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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:

After the Catholic News Agency published a report on remarks Cardinal Francis George made about the disagreement between the Catholic Health Association and the U.S. bishops, the Secretary of Communications for the bishops' conference denied the accuracy of the article.

CNA reported that the cardinal spoke about the fallout from the debate over the passage of the health care overhaul at an executive session of the bishops' spring assembly in St. Petersburg, Fla. Cardinal George recounted the events that took place prior to President Obama's signing of the health care take over bill and then wrapped up his remarks by criticizing the Catholic Health Association (CHA) and its CEO Sr. Carol Keehan for creating a dangerous precedent of the appearance of a parallel magisterium to the bishops.

Cardinal George's comments were corroborated by several bishops who told CNA that they believed the remarks should be made known, given the concurrent CHA meeting being held in Denver, Colo. However, on June 21, the Secretary for Communications of the bishops' conference, accused CNA of inaccurately reporting on the event, fabricating quotations and breaking confidentiality.
 
Alejandro Bermudez, the executive director of Catholic News Agency, stated they stand by their report.

I’ll be back with more after this.

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Story 2:

A man claiming to be the son of Fr. Marcial Maciel, the founder of the Legion of Christ, is suing the Legion in a Connecticut court, claiming that the religious order should have known of Maciel’s propensity to abuse children. Earlier this year José González Lara came forward claiming that the controversial founder of the Legion was his father. Fr. Maciel is known to have fathered at least one other child after his ordination. He was removed from ministry by Pope Benedict in 2006 and sent to a life of prayer and penance. He died in 2008.

Story 3:

The pastor of a Staten Island parish in a controversy over the proposed sale of a vacant convent to a Muslim group has withdrawn his support for the sale after “careful reflection.” St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church had been considering selling a vacant convent to the Muslim American Society (MAS), which planned to turn the building into a mosque and community center. Local opponents have voiced concerns about terrorism and respect for the victims of the 9/11 attacks, visible from the parish area.

Story 4:

Stating that he has acted with “maximum transparency,” Archbishop of Naples Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe has said he will cooperate with authorities after being accused of corruption in a property deal. A Vatican spokesman has expressed “solidarity” with the prelate, saying he hopes the situation will be “rapidly clarified.” The cardinal, who previously headed the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, is accused of colluding with former Italian transport minister Pietro Lunardi to offer cut-price property deals, the BBC reports.

Story 5:
Bishop Rodrigo Martinez of Tehuacan, Mexico called on citizens to cast their votes responsibly in the elections taking place July 4 in several Mexican states. He encouraged them to learn about the various candidates' proposals and to vote according to their Christian consciences. In a statement, Bishop Martinez urged Mexicans not to abstain from voting, as “abstaining means leaving the choice of the elections in the hands of others” and failing in their duty, and their right, to make their voices heard.

This is Catholic Information News.

Story 6:

A top official from the Vatican Secretariat of State ended his six-day visit to Cuba Sunday in a meeting with President Raúl Castro. Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for relations marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of relations between the Holy See and Cuba. During the Sunday afternoon meeting with Castro, the officials highlighted the celebration of this anniversary and also spoke about other topics of the international scene, which were not specified to the public, reported the Cuban agency Prensa Latina. Also present at the meeting was the apostolic nuncio in Cuba, Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu, and the Cuban foreign relations minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla.

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And that’s top news of the hour.

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