Daniel Payne

Daniel Payne

Daniel Payne is a senior editor at Catholic News Agency. He previously worked at the College Fix and Just the News. He lives in Virginia with his family.

Articles by Daniel Payne

Quebec bishops ‘deeply concerned’ after premier says he wants to end prayer in public

Dec 11, 2024 / 12:40 pm

Bishop Martin Laliberté said the bishops there were “deeply concerned about the erasure of people and believing communities from Quebec’s public space.” 

Vatican: Former choir director, manager convicted of embezzlement, abuse of office

Dec 10, 2024 / 15:45 pm

Two Vatican officials and one of their wives have been found guilty of embezzlement as part of an investigation into financial irregularities at the Sistine Chapel Choir.

Alberta government considers new euthanasia regulations

Dec 9, 2024 / 13:10 pm

In the face of growing popularity of euthanasia throughout Canada, the province of Alberta is seeking citizen input on “oversight of medical assistance in dying.”

White House backs off enforcing underage contraceptive rule in Texas

Dec 6, 2024 / 15:00 pm

In July, the Texas attorney general sued the HHS over the change to Title X that eliminated parental consent requirements for minors accessing birth control.

Court approves New York diocese’s record $323 million abuse settlement

Dec 5, 2024 / 13:30 pm

The New York diocese announced in September that it had reached the massive settlement for abuse victims after a four-year-long process.

Judge says New Jersey county can’t exclude churches from historic preservation grant

Dec 4, 2024 / 16:40 pm

The parishes were supported in their lawsuit by the First Liberty Institute and the University of Notre Dame School of Law’s Religious Liberty Clinic.

New Orleans priest pleads guilty to 1970s kidnapping, rape of teenager

Dec 4, 2024 / 14:00 pm

Father Lawrence Hecker’s trial was repeatedly delayed this year amid Hecker’s ill health and uncertainty over his mental competency to stand trial.

The Jesuit priest who captured the last photos of the Titanic afloat

Dec 1, 2024 / 06:43 am

Father Francis Browne’s most famous contributions to world photography are his photographs of the Titanic.

Wisconsin Catholic school leaders fired over violations of child protection policies

Nov 26, 2024 / 13:07 pm

The terminations came after the Diocese of Green Bay Office of Safe Environment received “a complaint.”

Christ the King: Pope Pius XI’s hope for ‘lasting peace among the nations’

Nov 24, 2024 / 04:00 am

The feast of Christ the King is a relatively recent addition to the Church’s liturgical calendar but a powerful reminder to the modern world that Jesus reigns.

Data show abortions dropped by nearly 40% in Iowa after six-week ban

Nov 22, 2024 / 14:05 pm

The Iowa figures reflect similar drops in abortion seen around the country in the wake of shifting abortion laws. 

Police search for thief who stole 9/11 memorial gold rose from New York Catholic church

Nov 22, 2024 / 13:35 pm

Police said an individual entered the Church of St. Francis of Assisi on West 31st Street and “removed a gold-plated metal rose from the 9/11 memorial inside.”

Bottles of bourbon signed by Pope Francis expected to fetch up to $20,000 for charity

Nov 21, 2024 / 16:20 pm

Father Jim Sichko told CNA that the charity auction came about from Sichko’s habit of bringing Kentucky bourbon to the Holy Father.

Jimmy Lai takes the stand in yearslong Hong Kong national security trial

Nov 20, 2024 / 16:00 pm

Catholic pro-democracy and human rights activity Jimmy Lai took the stand Wednesday arguing in his own defense against allegations of sedition.

New Jersey bishop says hundreds of diocesan donations have gone missing from drop box

Nov 19, 2024 / 15:35 pm

A letter to diocesan residents from Bishop Kevin Sweeney, obtained by CNA, said the missing funds were part of the Paterson Diocese’s ministries appeal.

Brooklyn pastor removed after secretly loaning $2 million of parish funds to lawyer

Nov 19, 2024 / 14:35 pm

Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello has been relieved of “any pastoral oversight or governance role” at Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Annunciation Parish in Brooklyn.

Arizona Catholic parish fire being investigated as arson

Nov 18, 2024 / 15:00 pm

An early-morning fire on Oct. 18 damaged St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Casa Grande, Arizona.

ATF urges churches to adopt ‘enhanced security measures’ amid arson incidents

Nov 16, 2024 / 08:00 am

The ATF said it “urges all religious institutions to take enhanced security measures to protect their congregations and facilities” after several acts of arson. 

Florida church bookkeeper sentenced to federal prison after stealing $875,000 from parish

Nov 15, 2024 / 14:00 pm

Heather Darrey will spend 27 months in prison on a wire fraud conviction over her $875,323 theft from Christ the King Parish in Tampa, Florida.

2 leaders resign from La Leche League over shift to include men in breastfeeding groups

Nov 14, 2024 / 15:10 pm

The international board of La Leche League recently directed all British affiliates to begin accommodating men who believe they are women.