Articles by Matt McDonald
Massachusetts mayor defends saint statues on public building, says critics are anti-Catholic
Aug 8, 2025 / 10:00 amCritics of the planned statues of St. Michael and St. Florian say they impermissibly favor Catholicism over other religions.
Canon law expert Edward Peters is third faculty member fired by Detroit archbishop
Jul 29, 2025 / 15:59 pmCanon law professor Edward Peters, 68, had taught at Sacred Heart Major Seminary since 2005.
Firing was ‘a shock’ for theologian Ralph Martin
Jul 25, 2025 / 13:53 pmRalph Martin, 82, said Archbishop Edward Weisenburger told him Wednesday he “was terminating my position at the seminary effective immediately.”
Flight attendant fired over expressing Catholic beliefs can proceed with lawsuit
Jul 11, 2025 / 18:00 pmRuben Sanchez filed the lawsuit in January against United Airlines and the union he belonged to while working for the airline, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA.
Florida bishop: No problem with removing criminals, but ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ is troubling
Jul 9, 2025 / 12:06 pm“Decency requires that we remember individuals being detained are fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters of distressed relatives,” Venice Bishop Frank Dewane said.
States can withhold Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood, U.S. Supreme Court rules
Jun 26, 2025 / 14:59 pmThe 6-3 SCOTUS decision allows states to cut off public funds to abortion providers — including Medicaid funds that come mostly from the federal government.
Monsignor Charles Pope warns: Hell is real — and many are headed there
Apr 7, 2025 / 10:07 amMonsignor Charles Pope discussed his new book on the doctrine of hell on “The World Over with Raymond Arroyo.”
New Jersey mom sues Homeland Security, TSA for ‘threat-tagging’ over Facebook post
Mar 25, 2025 / 13:00 pmAngela Reading’s lawsuit names the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration among the defendants.
Democrats push bill to protect mailing of abortion pills
Mar 14, 2025 / 14:40 pmThe “Stop the Comstock Act” bill, filed Wednesday, would remove language in federal law that prohibits sending items that cause abortion through the mail.
Gavin Newsom calls males playing in female sports ‘deeply unfair’
Mar 10, 2025 / 11:15 amOn his new podcast “This Is Gavin Newsom” on Thursday, the California governor said Democrats should make room for pro-lifers.
More gains for school choice across the country
Mar 2, 2025 / 10:40 amIdaho has enacted a school choice bill that would allow parents to use public funds to send their kids to private schools. Two other states are closer to similar legislation.
Super Bowl teams’ bishops renew rivalry with public wager
Feb 7, 2025 / 21:05 pmThe bishops of Kansas City and Philadelphia talk some clerical smack over their purportedly friendly wager.
Mass deportations ‘incompatible with Catholic doctrine,’ Cardinal McElroy says in DC debut
Jan 7, 2025 / 06:00 am“The Catholic Church teaches that a country has the right to control its borders. And our nation’s desire to do that is a legitimate effort,” McElroy said Monday.
‘Hollywood Priest’: PBS documentary tells life story of Father Bud Kieser
Dec 23, 2024 / 15:40 pm“Hollywood Priest: The Story of Father ‘Bud’ Kieser,” is scheduled to air on PBS World at 5 a.m. and 11 a.m. Eastern time Wednesday, Dec. 25.
Pope Francis names Father Roger Landry a monsignor
Dec 18, 2024 / 16:30 pmFather Roger Landry is now Monsignor Roger Landry — but he says he’s not ready to abandon the title “Father” anytime soon.
One year later, Vatican document on same-sex blessings not causing much of a stir
Dec 18, 2024 / 11:00 amThe Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued “Fiducia Supplicans” in December 2023 — what has been the effect on the Church in the United States?
Lee Edwards, Catholic historian of American conservatism, dies at 92
Dec 14, 2024 / 14:37 pmAuthor and Catholic convert Lee Edwards died a little before 8 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Satanic display in New Hampshire battered, removed after three days
Dec 12, 2024 / 18:20 pmThe mayor of Concord, New Hampshire said that while he disapproves of vandalism he also wishes city officials hadn’t issued a permit for the display.
Boston mayor to include Catholic school students in free-museums program next year
Dec 9, 2024 / 12:40 pmThe expanded program, which offers free admission two Sundays a month for K–12 students, will now be open to Catholic school students in 2025.
Northern California parish evacuates after earthquake, tsunami warning
Dec 6, 2024 / 11:25 amThe earthquake, which measured 7.0 on the magnitude scale, was felt at about 10:45 a.m. local time in Humboldt County, California.