WASHINGTON (CNS) --- A U.S. bishops' pro-life official gave high marks to a bill introduced in the U.S. Senate in December that would provide resources and support to pregnant women. "The bill will empower pregnant women to make healthy choices for themselves and their children, born and unborn," said Deirdre McQuade, director of planning and information in the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities. Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life of America, the group that helped craft the legislation, said it is designed to reduce the number of abortions by aiding women who feel they have no other option. The Pregnant Women's Support Act was introduced by Sen. Robert Casey, D-Pa. It mirrors nearly identical legislation introduced in the House earlier in 2007. The act would ensure that pregnant women are not denied coverage by insurance companies; establish a toll-free number for resources during pregnancy and after birth; and provide parenting education in maternity group homes.
Catholics move to end Illinois funds for embryonic stem-cell research
ROMEOVILLE, Ill. (CNS) --- In light of new scientific evidence demonstrating how primitive stem cells can be created without destroying human embryos, the Catholic Conference of Illinois is pushing for new legislation to end state-sanctioned funding of embryonic stem-cell research through the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute. "Human embryos should not be used in any type of research, and that should be in the law," said Zach Wichmann, associate director of education for the conference, the public policy arm for the state's Catholic bishops. In addition to being immoral, he said, there is no scientific reason to continue using embryos. "We think now that science has progressed to a point where it seems that embryonic stem-cell research is no longer necessary --- that we can ban that procedure," Wichmann told the Catholic Explorer, Joliet diocesan newspaper, in a telephone interview from his Springfield office. Recently two research studies independently confirmed that ordinary skin cells can be genetically reprogrammed to work as effectively as embryonic stem cells.
Bishop praises New Jersey lawmakers for vote to abolish death penalty
WASHINGTON (CNS) --- Bishop John M. Smith of Trenton, N.J., said Dec. 14 he was pleased New Jersey legislators voted to abolish the death penalty, but said he would not have a "triumphalist attitude about it" because capital punishment is such a sensitive issue. Members of the General Assembly voted Dec. 13 to end the death penalty in their state, four days after the measure was approved by the state Senate. Gov. Jon Corzine signed it into law Dec. 17. In remarks at the state capitol, Corzine said the decision to abolish the death penalty in the state demonstrated that "New Jersey is truly evolving." He said a fundamental argument against the death penalty is for society to "determine if its endorsement of violence begets violence, and if violence undermines our commitment to the sanctity of life." The governor also issued an order to commute the sentences of the eight men on the state's death row to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He thanked advocacy groups, naming the New Jersey Catholic Conference and the American Civil Liberties Union among others, for their efforts "that put pressure on those of us in public service to stand up and do the right thing."
Pope says joy of Christmas season comes from Jesus' presence
VATICAN CITY (CNS) --- Consecrating a new parish church, blessing figurines of the baby Jesus and reciting the Angelus with visitors in St. Peter's Square, Pope Benedict XVI said the joy of the season comes from knowing Jesus is present among people and can work through them. The pope began Dec. 16 by blessing Rome's new Our Lady of the Rosary Church, sprinkling the building with holy water, filling its corners with incense smoke and anointing its altar with oil. While the third Sunday of Advent, called Gaudete Sunday, includes a special invitation to rejoice, he said, "in truth, all of Advent is a call to joy because 'the Lord is coming,' because he comes to save us." Preparing for Christmas, the pope said, the Mass readings "constantly repeat that we must wake from the sleep of habit and mediocrity; we must abandon sadness and discouragement; we must strengthen our hearts because the Lord is near."
Pope advances sainthood cause of 6-year-old Italian girl
VATICAN CITY (CNS) --- Pope Benedict XVI has advanced the sainthood cause of a 6-year-old Italian girl who wrote letters to Jesus in the final stages of her illness. If she is eventually canonized, Antonietta Meo would become the youngest nonmartyr saint to be recognized under modern saint-making procedures. The girl, known by the nickname "Nennolina," lived in Rome in the 1930s and had bone cancer. When she was 5, one of her legs had to be amputated, and she bore it cheerfully, saying she connected it with Jesus' suffering. As her disease worsened, she dictated poems or letters to God, Jesus and Mary. She died five months before her seventh birthday, and the letters were later cited as the record of a young mystic. On Dec. 17 the pope approved a decree affirming the heroic virtues of the girl. If a miracle is attributed to her intercession, she could be beatified. Recognition of another miracle is needed for canonization.
Church official says Christians will keep their hold on the Holy Land
VATICAN CITY (CNS) --- Despite severe economic challenges and political tensions, Christians in Israel and the Palestinian territories will continue to hold on to the Holy Land "with our fingernails," if need be, said the head of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land. While the number of Catholics in Israel remains stable, the number of Christians in the Palestinian territories and the surrounding lands continues to plummet, said Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, superior of more than 300 Franciscans who provide pastoral care at the Christian holy sites. The Franciscan spoke with journalists at the Vatican Dec. 17 in conjunction with the release of "Terra Sancta: Guardians of Salvation's Sources," a three-hour DVD about the Franciscan Custody dubbed in eight languages, including English, Spanish and Arabic. Father Pizzaballa said there were about 120,000 Christians left in Israel and the Palestinian territories; about half of them are Catholic and the vast majority are Palestinians.
Chinese bishop released after nearly four months of being detained
ZHENGDING, China (CNS) --- After nearly four months of detention, Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo of Zhengding has been released. Bishop Jia is not registered with the Chinese government and has been detained numerous times in past years. Catholic sources in the Zhengding Diocese told the Asian church news agency UCA News that the 72-year-old bishop arrived at his cathedral in Wuqiu village, in Hebei province, Dec. 14. The village is near Shijiazhuang, Hebei's capital, more than 160 miles southwest of Beijing. According to one source, Bishop Jia's family made numerous requests for his release because the uncle of the bishop is seriously ill. With Christmas approaching, the source added, the bishop reportedly also asked the local government many times to release him so that he can celebrate the major church feast day at his cathedral. The source also quoted a government official as saying Bishop Jia will again be detained after a few days because he needs to undergo a "learning session," but the official did not specify whether that would be before or after Christmas. |