With violent crime rising in a number of U.S. cities, Chicago’s Cardinal Blase Cupich is urging Catholics to consider how they might contribute to a more just and peaceful society.

“This is a time to say, ‘Yes, let’s speak about the hunger...for the presence of God.’ This is the moment, and I think the bishops want to do that. But some of our pastoral leaders are making it difficult.”

The parish council at the Jesuit-run Holy Trinity Catholic Church released a statement saying that the church “will not deny the Eucharist to persons presenting themselves to receive it.”

Both supporters and critics of the proposal said it could be used to pressure bishops to deny Communion to pro-choice Catholic politicians.

A controversial proposal from the U.S. bishops’ doctrinal committee that seeks approval to begin a process of drafting a document about the Eucharist seems on track to come up for a vote.

When U.S. bishops meet virtually next week, most eyes will be focused on a controversial vote related to the Eucharist that some fear politicizes Communion by taking aim at the nation’s second Catholic president.

Caitlyn Ngo, a student at St. Edmund’s Catholic Academy in Brooklyn, N.Y., was recently crowned the Fifth Grade Grand National Champion in the 2021 Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest.

A year later, what has changed? As we begin to move on from pandemic and re-enter the real world, are we leaving this issue too fast?

Many dioceses are dropping mask requirements and social distancing rules for fully vaccinated worshippers, relying on an honor system as pandemic restrictions ease further.

The humanitarian needs were already huge without Covid and without the aggression,” Bassam Nasser, who leads the Gaza office for Catholic Relief Services, told America on May 20. “You can imagine, when you add those two challenges, the crisis will become huge.”