Day: December 3, 2025

HHS moves to strengthen parental rights in children’s health care

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Dec. 3 that it opened a civil rights investigation into allegations that a Midwestern school vaccinated a student without parental consent by ignoring the family’s religious exemption.  The investigation fits into the agency’s broader push to reinforce parental authority in children’s medical care. HHS said the … Read moreHHS moves to strengthen parental rights in children’s health care

Hill op-ed calls out Army contract cuts for catechists

The U.S. Army’s decision to cancel a range of Catholic chapel support contracts compromise the ability of Catholic service members and families to practice their faith, a recent opinion column in The Hill argued. In the op-ed, titled “Defunding of catechists leaves Catholic soldiers in a lurch,” Christopher J. Motz, senior counsel in the military … Read moreHill op-ed calls out Army contract cuts for catechists

Court upholds Indian army’s firing of Christian officer

The Supreme Court of India upheld the dismissal of an Indian Army officer, Lt. Samuel Kamalesan, who refused to enter his regiment’s sarva dharma sthal, a multi-faith place of worship, ruling that he had allowed “religious ego” to override military discipline, according to a Nov. 25 report from The Federal.  In their ruling dismissing Kamalesan’s … Read moreCourt upholds Indian army’s firing of Christian officer

USA Today op-ed: Supreme Court’s decision on New Jersey pregnancy center case sets precedent

Attorney Erin Hawley argues that New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin is targeting a pro-life pregnancy center, First Choice, with an overreaching subpoena that demands confidential records. Hawley called Platkin’s actions “politically motivated retaliation” that violates First Amendment associational privacy and could chill support for pro-life groups. She argues the Supreme Court’s ruling will set … Read moreUSA Today op-ed: Supreme Court’s decision on New Jersey pregnancy center case sets precedent

Pittsburgh bishop shares what he learned about Advent from Carmelite nuns in Australia

Auxiliary Bishop William Waltersheid left Pittsburgh last month for the Australian Outback, where he preached a retreat to the discalced Carmelite nuns of Mathoura. In a Dec. 2 reflection for the diocesan website, he shared about the Advent wisdom he found there.  Bishop Waltersheid explained that the nuns live in notable simplicity. He wrote that … Read morePittsburgh bishop shares what he learned about Advent from Carmelite nuns in Australia

Pope Leo’s First Apostolic Journey Delivers Real-World Results

Simone RisolutiPope Leo XIV is greeted by throngs of people waiting in the square in front of the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch in Bkerké on Dec. 1, 2025. COMMENTARY: The Pope’s trip to Turkey and Lebanon yielded tangible results — strengthening Orthodox-Catholic ties and issuing urgent appeals for peace as Lebanon faces the threat of … Read morePope Leo’s First Apostolic Journey Delivers Real-World Results

University of Colorado to pay $10.3M to students denied religious exemptions from COVID vaccine

After half a decade of legal battles, 18 students and employees of the University of Colorado’s Anschutz School of Medicine will be awarded $10.3 million in damages, tuition, and lawyers’ fees after they were denied religious accommodations to mandatory vaccination for COVID-19. This payout follows a 2024 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for … Read moreUniversity of Colorado to pay $10.3M to students denied religious exemptions from COVID vaccine

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