Matt Hadro

Matt Hadro

Matt Hadro was the political editor at Catholic News Agency through October 2021. He previously worked as CNA senior D.C. correspondent and as a press secretary for U.S. Congressman Chris Smith.

Articles by Matt Hadro

What’s the point of fasting, anyway?

Feb 16, 2024 / 07:00 am

God commanded it, Jesus practiced it, and the Church Fathers have preached the importance of it. Fasting is a powerful and fundamental part of the Christian life.

Lent is over. Now what?

Apr 10, 2023 / 04:00 am

Now that the actual Easter season has begun, how should Catholics observe it?

These 17th-century monks did a beer fast for Lent

Mar 18, 2023 / 04:00 am

With the Lenten season underway, Catholics are immersing themselves in 40 days of abstaining from sweets, technology, alcohol, and other luxuries.

What makes Dobbs the best, and possibly last, chance to overturn Roe? 

Nov 28, 2021 / 00:00 am

Legal experts say the Dobbs case presents an ideal opportunity for the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider previous rulings that upheld legal abortion nationwide.

Joe Biden says Pope Francis told him to ‘keep receiving Communion’

Oct 29, 2021 / 10:07 am

According to multiple reports, President Joe Biden on Friday said that Pope Francis told him to “keep receiving Communion.”

White House: Pope Francis ‘has spoken differently’ than Biden on abortion

Oct 27, 2021 / 14:00 pm

Ahead of President Joe Biden’s Oct. 29 meeting with Pope Francis, a White House spokeswoman acknowledged on Wednesday that “the pope has spoken differently” than Biden on abortion.

Head of Christian advocacy group resigns over ties to illegal campaign donations

Oct 26, 2021 / 09:15 am

The president of an advocacy group for Middle Eastern Christians has resigned from the organization over his connection to illegal contributions to the campaign of a now-indicted congressman.

Supreme Court to hear challenges to Texas heartbeat law

Oct 22, 2021 / 11:40 am

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider two legal challenges to Texas’ pro-life heartbeat law, just weeks before it hears oral arguments in another major abortion case.

Pro-life groups must 'wake up' in support of pro-life Democrats, former congressman says

Oct 20, 2021 / 11:00 am

Pro-life Americans must do more to support embattled pro-life Democrats, said Catholic former Democratic congressman Dan Lipinski who is reportedly considering another bid for Congress.

Catholic congressman charged with lying to federal investigators; denies accusations

Oct 19, 2021 / 15:20 pm

Catholic congressman Jeff Fortenberry on Tuesday was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of making false statements to federal investigators, and “scheming to falsify and conceal material facts." 

Senate committee proposes rollback of pro-life policies

Oct 18, 2021 / 17:30 pm

A Senate committee introduced nine budget bills on Monday that would roll back several pro-life provisions, allowing for domestic funding of abortions and funding of international pro-abortion groups.

How the Chinese Communist Party sees organized religion

Oct 18, 2021 / 15:01 pm

The Chinese Communist Party is targeting organized religion as a threat – even seeking to “change” or “transform” it into a loyal party apparatus, a panel of foreign policy experts said on Monday.

American missionaries reported abducted in Haiti

Oct 17, 2021 / 11:55 am

A group of 17 missionaries and family members were abducted in Haiti on Saturday, the New York Times first reported. The missionaries were part of Christian Aid Ministries, based in Ohio, and were kidnapped while returning from building an orphanage.

Cardinal Burke says he is recovering from COVID, urges Catholics to pray the rosary

Oct 16, 2021 / 12:00 pm

Cardinal Raymond Burke on Friday said that he is continuing to recover from a bout of COVID-19 and can offer daily Mass now, in a statement posted on his Facebook account.

Catholic sites suffered more than 100 acts of vandalism, arson since May 2020, USCCB says

Oct 14, 2021 / 14:01 pm

The U.S. bishops’ conference on Thursday reported that churches and Catholic sites have been targeted in more than 100 acts of vandalism, arson, and other destruction since May 2020.

White House confirms Oct. 29 meeting between Pope Francis, Joe Biden

Oct 14, 2021 / 09:02 am

The White House has confirmed that President Joe Biden and his wife Jill will meet with Pope Francis on Oct. 29 at the Vatican.

Archbishop Broglio: COVID-19 vaccines morally permissible, but troops may conscientiously object

Oct 13, 2021 / 10:20 am

Service members should not be forced to receive a COVID-19 vaccine against their conscience, the archbishop of the U.S. military archdiocese said on Tuesday.

Before Supreme Court, Kentucky’s attorney general asks to intervene in defense of pro-life law

Oct 12, 2021 / 14:10 pm

The office of Kentucky’s attorney general appeared at the Supreme Court on Tuesday, asking to be allowed to intervene in defense of the state’s dismemberment abortion ban.

Pro-life leaders slam decision to halt Texas’ ‘heartbeat’ law

Oct 7, 2021 / 08:30 am

Pro-life leaders on Wednesday responded to a federal judge blocking Texas’ pro-life “heartbeat” law, just more than one month after the law went into effect.

Missouri executes inmate after Holy See appealed for clemency

Oct 6, 2021 / 07:15 am

Missouri on Tuesday evening executed Ernest Johnson, 61, an inmate convicted of murdering three people in the 1990s, after the U.S. Supreme Court denied Johnson’s emergency appeal for a stay of execution. The Holy See had also advocated for a halt to the execution.