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Shalom World News, Philadelphia, PA (2025)

07/26/2025

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has filed a lawsuit against Planned Parenthood Federation of America, alleging the organization “systematically misled” women in Missouri about the risks of chemical abortion pills in order to cut costs and increase revenue, violating the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act. The lawsuit claims Planned Parenthood made “dangerous claims” about the drug’s safety, including suggesting that it is safer than Tylenol, statements that contradict FDA labeling and peer-reviewed studies documenting significant adverse events.
Bailey’s office is seeking nearly $2 million in civil penalties, up to $1,000 in damages or restitution for each Missouri woman who received abortion pills from Planned Parenthood in the past five years, and repayment to the state Medicaid system.
This legal action follows an April study that found over 10% of women who took abortion pills experienced “serious adverse events,” prompting the FDA to review Mifepristone. Chemical abortions now account for approximately half of all abortions in the U.S., and their use has increased since the 2022 repeal of Roe v. Wade, despite abortion bans in several states.

07/26/2025

Police reported that the Notre-Dame des Champs Church in Paris’s 6th arrondissement was targeted in an arson attack on July 24, 2025. The fire, which began at a statue in the Saint-Joseph chapel, spread to wooden panels and a recently renovated canvas before firefighters contained it. No injuries were reported, and police technicians were mobilized to collect DNA evidence.
This followed another fire the previous day, believed to be accidental, which destroyed a sound system and the choir organ. The priest escaped unharmed, and firefighters contained that blaze as well. Preliminary investigations attributed it to a faulty electrical circuit in the choir organ.
Following the first fire, the church doors were left open for ventilation. The second fire has raised further concerns. Father Camille Millour stated on the church’s website that the second fire caused even more damage and questioned its origin. Jean-Pierre Lecoq, mayor of the 6th arrondissement, also voiced concern on X, stating that the back-to-back fires raise legitimate questions.
Notre-Dame des Champs Church will remain closed indefinitely, and both municipal and national police will patrol the area.

07/26/2025

The U.S. Catholic bishops’ 2024 Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa has awarded $2.6 million to support 96 pastoral projects in 32 African countries and across multiple regions. According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), this funding, a $500,000 increase with 28% more grant projects than in 2023, addresses challenges posed by the Catholic faith’s rapid growth in Africa, which are comparable to those of material poverty.
Archbishop Thomas Zinkula, chairman of the bishops’ Subcommittee on the Church in Africa, emphasized that the fund enables vital spiritual and social ministries and fosters unity within the universal Church, acknowledging the reciprocal generosity of African priests serving in the U.S.
The fund, a vehicle for American Catholics to support their African counterparts, supported nearly 100 bishop-backed grants last year. These included initiatives such as peacebuilding in South Sudan, catechetical training in Zambia, church administration workshops in Togo, intergenerational teaching in Malawi, and climate advocacy in Eastern Africa.

07/26/2025

Nearly 800 young men from the Archdiocese of New York have expressed interest in religious life following the launch of “Called By Name” on May 4, 2025, according to Father George Sears, the archdiocese’s director of vocations. The program encourages young men who feel called to the priesthood to begin discernment and invites community members to suggest potential candidates.
Father Sears attributes the surge in interest to a deepening of faith among Catholics, particularly men, who may feel their role in the Church is under pressure, fostering a renewed interest in both Catholicism and the priesthood, independent of the “Called By Name” initiative.
Interested individuals will meet with Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Father Sears after speaking with their parish priest, spending time in prayer, and learning more about the priesthood. Even those who do not feel called to the priesthood may find opportunities for greater involvement in Church life through “Called By Name.”

07/25/2025

Florida has been ranked first in the U.S. for religious liberty protections, according to the Religious Liberty in the States (RLS) index by First Liberty Institute’s Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy (CRCD). This fourth annual report, which assesses laws in all 50 states based on 47 legal protections across areas like education, healthcare, and family, gave Florida a score of 74.6%, followed by Montana at 70.6%.
Governor Ron DeSantis announced the ranking at a press conference, highlighting Florida’s leadership in religious freedom. The 2023 passage of legislation defending healthcare providers’ religious or moral objections to procedures like abortion or sterilization contributed to Florida’s high ranking.
After Florida and Montana, the states of Illinois, Ohio, and Mississippi also received high rankings. In contrast, Vermont, Nebraska, Michigan, Wyoming, and West Virginia ranked the lowest. In the previous year, 2024, Illinois held the top position, with Florida ranking second.

07/25/2025

Orthodox Church commemorates the Dormition of Saint Anna on July 25. She was the mother of the Theotokos (the God-bearer), the daughter of Mattham, a priest of the tribe of Levi, and the wife of St. Joachim. Anna and Joachim were married and childless for about 50 years, which was a source of great sorrow. They vowed to dedicate their child to the Lord if they were blessed with one.
After being scorned by priests in Jerusalem for their childlessness, Joachim retreated to the wilderness to pray. The Archangel Gabriel appeared to him, announcing that Anna would bear a daughter named Mary. When Mary was three years old, her parents offered her to the temple, where she lived for seven years. During this time, Anna and Joachim frequently visited her until their repose.
Orthodox Church also commemorates Saint Anna’s conception on December 5 and honors both Virgin Mary’s parents jointly on September 9. The Roman Catholic Church commemorates Saints Joachim and Anne on July 26.

07/25/2025

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan passed away at 71. Less than two years before his death, Hulk Hogan surrendered his life to Jesus. Baptized in 2023, he declared, “Total surrender and dedication to Jesus is the greatest day of my life.”

07/25/2025

Zurich politician Sanija Ameti has been indicted for disturbing religious freedom after she posted photos last September of herself shooting an air pistol at a poster of a 14th-century painting of Jesus Christ and Mary. The photos, which showed Ameti aiming at the poster and then the poster riddled with holes, were removed following public backlash. Ameti later issued an apology and resigned from the Zurich Liberal Greens.
Prosecutors are seeking a conditional fine of CHF 10,000 and an additional fine of CHF 2,500, with a two-year probation. Nicolas Rimoldi, President of Mass-Voll, who filed the complaint, publicized the indictment. The indictment states that Ameti shot at the picture, taken from an auction house catalogue, approximately 20 times, and posted a photo of herself with the caption “switch off.”
Prosecutors allege that the 33-year-old ridiculed and hurtfully disregarded the Christian faith, potentially threatening religious peace. The public prosecutor’s office plans to attend the trial, which is unusual for minor offenses. A trial date has yet to be determined.

07/25/2025

On July 20, 2025, thousands attended a Mass at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Wisconsin, a designated “Jubilee Pilgrimage Site,” to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope. Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay celebrated the Mass at the shrine, which is the site of the only Marian apparition in the United States approved by the Catholic Church. The apparition occurred in 1859 and is known as Our Lady of Champion.

07/25/2025

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, the spiritual leader of Greek Orthodox Christians worldwide, will visit the U.S. in September this year. His trip includes engagements in New York and Washington, D.C., highlighted by a meeting with President Trump. Accompanied by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Bartholomew will be honored for his contributions to interfaith dialogue and environmental advocacy. He will receive the Templeton Prize on September 24 for bridging scientific and spiritual perspectives on environmental issues.
Other events include a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations on September 19 and a recognition by Stony Brook University’s marine sciences center on September 20 for his environmental leadership as the “Green Patriarch.” The visit will conclude with a farewell luncheon at Rockefeller Center, hosted by Archbishop Elpidophoros and sponsored by Calamos Investments, honoring Rabbi Arthur Schneier for his interfaith work with the Appeal of Conscience Foundation.

07/25/2025

Timothy Schmalz’s sculpture Homeless Jesus, depicting Jesus as a blanket-covered figure with visible wounds on his feet lying on a park bench, was blessed by Archbishop Francisco José Prieto Fernández of Santiago de Compostela on July 22 at the Pilgrim’s Reception Office of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The installation, a highlight of the week honoring St. James the Apostle, offers pilgrims arriving at the culmination of the Camino de Santiago (“Compostella”) a poignant encounter. Inspired by Matthew 25 (“I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was homeless, and you gave me shelter”), the sculpture aims to reveal Christ in unexpected places and challenge viewers to confront their indifference toward the homeless, a theme Schmalz has explored in other works like Angels Unawares.
During the blessing ceremony, Schmalz emphasized the bench’s invitation to sit with Christ and recognize our responsibility to humanity. Installed in over 100 cities worldwide, Homeless Jesus seeks to “crystallize the Gospel” and serve as a constant reminder on the streets. The Pilgrim’s Office, a symbolic site on the Camino, provides a fitting location for this image of a humble, suffering Christ, close to the marginalized. The sculpture’s installation was funded by Diane and Tim Needles, advocates for the less fortunate. Homeless Jesus is more than a sculpture, it is an invitation to reflection and action, awaiting pilgrims at the Camino de Santiago and encouraging prayer and compassion.

07/25/2025

In war-torn Gaza City, where the sound of bombs is constant and a single onion can cost more than 15 euros, a small and dwindling Christian community clings to their faith. Many have taken refuge in the Holy Family Parish, the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip. This is a glimpse into the harsh reality faced by Christians in Gaza.

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