Articles by Daniel Payne
Pope Francis appoints three new auxiliary bishops for Philadelphia Archdiocese
Dec 8, 2023 / 13:59 pmPope Francis on Friday appointed Fathers Keith Chylinski, Christopher Cooke, and Efren Esmilla as new auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
‘Social emergency’ of low fertility may be driven partly by pesticides, study shows
Dec 7, 2023 / 16:15 pmPlunging fertility rates, due to multiple factors, present profound challenges for couples today, and the future does not look bright.
Pope Francis accepts resignation of head of Syro-Malabar Church, Cardinal Alencherry
Dec 7, 2023 / 14:35 pmPope Francis on Thursday accepted the resignation of Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, based in India.
Data shows most states moving away from use of the death penalty
Dec 7, 2023 / 14:05 pmExecutions peaked in 1999 and have been on a mostly unbroken downward trajectory since then with more states ending the use of the death penalty.
Former Speaker McCarthy says he’s leaving Congress at end of year
Dec 6, 2023 / 13:30 pmThe California Republican said in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal that he had “decided to depart the House at the end of this year to serve America in new ways.”
Climate activists disrupt archbishop’s Mass in Turin
Dec 4, 2023 / 14:30 pmActivists with the climate group Extinction Rebellion interrupted Mass at the Turin Cathedral on Sunday while reading aloud from the pope’s environmental documents.
Pope Francis signs interfaith climate statement as part of COP28 summit in Dubai
Dec 4, 2023 / 14:02 pm“Our faith instills in us a sacred duty to cherish not only our human family but also the fragile ecosystem that cradles us,” the document said.
Pope Francis sends condolences to family of Indi Gregory at British baby’s funeral
Dec 1, 2023 / 11:35 amThe pope “sends condolences and the assurance of his spiritual closeness to her parents, Dean and Claire, and to all who mourn the loss of this precious child of God.”
In unique governors’ debate, DeSantis and Newsom bicker, trade criticism
Dec 1, 2023 / 11:10 amThe event, billed as “The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate,” was broadcast on Fox News and moderated by network host Sean Hannity.
Activist group pushes to enshrine abortion rights in Arkansas constitution
Nov 29, 2023 / 17:00 pmAn activist group in Arkansas this week announced an effort to pass a state constitutional amendment protecting the right to abortion.
Vatican: Pope’s health ‘stable’; treatment continues as lung inflammation remains
Nov 29, 2023 / 15:58 pmThe Vatican on Wednesday said Pope Francis’ health was stable as the Holy Father continues to receive treatment for ongoing lung inflammation.
New Catholic PR agency looks to help Catholics become ‘strengthened in the faith’
Nov 29, 2023 / 09:00 amSophia Communications seeks to promote a variety of Catholic organizations and endeavors by “spreading the faith via the media.”
When an Oregon town told a church to limit its meals to the homeless the DOJ stepped in
Nov 28, 2023 / 15:55 pmSt. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Brookings, Oregon, has for years regularly provided meals for homeless people in the area up to six days per week.
Vatican cancels Pope Francis’ trip to climate conference in Dubai, citing ongoing illness
Nov 28, 2023 / 14:53 pmThe Vatican indicated the Holy Father will still attempt to participate in the conference in some fashion.
Jewish, Muslim groups call for religious liberty protections in Catholic school lawsuit
Nov 27, 2023 / 16:15 pmThe suit is challenging a Michigan Supreme Court ruling that sexual orientation and gender identity are protected categories under a 1976 Michigan statute.
Connecticut archbishop calls for female deacons, moving Vatican out of Rome
Nov 22, 2023 / 12:58 pmIn an interview with a local news station, Bishop Christopher Coyne said he would tell the Holy Father: “Get [the Church] out of Italy. Get it out of Rome.”
Church Militant’s Michael Voris steps down after ‘morality clause’ violation
Nov 22, 2023 / 11:45 amIn a video posted to his Twitter page on Tuesday, Voris addressed the controversy, alluding to “some very, very ugly truths from my past…”
French bishop charged with attempted 2013 rape of adult man
Nov 21, 2023 / 12:26 pmPope Francis has appointed an apostolic administrator of the La Rochelle and Saintes Diocese, while Bishop Georges Colomb will retain the title of bishop.
Oklahoma sues Biden administration in dispute over abortion, federal family planning funds
Nov 21, 2023 / 11:04 amThe funding “has been terminated solely because Oklahoma will not commit to providing referrals for abortion,” the lawsuit claims.
Ohio priest sentenced to life in prison for sex trafficking
Nov 20, 2023 / 12:45 pmParish priest Michael Zacharias was convicted on five counts of sex trafficking by a federal jury in the Northern District of Ohio in May.