Articles by Daniel Payne
Multiple Kansas Catholic schools targeted by apparent bomb hoax
Dec 20, 2025 / 09:00 amThe Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas confirmed in a press statement that “several” Catholic schools in the archdiocese had “received bomb threats” on Dec. 18-19.
Massachusetts removes LGBT ideology requirements for foster care parents
Dec 19, 2025 / 12:54 pmMassachusetts will no longer require prospective foster parents to affirm gender ideology in order to qualify for fostering children.
Catholic bishops, families ask Supreme Court to rule for Catholic schools in Colorado suit
Dec 19, 2025 / 11:52 amThe Catholic schools’ advocates are urging the high court to rule against Colorado’s “discriminatory exclusion” of the faith-based schools from the state program.
Pope Leo XIV appoints new bishop for Palm Beach, auxiliary bishop for Phoenix
Dec 19, 2025 / 07:30 amFather Manuel de Jesus Rodriguez will lead the Palm Beach Diocese after the resignation of Bishop Gerald Barbarito, the Vatican said.
Federal court allows Michigan therapists to counsel children claiming to be opposite sex
Dec 18, 2025 / 12:36 pmCounselors and therapists in Michigan will be allowed to treat children who believe themselves to be the opposite sex, striking down a Michigan law.
UPDATE: New York’s new archbishop-designate vows to ‘serve faithfully’ while remaining a Cubs fan
Dec 18, 2025 / 06:00 amPope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Ronald Hicks of the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois, as the next archbishop of New York, the Vatican announced Thursday.
Catholic leaders back pregnancy centers, doctors in federal suit over abortion referrals
Dec 17, 2025 / 12:34 pmThe lawsuit challenges a 2016 Illinois rule that requires health care providers who refuse to perform abortions to refer women to abortion clinics.
Wisconsin loses second bid to block tax exemption in spat with Catholic charity
Dec 16, 2025 / 13:00 pmThe Wisconsin Supreme Court on Dec. 15 blocked state Attorney General Josh Kaul’s attempt to fully eliminate an unemployment tax exemption.
Michigan’s fifth diocesan abuse report details dozens of allegations against priests
Dec 16, 2025 / 12:15 pmThe Michigan government released another report on diocesan abuse, detailing dozens of allegations against more than 50 priests in the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
Jimmy Lai found guilty of national security violations, faces life in prison
Dec 15, 2025 / 07:00 amCatholic human rights advocate Jimmy Lai, 78, is facing up to life in prison. His sentence will be handed down at a later date.
UPDATE: Curtis Martin steps down as CEO of FOCUS after nearly 3 decades leading ministry group
Dec 13, 2025 / 14:25 pmCurtis Martin said that after nearly three decades, the organization now numbers “more than 1,000 FOCUS missionaries … in over 250 locations.”
Vatican reverses several parish closures in Diocese of Buffalo, advocates say
Dec 9, 2025 / 13:00 pmThe Vatican’s Dicastery for Clergy has declared that several parishes in the Diocese of Buffalo, New York can remain open after Bishop Michael Fisher ordered their closure.
FBI leader who oversaw Catholic investigation tapped to lead Virginia public safety department
Dec 9, 2025 / 11:45 amThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agent who oversaw the office responsible for an investigation into Catholics will lead Virginia’s safety office.
New York archdiocese will pursue $300 million settlement for victims of clergy abuse
Dec 9, 2025 / 09:30 amThe Archdiocese of New York will pay $300 million to victims of clergy sex abuse, Cardinal Timothy Dolan said.
What is ‘papal infallibility?’ CNA explains an often-misunderstood Church teaching
Dec 8, 2025 / 06:00 amFather Patrick Flanagan, an association professor of theology at St. John’s University, told CNA the doctrine of papal infallibility “does not concern the pope’s character.”
Virginia school district concedes lawsuit by Catholic student over transgender policies
Dec 5, 2025 / 12:07 pmA Catholic Virginia student will receive payments including attorney’s fees after a school district conceded a lawsuit over the district’s transgender policies.
Buffalo bishop will allow faithful to meet at parishes to oppose closures, mergers
Dec 4, 2025 / 14:07 pmBishop Michael Fisher is permitting Catholics to meet at Buffalo, New York, parishes while they work to oppose diocesan-mandated parish closures.
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Archbishop Broglio: Drug cartels must be stopped, but not with ‘violence outside the law’
Dec 4, 2025 / 12:07 pmU.S. Military Services Archbishop Timothy Broglio is urging the country’s leaders to refrain from killing noncombatants while neutralizing violent drug cartels.
Canadian government set to remove religious exemptions from hate-speech laws
Dec 2, 2025 / 18:04 pmLawmakers with the Liberal Party of Canada have reportedly struck a deal with the Bloc Québécois party to remove the religious exemptions from the national code.
Ohio Catholic high school and diocese hit with 4 lawsuits over alleged student-led abuse
Dec 2, 2025 / 13:03 pmThe Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, and one of its Catholic high schools are facing multiple lawsuits over the alleged mishandling of bullying and student-led abuse.