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Religious Freedom Week kicks off in the U.S.

Catholics are invited to pray, reflect, and act on religious discrimination, education, immigration enforcement, Africa, gender ideology, political and anti-religious violence, and Nicaragua.

Peru passes law declaring June Life and Family Month

The bill's author, Milagros Jáuregui de Aguayo, said the family is "the most important pillar of our society. Defending it means building a Peru with greater unity, solidarity, and hope."

Oregon withdraws disciplinary actions against Catholic counselor

Oregon's Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists tied its decision to the 2026 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that states cannot silence therapists' personal or professional viewpoints.

Colombia elects Abelardo de la Espriella as new president, according to preliminary vote count

De la Espriella, elected by a slim margin, called on the country to put division aside and pledged to be the president of all Colombians, including those who did not vote for him.

EU tells EWTN News that Pope Leo's AI vision mirrors Europe's own rules

Brussels says the pope's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas echoes values already written into Europe's tech laws, even as Parliament moves to ease parts of the AI Act.

U.S.–Iran accord draws applause from Bishop Zaidan

The bishop said he prays for a permanent peace between the U.S. and Iran and hopes to see more progress toward long-term peace in Lebanon.

Pope Leo XIV warns no doctor should ever 'decide on the life of an embryo'

His remarks were made during a Monday audience with the Jérôme Lejeune Foundation.

After meeting with pope, collaboration between Vatican, abuse victims takes ‘a step forward’

The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors held the first structured dialogue with Ending Clergy Abuse on June 15-16 in Rome.

Pope Leo XIV to UN: To combat hunger, focus on humanity

The pontiff visited the headquarters of the U.N. World Food Programme in Rome on June 22.

Deacons Continue to Bring a Spirit of Renewal and Encouragement to the Missionary Ministry of the Church, Says Archbishop Hicks

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations has released its annual survey, A Portrait of the Permanent Diaconate in 2025: A Study for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Since 2005, the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University has conducted this survey, which provides important statistics and forecasting trends on the state of the permanent diaconate in the Church in the United States. 

“Deacons continue to bring a spirit of renewal and encouragement to the missionary ministry of the Church through their service in the liturgy and works of charity expressed in everyday life,” said Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. “With nearly 15,000 active deacons in ministry in 2025, the permanent diaconate plays a vital role in bringing the Gospel to life through their witness as icons of Christ the Servant. With their primary duty of service in the Church being to proclaim the Gospel, preach, and perform charitable works, deacons serve a unique and vital ministry in the life of the Church. This annual survey is an opportunity for our faithful to recognize the work of the diaconate, pray for our deacons, and also discern if they are called to such ministry themselves.” 

The survey utilized contact information from the National Association of Diaconate Directors (NADD) and was sent to the Office of the Permanent Diaconate in the Latin and Eastern Rite (arch)dioceses and eparchies. In total, CARA received responses from 143 of the 185 (arch)dioceses/eparchies whose bishops are members of the USCCB and have an active Office of Deacons, for a 77% response rate. 

The full survey conducted by CARA may be accessed here

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