Georgia Martyrs Beatification Set, Calls to Protect Unborn from ICE, Poland Abuse Commission Report, and More

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Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Feb. 17, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

Read the stories in this episode:

• A date for the beatification of five Franciscans known as the Georgia martyrs has been set for Oct. 31, according to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints’ website. 
• Pro-life leaders from across ideological and religious lines urged the Trump administration to reinstate protections that generally prevent ICE from detaining pregnant and postpartum women, warning that current practices have led to miscarriages, stillbirths, and delayed medical care.
• New research and theologians suggest Ash Wednesday draws high Mass attendance because its physical reminder of mortality, identity as Catholics, and desire for spiritual order resonate deeply in a culture focused on self-improvement.
• Panelists at New York Encounter discussed new survey data showing belief in God and spirituality is rising in the U.S., even as organized religious participation has not surged, signaling a complex shift in American religious life.
• An independent commission report in Poland’s Diocese of Sosnowiec documented at least 50 abuse victims and systemic failures, marking a painful first step toward accountability amid declining trust in the Church.
• The U.S. bishops invited Catholics to mark America’s 250th anniversary with prayer and service, including 250 Hours of Adoration and 250 Works of Mercy focused on unity, healing, and charity.