The next Catholic archbishop of New York seeks ‘a church that builds bridges’

February 7, 2026

NEW YORK (AP) — Ronald Hicks is set to be installed Friday as the 11th archbishop of New York in a ceremony at the revered St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan where dignitaries and laypeople from all walks of life are expected to gather and celebrate. Previewing the Mass to reporters on Thursday, Hicks said he will talk about his vision for one of the largest archdioceses in the nation that serves roughly 2.5 million Catholics in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island in New York City, as well as seven counties to the north. He also plans to include plenty of references to Pope ...

Leaders change the world through action

January 31, 2026

When the Soviet Union overran and annexed Latvia back in 1940, the American Charge d’Affaires ad interim, John Wiley, worried that Red Cross supplies shipped to Latvia for humanitarian reasons would be seized by the Soviets. Wiley asked permission from the State Department to fly the United States flag above the Red Cross warehouse to deter Soviet interference. The State Department responded, “No precedent exists for such action.” Wiley promptly raised the American flag over the warehouse and cabled back, “As of this date, I have established precedent.” Good for Wiley. He saw ...

Pope tells Vatican office that processes sex abuse cases to uphold truth, justice and charity

January 31, 2026

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV told the Vatican’s doctrine office on Thursday to uphold truth, justice and charity when deciding clergy sex abuse cases, confirming a calibrated approach to dealing with a scandal that has tarnished the Catholic Church’s credibility ...

Sarah Mullally confirmed as archbishop of Canterbury, first woman to lead the Church of England

January 29, 2026

LONDON (AP) — Sarah Mullally walked into St. Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday morning as the bishop of London. When she walked out in the afternoon as bells rang out, she was the spiritual leader of millions of Anglicans around the world. Mullally, 63, became the archbishop of ...

No matter your label, accept Jesus’ offer

January 24, 2026

By Mark Wilmoth This story bothers some folks. First, there’s the problem of the text. Look up John 8:1-11 in your Bible and you’ll probably see a footnote that reads “The earliest manuscripts do not include John 7:53-8:11.” Why waste time studying a text that might not even belong in the Bible? Well, you should know that there are over 400 Greek manuscripts (The New Testament was originally written in the Greek language.) that include this text. Almost all Bible scholars accept this as a genuine story; the scholarly debate doesn’t concern its legitimacy or accuracy. The ...

A Kentucky cathedral called ‘America’s Notre Dame’ gets a rehab, gargoyles and all

January 23, 2026

COVINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Gargoyles have watched over this small Kentucky city for more than a century from their lofty perches on a cathedral known as “America’s Notre Dame.” A new renovation will ensure they keep their posts for years to come on the meticulously restored facade of the ...