Our Takes Daily

Healing for fathers

LifeNews.com

This week, a national conference sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the Archdiocese of San Francisco is highlighting the pain men feel as a result of their partners’ abortions. "There are three victims of every abortion, the child and both of his or her parents, and it is our hope that this conference will be the beginning of a ministry within the Church to these fathers, who grieve the death of their unborn child in isolation and silence," Supreme Knight Carl Anderson told LifeNews.com. More info>

Atheist author lashes out at boycotters

The Times of London

British author Philip Pullman, author of the “His Dark Materials” trilogy, has attacked leading American Catholics as "nitwits" after they called for a boycott of the movie adaptation of “The Golden Compass,” which had its world premiere in London on Tuesday. The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights has urged parents not to take their children to the film, which is to be released Dec. 7, because of the trilogy’s anti-Christian message. The author denies that his agenda is anything other than attracting readers and urging people to be able to make up their own mind about his books. However, as Our Sunday Visitor reported in its Dec. 2 In Focus, Pullman has clearly stated in the past that he is trying to undermine Christian beliefs with his books. More info>

Pope urges compassion for AIDS victims

Reuters

A few days before World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, Pope Benedict XVI used his weekly general audience to call for stepped-up efforts to stop the spread of the HIV virus that causes AIDS, to care for those afflicted and "to combat the disdain with which those who are affected are often treated." The Catholic Church teaches that fidelity within heterosexual marriage, chastity and abstinence are the best way to stop the spread of AIDS. More info>