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

Oscars voter: 'There is nothing entertaining or inspiring about killing unborn babies'

Mar 2, 2021 / 17:19 pm

A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences— the nationwide body that votes for the Academy Awards— recently declined to watch a film that critiques abortion regulations, drawing public ire from a pro-choice filmmaker who created it.

Lent Around the World

Mar 1, 2021 / 19:51 pm

This week on the CNA Newsroom podcast, we travel to Lebanon, Timor-Leste, Madagascar, El Salvador and China to hear about the foods and traditions that Christians use to mark the season of Lent.

Catholic Connect suspended from Instagram for apparent copyright infringement

Mar 1, 2021 / 18:19 pm

Instagram this week suspended a popular Catholic account for apparent copyright violations.

Archbishop Cordileone commends prosecution of Serra statue vandals for working justice

Feb 22, 2021 / 19:01 pm

Amid calls from California activists to drop vandalism charges against five assailants who destroyed a statue of St. Junipero Serra last year, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco warned that doing so would set a dangerous precedent.

Texas Catholics press through winter storm to help neighbors

Feb 18, 2021 / 00:26 am

Amid a winter storm that brought freezing temperatures and widespread power outages to much of Texas, Catholics are stepping up to help their neighbors even while dealing with their own shortages of electricity and water.

New York’s commercial surrogacy legalization will exploit women, critics say

Feb 17, 2021 / 00:18 am

New York state this week legalized commercial surrogacy, prompting concerns about the exploitation of women and commodification of children.

New website aims to educate, offer Catholic response to gender ideology

Feb 16, 2021 / 03:09 am

A newly relaunched Catholic website aims to educate parents, pastors, and teachers about gender ideology, which the website’s founders believe young people are often being exposed to without adults’ awareness. 

Make it personal

Feb 15, 2021 / 00:00 am

Last summer, Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh made an important announcement; Saint Benedict the Moor, a historic parish in the Hill District near downtown Pittsburgh, would become a personal parish in the Black Catholic tradition.

Did 'the Roman Catholic Church' unjustly collect federal aid? AP story misrepresents Church finances, expert says

Feb 5, 2021 / 12:10 pm

A Feb. 4 investigative story from the Associated Press inaccurately portrays “the Roman Catholic Church” as a "giant corporate monolith” that raked in federal aid while sitting on billions of dollars that they could have used to pay employees, a canon and civil law expert told CNA.

Kansas lawmakers advance constitutional amendment to exclude 'right to abortion'

Feb 2, 2021 / 20:01 pm

The Kansas Senate on Jan. 28 passed a measure that, if approved by voters, would amend the state’s constitution to exclude a “right to abortion” and reserve the right to regulate abortion in the state to the legislature.

Mardi Gras (and all that jazz)

Feb 1, 2021 / 00:00 am

This week on CNA Newsroom, we head south to Louisiana to talk with a few Catholics about the Mardi Gras they know and love.

For God and Country

Jan 19, 2021 / 00:00 am

How ought Christians engage in politics? On the eve of a new presidential administration, we attempt to scratch the surface of this expansive topic.

Taking Back the Year

Jan 11, 2021 / 00:00 am

Catholics share the small and big blessings they experienced in 2020.

Man who filmed 'prank video' at Mass in Canada charged with hate crime

Jan 4, 2021 / 16:14 pm

A 25-year-old man who late last year interrupted a Mass in Canada by exposing himself as part of a “prank video” has been charged with a hate crime and banned from all diocesan property.

The Merriest Little Christmases

Dec 21, 2020 / 00:00 am

This week on CNA Newsroom, we wanted to talk with some people about their own Christmas experiences that might be unfamiliar to you - but are so special to them.

Ohio legislature passes bill to require burial or cremation of aborted babies

Dec 7, 2020 / 18:01 pm

The legislature of Ohio has passed a bill that would require the bodies of babies killed in surgical abortions to be cremated or buried at the abortion clinic’s expense.

Candles Amid the Rubble

Dec 7, 2020 / 00:00 am

We take a look at how the season of Advent can be celebrated - even in the darkest of times.

Father George Rutler accused of sexual assault, denies allegation

Dec 1, 2020 / 04:00 am

A well-known New York City priest is maintaining his innocence amid an investigation into an allegation that he sexually assaulted a female security guard earlier this month.

What connection does Moderna’s vaccine have to aborted fetal tissue? 

Nov 24, 2020 / 18:33 pm

Amid debate over the ethics of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate under development by Moderna, a Catholic microbiologist told CNA that while research connected to aborted fetal cells may have contributed to the knowledge base being used in the vaccine’s development, the actual production of the vaccine does not use cells of any kind, fetal or otherwise.

It's Still Thanksgiving

Nov 23, 2020 / 00:00 am

This week we revisit an episode that first aired during Nov. 2019, and offer some pandemic-related updates.