Articles by Matt McDonald
Texas Supreme Court upholds law outlawing abortion even in so-called ‘hard cases’
May 31, 2024 / 18:15 pmThe Texas Supreme Court has upheld the state’s law outlawing almost all abortions, turning aside a challenge based on severe pregnancy complications.
Tennessee bans ‘abortion trafficking’ of underage girls
May 31, 2024 / 14:30 pmThe new Class C felony, called “abortion trafficking of a minor,” applies to an adult who “recruits, harbors, or transports” a pregnant girl 17 or younger.
Tennessee bans minors’ interstate gender transitioning without parental consent
May 31, 2024 / 13:30 pmSupporters call it a parental rights bill. Opponents say it’s unnecessary and a shot at transgender people.
Florida priest charged for biting arm of woman he says was desecrating Eucharist
May 23, 2024 / 18:21 pmFather Fidel Rodriguez admitted to police that he bit the woman but said he did so only after she reached into the ciborium and tried to grab a host from it.
Chiefs’ Harrison Butker chides Catholic leaders in Benedictine College commencement address
May 14, 2024 / 11:38 amCatholic bishops should be more like St. Damien of Molokai and less concerned about what civil and cultural leaders think about them, Butker said.
New bishop ordained in Portland, Maine: A Franciscan shepherd for the people
May 10, 2024 / 14:30 pmBishop James Ruggieri, 56, is known for driving a food truck to homeless people when he was a pastor in Providence, Rhode Island.
Kansas Legislature enacts four pro-life bills over governor’s vetoes
May 1, 2024 / 05:30 amSupporters put together the necessary two-thirds majorities to override the vetoes of Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat who supports legal abortion.
Chaplains in public schools? Florida’s Catholic bishops ‘pleased’ by new law
Apr 30, 2024 / 17:45 pmFlorida’s bishops are welcoming a new law that allows public schools in the state to have volunteer chaplains.
Armed New York resident arrested in St. Peter’s in Rome was on ‘Most Wanted’ list
Apr 30, 2024 / 16:03 pmMoises Tejada, 54, is on the Most Wanted Fugitives list of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
Catholic Answers pulls plug on AI priest ‘Father Justin’
Apr 29, 2024 / 13:30 pmJust days after debuting an AI priest character to overwhelmingly negative reviews, Catholic Answers gave “Father Justin” the virtual heave-ho.
Eucharist, unity, clarity: What attracts converts to the Catholic Church?
Apr 24, 2024 / 07:00 amSeveral U.S. dioceses reported 30%, 40%, 50%, and even more than 70% more adult converts who entered the Catholic Church this Easter.
Pro-lifers dismayed at Massachusetts pro-abortion governor’s appearances at Catholic school events
Apr 23, 2024 / 16:45 pmPro-lifers are raising a ruckus over two recent appearances at Catholic education events by the pro-abortion governor of Massachusetts.
Cardinal Dolan on St. Patrick’s funeral: ‘We don’t do FBI checks on people who want to be buried’
Feb 21, 2024 / 18:05 pmCardinal Timothy Dolan applauded priests at St. Patrick’s Cathedral for deciding not to celebrate Mass when a crowd acted with “irreverence and disrespect.”
UPDATE: Irreverent funeral service at St. Patrick's Cathedral for trans activist sparks outcry
Feb 16, 2024 / 22:15 pmThe Feb. 15 funeral service was held for Cecilia Gentili, a high-profile trans activist and sex-worker advocate.
Catholic volunteer killed on way home from adoration was ‘old soul’
Jan 24, 2024 / 13:00 pmRyan Realbuto, 23, was shot and killed in an attempted robbery on Jan. 18 while walking home from a Holy Hour and social event in Washington, D.C.
Trenton Bishop released from Rome hospital after heart attack
Jan 9, 2024 / 17:40 pmBishop David O’Connell suffered a heart attack while in Rome where he was preparing to lead a pilgrimage of 20 priests and two lay diocesan staff members.
Kansas bishop to walk 19 miles in pilgrimage for peace
Jan 5, 2024 / 17:50 pmBishop Gerald Vincke, 59, who leads the Diocese of Salina, is planning to walk from St. Mary’s Church in Glasco to St. John the Baptist in Beloit.
Trenton bishop suffers heart attack in Rome
Jan 5, 2024 / 13:05 pmBishop David O’Connell, 68, was in Italy to lead a pilgrimage of 20 priests and two members of the diocese’s staff to holy sites in Rome and Assisi.
Christmas 2023: Unusual back-to-back Mass schedule could hurt parishes’ collections this year
Dec 22, 2023 / 16:44 pmThe worry is that some parishioners will fulfill their Sunday or Christmas Day obligation but not both.
Irish priest calls musician Shane MacGowan’s raucous funeral Mass ‘a scandal’
Dec 14, 2023 / 16:00 pmThe Mass included a live performance of “Fairy Tale of New York” and other nonreligious songs composed by the late singer-songwriter.