Autopsy: Cause of death 'undetermined' for Black Catholic Mississippi teen Nolan Wells
An independent examination noted missing body parts and the need for further investigation, while authorities remain tight-lipped on their findings.
Law
Going nuclear: Defending the meaning of family in a rapidly changing world
Efran Menny reflects on new meanings of family in modern society and how Catholics can witness to truth without losing sight of the real world.
Fr Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Catholic Church in Chicago faces new allegation of child sex abuse
The senior priest has led one of the nation's best-known Black Catholic parishes since 1981 and recently saw multiple unsubstantiated accusations.
My experience at a Chicago justice conference showed me the power of Christian witness.
Daryl Grigsby recounts his time at an ecumenical gathering centered on "holy resistance" and its outworking in the current American moment.
What can White pro-lifers learn from the Black community (and Black history)?
Briana Jansky writes that despite shared goals among pro-lifers, there are still large gaps in communication and an undercurrent of anti-Blackness.
Clarence B. Jones, MLK speechwriter who helped pen 'I Have a Dream', dead at 95
The Catholic-raised attorney, aide, and academic received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024 for his work in the Civil Rights Movement.
St. Patrick Catholic Church slated for closure amid Diocese of Oakland bankruptcy
The diocese, which plans to close 13 parishes, is seeking approval of a $180 million settlement concerning child sex abuse dating back decades.
Louisiana GOP senators drop majority-Black district in proposed gerrymander
by Piper Hutchinson, Louisiana Illuminator (May 13, 2026)
A moral call to defend Black voting rights: How Catholics should respond
Efran Menny surveys the history of African-American disenfranchisement and urges faithful Catholic witness to stem the tide of injustice.
Virginia Supreme Court nixes Democrats' congressional map amid voting rights fracas
The 4-3 ruling from a conservative-majority bench said a spring voter referendum was authorized improperly in violation of the state constitution.
No deportation date for Bolivian immigrant tabbed for Congo
by Lyle Muller, Iowa Capital Dispatch May 5, 2026
A cry that went unheard: Why the Laken Snelling case still matters
Robert Alan Glover on a recent case of hidden pregnancy, alleged murder, and a throwaway culture that would rather have certain tragedies go away.
The U.S. and Israel bomb Iran, Black Catholic lawmakers react
Airstrikes on Iran have left 200+ dead, including scores of children, as the United States and Israel seek the overthrow of the Islamic Republic.
Maryland attorney general sues Trump administration over planned $102M detention center
Anthony Brown, a Black Catholic, is the first AG to sue the White House over its plans to convert warehouses into immigrant holding facilities.
Norman C. Francis, first lay president at Xavier University of Louisiana, dead at 94
The former civil rights lawyer led the school for nearly 50 years, from the Civil Rights Movement through Hurricane Katrina and beyond.
Former 2 Live Crew rapper Luther 'Uncle Luke' Campbell running for Congress
The 65-year-old musician is primarying Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida, who faces federal fraud charges as she runs for reelection.