Papal
visit to US : media coverage
A
special website: www.uspapalvisit.org has been
created by the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops to cover Pope Benedict XVI's visit to
America from April 15-20. Click
here
From
the Pope's arrival at Andrews AFB to his departure
from New York, the site will have the events live.
There will also be commentators, guests and live
phone-in interviews from US bishops and others.
The events are being packaged for viewing at anytime.
Coverage of events will start 15 minutes ahead
of time. Check the site for actual times. 'It's
a major event and for some a once-in-a-lifetime
event. We want to make sure everyone gets a chance
to experience it,' said Joe Larson, director of
Digital Media for the USCCB.
The
newly formed Office of Digital Media handles the
Web presence for the USCCB and its affiliates
along with video and audio production. Larson
added, 'We look to bring the Holy Father's visit
to your computer at the workplace during lunch,
at school, at church or in the home. And with
the on demand video, if you miss an event live
you can view the video at your leisure.'
The
website is full of information such as the papal
itinerary, facts and figures on the Church in
the United States, biographical information on
Pope Benedict XVI and stories of the papal visit.
There is also a great selection of multimedia
files including the Pope's video-message to the
U.S., Cardinal Edward Egan's walk-through of the
New York itinerary and Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl
and others welcoming the Pope to the US. The first
videos to premiere on the site were the finalists
in a 'Papal Video Contest,' sponsored by the Archdiocese
of Washington and open to Catholic youth from
kindergarten through 12th grade.
Among
the other features on the U.S. Papal Visit website
is a blog, giving an inside view of papal visit
preparations, views from the pew and reflections
on the meaning of the visit. uspapalvisit.org
is made possible by the United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops' and by donations of parishioners
across the United States to the annual Catholic
Communication Campaign collection, which provides
funding for a variety of Catholic media efforts.
Jeff
Mirus, President of Trinity Communications, reports
that the Mass texts and other prayers the Pope
will use while he is in the United States are
available as a convenient PDF file: Roman Missal
for the Pastoral Visit of Pope Benedict XVI to
the United States.
EWTN
is offering steady coverage-- and more important,
reliable commentary-- for the visit.
In
the UK, the Catholic Herald is also dedicating
part of its website (here)
to Pope Benedict's visit to the United States
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'Happy To Be in America'
Daniel
Johnson, Editor of 'Standpoint', writes
in the New York Sun, 'The pope who already
has made such a huge impact in America is, as
even those most ignorant or hostile toward him
must have noticed by now, a shy and scholarly
octogenarian.
Though
he speaks fluent and idiomatic English, the former
Joseph Ratzinger has a strong German accent. So
he does not fit any of the categories into which
celebrities normally go. Worse still, he is inevitably
compared to his heroic and highly charismatic
predecessor, John Paul II, whose canonization
is imminent. A saint is a hard act to follow.
Yet
Benedict XVI has swept Americans off their feet,
by the simple fact of his transparent, radiant
integrity. Here is a figure who, more than any
person now alive, represents the conscience of
mankind. President Bush was right to greet Pope
Benedict XVI as a foe of fanaticism, contrasting
those who 'evoke the name of God to justify acts
of terror' with his 'message that God is love.'
As
Mr. Bush said, the pope is not afraid to denounce
'the dictatorship of relativism,' to call evil
by its name, and to make firm moral judgements.
Whether or not you agree with particular judgements
- on abortion or euthanasia, on stem cell research
or Aids, on homosexuality or Iraq - is not the
point. You may disagree with every one of the
established doctrines of the Catholic Church -
and yet be glad that a man like Benedict is pope.
For
we live in an age of moral evasiveness, of equivocation,
hypocrisy, and hype. Pope Benedict stands in uncompromising
opposition to all that and much more. He faces
up to accusations bravely. To the charge that
the Church had shielded child abusers, he replied
already on the airplane to journalists: 'I am
profoundly ashamed. Pedophiles will be completely
excluded from the priesthood. It is more important
to have good priests than many priests.' These
are not the words of a man who is indifferent
to the suffering of the victims. It was important
that the pontiff should personally draw a line
under what has been a long and traumatic ordeal
for American Catholics.
But
the pope has come to bring more than reconciliation.
His two major encyclicals have been devoted to
love and hope, and these are the blessings that
he believes America needs most right now. Hope
is the basis of action, and Benedict understands
that only America has the energy, the motivation,
and the ability to save Western civilization from
its own moral turpitude.
Unless
the West believes again in the Jewish and Christian
values that underpin its culture and politics,
the world is in for a 21st century that could
even surpass the 20th century in horrors.
So
the stakes are very high, and Benedict knows it.
His speech at Regensburg in 2006 sent shock waves
through the Muslim world: not just because the
pope quoted a medieval Byzantine emperor insulting
Mohammed, but because he put his finger on Islam's
most vulnerable point. If God is above reason,
then men may invoke God to justify the irrational.
And that is exactly what Islamist terrorists and
the imams who brainwash them do.
Benedict
showed how the Jews and Christians incorporated
the rationalism of Greek thought into the heart
of their faiths, but Islam turned its back on
the legacy of the ancient world. From this divergence,
much blood has flowed. If there is to be a lasting
rapprochement between Islam and the West, it must
be on the basis of reason and faith finding a
new modus vivendi.
If
the West is to survive, however, it must rediscover
the spiritual sources of its own civilization.
Benedict knows how hard it has become, in a culture
where secularism is aggressively seeking to exclude
religion from the public square, for the still
small voice to be heard at all.
But
he has a double answer to militant atheism: to
reason with the open-minded and to fill the open-hearted
with awe before the beauty of holiness. So he
has reformed the liturgy and music of the Church,
restoring Latin to a place of honor while also
elevating the language of the vernacular Mass.
In
his books, Benedict has given those who are curious
about the Catholic faith the best introduction
they can find. His life of 'Jesus of Nazareth,'
written while he was pope, became an instant classic
not just by virtue of his authority, but by his
appeal even to non-Catholics.
Benedict
still has to fulfil the promise of his pontificate,
and this visit to America is a crucial step toward
doing so. Hitherto he has seemed a very Eurocentric
pope, though he has good reasons for thinking
that Europe is uniquely important and uniquely
endangered.
Now
he has reached out to what is still the world's
largest and wealthiest Catholic community - wealthy,
that is, not only in financial but in intellectual
resources.
America
not only has more Catholic universities than the
rest of the world, but it also has more impressive
Catholic writers and thinkers. Figures such as
Michael Novak, George Weigel, and Richard John
Neuhaus have few, if any, equivalents in Europe.
Pope
Benedict may not always agree with these American
theologians, but he listens very carefully to
everything they say. Nowhere else in the Catholic
world is there such an influential body of opinion
- the equivalent of the Franciscan and Dominican
friars in the middle ages or, later, the Jesuits.
For
all these reasons, and many more, Benedict XVI
is happy to be in America. Past differences and
suspicions are, temporarily at least, set aside.
This
is a great pope and a good man, whose pilgrimage
will end appropriately enough on Sunday at ground
zero. New York will rightly give the pope a warm
welcome. Here he is among friends - and not only
Catholic ones.
[New
York Sun] 1440.3
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Pope
Benedict XVI at the White House
In
welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to the White House,
President George W. Bush said he was 'privileged'
to have the Pope there. The President's greeting
was warm and heartfelt as he acknowledged the
Pope's birthday.
Describing
America to the Holy Father the President said:
'Here in America you'll find a nation of prayer.
Each day millions of our citizens approach our
Maker on bended knee, seeking His grace and giving
thanks for the many blessings He bestows upon
us. Millions of Americans have been praying for
your visit, and millions look forward to praying
with you this week.'
The
President did not shy away from stating clearly
the role of faith in the nation and its heritage.
'Here in America you'll find a nation that welcomes
the role of faith in the public square,' he said.
'When our Founders declared our nation's independence,
they rested their case on an appeal to the 'laws
of nature, and of nature's God.' We believe in
religious liberty. We also believe that a love
for freedom and a common moral law are written
into every human heart, and that these constitute
the firm foundation on which any successful free
society must be built.'
When
Pope Benedict and the President met in the Vatican
last June, the President was intrigued with the
Holy Father's discussion of the tie between faith
and reason. His public remarks in welcoming the
Holy Father reflect that line of thought.
'Here
in America, you'll find a nation that is fully
modern, yet guided by ancient and eternal truths.
The United States is the most innovative, creative
and dynamic country on earth -- it is also among
the most religious,' he said. 'In our nation,
faith and reason coexist in harmony. This is one
of our country's greatest strengths, and one of
the reasons that our land remains a beacon of
hope and opportunity for millions across the world.'
The
President expressed the great hope he personally
has for the benefits of the Pope's visit to America.
'Most of all, Holy Father, you will find in America
people whose hearts are open to your message of
hope. And America and the world need this message.
In a world where some invoke the name of God to
justify acts of terror and murder and hate, we
need your message that 'God is love.' And embracing
this love is the surest way to save men from 'falling
prey to the teaching of fanaticism and terrorism.''
Thunderous
applause interrupted the President as he remarked,
'In a world where some treat life as something
to be debased and discarded, we need your message
that all human life is sacred.' He continued,
'and your message that 'each of us is willed,
each of us is loved, and each of us is necessary.''
He
added, 'In a world where some no longer believe
that we can distinguish between simple right and
wrong, we need your message to reject this 'dictatorship
of relativism,' and embrace a culture of justice
and truth.'
The
President concluded saying: 'We appreciate the
example you set for the world, and we ask that
you always keep us in your prayers.' [LifeSiteNews]
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Joint
statement
A joint statement released by the Holy See and
the White House, reveals that in the private meeting
of Pope Benedict XVI and President George W. Bush
in the Oval Office of the White House, they discussed
'defense and promotion of life' and 'matrimony
and the family'. The following is the full text
of the joint statement:
President
Bush, on behalf of all Americans, welcomed the
Holy Father, wished him a happy birthday, and
thanked him for the spiritual and moral guidance,
which he offers to the whole human family. The
President wished the Pope every success in his
Apostolic Journey and in his address at the United
Nations, and expressed appreciation for the Pope's
upcoming visit to 'Ground Zero' in New York.
During
their meeting, the Holy Father and the President
discussed a number of topics of common interest
to the Holy See and the United States of America,
including moral and religious considerations to
which both parties are committed: the respect
of the dignity of the human person; the defense
and promotion of life, matrimony and the family;
the education of future generations; human rights
and religious freedom; sustainable development
and the struggle against poverty and pandemics,
especially in Africa.
In
regard to the latter, the Holy Father welcomed
the United States' substantial financial contributions
in this area. The two reaffirmed their total rejection
of terrorism as well as the manipulation of religion
to justify immoral and violent acts against innocents.
They further touched on the need to confront terrorism
with appropriate means that respect the human
person and his or her rights.
The
Holy Father and the President devoted considerable
time in their discussions to the Middle East,
in particular resolving the Israel-Palestinian
conflict in line with the vision of two states
living side-by-side in peace and security, their
mutual support for the sovereignty and independence
of Lebanon, and their common concern for the situation
in Iraq and particularly the precarious state
of Christian communities there and elsewhere in
the region. The Holy Father and the President
expressed hope for an end to violence and for
a prompt and comprehensive solution to the crises
which afflict the region.
The
Holy Father and the President also considered
the situation in Latin America with reference,
among other matters, to immigrants, and the need
for a coordinated policy regarding immigration,
especially their humane treatment and the well
being of their families. [LifeSiteNews] 1440.5
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Prayer,
the priority for priests
The
Vatican Congregation for Clergy is reminding priests
that their number one priority must be prayer.
The congregation affirmed this in a message directed
to all the priests of the world, on the occasion
of the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification
of Priests, which will be held May 30, feast of
the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The message was published
in Italian in Saturday's edition of L'Osservatore
Romano. Signed by Cardinal Claudio Hummes
and Archbishop Mauro Piacenza, respectively prefect
and secretary of the congregation, the message
encouraged contemplating the 'perfect and fascinating
humanity of Christ, live and acting now.'
The
dicastery made the invitation to give 'priority
to prayer above action,' since effective action
depends on prayer. The mission should be nourished
by prayer, the message affirmed, from 'the personal
relationship of each one with the Lord Jesus.'
The priesthood, it continued, cannot be seen as
something 'that can be completed 'mechanically,'
perhaps with a well defined and clear pastoral
program.' Instead, 'the priesthood is a vocation,
a path, the mode through which Christ saves us,
has called us and calls us now, to live with him,'
the message reminded priests. This vocation has
only one 'adequate measure' and it is total dedication,
the message affirmed.
'The
very gift of priestly celibacy should be welcomed
and lived in this dimension of radicalism and
complete configuration with Christ,' the letter
stated. 'Any other position regarding the reality
of the relationship with him, runs the risk of
being ideological. 'Including the quantity of
work, sometimes extraordinarily great, which the
contemporary conditions of ministry ask us to
maintain, far from discouraging us should move
us to take care, with even greater attention,
of our priestly identity, which has an irreducibly
divine root. 'In this sense, with a logic opposed
to that of the world, precisely the particular
conditions of our ministry should bring us to
'go all out' in our spiritual life, giving witness
with greater conviction and efficiency of our
exclusive belonging to the Lord.'
The
'place of totality par excellence' is the Eucharist,
added the congregation, noting that there Jesus
offers his boy and his blood, 'the totality of
his existence.' The message thus exhorted the
priests to fidelity 'in the daily celebration
of the holy Eucharist' and the adoration of Christ
in the Blessed Sacrament. Priests have need of
the Eucharist 'like breathing, as the light of
our life, as the only adequate reason for a fulfilled
priestly existence.' The mission flows from the
relationship with Christ. And this is linked to
the need for the World Day of Prayer. 'The holiness
that we ask for daily, in fact, cannot be considered
with an individualist, sterile and abstract connotation;
rather it is, necessarily, the holiness of Christ,
which is contagious for all.'
The Congregation for the Clergy again encouraged
priests to commend themselves to the prayer of
the faithful. 'Let us ask for this fundamental
support,' the message encouraged: 'A movement
of prayer that has at its center 24-hour Eucharistic
adoration, so that from every corner of the world
a prayer of adoration, thanksgiving, praise, petition
and reparation is always being elevated to the
Lord.' [Zenit] 1440.6
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Pro-abortion
politicians and Holy Communion
A newly released video of a 2007 appearance of
Francis Cardinal Arinze shows the cardinal addressing
the issue of Catholic politicians who support
permissive abortion laws but also present themselves
for Holy Communion. Speaking in a 'Question and
Answer' session at gathering for Familyland USA
in 2007, the cardinal said the answer to the question
was so obvious that even children preparing for
First Communion could answer it correctly.
In a satirical manner, Cardinal Arinze criticized
a standard pro-abortion political argument. 'To
the person who says, 'Personally, I am against
abortion, but then if people really want to do
it I leave them free' you can say 'You are a member
of the senate or the congress. ''Personally I
am not in favour of shooting the whole lot of
you, but if somebody else wants to shoot all of
you in the senate or all of you in the congress,
it's just pro-choice for that. ''But personally
I'm not in favour.' 'That is what they are saying,'
the cardinal argued. 'They are saying that personally,
he is not in favouur of killing these millions
of children in the womb, but if others want to
do it, he is pro-choice.' Cardinal Arinze made
a joking aside, saying, 'And then you ask me 'What
does the Holy See do, why doesn't the Pope send
a dozen Swiss Guards to arrest them all'.'
The
cardinal continued, 'You may have heard about
the letter that the present Holy Father, as prefect
of the Congregation on the Doctrine of the Faith,
sent to American bishops on that issue. The letter,
which was issued in 2002, addresses the 'cultural
relativism that exists today' and condemns 'the
opinion expressed in the public sphere that such
ethical pluralism is the very condition for democracy'.
It also goes on to elaborate the obligations of
Catholics in this cultural situation, focusing
on life issues.
'So the matter is very clear,' Cardinal Arinze
said. The cardinal noted that he is often asked
if a politician who votes for abortion should
receive Holy Communion. He said his reply was,
'Do you really need a cardinal from the Vatican
to answer that?' 'Get the children for first communion
and say to them, somebody votes for the killing
of unborn babies, and says, I voted for that,
I will vote for that every time and these babies
are killed, not one or two, but in millions, and
that person says I am a practicing Catholic, should
that person receive communion next Sunday? 'The
children for first communion will answer that
at the drop of a hat. You don't need a cardinal
to answer that.' [CNA] 1440.7
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Call
for a 'new humanism'
In the face of the eruption of violence around
the world, Pope Benedict is calling for a 'new
humanism' that includes moral and spiritual development,
to combat the spread of warfare. The Pope's message,
which was made public on Saturday, comes less
than a week before his address to the U.N., where
many expect him to address violence and the need
for strengthening the family around the world.
Cardinal Renato Martino and participants in a
seminar entitled: 'Disarmament, development and
peace, prospects for integral disarmament', being
held in Rome April 11-12, received the Pope's
letter.
The Holy Father began his message by noting how
the seminar's topic is very relevant to humanity's
current situation. 'Tension and war exist in various
parts of the world, and even where the tragedy
of war is not present, feelings of fear and insecurity
are nonetheless widespread,' Benedict XVI noted.
'Furthermore, such phenomena as global terrorism
blur the distinction between peace and war, seriously
compromising the future hopes of humankind.'
'How', he adds, 'can we respond to these challenges?
How can we recognize the 'signs of the times'?
Certainly, joint action on a political, economic
and juridical level is needed but, even before
that, it is necessary to reflect together on a
moral and spiritual level. What is ever more vital
is to promote a 'new humanism''. However, the
Pope cautioned, we cannot think of this 'new humanism'
in a way that reduces development to 'simple economic
growth,' rather, 'it must include the moral and
spiritual dimension. A truly integral humanism
must, at the same time, also express solidarity,'
he said.
Achieving
'True and lasting peace is unimaginable without
the development of each person and of all peoples,'
Pope Benedict asserted. Yet, is it inconceivable
'to think of reducing arms if first we do not
eliminate violence at its roots, if man does not
first turn decisively to searching for peace and
for what is good and just'. The Pope also took
aim at nations that spend exorbitant amounts of
money on defense and in doing so, divert funds
from 'projects for the development of peoples,
especially the poorest and those most in need
of help'.
Instead
of allowing military spending to become a driving
force of the world economy, the Pontiff called
on States to 'reduce military expenditure on arms
and to give serious consideration to the idea
of creating a global fund for peaceful development
projects'. Benedict XVI affirms the need to do
everything possible to ensure that 'the economy
is directed to serving human beings and solidarity,
and not just to profit.' 'Nonetheless', the Pope
acknowledges, 'it will be difficult to find a
solution to the various technical problems without
man's conversion to good on a cultural, moral
and spiritual level'. This transformation requires
a 'choral invocation of the culture of peace and
for a joint education in peace, especially among
the new generations. ... The human right to peace',
he writes, 'is fundamental and inalienable', and
upon it 'the exercise of all other rights depends,'
the Pope insisted.
Although
the current situation in the world could give
rise 'to a justified sense of discomfort and resignation',
the Holy Father points out that 'war is never
inevitable and peace is always possible. Even
more so, it is a duty! The time has come to change
the course of history, to rediscover trust, to
cultivate dialogue and to nourish solidarity',
he says. 'The future of humanity depends upon
a commitment on everyone's part. Only by pursuing
an integrated humanism of solidarity, in which
disarmament assumes an ethical and spiritual dimension,
can humanity progress towards the true and lasting
peace for which it longs,' the Pope concluded.
[CNA] 1440.8
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Al Qaida renews attack on Pope Benedict
Representatives of the Al Qaida network have renewed
their attacks on Pope Benedict XVI, in a message
posted on the Islamic miliant web site al Hesbah.
The latest message from Al Qaida expresses continuing
anger at Pope Benedict, who was denounced by the
terrorist network in March for leading a worldwide
'crusade' against Islam. The message from Al Qaida
also decried the electoral victory of Italy's
former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, whose
People of Liberty party won a solid victory in
national elections. (In a bid to end Italy's 'birth
dearth,' Berlusconi's coalition has announced
plans to provide parents with a bonus of about
£700 at the birth of each baby.)
[CWNews] 1440.9
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Vocation and mission
Vocation and mission are inseparable and the Church's
many vocations should have an 'intense missionary
character,' says Benedict XVI. The Pope affirmed
this on Sunday before he led the praying of the
midday Regina Caeli with thousands gathered in
St. Peter's Square. The Fourth Sunday of Easter,
focuses on Christ as the Good Shepherd and is
also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The
Holy Father said that St. Paul, for whom 'vocation
and mission are inseparable,' is a model for all
Christians, particularly 'those men and women
who dedicate themselves totally to announcing
Christ to those who still have not known him:
a vocation which continues to maintain all of
its validity.'
'This
missionary service is carried out, in the first
place, by priests in offering the Word of God
and the sacraments, and in manifesting the healing
presence of Jesus Christ with their pastoral charity
for everyone, above all for the ill, the little
ones and the poor,' Benedict XVI said. 'We give
thanks to God for these our brothers, who give
themselves without reserve to pastoral ministry,
sometimes sealing their fidelity to Christ with
the sacrifice of their lives, as happened yesterday
to two religious assassinated in Guinea and Kenya.'
The
Pontiff expressed his prayer that there would
be 'an increasing number of those who decide to
radically live the Gospel through the vows of
chastity, poverty and obedience -- men and women
who have a primary role in evangelization. Some
of them dedicate themselves to contemplation and
prayer, others to a multifaceted educational and
charitable work,' he said. 'All of them, nevertheless,
are united in the same objective: to give witness
to the primacy of God over all and to spread his
Kingdom in every sphere of society.'
Benedict
XVI affirmed that those called to Christian marriage
should also give their lives a missionary flavour.
He contended that 'it mustn't be forgotten that
Christian marriage is also a missionary vocation:
The couple, in fact, is called to live the Gospel
in the family, in the workplace and in parish
and civil communities. In certain cases, moreover,
they offer their valuable contribution to the
missions 'ad gentes.'' 'Dear brothers and sisters,'
the Pope concluded, 'let us invoke the maternal
protection of Mary for the many vocations that
exist in the Church so that they are developed
with an intense missionary character. To her,
Mother of the Church and Queen of Peace, I also
commend the special missionary experience that
I will live in the next few days with the apostolic
trip to the United States and the visit to the
United Nations, as I ask all of you to accompany
me with your prayers.' [Zenit] 1440.10
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The
Family
Institute
for Marriage's Compendium
A report examining Pope Benedict XVI's writings
on marriage has just been released.'Pope Benedict
XVI on Marriage: A Compendium,' has been published
by the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy
and released on the eve of Pope Benedict's first
papal visit to the United States.
The
compendium collects and analyzes the Pope's public
remarks about marriage over the first three years
of his pontificate. According to the analysis,
the Pope has spoken publicly about marriage on
111 occasions, often connecting marriage to wider
themes such as human rights, world peace, and
the dialogue between faith and reason.
He
has called the family the 'fundamental nucleus
of society' and the 'primary agency of peace,'
while urging people to end the 'growing crisis
of the family.'
'Over
and over again he has made it clear that the marriage
and family debate is central--not peripheral--to
understanding the human person, and defending
our human dignity,' said Maggie Gallagher, president
of the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy.
The
report cites many instances where the Pope has
spoken on marriage.
On
September 27, 2007, Pope Benedict addressed participants
in a conference of the Executive Committee of
Centrist Democratic International. In his address,
he connected the crisis of the family to philosophical
skepticism:
'There
are those who maintain that human reason is incapable
of grasping the truth, and therefore of pursuing
the good that corresponds to personal dignity.
There are some who believe that it is legitimate
to destroy human life in its earliest or final
stages. Equally troubling is the growing crisis
of the family, which is the fundamental nucleus
of society based on the indissoluble bond of marriage
between a man and a woman. Experience has shown
that when the truth about man is subverted or
the foundation of the family undermined, peace
itself is threatened and the rule of law is compromised,
leading inevitably to forms of injustice and violence.'
Pope
Benedict also devoted a large part of his message
for the World Day of Peace on January 1 to examining
the role of marriage in developing a culture of
peace and openness to life, saying:
'Consequently,
whoever, even unknowingly, circumvents the institution
of the family undermines peace in the entire community,
national and international, since he weakens what
is in effect the primary agency of peace.'
'This
point merits special reflection: everything that
serves to weaken the family based on the marriage
of a man and a woman, everything that directly
or indirectly stands in the way of its openness
to the responsible acceptance of a new life, everything
that obstructs its right to be primarily responsible
for the education of its children, constitutes
an objective obstacle on the road to peace.'
When
receiving the credentials of the new U.S. Ambassador
to the Vatican, Harvard Law Professor Mary Ann
Glendon, Pope Benedict connected American efforts
to safeguard marriage and the family to what he
called 'the American people's historic appreciation
of the role of religion in shaping public discourse
and in shedding light on the inherent moral dimension
of social issues.' This role, Pope Benedict said,
was at times disputed 'in the name of a straitened
understanding of political life and public discourse.'
However,
he thought the role religion played in American
life reflected many Americans' view of interreligious
and intercultural dialogue as a 'positive force
for peacemaking.'
Maggie
Gallagher summarized the report's interpretation
of Pope Benedict's writings on marriage, saying,
'The short pontificate of Benedict XVI is already
a standing rebuke to those voices of our time
who seek to make us ashamed or embarrassed of
caring about marriage and sexual issues, who try
to get us to view the contemporary marriage debate
as merely a distraction from more important issues.'
'Pope
Benedict clearly connects life and marriage, the
human person in the human family, with the most
fundamental international issues of peace and
human rights facing our times.'
The
full report can be viewed here.
[CNA] 1440.11
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United Nations
Weekly Briefing, April 7-11
1.
UNIFEM appoints new Executive Director
2.
Global Monitoring Report 2008
1.
UNIFEM appoints new Executive Director
Inés
Alberdi of Spain was appointed Executive Director
of UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for
Women) last week. A news release issued by UNIFEM
Headquarters explains that Alberdi 'has over 25
years of gender issues and in politics.' Members
of the U.N. pro-life pro-family coalition have
expressed concerns about Alberdi's track record.
She is known by pro-lifers in her country as having
spoken up in favor of abortion and the right for
homosexuals to adopt.
http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=668
2.
Global Monitoring Report 2008
The
World Bank and the International Monatary Fund
released their 2008 Global Monitoring Report.
The document warns that most countries will fall
short of meeting the Millennium development Goals
(MDGs). Established in 2000, the MDGs are the
central mean used by the U.N. to evaluate progress
on various issues including poverty reduction,
reduction of child mortality and maternal deaths.
The 2008 Global Monitoring Focus report speaks
of the negative impact of environmental hazards
on the overall quality of health.
The
section dedicated to the measure of the quality
of health care presents some interesting points.
Namely, it truly demonstrates the need for skilled
birth attendants and emphasizes the effects of
a high rate of medial personnel absenteeism on
the general quality of the healthcare system of
various countries. This is a refreshing perspective.
The reports of many U.N agencies often focus on
the improvement of sexual and reproductive health
rights and access to abortion and often omit to
address the true health challenges faced by people
in developing countries.
Nonetheless,
the document does make a mention of the need to
ensure that poor rural communities have access
to reproductive health programs. The document
compares a child feeding program in Argentina
which delivers 40 to 75% of its services to the
poorest 20% of the community to a program in India.
The report states that 'in contrast, such clear
positive outcomes were not found in two reproductive
health programs- mobile reproductive health camps
and the education sessions- conducted in the rural
part of Gujarat state in India.'
The
poorest nations are often targeted by various
sexual and reproductive health programs, very
few of which are actually abstinence education
programs. Promoting abortion and family planning
does not reduce poverty or improve the quality
of health care systems in developing countries.
Programs that focus on access to clean water,
skilled birth attendants and emergency obstetric
care not only save life, but also produce better
long term results.
The
report mentions that it is difficult to measure
the quality of health care services because of
the lack of universally agreed upon indicators.
Whereas some groups would include access to abortion
as a positive indicator, it should be noted that
abortion, far from being a basic health care intervention,
increases the risk of breast cancer and depression
and other health risks. Abortion, unlike other
essential services listed above, does not produce
positive long term results and ignores the human
dignity of the patients. [LifeSiteNews] 1440.12
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Europe
A
sad day for the unborn
A
resolution calling for unlimited access to abortion
throughout Europe was rushed through the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe on Wednesday
In his SPUC-Director's blog John Smeaton reports:
'The Assembly passed the resolution with 102 votes
in favour, 69 votes against and 14 abstentions.
Amendments seeking to make the resolution less
extreme in its promotion of abortion were rejected.
Pat
Buckley of the Society for the Protection of Unborn
Children (SPUC), who was present at today's debate,
commented: 'Today is a tragic day for Europe,
not least because this report in favour of even
more killing of unborn children was rushed through
the Assembly without proper scrutiny. Plenary
session speeches were limited to three minutes,
amendment speeches to 30 seconds and scrutiny
by the Assembly's legal affairs committee denied.
It was disappointing to see that only 185 members
out of 318 thought the issue important enough
to be present. The only consolation is that the
resolution is not legally binding.'
Mr
Nigel Dodds, MP and MLA for Belfast North, deputy
leader of the Democratic Unionist Party and a
minister in the Northern Ireland executive, said:
'It's a sad day for the unborn child in Europe,
but the fight goes on.'
Pat
Buckley also spoke to me about the debate: 'Mrs
Gisela Wurm, a socialist deputy from Austria who
prepared the report, claimed that refusal of abortion
was violence against women.
'Mr
Christos Pourgourides of Cyprus, on behalf of
the conservative (EPP/CD) group, asked for the
report to be referred to the legal affairs committee.
This committee customarily looks at all human-rights
related material. However, this request was rejected
by the chair and without a vote. If the report
had gone to the legal committee, it would actually
have fallen from the assembly's future agenda.
'Senator
Terry Leyden of Ireland's Fianna Fáil party,
and vice-chair of the assembly's liberal group,
said the resolution was partisan, one-sided and
based on flawed logic. Ireland, which did not
have widespread abortion, had the lowest maternal
mortality in Europe. Other speakers were allowed
to exceed their allotted time, but Senator Leyden
was promptly stopped from speaking.
'Mr
Joe Costello TD of the Irish Labour party went
against the socialist consensus by voting pro-life.
Maltese delegates also spoke in favour of protecting
unborn life. There were 69 amendments proposed.
'Tragically,
this is the first time that any international
document has asserted a right to abortion.' [SPUC]
1440.13
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Malta
bishops on abortion
The
bishops of Malta and Gozo issued a press release
this week saying that abortion is not a choice
but murder, and not a right but a negation of
the right to life.
The
statement defending the right to life was issued
to encourage a pro-life position to members attending
a plenary session of the Council of Europe (CoE)
which is meeting in Strasbourg this week. The
CoE is currently debating a motion calling for
the decriminalisation of abortion in all of the
CoE's 47 member states. The motion would also
further lift restrictions in those countries where
abortion is already legalised.
The
resolution calls on all 47 member states, including
Malta, to decriminalise abortion, 'guarantee women's
effective exercise of their right to abortion'
and 'allow women freedom of choice and offer the
conditions of a free and enlightened choice.'
Abortion
on demand is available in all Council of Europe
member states, except Andorra, Ireland, Malta
and Poland.
Archbishop
Paul Cremona and Bishop Mario Grech said they
wished to express their appreciation and support
to the Maltese representatives who are actively
opposing the approval of this motion. They reiterated
that the first fundamental human right is the
right to life and that this right is not a man-made
construct but 'inscribed by the Creator in human
nature.'
'We
have the duty to defend the life of every human
being from the first moment of its existence.
Abortion is not a choice but murder; abortion
is not a right but a negation of the right to
life; abortion is not beneficial, neither for
society nor for the mother herself.'
The
bishops said they were appealing to the rapporteurs
of the Council of Europe to be objective in what
they proposed for the consideration of the members,
to present fact as fact, comment as comments and
what is debatable as debatable.
They
also encouraged the people of Malta and Gozo to
pray to the Lord to continue giving their representatives
and the other members of the Assembly the wisdom
and courage to defend human life.
The
motion calling for the decriminalisation of abortion
was presented to the Council of Europe meeting
by the 'Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women
and Men.' The Committee produced a report stating
that 'the Committee on Equal Opportunities for
Women and Men considers that a ban on abortions
does not result in fewer abortions, but mainly
leads to clandestine abortions, which are more
traumatic and more dangerous.'
In
an interview with the Malta Star, Paul Vincenti,
Gift of Life Malta coordinator and pro-life activist,
objected to this argument, stating that 'there
have never been any recorded instances of illegal
back street abortions taking place in Malta. Those
Maltese who opt for an abortion go to Sicily or
the UK and have an abortion that is generally
carried out by doctors in their private clinics
and not in someone's dirty garage as the pro-abortion
side would try to have the uninformed believe
to solicit fear and support for abortion.'
Mr.
Vincenti also accused the Council of Europe of
trying to 'impose values on others' rather than
trying to seek the truth. Vincenti criticised
the CoE because it sought the opinion of pro-abortion
groups without inviting pro-life organisations
to contribute to the Council's deliberation.
'The
Council of Europe is the guardian of human rights.
Human life begins at conception and it is simply
incomprehensible how the CoE can call for the
legal destruction of human life in its most exposed
and defenceless stage of development. If the CoE
were so interested in abortion, why did they only
take testimonies from pro-abortion groups? They
did not invite the pro-life organizations to give
their expert advice. Why is this? Clearly, their
agenda is not to seek the truth here, but just
to impose their values upon others. This is most
alarming.'
Mr
Vincenti said the 'vast majority at 93% of Maltese,
is absolutely against abortion and believe that
the unborn child should have the clear right to
life.' [LifeSiteNews] 1440.14
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The
radical onslaught
Photographer's
moral stand
In
a case challenging freedom of conscience in the
workplace, a family-owned New Mexico company was
fined $6,600 in attorneys' fees on Wednesday for
refusing to take photographs at a same-sex ceremony.
Vanessa
Willock complained to the state Human Rights Commission
(HRC) that Elane Photography LLC was discriminating
against her and her partner on the basis of 'sexual
orientation.' On Wednesday, the HRC ruled that
Elane Photography LLC violated the New Mexico
Human
