for God
Fr. Brian Thomas Becket Mullady, O.P.
EWTN Publishing
B1502: MEMOIR
FIRST PLACE
I Will Come To You: A Story of Adoption and the Relentless Love of God
Jamie McAleer
EWTN Publishing
At U.N. event, international coalition calls for global moratorium on surrogacy
On June 22, the Government of Italy, in collaboration with the Holy See, Chile, and Cameroon, convened a high-level side event on surrogacy at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Representatives of the participating states presented a joint declaration calling for an international moratorium on surrogacy as a step toward its eventual global abolition. In this context, a moratorium refers to a temporary suspension of surrogacy arrangements pending further legal, ethical, and human rights review.
The event, titled “Building Momentum Towards a Moratorium on Surrogacy,” was motivated by concerns over the increasing physical, psychological, medical, and ethical harms associated with surrogacy. The rapid growth of the surrogacy industry, projected to hit nearly $100 billion by 2033, was another cause of concern.
The joint declaration presented reflects an abolitionist approach to surrogacy and calls on governments to adopt policies that safeguard human dignity and fundamental human rights.
The initiative follows previous criticism of the controversial practice by Pope Leo XIV, who condemned it in a January address. In March, the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations also raised concerns about surrogacy, warning that it is an area in which “technology and practice have run laps around the law and ethics.”
A question of human dignity
Italy’s Minister for Family, Birth Rate and Equal Opportunities, Eugenia Roccella, framed the surrogacy debate as a fundamental question about the status of the human person.
She asked whether society still recognizes human beings as persons “who must be respected” or is willing to accept a situation in which they become “a means to satisfy the interests or needs of others.”
Roccella described the declaration as establishing “a common political commitment” to support an international moratorium on surrogacy while laying the groundwork for “an international legal framework aimed at abolishing surrogacy worldwide.”
At the same time, she stressed that the initiative should be viewed as the beginning of a broader international effort rather than its culmination. Roccella urged governments, international organizations, and civil society actors to engage in a “serious and constructive dialogue” on how best to address surrogacy while protecting the rights and dignity of all those involved.
Serious human rights concerns
Among the keynote speakers was U.N. Special Rapporteur Reem Alsalem, whose 2025 report to the U.N. General Assembly was widely praised as one of the most comprehensive examinations of surrogacy to date.
Alsalem told participants that her scrutiny of surrogacy arose not from ideological opposition but from her mandate to investigate violence against women and girls. She said she began examining the issue after identifying it as a “growing and emerging phenomenon” with “significant and serious consequences” for women and girls, yet one that had received comparatively little analysis through the framework of international human rights law.
Drawing on her findings, Alsalem described surrogacy as a system that “commodifies women and children,” turning women’s reproductive capacities into services to be purchased and children into objects of contractual arrangements.
She further argued that children born through surrogacy can face abandonment, statelessness, and separation from their birth mothers, circumstances she said may cause lasting emotional harm.
Welcoming the declaration, Alsalem endorsed calls for an international moratorium, explaining that a temporary suspension would allow governments to gather data, improve accountability, and better assess the human rights implications of surrogacy.
“We will no longer accept these abuses,” she said, expressing hope that additional states would join the initiative.
Her subsequent 2026 report on violence against women and girls reiterates concerns that surrogacy can facilitate exploitation, coercion, and other serious violations of the rights of women and girls.
Momentum beyond Geneva
Speaking to EWTN News, Giorgio Mazzoli, moderator of the event and director of U.N. advocacy for ADF International, explained that opposition to surrogacy is gaining traction among governments. He referred to Slovakia’s 2025 constitutional prohibition of surrogacy and current advancing legislation in Chile that would ban the practice as evidence of a broader shift.
According to Mazzoli, “states are increasingly aware of the need for a coordinated response to the harm surrogacy causes to women and children,” adding that the Geneva event was intended to “build and sustain that momentum.”
While supporters of surrogacy continue to advocate for its expansion in jurisdictions where the practice remains legal or unresolved, Mazzoli said governments that have not yet confronted the issue directly are nevertheless paying attention.
“Even countries which do not yet face the problem directly — or claim not to — are taking note,” he said. “They see where this is heading and want to be ahead of it.”
Mazzoli also highlighted Italy’s recent legislation extending criminal liability to Italian citizens who commission surrogacy abroad, describing it as a significant attempt to curb so-called “forum shopping,” whereby individuals travel to other countries to access services prohibited at home.
Nevertheless, he argued that national measures alone will not be sufficient. Given the increasingly cross-border nature of the surrogacy industry, Mazzoli said the long-term goal should be the development of an international legally binding instrument capable of addressing surrogacy across jurisdictions.
Meanwhile, Ludovine de La Rochère, president of Le Syndicat de la Famille, who attended the event as an observer, told EWTN News that public awareness of surrogacy varies significantly across Europe.
Countries where advocacy groups actively publicize scandals and ethical concerns tend to have a greater understanding of the issue, while in other countries “people are largely unaware of what surrogacy entails.”
She noted that most media outlets rarely scrutinize surrogacy practices in depth and that public discussion is often shaped by advocacy groups supportive of surrogacy.
According to De La Rochère, anti-surrogacy organizations defending mothers and children face an uphill battle because they often operate with limited resources. “Large-scale information campaigns are absolutely essential,” she said, but she noted that such groups generally lack the financial support available to progressive organizations.
She contended that public education efforts should focus on demonstrating why surrogacy constitutes “an exploitation of women and an objectification of the child,” while also drawing attention to cases involving international human trafficking.
Pope Leo XIV appoints new bishop of Ponce, Puerto Rico
Pope Leo XIV on June 24 appointed Puerto Rican priest Father Geraldo Ramírez Torres as the new bishop of the Diocese of Ponce in the Caribbean territory.
The pontiff also accepted the resignation of Bishop Rubén Antonio González Medina, C.M.F., who has led the diocese since 2015.
According to a Vatican press release, Ramírez was born in Villalba, Puerto Rico, on Nov. 17, 1967. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Ponce on Nov. 19, 1991.
His academic training included a bachelor’s degree in theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico.
He served as a parish priest and chaplain for several parishes in the Ponce diocese before his appointment as bishop. He served as vicar general of the diocese since 2021 and as parish priest of the dioceseʼs Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe since 2004.
Known as “Father Jerry,” Ramírez told El Visitante de Puerto Rico in 2016 that he owed his priestly vocation to “a devout family and the example and dedication of the Marianist priests and brothers.”
“I accepted the call aware that I wasnʼt the best clay, but with the conviction that he is indeed the greatest and best potter,” the priest told the Catholic newspaper on the occasion of his 25th anniversary of priestly ordination.
The diocese of Ponce is one of six Roman Catholic dioceses in Puerto Rico and is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico, all of which are a part of the Catholic Church in the United States.
Four years after Dobbs, pro-life leaders warn of abortion pill challenge
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Four years after Roe v. Wade was overturned, Catholic bishops and pro-life leaders are reflecting on the impact of the historic Dobbs ruling, citing progress in protecting unborn children while raising concerns about the increasing availability of chemical abortions.
In a statement released on the anniversary of the landmark Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, praised the ruling as a historic turning point while urging Catholics to remain engaged in the pro-life cause.
“On this Anniversary of the Dobbs decision, we praise God for the historic overturning of Roe v. Wade,” Bishop Thomas said. “And we beg the intercession of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in building a culture of life.”
Dobbs overturned Roe and eliminated federal constitutional protection for abortion, shifting authority back to the states. Since then, any laws restricting or expanding abortion have been carried out by the individual states.
Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, recalled learning of the decision while standing outside the Supreme Court.
“As the opinion was put into my hand, I started reading it, and it said, ‘The Constitution does not confer the right to abortion. Roe and Casey are overruled,” Hawkins spoke during an interview with EWTN News Nightly. “This decision that came down four years ago today gave states and gave legislators across the country … the ability to regulate or end abortion.”
Hawkins described the post-Dobbs landscape as a new phase in the pro-life movement’s efforts, with legislative battles now taking place in state capitals across the nation.
“The decision of abortion is now returned to the people and their representatives,” she said. “We have 51 playing fields in our country where we’re attempting every single day to pass laws to either outright end abortion or to severely restrict abortion.”
Abortion pills emerge as a flashpoint
Several pro-life leaders criticized leaving abortion policies entirely in the hands of the states, arguing that abortion regulations should also come from the federal level.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, told reporters in a June 23 press call with Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of FAMiLY Leader, an Iowa‑based evangelical political advocacy organization “that whole stateʼs-only experiment is a failure. It has been tried and failed.”
Dannenfelser said permissive abortion pill policies in states such as California and New York are undermining pro-life laws elsewhere, allowing abortion drugs to be shipped across state lines into states that have enacted abortion restrictions.
“Now, 15,000 children a month are dying in pro-life states. That is the definition of failure,” she said.
“We used to say thereʼs going to be abortion destination places,” Vander Plaats said. “In Iowa, we were concerned about a state like Illinois being an abortion destination. Now the abortion destination is in your mailbox.”
Both the bishops and pro-life advocates raised growing use of chemical abortion drugs as a concern.
“Now with easier access to abortion pills, the abortion rate is tragically climbing. The victory of the Dobbs decision risks being undone by the massive influx of abortion pills,” Bishop Thomas said in the statement.
Pro-life leaders said changes made by federal regulators have enabled abortion pills to be prescribed through telehealth appointments and distributed through pharmacies and the mail, despite restrictions enacted by pro-life states.
Hawkins likewise criticized the federal government’s handling of abortion pills and called for further action from the Trump administration.
“While we’re excited and we’re still celebrating the win of Roe being reversed, something that many people told us was impossible, we have not won the war,” she said.
“We’re going to be celebrating the victory of the Dobbs decision. And weʼre going to be praying for our future success to see abortion completely abolished in our land,” Hawkins said.
Catholics urged to pray and take action
Looking ahead, the USCCB is encouraging Catholics to participate in a national prayer and advocacy effort that will run from mid-August through October’s Respect Life Month. Bishop Thomas urged the faithful to pray for women facing unplanned pregnancies, share information about abortion pills, and advocate for policies that protect both mothers and unborn children.