OSV Newscast

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 25, 2025. In this episode: The Archdiocese of Indianapolis announced scientific testing has ruled out an alleged Eucharistic miracle. Several diocesan administrators of federal school meals programs told OSV News funding cuts could leave kids hungry while making the surviving versions of the programs burdensome. The Vatican has issued a pastoral framework called "Life Is a Good," while also hosting a conference on longevity. Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, led a March 24 rally in that city calling for an end to mass deportations and asylum bans, and a stand in solidarity with those fleeing their countries of origin for a better and more dignified life. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

No Eucharistic miracle in Indy

School meal program cuts

Vatican pastoral framework for life

Vatican longevity conference

El Paso rally for migrants

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 24, 2025. In this episode: Pope Francis greets crowds from the balcony of Rome's Gemelli hospital shortly before heading home after a more than five-week stay. Vatican doctors double down on offering free treatment for Rome's impoverished, in the spirit of Pope Francis' deep care for the poor. The Illinois March for Life is expected to draw larger crowds than ever, with physician-assisted suicide as well as abortion in focus. Mexican Catholics mourn the slayings of eight Catholic youth ambushed by gunfire as they socialized after Mass, with bishops and clergy calling for an end to violence and greater pastoral outreach to youth. A veteran of last year's National Eucharistic Pilgrimage is heading up the 2025 journey. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

Pope Francis heads home

Vatican doctors care for the poor

Illinois Pro-life March

Mexican Catholic youth slain

National Eucharistic Pilgrimage 2025

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 21, 2025. In this episode: Satanists swear under oath in a Kansas court they don't have possession of a consecrated host and consecrated wine they intend to desecrate at a planned March 28 "black mass." Pope Francis' health shows signs of improvement, as scholars and clergy reflect on the impact of his pontificate at a Georgetown University. A priest in Syria shares with OSV News his insights on recent violence there, and on the situation for Christians as a whole in the Muslim-majority nation, still reeling from war and two major earthquakes. Prayer is the only real weapon for peace in Ukraine amid Russia's war on that nation, says apostolic nuncio to Ukraine Archbishop Visvaldas Kolbakas, who along with other bishops has stressed the need to preserve Ukraine's sovereignty in any efforts to end the conflict. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

Kansas 'black mass' update

Pope Francis' 12-year migration legacy

Pope Francis on the mend

Syria priest on violence

Prayer as the weapon for peace in Ukraine

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news for March 20, 2025. In this episode: March Madness has begun, and Catholic teams are in the mix. A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's order banning transgender persons from the military. Faithful in Myanmar mourn as that nation's military junta burned St. Patrick's Cathedral in Kachin state March 16, part of a broader pattern of attacks on church buildings. French Catholics flock to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris for Lenten conferences that continue a tradition since the days of the monarchy. A Vatican conference on artificial intelligence examines how to protect children from the perils of AI, while leveraging the opportunities and benefits of the technology. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

March Madness

Trump transgender military ban blocked

Myanmar junta attacks St. Patrick's Cathedral in Kachin

Notre Dame Lenten Conferences

Vatican AI conference

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 19, 2025. In this episode: Europe's Catholic bishops express concerns over Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and the conflict's geopolitical implications. A Nigerian seminarian has been killed, part of an escalating trend of slayings of clergy and religious in that nation. Marquette University has received a major gift to fund ongoing natural family planning research and education. In a prepared text released for his audience, Pope Francis, still recovering from double pneumonia at Rome's Gemelli hospital, reflected on Nicodemus as an example of one who can face fears with the help of Christ and change. The 100th birthday of Flannery O'Connor (1925-1964), a beloved Catholic novelist with a profound devotion to the Eucharist, will be marked this weekend in her native Savannah, Georgia. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

Europe's Catholic bishops on Russia's war in Ukraine

Nigerian seminarian killed

Marquette University NFP gift

Flannery O'Connor at 100

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 18, 2025. In this episode: Texas' attorney general charges a Houston-area midwife for illegally performing abortions under that state's near total ban. A Wichita, Kansas, church has been vandalized and a 23-year-old suspect is in custody, with that state's bishops calling the attack a hate crime. Metropolitan Archbishop Borys Gudziak of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia said that the U.S. is "silencing its voice" after the Trump administration guts the long-running Voice of America network, which was established during World War II as a pro-democracy, federally funded outlet. France's Catholics are ready to mark the feast of St. Joseph with tens of thousands of petitions to the beloved saint. A priest who's popular on Instagram shares what's really important, after he notches more than one million followers on the platform. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

Texas abortion charges
https://www.osvnews.com/paxton-files-first-criminal-charges-for-alleged-violation-of-texas-abortion-restrictions/

Wichita church vandalized
https://www.osvnews.com/wichita-catholic-church-vandalized-in-what-bishops-call-hate-crime/

Archbishop Gudziak on silencing Voice of America
https://www.osvnews.com/gudziak-america-silencing-its-own-voice-with-voa-shutdown/

France's Catholics ready for feast of St. Joseph
https://www.osvnews.com/st-joseph-prayer-intentions-hit-record-with-collaboration-of-french-shrine-internet-app/

Instagram priest on what really matters
https://www.osvnews.com/priest-influencer-on-evangelizing-through-humor-social-media-pitfalls-and-advice-to-gen-z/

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 17, 2025. In this episode: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops continues its legal battle against the Trump administration following the latter's cancellation of a refugee resettlement contract. Mexico's Catholic bishops call for justice and action amid that nation's ongoing missing persons crisis, which has been fueled by drug cartel violence. The Vatican issues its first photograph of Pope Francis since his Feb. 14 hospitalization, showing the 88-year-old pope concelebrating at a Mass in the chapel of his suite at Rome's Gemelli hospital. Two Philippine priests who minister to those affected by that nation's former war on drugs are closely watching the International Criminal Court's arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Emmy-winning Catholic filmmaker Bill Rose shares with OSV News his efforts to to bring the life of Venerable Matt Talbot -- who went from desperate alcoholic to steadfast man of piety -- to the screen. Tune in and visit us at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this podcast:

US bishops continue legal battle against Trump administration

Mexico's bishops call for justice and action in missing persons crisis

Pope Francis' first photograph from the hospital

Philippine priests on ICC arrest of Duterte

Matt Talbot Docudrama

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Gina Christian catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 14, 2025. In this episode: Kansas Catholics are outraged as a satanic group will be permitted to perform a "black mass" outside that state's Capitol March 28, a move being countered with public statements and prayers. Archbishop Alexander K. Sample of Portland, Oregon, has issued a pastoral letter on the sanctity of life, following that state's designation of March 10 as a day of appreciation for abortion providers. Mexico's Catholic bishops decry the discovery of an extermination camp used by the Jalisco New Generation drug cartel, challenging government inaction to stop violence that has left tens of thousands missing or dead. Catholic ministries in Central America are aiding migrants returning to their countries of origin, following a crackdown on immigration by the U.S. Dutch Catholics are rejoicing as Pope Francis elevates St. Nicholas in Amsterdam to a co-cathedral. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

Kansas Catholics on satanic "black mass"

Archbishop Sample pastoral letter on sanctity of human life

Mexico bishops on cartel death camp

Mission to returning migrants

Amsterdam co-cathedral

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 13, 2025. In this episode: Pope Francis marks the 12th anniversary of his papal election, celebrating with a cake and hundreds of cards while on the mend in Rome's Gemelli hospital for severe respiratory illness. Papal biographer Austin Ivereigh reflects on the pope's legacy, marked by pastoral sensitivity to complex issues, humility and the accompaniment of those on the margins. Republican lawmaker Chris Smith is calling for Nigeria to be designated by the U.S. as a "country of particular concern," due to atrocities against Christians there that he described as "religious cleansing." Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, has announced a March 24 rally and vigil in that city to protest the Trump administration's threats of mass deportations of unauthorized migrants. Chef Jim Churches tells OSV News that Lenten cooking doesn't need to be "boring or fish all the time," but with a little planning and recipe "test-driving," can nourish a family in body and soul. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this podcast:

Pope Francis anniversary

Pope Francis legacy

Nigeria "religious cleansing"

Bishop Mark Seitz mass deportation protest

Lenten cooking: More than fish

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for March 12, 2025. In this episode: Catholic experts are keeping an eye on how the Trump administration's plan to cut the Department of Education by 50% will impact Catholic schools. Cardinal Robert McElroy calls for hope and compassion during his March 11 installation as the eighth Archbishop of Washington, D.C. Salvadoran Catholics push back at their nation's efforts to expand mining citing health and environmental concerns. France's Catholic bishops are teaming up with authorities to renovate the nation's churches and preserve intangible religious heritage such as pilgrimage routes. Theologian and papal biographer George Weigel highlights St. John Paul II as a model in countering antisemitism, especially following Hamas' October 2023 attack on Israel. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

Trump Department of Education cuts

Cardinal McElroy installation

France religious heritage restoration

Salvadoran Catholics say no to mining

St. John Paul II -- a model for countering antisemitism