(Roll Theme)
News, of the hour, on the hour, from Catholic Information Radio.
I’m Bryan Douglas in Philadelphia, and at this hour….
(Theme Out)

Lead:
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is launching a massive eleventh-hour effort to keep abortion funding in all forms out of the socialized health care legislation that will emerge from a House-Senate conference committee. The bishops have sent bulletin inserts and pulpit announcements to every parish in the nation stating quote “Given the upcoming final votes, the U.S. bishops have asked that the attached USCCB Nationwide Bulletin Insert be printed or hand-stuffed in every parish bulletin and distributed in pews or at church entrances as soon as possible. Unquote ”

According to the bulletin the bishops note that neither the House nor the Senate bill has adequate conscience protection for health care providers, plans, or employers. They are asking parishioners to encourage politicians to maintain provisions against abortion funding and in favor of conscience protection, affordability, and immigrants’ access to health care or oppose the final bill.

Because of the divergence between the Senate and House versions of the bill, this massive forced take-over of one sixth of our economy by the government is being widely debated, with opposition to the bill being short circuited by parliamentary maneuvering and exclusion of the opposition from serious consideration in the resolution committee in the Congress.

Additional side issues, including the apparently racist remarks by the senate majority leader have added a number of temporary roadblocks to settling the issue and moving the conference agenda forward.

I’ll be back with more after this.
(insert PSAs)

Story 2:
Braving the snow and defying a government ban, thousands of Catholics attended the funeral of 86-year-old Coadjutor Bishop Leo Yao Leeang of Wanzee, who had spent nearly three decades in detention because of his fidelity to the Roman Pontiff. The government, which forbade Catholics from outside Bishop Yao’s local county from attending the funeral, has also banned references to him as a “bishop,” instead demanding Catholics to refer to him as a “clandestine shepherd.”

Story 3:
Lamenting the recent attacks against churches and other Christian buildings, the bishops of Malaysia have noted that meetings with civil authorities and dialogue with Muslim leaders are ongoing and will continue in the coming days. The bishops are asking Christians to act in harmony and seek the necessary cooperation of the government and the high religious authorities in order to restore a peaceful environment to Malaysian society.

They have also called upon their members to do everything possible to keep calm, not retaliate, and pray to avoid a dangerous escalation of the violence, regardless of the provocation. They also noted that groups of moderate Muslims have taken turns guarding churches to avoid further acts of violence in a show of toleration, according to the news agency of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

Story 4:
Calling the defense of marriage “one of the premier social justice issues of our time,” Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage, praised the state senators of New Jersey and New York for rejecting bills that would have legalized homosexual marriage.

Archbishop Kurtz said quote, “The recent decisions in Maine, New York and New Jersey are signs of hope and sources of encouragement. Preserving marriage between one man and one woman is a matter of justice; indeed it is one of the premier social justice issues of our time. It does not deny but rather supports basic human rights-- especially the rights of children.” unquote

This is Catholic Information News.

Story 5:
Brazilian bishops are offering strong criticism of President Luiz da Silva’s new National Program for Human Rights. While most media coverage has centered on the creation of a truth commission to investigate crimes committed under the former military dictatorship which ended in 1985, the program also decriminalizes abortion and allows for homosexual civil unions.

Story 6:
Monsignor Guido Marini, Benedict XVI’s master of ceremonies, this week strongly underlined the Pope’s recommendation that when Mass is celebrated facing westwards, the priest should place a crucifix at the centre of the altar. This was to make clear that the celebrant was not “facing the people”, but facing Christ. The reason for this proposal, according to Marini, is to place the Crucifix on the centre of the altar, in order that, during the celebration of the liturgy, all may concretely face and look upon Lord, in such a way as to orient also their prayer and hearts.

(roll theme and establish)
And that’s top news at the top of the hour.
I’m Bryan Douglas, CIR NEWS, for Catholic Information Radio.

Feed at 8PM
Refeed at 9PM and 8AM and 9AM next day.
http://www.catholicradionetwork.us/player.htm

--
(Roll Theme)
News, of the hour, on the hour, from Catholic Information Radio.
I’m Bryan Douglas in Philadelphia, and at this hour….
(Theme Out)

Lead:
The Czech bishops are sending an appeal to Europe to remember its principles, especially with regard to the recent ruling that crucifixes in schools are a violation of human rights. Quoting a statute from which the European Court of Human Rights derives its authority, the bishops have condemned a recent court decision that ruled against the presence of the crucifix in an Italian classroom.

The statement was written in response to the recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, which decided in favor of a mother who protested the crucifix in her children's Italian school.

The court did not order crucifixes to be removed, however, and the Italian government is appealing the decision.

The court is associated with the Council of Europe, and the statute states that the Council’s aim is to foster “greater unity between its members for the purpose of safeguarding and realizing the ideals and principles which are their common heritage and facilitating economic and social progress.”

The bishops made clear that the crucifix is part of this heritage saying in a January 5th statement that quote “Christianity, traditionally proclaiming timeless rights and freedoms of every man, is a constant part of the ideals and principles that create a common patrimony of European states,” unquote . The Czech bishops’ conference is publicly rejecting the efforts to drive out traditional manifestations of the Christian culture from the social life and substitute them by atheistic attitudes.

I’ll be back with more after this.
(insert PSAs)

Story 2:
In a 20-14 vote, the lame-duck New Jersey state senate has rejected an attempt to legalize same-sex marriage. Advocates of so-called homosexual marriage had attempted to push the bill through the legislature before pro-life Governor-elect Chris Christie, an opponent of same-sex marriage, takes office next week.

Over the past year, the state’s bishops repeatedly urged Catholics to contact legislators to make known their opposition to same-sex marriage, the latest in a message that was read in many parishes last weekend.

Story 3:
In the latest manifestation of violence, three Christian churches in Malaysia have been firebombed following the recent court decision in that country that permitted non-Muslim publications to use the word “Allah” to refer to God.

Condemning the attacks, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said that the government “will take whatever steps it can to prevent such acts.” Since the ruling, hackers have attacked the web sites of the nation’s judiciary and the lone Catholic newspaper.

A Catholic newspaper had sought the ruling-- whose implementation has been suspended as the court considers a government appeal-- because the word “Allah” predates Islam and has been some Christian tribes’ principal term to refer to God.

Story 4:
Retired Bishop Donald Pelotte, who may have suffered a severe assault in 2007, has died of an undisclosed illness at the age of 64. Following his injuries, the bishop insisted he had fallen down stairs, and police did not pursue the case. A year later, after the New Mexico bishop had resigned and a journalist won a legal battle to publish photographs of the injured prelate, Bishop Pelotte said he could not remember just how and where he received the injuries.

This is Catholic Information News.

Story 5:
While Catholics in Turkey enjoy religious freedom, they are still waiting for civil juridical recognition, Benedict XVI has pointed out to the nation's new envoy to the Holy See. According to the Holy See's Statistical Yearbook, Catholics number about 32,000, or 0.04% of the population. The Pope underlined the "significant contribution" Christianity has made to Turkey, and noted that Christians are "proud to play their part, conscious of their ancient heritage." In 2006, the Pontiff visited Turkey in response to an invitation of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I.

Story 6:
Leaders of the Jewish ultra orthodox community in Jerusalem have issued a letter condemning spitting and harassment against Christians perpetrated by some of the community's young people. This reported harassment and violence includes spitting and curses directed at clergy and nuns, anti-Christian graffiti painted on the walls of churches and holy places, and throwing of stones. Representatives of the Israeli foreign ministry and the Jerusalem municipality met with the rabbi of the Ultra-Orthodox Haredi Community to address these issues and discuss the letter denouncing the attacks.

(roll theme and establish)
And that’s top news of the hour.
I’m Bryan Douglas, CIR NEWS, for Catholic Information Radio.

Feed at 8PM
Refeed at 9PM and 8AM and 9AM next day.
http://www.catholicradionetwork.us/player.htm

--

(Roll Theme)
News, of the hour, on the hour, from Catholic Information Radio.
I’m Bryan Douglas in Philadelphia, and at this hour….
(Theme Out)

Lead:
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests is expressing anger at the appearance of former Archbishop Rembert Weakland as a keynote speaker at the 7th National Cathedral Ministry Conference in Malwaukee from January 11 to 14. The retired archbishop previously admitted that he failed to report the clerical abuse of children to civil authorities.

The group is also objecting to his presence as a likeness in a bronze image of the Nativity that has been in Milwaukee’s cathedral since its renovation in 2002.

The archdiocese is facing several civil lawsuits involving at least 14 victims over its handling of abuse cases dating to the 1960s.

Those cases are stalled while the archdiocese and its insurance companies battle over who would pay any judgment. The archdiocese has said it could be bankrupted if it loses the cases.

Weakland, who also served as a concelebrant at the installation Mass of Archbishop Jerome Listecki earlier this week, publicly questioned Catholic teaching on the immorality of homosexual acts following the publication of his memoirs last year. In an interview with The New York Times, he admitted relationships with several men while he served as Archbishop. He has maintained a relatively low public profile since his retirement and it's unclear whether his participation in the conference and central role as a concelebrant at Listecki's installation mark a departure from that posture.

He retired in 2002 after it was revealed that he used $450,000 in archdiocesan funds to pay a former male lover.

I’ll be back with more after this. (insert PSAs)

Story 2:
At least six Coptic Christians have been slain in a drive-by shooting in Naj Hammadi, Egypt, as they were leaving the nighttime Christmas liturgy. Most Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Christians follow the Julian calendar and celebrate Christmas on January 7 this year.

The violence reportedly took place in retaliation for the alleged rape of a Muslim woman by a Christian man in November.

Story 3:
A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Mexico City has accused the leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution-- one of the nation’s three largest political parties-- of displaying intolerance and hatred toward the Catholic Church and waging war against Mexican society by supporting same-sex marriage and the adoption of children by homosexuals. The city assembly, dominated by the party and its allies, recently legalized same-sex marriage.

On Jan. 4, the national president of the Democratic Revolution Party, Jesus Ortega, said he would file complaints with the Interior Ministry accusing the archdiocese of improper church meddling in political matters. Ortega demanded the church hierarchy stop its attacks on his party and that the Interior Ministry enforce constitutional mandates that forbid religious leaders from weighing in on political matters.

Story 4:
Fox News Analyst Brit Hume said he was “not surprised” by the media backlash over his remarks to Tiger Woods on “Fox News Sunday” this week. According to Mr. Hume and many others, there is a “double-standard” when it comes to speaking publicly about Christianity versus other religions.

When asked if the media uproar over his comments regarding Tiger Woods and a potential conversion to Christianity caught him by surprise, he replied he was not surprised.

When asked if he would do it again, Hume did not hesitate to respond “Sure”
.
This is Catholic Information News.

Story 5:
Not all known or reasonably suspected terrorists are prohibited from boarding an aircraft, or are subject to additional security screening prior to boarding an aircraft," says a report published in July by the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security. More than eight years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, people boarding commercial flights in the United States—and sometimes those boarding international flights bound for the United States—are still not screened against the government’s full Terrorist Screening Database

Story 6:
A coalition of pro-life advocates and religious leaders plan to gather in Houston on Jan. 18 to oppose what is expected to be the largest abortion clinic in the country. Planned Parenthood is renovating a former bank, turning it into a 78,000 square foot facility that will include a surgical wing equipped to provide late-term abortions. Last month, Houston elected the first lesbian to hold the mayoral office in a major U.S. city. Until her inauguration this week, the director of Health and Environmental Policy for the mayor’s office was Elena Marks, chairwoman of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

(roll theme and establish)
And that’s the news at the top of the hour.
I’m Bryan Douglas, CIR NEWS, for Catholic Information Radio.

Fed live at 8PM http://www.catholicradionetwork.us/player.htm
Repeated 9PM, then 8 and 9AM following morning.

(Roll Theme)
News, of the hour, on the hour, from Catholic Information Radio.
I’m Bryan Douglas in Philadelphia, and at this hour….
(Theme Out)

Lead:
Miloslav Cardinal Vlk, who has served as Archbishop of Prague since 1991, has warned in an interview that if Europe doesn't change its relation to its own roots, it will be Islamized.
According to the Cardinal and many others, Europe has long denied its Christian roots from which it rose and which could give it the strength to fend off the danger that it will be conquered by Muslims-- which is actually happening gradually, especially when one considers the birth rate between the two social systems. Muslims easily fill the vacant space created as Europeans systematically empty the Christian content of their lives.

It is well known that at the end of the Middle Ages into the early modern age, Islam failed to conquer Europe by force of arms. The Christians beat them back then. He observed that today, the fighting is done with spiritual weapons which Europe lacks while Muslims are perfectly armed, so the subjugation of Europe is looming.”

Cardinal Vlk also denounced Europe’s pagan environment and atheistic style of life said quote“Neither the free market nor freedom without responsibility is strong enough to form the basis of society. Not even democracy alone is a panacea unless it is embedded in God.” Unquote. He says people cannot live forever without fundamental spiritual values.

The Czech press is speculating that Pope Benedict will name a successor to the 77-year-old cardinal within days.

I’ll be back with more after this. (insert PSAs)

Story 2:
Responding to Christians’ fears that they would be the target of suicide bombing attacks, Pakistani security officials conducted major operations at Christmas to protect churchgoers, according to Archbishop Lawrence Saldana of Lahore. Only 0.07% of the nation’s 160 million residents are Catholic. The United States has designated Pakistan a “country of particular concern” because of its ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom.

Story 3:
Catholics and Christians in the pro-life movement may often find themselves asking what role their bishops should exercise in their communities as shepherds. At his installation Mass on Monday , the new Archbishop Jerome Listecki of Milwaukee gave faithful Christians an answer, saying that the bishop's main responsibility is "governing, teaching, and sanctifying" the local church community, and that the faithful also have a share in this responsibility.

Listecki was officially installed as Archbishop of Milwaukee by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Papal Nuncio to the United States, although he had already been exercising pastoral care of his new episcopal territory as Archbishop-designate. He wasted no time in rebuking the dissident so-called "Young Catholics for Choice" for distorting Catholic teaching on contraception and abortion.

Story 4:

The Holy Father’s schedule for 2010 looks to be a busy one that would challenge lesser men.

On the horizon for the next 12 months are four papal trips; a Middle East Synod of Bishops; the expected publication of a document on the Bible and the second volume of his book "Jesus of Nazareth;" a major gathering of the world's priests; a pilgrimage to the Shroud of Turin; a probable consistory to create new Cardinals, and several likely canonizations and beatifications -- including that of Pope John Paul II.

In April Pope Benedict marks five years in office, and the event will no doubt be marked by modest festivities and a lot of analysis on the accomplishments and priorities of the German pontiff, who turns 83 the same month.

This is Catholic Information News.

Story 5:
Two women, who have returned to their Catholic faith after years away, have written a book entitled "When They Come Home" as a guide for parishes on how to minister to returning Catholics. Anna LaNave and Melanie Rigney, parishioners of St. Charles Borromeo Church in Arlington, say parishes need to reach out to inactive members by tailoring programs to meet their needs. "The church really needs to come up with a strategy for how to bring these Catholics back," LaNave said.

Story 6:
Archbishop Thomas Collins of Toronto has been named as a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. The archbishop, who turns 63 on Jan. 16th, has posted meditations on YouTube which were recorded during the archbishop's regular encounters with the faithful at St. Joseph's Basilica in that city. Since his installation as archbishop of Toronto in Jan. 2007, he has posted on his archdiocesan Web site dozens of podcasts of his homilies and holy day celebrations, as well as his meditations as a means to use the latest technologies to spread the good word.

(roll theme and establish)
And that’s top news of the hour.
I’m Bryan Douglas, CIR NEWS, Happy Feast of the Epiphany from Catholic Information Radio.

From Catholic Culture. Looks like a lot of eccleastical double talk on the Cardinal's part. Not the first time he's gone off the rails in the past few years,
after a long and fruitful career on the side of orthodoxy. Just one more point to confuse, mislead, or keep this hoax alive. The link to the english translation of the letter is here

You must remember that the bishop sets the rules that even outside ranking ecclesiastics must follow when in the territory. To do otherwise is insulting to the home bishop and sows the seeds of disunity and dissention. 'Nuff said.

Anyway, I digress. The story...
--
The bishop of the local Mostar-Duvno diocese has issued a statement expressing concern about statements issued by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn during a visit to Medjugorje last week and emphasizing that the cardinal’s visit “does not imply any recognition of the authenticity of the ‘apparitions’ related to Medjugorje.”

Bishop Ratko Peric has released an English-language translation of his statement, noting that he has expressed his concerns directly to Cardinal Schönborn in a private letter. In response to the cardinal's observation that Medjugorje has a flourishing sacramental life, the local bishop notes that the same active sacramental life is visible throughout the diocese. Bishop Peric rejects the idea that the large number of confessions heard by priests at Medjugorje suggests that the apparitions are authentic. "According to this conclusion on the number of confessions, Our Lady would then be appearing in all our parishes," he says.

Bishop Peric-- who has repeatedly warned against the dangers of “the Medjugorje phenomenon” and strongly discouraged confidence in the alleged apparitions—complained that the visit by Cardinal Schönborn had caused new pastoral problems for his diocese. Citing a list of conflicts and irregularities arising from the activities of the alleged seers and their supporters, Bishop Peric voiced “regret” that the Austrian cardinal’s appearance had lent new credibility to their claims.

In an interview released by the press office of his Vienna archdiocese, Cardinal Schönborn pointed out that he had never directly addressed the authenticity of the reported apparitions, leaving that question open during his “private” visit to Medjugorje. He said that he would await the judgment of the universal Church, and meanwhile respected the prudence of the demands for caution released by the bishops of the region.

Cardinal Schönborn said that in his public remarks he had stressed the need to weave the “Medjugorje phenomenon” into the normal life of the local Church. He said that the spiritual vigor he saw in the town was not due to any single event, but rather to the regular use of the sacraments and intense prayer.

However, the Austrian cardinal did repeat his observation that “good fruits” have been produced by the Medjugorje phenomenon; he cited in particular a home for recovering drug addicts. Cardinal Schönborn also noted that the reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Medjugorje conform to the pattern of other apparitions approved by the Church, such as those of Lourdes and Fatima, where the Blessed Virgin made her appearance in an impoverished country, to simple young people, and delivered a straightforward message encouraging prayer and devotion to the Gospel.