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CNA Newsroom, Apr 19, 2025 / 07:35 am (CNA).

Vice President J.D. Vance of the United States was received at the Vatican Secretariat of State by Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Holy Saturday morning, where the two discussed international relations, religious freedom, and humanitarian concerns.

The April 19 meeting included Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, according to a statement from the Holy See Press Office.

"During the cordial talks, satisfaction was expressed for the good existing bilateral relations between the Holy See and the United States of America, and the common commitment to protect the right to freedom of religion and conscience was reiterated," the Vatican statement noted.

The discussions centered on the pressing problems of the global stage, "especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners."

Both parties expressed hope for continued positive collaboration between the U.S. government and the Catholic Church in America, with the Vatican acknowledging the Church's "valuable service to the most vulnerable people."

The vice president's visit came within the context of his international tour, which brought him to Italy and will continue to India. During his time in Rome, Vance and his family participated in the Solemn Liturgy for the Lord's Passion on Good Friday evening at St. Peter's Basilica.

The vice president's trip comes as the Vatican and President Donald Trump's administration have traded back-and-forths over plans to deport large numbers of immigrants who entered the country illegally.

The administration has received praise from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for its efforts to curtail gender ideology and government mandates that jeopardize religious freedom. However, the bishops have also sued the administration over its decision to cut funding for nongovernmental organizations that provide services to migrants, which has affected numerous Catholic organizations.

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Rome Newsroom, Apr 18, 2025 / 15:10 pm (CNA).

Each year, thousands of faithful pilgrims purposefully pass over the Tiber River via Rome's Ponte Sant'Angelo, where marble messengers lining the bridge recall Christ's passion through the sacred symbols they solemnly hold.

In 1535, Pope Clement VII ordered the placement of statues of Sts. Peter and Paul, the patrons of Rome, at the bridge's entrance. However, it wasn't until 1669 that Pope Clement IX commissioned a new balustrade designed by the renowned Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

Ten angels, each bearing an element of the Passion, were placed atop this structure, sculpted by Bernini's students under his meticulous direction.

Today, on Good Friday, the Catholic Church commemorates the crucifixion of the Lord. The bridge has undergone extensive restoration in recent months, and this jubilee Holy Week unveils its newly refreshed marble.

The iconic bridge, connecting the "Ponte" district with the Borgo and the castle that once served as a papal residence, a fortress in times of war, and a prison for criminals was reopened to pedestrians in January to mark the beginning of the Jubilee of Hope and the inauguration of the new Piazza Pia, which now links Via della Conciliazione directly to Vatican City.

The angels of Ponte Sant'Angelo were designed to serve as a spiritual guide for pilgrims on their journey toward St. Peter's Basilica.

Looking up while walking along the bridge, visitors first encounter an angel holding a column in its arms, a reminder of Christ's scourging. At its base, the inscription reads: "Tronus meus in columna" ("My throne is upon a column"), a work attributed to Antonio Raggi.

Directly opposite stands an angel carrying whips with the inscription: "In flagella paratus sum" ("I am ready for the scourging"), sculpted by Lazzaro Morelli.

Further along, an angel holds the Veil of Veronica, the cloth used to wipe Christ's sweat and blood, on which his face was imprinted. The base of this sculpture, created by Cosimo Fancelli, bears the inscription: "Respice faciem Christi tui" ("Look upon the face of your Christ").

Notably, its pedestal bears a dent from a cannonball impact during the defense of the Vatican in 1870.

On the opposite side, an angel holds the crown of thorns placed on Christ's head, sculpted by Paolo Naldini and completed by Bernini himself. The original sculpture is now housed in the Roman church of Sant'Andrea delle Fratte. The inscription reads: "In aerumna mea dum configitur spina" ("In my affliction, while the thorn is driven in").

Next, an angel presents Christ's tunic along with the dice used by the soldiers to cast lots for his garments. The inscription on this sculpture reads: "Super vestimentum meum miserunt sortem" ("They cast lots for my tunic"), a work by Paolo Naldini.

Another angel carries a cross, a piece sculpted by Ercole Ferrata, inscribed with "Cuius principatus super humerum eius" ("And the dominion is upon his shoulder"), referring to Christ as the prophesied messiah and king.

Following this, a second Bernini-designed angel holds a plaque with the inscription "INRI." The sign above the cross explains the reason for his execution: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."

The inscription at the sculpture's base reads: "Regnavit a ligno Deus" ("God has reigned from the tree"), referring to Christ's cross. The original piece was also moved to Sant'Andrea delle Fratte.

Another angel holds a set of nails, symbolizing those used to pierce Christ's hands and feet. The accompanying inscription, "Aspicient ad me quem confixerunt" ("They will look upon the one they have pierced"), frames this sculpture by Girolamo Lucenti.

Opposite stands an angel carrying a sponge, recalling the one used by the soldiers to give vinegar to Jesus. Its inscription reads "Potaverunt me aceto" ("They gave me vinegar to drink"), a piece by Antonio Giorgetti.

Finally, there is the angel sculpted by Domenico Guidi, holding a lance — the weapon used by St. Longinus to pierce Christ's side, from which blood and water flowed. At its base, the inscription reads: "Vulnerasti cor meum" ("You have wounded my heart").

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CNA Newsroom, Apr 18, 2025 / 18:05 pm (CNA).

Against the ancient backdrop of Rome's Colosseum, thousands gathered Friday evening for the solemn Via Crucis procession, where Cardinal Baldassare Reina carried the cross on behalf of Pope Francis, who remains in recovery from pneumonia but whose spiritual presence was palpably felt through his powerful meditations.

The 88-year-old pontiff, unable to attend the Good Friday ceremony in person for the third consecutive year due to ongoing recovery from bilateral pneumonia, prepared deeply reflective texts that accompanied the 14 stations. Though absent physically, his words provided a particular presence as participants proceeded through the traditional commemoration of Christ's passion.

In his meditations, Pope Francis contrasted "God's economy, which does not kill, discard, or crush" with today's world built on "calculation and algorithms, cold logic and implacable interests." This divine economy, he noted, "is lowly, faithful to the earth" and follows "the way of the Beatitudes" that "does not crush, but cultivates, repairs, and protects."

The liturgical ceremony began at 9:15 p.m. local time with Reina, the pope's vicar general for the Diocese of Rome, carrying the cross for the first station. Various groups representing different aspects of the Church and society took turns bearing the wooden cross through subsequent stations, including youth, Caritas volunteers, families, people with disabilities, migrants, health care workers, religious, educators, and jubilee volunteers.

Pope Francis described the Way of the Cross as "the prayer of people on the move" that "disrupts our usual routine" to lead from "weariness to joy." His meditations stressed how Christ's path through suffering represents "a change of course and a change of pace — a conversion that restores joy and brings us home."

"The road to Calvary passes through the streets we tread each day," the pope wrote in his introduction.

"Usually, Lord, we are walking in the other direction, and so it may just happen that we encounter you, catch sight of your face, meet your gaze."

Several meditations focused on human fragility and God's response to it. At the seventh station, where Jesus falls for the second time, the pope reflected: "Fall and get up again; fall and get up again. That is how you taught us, Jesus, to approach the adventure of human life." He added that humans "are not mass-produced but handcrafted: We are unique treasures, a blend of grace and responsibility."

When addressing Jesus being stripped of his garments in the 10th station, Francis noted: "You are the Bridegroom who lets himself be taken and touched, who turns everything to good... You know each of us singly, so as to save us together: all of us, each and every one."

The ceremony concluded with St. Francis' prayer: "Most high and glorious God, cast your light into the darkness of my heart. Grant me right faith, firm hope, perfect charity, and profound humility."

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 18, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

Here is a roundup of Catholic world news that you might have missed this week:

Palm Sunday bombing in Ukraine claims 34 victims, including 15 children 

Two Russian ballistic missiles struck the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy on the morning of Palm Sunday, claiming at least 34 victims, including 15 children, as many were preparing to attend liturgies to mark the beginning of Holy Week.

More than 100 others were also injured in the attack, according to a Vatican News report. "There's nothing left but to turn to the Lord to defend us, because it seems that no other force is capable of protecting peace and life," the apostolic nuncio to Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, told Vatican News Service.

Catholic college in India fights back against allegations of conversion, discrimination 

St. Dominic Savio College in Lucknow, the capital city of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, is fighting back against allegations that it discriminated against Hindu students and violated the state's anti-conversion laws, according to UCA News. 

A group of Hindu activists staged a protest in front of the school on Tuesday, claiming the institution had "detained some students on the campus with an ulterior motive to convert them" and prevented Hindu students from wearing religious symbols.

In a statement, the school called the allegations "misleading and disturbing," clarifying that the decision to detain certain students "was based purely on academic performance." It further noted that two of the students detained were Christian, three were Muslim, and two were Hindu. "This clearly contradicts the totally false narrative being spread," the college added. 

Abuse report reveals 43 offenders since 1945 in German diocese 

A study on sexual abuse in the Diocese of Würzburg in Germany published on Tuesday revealed 43 offenders, or 51 people total, who have committed abuse within the diocese since 1945, CNA Deutsch, CNA's German-language news partner, reported. 

According to the 800-page study prepared by lawyer Hendrik Schneider, the 51 offenders found to be active between 1945 and 2019 were found to have committed at least 449 acts of abuse. The study also found that the acts of these perpetrators came to be known by the diocese on average 25.7 years after the fact. The acts of only 12 perpetrators became known within one year. Bishop Franz Jung described the sex abuse crisis as a "permanent wound" for the Church and a "perversion of the liberating message of the Gospel" by its clergy. 

Islamist Fulani herdsmen slaughter 40 Nigerian Christian farmers on Palm Sunday

In a brutal massacre on Palm Sunday, Islamist Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria's Middle Belt region shot and killed at least 40 Christians. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu condemned the attack and directed security agencies to investigate and identify those responsible. "Enough is enough," he wrote.

The attack was carried out in the farming community of Zike, located in Bassa, Plateau state, according to a CBN report. The Islamist attackers also looted and burned down several Christian homes, many of which still had people inside. A resident of Zike, Andy Yakubu, told CBN that the total number of deaths could exceed 50.

Catholics in Egypt join pope's global '24 Hours for the Lord' initiative

For the first time, Egyptian Catholics joined Pope Francis' global initiative "24 Hours for the Lord," organizing a full day of Eucharistic adoration and confession from April 15-16 as part of the Church's jubilee celebrations, according to CNA's Arabic-language news partner, ACI MENA. 

Held at the Basilica of Heliopolis in Cairo, the event featured continuous prayer, reflection, and music, with participation from various church groups, choirs, and clergy, all united in fostering reconciliation and hope. Simultaneous prayer events were also held in monasteries, parishes, and lay communities across Egypt. Designed as a spiritual encounter, the event was also meant to encourage unity with the universal Church and saw strong participation.

Grave desecration of Christian man in Mauritania sparks outcry

An incident in Mauritania has drawn widespread condemnation after the grave of a Christian man, identified as Suleiman, was exhumed and his body dragged through the streets by locals in the city of Sélibabi, ACI MENA reported. 

The Mauritanian government swiftly responded by dismissing the regional governor and several local security officials. It also launched a formal investigation, calling on top defense and interior officials to uncover the full details. Conflicting reports emerged about Suleiman's faith, with some sources claiming he had converted to Christianity while others noted an imam had approved his burial due to lack of clear evidence of apostasy. Western embassies have since urged Mauritanian authorities to take accountability and uphold human rights.

Youth project bridges Syria and Italy

A cultural and humanitarian initiative has brought together young members of the Chaldean St. Joseph Scout Group in Aleppo and the Italian secular association Life Paths in a cross-border project called "Yalla Aleppo–Italy."

Syrian youth handcrafted and decorated 1,200 traditional laurel soaps, each accompanied by a heartfelt message and artwork, before sending them to Italy as gifts for children, ACI MENA reported. The initiative was launched to foster solidarity and creativity, especially among young people in postwar Syria, and all proceeds are invested in furthering humanitarian efforts in the region.

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CNA Staff, Apr 17, 2025 / 15:31 pm (CNA).

Catholic students at Florida State University have been praying and assisting their fellow Seminoles amid a deadly mass shooting at the campus on Thursday, a ministry leader there told CNA. 

As of early Thursday evening two people had died and multiple people had been injured after the shooting on the Tallahassee campus. Officials said the shooter was taken into custody after the incident. The shooting reportedly took place in or near the campus student union.

Sam Nunnally, the Catholic campus ministry director at the university, told CNA via email that the ministry's parish and facilities "are directly across the street from the FSU student union. So we could hear gunshots as the incident occurred."

"Many of the students in that area came running up the hill towards the church and remained in lockdown here for the duration of the event," Nunnally said. 

Campus ministry staff have been serving the students food and drink while waiting for the campus to be declared safe, he said. 

"Many of our Catholic students have been in prayer, saying rosaries, and helping serve the other students that arrived at our facilities," he said.

In a 2:50 p.m. tweet on Thursday, the university told community members to "continue to shelter in place."

"Law enforcement is actively clearing rooms on the main campus," the school said. "Continue to shelter in place until law enforcement contacts you."

Referring to the ongoing prayer and service at the Catholic facility, Nunnally said that, as director of the Catholic ministry, "it brings me great joy, even in the midst of sorrow, to see our Catholic students living out their faith real-time in the midst of such a dire situation." 

"We hope that Catholics everywhere will say a prayer for Florida State, the Co-cathedral of St. Thomas Moore, and Catholic Noles," he said. 

In a statement on Thursday afternoon, the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee said the diocesan community was "heartbroken over what has occurred" at the school.

"The shooting happened just a few hundred yards from our Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More which has been a haven of ministerial outreach to FSU students over several decades," the diocese noted.

"We pray for the eternal repose of the individuals who have tragically lost their lives," the statement continued. "We ask the Lord to provide peace and healing for all those affected in this horrific situation."

This story was updated April 17, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. with a statement from the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee and with new information on the shooting at FSU.

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CNA Newsroom, Apr 17, 2025 / 17:18 pm (CNA).

During the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti reflected on Jesus' humble act of washing His disciples' feet, calling the Church to become a Eucharistic people who serve with love rather than seeking power or profit.

Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, urged Catholics to reject a world that "betrays" people for economic gain and power, instead embracing the "power of service" exemplified by Christ washing the disciples' feet at the Last Supper.

The prelate presided over the Mass in Coena Domini on April 17 at St. Peter's Basilica, which included the traditional washing of feet ceremony with laypeople who work in or frequent the basilica.

"The world too often betrays us, hands us over, for some profit, economic or power-based," Cardinal Gambetti said in his homily. "Against this logic — which fuels the conflicts of our time — stands a new kind of power, rooted in service and embodied by Jesus, the concrete expression of the 'dynamism of proximity.'"

The cardinal began his reflection with the origins of Passover in Egypt, noting that the Jewish celebration arose not in triumph but "amid slavery, oppression, and suffering." He explained the Hebrew term "Pesach" means "to leap, to protect," illustrating how "God dances before homes to protect the humble and poor who trust in him, while death passes by."

Drawing parallels between the first Passover and Christ's own Passover, Gambetti emphasized that Jesus celebrated with His disciples amid hardship, "injustices, harassment, slander, illness, violence, fear, and solitude." Yet Jesus "ardently desired intimacy and familiarity" with His followers despite knowing betrayal was imminent.

"The group around Him is human," the cardinal said, "imperfect, diverse. Some impulsive, some proud, some fearful. But all of them are loved."

Cardinal Gambetti noted that contemporary society mirrors the ancient pattern of betrayal, where everything is commodified "on the basis of a cost-benefit relationship, for some profit, economic or power-based." He lamented that compassion is lacking for "the marginalized, migrants, the environment," while wars reflect "the decline, the concretion of conflicts and evil in the world."

The cardinal pointed to Jesus as the antidote to both ancient and modern corruption. "The only thing that interests Him is love," Gambetti said. "This is the only priesthood. He washes feet, even Judas's feet. He washes my feet. He washes your feet."

Following the final prayer, a procession led by Cardinal Gambetti accompanied the Blessed Sacrament to a chapel prepared for adoration, with the Cappella Giulia, the historic choir of St. Peter's, singing "Pange Lingua."

Vatican media noted that this musical tradition dates back to 1513, when Pope Julius II reorganized the ensemble that continues to preserve "note by note, the beauty of the liturgy."

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CNA Staff, Apr 17, 2025 / 11:59 am (CNA).

A U.S. district judge this week permanently blocked the federal government from requiring some Catholic employers to accommodate abortions and in vitro fertilization (IVF) for their employees. 

North Dakota District Judge Daniel Traynor said in the Tuesday order that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) would be "permanently enjoined" from forcing the Catholic Benefits Association and the Diocese of Bismarck to abide by the Biden-era federal rule. 

The EEOC had originally announced the revision to the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act in April 2024. The rule change expanded the scope of accommodations that employers must make for "pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions" to also include workers' decisions about "having or choosing not to have an abortion" as well as treatments like IVF, both of which the Catholic Church forbids. 

The Catholic benefits group and the Bismarck Diocese had filed suit against the directive last June. Traynor had issued a preliminary injunction against the rule in September.

In his ruling this week Traynor made the block permanent. The EEOC rule, he said, "violates [the] sincerely held religious beliefs" of the Catholic plaintiffs and runs afoul of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act. 

Dave Uebbing, a spokesman for the Catholic Benefits Association, told CNA on Thursday that the ruling applies to all of the 91 dioceses with which the group does business. The benefits group offers human resources support and guidance for Catholic employers.

Uebbing noted that the order further covers "not only our members but also our future members. If people join in the future, it will cover them."

The order was further "unprecedented," Uebbing noted, because it also applies to "people who do business with our members."

"In particular, that comes into play when dealing with health plans," he said. "Let's say you have your health plan, but you have a third-party administrator that runs it — under the ruling, they're not obliged to follow these federal laws and regulations that are discriminatory toward Catholics."

The decision comes as a similar lawsuit brought by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) plays out in federal court. 

The USCCB filed the lawsuit last May alongside the Catholic University of America (CUA) and several dioceses. The plaintiffs in that suit are represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. In June 2024 a district court blocked the government from enforcing the rule against the USCCB while the lawsuit continues.

Ryan Colby, a spokesman for Becket, told CNA on Thursday that the bishops' lawsuit is "still ongoing and we're awaiting a final judgment from the court that would provide permanent protection to USCCB, CUA, and the dioceses."

This week's court order "is a promising step forward, but more protection is necessary," he said.

The U.S. bishops said last year that the EEOC rule was "indefensible." 

Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, Bishop Kevin Rhoades said at the time that though the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) was "a pro-life law that protects the security and physical health of pregnant mothers and their preborn children," the EEOC directive "twist[ed] the law in a way that violates the consciences of pro-life employers by making them facilitate abortions."

In comments opposing the rule before it was finalized, the bishops argued that abortion "is neither pregnancy nor childbirth."

"And it is not 'related' to pregnancy or childbirth as those terms are used in the PWFA because it intentionally ends pregnancy and prevents childbirth," they said.

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Vatican City, Apr 17, 2025 / 12:30 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis, still recovering after his recent hospitalization for double pneumonia, made a surprise visit to Rome's Regina Coeli prison on Holy Thursday, continuing his long-standing tradition of beginning the paschal Triduum with prisoners despite his ongoing health concerns.

The unannounced visit took place shortly before 3 p.m. local time. According to the Vatican, the pope met with approximately 70 inmates who regularly participate in activities and catechesis organized by the prison's chaplaincy.

Though he was unable to perform the traditional foot-washing, the 88-year-old pope told the prisoners he still wanted to be close to them. 

"I like to do every year what Jesus did on Holy Thursday, the washing of the feet, in prison. This year I cannot do it, but I can, and I want to, be close to you. I pray for you and for your families," Pope Francis said.

The pope spoke briefly, prayed with the inmates, and individually greeted each person present. The visit concluded with a recitation of the Lord's Prayer and a papal blessing. The entire encounter lasted about 30 minutes.

During the visit, the pope was seen breathing on his own without the aid of oxygen tubes, a positive sign as he continues to recuperate from a serious case of double pneumonia that led to his five-week hospitalization. His doctors recommended two months of rest following his March 23 discharge, cautioning that his body still requires time to recover.

Since returning to the Vatican, Francis had largely remained out of the public eye but has made a handful of brief, unscheduled appearances in the past two weeks. He has delegated cardinals to preside over all of the Holy Week liturgies at the Vatican.

The visit to Regina Coeli — a prison just a short drive from St. Peter's Basilica — underscores the pope's determination to be close to the people during Holy Week, even amid frail health.

During his pontificate, Pope Francis has made it a regular tradition to celebrate Holy Thursday Mass with the imprisoned.?In 2013, just 15 days after his election as pope, Francis chose the Casal del Marmo youth detention center as the location of his first Holy Thursday Mass, where he washed the feet of juvenile detainees. 

Last year, the pope celebrated the official Holy Thursday liturgy at Rome's Rebibbia women's prison, where he washed the feet of 12 female inmates.  

Pope Francis previously visited the Regina Coeli prison on Holy Thursday in 2018.

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Seville, Spain, Apr 17, 2025 / 13:01 pm (CNA).

The Holy Week processions in the Andalusian capital are one of Spain's most iconic traditions. Every year, members of the confraternities or brotherhoods prepare fervently to be part of this eagerly awaited event, a genuine manifestation of popular piety.

Confraternities and brotherhoods are religious associations that organize the processions and carry the floats on their shoulders.

Renowned worldwide, their images file through the city during Holy Week to the accompaniment of "saetas" (devotional songs) and marching bands. And it only takes a second, that fleeting instant when the gaze of the Virgin or the crucified Christ meets yours, to understand the mystery of our faith.

Following the Holy Week processions in Seville is no easy task. Each step, with their route to the imposing cathedral, turns the map of the city's historic center into a sort of timed puzzle.

The faithful and tourists navigate the labyrinthine, decorated streets to experience firsthand the spectacle where art and the purest popular devotion converge. As José María Pemán, a native of Cádiz, aptly wrote, during Holy Week, Seville "prays with art."

Turning to the sound of drums or the canopy, enveloped in incense, swaying to the rhythm of the bell ringers are like small flashes of light that illuminate the soul and invite, in a special way, to reflect on the sacrifice the Son of God made to redeem us.

The crowd raises its gaze as it throngs with heavy hearts and silent tears to the procession, with great respect for the Nazarenes (penitents) who, with their candles, precede the float borne up by a team of men.

The little ones look for their parents among the penitents carrying the cross, while they listen in the distance to the float foreman's instructions, capturing in their minds the first memories of the best of inheritances.

Every gesture, every float, every instruction is carefully planned, with an almost artisanal precision, just as the golden threads are intertwined in the Virgin's cloak.

It is a precision that is only threatened by the rain, the only impediment the floats encounter on their route.

The pageantry unfolds with the saeta (devotional song) dedicated to the Virgin of Peace as her image passes through Plaza de España (Spain Square) on Palm Sunday, the swaying of the San Gonzalo confraternity's float in the Triana neighborhood, the mystery portrayed by the Confraternity of Bitterness in front of the convent of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, the solemnity of Jesus of the Passion on Holy Thursday, and the gestures of reverence toward the Virgin of Hope of Macarena during the "Madrugá" (the night between Holy Thursday and Good Friday).

Each image has its own story and evokes in those fortunate enough to witness it the vivid memory of the passion of Christ, who no longer walks alone.

The wonder is shared and is felt by both the members of the brotherhoods who have grown up under the protection of these images and the tourists who stumble upon them by chance.

Seville, with its brotherhoods, Nazarenes, and saetas, makes the drama of Calvary come alive every Holy Week, as if each procession shouted to the world that Christ is not alone — and neither is his mother.

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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CNA Staff, Apr 17, 2025 / 13:32 pm (CNA).

A Wednesday report by an education watchdog organization identified 20 Catholic colleges and universities that had "diversity, equity, and inclusion" (DEI) programs. 

Defending Education, a national grassroots group combating "indoctrination in classrooms," identified more than 350 active DEI offices or programs at nearly 250 higher education institutions. 

The report also identified more than 20 additional colleges that rather than closing the offices simply "rebranded" their DEI offices using phrases such as "belonging" or "inclusive excellence." 

Of the 20 Catholic universities identified, several were high-profile institutions, including the historic Jesuit Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and University of Notre Dame in Indiana as well as Villanova University in Pennsylvania and Fordham University in New York. 

The list also identified St. Mary's College in Indiana, a historically all-girls Catholic college that came under fire after the administration said it would accept men who identify as "transgender." The college reversed the policy shortly after. 

Publicly-funded colleges have come under fire in recent months amid the Trump administration's crackdown on DEI programs. In his first month in office, President Donald Trump issued executive orders targeting governmental DEI programs as well as "radical indoctrination" in K-12 education. 

At least seven universities now face federal funding cuts from the Trump administration, including Columbia University, Harvard University, and Brown University, all of which had their federal funding paused allegedly due in large part to the administrations' handling of rising antisemitism on college campuses. 

In an April 11 letter to Harvard, top federal officials urged the university to implement various reforms in order to maintain its taxpayer funding. These reforms include ending DEI programs, reinstituting merit-based hiring and admissions, including viewpoint diversity in hirings, and taking steps to prevent antisemitism. 

Paul Runko, director of strategic initiatives for Defending Education, urged Catholic institutions with DEI programs to "reexamine these programs and take the lead in ending race discrimination once and for all." 

"Catholics deserve to know whether the colleges they support and entrust with their children's formation are upholding authentic Catholic values — or embracing divisive DEI initiatives that may violate federal civil rights laws," Runko told CNA.  

The report identified Catholic colleges and universities across the U.S. for having institution-wide DEI offices or programs.

On the East Coast, universities identified by the report included College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, Loyola University Maryland, Misericordia University in Pennsylvania, Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, St. Peter's University in New Jersey, St. Joseph's University in Pennsylvania, and St. John's University in New York. 

Several Catholic universities located in the midwest were also identified, including DePaul University in Chicago, Dominican University in Illinois, Loyola University Chicago, St. Catherine University in Minnesota, and University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.

On the West Coast, Gonzaga University in Washington state, Loyola Marymount University in California, and St. Mary's College of California appeared in the report.

Runko, himself a Catholic, maintained that DEI goes against the Catholic faith.

"Diversity, equity, and inclusion puts discriminatory race ideology over individual dignity, which runs contrary to both the Catholic faith and the law," Runko said.

One opponent of DEI in education, Christopher Rufo — senior fellow and director of the initiative on critical race theory at the Manhattan Institute — said in a post on X on Tuesday that "DEI is a violation of the Civil Rights Act."

"Any publicly funded institution that continues to practice DEI should face a federal investigation, consent decree, termination of funds, and loss of nonprofit status," Rufo said.

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