null / Credit: Paul Gueu/Shutterstock

Denver, Colorado, Dec 5, 2025 / 18:18 pm (CNA).

After receiving a letter of excommunication from the Vatican, the leader of a schismatic group in Colorado Springs told congregants he would ignore it — furthering the divide between the small splinter group and the Catholic Church.

Anthony Ward heads the Servants of the Holy Family, a group that labels itself as Catholic in spite of the Diocese of Colorado Springs’ declaration that the group is schismatic.  

In a 40-minute speech to his congregation in which he called Church authorities “a kangaroo court” of “heretics” and “freemasons,” Ward went public on Nov. 16 about his excommunication and his plans to continue ignoring the Catholic Church’s directives. 

During a secret ceremony in 2024, a bishop whose name was withheld at the time consecrated Ward as a bishop without papal permission.

In the Catholic Church, only the pope can appoint bishops. Consecrating a bishop without papal mandate is considered illicit and incurs an automatic “latae sententiae” excommunication for both parties.

During the meeting at the Servants’ chapel on Nov. 16, Ward told his congregation that the Catholic Church had made a declaration of excommunication against him due to what he described as “persistent, rebellious disobedience.”

Though excommunication is a “medicinal penalty” designed to urge an individual to repent, Ward has said he is “ignoring” the letter and will not be responding within the 30-day window given to him. 

Embracing the claims of the letter, Ward said he will continue to disobey, instead putting his loyalty toward what he called “the true Catholic faith.” 

“I have not and will not obey commands from the kangaroo court composed of heretics, schismatics, Freemasons, representatives of the most vile sinful perversions, enemies of the cross of Christ,” Ward told the congregation, “of whom the majority of bishops — particularly in this country — no longer believe in the real presence of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus, Christ in the Eucharist.”

The U.S. Catholic bishops recently led a yearslong Eucharistic Revival that centered on the Catholic belief that the Eucharist is the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ.

Despite the local Catholic diocese’s denouncement of the Servants, the group continues to hold Eucharistic celebrations and is recruiting minors as well as adult men to be trained as priests.

The Servants’ website advertises the group as “faithful to the Latin Mass” as well as to “Catholic doctrine and morals” and claims it is “endorsed by Catholic bishops worldwide.” 

Ward named Archbishop Telesphore George Mpundu Lusaka, the African archbishop emeritus of Zambia, as the bishop who illicitly consecrated him, but the other bishops are not specified readily on the website. 

When asked to comment, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Colorado Springs referred to the most recent public statement by Bishop James Golka in April 2024. 

Since 2013, the Diocese of Colorado Springs has publicly held that the Servants are “not in good standing” with the Church.   

Pointing to continued “obstinate ill will” by the Servants, Golka declared last year that Ward and other priests affiliated with the Servants “are not in good standing with the diocesan or the universal Catholic Church” and declared it “a schismatic group.” 

Pointing to canon law, Golka declared that its Eucharistic celebration “is illicit and a grave moral offense” and that its celebration of baptism “is illicit.” The bishop also declared celebrations of penance, the sacrament of matrimony, confirmation, and holy orders by this group to be invalid. 

Golka said it would be “an act of spiritual danger” for Catholics to attend celebrations led by the Servants and encouraged the faithful to pray for reconciliation. 

The Servants did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.

Chicago firefighters attend to a woman outside a doorway in video taken in November 2025 by Coalition Life. / Credit: Courtesy of Coalition Life’s YouTube channel

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 5, 2025 / 17:54 pm (CNA).

The pro-life nonprofit Coalition Life is planning to ramp up its sidewalk counseling initiative at a Planned Parenthood facility in Chicago after a woman was found crying in pain outside of the clinic.

A video shows sidewalk counselor Jacob Tipre observing the woman curled up, leaning against the doorway for the Planned Parenthood Elizabeth Cohn Morris Health Center, which is located in downtown Chicago. The incident occurred Nov. 15 shortly before 4 p.m., according to Coalition Life.

Mary Jane Maharry, a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood of Illinois, told CNA: “We’re not commenting.” Planned Parenthood Federation of America did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A video posted by Coalition Life shows Tipre asking the woman whether she was OK. She responded: “No, I am not.”

“They just do the procedure, and they threw me out on the streets,” the woman said, while crying. “They just threw me out on the streets.”

Brian Westbrook, executive director and founder of Coalition Life, who has been involved in sidewalk counseling for 14 years, told CNA: “This is the most egregious treatment of any woman that I have seen in my history [of doing this].”

Westbrook said the woman called her own ambulance. He said Tipre stayed alongside the woman while she waited for emergency services to arrive because he noticed “her eyes are kind of rolling back in her head and [she was] almost to the point where she was in shock or passing out.”

The video shows the fire department arriving on the street to provide assistance. Tipre waved the personnel over while the woman remained seated in the doorway. The video does not show any Planned Parenthood workers outside the facility with the woman.

The Chicago Police Department confirmed it received an emergency call and did not provide additional information.

Tipre said in the video that he is “still processing this myself” and rebuked Planned Parenthood for “literally treating their own clients as garbage.”

Westbrook said Coalition Life does not have the woman’s contact information and is not able to follow up, but added: “I would be curious to know if Planned Parenthood bothers following up with her at all.”

Westbrook said Coalition Life recently began to offer sidewalk counseling at this location. He said the nonprofit was planning an expansion to this spot and the incident “certainly sparked a certain level of urgency to continue to build the team there.” 

Sidewalk counselors wait outside of abortion clinics and offer people information about pro-life alternatives to abortion and medical and financial resources available for those who need them.

Westbrook said there are two life-affirming pregnancy centers that provide pregnancy services to women nearby, where they refer pregnant women: The Women’s Care Center and Aid For Women.

He said Coalition Life and life-affirming pregnancy centers will follow up with women throughout their pregnancies. He said abortion clinics are not required to provide follow-up care in Illinois in spite of complications that can occur.

Joseph Karam (far left) arrived with his parents, his aunt and uncle, and a group of about 90 Lebanese-Americans from across the United States — all drawn by the significance of witnessing Pope Leo’s first international visit and experiencing it on Lebanese soil — for Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Lebanon from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, 2025. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Joseph Karam

ACI MENA, Dec 5, 2025 / 17:02 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV has left Lebanon, but the imprint of his visit remains deeply etched across the country. 

The pontiff’s presence in the country from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 stirred something in everyone — from the elderly who have carried decades of Lebanon’s wounds, to the young whose hope has been wavering, to the thousands of foreign workers and migrant communities who quietly sustain daily life there.

For a few unforgettable days, Lebanon’s diverse people, citizens and immigrants alike, found themselves united by the same emotion: a renewed sense of dignity, consolation, and hope.

A revival for Lebanon’s youth

Among those deeply moved by the visit was Joseph Karam, a young Lebanese-American who traveled to Lebanon for the first time. Karam arrived with his parents, his aunt and uncle, and a group of about 90 Lebanese-Americans from across the United States — all drawn by the significance of witnessing Pope Leo’s first international visit and experiencing it on Lebanese soil.

For Karam, the encounter of the pope with the youth on Dec. 1 in the square of the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerké was especially meaningful. “It was very cool for me to meet the pope in Lebanon, especially since he’s American and I’m Lebanese-American,” he said. “I felt very connected to my roots and honored that he chose Lebanon for his first international visit.”

Karam said he believes the visit left a deep imprint on Lebanese everywhere, whether in the country or abroad. “Lebanese people have long been negatively impacted by war and political strife, so I think the pope wanted them to know they are heard and that they are an important part of the Church.”

He also reflected on the pope’s appeal for young Lebanese to remain and participate in rebuilding their homeland. For Karam — whose father emigrated to the U.S. in 1987 seeking a better future — the message comes with complexity. “It’s hard for me to tell people not to leave if they have the opportunity,” he said. “But coming to Lebanon for the first time, I was truly amazed by how strong the people are, how beautiful the country is, and how vibrant the faith is.”

Ultimately, he found himself aligned with the pope’s call. “I would tell the youth of Lebanon to work to build a better Lebanon for the future, so they can reach their full potential,” he said.

Karam’s experience echoed the hope many felt from abroad. But for those who stayed in Lebanon through its hardships, the gathering carried an even deeper weight. Among them was Adeline Khouri, a French-Lebanese woman who has chosen to stay in Lebanon despite the difficulties. “We, the youth of Lebanon, have been deeply demoralized. We are exhausted by instability, insecurity, and watching so many of our people leave the country. Our hope has been worn down,” she said. 

“This gathering felt like a reboot for my faith and my perseverance in Lebanon. Being seen, recognized, and affirmed for our faith gave us consolation, strength, and hope to persevere. This moment will remain forever as a beacon of hope reminding us to keep going when things get hard.”

She described the pope’s presence in profoundly spiritual terms. “I want people to understand that the pope’s presence, his consolation, and his moving words were like a kiss from the bridegroom Jesus to his beloved bride, the Church — a kiss of love, strength, and encouragement. It was as if he whispered: ‘Well done, faithful servant. Now enter your glorious time.’”

One of the moments that most clearly reflected the joy and excitement of the youth was when a young man named Karim ran toward the stage, managed to slip past the pope’s security, and knelt at the pope’s feet to kiss them. Speaking to ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, right after the incident, Karim said he had a deep desire to get close to the pope and receive his blessing. He explained that he even handed the pope his scarf so that he could sign it — a moment he described as unforgettable.

A moment of joy for migrant workers

Lebanon’s migrant workers — who formed a strong and visibly joyful presence at the Mass on Dec. 2 with the pope, especially communities from Ethiopia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and other countries — also felt deeply touched by the pope’s visit. 

Sonia, from Madagascar, has been living in Lebanon for seven years and described seeing Pope Leo as “a dream come true.” She said his presence brought “a ray of sunshine in a world with a lot of problems,” expressing how much hope and consolation the moment gave to workers who often live far from their families and carry heavy burdens in silence.

A group of women from the Philippines stood together with tears on their faces, expressing their happiness and their love for both the pope and Lebanon. One of them, who has not seen her husband and children in the Philippines since 2018, told us she video-called them as the popemobile passed so that they could share the moment with her. 

Standing among them was an Orthodox Ethiopian woman who said she had lit a candle ahead of the pope’s visit, praying that his trip would go smoothly and that he would bring her “happiness and joy.” For her, his presence was an answer to that simple prayer, a moment of light amid the challenges of everyday life.

Peacekeepers at the Mass

UNIFIL peacekeepers — the United Nations force tasked with helping maintain stability in southern Lebanon — were also present at the Mass with the pope in Beirut. Among them was Capt. Nicola Giuliano of the Italian Army, who described the moment as both a privilege and a reminder of the mission’s deeper purpose.

“I am here in Lebanon for the UNIFIL mission,” he told ACI MENA. “I had the opportunity and the privilege to take part in this meeting with the pope during his visit to Lebanon. It was a beautiful occasion because, especially in these lands that have been deeply affected by armed conflict, the presence of peace and serenity is essential, especially for the younger generations.”

He reflected on how witnessing the gathering reinforced the values peacekeepers try to uphold. “We see this every day, and it also reminds us of how fortunate we are to have the basic things in life, which we often take for granted,” he said. “These young people truly need this message, and I hope to bring this experience back with me to Italy, to my own country.”

Also present at the Mass were Indonesian members of UNIFIL, including Deddy Siahaan, the Deputy Commander. A Christian from a predominantly Muslim country, he described attending the Mass with Pope Leo as “an unforgettable moment” and “truly inspiring.” 

“His presence brought hope, comfort, and unity to the people of Lebanon during a difficult time,” he said. Reflecting on the pope’s repeated call for peace, Siahaan noted how deeply meaningful the message was for him as a peacekeeper entrusted with promoting stability.

In just a few days, Pope Leo rekindled something Lebanon had been losing: hope. His call for peace reached many hearts — young, old, local, foreign — uniting a country desperate for light.

Grand prize-winning piece by Janielle Perez is on display at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., until Jan. 11, 2026. Perez is a student at Resurrection Catholic School in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. / Credit: Tessa Gervasini/CNA

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 5, 2025 / 16:08 pm (CNA).

Children across the U.S. received awards for their artwork portraying the Nativity of Jesus in Washington, D.C.

“Through their creativity, they have beautifully expressed the story of Christ’s humble beginning and what it means to be young missionary disciples,” said Alixandra Holden, director of the Missionary Childhood Association (MCA), one of four Pontifical Mission Societies in the U.S., at a Dec. 5 awards ceremony.

MCA’s mission is “to help children grow in faith by teaching them to pray and sacrifice for other children around the world.” Since 1933, the organization has encouraged children to evangelize by depicting the Nativity of Jesus.

The organization started the MCA National Christmas Artwork Contest, inviting participation of young Catholic artists. The hope is to help young people meditate on the mystery of Christ’s birth and share their gifts with the world during Advent, according to MCA.

A piece of art can “speak a thousand words,” Holden said. “Each one of them is a testament to our faith, whether it’s created by pencil, marker, or paint. Every stroke is a proclamation of the good news in their art classrooms, in their schools, and in their parishes. And wherever their lives take them, their God-given talents can continue to share Christ’s love with the world.”

The winners “were chosen from thousands and thousands of entries submitted from all across the country,” Holden said at the awards ceremony at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Participants from dioceses spanning over a dozen states won national awards. Of the 24 winners, 14 children attended the awards ceremony. 

This year’s two grand-prize winners were Janielle Perez, a student at Resurrection Catholic School in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and Diana Uytingco, a student at St. Andrew Catholic School in the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas.

Their artwork will appear on the official Christmas cards of the Pontifical Mission Societies, sent to thousands of recipients, including Pope Leo XIV. The card to the Holy Father will include a handwritten message on behalf of all the children who participated in the contest.

The artwork also will remain on display at the National Shrine until Jan. 11. 

Importance of family 

The art is a “celebration of the children,” said Monsignor Vito Buonanno, associate rector of the National Shrine, at the event. He detailed “the great gifts that God has given us through them.” 

“What is wonderful about this Pontifical Society is that it acknowledges the gifts of the children,” Buonanno said. “We think, ‘What can children do to help the missions?’ They can do an awful lot. This is just one of the things that they can do. But it is the experience of what family is.”

When meditating on the Nativity during the Advent and Christmas seasons, “remember how important family is,” Buonanno said. “The sacrifices that we make for family … are worth it because that is what keeps going, it’s our identity. It’s this identity that we discover and that we have. So we celebrate that.”

“Most especially, we celebrate it at the most important thing we do as Catholic people, as Christians. We celebrate it in the Mass. That’s where we are truly experiencing what it means to be one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church.”

“It’s God who puts it all together to make us know that we can persevere and experience the love of what it means that a God Almighty became one of us,” Buonanno said. “God, he became one of us. Why? To show us the way to the Father.”

Pope Leo XIV. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 5, 2025 / 15:38 pm (CNA).

The profile of Pope Leo XIV is among the most viewed pages on the digital encyclopedia Wikipedia, and his names — both the one he took upon beginning his pontificate on May 8 and his given name, Robert Francis Prevost — are among the most searched terms globally on Google during 2025.

The Wikimedia Foundation, which supports Wikipedia, presented on Dec. 2 its list of “most read articles” in English. Pope Leo XIV in English holds fifth place.

Wikimedia highlighted that one of the deaths that had the biggest impact during 2025 was that of Pope Francis, whom they remembered as “the first Latin American to become pope” who “served as pope for 12 years before passing away” on April 21.

“The Catholic Church selected his successor, Pope Leo XIV, a few weeks later. As people rushed online to learn about Leo, traffic to all Wikimedia projects peaked at around 800,000 hits per second, more than six times over normal traffic levels and a new all-time record for us,” the foundation noted.

“Plenty of people also came to learn more about Francis’ life, too,” it added, noting that his English Wikipedia page ranks 11th among the most read pages this year.

Wikipedia, which defines itself as “a free online encyclopedia written and maintained by a community of volunteers, known as Wikipedians, through open collaboration and the wiki software MediaWiki,” is one of the most visited websites in the world. According to Statista, in 2025 it ranked fifth, just behind Google, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

Leo XIV and his election: Search trends in 2025

Near the end of the year, the search engine Google also released its list of trends, “Year in Search 2025.” In its “people” section, Pope Leo XIV ranked fifth worldwide, and among news searches, the election of the new pope ranked fourth.

In the United States, his native country, Pope Leo XIV ranked fifth among trending people searches. The election of the new pope was in seventh place among trending news searches, while Pope Francis ranked seventh on the list of searches for those who died in 2025.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Singer Michael Bublé called meeting Pope Leo XIV on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, “one of the greatest moments of my life,” adding that as he prepares to headline the Vatican’s annual Christmas concert for the poor, he hopes his example will encourage more people to speak openly about their faith. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 5, 2025 / 15:08 pm (CNA).

Michael Bublé called meeting Pope Leo XIV on Friday “one of the greatest moments of my life,” adding that as he prepares to headline the Vatican’s annual Christmas concert for the poor, he hopes his example will encourage more people to speak openly about their faith.

The Grammy-winning singer, known for his velvety voice and popular Christmas albums, said faith “changes everything in my life, every single interaction.”

“When you say that you have strong faith, this is shocking to people, which is sometimes hard for me to understand,” Bublé said in response to a question from CNA at a Vatican press conference on Dec. 5.

“And with the platform I have, my hope is that … there’s a young person who might listen to me today who might be afraid to share their faith or to be open about it, and they look at me and they say, ‘Wow, look at Bublé. He’s not afraid to share it,’ and maybe it will give them the strength to do the same.”

Bublé met Pope Leo XIV on Friday along with other artists participating in the Vatican’s sixth annual “Concert with the Poor” on Saturday, Dec. 6.

“I am overwhelmed,” Bublé said. “This morning, I had the opportunity to meet the Holy Father. For me, this was something that I knew was going to be one of the greatest moments of my life.” 

This year marks the first time a pope will attend the Vatican concert, which is free and offered to 3,000 people in need served by volunteer organizations around Rome. They will receive a hot takeaway dinner and other necessities after the event.

“We know that times are difficult for many people, and there’s a lot of darkness,” Bublé said. I feel like when you have faith, you have your own pilot light. And the lights can go out everywhere, everywhere, but if you have that faith and you have that light inside you, you can find your way.”

The Canadian singer told EWTN News after the press conference that it was especially meaningful to introduce the pontiff to his mother, who was his childhood catechism teacher.  

“A lot of people won’t know, but I was raised in the Catholic Church, and my mother was my catechism teacher,” said Bublé, who has noted in previous interviews that he does not identify with a particular organized religion.

“Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ and the sacrifice that allows all of us to have an eternal life,” Bublé said, describing how music is central to his spiritual life.

“Music is a gift from God,” he said. “I talk to so many people today about what a gift from God music is.”

Bublé noted that “Silent Night” and “Adeste Fideles” are among his favorite Christmas hymns. 

He said that he asked the pope for specific song requests for the concert, which will feature selections Pope Leo enjoys. One of them is “Ave Maria,” a piece not normally in Bublé’s repertoire. He acknowledged feeling “a bit nervous” to perform it before the pope and was coaxed into offering reporters a brief a cappella preview during the press conference.

The concert will also feature the choir of the Diocese of Rome, the Nuova Opera Orchestra, and Catholic composer Monsignor Marco Frisina. Past editions of the concert have been conducted by composers Hans Zimmer and Ennio Morricone.

“Before every show … I say, ‘Thank you, God, for giving me the ability to connect with these beautiful souls,’” Bublé said.

Pope Leo XIV meets with members of the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation and the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities on Dec. 5, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 5, 2025 / 14:38 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV reflected Dec. 5 at the Vatican on the challenges posed by artificial intelligence during a meeting with members of the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation and participants in the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities.

In his address, the Holy Father pointed out that artificial intelligence affects certain essential characteristics of the human person, “such as critical thinking, discernment, learning, and interpersonal relationships.”

For the pontiff, this has a real impact “on the lives of millions of people, every day and in every part of the world.”

“How can we ensure that the development of artificial intelligence truly serves the common good and is not just used to accumulate wealth and power in the hands of a few?” he then asked.

To answer this question, the pope urged deeper reflection on “what it means to be human in this moment of history” — that is, those who are called to be collaborators in the work of creation and not simply “passive consumers of content generated by artificial technology.”

“Our dignity,” he added, “lies in our ability to reflect, choose freely, love unconditionally, and enter into authentic relationships with others.”

He also emphasized that this technology raises “serious concerns about its possible repercussions on humanity’s openness to truth and beauty, and capacity for wonder and contemplation.”

Consequently, he noted that “recognizing and safeguarding what characterizes the human person and guarantees his or her balanced growth is essential for establishing an adequate framework for managing the consequences of artificial intelligence.”

Leo XIV mentioned his concern about the vulnerability of children and young people in this new reality, where their freedom and spirituality are at stake, as well as their intellectual and neurological development.

Therefore, he warned that “the ability to access vast amounts of data and information should not be confused with the ability to derive meaning and value from it.”

In this context, he emphasized that “it will therefore be essential to teach young people to use these tools with their own intelligence, ensuring that they open themselves to the search for truth, a spiritual and fraternal life, broadening their dreams and the horizons of their decision-making.”

He also emphasized the need to “restore and strengthen their confidence in the human ability to guide the development of these technologies. It is a confidence that today is increasingly eroded by the paralyzing idea that its development follows an inevitable path.”

Finally, the Holy Father affirmed that these objectives can only be achieved through “widespread participation that gives everyone the opportunity to be heard with respect, even the most humble.” 

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Pope Leo XIV waves to pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square shortly after his election on Thursday, May 8, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 5, 2025 / 14:08 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV will offer his “vision for peace, unity, and reconciliation” in his first full-length book to be published in February 2026.

The Holy Father’s book, “Peace Be With You: My Words to the Church and to the World,” is set to be published in English and Spanish on Feb. 24 by HarperOne, according to a Dec. 4 press release. 

The title of the book recalls the first words spoken by the risen Christ, which also were Leo’s first words as pontiff: “Peace be with you.”

“I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, among all people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world. Peace be with you!” Leo said at his first appearance from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.

The book includes sermons and addresses delivered since his election on May 8, 2025, according to the publisher, which has also distributed works by St. John Paul II and Pope Francis. 

“Together, these texts reflect the new pope’s vision and priorities: the primacy of God, communion within the Church, and the global pursuit of peace,” the release said. “[Leo] has repeatedly emphasized the humility required of leadership, stating: ‘To disappear so that Christ remains, to make himself small so that he may be known and glorified.’”

“As the first North American pope in history, Pope Leo XIV’s words offer a unique perspective that resonates across borders and faith traditions,” the publisher continued. The book “welcomes readers into communion with his message of reconciliation and hope, inviting all people — of every nation and background — to embrace a renewed vision for peace.”

Paula Fitzgerald, Roxana Rueda Moreno, moderator Christian Soenen, Rosa Reyes discuss the effects of mass deportation at a conversation sponsored by the Georgetown Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life. / Credit: Madalaine Elhabbal/CNA

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 5, 2025 / 12:44 pm (CNA).

Life for members of the Latino community has “changed drastically,” according to leaders of groups serving Latino Catholics.

“Since the increased immigration enforcement, our communities, our families, are living in constant fear and anxiety,” said Roxana Rueda Moreno of Iskali, a Chicago-based organization that helps form young Latino Catholics to be leaders within their communities. 

“It’s not a fear of ‘we’re doing something wrong,’” Moreno said. “It’s a fear of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” She described families sheltering in their residences to avoid detentions, children staying home from school, and parents staying home from work. 

Moreno said her uncle was detained in October and that she was not able to locate him until a month later. 

“I searched for one month, I called hospitals, I called detention centers, hoping somebody would give me an answer, that somebody would give me news,” Moreno said. “A month later I was able to locate him, thanks be to God, and came to find out he was in a different state.” 

Moreno also shared the story of a mother within her community “who is now raising her daughter who has severe autism alone,” since her husband was detained. She also spoke of a man who was killed during an altercation with federal officers in September. 

“Those are only some of the stories that we carry as a city, as a community. Stories filled with pain, sorrow, uncertainty, but they are also stories of resilience and faith and courage, of a community that refuses to let go,” Moreno said. “We are holding onto each other as much as we can and we are choosing to live in hope, because that’s where we can stand from now.”

Paula Fitzgerald, executive director of Ayuda (translated “help” in Spanish), said her work to provide legal, social, and language services for low-income immigrants has become increasingly difficult due to several changes in the way immigration enforcement has played out since the start of the Trump administration’s expansion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.

“In the beginning we received so many calls from schools, places of worship, saying, ‘What can we do to protect our spaces so our community can continue to come here and be safe?’” she said. “Usually we’ve been able to provide answers — there was a memo that protected these spaces from ICE enforcement before, and all of that has deteriorated.” 

The administration in early 2025 rescinded a policy that treated schools, hospitals, and places of worship as “protected” or “sensitive” locations, and ICE agents are permitted to conduct arrests at or near those locations.

Fitzgerald said many of the immigrants her organization serves are victims of crime, including domestic violence and human trafficking. 

“Any given week we have a domestic violence survivor come in and try to figure out what to do. Should I report to MPD? Am I safe reporting?” she said. 

Fitzgerald told CNA she is most concerned about the “deterioration of trust with law enforcement.” 

“The fear now in terms of reporting their crime, their victimization to the police is at an all-time high, and it puts them in a really vulnerable position between the fear of their abuser versus the fear of law enforcement or being turned over to ICE,” she said. 

Fitzgerald said ICE’s presence at courthouses for the purpose of detaining immigrants on their way to hearings as well as the detention of people at “immigration facilities that aren’t designed to hold people” are concerning. 

“It is great to see Catholic leadership standing in solidarity with migrants and immigrants who are being mistreated,” Fitzgerald said. “I think it’s only all of us standing together across faiths, across communities, standing for what we know is right and standing up for those communities, that we’re going to make a change. So I’m grateful to the Catholic leadership for standing up and in defense of our communities and for everyone else who does so as well.” 

U.S. bishops issued a special message in November about their concerns over immigration enforcement, profiling and vilification of immigrants, conditions in detention centers, and arbitrary loss of legal status.

A Dec. 4 conversation, “Making Life Unbearable: The Impacts of Immigration Enforcement on Families and Communities,” was organized by Georgetown University’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life. About 1,300 people signed up for the event online, and about 50 people attended in person.

Rosa Reyes, director of the Dream Partnership and a student adviser at Trinity Washington University, and Yolanda Chávez, a theologian and pastoral leader who was deported to Mexico, also spoke at the event. 

null / Credit: itakdalee/Shutterstock

CNA Staff, Dec 5, 2025 / 12:07 pm (CNA).

A Catholic Virginia student will receive payments including attorney’s fees after a school district conceded a lawsuit she brought over the district’s transgender policies.

The student, identified in the October lawsuit as “Jane Doe,” said the Fairfax County School Board violated her constitutional rights when it subjected her to “extreme social pressure” to affirm transgender pronoun conventions.

Doe, identified as a “practicing Roman Catholic who strives daily to live in accordance with her faith,” felt compelled to engage in self-censorship in which she attempted to “avoid using pronouns altogether” in many circumstances due to fear of punishment from school officials, according to the suit.

When she expressed concerns over sharing a bathroom with a male student, meanwhile, she was told she could “use a private restroom if she felt uncomfortable,” according to the suit.

On Dec. 2 the law group America First Legal called the case a “major victory,” saying the Fairfax school district conceded the lawsuit, offering “nominal damages” and paying costs including attorney’s fees.

“This outcome sends a clear message: School systems and officials cannot disregard the safety, privacy, and dignity of students in favor of radical gender policies,” the group said.

“No student should face the threat of punishment or be pushed aside for asserting their fundamental constitutional rights,” attorney Ian Prior said in the release.

The settlement comes amid broader efforts to roll back extreme transgender ideology and LGBT policies at schools around the country, including rules that allow boys to access girls’ restrooms and other private spaces.

A California federal judge in October allowed for a class action lawsuit against California school districts that allow teachers to hide child “gender transitions” from parents.

In August, meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told states that they would be required to remove gender ideology materials from K–12 education curricula or face the loss of federal funding.

In October 2024, a school board in Virginia agreed to pay a teacher more than half a million dollars after he was fired for refusing to use a student’s transgender pronouns. In December of that year an Ohio school board paid a teacher a $450,000 settlement over a similar dispute.

A study from the Centre for Heterodox Social Science in October found a recent decline in the number of young Americans who identify as transgender or “nonheterosexual,” though a report from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law in September found that nearly 3 million Americans identify as transgender.