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Stories
Archived for Two Months
Community
reaches out in full force in response to flood, priest says
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Father Gary Benz received a phone call late in the
afternoon March 22 that he will likely never forget.
Despite
criticism, Notre Dame firm on Obama as commencement speaker
WASHINGTON (CNS) – University of Notre Dame officials were standing
firm on their choice of President Barack Obama as commencement speaker
at the institution's May 17 graduation, in spite of a large number of
Catholics calling on them to rescind the invitation.
Media
effort draws 92,000 inactive Catholics back home to church
PHOENIX (CNS) – Maybe TV isn't so bad after all.
Pro-life
official criticizes court ruling on Plan B for 17-year-olds
WASHINGTON (CNS) – A U.S. District Court judge's decision giving
17-year-olds over-the-counter access to the morning-after pill known as
Plan B "will put minors' health at greater risk," according
to a pro-life official of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
USCCB
comments cite reasons for HHS to keep conscience regulation
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Rather than working to rescind a regulation that
gives federal protection to the conscience rights of health care providers
and institutions, the Obama administration's proper role is to enforce
the will of Congress as already expressed in existing statutes, said attorneys
for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Conference
explores Catholic teaching, morality of using torture
WASHINGTON (CNS) – The breakdown of cultural norms regarding the
dignity of every human being played a significant role in the mistreatment
of suspected terrorists, a retired Army colonel said during a program
at The Catholic University of America.
Springfield
Diocese native to receive Notre dame's 2009 Laetare Medal
NOTRE DAME, Ind. (CNS) – Mary Ann Glendon, a Dalton, Mass., native
and professor at Harvard Law School who recently stepped down as U.S.
ambassador to the Vatican, will receive the University of Notre Dame's
Laetare Medal at commencement ceremonies May 17.
US
cardinal urges Obama to grant Haitians temporary protected status
WASHINGTON (CNS) – With a new administration in the White House,
the leader of the U.S. Catholic bishops is once again urging an American
president to grant Haitians residing in the U.S. temporary protected status,
an order that would keep them from being deported back to their poverty-stricken
Caribbean nation.
Oregon
sees highest assisted-suicide toll ever; Washington law begins
PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) – Oregon's annual report on assisted suicide
showed that doctors helped 60 patients take their lives in 2008. That
marked the highest annual total since the Oregon Death With Dignity Act
went into effect 11 years ago.
Obama,
president of US bishops hold private meeting
WASHINGTON (CNS) – President Barack Obama met for half an hour March
17 with Chicago Cardinal Francis E. George, president of the U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops, the White House and the USCCB announced.
Cardinal
warns of despotism if conscience rights aren't protected
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Warning that a failure to protect conscience
rights would move the country "from democracy to despotism,"
Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago urged U.S. Catholics to tell the
Obama administration that they "want conscience protections to remain
strongly in place."
Cleveland
Diocese to have 52 fewer parishes within 15 months
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Come June 30, 2010, there will be 52 fewer parishes
in the Cleveland Diocese.
Vast
majority of dioceses comply with sex abuse charter, audits find
WASHINGTON (CNS) – The latest audits assessing compliance with the
U.S. Catholic bishops' "Charter for the Protection of Children and
Young People" found nearly complete compliance among participating
dioceses and eparchies, but the number refusing to participate rose from
five to seven.
Head
of Covenant House praises FBI sweep to stop child trafficking
WASHINGTON (CNS) – A recent nationwide sweep of child traffickers
by the FBI should highlight that child prostitution is closer to home
than many realize, said Kevin Ryan, president of Covenant House.
Media
effort draws 92,000 inactive Catholics back home to church
WASHINGTON (CNS) – A new survey shows the percentage of U.S. residents
who identify themselves as Catholics has declined, but Catholicism remains
the largest denomination in the country.
Video
contest sponsored by Maryknoll to award mission trips to Brazil
MARYKNOLL, N.Y. (CNS) -- April 10 is the deadline for Catholic young people
ages 18-35 to enter the "Explore My Mission" video contest sponsored
by the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers.
Cardinal
Egan says possibility of married priests not to be dismissed
ALBANY, N.Y. (CNS) – The possibility the Catholic Church will allow
married priests shouldn't be dismissed, New York Cardinal Edward M. Egan
said March 10 during a radio interview.
Cardinal
says new Obama stem-cell policy favors politics over ethics
WASHINGTON (CNS) – President Barack Obama's executive order reversing
the ban on federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research represents
"a sad victory of politics over science and ethics," Cardinal
Justin Rigali of Philadelphia said shortly after the March 9 signing of
the order at the White House.
Missionaries
aim to change students lives through Gospel message
WASHINGTON (CNS) – John Zimmer, Teddy Ariniello and Angela Telthorst
annually train college students from across the country by meeting the
youths where they are and inviting them to examine the meaning and purpose
of their lives.
Physicians
take legal, educational steps to defend conscience rights
WASHINGTON (CNS) – To combat what they see as threats to the conscience
rights of health care professionals who oppose abortion, the Catholic
Medical Association and other organizations are taking both legal and
educational steps.
Catholic
governor criticized by archbishop nominated as HHS secretary
WASHINGTON (CNS) – A Catholic governor whose archbishop has told
her not to receive Communion until she changes her stand on abortion is
President Barack Obama's latest choice for secretary of the Department
of Health and Human Services.
Summit
attendees see economic crisis as opportunity for volunteerism
NEW YORK (CNS) – The current economic crisis is an opportunity for
volunteers from all sectors of the American public to work together to
help their neighbors in need and even plant the seed for a national movement.
Global
food crisis called 'ticking time bomb'
WASHINGTON (CNS) – The global food crisis was called a "ticking
time bomb" at a Feb. 24 forum during the annual Catholic Social Ministry
Gathering in Washington.
'Slumdog'
director has knack for revealing the good in people
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Danny Boyle, who won the Academy Award for best
director for his helming of the multiple-Oscar-winning "Slumdog Millionaire,"
has a knack for revealing to audiences the good in his movies' lead characters.
Catholic
tradition of almsgiving gets special emphasis during Lent
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Almsgiving is a practice in generosity expected
from all Catholics, but the focus of it is even stronger during the season
of Lent.
Cardinal
Egan emphasized schools, vocations as archbishop of New York
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Cardinal Edward M. Egan, who will step down as
New York archbishop with the installation of Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan,
made Catholic schools and vocations a focus of his nine-year tenure in
New York.
New
York appointee praised for enthusiasm, joy, love of priesthood
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Friends and colleagues of Archbishop Timothy
M. Dolan praised the new archbishop of New York as a wise choice to head
the nation's second-largest archdiocese and said he brings to the job
a contagious enthusiasm and a deep love for the priesthood.
Cardinal
Egan retires; Archbishop Dolan of Milwaukee to succeed him
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Pope Benedict XVI named Archbishop Timothy M.
Dolan of Milwaukee as archbishop of New York and accepted the resignation
of Cardinal Edward M. Egan, who has headed the archdiocese since 2000.
Archbishop
says he's glad pope stressed pro-life teaching to Pelosi
DENVER (CNS) – Pope Benedict XVI's Feb. 18 meeting with House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was a "gracious act," said Denver Archbishop
Charles J. Chaput.
Food
stamps, Medicaid, other aid to the poor get boosts in stimulus
WASHINGTON (CNS) – An Internet search of stories related to the
passage of the economic stimulus package finds that small towns, large
cities, social service agencies and even the manufacturers of digital
converters for televisions all expect to benefit from a piece of the $787
billion pie.
Catholic
legislators must protect life, pope tells Speaker Pelosi
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Benedict XVI met privately with U.S. Rep.
Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives, and told her that
all Catholics, especially those who are lawmakers, must work to protect
human life at every stage.
'Rhetorical
restraint,' careful research urged in discussing liturgy
WASHINGTON (CNS) – In an effort to stem what some have called "the
liturgy wars," a liturgy expert Feb. 12 urged Catholics to use "rhetorical
restraint, careful historical and theological research, and assessments
that respect the ways in which the Western liturgy has evolved and continues
to evolve."
Former
Legionaries official apologizes for defending Father Maciel
WASHINGTON (CNS) – When it became public Feb. 4 that Legionaries
of Christ founder Father Marcial Maciel Degollado had fathered a daughter,
the order's former communications director decided he had to apologize
for having defended him after sex abuse allegations against the priest
first became public in 1997.
Crash
claims 9/11 widow heading to Jesuit school's scholarship event
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Beverly Eckert, a victim of the Feb. 12 plane
crash near Buffalo, N.Y., was en route to present a scholarship award
in honor of her late husband at Jesuit-run Canisius High School in Buffalo.
Obama
orders faith-based office be reworked, its scope expanded
WASHINGTON (CNS) – President Barack Obama created by executive order
Feb. 5 a White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships,
which will expand upon and rework the Bush administration's Office of
Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.
Poll
shows disapproval of Obama's Mexico City policy reversal
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Although a majority of Americans support many
of President Barack Obama's early actions in office, only about a third
back his decision to allow funding for overseas family planning groups
that provide abortions, according to a new poll by USA Today/Gallup.
Early-morning
fire damages roof of Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral
CHICAGO (CNS) – While parishioners stood and stared with tears in
their eyes and firefighters continued to pour water on the roof of Holy
Name Cathedral, Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago told reporters the
cathedral would "bounce back" from an early morning fire Feb.
4.
Bishop's
remarks on Holocaust strain US Jewish-Catholic relations
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Strained Jewish-Catholic relations are being
felt beyond the Vatican and Israel as U.S. rabbis express their displeasure
with Pope Benedict XVI's decision to lift the excommunication of a traditionalist
bishop who has minimized the severity and extent of the Holocaust.
Vatican
orders study of women religious institutes in United States
WASHINGTON (CNS) – The Vatican has initiated an apostolic visitation
of institutes for women religious in the United States to find out why
the numbers of their members have decreased during the past 40 years and
to look at the quality of life in the communities.
In
bad economy, schools' Catholic identity seen as draw for students
WASHINGTON (CNS) – A speaker urged the presidents of Catholic colleges
gathered in Washington Jan. 31-Feb.2 to market the Catholic identity of
their institutions to compete in a bad economy.
Senate
urged to include unborn, immigrants in children's health plan
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance
Program should cover pregnant mothers and their unborn children, as well
as legal immigrants who have not yet been in the country for five years,
the head of the U.S. bishops' domestic policy committee told senators.
Cardinal
says Roe events unite all in 'common goal' to protect life
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Pro-life events held across the United States
each January unite Catholics "in a common goal: to proclaim the inherent
dignity of human life from the moment of conception to natural death,"
said Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles.
Pro-lifers
from across country flock to Washington on Roe anniversary
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Two days after millions of Americans converged
on the National Mall in Washington to witness the inauguration of President
Barack Obama, tens of thousands of sign-carrying citizens marched, chanted,
sang and shouted in the same spot, loud enough – they hoped –
for the nation's new leader to hear their plea to outlaw abortion.
Thousands
pack national shrine to pray, launch March for Life 2009
WASHINGTON (CNS) – With thousands of pro-life marchers packed into
the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington
Jan. 21 for a special Mass that launched an all-night vigil, Rita Richardson
of Fredericksburg, Va., couldn't see the altar.
Catholic
colleges, parishes host guests attending inauguration, balls
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Up until just days before the inauguration, a
group of about 70 students from a girls charter school in Atlanta had
planned to watch the presidential inauguration events on television screens
at Trinity Washington University.
Justice,
quest for unity demand respect for life, cardinal says
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Commitment to the American "ideals of liberty
and justice for all" also requires a concern for all human life,
Philadelphia Cardinal Justin Rigali said on the eve of the inauguration
of Barack Obama as the 44th U.S. president.
Don't
reverse policies protecting unborn, cardinal urges Obama
WASHINGTON (CNS) – It would be "a terrible mistake" for
President Barack Obama to reverse current policies on embryonic stem-cell
research, conscience protection and other life-related matters, the president
of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops told him in a new letter.
Bishop
says ACLU suit over USCCB trafficking grants without merit
WASHINGTON (CNS) – An American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts
lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over
human trafficking grants allocated to the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops is without merit, according to the chairman of the USCCB Committee
on Migration.
Religious
coalition urges president-elect to end US torture practices
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Feeling the likelihood of success growing day
by day, religious leaders renewed their efforts to press President-elect
Barack Obama to sign an executive order banning torture soon after he
takes office.
Vatican
report: Most U.S. seminaries are generally healthy
WASHINGTON (CNS) – An apostolic visitation team concluded that U.S.
Catholic seminaries and houses of priestly formation are generally healthy,
but recommended a stronger focus on moral theology, increased oversight
of seminarians and greater involvement of diocesan bishops in the formation
process.
Cardinal
George pledges to work with Obama on various policy concerns
WASHINGTON (CNS) – The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops has pledged that he and his fellow prelates will work with the
incoming administration of Barack Obama and the 111th Congress to "advance
the common good and defend the life and dignity of all, especially the
vulnerable and poor."
Milwaukee
social worker to chair bishops' National Review Board
WASHINGTON (CNS) – The former director of Catholic Charities of
the Archdiocese of Milwaukee has been appointed to chair the bishops'
National Review Board by Chicago Cardinal Francis E. George, president
of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Buffalo
businessman targeted Catholics in $17 million Ponzi scheme
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Catholics were targeted by an 82-year-old Buffalo,
N.Y., businessman accused of running a Ponzi scheme involving at least
$17 million generated from investors who responded to ads in diocesan
newspapers, federal prosecutors allege.
First
Things founder Father Richard John Neuhaus dies from cancer
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Father Richard John Neuhaus, a former Lutheran
minister who became a Catholic priest and a staunch defender of church
teaching on abortion and other life issues, died Jan. 8. He was 72.
Cardinal
Maida, Bishop McRaith resign; Detroit successor named
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignations of
Cardinal Adam J. Maida of Detroit and Bishop John J. McRaith of Owensboro,
Ky., Jan. 5 and named Bishop Allen H. Vigneron of Oakland, Calif., as
archbishop of Detroit.
Survey
shows most U.S. adults support laws limiting or regulating abortion
WASHINGTON—A nationwide survey commissioned by the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has found that four out of five
U.S. adults (82 percent) think abortion should either be illegal under
all circumstances (11 percent) or would limit its legality. Thirty-eight
(38) percent would limit abortion to the narrow circumstances of rape,
incest or to save the life of the mother; and an additional 33 percent
would limit abortion to either the first three or first six months. Only
9 percent said abortion should be legal for any reason at any time during
pregnancy.
New
study shows exposure to violent media can beget violent behavior
WASHINGTON (CNS) – A new study, to be published in February, shows
that exposure to violent media makes adolescents more likely to be violent
or aggressive themselves.
Cardinal
Maida hails auto aid package announced by Bush
DETROIT (CNS) -- Cardinal Adam J. Maida of Detroit Dec. 22 praised President
George W. Bush's decision to provide $17.4 billion in bridge loans to
help General Motors Corp. and Chrysler avert a cash crisis that could
have plunged the two domestic automakers into bankruptcy by the end of
the year.
Detroit
cardinal urges quick action on loans for auto industry
DETROIT (CNS) – Cardinal Adam J. Maida of Detroit emphasized the
need for urgent government action to allocate at least enough money to
help Detroit's automakers stay afloat until a more comprehensive assistance
package can be worked out in the new year.
Cardinal
Dulles dies at 90; Jesuit theologian made a cardinal in '01
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Cardinal Avery Dulles, a Jesuit theologian who
was made a cardinal in 2001, died Dec. 12 at the Jesuit infirmary in New
York, Murray-Weigel Hall. A cause of death was not released but he had
been in poor health. He was 90 years old.
First
Vietnamese-American in Congress is former Jesuit seminarian
WASHINGTON (CNS) – The first Vietnamese-American member of Congress
is a former Jesuit seminarian who served for four years on the National
Advisory Council to the U.S. bishops.
Tree
growers share Christmas by donating trees to churches, the needy
OSHKOSH, Wis. (CNS) – Evergreens have long been associated with
the Christmas season. They offer the fresh scent of nature indoors in
the midst of winter and symbolize the promise of eternal life.
Church-based
group in Puerto Rico pushes for environmental ethics
CAGUAS, Puerto Rico (CNS) -- Basing its activism on Scriptures and Catholic
social teachings, a church group has been in the forefront in defending
Puerto Rico's environment for the past year.
Detroit
religious leaders urge action to save auto industry
DETROIT (CNS) -- Detroit-area religious leaders convened by Detroit Cardinal
Adam J. Maida emerged from a Dec. 4 meeting to call on Washington lawmakers
to provide federal assistance to stabilize the American automobile industry.
Archbishop
asks for tolerance of differing views in same-sex debate
SAN FRANCISCO (CNS) – San Francisco's archbishop has appealed to
people on both sides of the same-sex marriage issue to be tolerant of
each other, to "disagree without being disagreeable" and not
presume to know "the real motives" behind people's viewpoint.
Study:
Overseas aid needed to keep poor from falling further behind
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Officials from a variety of nongovernmental organizations
have urged the United States to continue overseas development assistance
despite the current global financial crisis.
Bishops
note Obama's historic win but worry about his abortion policy
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Several U.S. bishops have noted the historic nature
of President-elect Barack Obama's election as the first African-American
to win the White House, with one describing it as "a moving and significant
moment" and another expressing hope it will usher in "a new
era of racial harmony."
Catholic
bishops support CCHD collection as a response to current economic crisis
WASHINGTON—The 2008 collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human
Development will take place on November 22-23, the weekend before Thanksgiving,
in most dioceses of the United States. In his announcement of the annual
appeal and collection, Bishop Roger Morin, Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans
and chairman of the Bishops' Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for
Human Development, urged Catholics to participate.
Group
prays that U.S. treasury secretary will halt foreclosures
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Berenice Ramos never thought she and her family
would have their house lost in foreclosure.
Food
pantries facing double whammy of greater need, fewer donors
RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (CNS) – While economic indicators continue to tumble,
the number of people turning to parish food pantries continues to climb.
In many cases, pantries are struggling to meet the increased demand.
Priest's
remarks on Obama voters said not to reflect church teaching
WASHINGTON (CNS) – The administrator of the Diocese of Charleston,
S.C., said a pastor who told his parishioners they should refrain from
receiving holy Communion if they voted for President-elect Barack Obama
did not "adequately reflect the Catholic Church's teaching"
on abortion and conscience.
Advocates
call for making hunger one of the country's top priorities
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Almost half of American voters say they are living
paycheck to paycheck as food prices rise and the country's economic woes
deepen, reports the Alliance to End Hunger.
Bishops
cite abortion deregulation fears in post-election statement
BALTIMORE (CNS) – Fears about laws and changes in regulations on
abortion that might advance under a new Democratic-run Congress and White
House are the central focus of a statement approved by the U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops Nov. 12 during its annual fall meeting.
Bishops
to present concerns on abortion, other issues to politicians
BALTIMORE (CNS) – With a new administration and a Democratic-dominated
Congress about to take office, the U.S. bishops will spell out their concerns
about policies and laws that might make abortion more readily available.
Bishops
to vote on blessing service for children in the womb
BALTIMORE (CNS) – To fill a gap in existing prayer books, the U.S.
bishops took up consideration Nov. 10 of a liturgical service in English
and Spanish for blessing newly conceived children in the womb.
Bishops'
conference opens with nod to historic presidential election
BALTIMORE (CNS) – The historic significance of the election of President-elect
Barack Obama dominated the Nov. 10 opening address of the U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops' fall general assembly in Baltimore.
Growing
interest in campus ministry prompts Newman centers' expansion
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Across the nation 476 Newman centers offer pastoral
services to 11 million Catholic college students at secular universities.
Catholic
voters mirror general electorate in support for Obama
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Catholics pretty much voted the way the rest
of the country did Nov. 4, even backing Democratic Sen. Barack Obama a
little more strongly than the electorate overall, according to exit polls.
Church
view on same-sex marriage prevails; other ballot efforts fail
WASHINGTON (CNS) – In voting on 2008 ballot questions across the
country, the Catholic Church's view against same-sex marriage prevailed,
but most Catholic efforts to influence voting related to abortion, assisted
suicide, embryonic stem-cell research and gambling failed.
McCain
supporters at election night rally express disappointment
PHOENIX (CNS) – Despite the fact their candidate trailed in every
major national poll, supporters of Republican presidential nominee Sen.
John McCain of Arizona still guarded a quiet hope that the "maverick"
would pull off a miracle on Election Day.
Catholic
leaders congratulate Obama, offer prayers for administration
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago, president
of the U.S. Catholic bishops, congratulated President-elect Barack Obama
on his "historic election" Nov. 4 as the first African-American
to win the White House.
Religion
seen as having different role in '08 than previous elections
WASHINGTON (CNS) – However the post-election analysis interprets
the actual influence of the religion-based aspects of this year's presidential
campaign, the rules of that part of the political playbook may have changed
for good.
Priest's
love of politics 'mushroomed' into massive button collection
HAZEL PARK, Mich. (CNS) – Father Bob Williams has a lot of reasons
to love election season – about 25,000 of them, in fact.
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© Copyright 2006 Catholic Communications Corp.
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