Fairbanks, Alaska, Bishop Steven Maekawa, OP, said he plans to offer a special Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Fairbanks for Father Alphonsus Afina, who was captured by Boko Haram on June 1, 2025. / Credit: RadioKAOS, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

CNA Staff, Jun 5, 2025 / 16:09 pm (CNA).

A Nigerian-born priest who served in the Diocese of Fairbanks, Alaska, for more than half a decade has been captured by the terrorist group Boko Haram after returning to his home country. 

Fairbanks Bishop Steven Maekawa, OP, said in a statement this week that Father Alphonsus Afina was “captured by Boko Haram as he was serving the Church in the Diocese of Maiduguri” in the Nigerian state of Borno.

Afina served in the Alaskan diocese for six and a half years before returning to Nigeria last April, the bishop said. 

“Pray for his freedom from captivity and for his physical and spiritual strength,” he wrote. The bishop said he planned to offer a special Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Fairbanks for Afina. 

The papal charity Aid to the Church in Need reported on Thursday that Maiduguri Auxiliary Bishop John Bagna Bakeni said the priest was taken on Sunday, June 1. 

Afina and two others were kidnapped in the Gwoza region while traveling to Maiduguri, the prelate said. The party with which they were traveling was reportedly “caught in a crossfire between Nigerian soldiers and terrorists,” with multiple fatalities resulting. 

Bakeni told the charity that the diocese was contacted by Boko Haram, which offered proof that the kidnapped priest was still alive. 

The Fairbanks Diocese did not respond to a query on Thursday regarding the incident. Father Robert Fath, the vicar general of the diocese, told local media that the diocese was “hopeful that [our] prayers, our intercessions … will soften [Boko Haram’s] hearts to release him.”

“There’s not much we can do” except pray, Fath said. 

”It’s the most powerful thing that we can do at this point; pray for his strength during this time of captivity and persecution, but also [that] he’ll hopefully, God willing, one day be freed.”

Aid to the Church in Need said Afina is the 15th religious to be kidnapped in Nigeria this year.

Al Pacino as Father Theophilus Riesinger in “The Ritual.” / Credit: XYZ Films

CNA Staff, Jun 5, 2025 / 15:21 pm (CNA).

In 1928, Father Joseph Steiger, a priest at St. Joseph’s in Earling, Iowa, was approached with an urgent concern. A 46-year-old woman named Emma Schmidt was experiencing blackouts, aversions to holy objects, and other terrible afflictions. After years of extensive psychiatric treatment provided no relief, Schmidt’s priest suggested an exorcism. 

Father Theophilus Riesinger, a Capuchin friar, was assigned to perform the exorcism while Steiger would be the stenographer. After a 23-day battle, Schmidt was freed from her affliction and able to live the rest of her life in peace.

The exorcism of Schmidt remains the most thoroughly documented and widely publicized exorcism in American history and now a new movie has been made to tell the story. “The Ritual,” starring Al Pacino, Dan Stevens, Ashley Greene, and Patricia Heaton, will be released in theaters on June 6.

Father Aaron Williams, pastor and rector of St. Mary’s Basilica in Natchez, Mississippi, served as the consultant on the film and spoke to CNA about his experience on set, what his role entailed, and why Catholics should consider watching the movie.

Williams explained that the filmmakers first approached him to ask if they could receive permission to film in St. Mary’s Basilica.

“Sometimes as a priest I get nervous about people’s particular sort of fanatic obsession with exorcisms because it can be spiritually dangerous and we don’t want to be walking down that path,” he told CNA. “But, at the same time, it is real and people need to know it’s real.” 

“So when the script was shown to me when they were proposing filming here, that’s what really opened my mind to it because what I started to see was they were taking this with the level of severity that I appreciated,” Williams said. 

After giving them permission to film in the basilica, Williams was approached by the filmmakers to serve as a consultant who could advise on the spiritual aspects of the film. Williams accepted the invitation because he “wanted to be involved with helping to convey a true story in a really accurate way.”

The priest, who has a master’s degree in liturgical studies and is currently pursuing a doctorate, said that the film’s director, David Midell, was very willing to take his advice. Williams said on multiple occasions he made suggestions to Midell that would then be immediately changed in the script.

“He [Midell] told me over and over again that he wasn’t trying to film a religious movie so to say, but he did want religious people, especially Catholics, who would view the film to feel like they had been respected,” Williams said.

He also pointed out that all of the crew “were very respectful of the spaces. The Blessed Sacrament was always removed from the church for any takes inside. There was never any vulgarity anywhere in the church. And every instruction I gave them — they never questioned anything.”

The cast and crew filmed at the basilica for three months. During this time, Williams shared that he came to see them as his parishioners and made sure to minister to them. He offered Mass weekly — with several non-Catholic cast and crew members attending — blessed the set daily, and even helped guide a crew member to find information about becoming Catholic.

One of the Catholics on set was well-known actress Patricia Heaton, who portrays Mother Superior in the film. 

In an interview with CNA, Heaton shared that she was drawn to the role because the filmmakers “treated the subject matter seriously and not really sensationally.”

Heaton spoke about the film’s portrayal of religious men and women and that while the exorcism itself is the major plotline, the film also focuses on the individuals taking part in the ritual and their own personal struggles.

“Priests and nuns are human beings and they’re often portrayed in Hollywood as sort of silly or there’s a lot of caricatures of the religious in Hollywood. And I feel like this movie makes them fleshed-out human beings,” Heaton said. 

When describing how the Church is portrayed in the movie, Williams referred to the late Pope Francis’ message of the Church being a “field hospital.” 

“You have all of these sort of broken people, and the priests and the sisters in this movie are themselves broken people, but they’re all coming together as the Church, as the body of Christ, and ministering to one of their own who’s suffering,” he said. 

Both Williams and Heaton agreed on the importance of Catholics being aware that demonic possession is real but that it’s also important not to become overly interested in it. Williams used the metaphor of a wound to describe possession. If a significant spiritual wound is left untreated it will start to get infected and can become “spiritually devastating to us.”

“How do we avoid possessions? We don’t avoid possessions by spending all our time on Google finding out what causes possessions, right? … No. The way you avoid these things, rather than filling your head with knowledge about what causes it, is you go and live a spiritually good life — you frequent the sacraments,” he said. 

Williams said he believes Catholics should watch the film in order to inform themselves as well as to see “how the Church functions — you have this lost sheep and the Church puts all her resources together to go and save this one person. And I think that’s a really great message that Catholics need to hear. It’s the love of God, it’s the love of the Church, and I think it’s worth watching if you approach it through that lens.”

“I want them [Catholics] to take away the sense that this is actually how the Church cares for us and how God cares for us and his mercy is so much more powerful than anything the enemy can do,” he said.

Heaton said she hopes Catholics will watch the movie because she believes it is “a way to reaffirm the importance of the Church here on Earth” and hopes that the film will encourage viewers “to pursue personal sanctification.” 

Al Pacino as Father Theophilus Riesinger in “The Ritual.” / Credit: XYZ Films

CNA Staff, Jun 5, 2025 / 15:21 pm (CNA).

In 1928, Father Joseph Steiger, a priest at St. Joseph’s in Earling, Iowa, was approached with an urgent concern. A 46-year-old woman named Emma Schmidt was experiencing blackouts, aversions to holy objects, and other terrible afflictions. After years of extensive psychiatric treatment provided no relief, Schmidt’s priest suggested an exorcism. 

Father Theophilus Riesinger, a Capuchin friar, was assigned to perform the exorcism while Steiger would be the stenographer. After a 23-day battle, Schmidt was freed from her affliction and able to live the rest of her life in peace.

The exorcism of Schmidt remains the most thoroughly documented and widely publicized exorcism in American history and now a new movie has been made to tell the story. “The Ritual,” starring Al Pacino, Dan Stevens, Ashley Greene, and Patricia Heaton, will be released in theaters on June 6.

Father Aaron Williams, pastor and rector of St. Mary’s Basilica in Natchez, Mississippi, served as the consultant on the film and spoke to CNA about his experience on set, what his role entailed, and why Catholics should consider watching the movie.

Williams explained that the filmmakers first approached him to ask if they could receive permission to film in St. Mary’s Basilica.

“Sometimes as a priest I get nervous about people’s particular sort of fanatic obsession with exorcisms because it can be spiritually dangerous and we don’t want to be walking down that path,” he told CNA. “But, at the same time, it is real and people need to know it’s real.” 

“So when the script was shown to me when they were proposing filming here, that’s what really opened my mind to it because what I started to see was they were taking this with the level of severity that I appreciated,” Williams said. 

After giving them permission to film in the basilica, Williams was approached by the filmmakers to serve as a consultant who could advise on the spiritual aspects of the film. Williams accepted the invitation because he “wanted to be involved with helping to convey a true story in a really accurate way.”

The priest, who has a master’s degree in liturgical studies and is currently pursuing a doctorate, said that the film’s director, David Midell, was very willing to take his advice. Williams said on multiple occasions he made suggestions to Midell that would then be immediately changed in the script.

“He [Midell] told me over and over again that he wasn’t trying to film a religious movie so to say, but he did want religious people, especially Catholics, who would view the film to feel like they had been respected,” Williams said.

He also pointed out that all of the crew “were very respectful of the spaces. The Blessed Sacrament was always removed from the church for any takes inside. There was never any vulgarity anywhere in the church. And every instruction I gave them — they never questioned anything.”

The cast and crew filmed at the basilica for three months. During this time, Williams shared that he came to see them as his parishioners and made sure to minister to them. He offered Mass weekly — with several non-Catholic cast and crew members attending — blessed the set daily, and even helped guide a crew member to find information about becoming Catholic.

One of the Catholics on set was well-known actress Patricia Heaton, who portrays Mother Superior in the film. 

In an interview with CNA, Heaton shared that she was drawn to the role because the filmmakers “treated the subject matter seriously and not really sensationally.”

Heaton spoke about the film’s portrayal of religious men and women and that while the exorcism itself is the major plotline, the film also focuses on the individuals taking part in the ritual and their own personal struggles.

“Priests and nuns are human beings and they’re often portrayed in Hollywood as sort of silly or there’s a lot of caricatures of the religious in Hollywood. And I feel like this movie makes them fleshed-out human beings,” Heaton said. 

When describing how the Church is portrayed in the movie, Williams referred to the late Pope Francis’ message of the Church being a “field hospital.” 

“You have all of these sort of broken people, and the priests and the sisters in this movie are themselves broken people, but they’re all coming together as the Church, as the body of Christ, and ministering to one of their own who’s suffering,” he said. 

Both Williams and Heaton agreed on the importance of Catholics being aware that demonic possession is real but that it’s also important not to become overly interested in it. Williams used the metaphor of a wound to describe possession. If a significant spiritual wound is left untreated it will start to get infected and can become “spiritually devastating to us.”

“How do we avoid possessions? We don’t avoid possessions by spending all our time on Google finding out what causes possessions, right? … No. The way you avoid these things, rather than filling your head with knowledge about what causes it, is you go and live a spiritually good life — you frequent the sacraments,” he said. 

Williams said he believes Catholics should watch the film in order to inform themselves as well as to see “how the Church functions — you have this lost sheep and the Church puts all her resources together to go and save this one person. And I think that’s a really great message that Catholics need to hear. It’s the love of God, it’s the love of the Church, and I think it’s worth watching if you approach it through that lens.”

“I want them [Catholics] to take away the sense that this is actually how the Church cares for us and how God cares for us and his mercy is so much more powerful than anything the enemy can do,” he said.

Heaton said she hopes Catholics will watch the movie because she believes it is “a way to reaffirm the importance of the Church here on Earth” and hopes that the film will encourage viewers “to pursue personal sanctification.” 

Pope Leo XIV greets members of the Vatican Secretariat of State on June 5, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Jun 5, 2025 / 14:51 pm (CNA).

In his audience with members of the Vatican Secretariat of State on Thursday, Pope Leo XIV thanked them for their support in the first month of his pontificate.

Among those present was Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, who introduced the meeting with a brief address. Also participating was Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, substitute for general affairs of the Secretariat of State.

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary of relations with states within the Secretariat of State, did not participate in the audience because he is in Cuba for the 90th anniversary of relations between that Caribbean country and the Holy See.

At the outset of his speech, Pope Leo thanked the Secretariat of State for assisting him in the “first steps” of his pontificate and for “carrying forward the mission” entrusted to him.

“It comforts me to know that I am not alone and that I can share the responsibility of my universal ministry with you,” he said.

Then, extemporaneously, he said that “it is evident that the pope cannot continue alone and that it is very necessary to be able to count on the collaboration of many in the Holy See” and especially with the Secretariat of State.

He also recalled the beginnings of this institution, which date back to the end of the 15th century, and its evolution over the years, highlighting that currently almost half of the Secretariat of State is made up of laypeople and more than 50 women.

For the pope, this development reflects “the face of the Church: We share together the questions, difficulties, challenges, and hopes of the people of God present throughout the world,” always expressing “two essential dimensions: incarnation and catholicity.”

“We are incarnated in time and history, because if God has chosen the path of humanity and the languages ​​of humanity, the Church is also called to follow this path, so that the joy of the Gospel may reach all and be mediated in today’s cultures and languages,” he emphasized.

He also reflected on the “Catholic” and universal perspective, which allows for the appreciation of different cultures and sensibilities, serving as “a driving force committed to forging communion between the Church of Rome and the local Churches” as well as with the international community.

For the Holy Father, these two dimensions “have become increasingly constitutive of the Curia’s work,” marking a path that has guided the reform of the Roman Curia carried out by St. Paul VI.

The pope also explained that incarnation “refers to the concreteness of reality and to the specific and particular themes addressed by the various bodies of the Curia.”

On the other hand, he emphasized the Church’s universal character, recalling that “the mystery of the Church’s multiform unity demands a work of synthesis that can assist the pope’s action.” This bond of unity, he explained, is carried out by the Secretariat of State.

Pope Leo XIV cited Praedicate Evangelium, Pope Francis’ apostolic constitution on the Roman Curia and its service to the Church in the world.

“I know that these tasks are very demanding and, at times, may not be fully understood. Therefore, I wish to express my closeness to you and, above all, my deep gratitude,” he said.

The pope also expressed his gratitude for their “hidden work” in the service of the Church and for “the evangelical spirit that inspires it” while asking them that this place “not be contaminated by ambitions or antagonisms.”

“Be, instead, a true community of faith and charity, of brothers and sisters and sons and daughters of the pope,” who give their all generously for the good of the Church, the pope urged.

After entrusting them to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, he thanked them for their prayers for their ministry and imparted his blessing.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Pope Leo XIV greets members of the Vatican Secretariat of State on June 5, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Jun 5, 2025 / 14:51 pm (CNA).

In his audience with members of the Vatican Secretariat of State on Thursday, Pope Leo XIV thanked them for their support in the first month of his pontificate.

Among those present was Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, who introduced the meeting with a brief address. Also participating was Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, substitute for general affairs of the Secretariat of State.

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary of relations with states within the Secretariat of State, did not participate in the audience because he is in Cuba for the 90th anniversary of relations between that Caribbean country and the Holy See.

At the outset of his speech, Pope Leo thanked the Secretariat of State for assisting him in the “first steps” of his pontificate and for “carrying forward the mission” entrusted to him.

“It comforts me to know that I am not alone and that I can share the responsibility of my universal ministry with you,” he said.

Then, extemporaneously, he said that “it is evident that the pope cannot continue alone and that it is very necessary to be able to count on the collaboration of many in the Holy See” and especially with the Secretariat of State.

He also recalled the beginnings of this institution, which date back to the end of the 15th century, and its evolution over the years, highlighting that currently almost half of the Secretariat of State is made up of laypeople and more than 50 women.

For the pope, this development reflects “the face of the Church: We share together the questions, difficulties, challenges, and hopes of the people of God present throughout the world,” always expressing “two essential dimensions: incarnation and catholicity.”

“We are incarnated in time and history, because if God has chosen the path of humanity and the languages ​​of humanity, the Church is also called to follow this path, so that the joy of the Gospel may reach all and be mediated in today’s cultures and languages,” he emphasized.

He also reflected on the “Catholic” and universal perspective, which allows for the appreciation of different cultures and sensibilities, serving as “a driving force committed to forging communion between the Church of Rome and the local Churches” as well as with the international community.

For the Holy Father, these two dimensions “have become increasingly constitutive of the Curia’s work,” marking a path that has guided the reform of the Roman Curia carried out by St. Paul VI.

The pope also explained that incarnation “refers to the concreteness of reality and to the specific and particular themes addressed by the various bodies of the Curia.”

On the other hand, he emphasized the Church’s universal character, recalling that “the mystery of the Church’s multiform unity demands a work of synthesis that can assist the pope’s action.” This bond of unity, he explained, is carried out by the Secretariat of State.

Pope Leo XIV cited Praedicate Evangelium, Pope Francis’ apostolic constitution on the Roman Curia and its service to the Church in the world.

“I know that these tasks are very demanding and, at times, may not be fully understood. Therefore, I wish to express my closeness to you and, above all, my deep gratitude,” he said.

The pope also expressed his gratitude for their “hidden work” in the service of the Church and for “the evangelical spirit that inspires it” while asking them that this place “not be contaminated by ambitions or antagonisms.”

“Be, instead, a true community of faith and charity, of brothers and sisters and sons and daughters of the pope,” who give their all generously for the good of the Church, the pope urged.

After entrusting them to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, he thanked them for their prayers for their ministry and imparted his blessing.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

The Archdiocese of New York superintendent of schools announced the launch of a school renewal plan and the final results of a school viability study on June 4, 2025. /  Credit: alexkich/Shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 5, 2025 / 12:35 pm (CNA).

Archdiocese of New York Superintendent of Schools Sister Mary Grace Walsh, ASCJ, announced this week the launch of a school renewal plan and the final results of a school viability study.

On June 3, the archdiocese laid out the first part of the Elementary School Renewal Plan based on the results of the School Viability Study (SVS), which assessed every elementary school in the archdiocese between October 2024 and January 2025 in order “to ensure the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of Catholic education within the community.” 

The two-part school renewal plan, according to a press release, will evaluate four key areas for each school: mission and Catholic identity, governance and leadership, academic excellence, and operational vitality. The second part of the plan will be released in September.

“All schools, whether strong or in need of additional support, will work together with the archdiocese to implement these renewal efforts,” Walsh said. 

Schools will address each of the four focus points of the renewal plan by engaging in reflection and planning throughout the fall. If needed, schools will receive direct support from external consultants to help with future planning and will receive feedback and approval. 

“The renewal process is not always easy, but it brings with it the promise of transformation and growth,” Walsh said.

“Let us hold onto the promise of Revelation 21:5, trusting that God’s continual work of renewal and transformation is at the heart of everything we do,” she said. “Together, we will continue to nurture faith, knowledge, and community in our students, confident that God is with us as we move forward in this time of renewal.”

The SVS was conducted “across 77 parish and regional elementary schools along with two Archdiocese of New York Initiative campuses to assess their alignment with the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools (NSBECS).”

Eighteen staff members from the Superintendent of Schools Office in the archdiocese visited the schools to hold conversations with each principal, gather data, observe, and then report on their findings. 

The study found that Catholic schools in the Bronx present a “diverse educational landscape, with schools experiencing varying levels of sustainability.” 

While “several schools are thriving, supported by strong finances, academic excellence, and active parish partnerships,” some other schools “were determined to be unsustainable and recommended for closure.”

In February, the archdiocese announced that Our Lady of Refuge and St. Lucy School in the Bronx and St. Mark the Evangelist in Manhattan would close at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. In May, the archdiocese shared that Mt. Carmel-Holy Rosary School in Manhattan would close at the same time. 

“Parish-based schools are a particular strength in Manhattan,” the study reported. The area was found to have some of the highest-performing schools in the archdiocese. 

Ultimately, however, the two Manhattan schools were recommended for closure due to enrollment and financial considerations. 

“We understand the emotional impact these closures have on the students, families, and communities, and we trust in God’s providence to guide us to new opportunities,” Walsh said.

The Archdiocese of New York superintendent of schools announced the launch of a school renewal plan and the final results of a school viability study on June 4, 2025. /  Credit: alexkich/Shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 5, 2025 / 12:35 pm (CNA).

Archdiocese of New York Superintendent of Schools Sister Mary Grace Walsh, ASCJ, announced this week the launch of a school renewal plan and the final results of a school viability study.

On June 3, the archdiocese laid out the first part of the Elementary School Renewal Plan based on the results of the School Viability Study (SVS), which assessed every elementary school in the archdiocese between October 2024 and January 2025 in order “to ensure the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of Catholic education within the community.” 

The two-part school renewal plan, according to a press release, will evaluate four key areas for each school: mission and Catholic identity, governance and leadership, academic excellence, and operational vitality. The second part of the plan will be released in September.

“All schools, whether strong or in need of additional support, will work together with the archdiocese to implement these renewal efforts,” Walsh said. 

Schools will address each of the four focus points of the renewal plan by engaging in reflection and planning throughout the fall. If needed, schools will receive direct support from external consultants to help with future planning and will receive feedback and approval. 

“The renewal process is not always easy, but it brings with it the promise of transformation and growth,” Walsh said.

“Let us hold onto the promise of Revelation 21:5, trusting that God’s continual work of renewal and transformation is at the heart of everything we do,” she said. “Together, we will continue to nurture faith, knowledge, and community in our students, confident that God is with us as we move forward in this time of renewal.”

The SVS was conducted “across 77 parish and regional elementary schools along with two Archdiocese of New York Initiative campuses to assess their alignment with the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools (NSBECS).”

Eighteen staff members from the Superintendent of Schools Office in the archdiocese visited the schools to hold conversations with each principal, gather data, observe, and then report on their findings. 

The study found that Catholic schools in the Bronx present a “diverse educational landscape, with schools experiencing varying levels of sustainability.” 

While “several schools are thriving, supported by strong finances, academic excellence, and active parish partnerships,” some other schools “were determined to be unsustainable and recommended for closure.”

In February, the archdiocese announced that Our Lady of Refuge and St. Lucy School in the Bronx and St. Mark the Evangelist in Manhattan would close at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. In May, the archdiocese shared that Mt. Carmel-Holy Rosary School in Manhattan would close at the same time. 

“Parish-based schools are a particular strength in Manhattan,” the study reported. The area was found to have some of the highest-performing schools in the archdiocese. 

Ultimately, however, the two Manhattan schools were recommended for closure due to enrollment and financial considerations. 

“We understand the emotional impact these closures have on the students, families, and communities, and we trust in God’s providence to guide us to new opportunities,” Walsh said.

The Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion on Thursday, June 5, 2025, saying Wisconsin violated the First Amendment protections of Catholic Charities. / Credit: Wolfgang Schaller|Shutterstock

CNA Staff, Jun 5, 2025 / 12:05 pm (CNA).

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously held that the state of Wisconsin had violated the First Amendment when it denied a tax exemption to a Catholic charity after claiming that the group’s charitable undertakings were not “primarily” religious.

The high court said in its Thursday decision that the First Amendment “mandates government neutrality between religions” and that the state had run afoul of that principle when it refused to extend the tax break to the Catholic Charities bureau operated out of the Diocese of Superior.

The state allows organizations “operated primarily for religious purposes” to be exempt from paying into the state’s unemployment system. But the Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission had claimed that the Catholic charity was not operated primarily for a religious purpose because it offers charitable services to people of all faiths and does not focus its efforts on converting the people it serves to Catholicism.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court had ruled last March against the Catholic charity. On Thursday, however, the Supreme Court reversed that order in a unanimous ruling.

“It is fundamental to our constitutional order that the government maintain ‘neutrality between religion and religion,’” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in the decision. “There may be hard calls to make in policing that rule, but this is not one.”

“When the government distinguishes among religions based on theological differences in their provision of services, it imposes a denominational preference that must satisfy the highest level of judicial scrutiny,” she said.

“Because Wisconsin has transgressed that principle without the tailoring necessary to survive such scrutiny, the judgment of the Wisconsin Supreme Court is reversed,” she said.

The case “is remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion,” Sotomayor added.

In a concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas said the Catholic charity is not a “distinct organization” separate from the Diocese of Superior where it is chartered.

The charity and its affiliates “are corporate entities that the diocese has created to carry out its religious mission,” Thomas wrote.

“Both the basic principles of church autonomy and the history of religious corporations establish that religious institutions are more than the corporate entities that they form,” he said.

“It follows that the government may not use such entities as a means of regulating the internal governance of religious institutions,” he wrote. 

Diocese of Superior Bishop James Powers on Thursday said the “heart of Catholic Charities’ ministry is Christ’s call to care for the least of our brothers and sisters, without condition and without exception.” 

“We’re grateful the court unanimously recognized that improving the human condition by serving the poor is part of our religious exercise and has allowed us to continue serving those in need throughout our diocese and beyond,” the bishop said.

The Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion on Thursday, June 5, 2025, saying Wisconsin violated the First Amendment protections of Catholic Charities. / Credit: Wolfgang Schaller|Shutterstock

CNA Staff, Jun 5, 2025 / 12:05 pm (CNA).

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously held that the state of Wisconsin had violated the First Amendment when it denied a tax exemption to a Catholic charity after claiming that the group’s charitable undertakings were not “primarily” religious.

The high court said in its Thursday decision that the First Amendment “mandates government neutrality between religions” and that the state had run afoul of that principle when it refused to extend the tax break to the Catholic Charities bureau operated out of the Diocese of Superior.

The state allows organizations “operated primarily for religious purposes” to be exempt from paying into the state’s unemployment system. But the Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission had claimed that the Catholic charity was not operated primarily for a religious purpose because it offers charitable services to people of all faiths and does not focus its efforts on converting the people it serves to Catholicism.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court had ruled last March against the Catholic charity. On Thursday, however, the Supreme Court reversed that order in a unanimous ruling.

“It is fundamental to our constitutional order that the government maintain ‘neutrality between religion and religion,’” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in the decision. “There may be hard calls to make in policing that rule, but this is not one.”

“When the government distinguishes among religions based on theological differences in their provision of services, it imposes a denominational preference that must satisfy the highest level of judicial scrutiny,” she said.

“Because Wisconsin has transgressed that principle without the tailoring necessary to survive such scrutiny, the judgment of the Wisconsin Supreme Court is reversed,” she said.

The case “is remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion,” Sotomayor added.

In a concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas said the Catholic charity is not a “distinct organization” separate from the Diocese of Superior where it is chartered.

The charity and its affiliates “are corporate entities that the diocese has created to carry out its religious mission,” Thomas wrote.

“Both the basic principles of church autonomy and the history of religious corporations establish that religious institutions are more than the corporate entities that they form,” he said.

“It follows that the government may not use such entities as a means of regulating the internal governance of religious institutions,” he wrote. 

Diocese of Superior Bishop James Powers on Thursday said the “heart of Catholic Charities’ ministry is Christ’s call to care for the least of our brothers and sisters, without condition and without exception.” 

“We’re grateful the court unanimously recognized that improving the human condition by serving the poor is part of our religious exercise and has allowed us to continue serving those in need throughout our diocese and beyond,” the bishop said.

Steve Dorsey, U.S. head of communications and public affairs for the International Committee of the Red Cross, speaks about civilian suffering in Gaza with “EWTN News Nightly” host Erik Rosales on June 4, 2025. / Credit: “EWTN News Nightly”

CNA Staff, Jun 5, 2025 / 11:45 am (CNA).

The International Committee of the Red Cross said its 60-bed field hospital in Rafah, Gaza Strip, was nearly overwhelmed by a mass casualty event on Tuesday that brought 184 patients through its doors.

The aid group said Tuesday’s influx of patients was the highest the hospital has seen in one day since its opening more than a year ago. Nineteen of those patients were dead on arrival, and an additional eight died shortly thereafter, mostly from gunshot wounds. 

The same day, International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric told the BBC that Palestinians have been stripped of their human dignity and international humanitarian law is being ignored, saying “humanity is failing” and the situation in Gaza is “worse than hell on earth.”

After responding to five mass casualty events in Gaza in the last week — four of them in the last 96 hours alone — the group is calling for the “respect and protection of civilians,” who should not have to confront danger when trying to reach humanitarian assistance. 

Steve Dorsey, the U.S. head of communications and public affairs at the Red Cross committee in Gaza, spoke with “EWTN News Nightly” anchor Erik Rosales on Wednesday evening, telling him the situation in Gaza “is unbearable. We are at a breaking point.” 

Dorsey told Rosales that Tuesday’s mass casualty incident is the “latest illustration” of the Palestinian people’s desperation to access aid and relief, including food and medical care.

Those who survived Tuesday’s attack said they were trying to reach an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the aid organization backed by the U.S. and Israel and the only one currently allowed to operate in Gaza.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its troops fired on civilians who were “deviating from the designated access routes,” leading IDF to designate the distribution site as a “combat zone.”

The distribution site was closed on Wednesday for “update, organization, and efficiency improvements works,” according to IDF. It reopened on Thursday.

Distribution site closures have prevented the delivery of the former popemobile-turned-ambulance for children donated by Pope Francis before his death. 

According to Dorsey, humanitarian workers and civilians in Gaza are “entering a new dangerous time.” He told Rosales the Red Cross’ limited access to the region and dwindling supplies have forced them to shut down the majority of community kitchens that fed thousands of people a day. 

Millions of Palestinians are at risk for starvation, according to the United Nations. 

On June 4, the head of humanitarian relief at the U.N., Tom Fletcher, condemned IDF’s attacks on civilians who were “simply trying to eat.”

Fletcher also called for independent investigations into the attacks near aid distribution sites, urging Israel to allow more aid and relief into Gaza.

Pope Leo XIV in the first general audience of his pontificate last month appealed for an end to hostilities in Gaza and for the entrance of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

In addition to providing medical care and food, Dorsey said his organization has been rebuilding sanitation and water systems in the area.

The International Committee of the Red Cross serves as the custodian of the Geneva Conventions, specifically the Fourth Geneva Convention, adopted in 1949 after the atrocities of World War II. 

It focuses on protections for civilians, including those in occupied territories, prohibiting acts like torture, collective punishment, and attacks on civilian infrastructure. It also mandates humane treatment for displaced persons, access to medical care, and the right to family communication.