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Commentary and links to news of the wonderful, weird, interesting and cutting edge through the lens of our Catholic faith. Updated daily by Our Sunday Visitor staff. Email us with question or comments or link suggestions: feedback@osv.com.
A disagreeing cardinal Some cases of euthanasia are justified, so says retired Milan archbishop Cardinal Carlo Martini. To add weight to his argument, Cardinal Martini published his opinion piece in one of the most important finance newspapers in Italy. Although euthanasia is an unacceptable act because it ends a life, Cardinal Martini says that a person should have a certain amount of latitude in making this decision. This opinion goes against the views of the Church and recent statements by Pope Benedict XVI.
Chilean girls and the morning-after pill Girls in Chile 14 and up can now receive the morning-after pill without consent of their parents, the BBC reports. The country has "some of the most restrictive anti-abortion laws in the world" but President Michelle Bachelet is trying to stop unwanted pregnancies. This is a growing trend among Central and South American countries, which are historically Catholic strongholds.
Medicine for the poor Residents in an impoverished section of Cincinnati now have access to much-needed medicine thanks to a new non-profit pharmacy that recently opened. Crossroad Health Center helped start the pharmacy because residents of Over-the-Rhine had no retail pharmacy in their community. Fifty-seven percent of residents live below the poverty level. Access to medicine is a good thing but more must be done since many people can't afford to pay for their prescriptions.
Portugal poised to accept abortion Portuguese voters will decide next month whether or not to make abortion legal for women up to the 10th week of pregnancy, the BBC reports. "The 'No' camp has the powerful Roman Catholic Church on its side. Recent opinion polls suggest support for lifting the abortion ban has declined," they reported. Portugal is one of the few remaining European countries to restrict or ban abortion.
The sick should watch out Notable and controversial bioethicist Peter Singer is at it again, saying that poor or declining quality of life makes a human less of a person. When citing the recent case of a Seattle couple who stunted the growth of their severely disabled daughter so they could continue to care for her, Singer says "[the girl] is precious not so much for what she is, but because her parents and siblings love her and care about her." So what happens to those who have no one to love them? Are they less human?
"U2-charist" The band U2 can add being made the center of Anglican Communion Services to its list of accomplishments. The Church of England announced it will develop a Communion service around hit songs by U2, Reuters reports. "Rock music can be a vehicle of immense spirituality," Bishop of Grantham Timothy Ellis, told the news service when announcing plans for the unique service in the central English town of Lincoln in May.
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Controversial priest dies Jesuit Father Robert Drinan, who left Boston College's administration to become the first Roman Catholic priest elected to Congress and who in 1973 filed the initial impeachment resolution against President Richard M. Nixon, died yesterday in Washington, D.C., the Boston Globe reports. He was 86. Within the Church, Father Drinan's actions caused much controversy since holding public office was seen as taking away from his ministry as a priest. Canon Law required a priest to obtain permission from his bishop to run for office and disputes waged over whether or not the Jesuit received that permission. He said yes, the Church said no. Korean growth In ten years the Catholic Church in Korea has gone from under 3 million faithful to over 5 million -- now 10 percent of the population. This is the highest percentage of Catholics in an Asian nation after the Philippines and Vietnam. An interview with Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, archbishop of Seoul, reveals the challenges facing this rapidly-expanding community.
Spreading forgiveness Forgiveness has the power "to reshape the lives of individuals and communities" and is the reason behind one man's campaign to promote love and forgiveness, the Christian Science Monitor reports. Investment banker Azim Khamisa had the idea for the campaign, which includes "three PBS documentaries, a letter-writing initiative, online discussion and community projects in several cities," after his son was killed by a gang member in 1995. Khamisa offers a strong witness to the healing power of forgiveness that we can all emulate, no matter how difficult the task.
Protecting kids from movies "The movie industry now is considering amending its ratings system to include this new and specific admonishment to parents: Many R-rated movies are unsuitable for young children," the Christian Science Monitor reports. The move comes after some parents started complaining that the ratings system has become more lenient and as movie theaters struggle to keep unaccompanied children out of adult movies. New ratings are expected for release this summer.
He fought for the homeless Many mourners came to Paris' Notre Dame cathedral yesterday to pay homage to Abbe Pierre, a French priest who publicly championed the needs of the homeless. The priest died Jan. 22. Among other accomplishments, Abbe Pierre smuggled Jews out of the occupied country during World War II and founded hostels for the homeless around the world.
A view from the street How the media presents the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., doesn't accurately represent who is there and who supports the issue, according to "Barbara," a former pro-choice supporter who shares photos and commentary from the March on her picture blog. Of note, she points out all the young people who attended and the fact that the media just show photos of bishops speaking at the event in an effort, as she says, to make it seem like only middle-age to older white men with collars care about the issue. See who was there by visiting her page.
We've become Protestant Catholics A lack of understanding of what we believe and the influence of a Protestant culture has made us weak Catholics, Chicago Cardinal Francis George told the Catholic New World. It's time for Catholics in the United States to step up and study the richness of the Church's teaching, he said. "What seems clear to me is that God is calling us to be authentically Catholic in our faith and also, perhaps paradoxically, Protestant in our culture," he said.
Praying for the state Oklahoma will be showered with prayers during its centennial year, according to Tulsa World. Churches of all backgrounds have committed to praying around the clock and have set up "prayer rooms" for the event. These prayer rooms sound a lot like eucharistic adoration chapels and the round the clock prayer like the Catholic tradition of praying without ceasing and liturgy of the hours. Either way, it's a positive move that other states can emulate.
Forgiving son's killer A drunk driver who killed her 25-year-old son should not "suffer further at the hands of our justice system," Susan Barich told the Los Angeles Times. She's urging the court to sentence the driver to campaign against drunk driving instead of serving jail time. Forgiveness is something Jesus tells us to practice, no matter how difficult it is. Barich has taken a difficult but courageous stance that fosters healing.
Spying on the pope Communist spies in Poland followed then-Father Karol Wojtyla's every move, according to the website Chiesa.org. The trail of deceit is long and sordid and involves members of the Church. It's also a little maniacal, as Chiesa reports. The government asked spies seemingly insignificant questions such as when does he shave and does he play cards.
Islam isn't simple While Islam does not view Christians and Jews as infidels, it does have critical components that make dialogue tricky, says Archbishop Cyril Salim Bustros, an expert on Christian-Islamic relations who currently serves as eparch of the Melkite Diocese of Newton, Mass., and spiritual leader of all the Melkite Catholics in the United States. The archbishop offers some important insight on the complexities of interrelgious dialogue and understanding Islamic beliefs.
Defending the faith The Church in England is fighting against a new law that will require them to offer adoptions to same-sex couples, the BBC reports. The Anglican Church has joined Catholics in this fight. It's a battle that the Church in the United States has also fought. Most recently, the Archdioceses of Boston and San Francisco ended their adoption programs because state laws were forcing them to accept same-sex couples as parents.
Deny Communion or not? Whether or not to deny the Eucharist to pro-abortion Catholic politicians has risen to the forefront again after Washington, D.C. Archbishop Donald Wuerl told a writer from the Internet-based California Catholic Daily that he would not refuse Communion to these folks. His comments angered Catholics who disagree with the position. This promises to continue to be a controversial topic in the Church in the United States with bishops lining up on either side of the debate.
China and the Church A helpful commentary on the state of the relations between the Catholic Church and the Communist Chinese government, with an announcement of a new book of Chinese martyrs' stories from the Maoist period.
Pope considered quitting Pope John Paul II questioned whether or not he should continue his ministry as the vicar of Christ back in 2000, according to the memoirs of Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the pope's secretary. This look into the life of the beloved pope may offer the most important glimpse of John II since Cardinal Dziwisz was "like a son" to the pope, according to the Reuters story. The Polish cardinal worked side by side with the pope for many years. "A Life With Karol" will be released tomorrow in Italian.
Aftereffects of abortion Women who have abortions leave the clinic without their babies, but they take with them a lifetime of emotional and psychological pain that doctors don't tell them is coming. The New York Times Magazine ran a cover story on this syndrome. For some time, Catholics and the Church have spoken out about these effects and have offered post-abortion seminars, like Project Rachel, that try to help heal the pain felt by these women and their families. Is the rest of the country finally realizing that there is more to abortion than the baby.
The cost of babies with birth defects With our country's obsession with money and the bottom line, it's no surprise that the latest study on children focuses on how much babies who are born with birth defects cost hospitals and families. The Associated Press reports that more than $2.5 million is spent on hospital care for these children each year. Will this study prompt more parents to abort babies who may have birth defects? Can we really put a price on babies?
No siblings in China More than 400 million births in China have been prevent by the country's one-child policy, the Associated Press reports. The policy has also created an unnatural disproportion of boys to girls. China's policy and the global trend to weed out female babies in preference for males are issues Our Sunday Visitor has reported on in the past and are issues that all Catholics should be concerned with.
John Paul moving to sainthood The London Times reports that two more miracles have been attributed to Pope John Paul II and accepted by the Vatican. They predict he will be canonized in 18 months. Even if he's not canonized, Pope John Paul II still is an excellent model for Catholics who are seeking to do God's will on earth.
Students favor gay marriage Sixty-one percent of college freshmen say that gays and lesbians should have the right to marry, according to the Los Angeles Times. UCLA surveyed students at 393 U.S. schools but the story doesn't say which, if any, Catholic colleges were included. The survey also showed that the young people were more divided down ideological lines than past years.
Saving soldier's sperm Can people have children posthumously? That's what an Israeli family is hoping for after a court cleared the way for their deceased son's sperm to be implanted in a woman at the family's request. The son, Keivin Cohen, died by sniper fire in 2002. His mother had his sperm removed after his death hoping to make grandbabies in the future. She'll now get her chance.
It's a doggone miracle A couple in Yucaipa, Calif., had planned to get rid of their two dogs, Max and Hercules, because the overactive pooches were tearing their home apart. But they changed their minds suddenly when what they believe is an image of Jesus appeared in their home's doggie door. Dog owner Roger Bowman concluded: "I just can't help but take it as a divine reprieve for the dogs."
Year of St. Paul Web Resources»