Catch up on the Catholic news of the day with OSV News, featuring top stories from the Vatican, the U.S. and across the world. At OSV News, we've got the Church covered.
Hello, I'm Gina Christian, and you're listening to our OSC Newscast for Friday, August 28th, 2026, the feast of St. Augustine of Hippo, bishop, theologian, and doctor of the church. Today's Saint deserves his own podcast episode. So just a few quick facts. He was born in 354 and died in 430 in what is now modern-day Algeria. He adapted classical thought to Christian teaching, but he also shared his very personal struggles in finally coming to know the Lord. And to this day, his life continues to touch both minds and hearts around the world, especially for Pope Leo XIV, a member of the Augustinian order and a self-described son of Augustine. St. Augustine, pray for us. Now let's catch you up on the Catholic news of the day, and here we go. The Department of Justice said today the FBI took minimal corrective action after a controversial leaked memo discussed radical traditionalist Catholics. A report by the Department's Weaponization Working Group said the FBI personnel responsible for the 2023 document, which is sometimes called the Richmond Memo, have been terminated from their roles. Those firings were reported back in June. The now infamous Richmond Memo was a leaked and then retracted FBI document that discussed radical traditionalist Catholics as those who may pose threats of racially or ethnically motivated violence. But a 2024 review by the Department of Justice's watchdog found no evidence of religious bias by those responsible for the memo's creation. In statements released today by the Department of Justice, Attorney General Todd Blanch and FBI Director Cash Patel pointed to the broader weaponization working group, an effort by the Trump administration to target what it's characterized as the weaponization of government. The report said the FBI is entrusted with the solemn responsibility of protecting the First Amendment rights of all Americans. History will rightly judge the Richmond Catholic Memo as a grave failure of the FBI Richmond Field Office to uphold that responsibility. But the internationally recognized New Testament expert, who's a longtime member of the association, said that understanding Jesus and Paul requires knowledge of first-century Jewish practice and belief. That perspective has been core over the years to the Catholic Biblical Association, which was founded in 1936 to promote excellence in biblical scholarship and related disciplines. Levine said, I have not only studied but also appreciated the beauty of Catholic worship and traditions since I was a child. She stressed that she does not question the central claims of the Catholic tradition, but honors and respects them, while bringing her scholarship to bear on them for fuller appreciation. She said, In studying texts together, we learn both more about our neighbors and more about ourselves. We can recover our common history, better understand why and how we disagree, see how our relationships have changed over the centuries, and recognize that demonization is neither informed nor normative. Meta has agreed to pay approximately $18 billion to settle claims the company misled the public about the potential mental health impacts of its social media platforms on children and teens. One $17.1 billion settlement ends a landmark federal trial in California and includes agreements covering 47 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories. The funds will be distributed over 10 years to support youth online safety initiatives. The state of Texas obtained a separate $1 billion settlement with Meta. As part of the deal, Meta committed to implementing new safeguards for minors, including daily usage limits, restrictions on nighttime use, stronger age verification measures, and additional parental safety controls. The company did not admit any wrongdoing. Some are cautioning that the financial penalty is relatively modest compared to Meta's size and may not substantially affect its operations. Mary Graw Leary, a professor of law at the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, told OSV News that what would really affect Meta is comprehensive regulation. She said, if there was a federal law that precludes them from having certain design features, that would be much more powerful. Maronite Bishop A. Elias Saidan, Chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on International Justice and Peace, is calling on the international community to step up aid after devastating torrents of water and mud raged along the Nepal-China border on August 26th, killing close to 600, with more than 1,900 still missing. The flooding was caused by a glacial collapse, and it's resulted in widespread destruction, with fears of secondary impacts amid ongoing rainfall. Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. Catholic Bishop's Humanitarian Relief and Development Agency, is closely monitoring the emergency. German Catholic news outlet KA reported that Germany's Caritas Catholic Relief Agency is working with Caritas Nepal to provide assistance, including food, water, blankets, and sleeping bags, as well as emergency shelters for kids and teens. Caritas Emergency Aid Coordinator Rajou Pradan told KA that the extent of the destruction from the flooding is almost beyond comprehension. Catholic Relief Services has set up an emergency relief fund in response to the disaster, with donations accepted by a number of online giving platforms as well as phone and mail. You can learn more at CRS.org. In his statement yesterday on the flooding, Bishop Zidane invoked Mary's Immaculate Heart to provide consolation and shelter to all those affected by this disaster. And he said, May she inspire the international community to work together as one family to address the urgent needs of the Nepalese people. And finally, today Pope Leo XIV met with a U.S. delegation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, urging members to live out their faith through direct service to the poor. Speaking to the American delegation at the Vatican, the Pope emphasized that prayer and social justice are inseparable. He thanked the more than 90,000 Vincentian volunteers across the U.S. for their dedicated work with marginalized communities, and he noted that charitable action rooted in love opens the giver's heart to God's grace. Pope Leo encouraged the group to look to their 17th century patron, St. Vincent de Paul, for continuous inspiration. He reminded the volunteers that selfless service not only aids those in need, but also helps believers recognize Christ in their neighbors and co-workers every day. Pope Leo said, Dear friends, I urge you then always to give of yourself. In this way, the Lord's grace will steadily purify your hearts and minds, and you will more readily recognize Christ in your neighbor, both in those you serve and in those with whom you work. And that's your OSV Newscast for today. I'm Gina Christian. Check out the show notes for a link to our website where you can find the stories in this episode and more. As always, please make sure to subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss an episode. Give us a follow on social media and bookmark osvnews.com. Shout out to our listeners around the world. Drop us a line, let us know what you think. We'll be back on Monday. And before we go, a quote from St. Augustine's Confessions. You've probably heard it before, but it's worth repeating. You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you. Thanks so much for listening, and God bless.
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