Catholic News

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=279636&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Washington D.C., Oct 7, 2024 / 18:45 pm (CNA).

Hundreds gathered at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in support of Israel and in remembrance of the victims and hostages on the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel.

The event, "Remembering October 7th," was sponsored by the Philos Project, a Christian nonprofit organization that advocates for pluralism and Israel's peaceful existence in the Middle East, and included remarks from speakers across various faith backgrounds. 

Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts addressed Christians and fellow Catholics in particular during his remarks, calling on them to "stand up and be vocal and courageous" against antisemitism. 

"As a serious Roman Catholic, I can tell you that in our institutions, we've not been vocal enough about this," Roberts said, appealing to fellow Christians in an impassioned speech for the Oct. 7 memorial event sponsored by the Philos Project in remembrance of Israeli victims and hostages. 

Referencing Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered at the Washington Monument in 1963, Roberts told those gathered at the event: "We know that speech to be about bringing an end to segregation in this country. But I would argue in 2024 that also includes once and for all ending in this country and around the world the scourge of antisemitism."

In an interview with CNA at the event, Roberts stressed that antisemitism "never ends with the Jews." Even if that were the case, the public policy leader told CNA, Christians would still be called to stand in solidarity with them. 

However, he continued, "next on the list will be those of us who are faithful Catholics." 

"It is really important for people of all faiths ... to express their solidarity not just with Israel and all people of Jewish faith around the world," he told CNA, "but for all Americans and free people to say this hatred and this violence has to come to an end."

On Oct. 7, Hamas militants killed over 1,400 Israelis, took 250 hostages — of which only 101 are still alive — and committed acts of sexual violence against Israeli women, according to reports. Israel has since faced international criticism due to the rising number of civilian casualties in Gaza, currently estimated to be nearly 42,000 by the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, since launching its counteroffensive. 

Following news of the escalation between Israel and Iran's proxies in Lebanon last week, as CNA reported, Pope Francis called on Christians all over the world to observe a "day of prayer and fasting" on Oct. 7. 

Addressing how Christians ought to approach the conflict, Roberts told CNA that they must remember, "first and foremost, that all life is precious." Drawing on Catholic teaching on just war theory, Roberts told CNA he believed the Israeli response to be "very careful" and "very proportionate. Lastly, Roberts emphasized that for peace to exist, Hamas must "cease to exist." 

"We have to understand as Americans and Roman Catholics living in the United States that all of these assaults on Israel are assaults on Western civilization, [that] they are assaults on our faith," he stated, adding: "We, first and foremost, have to have the courage to stand up and say, 'We have to bring this to an end.'"

On a practical level, Roberts explained to CNA that for American policymakers on both sides of the aisle to help facilitate the end of the war, it is "vital" to end funding mechanisms for Hamas and Hezbollah at home and abroad. Roberts drew on this point during his speech as well, telling the crowd they should be asking policymakers and all of those running for office in November where they stand regarding Israel. "Otherwise," he said, "we're not going to end antisemitism."

In his interview with CNA, Roberts expanded on this point further with respect to his own Catholic beliefs, saying that to him, "the contrast between the two sides couldn't be clearer."

"I see this as a Roman Catholic guy," he said. "There's one side broadly defined as the conservative movement that understands that this cause isn't just about the state of Israel. It isn't even just about people of Jewish faith, although both of those are certainly worthy of being in solidarity with. This is about freedom, and it's about Western civilization, about all of our faith."

"The other side, the radical left on its best day, speaks out of both sides of its mouth, but is really beholden to the funding interests of Hamas and Hezbollah," he added. "Hopefully, what people see is the contrast that exists, and they vote their conscience." 

Ohio senator and vice presidential hopeful JD Vance also made an appearance at the event.

"I know that in this crowd, some of us are Christians, some of us are Jews, and some of us are people even of no faith," he told the crowd. "But we are united in the basic commonsense principle that we want the good guys to win and we want the bad guys to lose." 

"What happened on October the 7th was disgraceful, and we have to make sure it never happens again," Vance added.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=279635&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Staff, Oct 7, 2024 / 19:15 pm (CNA).

The Georgia Supreme Court reinstated on Monday the state's heartbeat law, a six-week limit on abortion known as the "LIFE Act," after a trial court judge overturned it last week. 

The state Supreme Court in a 6 to 1 majority reinstated the heartbeat law pending ongoing litigation surrounding the law. Last week, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr requested a stay of the rule blocking the heartbeat law, pending appeal.

A six-week abortion limit is often called a heartbeat law, named because it protects unborn babies after fetal cardiac activity is detectable. The order went into effect at 5 p.m. on Oct. 7 in Georgia, protecting unborn babies if they have a detectable heartbeat. 

Claire Bartlett, executive director of the pro-life advocacy group Georgia Life Alliance, told CNA that she expects the Georgia Supreme Court "to fully uphold the LIFE Act."

"From the very beginning, the LIFE Act sought to strike a careful balance of recognizing the difficult circumstances women find themselves in with the basic right to life of a unique, living unborn child," Bartlett said. 

A trial court ruling on Sept. 30 overturned the heartbeat law on the grounds of liberty and privacy in the Georgia Constitution. 

Carr promptly appealed the decision in a legal motion on Wednesday, saying in the motion that "there is nothing legally private about ending the life of an unborn child." Carr filed the emergency petition for supersedeas in the ongoing case, The State of Georgia v. SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective. The state Supreme Court is reinstating the law as the appeal is ongoing. 

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney ruled last week that the state's constitutional right to liberty included decisions about abortion. 

In a 26-page ruling, McBurney said the six-week law and any pre-viability abortion restrictions are arbitrary and unconstitutional. He said the state could only restrict abortion after viability — usually at about 23 or 24 weeks. Any restrictions before that violate a women's right to liberty and privacy, McBurney said.

The definition of liberty, he wrote, includes "the power of a woman to control her own body, to decide what happens to it and in it, and to reject state interference with her health care choices."

"When Judge McBurney issued his opinion and order last Friday, his ruling was not based in reality, much less law," Bartlett said.

The Georgia Catholic bishops of Savannah and Atlanta called the heartbeat law's overturn a "terrible step backwards" in a statement shared with CNA last week. 

"Yesterday's ruling to overturn Georgia's abortion ban represents a terrible step backwards in our never-ending efforts to recognize and respect the inherent dignity of every life," the bishops said in a joint statement. "How many tiny lives will be extinguished while lawyers appeal and lawmakers debate?"

The Archdiocese of Atlanta declined to comment further but noted in a statement last week that it "remain[s] committed to helping mothers and fathers facing crisis pregnancies as well as their precious babies."

"We will advocate for laws to protect those in the margins. We can foster a culture of life in our families and communities. We can demonstrate how sacred each life is in the eyes of God," the bishops said. 

In the state Supreme Court dissenting opinion, Justice John Ellington argued that "the state should not be in the business of enforcing laws that have been determined to violate fundamental rights guaranteed to millions of individuals under the Georgia Constitution."

The Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act was initially passed in 2019, but McBurney blocked it, citing Roe v. Wade. After Roe v. Wade's overturn, the Georgia Supreme Court overruled the decision, allowing the law to take effect in 2022. 

False claims about Georgia abortion law

The Georgia abortion law recently came under fire from Democrat presidential candidate and current vice president Kamala Harris, who promulgated a false claim that the Georgia abortion law had caused the death of two women, Amber Thurman, 28, and Candi Miller, 41.

The left-leaning news outlet ProPublica published several stories blaming the LIFE Act for their deaths. The two women died from infections caused by complications after taking abortion pills. 

The deaths of Thurman and Miller were "tragic," Bartlett noted, and Georgia law was not to blame.

"In the case of Amber Thurman, her twin babies had already died due to the abortion pills she obtained out of state. She did not have pre- or post-medical care until she became fatally infected," she said. "Her sad and tragic death had everything to do with lack of proper medical attention, not Georgia's law." 

"In the case of Candi Miller, medical protections had been removed by the Biden-Harris administration in their effort to proliferate abortion pill access," Bartlett continued, noting that Miller had ordered the pills "online from an overseas provider." 

In response to the dangers surrounding chemical abortions, Bartlett said that "we have a responsibility to pass protective legislation such as the Women's Health and Safety Act, which restores the protections the Biden-Harris administration removed." 

These protections, she said, include "requiring a woman to see a medical provider in person for a complete medical history and a physical assessment to determine any risks" as well as requiring that abortions "only be performed by licensed physicians." 

"We take a 'Love Them Both' approach" to these issues, Bartlett said. 

Bartlett noted that the LIFE Act "is a careful balance of protecting the basic human rights of an unborn child while meeting society where it is culturally."

"The law protects the child once his or her heartbeat is detectable, which can be as early as four and a half weeks. The law protects the woman by offering exceptions for life of the mother's medical emergency, rape, incest, or if the unborn child is deemed 'incompatible with life,'" she said. "Under no circumstance under the law is treatment for a miscarriage, stillbirth, or ectopic pregnancy considered an abortion."

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=279633&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

ACI Africa, Oct 7, 2024 / 14:30 pm (CNA).

Susan Auma has known little rest since 2001 when her husband died, leaving her with two toddlers. Widowed at just 27, Auma found herself fighting to survive in her matrimonial home where she was surrounded by hostility for refusing to be remarried.

Auma's tribulations started before the burial of her husband when her brothers-in-law instructed her to surrender her husband's property. The idea had been carefully crafted to leave Auma and her sons vulnerable and in need of a man to take care of them.

Then came the rituals, starting with shaving her head clean, and the ultimate cleansing, which was to involve "ritual sex" with a stranger and allow herself to enter into a polygamous union.

Auma refused to participate in all the traditions that were laid before her, accepting the wrath of her husband's relatives instead. They called her stubborn and threw her out of her home. She was left to fight, many years later, for her husband's parcel of land to be able to secure her son's future.

Auma's tribulations are not isolated in western Kenya, specifically among the Luo tribe, where "wife inheritance" is a deeply entrenched tradition requiring a widow to immediately accept another marriage proposal, preferably from her late husband's male relatives.

Everything, including the unthinkable, is done to leave the widow vulnerable, including destroying her house. The man who offers to build the widow's house "inherits" her by default. Orphaned children are incited against their mother, forcing her to accept to be inherited. Animosity deepens between sons and their mothers who refuse to be inherited.

This is why many members of St. Monica Widows Group, a support group in Kenya's Archdiocese of Kisumu, are "alone in the world." Children are pressured to want nothing to do with their mothers who chose Christianity over tradition.

St. Monica Widows Group was started in 1984 in the areas served by the Archdiocese of Kisumu. At the time of its founding, the situation was dire. According to Father Lawrence Omollo, the group's chaplain, women who were kicked out of their homes for refusing to be inherited were being taken in by Catholic mission centers.

"Wife inheritance has been a great pastoral challenge in this region," Omollo told ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, in an interview on Oct. 2 at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Ojolla Parish in the Kisumu Archdiocese, where members of the group had just met for Mass.

"St. Monica Widows Group was created as a support group for widows where they found solace in knowing that they were not alone in their rejection by society and in many other challenges they faced," Omollo explained.

His words echo those of Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba of the Archdiocese of Kisumu, who has admitted that "wife inheritance" has been "a serious" pastoral challenge in Nyanza, a region served by the archdiocese.

The archbishop said the St. Monica Widows Group was started to rescue widows whose only other option was to be "inherited" and become part of a polygamous union.

"Inheritance is a serious challenge. It is a cultural issue but we are overcoming it slowly by slowly because by forming this group of St. Monica Widows, more and more ladies are opting to join this particular group and refuse to be inherited," he said.

The archbishop explained that for refusing to be inherited, widows in Nyanza "are ostracized by their communities."

"Some are rejected. Some lose all their inheritance because of that. They have no access to the property left behind by the husbands," he explained.

Reports have said widowhood is a source of great distress among the Luo of Kenya's Nyanza region. Their tribulations include endless court battles for property, rejection, and being blamed for any misfortune that befalls their families.

Such was the case for Margaret Omwa, who joined St. Monica Widows Group in 1996 following the death of her husband.

"I passed through a lot," Omwa told ACI Africa. "My husband died in an accident when we were just building our house. On his death, his relatives roofed a small section of the house and left the rest bare. It was a trap to oblige me to get a man who would complete the entire roofing. None of the people I contacted accepted to complete the roofing."

"My husband's relatives then started inciting my children against me, starting with my first son. He totally refused to step inside my house. He wouldn't eat my food and refused to talk to me. He saw me as an enemy because I had refused to be inherited," she said.

Her estranged son, who was living with HIV, was also made to believe that it was his mother's "uncleanliness" that had made him unwell.

"I was blamed for any misfortune that befell the family," Omwa shared. "Eventually, my late husband's relatives convinced my son to go and rent himself a house away from me. I am grateful that on his deathbed, he had accepted that he had HIV. We were also on talking terms."

But Omwa's relationship with her in-laws never improved, she said, explaining: "They did very bad things to me in an attempt to get me remarried. They held clan meetings with me to decide my punishment. But I kept reminding them that I had made a vow on my husband's burial day that I only had a place for him in my life, that I didn't have any space left for another man."

"When all their attempts failed, they left alongside my son, swearing never to help me again," she recalled.

Omollo told ACI Africa that while other people believe in the vow "until death do us part," the widows of St. Monica say "until death unites us" when their husbands die and refuse to be remarried.

"St. Monica's Group of Widows are people who want to be true to the sacraments of baptism and matrimony; those who allow nothing to get in the way of partaking in holy Communion — not even tradition," Omollo said.

"We also have auxiliary members who support the group's activities and continue being members when their spouses pass on," he said.

In the Archdiocese of Kisumu, St. Monica's Widows Group is one of the lay apostolate groups associated with Small Christian Communities (SCCs). The group is also engaging other Catholic dioceses to get to the national level.

"Organization starts at the SCCs because it is at the grassroots that the challenges of these widows are best understood," Omollo explained.

The activities of the group include prayer and support of the priests with the little that the widows have, Omollo said. "Every November, the widows tend to the graves of deceased priests. They clean the graves, organize holy Mass for them, and hold prayers at the graveyards of departed priests in the archdiocese."

They also build houses for those among them who have been thrown out by the relatives of their deceased husbands. 

The widows also support orphans who, according to the group's chairperson, Roselyne Auma, are always left under the care of their elderly grandmothers.

In an attempt to explain the high HIV prevalence in Nyanza, Roselyne Auma, who joined the group in 2002 following her husband's death, said that widows often remarry unaware that their late husbands infected them with the virus.

Others do not believe that HIV exists and blame the virus-related illnesses on witchcraft, Auma said, adding: "The man who performs ritual sex sleeps with many women since his job is to cleanse the widows. This is one of the leading reasons for the spread of the virus."

Apart from the care of orphans, members of St. Monica Widows Group bury their own members whom the rest of the society considers unclean even in death. The women do everything, starting with the digging of the grave.

Describing the stigma against those who refuse to get remarried, Susan Auma said: "The moment you decide to follow Christ and reject traditions, you face instant rejection. You are stigmatized and separated from your children. You are considered unclean and unworthy to mingle with anyone including your children."

She said that even with Christianity, there are people who go to church and still engage in traditional rituals.

Susan Auma said that being together with other widows of St. Monica reduces the loneliness and the pain that one experiences. 

"With all the rejection, it is so easy for one to get depressed. But when we come together and visit each other, everything becomes easier," she said.

"Priests are the only people we run to with our challenges. Sometimes, we overwhelm them with our issues," she said.

Responding to the inspiration behind the name St. Monica, Father Omollo told ACI Africa: "The widows here find it easy to relate with St. Monica, who was not only a widow but also African. They put themselves in the position of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine."

"When Augustine became stubborn, his mother became close to priests, asking them to pray for her son. Eventually, Augustine became a priest and a bishop. This is what our widows do in an effort to protect their children from the influence of harmful traditions," he said.

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

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=279632&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

ACI MENA, Oct 7, 2024 / 15:00 pm (CNA).

Black smoke and raging fires lit up the sky as successive explosions rumbled through Beirut's southern suburbs over the weekend, with Oct. 5 marking one of the most violent nights the Lebanese capital has experienced. As tensions escalate between Hezbollah and Israel, heavy airstrikes hit deep into areas already emptied of residents, spreading fear through neighboring cities and towns.

The deteriorating situation forces Lebanon's government to address both political and humanitarian concerns as people flee the bombarded areas. The Church stands alongside the state, active on multiple fronts: pushing diplomatically for a cease-fire and peace, providing aid to victims, and maintaining continuous prayer vigils.

After what many have called the most violent night since fighting intensified in Lebanon, Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi, the Maronite patriarch, spoke out reaffirming his stance on this war and its consequences. 

"Our political leaders must set aside their differences and unite with a sense of historic duty," he stated. "They need to seriously work on electing a president who has both domestic and international support."

Presiding over the Sunday of the Rosary Mass, Al-Rahi added from his patriarchal summer residence in Diman, northern Lebanon: "Electing a president is crucial right now. This leader will need to unite the nation, enforce Resolution 1701 and a cease-fire, handle talks about Lebanon's regional role, get Parliament and cabinet working again, rebuild Lebanon's standing in Arab and world communities, and help over a million displaced Lebanese."

Lebanon has been without a president since Oct. 31, 2022. As head of state, this position is always held by a Maronite Christian.

Al-Rahi ended the Mass with a prayer: "Let us pray, brothers and sisters, for an end to the war in Lebanon, for the safe return of the displaced, and for the swift election of a president. Let us also pray for the commitment of our government, both governmental and nongovernmental institutions, and for collective and individual initiatives to provide aid to displaced families throughout Lebanon, including those from the south, Beirut, Baalbek, and other regions. May God have mercy on us, our people, and our wounded nation."

Minassian's call

On the international level, Armenian Catholic Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian brought his concerns to Pope Francis at the Vatican on Oct. 5. He painted a harrowing picture of the war's devastation in Lebanon, asking the Holy Father to "be a voice for peace and to call upon the international community to provide humanitarian aid swiftly and support de-escalation efforts."'

This article was first published by ACI Mena, CNA's Arabic-language partner, and has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=279631&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 7, 2024 / 15:30 pm (CNA).

Speaking to reporters after the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance signaled that a second Trump administration will seek to defund Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood, which is the largest abortion provider in the U.S., took in nearly $700 million in tax-funded government grants, contracts, and Medicaid reimbursements in 2023, accounting for 34% of its total revenue, according to Planned Parenthood's latest report.

Vance, who was responding to a question from RealClearPolitics, signaled that Planned Parenthood's government funding may soon come to an end.

"On the question of defunding Planned Parenthood," Vance said, "our view is we don't think that taxpayers should fund-late term abortions. That has been a consistent view of the Trump campaign the first time around. It will remain a consistent view."

Pro-life leaders have been calling on former president Donald Trump to make defunding Planned Parenthood a priority if he is reelected to the White House.

In 2018, the first Trump administration attempted to remove $60 million in funding from Planned Parenthood by making changes to the federal family planning program called Title X. The change was held up in court and ultimately rolled back under the Biden administration.

At the time of publication, the Trump campaign had not responded to CNA's request for specifics on how the administration would renew its efforts to defund Planned Parenthood.

Vance's comment follows months of the Trump campaign largely avoiding the abortion issue. It offers some of the first insight into what actions a second Trump administration would take to protect unborn life.

Both Vance and Trump have repeatedly said that abortion is exclusively a state issue. They have also called Democrats "radical" for legalizing abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, accusing them of even allowing infanticide.

In response to Vance's announcement, the Washington Post reported Jenny Lawson, executive director of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, claimed that defunding Planned Parenthood "would only deepen and expand the public health crisis we're already in thanks to Donald Trump, causing more people to suffer and die for lack of basic reproductive care."

Lawson pointed out that the Hyde Amendment already prohibits federal funds from being directly used for abortion.

Lauren Hitt, a spokesperson for the Kamala Harris campaign, told NBC News that "a second Trump term is too big a risk for American women and their families" and that "the only way to stop an unchecked Trump and his MAGA allies from ripping away freedoms from American women is to elect Vice President Harris, who will defend women's access to health care and reproductive freedom."

Meanwhile, Kristi Hamrick, a representative for Students for Life of America, called Vance's announcement "good news." 

Hamrick told CNA that among other priorities to protect unborn lives, Students for Life has been urging Trump and Republicans to commit to defunding Planned Parenthood. 

"If you don't want abortion to be federal, then federal tax dollars should not pay for it," Hamrick said. 

Planned Parenthood performed 392,715 abortions in 2023, according to its 2023 report. According to a Pew Research Center study published this year, about 1% of U.S. abortions — 9,301 — were late-term abortions, taking place at 21 weeks or after.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=279454&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Rome, Italy, Oct 6, 2024 / 13:10 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis presided over a solemn rosary prayer in Rome's Basilica of St. Mary Major on Sunday evening, invoking the intercession of the Virgin Mary for peace in the world amid an escalating conflict in the Middle East.

On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, the pope implored Our Lady, Queen of Peace, to "dispel the dark clouds of evil."

"Mother, intercede for our world in danger, that it may protect life and reject war, care for the suffering, the poor, the defenseless, the sick, and the afflicted, and guard our common home," he prayed during the Oct. 6 service.

"We beg you to intercede for God's mercy, O Queen of Peace! Convert the souls of those who fuel hatred, silence the noise of weapons that give rise to death, extinguish the violence that broods in the heart of human beings, and inspire projects of peace in the deeds of those who govern nations."

Rome's largest Marian basilica was packed for the rosary prayer on Oct. 6 with bishops, cardinals, priests, religious sisters, and laypeople — many of whom are delegates in the Synod on Synodality assembly taking place at the Vatican this month. Foreign diplomats accredited to the Holy See could also be seen in the crowd praying for peace.

Two young people led the congregation in the glorious mysteries of the rosary with a choir singing a short Marian hymn between each mystery. 

Pope Francis sat in a white chair in front of the basilica near the chapel that contains the Marian icon "Salus Populi Romani," an icon he has visited more than 100 times since becoming pope.

The congregation sang the traditional "Salve Regina" prayer in Latin and the Litany of Loreto at the end of the rosary before the pope read out his prayer for peace.

"O Mary, our mother, once again we stand before you. You know the sorrows and difficulties  that burden our hearts in this hour. We lift our gaze to you, we focus on your eyes and entrust  ourselves to your heart," Francis said.

"You who are ready to embrace our sorrows, come to our aid in these times oppressed by injustice and devastated by wars, wipe away the tears from the suffering faces of those who mourn the death of their loved ones."

A small crowd stood outside the basilica praying the rosary in union with the pope inside.

At the end of the prayer, the 87-year-old pope was brought in his wheelchair to pray in silence before an icon of the Virgin Mary. Pope Francis has said that he wishes to be buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major. 

A few hours earlier, the pope made an impassioned appeal for peace in the Middle East during his Angelus address in St. Peter's Square.

"Tomorrow marks one year since the terror attack on the population in Israel, to whom I once again express my closeness. Let us not forget that there are still many hostages in Gaza. I ask for them to be released immediately," Pope Francis said.

"Since that day, the Middle East has been plunged into a condition marked by increasing suffering, with destructive military actions continuing to strike the Palestinian people. The people are suffering very much in Gaza and other territories. Most of them are innocent civilians, all of them are people who must receive all necessary humanitarian aid. I call for an immediate cease-fire on all fronts, including Lebanon. Let us pray for the Lebanese, especially for those who live in the south, who are forced to leave their villages," he added.

Appealing to the international community to stop "the spiral of revenge" and to prevent attacks "like the one recently carried out by Iran," Pope Francis underlined the right of all nationals to exist in peace and security.

"In this situation, prayer is more necessary than ever," Francis said, reiterating his invitation for a global day of prayer and fasting for peace in the world on Oct. 7.

"Let us unite with the power of good against the diabolical plots of war," the pope said.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=279450&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Vatican City, Oct 6, 2024 / 07:41 am (CNA).

Pope Francis announced on Sunday that he will create 21 new cardinals, including the archbishops of Tehran, Tokyo, and Toronto, at a consistory on Dec. 8

The 87-year-old pope made the announcement from a window overlooking St. Peter's Square after reciting the Angelus prayer on Oct. 6.

This is the full list:

• Archbishop Frank Leo, metropolitan archbishop of Toronto (Canada)

• Archbishop Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi, S.V.D., metropolitan archbishop of Tokyo (Japan)

• Archbishop Dominique Joseph Mathieu, O.F.M. Conv., archbishop of Tehran-Ispahan (Belgian missionary bishop in Iran)

• Bishop Mykola Bycok, C.Ss.R., Eparch of Saints Peter and Paul of Melbourne of the Ukrainians (Ukrainian bishop in Australia)

• Father Timothy Radcliffe, O.P., theologian (United Kingdom)

• Father Fabio Baggio, C.S., undersecretary for the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development (Italy)

• Monsignor George Jacob Koovakad, official of the Secretariat of State and organizer of papal trips (India)

• Bishop Baldassare Reina, vicar general of the diocese of Rome (Italy)

• Archbishop Carlos Castillo Mattasoglio, metropolitan archbishop of Lima (Peru)

• Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukur, O.F.M., bishop of Bogor (Indonesia)

• Archbishop Vicente Bokalic Iglic, archbishop of Santiago del Estero (Argentina)

• Archbishop Luis Gerardo Cabrera Herrera, O.F.M., metropolitan archbishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador)

• Archbishop Fernando Natalio Chomali Garib, metropolitan archbishop of Santiago de Chile (Chile)

• Bishop Pablo Virgilio Siongco David, bishop of Kalookan (Philippines)

• Archbishop Laszlo Nemet, S.V.D., metropolitan archbishop of Belgrade (Serbia)

• Archbishop Jaime Spengler, O.F.M., metropolitan archbishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil)

• Archbishop Ignace Bessi Dogbo, metropolitan archbishop of Abidjian (Ivory Coast)

• Archbishop Jean-Paul Vesco, O.P., metropolitan archbishop of Algiers (Algeria)

• Archbishop Roberto Repole, metropolitan archbishop of Turin (Italy)

• Archbishop Rolandas Makrickas, coadjutor archpriest of the Basilica of St. Mary Major (Lithuania)

One of the cardinals-elect is already over 80:

• Archbishop Angelo Acerbi, apostolic nuncio emeritus (Italy)

Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has created 142 cardinals from 70 countries at nine consistories.

The last consistory to create new cardinals took place on Sept. 30, 2023. The new cardinals included Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem; Cardinal Stephen Chow of Hong Kong; and Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. 

Fifteen members of the College of Cardinals have turned 80 since the last consistory, thus losing their chance to participate in a future papal election. 

After the December consistory, there will be 141 cardinal electors (barring the unexpected death of any of the cardinals) — 111 (79%) of whom have been appointed by Pope Francis.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=279449&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Vatican City, Oct 6, 2024 / 10:43 am (CNA).

"Be open to the gift of life," Pope Francis urged married couples in his Sunday Angelus address, in which the pope described a recent encounter with a father of eight children as "a great consolation."

Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace on Oct. 6, Pope Francis asked couples to reflect on whether their married life is fully open to the gift of children.

"For spouses, it's essential to be open to the gift of life, to the gift of children. They are the most beautiful fruit of love, the greatest blessing from God, a source of joy and hope for every home and all of society. Have children!" Pope Francis said.

"Dear brothers and sisters, love is demanding, yes, but it is beautiful, and the more we allow ourselves to be involved by it, the more we discover true happiness in it," he added.

The pope recounted how a member of the Vatican's Gendarmerie Corps brought his eight children to a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica that the pope presided over on Saturday. Pope Francis described seeing the family as "a great consolation." 

"It was beautiful to see them," he said. "Please, be open to life, to what God may send you."

Francis encouraged married Catholics to "ask themselves: How is my love? Is it faithful? Is it generous? Is it creative?" 

"How are our families?" Pope Francis added. "Are they open to life, to the gift of children?"

The Catholic Church teaches that all forms of artificial birth control are illicit and forbidden to married couples. This teaching was formalized in 1968 by St. Paul VI, who in his encyclical Humanae Vitae declared that "any action … specifically intended to prevent procreation" was "absolutely excluded" as a lawful means of regulating the number of children in a Catholic marriage.

However, recent data from the federally administered National Survey of Family Growth shows large majorities of Catholics in the United States report using at least one form of artificial contraception — with over 90% having used condoms and more than 60% having used the hormonal birth control pill. 

Pope Francis has expressed concern in recent years over Europe's "demographic winter" in which birth rates in countries such as Italy have reached historic lows.

In his Angelus address, the pope offered a reflection on Sunday's Gospel from the Gospel of Mark in which the Pharisees asked Jesus about whether the law permits divorce.

Pope Francis noted that the Lord's reply to the Pharisees reminded them of "the demands of love."

"He reminds them that woman and man were willed by the Creator as equal in dignity and complementary in diversity," the pope said.

Francis emphasized that the mutual gift of married love is "destined to last not 'as long as everything goes well' but forever, accepting each other and living united as 'one flesh.'"

"Of course, this is not easy," the pope added. "This requires fidelity, even in difficulties, it requires respect, honesty, simplicity. It requires being open to confrontation … when it is necessary, but also to be always ready to forgive and to be reconciled to the other."

At the end of his Gospel reflection, Pope Francis asked the Virgin Mary to intercede for Christian spouses, noting the upcoming feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

An appeal for peace in the Holy Land

Pope Francis noted that he will soon go to the Basilica of St. Mary Major to pray the rosary for peace on the vigil of the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel.

"Tomorrow marks one year since the terror attack on the population in Israel, to whom I once again express my closeness. Let us not forget that there are still many hostages in Gaza. I ask for them to be released immediately," Pope Francis said.

"Since that day, the Middle East has been plunged into a condition marked by increasing suffering, with destructive military actions continuing to strike the Palestinian people. The people are suffering very much in Gaza and in other territories. Most of them are innocent civilians, all of them are people who must receive all necessary humanitarian aid. I call for an immediate cease-fire on all fronts, including Lebanon. Let us pray for the Lebanese, especially for those who live in the south, who are forced to leave their villages," he added.

Appealing to the international community to stop "the spiral of revenge" and to prevent attacks "like the one recently carried out by Iran," Pope Francis underlined the right of all nationals to exist in peace and security.

"In this situation, prayer is more necessary than ever," Francis said, reiterating his invitation for a global day of prayer and fasting for peace in the world on Oct. 7.

"Let us unite with the power of good against the diabolical plots of war," the pope said.

21 new cardinals announced

At the end of his Angelus address, Pope Francis surprised the crowd by announcing that he plans to create 21 new cardinals, including the archbishops of Tehran, Tokyo, and Toronto, in a consistory on Dec. 8. 

The pope noted that the cardinals-elect reflect "the universality of the Church that continues to announce God's merciful love to all people."

"Let us pray for the new cardinals, that in confirming their commitment to Christ, the merciful and faithful high priest, they may assist me in my ministry as the bishop of Rome for the good of the holy people of God."

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=279447&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Staff, Oct 6, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The U.S. bishops announced the second annual novena for mental health as part of a national campaign to promote mental health.

Launched in 2023, the National Catholic Mental Health Campaign aimed to address mental illness around the message that "everyone who needs help should receive help."

Beginning on World Mental Health Day, Oct. 10, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) "will begin nine days of focused prayer, teaching, and actionable steps to engage more intentionally on mental health issues," according to the USCCB Sept. 23 press release. The novena will conclude on Oct. 18, the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist, the patron saint of health care.

The novena will be a tradition for future years to come, said Paul Jarzembowski, the USCCB associate director for the laity for the Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth.

Jarzembowski told CNA that the Church is seeking "to follow the example of Jesus in responding to the needs of the people of God in real time."

"Today mental health is impacting the lives of so many people, which was amplified and raised to our consciousness by the global pandemic," he explained. "The U.S. bishops also took note of the growing epidemic of loneliness across the country, in particular among young people, the elderly, and marginalized populations."

"People are hurting all around us at this very moment, even if we cannot visibly see it," Jarzembowski said. "Through this nationwide campaign, the U.S. bishops are asking everyone to join them to respond with greater awareness and action as the mental health crisis unfolds before us every day."

Each day of the novena has a different theme and focuses on a different saint. For instance, Day 1 of the novena begins with St. Dymphna, the patron saint of those suffering from mental illness and of mental health professionals, and focuses on praying for removing stigmas around mental health.

The goal of the novena is to build up "a lasting way for all Catholics to prayerfully remember those who are most impacted by this crisis and to answer the call of Jesus to respond to those who struggle with tender care and pastoral action," Jarzembowski noted.

The hope is that the campaign and novena "will be integrated into our homes, our churches, and our work within society," according to Jarzembowski.

When asked what steps Catholics can take to better support people who struggle with mental health, Jarzembowski suggested becoming "more aware of potential mental health issues" and recognizing "that they can be hidden in plain sight." 

"Developing habits of being more compassionate and patient with one another, especially online, can go a long way to creating a culture of spiritual and mental wellness," he continued. "Be mindful of the signs of depression, suicidal ideation, loneliness, and anxiety, and accompany those people who struggle to seek out the help and support they may need." 

Each day of the novena includes actions that Catholics can take to help address the mental health crisis.

"In our Catholic parishes and dioceses, we can advocate for more mental health ministry," Jarzembowski added. "From developing mental health support groups to researching health care options in our local community to infusing a spirit of mental wellness into our existing pastoral ministries, especially for young people, families, and the elderly, there are many things Catholics can do to create a culture of responsiveness."

Resources for the mental health campaign, including the novena, can be found here.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=279439&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 5, 2024 / 09:20 am (CNA).

Pennsylvania pro-life advocate Mark Houck joined panelists at the annual Pray Vote Stand Summit in Washington, D.C., on Friday to call attention to the Biden-Harris administration's attacks against the pro-life movement.

The founder of The King's Men, a Catholic men's apostolate, was featured alongside Janet Durig and Catherine Herring as part of a panel titled "Kamala Harris' Attacks on Life and the Family" during the annual gathering of mostly evangelical Christian conservatives.

Durig is the executive director of Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center, a Washington, D.C-based pro-life resource center that has recently faced repeated attacks of harassment and vandalism. 

The panel pointed out that Harris is known for making inflammatory statements against pro-life pregnancy centers, including offering words of encouragement to Democrat attorneys general nationwide for "taking on, rightly, the crisis pregnancy centers."

"We don't force anything on [pregnant women]," Durig said. "Of course, as a Christian pregnancy center, we would want them to choose life, but we don't force anything on them.

Houck spoke about his own horrifying arrest in which over 25 heavily armed federal agents, including two SWAT team members, raided his home during the early morning hours of Sept. 23, 2022.

Houck described the arrest — which he said took place without a warrant and was witnessed by his wife and children — as "a tyrannical overreach of government" and symbolic of "dictatorship." 

Looking ahead to the elections in November, Houck told those gathered at the summit that respect for the Constitution must be renewed among elected leaders in order for corrupt targeting of pro-life and pro-family advocates to cease.

"My Fourth Amendment rights ['the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures'] were violated the day [the FBI] came to my home," Houck said. "With any new administration, if there's going to be a change, we need to get rid of the current FBI director, and we need to get rid of the attorney general." 

Federal prosecutors charged Houck with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act after he was involved in an altercation with an abortion clinic escort who had been harassing his 12-year-old son. After just an hour of deliberation, a jury unanimously found him innocent of the alleged crime, for which he would have been sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Following his arrest, Houck noted that he spent six hours handcuffed to a chair before anyone spoke to him. In total, he was detained for 10 hours before being released on his own recognizance, thereby signaling that he was never considered a true threat. 

"So why the heavy raid?" he asked. "Because they want to humiliate you, intimidate you, and instill fear in you, and make an example of you."

For her part, Herring shared the story of how she was able to save her daughter's life thanks to an abortion pill reversal after her husband poisoned her by dissolving chemical abortion pills in her drink.

Had the Biden-Harris administration kept in place previous distribution restrictions on chemical abortion drugs, she said, the incident would not have happened.

Full Article