U.S.
Marquette poll: Americans worry about political violence, but see few solutions
WASHINGTON — A large majority of Americans said political violence is a big problem, a new Marquette Law School national survey found. The survey of 1,000 adults was released Oct. 1 and conducted in the aftermath of recent instances of political violence, including the Sept. 10 assassination of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder. An overwhelming majority (89%) said political violence is always unjustified and 58% said it is always unacceptable to be happy about the death of a person they oppose. A combined majority said political violence is either “a very big problem” or “a moderately big problem,” each at 38%, while just 19% called it “a small problem,” and only 4% said it was not a problem. The Jesuit school’s poll also found Americans are “pessimistic” about reducing intense political conflict and violence, with only 1 out of 3 Americans thinking a path to reducing such instances can be found. The same day the survey was released, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and head of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, released a pastoral reflection to mark the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical “Fratelli Tutti.” He condemned political violence and begged Americans to “see Christ in every person, even those whose politics you oppose” and take concrete actions to mend a wounded society. (OSV News)
Catholic hospital system sued for not providing ‘emergency abortion’ as ‘standard of care’
SAN FRANCISCO — A Catholic health care system in California is being sued for its refusal to perform abortions on a woman who twice experienced miscarriage, with the plaintiff alleging the hospital’s religious directives endangered her life while failing to meet the proper “standard of care” for her condition. According to court documents filed Sept. 25 in California superior court, two Dignity Health system hospitals did not offer abortion as an option to plaintiff Rachel Harrison, who sought care in September 2024 and March 2025 after her water broke at 17 weeks in both pregnancies. Harrison and fellow plaintiff Marcell Johnson, listed in the suit as her partner, are seeking a jury trial, claiming Dignity Health violated California law on emergency services, as well as the state’s civil rights act, unfair competition law and right to privacy. Catholic health care facilities in the U.S. — guided by “Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services” — are prevented from performing abortion. “When a pregnant woman’s health is at risk, appropriate emergency care is provided,” a Dignity spokesperson said. (OSV News)
Pro-life advocates object as FDA approves new generic pill for abortion, again
WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new generic form of the abortion pill mifepristone, drawing criticism from pro-life advocates. On Sept. 30, the FDA notified Evita Solutions that its generic version of mifepristone was approved, despite previous suggestions from FDA and Department of Health officials that mifepristone would undergo a review. The move was met with condemnation by multiple pro-life organization leaders and other political leaders opposed to abortion. The Evita Solutions generic is the second approved generic pill for mifepristone. The first generic pill for abortion — from GenBioPro — was also approved in 2019. Approved by the FDA for early abortion in 2000, mifepristone is the first of two drugs used in a medication-based abortion — although the same drug combination has become used sometimes in recent years for miscarriage care, where an unborn child has already died, a situation that Catholic teaching would hold as morally licit use. (OSV News)
Man arrested outside Washington cathedral ahead of Red Mass found to have explosives
WASHINGTON — Court documents show that a New Jersey man arrested Oct. 5 outside of St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington just hours before the start of the annual Red Mass had a “fully functional” arsenal of explosives that he threatened to detonate. According to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, after officers took Louis Geri, 41, into custody, they discovered he had “multiple suspicious items, including vials of liquid and possible fireworks” inside a tent he erected on the cathedral steps. Geri had previously been barred from the cathedral premises and was encountered when authorities were making a security sweep several hours before the annual Mass marking the start of the Supreme Court’s new term. Geri reportedly had 200 incendiary devices in his tent, including handmade grenades and Molotov cocktails. Agents from the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Metropolitan Police Department’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Arson Task Force, took Geri into custody when he stepped away from his tent. He was charged with unlawful entry, threats to kidnap or injure a person, and possession of a Molotov cocktail, according to authorities. Supreme Court justices usually attend the Red Mass, but none did this year because of the security situation. (OSV News)
WORLD
Pope tells Swiss Guards they need each other to be all they can be
VATICAN CITY — Living in harmony with others requires benevolence, honesty, solidarity and mutual respect, Pope Leo XIV said. Welcoming new recruits from different regions of Switzerland to the Pontifical Swiss Guard, the pope said they are called “to form a united body, to create strong and healthy bonds of friendship.” “Alone, you would not be able to realize your potential fully,” he said. “You need one another in order to learn, to progress, to serve in a world increasingly tempted by division and isolation.” The pope met with members of the Swiss Guard, including 27 new recruits and their family members Oct. 3 in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican. Pope Leo thanked them for their dedication and commitment to protecting the pope every day. “Benevolence, honesty, solidarity and mutual respect constitute the pillars on which a harmonious life can be built,” he told them. “Each person can be, for the other, a model with his words and conduct, with his charity and faith. And you can be a message of unity for all the Roman Curia.” (CNS)
Vatican confirms papal trip to Turkey, Lebanon Nov. 27-Dec. 2
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV’s first papal trip abroad will be to Turkey and Lebanon Nov. 27-Dec. 2, the Vatican press office announced. The trip was built around Pope Francis’ promise to join Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople in celebrating the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the beginnings of the Nicene Creed, recited by all mainline Christians. While not releasing a detailed itinerary for the trip, the Vatican said Oct. 7 that Pope Leo would be in Turkey Nov. 27-30, and his visit would “include a pilgrimage to Iznik,” the modern site of the ancient Nicaea. The Vatican also said that “in response to the invitation of the Head of State and Ecclesiastical Authorities of Lebanon,” Pope Leo would go from Turkey to Lebanon Nov. 30-Dec. 2. (CNS)
