News

Pope Benedict: Christians “conquer” not through sword, but through the Cross

Vatican City, Apr 1, 2010 / 10:06 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Presiding this morning in Rome the Mass of Chrism, Pope Benedict XVI reminded that Christians, like Christ,  do not “conquer” through the sword, but through the Cross.

The full text of his homily follows here.



Ct. Rules "Under God" in Pledge of Allegiance Constitutional

Mar 13, 2010, (CNA/EWTN News).- A San Francisco court ruled Thursday that the phrase “one nation under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance does not violate the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution.

The decision, made by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, reverses a 2002 rejection of the phrase which was backed at the time by atheist activist Dr. Michael Nedow. Non-profit civil rights law firm the Beckett Fund began to argue the 2002 decision with the Court two years ago.

“The Ninth Circuit finally stood up for the Pledge,” said Kevin J. “Seamus” Hasson of the Becket Fund who argued the case. “The Court has just said what was self-evident to Thomas Jefferson and the signers of our Declaration of Independence in 1776 – our rights are unalienable precisely because they come not from the State, but from the Creator.”

The Court was influenced in its ruling by the Beckett Fund's argument for the constitutionality of the words “under God” in the pledge. The non-profit group stated that Congress' purpose in devising the pledge was “to underscore the political philosophy of the Founding Fathers that God granted certain inalienable rights to the people which the government cannot take away.”

The Beckett Fund also acted in the case on behalf of parents and schoolchildren in the Sacramento public school district as well as the Knights of Columbus who spearheaded the initiative to add “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1955.



Study Shows Living Together First Puts Marriage at Risk

In recent decades, more people have tried to avoid wedded trouble by living together before tying the knot. People say they want to see if things work out before committing to a ring. But a new government study suggests that cohabitation can actually hurt the chances the chances of having a long marriage.   Read more here.





Benedict XVI: Lent is a season of retreat for personal change

Vatican City, Feb 21, 2010 / 10:03 am (CNA).- In the his Angelus message for the first Sunday of Lent, Pope Benedict discussed how conversion and personal change are the first steps in bringing Christ’s message of conversion to the world.

“What does it mean to enter into the Lenten season?” the Pope asked. If, with the grace of God, we change what is wrong in our own lives, we can make the world a better place.

The Pope reminded his audience that Christ came to free the world from sin and from the disordered belief that we can pretentiously plan our lives without God.

He then analyzed this Sunday’s Gospel readings in which Jesus went into the desert to pray and was tempted three times by Satan. The first temptation, he said, shows man’s hunger, his desire for the material.

The second temptation, in which Satan takes Jesus to the top of the mountain and shows him the world, demonstrates man’s longing for power and the deception it brings, explained the Pontiff.  The final temptation, he continued, shows the dichotomy between man’s will and God’s. In overcoming this temptation, Jesus shows the importance of obedience, of trusting God, and of not putting human desires above God’s will.

Benedict XVI noted that “Lent is like a long retreat during which we can collect ourselves and listen to the voice of God, overcome the temptations of the evil one and find the truth of our being.”

Lent is a time to be lived together with Jesus, the Pope added. It shouldn’t be lived with pride or conceit. We will come to celebrate Easter in truth if we live Lent with the weapons of faith, prayer, attention to the Word of God and penance.



Planned Parenthood Advocating Intensive Sex Ed for Kids as Young as 10


Fox News, Ed Barnes, Feb. 8, 2010 - A new report by the International Planned Parenthood Federation is advocating that children as young as 10 be given extensive sex education, including an awareness of sex's pleasures.

The report, "Stand and Deliver," charges that religious groups, specifically Catholics and Muslims, deny their young access to comprehensive sexual programs and education.

"Young people's sexuality is still contentious for many religious institutions. Fundamentalist and other religious groups — the Catholic Church and madrasas (Islamic Schools) for example — have imposed tremendous barriers that prevent young people, particularly, from obtaining information and services related to sex and reproduction. Currently, many religious teachings deny the pleasurable and positive aspects of sex." the report states.

Click here to read the report.

The report demands that children 10 and older be given a "comprehensive sexuality education" by governments, aid organizations and other groups, and that young people should be seen as "sexual beings."

Read the full story here.



Poll Shows that Young Americans Are Losing Confidence in the Country's Moral Direction

From CNA NEWS, Jan 28, 2010 - According to a recent poll conducted by the Marist Institute for the Knights of Columbus, young Americans are increasingly doubting the nation's ethical standards in business as well as the government's ability to handle the economy.

“A year into the Obama administration, we find that Americans – and younger Americans – are having a crisis of confidence,” said Carl Anderson, CEO of the Knights of Columbus, on Thursday.

The poll found that American adults and Millennials (those between 18 and 29) are worried about their careers in this economy, opposed government regulation and business greed, and even felt that the country is headed in the wrong direction morally.

“People are increasingly pessimistic about the government's ability to handle the economic crisis and a majority believes that increased government regulation will hurt the economy,” said Anderson.

According to the poll, 59 percent of American adults and 55 percent of Millennials doubted the government's ability to handle the economic crisis.  The poll also found that 55 percent of American adults want a free market approach and oppose greater government regulation and 53 percent of Millennials agree.

On the issue of the moral status of the nation, 67 percent of American adults and 60 percent of Millennials believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. Fifty-five percent of both American adults and Millennials also worry that the current economic situation will have a long term impact on their careers.

Anderson also commented on the findings related to ethics, stating, “most Americans are unhappy with the ethical environment in business. They want less greed, and the same core values that govern an executive's personal life to also govern business decisions. In other words, Americans neither want sleight of hand on Wall Street or a heavy hand from Washington, and these attitudes are shared by America’s young adults.”

The Marist Institute poll was part of the larger Knights of Columbus' Moral Compass Project which is a series of surveys on the ethical attitudes of Americans.



March for Life, January 22, 2010  

Are you marching tomorrow?  In order to help pro-life pilgrims plan their trip for the upcoming national capital March for Life, LifeSiteNews.com has compiled a list of events in and around D.C. Please check back frequently as this list will be updated as more details become available.  

For those who can't march, try joining the Virtual March for Life.   For the first time ever, pro-life America is "marching" online.



Study Confirms Abortion-Breast Cancer Link

Jan 7, 2010 / 07:40 am (CNA).- An April 2009 study co-authored by a researcher who has previously denied an abortion-breast cancer link shows a statistically significant increase in breast cancer risk among women who have had abortions or who use oral contraceptives. The study by researchers including Jessica Dolle of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research contained a table reporting a statistically significant 40 percent risk increase for women who have had abortions. According to the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer (CABC), the study listed abortion as among “known and suspected risk factors.”

The CABC says that one co-author of the study, U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) researcher Dr. Louise Brinton, had organized a 2003 NCI workshop on the abortion-breast cancer link. That workshop reportedly said the non-existence of an abortion-breast cancer link was “well established.”

Read the full story here.


Blessed Mother Teresa Will Appear on U.S. Postal Stamp

Jan 4, 2010 / 12:02 pm (CNA).- Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta will appear on a U.S. postal stamp in 2010, the postal service announced last week. “With this stamp,” notes the press release, “the U.S. Postal Service recognizes Mother Teresa, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work.”

“Noted for her compassion toward the poor and suffering, Mother Teresa, a diminutive Roman Catholic nun and honorary U.S. citizen, served the sick and destitute of India and the world for nearly 50 years. Her humility and compassion, as well as her respect for the innate worth and dignity of humankind, inspired people of all ages and backgrounds to work on behalf of the world's poorest populations,” the statement adds.

Read the full story here.


Pope Chooses Theme for World Youth Day

Catholic News Service.   Pope Benedict XVI has chosen the themes for the next three World Youth Days in order to help young Catholics better prepare for the international gathering in 2011.

The Vatican published the list of themes for 2009-2011 in a Dec. 16 press release.

The next international gathering will be held August 16-21, 2011, in Madrid, Spain.

The theme for the 2011 event is "Rooted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith." The quotation is taken from the second chapter of St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians.

"We have set our hope on the living God" is the theme chosen by Pope Benedict for the 2009 celebrations, which will be held on the diocesan level.

In 2010, also on the diocesan level, young people will focus on the theme "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Read the full story here.



New Movie On Abortion Sparks Debate and Discussion

Dec 14, 2009 / 05:37 pm (CNA).- A new independent film explores the issue of a woman's ability to chose to have an abortion, using a blend of the drama and documentary genres. “South Dakota: A woman's right to chose” isn't in theaters yet, but it has riveted audiences at a series of screenings in California.

Bruce Isacson, director of “South Dakota,” began with the idea of making a documentary on the subject of abortion.” However, Isacson knew that he couldn't reach large numbers of people with the documentary genre. Historically, he notes on the movie's website, “documentaries draw small audiences, so my passion to bring clear understanding of the subject stirred me to dramatize two personal true-life stories from the documentary that would represent both sides of the issue.”
 
The result is a movie that dramatizes the stories of two teenage girls who become pregnant unexpectedly. Interspersed with the action are interviews and sound clips of various pro-abortion and pro-life advocates. Featured pro-abortion figures are: Gloria Allred, Alexander Sanger, Peter Singer, Lee Silver and Dr. Wendy Savage. Pro-life commentary is offered by Prof. Robert George, Bill Hurlbut, the former abortion doctor Bernard Nathanson and Michael Schwartz.

“People haven't been discussing this issue properly," Director Bruce Isacson told the LA Times. “Both sides don't express themselves well. Where is the information? Where is the intelligent discussion?”

Read the full story here.


New study shows that pornography is a 'quiet family killer’

Dec 4, 2009 (CNA).- A new study on the effects of pornography indicates that it erodes the family, corrupts men’s sense of normal sexuality and is frequently a major factor in most divorces. The author of the study characterized pornography as “a quiet family killer.”

The study, titled “The Effects of Pornography on Individuals, Marriage, Family and Community,” was authored by Patrick F. Fagan, Ph.D, who is a trained psychologist and a former Deputy Assistant Health and Human Services Secretary. He is also Director of the Center for Research on Marriage and Religion at the Family Research Council (FRC), which produced the study.

The study reports that men who regularly view pornography have a higher tolerance for abnormal sexuality, including rape, sexual aggression and sexual promiscuity.

Married men involved in pornography report feeling less satisfied with their marital relations and less emotionally attached to their wives, the study says. It also notes that men who regularly use pornography or women who engage in “cybersex” show increased infidelity.

Researcher Steven Stack of Wayne State University led a study which indicated pornography use more than triples the rate of marital infidelity.

Read the full story here.



Downs Syndrome Births Rise in the U.S.

New Research Conflicts With Earlier Data; Experts Cite Older Mother Trend

The number of U.S. babies born with Down syndrome has increased by nearly one-third over the last three decades, despite the large number of women choosing to end those pregnancies, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CDC researchers say that increase from 1979 to 2003 is probably because more older mothers are giving birth. The prevalence of Down syndrome is five times greater in pregnancies of mothers over age 35.

The number of first births per 1000 women 35 to 39 years of age increased by 36 percent between 1991 and 2001, and the rate among women 40 to 44 years of age rose by 70 percent, according to a 2004 report in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Read the full story here.


U.S. bishops launch Advent and Christmas website

Nov 29, 2009 - The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has created an Advent and Christmas website with suggestions for daily prayers, readings, reflection and action. A collection of Lessons and Carols is also provided for live listening or download.

Printable calendars in English and Spanish are one new feature of the site, a USCCB press release says. They suggest a family activity for each day of Advent, which begins on Nov. 29, and for each day of the Christmas Season.

Many of the calendar’s reflections are taken from four of the collections from the Spiritual Thoughts Series by Pope Benedict XVI: “Following Christ,” “The Priesthood,” “Mary” and “The Saints.”

The Festival of Lessons and Carols, a service of Scripture and song that dates to the late 19th century, is available for download at the site. It also lists recommended holiday-themed movies, prayers and blessings from the USCCB publication, “Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers.”

The site makes suggestions for remembering the needs of the immigrants and the poor throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons and also provides photos of seasonal decorations of Catholic sanctuaries, including the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Read the full story here.


CNN poll finds 61% of Americans oppose government-funded abortions

Nov 20, 2009 - CNN has published the results of a telephone-based poll regarding abortion, health care and health care reform conducted November 13-15. The results show promising pro-life trends and speak to the current debate in the Senate regarding abortion coverage in health care. The poll, which surveyed 1,014 Americans showed a majority (61%) do not favor federally funded abortions, and 51% believe that a woman having an abortion should pay for it herself, regardless of whether or not she has health insurance.

Read the full story here.



Breast cancer-abortion link highlighted by Chinese study

Chinese researchers claim to have found a 17 percent increased breast cancer risk among women who have had induced abortions.

Peng Xing and other researchers in the Department of Oncology at the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University enrolled in their study 1,417 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and 1,587 women without a prior breast cancer.

The researchers’ findings indicated that induced abortion increased a woman’s risk of breast cancer by a “statistically significant” rate of 17 percent.

According to the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer (CABC), U.S. researchers have said that Chinese studies on a link between abortion and breast cancer exclude “report bias” because abortion isn’t stigmatized in China and Chinese women are considered reliable reporters for their abortions.

Read the full story here.


Still some existing risks in health care bill passed by the House Saturday

Washington D.C., Nov 8, 2009 / 08:43 am (CNA).- This morning, top pro-life organizations across the U.S. praised the inclusion of strong pro-life provisions on the health care bill via the Stupak-Pitts amendment, but warned that Obama’s health care project still poses significant threats to life and family issues, especially in the version discussed in the Senate.

The Stupak-Pitts Amendment, which was given the opportunity to be taken to a vote after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi realized she did not have sufficient votes to pass the bill, removed two major pro-abortion components from H.R. 3962: The prohibition of the "public option" from paying for abortion, except to save the life of the mother, or in cases of rape or incest; and by permanently prohibiting the use of the new federal premium subsidies to purchase private insurance plans that cover abortion.

The Stupak-Pitts Amendment passed by a margin of 240-194, while the health care bill passed later on Saturday night by 220-215.

Read the full story here.


Bishops' campaign declares war on abortion funding in health care

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is calling on Catholics nationwide “to prevent healthcare reform from being derailed by the abortion lobby,” the conference said on Friday. The unprecedented campaign encompasses 19,000 parishes across the country, and asks the faithful to fight for restrictions on abortion funding in the health care bills by contacting their congressmen.

Because the USCCB has championed the cause of health care reform for over a decade, their current effort is extraordinary.

“The bishops want health care reform, but they recoil at any expansion of abortion,” explained Helen Osman, USCCB Secretary for Communications.

The bishops, who described the mobilization of parishes as “a make or break effort,” have already told Congress in a letter, “If acceptable language in these areas cannot be found, we will have to oppose the health care bill vigorously.”

Read the full story here.


Groundbreaking In-the-Womb Photos Now Improved and Republished

Photos considered essential to pro-life movement's history and success

By Peter J. Smith

LONDON, October 15, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A picture may be worth a thousand words, but for more than fifty years Lennart Nilsson has taken photographs that the pro-life movement has found priceless: the earliest and most compelling visual images that give intimate detail and clarity to the humanity of unborn children in the womb.

The Swedish photographer is eighty-seven years old, and was the first to open up the secret world of the unborn - from conception up to birth - by way of macro-lenses and endoscopes (tiny instruments - including camera lens and case - that measure less than eight-tenths of a millimeter in diameter).

Nilsson's photographic explorations of the unborn child's life in the womb were revealed to the world first in 1965 as the cover-story for the April 30, 1965 edition of LIFE magazine, entitled "The Drama of Life before Birth." But his photographs made their chief debut in that same year in a book called, "A Child is Born."

The stunning images published in 1965 have now been remastered with the help of the latest photographic technology and "A Child is Born" has been republished in a fifth and final edition. Nilsson says this final edition of his book is meant for the reader of the 21st century to enjoy, so that they might appreciate the mystery of a human being's beginnings. Nilsson has cut away most of the scientific text of previous versions, and largely lets the photos speak for themselves.

In a question-and-answer session with fellow Swedish photographer Hasse Persson, Nilsson remarked that although he has not photographed God directly through his microscopic cameras, "I've seen what He does."

The photographs taken by Nilsson are credited with benefitting science in myriad ways, including helping pave the way to 4-D ultrasound technology; but they have also been of invaluable assistance to the pro-life movement, helping to make its case for the humanity of the unborn.

Read the full story here.

 

Pope calls for respect for life and protection of consciences in the U.S.

On October 2nd, Pope Benedict XVI received the letters of accreditation from the new U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Dr. Miguel H. Diaz. The Pope took the time during their meeting to weigh-in on issues being considered in the American health care debate, namely, respect for all human life and the protection of health care workers' right to conscientious objection.   The Holy Father strongly affirmed the need for every just Nation to assure the “protection of human dignity and respect for the inalienable right to life from the moment of conception.”   Read the full story and the text of the Pope's address here.


40 Days for Life Campaign to Begin September 23rd


The 40 Days for Life autumn campaign will begin on Wednesday in 212 cities, starting efforts like prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, peaceful vigils outside abortion facilities, and grassroots community organizing. The official effort is scheduled to last until November 1.

David Bereit, national director of 40 Days for Life, said that “tens of thousands of faithful people” will participate in 45 American states, five Canadian provinces and Denmark. The organization reports it has helped mobilize more than 215,000 people in its two years of work. Their efforts have reportedly saved 1,561 lives from abortion and have been endorsed by dozens of pro-life and pro-family groups.

Religious leaders, including more than 20 Catholic bishops, have also promoted the campaign.   Read the rest of the story here.



Love is the path that leads to life, Pope Benedict says

The Word of God, Pope Benedict said, challenges Christians with two crucial questions: Who is Jesus of Nazareth? And is the Christian faith reflected in all that a Christian does or not?
“Jesus did not come to teach a philosophy, but to show the way, indeed, the path that leads to life,” the Holy Father commented.

“This path is love, which is the expression of true faith. If you love your neighbor with a pure and generous heart, it means you really know God. But if you say you have faith but do not love your brother, then you are not a true believer. God does not dwell in you.”

Read the full story here. 


Will Abortion Coverage Be a Part of Health Care Reform?

"Health care reform is hitting a wall, claims Catholic League president Bill Donohue, and if you want to know why, the answer is opposition to coverage for abortion.

According to Donohue, President Obama has thus far refused to ask Congress to pass an amendment to exclude abortion coverage from public funding because Obama is so committed to making the procedure more available."  Read the full story here and here.




Shanghai officials relax one-child rules in hopes of relieving population aging

"In a sign that the Chinese government may be taking a step towards ending its oppressive one-child policy, authorities in Shanghai encouraging thousands of couples to have a second baby to offset the graying of the Chinese population.

The official encouragement is the first in thirty years, the Times Online says. Authorities fear the growing demographic imbalance in Shanghai, China’s economic capital, concerned that the younger generation will not be able to support the aging population."

Read the full story here.

Abortion funding will be part of health care reform debate

"The White House budget chief has said that he will not rule out whether a government-funded public health insurance proposal will allow taxpayer money to pay for abortions. Rather, the matter will be “part of the debate.”

The White House’s Office of Budget and Management Chief Peter Orszag, speaking to Fox News Sunday, said he is not ready to say whether abortion services would be part of a final taxpayer-funded health care package being considered by Congress for about one third of the 50 million uninsured Americans."

Read the full story here.

New poll confirms Americans trending pro-life, more willing to ban abortion

"A new poll commissioned by the Knights of Columbus supports other reports that say Americans are  increasing becoming pro-life. About 49 percent of Americans now describe themselves as pro-life, while 60 percent think abortion should be legal only in a few circumstances or not at all."  (CNA)  Read the full story here.



Pope's Third Encyclical, Love in Truth, Released

The Pope's Third Encyclical focuses on the moral & ethical foundations of market economy.  "Pope Benedict XVI's highly anticipated social encyclical, titled Love in Truth, 'takes on the complex issue of what the global economy should look like. In his analysis, real development can be achieved by seeking to convert individual people, and not the economy, which is only an instrument.'" (CNA)  To view the encyclical, see it in its entirety here.



Pope Benedict XVI has agreed to meet with President Obama at the Vatican on July 10

Pope Benedict XVI has agreed to meet with President Obama at the Vatican on July 10, according to White House spokesperson Robert Gibbs, the AP/Boston Globe reports. The Rev. Federico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesperson, on Wednesday said that the pope will hold an afternoon meeting with the president and first lady Michelle Obama after the conclusion of the Group of Eight industrialized nations summit meeting, a break with a Vatican tradition of holding midday meetings. The AP/Globe reports that the Vatican "clearly sought to accommodate" the president's schedule, an indication that Benedict is interested in meeting with Obama despite his support for abortion rights and embryonic stem cell research.







Year of the Priest Inaugurated by Pope Benedict June 19th

Pope Benedict XVI has declared a “Year for Priests” beginning with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 19, 2009.  The Pope has declared St. John Vianney the Universal Patron of Priests on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of the Curé d’Ars.  In his catechism lesson on priesthood, the famous cure' said:

"The priest is not a priest for himself; he does not give himself absolution; he does not administer the Sacraments to himself. He is not for himself, he is for you... When people wish to destroy religion, they begin by attacking the priest, because where there is no longer any priest there is no sacrifice, and where there is no longer any sacrifice there is no religion...
What joy did the Apostles feel after the Resurrection of Our Lord, at seeing the Master whom they had loved so much! The priest must feel the same joy at seeing Our Lord whom he holds in his hands. Great value is attached to objects which have been laid in the drinking cup of the Blessed Virgin and of the Child Jesus, at Loretto. But the fingers of the priest, that have touched the adorable Flesh of Jesus Christ, that have been plunged into the chalice which contained His Blood, into the pyx where His Body has lain, are they not still more precious? The priesthood is the love of the Heart of Jesus."

In preparation for the Year of Priests, Pope Benedict XVI has sent a Letter to the priests of the world, calling on them to live out the words of St. John Vianney.

Prayer for Our Priests

O, Jesus, eternal Priest,
keep your priests within the shelter
of Your Sacred Heart,
where none may touch them.

Keep unstained their anointed hands,
which daily touch Your Sacred Body.

Keep unsullied their lips,
daily purpled with Your Precious Blood.

Keep pure and unearthly their hearts,
sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood.

Let Your holy love surround them and
shield them from the world's contagion.

Bless their labors with abundant fruit and
may the souls to whom they minister
be their joy and consolation,
here and in heaven their beautiful
and everlasting crown. Amen.

~ St. Therese of Lisieux

Read the full story here and here.



Happy Father's Day! 

Take time to honor your father today.  We love our dads and we need them.  The media today - television, magazines, movies - are portraying dads as disposable.  "In a time when many homes are marked by absentee fathers, the last thing we need to be doing is beating up on fatherhood in general."  Read more here.  Also read Five Myths on Fathers and Family.




Nashville Dominicans Thriving

While other religious orders are struggling to stay alive, the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, better known as the Nashville Dominicans, are thriving. With 230 sisters serving in 34 schools in the United States, as well as starting a ministry in Australia, the order is truly alive and flourishing. The Dominicans currently have 45 sisters in their initial formation program and are preparing for a large class of postulants to enter the community in August.  Read the full story here.  For information on the Nashville Dominicans visit their website.



Ethicists warn about payment plan for human egg donations

Catholic ethicists are concerned about several proposals in the State of New York that would pay women who donate their eggs for research purposes.  The human eggs would be used for different types of research including embyonic stem cell research and for attempts at human cloning.  The payments for egg donations could be as high as $10,000.   The concern is that low income women will be likely participants risking their health and become involved in unethical human embryo research.   Read the full story here.




 Parents, Beware!

Parents, Beware! Microsoft search engine shows porn videos on its search engine pages. Make sure your filter settings are in place to protect your children.  Read the story here. 




Pope2You

Pope Benedict XVI can now be found on Facebook, You Tube and other media sources via applications that can be found at Pope2You.net.

In the Vatican's own words, "“The application Pope2You for Facebook, lets you receive the messages of Pope Benedict XVI through the most important social network of the world. So you can meet the Pope on Facebook, listen to his words, see his pictures, receive his messages of congratulations through "virtual postcards". The postcards can be sent to your "friends" on Facebook and the application can be shared with anyone. So we can create a close sharing network around our Pope.”

Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Vatican Council for Social Communications, said that, "This is a way to spread the values that we believe in. We hope that the youth know how to take advantage of this means of communication so that the message of the Gospel is known by the youth of today's world. This is the reason for this site."

"Even though the name Jerusalem means 'city of peace,' it is all too evident that, for decades, peace has tragically eluded the inhabitants of this holy land,” Pope Benedict said in Israel, as he called for “every possible avenue” to be pursued to find peace.

Read more here.




Declining Notre Dame: A Letter from Mary Ann Glendon

First Things
By Mary Ann Glendon
Monday, April 27, 2009, 9:32 AM






April 27, 2009
The Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
President
University of Notre Dame

Dear Father Jenkins,

When you informed me in December 2008 that I had been selected to receive Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal, I was profoundly moved. I treasure the memory of receiving an honorary degree from Notre Dame in 1996, and I have always felt honored that the commencement speech I gave that year was included in the anthology of Notre Dame’s most memorable commencement speeches. So I immediately began working on an acceptance speech that I hoped would be worthy of the occasion, of the honor of the medal, and of your students and faculty.

Last month, when you called to tell me that the commencement speech was to be given by President Obama, I mentioned to you that I would have to rewrite my speech. Over the ensuing weeks, the task that once seemed so delightful has been complicated by a number of factors.

First, as a longtime consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, I could not help but be dismayed by the news that Notre Dame also planned to award the president an honorary degree. This, as you must know, was in disregard of the U.S. bishops’ express request of 2004 that Catholic institutions “should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles” and that such persons “should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” That request, which in no way seeks to control or interfere with an institution’s freedom to invite and engage in serious debate with whomever it wishes, seems to me so reasonable that I am at a loss to understand why a Catholic university should disrespect it.

Then I learned that “talking points” issued by Notre Dame in response to widespread criticism of its decision included two statements implying that my acceptance speech would somehow balance the event:

• “President Obama won’t be doing all the talking. Mary Ann Glendon, the former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, will be speaking as the recipient of the Laetare Medal.”

• “We think having the president come to Notre Dame, see our graduates, meet our leaders, and hear a talk from Mary Ann Glendon is a good thing for the president and for the causes we care about.”

A commencement, however, is supposed to be a joyous day for the graduates and their families. It is not the right place, nor is a brief acceptance speech the right vehicle, for engagement with the very serious problems raised by Notre Dame’s decision—in disregard of the settled position of the U.S. bishops—to honor a prominent and uncompromising opponent of the Church’s position on issues involving fundamental principles of justice.

Finally, with recent news reports that other Catholic schools are similarly choosing to disregard the bishops’ guidelines, I am concerned that Notre Dame’s example could have an unfortunate ripple effect.

It is with great sadness, therefore, that I have concluded that I cannot accept the Laetare Medal or participate in the May 17 graduation ceremony.

In order to avoid the inevitable speculation about the reasons for my decision, I will release this letter to the press, but I do not plan to make any further comment on the matter at this time.

Yours Very Truly,

Mary Ann Glendon

Mary Ann Glendon is Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard Law School.  She served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican from 2007 to 2009.