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CNA Staff, Aug 19, 2024 / 15:50 pm (CNA).

Catholic leadership in Rhode Island has rebuked a local Catholic college, Salve Regina University, for hosting a fundraiser last week in which presumptive Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz defended abortion rights.

More than 300 attendees reportedly paid $1,000 to get in the door at the campus' main administrative waterfront mansion, Ochre Court, on Thursday. The fundraiser brought in over $600,000, the state's Democratic Party said, according to the Providence Journal. 

Media outlets reported that journalists were not allowed to record videos of the speech, but Walz's comments reportedly included advocacy for abortion rights.

The Minnesota governor attacked Republican nominee Donald Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, accusing them of "rooting for failure," according to the Rhode Island Current. 

"Their whole thing is to instill fear in people — fear and pessimism," he said.

Walz called Trump and Vance "weird" and disputed GOP claims that Democratic policies are extreme. 

"Who's asking to raise the price of insulin? Who's asking to take away women's reproductive rights?" Walz said. "Things really work best in communities when you mind your own damn business."

Diocese 'surprised and disappointed'

Diocese of Providence spokesman Michael Kieloch told CNA that the diocese "does not permit Catholic institutions in Rhode Island to endorse candidates for office nor even give the appearance of such endorsements."

"The Church's role in political matters is firstly to form the consciences of the lay faithful," he added.

Kieloch continued: "We were surprised and disappointed by the decision of Salve Regina University to rent space to a partisan political event and fundraiser, and we've received a number of messages from Catholics across Rhode Island expressing the same surprise and disappointment."

Bishop Richard Henning, archbishop-elect of Boston, is currently leading the Diocese of Providence.

Walz, a Lutheran and former Catholic, has a consistent and strong pro-abortion record in his state. In 2023, he signed a bill enshrining abortion rights throughout nine months into Minnesota state law. Minnesota Concerned Citizens for Life, the state's largest pro-life group, called the governor a "threat" to the unborn and "an abortion absolutist."

Vice President Kamala Harris chose him as her running mate earlier this month.

University responds

In response to a request from RINewsToday, the university defended its decision to host the event.

"Ochre Court at Salve Regina University was selected by the Rhode Island Democratic Party Committee based on availability for their selected date, time, and anticipated capacity," an unnamed spokesperson's statement said.

"We regularly rent facilities on campus for private events. The committee paid the standard rate for the space rental, worked with our University Events and Conference Services office, and is the sole host of the event," the statement said.

"As an academic institution, the university fully supports freedom of speech as a cornerstone of democracy. As our mission calls us to do, we support productive and meaningful dialogue across our differences as we work toward a world that is more harmonious, just, and merciful," the statement said.

Salve Regina University is overseen by the Sisters of Mercy. CNA reached out to the congregation for comment on Monday, including asking if the university would offer the same opportunity to the Trump campaign for a fundraiser event. CNA did not immediately receive a response.

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Vatican City, Aug 18, 2024 / 10:20 am (CNA).

Pope Francis said Sunday that the Eucharist is a "miracle" in which Jesus nourishes us with his life and satisfies the hunger in our hearts. 

"All of us need the Eucharist," Pope Francis said in his Angelus address on Aug. 18.

"The heavenly bread, which comes from the Father, is the Son made flesh for us. This food is more than necessary because it satisfies the hunger for hope, the hunger for truth, and the hunger for salvation that we all feel not in our stomachs but in our hearts."

Speaking from the window of the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, the pope encouraged people to reflect with "wonder and gratitude" on the "miracle of the Eucharist" in which Jesus "makes himself present for us and with us."

"The bread from heaven is a gift that exceeds all expectations," the pope said.

"Jesus takes care of the greatest need: He saves us, nourishing our lives with his, forever. Thanks to him, we can live in communion with God and among ourselves."

The pope's reflection centered on Jesus' words recorded in Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven." 

Pope Francis said: "Let us ask ourselves … When I receive the Eucharist, which is the miracle of mercy, do I stand in awe before the body of the Lord, who died and rose again for us?"

After leading the crowd in the Angelus prayer in Latin, the pope urged people to continue to pray for "pathways to peace" to open in the Middle East, in Palestine and Israel, as well as in Ukraine, Myanmar, and every place affected by war.

The pope also expressed joy that four 20th-century martyrs were beatified on Sunday in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Thousands attended the beatification Mass of Father Luigi Carrara, Father Giovanni Didonè, and Father Vittorio Faccin — all Xaverian missionary priests from Italy serving in the Democratic Republic of Congo who were martyred by anti-religious guerrillas in the Kwilu Rebellion in 1964. Father Albert Joubert, a martyred diocesan priest born to a French father and African mother, was also beatified with them.

"Their martyrdom was the crowning achievement of a life spent for the Lord and for their brothers and sisters," Pope Francis said.

"May their example and intercession foster paths of reconciliation and peace for the good of the Congolese people."

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CNA Staff, Aug 19, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Many are familiar with the story of Father Edward J. Flanagan from  the 1938 Oscar-winning film "Boys Town" starring Spencer Tracy. Now a new documentary on the famous priest promises a deeper look into Flanagan's life when it hits theaters for one night only on Oct. 8.

"Heart of a Servant: The Father Flanagan Story" documents Flanagan's unwavering commitment to caring for abandoned and orphaned youth starting from the Great Depression to after World War II, all while defying racist laws in order to serve the most vulnerable and give them hope for a future. The film covers a range of topics, from Flanagan's health issues to his immigrating to the United States to his founding of Boys Town, Nebraska. 

The feature-length documentary was produced by Spirit Juice Studios in partnership with the Father Flanagan League and filmed on location in Ireland, Germany, Austria, Japan, and throughout the United States. It also includes expert commentary from Steve Wolf, vice postulator for the cause of Flanagan's beatification and canonization, as well as Deacon Omar F.A. Gutierrez, Father Ryan Lewis, and Ed Flanagan, the great-nephew of Flanagan, among others. The film is narrated by popular Catholic actor Jonathan Roumie, known for his role as Jesus Christ in "The Chosen."

Rob Kaczmark, co-director and executive producer of the film, and producer Victoria McEachern spoke to CNA about their experience working on the project as well as how Flanagan has impacted them personally and what they hope viewers will take away from his inspiring story.

McEachern pointed out that while a lot of the bigger topics of Flanagan's life are very well known, it was the "smaller moments" that she learned while making the film that really stood out to her and gives the documentary more depth.  

"For me it was those little, quiet moments," she shared. "Father Flanagan was this big personality who was incredibly well known and he was also a very quiet, holy, giving, generous man."

She added that there's also a lot we can continue to learn from Flanagan — especially when it comes to injustices we face in society today.

"He was really ahead of his time in speaking out against issues of segregation and racial justice," McEachern said. "To recognize how he stood on situations like that in the past really informs even now how we deal with injustices of our days."

Kaczmark added that Flanagan serves as a "strong example of calling people to be a saint" and hopes that viewers will be inspired to "recognize the problems in the things in their own life and where God's calling them to serve and to lead people." 

McEachern hopes viewers will be inspired "by the example of one man."

"There's so much going on in the world and in our small communities as well. And so to see the difference — and he did, he made like really tangible impacts in a lot of different areas — to see the difference that he made and that he was so selfless in it and that ultimately it started in the chapel every morning and with the person right in front of him," McEachern said. 

When asked what they believe Flanagan would do today when facing the inequalities prevalent in our society, McEachern said she believes he would "continue to push for the person right in front of him. He would continue to see the need in front of him and encourage all of us, and he would say to do something about it even if it was risky."

Kaczmark added: "I think he would gently invite them to sainthood, to Christ, at the same time still serving them. And I think that's what we're called to do as Christians, as Catholics — is to serve those in front of us and to point people back to Christ. We're not the savior of it, we're Christ's hands and feet on the earth ultimately pointing people back to heaven."

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Vatican City, Aug 18, 2024 / 10:20 am (CNA).

Pope Francis said Sunday that the Eucharist is a "miracle" in which Jesus nourishes us with his life and satisfies the hunger in our hearts. 

"All of us need the Eucharist," Pope Francis said in his Angelus address on Aug. 18.

"The heavenly bread, which comes from the Father, is the Son made flesh for us. This food is more than necessary because it satisfies the hunger for hope, the hunger for truth, and the hunger for salvation that we all feel not in our stomachs, but in our hearts."

Speaking from the window of the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, the pope encouraged people to reflect with "wonder and gratitude" on the "miracle of the Eucharist" in which Jesus "makes  Himself present for us and with us."

"The bread from heaven is a gift that exceeds all expectations," the pope said.

"Jesus takes care of the greatest need: He saves us, nourishing our lives with His, forever.  Thanks to Him, we can live in communion with God and among ourselves."

The pope's reflection centered on Jesus' words recorded in chapter six of the Gospel of John, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven." 

Pope Francis said, "Let us ask ourselves … When I receive the Eucharist, which is the miracle of mercy, do I stand in awe before the Body of the Lord, who died and rose again for us?"

After leading the crowd in the Angelus prayer in Latin, the pope urged people to continue to pray for "pathways to peace" to open in the Middle East, in Palestine and Israel, as well as in Ukraine, Myanmar, and every place affected by war. 

The pope also expressed joy that four 20th-century martyrs were beatified on Sunday in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Thousands attended the beatification Mass of Father Luigi Carrara, Father Giovanni Didonè, and Father Vittorio Faccin — all Xaverian missionary priests from Italy serving in the Democratic Republic of Congo who were martyred by anti-religious guerrillas in the Kwilu Rebellion in 1964. Father Albert Joubert, a martyred diocesan priest born to a French father and African mother, was also beatified with them.

"Their martyrdom was the crowning achievement of a life spent for the Lord and for their brothers and sisters," Pope Francis said. 

"May their example and intercession foster paths of reconciliation and peace for the good of the Congolese people." 

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CNA Staff, Aug 18, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

This month, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), a method of catechetical learning for young students inspired by Montessori-style education, celebrates 70 years since its founding and 40 years as an official organization in the U.S.

Founded by Sofia Cavalletti and inspired by the education style of Catholic educator Maria Montessori, CGS catechizes toddlers to 12-year-olds by appealing to the child's developmental age and placing a strong focus on the child's relationship with God. 

The budding organization CGSUSA has grown since its establishment in the U.S. in 1984,  expanding to include Orthodox Christians, Episcopalians, and other Christian churches that want to incorporate the attentive, creative, relationship-based way of teaching children about God. 

In the U.S., there are more than 6,500 "atria," or classrooms, prepared according to the developmental needs of the child, with three central offices in Arizona, Georgia, and Iowa.

CGSUSA has 4,700 active members from 21 different Christian traditions. Members and catechists serve an estimated 75,000 children.

Little-sized rooms for little ones 

CGS spaces are designed for the needs of each age group, whether they are 16- to 30-month-olds, 3- to 6-year-olds, 6- to 9-year-olds, or 9- to 12-year-olds. 

"The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd offers the child a place and time to be with God," said Mary Mirrione, the national director of CGSUSA.

"We have a lot of care and a lot of time that goes into the formation of the catechist, the adults who are in that room with the children," she told CNA in a Zoom call. "But that room is prepared in such a way that everything in the room points to God and is a doorway to the mystery of God that the child can enter."

The rooms feature child-sized furniture, depending on the age range the classroom is designated for. The artwork is displayed at the height of the child, and bookshelves are easily accessible. Religiously-themed activities are projects available for the children, such as tactile liturgical calendars, maps of the Holy Land, and a liturgy area featuring a mini altar.

"We have a beautiful small set of everything they see at Mass, and we help them with the names because they're fascinated with names as they're learning how to speak," she explained. 

CGS focuses on a different aspect of God through different classroom activities and decorations as well as parables, depending on the age of the child. 

The name for the classrooms, "atria" ("atrium" for a single classroom) are taken from the space between the Church and the outside world.

Catechists prioritize the relationship of the child with God rather than just factual learning, emphasizing parables such as the good shepherd and the prodigal son. 

"It's not a subject, it's a Person," Mirrione said. "It's not knowledge they're gaining, it's a relationship they're enjoying — and of course, they receive knowledge in that enjoyment." 

"By nature of being his child, and in the fullness of their baptism, [the children] have a relationship with God that is between them and God," she said. "The only people allowed in their soul is them and God. The rest of us, we can serve that, and we can serve that well, but we need to see who they are to do that."

Founding and growth 

Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi founded CGS in Rome by taking inspiration from the Church and Montessori-style education.

Cavalletti, a biblical scholar and theologian, was asked by a friend to give catechesis to her young children. Although she initially said she didn't know anything about children, Cavalletti was drawn by their unique perspectives. Taking inspiration from the rabbinical way of reading Scripture, to which she was accustomed, she joined forces with Montessori educator Gobbi and developed CGS.

"They began an experiment, a Montessori experiment, in a prepared environment," Mirrione said.

They decided to call the classroom space an atrium, named for the space between the world and the church.

"At St. Peter's, there's that space there, and there's these huge golden doors with the life of Christ on them — that's the atrium," she explained. "St. Paul Outside the Walls, there's a huge atrium there for the catechumenate, because that's where the catechumenate would learn about the faith, and that was that space in between." 

The organization grew, and Pope John Paul II made a pastoral visit to a CGS group at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Italy on Feb. 13, 1983, while the children were working with the catechists.

"He approached each group and listened attentively, then asked a question and then listened again, amazed and touched by the children's responses," Mirrione told CNA in an email. "At the conclusion of his visit, he told Sofia and the catechists from the atrium that he had never heard such a good homily and that it was proof the kingdom of heaven belongs to the children." 

Adapting for special needs

CGS can be ideal for children with special needs, particularly for children who are on the autism spectrum or have Down syndrome. Catechists are eager to collaborate with families. 

"Because it is a prepared environment, there are certain preparations we can make for, like we have had children who are deaf or children who are blind," she said. "We have many children on the autism spectrum, many children with Down syndrome."

Giving children the freedom to move at their own pace, already a principle for CGS, can be especially helpful for children with special needs, Mirrione explained.

"Sometimes for, say, children on the autism spectrum, it can be as simple as we turn off the ceiling lights because we have lamps, we have soft lighting in the room. Sometimes it's as simple as that, and other times it really is just giving them the space and time they need."

Mirrione recalled one young student who was nonverbal and would come to CGS classes with a respite worker. Not knowing what to expect at first, she found they worked well together.

"He ended up being our prayer leader because he had an innate sense of time, I think," she recalled. "He always knew when it was almost time for closing prayer, and he would go to the opposite end of the room from the prayer table."

The student would sing one word of the song, "always," and the other children would gather around the prayer table to join in and sing "the Lord is my shepherd, I'll walk with him always." 

"We would sing the rest of the song with him because he could sing one word of it, and he always led the song, every week," she said. 

Growth

This year, CGSUSA is celebrating nearly 5,000 active members who help run or support CGS locations across the nation, 40 years as an association, and 70 years of CGS. The organization certifies more than 2,200 catechists each year, and catechists volunteer an estimated total of 20,000 hours each month.

"It just took us a while to become an association because we're still small. We've always been small," Mirrione explained. "But this year, we're also celebrating, and it delights my heart, we have almost 5,000 members."

Mirrione has directed the organization for more than 27 years and worked in catechesis since the early 1990s.

She explained that she began taking CGS classes upon the request of her pastor and then felt a personal connection to it.

"However, in going through the coursework from the very first day, just being called by name into this very precious place that's like a retreat house for children, it really caught my attention and my heart," she recalled. "The Gospel is claimed in such an essential manner." 

"We say that our foundations are Scripture, liturgy, and the child, the human person in front of us," she continued. "And that, in its simplicity, really is deeply profound."

"For instance, one of the children's favorite parables is the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, so tiny when it is sown, but it grows so big that the birds will shelter in a chase," she explained. 

"Jesus was speaking about Jerusalem mustard seeds, which I think, unless you see them, you don't know how tiny [they are] — they're so tiny! And when you walk in Bethany, you crunch on them. It would have been so present to the people of his time."

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ACI Prensa Staff, Aug 18, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

With less than a month to go until the 53rd International Eucharistic Congress (IEC 2024) in Quito, Ecuador, Father Juan Carlos Garzón, secretary-general for the event, said it will be an opportunity to "put the Eucharistic Christ at the center of the life of the Church and the world."

In a statement to the Spanish edition of EWTN News, Garzón highlighted that IEC 2024 will be "like returning to the essence of our faith." Ecuador was consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus 150 years ago, the priest noted, so the Eucharistic Congress will also be a great opportunity for the country to commemorate that event and delve deeper into its history of faith.

Fifty-one delegations from around the world have already registered to participate in the IEC 2024 program, which will begin with an international theological symposium to be held at the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, where approximately 450 people will attend.

"Theologians from all over the world are coming to explore more deeply the relationship between the Eucharist and fraternity, given that the theme of our Eucharistic Congress is 'Fraternity to Heal the World,'" the secretary-general said.

After the symposium, IEC 2024 will formally begin on Sept. 8. On that day, 1,600 children will make their first Communion. For Garzón, this will be a reminder of the purity with which we must receive the Lord in the Eucharist, "which can sometimes be lost over the years."

"These children remind us of the purity that is part of this relationship with God," he added.

Nearly 5,000 people will be present at the congress, including bishops, laypeople and religious, who will give their witness to fraternity. Those days in Quito, the secretary-general said, will allow us to learn about the different wounds afflicting the world and at the same time to make a contribution to healing them.

"It's a very beautiful week. On the first day we have asked the bishops, who come from all over the world, to go to the parishes in Quito to meet with our people. Then, on Thursday of that week, Masses will be held in the [city's] historic center in the various languages [of the participants], and on Saturday, Sept. 14, we will have a great Eucharistic procession," Garzón explained.

The closing Mass, on Sept. 15, will be celebrated by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who will represent the pope during IEC 2024.

Finally, the secretary-general wanted people to know that they can still register for the event through the official IEC 2024 website.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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Rome Newsroom, Aug 17, 2024 / 10:51 am (CNA).

Archbishop Sebastian Shaw, O.F.M., has been replaced as administrator of the Archdiocese of Lahore, Pakistan, the diocese's vicar general announced Thursday.

According to reports, Shaw has faced allegations of sexual abuse and financial fraud, but his future remains unclear amid a lack of official information about his removal and the reasons behind it.

Father Asif Sardar announced at Mass in the Cathedral of Lahore on Aug. 15 that Archbishop Benny Mario Travas of Karachi will take over as apostolic administrator of the archdiocese in northeast Pakistan while Shaw goes "on a sabbatical," UCA News reported.

The vicar general did not say why the 66-year-old archbishop was leaving in his announcement on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Shaw — who led Pakistan's largest archdiocese, with over half a million Catholics, since 2013 — has been accused of sexual abuse and of selling church properties and giving the money to his brother and nephew, UCA News reported.

Church officials in Lahore did not respond to UCA News' request for comment on Shaw's replacement,  while the president of the Catholic bishops' conference of Pakistan, Bishop Samson Shukardin of Hyderabad, said he did not have any official information and was "not sure what the status of the Archbishop Shaw will be now," the Catholic news website wrote.

Unusually, the Vatican has also yet to publicize the archbishop's removal from archdiocesan administration.

A Christian-run YouTube channel, "National News Nama," claimed in July that Shaw had been suspended due to financial irregularities and would be "permanently settling in the U.S."

The YouTube channel's director, Francis Sodagar, told UCA News that he had access to "leaked information" about Shaw.

Shaw was born in the small village of Padri Jo Goth in southeastern Pakistan in 1957. After joining the Order of Friars Minor, he was ordained a priest of Lahore in 1991.

He was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Lahore in 2009, and in 2013 he was named Lahore's archbishop.

Shaw has a master's degree in guidance and counseling from De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines.

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CNA Staff, Aug 17, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

An immersive 3D audio docuseries telling the true stories of an exorcist and the people he has helped began its second season last month after topping podcast charts.

"The Exorcist Files," hosted by Ryan Bethea and Father Carlos Martins, features dramatic reenactments of the case files of Martins, who is a Catholic priest, an official exorcist on two continents, and a leading authority on spiritual warfare.

The podcast experienced great success after its release in January 2023, racing to the top of the Spotify religion chart, where it remained in the top 10 on Apple and Spotify for most of the year. Season 2 of the podcast was released July 16.

Something that sets the podcast apart from others is the 3D binaural experience it provides, which means the podcast uses three-dimensional layering of sounds so that listeners feel as though the episode is unfolding around them — as though they are in the room with Martins as he speaks with the individual suffering from demonic oppression or possession and standing by his side as he performs the exorcism.

"I have always been fascinated with miracles and spiritual warfare. As a producer I thought this would make a fantastic story," Bethea told CNA in an interview. "Not being a Catholic myself, when I learned about the miracle investigation process that accompanies canonization, I was astounded. And, of course, when it comes to spiritual warfare, the Catholic Church is the authority."

After speaking with different connections about his desire to document the reality of supernatural events, Bethea was referred to Martins. He was given his phone number; he called him and was immediately turned down.

"He thought I was making the story up. Finally, when he heard that I had in fact been referred to him, we began discussions around what a show would look like," he said. "I was very impressed at how quick he was to turn down Hollywood. He takes his job very seriously, and I knew I had to earn his trust. Ultimately, we both shared a desire to raise awareness about the rise in occult activity and the reality of evil. We both knew that leveraging modern-day entertainment mediums was the way to go about it."

From there the two began to work together to create the podcast and decided to create it independently, using Kickstarter and crowdfunding to raise the funds needed to produce the show.

Bethea explained that while many think making a podcast only involves two people and some microphones, they treat "The Exorcist Files" like "a TV show."

"There is an enormous amount of research, dozens of professional actors, hundreds of pages of scripts, and of course the masterful audio and sound mixing and engineering that gives the show its signature sound," he shared.

The Kickstarter campaign was a success, vastly exceeding their funding expectations, and they were able to completely fund the podcast.

Bethea believes the show has performed well because "it actually has something for everyone." 

"If you're a Christian you will find yourself rejoicing in watching Christ demolish demonic strongholds and see people liberated from things that have baffled doctors," he said. "If you're a skeptic you will enjoy the fact that we bring on other experts to argue the other side and try and explain what happened. And if you just happen to be a fan of great stories, these are some of the wildest experiences I've ever heard about."

When asked what he hopes people are taking away from listening to the podcast, he emphasized the fact that "spiritual warfare is a real thing and that you cannot take the words of Jesus seriously if you don't account for the reality of evil."

"The goal is not to scare people; it's simply leaning on a human curiosity to highlight a reality. We take great pains to try and mirror the Church's own process for dealing with the demonic. I was really impressed by how thorough Father Martins and his colleagues are before assuming something is demonic," he added. 

The podcast host also hopes that people can "celebrate and rejoice with the freedom these victims have found."

"Even if you listen and think this sounds insane, or that the healings are psychosomatic, that's fine. At least you can rejoice in people finding freedom and getting healed. That's something we can all get behind. There is something for everyone here."

Another point Bethea emphasized was how special it has been for him to see "Protestants and Catholics dialogue together and grow closer in the shared war."

"We've hosted evenings where I will gather lots of evangelicals and Catholics together and Father Martins will talk about the history of the Church, spiritual warfare, and I can't tell you the number of Protestants who come out of these meetings and go, 'Wow, I agree with so much of what he said,'" he shared.

"I have had many people tell me that they are now really exploring Catholicism for the same reason we do the show — we should all want the truth. Seeing 40 Catholics and Protestants gathered around a living room with a Catholic priest praying over them is an experience I am so grateful for," Bethea said, adding: "There are of course significant theological differences, but there is a shared love of Jesus and a realization we have a common enemy."

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CNA Newsroom, Aug 16, 2024 / 20:01 pm (CNA).

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected the Biden administration's request to partially enforce the government's new Title IX rules, allowing the regulations to be blocked in their entirety as disputes over transgender-related provisions play out in lower courts.

Several lower courts have already blocked the controversial new Title IX regulations first issued in April. The new regulations radically redefined long-standing federal sex discrimination policy under federal Title IX provisions, rewriting "sex discrimination" under Title IX to include protections for "gender identity."

The rules have been blocked in more than two dozen states so far. U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar had asked the Supreme Court to allow other parts of the law to go into effect while litigation played out concerning the more contentious portions related to gender ideology.

Yet the Supreme Court indicated on Friday that the entirety of the new Title IX regulations could be too interrelated to allow for separate treatment of different provisions.

The government "has not provided this Court a sufficient basis to disturb the lower courts' interim conclusions" blocking the new rules as a whole, the court's majority opinion said.

In a partial dissent, Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Neil Gorsuch argued that it was "overbroad" to block the entirety of the Title IX rules.

The wholesale block "appears to go beyond what was necessary," Sotomayor wrote in the dissent.

The new rules, which were scheduled to go into effect on Aug. 1 nationwide, in part redefine the prohibition on sex discrimination for schools and education programs that receive federal funding — including K-12 schools and colleges and universities.

Under the new interpretation of the Title IX protections, those rules now apply to any form of discrimination that is based on a person's self-asserted "gender identity."

The new rules prohibit any policy or practice that "prevents a person from participating in an education program or activity consistent with their gender identity."

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CNA Newsroom, Aug 16, 2024 / 12:12 pm (CNA).

An independent assessment of Catholic safeguarding protocols in New Zealand has highlighted significant progress in many areas while also pointing to the need for further improvements, according to a report released Thursday by Te Ropu Tautoko, the group coordinating the Church's engagement with the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.

The assessment, conducted by U.K.-based GCPS Consulting, examined the implementation and suitability of safeguarding culture standards across the Catholic Church in New Zealand. It included a review of policies and procedures and interviews with survivors, Church leaders, safeguarding officers, and parishioners.

The move follows the findings of New Zealand's abuse commission, Abuse in Care: Royal Commission of Inquiry, in care institutions from 1950 to 1999 in a final report released in July.

The report revealed that up to 42% of those in faith-based care run by all denominations were abused in New Zealand during that time period. 

A 2020 briefing from the Catholic Church previously noted abuse accusations against 14% of its New Zealand clergy during those decades.

Catherine Fyfe, former chairperson of Te Ropu Tautoko, said the new report "gives the Church a blueprint for further developing our safeguarding policies and procedures" when considered alongside the Royal Commission's findings and recommendations.

Bishop Steve Lowe, president of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference, acknowledged the report's findings on Aug. 16.

"It was encouraging to read how a range of approaches are working well, but there are areas where we can take existing efforts further to strengthen them," he said.

The report's key recommendations for the future of Catholic safeguarding in New Zealand include regular public reporting on cases reported to Church authorities, ensuring documents are more accessible, conducting more timely investigations, and embedding safeguarding in all Church roles.

Some commentators have called for the New Zealand Catholic bishops to reconsider their positions, arguing that the Church's leadership has not sufficiently addressed past failings regarding abuse and neglect.

Father Thomas Rouse, SSC, president of the Congregational Leaders Conference — an organization that represents the leaders of religious congregations in New Zealand — emphasized the need for increased dialogue with survivors and their representatives. 

"The road towards a sense of truth, of justice, of healing is one we must walk with those who have been abused in our settings," he stated.

Lowe and Rouse indicated that their respective organizations will develop an official plan to respond to the report's recommendations alongside the ongoing review of the Royal Commission's findings.

"We have much to consider, and we are committed to providing the leadership our Church needs at this time to continue the work of creating and maintaining the safest possible environments for all people," Lowe concluded.

The New Zealand investigation is notably the most wide-ranging investigation into abuse and neglect undertaken worldwide, according to its leadership. The investigation looked into abuse in faith-based care, state institutions, foster care, schools, and medical settings, and interviewed nearly 2,500 survivors. 

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