WASHINGTON-The Office of General Counsel of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) filed an amicus curiae brief in the U.S. Supreme Court, February 1, on behalf of USCCB, the Texas Catholic Conference and several Christian partners in support of a Texas law mandating health and safety standards protecting women who undergo abortions. Other groups joining the brief include the National Association of Evangelicals, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. The case is Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, currently before the U.S. Supreme Court.
"There is ample evidence in this case that hospital admitting privileges and ambulatory surgical center requirements protect women's lives and health," said the brief. "When such requirements are not enforced, abuses detrimental to women's lives and health arise."
The brief noted that some abortion clinics have declared the standards too strict, although the standards are similar to those issued by the abortion industry. It added that abortion providers "should not be allowed to rely upon their own failure to comply with health and safety laws" as a reason to strike such laws down. The brief said the providers' resistance to such regulations is not in the best interests of women's health and safety. It also noted that over 40 years of precedent, including the Court's 1992 decision in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, reaffirms that states may regulate abortion to protect maternal life and health.
Full text of the brief is available online: www.usccb.org/about/general-counsel/amicus-briefs/upload/Whole-Woman-s-Health-v-Hellerstedt.pdf
---
Keywords: General Counsel, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Texas law abortion, amicus curia, National Association of Evangelicals, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, U.S. Supreme Court
# # #
Catholic News 2
WASHINGTON-The Office of General Counsel of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) filed an amicus curiae brief in the U.S. Supreme Court, February 1, on behalf of USCCB, the Texas Catholic Conference and several Christian partners in support of a Texas law mandating health and safety standards protecting women who undergo abortions. Other groups joining the brief include the National Association of Evangelicals, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. The case is Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, currently before the U.S. Supreme Court."There is ample evidence in this case that hospital admitting privileges and ambulatory surgical center requirements protect women's lives and health," said the brief. "When such requirements are not enforced, abuses detrimental to women's lives and health arise."The brief noted that some abortion clinics have decla...
What is it really like to serve Mass with the Pope at St Peters Basilica? It’s a question that many Catholics ask themselves, and the experience is one that many Students for the Priesthood here in Rome dream of fulfilling.Last week that dream came true for two Seminarians from the Venerable English College. They were part of a group of Eighteen men chosen to serve Mass for the Feast of the Chair of Peter, with Pope Francis.Benjamin Hilton from the Diocese of Leeds and Andrew Coy from the Diocese of Northampton spoke to Vatican Radio and gave us an insiders view on Mass with Pope Francis."Each national college has the opportunity to apply for their students to serve for the Pope" explained Hilton."There was a notice put up in the Seminary asking for volunteers, with preference going to those who had never served a Papal Mass before, and any other names were drawn out of a hat!" He noted that it was a vey exciting prospect for all of the students of the E...
What is it really like to serve Mass with the Pope at St Peters Basilica? It’s a question that many Catholics ask themselves, and the experience is one that many Students for the Priesthood here in Rome dream of fulfilling.
Last week that dream came true for two Seminarians from the Venerable English College. They were part of a group of Eighteen men chosen to serve Mass for the Feast of the Chair of Peter, with Pope Francis.
Benjamin Hilton from the Diocese of Leeds and Andrew Coy from the Diocese of Northampton spoke to Vatican Radio and gave us an insiders view on Mass with Pope Francis.
"Each national college has the opportunity to apply for their students to serve for the Pope" explained Hilton."There was a notice put up in the Seminary asking for volunteers, with preference going to those who had never served a Papal Mass before, and any other names were drawn out of a hat!" He noted that it was a vey exciting prospect for all of the students of the English college
He was particularly struck during the rehearsal with the Papal Masters of Ceremony, two days before the Mass, saying “That’s when you think to yourself, 'My goodness! I can't beleive I'm here, doing this.' It's fascinating to see the professionalism and synchronisation of the team of Papal Masters of Ceremony. I was amazed how our group of servers synchronised with the group of Deacons, witout the MC's seeming to do anything with us."
Andrew Coy, who is in his first year of study for the priesthood explained that he was delighted when he received the news that he had been selected and was "Particularly conscious that this is an opporutnity which men in other Seminaries around the world simply don't get."
The experience was also something of a baptism of fire for Coy. He explained “I'd hoped for a fairly easy job, so that I could sit back and take all of the experience in during most of the Mass. Instead I was informed that I was going to be the thurifer, which was a surprise as I had never done that before. I had never been an altar server. Being an organist myself, music had always been my job while growing up in the parish.”
For Hilton, the Mass provided a rare opportunity to compare his experience against the last time he served in the Basilica. He said ”The experience hardly differed from the last time. Although the Mass was celebrating a different occasion and I had a slightly different job, it was still the same emotions and feelings as the last time.The little things like going through the barriers in the Basilica into places where the public don't usually go, those never get old! It's as if it's new each time!"
The two students then spoke about the insider experience of the serving in St Peters.
Hilton, who has an interest in art, explained "I was struck whilst kneeling infront of the High Altar during the Eucharistic prayer. I could just see a part of the mosaic on the tomb of St Peter underneath, and then I looked at Pope Francis standing at the Altar, then further back to the stained glass window of the Holy Spirit behind. Many people probably know the facts and statistics, the wingspan of the dove in that window is two meters and the statues around the basilica are even taller. Sometimes you forget just how big the Basilica is. But kneeling there you really get a sense of it and a feeling of being very small, in a comforting way. Even just to play a small part in that it actually to be a large part."
Coy, who is more interested in music, says he was “struck by how prayerful the Mass was. Particularly with the choir being able to sing prayerfully, thanks to their microhone system, and not having to sing at the top of their voices, it just let everybody enter into a very prayerful atmosphere. That prayerfulness is something I noticed particularly in Msgr Marini, the Master of Papal Ceremonies.He always began everything with a prayer and reminded us that everything we were doing and practicing was for the glory of God."
The two also mentioned how they met Pope Francis before Mass. Coy described his meet as "very emotional" and went on to say how the Pope "Took him by surpise. He's a man who can speak very forcefully on subjects about which he's very passionate. But standing infront of him, his gentleness really made and impression on me."
Hilton continued, "The amazing thing was that he almost slipped past us! We were expecting him to appear through the door to his personal sacristy on our left, but instead he came through the Holy door with all of the ordinary people!"
"Many people have asked me 'Was it like meeting a celebrity?' And I've explained that it was so much fore than that. Because of everything that Papacy symbolises for Catholics, it's links to St Peter and to the task he was given by Christ, it meant that our meeting, which was very short, just a couple of seconds and a few words, was full of so much meaning. It was a very short time but there was so much depth to the encounter."
On the occasion of the fifth death anniversary of Shahbaz Bhatti, the Catholic minister for minorities killed on March 2, 2011, in Islamabad the local Church will begin collecting the testimonies to open the diocesan process to declare Bhatti a ‘martyr’.The 42-year old Bhatti – a leading voice for religious freedom and peace in Pakistan – served as federal minister for religious minorities. He was shot to death by three masked men on March 2 as he left his mother's home in Islamabad by car.In a video he recorded to be released in case of his death, Bhatti stated: “I want to share that I believe in Jesus Christ, who has given his own life for us. I know what is the meaning of ‘cross,’ and I follow Him to the cross.” “Pray for me and for my life,”Bhatti told Fides ahead of his murder. “I am a man who has burnt his bridges. I cannot and will not go back on this commitment. I will fight fanaticism and fight in...
On the occasion of the fifth death anniversary of Shahbaz Bhatti, the Catholic minister for minorities killed on March 2, 2011, in Islamabad the local Church will begin collecting the testimonies to open the diocesan process to declare Bhatti a ‘martyr’.
The 42-year old Bhatti – a leading voice for religious freedom and peace in Pakistan – served as federal minister for religious minorities. He was shot to death by three masked men on March 2 as he left his mother's home in Islamabad by car.
In a video he recorded to be released in case of his death, Bhatti stated: “I want to share that I believe in Jesus Christ, who has given his own life for us. I know what is the meaning of ‘cross,’ and I follow Him to the cross.” “Pray for me and for my life,”
Bhatti told Fides ahead of his murder. “I am a man who has burnt his bridges. I cannot and will not go back on this commitment. I will fight fanaticism and fight in defense of Christians to the death.” In the second week of April, Pakistan's bishops and Catholic faithful will gather in Islamabad to commemorate Bhatti, 40 days after his death.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of the death of Mr. Bhatti, Archbishop Coutts said, “He spoke with faith and demonstrated courage. Thanks to him the voice of Pakistan's Christians was heard. He paved the way for us. He was a good Catholic and gave his life for his mission."
(Vatican Radio) Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, President of Caritas Internationalis, visited Syrian refugees and migrant workers in Lebanon and urged the international community and political leaders to “set aside greed and self-interest” to solve Syria’s conflict for the sake of its “suffering” people.Lebanon hosts over a million Syrian refugees, putting an enormous strain on a country of barely 4 million people. The European Union, in comparison, with more than 500 million people, regards the arrival last year of a million migrants and refugees as a major crisis.Cardinal Tagle spoke to Susy Hodges during his visit about his impressions. Listen to the interview with Cardinal Tagle, Archbishop of Manila and President of Caritas Internationalis: Cardinal Tagle spent four days in Lebanon to see how Caritas is helping refugees from Syria and Iraq with the provision of food, warm clothing, fuel, cash assistance, medical treatmen...
(Vatican Radio) Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, President of Caritas Internationalis, visited Syrian refugees and migrant workers in Lebanon and urged the international community and political leaders to “set aside greed and self-interest” to solve Syria’s conflict for the sake of its “suffering” people.
Lebanon hosts over a million Syrian refugees, putting an enormous strain on a country of barely 4 million people. The European Union, in comparison, with more than 500 million people, regards the arrival last year of a million migrants and refugees as a major crisis.
Cardinal Tagle spoke to Susy Hodges during his visit about his impressions.
Listen to the interview with Cardinal Tagle, Archbishop of Manila and President of Caritas Internationalis:
Cardinal Tagle spent four days in Lebanon to see how Caritas is helping refugees from Syria and Iraq with the provision of food, warm clothing, fuel, cash assistance, medical treatment and counselling. The Filippino Cardinal said he found it “upsetting” to meet and view at first hand the suffering of these Syrians forced to flee their “beloved homeland” and who are now living in exile, in poverty and uncertainty with most of their children missing out on schooling in their host country. He said the pain of these refugees is often compounded by the fact that they have left loved ones behind in Syria and have to wonder each day when they wake up whether their husband, wife or son is alive and surviving the conflict back home.
During his trip, Cardinal Tagle also met migrant workers, including some from his native Philippines, who were the victims of abuse or exploitation by their employers. He also said some of the migrant workers had even been beaten by their employers and still bore the physical scars of that mistreatment. The migrant workers are being helped by Caritas Lebanon with legal aid, shelter, medical support and counselling.
Asked what message he had for the international community after what he saw and heard in Lebanon, Cardinal Tagle said his message was to urge political leaders and those in power to settle the root cause of this war and conflict (in Syria and Iraq) and “to set aside greed and self-interest for the sake of the suffering people.”
IMAGE: CNS photo/Justin Lane, EPABy Carol GlatzVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- We must always forgive others whohave wronged us because that is how our hearts are opened to receive God'sgrace, pardon and healing, Pope Francis said at his morning Mass."If you aren't able to forgive, how will God be ableto forgive you? He wants to forgive, but he won't be able to if you have aclosed heart and his mercy can't get in," he said.During Mass March 1 in the chapel of the Domus SanctaeMarthae, the pope reflected on Jesus telling Peter he should always forgive andusing a parable about a king forgiving his servants' debts. The Gospel reading(Mt. 18:21-35) showed how the king showed mercy to his servants and he expectedhis servants to be merciful and forgiving in kind to each other."In the Our Father, we pray, 'Forgive us ourtrespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.' It's an equation --they go together," the pope said in his homily, according to VaticanRadio.People might say, "But Father, ...
IMAGE: CNS photo/Justin Lane, EPA
By Carol Glatz
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- We must always forgive others who have wronged us because that is how our hearts are opened to receive God's grace, pardon and healing, Pope Francis said at his morning Mass.
"If you aren't able to forgive, how will God be able to forgive you? He wants to forgive, but he won't be able to if you have a closed heart and his mercy can't get in," he said.
During Mass March 1 in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the pope reflected on Jesus telling Peter he should always forgive and using a parable about a king forgiving his servants' debts. The Gospel reading (Mt. 18:21-35) showed how the king showed mercy to his servants and he expected his servants to be merciful and forgiving in kind to each other.
"In the Our Father, we pray, 'Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.' It's an equation -- they go together," the pope said in his homily, according to Vatican Radio.
People might say, "But Father, I forgive, but I cannot forget that horrible thing done to me," the pope said, highlighting the difficulty of letting go of the past and the need to ask for the Lord's help.
Forgiveness is not pardoning with a caveat of "You will pay for this," too. "No. Forgive like God forgives, forgive to the full," he said.
When God forgives, the pope said, his pardon is so great "it's as if he 'forgets.' The complete opposite of what we do with our gossip, 'Well, this person did that and that and that.'"
"We don't forget. Why? Because we don't have a merciful heart," he said.
The pope prayed that Lent would help prepare people to receive God's forgiveness and then to do the same with others -- to forgive "from your heart."
"By forgiving, we open our heart so that God's mercy comes in and he pardons us. Because all of us have to ask for forgiveness, all of us," he said. "Let us forgive and we will be forgiven. We show mercy to others and we will feel that mercy of God who when he forgives, forgets."
- - -
Copyright © 2016 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. www.catholicnews.com. All rights reserved. Republishing or redistributing of CNS content, including by framing or similar means without prior permission, is prohibited. You may link to stories on our public site. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To request permission for republishing or redistributing of CNS content, please contact permissions at cns@catholicnews.com.
By ALTOONA,Pa. (CNS) -- Hundreds of children were sexually abused over at least 40 yearsby priests and other religious leaders in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, astatewide grand jury found.Atleast 50 priests or religious leaders were involved in the abuse and diocesanleaders systematically concealed the abuse to protect the church's image,according to a grand jury report released March 1 by Attorney General KathleenG. Kane.Thereport identifies priests and other leaders by name and details incidents goingback to the 1970s. Kane said that much of the evidence revealed in the reportcame from secret archives maintained by the diocese that was only available tothe bishops who led the diocese over the decades.Victimsalso testified to the grand jury, which was convened by Kane in early 2014after local law enforcement officials and district attorneys of severalcounties approached her office with information about the abuse.Kanesaid during a 75-minute press briefing that the investigation...
By
ALTOONA, Pa. (CNS) -- Hundreds of children were sexually abused over at least 40 years by priests and other religious leaders in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, a statewide grand jury found.
At least 50 priests or religious leaders were involved in the abuse and diocesan leaders systematically concealed the abuse to protect the church's image, according to a grand jury report released March 1 by Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane.
The report identifies priests and other leaders by name and details incidents going back to the 1970s. Kane said that much of the evidence revealed in the report came from secret archives maintained by the diocese that was only available to the bishops who led the diocese over the decades.
Victims also testified to the grand jury, which was convened by Kane in early 2014 after local law enforcement officials and district attorneys of several counties approached her office with information about the abuse.
Kane said during a 75-minute press briefing that the investigation was continuing. She said that the actions of law enforcement also are part of the investigation.
"We have had evidence of law enforcement perhaps looking the other way, law enforcement working with the diocese to let the priests move on, retire or go to a psychiatric facility in lieu of charges," she said.
MORE TO COME
- - -
Copyright © 2016 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. www.catholicnews.com. All rights reserved. Republishing or redistributing of CNS content, including by framing or similar means without prior permission, is prohibited. You may link to stories on our public site. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To request permission for republishing or redistributing of CNS content, please contact permissions at cns@catholicnews.com.
LONDON (AP) -- Scientists say a meteor was the cause of a bright flash of light reported by people across Scotland and northern England....
LONDON (AP) -- Scientists say a meteor was the cause of a bright flash of light reported by people across Scotland and northern England....
HAVANA (AP) -- The Rolling Stones announced Tuesday that they will play a free concert in Havana on March 25, becoming the biggest act to play Cuba since its 1959 revolution....
HAVANA (AP) -- The Rolling Stones announced Tuesday that they will play a free concert in Havana on March 25, becoming the biggest act to play Cuba since its 1959 revolution....
KINSIBBA, Syria (AP) -- A series of artillery shells exploded near the main street of a Syrian village close to the border with Turkey on Tuesday, sending a group of visiting international reporters running for cover and underscoring the limits of Syria's partial cease-fire....
KINSIBBA, Syria (AP) -- A series of artillery shells exploded near the main street of a Syrian village close to the border with Turkey on Tuesday, sending a group of visiting international reporters running for cover and underscoring the limits of Syria's partial cease-fire....
CHICAGO (AP) -- There have been about twice as many homicides and shootings so far this year in Chicago as compared to the same period in 2015, but the number of illegal guns seized has dropped, police said Tuesday....
CHICAGO (AP) -- There have been about twice as many homicides and shootings so far this year in Chicago as compared to the same period in 2015, but the number of illegal guns seized has dropped, police said Tuesday....
