SPEAKER_00 0:01

Hello, I'm Maggie Murray of OSV News, and this is your OSV Newscast for Thursday, April 30th, 2026. Let's catch you up on the Catholic News of the Day. Here we go. The Trump administration is taking direct aim at its predecessor on issues of religious liberty and putting it in writing. The Department of Justice today released a report accusing the Biden administration of anti-Christian bias in its approach to policy issues, including abortion, marriage, and gender policy. The report stems from a task force Trump directed the DOJ to create shortly after returning to the White House, tasked with investigating anti-Christian bias across the federal government. The report argues the Biden administration, quote, attempted to curtail liberty, trample disfavored beliefs, and tamper the ability of Christians to act in accordance with their sincerely held religious beliefs. Critics of the task force argued its claims lacked merit or amounted to an effort to favor one religion over others. The report carries no legal force, but its release is widely seen as a political move ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. Worth noting, Biden, a regular mass goer whose practice of Catholicism in his public life was the subject of debate and scrutiny, was sometimes at odds with the U.S. bishops during his presidency, most notably over his administration's abortion policy. An independent federal commission is shining a spotlight on one of the most troubling dimensions of global religious persecution, its impact on children. At an April 30th hearing, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom heard testimony that children are among the most vulnerable targets of governments that restrict religious practice around the world. Vicki Hartzler, the Commission's chair and a former Missouri congresswoman, said the panel is, quote, deeply concerned about countries where governments restrict religious education and prevent children from learning or practicing their faith. She said such policies are deliberately designed to erode religious identity by cutting off the transmission of faith from one generation to the next. Children are the ones who bear the brunt of religious freedom violations, Hartzler said. Perpetrators target them because they are defenseless. She warned that when children are targeted, families fracture, communities destabilize, and hope fades. USCIRF is a bipartisan, independent federal body that monitors religious freedom conditions around the globe. In a video released today by the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network, the Pope said with sorrow that millions of brothers and sisters continue to suffer from hunger while so many goods are wasted at our tables. The appeal arrives at a critical moment. The World Food Program warns that 318 million people could face severe food insecurity in 2026, with the ongoing war in the Middle East worsening conditions. At the same time, the UN Environment Program reports over a billion tons of food are wasted globally each year. Poplio called for a cultural shift, away from what he described as the logic of selfish consumption and toward a culture of solidarity. He urged Catholic communities to take up practical steps, including food banks, awareness campaigns, and simpler lifestyles. Father Christopher Fonis, director of the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network, said simply, this intention comes from the Pope's heart. Israeli authorities have arrested a suspect in the violent attack of a French nun near one of Christianity's most sacred sites in Jerusalem, and the incident is drawing sharp international condemnation. The assault took place April 28th near the Seneca, the traditional site of the Last Supper. The nun, a researcher at the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem, was reportedly thrown to the ground and repeatedly kicked, sustaining visible bruising. Israeli police launched an immediate investigation and said the suspect remains in custody while authorities seek to extend his detention. In a statement, the Israel police stressed zero tolerance for violence against clergy in the multi-faith city. Church leaders and the French consulate general in Jerusalem both condemned the attack and called for justice. The incident is raising broader alarm about anti-Christian harassment in the region. A local watchdog group reported an estimated 181 incidents targeting Christians, Christian symbols, and institutions in Israel in 2025, with an additional 44 incidents recorded in just the first three months of this year. She's a pilot, a martial arts black belt, a public speaker, and an author, and she does it all without arms. Jessica Cox from Arizona was born without arms, but that hasn't kept her from breaking records or inspiring people around the world. In 2008, Cox made history by becoming the first person certified to fly an airplane using only her feet, earning a Guinness World Record. Since then, she has traveled to 28 countries, spreading a message rooted in her deeply held Catholic faith. Now she has her sights set on her next milestone, building what she calls the Impossible Airplane, a custom four-seat aircraft with modified controls capable of reaching 200 miles per hour. For Cox, being in the cockpit is about far more than aviation. It's a place of absolute trust and surrender to God, she told OSV News. A place where faith shines through. From childhood to her record-breaking career, Cox has drawn on her faith to overcome challenges while encouraging others living with disabilities both seen and unseen. Her message to the world is simple and unwavering. Strengthen your faith. Faith will prevail, faith will conquer it all. And that's your OSV Newscast for today. I'm Maggie Murray of OSV News. Check out the show notes for direct links to the stories in this episode. Make sure to subscribe to this podcast, follow us on social media, and bookmark osvnews.com. The staff at OSV News will be off tomorrow celebrating the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. But we'll be back with the Catholic headlines on Monday. Have a great weekend. Thanks so much for listening and God bless.com.