Aleja Hertzler-McCain

Aleja Hertzler-McCain is a former NCR staff reporter.

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Pope Francis greets a cleric in a wheelchair during an audience with participants attending the general chapter of the Comboni Missionaries at the Vatican June 18, 2022. (CNS/Vatican Media)

Disabled Catholics praise pope's example in publicly using a wheelchair

"There's a lot of power in seeing people who look like you, and to know that you can be a leader in the church, and you can be an integral part of the church," said Erin Murphy, a lifelong wheelchair user.

A student wears a crucifix and a pro-life T-shirt during a July 22 Turning Point USA Student Action Summit in Tampa, Florida. (CNS/Reuters/Marco Bello)

New abortion restrictions threaten immunocompromised patients' access to lifesaving drug

Patients, doctors and pharmacists navigate new ethical and legal concerns as the June 24 Supreme Court ruling that overturned the right to abortion reveals nuanced questions about medication and medical treatments.

Charlene Howard, chairwoman of the Pax Christi USA national council, Josie Garnem, a national council member, and Lauren Bailey, the organization's national field organizer, pose during a demonstration June 18 in Washington. (CNS)

Pax Christi celebrates 50 years of Catholic witness against the 'war machine'

Pax Christi USA, a branch of the international Catholic peace movement, will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a conference Aug. 5-7 just outside Washington.

Puerto Rico's El Yunque National Forest is seen in this 2012 file photo. (CNS/Octavio Duran)

Puerto Rico's archbishop calls for island to adopt green energy, in line with Laudato Si'

San Juan Archbishop Roberto González Nieves has called for widespread action across Puerto Rico to protect its natural resources and spur transition to clean energy sources, in line with the pope's environmental encyclical.

From left: Notre Dame de Namur Sr. Patricia Chappell, Jean Stokan and Scott Wright, new Pax Christi USA Ambassadors of Peace (CNS/Florida Catholic/Jean Gonzalez; Courtesy of Pax Christi USA)

Catholic peace movement Pax Christi recognizes 20 new 'Ambassadors of Peace'

Pax Christi USA has named 20 new Ambassadors of Peace, who join 30 previous such ambassadors in being recognized for contributions they have made toward furthering the practice of Gospel nonviolence.

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