U.S.
Group of lawmakers demand ‘robust’ investigation on risks of abortion pill
WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans are demanding a “robust” investigation of federal safety standards and health risks connected to mifepristone, a pill commonly, but not exclusively, used for early abortion. The letter dated Nov. 20 and co-signed by 175 Republican lawmakers asked Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Martin Makary to investigate the “deleterious and grossly underreported effects” of mifepristone on women, prohibit mail shipment of the drug and immediately reinstate the in-person dispensing requirement. Released Nov. 24, the letter also condemned the Biden administration’s “egregious action to remove critical safeguards that once applied to abortion drugs.” The letter urged an end to the mailing of the drugs. It objected to the FDA’s approval in September of a new generic form of mifepristone and called on the Trump administration to provide more information about that approval. (OSV News)
U.S. bishops award over $7 million in grants to home missions
WASHINGTON — Dozens of home mission dioceses across the nation have received much-needed financial support, provided by the generosity of U.S. Catholics through an annual collection. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced Dec. 1 that 69 mission dioceses and Eastern Catholic eparchies had been awarded a collective total of more than $7.8 million in grants. The 2025-2026 allocations — which ranged from $10,000 to approximately $145,000 — were determined by the USCCB’s Subcommittee on Catholic Home Missions, which met earlier in the fall to review grant applications. The awarded funds were made possible through the USCCB’s annual Catholic Home Missions appeal. The collection, taken up in many dioceses and parishes on the last weekend in April, was established in 1998 to strengthen U.S.-based mission dioceses. (OSV News)
Pope Leo accepts resignation of Bishop Mulvey of Corpus Christi; names Bishop Avilés as successor
WASHINGTON— Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop W. Michael Mulvey from the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas, and named Bishop Mario A. Avilés of Brownsville, Texas, as his successor. The announcement came Dec. 1 from Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States. Bishop Avilés, 56, comes from Mexico City and is a member of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri. He holds degrees from the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome and Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Connecticut. Ordained in 1998, he served nearly two decades in parish ministry in Pharr and Hidalgo, Texas. Pope Francis appointed him auxiliary bishop of Brownsville in 2017. (OSV News)
WORLD
Christians should work on joint Jubilee in Jerusalem in 2033, pope says
ISTANBUL — Pope Leo XIV, speaking to Christian leaders in Turkey, said he hoped they could meet in Jerusalem in 2033 to celebrate together the 2,000th anniversary of the death and resurrection of Jesus. And, later in a joint declaration with Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, he called on Christians of the East and West to finally agree on a common date for Easter. The pope and patriarch also appealed for an end to war. The two met in Istanbul Nov. 29 with the Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Protestant leaders who had joined them the previous day in Iznik, site of the ancient city of Nicaea, to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the basics of the Nicene Creed, which all mainline Christians share. According to the Vatican press office, Pope Leo spoke to the leaders about having a Jubilee 2033 celebration together in Jerusalem. (CNS)
UN report: A woman is killed somewhere in the world every 10 minutes
ROME— “Women speaking to us from El Fasher, the heart of the latest catastrophe in Sudan, tell of hunger, displacement, rape and bombardments,” Ginevra Anna Mutavati, regional director for East and Southern Africa at U.N. Women, said of the situation in North Darfur’s capital. After more than 500 days of siege by Rapid Support Forces, widespread abuses — including summary executions and sexual violence — have been documented. Worldwide, the U.N. estimates that 840 million women — nearly 1 in 3 — have experienced physical or sexual violence by a partner, a nonpartner, or both, at least once in their lives. A new U.N. report highlights one of the most tragic realities: Every 10 minutes, a woman is killed somewhere in the world. The report also said that technology has contributed to new forms of violence. “End Digital Violence against Women and Girls” is the theme of U.N. Women’s 16-day UNITE campaign this year, which began Nov. 25. (OSV News)
Diocese of Hong Kong mourns over 100 victims of devastating apartment complex fire
HONG KONG — The Diocese of Hong Kong is calling for prayer and mourning after a devastating fire at the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in Tai Po left at least 128 people dead and around 200 still missing. As a sign of solidarity, the diocese turned its website black and white and shared a prayer for residents affected by the Nov. 26 blaze, urging the faithful to remember that “we are one family.” In its prayer, the diocese asked God to grant rest to the deceased, heal the injured, and comfort grieving families, admitting the community feels “weak and powerless in the face of disaster” as it seeks God’s presence in the darkness. The fire broke out around 3 p.m. local time and burned for 42 hours before firefighters brought it under control. Officials warn the death toll may rise. Authorities have arrested eight people, including scaffolding subcontractors and project managers, as investigations continue. (OSV News)
