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December 31, 2011 -- The Vatican
Educating Young People In Justice And Peace
Message Of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
For The Celebration Of The World Day Of Peace
"...Attentiveness to young people and their concerns, the ability to listen to them and appreciate them, is not merely something expedient; it represents a primary duty for society as a whole, for the sake of building a future of justice and peace.
It is a matter of communicating to young people an appreciation for the positive value of life and of awakening in them a desire to spend their lives in the service of the Good. This is a task which engages each of us personally." .. more

December 30, 2011 -- The Vatican Today
More than 200 victims on Christmas day bomb blast; the day of prayer and fasting on December 31st
Jos (Agenzia Fides) - There are 200 victims, among people who died or are missing, due to the attacks directed at some Christian churches at Christmas in Nigeria. This is what said is read in a statement sent to Agenzia Fides signed by His Exc. Mgr. Ade Job, Archbishop of Ibadan and President of the Episcopal Conference of Nigeria.
"We the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria are deeply saddened by the Christmas day bombings directed at some Christian churches, which include St. Teresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of Minna diocese", the statement said."The death toll of people considered either dead or missing from the very unfortunate tragedy, is today feared to be about 200 people. Many of the wounded have now been hospitalized, while the Church edifice and other buildings around are in ruins", the statement continues. .. more

December 23, 2011 -- zenit.org
"The Current Wave of Evangelization"
Translation of the final Advent sermon by Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, the preacher of the pontifical household,
"The thing that changes and distinguishes the various waves of evangelization mentioned is not the content of the proclamation -- "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" as the Letter to Jude verse 3 says -- but those to whom that proclamation is addressed: the Greco-Roman world, the barbarian world, and the new world, that is, the American continent, respectively."     article     text of speech

December 20, 2011 -- CNA/EWTN News
Pope Approves Miracle of Kateri Tekakwitha
Pope Benedict XVI formally recognized a miracle attributed to Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha on Dec. 19, clearing the way for her to be canonized.
Known as the "Lily of the Mohawks," Blessed Kateri was born in 1656 in upstate New York. Her father was a Mohawk chief and her mother was an Algonquin who was raised Catholic.     more

December 15, 2011 -- EWTNews Feature
Archbishop Carlson sees signs of encouragement for US vocations
Archbishop Robert J. Carlson, the head of the U.S. bishops' committee on vocations, believes Catholics should be encouraged by great signs of hope for the future of the priesthood in America.
Archbishop Carlson of St. Louis told EWTN News on Dec. 12 that although there is a "great need for more seminarians" in the United States, several recent "positive trends" in seminary enrollment should "give us hope as a people of faith."     more

December 14, 2011 -- Thomas Peters -- washingtonpost
The Catholic case for Gingrich, for now
Are Catholics helping fuel the rise of Newt Gingrich? He swept Catholic Vote’s online Thanksgiving Straw Poll of Catholic voters with 44 percent out of over 13,000 votes cast. Santorum came in second with 14 percent and Mitt Romney placed third with 10 percent. Anecdotal as it may be, it’s clear that lots of Catholics like Newt. Why?
For one, he is Catholic, having converted in 2009. He subsequently produced a documentary of Pope John Paul II’s battle with Communism in Poland,
-- more

December 14, 2011 -- catholicculture.org
Caritas: Durban climate deal insufficient
Caritas Internationalis, the Church’s confederation of relief and development agencies, stated in a press release that the agreement reached at the Durban Climate Change Conference left the world “facing a catastrophic .. increase in global temperatures” of four degrees Celsius. -- more
What's in it for them?
This is the sane Caritas that got control of a chain of Catholic hospitals in Boston and then sold them! See:
Removing Christ from Caritas Christi
In our last post, Steward's Super Bowl Sunday Spending, we talked about the expensive television ad by Steward Health Care, the new entity formed to oversee the Caritas Christi hospitals-you know, the hospitals that said they were out of money and needed to sell-out to get the infusion of cash by Cerberus in order to stay afloat. -- Please read:

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Pastoral Letter December 11, 2011
Exactly three months ago, on September 8, I was installed as Archbishop of Philadelphia. In the weeks since, traveling the archdiocese, I've been struck by two things I encounter again and again: the reservoir of good will in our people, and the fidelity of our priests. -- more

December 6, 2011 -- Brian Kelly -- catholicism.org
Two Jesuit Universities Co-Sponsor Conferences to Undermine Natural Moral Law and Church Teaching
Campus Notes: In a special investigative report released today, The Cardinal Newman Society (CNS) provides evidence of "a well-orchestrated attempt to undermine the Church's doctrine and its stand against homosexual 'marriage'" at a series of conferences co-sponsored by two Jesuit universities and funded by a radical foundation. -- more
The universities: Fordham and Fairfield
Report: Dissent and Sacrilege

December 5, 2011 -- Vatican Radio
Card. Rodriguez: Kyoto failure "moral apartheid"
Caritas Internationalis President Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga says failure at UN climate talks in Durban is a "moral apartheid" that cannot be allowed to happen. On Sunday, thousands of people representing the nations most effected by increasingly erratic weather conditions marched peacefully on Durban, South Africa, to bring the focus of UN Climate Change talks back to the human toll of a global politics that puts industry before lives. During a special Mass at Emmanuel Cathedral in Durban, Cardinal Rodriguez noted "Just as South Africa's Apartheid era policies sought divisions along race lines, today the world's environment and energy policies divide man from nature". -- more
We respectfully disagree. We should be ready to help people affected by climate catastrophes and improve their position for future calamities. We should not get involved with groups that have turned "Global Warming" into their religion!

December 1, 2011 -- catholic world report
The Coming Latino Catholic Majority
Hispanics account for more than 70 percent of the growth in the US Catholic population since 1960.
The number of Hispanics in the United States grew from 1.9 million in 1940, to 14.6 million in 1990, to 50.5 million in 2010, according to US Census Bureau data. Of these, 31.8 million are Mexican-American, 4.6 million are Puerto Rican, 1.8 million are Cuban-American, and 1.6 million are Salvadoran-American. Hispanics today do not uniformly assent to “popery”: 68 percent of US Hispanics are Catholic, according to a 2007 report by the Pew Research Center, while 15 percent are Evangelical Protestants and 8 percent profess no religion. -- more

Nov. 28, 2011 -- Vatican City, (Zenit.org)
Papal Address to Student Group on Ecology
"Respect for the Human Being and Respect for Nature Are One"
Vatican Radio translation of Benedict XVI's address today to a foundation called "Sister Nature."
Lord Cardinal, Distinguished Authorities, Dear Youngsters and Youths!
It is with great joy that I welcome all of you to this meeting dedicated to commitment to "Sister Nature," to use the name of the Foundation that organized it. -- more

Nov. 28, 2011 -- Vatican City, (Zenit.org)
Papal Address to New York Bishops
"We Ourselves Are the First to Need Re-evangelization"
Text of the address Benedict XVI gave Saturday to a group of U.S. bishops who are in Rome for their five-yearly "ad limina" visits. -- more

11/18/2011
Our web site and other Catholic web sites may disappear!
The Stop Online Piracy Act, while claiming to defend us from foreign piracy would result in government regulations, censorship, uncertain liabilities and unfounded law suits
As drafted, the legislation would grant the government and private parties unprecedented power to interfere with the Internet's domain name system. The government would be able to force Internet service providers and search engines to redirect or dump users' attempts to reach certain websites. In response, third parties will try to get average users to use alternative servers that offer access to the entire Internet (not just the newly censored U.S. version).
We don't like copyright infringement but if it originates in the US we can use the legal system to stop it. We do not want our government controlling the Internet.
We are against government censorship!

11/11/2011
Pro-Abortion Speaker CANCELED at Siena College
www.tfpstudentaction.org
Pro-abortion speaker was canceled at Catholic Siena College after TFP Student Action launched its protest.
Thank you John and TFP Student Action!
Alex Majthenyi

11/11/2011
SCANDAL: Catholic Siena College Invites Radical Pro-Abortion Speaker
www.tfpstudentaction.org Inviting Widney Brown is not only detrimental to the reputation of Siena College, but is also an insult to every member of the 800th year old Franciscan Order.
Alex Majthenyi
Note: In a 2010 article published by The Nation, Brown says: "The Catholic Church… [is] not good on women's rights. They are horrible on gay rights. And frankly, if you look at what they say about HIV and condoms, they have blood on their hands."
http://www.thenation.com/article/who-speaks-human-rights

November 07, 2011 -- catholicculture
Austrian dissidents escalate conflict, challenge hierarchy
Dissident Catholics in Austria have announced their intention to conduct liturgical ceremonies in which lay people act as priests, preaching and simulating the celebration of Mass.
"Church law bans this," acknowledged Hans Peter Hurka, the leader of the We Are Church movement. His group issued a challenging manifesto just before the Austrian bishops gathered for their annual meeting.
The lay-led ceremonies would violate not only canonical rules but also fundamental theological principles, ignoring central doctrinal teachings about the nature of the Eucharist and of Holy Orders. -- more

October 31, 2011 -- canadafreepress
FRC Blasts Supreme Court for Allowing Decision to Stand that Removes Roadside Crosses in Six States
Family Research Council (FRC) strongly criticized the U.S. Supreme Court's decision today to let stand one of the worst religious assaults in all of American history. The Supreme Court's refusal to hear Davenport vs. American Atheists will now result in the removal of 14 crosses bearing the names of fallen Utah state troopers that have been placed at roadside locations. In addition to Utah, the cross removal order will affect five other states including Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
The Supreme Court's refusal to hear the case could have significant implications for national memorials and monuments across the nation, including, but not limited to, the crosses on headstones in Arlington Cemetery. -- more

October 24, 2011 -- http://www.ncregister.com
Bishop to Congress: 'Illegal Conditions' Placed on Religious Providers of Services
Bishop Lori, chairman of USCCB religious liberty committee, backs bills protecting First Amendment rights.
In an escalation of the U.S. bishops' campaign against "grave threats to religious liberty," Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, Conn., endorsed three bills designed to strengthen First Amendment rights.
The bishop, who heads the newly established Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops testified before Congress yesterday, Oct. 26.
"I am here today to call to your attention grave threats to religious liberty that have emerged even since June - grim validations of the bishops' recognition of the need for urgent and concerted action in this area," said the bishop. -- more

October 24, 2011 -- David Gibson -- washingtonpost.com
Catholics see difference in loyalty to faith, hierarchy
American Catholics have by and large remained loyal to the core teachings and sacraments of their faith, but increasingly tune out the hierarchy on issues of sexual morality, according to a new study released Monday (Oct. 24)
The sweeping survey shows that over the last quarter-century, U.S. Catholics have become increasingly likely to say that individuals, not church leaders, have the final say on abortion, homosexuality, and divorce and remarriage. -- more

October 24, 2011 -- Inside the Vatican
Vatican Council Calls For Financial Reform
Is the Vatican left of Nancy Pelosi?
The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace issued a document today titled, "Toward Reforming the International Financial and Monetary Systems in the Context of Global Public Authority." Commenting on it is Catholic League president Bill Donohue:
....To begin with, the text is not an encyclical, nor is it the work of Pope Benedict XVI. Much of what it says is consistent with long-standing Catholic social teaching: the quest for the common good should guide social and economic policy. It properly calls for "abandoning all forms of petty selfishness and embracing the logic of the global common good." -- more

October 24, 2011 -- Henry J. Reske
Christians Under Threat as Radical Islam Spreads in 'New Middle East'
Attacked by mobs and terrorists, repressed by the growing popularity of fundamentalist Islamic law and cut off from crucial business ties, Christians are fleeing the Middle East in an unprecedented exodus.
More than half of Iraqi Christians - an estimated 400,000 people - have left that country over the last decade as power has fallen in the hands of increasingly hostile Shi'a Islamic leaders.
In Egypt, home to at least 8 million Copt Christians - a number that exceeds the populations of Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, and Tunisia - at least 95,000 Christians have emigrated since March 2011. The number could reach 250,000 by the end of this year, reports the Egyptian Federation of Human Rights. -- more

October 24, 2011 -- Amy Woods
Rush: Gadhafi Is Dead, 'Radical Islam' Is Alive
The toppling of Libya and the killing of its leader, Moammar Gadhafi, will lead to the institution of Sharia law in the region — and the White House knows it, Rush Limbaugh charged Monday. Limbaugh said he has predicted since March the Libyan rebels will embrace radical Islam.
“There is so much audio where I warn everybody we don’t know who these Libyan rebels are/were,” he said on his radio show prior to playing a series of clips. “So I think our side did know it. If I could predict it, they could predict it. They know what was going on.”
President Barack Obama seized the opportunity to take out Gadhafi “just to show that we could get rid of him,” Limbaugh said. -- more

October 15, 2011 -- Vatican City (Agenzia Fides)
VATICAN-"The Holy Spirit is the driving force of evangelization": interview with Fr. Vito del Prete, General Secretary of the Pontifical Missionary Union
"The evangelization of today must rely on the Holy Spirit, which is the driving force of the mission, and not so much on human resources like money. If, in the mission, the prevailing mentality relies on money, the Gospel will not step forward: this was also stressed by Blessed Father Paolo Manna, founder of the Missionary Union of the Clergy": with such provocative words, Fr. Vito del Prete, PIME, Secretary General of the Pontifical Missionary Union (PMU) intervenes during the missionary month, tracing, in an interview with Fides, the future of the animation and missionary formation in the world. -- more

October 14, 2011 -- cnsnews.com/
15 House Democrats Join in Passing Amendment to Stop Obamacare Abortion Funding
(CNSNews.com) - Fifteen House Democrats joined 236 House Republicans to pass the Protect Life Act, 251-172, on Thursday. The legislation would amend the Democrats' Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to prohibit federal funds from being spent on any health plan that includes coverage of abortion services.
The bill also provides conscience protections for health care workers who oppose abortion.
But even if the bill passes the Democrat-controlled Senate, President Obama is sure to veto it: "If the President is presented with H.R. 358, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill," the OMB said in a statement even before the House passed the bill. -- more
Note: The wording is very similar to the executive order President Obama signed on March 29, 2010, -- more

October 12, 2011 -- Vatican Radio
The Pope appeals for a return to true peace in Egypt
Pope Benedict has expressed his sorrow at last Sunday’s violence which took place in Egypt’s capital and called for a peaceful co-existence to be upheld between all communities in the country.The Holy Father made the appeal on Wednesday during his General Audience.
....26 people mostly Coptic Christians were killed when a peaceful protest by Christians demonstrating over an earlier attack on a church in southern Egypt turned violent.
-- more

October 12, 2011 -- Liberty Counsel
Supreme Court Allows Important Natural Marriage and Family Case to Stand
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to review an important case involving natural marriage and family, thus allowing the federal court of appeals decision to stand. The case involved unmarried same-sex partners who unsuccessfully sued to change an adopted boy’s birth certificate to state that the child had two fathers. The ruling by the en banc (16 judges) Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals stated that two same-sex partners from New York who adopted a Louisiana-born infant could not force Louisiana to change the birth certificate to state that the child had two “dads.” -- more

October 11, 2011 -- Liberty Counsel
Texas School District Fully Vindicates Christian Student After Wrongful Suspension
The Fort Worth Independent School District has issued a letter to Liberty Counsel fully vindicating high school freshman, Dakota Ary, who was given in-school suspension for telling another student that he believes homosexuality is wrong because of his Christian faith. -- more

October 5, 2011 -- cathnewsindia.com
Evangelizing is the priority, says Church
Bishops in Pakistan have resolved to remind their parishioners that evangelizing is as important as providing humanitarian aid.
"Unfortunately, we are not preaching the Good News; we are focusing too much on social services," said Evarist Pinto, the archbishop of Karachi . "It is time to re-think our mission and consider what the Church expects from us." -- more

October 3, 2011 -- VIS News
Pope to Bishops: Seek New Paths of Evangelisation
The Pope has exhorted European bishops "courageously to identify new missionary paths of evangelisation, especially in serving the new generations". These words are contained in a message signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. and addressed to Cardinal Peter Erdo, president of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE). The council, which is currently celebrating the fortieth anniversary of its foundation, is holding its plenary assembly in Tirana, Albania, from 29 September to 2 October.
Benedict XVI describes the CCEE as "a vital structure connecting the European episcopates, which for forty years has promoted fruitful collaboration in pastoral and ecumenical activities". -- more

October 2, 2011 -- Zenit.org
US Bishops Establish Religious Liberty Committee
Point to "Accelerating Threats" to Freedom
Religious liberty is being threatened in the United States to an extent that warrants a new ad hoc committee to address the growing concern, according to the nation's bishops.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops announced Friday the establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty with Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, Connecticut, named as chair.
The announcement came in a letter two days before the government closed a public comment period regarding a new mandate that will force private health care plans to include abortive drugs as "preventive care." -- more

October is Respect Life Month
Statement by Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo
Chairman, Committee on Pro-Life Activities
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
This October the Catholic Church throughout the United States will observe Respect Life Month, an annual tradition now in its fortieth year.
Beginning on October 2, 2011-Respect Life Sunday-Catholics across the nation will join together to witness to the inherent equality and transcendent value of every human being.
In countless liturgies and events we will give thanks to God for the gift of human life, and pray for his guidance and blessings on our efforts to defend the most vulnerable members of the human family. Transcript

National Black Church Initiative Shuns Obama
loop21.com -- Danielle Hester -- Sep 27th, 2011
Says NBCI leader: All of Obama's policies are opposed to the black church
Rev. Anthony Evans, President of the National Black Church Initiative (NBCI), says black men are missing from the church, and if not brought back, then the black community will suffer. They are kicking off a national campaign Sunday to bring 10 million black men back to church over the next 10 years.
But Evans says there is one particular black man they are not calling home: President Barack Obama.
"We have nothing against him personally. It's biblical issues," said Evans. "All of his policies are opposing the church. Furthermore, he has done nothing about dealing with African American male unemployment in this country. If we continue to do nothing in our community, those black men will turn on us. Giving the social and economic issues of the country, this initiative may be saving this country." Transcript of speech

September 27, 2011 -- LifeSiteNews.com
Pope notes numbers of faithful declining, asks: "Should the Church not change?"
In a talk at the Freiburg Concert Hall in Germany regarding the decline of religious practice, Pope Benedict VI warned against the worldly character of many Western Catholic charities. The Pope’s comments appear related in part to revelations in recent years of Western bishops’conference development agencies financially supporting pro-abortion and in many other ways anti-Catholic "social justice" organizations.
....Change it must, said the Pope, but not in the direction of the world but precisely the opposite. more
Transcript of speech

September 27, 2011 -- Shawn Berry, Telegraph-Journal:
"We Catholic Are Destroying Our Catholic Church"
Sadly, a Bishop severely disciplines a priest for preaching about abortion and homosexuality, citing it "doesn't meet the diocese's goal of following Christ's example of loving unconditionally."
An elderly priest on the Acadian Peninsula has been barred from performing church services in the Bathurst diocese after he made remarks about homosexuals and women who have had an abortion.
Rev. Donat Gionet, 85, gave the sermon at the Roman Catholic church in Saint-Léolin while replacing the regular parish priest late last month. He stands by the comments he made in Saint-Léolin, a village of about 730 people located about 50 kilometres east of Bathurst. more

September 23, 2011 -- catholicculture.org
UN report calls for abolition of laws restricting abortion
A report from the UN Human Rights Council has condemned all laws restricting abortion.
“Criminal laws penalizing and restricting induced abortion are the paradigmatic examples of impermissible barriers to the realization of women’s right to health and must be eliminated,” according to a report by special rapporteur Anand Grover. The report goes on to insist that governments must provide support for abortion, as well as abolishing laws against the procedure. more

September 23, 2011 -- catholicculture.org
Archbishop of US military ordinariate issues blunt warning against attacks on DOMA
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who head the US military ordinariate, has joined New York’s Archbishop Timothy Dolan in calling upon President Obama to “call off his administration’s attack on the constitutionality of the 1997 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage as between one man and one woman.”
The effort to overturn DOMA, Archbishop Broglio charged, is an effort “to subvert the clear will of the majority” in the US. more

September 16, 2011 -- Fr. Frank Pavone
"What bothers me the most" - Fr. Pavone pens update from Amarillo
Well, friends, here in Amarillo I am working hard at my computer on various pro-life projects as I await further instructions from the diocese. Nothing yet, but being I take my “traveling office” with me to four states a week, there’s never a “nothing to do” moment.
It’s so encouraging to see so many people on the same page with me, loving and respecting the Church and, out of that very love and respect, supporting the pro-life mission we are all engaged in together. Amidst the many expressions of support, many say to me that they are praying for me “in this difficult time.” more

September 15, 2011 --
A fed takeover: Funding an abortion provider in NH
In August, we saw state House Democratic Leader Terie Norelli abandon her home state’s interests by supporting a federal law that would make New Hampshire-based online retailers collect and remit sales taxes for other states. Now we have Sen. Jeanne Shaheen getting the federal government to override the New Hampshire Executive Council’s decision not to fund Planned Parenthood with taxpayer money.
The state used to contract with Planned Parenthood of Northern New England to provide family medical services. But citing the organization’s practice of performing abortions, the elected council voted this summer not to renew the contract. more

September 14, 2011 -- Steven Ertelt
Operation Rescue Supports Father Pavone of Priests for Life
Operation Rescue has released the following statement supporting Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life, who is being prevented from exercising his duties as the national director of the pro-life organization:
Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life is one of the most respected and effective leaders in the Pro-Life movement today. We were saddened and confused by the order of Bishop Patrick Zurek to suddenly confine Fr. Frank’s priestly duties to Amarillo, Texas. It makes no good sense to remove him from the mission field while children continue to die at the hands of unscrupulous abortionists. more

September 13, 2011
Father Pavone suspended
We do not understand how or why Father Pavone could be removed from his position. We have always considered him to be one the hardest working and most important pro-life leaders.


September 13, 2011 -- CNS
Official Statement of Fr. Frank Pavone
Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, has issued the following statement:
"For the past several years, my Ordinary, the Most Reverend Patrick Zurek, Bishop of Amarillo, has given me permission to do the full-time pro-life work that I have done since 1993. In 2005, I made a public promise in a Church ceremony in Amarillo, presided over by a Vatican Cardinal, that this full-time pro-life work would be a lifetime commitment. That's a commitment I promise to fulfill without wavering.
more

Sep-13-2011 -- CNS
Father Pavone suspended from ministry outside Amarillo Diocese
Father Frank Pavone, one of the country's most visible and vocal opponents of abortion, has been suspended from active ministry outside the Diocese of Amarillo, Texas, over financial questions about his operation of Priests for Life.
more

September 9, 2011
Bishop Zurek's letter
DIOCESE OF AMARILLO
Office of the Bishop
Your Eminences and your Excellencies:
I have decided to suspend Father Frank A. Pavone from public ministry outside of the Diocese of Amarillo to take effect on September 13, 2011. For an Indefinite period, I am withdrawing my permission to him to minister outside our Diocese and am calling him back to spend time in prayer and reflection. My decision is the result of deep concerns regarding his stewardship of the finances of the Priests for Life (PFL) organization. The PFL has become a business that is quite lucrative which provides Father Pavone with financial independence from all legitimate ecclesiastical oversight.

more
5 Good news from India!
September 13, 2011 -- cathnewsindia.com
Churches will not be demolished: govt official
A top government official has assured the Christians in Orissa’s Kandhamal district that orders to demolish churches or stop reconstruction of damaged church buildings will not be enforced.
District Collector of Kandhamal Rajesh Prabhakar Patil told a delegation of Christian leaders that he would overrule the orders issued by junior officials to prevent church construction. more

September 8, 2011 -- timesunion.com
Archbishop Chaput takes helm in Philadelphia
Archbishop Charles Chaput took the helm of the troubled Roman Catholic church in Philadelphia on Thursday by telling followers "the church is not defined by her failures."
The outspoken Chaput didn't shy away from veiled references to the church's woes, chief among them in Philadelphia the clergy sex-abuse crisis. more
Homily And Closing Remarks

Good news from Cuba -- Yes, Cuba!
September 6, 2011 -- Havana (Agenzia Fides)
The country is experiencing a new moment in which Christian faith has been re-evaluated
The Catholic Church hopes in the growth of religiosity within Cuban society, favored by the relaxing atmosphere of dialogue matured in the last decade, in particular after the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1998. In a statement issued on the occasion of the pilgrimage around the island of the image of the Virgin of Charity of Cobre, which has been prolonged until 30 December (see Fides 13/08/2010), Cardinal Jaime Ortega, Archbishop of La Havana, stressed that the country perceives the sensation of a new moment, "in which Christian faith has been re-evaluated". more

September 5, 2011 -- catholicculture.org
Biofuel production aggravates world hunger, instability, corporate CEO notes
The chairman of the Nestlé corporation has his own special perspective on global-hunger problems. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal he is arguing for acceptance of genetically modified food. But in the process, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe makes an important point about agricultural production-specifically, the growing proportion of farming that is devoted to gasohol and various other biofuels, to be used by consumers in affluent countries:
If the price of our breakfast cereal goes up because we're diverting agricultural production to ethanol or biodiesel, it's an annoyance. But if the price of corn or flour doubles or triples in the Third World, where according to Mr. Brabeck-Letmathe people "are spending 80% of [their] disposable income on food," hundreds of millions of people go hungry. Sometimes, as in the Middle East earlier this year, they revolt. more

Liberty Counsel Needs Your Support.
I am confronted with a great dilemma: Liberty Counsel has experienced one of the most difficult summers ever financially- yet, we are engaged in more urgent activities, court cases, cultural clashes, and God-given new opportunities than ever before.
Every day we are approached with requests for legal help from citizens across the country who are facing serious challenges to their constitutional rights, encountering overt religious bigotry, or suffering assaults on their personal liberties. more

A sad reminder that there is no religious freedom in many countries where we mistakenly assume there is.
August. 22, 2011 -- cathnewsindia.com
Christians decry Church demolition plan
Christians in Orissa state say they are prepared to challenge a notice delivered earlier this month by authorities demanding the demolition of two churches built by residents displaced by religious violence that shattered the region in 2008.
......Montfort Brother K. G. Markose, who has worked with survivors of the 2008 violence, said the eviction notice was "quite threatening."
"Christians settled there because they wanted a place to practise their faith. But the administration is not allowing them to do so."
Br. Markose added that Hindu nationalists have refused to allow Christians to return to their villages in Orissa unless they convert to Hinduism. more

Madrid, Spain, August. 21, 2011 (Romereports.com)
Benedict XVI concluded his third visit to Spain with a ceremony at the Barajas Airport in Madrid.
He was sent off by vavrious Spanish authorities, including the King and Queen of Spain and Jose Bono, the president of the Congress of Deputies in Spain. The mini-Swiss Guard was also there to escort the pope during his last moments in the Spanish capital. more

Madrid, Spain, August. 20, 2011 (Zenit.org)
John of Avila to be 34th Doctor of the Church
Benedict XVI announced today that the patron of Spanish diocesan clergy will be named the 34th doctor of the Church.
St. John of Avila -- not to be confused with St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila's partner in reforming the Carmelites -- is known as the Apostle of Andalusia.
He was declared patron of the Spanish secular clergy in 1946 by Pius XII; he was canonized by Paul VI in 1970. more

Aug 17, 2011 -- catholicculture.org
Madrid cardinal invites ‘Benedict XVI generation’ to prayer, sacraments
Preaching before an estimated half million pilgrims in Madrid’s Plaza de Cibeles, Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela celebrated the opening Mass of World Youth Day.
In his lengthy homily, which paid tribute to Spain’s Christian roots and to Blessed John Paul II, the Madrid cardinal preached that “you are the generation of Benedict XVI. It is not the same as that of John Paul II. Your 'place in life' has its peculiarities. Your problems and life circumstances have changed. Globalization, new technologies in communication, the economic crisis, etc., has been a determining factor in your life sometimes for better and often times for worst.” more

AUG 16, 2011 -- lifesitenews.com
World Youth Day priests granted power to lift abortion excommunications
MADRID, Spain, August 16, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Cardinal Archbishop of Madrid, Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, has granted all of the 2,000 priests attending World Youth Day this week the special power to the lift the excommunication and to grant absolution in confession to those who have committed the sin of abortion.
According to the Catholic Church’s Code of Canon Law, any person who procures an abortion is automatically excommunicated from the Church (can. 1398). This penalty – the worst penalty there is under canon law - can only be lifted by the pope and bishops, as well as priests who have been given special permission by a bishop. more

AUG 12, 2011 -- David Kerr -- CNSNews.com
Pope offers special indulgence to World Youth Day pilgrims
Pope Benedict XVI has declared that pilgrims to World Youth Day in Madrid will be able to obtain a special indulgence while attending the event.
“We are very happy because the Holy Father reinforces with this decision the penitential meaning of World Youth Day in Madrid,” communications director Rafa Rubio told CNA on Aug. 11. more

AUG 5, 2011 -- Tierney Smith -- CNSNews.com
House Panel Approves Resolution Calling on Turkey to Return Confiscated Christian Churches
The House Foreign Affairs Committee recently voted 43 to one in support of a resolution that calls upon the Republic of Turkey “to safeguard its Christian heritage and to return confiscated church properties” – a step the Turkish Embassy described as “deeply regrettable.”
The resolution (H.Res. 306), introduced by Reps. Edward Royce (R-Calif.) and Howard Berman (D-Calif.), cites the “Ottoman Empire’s oppression and intentional destruction of much of its ancient Christian populations, including over 2,000,000 Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Pontians, and Syrics,” and adds that Turkey “has been responsible for the destruction and theft of much of the Christian heritage within its borders.” more

AUG 4, 2011 -- DAVID KERR (CNA)
Madrid 'Is Abuzz' With World Youth Day Excitement
Papal nuncio says the faith fest is exactly what young people — and Spain — needs.
When Pope Benedict XVI arrives in Spain for World Youth Day mid-August, he will find a country gripped by economic crisis. Despite that, the papal nuncio to Madrid says Spanish enthusiasm for the papal visit is undiminished.
“Spain is waiting for the Holy Father with great desire and hope that he will also assist a recovery on a spiritual level,” said Archbishop Renzo Fratini to Vatican Radio Aug. 4, adding that in Madrid itself “there is great expectation, and the whole city is abuzz.”
more

AUG 3, 2011 -- Zenit.org -- Father Thomas Rosica, CSB
Biblical Reflection for 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Chapter 19 of the First Book of Kings presents us with the aftermath of Elijah's brilliant victory in the contest with Jezebel and the priests of Baal atop Mount Carmel.
Just when Elijah should have been triumphant, he receives a message telling him of Jezebel's murderous intentions, and he is "afraid" (3). The spectacularly exemplary servant of God is now in a rut -- believing that all of his efforts were in vain! In Chapter 18, Elijah was at the height of success; in Chapter 19 he is in the depths of despair. In Chapter 18 he is on the mountain peak of victory; in Chapter 19 he is in the valley of defeat. In Chapter 18 he is elated; in Chapter 19 he is completely deflated.
Feeling down? Need encouragement? Read on:

AUG 2, 2011 -- AgenziaFides -- Hong Kong
The largest WYD delegation from the diocese of Hong Kong leaving for Madrid
Over 800 young people and 21 priests from Hong Kong are leaving tomorrow, August 5, for Madrid to attend World Youth Day (WYD).
The participation in the next WYD has a larger delegation of young people compared to World Youth Day in Manila in 1995.
Hong Kong will be represented bymore than 200 young people from the diocese under the direction of the Diocesan Youth Pastoral Commission and will be joined by 600 other young people from 14 local youth communities, parishes, religious institutions, Catholic schools and ecclesial movements. more

Jul 28, 2011 -- By Lauren Funk -- C-FAM
Young Voices Speak the Truth about Human Life to United Nations
The enthusiastic voices of pro-life youth from around the world dominated the events of this week’s High Level Meeting on Youth at the United Nations, drawing the attention of UN bureaucrats and delegates alike.
“I keep running into all these pro-lifers, they're everywhere...in fact most of the people I've interviewed are pro-life,” a young woman working for UNFPA told a member of the International Youth Coalition as she interviewed conference attendees.
“We [members of the International Youth Coalition] were half, if not more, of the young people actually at the conference,” a participant from the International Youth Coalition told the Friday Fax. “And any people who spoke against us [and our message about human life] were adults, not youth.” more

Youth Protecting and Promoting Human Dignity
UN Side Event Sponsored by the Holy See Mission to the UN
When: July 25, 1-3PM, Holy Family Church Auditorium (315 East 47th St., New York, NY)
Who: Leah Darrow, Former America's Top Model contestant
Kristan Hawkins, Students for Life of America
Jeffrey Azize and Michael Campo, Actors, Grassroots Films (The Human Experience)
Megan Knighton, Catholic Near East Welfare Association more

July 19, 2011 -- (RNS) By David Gibson
Chaput will upend convention in the most conventional of cities
The most obvious reason that Pope Benedict XVI sent Archbishop Charles Chaput from Denver to take over the prestigious Archdiocese of Philadelphia was the same one that has shaped almost every major development in American Catholicism over the past decade: the clergy sexual abuse scandal.
Chaput replaces Cardinal Justin Rigali, a consummate church insider who was appointed to Philadelphia in 2003. Rigali, 76, is the latest and most senior churchman to fall under the shadow of scandal after a grand jury report accused him and his administration of failing to pursue claims that priests sexually abused children. more

July 16, 2011 -- Rome (Fides Service)
30 years after the discovery of the virus about 25 million people have died of AIDS: the Sixth World Conference in Rome
After Buenos Aires, Paris, Rio De Janeiro, Sydney and Cape Town, Rome is to host from July 17 to 20, the VI World Conference on AIDS, organized by the International AIDS Society (IAS) and the Institute of Health. An event which will be attended by more than 8 000 delegates representing 120 countries. Since the identification of the first cases in 1981, more than 25 million people worldwide have died of AIDS and more than 40 million have been infected with HIV. In southern countries of the world 10 million people still do not have access to preventive services and care. more

July 7, 2011 -- Lahore (Agenzia Fides)
APMA mediation fails in the case of Farah, the Catholic Islamized by force
The first attempt of mediation by the "All Pakistan Minorities Alliance" (APMA) in the case of Hatim Farah, the kidnapped Catholic girl, married and converted to Islam by the Muslim Iliyas in Zeehan city of Rahim Yar Khan in southern Punjab province (see Fides 25/6/2011 and days earlier) has failed. The APMA, founded by Shabhaz Bhatti, is the most widespread and best organization of civil society in defense of religious minorities in the country. The case of Farah, explain sources of Fides, is emblematic of the approximately 700 cases that occur every year in Pakistan for Christian girls kidnapped and converted to Islam. This is why Paul Bhatti, leader of the APMA and Special Adviser to the Prime Minister for religious minorities has committed himself on this case. please read

June 28, 2011 -- Islamabad (Agenzia Fides)
Abolishing the Federal Ministry for minorities means "killing Bhatti for the second time"
- The Pakistani government is ready to abolish the Federal Ministry for Religious Minorities, fragmenting it into "divisions" that will be distributed in the Pakistani provinces. The responsibilities of the Ministry will be diverted, then, from the federal level to the provincial level, according to a plan of "devolution" that will touch other federal ministries. please read

Christians, Muslims clash over church building
Published Date: June 27, 2011
Christians and Muslims clashed in southern Egypt over the building of a new church June 25.
A group of Muslims from the Awlad Khalaf village gathered at the construction site and demanded its demolition, a local security official said.
The Islamic mob claimed the construction was illegal and even brought in bulldozers to try and destroy what had been constructed so far.
please read

June 27, 2011 -- marionstar.com
Senior Vatican adviser wants communion rite taken away from Andrew Cuomo over same-sex marriage stance
A senior adviser to the Vatican, who is a theology professor in Detroit, blasted the Catholic governor of New York for his strong backing of same-sex marriage, saying that he should be punished for his "brazen" violation of Catholicism by being denied Holy Communion — a key part of the Catholic faith.
He's also calling for the Catholic Church to investigate Gov. Andrew Cuomo for violating church law, calling the politician's actions a "danger" to faithful Catholics. please read

The Case of Farah Hatim
June 25, 2011 -- Fides Service -- Pakistan
An appeal on the case of Farah Hatim, the Catholic girl Islamized by force, will be presented to the UN
The Church is committed to the liberation of Farah, the Catholic girl forced to convert to Islam
"The Catholic Church in Pakistan will do everything possible to free Farah and return her to her family": this is what His Exc. Mgr. Andrew Francis, Bishop of Multan tells Fides, the diocese involved in the case of Farah Hatim, Catholic girl kidnapped in the city of Rahim Yar Khan (southern Punjab), forced to marry a Muslim man and convert to Islam.
please read

June 25, 2011 -- Middle East and Terrorism
Two teenage Coptic girls, cousins, were recently kidnapped and then "sold" in Minya, Egypt-the same region where a Coptic church was recently attacked and desecrated.
The two girls, Christine Azat (aged 16) and Nancy Magdi (aged 14) were on their way to church Sunday, June 12, when they were seized. Their abductors demanded $200,000 Egyptian pounds for their release. The people of the region quickly put their savings together and came up with the ransom money; but when they tried to give it to the kidnappers, they rejected it, saying they had already "sold" the girls off to another group which requires $12 million Egyptian pounds to return them.

please read

Archbishop Chaput warns about Catholic institutions losing religious identity
Denver, Colo., Jun 22, 2011 -- Marianne Medlin, CNA/EWTN News
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver warned Catholic social workers against the danger of Church institutions losing their religious identity amidst increasing hostility from the government and society.
"The more that Catholic universities or hospitals mute their religious identity; the more that Catholic social ministries weaken their religious character ... the less useful to the Gospel they become," he said.
Archbishop Chaput delivered a dual message to Catholic social workers this week, urging them to not let their Christian identity wane and also stressing that the government has no right to impede the work of Catholic institutions. please read

Boston Columnist Slams Church-Suing Lawyer:
A wonderful priest by all accounts, Fr. Murphy was the object of not just one - but two - totally bogus abuse accusations. McGrory effectively illustrates the excruciating anguish and torment that false accusations can wreck upon a Catholic priest.
Fr. Murphy died last Saturday (June 11) at age 77, but he did not suffer from any tangible malady. McGrory explains: -- please read

June 14, 2011 -- Tripoli (Fides Service)
AFRICA/LIBYA-Mgr. Martinelli notes "a sincere desire for dialogue to restore peace" after a meeting with the Islamic Call Society
"There is a sincere desire for dialogue and to bring back peace", says His Exc. Mgr. Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli to Fides, who yesterday, June 15, met the manager of the Islamic Call Society, an organization sponsored by the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. "During the meeting, I noticed that there is a strong desire for dialogue on behalf of Tripoli, possibly with the help of the Holy See", said Mgr. Martinelli. "The Islamic Call Society has committed to lend a hand to control the Italian cemetery in Tripoli", adds Mgr. Martinelli. In recent days the desecration of the cemetery had been denounced from the crowd. "I hope that everyone's good will prevails in order to stop this war, because we are tired of the bombing. Even last night there were several, and frankly we are all fed up" concludes the Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 06/16/2011) more
Please pray for the people of Libya.
Also, contact your US reresentatives. Ask them to stop the bombing.

June 14, 2011 -- Detroit Free Press,by Niraj Warikoo
Archbishop To Discipline Priest For Attending Dissident Conference
Archbishop Vigneron's Warned Laity and Priest Not To Attend Event
Saying there were significant abuses at a mass held Sunday by liberal Catholics, Archbishop of Detroit Allen Vigneron will commission a "careful and thorough review" of the services led by a local Catholic priest, a church spokesman said.
Defying Vigneron's orders,the Rev. Bob Wurm, 78, a retired Catholic priest from Ferndale,presided over a mass at Cobo Center attended by about 1,500 Catholics. Most of them were liberals seeking to reform the church. more
American Catholic Council and friends: If you do not like the way the Catholic Church is run please find a Protestant Church that is more to your liking. If you can't find one feel free start your own.

June 9, 2011 -- Joe Kohn
It’s important to again clarify the significance of who the American Catholic Council (ACC) is— what they espouse and the purpose of their conference. Last fall, the Detroit archdiocese posted a point-by-point advisory to the clergy and faithful on its website. It notes "...all of the invited keynote speakers have manifested dissent from Catholic teachings or support for dissenters." In fact, some of those presenting have publicly— sometimes angrily— left the church or have been dismissed because of their actions. more
The enemy within -- Information on this schism

June 8, 2011 -- CNA/EWTN News
Catholic Charities offices from three dioceses in Illinois have filed suit against the state after having to shut down their adoption and foster care services following the enactment of the state's civil union law on June 1.
“Child welfare advocates know it is in the best interest of Illinois children for Catholic Charities to stay in this business,” said Steven Roach, head of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Springfield.
....The “State of Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Unions Act,” which became law on June 1, does not allow child welfare agencies to restrict their adoption and foster care work to married heterosexual couples, even in cases where these agencies partner with religious groups. more

Pro Choice = Pro Abortion