WASHINGTON (CNS) --- An effort to withhold U.S. family planning funds from Planned Parenthood of America failed in the House of Representatives July 24 by a vote of 183 in favor and 247 opposed. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., had proposed the amendment to the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations bill for fiscal year 2010. The bill passed later that day by a vote of 264-153. "The largest abortion provider in America should not also be the largest recipient of federal funding under Title X, as I believe a majority of the American people would attest," Pence said in remarks on the House floor July 24. "The time has come to deny all federal funding to Planned Parenthood of America." Title X of the Public Health Services Act provides federal grants to programs that provide comprehensive family planning and related preventive health care services. Pence noted that current law and regulations prohibit the use of Title X money to directly fund abortions. "But there's no question that money that Planned Parenthood receives for its operational expenses from the federal government frees up resources that can be used to provide and promote abortions through its abortion clinics," he said. "Common sense teaches no other idea."

Obama's nominee to be ambassador to Vatican faces Senate committee
WASHINGTON (CNS) --- U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., described theology professor Miguel Diaz as someone capable of narrowing gaps between communities and called his life a "modern-day immigrant success story." She made the comments July 22 during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings for several of President Barack Obama's ambassador nominees. Diaz is Obama's pick to be U.S. ambassador to the Vatican. The nominations will have to be confirmed by the full Senate. If confirmed, Diaz will be the ninth U.S. ambassador to the Vatican. He is a professor in the theology departments at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn., and at St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn. He also is a member of the faculty at the graduate School of Theology at St. John's University. U.S. Sen. Robert Casey, D-Pa., introduced Diaz as well as the president's nominees for ambassador to Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands. In his remarks, Diaz said he intends to "further the cause of peace by respectfully listening and learning from others." Originally from Cuba, he said the experience of living in two cultures will aid him in his efforts to build links between the U.S. and the Vatican.

After 503 years, Vatican Museums open doors to public at night
VATICAN CITY (CNS) --- For the first time in half a millennium, the doors of the Vatican Museums were open to the public at night. Some 6,500 people took advantage of the after-hours event July 24. More than 5,000 people reserved a spot online ahead of time as required, but the museums let in another 1,400 visitors who hadn't made the compulsory booking. Just 40 minutes after the doors opened at 7 p.m., about 2,600 people had pushed through the turnstiles, reported the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano. For the next four hours, visitors could wander through the Raphael Rooms, the Sistine Chapel, and the corridors of the museums and galleries of the Apostolic Library, as well as other areas of the museums. In one of the courtyards, the museums also offered live Renaissance-era music and dance during the special initiative. The last time the museums were opened to the public at night was 503 years ago. The director of the Vatican Museums, Antonio Paolucci, spearheaded the nighttime initiative as a way to give Rome residents a chance to see a part of their heritage and identity, he told Vatican Radio July 24.

Pope confirms visit to Shroud of Turin
VATICAN CITY (CNS) --- Pope Benedict XVI confirmed his intention to visit the Shroud of Turin when it goes on public display in Turin's cathedral April 10-May 23, 2010. Cardinal Severino Poletto of Turin, papal custodian of the Shroud of Turin, visited the pope July 26 in Les Combes, Italy, where the pope was spending part of his vacation. The Alpine village is about 85 miles from Turin. The cardinal gave the pope the latest news concerning preparations for next year's public exposition of the shroud and the pope "confirmed his intention to go to Turin for the occasion," said the Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, in a written statement July 27. The specific date of the papal visit has yet to be determined, the priest added. The last time the Shroud of Turin was displayed to the public was in 2000 for the jubilee year. The shroud is removed from a specially designed protective case only for very special spiritual occasions, and its removal for study or display to the public must be approved by the pope. The shroud underwent major cleaning and restoration in 2002.

Canadian bishop urges Catholics to fight plan to ease euthanasia laws
OTTAWA (CNS) --- The president of the Canadian bishops' conference is urging Catholics to fight legislative efforts to ease laws governing euthanasia and assisted suicide. Archbishop V. James Weisgerber of Winnipeg, Manitoba, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, also asked Catholics to contact their members of the Canadian Parliament to express their views on the issues. Parliament is in recess for the summer. "Euthanasia and assisted suicide are the antithesis to what should be at the heart of human civilization: trust, respect, concern and solidarity, based on reverence for all human life," the archbishop wrote in a July 17 letter to his fellow Canadian prelates. He suggested that they invite Catholics to become informed about euthanasia and assisted suicide and join with other faith groups and organizations in opposing efforts to change the current law. Archbishop Weisgerber described the matter as urgent in light of bill introduced in Parliament that would amend Canada's criminal code to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Irish dioceses take precautions as swine flu slowly spreads
DUBLIN, Ireland (CNS) --- As swine flu begins to spread in Ireland, Catholics are being given wide-ranging advice about the precautions they should take to avoid contracting the illness. In the Cork and Ross Diocese and the Derry Diocese, at either end of the country, priests have been told to ask their congregations not to shake hands during the sign of peace at Mass. The practice has been suspended in many other parishes throughout the country, even though no formal advice has been given by other diocesan authorities. In the Ferns Diocese, however, shaking hands at the sign of peace has not been suspended. "We consulted with the Health Service Executive regarding the issue and the current position is there is no need to suspend the practice," a diocesan spokesman said. "The Diocese of Ferns respects this advice and, at present, there is no plan to change the current practice." However, the spokesman said, the diocese is aware of health officials' concerns about the dangers that people with flu symptoms pose if they attend Mass or other church services.

Vatican laicizes ex-spiritual director to Medjugorje visionaries
LONDON (CNS) --- Pope Benedict XVI has laicized a Franciscan priest who served as the spiritual adviser to the Marian visionaries in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The pontiff, in a document issued "motu proprio" (on his own initiative), returned Father Tomislav Vlasic to the lay state and dispensed him from his religious vows as a member of the Order of Friars Minor. Vlasic was confined to a Franciscan monastery in L'Aquila, Italy, in February 2008 after he refused to cooperate in a Vatican investigation of his activities for suspected heresy and schism. He also was being investigated for "the diffusion of dubious doctrine, manipulation of consciences, suspected mysticism, disobedience towards legitimately issued orders and charges contra sextum (against the Sixth Commandment not to commit adultery)," as stated in the interdict signed by Cardinal William J. Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. According to the congregation, all the charges against Vlasic were "in the context of the Medjugorje phenomenon."

Three U.S.-based theologians reappointed to international commission
VATICAN CITY (CNS) --- Three theologians who teach in the United States were appointed to second terms on the International Theological Commission, an advisory board to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The three, appointed to new five-year terms by Pope Benedict XVI July 25, are: Sister Sara Butler, a member of the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity, who teaches dogmatic theology at the New York Archdiocese's St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers; Nigerian Father Peter Damian Akpunonu, a professor of biblical exegesis at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Chicago; and British Msgr. Paul McPartlan, a professor of systematic theology and ecumenism at The Catholic University of America in Washington. In 2004 Sister Butler and Barbara Hallensleben, a German laywoman who teaches dogmatic theology at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, became the first women named to the International Theological Commission. Hallensleben also was appointed to a second term July 25.

Mexico jails alleged cartel gunman implicated in cardinal's murder
MEXICO CITY (CNS) --- An alleged drug-cartel gunman implicated in the 1993 murder of Cardinal Juan Posadas Ocampo of Guadalajara, Mexico, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after being found guilty of weapons-related offenses. The office of Mexican Attorney General Medina Mora said in a July 26 statement that Alfredo Araujo Avila --- known as "El Popeye" --- was convicted of possessing a cache of illegal weapons. The weapons used in the cardinal's slaying were among those found in Araujo's possession, the statement said. Araujo was arrested Jan. 25, 2008, in Tijuana, where he allegedly worked as a gunman for one of the city's numerous drug cartels. He also has been charged with the murder of a local newspaper editor. The conviction marks one of the few developments in the case, which Catholic officials said has been characterized by inept investigations and a lack of political will to uncover the truth. The murder ushered in immense social and political change in western Mexico, but still provokes outrage nationwide 16 years later. The case long has been the domain of conspiracy theories. Araujo is currently the only person implicated in the murder to be sentenced to prison.