U.S.
U.S. bishop urges Catholics to advocate for life on anniversary of Dobbs decision
WASHINGTON — Before the June 24 anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, the U.S. bishops’ pro-life chairman called on Catholics to advocate “for greater protections for preborn children.” In its June 24, 2022, ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the high court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision issued Jan. 22, 1973, which had legalized abortion in all 50 states. With Dobbs, the court returned the issue of abortion to the states. Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, Ohio, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, said in a June 16 statement that “the battle for life is far from over.” He urged the faithful “to engage their elected officials on all issues that threaten the gift of human life, in particular the threat of abortion.” (OSV News)
West Virginia bishop calls for prayers, help for victims of ‘devastating’ flash floods
WHEELING, W.Va.— Bishop Mark E. Brennan of Wheeling-Charleston is asking for prayers after flash floods devastated communities in Ohio County June 14 leaving eight people dead, including a 3-year-old child. As of June 18, one person was still missing. “I ask you to join me in prayer for all those affected by the devastating flash flood that occurred on Saturday in Ohio County,” Bishop Brennan said in a statement. “We pray especially for those who lost their lives as well as those who are still missing.” The hardest hit communities were Triadelphia and Valley Grove where homes, cars, businesses and roads were washed away. The severe weather in West Virginia was part of a storm system that also impacted other states, including Texas, where flash floods June 12 in San Antonio and Bexar County took at least 13 lives. News reports said more than 6 inches of rain fell in the San Antonio metro area. (OSV News)
Catholic experts see harms for low-income Americans in bill’s Medicaid, SNAP cuts
WASHINGTON — A major pro-life win may be on the horizon as President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” moves through the Senate. The bill, which narrowly passed the House in May and was released by the Senate Finance Committee June 16, includes provisions to strip Medicaid funds from abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood. Pro-life advocates are celebrating the move. But concerns are growing about the bill’s broader impact. The Senate version includes deeper Medicaid cuts — $1 trillion over 10 years — and a $211 billion reduction to SNAP, the federal food assistance program. Critics warn the changes could hurt low-income families. Supporters say no one will lose coverage, framing the changes as anti-fraud measures. But Tina Tuley-Lampke, head of a pregnancy resource center in Indiana, cautioned the long-term cost of cutting support services could outweigh the short-term savings. (OSV News)
WORLD
Suicide bombing at Syrian church called ‘crime against humanity’
DAMASCUS, Syria — A suicide bombing during Divine Worship June 22 at St. Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus has left at least 20 dead and dozens wounded, sparking international outrage. The Sunday attack, blamed on Islamist extremists though not yet claimed by them, marks Syria’s deadliest assault on Christians in years. Worshippers, including children, were caught in the blast as a jihadist opened fire before detonating an explosive vest. Church leaders, including the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, condemned the bombing as a “crime against humanity.” The incident underscores growing fears for religious minorities under Syria’s new Islamist-leaning government, which took power seven months ago after toppling Bashar Assad. The attack “will only deepen doubts about the government’s ability and commitment to protect religiously diverse communities and restore stability,” said Nadine Maenza, president of the Washington-based International Religious Freedom Secretariat. (OSV News)
Pope recognizes martyrdom of 50 Frenchmen killed by Nazis
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV formally recognized the martyrdom of 50 French priests, seminarians and laymen who died in Gestapo custody, Nazi concentration camps or because of their imprisonment during World War II. The men, most of whom were in their 20s when they died in 1944 and 1945, were arrested after going to Germany to minister to and support Frenchmen forced to go to Germany as part of the Compulsory Work Service. “They were arrested for subversive activity against the Third Reich and then tortured,” the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints said June 20 after Pope Leo signed the decrees. The martyrs, it said, gave witness to their Christian faith “in full awareness of the possibility of being killed and in trusting abandonment to the divine will.” (CNS)
