Jonah McKeown

Jonah McKeown

Jonah McKeown is a staff writer and podcast producer for Catholic News Agency. He holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has worked as a writer, as a producer for public radio, and as a videographer. He is based in St. Louis.

Articles by Jonah McKeown

Phil Donahue, talk show pioneer and ‘lapsed Catholic’ who courted controversy, dies at 88

Aug 19, 2024 / 17:20 pm

Phil Donahue, a self-described “lapsed Catholic” who reinvented the daytime television talk-show format, died Sunday at his home in New York at age 88.

Sister Agnes Sasagawa, Our Lady of Akita visionary, dies at 93

Aug 17, 2024 / 07:52 am

Sister Agnes Sasagawa, a Japanese nun who purported visions of the Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Akita, died Aug. 15 at age 93. 

Haitian priest says conditions in country are ‘unacceptable, intolerable, and inconceivable’

Aug 16, 2024 / 16:59 pm

Father Baudelaire Martial, CSC, said many parishes in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, including the city’s cathedral, have been forced to close due to the conflict.

​​Bioethicists scrutinize Pontifical Academy for Life’s new guidance on withdrawing food, water

Aug 16, 2024 / 07:00 am

The Pontifical Academy for Life’s new document last month on “artificial nutrition and hydration” has some observers concerned.

Missouri’s pro-life leaders prepare to defeat ‘extreme’ pro-abortion ballot measure 

Aug 14, 2024 / 18:01 pm

If Amendment 3 passes in November, it would represent a significant turnaround after years of pro-life gains in the Midwestern state.

St. Maximilian Kolbe’s beard: EWTN friars draw inspiration from unusual relic

Aug 14, 2024 / 16:06 pm

The Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word keeps a relic of St. Maximilian Kolbe’s beard, which was gifted to EWTN.

Will a Buffalo Catholic church become a mosque? Here’s what to know

Aug 13, 2024 / 15:32 pm

The Diocese of Buffalo sold the former St. Ann’s Church and Shrine to a group associated with the local Downtown Islamic Center in late 2022. 

Garbage landslide kills nearly two dozen people in Uganda

Aug 12, 2024 / 15:54 pm

The 36-acre garbage dump known as Kiteezi is the only one serving the whole of the Ugandan capital, a city home to an estimated 4 million people.

Baltimore judge rules ‘baby bonus’ proposal unconstitutional

Aug 12, 2024 / 15:03 pm

If ultimately approved, the “baby bonus” measure would create a fund that would issue one-time $1,000 payments to parents in the city regardless of income level.

Iowa healing ministry temporarily suspended over ‘canonical concerns’

Aug 9, 2024 / 16:56 pm

Prairie Fire Ministries says it received approval from its bishop in 2021.

Is Edith Stein a doctor of the Church? No, but she could be one soon

Aug 9, 2024 / 06:00 am

The order of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, also known as Edith Stein, has made an official request to the Vatican proposing the saint be made a “doctor of truth.”

Hundreds of Christian leaders appeal for persecuted religious minorities in India

Aug 8, 2024 / 16:22 pm

A letter organized by the Federation of Indian-American Christian Organizations in North America called for India to be named a “country of particular concern.”

Pope Francis praises Knights of Columbus for efforts to form men of ‘faith and family’

Aug 8, 2024 / 14:46 pm

Pope Francis sent a message of support to the Knights of Columbus annual convention taking place in Quebec, Canada, this week.

IHOP to pay settlement to employee who was forced to work on Sundays

Aug 7, 2024 / 18:08 pm

The general manager was also alleged to have made comments to other employees such as “religion should not take precedence over [the employee’s] job.”

One of three young English stabbing victims memorialized with Mass at Catholic parish

Aug 7, 2024 / 15:08 pm

Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, was remembered as “the most beautiful, strongest girl in the world” during the service at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.

Novak Djokovic crosses himself at the Olympics, gives glory to God for gold medal victory

Aug 6, 2024 / 14:15 pm

The 37-year-old Serb, considered by many the greatest male tennis player in history, defeated the young Spanish superstar Carlos Alcaraz to win the top prize.

UK bishops pray for peace amid widespread violent protests over stabbing attack

Aug 5, 2024 / 14:58 pm

Auxiliary Bishop Paul McAleenan of Westminster condemned the appalling violence over the past week, especially that directed at migrants.

Texas religious sisters care for their ‘sisters in Christ’ on death row 

Aug 4, 2024 / 07:00 am

The Sisters of Mary Morning Star regularly visit a group of women on death row, the majority of whom have now become Catholic as well as “oblates.”

Pope Francis acknowledges conference for ‘LGBT Catholics’

Aug 2, 2024 / 17:51 pm

Pope Francis this week said he is “united in prayer” with those participating in a conference for Catholics who identify as LGBT taking place this weekend.

Disabled Texas woman will not be denied food and water — for now — after judge’s order

Aug 2, 2024 / 11:00 am

Margaret “Margo” Naranjo, 28, suffered severe brain damage in a 2020 car accident.