Articles by Daniel Payne
French bishops reveal 12 new abuse allegations against Abbé Pierre
Jul 12, 2025 / 10:00 amThe famed French priest has already been accused by several dozen people of inflicting abuse over the course of several decades.
New York Supreme Court halts payments to Buffalo abuse fund amid parish merger dispute
Jul 11, 2025 / 17:43 pmA group of Buffalo parishes object to the diocese’s requirement that they pay huge portions of cash into the diocese’s $150 million clergy abuse settlement.
IRS ends 70-year gag rule, says churches can now endorse political candidates
Jul 8, 2025 / 13:54 pmThe IRS this week backed off a decades-old rule that churches and other nonprofits can openly endorse political candidates without risking their tax-exempt status.
Bishop Barron urges court to strike down Washington law that targets seal of confession
Jul 4, 2025 / 15:29 pmBishop Robert Barron on July 4 urged a federal court to strike down a Washington state law that would force priests to violate the seal of confession.
Supreme Court to hear 2 cases on allowing males to compete in female sports
Jul 3, 2025 / 15:33 pmThe U.S. Supreme Court during its next term will consider two cases addressing whether or not states can ban males from participating in female sports leagues.
Appeals court revives Catholic’s lawsuit against Federal Reserve over vaccine policy
Jul 3, 2025 / 11:48 amThe U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in its Wednesday ruling partially reversed the findings of a district court.
Diocese of Fresno officially files for bankruptcy amid more than 150 abuse claims
Jul 2, 2025 / 11:17 amThe Diocese of Fresno filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on July 1, seeking to address more than 150 abuse claims filed there.
Advocates sue Colorado over suicide law they say discriminates against disabled
Jul 1, 2025 / 11:36 amAdvocacy groups are suing Colorado over its assisted suicide law, claiming it unconstitutionally discriminates against people with disabilities.
Thousands rally across the U.S. urging Congress to defund Planned Parenthood
Jun 28, 2025 / 14:00 pmLive Action spearheaded the event, which founder Lila Rose said was the “largest grassroots effort” yet to call for stripping federal funds from Planned Parenthood.
UPDATE: Supreme Court rules in favor of parents in LGBT curriculum dispute
Jun 27, 2025 / 12:26 pmThe Supreme Court on Friday ruled in favor of Maryland parents who sued a school district over its refusal to allow them to opt their children out of LGBT-focused lessons.
Nearly 100 pro-life advocates ask Texas governor to call special session on abortion pills
Jun 26, 2025 / 13:25 pmHere’s a roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news.
Amid immigrant arrests, California bishop urges leaders: ‘Cease these tactics immediately’
Jun 25, 2025 / 13:24 pmBishop Alberto Rojas of San Bernardino, California, on Tuesday urged authorities to cease their aggressive arrest of immigrants in the country illegally.
Bishop Conley condemns ‘drag Mass’ at university as offensive attack on Catholic faith
Jun 25, 2025 / 12:24 pmIn a June 24 statement, Lincoln, Nebraska, Bishop James Conley called the event a “blatant public display of faith-based discrimination.”
Supreme Court will decide whether inmates can sue prison workers over religious violations
Jun 24, 2025 / 12:37 pmThe high court on Monday granted certiorari in the case Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety. Oral arguments are expected to take place this fall.
Kentucky political leader builds life-sized Stations of the Cross garden
Jun 22, 2025 / 06:00 amCatholics in northeastern Kentucky will soon be able to follow the passion of Christ in life-sized form thanks to the efforts of longtime state politician Jerry Lundergan.
Chicago City Council votes to protect historic Catholic parish after yearslong effort
Jun 19, 2025 / 12:53 pmCity leaders voted at their June 18 meeting to designate St. Adalbert’s Parish in the Pilsen neighborhood as a Designated Chicago Landmark.
California Catholic priest arrested on charges of child sex abuse dating to 1990s
Jun 18, 2025 / 12:27 pmPolice arrested Father Theodore Gabrielli last week on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a minor, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office said in a post on X.
Orthodox churches join Catholic bishops in suing Washington state over confession law
Jun 17, 2025 / 11:16 amOrthodox churches have joined the Catholic bishops of Washington in a lawsuit against a state law requiring clergy violate the seal of confession or face jail time.
New Jersey Supreme Court says state can empanel grand jury to investigate clergy abuse
Jun 17, 2025 / 10:37 amThe New Jersey government will be allowed to assemble a grand jury to investigate allegations of clergy sexual abuse there, the state Supreme Court said Monday.
‘Senseless violence’: Minnesota Catholic leaders respond to shooting, murder of lawmakers
Jun 14, 2025 / 15:16 pmFormer Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed Saturday, while state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were also shot.