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
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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
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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...
(Vatican Radio) There's been claim and counter-claim this week between the United States and China over who is militarising the South China Sea. Alastair Wanklyn takes a look at recent developments.Listen: Days after American fighter jets put on a show of force aimed at North Korea, China did the same for for the U.S., landing fighter planes on a disputed island.The U.S. Pacific commander told lawmakers in Washington..."China is clearly militarising the South China Sea, and you'd have to believe in a flat earth to believe otherwise" U.S. Admiral Harry Harris said.Speaking at a summit of Southeast Asian nations, U.S. President Barack Obama called for efforts to defuse tensions in a sea where six nations have competing territorial claims:"We discussed the need for tangible steps in the South China Sea to lower tensions, including a halt to further reclamation, new construction and militarisation of disputed areas." The U.S. says it takes n...
(Vatican Radio) There's been claim and counter-claim this week between the United States and China over who is militarising the South China Sea.
Alastair Wanklyn takes a look at recent developments.
Listen:
Days after American fighter jets put on a show of force aimed at North Korea, China did the same for for the U.S., landing fighter planes on a disputed island.
The U.S. Pacific commander told lawmakers in Washington...
"China is clearly militarising the South China Sea, and you'd have to believe in a flat earth to believe otherwise" U.S. Admiral Harry Harris said.
Speaking at a summit of Southeast Asian nations, U.S. President Barack Obama called for efforts to defuse tensions in a sea where six nations have competing territorial claims:
"We discussed the need for tangible steps in the South China Sea to lower tensions, including a halt to further reclamation, new construction and militarisation of disputed areas."
The U.S. says it takes no side in the disputes, but wants the South China Sea to remain open to commercial shipping. It has sailed warships on at least two occasions within waters that China claims.
On Tuesday, China's foreign minister said if demilitarisation is to take place, all sides need to do it. He said Beijing does not want to see foreign bombers approaching its islands.
Satellite images appear to show China is setting up anti-aircraft radar and rockets in the area, potentially shifting the balance.
And on Thursday, Australia announced a massive increase in defence spending. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said that is needed because of growing tensions in the region, including in the South China Sea.
Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama has called on Catholic priests not to reduce Christianity to “marketplace prophecies and visions but rather preserve spiritual sanity and sobriety during Holy Mass.”Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama who is the Archbishop of Jos and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) said this recently during the opening Mass of the first plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference. The plenary meeting was held at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Garki, Abuja.In his address, Archbishop Kaigama said that what is expected of all the Catholic faithful, including priests, in their various vocations, is that they should not allow themselves to be tempted by the gospel of prosperity or the so-called prosperity preaching, Archbishop Kaigama admonished the faithful that, “At a time when Christianity seems to be reduced to marketplace prophecies, visions and charismatic display of talents and wealth, Catholics mus...
Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama has called on Catholic priests not to reduce Christianity to “marketplace prophecies and visions but rather preserve spiritual sanity and sobriety during Holy Mass.”
Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama who is the Archbishop of Jos and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) said this recently during the opening Mass of the first plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference. The plenary meeting was held at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Garki, Abuja.
In his address, Archbishop Kaigama said that what is expected of all the Catholic faithful, including priests, in their various vocations, is that they should not allow themselves to be tempted by the gospel of prosperity or the so-called prosperity preaching,
Archbishop Kaigama admonished the faithful that, “At a time when Christianity seems to be reduced to marketplace prophecies, visions and charismatic display of talents and wealth, Catholics must try to preserve spiritual sanity, sobriety and fidelity to our Catholic identity, culture and traditions,” he stressed.
The local Ordinary of Jos then went on to add, “Catholic priests should not succumb to the temptation of importing elements into our Church that promote personality cults for pecuniary advantages or favouring a Christianity that is cheap and focuses on material salvation, prosperity, progress and detests the Cross which is the foundation of authentic Christian spirituality." He continued, “We must avoid in our Church, melodramatic displays that resemble modern Broadway shows. Those priests who tend to compete with so-called trendy pastors to dream dreams, see visions and utter prophecies are reminded that not all dreams, visions and prophecies and revelations are from God. They are sometimes the products of one’s psychological disposition, brain waves or even as a result of mental fatigue and should not be confused with absolute reality,” the Archbishop warned.
The Archbishop further urged Catholic priests to “avoid flamboyant spirituality and noisy liturgies and instead teach our people the value of contemplative/internalised prayers, simple spontaneous prayers from the heart as well as prayers such as the Angelus, Rosary, Divine Mercy, Stations of the Cross and the meditative reading of the Word of God rather than undue emphasis on psychedelic spirituality.”
(Fr. Chris N Anyanwu, Director of Social Communications, CBCN)
Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va
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