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CNA Staff, Nov 20, 2024 / 16:00 pm (CNA).

Catholic human rights activist Jimmy Lai on Wednesday took the stand in his national security trial in Hong Kong, arguing in his own defense as he faces life in prison over allegations of sedition against the communist Chinese government. 

Lai, 76, was first arrested in August 2020 under China's newly instituted Hong Kong national security law. He has faced multiple trials since his arrest and has been convicted on multiple charges of unlawful assembly and fraud. 

Advocates have argued that the charges are politically motivated. Lai, through several media enterprises including the long-running Apple Daily newspaper, has for years been a vocal pro-democracy voice in Hong Kong media, with Apple Daily itself encouraging citizens to participate in numerous pro-democracy demonstrations over the years. 

Chinese Communist Party officials, meanwhile, allege that Lai has engaged in what they claim is seditious activism, in part by allegedly advocating for Hong Kong's independence from mainland China. 

At his trial on Wednesday, Lai denied allegations of sedition. "All I was doing was carrying a torch to the reality," he told the court of his publishing activities. 

"The more information you have, the more you're in the know, the more you are free," he said. 

The publisher also denied that he had ordered the Apple Daily to continue as usual after his arrest. "I had written to them, asking them not to take risks," he said. 

The activist further disputed that he had colluded with the U.S. government in 2019 when meeting with then-Vice President Mike Pence. 

"I would not dare to ask the vice president to do anything," he said. "I would just relay to him what happened in Hong Kong when he asked me."

Wednesday's trial comes after the Tuesday sentencing of 45 other Hong Kong democracy activists, all of whom received stretches of up to 10 years in prison under the national security law.

Lai is a Catholic. He converted to Catholicism in 1997 and was received into the Church by Cardinal Joseph Zen. The cardinal was present at the trial on Wednesday, sitting with Lai's family members, according to the Associated Press.

His yearslong imprisonment has drawn international rebuke, including from supporters in the United States. Last December the Congressional Executive Commission on China urged the U.S. government to sanction Hong Kong prosecutors and judges if they fail to release Lai.

The trial "is a political prosecution plain and simple and another sad example of the Hong Kong government's increasingly repressive policies," the commission said. 

Father Robert Sirico, a Catholic priest and founder of the Michigan-based Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty, told CNA in December 2023 that he "[doesn't] have any hope" that the Chinese Communist Party will let Lai walk free.

"I want to be hopeful. I love the man," Sirico said. "I have a deep respect for him. I'm inspired by his bravery. But I know what he's up against."

More recently, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said in a report that the Chinese government should "release Mr. Lai immediately." 

The working group said the government should mount a "full and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Mr. Lai and to take appropriate measures against those responsible for the violation of his rights."

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ACI Africa, Nov 20, 2024 / 17:30 pm (CNA).

The archbishop of Kenya's Archdiocese of Nairobi has turned down financial donations that the country's president offered to a Catholic parish, stating that the Church will not be compromised by offers from politicians who seek to use church fundraising events for self gain.

In a Nov. 18 statement widely circulated on social media platforms, Archbishop Philip Anyolo Subira declined over 5 million Kenyan shillings ($38,500) that President William Samoei Ruto offered to Soweto Catholic Church on Nov. 17. The cash gift was meant for the construction of a new rectory at the parish.

The president further gave the parish choir and the Pontifical Missionary Childhood a 600,000 Kenyan shilling ($4,600) cash reward and promised to donate a bus to the parish, both of which the archbishop has also declined.

In the statement, the archbishop explained that the "political donations" to the Soweto Catholic Church are in violation of Kenya's Public Fundraising Appeals Bill 2024, which requires fundraising appeals to have a permit.

"These funds will be refunded to the respective donors," Anyolo said, adding in reference to the president's pledge: "The promised additional 3 million [Kenyan shillings, $23,256] for the construction of the [pastor's] house, as well as the donation of a parish bus by the president, are hereby declined."

He said that members of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) have consistently maintained a firm stance on the matter of politicians donating money to churches, highlighting the ethical concerns and the need to safeguard the Church from being used for political purposes.

"The Catholic Church strongly discourages the use of church events such as fundraisers and gatherings as platforms for political self-promotion," Anyolo said. "Politicians are urged to refrain from turning the pulpit into a stage for political rhetoric, as such actions undermine the sanctity of worship spaces."

The archbishop said the Church is called to uphold her integrity by refusing contributions that may "inadvertently" compromise her independence or facilitate "unjust enrichment."

Making reference to the letter that KCCB members issued on Nov. 14 calling out the government for ignoring "pertinent unresolved issues," Anyolo said "political leaders are urged to demonstrate ethical leadership by addressing the pressing issues raised by the KCCB."

He reiterated KCCB members' message saying that politicians should address issues such as political wrangles, corruption, politics of self-interest, violations of human rights, and freedom of speech as well as "the culture of lies."

Anyolo also recalled the KCCB's call to Kenyan politicians to pay attention to issues surrounding the National Health Insurance Fund and what they described as "unfulfilled promises, misplaced priorities, selfish agendas to extend terms of elected leaders, and over-taxation of Kenyans."

The archbishop said the Church must remain a neutral entity, free from political influence, to effectively serve as a space for spiritual growth and community guidance. He said that while politicians are welcome to attend church for their spiritual nourishment, they must do so as ordinary Christians, "without leveraging their positions for political gain."

This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA. 

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CNA Staff, Nov 20, 2024 / 14:30 pm (CNA).

Vietnam, a country with one of the highest abortion rates in the world, spearheaded a United Nations initiative this week on the health care needs of infants born prematurely.

While the event in honor of World Prematurity Day aimed to spotlight the need for better care for preterm infants, a bioethicist is pointing to the irony of a country grappling with widespread abortion leading the charge.

"It's a completely mixed message," Joseph Meaney, a senior fellow at the National Catholic Bioethics Center, told "EWTN News Nightly" on Tuesday.

Advances in neonatal intensive care have made possible the survival of smaller and younger infants. The world's most premature surviving baby is Curtis Zy-Keith Means, who was born at 21 weeks and one day in Birmingham, Alabama. 

Vietnam's laws allow unrestricted abortion procedures up to the 22nd week of pregnancy, but enforcement against later-term abortions remains lax. 

A 2023 report identified the Southeast Asian nation as having the second-highest abortion rate in the world. Hanoi's Central Obstetrics Hospital reported in 2014 that 40% of all pregnancies in Vietnam were terminated each year.

Meaney pointed out to "EWTN News Nightly" anchor Tracy Sabol that "in one part of the hospital, they are delivering babies … and trying to keep them alive in the neonatal intensive care units, and in other parts of the hospital, they're killing those same babies at the same age of gestation."

Meaney noted that studies have found that women who have undergone multiple abortions face a higher risk of premature birth and miscarriage in subsequent pregnancies. 

World Prematurity Day was established in 2008 to raise awareness about the challenges of premature births, which is the leading cause of death for children under 5. It is estimated that 13.4 million babies are born prematurely every year, according to UNICEF, which called for universal access to high-quality care for preterm babies in honor of the day.

"Of course, if they're concerned about infant mortality, the highest rate of infant mortality is killing babies through abortion," Meaney said.

Catholics in Vietnam help manage special cemeteries for victims of abortion, including one in the Archdiocese of Hanoi in which 46,000 unborn children are buried and another in Xuan Loc Diocese where more than 53,000 are buried, according to La Croix International. 

A Catholic charity called the Life Protection Group collects the remains of unborn children from state-run hospitals and private clinics, noting that the group used to gather 25-40 aborted fetuses each day to bury.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, more than 1.6 million abortions were performed in Vietnam between 2015 and 2019.

Asked by Sabol how premature births might be reduced in the U.S. and around the world, Meaney said: "One thing would be to have fewer abortions."

As well, "actually having the hospitals help the mothers to continue their pregnancies" would help, he said.

"When they're at risk of premature birth, the amount of days involved is very important. Just a few more days can really increase the likelihood the child will survive," Meaney said.

"To actually have the hospitals willing to admit mothers who are in danger of premature birth" could help lower such incidences, he said.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 20, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

A recently released report from a European watchdog group has found nearly 2,500 documented instances of hate crimes against Christians living in Europe. Approximately 1,000 of these attacks took place in France. 

According to the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe (OIDAC) report, which drew on both police and civil society data, 2,444 anti-Christian hate crimes and acts of discrimination and intolerance occurred across 35 European countries from 2023 to 2024.

Of these, 232 constituted personal attacks of harassment, threats, and physical assaults against Christians.

Most affected countries: France, England, and Germany

Nearly 1,000 of the anti-Christian hate crimes reported in Europe in 2023 took place in France, with 90% of the attacks waged against churches or cemeteries. The report also found there were about 84 personal attacks against individuals. 

Apart from physical assaults, the report cited data from the French Religious Heritage Observatory, which recorded eight confirmed cases of arson against churches in France in 2023 and 14 attacks in the first 10 months of 2024. Several reported cases were on account of "Molotov cocktails," a makeshift handheld firebomb.

Religious communities also reported incidents of harassment. Two nuns cited in the report, for example, announced in 2023 that they would be leaving the northwestern city of Nantes on account of "constant hostility and insecurity." The nuns reportedly experienced "beatings, spitting, and insults."

The United Kingdom followed close behind France, according to the report, with 702 reported anti-Christian hate crimes, a 15% increase since 2023.

The report also included as anti-Christian acts incidents of Christians being prosecuted for praying silently in the country's so-called "buffer zones," such as the case of Adam Smith-Connor, who was convicted for praying in front of an abortion clinic.

The report stated that in Germany, the third most affected country, official government statistics reported 277 "politically motivated hate crimes" against Christians in 2023, a 105% increase from the previous year when there were 103 reported attacks. 

OIDAC Europe independently estimated that "at least 2,000 cases of property damage to Christian places of worship in 2023" took place. 

Motives and perpetrators of anti-Christian hate crimes

OIDAC Europe found that of the 69 documented cases where the motives and background of perpetrators could be accurately accounted for, 21 of them were provoked by a radical Islamist agenda, 14 were of a generally anti-religious nature, 13 were tied to far-left political motives, and 12 were "linked to the war in Ukraine."

The report also noted that numbers in this respect remained unchanged compared with 2022, "except for cases with an Islamist background, which increased from 11 to 21."

Pushed to the silent margins

In addition to overt attacks, the OIDAC report highlighted an increased phenomenon of discrimination in the workplace and public life, leading to a rise in self-censorship among those who practice their faith. 

According to a U.K.-based study from June cited in the report, 56% of 1,562 respondents stated they "had experienced hostility and ridicule when discussing their religious beliefs," an overall 61% rise among those under 35. In addition, 18% of those who participated in the study reported experiencing discrimination, particularly among those in younger age groups.

More than 280 participants in the same survey stated "they felt that they had been disadvantaged because of their religion."

"I was bullied at my workplace, made to feel less than, despite being very successful at my job in other settings, until I left," one female respondent in her late 40s stated in the survey, while another respondent, a man in his mid- to late-50s, said: "Any mention of faith in a CV precludes one from an interview. My yearly assessment was lowered because I spoke of Christ."

The report explained that the majority of discrimination occurs due to the "expression of religious beliefs about societal issues." However, in the U.K., these instances have extended to private conversations and posts on private social media accounts, according to the report.

A case involving a mother of two children, Kristie Higgs, was cited in the report. Higgs was fired from her job as a pastoral assistant after sharing, in a private Facebook post, "concerns about the promotion of transgenderism in sex education lessons at her son's primary school."

"I am not alone to be treated this way — many of the others here to support me today have faced similar consequences," Higgs stated after her hearing at the Court of Appeals in October.

"This is not just about me," she added. "It cannot be right that so many Christians are losing their jobs or facing discipline for sharing biblical truth, our Christian beliefs."

Government interference with the Catholic Church

Two instances of government interference in Catholic religious autonomy were cited. 

One instance occurred in France, in which a secular civil court "ruled against the Vatican's internal canonical procedures" in a case regarding a French nun who was dismissed from her order. The Vatican sent a letter to the French embassy in response to the ruling, which it called "a serious violation of the fundamental rights of religious freedom and freedom of association of the Catholic faithful."

In Belgium, the report also noted, two bishops were convicted and ordered to pay financial compensation after they refused to admit a woman to a diaconate training program, despite human rights law, which protects the rights of religious institutions such as the Catholic Church, to decide on matters such as the ordination of clergy without state-level interference.

Recommendations

"As freedom of thought, conscience, and religion is a cornerstone for free and democratic societies, we hope that states will not compromise on the protection of these fundamental rights, and thus ensure an open and peaceful climate in our societies," the report stated in its conclusion.

OIDAC's report includes various recommendations to governments of European countries, human rights institutions, the European Union, members of the media, and other "opinion leaders" as well as to Christian churches and individuals.

The watchdog organization's recommendations include a call for safeguarding freedom of expression, more robust reporting on intolerance and discrimination against Christians, the abandonment of anti-Christian "hate speech" in the public sphere, and for people of faith to engage in public-facing discourse as a means of "dialogue between religion and secular society."

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CNA Staff, Nov 19, 2024 / 15:35 pm (CNA).

The Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey, is missing a large batch of donations with parishioners urged to monitor bank accounts amid an investigation into the whereabouts of the funds. 

A letter to diocesan residents from Bishop Kevin Sweeney, obtained by CNA, said the missing funds were part of the Paterson Diocese's ministries appeal. 

The diocese for 10 years has used a third-party firm that "specializes in processing and recording donations," Sweeney said. 

That arrangement is "used by many dioceses and nonprofits to ensure there is an independent, 'arms-length' distance between the office that conducts a fundraising effort and the funds that come in," the bishop noted. 

Sweeney said workers on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31 dropped appeal responses from "approximately 1,700 parishioners" into a FedEx drop box. The appeals were addressed to the processing firm.

"Unfortunately, the packages never arrived at their destination, and the tracking number for each package used to monitor the location was never entered, making it impossible to know their current whereabouts," the bishop said. 

Of the 1,700 responses, Sweeney said, the diocese estimates "approximately 500 … may have contained cash, checks, and credit card information."

The prelate said the diocese has been in "constant contact with FedEx about this issue" and that officials were "not ruling out foul play." Law enforcement has been notified, he said. 

Sweeney said the diocese has changed its processing procedures. "[We] now bring all packages to a FedEx store where we watch it get scanned and receive a receipt and tracking information," he said.

The bishop urged parishioners to "monitor your credit card activity or checking account to make sure there are no irregularities."

Sweeney acknowledged that it was "distressing that an action beyond our control may have impacted even a small number of our faithful supporters." 

"What makes this even more upsetting is a concern that this could impact those who want to give to the Diocesan Ministries Appeal but may now be hesitant," he noted. "This has the unintended effect of impacting funding to the important and vital ministries in our diocese, such as Catholic Charities, where the need is so great." 

"We hope that this does not deter the faithful from supporting our appeal, especially now that a solution is in place to ensure the tracking of every package," Sweeney added. 

On its website, the diocesan appeal says the funds raised go toward Catholic education, seminarian support, senior priest retirement, and taking care of people with special needs.

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CNA Staff, Nov 19, 2024 / 16:05 pm (CNA).

The Texas Supreme Court will allow the execution of a man convicted of the murder of his infant child, with the ruling coming after a legislative committee attempted last month to delay the capital sentence by subpoenaing the condemned man.

The Texas House of Representatives Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence last month had issued a subpoena for Robert Roberson to appear before the committee to testify regarding the state's "junk science" law. Roberson was convicted in 2003 of the murder of his infant daughter, Nikki.

The Texas Supreme Court granted an emergency motion to halt his execution, which had originally been scheduled to take place Oct. 17. The latest state Supreme Court ruling does not concern Roberson's innocence or guilt but rather the state Legislature's power to delay executions.

The court ruled that the Legislature cannot delay Roberson's execution in order to obtain his testimony.

"We conclude that under these circumstances the committee's authority to compel testimony does not include the power to override the scheduled legal process leading to an execution," Justice Evan A. Young wrote in the opinion.

"We do not repudiate legislative investigatory power, but any testimony relevant to a legislative task here could have been obtained long before the death warrant was issued — or even afterwards, but before the execution."

The high court pointed out that nothing prevents the Legislature from obtaining his testimony now that his execution is already delayed.

"There remains a substantial period between now and any potential future rescheduling of Roberson's execution," the ruling said. "If the committee still wishes to obtain his testimony … so long as a subpoena issues in a way that does not inevitably block a scheduled execution, nothing in our holding prevents the committee from pursuing judicial relief in the ordinary way to compel a witness' testimony."

State Attorney General Ken Paxton's office in a Nov. 18 statement said the lawmakers who issued the subpoena "conspired to block the lawful execution of a man convicted of murdering his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki." 

"Ensuring justice for murder victims is one of my most sacred responsibilities as attorney general, and we fought every step of the way for her," he said.

Roberson was convicted of Nikki's murder in 2003 after he brought her to a local hospital with severe injuries. Roberson claimed the baby had fallen from her bed, but medical experts argued that her injuries were consistent with child abuse. 

Testimony at his trial included the claim that Nikki's injuries were consistent with "shaken baby syndrome," a formerly common diagnosis that is controversial today among experts.

Since his conviction, Roberson has attempted to establish his innocence by invoking Texas' "junk science" law, which allows defendants to argue that scientific evidence used in their conviction was flawed. He would be the first person in the U.S. put to death for a conviction linked to "shaken baby syndrome" if his execution ends up moving forward, CBS News reported.

After he was subpoenaed last month, Roberson was ultimately not permitted to testify to the state Legislature virtually. Lawmakers cited the fact that he has autism and has rarely interacted with modern technology during his 20-year incarceration. The Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee had expressed hope to have Roberson appear to testify in person at another time.

The Catholic Church teaches that the death penalty is "inadmissible," even for people who have committed heinous crimes.

In mid-October, the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops said in a statement that it was "grateful" for the decision to halt the execution, and Bishop Joe Vásquez of the local Diocese of Austin said that the bishops of Texas believe that "he is innocent, and at least his case should be reviewed." 

Later that month, the Catholic conference noted in a statement that under state law, when a new execution date is requested, a 90-day posting of the date is required, so the earliest the state could execute Roberson would be February 2025. The conference urged continued prayers for Roberson. 

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CNA Staff, Nov 19, 2024 / 13:30 pm (CNA).

In a letter sent to Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, apostolic nuncio to Ukraine, on Nov. 19, Pope Francis expressed his great sorrow for the suffering of the people of Ukraine, who have now endured 1,000 days of war since the outbreak of the violent conflict there in 2022.

The letter was published in Italian by the Vatican newspaper on Nov. 19. 

Addressing his representative in "beloved and tormented Ukraine," the Holy Father said he wished "to embrace all its citizens, wherever they may be," and acknowledged the extreme hardships the Ukrainian people have suffered under "large-scale military aggression" for the past 1,000 days. 

The pope told the nuncio, whom he addressed as "brother," that his words are meant to express solidarity with the people of Ukraine and to convey "a heartfelt invocation to God," who he said is "the only source of life, hope, and wisdom, so that he may convert hearts and make them capable of starting paths of dialogue, reconciliation, and harmony."

Francis quoted Psalm 121: "My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth,"  recalling how every day at 9 a.m., Ukrainians observe a "minute of national silence" for the victims of the conflict.

"I join them, so that the cry that rises to heaven, from which help comes, may be stronger," the pope wrote.

He went on to pray that the Lord will "console our hearts and strengthen the hope that, while he collects all the tears shed and will ask for an account of them, he remains beside us even when human efforts seem fruitless and actions not sufficient."

The pope ended the letter to the archbishop by entrusting the Ukrainian people to God and blessing them, "beginning with the bishops and priests, with whom you, dear brother, have remained alongside the sons and daughters of this nation throughout these 1,000 days of suffering."

Vatican News released a short video to mark the 1,000th day of war in Ukraine:

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CNA Staff, Nov 19, 2024 / 14:35 pm (CNA).

A pastor in Brooklyn, New York, has been removed from his city parish after a review found alleged "severe" financial violations, including a secret transfer of parish funds totaling almost $2 million. 

Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan said in a statement this week that he had relieved Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello of "any pastoral oversight or governance role" at Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Annunciation Parish after an outside review found "evidence of severe violations of diocesan policies and protocols." 

Brennan previously disciplined Gigantiello last year after the priest allowed pop star Sabrina Carpenter to shoot a lewd music video in the church. Brennan at that time relieved the pastor of administrative oversight of the parish. 

Gigantiello's removal from the pastorship this week came after investigations revealed he reportedly "mishandled substantial church funds and interfered with the administration of the parish after being directed not to do so," Brennan said in his statement. 

From 2019 to 2021 the priest allegedly transferred $1.9 million of parish funds to bank accounts linked to the attorney Frank Carone, a longtime figure in Brooklyn Democratic politics. Carone served as chief of staff for New York Mayor Eric Adams in 2022. 

It is unclear what Carone or his affiliates may have used the money for. The diocese in its statement indicated that the loans were repaid, one of them at about 9% interest. 

The diocese said there were "other instances" in which Gigantiello misused parish funds, including using a church credit card for "substantial personal expenses." 

In addition to removing Gigantiello, Brennan said he had also placed Deacon Dean Dobbins, the parish's temporary administrator, on administrative leave. 

The diocese said that earlier in the month it had received evidence from Gigantiello's attorneys of "racist and other offensive comments" made by Dobbins "during private conversations in the parish office."

The remarks were secretly recorded "at the direction of [Gigantiello]," the diocese said.

"It was wrong to secretly record Deacon Dobbins, but the use of such language by any church employee is unacceptable and will not be tolerated," Brennan said in his statement. 

The diocese said that it is "fully committed to cooperating with law enforcement in all investigations." 

In addition to his removal from the leadership of the Brooklyn parish, Gigantiello last year was also removed from his role as the diocesan vicar for development, a position he had held for about 15 years. 

Earlier this year Carpenter had joked about her putative role in helping launch federal investigations into New York City leadership, specifically Adams, who was charged with financial crimes in September.

In a concert at Madison Square Garden days after the mayor was charged, the singer suggested that last year's controversy over the music video shot at the Brooklyn church may have led to Adams being targeted by federal agents. 

"Should we talk about how I got the mayor indicted?" she asked her audience at the concert.

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Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov 19, 2024 / 15:05 pm (CNA).

"With a supreme and definitive decision," Pope Francis expelled from the clerical state for the crime of schism Fernando María Cornet, an Argentine who served as a priest in the Archdiocese of Sassari, Italy.

Cornet, 57, wrote a book titled "Habemus Antipapam?" ("Do We Have an Antipope?"), published in 2023 by the publishing house Edizioni del Faro, the Argentine newspaper La Nación reported. In his book, Cornet asserts that Pope Benedict XVI's resignation was invalid and, consequently, so was the election of Pope Francis.

In announcing the decision, the archbishop of Sassari, Gian Franco Saba, urged the community to pray for the unity of the Church.

"The members of Christ must not be in conflict with each other; all those who form his body must each fulfill their own office ... so that there may be no divisions," he said.

The archdiocese also announced that the vicar of the Historic Urban Center Subzone, Father Antonino Canu, will serve as parish administrator of St. Donatus and St. Sixtus in Sassari. 

He will be assisted in his ministry by the priests of Cottolengo who already work in the Historic Center and other priests present in the pastoral district, the archdiocese added.

The statement, dated Nov. 13, is signed by the chancellor of the archdiocese, Father Antonio Spanu.

According to La Nación, in mid-May, a letter from the Vatican asked Cornet "to withdraw the book from circulation, to publicly declare that it had errors, to ask for forgiveness, and to recognize Pope Francis as the legitimate pope."

However, the now former priest said he "couldn't do so because that's not how things are and also because no one from the DDF [Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith] was able to explain to me what the errors in my book are; no one ever gave me an argument."

Cornet foresaw that he would incur this sentence and stated that for writing his book "he was going to be persecuted by someone who had illegitimately occupied a place that didn't belong to him, throwing the Church into crisis with illegitimate decisions and illegitimate appointments of bishops."

What is the crime of schism?

According to Canon 751 of the Catholic Church's Code of Canon Law, schism takes place when a baptized person refuses "submission to the supreme pontiff or communion with the members of the Church subject to him."

"An apostate from the faith, a heretic or a schismatic incurs a 'latae sententiae' excommunication" (automatic), according to Canon 1364 of the Code of Canon Law, and can also be punished with other penalties including, in the case of priests, expulsion from the clerical state.

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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St. Louis, Mo., Nov 19, 2024 / 09:15 am (CNA).

A St. Louis pro-life group has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to declare unconstitutional a rural Illinois town's now-defunct "buffer zone" law, which previously impeded the group's peaceful protests and counseling outside the town's abortion clinics. 

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide whether or not it will take up the case on Nov. 22.

The case, Coalition Life v. City of Carbondale, Illinois, concerns a law restricting protests outside three abortion clinics in Carbondale, a small college town about two hours southeast of St. Louis and three hours north of Memphis, Tennessee, both major cities in states that currently have strong pro-life protections in place. 

Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, Illinois leaders have leaned in to the state's status as a destination for women seeking abortions throughout the Midwest. Democratic leaders in the state had been expanding protections for abortion in the state for years before the fall of Roe, removing all criminal penalties for performing abortions and lifting regulations on clinics. 

Notably, in 2019, Planned Parenthood opened an 18,000-square-foot, $7 million "mega" abortion clinic in southern Illinois just a dozen miles from downtown St. Louis, originally expected to see 11,000 patients a year.

Coalition Life, a St. Louis-based pro-life organization, had been engaging in peaceful sidewalk counseling of women outside Carbondale's abortion clinics, offering information about free ultrasounds and pregnancy tests, STD testing, and recommending "options coaching" at a pro-life pregnancy center.

The pro-life group was engaged in this work until the town, citing what people associated with the abortion clinic described as "aggressive and misleading tactics," amended its "disorderly conduct" ordinance to criminalize approaching within eight feet of another person without their consent for purposes of protest, education, or counseling within 100 feet of a health care facility.

Such ordinances, which have been enacted in various local municipalities and at least three states at large across the country, are often known as "buffer zone" or "bubble zone" laws.

Buffer zone laws

Carbondale's ordinance was modeled after a Colorado law upheld in the seminal 2000 U.S. Supreme Court case Hill v. Colorado, a precedent that has faced numerous legal challenges from pro-life advocates over the years as pro-lifers argue such laws chill their right to free speech. In 2023, the Supreme Court declined to hear a similar case, which challenged a "bubble zone" ordinance in Westchester County, New York.

The Supreme Court has ruled in the past, however, against very large buffer zones, striking down a 35-foot buffer zone ordinance in Massachusetts in McCullen v. Coakley in 2014. In 2020, though, the high court turned away challenges to eight-foot and 20-foot buffer zones in Chicago and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, citing the Hill precedent. 

Coalition Life is asking the Supreme Court to overturn Hill v. Colorado, which it says would allow ordinances and laws nationwide modeled after the Colorado statute to be challenged and potentially struck down, creating a more level playing field for public discourse on abortion, especially after the overturning of Roe v. Wade returned the issue of abortion policy to the states. 

A federal district court and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 7th Circuit have already ruled against Coalition Life in the case, and a similar case challenging a buffer zone law in Englewood, New Jersey, has also faced roadblocks in federal courts.  

Peter Breen, the executive vice president and head of litigation for the Thomas More Society, which is helping to represent Coalition Life, said in a statement that "Hill v. Colorado was egregiously wrong on the day it was decided, and it remains a black mark in our law to this day."

"'Bubble zones,' like the one in Carbondale, are an unconstitutional and overzealous attempt to show favor to abortion businesses at the expense of the free speech rights of folks who seek to offer information, alternatives, and resources to pregnant women in need," Breen added. 

"It's time to end, once and for all, the political gamesmanship places like Carbondale play with our free speech rights."

According to Capitol News Illinois, this past July the Carbondale City Council quietly and unanimously repealed the buffer zone language from its disorderly conduct code — which had been in place only 18 months and was never enforced — only a few days prior to Coalition Life's petition to the Supreme Court. 

Opportunity to correct 'flawed precedent'

Coalition Life argues in its petition to the Supreme Court that its case presents a clear opportunity to correct a flawed precedent that continues to undermine First Amendment rights, adding that Carbondale's attempt to moot the case by repealing the ordinance highlights the urgent need for the Supreme Court to act. 

Carbondale and other municipalities will readily reenact similar ordinances if the Supreme Court declines to take up the case, the group argues. 

"It took them four minutes to repeal that, and assuming that we stopped fighting, it will take them four minutes to put the bubble zone back in," Coalition Life founder Brian Westbrook told Capitol News Illinois.

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