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BEDFORD, N.H. (AP) -- Marco Rubio's uneven debate performance just days before Tuesday's New Hampshire primary has emboldened a trio of governors seeking to stem his rise in the Republican race for president. But if Rubio's rivals can slow him in New Hampshire, they are likely to leave the GOP with a muddled mix of establishment contenders and no clear favorite to challenge Donald Trump and Ted Cruz....
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- The Latest on Super Bowl Sunday from AP reporters covering the game, the telecast, the commercials and fans around the world (All times local):...
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 rema...
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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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...
"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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(Vatican Radio) After reciting the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis on Sunday noted that on February 8th the Church celebrates an annual day of prayer against the scourge of human trafficking.Instituted in 2015, the "International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking" is held on the Feast Day of Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese slave girl, who became a Canossian nun, and was declared a Saint in 2000.Crime against humanityPope Francis, who has repeatedly denounced human trafficking as a shameful crime against humanity, said this day offers us all the opportunity to help those who fall victim to the traffickers “to break the heavy chains of exploitation and reclaim their freedom and dignity”.To mark the occasion, English Cardinal Vincent Nichols is taking part in as special prayer service at a school in London on Monday, to highlight the importance of working to combat human trafficking….Listen The cardinals says this day has special reso...
(Vatican Radio) After reciting the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis on Sunday noted that on February 8th the Church celebrates an annual day of prayer against the scourge of human trafficking.
Instituted in 2015, the "International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking" is held on the Feast Day of Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese slave girl, who became a Canossian nun, and was declared a Saint in 2000.
Crime against humanity
Pope Francis, who has repeatedly denounced human trafficking as a shameful crime against humanity, said this day offers us all the opportunity to help those who fall victim to the traffickers “to break the heavy chains of exploitation and reclaim their freedom and dignity”.
To mark the occasion, English Cardinal Vincent Nichols is taking part in as special prayer service at a school in London on Monday, to highlight the importance of working to combat human trafficking….
Listen
The cardinals says this day has special resonance for him because his diocese and the whole bishops conference is “putting a lot of effort into this work” of combatting human trafficking.
He says he’s attending an assembly led by students at the Cardinal Pole Catholic School in east London which has a hall dedicated to St Josephine Bakita. During the service, he says, they’ll be reflecting on the life of the saint and the importance of working to end trafficking which Pope Francis has called “an open wound in the flesh of humanity”.
Prayer for victims of trafficking
Cardinal Nichols concludes with the prayer for all trafficking victims, which is used as the collect on February 8th:
O God, who led Saint Josephine Bakhita from abject slavery
to the dignity of being your daughter and a bride of Christ,
grant, we pray, that by her example
we may show constant love for the Lord Jesus crucified,
remaining steadfast in charity
and prompt to show compassion.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen
For further details on the life of St Josephine Bakhita and ways of celebrating her feast day, see the website of the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales
Rome, Italy, Feb 7, 2016 / 10:17 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Children has announced member Peter Saunders will take a leave of absence from his work with the commission.“Today’s meeting of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors discussed the direction and purpose of the Commission,” read a Feb. 6 press release from the Commission. “As the result of this discussion, it was decided that Mr. Peter Saunders would take a leave of absence from his membership to consider how he might best support the Commission’s work.”Saunders is founder of the U.K.’s National Association for People Abused in Childhood, which focuses on abuse prevention and support for abuse survivors. A survivor of priestly sexual abuse, Saunders had been a member of the Commission for the Protection of Children since December 2014. He reportedly became increasingly critical of the Commission's process of...
Rome, Italy, Feb 7, 2016 / 10:17 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Children has announced member Peter Saunders will take a leave of absence from his work with the commission.
“Today’s meeting of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors discussed the direction and purpose of the Commission,” read a Feb. 6 press release from the Commission. “As the result of this discussion, it was decided that Mr. Peter Saunders would take a leave of absence from his membership to consider how he might best support the Commission’s work.”
Saunders is founder of the U.K.’s National Association for People Abused in Childhood, which focuses on abuse prevention and support for abuse survivors.
A survivor of priestly sexual abuse, Saunders had been a member of the Commission for the Protection of Children since December 2014. He reportedly became increasingly critical of the Commission's process of reforming the Church's abuse protocol.
In a statement Saturday, Commission President Cardinal Sean O’Malley confirmed Saunders “has been asked to advise the Commission on the possible establishment of a victim survivor panel to work with the Commission.”
A Vatican official who requested anonymity told journalists the panel will likely be modeled after a similar panel established for Saunder’s U.K. organization.
Saunders was one of 17 members of the Commission, which Pope Francis founded to address the abuse crisis. The Commission is meeting in Rome this weekend.
KILIS, Turkey (AP) -- Turkey has reached the end of its "capacity to absorb" refugees but will continue to take them in, the deputy premier said Sunday, as his country faced mounting pressure to open its border to tens of thousands of Syrians who have fled a government onslaught....
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) -- The Serb pilot who landed a jetliner in Somalia with a gaping hole in its fuselage said Sunday he never doubted that it was caused by a bomb and described the security surround the airplane at Mogadishu Airport as "zero."...
HAMPTON, N.H. (AP) -- It's less than two days until New Hampshire voters go to the polls. But Hillary Clinton is in Michigan. And other candidates, even Jeb Bush, say their campaigns will go on no matter how they do on Tuesday. Donald Trump says he doesn't need to win New Hampshire, anyway....
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- The Latest on Super Bowl Sunday from AP reporters covering the game, the telecast, the commercials and fans around the world (All times local):...
