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BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -- Nicole Madison Lovell, by all accounts, was at that awkward stage of growing up that all kids go through: clinging to childhood ways while beginning to venture into the adult world....
CATONSVILLE, Md. (AP) -- President Barack Obama paid his first visit to a U.S. mosque on Wednesday, working to confront bias that Muslim-Americans say is increasing at an alarming rate amid public concerns about terrorism and extremism....
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Republican Sen. Rand Paul dropped his 2016 campaign for president Wednesday, eclipsed by other candidates who kept his base of support from growing into a viable force in the crowded 2016 field....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Marco Rubio's strong third-place finish in Iowa could sound like a starting gun to the Republican Party's top donors....
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) Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, celebrated a Mass on Tuesday to mark the close of the Year of Consecrated Life at the Cathedral of Ljubljana in Slovenia.In his homily for the World Day of Consecrated Life, Cardinal Parolin called the religious men and women of the Slovenian Church to present themselves to the Lord.“It is this gesture, interior and exterior, which characterizes the today’s celebration: present oneself and to be presented. This was Mary and Joseph’s gesture which, as we heard in the Gospel, ‘When the days were completed for their purification, according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord.’ This is the gesture which each one of us, especially consecrated men and women, is called to renew, with pure and sincere hearts and with all our dedication.”Cardinal Parolin went on to remember the long history of ...
(Vatican Radio) Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, celebrated a Mass on Tuesday to mark the close of the Year of Consecrated Life at the Cathedral of Ljubljana in Slovenia.
In his homily for the World Day of Consecrated Life, Cardinal Parolin called the religious men and women of the Slovenian Church to present themselves to the Lord.
“It is this gesture, interior and exterior, which characterizes the today’s celebration: present oneself and to be presented. This was Mary and Joseph’s gesture which, as we heard in the Gospel, ‘When the days were completed for their purification, according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord.’ This is the gesture which each one of us, especially consecrated men and women, is called to renew, with pure and sincere hearts and with all our dedication.”
Cardinal Parolin went on to remember the long history of the Slovenian Church. “You can present to the Lord a glorious history, ‘to be remembered and told’. The consecrated life did not take long to appear within your Church, for already St. Jerome wrote to the virgins of Aemona (modern Ljubljana) and to a Aemonese monk named Anthony about his experience of the monastic life in the Syrian desert. He encouraged them to nourish their interpersonal relations in profound and holy communion.”
He concluded his homily by reminding those present to always leave space for the Lord in their consecrated life.
“It’s important, especially today, to not overlook the essentials, overcoming the risk of leaving aside the important for the urgent, the essential for the contingent. Between the thousands of preoccupations and many interests, the things to do and to follow, may we always leave space necessary to daily nourish our personal relationship with the Lord. Let us never forget to leave space for Jesus, so that he may fill it with his blessing and give us every other thing, even wisdom and the creativity necessary to carry out our duties with patience and efficacy.”
Earlier in the day Cardinal Parolin met with Slovenian Prime Minister, Miro Cerar, with the two calling for a “humane and solidarity-based” resolution to the refugee crisis.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday greeted members of the American Circus, which performed during his weekly general audience.Speaking off the cuff, Pope Francis thanked the performers, and reiterated his remarks from last week, when another circus performed in St. Peter’s Square.“I am going to repeat what I said a week ago, when there was another performance such as this one,” Pope Francis said. “You make beauty, and beautiful things bring us closer to God. Thank you for this.”However, Pope Francis said he wanted to emphasize another point: Such a performance “cannot be improvised.”“Behind this beautiful show, there are hours and hours of exhausting training,” Pope Francis said.“Training is hard work,” continued the Holy Father. “The Apostle Paul tells to get to cross finish line and win, you must rain, and this is an example to us all – because the seduction of an easy life, to seek a good outco...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday greeted members of the American Circus, which performed during his weekly general audience.
Speaking off the cuff, Pope Francis thanked the performers, and reiterated his remarks from last week, when another circus performed in St. Peter’s Square.
“I am going to repeat what I said a week ago, when there was another performance such as this one,” Pope Francis said. “You make beauty, and beautiful things bring us closer to God. Thank you for this.”
However, Pope Francis said he wanted to emphasize another point: Such a performance “cannot be improvised.”
“Behind this beautiful show, there are hours and hours of exhausting training,” Pope Francis said.
“Training is hard work,” continued the Holy Father. “The Apostle Paul tells to get to cross finish line and win, you must rain, and this is an example to us all – because the seduction of an easy life, to seek a good outcome without effort, it’s a temptation.”
Pope Francis concluded his remarks to the circus by thanking them for their example.
“With what you have done today, and with the training behind, gives witness to the truth that a life without constant striving is a life of mediocrity,” he said.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis is urging the faithful to open their hearts to forgiveness“This is the way to solve differences within families – he said - between spouses or between parents and children”.This is what happens when he who has been offended loves the person who offended him and wants to save the relationship: “that binds him to the other” he said.The Pope was addressing over 10,000 pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the weekly General Audience.Reflecting on the Sacred Scriptures that present God as infinite mercy, but also as perfect justice, the Pope asked the question of how reconcile infinite mercy with perfect justice? How does the reality of mercy fit in with the needs of justice?It could appear – he said – that the two realities are in contradiction, but this is not so because God’s justice is his mercy.When we think of justice – Pope Francis said – we think of its legal administration whi...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis is urging the faithful to open their hearts to forgiveness
“This is the way to solve differences within families – he said - between spouses or between parents and children”.
This is what happens when he who has been offended loves the person who offended him and wants to save the relationship: “that binds him to the other” he said.
The Pope was addressing over 10,000 pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the weekly General Audience.
Reflecting on the Sacred Scriptures that present God as infinite mercy, but also as perfect justice, the Pope asked the question of how reconcile infinite mercy with perfect justice? How does the reality of mercy fit in with the needs of justice?
It could appear – he said – that the two realities are in contradiction, but this is not so because God’s justice is his mercy.
When we think of justice – Pope Francis said – we think of its legal administration which seeks retribution and exacts a penalty.
Such legal justice does not conquer evil - he said – but simply stems its tide.
But the Bible presents true justice as a process which avoids a tribunal; it invites the offended person to engage directly with the guilty person and invite them to conversion by helping them to see the evil they have done, and by appealing to their conscience.
In this way – the Pope said - the guilty person is able to see their wrong and be open to the forgiveness offered.
Pope Francis said he knows that it this a "difficult journey”.
“It requires that we be ready to forgive and desire always the salvation of those who offend us. This is God’s justice. He does not seek our condemnation, but our salvation” he said.
He explained that by making us see the wrong we have done, the Father helps us to recognize our need for his mercy revealed in Jesus Christ. God’s justice is his mercy.
And reminding confessors of their great responsibility when they grant forgiveness in the name of God, Pope Francis concluded saying telling the faithful that as God’s children, we must be open to his divine mercy, and readily and generously share it with our brothers and sisters.
(Vatican Radio) The Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Gerhard Müller, was in Houston on Tuesday for the ordination of Steven J. Lopes, the first bishop to head one of the Personal Ordinariates for former Anglicans established in accordance with 2009’s Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus.During the festivities, the Cardinal attended a barbecue, during which he wore the native dress of Texas: A cowboy hat while riding a horse.Bishop Steven J. Lopes, a former official of the Vatican’s Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith is the first bishop of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. His predecessor as Ordinary, Msgr. Jeffrey N. Steenson, was a former Anglican priest, who was not consecrated as a Catholic bishop.There are currently three Ordinariates: the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham (for England, Wales, and Scotland); Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter (for the United St...
(Vatican Radio) The Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Gerhard Müller, was in Houston on Tuesday for the ordination of Steven J. Lopes, the first bishop to head one of the Personal Ordinariates for former Anglicans established in accordance with 2009’s Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus.
During the festivities, the Cardinal attended a barbecue, during which he wore the native dress of Texas: A cowboy hat while riding a horse.
Bishop Steven J. Lopes, a former official of the Vatican’s Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith is the first bishop of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. His predecessor as Ordinary, Msgr. Jeffrey N. Steenson, was a former Anglican priest, who was not consecrated as a Catholic bishop.
There are currently three Ordinariates: the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham (for England, Wales, and Scotland); Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter (for the United States and Canada); and the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross (for Australia and Japan).
