OSV News

Catholic organizations in California responded quickly to bring aid to those affected by the ongoing brutal winter storms. Since late December, a series of atmospheric rivers have brought record-setting rainfall to the state, leading to flooding, mudslides and evacuations.

Catholic leaders in Illinois are hailing the state's newly enacted ban on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines and switches.

"We were not allowed to go into the ER when [the doctors] were working on him, but after Dr. King was pronounced dead, we were admitted to it, and the authorities gave us the time we needed to pray with him."

Peru's bishops have called on the country's government to stop violence that claimed at least 18 lives in anti-government protests Jan. 9-10 and has left more than 40 people dead and hundreds injured since early December.

A court ruled at a Jan. 10 hearing that a Nicaraguan bishop, who has been detained since August, will stand trial on the charges of spreading false information and conspiracy.

"Lord, I ask that you take me out of here soon … I want to be with my mom and sister soon. Amen."

The National Conference of Brazilian Bishops said in a statement it was "perplexed by the serious and violent occurrences" that erupted Jan. 8 in Brasilia, the nation's capital.

President Joe Biden said Jan. 4 he plans to visit the U.S.-Mexico border, which would be the first visit to the border of his presidency, when he travels to Mexico next week.

The election for speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives bled into a third day when Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., failed to secure a majority of votes to win the office after six rounds of voting over two days Jan. 3 and 4.