Articles by Matt McDonald
13 things to know about J.D. Vance’s Catholic journey
Jul 21, 2024 / 07:00 amRepublican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance has written extensively about his life in faith, both in a mega-selling memoir and in a long essay for The Lamp.
Devout Christian dad killed in Trump assassination attempt was ‘the very best of us’
Jul 14, 2024 / 15:46 pmCorey Comparatore died shielding his family during the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.
Catholic priest prayed for Trump’s safety at Pennsylvania rally moments before shooting
Jul 14, 2024 / 06:40 amFather Jason Charron, a Ukrainian Catholic priest who offered a benediction at Trump’s rally, recounted the moments before and after the assassination attempt.
Trump injured at Pennsylvania rally in assassination attempt; shooter, rally attendee dead
Jul 13, 2024 / 19:34 pm“The former president is safe,” the U.S. Secret Service said in a written statement that did not say whether Trump was injured.
New Hampshire teacher drove pregnant student to get an abortion
Jun 29, 2024 / 07:00 amThe student was at least 18 years old at the time and therefore under state law did not need the permission of her parents, the teacher says in a lawsuit filed this week.
Ohio House backs single-sex bathrooms in schools
Jun 28, 2024 / 18:30 pmSupporters of the bill say they are trying to protect women and girls from humiliation, intimidation, and violence.
Stop using art by Father Rupnik, Cardinal O’Malley tells Vatican officials
Jun 28, 2024 / 15:05 pm“We must avoid sending a message that the Holy See is oblivious to the psychological distress that so many are suffering,” Cardinal Seán O’Malley wrote.
Montana judge strikes down law defining ‘sex’ as ‘male and female’
Jun 27, 2024 / 17:45 pmThe law defines “male” as a “a member of the human species” who has XY chromosomes. It defines “female” as having XX chromosomes.
Democrats move to repeal federal law that forbids abortion materials in U.S. mail
Jun 21, 2024 / 11:30 amSen. Tina Smith, D-Minnesota, said in a Thursday press release on her website that she had introduced a bill to repeal the Comstock Act.
Texas Supreme Court upholds law outlawing abortion even in so-called ‘hard cases’
May 31, 2024 / 18:15 pmThe Texas Supreme Court has upheld the state’s law outlawing almost all abortions, turning aside a challenge based on severe pregnancy complications.
Tennessee bans ‘abortion trafficking’ of underage girls
May 31, 2024 / 14:30 pmThe new Class C felony, called “abortion trafficking of a minor,” applies to an adult who “recruits, harbors, or transports” a pregnant girl 17 or younger.
Tennessee bans minors’ interstate gender transitioning without parental consent
May 31, 2024 / 13:30 pmSupporters call it a parental rights bill. Opponents say it’s unnecessary and a shot at transgender people.
Florida priest charged for biting arm of woman he says was desecrating Eucharist
May 23, 2024 / 18:21 pmFather Fidel Rodriguez admitted to police that he bit the woman but said he did so only after she reached into the ciborium and tried to grab a host from it.
Chiefs’ Harrison Butker chides Catholic leaders in Benedictine College commencement address
May 14, 2024 / 11:38 amCatholic bishops should be more like St. Damien of Molokai and less concerned about what civil and cultural leaders think about them, Butker said.
New bishop ordained in Portland, Maine: A Franciscan shepherd for the people
May 10, 2024 / 14:30 pmBishop James Ruggieri, 56, is known for driving a food truck to homeless people when he was a pastor in Providence, Rhode Island.
Kansas Legislature enacts four pro-life bills over governor’s vetoes
May 1, 2024 / 05:30 amSupporters put together the necessary two-thirds majorities to override the vetoes of Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat who supports legal abortion.
Chaplains in public schools? Florida’s Catholic bishops ‘pleased’ by new law
Apr 30, 2024 / 17:45 pmFlorida’s bishops are welcoming a new law that allows public schools in the state to have volunteer chaplains.
Armed New York resident arrested in St. Peter’s in Rome was on ‘Most Wanted’ list
Apr 30, 2024 / 16:03 pmMoises Tejada, 54, is on the Most Wanted Fugitives list of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
Catholic Answers pulls plug on AI priest ‘Father Justin’
Apr 29, 2024 / 13:30 pmJust days after debuting an AI priest character to overwhelmingly negative reviews, Catholic Answers gave “Father Justin” the virtual heave-ho.
Eucharist, unity, clarity: What attracts converts to the Catholic Church?
Apr 24, 2024 / 07:00 amSeveral U.S. dioceses reported 30%, 40%, 50%, and even more than 70% more adult converts who entered the Catholic Church this Easter.