Articles by Daniel Payne
Court approves New York diocese’s record $323 million abuse settlement
Dec 5, 2024 / 13:30 pmThe New York diocese announced in September that it had reached the massive settlement for abuse victims after a four-year-long process.
Judge says New Jersey county can’t exclude churches from historic preservation grant
Dec 4, 2024 / 16:40 pmThe parishes were supported in their lawsuit by the First Liberty Institute and the University of Notre Dame School of Law’s Religious Liberty Clinic.
New Orleans priest pleads guilty to 1970s kidnapping, rape of teenager
Dec 4, 2024 / 14:00 pmFather Lawrence Hecker’s trial was repeatedly delayed this year amid Hecker’s ill health and uncertainty over his mental competency to stand trial.
The Jesuit priest who captured the last photos of the Titanic afloat
Dec 1, 2024 / 06:43 amFather Francis Browne’s most famous contributions to world photography are his photographs of the Titanic.
Wisconsin Catholic school leaders fired over violations of child protection policies
Nov 26, 2024 / 13:07 pmThe terminations came after the Diocese of Green Bay Office of Safe Environment received “a complaint.”
Christ the King: Pope Pius XI’s hope for ‘lasting peace among the nations’
Nov 24, 2024 / 04:00 amThe feast of Christ the King is a relatively recent addition to the Church’s liturgical calendar but a powerful reminder to the modern world that Jesus reigns.
Data show abortions dropped by nearly 40% in Iowa after six-week ban
Nov 22, 2024 / 14:05 pmThe Iowa figures reflect similar drops in abortion seen around the country in the wake of shifting abortion laws.
Police search for thief who stole 9/11 memorial gold rose from New York Catholic church
Nov 22, 2024 / 13:35 pmPolice said an individual entered the Church of St. Francis of Assisi on West 31st Street and “removed a gold-plated metal rose from the 9/11 memorial inside.”
Bottles of bourbon signed by Pope Francis expected to fetch up to $20,000 for charity
Nov 21, 2024 / 16:20 pmFather Jim Sichko told CNA that the charity auction came about from Sichko’s habit of bringing Kentucky bourbon to the Holy Father.
Jimmy Lai takes the stand in yearslong Hong Kong national security trial
Nov 20, 2024 / 16:00 pmCatholic pro-democracy and human rights activity Jimmy Lai took the stand Wednesday arguing in his own defense against allegations of sedition.
New Jersey bishop says hundreds of diocesan donations have gone missing from drop box
Nov 19, 2024 / 15:35 pmA letter to diocesan residents from Bishop Kevin Sweeney, obtained by CNA, said the missing funds were part of the Paterson Diocese’s ministries appeal.
Brooklyn pastor removed after secretly loaning $2 million of parish funds to lawyer
Nov 19, 2024 / 14:35 pmMonsignor Jamie Gigantiello has been relieved of “any pastoral oversight or governance role” at Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Annunciation Parish in Brooklyn.
Arizona Catholic parish fire being investigated as arson
Nov 18, 2024 / 15:00 pmAn early-morning fire on Oct. 18 damaged St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Casa Grande, Arizona.
ATF urges churches to adopt ‘enhanced security measures’ amid arson incidents
Nov 16, 2024 / 08:00 amThe ATF said it “urges all religious institutions to take enhanced security measures to protect their congregations and facilities” after several acts of arson.
Florida church bookkeeper sentenced to federal prison after stealing $875,000 from parish
Nov 15, 2024 / 14:00 pmHeather Darrey will spend 27 months in prison on a wire fraud conviction over her $875,323 theft from Christ the King Parish in Tampa, Florida.
2 leaders resign from La Leche League over shift to include men in breastfeeding groups
Nov 14, 2024 / 15:10 pmThe international board of La Leche League recently directed all British affiliates to begin accommodating men who believe they are women.
Federal judge blocks Louisiana law mandating Ten Commandments in school classrooms
Nov 13, 2024 / 13:35 pmA coalition of state residents had sued the Louisiana government earlier this year to block the state rule, arguing the displays would run afoul of the First Amendment.
Report: Hundreds of Canadian euthanasia violations not reported to police
Nov 12, 2024 / 15:30 pmAlexander Raikin wrote that since 2018 “euthanasia regulators” in Ontario have identified over 400 “issues with compliance” with the country’s MAID law.
Diocese of Oakland says it will pay up to $200 million for hundreds of abuse claims
Nov 11, 2024 / 14:35 pmSome advocates criticized the proposal. Dan McNevin, a volunteer with the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said it was “pretty pathetic.”
Archdiocese of New Orleans will release personnel files of clergy accused of sex abuse
Nov 8, 2024 / 13:25 pmOn Thursday the archdiocese said in an announcement that it had agreed to “nonmonetary plan provisions to be included in the bankruptcy plan.”