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Catholic News

Christian families displaced by the violence in India's Odisha state in 2008. / Credit: Aid to the Church in NeedBangalore, India, Mar 31, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).A team of half a dozen Catholic nuns and lawyers have warned of increasing incidents of opposition to Christian funerals and hate campaigns against the Christian community in an eastern Indian state.The group sounded the alarm after making a fact-finding visit to several remote areas under the Balasore Diocese in the state of Odisha."What we heard from the people in the villages was shocking to us," Sister Clara D'Souza, a member of the Handmaid of Mary Congregation, told CNA on March 27."Our fact-finding report has details of incidents of tribal Hindu groups protesting and objecting to Christian funeral services and even Sunday Mass, starting [before Christmas]," she said. "As we released the fact-finding report, a third case of a Christian funeral obstruction happened on March 22," D'Souza added.Father Ajay ...

Christian families displaced by the violence in India's Odisha state in 2008. / Credit: Aid to the Church in Need

Bangalore, India, Mar 31, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

A team of half a dozen Catholic nuns and lawyers have warned of increasing incidents of opposition to Christian funerals and hate campaigns against the Christian community in an eastern Indian state.

The group sounded the alarm after making a fact-finding visit to several remote areas under the Balasore Diocese in the state of Odisha.

"What we heard from the people in the villages was shocking to us," Sister Clara D'Souza, a member of the Handmaid of Mary Congregation, told CNA on March 27.

"Our fact-finding report has details of incidents of tribal Hindu groups protesting and objecting to Christian funeral services and even Sunday Mass, starting [before Christmas]," she said. 

"As we released the fact-finding report, a third case of a Christian funeral obstruction happened on March 22," D'Souza added.

Father Ajay Singh, a member of the fact-finding team, said the trouble for Christians in the Hatigarh area began on Dec. 18, 2024, when Hindu tribal activists demonstrated against the funeral service for a local Catholic, claiming that Christian funeral rites and prayers are against "tribal tradition."

"However, the timely intervention of the police helped the conduct of the funeral," said Singh, the former director of the social forum of the local Church. 

Later, the Hindu group — called Mahji Pragaon — created a commotion during a Sunday Mass and the police had to intervene to disperse the aggressors, who alleged that "new people are being converted" when prayer services were held in the church.

The recent fact-finding study found the Hindu group alleged in local newspapers that local Christians were "destroying the traditional culture by embracing and practicing the Christian faith." 

"This group did not even attend the meeting government officials called to address the issue," Singh pointed out.

Meanwhile, he said, the anti-Christian campaign spread to the village of Siunaguda in the neighboring Nabarangpur district. 

When 70-year-old Kesab Santa, an evangelical tribal Christian, died on March 2, the Hindu villagers insisted that they would allow "only tribal burial" and that "no Christian funeral [would] be held." 

Singh said mourners were "unable to take the body for burial in a remote Christian village" and elected to bury the deceased "in the village in tribal tradition."

When Siban Murmu, a 55-year-old Baptist of Rangmatia, died during a hospital stay on March 20, the body was brought to the village house the next day in the Catholic parish area of Hatigarh.

"Soon a local Hindu group arrived and started protesting against holding a funeral service for Murmu within the village," D'Souza said. "They said that Murmu had been practicing the Christian religion and therefore should not be buried in the village."

"Even after senior government officials arrived, the Hindu group did not relent and the dead body remained in the courtyard of the house for two days," she said. "Finally, officials suggested taking the body to the Baptist church cemetery" about 10 miles away.

The report warned that recent elections in Odisha have "escalated further vulnerable situations of the Christians."

Singh pointed out that "the sudden spurt in unprecedented anti-Christian propaganda is very much rooted" in the Hindu nationalist BJP winning the state election in Odisha last June.

"Maybe they are trying to create a Kandhamal-like situation by spreading hatred against Christians," Singh said, a reference to the Kandhamal district, which saw orchestrated anti-Christian violence in 2008 when dozens of Christians were killed, over 300 churches destroyed, and 6,000 Christian houses plundered and torched, rendering 56,000 Christians homeless. 

"We are now living in fear in this area, which had perfect harmony among Hindus and Christians until recently," Father Francis Kannampuzha, vicar of St. Paul's Parish in Hatigarh, told CNA.

"There is certainly a clear conspiracy to create trouble and divide among the people on religious lines," Kannampuzha said.

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The proposed restoration of the frontage of the Basilica of Sainte Anne de Détroit. / Credit: Pulte Family Charitable FoundationCNA Staff, Mar 30, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).A major U.S.-based initiative is providing tens of millions of dollars to Catholic parishes and organizations across the country to "restore and endow" Catholic communities around the country "for generations to come."The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation earlier this month announced the launch of the Catholic Initiative, described in a press release by the organization as "an innovative, Vatican-approved funding model" to help ensure the continuation of Catholic properties and parishes.The unique model is "the first of its kind in the world in faith-based fundraising, one that "shifts ownership of church buildings and campuses to a newly created nonprofit organization" created solely for that purpose, the foundation said.The Basilica of Sainte Anne de Détroit is seen in an undated photograph. Credit: StAnneDeD...

The proposed restoration of the frontage of the Basilica of Sainte Anne de Détroit. / Credit: Pulte Family Charitable Foundation

CNA Staff, Mar 30, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

A major U.S.-based initiative is providing tens of millions of dollars to Catholic parishes and organizations across the country to "restore and endow" Catholic communities around the country "for generations to come."

The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation earlier this month announced the launch of the Catholic Initiative, described in a press release by the organization as "an innovative, Vatican-approved funding model" to help ensure the continuation of Catholic properties and parishes.

The unique model is "the first of its kind in the world in faith-based fundraising, one that "shifts ownership of church buildings and campuses to a newly created nonprofit organization" created solely for that purpose, the foundation said.

The Basilica of Sainte Anne de Détroit is seen in an undated photograph. Credit: StAnneDeDetroit
The Basilica of Sainte Anne de Détroit is seen in an undated photograph. Credit: StAnneDeDetroit

Kevin Doyle, the chief operating officer of the foundation, told CNA in an interview that the initiative plans to start with five projects, all of which share "some similarities" with each other. 

"We're investing with organizations or parishes or schools where there is already a vibrant community, strong leadership, a strong ethos around the place, and where the community being served from our investment is under-resourced and underserved," he said. 

The first major project for the initiative is the Basilica of Sainte Anne de Détroit, a historic parish in that city that dates back to the late 19th century. It is among the oldest continually operated Catholic parishes in the United States. 

Doyle said the effort will be "probably about a three-year project." 

"One aim is to restore this historic basilica," he said. "We're not calling it a 'renovation,' we're calling it a 'restoration,' to bring back to life what is already a spectacular design."

"We'll be restoring the stained glass, fixing the pews, and restoring and modernizing the infrastructure itself," he said, stressing that the architectural form of the building would not be altered.

"We're also trying to create more of a campus feel on the property," he said. "We're building a plaza out front of the parish and creating more of a campus alongside the basilica with green space and walkways."

"We want this to be a place where both Catholics and the local non-Catholic community will want to come multiple times a week, and not just for Mass," he said.

The interior of the Basilica of Sainte Anne de Détroit is seen in an undated photograph. Credit: Pulte Family Charitable Foundation
The interior of the Basilica of Sainte Anne de Détroit is seen in an undated photograph. Credit: Pulte Family Charitable Foundation

The initiative is further investing in the historic Josephinum Academy of the Sacred Heart in Chicago. Similar to the Detroit basilica, the school dates to the late 19th century; it was founded by the Sisters of Christian Charity. 

"There's a real opportunity for the school, like St. Anne's, to become more of a community hub," Doyle said. 

The program is also offering an endowment for Bulldog Catholic, Father Mike Schmitz's youth ministry at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, that offers Mass, the sacraments and fellowship to Catholic students there. Schmitz is on the initiative's board of advisers; the ministry is "dedicated to forming and inspiring the next generation of young Catholics," the foundation said. 

"Other projects are planned," Doyle said, adding that the foundation will wait for further endowments before it launches any more restoration and support programs. 

He said the first wave of projects includes a mix of recipients who requested the foundation's support as well as recipients whom the foundation reached out to. 

In the future "we will have a process and selection criteria that we utilize to prioritize which ones to support," Doyle said, though "we are probably a couple years away from launching that."

The foundation is further backing some innovative housing initiatives, he noted. Among them are a southern Florida housing development for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities and an affordable rental housing development in Immokalee, Florida, for the region's low socioeconomic population.

All told, the foundation's housing and Catholic initiatives so far have totaled more than $100 million in commitments.

Regarding the Catholic program, Doyle said earlier this month that the initiative is working at "pioneering a new model of investing in vibrant churches, schools, and parishes in underserved communities, ensuring their long-term sustainability." 

"This model frees religious leaders and Catholic educators from their financial burdens," he said, "and allows them to focus on their true mission: serving their parishioners and students."

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The Association of Pilgrimages in Lebanon (APL) unveils its plans for Caminos Lebanon, an innovative project designed to revitalize Christian religious tourism through a unique pilgrimage experience inspired by the renowned Camino de Santiago in Spain, on March 28, 2025. / Credit: Marwan Semaan/ACI MENAACI MENA, Mar 30, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).Lebanon will soon have its own "camino," according to the Association of Pilgrimages in Lebanon (APL). On March 28, the group unveiled its plans for Caminos Lebanon, an innovative project designed to revitalize Christian religious tourism through a unique pilgrimage experience inspired by the renowned Camino de Santiago in Spain.The launch event, held in Bkerké, the episcopal see of the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch of the Maronite Church in Lebanon, gathered prominent figures, including Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, Tourism Minister Laura Khazen Lahoud, and Father Khalil Alwan alongside a diverse audience...

The Association of Pilgrimages in Lebanon (APL) unveils its plans for Caminos Lebanon, an innovative project designed to revitalize Christian religious tourism through a unique pilgrimage experience inspired by the renowned Camino de Santiago in Spain, on March 28, 2025. / Credit: Marwan Semaan/ACI MENA

ACI MENA, Mar 30, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Lebanon will soon have its own "camino," according to the Association of Pilgrimages in Lebanon (APL).

On March 28, the group unveiled its plans for Caminos Lebanon, an innovative project designed to revitalize Christian religious tourism through a unique pilgrimage experience inspired by the renowned Camino de Santiago in Spain.

The launch event, held in Bkerké, the episcopal see of the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch of the Maronite Church in Lebanon, gathered prominent figures, including Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, Tourism Minister Laura Khazen Lahoud, and Father Khalil Alwan alongside a diverse audience of clergy, religious leaders, and stakeholders.

The launch event for Caminos Lebanon was held March 28, 2025, and organized by the Association of Pilgrimages in Lebanon (APL). The innovative project is designed to revitalize Christian religious tourism through a unique pilgrimage experience inspired by the renowned Camino de Santiago in Spain. Credit: Marwan Semaan/ACI MENA
The launch event for Caminos Lebanon was held March 28, 2025, and organized by the Association of Pilgrimages in Lebanon (APL). The innovative project is designed to revitalize Christian religious tourism through a unique pilgrimage experience inspired by the renowned Camino de Santiago in Spain. Credit: Marwan Semaan/ACI MENA

Beyond hiking

The Caminos Lebanon project seeks to highlight Lebanon's rich religious heritage by creating a comprehensive network of pilgrimage trails that connect historical and spiritual sites across the country. 

During the launch, Father Khalil Alwan, president of the APL, articulated the project's core mission. 

"Lebanon is not just a country of natural beauty and a pleasant climate; it is a land of saints and a land of message," he declared. Connecting the initiative to the Maronite Patriarchal Synod of 2006, which recognized the importance of religious tourism, Alwan emphasized the spiritual significance of rediscovering mountain trails and the home to numerous shrines, deeply intertwined with the liturgical calendar.

The trail network is ambitious, spanning four distinct routes that traverse Lebanon's diverse terrain: Religious Mountain Trails will follow historic routes where saints once walked. Cross Trails will connect areas like Tartij, Qartaba, and Smar Jbeil, allowing pilgrims to walk through the Stations of the Cross. Thematic Trails will trace significant religious journeys, including the footsteps of Jesus in southern Lebanon and the Transfiguration Trail on Mount Hermon. Cultural Religious Trails will highlight regions such as Zahle, Ghosta, and Bchaaleh, offering visitors a deep dive into local traditions and heritage.

Roots of the project

What began as a plan for a single route has expanded into a comprehensive exploration of Lebanon's spiritual landscape. The APL has been working on the ground since 2009, receiving the blessing of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs of the East in 2011. As its research has progressed, it has discovered the depth and diversity of Lebanon's religious heritage.

Currently, the association has published a booklet in Arabic detailing the 24 shrines along the trails. Alwan hopes to secure funding for an English translation to reach a broader international audience. "This is an open invitation for pilgrims and tourists from Lebanon and beyond to walk these trails and experience their spiritual richness," he said.

Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi described the project as a powerful spiritual initiative. "These paths are trails of faith and holiness, carrying the essence of the divine message," he said. "When believers walk these paths, they experience popular devotion, which is the source and strength of faith."

The Lebanese Minister of Tourism, Laura Khazen Lahoud, speaks at the launch event of Caminos Lebanon on March 28, 2025. Credit: Marwan Semaan/ACI MENA
The Lebanese Minister of Tourism, Laura Khazen Lahoud, speaks at the launch event of Caminos Lebanon on March 28, 2025. Credit: Marwan Semaan/ACI MENA

Tourism Minister Laura Khazen Lahoud framed the initiative as an opportunity for cultural exploration. "The Paths of Lebanon are not merely walking trails," she affirmed. "They are a spiritual journey and a genuine chance to explore our rich heritage."

Journey of spiritual unity

Nour Farra Haddad, a consultant with a doctorate in religious tourism and project coordinator of Caminos Lebanon, provided critical insights into the project's conception. 

Drawing inspiration from the Camino de Santiago, the initiative introduces an innovative "pilgrim's passport" system. The project showcases Lebanon's remarkable religious diversity, with over 6,000 religious sites evenly divided between Christian and Muslim landmarks.

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi speaks at the launch event of Caminos Lebanon, a project of the Association of Pilgrimages in Lebanon (APL). Credit: Marwan Semaan/ACI MENA
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi speaks at the launch event of Caminos Lebanon, a project of the Association of Pilgrimages in Lebanon (APL). Credit: Marwan Semaan/ACI MENA

The trail network spans 24 shrines, each offering a unique spiritual experience. From the Theology of Waiting in Maghdouche to the Personal Relationship with God in Annaya, the paths promise a deep dive into Lebanon's spiritual landscape.

"These were pedestrian routes, once traveled by Christ and the Romans," Alwan explained. "For centuries, the faithful walked them to fulfill vows and pray for personal intentions. Today, this initiative allows both Christians and Muslims to reconnect with these sacred paths, engaging in meaningful spiritual conversations along the way."

As Caminos Lebanon prepares to welcome its first pilgrims, it stands as a reflection of the country's rich cultural and spiritual heritage. Alwan closed by noting: "Lebanon is not a desert, as some abroad may believe. It is a land of breathtaking beauty, home to both Christians and Muslims who have lived here for centuries — a landscape waiting to share its sacred stories with the world."

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

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Mural of Archbishop Oscar Romero, / Credit: Douglas Radamez Barahona, Giovani Ascencio Ardón and Raul Lemus- Grupo Cinteupiltzin CENAR El Salvador (CC BY-SA 3.0).ACI Prensa Staff, Mar 29, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).The apostolic nunciature in El Salvador issued a correction for the irregularities that occurred March 24 during a Mass marking the 45th anniversary of the assassination of St. Oscar Romero, who served as archbishop of San Salvador during that country's civil war.The Mass, held in the chapel where Romero was assassinated while celebrating Mass on March 24, 1980, included the unauthorized presence of a female Anglican bishop at the altar and banners in opposition to proposed gold mining, violating Catholic liturgical norms.In several photos released by Salvadoran media, a female Anglican bishop can be seen behind the altar along with the bishop of the Salvadoran Old Catholic Church and anti-mining activist Neftalí Ruiz; the celebrating bishop, Oswaldo Estefano Escobar Agui...

Mural of Archbishop Oscar Romero, / Credit: Douglas Radamez Barahona, Giovani Ascencio Ardón and Raul Lemus- Grupo Cinteupiltzin CENAR El Salvador (CC BY-SA 3.0).

ACI Prensa Staff, Mar 29, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

The apostolic nunciature in El Salvador issued a correction for the irregularities that occurred March 24 during a Mass marking the 45th anniversary of the assassination of St. Oscar Romero, who served as archbishop of San Salvador during that country's civil war.

The Mass, held in the chapel where Romero was assassinated while celebrating Mass on March 24, 1980, included the unauthorized presence of a female Anglican bishop at the altar and banners in opposition to proposed gold mining, violating Catholic liturgical norms.

In several photos released by Salvadoran media, a female Anglican bishop can be seen behind the altar along with the bishop of the Salvadoran Old Catholic Church and anti-mining activist Neftalí Ruiz; the celebrating bishop, Oswaldo Estefano Escobar Aguilar; and Raúl Vera, bishop emeritus of Saltillo, Mexico.

In some of the photos, banners can also be seen in front of the altar with slogans such as "Every mine pollutes. No to mining, yes to life" and "Freedom for environmental defenders." 

Statement of nunciature in El Salvador

In a statement released after the Mass on the same day, March 24, the apostolic nunciature in El Salvador reminded that "ecumenical celebrations shared with members of non-Catholic churches include only the Liturgy of the Word and its commentary, along with prayers of the faithful and the prayer that Our Lord taught us: the Our Father."

Furthermore, and according to liturgical norms, the text continues, "it must be taken into account that the altar is reserved solely for the Eucharistic celebration."

"What happened this morning in the Chapel of the Hospitalito should not have taken place because it is prohibited by ecclesiastical law," the statement concludes.

Sources from the Archdiocese of San Salvador who asked not to be identified told ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, that the banners were unauthorized and that they were placed at the end of the Mass. Regarding the presence of the Anglican "female bishop" and anti-mining activist Ruiz, the archdiocese emphasized that the nunciature had already issued a statement on the matter.

ACI Prensa contacted the office of the archbishop of San Salvador, José Luis Escobar, the following day on March 25 to inquire about the irregularities at the March 24 Mass. In an email, his secretary responded that "unfortunately, the archbishop had more commitments than he had planned and will be out of town, so we apologize for not being able to assist with the request."

Canon 908 of the Code of Canon Law, the law that regulates the universal Church, states that "Catholic priests are forbidden to concelebrate the Eucharist with priests or ministers of churches or ecclesial communities which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church."

Additionally, Canon 844 emphasizes that "Catholic ministers administer the sacraments licitly to Catholic members of the Christian faithful alone, who likewise receive them licitly from Catholic ministers alone."

In February, a female Anglican minister "concelebrated" a Mass for the installation of the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Chapecó in Brazil. 

Tensions between Church, Bukele over mining 

The controversy that arose during the commemorative Mass for the 45th anniversary of the assassination of St. Oscar Romero reflects current tensions in El Salvador, particularly around the metal mining law promoted by President Nayib Bukele.

The presence of anti-mining banners and non-Catholic religious figures at the altar during the celebration served to highlight opposition to the government initiative.

On March 19, the bishops of El Salvador presented a letter to the Legislative Assembly, supported by 150,000 signatures, seeking the repeal of the Metallic Mining Law. Mining had been banned in the country since 2017 but approved in December 2024 with the support of Bukele.

In December 2024, Bukele called the ban absurd, because the wealth given by God "can be used responsibly" to achieve high economic and social development.

The president said on his X account that "studies carried out in only 4% of the potential area identified 50 million ounces of gold, valued today at $131.565 billion. This is equivalent to 380% of El Salvador's GDP."

However, the bishops fear that these activities will increase "water and air pollution ... irreversibly causing death and illness," especially among the poor.

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

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Speakers present at the briefing presenting the report "Attacks on Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem" by the Rossing Center on March 27, 2025. From left to right: Hana Bendcowsky, director of the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations at the Rossing Center; Bernard Sabella, a retired professor of sociology; Federica Sasso (Rossing Center)), moderator, Hussam Elias, executive director of the project; and Jesuit Father David Neuhaus. / Credit: Marinella BandiniJerusalem, Mar 29, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).On March 27 in Jerusalem, the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue presented findings from its annual report, "Attacks on Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem," and from a survey conducted in December 2024 with 300 Palestinian/Arab Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem providing insight into their perceptions of various aspects of life.The briefing was held at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center. A panel of experts who shed light on the challenges and anxietie...

Speakers present at the briefing presenting the report "Attacks on Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem" by the Rossing Center on March 27, 2025. From left to right: Hana Bendcowsky, director of the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations at the Rossing Center; Bernard Sabella, a retired professor of sociology; Federica Sasso (Rossing Center)), moderator, Hussam Elias, executive director of the project; and Jesuit Father David Neuhaus. / Credit: Marinella Bandini

Jerusalem, Mar 29, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

On March 27 in Jerusalem, the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue presented findings from its annual report, "Attacks on Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem," and from a survey conducted in December 2024 with 300 Palestinian/Arab Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem providing insight into their perceptions of various aspects of life.

The briefing was held at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center. A panel of experts who shed light on the challenges and anxieties facing the local Christian population included Hana Bendcowsky, director of the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations at the Rossing Center; Hussam Elias, executive director of the project; Jesuit Father David Neuhaus; and Bernard Sabella, a retired professor of sociology.

The report
The report "Attacks on Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem" prepared by the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue is presented at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center on March 27, 2025. In attendance were journalists from foreign newspapers, diplomatic representatives, and some clergy and religious. Credit: Marinella Bandini

The report documents a rise in incidents of intimidation and aggression targeting Christian communities throughout 2024. Currently, there are approximately 180,000 Christians living in Israel (about 1.8% of the Israeli population), and 78.8 % of them are Arab.

Physical attacks emerged as the most prevalent category among the 111 documented cases, with the majority targeting clergy, easily identifiable by their religious attire. Spitting was identified as a common form of physical harassment. Vandalism and desecration targeting Christian churches, including graffiti, stone-throwing, and arson, were also documented. 

According to the report, the perpetrators in all known cases were identified as Jewish individuals, primarily young men from ultra-Orthodox and national-religious circles, driven by a mixture of nationalist fervor and religious extremism.

These events cause Christians to feel threatened and unwelcome in their own homeland. That's even more clear in the survey, which revealed mixed feelings regarding acceptance by Israeli Jewish society. While 30.8% of Christians feel accepted as part of Israeli society, 34% do not, with a higher feeling of nonacceptance (56%) among the 18-29 age group.

Rossing Center's annual report,
Rossing Center's annual report, "Attacks on Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem," is presented on March 27, 2025 at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center. Credit: Marinella Bandini

After the approval of the basic law "Israel the Nation State of the Jewish People" in 2018, 64.8% of the respondents believe it confirms Christians as second-class citizens. A significant portion (36%) are considering emigration, with a higher percentage in Haifa (48%). Security reasons (44%) and the socio-political situation (33%) were identified as key motivational factors. 

Regarding religious freedom, a majority (58.5%) feel comfortable wearing visible religious symbols in mixed or predominantly Israeli-Jewish areas, though discomfort is higher in East Jerusalem (42%).

Very significant is the theme of identity: 34% of the respondents identified themselves as Arab Christian, 23% as Israeli Christian, and 13% as Palestinian Christian, indicating a complex interplay of religious and national affiliations.

Interviewed by CNA after the briefing, Sabella noted the feeling among Christians as being "in the middle."

"After the Iranian revolution in 1979 there was a transformation across the region," he explained. "Palestinians and Arabs started identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims. As a reaction, Palestinian Christians and Israeli Arab Christians started identifying themselves as Christians."

Sabella cautioned against an overemphasis on religious identity at the expense of a broader, inclusive identity tied to the place.

"The risk is of making society not an inclusive society but a society divided along religious and ethnic creeds or differences. Therefore you lose that inclusive and comprehensive identity that ties you to the place irrespective of the nation or irrespective of the religion," he said.

"If you become more entrenched in your religious identity," Sabella continued, "there is a danger of losing the larger identity to which you belong. As Christians, we need to find a shared space with all others."

The Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center. On March 27, 2025, at the center, the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue presented findings from the annual report called
The Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center. On March 27, 2025, at the center, the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue presented findings from the annual report called "Attacks on Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem" and from a survey conducted among Palestinian/Arab Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem providing insights into their perceptions of various aspects of life. Credit: Marinella Bandini

Bendcowsky highlighted a worsening political and social climate, especially after Oct. 7, 2023 — the report devotes considerable space to analyzing the context — characterized by increased extremism, polarization, and a lack of tolerance toward minorities. 

She emphasized a growing willingness of churches and Christians to report and denounce attacks as well as an increased presence of law enforcement — although there is often a lack of real dialogue and involvement of authorities in understanding and responding to the needs of the Christian communities.

The situation on Mount Zion, where Jewish and Christian religious traditions converge in a compact space, was presented as a case study of a complicated place facing neglect and negative elements leading to attacks on visitors. In recent years the number of incidents increased, resulting in vandalism to Christian religious buildings and cemeteries, in addition to physical harassment of Christian clergy and tourists.

The Rossing Center report points out that "the targeting of Christianity is not part of the political agenda" but is more linked to "a socio-political climate" and "a growing sense of nationalism, and the emphasis on Israel primarily as a state for the Jewish population."

Challenges that churches face in dealing with authorities include visas for clergy, permits for religious holidays, the tax status of churches, and attempts to expropriate some land. "Christians are simply not a priority and they do not care," Bendcowsky told CNA at the end of the meeting. "They are not purposely attacking Christians, but it is on purpose to not care about them."

The briefing highlighted a complex and concerning situation for Christian communities in Israel and East Jerusalem. While there are positive developments in reporting and public awareness, significant efforts are needed to ensure the security, religious freedom, and continued presence of Christian communities in the Holy Land.

That's also why the report includes "recommendations" for all the stakeholders. The focal point is to work on mutual understanding and dialogue. The Rossing Center encourages the development of greater awareness of these issues at the political and diplomatic levels as well as actions by those affected to condemn them on the part of the authorities.

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Pope Francis looks out at the crowd gathered below his hospital window at Rome's Gemelli Hospital on March 23, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media / ScreenshotCNA Newsroom, Mar 29, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).As hundreds of Missionaries of Mercy gathered in Rome this weekend, Pope Francis commended their distinctive ministry of forgiveness and reconciliation that continues to flourish worldwide.Approximately 500 priests are participating in a special jubilee dedicated to their role as part of the broader 2025 Jubilee of Hope.In a message addressed to these priests, and written while still in hospital, Pope Francis expressed his "gratitude and encouragement" for their work as special confessors who possess faculties to absolve certain sins typically reserved to the Holy See."Through your service," the pontiff wrote, "you bear witness to the paternal face of God, infinitely great in love, who calls everyone to conversion and constantly renews us with His forgiveness."The missonaries' Ma...

Pope Francis looks out at the crowd gathered below his hospital window at Rome's Gemelli Hospital on March 23, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media / Screenshot

CNA Newsroom, Mar 29, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).

As hundreds of Missionaries of Mercy gathered in Rome this weekend, Pope Francis commended their distinctive ministry of forgiveness and reconciliation that continues to flourish worldwide.

Approximately 500 priests are participating in a special jubilee dedicated to their role as part of the broader 2025 Jubilee of Hope.

In a message addressed to these priests, and written while still in hospital, Pope Francis expressed his "gratitude and encouragement" for their work as special confessors who possess faculties to absolve certain sins typically reserved to the Holy See.

"Through your service," the pontiff wrote, "you bear witness to the paternal face of God, infinitely great in love, who calls everyone to conversion and constantly renews us with His forgiveness."

The missonaries' March 28-30 gathering included training sessions, communal prayer, and a pilgrimage through the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica.

Pope Francis reflected on the profound connection between mercy and hope in his message. "Conversion and forgiveness are the two caresses with which the Lord wipes every tear from our eyes," he stated. "They are the hands with which the Church embraces us sinners; they are the feet on which we walk in our earthly pilgrimage."

The Holy Father encouraged these priests to maintain a compassionate approach in their ministry, urging them to be "attentive in listening, ready in welcoming, and steadfast in accompanying those who desire to renew their lives and return to the Lord."

First commissioned during the 2016 Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, these priests have seen their mandate extended twice by Pope Francis. Their numbers have grown substantially, now surpassing 1,250 worldwide, with approximately 100 serving in the United States.

In Spes Non Confundit, the papal bull of indiction for the 2025 jubilee year, Pope Francis wrote that Missionaries of Mercy should "exercise their ministry by reviving hope and offering forgiveness whenever a sinner comes to them with an open heart and a penitent spirit."

The pontiff concluded his message to the missionaries with a blessing and his customary request: "Please, do not forget to pray for me."

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Launched in March 2025, St. Claret Maternity Center in the Nyabwina village serves the local region in the Sheema/Mbarara District of Uganda. / Credit: MaterCare InternationalCNA Staff, Mar 29, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).It all began with Pope John Paul II. In the 1980s, the late pope encouraged Dr. Robert Walley, a Catholic obstetrician and gynecologist who died in 2020, to provide life-affirming health care to women in need. Walley went on to found MaterCare International (MCI), which is now celebrating 30 years of supporting ethical maternal health care in developing regions around the globe."MaterCare International is vital for women's health because it provides lifesaving maternal care to some of the world's most underserved regions while maintaining an ethical approach that values both the mother and the unborn child," Jennifer Derwey Deane, communications director at MCI, told CNA. MCI provides emergency obstetric care, remote transportation for rural communities to...

Launched in March 2025, St. Claret Maternity Center in the Nyabwina village serves the local region in the Sheema/Mbarara District of Uganda. / Credit: MaterCare International

CNA Staff, Mar 29, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

It all began with Pope John Paul II. 

In the 1980s, the late pope encouraged Dr. Robert Walley, a Catholic obstetrician and gynecologist who died in 2020, to provide life-affirming health care to women in need. Walley went on to found MaterCare International (MCI), which is now celebrating 30 years of supporting ethical maternal health care in developing regions around the globe.

"MaterCare International is vital for women's health because it provides lifesaving maternal care to some of the world's most underserved regions while maintaining an ethical approach that values both the mother and the unborn child," Jennifer Derwey Deane, communications director at MCI, told CNA. 

MCI provides emergency obstetric care, remote transportation for rural communities to hospitals, and training for midwives and health care providers. The organization also prioritizes research into maternal health solutions. 

"Since its founding, MCI has worked to provide essential medical services, create sustainable models of maternal care, and advocate for ethical practices in maternal care, all while empowering local health care providers, like midwives and traditional birth attendants, through training and sustainable practices," Deane said. 

MCI has established branches in Canada, Poland, Australia, and previously in the United States and Ireland. Its Canada branch has developed outreach projects all throughout the world, including in Rwanda, Haiti, Kenya, and Ghana. MCI's model involves working in partnership with local communities in order to design sustainable models in various developing areas.

The organization operates solely on charitable donations and takes no assistance from government agencies. It also welcomes health care professionals who are faithful to MCI's mission to join project initiatives as volunteers.

Bringing care to underserved rural communities in Uganda

This month, MCI opened a maternity center in Nyabwina, Uganda. A team of MCI Catholic health professionals, working with local Church leaders, launched the St. Claret Maternity Center in the Nyabwina village, which serves the local region in the Sheema/Mbarara District of Uganda.

Archbishop Lambert Bainnomugisha of Mbarara blessed the facility on its opening day, March 6.

MCI leaders and local leaders at the opening of St. Claret on March 6, 2025. Right to left: Sister Christine (administrator), Provincial Sister Jeyarani; Archbishop Lambertt Bainomugisha of Mbarara; Simon Walley (executive director MaterCare International); and Dr. Elvis Seman (medical director MaterCare International). Credit: MaterCare International
MCI leaders and local leaders at the opening of St. Claret on March 6, 2025. Right to left: Sister Christine (administrator), Provincial Sister Jeyarani; Archbishop Lambertt Bainomugisha of Mbarara; Simon Walley (executive director MaterCare International); and Dr. Elvis Seman (medical director MaterCare International). Credit: MaterCare International

The project began when the Sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbes reached out to MCI, explaining the local community's need for improved maternal health.

In addition to poor roads and flash flooding during the rainy season, the region faces many challenges to maternal health, with a high maternal death rate due to infection, lack of postnatal care, and malnutrition.

MCI worked with the local religious sisters to develop outreach centers in remote villages as well as to develop a maternity unit with proper staffing and equipment.

MaterCare International's project in Uganda was to construct a maternity health center, which was funded by Polish foundation
MaterCare International's project in Uganda was to construct a maternity health center, which was funded by Polish foundation "Watoto - Dzieci Afryki" and equipped by MaterCare International. Credit: MaterCare International
A personal residence belonging to a more wealthy person in the region is rented for outpatient clinics. The personal home is in Sheema district not far from Nyabwina, but the roads are terrible and near impossible to travel at times. Credit: MaterCare International
A personal residence belonging to a more wealthy person in the region is rented for outpatient clinics. The personal home is in Sheema district not far from Nyabwina, but the roads are terrible and near impossible to travel at times. Credit: MaterCare International

A Catholic perspective on health 

Deane noted that many international maternal health programs "are influenced by policies that promote abortion and contraception as primary solutions, often neglecting basic fundamental maternal health care needs." MCI combats that by providing "life-affirming" health care for women. 

"We recognize that motherhood is a sacred vocation, and our work reflects this belief by ensuring that expectant mothers receive the care and respect they deserve," Deane said.

The organization prioritizes what Deane calls "the vocation of medicine."

"The practice of medicine without vocation is a purely technical or transactional approach to health care, devoid of deeper moral, ethical, or compassionate commitment," she said. 

"When medicine is practiced without vocation, it risks becoming impersonal and utilitarian, focusing solely on procedures, efficiency, and outcomes without genuine care for the dignity and well-being of the patient."

MCI brings faith and medicine together. "It combines faith and practice in a meaningful way that builds up the practitioner, the patient, and the community that surrounds them both," Deane explained.

MCI also prioritizes following the teachings of the Catholic Church in its care practices.

"We not only offer high-quality maternal health services but also focus on the moral and ethical implications of care, following the rich teachings of the Catholic Church," Deane said. "This makes MCI a voice for life and an advocate for a comprehensive approach to maternal health care that respects both medical needs and advancements as well as the sanctity of human life."

Inside a rural church used as an outpatient clinic to provide access to health care in rural areas. The archdiocese permits the use of churches for outpatient clinics. Credit: MaterCare International
Inside a rural church used as an outpatient clinic to provide access to health care in rural areas. The archdiocese permits the use of churches for outpatient clinics. Credit: MaterCare International

Founding and future 

Deane explained that MCI is devoted to its founding mission. 

"The idea for MaterCare was inspired by Pope John Paul II, who personally asked Dr. Walley to create an organization that would address the growing crisis of maternal mortality and health care inequities, particularly in areas where Catholic teachings on the sanctity of life were not being adequately respected in medical practices," she said. 

This idea, Deane said, "was first introduced at a plenary meeting of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in 1982." It took more than 10 years of planning and support among health care workers worldwide before the organization took shape and was formally established in 1995 in Canada.

Pope John Paul II's encyclical Evangelium Vitae, in which he called on health care professionals to promote a culture of life, was "the final inspiration" for the organization's founding, Deane said. The encyclical was published in 1995, the year of MCI's founding. 

Launched in March 2025, St. Claret Maternity Center in the Nyabwina village serves the local region in the Sheema/Mbarara District of Uganda. MaterCare International is helping the Sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbes develop and expand the project to help mothers and babies. Credit: MaterCare International
Launched in March 2025, St. Claret Maternity Center in the Nyabwina village serves the local region in the Sheema/Mbarara District of Uganda. MaterCare International is helping the Sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbes develop and expand the project to help mothers and babies. Credit: MaterCare International

The future goals of the organization are twofold. 

"Looking to the future, our goals include expanding our reach to even more regions where women still lack access to essential maternal health care," Deane said. "We aim to continue providing training for health care professionals in underserved areas, building strong partnerships with local groups and religious orders, and advocating for policies that respect the dignity of life and prioritize maternal health." 

MCI also aims to develop the realm of ethical maternal health care. 

"Our vision also includes increasing awareness about the importance of ethical maternal health care and advocating for global recognition of the Catholic approach to maternal health," Deane said.

For its 30-year anniversary, the organization announced the MaterCare International Rome Conference — an event to commemorate the founding and a call to action to develop maternal health care around the world. It will bring together faith leaders, health care professionals, and pro-life advocates to promote care for mothers in need. 

"Catholic health care professionals of the next generation are relying on us to provide them with the space to study, learn, grow, and practice," Deane said.

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Bishop Christian Carlassare (center), President Salva Kiir (left), and Dr. Riek Machar (right). / Credit: Catholic Diocese of Rumbek/Office of the President - Republic of South SudanACI Africa, Mar 29, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).A Catholic bishop in the Africa's youngest country has directed the people under his care to participate in daily prayers for peace amid testimonies of rising tension in South Sudan and reports of the arrest of the country's first vice president, Dr. Riek Machar."First vice president" is a position that was created in 2015 as part of a coalition agreement. Five more such positions were created in 2020. They are temporary positions to assist during a transition period."As we witness rising tensions in South Sudan, I invite our parishes to pray every day for peace," Bishop Christian Carlassare wrote in a March 26 note obtained by ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa.The local ordinary of the Bentiu Diocese in South Sudan, who also serves as the apostolic a...

Bishop Christian Carlassare (center), President Salva Kiir (left), and Dr. Riek Machar (right). / Credit: Catholic Diocese of Rumbek/Office of the President - Republic of South Sudan

ACI Africa, Mar 29, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

A Catholic bishop in the Africa's youngest country has directed the people under his care to participate in daily prayers for peace amid testimonies of rising tension in South Sudan and reports of the arrest of the country's first vice president, Dr. Riek Machar.

"First vice president" is a position that was created in 2015 as part of a coalition agreement. Five more such positions were created in 2020. They are temporary positions to assist during a transition period.

"As we witness rising tensions in South Sudan, I invite our parishes to pray every day for peace," Bishop Christian Carlassare wrote in a March 26 note obtained by ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa.

The local ordinary of the Bentiu Diocese in South Sudan, who also serves as the apostolic administrator of the country's Diocese of Rumbek, directed that "the prayer for peace in South Sudan" be said "at the end of the Mass" and that there be in parishes "a weekly initiative for peace — either Eucharistic adoration or the Way of the Cross."

Hours after Carlassare's directive on daily prayers for peace in South Sudan, reports emerged of the arrest of Machar.

"South Sudanese security forces placed first vice president and opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar under house arrest in Juba on Wednesday night amid escalating political tensions, raising fears of a return to civil war," Radio Tamazuj, an independent daily news service covering current affairs in Sudan and South Sudan, reported on March 26.

According to a March 26 Reuters report, Machar's party, the South Sudanese People's Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), is "trying to locate him after the defense minister and chief of national security 'forcefully entered' his residence and delivered an arrest warrant."

The Reuters report cites a statement from Machar's SPLM-IO party condemning "a blatant violation of the constitution and the Revitalized Peace Agreement," which refers to the September 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan that ended a 2013–2018 civil war between armed forces loyal to Machar and those aligned to South Sudan's president, Salva Kiir.

"The house arrest of Dr. Riek Machar is widely seen as jeopardizing the peace agreement," Radio Tamazuj reported. The news service quoted Reath Muoch Tang, the acting chairperson of the SPLM-IO's Committee on Foreign Relations, sharing details of Machar's house arrest. 

"The security forces came and chased everyone away from the compound, and the minister of defense left, but many security vehicles remained in the compound," Muoch Tang is quoted as telling Radio Tamazuj, adding: "Technically, Dr. Machar is under house arrest, but the security officials initially tried to take him away."

In a statement obtained by ACI Africa, the official spokesperson of SPLM-IO, Pal Mai Deng, confirmed "with grave concern" that Machar "has been placed under house arrest."

"This is an unfortunate move, and this violates the revitalized peace agreement," Mai Deng said.

"For the sake of South Sudan's future nationhood and nation-building, the physical security of Dr. Riek Machar is paramount," said the SPLM-IO spokesperson, who serves as South Sudan's minister of water and irrigation under the power-sharing agreement. "The region and the international community have the obligation to ensure his safety."

According to Reuters, foreign governments have cautioned against a renewed civil war in South Sudan "following weeks of escalating tensions that originated in fighting between government troops and a militia that has historically been close to Machar's forces."

Earlier, in a media briefing on March 24, the special representative of the secretary-general for South Sudan and head of the United Nations mission in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, described the security situation in South Sudan as "dire."

According to him, efforts to realize lasting peace in the east-central African nation can only succeed if the country's president and its first vice president, Machar, have the will to engage and especially to "put the interests of their people ahead of their own."

Meanwhile, in his directive on daily prayers for peace in South Sudan, Carlassare is considering the possibility of having more public prayer for peace.

This story was first publshed by ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.

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A wildfire blazes next to a stone lantern of family tomb in Andong, South Korea, on March 26, 2025. At least 18 people have been killed in one of South Korea's worst wildfire outbreaks, with multiple blazes burning and causing "unprecedented damage," the acting president said. / Credit: YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty ImagesRome Newsroom, Mar 28, 2025 / 15:25 pm (CNA).Pope Francis has expressed his sorrow for the victims of the devastating wildfires in South Korea, which killed 28 people and forced tens of thousands to evacuate.In a message sent on the pope's behalf by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Francis conveyed his condolences to those mourning their loved ones and offered prayers for emergency personnel working to contain the fires."His Holiness Pope Francis is deeply concerned by the threat to life and the damage caused by the widespread wildfires in various parts of Korea," Parolin wrote on March 28."Entrusting the souls of the deceased to the loving ...

A wildfire blazes next to a stone lantern of family tomb in Andong, South Korea, on March 26, 2025. At least 18 people have been killed in one of South Korea's worst wildfire outbreaks, with multiple blazes burning and causing "unprecedented damage," the acting president said. / Credit: YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images

Rome Newsroom, Mar 28, 2025 / 15:25 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis has expressed his sorrow for the victims of the devastating wildfires in South Korea, which killed 28 people and forced tens of thousands to evacuate.

In a message sent on the pope's behalf by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Francis conveyed his condolences to those mourning their loved ones and offered prayers for emergency personnel working to contain the fires.

"His Holiness Pope Francis is deeply concerned by the threat to life and the damage caused by the widespread wildfires in various parts of Korea," Parolin wrote on March 28.

"Entrusting the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God, he sends heartfelt condolences to those who mourn their loss. His Holiness likewise offers prayers for the injured and for the relief efforts of the firefighters and other emergency personnel. Upon all, he invokes the divine blessings of consolation, healing, and strength."

The wildfires, which burned for a week across South Korea's southeastern regions, have destroyed thousands of homes and businesses. 

Fueled by dry weather and strong winds, the blazes scorched more than 118,265 acres of land and forced over 30,000 people to flee. Thirty-seven people were injured. Many of those who perished were elderly residents who struggled to evacuate quickly.

As of March 28, the Korea Forest Service reported that the fires had been largely contained after rain on Thursday night helped firefighters battling the flames. However, about 8,000 people remain in temporary shelters, according to the Associated Press.

Among the affected areas was the Diocese of Andong, where parish priests, religious sisters, and parishioners were forced to evacuate as the fire spread to the mountain behind Cheongsong Cathedral. While the cathedral itself was spared, many parishioners lost their homes. In response, the diocese has established an emergency committee to coordinate relief efforts.

The Catholic Church in South Korea has mobilized aid to assist victims. Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick of Seoul announced a fundraising campaign led by the One Body One Spirit Movement to support the Diocese of Andong and other impacted areas. Meanwhile, the Nanum Foundation chaired by Bishop Koo Yo-bi, has pledged 1 billion KRW (about $680,000) in emergency funding, according to Vatican News.

"The Archdiocese of Seoul will do its utmost to stand in solidarity and identify meaningful ways to accompany them on the journey of recovery," Chung said.

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"People need genuine compassion and choices, not the false choice of pain or poison," says Jim Towey, founder and president of Aging with Dignity, the organization behind a new watchdog effort to monitor and oppose the expansion of assisted suicide throughout the United States. / Credit: "The World Over with Raymond Arroyo"/EWTN News screenshotCNA Staff, Mar 28, 2025 / 16:15 pm (CNA).A new watchdog effort has launched to monitor and oppose the expansion of assisted suicide throughout the United States. Aging with Dignity, a nonprofit group inspired by St. Teresa of Calcutta that provides guidance on end-of-life issues, on Thursday debuted Assisted Suicide Watch, which the group said will "challenge the well-funded effort to convince people that suicide-affirming care is a social good."Jim Towey, the founder and CEO of Aging with Dignity, previously served as legal counsel to Mother Teresa. He told CNA last year that he launched the nonprofit "to give people a hopeful visio...

"People need genuine compassion and choices, not the false choice of pain or poison," says Jim Towey, founder and president of Aging with Dignity, the organization behind a new watchdog effort to monitor and oppose the expansion of assisted suicide throughout the United States. / Credit: "The World Over with Raymond Arroyo"/EWTN News screenshot

CNA Staff, Mar 28, 2025 / 16:15 pm (CNA).

A new watchdog effort has launched to monitor and oppose the expansion of assisted suicide throughout the United States. 

Aging with Dignity, a nonprofit group inspired by St. Teresa of Calcutta that provides guidance on end-of-life issues, on Thursday debuted Assisted Suicide Watch, which the group said will "challenge the well-funded effort to convince people that suicide-affirming care is a social good."

Jim Towey, the founder and CEO of Aging with Dignity, previously served as legal counsel to Mother Teresa. He told CNA last year that he launched the nonprofit "to give people a hopeful vision for end of life that helps them practice their faith and that doesn't treat dying like it's just a medical moment."

The organization has widely distributed its "Five Wishes" legal document, an advance directive that helps Catholics and others establish their wishes for care ahead of a serious illness. Last year it rolled out a new resource, "Finishing Life Faithfully," a booklet that helps Catholics address end-of-life decisions in line with Church teaching. 

Assisted Suicide Watch, meanwhile, is meant to research and analyze "the consequences of suicide-affirming care," the organization says.

"If we adopt suicide as a social norm, then we remove any motivation to try and correct the increasing rate of suicide in the country because it is no longer a problem worth fixing but rather a 'solution' worth celebrating and promoting," the initiative points out. 

The new watchdog effort is already tracking the growing rate at which assisted suicide is claiming lives in the U.S. It says more than 2,300 Americans died from the practice in 2023, while more than 1,000 lethal prescriptions remain unaccounted for in the country.

Aging with Dignity said the watchdog will "track, expose, and oppose state and national efforts to expand physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia."

Towey in a press release said the group "fully support[s] patient self-determination." But, he said, "killing yourself or forcing doctors to participate is not the answer" because "it cheapens human dignity."

"Physicians are healers, not executioners," he said. "People need genuine compassion and choices, not the false choice of pain or poison."

In addition to the United States, assisted suicide has been on the upswing in other parts of the world, including in Canada, where the country's national "medical aid in dying" program accounted for nearly 1 in 20 deaths in the country in 2023.

Aging with Dignity said assisted suicide is the fifth-leading cause of death in Canada, with more than 96% of suicide requests granted. 

The group said that in order to counter assisted suicide it promotes "best practices in palliative care," including pain management, timely hospital services, and spiritual and emotional support.

"If America's health care system routinely offered such humane services," Towey said, "public support for the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide would nearly vanish."

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