Chicago, Ill., Dec 15, 2016 / 07:08 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Two Emmy Awards have gone to a documentary that shows St. John Paul II’s central role in the end of communism.Liberating a Continent: John Paul II and the Fall of Communism resulted an Emmy for outstanding achievement for documentary programs in the historical category. The award went to the documentary executive producer and Knights of Columbus CEO Carl Anderson, along with producers Justyna Czyszek, Szymon Czyszek, David Naglieri, and Michele Nuzzo-Naglieri.    “We are honored to receive these awards and grateful for the recognition it gives to this important film, which tells the story of how Eastern Europe regained its freedom without violence and by calling forth the best in the human spirit,” Anderson said. “The documentary shows how John Paul was the essential leader in making this happen and in such a hopeful, inspiring way.” Anderson worked with St. John Paul II when he served in the Reagan White House. He is now Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization with 1.9 million members worldwide. The film focuses on the sainted Pope’s role in ending communist control of Central and Eastern Europe and his spiritual influence on Poland’s Solidarity labor movement, which played a pivotal role leading up to the collapse of Communism that started in 1989. Another Emmy went to the film's director of photography, George Hosek. The Emmy Awards, announced Dec. 3, came from the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, one of the academy’s largest chapters. The 90-minute film, narrated by actor Jim Caviezel, uses rare archival footage and interviews with several heads of state. Other interviewees include papal biographer George Weigel; Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, emeritus Archbishop of Krakow, who served as St. John Paul II’s longtime assistant; and Richard Allen, former national security adviser to Ronald Reagan. The documentary has been airing on public television across the U.S. in partnership with WTTW Chicago and the National Educational Telecommunications Association. Read more

Chicago, Ill., Dec 15, 2016 / 04:08 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- As secularists look to abolish a religious tax exemption, a pastor whose life is dedicated to serving those in need fights for what he calls a critical – and constitutional – support ... Read more

Washington D.C., Dec 15, 2016 / 03:20 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Groups reputedly founded for a “Catholic Spring” revolt within the Church have a history of criticizing Catholic bishops on LGBT issues and other topics, while taking money from wea... Read more

Washington D.C., Dec 15, 2016 / 03:05 am (CNA/EWTN News).- You might have seen an Army chaplain devoutly praying the rosary on the sideline during Saturday's Army-Navy football game. Who was he and what was he praying for?  “I always pray for both our teams, for no serious injury on either team. And I pray for the kids on both teams, and just for their holiness and their salvation,” Fr. Matthew Pawlikowski, chaplain of the United States Military Academy at West Point, told CNA.  “And then I ask for Army's victory,” he added.  Saturday's Army-Navy game was the 117th meeting between the teams, held at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium. It is an annual tradition attended by Midshipmen and Cadets who will serve in the United States military after college.  Army won for the first time in 15 years, 21-17. Fr. Pawlikowski was seen kneeling on the sideline late in the game during its crucial moments praying a rosary. He noted that he always prays a rosary at the academy's football games, but at Saturday's game against Navy he prayed a full rosary, all four sets of mysteries.  After the game, he admitted that he prayed for the defeated Navy players too.  Why the West Point chaplain was kneeling with his Rosary during the Army-Navy game... - https://t.co/sBRmV1IDlM — New Advent (@newadvent) December 12, 2016 “I was glad that we won, but I did pray for Navy, and especially for their seniors, their 'Firsties.' They wanted to win just as much as we do,” he said. “So what if they've won 14 years in a row? That senior class, it's important to them to beat Army.”   While he has been the senior chaplain at West Point for two years – the first Catholic to hold the position – Fr. Pawlikowski has actually been serving as an active-duty Army chaplain since 2000. “I love being a priest. And I love being a priest for soldiers. It is a great life. It's a manly life. It's satisfying,” he told CNA.  The youngest of seven children, he grew up Catholic and considered the priesthood in high school before attending college at West Point. He served in the Army infantry for six years and entered the seminary for the Diocese of Newark after his time there.  After three years as a parish priest, he became an active-duty Army chaplain in 2000. His assignments have brought him around the U.S. and to Egypt, Afghanistan, and Germany.  Now, at West Point, “I supervise the entire religious program for the commanding general of the post,” he said.  What are some of the unique joys and challenges of being a military chaplain?  Fr. Pawlikowski likened it to “being a missionary,” given that there is a “military subculture” within society. Just as one can’t fully understand the Catholic Church from an outsider’s perspective, the military is the “same way,” he said.   “American soldiers are awesome,” he said. “We have these young people that step forward at risk of themselves, at risk of their own safety, their family’s safety, and they do things to protect the rest of the country, to serve the country.” “They don’t get paid what they’re worth,” he added. “There’s really a sense of service about them, which is absolutely beautiful.” And it is “pretty much a large young adult ministry,” he noted, as many soldiers are ages 18 to 24.  At West Point in particular, Fr. Pawlikowski realizes that as senior chaplain, he is forming the future leaders of the country.  “We’re shaping them who end up shaping our country,” he said. “God can use the United States military for the holiness of our country and even for the salvation of our country. So that’s not a bad job to have.” However, it is a “missionary” life as many young cadets may not even be practicing their faith. “Most young males are away from the Church. And that’s most of our soldiers,” he said, noting increasing numbers of young people who are Atheists, secularists, or “unchurched” Christians.  Yet among those who are practicing Catholics, he noted, “I am seeing what Pope Benedict XVI predicted. He said that in our lifetime, we are going to see a smaller and yet more vibrant Church.” “The folks that are zealous are amazing. They are so far ahead of me and where I was at their age,” he said, describing them as “knowledgeable,” “devout,” “pious,” and “respectful.” Military chaplains have to minister to soldiers anywhere – at the gym, at work, or out in the field training. They have to be in “good physical shape” and “learn how to operate in a combat environment,” Fr. Pawlikowski said, “so that we can be there for those people when they need it.” How does he normally evangelize?  “We give witness to the faith, first and foremost, by who we are,” Fr. Pawlikowski said, noting that “when soldiers see that you’re there with them” in “rotten” conditions in rain, snow, and freezing weather, “then they see that you’re one of them…that’s the beauty of the chaplaincy.” “A lot of the military chaplaincy is geared specifically to that, that we should never have any of our young Americans who are willing to risk their lives for our safety and our security have to face death, or at least the threat of death, without the presence of the sacraments available to them. And the presence of one of God’s priests available to them,” he said.  He keeps a picture – on the back of his prayer book and over his altar – of a priest friend of his administering the sacrament of Extreme Unction to a bloody-faced Marine on a table waiting to be operated on.  It’s like Christ as the Good Samaritan, he said, who “comes into the midst of the messiness” to heal those broken by the world and by sin.  Who are some of his favorite saints and what are his favorite devotions?  Fr. Pawlikowski considers his “secondary vocation” to promote the story of Servant of God Fr. Emil Kapaun, who ministered to troops in the U.S. Army Eighth Cavalry Regiment during the war in Korea. He wrote letters home for wounded soldiers to their families. Fr. Emil was captured by Chinese troops, and as a prisoner of war he administered the sacraments to fellow prisoners. He died in the prisoner of war camp in 1951, and his cause for beatification is under review.  Other saints who Fr. Pawlikowski promotes are those who had a military background like St. Joan of Arc, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Maurice, and St. Sebastian. He has had a devotion to St. Michael “since before I can remember.” “I’m consecrated to the Blessed Mother. I love her dearly, I love the rosary,” he added, noting that it’s a “battle prayer” as Mary is the new Ark of the Covenant that we bring with us into spiritual battle. And what of his praying for an Army victory on Saturday? “There’s not a thing in the world that God doesn’t care about,” he said. “I don’t think it’s immature to think that God really does care in ways that we can’t begin to understand. So I always tell people you can ask God for anything you want – you can’t ask for evil and He won’t give you evil.” “But anything that’s important to you is important to God, He’s your father. What father is not concerned about anything his children ask for?” he said. “Now a good father doesn’t give us everything we ask for. And part of growing up is learning to realize ‘hey, if my father gives it to me, it’s good. And if he doesn’t, he’s got his reasons.’” “But we can certainly ask, and I certainly did ask. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.” Read more

Washington D.C., Dec 15, 2016 / 12:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Four Massachusetts churches pulled their lawsuit against the state Monday after they received religious exemptions from the state's transgender law. “The government can’t encroach on the internal, religious practices of a church. The language revisions that our lawsuit prompted should ensure that doesn’t happen,” Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel Steve O’Ban stated on Monday, after the lawsuit was withdrawn. “The comments of commonwealth officials gave these churches reason for great concern, and so we are pleased wording changes have been made to respect the constitutionally protected freedoms these congregations and pastors have,” he added. In July, Massachusetts added “gender identity” to its list of classes protected against discrimination. Then, the state’s attorney general and its anti-discrimination commission interpreted the law to say that everyone had to have access to facilities like bathrooms based upon the gender they presently identify with, and not upon their birth gender. Church facilities that held any non-religious events like spaghetti dinners would be considered public accommodations and would have to comply, they said, despite their religious beliefs. Churches also could have faced action by the government if their pastors preached religious views on sexuality that opposed the gender identity anti-discrimination protection, Alliance Defending Freedom noted. Those not complying with the law could have been punished with $50,000 fines and up to a year in jail. Four Christian churches challenged the action in a district court, in October. They said the state legislature and anti-discrimination commission “failed to provide an exemption for religious institutions” and did not clearly define the standard they would use to determine if a church would be exempt from the law – “other than the woefully inadequate and confusing ‘spaghetti supper’ test.” Rather, the commission said they would judge religious exemptions “on a case-by-case-basis,” ADF claimed in its complaint, adding that thus, “a pastor, other church leader, or a court must guess as to which of the church’s activities subject it to the severe sanctions of the Act.” “All events held at a church on its property have a religious purpose, and the government has no authority to violate the First Amendment’s guarantees of freedom of religion and speech,” Christiana Holcomb, legal counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, stated. A move to have a voter referendum on the law in 2018 received enough signatures to be on the ballot, but a poll from May showed a majority of respondents in favor of the law. Then in a Nov. 7 letter, the state announced that it had changed its guidance on the rule and would not be including “houses of worship” among the “public accommodations” that would be subject to the law. “Your lawsuit caused us to focus on these issues and to make this revision to our website.  Thank you for bringing the issue to our attention,” the state attorney general’s office said in the letter to ADF. “No church should fear government punishment simply for serving its community consistently with its faith,” Holcomb stated. “Massachusetts officials made the right decision to respect these churches’ freedom of religion and speech.” Read more

Washington D.C., Dec 14, 2016 / 04:50 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Rohingya Muslims in Burma, as well as Christians, face continued persecution, destruction of homes and places of worship, and threats to their lives, human rights organizations are warning. Throughout the country’s history, Burmese officials have maintained control “through a divide and rule strategy, pitting Buddhists, Christians, and Muslims against each other,” said Fr. Thomas Reese, SJ, Chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom in a Dec. 13 discussion in Washington, D.C. “The plight of both Rohingya Muslims and Christians results from successive governments that have both perpetuated and supported religious violations,” Fr. Reese continued. “It’s time for Burma to defend religious freedom,” he urged. Two reports by the organization highlight the abuses suffered by religious minorities in Burma, also known as Myanmar, as well as by practitioners of the majority Buddhist religion who dissent from the mainline practice or government positions. Christians in the country face discrimination, forced conversions, violence and desecration of churches and Christian communities says the USCIRF Report “Hidden Plight: Christian Minorities in Burma.” Meanwhile, according to “Suspended in Time: The Ongoing Persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Burma,” members of the Muslim ethnic group are denied basic human rights like food, shelter, water, citizenship, or the ability to move. The reports come days after international human rights organization Human Rights Watch released an analysis of images taken of a Rohingya village in Rakhine state, which it says link the Burmese army to the arson of the village. "Burmese government officials have been caught out by this satellite imagery, and it's time they recognize their continued denials lack credibility,” said Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch, in a statement to the BBC. The Burmese government has denied its involvement in the burning down of Rohingya villages, instead suggesting that the Rohingya set their own homes on fire to solicit international sympathy. The United Nations estimates that since October more than 27,000 Rohingya have crossed the border to seek refuge in Bangladesh. Since 1999, USCIRF has recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate Burma a “Country of Particular Concern” for its “systematic, egregious, and ongoing violations of religious freedom,” explained the organization. In its reports, the commission offered hope that the new Burmese government would address these ongoing human rights concerns, but urged that the government take action on securing religious freedom promptly. Rachel Flemming, an independent human rights researcher, detailed the abuses Christians – many of whom also belong to minority ethnic groups – face in the country. Throughout the country, Christians face restrictions in not only buying land for churches or for erecting Christian symbols, but also to assemble for religious worship. Christian churches, cemeteries, and other Christian spaces are frequently desecrated and attacked. Christians themselves are attacked by authorities and civilians alike – and these attacks are often dismissed as false claims. Meanwhile, while forced conversions at gunpoint are no longer seen in the country, Flemming said, “a more subtle forced conversion” campaign is run through the military school system in some Christian areas. These schools – run through the military – fill crucial gaps in rural Christian areas for secondary education, offer education free of charge, and promise students in these impoverished areas a guaranteed job within the government after graduation – but only if the student converts to Buddhism. Furthermore, while at these boarding schools, students are prohibited from attending Christian worship services, and are required to be initiated as Buddhist monks or nuns. Tina Mufford, Senior Policy Analyst for USCIRF, detailed the longstanding discrimination and targeting of the Rohingya Muslims within Burma. Since 1982, Burmese law has defined the Rohingya people as non-citizens, providing cover for a broad array of violence and attacks to be carried out against them with impunity. “Rohingya Muslims face a difficult day-to-day existence with little ability to honor their past, prosper in the present, or make plans for their future,” Mufford said, citing the USCIRF report. “Burma’s government can choose to move forward,” she said, “or it can sit behind excuses.” Read more