 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-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...
(Vatican Radio) China's economic growth slowed to a six-year low in the latest quarter as trade and consumer spending weakened, deepening a downturn that has fueled anxiety abroad over its impact on an uncertain global outlook.The world's second-largest economy grew by 6.8 percent in the October-December quarter, down from the previous quarter's 6.9 percent, data showed Tuesday. That dragged full-year growth to a 25-year low of 6.9 percent.Growth has fallen steadily over the past five years as the ruling Communist Party tries to steer away from a worn-out model based on investment and trade toward self-sustaining growth driven by domestic consumption and services. But the unexpectedly sharp decline over the past two years prompted fears of a politically dangerous spike in job losses. In 2014, growth was 7.3 percent.The Chinese slowdown and a plunge in Shanghai stock prices have prompted concern about loss of support from an economy once seen as an engine of global grow...
(Vatican Radio) China's economic growth slowed to a six-year low in the latest quarter as trade and consumer spending weakened, deepening a downturn that has fueled anxiety abroad over its impact on an uncertain global outlook.
The world's second-largest economy grew by 6.8 percent in the October-December quarter, down from the previous quarter's 6.9 percent, data showed Tuesday. That dragged full-year growth to a 25-year low of 6.9 percent.
Growth has fallen steadily over the past five years as the ruling Communist Party tries to steer away from a worn-out model based on investment and trade toward self-sustaining growth driven by domestic consumption and services. But the unexpectedly sharp decline over the past two years prompted fears of a politically dangerous spike in job losses. In 2014, growth was 7.3 percent.
The Chinese slowdown and a plunge in Shanghai stock prices have prompted concern about loss of support from an economy once seen as an engine of global growth. That has depressed international financial markets even as the United States and Europe show signs of improvement.
Also on Tuesday, the ruling Communist Party's anti-graft watchdog said Chinese authorities will prosecute two former senior officials, including a one-time vice mayor of Shanghai, for corruption, after probes found they abused their power and took bribes,
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Vatican City, Jan 19, 2016 / 12:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Archbishop of Vienna has warned that as Europe’s migrant crisis reaches a fever pitch, the continent risks falling into old fears that could build new walls that are contrary to the Christian concept of charity.“Faced with the challenge of many migrants and refugees, which is a great challenge, there is the risk that everyone withdraws into their own limits; that the borders, barriers, walls, the Iron Curtain, will return, will exist again, even if in a different way,” Cardinal Christoph Schönborn said Jan. 18.An “enormous challenge” for Europe is to have the Christian virtues of prudence, mercy, and charity overcome the fears and “new nationalisms which seem outdated,” but which are, in fact, alive and well, he said, adding that “we are again in a new wave of neo-nationalism in Europe.”The cardinal spoke at a news conference presenting the European Apostolic Congre...
Vatican City, Jan 19, 2016 / 12:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Archbishop of Vienna has warned that as Europe’s migrant crisis reaches a fever pitch, the continent risks falling into old fears that could build new walls that are contrary to the Christian concept of charity.
“Faced with the challenge of many migrants and refugees, which is a great challenge, there is the risk that everyone withdraws into their own limits; that the borders, barriers, walls, the Iron Curtain, will return, will exist again, even if in a different way,” Cardinal Christoph Schönborn said Jan. 18.
An “enormous challenge” for Europe is to have the Christian virtues of prudence, mercy, and charity overcome the fears and “new nationalisms which seem outdated,” but which are, in fact, alive and well, he said, adding that “we are again in a new wave of neo-nationalism in Europe.”
The cardinal spoke at a news conference presenting the European Apostolic Congress on Mercy, which is set to take place in Rome March 31-April 4 as part of the Jubilee of Mercy.
In response to the migrant-refugee situation, which hit Europe especially hard in 2015, “there are things to do on many levels,” especially for the Church and for politicians who have faith, he said.
“We must not forget that Europe was in blood and tears for centuries of wars between Christians,” the cardinal observed, and lamented that the continent which once prided itself on openness and acceptance seems to be falling into old mentalities of fear and closed-mindedness.
He said that European leaders, including those from the Church, haven’t yet been able to generate a unified response to large number of immigrants.
In 2015 alone more than 1 million migrants and refugees crossed into Europe, sparking a continent wide crisis that has created division in the EU on how best to handle the influx.
“I hope that European bishops have the ability to find a common word, a common encouragement. Right now we still haven’t gotten there, to be honest,” he said.
Cardinal Schönborn lamented that the Council of European Churches has been able to give neither a “strong word” on this challenge, “nor an analysis on the causes.”
However, whatever decisions are made, mercy must be at the heart, he said, pointing to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, which are being encouraged during the Holy Year as a good source of reflection.
“A good policy is a work of mercy,” the cardinal said, adding that the fight against corruption, which is so important to Pope Francis, “is a work of mercy.”
The work done by courageous politicians “who fight at the risk of their lives against corruption is a work of mercy that we need on all levels,” he added.
Cardinal Schönborn then voiced his hopes for the outcome of the upcoming Apostolic Congress on Mercy.
The goal is that for attendees, mercy would become “not only devotion, but charity, mercy in action,” he said.
Witnesses of mercy are especially important on this point, he said, and pointed to his involvement in a death row case in the United States as an example.
Texas death row inmate Richard Masterson, is scheduled to be executed Jan. 20. Masterson was convicted in 2001 for the murder of Darin Shane Honeycutt, and has been on death row for 12 years.
According to Cardinal Schönborn, Pope Francis is also aware of Masterson’s case and pending execution.
“It’s a scary thing, to be executed tomorrow,” the cardinal said, and praised “the apostolate of mercy” being carried out by various groups of Christians who have been following the case since the beginning, including the Community of Sant’Egidio, urging prayer.
Without pointing to specifics, the cardinal said that what these groups are doing for Masterson and his family “is a witness of the closeness of Jesus to this man,” and which shows “the sweet experience of the merciful heart of Jesus.”
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DRANCY, France (AP) -- Even under extended police questioning, Samy Amimour never hid his disdain for France, his desire to leave, or his belief that the apocalypse was near. But he told investigators he would not kill: "I am against the murder of innocents, no matter where they are."...
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz huddled with a borrowed shotgun in a Louisiana duck blind last week, his face smeared with black greasepaint....
BEIRUT (AP) -- Syrian peace talks due next week are looking increasingly moot as a string of recent battlefield victories by government troops have bolstered President Bashar Assad's hand and plunged the rebels into disarray....
BEIJING (AP) -- China's economy cooled further in the latest quarter, dragging 2015's full-year growth to a quarter-century low and deepening a slowdown that has fueled anxiety over its impact on the global economy....
