Daily Catholic News:
In the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina, Bishop Michael Martin’s decision to ban altar rails and kneelers at the Chapel of the Little Flower in St. Therese Parish has sparked significant backlash. The bishop had previously delayed restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass for three months before announcing the ban in a letter dated September 26, 2025.
The European Commission’s decision to withdraw funding from a Catholic federation due to ideological bias has been met with strong condemnation. The federation, which has not been named, has criticized the move as an infringement on religious freedom and a clear demonstration of bias against Catholic values and principles.
The number of trafficking victims is on the rise worldwide, according to a report from the International Conference on Human Trafficking held at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Experts and survivors at the conference called for stronger action to combat this growing global issue, which currently affects an estimated fifty million people.
In Nigeria, 130 students and teachers who were kidnapped from a Catholic school in November have been released, according to local authorities. The kidnapping was one of several similar incidents in the country, which have raised serious concerns about the safety and security of educational institutions.
In Illinois, Pope Leo XIV has appealed to Governor JB Pritzker to veto a bill that would legalize assisted suicide. The Pope’s request, which was made during a meeting with the governor in November 2025, reflects the Catholic Church’s strong opposition to euthanasia and assisted suicide.