Catholic News 2

Washington D.C., Dec 11, 2016 / 06:43 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In a changed political landscape, pro-abortion rights groups have filed lawsuits against three states’ abortion laws.

Jennifer Dalven, director of the ACLU’s reproductive freedom project, told the British newspaper The Independent that the lawsuits were just the “first wave” in their efforts.

But to Marjorie Dannenfelser of the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List, the lawsuits were a sign of panic among abortion advocates.

“They lost big at the ballot box, so now they’re looking to the courts to undo the will of state legislatures,” said Dannenfelser, who advised the Trump campaign. “They realize the sense of urgency to head to the courts now knowing that the judicial landscape will change under a pro-life President Trump.”

Planned Parenthood chief medical officer Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley claimed recent political developments combine to make “the biggest threat we’ve seen” in the abortion provider’s history.

The lawsuits were filed by Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Center for Reproductive Rights. Attorneys from the latter two groups told a Nov. 30 press conference that the lawsuits aim to follow up on a 2016 Supreme Court case that struck down abortion restrictions in Texas.

The Missouri lawsuit challenges rules similar to the rejected Texas law that required abortion clinics to meet physical standards for surgical abortion clinics and to have doctors with admitting privileges in nearby hospitals.

Only one licensed abortion clinic remains in Missouri, in St. Louis, the Associated Press said, crediting the law for some abortion clinic closures.

In Alaska, the pro-abortion rights groups challenged 40-year-old regulations barring abortion in outpatient health centers after the first trimester of pregnancy. They said the rules compel women who want to procure abortions to travel out of state. Planned Parenthood said it sends about 30 of such women out of state each year.

In North Carolina, the law allows doctors to perform abortions after 20 weeks into pregnancy only in cases of immediate medical emergencies. The ACLU objected that this bars abortions for women in high-risk pregnancies from having abortions until death or major health damage is imminent.

As Republicans take control of the House, Senate and presidency, Planned Parenthood could face a renewed push against its more than $500 million in annual federal funding. There are also discussions over whether to make permanent the Hyde Amendment, which bars federal funds being used directly for most abortions.

 

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Vatican City, Dec 11, 2016 / 07:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- During the Angelus for the third Sunday of Advent, also called Gaudete Sunday, Pope Francis made a special appeal for prayers for the people of Aleppo and Syria, and for all those affected by the recent terrorist attacks which have taken place in places such as Turkey and Egypt.

We must not forget that cities such as Aleppo are made up of people: “families, children, elderly, sick people,” he said Dec. 11. “Unfortunately, we have become accustomed to war, to destruction, but we must not forget that Syria is a country full of history, culture and faith.”

“We cannot accept that this is denied by the war, which is an accumulation of injustices and falsehoods. I appeal to the commitment of all, because they face a choice of civilization: no to destruction, yes to peace, yes to the people of Aleppo and Syria,” he stated after the Angelus in St. Peter’s square.

Also praying for the victims of recent terrorist attacks, the Pope said that violence only “sows death and destruction.” He expressed a special closeness to Pope Tawadros II, Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and his community.

A bomb attack outside the Coptic cathedral in Cairo Sunday morning killed at least 25 people and injured dozens more. The night before in Istanbul, Turkey, two bombings outside a soccer stadium killed 38 people and wounded another 155, BBC News reports.

A tradition in Rome for the third Sunday of Advent, children and young people receive a special blessing from the Pope alongside the blessing of statues of Baby Jesus to be placed in Nativity scenes.

“Today the first greeting is for children and young people of Rome who have come for the traditional blessing of the ‘Baby Jesus,’” the Pope said. “Dear children, when you pray in front of your Nativity with your parents, ask the Child Jesus to help us all to love God and neighbor.”

The third Sunday of Advent, Francis said, is characterized by the invitation of St. Paul to “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice!” It is a joy that is not “superficial” or “purely emotional,” but “real.”

“It is a pleasure that touches the depths of our being, while we await Jesus who has already come to bring salvation to the world, the promised Messiah, born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary,” he stated.

And the announcement of salvation changes everything: “the desert blooms, consolation and joy pervade hearts,” Pope Francis said. “The salvation brought by Jesus seizes the whole human being and regenerates him.”

“He has pitched his tent among us to share our lives, heal our sores, bind up our wounds and give us new life. Joy is the fruit of this action of salvation and God’s love.”

We are called to join in with this feeling of exultation permeating the liturgy for Gaudete Sunday, Francis said. As Christmas approaches, the signs “are evident on our streets and in our homes.”

“These external signs” of Christmas, Pope Francis continued, “invite us to welcome the Lord who always comes and knocks on our door,” and to also recognize Jesus in the poor and needy we encounter.

“Today we are invited to rejoice in the imminent coming of our Redeemer; and we are called to share this joy with others, giving comfort and hope to the poor, the sick, the lonely and the unhappy.”

As he wrapped up his greetings after the Angelus, the Pope spoke about the beatification of Mario Borzaga, a priest of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Paul Thoj Xyooj, a lay catechist, and 14 comrades who were all killed “in hatred of the faith.”

Their beatification took place Dec. 11 in Laos, a country in Southeast Asia. “Their heroic fidelity to Christ,” Francis expressed, “can be of encouragement and example to missionaries, especially catechists, who in mission lands play a valuable and irreplaceable apostolic work, for which the entire Church is grateful.”

Asking for a round of applause from the pilgrims in the square, the Pope noted the hard work catechists do, saying it’s a “beautiful thing.”

Referring to a group of young people in the square leading songs for the occasion of the blessing of the Baby Jesus, before concluding his Angelus address, the Pope said “we want to hear one of your songs!”

“Sing!” he said with a smile.

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