OSV Newscast

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 26, 2025. In this episode:  Oklahoma's Catholic bishops are applauding yesterday's Supreme Court decision to throw out the death penalty murder conviction of Richard Glossip over dubious testimony. A major new study from Pew Research shows the nation's decline in Christianity has temporarily stabilized, but long-term trends indicating a continued downturn remain. Pope Francis continues his treatment for severe respiratory illness at Rome's Gemelli hospital, with his condition no longer specifically described by the Vatican as "critical," but his prognosis still "guarded." In Israel, tens of thousands mourned as slain hostage Shiri Bibas and her two children were laid to rest. Illinois Catholic bishops and pro-life advocates are speaking out against that state's efforts to legalize physician-assisted suicide. Tune in and visit us at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this podcast:

Death penalty conviction overturned

Christianity decline in U.S. leveling, for now

Pope Francis health update

Shiri Bibas, children laid to rest

Illinois bishops, pro-life advocates oppose physician-assisted suicide bill 

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 25, 2025. In this episode: U.S. Army military chaplain Father Emil Kapaun, who served in World War II and the Korean War, has been declared "Venerable" by the Vatican. Pope Francis remains in stable but critical condition at Rome's Gemelli hospital as he continues to battle severe respiratory illness. The massacre of 70 Protestant Christians in Congo is being described by some as part of a "silent genocide" in that nation. A federal judge has issued a temporary injunction against immigration arrests at several hundred houses of worship for Quaker, Cooperative Baptist and Sikh communities, pending the outcome of a lawsuit those groups have filed against the Trump administration. Two Catholic chaplains are crediting providence and preparation for the timely response to a Feb. 17 Delta air crash at Toronto's international airport. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this podcast:

Father Emil Kapaun

Pope Francis Health Update

Judge blocks ICE policy on "sensitive location" arrests

Silent genocide in Congo

Canada airport chaplains on Delta crash

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 24, 2025. In this episode: Pope Francis, still battling double pneumonia and respiratory infections, remains in Rome's Gemelli hospital with doctors labeling his condition critical and his prognosis "reserved." The Vatican said some laboratory tests on the pope had shown "improved" results, and that the pope thanked all those praying for him. Meanwhile, the U.S. Catholic bishops asked faithful to join in a Feb. 24 rosary for the pope, led in St. Peter's Square by Vatican secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin. On the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which continues attacks begun in 2014, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishops affirmed Ukrainians' belief in "the triumph of God's truth," and stressed that "true peace cannot exist without justice." In Ukraine, religious sisters share with OSV News how they risk their lives to bring hope, joy and practical aid to suffering Ukrainians. Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, speaking at that city's Feb. 21-23 religious educators conference, said that compassion will be the challenge as communities rebuild from last month's devastating wildfires. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

See links to stories in this podcast episode:

Pope Francis Health Update

Prayers for the Pope

Ukraine Will Rise: UGCC Bishops

Women Religious in Ukraine

Los Angeles Religious Education Conference

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 21, 2025. In this episode: Catholic bishops, clergy and leaders continue to weigh in on the Trump administration's sweeping immigration policy changes, stressing the need to respect human dignity. The secretary of the Custos in the Holy Land is among those shocked by Hamas' return of hostage bodies yesterday, with the body of a young mother allegedly replaced by an unknown woman's remains, while her two small children were, as Israel indicated citing forensic tests, killed by hand. Pope Francis will remain hospitalized next week, with a chief doctor at Rome's Gemelli Hospital saying the pope is not in immediate danger, but also not completely out of danger due to multiple lung infections and the risk of sepsis. Priests serving in Ukraine as Russia's full-scale war on that nation enters its fourth year tell OSV News their mission is to be present to the suffering, and to provide both spiritual and material support. The Witness to Love marriage formation ministry continues to draw couples closer to each other and to the truths of Catholic teaching on marriage. Tune in and visit us at osvnews.com.

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 20, 2025. In this episode: The Department of Health and Human Services has begun implementing a Trump executive order on sex and gender recognizing only males and females, a move praised by the U.S. Catholic bishops. Vice President JD Vance highlights conscience rights in the case of a British army veteran convicted for praying silently outside a United Kingdom abortion clinic. Pope Francis' health remains stable on his sixth day in Rome's Gemelli Hospital, with Catholics throughout the world praying for him. Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, father and head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, wraps up a U.S. pastoral visit, emphasizing the need for hope, justice, perseverance and healing as Russia's brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine now enters its fourth year. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 19, 2025. In this episode: the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops sues the Trump administration for violating the nation's laws by ending a long-running partnership to resettle refugees vetted by the federal government. Catholic pro-life advocates decry President Donald Trump's executive order expanding access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), a practice that violates Catholic teaching. Pope Francis remains in stable condition, and following her 20-minute visit with him today, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said he hasn't lost his "proverbial sense of humor." Catholic aid workers in Kenya say they are facing a devastating situation after the suspension of U.S. foreign assistance for programs addressing HIV/AIDS, water supplies and education. Pro-life advocates in Canada have announced the theme for that nation's 2025 March for Life, "Protection from Conception." Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 18, 2025. In this episode: Pope Francis has been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia. The 2025 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage has been announced. A priest in Myanmar has been murdered amid that nation's civil war. Catholic prison ministry evolves on a national level. Capuchin friars feed those devastated by the LA wildfires. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic stories of the day for February 17, 2025. In this episode: His Beatitude Sviatoslav, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, sits down with OSV News to talk about justice and peace in Ukraine, now nearing the fourth year of Russia's full-scale invasion. Pope Francis remains in the hospital due to a "complex clinical picture," following an earlier diagnosis of a "polymicrobial infection of the respiratory tract." Catholic bishops in Guatemala are comforting bereaved families after a deadly bus crash, while calling for accountability and an end to lax regulations. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Catholic bishops and experts are urging dialogue as Rwanda-backed rebels seize another town, with recent violence killing almost 3,000 and displacing thousands. The "I Am 73" initiative by the Catholic ministry ESNE is helping faithful live out their call to missionary discipleship. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic stories of the day for February 14, 2025. In this episode: Pope Francis has been hospitalized after battling bronchitis for several days. Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, Texas, who chairs the U.S. Catholic bishops' migration committee, invited Vice President JD Vance to dialogue over the church's work with migrants. The Knights of Columbus are launching a novena for Ukraine as Russia's full-scale invasion enters its fourth year. Mass attendance is up in the United Kingdom. And if you can't make it to Rome, there are plenty of Jubilee Year pilgrimage sites in the U.S. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic stories of the day for February 12, 2025. In this episode: The Catholic University of America is recognized as an elite research institution, joining a select group of other U.S. Catholic schools. Catholic missions continue to serve in violence-torn Haiti, bringing hope amid "living hell." The Vatican secretary of state says taxes and government spending come with moral obligations. Tuscany becomes the first region in Italy to legalize assisted suicide. Catholic ministries are working to promote healthy Catholic dating amid challenges. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.