Catholic News
Krakow, Poland, Jul 28, 2016 / 12:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Among the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims at World Youth Day are two brothers, recently reunited. “I’m from Syria,” Yousef Astfan, 34, told CNA. “It’s been divid... Read more
Krakow, Poland, Jul 28, 2016 / 12:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Among the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims at World Youth Day are two brothers, recently reunited. “I’m from Syria,” Yousef Astfan, 34, told CNA. “It’s been divid... Read more
Krakow, Poland, Jul 27, 2016 / 04:51 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- On his first night in Krakow Pope Francis was already stirring things up with participants in WYD by hosting an off-the-cuff Q and A and telling them to ‘make chaos’ by spreading the... Read more
Philadelphia, Pa., Jul 27, 2016 / 03:54 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Democratic Party platform has drawn the ire of critics – including a member of Barack Obama’s former campaign – who say its extreme positions on abortion shut out millio... Read more
Washington D.C., Jul 27, 2016 / 12:23 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine has reportedly changed his mind on a long-standing policy preventing government funding of most abortions, less than three weeks after affirming his support for the measure. The reported change has led critics to charge that the Democratic Party is intolerant of those within its ranks who hold pro-life views – even moderate ones. For 30 years, the Hyde Amendment has prohibited certain taxpayer funds – generally those through the Department of Health and Human Services – from going toward abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is deemed to be at stake. The amendment has enjoyed widespread bipartisan support and has been renewed every year since 1976 in annual appropriations bills, regardless of which party was in power at the time. For the first time, however, the Democratic platform this year explicitly called for a repeal of the Hyde Amendment, prompting pro-life activists to call it the “most extreme” platform on abortion ever. Kaine is a Catholic with a complicated record on abortion. While he says that he personally opposes abortion, he supports it politically. As Governor of Virginia, he often spoke of adoption as the best solution to unwanted pregnancy, and approved the sale of “Choose Life” license plates, whose proceeds help fund pro-life clinics. He supported abstinence-only sex education for a time (although he later cut funding saying the program was not working), and backed Virginia’s informed consent law, which requires women seeking an abortion to receive an ultrasound of the developing fetus prior to the procedure. However, since entering the Senate in 2010, his record has shifted significantly. He has maintained a consistently pro-abortion voting record, earning him a 100 percent rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America. On July 6, Kaine was asked by The Weekly Standard about language in a draft of the Democratic Party’s platform which called for an end to the Hyde Amendment. Kaine said that he was not aware of change, adding, “I have traditionally been a supporter of the Hyde amendment, but I'll check it out.” On July 22, Kaine was officially announced as Hillary Clinton’s running mate. Four days later, CNN reported that the Virginia senator had changed his stance on the Hyde Amendment. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Clinton's Robby Mook to <a href="https://twitter.com/jaketapper">@jaketapper</a>: "(Kaine) has said he will stand w/ Sec Clinton to...repeal the Hyde amendment." <a href="https://t.co/x4hwaZCcKJ">https://t.co/x4hwaZCcKJ</a></p>— Edward Mejia Davis (@TeddyDavisCNN) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeddyDavisCNN/status/758039183571189761">July 26, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Clinton spokesman <a href="https://twitter.com/JesseFFerguson">@JesseFFerguson</a> tells me <a href="https://twitter.com/timkaine">@TimKaine</a>'s commitment to stand w/ Hillary on repealing the Hyde amendment "was made privately."</p>— Edward Mejia Davis (@TeddyDavisCNN) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeddyDavisCNN/status/758056421825060864">July 26, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List, blasted the decision as caving to the demands of the abortion industry. “Just 20 days ago Senator Kaine said he supported the Hyde Amendment, which stops taxpayers from funding abortion on-demand,” she said. “What has changed? The Democratic Party has become so bound to the abortion industry that there is no room for conscience. Before he could be considered fit for the role of VP to Hillary Clinton, Sen. Kaine had to divest himself of even the appearance of moderation on the abortion issue.” “Clinton, Kaine, and (Planned Parenthood head Cecile) Richards are absolute extremists pushing the Democratic Party further and further on abortion, alienating the one-third of Democrats who call themselves pro-life,” Dannenfelser added. Read more
Washington D.C., Jul 27, 2016 / 12:23 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine has reportedly changed his mind on a long-standing policy preventing government funding of most abortions, less than three weeks after affirming his support for the measure. The reported change has led critics to charge that the Democratic Party is intolerant of those within its ranks who hold pro-life views – even moderate ones. For 30 years, the Hyde Amendment has prohibited certain taxpayer funds – generally those through the Department of Health and Human Services – from going toward abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is deemed to be at stake. The amendment has enjoyed widespread bipartisan support and has been renewed every year since 1976 in annual appropriations bills, regardless of which party was in power at the time. For the first time, however, the Democratic platform this year explicitly called for a repeal of the Hyde Amendment, prompting pro-life activists to call it the “most extreme” platform on abortion ever. Kaine is a Catholic with a complicated record on abortion. While he says that he personally opposes abortion, he supports it politically. As Governor of Virginia, he often spoke of adoption as the best solution to unwanted pregnancy, and approved the sale of “Choose Life” license plates, whose proceeds help fund pro-life clinics. He supported abstinence-only sex education for a time (although he later cut funding saying the program was not working), and backed Virginia’s informed consent law, which requires women seeking an abortion to receive an ultrasound of the developing fetus prior to the procedure. However, since entering the Senate in 2010, his record has shifted significantly. He has maintained a consistently pro-abortion voting record, earning him a 100 percent rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America. On July 6, Kaine was asked by The Weekly Standard about language in a draft of the Democratic Party’s platform which called for an end to the Hyde Amendment. Kaine said that he was not aware of change, adding, “I have traditionally been a supporter of the Hyde amendment, but I'll check it out.” On July 22, Kaine was officially announced as Hillary Clinton’s running mate. Four days later, CNN reported that the Virginia senator had changed his stance on the Hyde Amendment. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Clinton's Robby Mook to <a href="https://twitter.com/jaketapper">@jaketapper</a>: "(Kaine) has said he will stand w/ Sec Clinton to...repeal the Hyde amendment." <a href="https://t.co/x4hwaZCcKJ">https://t.co/x4hwaZCcKJ</a></p>— Edward Mejia Davis (@TeddyDavisCNN) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeddyDavisCNN/status/758039183571189761">July 26, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Clinton spokesman <a href="https://twitter.com/JesseFFerguson">@JesseFFerguson</a> tells me <a href="https://twitter.com/timkaine">@TimKaine</a>'s commitment to stand w/ Hillary on repealing the Hyde amendment "was made privately."</p>— Edward Mejia Davis (@TeddyDavisCNN) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeddyDavisCNN/status/758056421825060864">July 26, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List, blasted the decision as caving to the demands of the abortion industry. “Just 20 days ago Senator Kaine said he supported the Hyde Amendment, which stops taxpayers from funding abortion on-demand,” she said. “What has changed? The Democratic Party has become so bound to the abortion industry that there is no room for conscience. Before he could be considered fit for the role of VP to Hillary Clinton, Sen. Kaine had to divest himself of even the appearance of moderation on the abortion issue.” “Clinton, Kaine, and (Planned Parenthood head Cecile) Richards are absolute extremists pushing the Democratic Party further and further on abortion, alienating the one-third of Democrats who call themselves pro-life,” Dannenfelser added. Read more
Washington D.C., Jul 27, 2016 / 12:23 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine has reportedly changed his mind on a long-standing policy preventing government funding of most abortions, less than three weeks after affirming his support for the measure. The reported change has led critics to charge that the Democratic Party is intolerant of those within its ranks who hold pro-life views – even moderate ones. For 30 years, the Hyde Amendment has prohibited certain taxpayer funds – generally those through the Department of Health and Human Services – from going toward abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is deemed to be at stake. The amendment has enjoyed widespread bipartisan support and has been renewed every year since 1976 in annual appropriations bills, regardless of which party was in power at the time. For the first time, however, the Democratic platform this year explicitly called for a repeal of the Hyde Amendment, prompting pro-life activists to call it the “most extreme” platform on abortion ever. Kaine is a Catholic with a complicated record on abortion. While he says that he personally opposes abortion, he supports it politically. As Governor of Virginia, he often spoke of adoption as the best solution to unwanted pregnancy, and approved the sale of “Choose Life” license plates, whose proceeds help fund pro-life clinics. He supported abstinence-only sex education for a time (although he later cut funding saying the program was not working), and backed Virginia’s informed consent law, which requires women seeking an abortion to receive an ultrasound of the developing fetus prior to the procedure. However, since entering the Senate in 2010, his record has shifted significantly. He has maintained a consistently pro-abortion voting record, earning him a 100 percent rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America. On July 6, Kaine was asked by The Weekly Standard about language in a draft of the Democratic Party’s platform which called for an end to the Hyde Amendment. Kaine said that he was not aware of change, adding, “I have traditionally been a supporter of the Hyde amendment, but I'll check it out.” On July 22, Kaine was officially announced as Hillary Clinton’s running mate. Four days later, CNN reported that the Virginia senator had changed his stance on the Hyde Amendment. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Clinton's Robby Mook to <a href="https://twitter.com/jaketapper">@jaketapper</a>: "(Kaine) has said he will stand w/ Sec Clinton to...repeal the Hyde amendment." <a href="https://t.co/x4hwaZCcKJ">https://t.co/x4hwaZCcKJ</a></p>— Edward Mejia Davis (@TeddyDavisCNN) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeddyDavisCNN/status/758039183571189761">July 26, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Clinton spokesman <a href="https://twitter.com/JesseFFerguson">@JesseFFerguson</a> tells me <a href="https://twitter.com/timkaine">@TimKaine</a>'s commitment to stand w/ Hillary on repealing the Hyde amendment "was made privately."</p>— Edward Mejia Davis (@TeddyDavisCNN) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeddyDavisCNN/status/758056421825060864">July 26, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List, blasted the decision as caving to the demands of the abortion industry. “Just 20 days ago Senator Kaine said he supported the Hyde Amendment, which stops taxpayers from funding abortion on-demand,” she said. “What has changed? The Democratic Party has become so bound to the abortion industry that there is no room for conscience. Before he could be considered fit for the role of VP to Hillary Clinton, Sen. Kaine had to divest himself of even the appearance of moderation on the abortion issue.” “Clinton, Kaine, and (Planned Parenthood head Cecile) Richards are absolute extremists pushing the Democratic Party further and further on abortion, alienating the one-third of Democrats who call themselves pro-life,” Dannenfelser added. Read more
Rome, Italy, Jul 27, 2016 / 11:44 am (CNA/EWTN News).- As thousands of youth gather in Krakow this week for World Youth Day with Pope Francis, hundreds of undocumented immigrants in Texas who couldn't make it got a special message from the pontiff. “Dear youth of the diocese of Brownsville…I want to be close to you. I want to tell you to always look forward, always look to the horizon. Don’t let life put walls in front of you, always look to the horizon,” the Pope said in a July 26 video message to the Texan youth. “Always have the courage to want more, more and more...but courageously, while not forgetting to look back at the heritage that you have received from your ancestors, from your grandparents, from your parents; the legacy of your faith, this faith which now you have in your hands as you look forward.” On Tuesday the diocese of Brownsville hosted a diocesan-wide event called the World Youth Encounter, set to coincide with the official July 26 launch of WYD in Krakow, Poland. The event took place at St. Anne Parish in the impoverished Peñitas area of the city. Many families in the community, which numbers around 10,000, live in circumstances of extreme poverty, and some even lack running water and sewage systems. The extreme levels of poverty and the lack of a legal immigration status made it impossible for many of the youth to make it to Poland, which is why the Pope decided to send the youth the special message in Spanish. He told the youth to “play life to the full! Take the memory you have received, look toward the horizon and, today, take the reality and advance it, making it bear fruit, making it fertile.” “God is calling you to be fruitful! God is calling you to transmit this life. God is calling you to create hope. God is calling you to receive mercy and to give mercy. God is calling you to be happy,” Francis said, telling the youth “don't be afraid! Play life to the full.” Before leaving for the airport to go to Krakow July 27, Pope Francis met with 15 young refugees in a similar situation at his residence in the Vatican’s Santa Marta guesthouse. The group was made of nine boys and six girls from different nationalities who recently arrived in Italy, and still don’t have the documents needed enabling them to travel abroad. According to a July 27 communique from the Vatican, the youth were accompanied by Vatican Almoner Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, wished the Pope a good trip and a “joyful participation” in WYD. Since they couldn’t join in person, the youth said they would be “participating spiritually.” Read more
Paris, France, Jul 27, 2016 / 11:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Sister Danielle, one of the religious who was held hostage by ISIS at a church in France, was able to escape in a moment of inattention by the terrorists and alert the police. However, they were not able to arrive in time to save the life of 84-year-old Father Jacques Hamel. Speaking to RMC Radio, the sister related the incident that led to the death of the first priest at the hands of ISIS in Europe and which left another person severely wounded. “I didn't think they were going to come after Jacques. It was still dawn. He was standing in front of the altar, they made him get down on his knees and then he started to resist. When we saw the knife in the right hand I said to myself, 'well, something's really going to happen there,'” she said. Sister Danielle said that even though the other nun and the faithful present were shouting to the terrorists to stop, they went ahead. “They were shouting 'you Christians are wiping us out.' They were taping themselves on video. They made a kind of sermon around the altar in Arabic. It was horrifying.” “He was an extraordinary priest,” she recalled, “that's all I can say. Father Jacques is great.” Fr. Hamel was killed Tuesday after two armed gunmen stormed a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray in Normandy during Mass. The assailants entered the church and took the celebrating priest and four others hostage. Local law enforcement reported that the priest’s throat was slit in the attack, and that both of the hostage takers were shot dead by police. One of the hostages has been critically wounded. Pope Francis decried the “absurd violence” in a statement Tuesday, adding that he is praying for those affected by the tragedy. The French bishops have designated Friday, July 29, as a day of fasting. Msgr. Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, secretary general of the French Bishops Conference who's currently in Poland for World Youth Day, discussed the decision July 26. “What happened in France had happened in other countries before, and actually we see Christians laying down their lives in the interests of their faith,” he told journalists in Krakow. “They die because they are objects of hate and this for a fact gives us an additional motivation to live the life of fraternity we are called to.” Read more
Krakow, Poland, Jul 27, 2016 / 10:40 am (CNA/EWTN News).- After landing in Krakow on Wednesday, Pope Francis told Polish leaders to take a look at their history and use it as an inspiration to take the good and leave the bad behind, including when it c... Read more
Vatican City, Jul 27, 2016 / 09:05 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On the flight to Poland for World Youth Day, Pope Francis on Wednesday responded to recent violence across the globe by saying that the world is at war. “When I speak of war, I talk about i... Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In