Washington D.C., Jan 18, 2017 / 01:47 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Any changes to health care law under the new administration should not abandon the principal of genuinely affordable health care for everyone, said the U.S. bishops in a letter to Congress. In... Read more
Caracas, Venezuela, Jan 18, 2017 / 11:54 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The bishops of Venezuela have urged that elections take place in the country in a timely manner, in light of the crisis of hyperinflation and chronic shortages of goods facing their nation. “The country requires a plan for elections, just as was agreed upon during the round-table discussions,” the Venezuelan bishops' conference said in a Jan. 13 pastoral exhortation “Jesus Christ, the Light and the Way for Venezuela.” They urged the government to comply with an Oct. 30 agreement so that dialogue with the opposition, which controls the legislature, can continue and thus pull Venezuela out of its crisis. The country has been ruled by a socialist government since 1999, and particularly in recent yers has been marred by violence and social and economic upheaval; the International Monetary Fund expects an inflation rate of 1,600 percent in 2017. Poor economic policies, including strict price controls, coupled with high inflation rates, have resulted in a severe lack of basic necessities such as toilet paper, milk, flour, diapers, and medicines. “A great darkness covers our country,” the bishops wrote. “We are going through dramatic situations: the serious shortage of medicine and food. Never before had we seen our brothers rummaging through garbage in search of food!” Their pastoral letter, written at the conclusion of the bishops' plenary assembly, criticized the social and political crisis, aggravated by the repression and arrest of opposition leaders, the attempt by the regime to curtail the powers of the legislature, and the obstruction of the recall referendum by the National Electoral Council which prevented Venezuelans from deciding on the rule of President Nicolás Maduro, creating “disillusionment and frustration among the citizenry.” “Only in totalitarian regimes is the autonomy of public authorities ignored and free expression by the citizenry thwarted,” the bishops stated. As on other occasions, the bishops reiterated that the fundamental cause of the crisis “is the great effort the government to impose a totalitarian system … even though the Marxist socialist system has failed in all the countries in where it has been established, leaving in its wake suffering and poverty.” In that regard, they lamented the disappointing outcome of the dialogue between the regime and the opposition, in which the Holy See acted as a facilitator, mainly because of the “government's failure to comply with the agreements that had been reached during the Oct. 30, 2016 meeting … We are extremely grateful for the service provided by Pope Francis and we lament that his contribution towards peace in Venezuela was misinterpreted.” In that regard, they reiterated that “conditions for continuing the dialogue were indicated by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in his Dec.1, 2016 letter.” These conditions are “alleviating the grave crisis in the supply of food and medicine the population is suffering,” that the parties “come to an agreement on the timetable for elections which will allow Venezuelans to decide on their future without delay,” that “necessary measures are taken to restore to the National Assembly as soon as possible its role provided for in the Constitution,” and “ implement the legal procedures to hasten the process of releasing the detainees.” In their exhortation, the bishops reminded Christians that their mission is, “in whatever the circumstances, to proclaim the God of life and turn the culture of death into a culture of life.” “How can we be those who bring light and hope to a panorama of darkness and death?” they asked. In that regard, they said, “it is necessary to make courageous gestures and innovative initiatives which provide the motivation to hope against all hope to build a free, just and fraternal coexistence; this is a task that belongs to everyone, every one according to their position … The call is to be protagonists of the present and future of our beloved country.” They likewise urged the government to accept international aid “to help address the shortages experienced by so many men, women and children who are at risk” and they reiterated the Church's offer to make available its organizational infrastructure. “The people are clamoring for a profound change in the political direction of the country that would be the result of the decision of the sovereign people: either the 21st century socialism which is absent from the constitution, or the democratic system established in the constitution. The country requires a plan for elections, just as agreed upon in the Roundtable Discussions,” they said. The bishops concluded their document asking Our Lady of Coromoto to intercede for Venezuela and for God to “enlighten our leaders so they reach as soon as possible the agreements necessary to overcome the crisis. We implore his blessing on all the inhabitants of the country.” Read more
Warsaw, Poland, Jan 18, 2017 / 06:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Poland's government has adopted multiple resolutions establishing 2017 as a Jubilee Year for the country, celebrating the 300th anniversary of the first canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa. “Polish Sejm, convinced of the special importance of Marian devotion for our homeland – not only in the religious aspect, but also social, cultural and patriotic – establishes 2017 the Year of the 300th anniversary of the Coronation of the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa,” the resolution of the lower house of parliament stated. More than 94 percent of Poland’s population being Catholic, the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa, also called the “Black Madonna,” has a significant meaning for Poles and is highly venerated throughout Europe. In a resolution adopted Dec. 15, 2016, the Polish parliament called “the image of the Mother of God at Jasna Góra… one of the most important religious and material national treasures.” Although the image was crowned Queen and Protector of Poland by King John II Casimir in 1652, its first canonical coronation was by Clement XI on Sept. 8, 1717, which is the date of the anniversary. Additional coronations of the image were also issued by St. Pius X in 1910 and St. John Paul II in 2005. A canonical coronation is a pious institutional act, wherein the Pope, through a bull, designates a crown or stellar halo be added to a Marian image under a specific devotional title in a particular area or diocese. The crowning of Our Lady of Czestochowa was the first such coronation to take place outside Rome. For the Jubilee, the Polish bishops’ conference has created a free smartphone app that sends out a “Marian thought” every day just before 9pm, the hour of the “Jasna Góra Appeal,” a special prayer for the intercession of Our Lady prayed by Poles. Faithful are also encouraged to participate in the Jubilee by offering “spiritual gifts” to Mary, such as a commitment to say certain prayers, to return to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, or to give up an addiction, such as drugs or pornography. To inaugurate the Jubilee Year, Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki of Poznan said Mass Sept. 8, 2016 at the Jasna Góra Monastery, the shrine where the image is located. On a website dedicated to the anniversary, there is a countdown to the celebrations to take place Aug. 26, the feast day of the image. Fr. Marian Waligóra, prior of the monastery, said the resolution of the Senate and Sejm recognizes “the achievements of this place in the history of the whole of our land, the importance of Jasna Góra as a place in our history and religious center for the whole Church and all Catholics,” the Polish Catholic News Agency KAI reported. The resolution adds a “luster” to the Jubilee, Fr. Waligóra said, because it reminds them that the importance of Our Lady of Czestochowa goes beyond merely religious or spiritual importance to Poles – although that is the most important aspect – but that the image of Our Lady is woven into the entire history of Poland. Read more
Vatican City, Jan 18, 2017 / 04:10 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Wednesday Pope Francis said hope in salvation is what leads us to turn to the Lord in prayer, trusting in faith particularly in moments when we are faced with the fear generated by death or inj... Read more
Austin, Texas, Jan 18, 2017 / 12:40 am (National Catholic Register).- When it came time for medical student Ashley Stone to apply to OB/GYN residency programs, she was determined that nothing would stand in her way – including her Catholic belief... Read more
Douglas, Isle of Man, Jan 17, 2017 / 08:04 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A member of the Isle of Man's legislature and a pro-choice campaign group are aiming to reform the island's abortion laws, but are receiving push-back from a local right-to-life group. “Our current law has at least done a good job of maintaining general right-to-life protections for unborn children, and safeguarding Manx women from the worst effects of the system of abortion-on-demand in the UK,” Hannah Grove, spokesperson of Humanity and Equality in Abortion Reform, said Jan. 15. “The Island has an abortion rate that is at least a third of England and Wales, and that is because of the wise strictures in our native 1995 legislation. We are way ahead of the UK, and adopting anything like their outdated and failed 1967 Act would be a regressive and hopeless folly.” Though abortion is not illegal on the Isle of Man, a crown dependency located between England and Northern Ireland, its current law – the Termination of Pregnancy Act 1995 – allows for abortions only if the pregnancy was a result of rape or on grounds of harm to the mother or fetal disability. Manx women seeking abortions currently travel to the United Kingdom for a surgical abortion, or illegally purchase medication online to induce abortion early on in pregnancy. Alex Allinson, a member of the House of Keys, the lower branch of the Manx parliament, is expected to introduce a bill to expand abortion access on the island later this month. Humanity and Equality in Abortion Reform considers the proposal a regression, saying it “ignores the humanity of the unborn child,” and warning it would “open the system up to abuses” and lead to a culture of “abortion on demand,” citing the abortion of 550 children daily in England and Wales. HEAR have defined themselves as “the progressive campaign for abortion reform to be carried out on the Isle of Man in line with a recognition of the equal humanity and dignity of all members of the human family.” The group wants to improve pregnancy support, reform prenatal care, improve mental health care, and increase transparency about abortion on the island. HEAR also wishes to abolish disability discrimination, saying that “such an informally eugenic approach to prenatal disability is completely out of place in the 21st century, and our common commitment to human equality.” Its final aim is to secure conscience protections for medical professionals on the island. Grove commented, “Let Tynwald reject the inhumane permissive proposals of the abortion lobby, and instead embrace reforms that truly respect the dignity and equality of every member of the Manx and human family.” Allinson's proposal is backed by the Campaign for Abortion Law Modernisation. They hope to bring Manx law into line with British law, noting that women from the UK can have abortions funded by the National Health Service, while Manx women must pay for their abortion. In 2015, 105 Manx women travelled to England for abortion. HEAR has called on the House of Keys “to reject any proposal that would deny the human rights and dignity of unborn children, an unjust and false solution to the issues of unplanned pregnancy.” Read more
Charlotte, N.C., Jan 17, 2017 / 05:02 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A lawsuit against a Catholic high school claims that it was illegal discrimination to fire a teacher for contracting a same-sex civil marriage, but a law professor suggests the case will not make any progress. “What they're trying to do is they're trying to make new law in this case,” Prof. Robert Destro told CNA. “I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't get their case dismissed.” Destro, a law professor of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law, served 16 years on the U.S. Commission for Civil Rights. Charlotte Catholic High School in North Carolina and the Diocese of Charlotte faces a lawsuit from a substitute teacher who says he was fired after he posted about his same-sex wedding on Facebook. The Charlotte, N.C. high school is part of the diocesan school system. Lonnie Billard had begun working at the school in 2001 as a full time faculty member. He taught English and drama. He said he brought his partner to school events and their relationship was known to students, teachers, parents and administrators. He retired in 2012 and became a long-term substitute teacher. In October 2014 he posted a wedding announcement on Facebook. An assistant principal at the school then told him he would no longer be hired as a substitute teacher. The suit claimed that the diocese ordered his termination because of his announcement. In January 2015 diocesan communications director David Hains said that continued employment of Billard would be “legitimating that relationship” and wrongly indicate Church approval, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit was filed on Billard’s behalf by the North Carolina office of the American Civil Liberties Union and the law firm Tin Fulton Walker & Owen. The lawsuit claims it is a cause for legal action to fire someone on the basis of sex, because of his intention to enter a same-sex civil marriage and “because he does not conform to sex-based stereotypes associated with men in our society.” Chris Brook, the ACLU state legal director, said that religious organizations are not exempt from the federal ban on sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. He claimed that other teachers violated Catholic teaching on divorce and other matters, but Billard was the only teacher fired. Destro, however, said he did not think the lawsuit had a basis in precedent. He questioned the lawsuit’s claim that marriages fall under sex discrimination. “The question whether or not certain marriages are legitimate, whether certain relationships are consistent with the moral teachings of the Church, has nothing to do with the definition of ‘sex’,” he said. The law allows religion to be a standard of employment in religious schools, he explained. This allows the school “to control the learning environment and who teaches in it.” “It’s pretty clear from the law that the schools have the right and the obligation to stay in control of their curriculum,” he said. According to Destro, the question is not a matter of the teacher’s sexual orientation. “The question is about whether you’re bearing sufficient witness to the faith in the course of your teaching, another question entirely.” Even if a teacher is not Catholic, Destro said, school contracts usually specify standards of behavior concerning teachers’ roles. CNA sought comment from the diocese but did not receive a response by deadline. “The Diocese of Charlotte has not received any paperwork. Typically we don’t discuss ongoing litigation,” Hains, the diocese’s communications director, told the Charlotte Observer. He said diocesan officials had not seen the lawsuit as of Jan. 11. In January 2015 Hains noted the Church’s belief that marriage is a union only of a man and a woman and rejected claims of discrimination. “He’s not being picked on because he’s gay. He lost his job as a substitute teacher because he broke a promise because he chose to oppose church teaching, something he promised he would not do.” Billard said that his adherence to Catholic teaching was never part of the employment process. The lawsuit seeks back pay and benefits, punitive damage, compensatory damages for emotional distress, and a court order blocking the school and Catholic leaders from taking similar actions in the future, “restraining Defendants from engaging in further discriminatory conduct.” The legal action comes after several years of advocacy against religious freedom protections. The American Civil Liberties Union is receiving funding from groups like the Arcus Foundation for projects to “beat back” religious exemptions, grant listings show. The foundation, founded by billionaire heir Jon Stryker, is also funding some Catholic dissenting groups. Stryker was a major funder of the effort to redefine civil marriage in the United States. Read more
Washington D.C., Jan 17, 2017 / 04:48 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- On the eve of this year’s March for Life in Washington, D.C., EWTN Global Catholic Network will launch a new half-hour weekly program focusing on promoting the culture of life. “EW... Read more
Washington D.C., Jan 17, 2017 / 04:10 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pro-life feminist organization New Wave Feminists has been removed from the official list of sponsors of the Women’s March on Washington 2017. Support of abortion as a fundamental principle of the upcoming January march has been cited as grounds. “I can only assume it’s because there was a lot of pressure not to affiliate with pro-lifers, which is unfortunate,” Destiny Herndon-De La Rosa, president of New Wave Feminists, said about the decision. In a Jan. 16 video statement on Facebook, Herndon-De La Rosa explained that they had been removed, speculating it was because of negative media backlash after an article on their participation appeared in The Atlantic. The feminist protest had previously listed New Wave Feminists as a partner, but by Monday afternoon had removed links to the Texan pro-life group from the event’s website. Earlier that day, The Atlantic featured a piece on pro-life participants in the Women’s March on Washington, highlighting New Wave Feminists as well as several other pro-life groups’ decision to participate in the march. The pro-life organization's decision attracted attention after the Women’s March released a list of guiding principles in early January – which included “open access to safe, legal, affordable abortion and birth control for all people.” According to The Atlantic, organizers do not see the march specifically as an anti-Trump protest. But the date of the protest – the day after Donald Trump's presidential inauguration – is meant to “send a bold message” Women’s March co-chair Bob Bland told the Atlantic. Bland continued, saying the march is meant to support a wide variety of people, but particularly those criticized during the 2016 election cycle. “We’re marching to say that we support them, and all women,” Bland told The Atlantic. The march is expected to draw between several thousand to as many as several hundred thousand participants from around the country. More than 100 organizations, including including pro-abortion organizations such as Planned Parenthood, have applied for “partnership” in supporting the March Bland told The Atlantic that including Planned Parenthood “was a no-brainer for us” because of their support of the Affordable Care Act. Furthermore, Bland stated, “one of the challenges facing women in this incoming administration is access to reproductive care.” Before rescinding New Wave Feminists’ partnership, Bland told The Atlantic that women of all beliefs and backgrounds were welcome, particularly “voices that have previously been either marginalized or silenced.” She told the publication that the intersectional nature of the event and inclusion of different perspectives on feminism was valuable and the “future” of the feminist movement “We must not just talk about feminism as one issue, like access to reproductive care.” After revoking New Wave Feminists’ partnership, the Women’s March issued a statement saying that the event it pro-abortion and that the organizers “look forward to marching on behalf of individuals who share the view that women have the right to make their own reproductive choices.” “The anti-choice organization in question is not a partner of the Women's March on Washington. We apologize for this error,” the statement added. The removal of New Wave Feminist’s partnership status, while disappointing, Herndon-De La Rosa said, will not her or the organization’s decision to join the March. The Women’s March’s decision does not change either their pro-life beliefs nor their identification as feminists. “We will be there whether we are official partners or not.” Read more
Rome, Italy, Jan 17, 2017 / 02:15 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- As the Order of Preachers, better known as the Dominicans, celebrate the 800th anniversary of their founding, they gather in Rome from around the world to reflect on their history, their charism of... Read more
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