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 WASHINGTON-Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York called on everyone "concerned about the tragedy of abortion" to recommit to a "vision of life and love, a vision that excludes no one" on January 14. His statement marks the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Cardinal Dolan chairs the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"Most Americans oppose a policy allowing legal abortion for virtually any reason - though many still do not realize that this is what the Supreme Court gave us," wrote Cardinal Dolan. "Most want to protect unborn children at later stages of pregnancy, to regulate or limit the practice of abortion, and to stop the use of taxpayer dollars for the destruction of unborn children. Yet many who support important goals of the pro-life movement do not identify as 'pro-life,' a fact which should lead us to examine how we present our pro-life vision to others."

"Even as Americans remain troubled by abortion," wrote Cardinal Dolan, a powerful and well-funded lobby holds "that abortion must be celebrated as a positive good for women and society, and those who cannot in conscience provide it are to be condemned for practicing substandard medicine and waging a 'war on women'." He said this trend was seen recently when President Obama and other Democratic leaders prevented passage of the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act, "a modest measure to provide for effective enforcement" of conscience laws.

"While this is disturbing," said Cardinal Dolan, "it is also an opportunity." Pro-life Americans should reach out to "the great majority of Americans" who are "open to hearing a message of reverence for life." He added that "we who present the pro-life message must always strive to be better messengers. A cause that teaches the inexpressibly great value of each and every human being cannot show disdain or disrespect for any fellow human being." He encouraged Catholics to take part, through prayer and action, in the upcoming "9 Days for Life" campaign, January 16-24. More information on the campaign is available online: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxJwfcefUiU

He also cited the Year of Mercy called by Pope Francis as a time for women and men to find healing through the Church's Project Rachel post-abortion ministry.

The full text of Cardinal Dolan's message is available online.
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Keywords: Roe v. Wade, anniversary, Pro-Life, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, 9 Days for Life, USCCB, U.S. bishops, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Year of Mercy, Project Rachel, Pope Francis
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(Vatican Radio) Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, on Tuesday addressed a seminar in Rome on health and sexuality in sustainable development goals and in Catholic Church teaching. The seminar, held on International Women’s Day, was co-sponsored by the Council for Justice and Peace, the World youth Alliance (WYA) and its sister organization, FEMM, that deals with women’s health issues. In his remarks at the seminar, Cardinal Turkson reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to both human life and the dignity of women and  warned that technology based on science provides humanity with tremendous "power over itself", and "we need to work very hard together to make sure that it is used wisely.”

Please see below Cardinal Turkson’s prepared address to the seminar which was read on his behalf by a senior official from the Council for Justice and peace: 

Health and Sexuality in the Sustainable Development Goals and Catholic Church Teaching

Istituto Patristico Augustinianum, Rome, 8 March 2016

Opening Remarks

Thank you for coming to this important lecture, which the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace is co-sponsoring with the World Youth Alliance (WYA), FEMM, and the Reproductive Health Research Institute (RHRI). The Council has worked closely with the World Youth Alliance since its founding in 1999, both at the United Nations and in supporting the organization’s work with young people in more than 160 countries around the world. This collaboration has been important and fruitful because of the foundational commitment of both organizations to defend the dignity of each person, and to advocate for person-centered responses in the actions that we take individually and globally.

We are happy, therefore, to continue and to advance our collaboration tonight, particularly in light of the recent encyclical, Laudato si’, in which the Holy Father exhorts humankind to combine the best science available with the Church’s values and teachings to “open up” the “immense possibilities … before us” [§102]. Tonight, we move beyond the advocacy of person-centered proposals to the development of programs that can meet the urgent and basic needs of people around the world. In particular, the World Youth Alliance, through its collaboration with its sister organizations FEMM and the RHRI, has developed cutting-edge educational and medical programs to advance the care for women’s health in response to needs expressed by governments, civil society and the Church. As such, these organizations exemplify the Holy Father’s words: “Science and religion, with their distinctive approaches to understanding reality, can enter into an intense dialogue fruitful for both” [§62].

When adopting the current Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Holy See rejected a one-dimensional interpretation of reproductive health requiring an ideological promotion of contraception and abortion. As Pope Francis notes in Laudato si’, “The more complex problems of today’s world … cannot be dealt with from a single perspective or from a single set of interests. A science which would of¬fer solutions to the great issues would necessarily have to take into account the data generated by other fields of knowledge, including … social ethics” [§110]. The Holy See has always maintained its commitment to both human life and the dignity of women, and has also reaffirmed a commitment to science and ongoing advances that can further defend and support the needs faced by women, families and children in human and effective ways. At the same time, technology based on science provides humanity with tremendous "power over itself", and we need to work very hard together to make sure that it is used wisely [§104].

Tonight’s lecture demonstrates the impressive advances that can be achieved when a deep commitment to science in the service of the needs of the human person is offered. The work of RHRI, led by Dr. Pilar Vigil, is a testament to a lifetime of careful research and clinical care in order to provide solutions for the suffering of so many women, both in their health and in the management and use of their fertility.

WYA was awarded a Papal Foundation grant last year, highlighting Pope Francis’ recognition of its important work in support of the poor and defenceless and mirroring the gratitude of this Pontifical Council for WYA’s endeavors. This collaboration in the development of new programs that advance the science, research, and clinical ability to care for women and families is an enormous service to the families and to the world, and one which the Pontifical Council is proud to highlight and support. Trusting that this lecture will further expand awareness and understanding of WYA’s important work in the Vatican and throughout the world, we are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the organization’s vital work.

Cardinal Peter K.A. Turkson

President

Please find below details of a press release describing the work of the WYA and FMM:

The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace is co-sponsoring   a joint lecture with World Youth Alliance (WYA) and its sister organization, FEMM. The Council has worked with WYA since its founding in 1999.  WYA also works closely with the Holy See’s Mission to the UN in NY. In 2015, WYA received a Papal Foundation grant, highlighting Pope Francis’ recognition of their important work in support of the poor and defenseless.

In order to provide constructive proposals internationally, WYA has developed a curriculum program that focuses on the understanding of the dignity of the person. This program, for ages 4-18, is a unique and powerful response to Pope Francis’ exhortation to focus on a deeper understanding of our anthropology as the key to engaging moral and sexual ethics.  WYA’s sister organization, FEMM, offers a ground-breaking approach to women’s health.   FEMM   enables   medical   providers   to   diagnose   and   treat ovulatory dysfunction   (symptoms   of   which   include   acne,   pain,   weight   gain,   depression, migraines,   PMS),   infertility and menopause,  rather  than  manage  or suppress symptoms with the pill and IVF.

These programs offer other concrete solutions to many of the needs facing communities and nations. They also offer a sound implementation or pathway for the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), particularly in the most difficult areas of sexual education and women’s reproductive health. In recognition of this, the Holy See Mission in New York is co-sponsoring a similar event with WYA and FEMM during the upcoming Commission on the Status of Women. 

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Piscataway, N.J., Mar 8, 2016 / 10:59 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Monsignor James Checchio, who recently stepped down as rector of the North American College, on Tuesday was appointed Bishop of Metuchen, a diocese in north-central New Jersey.

“Touched by a bit of holy fear, I am certainly humbled to become the shepherd of this wonderful diocese and I look forward to striving to fulfill the demanding task of ensuring that the pastoral charity of Jesus Christ continues to be abundant here in Metuchen,” Msgr. Checchio said at a March 8 press conference announcing his appointment.

“I promise you my prayers and my commitment to serve to the best of my abilities.”

Msgr. Checchio was born in Camden, NJ in 1966, and was a seminarian at the North American College. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Camden in 1992, and served in the diocese as a parochial vicar and as secretary to the bishop, vice chancellor, communications director, and moderator of the curia. He holds a doctorate in canon law from the Angelicum, and served on the diocesan tribunal.

He was vice ector of the North American College from 2003 to 2006, when he was made its rector. He served as rector until this past January, when he stepped down to take a sabbatical.

“I had hoped during my sabbatical to spend time with some family and friends, go on retreat, then do some writing on seminary formation, and finally study Spanish in preparation for becoming a pastor in my home diocese,” he said at his introduction to the Metuchen diocese. “As of last Monday, those plans have changed!”

He recounted that he was then in Minnesota with friends, where cell phone reception was poor. When he saw his voicemail, he realized he had missed a call from the apostolic nuncio – who informs priests when they have been appointed bishops.

“When we arrived at the rectory where I was staying, I slipped in to my bedroom and called the Archbishop back, while my friends were waiting for me in the living room, to go ice-fishing.”

“After we hung up, I knelt down next to the bed and before a crucifix and said a prayer to Our Lady for the priests and faithful of the Diocese of Metuchen and to ask for her protection and assistance for me. I then got up, joined my friends and off we went ice fishing. I pray that I will be more successful as a bishop than I was at ice fishing.”

He noted that his primary work for more than 12 years has been “in forming seminarians so that they can serve as effective parish priests here in our beloved homeland,” and that his role at the NAC “has deepened my love for the priesthood and the Church and enriched my own priestly life and ministry.”

Msgr. Checchio reflected, “I learned after my ordination to the priesthood that although ordination brought many, many graces with it, it didn’t infuse the perfection of the virtues, and I imagine ordination to the episcopacy will be the same…so I am very much aware of my own deficiencies but at the same time encouraged to be taking on this office during this great Jubilee of Mercy.”

Bishop Paul Bootkoski, 75, who retired as Bishop of Metuchen at the bishop-elect's appointment, commended Msgr. Checchio for his work at the NAC helping to form priests who will be “shepherds who smell like their sheep,” as Pope Francis has asked.

The Bishop of Camden, Dennis Sullivan, stated that the Pope “has chosen one of the finest priests I know to serve as the new Bishop of Metuchen. His appointment is truly a blessing for the good people in that community of faith and for the priests of the diocese.”

He said Msgr. Checchio's “love of God, the priesthood, and of the people he serves will sustain him as chief shepherd for the people of the Diocese of Metuchen.”

Msgr. Checchio will be consecrated a bishop and installed as Bishop of Metuchen at a Mass on May 3.

The Diocese of Metuchen serves more than 644,000 Catholics out of a total population of more than 1.4 million in north-central New Jersey. As its bishop, Msgr. Checcio will oversee 236 priests and 168 deacons.

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Rome, Italy, Mar 8, 2016 / 01:27 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Sister Anslem, Sister Reginette, Sister Judith, Sister Marguerite, and were serving as caretakers at the Missionaries of Charity's convent and nursing home in Aden, Yemen.

These sisters left their homes in India and Africa to serve the poor, elderly, and disabled in the war-torn country of Yemen. They worked together with volunteers at the convent's home care center, where they served around sixty to eighty patients of all religions.

“They were serving all poor people irrespective of their religion. Their duty was to help the poor,” a representative from the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia told CNA.

But on March 4, the convent was attacked by two gunmen who killed Sr. Anslem, Sr. Judith, Sr. Marguerite, and Sr. Reginette, along with sixteen other victims, including volunteers from Ethiopia and Yemen. Each victim was found handcuffed and shot in the head.

No residents of the nursing home were harmed.

Pope Francis called the sisters “martyrs of today” who “gave their blood for the Church.”

According to a statement from the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, Sr. Anslem was from Ranchi, India and would have turned 60 years old on May 8. Sr. Judith was from Kenya and had just turned 41 years old on Feb. 2. Sr. Marguerite was from Rwanda and would have been 44 years old on April 29. The youngest nun, Sr. Reginette, was from Rwanda and would've turned 33 on June 29.

Since the attack, the Missionaries of Charity's nursing home has been relying on the aid of volunteers and government support to continue their care of the elderly, which has lasted for 24 years in Aden.

“Now, the local government is taking care of the elderly with the help of some volunteers, university students and young people,” the representative said.

The convent's superior, Sister Sally, was originally reported missing during the attack, but she has since been declared safe.

“Sister Sally is safe and I think she will go to her regional superior's house that is in Jordan,” the representative added.

However, Salesian priest Father Tom Uzhunnalil is still missing after his reported abduction. Fr. Uzhunnalil is an Indian priest who had been staying with the sisters and has not been found since the attack on March 4.

No group has claimed responsibility for the onslaught against the Missionaries of Charity convent, but the country of Yemen is in the midst of a year-long civil war which has claimed the lives of more than 6,000 people.

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IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring

By David Agren

MEXICO CITY (CNS) -- An Archdiocese of Mexico City publication questioned a rebuke from Pope Francis, in which he criticized Mexico's bishops for living like princes and resting on their laurels and called on them to fight "as men, face-to-face" if they do fight -- an allusion to disunity in the episcopal conference.

An editorial March 5 in the archdiocesan publication Desde la Fe wondered if the pope had been properly briefed on Mexican matters prior to his Feb. 12-17 visit, saying the work of the church had kept more than 80 percent of the population professing Catholicism -- among the highest levels in Latin America -- even in the face of evangelical missionaries, an officially secular state and times of church persecution. It also insisted priests across the country were properly responding to a population the pope told them to attend to better.

"Here it must be questioned: Does the pope have some reason for scolding Mexican bishops?" asked the editorial, which offered a staunch defense of the church hierarchy.

It ended with another question, "Will it be that the improvised words of the Holy Father" -- alluding to the pope's admonishment for the bishops to fight like men -- "respond to bad advice from someone close to him?"

"Who gave the pope bad advice?"

In a Feb. 13 speech to bishops at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City, Pope Francis called on prelates to denounce drug cartels, better attend to victims of violence and avoid brokering backroom deals that lack transparency. After visiting a seminary the next day in the city of Ecatepec, he signed the guestbook with a warning to avoid becoming "clerics of the state."

The pope's speech came as Mexico's church fielded criticisms from Catholics involved in human rights issues that the hierarchy was speaking out softly on issues such as crime and corruption and seeking favor from the political class.

"While other institutions have failed in the care and promotion of the common good, Mexican bishops have been accompanying a suffering and downtrodden people, living a life of giving to neighbors and not of princes without contact with the flock," read the editorial. "They themselves have assumed the practice of compassion, strengthening the bonds of unity through prophetic pastoral signals, which, thanks to the Catholic faith, have returned hope in each diocese of the country."

The editorial received widespread attention in Mexico, where coverage of Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera is often negative and media erroneously interpret statements in Desde la Fe as official statements from the Mexican bishops' conference. Sociologist and church observer Rodolfo Soriano Nunez says the editorial exposes lingering displeasure of conservative Catholics -- who are influential in the Archdiocese of Mexico City -- with the pope's messages in Mexico and broader agenda.

"It confirms (Cardinal Rivera's) rejection of the pope's reform ... but also his unwillingness to accept any kind of criticism," Soriano said.

Father Hugo Valdemar Romero, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Mexico City, said the editorial was written by staff at the publication without input from Cardinal Rivera. Father Valdemar, however, said it was an attempt to set the record straight on issues such as unity among the bishops and church hierarchy's attention to the faithful.

"There are not these kinds of fights in the bishops' conference," he said, adding Cardinal Rivera has had no conflicts with anyone in the conference and was not in opposition to Pope Francis.

"It's not a church that has been distant from the people," he added, pointing to census data showing the Catholic population remaining above 80 percent as proof the bishops were properly serving their dioceses.

Soriano said some in the church selectively use census data, in which Mexicans self-identify religious affiliation. He pointed to data showing a decline in the Catholic population of Mexico City of nearly 10 percentage points from 1990 to 2010, faster than in the country as a whole.

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Follow Agren on Twitter: @el_reportero.

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