CNA—Antonia Raco, a 67-year-old Italian woman long affected by an incurable neurodegenerative illness, was officially introduced to the press on July 25 in Lourdes, where her healing was recognized as the 72nd miracle attributed to the intercession of the Virgin Mary since the apparitions of 1858. “In a moment of great joy, the 72nd miracle…
Book Review: Creating Moments of Joy, by Jolene Brackey Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia is an experience filled with challenges, but as Jolene Brackey beautifully illustrates in Creating Moments of Joy, it is also a journey of wisdom, love, and even unexpected joy. This book is an essential read for caregivers, family members…
CNA–Dr. Christopher Stroud was a Catholic OB-GYN who prescribed birth control and gave referrals for in vitro fertilization (IVF) until a priest admonished him in the sacrament of reconciliation. Now Stroud runs a life-affirming fertility clinic that uses Natural Procreative Technology — a treatment model that embraces life-affirming Catholic ethics. “It changed my life,” Stroud…
As my wife Pat and I reflect on the 15 years the St. John Paul II Life Center and Vitae Clinic which we co-founded in 2010 with Chris and Sheri Danze, we think about our goal to help women who have given birth to a beautiful girl or boy each being made in the image…
Even though considering many of life’s important questions have been raging now for more than 52 years, there seem to be more questions today than answers regarding human life! To help understand how the John Paul II Life and Family Center (JPII Life Center) works with people of ALL beliefs to understand the beauty and…
CNA—The top organization that provides medical guidance to U.S. plastic surgeons released a statement calling for more evidence-based studies on the efficacy of “gender-affirming” surgery for adolescents, according to Manhattan Institute fellow and pediatric gender medicine expert Leor Sapir. “Considerable uncertainty” The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) , which represents 92% of all board-certified…
CNA—“We are being sent forth on mission to make Christ known to others and to be Christ to others,” Christina Wheatley of Jeffersonsville, Indiana, told CNA on the eve of the National Eucharistic Congress this week. Wheatley was among the first pilgrims to arrive in Indianapolis for the five-day event, which kicked off Tuesday with…
CNA—For 70 years, Kathleen Anderson’s congenital heart disease had eroded her health and brought her to her knees in prayer. As she finally prepared to undergo a heart transplant, she paused to pray and hoped to find healing and respite when she emerged from surgery. Although she awoke with a healthy new heart in her…
VNA—Dentist, Social Media Producer and Religious Sister. All these titles could be included in the job description of Sr. M. Paula Blum, Schoenstatt Sister of Mary, ISSM, from Ecuador. The 34-year-old is in her final year of studies to become a dentist and has a passion for spreading the “Good News” via Instagram. Gratitude “It’s…
CNA—A new film depicting the incredible true story of Irena Gut Opdyke, a Polish Catholic nurse who risked her own life to hide Jews persecuted by Nazi Germany during World War II, debuts in theaters across the country April 15-16. The young Catholic nurse at the heart of the story: Irena Gut “Irena’s Vow” is…
CNA—In response to gender studies programs that often churn out ideology contrary to Catholic teaching, the University of St. Thomas, Houston, (UST) is launching a sexuality and gender studies program based on “Catholic anthropology.” New program created with Catholic business professionals in mind “For some time now, conversations about gender and sexuality have dominated our…
CNA—A new Catholic, osteopathic medical school that will be housed on the campus of Benedictine College hopes to open in the fall of 2027, the project’s founding president told CNA this week. Dr. George Mychaskiw, an osteopath and a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist, told CNA that the school in February completed its application to the Commission…
My commentary on the government’s arguments and the Justices’ interrogations of the government’s lawyer regarding the first day of the Supreme Court case of Murthy v. Missouri, our free speech case challenging government censorship. The government’s opening argument attempted to characterize their behavior as friendly persuasion toward the social media companies, not overt coercion. Justice…
My initial reaction to the oral arguments in our Murthy v. Missouri (a.k.a. Missouri v. Biden) case on Monday follows below. As many of you are aware, on we had oral arguments on Monday at the Supreme Court in our free speech case challenging government censorship. The arguments have generated a lot of commentary in…
CNA—A broad coalition of 151 Catholics including medical professionals, bioethicists, and scholars released a joint letter this past week expressing concern about new guidelines issued by a major neurological society regarding “brain death” — a hotly contested topic in the medical community and among people of faith. American Association of Neurology changes guidelines on brain…
Dr. Kevin Martian, owner of Mayo Pharmacy in Bismark, North Dakota is challenging the Biden administration’s mandate requiring pharmacies that serve patients with Medicare, Medicaid or other federally funded coverage to stock and dispense elective abortion drugs. The government mandate threatens legal action against any pharmacy or pharmacist that does not comply, even if doing…
Faith at Work: This is such an eye-opening story. Not only does it showcase the vibrant integration of our Catholic faith and monasteries into the very heart of human history and communities throughout history — FOR CENTURIES UPON CENTURIES. It also showcases the intention and purpose-driven mission of Catholic-founded enterprises, masterfully founded and managed to…
Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, unequivocally condemned the FDA’s approval of the first over-the-counter oral contraceptive “Opill” in a short but strongly worded statement released Thursday on behalf of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The use of artificial contraceptives of any kind is directly contradictory to Catholic moral teaching and is “intrinsically evil,” according to…
Pope Francis is recovering from abdominal surgery this week in the same hospital room where St. John Paul II was treated throughout his pontificate. The Vatican said on June 8 that Francis is “in good general condition, alert and breathing naturally” one day after his three-hour surgery to treat an incisional hernia. Pope Francis is…
CNA—Federal government regulators backed off their demands that a Catholic hospital extinguish its chapel candle after the Oklahoma hospital’s lawyers argued that their client’s religious freedom was being violated. The hospital was informed that it will receive a waiver, provided it posts signs warning about keeping oxygen equipment away from the tabernacle candle, which is…
