Aleja Hertzler-McCain

As the so-called One Big, Beautiful Bill made its way toward congressional approval last month, U.S. Catholic bishops signed their names to not one but two letters to senators on the same day, both airing misgivings. The existence of dueling letters, church observers say, offered a rare public glimpse of a rift that's been years in the making.

According to Sister Norma Pimentel, she and Bishop Daniel Flores share an emphasis on a pastoral approach.

“The targeting of this faith-based agency and broader attacks on the Catholic Church should deeply concern Catholics, religious liberty advocates and all people of good will,” Kerry Alys Robinson, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, told Religion News Service in a statement, referring to Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley.

The lawsuit from Ken Paxton's office "seeks to revoke Annunciation House's authorization to do business in Texas and asks the court to appoint a receiver to liquidate their assets."

A group of U.S. bishops, led by Santa Fe Archbishop John Wester, and a Catholic sister met with senior White House officials about Pope Francis' latest climate letter, Laudate Deum, for 45 minutes on Nov. 17.

About 60 Catholics gathered for a pray-in on Nov. 2, hoping President Joe Biden would hear their prayers for peace in Israel and Palestine and their calls for him to support a cease-fire and pursue diplomacy. 

The Africa Faith and Justice Network, founded by three Catholic religious orders to lobby in D.C., is celebrating 40 years. The organization now also seeks to empower advocacy efforts across the African continent.

In NCR interviews after the announcement that Pope Francis will expand participation in the upcoming synod to include laypersons as voting members, theologians and reform groups praised the move as a substantial change.

As they confront stronger storms, women's congregations are making investments in infrastructure and planning to make sure sisters stay safe and capable of continuing their ministries.