Catholic News 2
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Iranian government has released four dual-national prisoners: Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati, pastor Saeed Abedini and Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, whose name had not been previously made public. A fifth American detained in Iran, Matthew Trevithick, was released in a move unrelated to the swap, U.S. officials said....
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.
---
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
# # #
MEDIA CONTACT
Don Clemmer
O: 202-541-3206
Indianapolis, Ind., Jan 16, 2016 / 04:54 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A proposed law in Indiana would replace the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act with language that its advocates say is clearer in protecting religious liberty and certain other rights.The measure, Bill 66, omits the amendment Indiana Gov. Mike Pence added to the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act last April after intense backlash from critics, who called it “anti-gay” and threatened to boycott the state.The amended “fix” stated that the religious freedom law would not permit discrimination for services, housing or employment based on sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.Bill 66 does not include this stipulation, which some proponents of religious freedom believed to undermine the law’s purpose, leaving them vulnerable to legal attacks. Like the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the proposed new law would require “strict scrutiny&rdq...
Indianapolis, Ind., Jan 16, 2016 / 04:54 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A proposed law in Indiana would replace the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act with language that its advocates say is clearer in protecting religious liberty and certain other rights.
The measure, Bill 66, omits the amendment Indiana Gov. Mike Pence added to the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act last April after intense backlash from critics, who called it “anti-gay” and threatened to boycott the state.
The amended “fix” stated that the religious freedom law would not permit discrimination for services, housing or employment based on sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Bill 66 does not include this stipulation, which some proponents of religious freedom believed to undermine the law’s purpose, leaving them vulnerable to legal attacks.
Like the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the proposed new law would require “strict scrutiny” as the appropriate level of judicial review for legal challenges involving religious freedom. As a result, courts would evaluate cases based on certain strict criteria: Government may not place a substantial burden on free exercise of religion unless there is a compelling state interest for doing so, and the least restrictive means are used.
In addition to religious freedom, the bill would also protect five other rights with a similar “strict scrutiny” standard of judicial review: the right to worship; the right to free exercise and conscience; the right to freedom of thought and speech; the right of assemblage and petition; and the right to bear arms.
Bill 66 was recently sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee for a hearing.
“This new bill has many positive aspects,” Glenn Tebbe, executive director of Indiana Catholic Conference told CNA. “It provides for strict scrutiny for government to have as a criteria when engaging in people’s rights. And in particular with religious freedom, it does so in a clear manner, tying it to Indiana’s Bill of Rights.”
“The bill also removes the ‘fix’ added to RFRA proposed last year,” he continued. “The amended law now in effect leaves a lot of unanswered questions which could potentially lead to unnecessary conflict between people and institutions.”
“This new law addresses this and should be beneficial in the long-run to preserve the religious freedom of all citizens,” Tebbe said.
But some argue that the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act already protects religious freedom, questioning whether there is a need to focus only on a handful of rights in the bill.
“Indiana already has an effective RFRA law that protects religious freedom,” Rick Garnett, law professor at Notre Dame University told CNA. “Unfortunately, it has been badly misrepresented.”
“This legislation takes a new way to approach these issues by requiring strict judicial scrutiny of a catalogue of rights for some and not others,” he said. “Unlike RFRA laws with an established judicial track record, we have less certainty on how this new law will work in practice.”
“What we would need to know is if there is evidence in Indiana that these other rights mentioned in this bill are vulnerable and not being respected,” Garnett added.
Sen. R. Michael Young (R-Indianapolis), who sponsored the legislation, said he wanted it to be clear and focused.
“Last year, people misunderstood RFRA and so it was important for me to write this new law and clarify things,” Young told CNA.
“The right to protest government is as important as the right to free speech and thought, the right to bear arms, and the right of freedom of conscience and freedom of religion,” he maintained.
“When it comes to our core rights, we should have the highest judicial standards—that is, strict scrutiny,” Young said. “But strict scrutiny doesn’t apply to all 37 Articles of the state’s Bill of Rights. Many of these don’t apply to personal rights but to group rights.”
LGBT groups have opposed the bill, saying it could be used to discriminate against them and derail their efforts to obtain new civil rights protections.
But Young reassures his critics that this will not be the case.
“This law will not be used to discriminate against anyone,” he said. “There is nothing in this bill that will allow anyone to discriminate against anyone for any reason.”
“All it will ensure is that the court will have a standard it will use to make decisions in all cases,” Young continued. “If the issue concerns religious freedom, the court will use strict scrutiny to resolve the issue.”
“This law does not favor one group of people over another,” he said. “It protects all people and fundamental rights in the same manner.”
Photo credit: Henryk Sadura via www.shutterstock.com.
HALEIWA, Hawaii (AP) -- Rescuers battled winds of up to 23 mph and waves up to 30 feet Saturday as they searched for 12 Marines who are missing after two helicopters crashed off the Hawaiian island of Oahu....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S pardoned or dropped the charges against seven Iranians in a prisoner swap for the release of four Americans held by Iran. The seven were accused or convicted of violating U.S. sanctions. Six of them have dual U.S.-Iranian citizenship, and it is unclear if these individuals will leave the U.S. for Iran....
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- The announcement on Saturday that Iran had satisfied its obligations under a nuclear deal with world powers was expected to pave the way for a new economic reality in the Islamic Republic, free from years of harsh international economic sanctions....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Iran's release of five Americans gives President Barack Obama the opportunity to deliver a harsh reminder to the Republicans wanting to succeed him: You can promise to pull back the hand I've extended to Iran and Cuba - nations the U.S. once cut off - but it won't be easy and it may be lonely....
VIENNA (AP) -- Four Americans detained in Iran will be coming home and seven Iranians in U.S. custody also will win their freedom in a breakthrough swap negotiated by the longtime foes, officials in both countries said. As well, a fifth American was freed separately....
VIENNA (AP) -- The U.N. nuclear agency certified Saturday that Iran has met all of its commitments under last summer's landmark nuclear deal, crowning years of U.S.-led efforts to crimp Iran's ability to make atomic weapons. For Iran, the move lifts Western economic sanctions that have been in place for years, unlocking access to $100 billion in frozen assets and unleashing new opportunities for its battered economy....
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.
---
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
# # #
MEDIA CONTACT
Don Clemmer
O: 202-541-3206
