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OSV Newscast
SSPX in Kenya Rejects Schism, Catholic Relief Services in Venezuela, Doctor Fights to Prevent Blindness in Guatemala, and More
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Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 14, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.
Read the stories in this episode:
- The Society of St. Pius X in Kenya is rejecting the Vatican's schism declaration, with Father Pierre Champroux insisting the group remains fully Catholic while Archbishop Philip Anyolo of Nairobi bars diocesan clergy from ministering alongside SSPX priests and urges the faithful to remain in full communion with Pope Leo XIV.
- Catholic Relief Services worker Robyn Fieser described devastation "a lot worse than expected" after arriving in Venezuela this week following back-to-back earthquakes that killed at least 4,500 people, as CRS and Caritas Venezuela distribute emergency food, hygiene kits and shelter materials to a traumatized population.
- South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham died unexpectedly Friday at age 71, with his sister Darline Graham Nordone set to complete his term — a loss that leaves a Republican vacancy on the Judiciary Committee just as it prepares to consider Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general.
- Cardinal Blase Cupich placed longtime Chicago social justice priest Father Michael Pfleger on leave following a decades-old sexual abuse allegation he strongly denies, with Pfleger suggesting the claim is retaliation for his outspoken advocacy on gun violence, racism and Trump administration policies.
- Guatemala Brillando, a Catholic-led eye care initiative founded by Pennsylvania optometrist Dr. Doug Villella and now led by the Yee brothers' Visualiza network, opened its fourth eye hospital this week on its path toward eliminating preventable blindness across Guatemala by 2032.
Hello, I'm Maggie Murray of OSV News, and this is your OSV Newscast for Tuesday, July 14th, 2026. Let's catch you up on the Catholic News of the Day. Here we go. The fallout from the Vatican's recent declaration of schism against the Society of St. Pius X is now playing out in Kenya, with the traditionalist group pushing back hard. Father Pierre Champreot, who leads the SSPX's Holy Cross community in Nairobi, insisted his society remains fully Catholic and faithful to Pope Leo XIV, rejecting the schismatic label and calling the Vatican's penalties unjust. He defended the validity of the society's sacraments and said the unauthorized episcopal consecrations were carried out to preserve the traditional priesthood. We do not accept the label of schism, he said. We do not have any spirit of bitterness or rebellion. But Archbishop Philip Agnolo of Nairobi has taken a firm stance in response, urging Catholics to remain in full communion with the Pope and warning that excommunication wounds communion with the church. He has prohibited diocesan clergy from ministering alongside SSPX priests and is encouraging members seeking reconciliation to return through official church structures. Catholic relief workers on the ground in Venezuela are describing destruction far beyond what anyone expected and asking the world to keep Venezuelans in their hearts. Robin Pfizer, who is coordinating emergency communications for Catholic relief services, arrived in Venezuela last week following two back-to-back earthquakes that struck the country on June 24th. There were literally blocks of buildings that were just pancaked onto themselves, Pfizer told OSV News. At least 4,500 people were killed in the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes, which struck just 39 seconds apart, with thousands still missing. Catholic Relief Services, the official overseas humanitarian arm of the USCCB, is working alongside its in-country partner, Caritas Venezuela, distributing emergency food, hygiene kits, and shelter materials. Pfizer said the damage extends far beyond the physical. Every single person I've spoken to is traumatized, she said, though she noted a spirit of coming together even amid what remains a long road to recovery. Following the unexpected sudden passing of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina governor has tapped the late senator's sister to fill his seat for the remainder of the term. Graham, age 71, died unexpectedly Saturday after what his office described as a brief and sudden illness. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster announced Monday that Darlene Graham Nordone, the senator's sister, will complete the remainder of his term, with her swearing in expected within days. Over more than two decades in the Senate, Graham became a central figure in U.S. foreign policy, Supreme Court confirmation battles, and immigration debates. He was a staunch advocate of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran, a conflict repeatedly criticized by Pope Leo XIV, but he also worked to advance pro-life legislation, notably the Protecting Pain-capable unborn children from Late Term Abortions Act. His death leaves a Republican vacancy on the Senate Judiciary Committee just as it prepares to consider the nomination of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, and comes as Senator Mitch McConnell also remains away from the Senate, recovering from a fall and pneumonia treatment. In keeping with our child protection policies, Cardinal Supic wrote, I have asked Father Flager to step aside from ministry and live away from the parish while the allegation is investigated. The Cardinal confirmed the allegation was reported to law enforcement and that victim assistance services have been offered. In his own statement, Father Flager denounced the allegation as an absolute lie while affirming that sexual abuse is wrong. He suggested the claims stem from ongoing backlash to his social justice advocacy on gun violence, racism, and Trump administration policies, and noted he was cleared of separate allegations in 2021 and 2022. Guatemala Briando grew out of a simple realization by Dr. Doug Vieya, an optometrist from Erie, Pennsylvania, who found that short-term medical mission trips, while meaningful, couldn't meet Guatemala's overwhelming need for eye care. Vieya partnered with Vincent Pescatore, founder of an orphanage in Guatemala's Pitane region, and later connected with Dr. Mariano Yi, then a young ophthalmology resident in Guatemala City. Today, guided by their Catholic faith, Yi and his brothers lead Visualiza, an eye care network that now employs 410 people. One brother serves as an eye surgeon, another oversees the organization's architecture and business side, and a fourth manages operations at the newly opened hospital in the Quiche region. Organizers hope the model can eventually expand to other low and middle-income countries facing similar gaps in eye care. 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. Thanks so much for listening and God bless. This has been an OSV News production. To learn more, visit osvnews.com.
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