Catholic News

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=282553&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Staff, Feb 21, 2025 / 13:40 pm (CNA).

A federal judge has denied a request from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to block a federal funding freeze that the bishops say will greatly harm refugee aid efforts in the United States. 

The USCCB sued the Trump administration earlier this week over what the bishops said was an unlawful suspension of funding for refugee resettlement and aid programs. The suspension came via one of several executive orders President Donald Trump issued shortly after taking office. 

The results of the suspension have been "devastating," the bishops said, with the prelates reporting "millions of dollars in pending, unpaid reimbursements for services already rendered to refugees" along with "millions more each week."

In their suit the bishops had asked for a temporary restraining order against the White House. In a decision on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden denied that request.

McFadden in the decision said restraining orders are "an extraordinary remedy." Courts only grant them, he said, when plaintiffs show "likely success on the merits, likely irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief, a balance of the equities in its favor, and accord with the public interest."

"The court finds that plaintiff has not made the requisite showing and will thus deny plaintiff's motion to the extent that it requests a temporary restraining order," McFadden ruled.  

The bishops had requested a "preliminary injunction" in addition to the restraining order. In his ruling McFadden said the court would set "an expedited schedule for additional briefing" to consider the injunction request, though the order did not say when the next briefing would occur. 

The U.S. bishops have been warning for several weeks on the potential fallout surrounding the Trump funding freeze, which has impacted numerous programs both domestically and internationally. 

In January they asked Catholics to reach out to their members of Congress and request the resumption of foreign aid funding following the White House's freeze. 

The pause "will be detrimental to millions of our sisters and brothers who need access to lifesaving humanitarian, health, and development assistance," the bishops said at the time.

Earlier this week, following the filing of the lawsuit, USCCB spokeswoman Chieko Noguchi said the bishops have for years partnered with the U.S. government and "helped nearly a million individuals find safety and build their lives in the United States."

"We are urging the government to uphold its legal and moral obligations to refugees and to restore the necessary funding to ensure that faith-based and community organizations can continue this vital work that reflects our nation's values of compassion, justice, and hospitality," she said. 

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=282552&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Newsroom, Feb 21, 2025 / 14:10 pm (CNA).

As German voters prepare for federal elections on Feb. 23, the country's Catholics find themselves navigating unprecedented divisions on issues that cut to the heart of Church teaching, from migration policy to gender ideology and the protection of life.

The elections come at a time when traditional party allegiances are being questioned and multiple Catholic voices are speaking with markedly different emphasis on key moral and social issues.

What do the current polls show?

Recent polls place the Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU) at around 30%, followed by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) at approximately 20%. The Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens are polling around 15% each, with the SPD holding a slight advantage. Other parties, including the FDP, the Left Party, and BSW face uncertainty about clearing the 5% threshold required for parliamentary representation.

How have Catholic organizations responded to party positions?

The Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) — the country's most prominent lay Catholic organization — has strongly criticized the CDU's recent "paradigm shift" on migration policy.

According to an analysis by the Catholic newspaper Die Tagespost using artificial intelligence tools, the ZdK's political expectations show the strongest alignment with Green Party positions, particularly on "climate protection" and "social justice."

While taking a more nuanced view, the ZdK's positioning has drawn sharp criticism from prominent Catholic politician and former defense minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (CDU), who left the ZdK over its approach to migration policy and its tone in debates about the CDU's proposed changes.

"One holds one's own position as the only correct one," Kramp-Karrenbauer told the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, criticizing what she called an "apodictic and condemnatory" tone taken by the ZdK.

"When our society becomes increasingly polarized until people face each other irreconcilably, extremist forces have an easy game," she warned.

What is the bishops' position?

In an ecumenical statement released this month, Bishop Georg Bätzing, chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, along with Protestant and Orthodox leaders called on voters to support parties "committed to our democracy." The statement explicitly warned that "extremism and especially ethnic nationalism are incompatible with Christianity," reported CNA Deutsch, CNA's German-language news partner.

The German bishops' conference has previously declared the AfD "unelectable" for Christians, citing the party's "ethnic nationalism" ideology — a finding the party has categorically rejected, according to CNA Deutsch.

What are the key issues for Catholic voters?

Three major areas have emerged as particularly contentious:

Migration: CDU leader Friedrich Merz advocates for stronger border controls, while the bishops' conference warns against compromising humanitarian obligations. A motion Merz introduced with AfD support has been called an "unforgivable mistake" by Chancellor Olaf Scholz of SPD. Meanwhile, the AfD calls for mass deportation of migrants.

Life issues: The CDU maintains support for Germany's current abortion regulations as a "hard-won societal compromise," while the SPD and Greens advocate for legalization. Germany currently permits abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, with mandatory counseling at a state-approved center. The AfD calls for a "welcoming culture for children" while criticizing current policies.

Gender policy: Addressing a conference in Germany this week, just before the election, the Vatican's doctrine chief delivered a pointed critique of gender ideology at a theological conference in Germany. The SPD and Greens support "gender mainstreaming" and changing family law to give various living arrangements and partnerships equal status. The CDU states it supports "diversity of sexual orientations" but rejects "gender as an ideological concept."

The AfD says it wants to stop all subsidies for "research based on gender ideology."

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=282551&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Staff, Feb 21, 2025 / 14:40 pm (CNA).

Here is a roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news.

Planned Parenthood offers abortions in Missouri

Planned Parenthood is once again offering abortions in Missouri following the passage of a referendum in November that enshrined a right to abortion in the Missouri Constitution.

Voters passed Amendment 3 in November establishing a right to "reproductive freedom," but Planned Parenthood initially held off on offering abortions in the state. Abortion became illegal in the state, except in cases of emergency, after the state's 2019 "trigger law" went into effect following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

The decision to resume offering abortions comes after Jackson County circuit judge Jerri Zhang temporarily blocked abortion restrictions on Feb. 14. Zhang wrote in the three-page ruling that the regulations were unnecessary and the licensing requirement for abortion clinics was discriminatory. 

Planned Parenthood CEO Margot Riphagen celebrated the decision, calling the state licensing requirements "another politically motivated barrier to prevent patients seeking abortion from getting the care they need."

But Susan Klein, executive director of Missouri Right to Life, called the decision a "tragic day for Missouri mothers and unborn children" in a Feb. 17 statement, where she highlighted the potential dangers of limited regulations.

The regulations that were ruled unconstitutional under Amendment 3 include a requirement that only doctors perform abortions as well as an examination requirement to determine the unborn child's gestational age and any preexisting conditions. Regulations requiring the sterilization of surgical instruments and the ready availability of emergency equipment during the procedure were also ruled unconstitutional. 

Pro-life group criticizes Trump plans for IVF expansion 

A pro-life group criticized the Trump administration's expansion of access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), saying the cost of life is higher than abortion. 

IVF is a fertility treatment opposed by the Catholic Church in which doctors fuse sperm and eggs to create human embryos and implant them in the mother's womb. To maximize efficiency, doctors create excess human embryos and routinely destroy undesired embryos.

The pro-life group American Life League (ALL) voiced opposition to the IVF expansion, saying in a Wednesday statement that "it is not a pro-life decision."

"The reality is that more babies die from IVF than abortion. This fact is continuously ignored by our lawmakers, who obliviously call IVF a pro-life action, or celebrate 'more babies,'" said ALL National Director Katie Brown. "This blatant ignorance will cost millions of innocent lives."

Brown urged President Donald Trump "to take time to fully understand what IVF is" and to reverse the decision.

Delaware pregnancy centers defend free speech 

A nonprofit religious network of pregnancy care centers filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Delaware last week challenging a recent state Senate bill requiring pregnancy centers to post disclaimers in their facilities and advertising.

The bill requires pregnancy centers to post disclaimers stating that they don't have a licensed medical provider directly overseeing services and are not licensed as medical facilities. 

In the lawsuit, argued by law firms Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) and Simms Showers, the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA) maintained that the disclaimers are unnecessary and misleading — and that they constitute compelled speech. 

Anne O'Connor, vice president of legal affairs at NIFLA, said in a Feb. 13 statement that the bill "is clearly unconstitutional as it destroys the free speech of pregnancy centers solely because they are pro-life and help women who are facing unplanned pregnancies."

ADF Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot cited Roe v. Wade's overturn as a starting point after which "state attorneys general have ramped up their efforts to silence, censor, and shut down pregnancy care centers across the country." 

Lawsuit against abortion time off revived 

A U.S. appeals court reopened a lawsuit by 17 states that challenged a federal rule requiring employers to give employees who have abortions the same benefits as mothers who are pregnant or recently gave birth.

The three-judge panel found that the states led by Tennessee had legal standing to sue because they are employers who must comply with it.

This decision by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a judge's dismissal of the lawsuit last year after the rule was enacted last April by the Biden administration.

The 2024 rule — enacted by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) — required employers to grant sick leave or time off for employees who had abortions.

The rule was designed to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), a law passed in 2022 with bipartisan support. The PWFA was enacted to accommodate workers who were pregnant or had pregnancy-related conditions by granting them sick leave or time off to see doctors, but the EEOC rule extended those related conditions to include getting an abortion or using contraception.

The states argued that the rule went beyond the purview of the PWFA and violated the First Amendment, according to court documents.

The rule applies to all public and private employers with 15 or more workers and is contingent on the accommodations not presenting an "undue hardship on the operation of the business of the covered entity."

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=282550&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Vatican City, Feb 21, 2025 / 15:00 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis is "not out of danger" due to his age and fragile health, his medical team told journalists on Friday. 

During a Vatican press conference at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, both Dr. Sergio Alfieri, head of Gemelli Hospital's medical team, and Dr. Luigi Carbone, the pope's referring doctor at the Vatican, said the 88-year-old Holy Father must remain in the hospital for "enhanced" treatment.

"The hospitalization will be as long as it takes for him to return safely to Santa Marta [his Vatican residence]," Alfieri told journalists on Friday. "He will stay here at least all next week. He is better, but the situation may change. Here at Gemelli, he is a very good patient." 

The Holy Father, according to Alfieri, asked him "to say that he is an old man with chronic diseases with the mind of a 50-year-old man" who wishes to continue his work caring for the universal Church.

"At 88 he is leading the Church and not sparing himself; he has become fatigued," Alfieri said. "It has been possible to isolate microorganisms; there are viruses, myocytes, and bacteria [and] there are chronic diseases that can be contained."

The Gemelli medical team head confirmed that the pope continues to read, work, and sign documents while at the hospital.

Elaborating on the specific details of the Holy Father's medical condition, Alfieri said: "He had pus with a respiratory tract infection … At first there was no pneumonia [but] in the following days we noticed with a CT scan a bilateral pneumonia that is still there." 

Though the pope is "not attached to machines," he occasionally uses oxygen support to assist his breathing. Alfieri added: "He knows he is in danger, the risk can be that of sepsis, that is, germs passing into the blood. But today there is no such situation." 

At Gemelli, the pope's medical reports are written by Alfieri, Carbone, and a team of infectiologists, gastroenterologists, cardiologists, and pulmonologists.

Carbone, the pope's doctor at the Vatican, told journalists on Friday that the Holy Father "is fragile and not out of danger [as] it takes very little to have imbalances." 

"The pope has chronicities, such as asthmatic bronchitis, that can flare up," he said. "The pope responds to the therapies that have been enhanced and not changed."

"The pope is not a quitter," Carbone told journalists toward the end of the press conference. 

Since Feb. 14, the Holy Father has undergone a series of daily diagnostic tests and complex cortisone antibiotic therapies to treat his respiratory infections and pneumonia alongside his other chronic illnesses.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=282547&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Vatican City, Feb 21, 2025 / 11:20 am (CNA).

Local Catholics and jubilee pilgrims in Rome are praying for Pope Francis' recovery as he marks one week in the hospital for treatment for pneumonia.

Pilgrim groups and individuals from around the world continue to travel to Rome for the 2025 Jubilee Year, and though they won't catch a glimpse of the pontiff, he is close to their hearts.

As they prepared to walk through the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica, a group of about 50 pilgrims from Our Lady of Nantes Parish in France told CNA they are praying for the pope's full recovery.

The group was planning to attend the Angelus with the pope on Feb. 23, but now, "we pray for him and we hope that everything will be OK," seminarian Aymeric Dor said.

Dor recalled that one of the conditions to receive the Holy Door plenary indulgence is to pray for the pope's intentions, which he said they are doing: "We are praying for his health too."

Agata Eccli, who is part of a pilgrimage of 57 people from different parishes and towns in Poland, said her group is not only praying for Pope Francis during their visit to St. Peter's Basilica but also at each of the stops they make on an Italy-wide pilgrimage, including the tomb of St. Anthony in Padua, St. Francis in Assisi, St. Peter in Rome, and St. Pio of Pietrelcina in San Giovanni Rotondo.

Families are also keeping the ailing pontiff in their prayers, including Italian couple Andrea Paradisi and Chiara Costa, who brought their 4-month-old baby Margherita on a pilgrimage to Rome over the weekend for the jubilee. 

Marcin Bogacki of Warsaw, Poland, told CNA he has fond memories of visiting Rome as a child during the Jubilee Year in 2000 and wanted to have the same experience with his own young family. 

Though his wife is expecting their second child and was unable to fly at this time, Bogacki brought his mother and his 4-year-old son. He said they are praying for Pope Francis, for the Church, for a private family intention, and for his wife and their unborn baby.

Rome prays

Across Rome, local Catholics are offering Masses and special prayers for Pope Francis' health. 

The chaplain of Gemelli Hospital — where the pontiff is receiving treatment — is offering Mass for Francis every day at 1 p.m. in the hospital's chapel.

On Feb. 22, the feast of the Chair of St. Peter — a day that commemorates the authority Jesus gave to the pope — a group of Catholics will gather outside Gemelli Hospital to pray a rosary for the pope's health.

At the Basilica of St. Mary Major, every Mass is being offered for the pope, the basilica's communications director told CNA, including Masses celebrated in the chapel of the ancient Salus Populi Romani image of Mary — a favorite of Francis, who spends time in prayer in the chapel before and after every international trip.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=282540&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Vatican City, Feb 21, 2025 / 06:05 am (CNA).

Pope Francis was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Friday, Feb. 14, to undergo testing and treatment for bronchitis, the Vatican said. On Tuesday he was diagnosed with double pneumonia but on Wednesday showed "slight improvement," according to the Vatican.

Follow here for the latest news on Pope Francis' health and hospitalization:

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=282531&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Feb 20, 2025 / 15:45 pm (CNA).

U.S. Vice President JD Vance advocated for government policies and cultural values that encourage Americans to "choose life" and "start families" during an interview on the main stage of the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Feb. 20 in National Harbor, Maryland.

"[People need to] stop thinking about babies as inconveniences to be discarded," Vance said in a Thursday morning interview with Mercedes Schlapp, a senior fellow at the American Conservative Union (ACU) Foundation and the wife of ACU chairman and CPAC organizer Matt Schlapp.

"We've got to start thinking of them as blessings to cherish," Vance said.

During the interview, Vance noted that the United States Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade completely changed the abortion debate in the country by allowing the "will of the people to speak on the life issue" and removing it from "unelected bureaucrats" and "unelected judges."

Vance suggested advancing a culture of life by supporting pro-life pregnancy centers, enacting policies to bring costs down so people can afford to raise families, changing perceptions about abortion, and encouraging people to choose life.

"Maybe they'll start thinking of babies as the blessings that we all know that they are," Vance said.

Vance referred to President Donald Trump as the "most pro-life president in American history" for nominating three of the justices who joined the majority opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade. However, he did not address the concerns pro-life advocates have raised with Trump's recent executive order to expand and reduce the costs of in vitro fertilization (IVF), a fertility treatment in which human embryos are routinely destroyed.

Discussing his faith, the vice president, who is a convert to Catholicism, described himself as "very pro-life" and "a devout Christian."

"We put our faith in God above, we put our faith in the grace of God, and we try our best to do his will," Vance said.

Vance discusses immigration, the economy, and energy

During the interview, Vance said the 2024 election gave Trump a "historic mandate on a few issues," specifically on his efforts to deport immigrants who entered the country illegally, his plans to expand domestic energy and improve the economy, and his actions to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse within the government.

"The American people gave us a window to save the country and that's exactly what we're going to do," the vice president said.

Vance spoke about Trump's deportation efforts, his restrictions on border crossings, and his decision to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. He said his message to drug traffickers is for them to "get the hell out of our country."

"Your free ride is over because President Trump is back in the Oval Office," Vance added. 

The vice president said Trump intends to "unleash American energy" with policies such as more drilling for oil on American land. This, he said, will "do more than anything" to help the economy because high costs of fuel increase costs for other things. 

He also said Trump will ensure "other countries stop taking advantage of us," extend his tax cuts, and end taxes on tips. He praised the work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to stop "wasting [taxpayer money] on garbage." 

"We want your children and grandchildren to be able to raise a family in security and comfort in the country we all love," Vance said. 

Schlapp's interview with the vice president kicked off CPAC's three-day conference. Other figures scheduled to speak at the annual event include Trump, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Republican lawmakers and administration officials, foreign leaders, and various conservative media personalities.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=282530&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Staff, Feb 20, 2025 / 16:15 pm (CNA).

The Catholic bishops of Kentucky are backing proposed legislation that would require a court to consider alternative sentencing for convicted criminals who have young children.

The measure states that Kentucky wishes to "promote, strengthen, and encourage family life for the protection and care of children" and "maintain the family unit with an emphasis on the parent-child relationship."

Parental incarceration is classified as an "adverse childhood experience," the bill notes, which can lead to poor mental and physical health outcomes and increase a child's chances of criminal activity in turn.

The bill would require courts to consider a convicted criminal's "status as a primary caretaker of a dependent child" before imposing a sentence. A court would be required to "consider an alternative sentence" in such circumstances while weighing the parent's criminal history, the seriousness of the crime, and other factors. 

Violent offenders would be excluded from the rule, as would criminals whose victims were children as well as those who are ineligible for probation. "Strong consideration" would be given to parents whose children are "infant, preschool, or school-age." 

Convicts will be allowed to present alternative sentence proposals to the court as well as read a family impact statement before the judge. The court, meanwhile, may "require the defendant to participate in programs or services with a focus on parent-child unity or supporting the parent-child relationship."

In an alert to supporters this week, the Catholic Conference of Kentucky said the state "ranks second in the nation in the percentage of children with an incarcerated parent."

"Sometimes, a parent may be a risk, and separation is necessary, but often it is not, and it leads to negative outcomes for the children involved," the conference said. "It also puts a significant strain on our foster care system."

Catholic Conference of Kentucky Executive Director Jason Hall said that "keeping families together is something we value very highly." 

"When you have a person who is a primary caregiver of a child and that person is incarcerated, if they don't have another family member who can take them, that child ends up in the foster care system and that can be traumatic," Hall told the Record, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Louisville. "You see negative outcomes for those children."

He said the bill is meant to "do right by Kentucky's kids." 

"Our view is the criminal justice system exists to keep people safe," he told the paper. 

"Incarcerating a parent and putting a child into the foster care system in a lot of cases does not lead to improved public safety down the road; it does harm to Kentucky's children." 

This is not the only prison-related measure recently backed by Catholics. The Missouri Department of Corrections recently launched a nursery program for incarcerated mothers who have children while in prison. The Missouri Catholic Conference had supported the measure when it was first proposed. 

Eligible mothers in that program are allowed to stay in a special unit with their babies for up to 18 months and attend family and parenting classes while there. 

The Kentucky Catholic Conference is backing several other bills this session, including one that strengthens religious liberty protections in the state and one that requires hospitals to offer palliative care services to women who receive a diagnosis indicating that their baby may die before or shortly after birth.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=282529&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Vatican City, Feb 20, 2025 / 16:45 pm (CNA).

Speaking on Pope Francis' current health crisis, Jesuit Father Antonio Spadaro, a personal friend of the Holy Father, said in an interview on Wednesday that "the situation is delicate, but I [haven't] seen any cause for alarm."

"Francis is an 88-year-old man who has had a serious problem but who is now undergoing treatment. It's not a simple treatment and will require time," said Spadaro, 58, who for 12 years was director of the Jesuit magazine La Civiltà Cattolica (Catholic Civilization) and is currently undersecretary of the Vatican Dicastery for Culture and Education. He emphasized that the pontiff has "an extraordinary vital energy."

"He is not someone who lets go or gives in easily, and that's a very positive aspect; we have seen this in the past as well," he said in an interview with the Italian daily Il Corriere della Sera (The Evening Courier).

"My impression is that the situation has improved, and I hope that he will soon recover completely," Spadaro continued. "Francis is a man of great intelligence, and he knows that he must take the necessary time to recover. He has been visibly affected in recent days. The important thing is that he now takes the necessary time in a protected environment."

The pope's state of health

Pope Francis was admitted to the Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital in Rome on Feb. 14 at 11 a.m. after having done everything on his schedule for that day. However, the Holy Father began to show the first symptoms of his illness at the beginning of the previous week. On Wednesday, Feb. 5, he announced that he was suffering from "a bad cold" and apologized for not being able to read his catechesis during the general audience in Paul VI Audience Hall.

Subsequently, on Thursday, Feb. 6, the Holy See confirmed that it was bronchitis, caused by inflammation of the lining of the bronchi, which made it difficult for him to breathe.

"Due to the bronchitis he is suffering from these days and in order to be able to continue with his activities, Pope Francis' audiences on Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th of February will take place at St. Martha's House," the Vatican said in a brief statement.

The delay in his hospitalization has caused some perplexity and has led to questions about how the medical team at the Vatican is managing his care.

A pope who never stops

Spadaro pointed out that, although Francis has been prescribed "absolute rest," it is difficult for him to comply with it completely.

"Indeed, he has never allowed himself absolute rest. Since the 1970s, when he was a young priest in Argentina, he had difficulty disconnecting. Perhaps now he will take a few days to rest, but soon he will feel the need to do something, to occupy himself with something," the priest commented.

However, he emphasized that the pope is striking a balance where "acceptance of the illness is essential."

"Even these days, he continues reading the newspapers, taking care of some work, and making phone calls. He always shows extraordinary vital energy. Deep down, it's typical of a Jesuit to keep working while he's alive and die in the trenches," he explained.

'He never spares effort'

Spadaro emphasized that the Holy Father "never spares effort" and that, furthermore, "he has no problem letting his weak condition show."

He was referring to Sunday, Feb. 9, when the pope celebrated the Mass for the Jubilee of the Armed Forces in St. Peter's Square and, not feeling well, "had no problem reading only part of the homily."

"He could have pretended that he was finished with his discourse, but he preferred to delegate it. He lives with great tranquility about his physical limitations. At the same time, he never stops giving himself completely in everything he does, because that is also the essence of his spirituality. In the past, when he had other health problems, he pressed on in the same way," Spadaro said.

Could he resign like Pope Benedict XVI?

Asked whether Francis could make the same decision as his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, Spadaro answered clearly: "He is aware, as he has said in the past, that one governs with the head and not with the legs."

"Certainly, it's a question of taking stock of how much energy he can still exert. If he ever feels that he no longer has the strength to lead the Church, he will resign. But as long as he feels that he has the energy, a temporary health problem will not be an obstacle for him," he explained.

Spadaro said that if Pope Francis feels he still has the strength, a passing illness will not stop him. "Benedict XVI opened up the possibility of resigning, and Francis has never excluded that option. He has thought about it, he has reflected on it, he has internalized the ministry of the pope and he lives it," he said.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=282528&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Staff, Feb 20, 2025 / 17:15 pm (CNA).

A $50 million school choice bill long in the works is awaiting approval from Idaho's governor after the state Senate passed the measure on Wednesday.

The bill would establish a $50 million parental choice tax credit beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, helping parents send their children to nonpublic schools, including private religious schools.

After years of attempts by school choice advocates in the Idaho Legislature, the bill passed in a 15-10 vote in the Senate.

If approved, qualifying students would be able to claim a refundable tax credit worth up to $5,000 to attend a nonpublic school. Students with disabilities could qualify for up to $7,500.

The tax credit covers qualifying expenses such as nonpublic school tuition as well as textbooks, tutoring, and other costs. The school choice measure would prioritize families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level.

The program also ensures that nonpublic schools maintain independence in their admissions policies, curriculum, and other areas.

Gov. Brad Little hasn't yet made a statement on the bill, though he voiced support for school choice earlier this year.

At his State of the State speech, Little proposed a $50 million private school choice program, provided the program be "fair, responsible, transparent, and accountable" while also preserving public school funding.

But Idaho Education Association President Layne McInelly called on the governor to veto the bill, saying it doesn't hold private schools accountable. McInelly called instead for "ending the state's chronic underfunding of education."

McInelly criticized the bill for not ensuring compliance with state and federal discrimination laws, saying the bill is not transparent and fair "in the same ways public schools are accountable to elected officials, parents, and taxpayers."

Notably, private religious schools are not always able to implement various government requirements. Similar restrictions have prevented Catholic schools from being able to participate in school choice programs in Colorado and Maine.  

But the bill has received praise from organizations including the American Federation for Children.

"With today's vote, families in Idaho are on the verge of experiencing a dramatic expansion in private school choice, and we are eager to see it signed into law," Ryan Cantrell, vice president of government affairs at the federation, said in a statement. 

President Donald Trump also expressed his support for the Idaho measure in a statement on Truth Social earlier this week. 

"Congratulations to Gov. Brad Little, and Idaho legislators, who are fighting to bring school choice to their beautiful state," Trump said. "$50 million to empower parents to provide the very best education for their child — GREAT news for Idaho families. This bill, which has my complete and total support, MUST PASS!" 

Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 30 to expand educational freedom and opportunity for families by expanding school choice.

School choice programs help low- and middle-income families send their children to private schools of their choice, including the nearly 6,000 Catholic schools across the nation. Following a record expansion of state school choice programs in 2023, the National Catholic Educational Association found that more than 1 in 10 Catholic school students used school choice programs to help them attend Catholic school in the 2023-2024 school year. 

While the number of states offering school choice programs has rapidly risen in recent years, these programs are only in select states. Catholic leaders have voiced support for efforts to implement school choice on a national level through a $10 billion federal school choice program.

Full Article