France Legalizes Assisted Dying, Venezuela Earthquake Toll Nears 5,000, USCCB vs. IVF Rule and More

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for July 16, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

1. France's National Assembly voted 291 to 241 to legalize assisted dying, prompting Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline to call it a "serious turning point" that abandons the nation's tradition of caring for people until natural death.
2. The death toll from Venezuela's twin June 24th earthquakes has climbed to 4,829, as Caritas Venezuela and Catholic Relief Services distribute over 13,000 metric tons of food, water and hygiene supplies amid continuing aftershocks.
3. Catholic leaders in Maine and Texas are calling for prayer and accountability after two fatal ICE shootings within a week claimed the lives of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, sparking protests and federal investigations.
4. The USCCB submitted formal comments opposing a proposed federal rule expanding insurance coverage for IVF, urging the Trump administration to promote "restorative reproductive medicine" instead and to include conscience protections for employers.
5. Senators pressed Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on his handling of state mifepristone lawsuits during his July 15th confirmation hearing, with Senator John Cornyn demanding a formal response on the administration's intentions as the nomination now hangs on razor-thin margins following Senator Lindsey Graham's death.

Transcript

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Hello, I'm Maggie Murray of OSV News, and this is your OSV Newscast for Thursday, July 16th, 2026. Let's catch you up on the Catholic News of the Day. Here we go. France's Catholic bishops are speaking out forcefully after the National Assembly voted Monday to legalize assisted dying, including euthanasia and assisted suicide in certain cases. The measure passed 291 to 241 votes, permitting doctors or nurses under specific conditions to administer a lethal substance. President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the outcome, saying he had fulfilled a campaign promise. But Cardinal Jean-Marc Avelin, president of the French Bishops Conference, called the vote a serious turning point that abandons the nation's tradition of caring for people until natural death. The bishops warned the law could pressure vulnerable people, expand eligibility over time, and weaken palliative care, while also raising concerns that Catholic hospitals and nursing homes could face legal challenges if they refused to permit assisted dying on their premises. The legislation now heads to France's Constitutional Council for review before it can take effect. The bishops reiterated their call for Catholics to bear witness that another path is possible, one rooted in faithful presence, attentive care, and never abandoning anyone in suffering. The death toll from twin earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on June 24th has climbed to 4,829, according to government officials, in what has become the strongest disaster to hit the country in over a century. The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes left more than 16,000 injured and nearly 18,000 homeless. A UNICEF report released today warned that more than 1,000 aftershocks continued to hamper recovery, deepening the humanitarian crisis for vulnerable children and families. Catholic agencies worldwide are responding with major relief efforts. Caritas Venezuela launched a campaign called After the Earthquake Love, distributing more than 13,000 metric tons of food, water, and hygiene supplies. Catholic Relief Services, the official overseas humanitarian arm of the USCCB, has workers on the ground assisting with the distribution. Bishops in Germany and Bolivia are rallying the faithful for prayer and financial support. As the German Bishops Conference president said today, we must not abandon the victims of the earthquakes and must help now. Catholic leaders are calling for prayer, accountability, and compassion after two fatal shootings involving ICE officers happened within less than a week, incidents that have sparked protests in both Maine and Texas. In Biddeford, Maine, 25-year-old Johann Sebastian Duran Guerrero was shot and killed by an ICE officer on Monday while driving to work. The Diocese of Portland said its Office of Hispanic Ministry is providing pastoral support to Duran's family, praying they may experience God's loving comfort, strength, and peace. In Houston, Lorenzo Salgado Arajo was shot by an ICE agent on July 7th while traveling to a construction site and later died at a hospital. Archbishop Joe Velazquez of Houston Galveston urged Catholics to pray for Salgado, his family, and all those affected by fear and anxiety. Federal investigations are underway in both cases. Anne Gallagher of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network said immigration enforcement is increasingly creating a fearful and volatile climate that endangers lives and communities. The proposed rule, announced in May by the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury, aims to implement President Trump's February 2025 executive order expanding IVF access. In a July 13th public comment to the Labor Department, the USCCB's Office of General Counsel urged the administration to instead promote what it called restorative reproductive medicine, arguing that IVF does not aim to treat the underlying causes of infertility, but seeks to bypass them. The bishops also called for conscience protections for employers to be included in the final rule. Similar comments were filed by the National Catholic Bioethics Center, the Catholic Medical Association, and the National Association of Catholic Nurses USA, signaling broad Catholic opposition to the proposed expansion. A quiet, deeply personal moment captured the heart of last Saturday's ordination and installation of Bishop Emilio Biosca Aguero as the third bishop of the Diocese of Venice, Florida. Before the Liturgy of the Eucharist at St. John XXIII Church in Fort Myers, the new bishop's elderly parents made their way down the aisle to present the gifts. In front of the altar, they laid their hands on their son's face as he placed his hands on their shoulders, the three remaining still together for a long moment as tears filled the eyes of many among the 1600 gathered. Cardinal Sean O'Malley, retired Archbishop of Boston, served as homilist and co-consecrator, praising Bishop Bioska's deep love for Jesus crucified and his Franciscan virtues of simplicity, solidarity, and joy. A Capuchin Franciscan and former missionary to Papua New Guinea and Cuba, Bishop Bioska was named by Pope Leo XIV to succeed retiring Bishop Frank Duane, age 76. 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.