Photo: International Women’s Day. Courtesy of Dmitry Dreyer, available in the public domain via Unsplash.

September – October 2026

Vol. 51, No. 5. A bi-monthly newsletter on international justice and peace issues.

Ways to Faithfully Protect U.S. Midterm Elections

In a time marked by hostility, polarization, and bitter political rhetoric, U.S. people of faith are invited to join efforts to protect free and fair midterm elections in November.

Redefining Extremism: U.S. Targets Progressive Civil Society

On July 16, the State Department issued a troubling announcement signaling a formal shift in federal counterterrorism priorities away from far-right and white supremacist violent extremism toward what the Administration labels “far-left anti-government actors.”

Attend Magnifica Humanitas Webinar

Join us on September 22 at 2 p.m. Eastern for a new webinar “Magnifica Humanitas: What it Means to be Human in the Age of AI”, exploring the themes and implications of Pope Leo XIV’s recent encyclical.

‘Iron River’ of Guns Flooding Haiti

The military-grade weapons and high-caliber rifles equipping armed gangs in Haiti overwhelmingly flow from a single source: the United States. Congress has the power to stop it.

Double Disaster in Venezuela

Simultaneous earthquakes and harmful U.S. policy strangle the Venezuelan people.

Holding Extractive Giants to Account in Peru

The decades-long fight for justice in Peruvian mining case sets global precedent.

Panama: A Model for Biodiversity Goals

As world leaders gather for the UN Biodiversity Conference in Armenia, the practical and spiritual ecological work of Maryknoll Sisters in Panama offers a roadmap for global conservation.

Navigating a World in Global Water Bankruptcy

At the opening session of the 2026 UN High-level Political Forum discussion on Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation for Everyone), Kaveh Madani, director of the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, said the world has moved beyond a water crisis and into a stage of “water bankruptcy.”

The U.S. Continues its Campaign against the ICC

Additional officials join the list of individuals designated for sanctions.

Season of Creation Spotlight on the Philippines

Discover how the Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary in Baguio City embodies the global call to care for our common home through prayer, education, and action during this year’s Season of Creation.

Call to End Military Exercises on Korean Peninsula

The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns joined partners in the Korea Peace Network calling on Congress to promote diplomatic engagement and de-escalation.

Myanmar: Interview with Confidant of Aung San Suu Kyi

This is an excerpt from UCA News reporter Luke Hunt’s Aug. 18 interview with Sean Turnell, an Australian economist who worked closely with Aung San Suu Kyi when she was leader of a democratic Myanmar. Following the military coup in early 2021, Turnell spent 22 months in prison with the Nobel Laureate.