Jonah McKeown

Jonah McKeown

Jonah McKeown is a staff writer and podcast producer for Catholic News Agency. He holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has worked as a writer, as a producer for public radio, and as a videographer. He is based in St. Louis.

Articles by Jonah McKeown

Trump touts American Heroes garden that would honor Catholic figures including Kobe Bryant

Feb 21, 2025 / 15:30 pm

Statues of dozens of prominent American Catholics, including Kobe Bryant, will be among those included in a proposed “National Garden of American Heroes.”

2025 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage route announced: 3,300 miles from Indy to LA

Feb 18, 2025 / 14:45 pm

Organizers on Tuesday announced the full route for the next iteration of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, which will begin in May.

Catholic leaders pray for Pope Francis amid hospitalization

Feb 14, 2025 / 12:35 pm

The pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Friday to undergo testing and treatment for bronchitis after being sick for over a week, the Vatican said.

Who is Henry Hyde? Illinois officials move to purge pro-life lawmaker’s name

Feb 13, 2025 / 15:40 pm

The Democratic-controlled board of DuPage County voted 10-5 earlier this week to remove Hyde’s name from the county courthouse and related offices. 

Pope Francis, Vance clash over ‘ordo amoris’

Feb 13, 2025 / 09:30 am

JD Vance, a Catholic, had in a late January interview invoked an “old school … Christian concept” he later identified as the “ordo amoris.”

Mass attendance rises in the UK, though still far below pre-pandemic levels

Feb 12, 2025 / 16:30 pm

Though not yet near pre-pandemic levels, Mass attendance numbers are on the rise in England and Wales, according to figures from the national bishops’ conference.

This small diocese is leading the country in vocations to the priesthood

Feb 12, 2025 / 15:30 pm

The small Midwestern diocese of Wichita, Kansas, continues to lead the nation in many metrics related to priestly vocations, according to a new report.

Tobin announces new review to probe Seton Hall president’s knowledge of abuse allegations

Feb 12, 2025 / 10:45 am

Monsignor Joseph Reilly was recently appointed president of Seton Hall University despite being accused in a previous investigation of mishandling sex abuse allegations.

Mass attendance ticks back up nationally after pandemic falter, data suggests

Feb 10, 2025 / 17:40 pm

New data from CARA suggests that Mass attendance levels have quietly returned to 2019 levels nearly six years later.

Does the death penalty deter crime?

Feb 10, 2025 / 06:00 am

The debate on whether the death penalty deters and lowers rates of crime is a long-simmering one, with both sides variously claiming evidence in their favor. 

Next National Eucharistic Congress will be held in 2029

Feb 7, 2025 / 18:40 pm

The next iteration of the National Eucharistic Congress had last year been tentatively announced to take place in 2033, marking 2,000 years since Jesus’ crucifixion.

Virginia McCaskey, Chicago Bears owner and pro-life Catholic, dies at 102

Feb 7, 2025 / 15:30 pm

A deeply dedicated Catholic and mother of 11, Virginia McCaskey was referred to as “The First Lady of the NFL.”

Appeals court upholds dismissal of Notre Dame professor lawsuit against student newspaper

Feb 6, 2025 / 10:00 am

Notre Dame sociology professor Tamara Kay in 2023 sued the Irish Rover over reports that depicted her as supportive of expanding access to abortion.

Missouri diocese opens sacred music consultation process after hymn ‘bans’ rescinded

Feb 6, 2025 / 06:00 am

Bishop W. Shawn McKnight said the goal of the process is a new, permanent decree on sacred music, with the goal of unity and greater participation in the liturgy.

St. Louis Archdiocese rebukes pastor’s comments opposing ban on transgender treatments

Feb 5, 2025 / 17:00 pm

Father Mitchell Doyen, pastor at St. Josephine Bakhita Parish in north St. Louis City, testified that the bills “are dehumanizing our brothers and sisters.”

Police charge teenager with stabbing classmate at Catholic high school in England

Feb 5, 2025 / 14:55 pm

The alleged attacker reportedly stabbed 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose to death Feb. 3 at All Saints Catholic High School in the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield.

What is the ‘ordo amoris’? JD Vance’s comments on Christian love spark debate

Feb 4, 2025 / 06:00 am

Though you won’t find “ordo amoris” in the catechism, Dominican Father Pius Pietrzyk told CNA that the concept is a well-established one.

UPDATE: Here’s how U.S. bishops have responded to Trump’s immigration orders

Jan 31, 2025 / 17:00 pm

Catholic bishops across the country have publicly responded to President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders on immigration.

Cardinal Dolan: Vance’s remarks on bishops and immigration ‘scurrilous,’ ‘very nasty’

Jan 29, 2025 / 15:20 pm

Cardinal Timothy Dolan strongly criticized comments Vice President JD Vance made questioning the motives of U.S. bishops in their efforts to serve migrants and refugees.

Catholic bioethicist weighs in on scientific effort to create life from scratch

Jan 28, 2025 / 07:00 am

A team of European researchers is currently aiming to create simple synthetic life forms from scratch using molecules that are different from those found on earth.