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Here’s top news from Catholic Information Radio.

I’m Bryan Douglas in Philadelphia, and at this hour….
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Lead:

Responding to an outcry from Catholic individuals and blogs, Korean car maker Hyundai announced on Monday that it pulled a World Cup-themed television ad that ran during the USA-England soccer match on Saturday featuring a so-called "church" in Argentina that mocks the Catholic sacraments. 

Hyundai tried first to justify the ad claiming that it was based on the actual church in Argentina.

In a statement, the Korean company said: “The unexpected response created by the ad, which combined both soccer and religious motifs to speak to the passion of international soccer fans, prompted us to take a more critical and informed look at the spot. Though unintentional, we now see it was insensitive. We appreciate this feedback and sincerely apologize to those we've offended.”

True to its word, Hyundai made all efforts possible to eliminate the ad from YouTube. Several links that originally led to the ad, now display a YouTube message stating, "this video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Innocean Americas."

The ad presented elements of a Catholic ritual, but heavily mixed with soccer imagery. Late yesterday, a Hyundai spokesman apologized and announced the ad was being taken down.

I’ll be back with more after this. 

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Story 2:

A former Protestant pastor who is a married father of eight was ordained a Catholic priest on Saturday for the Diocese of Harrisburg. The newly ordained Fr. Paul Shenck was raised Jewish and baptized a Christian when he was 16 years old. In 1994 he left the New Covenant Tabernacle, an evangelical church he founded, and then became a pastor in western New York for the Reformed Episcopal Church. He entered the Catholic Church in 2004. He and his wife Rebecca have been married for 33 years.

Story 3:

Critically examining Christopher West’s presentation of John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, chastity speaker Dawn Eden has said that while West conveys “some elements of truth.” his demand that couples have perfect chastity before marriage promotes a “Puritanism” that discourages Catholics from dating, courtship and a proper view of continence. Eden, the author of the book “The Thrill of the Chaste,” gave her critique in a master’s thesis at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. She delivered a speech on her thesis there on May 19.

Story 4:

In a previously published National Review Online article, a woman who chose to remain anonymous shared the painful story of her husband's pornography addiction and its detrimental effects on their marriage. n her article, the author described pornography as “a drug” that is thriving “under the ever-expanding banner of the First Amendment.” She also pointed to the fact that the pornography industry “produces more annual revenue — $97 billion worldwide in 2006 — than all of the leading technology companies combined.”

Story 5:
Other activities to honor Mother Teresa in New York City are being planned after the Empire State Building operators said they would not light the building in the blue and white of the Missionaries of Charity on the religious sister’s 100th birthday. The Catholic League continues to question the consistency of the policy and plans a protest.

The Catholic League had asked the Empire State Building’s management to light the building on August 26, but the request was declined.

This is Catholic Information News.

Story 6:
Pope Benedict says all the good of the Year for Priests cannot be measured, but that people will certainly see its fruits. Sunday, before praying the midday Angelus, the Pope reflected on the Year for Priests that ended last Friday. He noted the closing celebrations in Rome with some 15,000 priests from around the world were "unforgettable days." The Pontiff reflected on how the year concluded with Friday's solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, traditionally the "day of priestly sanctification. The Pope concluded entrusting the priests of the world to Mary's Immaculate Heart.

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And that’s top news of the hour.

I’m Bryan Douglas, CIR NEWS, for Catholic Information Radio.