The
president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting
Christian Unity calls the document on the nature
of the Church, published by the doctrinal congregation,
an 'invitation to dialogue.' The June 29 document
'Responses to some Questions Regarding Certain
Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church' from
the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
caused an initial 'heated reaction among Protestant
Christians,' Cardinal William Kasper said. But
he hopes 'a second, more peaceful reading could
show that the document is not saying anything
new, but explains, in a synthetic way, the position
of the Catholic Church.' In a statement released
to ZENIT, Cardinal Kasper stated: 'This is not
a new development and therefore there is no
reason for resentment or to feel as if they
have been treated offhandedly. Dialogue presupposes
clarity on differing positions.'
After
the document's publication, Pastor Thomas Wipf,
president of the Community of Protestant Churches
in Europe -- with 105 Lutheran, Reformed, United,
Methodist member churches on the continent --
declared that 'this kind of document sends the
wrong signals. The challenges of this world
call out for churches to work together. Communion
is not an ideal, it is our task,' he added,
according to the NEV evangelical news agency.
ICN-News reported a reaction from the secretary-general
of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches,
Setri Nyomi, who wrote to Cardinal Kasper, 'Let
us pray so that the Catholic Church gets beyond
exclusivist pretexts, so that the cause for
Christian unity may go forward.' However, Cardinal
Kasper affirmed that 'ecumenism from 'defined
positions,'' has been requested from Protestants
as well. 'Now, the present declaration puts
forth the Catholic position, that is to say,
that which from the Catholic point of view still
divides us,' the president of the pontifical
council said. 'This does not limit dialogue,
but rather favours it.
An attentive reading of the text shows that
the document does not say that Protestant churches
are not churches, but that they are not churches
in the proper sense, that is, they are not churches
in the sense in which the Catholic Church defines
Church.' Cardinal Kasper affirmed that 'according
to Catholic doctrine,' as the document explains,
'these communities do not have apostolic succession
in the sacrament of holy orders, and therefore
lack an essential element of being a Church.'
He added: 'The so-called ecclesial communities,
that, because of the lack of ministerial priesthood,
have not conserved the genuine and integral
substance of the Eucharistic ministry, cannot,
according to Catholic doctrine, be called 'Churches'
in the true sense.' The declaration from the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 'shows
that we use the word Church, giving it a meaning
that is not fully equal,' the 74-year old cardinal
said. 'The declaration serves to give clarity
to the dialogue process,' Cardinal Kasper continued.
'Without a doubt, at the heart of dialogue there
is not that which divides us, but that which
unites us, which is greater than what divides
us. Therefore, the declaration is not a step
backward with respect to ecumenical progress
already achieved. […] It is an urgent invitation
to continue peaceful dialogue.' [Zenit] 1370.1
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United
Nations
The
dangers of ignoring the family
The
Catholic Family Institute (C-Fam) reports from
New York on an important annual meeting of UN
diplomats from the General Assembly hosted by
Brigham Young University and the World Family
Policy Center. Samantha Singson writes : 'Academics
and experts from around the world warned UN
delegates this week about the dangers of ignoring
the family in governmental policies and programs
while trying to achieve development. The delegates
were attending the World Family Policy Forum
hosted by Brigham Young University and the World
Family Policy Center.
'Dr.
Maria Sophia Aguirre of the Catholic University
of America presented a paper saying that 'healthy
families are essential for a country as they
have a direct impact on human, moral and social
capital, and therefore, on resource use, economic
activity and economic structures.' Aguirre's
research underscored both the economic consequences
of family breakdown. Abuse of women is 25 times
more likely to occur in an irregular family.
Men who have witnessed domestic violence are
3 times more likely to abuse their own wives
and children. Women and children living in broken
families have a higher probability of living
in poverty. The breakdown of the family thus
costs governments by increasing social welfares
expenditures.
'Aquirre studied the relationship of wealth
and family structure in Canada, Guatemala, and
the United States - three countries with very
different government systems - and found that
across the board, families with parents in stable
marriages did much better economically than
any other domestic arrangement in terms of net
wealth, savings, and property ownership.
'Other
presenters at the conference highlighted various
societal implications of family breakdown such
as the impact of divorce, the family in conflict
situations, the lack of paternal involvement
and its negative effect on children and the
demographic consequences of fewer marriages
and plummeting fertility.
'In
an address by satellite from Doha, Qatar, Professor
Richard Wilkins, founder of the World Family
Policy Center surmised, 'Despite the importance
of the family, not enough private, academic,
non-governmental and governmental energy has
gone into the imagination and creation of a
family-friendly modern world. This is an on-going
tragedy because substantial evidence suggests
that stable, well-functioning families are extraordinarily
successful in reducing and even eliminating
human suffering. The world needs policies to
strengthen the family.'
'The
World Family Policy Forum was established in
1999 as a yearly meeting of concerned United
Nations diplomats, opinion leaders, and scholars,
focusing on international family policy issues.
Participants discuss emerging trends on such
topics as the natural family, the United Nations,
human rights, marriage, gender, children's rights,
and sovereignty. Dozens of senior UN diplomats
attend each year.
'A
UN delegate and a first-time participant to
the World Family Policy Forum told the Friday
Fax, 'This conference has provided me with information
to bring back to the United Nations and will
serve to help my country and my delegation to
bring the family to the forefront of our policy
discussions.' [C-Fam] 1370.2
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Europe
Showdown
on the issue of same-sex 'marriage'
Sharon
Slater, President of Family Watch International,
writes : 'The stage is now set for a major
showdown on the issue of same-sex marriage in
Europe--a debate that has profound implications
for the very future of Europe. The precipitating
event will likely be Poland's firm rejection
last week of those portions of the Charter of
Fundamental Rights of the European Union that
prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual
preference.
Poland
takes this stand in direct defiance of a warning
issued last year by the Justice Minister of
the EU that countries which discriminated against
homosexuals, including prohibiting them from
legally marrying, faced sanctions by the EU
and the possibility of eventual expulsion. The
EU has already passed a resolution condemning
Poland's stand on homosexual 'rights' and related
issues.
However,
most of the 10 countries which joined the EU
in 2004, like Poland, do not provide any benefits
or recognition to same-sex couples, and Poland,
Latvia and Lithuania have specific constitutional
provisions prohibiting same-sex marriage. Even
in the very liberal Czech Republic, which has
a registered partnership law for same-sex couples,
a recent poll showed that public opposition
to legalizing same-sex marriage or allowing
homosexuals to adopt has increased significantly
in just two years. This is probably due to the
strong pro-family leadership of President Vaclav
Klaus.
While
some of the smaller countries may be easily
bullied by the EU, it will be much more difficult
with Poland, which is the sixth largest of the
27 EU countries.
This
looming debate over the value of traditional
marriage and other social issues such as protecting
unborn life, may well be the last, best hope
for many European societies to avoid their current
slide into oblivion.
Most
of Europe, including Eastern Europe, is in the
process of committing what one analyst has termed
'demographic suicide.' The fertility rates are
far below the 2.1 children per woman that simply
maintains population levels. Most of them, including
large countries such as Germany, Italy and Spain,
have dangerously low fertility rates. In fact,
as a UN population report recently pointed out,
some of these countries are experiencing fertility
rates that are the lowest in all of human history.
Declining
populations will cause major economic and social
disruptions as a shrinking number of young people
have to try to support an increasingly aging
population. This will be especially difficult
in many European countries because of currently
existing generous social welfare programs.
Although
there are a number of reasons for dramatic declines
in fertility rates, one thing is clear; legalizing
same-sex marriage will never be a part of the
solution. In fact, we can be pretty confident
that it would only make things worse. There
can be no doubt that a significant cause of
these declining fertility rates is the increasingly
liberal, secular and anti-any-true-values social
attitudes that pervades many of these countries.
Adopting
such a radical redefinition of the institution
of marriage further undermines what remains
of the traditional values and institutions that
are so critical to a healthy society, making
their future prospects for recovery even bleaker.
This
is why the courageous stand by Poland and some
of the other 10 new EU countries is so critical
to Europe's future.
If
the Poles, the Lithuanians, the Latvians and
others fold under the pressure that will increasingly
be brought to bear on them by the EU, then for
Europe, it would probably be 'game over.' But
I don't think they will.
I
had the chance to meet and hear from many Poles
and their leaders at the World Congress of Families
in Warsaw in May. (In fact, the primary reason
the Congress was held there was as a demonstration
of world support for the stands the Poles are
taking on marriage and family issues.) My sense
is that they are resolute and firmly committed
to traditional family values and institutions.
I do not think they will cave.
For
the sake of the future of Europe, let us support
the Poles in their courageous stand in defending
marriage and traditional family values. [Family
Watch International] 1370.3
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The
radical onslaught
Protection
from pornography
Many among our youth crave protection from pornography,
not access to it, says Bishop Paul Loverde.
Bishop Loverde of Arlington, Virginia, has received
many letters responding to his recent pastoral
letter, 'Bought With a Price: Pornography and
the Attack on the Living Temple of God.' 'The
mail I have received on this issue from Catholics
and others around the country gives me hope,
even as it confirms the gravity of the threat
this scourge poses to us all,' Bishop Loverde
told the National Catholic Register.
He explained: 'The scourge of pornography is
an immense multi-billion dollar industry that
annually pulls untold numbers of men, women
and youth down in its undertow. Some letters
have brought me to tears; others have filled
me with anger at the pornography industry and
sorrow at our own human condition, so prone
to sin, with the result that we unfortunately
even tolerate this evil. Still other letters
have brought hope,' the 66-year-old prelate
continued, 'as I have learned of the resolve
of many to seek real change, the sacrament of
confession, accountability and professional
healing.' [Zenit] 1370.4
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Contraception
Extract
from Casti Connubii para 57 in the light
of the Anglican Communion's decision to break
with millennia of Christian teaching concerning
contraception.
'(S)hould
any confessor or pastor of souls himself- which
God forbid! - lead in to error the faithful
committed to his care, or at least, by his approval
or by a misleading silence, confirm them in
holding such doctrines, then let him know that
he will have to render to God the sovereign
Judge a strict account of the betrayal of his
trust and must consider as addressed to himself
the words of Christ: 'They are blind and leaders
of the blind; and if the blind lead the blind,
both fall in to the pit. [Mt 15:4]
From
the CTS publication of the St. Robert Bellarmine
Society. P.10
'In
1601, Bellarmine was asked by Pope Clement VIII
to write On the Primary Duty of the Sovereign
Pontiff. The Pope said he wanted the plain
unvarnished truth, and he got it. The document
said that if the Pope took care to appoint the
right kind of bishops then he would be fulfilling
his primary duty, but if he neglected this he
would have to answer to God for the souls lost
in this way.
'This
consideration frightens me so much that there
is no one in the world I pity more than the
Pope,' wrote Bellarmine. Clement, a fine pope,
but inclined to favour his own family, replied
that he found consolation in the fact that even
our Lord, after a night of prayer, had chosen
Judas.'
This
makes it all the more interesting in the light
of the following apology from the Filipino bishops
to the faithful concerning fidelity to Catholic
teaching on responsible parenthood . . . It
said that when seeking ways of regulating births,
only 5% bof you consult God. In face of this
unfortunate fact, we your pastors have been
remiss: how few are there among you whom we
have reached. There have been some couples eager
to share their expertise and values on birth
regulation with others, They did not receive
adequate support from their priests. We did
not give them due attention, believing then
this ministry consisted merely of imparting
a technique best left to married couples' 1370.5
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Views
on homosexual 'rights'
Pro-homosexual
rights attitudes have reached high points this
year, according to a new United States poll,
with more Americans expressing tolerance. Today,
57 percent of the American public believes homosexuality
should be sanctioned as an acceptable alternative
lifestyle - the highest the Gallup Poll has
recorded since 1982. Also indicating higher
tolerance, 59 percent of Americans believe homosexual
relations should be legal. The Gallup Poll has
recorded a general increase over the past 20
years of those who believe homosexual relations
should be legal. The statistic reached an all-time
high in May 2003 at 60 percent but then fell
to 50 percent in July of that year and has remained
level through 2005. A June 2003 Supreme Court
decision that struck down a Texas law banning
homosexual sodomy appeared to have produced
a backlash of public opposition to homosexual
rights, the Gallup report noted.
The levelled trend began rising again last year
with 56 percent saying homosexual relations
should be legal and today, the statistic is
nearly at the record 60 percent mark. Revealing
a long-term increase in pro-homosexual rights
attitudes, 46 percent (up from 27 percent in
1996) believe same-sex couples should be recognized
by the law as valid with the same rights as
traditional marriages. And the percentage of
those who say they should not be recognized
by the law as valid fell from 68 percent in
1996 to 53 percent today. On the question of
morality, Americans were found to be nearly
evenly divided. Since 2001, the percentage of
those who say homosexual relations are morally
acceptable has increased from 40 percent to
47 percent. And for the first time in the 21st
century, less than the majority of Americans
say homosexual relations are morally wrong (49
percent).
Last
year, 51 percent said such relations are morally
wrong. At the same time, the majority of Americans
say sex between an unmarried man and woman (59
percent), divorce (65 percent), and having a
baby outside or marriage (54 percent) is morally
acceptable. As debates continue over the origin
or cause of homosexuality, the Gallup Poll found
that an increasing percentage of Americans believe
homosexuality is something a person is born
with. The poll showed 42 percent express such
a view compared to 13 percent in 1977. And the
percentage of Americans who believe homosexuality
is due to factors such as upbringing and environment
fell from 56 percent in 1977 to 35 percent today.
Among those who believe homosexuals are born
that way, 78 percent say homosexuality should
be considered an acceptable lifestyle. In contrast,
among those who believe homosexuality is caused
by upbringing or environmental factors, only
30 percent say it should be acceptable. Gallup's
results support other surveys that indicate
more open and accepting attitudes among today's
young adults. A recent Pew survey found 58 percent
of 18-25-year-olds say homosexuality should
be accepted.
The
Gallup Poll found younger Americans aged 18-34
years old (75 percent) are more likely to express
the same view than older Americans aged 55 years
and older (45 percent). Women (61 percent) are
also more likely than men (53 percent) to say
homosexuality should be an acceptable alternative
lifestyle, the poll further found. And highly
religious Americans who attend church weekly
(33 percent) are less likely to say it's an
acceptable lifestyle than those who seldom or
never attend church (74 percent). Results from
the Gallup Poll are based on telephone interviews
with 1,003 adults, aged 18 and older, conducted
May 10-13, 2007. [Family Watch International]
1370.6
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International
news
CANADA
'Marriage is good for you'
Two
recently released studies confirm once again
that marriage is good for you. A major study
released by Statistics Canada shows that the
breakup of a marriage creates a disproportionate
risk of depression for men, more so even than
for women. The study shows that marriage has
a myriad of core mental and physical health
benefits for men in particular. The statistics
indicate that being single is worse for a man's
life expectancy than moderate cigarette smoking.
Read more here. The second study published in
the Journal of Health and Social Behavior showed
that the moods of depressed people are enhanced
by marriage. [Family Watch International} 1370.7
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CHINA
Expulsion of foreign missionaries is stepped
up
The
Chinese government is currently running its
largest expulsion campaign of foreign missionaries
since 1954, reports an organization that works
with the persecuted Church in China. In a July
10 press release, the China Aid Association
stated a central government-directed campaign
to expel suspected foreign missionaries has
been ongoing since February 2007. The groups
says this is the largest expulsion since 1954,
when the Chinese Communist government expelled
all foreign religious workers after taking power
in 1949. According to reliable China Aid sources
and collaborated reports by at least five different
mission agencies, over 100 foreigners accused
of being involved in illegal religious activities
in China have been expelled or forced to leave
this year between April and June. Sources inside
the Chinese government informed China Aid that
the government launched a massive expulsion
campaign of foreign Christians, encoded Typhoon
No. 5, in February 2007.
This
campaign is believed to be part of the 'anti-infiltration'
efforts to prevent foreign Christians from engaging
in mission activities before the Beijing Olympics
next year. Most of those expelled are citizens
of the United States, South Korea, Singapore,
Canada, Australia, and Israel. They were expelled
when they were either working or visiting in
Xinjiang, Beijing, Tibet, or Shandong. China
Aid says an American who had been working in
Xinjiang for 10 years, and wants to remain anonymous,
reported that over 60 foreign religious workers
were expelled from Xinjiang alone. Some of the
workers had been serving the local people for
15 to 18 years. As well, at least 15 Christian
couples from foreign countries were expelled
from Beijing in May. According to China Aid's
interviews with some of the expelled Americans,
Chinese authorities confiscated their passports
for 2 to 7 days and treated them professionally
while they were interrogated. However, they
were not allowed to have access to the U.S.
Embassy in Beijing, a direct violation of U.S.-China
consulate protection agreements. Some will not
be allowed to return to China for 5 years. The
Chinese government refuses to recognize foreign
missionary status in China so many missionaries
choose to work in the education or business
sectors as ways to stay in China. 'Given the
significant contribution to the Chinese people
made by those expelled foreigners, this campaign
is certainly misguided and counter-productive,'
said China Aid president Bob Fu. China Aid is
calling on the Chinese government to correct
this course of action and allow these workers
back into China. [CNA] 1370.8
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IRELAND
Pro-life charities may lose funding
Catholic pregnancy counselling charities in
Ireland may lose their state financial support
as they have not yet signed a new contract with
the government funding agency. By signing the
contract with the Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA),
CURA and Life would be forced to give women
leaflets containing the names and addresses
of other agencies that would provide them with
information about abortion clinics abroad. The
chief executive of the CPA, Caroline Spillane,
said that no exemptions would be granted from
the terms of the contract but that negotiations
were going on. [Irish Independent] Patrick Buckley
of European Life Network, Dublin, said: 'This
is clearly a new attempt by the crisis pregnancy
agency to attach unconstitutional provisions
to government funding of pro-life counselling
agencies. Cura and Life are right and they should
continue to reject the contracts until they
are satisfactorily amended. No amount of funding
is worth one single life.' [SPUC] 1370.9
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IRELAND
Sex-education funding
The Irish government is to invest €4.5
million in sex education in the country. The
CPA, which is working with the Department of
Education and the Health Service Executive,
has said that the plans are essential to reduce
the number of teenage pregnancies in Ireland.
They plan to develop a DVD and a lesson plan.
[Belfast Telegraph] Patrick Buckley said: 'Given
the unsatisfactory record of the CPA, they should
not be trusted to provide any sex-ed programmes.
This kind of education is best carried by parents.
When the programme becomes available, we will
issue a full report.' [SPUC] 1370.10
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ISRAEL
Vatican talks 'constructive'
The Bilateral Permanent Working Commission formed
by representatives of the Holy See and Israel
has met to continue progress on the 'economic
agreement.' The representatives met in Jerusalem
on Wednesday morning to discuss fiscal and property
matters, by which the Church is seeking the
juridical and fiscal security to operate. Vatican
Radio reports that the delegations worked in
a constructive climate and hope to rapidly conclude
negotiations. The delegations agreed to meet
again on September 3rd in Jerusalem. [Zenit]
1370.11
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ITALY
Same-sex
unions
Italian
lawmakers face a new proposal for legal recognition
of same-sex unions, the newspaper La Repubblica
reports. Cesare Salvi, the president of
the justice commission in the Italian senate,
has introduced new legislation to recognize
homosexual civil unions. Reactions to the measure
were mixed. Senator Alfredo Mantovano of the
center-right National Alliance Party commented:
'The earlier proposal didn't go well and neither
will this.' The leading homosexual activist
in parliament, Franco Grillini, said, 'It is
a positive that parliament has re-opened discussion
on the rights of homosexuals.' [CWNews] 1370.12
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MEXICO
Religious worship laws
The
Archdiocese of Mexico City has rejected criticism
that in calling for the country's laws on religious
worship to be changed it is undermining the
secular State. Rather, what the Church is seeking
is to have laws that reflect 'the Constitution
which guarantees freedom for all citizens without
exception.' In a statement from the archdiocese,
its spokesman noted that Cardinal Norberto Rivera
Carrera of Mexico City recently told the 'Reforma'
newspaper that the concern the bishops have
about the laws on religious practice is that
they echo 'the Constitution which guarantees
freedom for all citizens without exception.'
The statement noted that on various occasions,
the cardinal has publicly called for the need
to move from freedom of worship to 'authentic
religious freedom.'
True
religious freedom does not undermine the secular
State or to return to the privileges of the
past, but rather allows 'the clergy and religious
associations to enjoy authentic freedom of participation
in a society that is heading towards the strengthening
of its democratic life.' The archdiocese reiterated
its support for an initiative by the College
of Catholic Lawyers to 'correct the legal deficiencies
that impede respect for the individual guarantees
for clergy members in our country and to prevent
the intimidation and silencing of the clergy,
as was the case during the recent debate over
the legalization of abortion in Mexico City.'
The statement, which was signed by archdiocesan
spokesman Father Hugo Valdemar, stressed that
the College of Catholic Lawyers is acting autonomously
and independently of the Church hierarchy. Nevertheless,
he said, the Bishops' Conference of Mexico and
various religious associations have expressed
their support of the proposal to reform the
country's laws on religious practice. [CNA]
1370.13
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NORTH
KOREA
Christian missionary faces execution
At a press conference in Washington on July
12, a South Korean man, Son Jong Hoon, pleaded
for international pressure on North Korea, where
his brother is facing execution for acting as
a Christian missionary. Son Jong Nam, a former
officer in the North Korean army, was first
imprisoned in North Korea in 2001, shortly after
is conversion to Christianity. He remained imprisoned
for 3 years, undergoing torture before his release
in May 2004. He was arrested once again in January
2006, and has been held in Pyongyang since that
time awaiting execution. Son Jong Hoon, the
brother of the condemned prisoner, appeared
at the National Press Club in Washington accompanied
by representatives of The Voice of the Martyrs
(VOM) and staff members from the office of Senator
Sam Brownback, the Republican presidential candidate.
The Korean man and representatives of Voice
of the Martyrs urged concerned Americans to
visit the group's web site <http://www.prisoneralert.com
and join in a plea to North Korean officials
to spare the evangelist's life. [CWNews] 1370.14
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SPAIN
SSPX superior comments on Summum Pontificum
In an exclusive interview with the Spanish daily
'La Razon,' the superior general of the
Lefebvrites, Bishop Bernard Fellay, said Benedict
XVI's motu propio allowing universal
use of the Missal of 1962 as an extraordinary
form of celebrating the Mass 'is not a step,
it's a leap' of historic proportions. The schismatic
bishop spoke with journalist Vittorio Messori
from the general house of the Priestly Fraternity
of St. Pius X, founded by the late Archbishop
Marcel Lefebvre. The movement boasts of 481
priests, 90 lay brothers, 206 nuns, 6 seminaries,
117 monasteries, 82 schools, 6 university institutes,
450 places of worship in 62 countries and at
least half a million followers.
According
to La Razon, Fellay's reactions are 'more
positive than what anyone who knows the complexity
of the ongoing case with the Holy See for more
than 20 years could have expected: the Mass,
not only in Latin, but according to the ancient
rite, has always been the rallying cry of the
Lefebvrists. But dissidents have always insisted
on the fact that the new Eucharistic liturgy
is nothing more than the expression of an orientation
that is unacceptable in many aspects, adopted
after Vatican II by the Catholic Church. Thus,
in certain traditionalist circles, it has often
been said that a decree such as the one approved
by Pope Ratzinger would not only be insufficient,
but would in some way be a distraction and would
reinforce the ambiguities.' Nevertheless, Fellay
said, 'This is a truly historic day. We desire
to express our profound gratitude to Benedict
XVI. His document is a gift of Grace. It's not
a step; it's a leap in the right direction.'
In
addition, Fellay said the 'normalization' of
the Mass, 'which does not belong to St. Pius
VI but rather has always belonged to the Church,'
is 'an act of justice, it's a supernatural extraordinary
help in times of grave ecclesial crisis. The
reaffirmation by the Holy Father of the continuity
of Vatican II and the new Mass with the constant
Tradition of the Church moves us to continue
the doctrinal discussion. 'Lex orandi, lex credendi':
as one prays so one believes. And now it has
been recognized that in the eternal Mass, one
can 'adequately' pray,' Fellay said. 'This document
is a fundamental stage in a journey that now
could be accelerated,' he noted, saying he hoped
as well it would lead to a revisiting of the
issue of the excommunications put in place by
John Paul II. According to Messori, the effort
to recover the Church's tradition, 'initiated
by John Paul II, although constrained to the
obligatory excommunication, takes on noble success
with Benedict XVI, in the perspective of the
old Ratzinger project of a 'reform of the reform,'
and not only of the ancient liturgy.' [CNA]
1370.15
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SPAIN
Divorce statistics
The
Institute for Family Policy in Spain said this
week that two years after the country began
allowing no-fault divorce, the number of failed
marriages has more than tripled. 'The breakdown
of the family has had a very negative development
in Spain during recent years, in the last two
years since the approval of no-fault divorce,
the increase has been of such scope that, among
other things, the number of divorces has tripled
during this time,' the institute said in a report.
The report states that a martial separation
occurs every 3.19 minutes in Spain, and that
most separations end in divorce. More than 274,000
couples have separated since the law was passed.
More than 450,000 children are caught in the
middle, and by 2010 for every marriage that
takes place another will end in divorce. The
culture of a country is measured by the way
in which it addresses problems and cares for
the well being of families, the report stressed.
The duty to provide answers to the needs of
married couples and families, it continued,
is based on the need to 'maintain the health
and stability of marriages and families' and
to soften the crisis and sufferings of those
who are involved in difficult situations. The
institute proposed measures for addressing the
problem of failed marriages in Spain, including
the modification of the law on no-fault divorce,
increase emphasis on therapy and counselling
for troubled marriages and the creation of a
congressional committee to study ways to help
marriages. [CNA] 1370.16
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UK
Trust promotes two-child policy
A
recent population report has claimed that the
UK needs a two-child policy similar to the one-child
policy in China. The Optimum Population Trust
has pointed out that Britain's rising birth
rate has resulted in detrimental effects on
the environment. A statement from the report
says: 'A voluntary stop-at-two guideline should
be adopted for couples in the UK who want to
adopt greener lifestyles. It would aim to set
an example.' John Guillebaud, professor of family
planning and reproductive health at University
College, London, and author of the report, added:
'A voluntary 'two-child' population policy in
Iran, for example, succeeded in halving fertility
in eight years, as fast a rate of decrease as
that of China, whose much-criticised one-child
policy began in 1980.' He claims to foresee
a time when it may be necessary to put compulsory
limits on births as more pressure is put on
world resources. 'Those who continue to place
obstacles in the way of women who want to control
their fertility will have only themselves to
blame, as more and more regimes bring in coercive
measures,' he predicted. [Guardian, SPUC] 1370.17
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UK
Call for ban on promoting marriage
In
spite of the mountain of social science evidence
which confirms the benefits of marriage to men,
women and children, members of the University
and College Union in England are demanding that
teachers should be banned from promoting heterosexual
marriage in the classroom. Current requirements
mandate that children are to be taught 'the
importance of marriage for family life,' but
academics insist that now homosexuality must
be given equal status to curb the spread of
'bigoted' attitudes in schools and university
campuses. [Family Watch International} 1370.18
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USA
A new archbishop for Baltimore
Archbishop
Edwin O'Brien, 68, has been appointed Archbishop
of Baltimore, the oldest diocese in the US.
He will replace Cardinal William Keeler, who
is retiring because of age and ill health. Cardinal
Keeler submitted his resignation to the Holy
See last year, as required upon reaching the
age of 75. The cardinal's health has been uncertain
in recent months, and his condition worsened
after an automobile accident in Italy in October
2006. The Baltimore archdiocese-- founded as
a diocese in 1789, and raised to metropolitan
status in 1808-- has historically enjoyed pre-eminence
among the American sees. Since the time of Cardinal
James Gibbons, who was elevated to the College
of Cardinals in 1886, the Baltimore archdiocese
has generally been considered a 'red-hat see.'
But in fact among the 5 successors to Cardinal
Gibbons to date, only two-- Cardinal Lawrence
Shehan and Cardinal Keeler-- have been cardinals.
[CWNews]
In 1978, Archbishop O'Brien helped found Courage,
a group in New York that ministers to those
with same-sex attractions and encourages them
to lead celibate lives. More recently, he has
headed the seminary review, ordered by the Vatican,
that examined all 229 U.S. seminaries for 'evidence
of homosexuality,' as well as for faculty members
who dissent from church teaching. The review
has been completed but a final report is yet
to be issued. With estimates from Catholic scholars
and authors putting the proportion of homosexual
priests at about half of the American priesthood,
observers say O'Brien's arrival in Baltimore
could have substantial effects on the two seminaries
that fall under the archdiocese: St. Mary's
Seminary and University in Baltimore and Mount
St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg. St. Mary's
Seminary is sometimes referred to as 'The Pink
Palace' by conservative Catholics (including
Michael S. Rose, author of the 2002 book Goodbye,
Good Men) for its reputation of tolerance toward
homosexual seminarians. To send O'Brien, who
is known for his traditional view on homosexuality,
to Baltimore could be a signal from the Vatican
that the days of such tolerance are over. [Baltimore
Sun] 1370.19
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USA
'An electronic tsunami of pornography'
Citing
grim statistics, San Francisco Archbishop George
H. Niederauer described America as being deluged
by an 'electronic tsunami of pornography.' More
annual income is generated by the pornography
industry than all three major professional sports
combined. In the keynote address at the Lighted
Candle Society event, Niederauer stated that
pornography is the world's fastest growing addiction
resulting in the destruction of families and
relationships. [Family Watch International}
1370.20
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USA
OLVN, CSJO nuns close their 'Heart of
the Cosmos' happenings
La Providencia, an 'earth spirituality' retreat
centre run by two Catholic nuns in the San Diego
suburb of Alpine and known locally for its large
outdoor labyrinth, is closing its doors after
nearly 30 years. Sister Millicent Peaslee, OLVM
and Sister Pat Hanson, CSJO say they plan to
retire this fall. The retreat centre property,
owned by a doctor and his wife, will be taken
over by a new mission named Samarpan. 'Through
much prayer and discernment Sisters Pat and
Millie have decided that it is time to close
La Providencia this Fall, Sept. 30th,' says
a statement on La Providencia's web site. 'The
statement continues, 'the main identifying element
is the JOY that is evident hi [sic] the people
as they have participated in the Ministry of
La Providencia, which is the ministry of Christ.'
Many of the activities offered at La Providencia,
however, were anything but the 'ministry of
Christ.'
A
sampling of 'happenings' from several La Providencia
newsletters includes: Reiki massage classes
and certification programs; Labyrinth walks
and workshops; 'Women's Herbal Intensive' retreat;
Summer and winter solstice and spring and fall
equinox celebrations; 'Global spirituality'
talks given by Sister Carol Zinn, SSJ; 'Harvest
Blessings' and 'Greening of Spring' festivals;
'Integrating the New Cosmology with Faith and
Scripture' courses; Prayer remembrances during
the 'High Holy Days' of Yom Kippur, and Ramadan
'Earth Charter Book Study.' 'La Providencia
is an evolving spiritual movement that meets
the needs of the time for physical well being,
emotional balance and inner wholeness leading
to spiritual transformation,' said the sisters'
mission statement. 'La Providencia's healing
environment offers opportunities for quiet reflection
and processes of spirituality and integrates
the needs and blessing of the individual with
those of Mother Earth.' La Providencia's lending
library offered visitors 'all kinds of wonderful
environmental, ecological and cosmic creation
videos, books and tapes,' according to a flier,
including such titles as Cosmic Voyage by Morgan
Freeman, The Hidden Heart of the Cosmos by Brian
Swimme, and an audio tape by Julia Butterfly
Hill, who spent two years living in a tree.
[California Catholic Daily] 1370.21
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USA
United Church of Christ sanctions same-sex
'marriage'
The
general synod of the United Church of Christ
has passed a resolution affirming 'equal rights
for couples regardless of gender,' becoming
the first major U.S. Christian denomination
to officially sanction same-sex marriage. The
church has 1.3 million members. [Family Watch
International] 1370.22
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www.cfnews.org.uk
VENEZUELA
Bishops 'repulsive' says Foreign Minister
Venezuelan foreign minister Nicolas Madura has
referred to Catholic Church leaders as 'repulsive'
because of their criticism of the country's
government. Madura responded angrily to a statement
issued last Friday by the country's bishops,
calling for 'dialogue and reconciliation' in
Venezuela. The bishops' statement was generally
interpreted as a rebuke to President Hugo Chavez,
who has clashed repeatedly with the Catholic
hierarchy. In recent weeks the bishops have
expressed concerns about a Chavez plan for constitutional
revisions, which critics see as an effort to
consolidate political power in the presidency.
Madura charged that Catholic Church leaders
are 'using the title 'bishop' to make political
judgments and to destabilize the government.'
[CWNews] 1370.23
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