Colorado mourns 39th anniversary of America's first abortion law
Denver, Colo., Apr 25, 2006 (CNA) - Colorado
Right to Life (CRLC) is recalling the anniversary of the passage of the
nation's first abortion law, signed April 25, 1967, and mourning the
loss of the millions of innocent babies killed in their mother's womb
since then.
"Our nation is
owed an apology for our state's role in starting the abortion
holocaust," said Diane Hochevar, CRLC president. "As America begins to
ponder the significant loss of love and talent our nation has discarded
as medical waste, it should remember that when Colorado made the tragic
error of allowing pre-born lives to be destroyed through abortion, we
began a culture of death which has led to all human life being greatly
devalued."
The organization
applauds South Dakota for passing the first law restoring legal
protection to pre-born babies and urges every state to follow suit.
CRLC claims that
Terri Schiavo and others like her might not have been in jeopardy had
Colorado rejected the taking of innocent life for cases of rape, incest
and the mother's health back in 1967.
"When babies aren't safe in their mother's wombs, we are all in danger," added Leslie Hanks, CRLC’s vice president.
Archbishop Chaput calls for fairness in sex-abuse lawsuits, settlements
Denver, Colo., Apr 25, 2006 (CNA) -
As
controversy heats up nationwide and particularly in Colorado over the
question of amending statutes of limitation for sexual abusers,
Denver’s Archbishop Charles Chaput is saying that any new legislation
“must be comprehensive, fair, and equally applied.”
In his article in the May issue of First Things, entitled “Suing the
Church”, the archbishop addresses the problem of extending statutes of
limitation and the impact it has on Catholic communities in particular.
Colorado’s state Senate is scheduled to meet this morning to debate
passage of new legislation which would remove the statutes and open the
Church up to a flood of lawsuits. Many Catholics around the state are
calling the state’s two potential bills “blatantly anti-Catholic.”
When California Senate Bill 1779 became law, it opened a one-year
window to revive expired California sex-abuse claims, some from 70
years ago. More than 1,000 plaintiffs filed previously expired claims.
Legislation, modeled on California’s, would likely bring about the same
thing in Colorado.
“Statutes of limitation exist for good reasons: to protect justice, not
prevent it. They were created to encourage a timely and fair resolution
of claims, which is why law-enforcement officials support them. Over
time, memories fade, witnesses die, evidence grows stale, and
fraudulent claims increase,” he writes.
The archbishop also pointed out discrepancies in the ways that sexual
abuse claims and lawsuits are treated in the Church versus public
institutions, particularly public schools, where the problem is far
worse.
“For exactly the same sexual abuse in a public school and a Catholic
parish, the difference in financial exposure is millions of dollars,”
he writes. The same rules must be applied to all institutions right
across the board, he insists.
He also criticizes the move in several states to extend the statutes of
limitations, saying that it “makes no sense to hold innocent people
accountable today for the evil actions of a small number of individuals
from decades ago.”
“The people paying for these abuse settlements are innocent Catholic
families who had no part in events of the past. Revenge is not justice,
no matter how piously one argues it. Punishing the innocent is wrong,
yet that’s exactly what laws imposing ‘retroactive liability’ are
designed to do,” he says.
He argues that settlements should be based on “balanced restitution”
and based on “what will help a wounded person heal and find a fresh
start—and not on a litigation ‘market price’ based on the last highest
settlement paid by another institutional defendant.”
“Communities of faith have an obligation to generously help the people
who have been hurt by their members, past or present” he writes. But he
maintains that they also have a right to maintain their mission of
serving others.
The move to amend the statutes “could easily decimate the remaining
resources of the Catholic faithful in the United States and steal the
religious future from a generation of Catholic young people,” he
writes.
“Caring for the victims of abuse and assisting them sacrificially is a
good and urgent thing. So is fighting bad laws. We need to focus
earnestly on both,” he concludes.
Benedict XVI plans October visit to Verona for historic Italian ecclesial convention
Vatican City, Apr 25, 2006 (CNA) - The
Italian Bishops Conference announced today that Pope Benedict is
planning on visiting the city of Verona in northern Italy on October
19--the occasion of the 4th National Ecclesial Convention, an event
that gathers the representatives of the Catholic Church in Italy once
each decade.
The convention
will last four days, from October 16th to 20th. The theme this year
will be “Giving Testimony of Jesus Risen, Hope for the world.” The
program of the pontiff’s visit was published this week by the
Prefecture of the Pontifical Household.
The Pope will
arrive in Verona in the morning, and will meet with participants at the
city’s convention center, where he will address the entire assembly. In
the afternoon, he will preside over Mass in the Municipal Stadium at
four o’clock.
The Mass is open
to all of the city’s faithful as well as pilgrims from other dioceses
of the region Veneto. Pope Benedict will travel back to Rome later in
the day. More than 2,500 people, including delegates from various
dioceses, representatives of institutes of consecrated life, members of
lay organizations and people invited by the Italian Bishops Conference
are expected to attend the assembly.
U.S. bishops pledge support to ban on same-sex marriage
Washington D.C., Apr 25, 2006 (CNA) - A
coalition of some 50 prominent religious leaders, including six
Catholic cardinals and six archbishops, have signed a petition and
pledged to support a constitutional amendment blocking same-sex
marriage, reported the New York Times.
The petition
also included prominent evangelical Protestants, a few rabbis and an
official from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Matt Daniels,
founder of the Alliance for Marriage, an umbrella group that supports
an amendment, told the Times that the members of the religious groups
represent "huge numbers" of people.
The group has
committed to distributing postcards or letters to their congregants to
send to senators urging support for the amendment. At the request of
the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Knights of Columbus
printed 10 million postcards addressed to U.S. senators that they are
distributing to Catholic churches around the country.
Republican
Senate leaders have scheduled a vote in June on the proposed
constitutional amendment, and Catholic officials seem more directly
involved in this debate than when the amendment was debated in 2004.
Ohio and other
pivotal states have already amended their constitutions regarding
marriage, but one survey has suggested that the public's opposition is
cooling, reported the Times.
In May, a
nonpartisan Pew Research Poll found that 51 percent of the public
opposed legalizing gay marriage, down from 63 percent in February 2004.
Catholic Charities, Christian Churches voice opposition to unfair french immigration reform
Paris, France, Apr 25, 2006 (CNA) - A
number of France’s major church leaders, including Cardinal Jean-Pierre
Ricard, President of the French Bishops Conference and Archbishop of
Bordeaux, have sent a letter to the government expressing concern over
the drafting of a bill to reform the country’s immigration law. The
bill is scheduled to be debated in parliament.
In the April
22nd letter, the church leaders criticize a project that will implement
selective immigration, allowing only the well-qualified and educated.
“The existence
of undocumented aliens”, they wrote, “is an undeniable reality that
amounts to more than hundreds of thousands people. Can we just offer
them to go back to their homelands, by force or by will?” ...The
weakest will be brought to desperation.”
“We deem this as
both unrealistic from a practical point of view and problematic on a
human scale,” they continued. “We therefore regret that this draft only
contains measures that would have the effect of restraining the
possibilities to regularize the situation of these aliens.”
On April 24,
another letter was sent to the government by the country’s director of
Catholic Charities, Jean-Pierre Richer, who, along with other
associations, expressed concern over the issue. That letter was
entitled, “We cannot compromise with immigrant’s rights.”
“We find in this
text the same spirit of a similar law ten years ago; just a
multiplication of obstacles that prevent immigrants to obtain a
resident permit,” said Jose Da Silva, director of the national service
for the pastoral care of migrants at the French Bishops Conference.
Pontifical Justice and Peace undersecretary named Coadjutor of Venice, Florida
Washington D.C., Apr 25, 2006 (CNA) - The
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced that Pope Benedict XVI
has named Monsignor Frank J. Dewane, Undersecretary of the Holy See’s
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, as Coadjutor Bishop of the
Diocese of Venice, Florida.
Bishop-designate
Dewane was named to the Pontifical Council in 2002 and will now hold
the right of succession to Venice’s Bishop John J. Nevins, in the event
of his death or retirement.
Msgr. Dewane was
named a priest for the Diocese of Green Bay in 1988 following a career
in international business and subsequent theological studies at the
Gregorian Angelicum and North American Pontifical colleges in Rome.
He has been
involved as a Holy See observer to the United Nations and served with
the Vatican’s charitable organization, Cor Unum in addition to his role
on the Council of Justice and Peace.
Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S., announced the appointment in Washington D.C.
Judge calls Spokane sexual abuse settlement legally unacceptable
Spokane, Wash., Apr 25, 2006 (CNA) - A
federal bankruptcy judge has decided that the nearly $46-million
settlement between the Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane and sex abuse
victims is legally unacceptable.
In a hearing
Friday, Judge Patricia Williams said the deal cannot be approved
because it favors one group of victims over another, reported the
Associated Press.
“This settlement
violates a rule that requires fair treatment,” Williams said, adding
that bankruptcy “can’t treat people differently.”
The diocese
filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2004 because of sex abuse
claims and has offered to settle the claims of 75 victims for $45.7
million. More than 100 other claims have been filed since.
The diocese is
reviewing “claims of proof” filed by claimants not covered by the
so-called “universal settlement,” but no sum has been attached to their
claims, reported the AP.
Williams stopped
short of ruling against the settlement offer, but warned attorneys for
both sides that she expected the matter to be settled quickly. A
hearing is scheduled for May 15.
Shaun Cross, a lawyer for the Washington diocese, told the AP he is confident the settlement can be restructured.
Socialists petition Spanish congress to recognize ‘human rights’ of apes
Madrid, Spain, Apr 25, 2006 (CNA) - In
response to reports that Socialists in Spain have asked the congress in
that country to include apes in the category of persons, Archbishop
Fernando Sebastian of Pamplona said such attempts to be “progressive”
were “ridiculous” and that calling for human rights for apes was like
calling for humans to be granted the rights of bulls.
Archbishop
Sebastian also criticized the government for “not granting the rights
of persons to the unborn” and instead “giving them to monkeys.”
“This society is either ridiculous or disjointed,” he said.
The leaders
behind the movement plan to inform lawmakers about the current
situation of apes at zoos and circuses in the country and will ask them
to support their campaign demanding such animals be granted “the moral
and legal protection that currently only human beings enjoy.”
Last September,
Representative Francisco Garrido of the Socialist party applauded two
scientific studies which “appeared, almost simultaneously, in order to
remind us of the evolutionary proximity and genetic similarity we have
with our relatives, the great apes.”
“Monkeys should
be granted the rights of apes,” Archbishop Sebastian continued, “but
not human rights, as that would be like saying humans should be granted
the rights of bulls. I don’t get it,” he said.
Urgent call for prayer as decision on abortion looms over Columbian Supreme Court
Bogotá, Colombia, Apr 25, 2006 (CNA) - Pro-life
and pro-family groups in Colombia are urging prayers for the right to
life in that country after it was revealed that four of Colombia’s nine
Supreme Court justices have made up their minds on the issue of
abortion.
According to a
report in the liberal Colombian daily “El Tiempo,” two justices have
decided to vote in favor of legalizing abortion while two others have
said they will maintain their pro-life positions.
According to the
newspaper, of the other five justices, the Chief Justice has withheld
his thoughts because of his involvement in the drafting of the new
Penal Code; another says he has an “intermediate” position—which
analysts say is difficult to interpret—and the positions of the other
three justices remain unknown.
If the court is
evenly split, an outside judge would have to cast the deciding vote,
but according to “El Tiempo,” the justices are eager to avoid that
outcome.
As a decision on
the issue is imminent, pro-life groups are calling on all Colombians
and people of good will join in prayer that the right to life will be
protected in the South American country.
“Let us ask
God,” pro-life leaders said, “that the State and the legislature
recognize their obligation to defend human life without reserve.
Especially, the innocent lives of the unborn.”
“Let us pray
that the people who today are on the Constitutional Court understand
they have the responsibility to choose life, that the grace of God will
enlighten them in this decision.” The public can participate in
the prayer campaign by visiting
http://oracionporlavida.googlepages.com/home
Mexican presidential candidates to present proposals to bishops
Mexico City, Mexico, Apr 25, 2006 (CNA) - The
president of the Bishops’ Conference of Mexico, Bishop Jose Guadalupe
Martin Rabago, confirmed this week that several of the country’s
presidential candidates, including Roberto Madrazo, Andres Lopez
Obrador and Felipe Calderon, will address the bishops at their general
assembly April 24-28 about their proposals for the country.
Speaking to
reporters, Bishop Rabago explained that “due to the short amount of
time we have for this assembly,” it was impossible “to permit other
candidates to attend.”
“We hope that
the candidates will explain their proposals in order to maintain an
equally close relationship with all, as later they will debate in
public in order to make their plans known to the entire country so that
people can have greater clarity about the person for whom they will
vote in the upcoming elections,” he added.
Historic encounter
The secretary
general of the Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Carlos Aguiar Retes, called
the upcoming meeting with the candidates “historic”, adding that “this
type of thing has never happened before.”
In an interview
with the newspaper “Proceso,” Bishop Aguiar Retes said the bishops are
interested in “knowing firsthand the position of each candidate” about
“those issues that are of interest to us” and about which “they speak
little,” such as the defense of life and values.
Another issue of concern to the Church in Mexico is access to the media and full recognition of religious freedom.
Bishop Retes
said the meetings with the candidates will be private and last two
hours. Candidates will first outline their proposals and then
take questions from the bishops.
Cardinal Rouco calls for ‘alliance of faith’ between Argentina and Spain
Buenos Aires, Argentina, Apr 25, 2006 (CNA) - During
the celebration of Mass at the Basilica of Lujan near Buenos Aires, the
archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, called on
the people of Argentina and Spain to “advance an alliance of faith,
founded on the love of Christ.”
“It has been a
joy to discover the similarities that exist between Madrid and Buenos
Aires. Argentina and Spain should make an alliance of faith,
which should be based on the love of Christ,” the cardinal said.
After the Mass,
Cardinal Rouco, together with Bishop Ruben Di Monte of Lujan-Mercedes,
blessed the hundreds of faithful gathered at the Basilica.
Last Thursday
the Spanish cardinal was made an honorary citizen of the city of Mar
del Plata and given an honorary doctorate by one of the local Catholic
universities.
