August 17, 2021 WASHINGTON—A widespread humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Afghanistan, with the Taliban swiftly seizing control of the capital on August 15. Thousands of people who have worked as interpreters, translators, and in other capacities alongside the United States military over the past twenty years, including Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants, find themselves and…

August 14, 2021 WASHINGTON – Following news of the earthquake this morning in Haiti and reports of casualties and heavy damage caused to property and the infrastructure by the intensity of the seismic activity, Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued the following statement: “On behalf…

For Immediate Release: August 12, 2021 Catholic Diocese of Richmond Office of Catholic Schools Updates Face Mask Policy for the Beginning of the 2021-2022 School Year (RICHMOND, Va) – Following today’s (Aug. 12, 2021) announcement by Virginia’s State Health Commissioner, the Office of Catholic Schools for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond is updating its COVID-19…

The Medical Society of Virginia has circulated a survey on assisted suicide to its physician and physician assistant members.  Please forward this message to any Virginia physician, physician assistant or medical student you know who opposes assisted suicide and urge them to take the survey as soon as possible. The deadline is August 10. As debate on…

July 30, 2021 *Read Catholic News Service article on The Catholic Virginian Website  WASHINGTON—Since 2001, the United States has been involved in Afghanistan, and later Iraq, in military and a nation-building capacities. During that time, Afghan and Iraqi nationals have assisted U.S. troops, diplomats, and government humanitarian personnel in the region by providing translation, interpretation,…

For Release: July 30, 2021 In coordination with U.S. troop withdrawals from Afghanistan, Commonwealth Catholic Charities (CCC) and other non-profit organizations are assisting the U.S. government in relocating Afghan nationals who are in the final stages of approval for special immigrant visas (SIV) and seeking refuge in the United States. Since 2001, U.S. troops have…

July 30, 2021 After Thursday’s  (July 29) action by the U.S. House of Representatives to vote in favor of H.R. 4502, Bishop Knestout has issued the following statement joining the USCCB chairman(s) of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee for Religious Liberty and Committee for Pro-Life Activities: “H.R. 4502, appropriations legislation passed…

July 29, 2021 WASHINGTON – Today, the House voted 219 to 208 in favor of H.R. 4502, a package of appropriations bills that currently excludes the 46-year-old Hyde Amendment and other longstanding, bipartisan provisions like the Weldon Amendment. Eliminating these provisions would force taxpayers to pay for elective abortions and would have the effect of…

Bishop Knestout has announced the following clergy appointment, effective Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021: Jesuit Father Michael J. Lamanna has been assigned to serve as a parochial vicar at Sacred Heart, Richmond, until July 31, 2022.   ###

For Immediate Release: July 16, 2021 Richmond Diocese Adds Four Names to Clergy List Clergy List First Publicized in 2019 (RICHMOND, Va.) – The Catholic Diocese of Richmond has added four names to its list of clergy against whom a credible and substantiated claim of sexual abuse involving a minor has been made. Of the…