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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.
The Hartford Courant
Roman Catholic bishops announced Thursday that Catholic hospitals would comply with a state law taking effect Monday that requires all hospitals in the state to dispense emergency contraceptive pills to rape victims. The state’s four Catholic hospitals already offer emergency contraception to rape victims, but only if they are not ovulating. The new law requires the medication, known as Plan B, whether or not a woman is ovulating. In some cases, Plan B acts as an abortifacient, preventing a fertilized egg from being implanted in the mother’s uterus. Read more here»
The New York Times
Saying it had the right to block “controversial or unsavory” text messages, Verizon Wireless has rejected a request from Naral Pro-Choice America, the abortion rights group, to make Verizon’s mobile network available for a text-message program. The dispute over the Naral messages is a skirmish in the larger battle over the question of “net neutrality” — whether carriers or Internet service providers should have a voice in the content they provide to customers. Messages urging political action are generally thought to be at the heart of what the First Amendment protects. But the First Amendment limits government power, not that of private companies like Verizon. Read more here»
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph agreed Tuesday to pay $225,000 to a former altar boy who said he was sexually abused by a pri ...
Prison book ban repealed New York Times (registration site) Facing pressure from religious groups, civil libertarians and members of Congress, the federal Bureau of Prisons has decided to return religious materials that had been purged from prison chapel libraries because they were not on the bureau’s lists of approved resources. The bureau had said it was prompted to remove the materials after a 2004 Department of Justice report mentioned that religious books that incite violence could infiltrate chapel libraries. Our Sunday Visitor published a story about this ban in our Oct. 7 issue (put link here).
First excommunication in 165 years Little Rock Daily Chronicle Six Catholic nuns were excommunicated for refusing to give up membership in a Canadian sect whose founder claims to be possessed by the Virgin Mary, the Diocese of Little Rock announced Wednesday. Rev. J. Gaston Hebert, diocesan administrator, said he notified the nuns of the decision Tuesday night after they refused to recant the teachings of the Community of the Lady of All Nations, also known as the Army of Mary. The Vatican declared all members of the Army of Mary excommunicated. Father Hebert said the excommunication was the first in the diocese's 165-year history. "It is a painfully historic moment for this Church," Hebert said.
Christianity No Longer Looks Like Jesus Christian Post Young Americans today are more skeptical and resistant to Christianity than were people of the same age just a decade ago, says a new study. Negative perceptions toward the Christian faith have outweighed the positive as a growing percentage of younger Americans associate with a faith outside Christianity. Only 16 percent of non-Christians aged 16 to 29 years old said they have a "good impression" of Christianity, according to a report released Monday by conservative The Barna Group. A decade ago, the vast majority of Americans outside the Christian faith, including young people, felt favorably toward Christianity’s role in society.
Episcopal bishops vow restraint, but will it be enough? The Chicago Tribune (registration site) Episcopal leaders, pressured to roll back their support for gays to keep the world Anglican family from crumbling, affirmed Tuesday that they will "exercise restraint" in approving another gay bishop and will not authorize prayers to bless same-sex couples. The statement mostly reiterated earlier pledges by the church, and it will not be known for some time whether the bishops went far enough to help prevent an Anglican schism. Some Episcopal conservatives immediately rejected the statement as too weak, because it does not bar gays and lesbians from becoming bishops.
Religious fear mongering on CNN Mercator.net The drama of incited emotions relating to religion was elaborately crafted to fill television screens for six hours during CNN’s mini-series "God’s Warriors," but the drama has only increased among the viewing public since it aired, and those six hours have stretched into an ongoing backlash against the program — actually, both programs: the television series, and the mission of implanting a message about religion in the minds of world viewers. The series, by CNN’s chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour, set out to examine the actions and motivations of religious extremists in Judaism, Islam and Christianity. One critic of the series called it “so ham-handed during the political segments that anyone with even the slightest skepticism of CNN’s motive should see through it.”
Those are some mighty big shoes to fill The Washington Post (registration site) Some homeless Minneapolis residents are walking in the pope's shoes. That's after two big boxes from Rome arrived at Sharing and Caring Hands, a homeless mission in downtown Minneapolis. Recently, Father Joseph Johnson, rector of the Cathedral of St. Paul, gave some friends from the Vatican a tour of the facility while they were visiting the Twin Cities. Sharing and Caring Hands has an onsite shoe room, but director Mary Jo Copeland didn't know what was in the big boxes when they arrived. She opened th ...
Doctor is wrong about pope’s death, Vatican says Time In a provocative article, an Italian medical professor argues that Pope John Paul II didn't just simply slip away as his weakness and illness overtook him in April 2005, but that he was euthanized. The Vatican quickly fired back this week. Pope John Paul’s longtime doctor Renato Buzzonetti, who now monitors Pope Benedict XVI, said that doctors and Pope John Paul himself all acted to stave off death
Helping fathers heal from abortions Catholic News Service An upcoming “Reclaiming Fatherhood” conference in San Francisco could help men dealing with the psychological trauma of post-abortion reality the way Project Rachel -- the post-abortion healing ministry that has helped women who have undergone abortions deal with their own psychological scars -- has. It is being organized by the Milwaukee-based Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation and Healing, headed by Vicki Thorn, founder of Project Rachel, and according to the office, the event is the first to focus on the effects of abortion on men.
Putting Orthodoxy in Russia’s schools New York Times (registration site) Nearly two decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the return of religion to public life, localities in Russia are increasingly decreeing that to receive a proper public school education, children should be steeped in the ways of the Russian Orthodox Church, including its traditions, liturgy and historic figures. The new curriculum reflects the nation’s continuing struggle to define what it means to be Russian in the post-communist era and what role religion should play after being brutally suppressed under Soviet rule. Polls show that roughly half to two-thirds of Russians consider themselves Russian Orthodox, a sharp increase since the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Will there be schism? Religion and Ethics Newsweekly Another deadline looms for the U.S. Episcopal Church. Episcopal bishops are meeting in New Orleans until Tuesday tomorrow, and a key item on their agenda is an ultimatum on gay issues from leaders of the worldwide Anglican Communion. In February, the top leaders of the Communion's regional churches gave U.S. Episcopalians until Sept. 30 to clearly state that they will not consecrate any more gay bishops or authorize any more sex-same blessings. Failure to do so, the leaders said, would have unspecified consequences for the Episcopal Church's place in the global church body. Some are speculating that the U.S. church could be asked to leave this historic branch of Christianity.
Profit over care at nursing homes New York Times (registration site) Thousands of nursing homes across the nation that large Wall Street investment companies have bought or agreed to acquire in recent years are seeing reduced costs to increase profits and the companies have quickly resold facilities for significant gains. Regulators say residents at these homes have suffered. At facilities owned by private investment firms, residents on average have fared more poorly than occupants of other homes in common problems like depression, loss of mobility and loss of ability to dress and bathe themselves, according to data collected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Is Catholic identity in question with talk by Sen. Kerry at the Catholic University of America? Cybercast News Service Former presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass), a senator and Catholic who has voted in support of abortion legislation, has been approved to speak this year at the Catholic University of America, a decision that has sparked discontent among many Catholics. Catholic University's College Democrats will host Kerry. Although his appearance has been accepted by the school's administration, the College Democrats are still negotiating with the senator's office about a specific date for his speech.
Boomers not making it to silver anniversaries New York Times (registration site) Don’t stock up on silver anniversary cards. More than half the Americans who might have celebrated their 25th wedding anniversaries since 2000 were divorced, separated or widowed before reaching that milestone, according to the latest census survey, released yesterday. For the first time at least since World War II, women and men who married in the late 1970s had a less than even chance of still being married 25 years later.
Catholic books among those banned by Federal Bureau of Prisons The New York Times The federal Bureau of Prisons is under pressure from members of Congress and religious groups to reverse its decision to purge the shelves of prison chapel libraries of all religious books and materials that are not on the bureau’s lists of approved resources.
Sue God and he answers The Associated Press Nebraska State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha sued God last week, seeking a permanent injunction against the Almighty for making terroristic threats, inspiring fear and causing "widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants." He got something he might not have expected: a response. One of two court filings from "God" came Wednesday under otherworldly circumstances, according to John Friend, clerk of the Douglas County District Court in Omaha.
Was there a violation of religious freedom? St. Louis Dispatch A soldier whose superior prevented him from holding a meeting for atheists and other non-Christians is suing the Defense Department, claiming it violated his right to religious freedom. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., alleges a pattern of practices that discriminate against non-Christians in the military. It was filed Monday to coincide with the 220th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution.
Catholic radio network looking to lessen financial punch Catholic News Service Relevant Radio, which calls itself the United States' largest Catholic radio network, is negotiating with the Federal Communications Commission to erase a proposed $4.7 million penalty levied after the network withdrew its bid in an Arizona radio spectrum auction. Relevant Radio, which broadcasts Catholic-themed talk and music over 17 company-owned stations and 17 additional affiliates, said it expects a decision by the FCC before the year is out.
Don’t want to pay for extra baby MSNBC.com An Australian woman who gave birth to twins instead of a single baby after receiving in-vitro fertilization has sued her doctor for the cost of bringing up the second child. The 40-year-old mother said in court that she told her doctor, Robert Armellin, that she only wanted one child. But an embryologist under the doctor's supervision implanted two embryos in her uterus, resulting in the birth of non-identical twin girls.
The Los Angeles Times (registration site)
Thirty-five years after genetic screening was first used to identify babies at risk of being born with debilitating diseases, a new study of a potentially serious but treatable illness among Ashkenazi Jews questions whether such testing has gone too far. In many cases, unborn children who test positive for genetic diseases or conditions such as Down syndrome are aborted. In the study, researchers found that among couples who met with an expert and learned that the disease was treatable, only 8 percent chose to terminate their pregnancies. All of the couples who didn't have those meetings opted for abortion. The disparity underscores what some experts say is a flaw in genetic testing: It provides a bounty of knowledge that is not necessarily accompanied by wisdom. To learn about the Catholic Church’s view of genetic testing, visit www.usccb.org/shv/testing.htm. Read more here»
The Charleston Post and Courier
Roman Catholic nurses credit the Blessed Mother for helping them save a snorkeler whose arm was torn off by an alligator in Moncks Corner, S.C. The nurses were among members of the Bicol Association of Charleston gathering at a lake when the man staggered toward them and asked for help. “We believe the Blessed Mother directed him to go to that place,” said nurse Sally Ani. Read more here»
The Washington Post (registration site)
On Tuesday, Maryland’s Supreme Court upheld a 34-year-old state law banning same-sex marriage, rejecting an attempt by 19 gay men and lesbians to win the right to marry. Massachusetts is the only ...
‘Ideal’ work situation for moms: part-time jobs Christian Science Monitor If you're a working mother, you're far from alone in feeling overwhelmed. Along with grueling work hours, data show you can face discrimination at work because of the conflicting demands of motherhood. And all the while, social pressures are mounting on you to be a perfect parent. So it shouldn't surprise you that more working mothers see part-time, rather than full-time, work as the ideal employment situation. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that when working mothers were asked about their "ideal" situation 60 percent of this year's respondents cited part-time work as "ideal," up sharply from 48 percent a decade earlier, while 19 percent of employed moms this year said they'd prefer not to work outside the home at all. Of course, many mothers can't afford to scale down to part-time work –- if they can even find it.
U.S. monks try to save the day Chicago Tribune (registration site) Moyross, a suburb of the Irish city of Limerick beset by poverty, drugs and gangs, needs a savior. The "Slam Dunk Monks" are offering a path to redemption. Last month, the New York-based Franciscan Friars of the Renewal opened its first Irish ministry in Limerick, the city immortalized in Frank McCourt's memoir "Angela's Ashes." The deprivation portrayed in the book still plagues Moyross, where horses graze in abandoned lots frequented by drug dealers.
Media gets it wrong InsideCatholic.com “The press has had a template since the day Pope Benedict XVI donned the papal mitre,” writes Catholic author Mark Shea, “and it has never occurred to most of the people who type or talk about him in the media to vary from it. They simply school together like guppies and tell each other (and us) that the rigid, hardline, inflexible, dominating, and ruthless enforcer's archaic, medieval, intolerant, and backward thought, words, and deeds are what you'd expect from a former Hitler Youth member.” The media continues to get it wrong, which is problemat ...
Vatican excommunicates some members of Canadian sect Catholic News Service The Vatican has announced the excommunication of certain members of the Army of Mary, a sect in Canada whose teachings have been deemed dangerous and erroneous by Church authorities. The Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, acting with the approval of Pope Benedict XVI, declared the excommunication after the Army of Mary performed ordinations without Church permission, the Canadian bishops' conference said in a statement Sept. 12.
Who was Abraham? Chicago Tribune Rabbis marking the Jewish New Year note that the biblical account of sacrifice holds lessons for their flocks on fanaticism and sacrifice in the modern world.
Madonna not welcome Jerusalem Post Orthodox teachers of Kabbala reacted with disdain Sunday to pop idol Madonna's Rosh Hashana visit in Israel, during which she took part in a study session of Judaism's most esoteric texts. "It is a known fact in Kabbala that impurity and evil are inherently attracted to sanctity," said a director of one of the most respected Kabbala yeshivot in Jerusalem who preferred that he and his institution remain anonymous. "That's why people of Hollywood, a place of iniquity and lasciviousness, are naturally attracted to the holiness of Kabbala." Madonna, who was raised a Catholic, has taken the Hebrew name Esther, and has been seen wearing a red thread on her wrist in a Jewish tradition to ward off the evil eye. Madonna paid her first visit to Israel three years ago, on another Kabbala-centered trip.