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Social media restrictions bill part of MCC’s ‘Protect Kids Package’ passes House

May 12, the Minnesota House voted 132-2 in favor of a bill that would seek to establish social media requirements related to accounts for minors as well as certain enforcement and regulation mechanisms.
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Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Father Davide Pagliarani, superior general of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, are pictured at the Vatican Feb. 12, 2026. In a statement released May 13 by the Vatican press office, Cardinal Fernández said the planned consecration of new bishops by the SSPX would be considered "a schismatic act."

Doctrinal office says SSPX bishop consecrations constitute ‘schismatic act’ subject to excommunication

The planned consecration of new bishops by the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X would be considered "a schismatic act," the head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office said.
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Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Father Davide Pagliarani, superior general of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, are pictured at the Vatican Feb. 12, 2026. In a statement released May 13 by the Vatican press office, Cardinal Fernández said the planned consecration of new bishops by the SSPX would be considered "a schismatic act."

Doctrinal office says SSPX bishop consecrations constitute ‘schismatic act’ subject to excommunication

The planned consecration of new bishops by the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X would be considered "a schismatic act," the head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office said.
A man prays with a child in front of an image of Our Lady at Mount Cristo Rey in Sunland Park, N.M., during a pilgrimage Nov. 23, 2024, for the feast of Christ the King. The Diocese of Las Cruces has filed suit against the Trump administration, which is seeking to seize the Mount Cristo Rey site on the border between the United States and Mexico for portions of its border wall.

New Mexico diocese fights Trump push to seize pilgrimage site for border wall

A New Mexico diocese is citing a breach of religious freedom protections, as it pushes back against the Trump administration's efforts to seize land from a pilgrimage site to build a portion of a border wall.
iStock/Wolterk

Social media restrictions bill part of MCC’s ‘Protect Kids Package’ passes House

May 12, the Minnesota House voted 132-2 in favor of a bill that would seek to establish social media requirements related to accounts for minors as well as certain enforcement and regulation mechanisms.
Pope Leo XIV greets a child as he arrives to lead his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 13, 2026.

Pope remembers attempt on St. John Paul, calls Mary the Church’s ‘perfect model’

Marking the anniversary of the attempted assassination of St. John Paul II and the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, Pope Leo XIV said Mary is the "perfect model" of what the Church is called to be and urged Catholics to imitate her "humility, active faith and obedience."
From left, Ambrose, Matthew, Avila, Victoria and Solomon Molko sit together for Mass at Holy Family in St. Louis Park on Dec. 28, 2025, during a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the parish.

Archbishop Hebda’s new pastoral letter encourages families to ‘take heart’

Ten years after his installation on the feast of Our Lady of Fátima, Archbishop Hebda is releasing his newest pastoral letter, titled “Only One Thing Is Necessary,” to families.
Augustinians priests concelebrate a Mass of thanksgiving for the first anniversary of their brother Pope Leo XIV’s papacy at St. Jude Catholic Church in New Lenox, Ill., May 8, 2026. Among the concelebrants is Passionist Father Enzo Del Brocco, second from left.

Augustinians celebrate a year of the ‘gift of Pope Leo’ with special Mass

Pope Leo XIV's brother Augustinians and others from the Chicago-area looked back with gratitude on the past year since the election of one of their own at a special Mass May 8.
A file photo shows students praying at an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia. A recent child abuse scandal that led to the closure of an Islamic boarding school and the arrest of its head cleric is a wake-up call for Christians to tighten monitoring and introduce reforms in their schools, Church leaders in Asia said.

Abuse scandal at Indonesian Islamic school seen as call to Catholic schools to strengthen safeguards

A recent child abuse scandal that led to the closure of an Islamic boarding school and the arrest of its head cleric is a wake-up call for Christians to tighten monitoring and introduce reforms in their schools, Church leaders in Asia said.
On the steps of Pope Leo XIV’s boyhood home in Dolton, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, the Midwest Augustinians outgoing superior, Father Anthony B. Pizzo, blesses the crowd after blessing the framed portrait of Pope Leo held by the chairman of the Pope Leo XIV American Legacy Foundation, Vince Kolber, while Village of Dolton Mayor Jason House and his staff bow their heads.

First-ever pilgrimage celebrates Pope Leo with Mass, visits to papal boyhood landmarks

On the first anniversary of Pope Leo XIV's election, a group promoting the Catholic faith in Chicago's south suburbs led an inaugural pilgrimage to his boyhood home and the church he attended as a boy.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., looks at U.S. President Donald Trump as he signs the sweeping spending and tax legislation known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" to mark Independence Day at the White House in Washington on July 4, 2025. Ahead of the July 4, 2026, expiration of that law's provision eliminating funds for health care providers that also perform abortions, the U.S. bishops' pro-life chair expressed support May 8 for a bill that would block federal Title X family-planning grants and funds from going to abortion providers.

As Planned Parenthood defunding nears expiration, USCCB pro-life chair backs bill to block funds

Ahead of the July 4 expiration of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act provision that eliminated Medicaid funds to health providers who also perform abortions, the U.S. bishops' pro-life chairman expressed support for legislation that would block federal Title X family-planning grants and funds from going to those entities.
Pictured is the logo for the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. USCIRF has reiterated its recommendation that President Donald Trump swiftly nominate an Ambassador at Large for international religious freedom (IRF) and calls on the U.S. Congress to act promptly with the confirmation process.

Religious freedom watchdog urges Trump to fill key ambassador vacancy

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom on May 12 reiterated its recommendation that President Donald Trump "swiftly" make a nomination to fill a key ambassador position to promote and protect religious freedom abroad.
People gather in front of a statue called Madre Peregrina (Pilgrim Mother) to pray on Mother’s Day, May 10, before Mass at Incarnation in Minneapolis. This was the final day that the statue — which depicts the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe that was left on St. Juan Diego’s tilma in 1531 in Mexico City — was displayed in the Twin Cities.  DAVE HRBACEK  |  THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Madre Peregrina tour in archdiocese ends on Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day on May 10 marked the final day of the Madre Peregrina tour in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. It began at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul on April 23 and ended at Incarnation in Minneapolis.
Faith
Comforting

Inviting the Holy Spirit to be with us in every season of life

Jesus, at the Last Supper, prepares his Apostles, his closest friends, for his imminent passion and death, for him being with them intermittently for 40 days following his resurrection, and for his subsequent ascension into heaven. Although they do not know what lies ahead, Jesus proactively comforts them by promising that the Father “will give you another Advocate to be with you always … I will not leave you orphans.”
Commentary
Father and child

It doesn’t have to feel profound

I am just over a month into fatherhood. The most startling thing about it so far is how straightforward and even ordinary it has felt.

May: The month of Mary

Finding grace in weak places

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Practicing Catholic

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