http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php Copyright 2010, Ava Puma and Bryan Boyle Ava Puma and Bryan Boyle en-US SPHPBLOG 0.5.1 http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php?entry=entry100712-172859 Click on link in the top box under Catholic Information Network at the right to listen. This will open up a new window with an embedded player.

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

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Lead:

Paving the way for the ordination of women bishops with full governing powers, the House of Clergy of the Church of England has rejected a compromise proposal put forward by Archbishop Rowan Williams, the church’s primate, that would have permitted traditional parishes to be governed by a male bishop.

The vote happened Saturday at the General Synod, the three-times-a-year meeting that sets policies for the Church of England. Williams, who is also nominal head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, proposed the measure along with the Archbishop of York.

The rejection of the compromise was greeted with a "slightly stunned silence," according to reports from the Synod.

The Church of England is probably still a couple of years away from having women bishops. If this week’s General Synod approves them, as expected, parishes across the church then have at least a year to consider the matter before a future General Synod casts a final vote on the issue.

Seventy Anglican clergy met with Catholic Bishop Malcolm McMahon of Nottingham on July 10 to discuss the possibility of converting to Catholicism under the provisions of Pope Benedict’s 2009 apostolic constitution. One Anglican cleric estimated that 200 Anglican clergy are considering conversion.

I’ll be back with more after this. 
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Story 2:

The Holy See’s 2009 budget showed a deficit of $5,000,000, four times 2008’s figure of $1.27 million, according to a statement released by the Council of Cardinals for the Study of the Organizational and Economic Problems of the Holy See. The separate budget for the Vatican City State also showed a deficit of $10,000,000, a figure approximately half that of the previous year. The 2009 Peter’s Pence collection totaled $83,000,000, with the United States, Italy, and France being the leading sources of donations.

Story 3:

Following a student complaint, the University of Illinois refused to renew the contract of Dr. Kenneth Howell, an adjunct religion professor, who wrote in an e-mail that “Natural Moral Law says that Morality must be a response to REALITY” and that “sexual acts are only appropriate for people who are complementary, not the same.” Dr. Howell, who taught courses on Catholicism at the university and was recognized for excellence in teaching in 2008 and 2009, wrote the e-mail to his students to help them prepare for their final exam

Story 4:

Six months after a devastating earthquake killed over 220,000, some 2 million Haitians are still living on the streets, according to the Fides news agency. Archbishop Bernard Auza, the apostolic nuncio noted there is no one to carry away the debris, and certain streets in the capital were still unusable. He also noted that many people who are living in tents still have nothing and then there are still many poor people who do not even have tents 6 months after the disaster.

Story 5:
Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Miguel Angel Moratinos,  who was in Cuba in recent days, said Monday that the first 11 political prisoners to be freed will arrive in Spain on July 13 on two separate flights.
 
The first flight operated by Air Europa will land at 1 p.m., and the second operated by Iberia, will touch down an hour later. Both flights will depart from Havana on Monday evening. Moratinos said the 11 prisoners will arrive in Spain accompanied by their families, all together totaling some 65 people.

This is Catholic Information News.

Story 6:

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Archbishop Velasio De Paolis, C.S., as the of the Pontifical Delegate to the Legion of Christ. Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi told journalists he will personally meet with the Legion's superiors to discuss the scope of his role. The archbishop's appointment confirms Vatican journalist Andrea Tornielli's prediction that the delegate would be the president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See. Archbishop De Paolis is also an expert in canon law.



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I’m Bryan Douglas, CIR NEWS, for Catholic Information Radio.
]]> General http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php?entry=entry100712-172859 Ava Puma and Bryan Boyle Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:28:59 GMT http://www.avemariablog.org/comments.php?y=10&m=07&entry=entry100712-172859 http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php?entry=entry100623-173744 Click on link in the top box under Catholic Information Network at the right to listen. This will open up a new window with an embedded player.

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Lead:
A German bishop who resigned in the face of abuse charges, then threatened to rescind his resignation, has announced that he will adhere to his decision to resign, and apologized for his misconduct.

Bishop Walter Mixa, who stepped down in May from his post as head of the Augsberg diocese, signed a written agreement with the diocese promising that he "will not question his resignation again." The agreement appears to end an ugly public dispute that had escalated when Bishop Mixa charged other German bishops with pressuring him to resign. He had moved back into the episcopal residence in Augsburg and said that he would ask the Pope to reinstate him.

The German bishops’ conference issued a statement on June 22 to “confirm that accusations now made public in the media were passed on to Rome in April 2010” about Bishop Mixa. Bishop Mixa has admitted that he may have been guilty of physical abuse, but he emphatically denied allegations of sexual abuse. German police investigated the sex-abuse charges and dismissed them.

According to German media reports, the dossier sent to Rome stated that Bishop Mixa drank throughout the day and made homosexual advances to two priests in the 1990s.
Without directly responding to the charges, Bishop Mixa has now written an apology for his "many mistakes."

I’ll be back with more after this.
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Story 2:
Archeologists in Rome have discovered the oldest known images of the Apostles. Using laser technology to peel away layers of stone that had built up over the centuries, workers uncovered a series of frescoes depicting Sts. Peter, Paul, Andrew, and John in the catacomb of St. Tecla. The Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archeology, announcing the find on June 22, said that the images appear to date from the late 4th or early 5th century.

Story 3:
The Catholic Health Association has issued a statement reaffirming its support for the health-care reform legislation that was opposed by the US bishops’ conference. Just days after Cardinal Francis George, the president of the US bishops’ conference, laid heavy blame on the CHA for the passage of the bill, the CHA approved a statement applauding the Obama reform. Ignoring the concerns expressed by the bishops and by pro-life groups that the legislation will expand public support for abortion, the CHA continued to spout the Obama company line in defending their actions.

Story 4:
In an exclusive interview, Dr. John Haas of the National Catholic Bioethics Center asked Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington D.C. about some of the issues facing the Church in the “contemporary context.” In his reply, Archbishop Wuerl spoke about the role of and need for religious freedom in society, a role which is dramatically changing. While there are several “individual issues” right now, said the archbishop, most of which focus on the dignity and value of human life, “there’s a growing concern” that “our very ability to carry on our activities” is being challenged.

Story 5:
Philadelphia’s faithful received news yesterday morning that Pope Benedict has appointed the judicial vicar of their diocese, Bishop-elect Michael J. Fitzgerald, to be their new auxiliary bishop. The announcement of Bishop-elect Fitzgerald's appointment was made by Cardinal Justin Rigali at a news conference in Philadelphia Tuesday morning. The cardinal said the bishop-elect is an exemplary priest with a great love for the Church. and he was grateful for his constant efforts to promote vocations to the diocesan priesthood.

This is Catholic Information News.

Story 6:
Religious billboards adorn the highways across the South. But a new billboard campaign in North Carolina deliberately snubs the Almighty. A coalition of atheists and secular humanists has placed a billboard on Billy Graham Parkway in Charlotte that displays an American flag with a few key words from the Pledge of Allegiance: “One Nation Indivisible.” The phrase “under God,” which appears between "One nation" and "indivisible" in the Pledge, is absent on the billboard. William Warren, a member of the North Carolina Secular Association, says his group put the ads up on billboards across the state to let people know that in their view, patriotism and belief in God are not always synonymous.

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And that’s top news of the hour.
I’m Bryan Douglas, CIR NEWS, for Catholic Information Radio.
]]> General http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php?entry=entry100623-173744 Ava Puma and Bryan Boyle Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:37:44 GMT http://www.avemariablog.org/comments.php?y=10&m=06&entry=entry100623-173744 http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php?entry=entry100622-110719 Click on link in the top box under Catholic Information Network at the right to listen. This will open up a new window with an embedded player.

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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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I’m Bryan Douglas, CIR NEWS, for Catholic Information Radio.
]]> General http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php?entry=entry100622-110719 Ava Puma and Bryan Boyle Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:07:19 GMT http://www.avemariablog.org/comments.php?y=10&m=06&entry=entry100622-110719 http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php?entry=entry100615-093905 Click on link in the top box under Catholic Information Network at the right to listen. This will open up a new window with an embedded player.

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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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I’m Bryan Douglas, CIR NEWS, for Catholic Information Radio.
]]> General http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php?entry=entry100615-093905 Ava Puma and Bryan Boyle Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:39:05 GMT http://www.avemariablog.org/comments.php?y=10&m=06&entry=entry100615-093905 http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php?entry=entry100602-175553 Click on link in the top box under Catholic Information Network at the right to listen. This will open up a new window with an embedded player.

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Lead:
Repeating Catholic teaching on the invalidity of attempts to ordain women, the Bishop of Davenport, Iowa has said a local woman’s intention to simulate ordination by a breakaway group damages the unity of the Church and has asked people not to participate in the ceremony.

In a recent statement published in The Catholic Messenger, Bishop Martin Amos asked those of the Diocese of Davenport to prayerfully to reconsider their participation in the so-called ordination ceremony, which is an excommunicable offense.
Mary Kay Kusner, a married mother of four, intends to participate in the simulated rite by the dissident Womanpriest group at the First Christian Church in Coralville, Iowa on June 13.

Bishop Amos’ statement noted that the Church has held the role of women “in high regard” for “centuries.” He added that this absolutely vital role extends to all women through the example of the Blessed Mother, and reiterated the May 2008 decree from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith which stated those who attempt to ordain women are excommunicated, as are the women who claim to be ordained.

The bishop explained that the purpose of excommunication is always to bring the person back into communion and to help them discover the unity of the Church.
I’ll be back with more after this.
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Story 2:
Pope Benedict XVI expressed deep regret and "great trepidation" over the Israeli raid on the so called "Freedom Flotilla," during his weekly public audience on June 2. The Pontiff said quote “I repeat, with heavy heart, that violence does not resolve conflict but only increases its tragic consequences and generates more violence" unquote and urged all international leaders to redouble their efforts at finding a solution to the problems of the Middle East. He also noted that the Lord sustains the efforts of those who never tire of working for reconciliation and peace.

Story 3:
Ten of Europe’s 47 states have joined Italy in petitioning the European Court of Human Rights to overturn its decision in the Lautsi case, in which the court ruled that the display of a crucifix in a classroom is contrary to parents’ right to educate their children in line with their convictions and to children’s right to freedom of religion. No European state intends to file an amicus curiae brief in support of the decision. In addition to Italy, however.

Story 4:
Almost 50 organizations funded by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development remain involved in activities directly opposed to Catholic moral and social teachings, according to a June first statement by Reform CCHD Now. The coalition announced that a detailed report documenting these activities has been mailed to every bishop and diocesan pro-life director in the United States.

Story 5:
Miami's Archbishop Thomas Wenski said that Catholics should advance Church social teachings "coherently and unapologetically" in public affairs at his installation Mass yesterday.

The new archbishop warned that quote "a radically secular world view wishes to reduce faith toe the realm of the private and the subjective" unquote. Catholics must resist that pressure, he said, and put forward arguments that, while founded on the Christian Scriptures, is also accessible to human reason. While admitting that Catholic social teaching can seem complex, Archbishop Wenski said that its fundamental thrust can be simply summarized by the phrase: "Man is not the problem."

This is Catholic Information News.

Story 6:
The archbishop of New York is urging priests to remember that their vocation is an identity, not simply a career, and thus it must be lived with holiness. Archbishop Timothy Dolan affirmed this in a lecture he gave last Thursday at St. Patrick's College in Maynooth, marking the Year for Priests, which will end June 11. The conference is also offering on its Web site a special feature video with an additional interview with Archbishop Dolan, excerpts of the address, and other images from the event.

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I’m Bryan Douglas, CIR NEWS, for Catholic Information Radio.]]> General http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php?entry=entry100602-175553 Ava Puma and Bryan Boyle Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:55:53 GMT http://www.avemariablog.org/comments.php?y=10&m=06&entry=entry100602-175553 http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php?entry=entry100527-173457 Click on link in the top box under Catholic Information Network at the right to listen. This will open up a new window with an embedded player.

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Lead:
An international coalition of pro-life activists and Catholic scholars has joined in a statement of support for Bishop Thomas Olmstead of Phoenix, who has drawn the predictable heavy secular press criticism for his condemnation of an abortion performed at a Catholic hospital. The group noted that they are also aware of the hostility toward Bishop Olmsted created by a media dedicated to watering down Catholic teaching, praising the prelate for his defense of truth and life.

The statement came as a liberal New York Times columnist blasted Bishop Olmsted in particular, and the Catholic Church in general, for being what he said was "moral obtuseness" in the case. The columnist cited several supporters of Sister Margaret McBride, an ethicist at the hospital who incurred automatic excommunication by approving the abortion. The Times columnist did not bother to include the views of any Catholic who upheld the Church teaching that the deliberate killing of a human being can never be justified. Instead he quoted a doctor who defended the operation.

Signatories of the International Declaration of Support featured multiple members of the Pontifical Academy for Life and other signatories included Austin Ruse, president of Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute; Steven Mosher, president of Population Research Institute, and Dr. Jan Hemstad, president-elect of Catholic Medical Association.

I’ll be back with more after this.
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Story 2:
Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey has renewed his complaint that the Obama administration is illegally funding a campaign in favor of a new proposed constitution for Kenya. The Obama administration has committed $2 million to support efforts to obtain ratification of the Kenyan document. But US federal law stipulates that no foreign-aid funds "may be used to lobby for or against abortion," and the acceptance of abortion is a key point in dispute over ratification of the Kenyan constitution. The Catholic bishops of Kenya have said the proposed constitution is “fundamentally flawed” because it paves the way for abortion on demand and also specially recognizes Muslim civil courts. At present Kenyan law allows abortion only to save the life of the mother.

Story 3:
An Islamic scholar in India has said that the issuance of dozens of fatwas by militant Muslim clerics-- including many aimed at women who do not wear the prescribed veils, reflects an outdated understanding of the Qu'ran. Ashgar Ali Engineer of the Centre for the Study of Society and Secularism said that a "cultural and religious revolution" is needed to change popular perceptions of Islam.

Story 4:
In an interview with Chicago Public Radio, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Perry recounted the discrimination suffered by Father Augustus Tolton (1854-97), the first African-American diocesan priest in the United States. Bishop Perry said that 1,500 people, 1,000 of them white, attended Father Tolton’s first Mass in Quincy, Illinois. After a white priest became jealous of his popularity, however, Father Tolton was transferred to Chicago, where he was put in charge of a parish for African-Americans.

Story 5:
Two canon lawyers have weighed in on an attempt to sue the Vatican for sexual abuse by a priest, saying it misconstrues the nature of the Catholic Church and the relationship between the Pope and other Catholic bishops. It is based on the misperception of the Church as a “monolithic” structure, one said. The lawsuit, named Doe v. Holy See, was filed in 2002 on behalf of a man who claimed he was sexually abused by a priest in Oregon in the mid-1960s. The priest had previously been accused of abusing children in Ireland and Chicago.

This is Catholic Information News.

Story 6:
The president of Italy's episcopal conference says the two most important problems facing the nation are the "demographic winter" and unemployment. Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, archbishop of Genoa, said this Tuesday when he opened the conference's plenary assembly. He warned about a "slow demographic suicide to which Italy is headed." More than 50% of Italian families today do not have children and among those that do, almost half have only one child, the rest have two. Only 5.1% of families have three or more children. "Because of this, an urgent policy is needed that is oriented to children, which is geared henceforth to a balanced generational change-over," the prelate stressed.

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I’m Bryan Douglas, CIR NEWS, for Catholic Information Radio.]]> General http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php?entry=entry100527-173457 Ava Puma and Bryan Boyle Thu, 27 May 2010 21:34:57 GMT http://www.avemariablog.org/comments.php?y=10&m=05&entry=entry100527-173457 http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php?entry=entry100525-175048 Click on link in the top box under Catholic Information Network at the right to listen. This will open up a new window with an embedded player.

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Lead:
Cardinal Julian Herranz, the president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, expressed sadness this week over those who “vilify” priests by generalizing cases of sexual abuse among the clergy.

Speaking to journalists this week, Cardinal Herranz said that the cases are profoundly sad and are the most serious crimes that can be committed by a priest. It is this fact which causes great sorrow to the Holy Father, because it means a priest is betraying his vocation and bringing hurt to many souls.

Nevertheless, he pointed out, only a small number of priests are involved in such cases, statistics do not even equal one percent.” For this reason, he lamented those who seek to tarnish the image of the Catholic priesthood and who in part are succeeding with the help of many in the media.

The intention vilifies the other 99 percent of priests faithful to their vocation, who with great generosity and desire, do the best they can for souls.” They “are working throughout the world and helping so many people in need and those marginalized in society,” the cardinal noted.

He also pointed out the image of the priesthood and the Church must not be tarnished because of the “detestable crimes” of a few of her members.

I’ll be back with more after this.
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Story 2:
The Pontifical Council for Culture has joined with an Italian biotech firm, NeoStem, in a joint effort to promote public recognition of the medical potential for use of adult stem cells. The initiative will "develop educational programs, publications and academic courses with an interdisciplinary approach. The joint effort is intended to encourage stem-cell research using stem cells taken from licit sources. At the same time, the Pontifical Council for Culture and NeoStem will seek to raise public awareness of the fact that the most promising developments in stem-cell research have involved tissues taken from adult sources.

Story 3:
A three-judge court in Kenya has ruled against official acceptance of the Islamic system of kadhi court. The kadhi courts, which are intended for use only by Muslims, apply the principles of shari'a law. The Kenyan judges ruled that the application of religious law to civil affairs is inappropriate in a secular country. The issue of Islamic courts has been a contentious point in the country's new proposed constitution. The Christian church in Kenya brought the case to court six years ago.

Story 4:
Responding to recent insinuations in the British press that Cardinal John Henry Newman was gay and was an intellectual forefather of today’s dissenters from Catholic teaching, Father Ian Ker, the author of the definitive biography of Newman, says that there is “irrefutable evidence of Newman’s heterosexuality.” The idea that Newman was a homosexual because of his friendship with Ambrose St. John comes from “the twentieth century, when the concept of friendship died.” Father Ker said.

Story 5:
Less than two weeks after Diocese of Burlington agreed to pay over $20 million to settle 29 lawsuits alleging the sexual abuse of minors by priests, the diocese has agreed to sell its historic 32-acre headquarters to Burlington College for an undisclosed sum. The property was recently put up for sale for $12.5 million. The diocese, which also is advertising its 26.5-acre Camp Holy Cross along Colchester's Malletts Bay for $7.5 million, limited its response to a short written statement. The college, according to its web site, is an “independent, progressive, liberal arts college” with 180 students.

This is Catholic Information News.

Story 6:
In an historic meeting, representatives of the Catholic Church in Cuba spoke with President Raul Castro about the release of political prisoners, among other items. The archbishop of Havana, Cardinal Jaime Ortega, gave a press conference on Thursday in which he reported on the meeting with President Castro, the first of its kind since Raul replaced his brother Fidel as head of the Cuban government. The conclusions of the meeting, regarded as positive by the Church leaders, point to the eventual release of political prisoners. Relations between the Vatican and the Castro regime improved after John Paul II's visit to Cuba in 1998, when he held a meeting with the former head of state, Fidel Castro.

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I’m Bryan Douglas, CIR NEWS, for Catholic Information Radio.]]> General http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php?entry=entry100525-175048 Ava Puma and Bryan Boyle Tue, 25 May 2010 21:50:48 GMT http://www.avemariablog.org/comments.php?y=10&m=05&entry=entry100525-175048 http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php?entry=entry100521-175026 Click on link in the top box under Catholic Information Network at the right to listen. This will open up a new window with an embedded player.

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Lead:
Pope Benedict XVI underlined the mutual interests of the Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches, and the need for ecumenical cooperation in Europe, in a brief address on May 20 after a concert of Russian music.

At the end of the concert, which was part of the initiative entitled Days of Russian Culture and Spirituality in the Vatican, the Holy Father listened to a message sent by Patriarch Kirill and was greeted by Archbishop Hilarion, president of the Department for External Church Affairs of the Patriarchate of Moscow and composer of one of the pieces played during the concert. The Pope then delivered a brief address, .touching on at first of the music, then more generally of the challenges that face the world's two largest Christian bodies.

He expressed the thought there is, in fact, a close and fundamental bond between Russian music and liturgical chant. It is in the liturgy and from the liturgy that a large part of the artistic creativity of Russian musicians is released and expressed, giving life to masterpieces which deserve to be better known in the West.

Echoing a theme that Russian Orthodox leaders have frequently explored, he called for all Christians, Catholic and Orthodox, to work together to restore European appreciation for its Christian cultural heritage.

I’ll be back with more after this.
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Story 2:
Top Church officials have reacted cautiously to the announcement that a scientist has synthesized a living cell, using man-made DNA. The announcement by researcher J. Craig Venter has prompted discussions about man-made forms of life. Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, the president of the Italian bishops' conference, had a similar reaction. While welcoming any genuine scientific breakthrough, he said, the Church would insist that any advance must be "measured against the ethical dimension, which has at its heart the true dignity of every person."

Story 3:
Three Protestant churches and a pastor’s home were demolished on May 15 and 19 in Kano state in northern Nigeria after a local Shari’a court consented to their destruction. An official of Christian Solidarity Worldwide said that the demolitions violate Nigeria’s constitutional and international legal undertakings to uphold religious freedom and freedom of assembly. The Nigerian constitution stipulates that non-Muslims cannot be brought before Shari’a courts unless they have agreed to this in advance and in writing.

Story 4:
Having completed his term as president of the Catholic University of America, Msgr. David O'Connell met with Cardinal Zenon Gro she low ski, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, to discuss his concerns about the loss of a distinctive Catholic identity in Church-sponsored institutions of higher learning in America. The focus of Msgr. O'Connell's concern was the "Land O Lakes statement," signed in 1967 by a group of Catholic university leaders, proclaiming their autonomy from the hierarchy.

Story 5:
The Family Research Council released a new study on Thursday, detailing how women who grow up without their biological parents are more likely to engage in homosexual conduct as adults versus women who were raised with both a father and a mother. The data for the study was drawn from 2002 statistics on 7,643 women between the ages of 14 and 44, provided by the National Survey of Family Growth, which was conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Analysis of the statistics was overseen by Dr. Fagan as well as Fr. Paul Sullins from the Department of Sociology at Catholic University.

This is Catholic Information News.

Story 6:
Brazilian Congresswoman Fatima Pelaes shared her personal testimony on the floor of the Brazilian House of Representatives during a vote on a measure that would protect the unborn from abortion. She told lawmakers that her mother was a victim of rape and decided to let her live rather than kill her through abortion. When she finished her remarks, the Defense of Life movement in Porto Allegre reported that “Everyone was moved and in tears. On Wednesday, Brazil’s House of Representatives passed the measure that grants legal protection to the unborn. It now will go before the Senate.

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And that’s top news of the hour.
I’m Bryan Douglas, CIR NEWS, for Catholic Information Radio.]]> General http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php?entry=entry100521-175026 Ava Puma and Bryan Boyle Fri, 21 May 2010 21:50:26 GMT http://www.avemariablog.org/comments.php?y=10&m=05&entry=entry100521-175026 http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php?entry=entry100520-125650 Click on link in the top box under Catholic Information Network at the right to listen. This will open up a new window with an embedded player.

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Here’s news, on the hour, from Catholic Information Radio.
I’m Bryan Douglas in Philadelphia, and at this hour….
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Lead:
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has pulled out of the left-leaning Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition that lobbies against pro-life and pro-family legislation and boasts leading pro-abortion and homosexual groups among its members.

The break was confirmed in a release sent to LifeSiteNews by Sister Mary Ann Walsh, USCCB Director of Media Relations, on Wednesday afternoon.

The release stated that the bishops withdrew following the group's published support for the pro-abortion Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, which was pointed out earlier this week by Deal Hudson of Catholic Advocate magazine.

In withdrawing from the coalition, the USCCB reiterated its commitment to oppose discrimination based on race, religion, sex, ethnicity, disabling condition, or age, and said that these are grave injustices and affronts to human dignity.

Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre NY did not address the activities of the coalition, instead saying only that the bishops ended their relationship because in recent years the organization has joined others in advocating or opposing nominees for the Supreme Court, a practice which clearly contradicts USCCB policy and compromises the principled positions of the bishops.”

I’ll be back with more after this.
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Story 2:
Pope Benedict XVI welcomed the first ambassador from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the Holy See on May 20, saying that the Vatican hopes for religious freedom especially for guest workers there. The Holy Father told the ambassador, Hissa al-Otaiba, that the UAE deserves credit for receiving many hundreds of thousands of foreigners coming to seek work and a more secure financial future for themselves and for their families, and saluted the UAE for allowing the construction of several Catholic churches to serve the foreign workers,

Story 3:
Australian senator Nick Xenophon has called on the Catholic Church to remove the sanctity of the confessional for child abuse cases. The senator said yesterday it was wrong, in light of complaints that the Archbishop of Adelaide, Phillip Wilson, mishandled and covered up alleged sexual abuse by clergymen in the 1970s and 80s, for the confessional to be exempt from mandatory reporting laws. Archbishop Wilson has not spoken publicly about allegations he was involved in a "conspiracy of silence" about the incidents in the diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

Story 4:
Bishop J. Peter Sartain of Joliet has removed Father Jerry Simonelli from his pastorate because he engaged in homosexual activity. A 21-year-old man had accused Father Simonelli of inappropriate conduct that took place more than two years ago. The office of the DuPage County State's Attorney did not find enough evidence to warrant criminal charges. A separate diocesan investigation found that Father Simonelli had engaged in an additional homosexual relationship. Bishop Sartain’s executive assistant said Father Simonelli, whose parish numbered more than 9,000, quote “He was unfaithful to his vows on more than one occasion.” unquote

Story 5:
In response to the media firestorm over the Archdiocese of Boston contradicting the decision of a local Catholic elementary school to cancel the admission of the child of a same-sex couple, Cardinal Sean O'Malley condemned criticism of the school's priest who made the initial decision and outlined the need for the archdiocese to “formulate policies” with clearer guidelines. He explained the Archdiocese recognizes that, regardless of the circumstances involved, there is a responsibility to teach the truths of the faith, including those concerning sexual morality and marriage.”

This is Catholic Information News.

Story 6:
The Vatican announced today that the Holy Father will visit and bless a restored statue of Mary that overlooks the city of Rome this summer. The Virgin, which was created in thanks for the city being peacefully liberated from the Nazis during World War II, was damaged in a storm last year. In 1953, the statue was placed on a hill near the Vatican in a part of Rome called Monte Mario to remember the intercession of the Virgin Mary in securing the peaceful liberation of the city from Nazi occupants during World War II. The statue was designed by a Jewish sculptor named Arrigo Minerbi, who was protected by the Church during the War.

(roll theme and establish)
And that’s top news of the hour.
I’m Bryan Douglas, CIR NEWS, for Catholic Information Radio.]]> General http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php?entry=entry100520-125650 Ava Puma and Bryan Boyle Thu, 20 May 2010 16:56:50 GMT http://www.avemariablog.org/comments.php?y=10&m=05&entry=entry100520-125650 http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php?entry=entry100519-133122 Click on link in the top box under Catholic Information Network at the right to listen. This will open up a new window with an embedded player.

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(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:
A religious sister who was on a Catholic hospital panel that approved a direct abortion has excommunicated herself, the Diocese of Phoenix announced yesterday. While one of the hospital’s doctors has defended the sister, a Catholic ethicist says direct abortion is a “crime” against the unborn child who is killed.

The abortion took place late last year at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. The mother was 11 weeks pregnant and was seriously ill with pulmonary hypertension, a condition worsened by pregnancy, according to the Washington Post.

An ethics committee which included doctors and hospital administrator Sr. Margaret McBride ruled that the abortion was necessary. Sr. McBride has been reassigned from her job as vice president of the hospital.

The Catholic News Agency spoke with Dr. John Haas, president of the Philadelphia-based National Catholic Bioethics Center, who related that many physicians have told him that one “almost never” encounters a situation in modern medicine in which a life would have to be sacrificed to safe another. he explained there are always interventions possible to treat underlying illnesses or pathology that the mother is suffering, but one cannot justify or directly take the life of an innocent child.

I’ll be back with more after this.
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Story 2:
As controversy swirls around the Archdiocese of Boston's decision to undermine a pastor who denied enrollment in a Catholic elementary school to a lesbian couple's child, Dale O'Leary, a noted Catholic author and international lecturer, is defending the Catholic Church's right to protect what she calls “the best interests of all the children.” O'Leary argues that the Catholic Church cannot and will not compromise on Church teachings or “hide the truth.” Because of this, she notes, an awkward and potentially harmful situation for same-sex couples seeking admission for their children in Catholic schools may emerge.

Story 3:
In response to an openly homosexual woman being named a bishop in the Episcopal Church last Saturday, Anglican leaders from around the world decried the action as gravely wrong, with some adding that the move has “hurt and alienated” many within the Episcopal community.

This recent move by the Episcopal church in the U.S. has caused tremendous controversy within the global Anglican church, prompting Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams to issue a statement of caution when the announcement of Glasspool's selection was first made last year.

Story 4:
In an interview with L’Osservatore Romano, Italian physician Renato Buzzonetti, recounted his relationship and experiences with John Paul II as his personal physician from 1978 until his death. Among other things, he recalled details about the May 13, 1981 assassination attempt on the late Pope and his willingness to embrace suffering in the last moments of his life. Despite all of the pain, the doctor said, the Holy Father “never asked for sedatives, not even in his final stages.

Story 5:
On Sunday, the Holy Father was greeted by a crowd of 200 thousand in St. Peter’s Square for the Regina Coeli. Officials credited the enormous response up to a great love of the Pope and his commitment to ridding the Catholic Church of sin. After leading the Marian prayer from the window of his apartment above the crowd, the Holy Father told the faithful that we must quote "be strongly rooted in God, solid in the good, in love and in service to combat the sin within the Church and in the rest of the world” unquote.

This is Catholic Information News.

Story 6:
BP America, a subsidiary of the petroleum giant whose underwater well is leaking millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, has announced a combined $1 million donation to Catholic Charities in Louisiana to support emergency food assistance and financial aid for families affected by the environmental disaster. The Archdiocese of New Orleans said that the Catholic Church has been active in relief efforts through its Catholic Charities organization. Catholic Charities co-president Jim Kelly reported that the agency had committed a minimum of $300,000 in resources before BP’s offer.

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And that’s top news of the hour.
I’m Bryan Douglas, CIR NEWS, for Catholic Information Radio.]]> General http://www.avemariablog.org/index.php?entry=entry100519-133122 Ava Puma and Bryan Boyle Wed, 19 May 2010 17:31:22 GMT http://www.avemariablog.org/comments.php?y=10&m=05&entry=entry100519-133122