null / Credit: RomanR/Shutterstock

CNA Staff, Nov 6, 2025 / 13:15 pm (CNA).

A staffer at the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph in Missouri allegedly stole more than $150,000 while serving as the leader of a diocesan scholarship program, officials have alleged.

Federal prosecutors claim that Jeremy Lillig engaged in wire fraud to steal from the diocesan Bright Futures Fund, which offers tuition assistance for students in diocesan schools.

Bishop James Johnston Jr. said in a Nov. 5 letter to the diocese that Lillig had been arrested by law enforcement pursuant to a warrant from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Missouri.

Lillig was last employed by the diocese in October 2023, Johnston said. The diocese became aware of the alleged theft “shortly after his departure,” after which they reported it to law enforcement including the FBI.

“This news is, I’m sure, unsettling to many within our diocesan family, and, like you, I was shocked to learn of such a gross violation of the trust and integrity that is essential to any institution, especially one upheld by Catholic teachings,” the bishop wrote.

Johnston said the diocese has conducted a full audit of its finances to determine the extent of the alleged theft. In addition, the diocese has strengthened security and oversight of the Bright Futures program.

“In everything we do, we strive to be faithful stewards of the resources and generous gifts with which we are entrusted and which help sustain our many services and ministries,” the bishop wrote in the letter.

The Kansas City Star reported on Nov. 5 that Lillig pleaded not guilty to the charges. His trial is set for March 16, 2026.

Lillig reportedly worked as director of stewardship for the diocese in addition to his role at the scholarship fund.

Prosecutors accused him of having diverted diocesan funds to purchase hundreds of Visa gift cards over the course of about five years.

In 2015 Lillig had been hailed by the local magazine the Independent as a “rising star of philanthropy,” with the outlet describing philanthropic giving as an “ingrained part of his professional, civic, and personal life.”

He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

Michael Iskander as King David in Season 2 of “House of David.” / Credit: Jonathan Prime/Prime

CNA Staff, Nov 6, 2025 / 12:45 pm (CNA).

Earlier this year, a new series telling the story of King David, one of the best-known kings of Israel, was released on Prime Video and garnered over 40 million views worldwide. “House of David,” produced by the faith-based studio The Wonder Project, is now in its second season. 

While the first season focused on the anointing of David and his defeat against Goliath, the second season sees David go from shepherd boy to warrior as a commander of King Saul’s army. 

Michael Iskander, the actor who portrays King David in the series, recently sat down with CNA for an exclusive interview and discussed the new season and David’s transformation.

“I really, really love this season,” he said. “I’m extremely proud of it and proud of the work that we'’ve done this time because it is truly a transformative season.”

He added: “In the time of David people asked, ‘How is this guy going to defeat Goliath?’ He’s just a youth … He’s a shepherd.’ In the same way this time around in this season, people are questioning, ‘How is this guy going to be a commander? How is he going to lead Saul’s armies?’ But we see that transformation that God takes him on. We see that complete switch in demeanor, complete switch in confidence, in his build. He’s a different man by the end of the season than he is at the beginning and it’s really indicative of how much God can work in our lives if we let him.”

Iskander, a recent convert to Catholicism, pointed out that this season is one of war, bloodshed, romance, and drama as well as “much more biblical material that I think is going to be really informative for people.”

One of the actor’s favorite aspects of the season is the deeper look into the friendship between David and Jonathan, one of King Saul’s sons.

“We really dive into the friendship between David and Jonathan this season and that friendship is one of the the only kind of main friendships that we see in the Old Testament between two guys,” he explained. “And it’s really a model for us as men today of how do we express love for one another? How do we show friendship? What is true friendship? What does love and friendship look like?”

As for what he hopes people are taking away from the show, Iskander hopes that “people take away the point of the story, which is that everything about David … is about the heart. What does your heart look like? I hope people ponder this question: ‘Do we love God? Do we love him as much as we should?’”

He added: “Christ says ‘To lay one’s life for another, that is the greatest love we can show.’ Are we willing to lay down our lives for Christ in the same manner that David did? David was put in so many life-threatening situations because of God and God led him through. Are we willing to trust him to lead us through those same challenges?”

“Ultimately above this, do we love God? That is the most important question,” he said. “So, I hope people ask themselves that question. And I hope it inspires them to go on a deeper faith journey. And, for me, I ultimately hope it inspires them to grow closer to Christ.”

Season 2 of "House of David" is streaming now on Prime Video with a Wonder Project subscription. 

Watch an exclusive clip from “House of David” Season 2 Episode 7 below:

Nancy Pelosi with Vatican Secetary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. / Credit: Vatican Media

CNA Staff, Nov 6, 2025 / 12:15 pm (CNA).

Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader who has served in Congress since the late 1980s, announced on Nov. 6 that she will not seek reelection once her current term expires, ending a 50-year-long career in politics including roughly four decades in the nation’s capitol.

In a video address to residents of the city of San Francisco, which she represents in Congress, Pelosi said she has “truly loved serving” the constituents of the California city.

“That is why I want you, my fellow San Franciscans, to be the first to know, I will not be seeking reelection to Congress,” she said. 

“With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative,” she said in the address. 

Pelosi first assumed congressional office in 1987. She notably served as the first female Speaker of the House from 2007–2011.

She began her career in Democratic politics in 1976 when she was elected as a member of the Democratic National Committee. She headed the California Democratic Party from 1981–1983. 

Catholic identity

Pelosi has described herself as “very Catholic,” styling herself in 2022 as “devout, practicing, all of that,” though her professed Catholicism has long been at odds with her staunch, decadeslong support of abortion. 

In 2022 Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone announced that Pelosi should not be admitted to holy Communion in the Archdiocese of San Francisco and should not present herself to receive the Eucharist until she publicly repudiates her support for abortion, which the Catholic Church teaches is a grave sin. 

A longtime backer of LGBT politics, Pelosi has also criticized the U.S. bishops for what she has claimed is “very negative, anti-LGBTQ stuff,” including regarding surgical or chemical techniques that aim to exchange or simulate the sex characteristics of a patient’s body for those of the opposite sex.

“[S]ome of it is stirred up by some of the more conservative leaders in the Church,” she alleged in 2023.

Pelosi has been married to her husband, Paul, since 1963. They have five children.

Cardinal Michael Felix Czerny, SJ, head of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, visits a stall of Caritas Bangladesh on Nov. 4, 2025, in Dhaka. / Credit: Stephan Uttom Rozario

Dhaka, Bangladesh, Nov 6, 2025 / 11:45 am (CNA).

Indigenous Catholic leaders in Bangladesh called for stronger Church support to protect their rights, land, and culture in the Muslim-majority South Asian nation during the 50th anniversary celebration of the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace (EC-JP) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh.

Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, head of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, inaugurated the celebration Nov. 4 under the theme “Raising Hope to Foster a Culture of Care.”

Christians make up less than 1% of Bangladesh’s population of approximately 170 million people. Indigenous Christians, who comprise more than 50% of the country’s 400,000 Catholics, face particular challenges regarding land rights and cultural preservation.

Indigenous leaders said they have long been successful stewards of the country’s biodiversity. However, Indigenous peoples’ land, territories, and way of life are threatened by extractive industries, tourism, industrial agriculture, and development projects.

“Proper and meaningful recognition of Indigenous peoples’ rights is a big challenge here in Bangladesh,” said Sanjeeb Drong, a Garo Indigenous Catholic leader. “Major challenges include human rights violations, land grabbing and exploitation, lack of access to justice, displacement, poverty and unemployment, loss of culture and language, and exclusion from decision-making that affects their lives and future.”

Drong called for the Church’s help and a strong position to uphold Indigenous rights in Bangladesh. “Indigenous youth and women leaders need support to promote their advocacy capacity. Let’s respect the cultures, dignity, and rights of Indigenous peoples on this land and take necessary steps to support them.”

He recalled Pope Francis’ work for Indigenous people. Laudato Si’ calls for dialogue between the Church and Indigenous peoples, recognizing them as crucial allies in the struggle for justice and environmental protection. Drong emphasized the need to implement the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the country level.

The EC-JP is an official commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh. On Feb. 2–4, 1972, at their first meeting in independent Bangladesh, the bishops took the initiative to establish the Justice and Peace Commission by prioritizing human rights and justice activities in association with the global Church.

The commission works for the protection of human rights, child protection and safeguarding, climate adaptation and mitigation, protection of migrants and internally displaced people, and pastoral support to prisoners, said Holy Cross Father Hubert Litom Gomes, secretary of EC-JP.

“We have some limitations in Bangladesh, as minorities, religion, migration, and labor rights are sensitive issues,” Gomes said.

Even with moral support, the actual implementation of development projects requires funding, local capacity, and bureaucratic cooperation.

However, Gomes expressed hope that Czerny’s visit could provide immediate visibility and inspiration. “We hope that we can do better with the help of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development,” he added.

Benedict Alo D’Rozario, president of Caritas Bangladesh, who was involved with the EC-JP from the beginning, said the commission has conducted important studies on tea workers and brickyard workers, which have had significant impacts on their lives.

“I think Christian religious and other minorities — unless we are organized, unless we raise our voice — our demands and issues will not be met,” D’Rozario said. “So we need to rethink our strategy for how we face these realities: the issues of injustice, issues of discrimination, issues of negligence.”

“As you consider the mission of the promotion of justice, I want to emphasize that no one can develop someone else,” Czerny said. “Parents help their children develop; they do not develop them. The Church promotes integral human development, but the people themselves are the primary agents of their own development.”

The cardinal added: “Our role is to accompany them pastorally in overcoming the obstacles to their development. We hope in their struggles they will say, ‘The Church is with us, Jesus is always with us.’”

The National Council of the Slovak Republic, the national Parliament of Slovakia, in Bratislava. / Credit: Peter Zelizňák via Wikimedia (Public domain)

EWTN News, Nov 6, 2025 / 11:00 am (CNA).

Bishops and educators have raised concerns about a major education overhaul signed into law by Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, saying new funding rules could unfairly affect Catholic and private schools.

The changes include unified online registration of kids for a school year and compulsory pre-school education for 4-year-olds, and later for 3-year-olds. Less-qualified personnel will be allowed to teach to offset the shortage of teachers. Universities should reduce bureaucracy and adopt modern methods, including artificial intelligence, according to the changes.

Yet one of the main issues is the new financing of private and Church-run schools.

The Ministry of Education explained that such schools can receive full funding if they admit students in accordance with the new rules, provide free education, or clearly serve the public interest.

The Slovak Bishops’ Conference (KBS) will monitor the implementation of the changes. However, the conference said the education ministry did not take into account KBS’ numerous suggestions, the episcopate stated in September. Therefore, KBS was “fundamentally in conflict with the amendment to the School Act in the form in which it was submitted to Parliament.”

The Slovak Chamber of Teachers warned that the legislative process took place “without any professional discussion in a few hours, and not months.” However, it requires “high-quality, honest legislative and professional work.”

Former Minister of Education Ján Horecký, who was a principal at a Catholic school, said he thinks the effect on private and Church-run schools will be discriminatory and unfair. It will “reduce the availability of education” and “worsen conditions for children in the name of shifting decision-making about children from parents to the state.”

After the passing of the School Act, the principals of Catholic schools in the Košice Archdiocese went on a pilgrimage to Rome for the Jubilee of the World of Education. They attended the general audience with Pope Leo XIV. Auxiliary Bishop Marek Forgáč, who accompanied them, greeted the pontiff, saying they were “very encouraged” by the pope’s words.

It was important to be “with our supreme teacher, as we need to be formed and spiritually encouraged, too, to be a good example for those to whom we are sent — our pupils and students,” the bishop concluded.

Father Francisco José Delgado, a priest of the Archdiocese of Toledo, Spain. / Credit: Photo courtesy of “La Sacristía de la Vendée”

Madrid, Spain, Nov 6, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).

Father Francisco José Delgado, a priest of the Archdiocese of Toledo, Spain, and a member of the YouTube priests’ discussion group “The Sacristy of the Vendée,” has been declared innocent of the charge of “inciting hatred” against the Holy See, interfering in the investigation into the Sodality of Christian Life (SCV by its Latin acronym), and damaging the “good reputation” of layman José Enrique Escardó, one of the main promoters of proceedings against the SCV.

The Vendée is a region in France where priests refused to take the oath of loyalty to the revolutionary government hostile to the Catholic Church that had seized power in 1789. “The Sacristy of the Vendée” describes itself as “counterrevolutionary.” 

The verdict, announced on X Nov. 5 by the Spanish priest, closes the canonical penal investigation, which began in June 2024.

Months earlier, the Archdiocese of Toledo had received two complaints against the priest. In the first, dated Jan. 30, 2024, he was accused of “damaging the good name and slandering Mr. Escardó Stecjk, the alleged victim” of the SCV.

Two days later, on Feb. 1, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith officially notified the Archdiocese of Toledo of “its concern” regarding Delgado’s actions whom it accused of “interfering with the [Vatican’s] special mission to the Sodality of Christian Life.”

Based on both complaints, the archbishop of Toledo, Francisco Cerro, opened an investigation in June 2024 and its report was submitted a month later.

Prior to these events, Cerro imposed precautionary measures on Delgado to “prevent any presence on social media or posts on social media and any type of written publication intended for dissemination.”

This decision stemmed from the controversy sparked by a comment about Pope Francis in the priests’ discussion group he coordinates. One of the participants, Father Gabriel Calvo Zarraute, spoke of praying for the pontiff “so that he may go to heaven as soon as possible.”

The ecclesiastical tribunal’s ruling, dated July 28, established that Delgado did not commit any of the canonical offenses of which he was accused.

Regarding Escardó’s good reputation, the tribunal stated that “the facts point to the complete opposite. That is to say, the one who has truly damaged the reputation of the Church and its priests is none other than Mr. Escardó.”

Furthermore, it is stated that “at no point has it been demonstrated that he was a victim of abuse,” “nor is it proven at any point that he felt revictimized,” and his attitude “is merely an excuse to defame and slander the Church.”

“We must give full credence to what Father Francisco José Delgado and the witnesses have declared, and not to what Mr. Escardó supposedly says and accuses,” the ruling stated.

Delgado didn’t impede the investigation into the SVC

Regarding the accusation made by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith of interfering in the investigation into the Sodality of Christian Life, the tribunal stated that “it is not proven that the comments and actions” of the priest from Toledo “impeded the special mission carried out by the Holy See,” which concluded with the dissolution of the Sodality of Christian Life.

This decision by the dicastery is in fact the main proof the tribunal’s recognition of Delgado’s innocence: “It is necessary that there be a complete impossibility of exercising the authority’s discretionary act, and in the present case, the resolution of the aforementioned dicastery with respect to the sodality proves the contrary.”

Delgado tried to correct the alleged joke about Pope Francis

When analyzing the accusation of “inciting aversion or hatred toward the Apostolic See,” the tribunal found that Calvo had made “a regrettable and inappropriate joke” during “The Sacristy of the Vendée” YouTube discussion.

The tribunal described how “Father Francisco José immediately and repeatedly attempted to divert the course of the discussion, fully aware of the seriousness of the statements,” and added that he was “fully aware of the implications of the supposed joke ... and tried to correct what had been said.”

Toledo Archdiocese issues statement

“We regret that the statement issued by the Archdiocese on February 28, 2024, may have generated erroneous interpretations that damaged the good name and reputation of Father Francisco José Delgado Martín,” states a Nov. 5  press release issued by the Archdiocese of Toledo.

“Likewise, we regret that the imposition of disciplinary measures, such as the prohibition on using media outlets or social media, has been interpreted as a condemnation imposed by the Archdiocese or the Holy See, which is categorically false,” the text clarifies.

The statement also highlights “the good attitude of Father Francisco José Delgado Martín who, since the aforementioned measures were imposed, has always shown obedience and scrupulous respect for the canonical process and his superiors, remaining in full ecclesial communion throughout the entire process.”

Finally, the text states that “once the sentence has been handed down and is final, in order to ensure the truth of the facts and reaffirm the commitment to justice to the affected party and to the Christian community, we consider that the good name and reputation of the Rev. Francisco José Delgado Martín as a priest of this particular Church of Toledo has been restored.”

‘The Sacristy of the Vendée’ returns to the internet

A few days before the verdict was announced, the priestly discussion group “The Sacristy of the Vendée” announced its return to the internet on Nov. 6 after months of intermittent broadcasts. The group released a video in which they decried “18 months of lies, hatred, silence, and darkness.”

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 speaks with President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine during a private audience in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on Nov. 6, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media.

Vatican City, Nov 6, 2025 / 09:30 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV received President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine for an audience in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on Thursday, almost a month after the truce agreement in the Gaza Strip came into effect.

According to the Holy See Press Office, during the meeting “it was recognized that there is an urgent need to provide assistance to the civilian population in Gaza and to end the conflict by pursuing a two-state solution.”

This is the first in-person meeting between Leo XIV and the 90-year-old Palestinian leader, who was also received at the Vatican by Pope Francis on Dec. 12, 2024, and on prior occasions.

Abbas spoke with Leo by phone on July 21. The conversation focused on the evolution of the conflict in the Gaza Strip and the violence in the West Bank.

Thursday’s meeting coincides with a time of intense diplomatic activity surrounding the Palestinian issue, marked by more than two years of war in Gaza and increasing violence in the West Bank as well as by renewed international recognition of the State of Palestine, including by France and several other European countries.

The Holy See, which has officially recognized the State of Palestine since 2015, has repeatedly reiterated its support for the two-state solution, based on respect for international law and the need to guarantee the security of Israel and the dignity of the Palestinian people.

Leo has multiple times expressed his concern for the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, where the civilian population continues to suffer the consequences of the prolonged conflict.

The papal audience with Abbas coincides with the 10th anniversary of the agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine, signed on June 26, 2015, which formalized bilateral relations and addressed issues relating to the life and activity of the Catholic Church in the Palestinian territories.

Visit to the tomb of Pope Francis 

Upon arriving in Rome on Nov. 5, Abbas visited the tomb of Pope Francis in Santa Maria Maggiore, according to Vatican News.

The Palestinian head of state entered the papal basilica at 4:30 p.m., accompanied by Father Ibrahim Faltas, former vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land, and his entourage. Abbas remained in prayer for approximately 15 minutes and, before leaving, placed a white rose on the marble tomb of the Argentine pope.

“I have come to see Pope Francis because I cannot forget what he has done for Palestine and the Palestinian people, and I cannot forget that he recognized Palestine without anyone asking him to,” Abbas told reporters waiting in the square outside the basilica.

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

Members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE) strongly condemned attacks in the Oromia Region in late October 2025 that claimed lives and destroyed property belonging to members of the Catholic community. / Credit: World Council of Churches

ACI Africa, Nov 6, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

Members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE) have strongly condemned attacks in the Oromia region that claimed lives and destroyed property belonging to members of the Catholic community.

In a statement issued Nov. 4, CBCE members called on the government to take urgent measures to protect citizens from further violence.

“The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia expresses deep sorrow over the recent killings and destruction of property that occurred in October in the vicinity of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in West Harerghe, Oromia region,” the bishops said of the Oct. 25 and 27 attacks.

They added: “The attacks have resulted in the loss of lives and the destruction of property belonging to members of the Catholic community.”

The bishops noted that similar acts of violence were reported against the faithful of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and communities under the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council in the Arsi Zone of Oromia.

“The Catholic Church strongly condemns these inhumane acts and calls on the government to take immediate and necessary legal measures to ensure the safety and security of all citizens,” the CBCE members said, adding that they pray that those who lost their lives in the tragic incidents “may find eternal rest.”

The bishops further expressed “heartfelt condolences to the entire Catholic community, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, all Ethiopians, and the affected families, asking the Creator to grant them true consolation and comfort in this time of grief.”

On Oct. 27, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) reported that more than 25 civilians were killed in East Arsi Zone, Oromia regional state, in October 2025 alone, APA News reported.

The report further stated that the majority of the victims “were Christians apparently shot dead or fatally stabbed by unknown gunmen.”

The statement quoted a report received by the church on Oct. 28 claiming that “five people were killed in Honqolo Wabe (Siltana) district.”

APA News further reported that three civilians were killed and four others abducted in what eyewitnesses described as a “religious-motivated attack” carried out by “unidentified gunmen” around 10 p.m. on Oct. 27, in Hela Zibaba Kebele, Shirka Woreda, East Arsi Zone of Oromia regional state.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.

null / Credit: Ivonne Wierink/Shutterstock

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 6, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Catholics in the United States will have an opportunity to support more than 21,000 retired priests and men and women religious from various orders during the weekend of Dec. 13–14 with the annual collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious.

According to a statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), this collection, organized by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO), “helps provide critical financial assistance to eligible religious institutes caring for their retired members.”

For decades, consecrated men and women in the U.S. have served in multiple ministries — schools, hospitals, parishes, and social service organizations — often with little or no compensation. Today their communities face a serious imbalance between the rising costs of elder care and limited resources.

In 2024, religious over the age of 70 outnumbered the young by nearly 3 to 1, and only 4% of communities reporting to the NRRO indicated they had sufficient funds for retirement.

Since its creation in 1988, the fund has been “a lifeline for our aging religious leaders, but the need remains urgent,” the USCCB pointed out. Last year, the fund raised $28.1 million, while the annual cost of care exceeded $1 billion.

The average annual cost per person is $56,600, and specialized care costs $96,000. In contrast, the average Social Security benefit for a religious leader is just $9,090, less than half the average benefit for a layperson.

In light of this reality, NRRO Director John Knutsen noted that “for decades, the faithful service of these religious has touched countless lives, including my own.”

“Through your generosity, we can help ensure they are cared for with the dignity they so rightly deserve, while also living out the values ​​of compassion and solidarity that unite us as disciples of Jesus,” he urged.

Knutsen also emphasized the gratitude owed to religious communities for their members: “Supporting our aging religious is a profound opportunity to show gratitude for their lifetime of service, and we hear all throughout the year how deeply thankful they are for that support.”

Since 1988, the fundraising campaign has distributed more than $1 billion to religious institutions across the U.S., sustaining daily care for the elderly, building up retirement funds, and funding educational programs on geriatric care and long-term planning.

The USCCB noted that “every gift makes a difference, providing retired religious with the care and dignity they deserve.”

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

null / Credit: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

CNA Staff, Nov 6, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Claim: Laws requiring minors to notify their parents if they are getting an abortion “threaten young people’s health and safety and undermine their human rights,” claims a report by the Human Rights Watch.

CNA finds: CNA finds a strong pro-abortion bias in the report. Experts say parental notification laws help protect girls from predators and put girls in a better situation by ensuring family support. 

Breakdown: Parental notification laws vary across states, but most require the abortion provider to notify a parent before the abortion takes place, unless it’s a medical emergency or the minor obtains a court order.

For instance, in Colorado, a written notice must be delivered to the parent’s home by someone from the abortion clinic, a sheriff, a clergy member, or other person. The law contains a built-in exemption if the minor is in an abusive home.

Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Montana, and New Hampshire all have notification laws with judicial bypass options. States such as Florida, Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota have parental consent laws, which require the parent to approve the abortion before it takes place.

Women seeking abortion face a variety of challenges, often including coercion or pressure from others in their lives. Several studies have found that women have a higher likelihood of mental health struggles after an abortion.

The U.S. Catholic bishops require every diocese to have mental health and counseling resources for women who have had abortions in an initiative known as Project Rachel. 

In the Archdiocese of Denver, Rachel’s Vineyard Colorado operates healing programs, support, and care for women who have gone through abortions. 

Lori Frank, executive director of Rachel’s Vineyard Colorado, told CNA that abortion is “an emotional, moral, and spiritual trauma.”

“Many women feel shame, guilt, and regret after experiencing abortion, and they often do not have mental health support,” Frank said. 

Rachel’s Vineyard Colorado sees women who struggle with post-abortive problems including depression, grief, emotional numbness, anxiety, panic attacks, nightmares, eating disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, and other challenges including spiritual and relationship difficulties.  

Frank noted that abortion can be especially harmful to minors, especially because “youth generally have fewer resources to draw upon with unexpected pregnancy.” 

“As a society, we need to provide real loving support to women of all ages when they are pregnant and help them understand the real risks of abortion as well as the support they need overall in their lives during this time,” she said. “Using abortion as a quick fix is not the solution.” 

Several experts expressed concerns for girls who may be in abusive or dangerous situations, such as an abuser using abortion to cover his crimes. 

Dr. Ingrid Skop, a spokesperson for the Charlotte Lozier Institute and an OB-GYN, told CNA that notification laws protect minors from a variety of concerns, including “abortion coercion or pressure from an abuser.”

“Sadly, the damage from coercive abortions goes beyond the brutality of the abortion itself,” Skop said, citing a study documenting mental health impacts on women who are pressured to abort. 

“Parents must be aware if their daughters are in abusive relationships or engaged in risky sexual behavior so they can intervene to prevent negative, long-term consequences on their health and well-being,” Skop said.

“Parents, who know their daughters best, are critical to help and support them in the midst of such a substantial, life-changing decision,” Skop said. 

Christina Francis, who heads the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, emphasized the importance of safeguards around abortion. 

Francis told CNA that “removing regulations on chemical abortion pills” makes them more “easily accessible to abusers.” 

“Eliminating parental involvement only deepens that risk,” she added. 

“Parental notification laws protect minors, not threaten them,” Francis said. “Involving parents in critical decisions involving their children’s health ensures truly informed consent and excellent care.”

Michael New, senior associate scholar at Charlotte Lozier Institute and assistant professor of practice at The Catholic University of America, also noted that these laws can help prevent abuse. 

“Parental involvement laws may prevent child predators from sexually abusing minor girls — since many child predators use abortion to cover up their sexual misconduct,” New told CNA. 

In addition, the report by Human Rights Watch “has a strong pro-abortion bias,” New said. 

According to New, the report “ignores a substantial body of academic research which shows that pro-life parental involvement laws improve health outcomes.”

In addition, “the report relies largely on anecdotal evidence from health care providers, attorneys, people working for abortion funds, and public health researchers,” New said.

What about dysfunctional families? 

Parental notification laws provide an option for a judicial bypass, meaning that minors, if they seek it, can be exempt from the requirement. 

In addition, some states provide explicit exemptions for minors in abusive homes or allow another adult to be notified instead of a parent if the minor wishes. 

Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk, neuroscientist and senior ethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center, said that “underage mothers should not be expected to navigate, by themselves, serious matters of their health and the health of others who depend on them, like their unborn child.” 

“They need support and assistance in what is a very fear-filled moment when they discover they have become pregnant,” Pacholczyk told CNA. 

Pacholczyk noted that underage girls who are pregnant may face difficult situations at home. 

In some cases, the mother of the daughter “will encourage her daughter to get an abortion,” while in other cases “she may believe she cannot tell her mom about her unexpected pregnancy without facing severe consequences” and “might fear being kicked out of the house” or damaging family relationships.

But Pacholczyk noted that eliminating parental notification only increases dysfunctionality in a home and distances underage girls from their much-needed support systems.

“It is also important to note that in many instances, the fears of the young girl may not be rooted in reality, and she may be surprised to learn how her parents are actually more open than she imagines to her new situation,” he said.

Pacholczyk recommended that parental notification be done “in a roundabout manner” through counselors or pregnancy resource centers so as to connect the girl and her family with resources such as adoption services, support, and even temporary living quarters if needed.

“The clinic’s staff have a vested financial interest in seeing the abortion take place and really should not act as mediators between the underage girl and her family,” he said.

“Parental involvement and support … should be the default position we seek to promote as a caring and civilized society,” Pacholczyk said.

The verdict: Parental notification laws protect girls from abuse and enable parents to support their daughters in a difficult time in their lives, as the decision they make could go on to affect their mental health and well-being in the future.