Sri Lanka files charges against Easter bombing suspects (AP) Sri Lanka has filed 23,270 charges against 25 people in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks on churches and hotels that killed 269 people, the president’s office said Wednesday. The charges filed Tuesday under the country’s anti-terror law include conspiring to murder, aiding and abetting, collecting arms and ammunition, and attempted murder, it said…

Church leaders work to protect Hyde Amendment (Crux) Members of the U.S. bishops’ conference pro-life arm say they view the Aug. 10 vote by the U.S. Senate to preserve the Hyde Amendment as an important sign that the provision still has bipartisan support. In a near partisan 50-49 vote, Democrat Joe Manchin, a Catholic, joined all of the Republicans in voting yes to a budget resolution amendment late Tuesday night to preserve Hyde – a longstanding provision that prohibits taxpayer funding of abortion…

In Texas, a quarantine camp for migrants with COVID (The New York Times) On the edge of the Rio Grande in South Texas, sprawling Anzalduas Park has long been a popular spot for bird-watching, family cookouts and fishing. But earlier this month, the grassland expanse with barbecue grills and picnic tables was put off-limits, transformed into a large Covid-19 quarantine camp for migrants who have crossed from Mexico…

U.S. bishops hail infrastructure bill (Vatican News) The US Senate passed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on Tuesday. This $1.2 trillion infrastructure package will go towards shoring up the nation’s infrastructure with funding for roads, bridges and railroads. In a statement signed by USCCB committee chairman on Domestic Justice and Human Development, Archbishop Paul Coakley, the US Bishops welcomed the development and expressed gratitude for the bipartisan efforts of members of the Senate to pass the bill…

Pope meets Jesus: Francis chats with actor from “The Chosen” (CNA) The actor who plays Jesus in the internet series “The Chosen” met Pope Francis on Wednesday, fulfilling a lifelong dream as he visits Rome this week to view pilgrimage sites related to the Gospels. Jonathan Roumie, a Catholic who since 2019 has brought Christ to the screen for the evangelical Christian-produced series, told CNA that meeting the pope was “a childhood dream realized…”