Vatican City, May 13, 2020 / 04:30 am (CNA).- Intimacy with Jesus is not something reserved for mystics, Pope Francis said at his morning Mass Wednesday.
Speaking in the chapel at Casa Santa Marta, his Vatican residence, the pope said May 13 that Jesu… […]
Washington D.C., May 13, 2020 / 02:00 am (CNA).- Many Catholic parishes have closed during the pandemic, but one marriage renewal ministry is seeking to reopen the doors of the “domestic church,” the family, during lockdown.
“The doo… […]
CNA Staff, May 12, 2020 / 05:00 pm (CNA).- The bishops of England and Wales have expressed disappointment after the government said churches in the U.K. should remain closed until at least July 4.
The bishops issued a statement May 11 after U.K. officials published a document Monday setting out plans to ease the nationwide lockdown imposed amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“The timing and the manner of the opening of churches touches profound sensitivities and spiritual needs. The government’s document and statements fail to recognize this,” a spokesman for the bishops’ conference said.
The government insisted that places of worship would open “no earlier than 4 July”, and be subject to five “tests,” including a consistent fall in daily death rates.
The U.K., which has a population of almost 67 million, has recorded 32,789 deaths from the virus as of May 12, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center — the world’s second highest reported death toll after that of the United States.
The government’s recovery plan categorized churches alongside hairdressers, beauty salons, pubs, and cinemas as places that will reopen during “Step Three” of a three-step program.
The bishops’ statement said: “The government’s position, established today, includes these steps aimed at opening churches as soon as possible: the establishment of a task force for places of worship, to work closely with ‘stakeholders’ in ensuring that premises are COVID-19 secure; and heeding the experience of other countries in which churches are already open for worship.”
“In dialogue with the Government, the Catholic Church will continue its engagement in this process and has already submitted a detailed plan, in full accordance with public health guidelines, for churches to be opened for private prayer.
It concluded: “The Church is ready to play its full part in the task force, understanding that this includes the possible earlier use of churches for private prayer, as a first safe step towards their use for public worship.”
Public liturgies were suspended in England and Wales from March 20 and churches closed a few days later. Bishops have faced mounting calls from Catholics to reopen churches and allow congregations at Masses while respecting social distancing rules.
A video by lay Catholics appealing for churches to be reopened has been viewed more than 10,000 times since it was posted April 22.
Bishop Philip Egan of Portsmouth said May 5 that he had written to the government and Members of Parliament calling for churches to be included in the first wave of reopenings.
He wrote in his weekly email newsletter: “I would love to reopen our churches (of course, with appropriate safeguards etc.) as soon as we can. I firmly believe that our churches are an ‘essential service’. We need them for our spiritual well-being and in them, we receive from the Lord Himself the Sacraments of salvation and eternal life.”
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 12, 2020 / 04:00 pm (CNA).- A largely-overlooked Supreme Court case under consideration could actually pose a threat to international pro-life policies, one pro-life group warns.
Jeanne Mancini, the president of March for Life, wrote in an op-ed in the Washington Times on Monday that policies barring international funding of abortion promoters or providers could soon be at stake, depending on the Supreme Court’s decision in USAID v. Alliance for Open Society International, which featured during oral arguments last week.
In the case, the Supreme Court is considering whether or not U.S. funding of foreign entities for AIDS relief can be conditioned on their opposition to prostitution and sex trafficking.
As part of PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the U.S. has committed nearly $90 billion since 2003 to fight AIDS and other diseases such as Tuberculosis and Malaria. Under the Leadership Act, U.S. assistance to foreign groups in this program requires that they oppose sex trafficking and prostitution.
The court previously ruled that applying such requirements to domestic organizations violated the First Amendment; it is now considering whether those same restrictions can be applied to the foreign affiliates of those domestic groups.
If the court rules that the government cannot impose such restrictions on the foreign entities, March for Life is concerned that other policies–such as barring global health assistance to foreign entities that provide or promote abortions–could suddenly be at risk.
While the distinction between foreign entities of domestic organizations and the organizations themselves might seem a small one, Mancini told CNA on Tuesday, it is significant.
A group such as CARE in the United States—an international humanitarian organization that fights poverty—might have the same branding as CARE Ghana, but does not share the same funding.
March for Life in the U.S. might share the same branding and mission as March for Life Canada and March for Life Ireland, she said, but the foreign entities in Canada and Ireland should not automatically enjoy the same free speech privileges as the U.S. group.
“What we’re talking about are foreign, separate organizations that are based in those countries that might share some branding,” Mancini said. “Why would they ever receive U.S. constitutional privileges? That doesn’t make any sense.”
The Mexico City Policy bars U.S. funding of abortion providers or promoters overseas, and the Trump administration expanded it to include nearly $9 billion in global health assistance, under Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance.
At the oral arguments in the case on May 5, the issues of abortion and the Mexico City Policy did surface.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh asked Christopher Michel, Assistant to the Solicitor General, if the Court could, in fact, affect other government policies by extending free speech protections to foreign affiliates.
“I do think it would call into question a number of different statutory and administrative regulations of foreign speech that like — that likely couldn’t be applied domestically,” Michel responded.
He added that it is “commonplace” for Congress and the administration to “condition foreign aid to entities abroad on certain policy objectives, such as opposing terrorism or supporting women’s rights or opposing apartheid, or, in the case of the Mexico City policy, taking certain positions on abortion.”
However, Michel said, if domestic organizations could team up with their foreign entities to overturn those restrictions, it could “create considerable risk of disturbing long-settled — long-settled laws.”
Denver Newsroom, May 12, 2020 / 03:45 pm (CNA).- On March 13, once the pandemic began shutting things down in South Dakota, Brianda Tapia lost her job. A few weeks later, her husband Alejandro lost his job at a pork processing plant. And then he tested positive for coronavirus.
“His symptoms were not too bad, but he had to stay in bed for some time. He recovered three weeks ago,” Tapia said.
But with no work, the family was running out of food at home, and they weren’t sure what they’d do for their two boys.
And then, through a friend, Brianda and her husband found out that a Catholic organization was giving out cash to those who need it.
Since March 23, the Catholic Community Foundation for Eastern South Dakota, in partnership with the Diocese of Sioux Falls, has been providing grants to families affected by the pandemic. The foundation has given out more than $30,000 already, to at least 70 families, including 164 children. Grants average about $500 each.
Bishop Donald DeGrood of Sioux Falls issued a video at the end of April, promoting solidarity with those struggling amid the pandemic. He said that while the coronavirus has negatively impacted everyone, it has particularly troubled those without work.
“It’s important that we really focus on how we can tend to each other and care for each other,” DeGrood said in the video.
“Here is a chance for us to be brothers and sisters both in a time of need and in our time of generosity. I hope you consider helping us as we consider helping each other in this journey of life.”
“The COVID relief fund is for those who want to donate towards it, who can help others, and then the foundation will be a resource to parishes, and individuals, schools, any of our groupings on this eastside where there is need to apply for funding so we can try to match the gifts with the need,” the bishop added.
Kelly Bartmann, a gift planning specialist for Catholic Community Foundation, told CNA that the relief fund has been a blessing for members of the local community. She said the organization will give away money to those in need until funds run out, and she applauded the generosity of the patrons who have donated to the fund.
“We felt like we need to be there for people, to provide that feeling that someone cares. Even if we can only give them $500, we’re hoping that that connects them a little bit with the idea that there are people out there that care and that are willing to step up and help them.”
“We’re just very happy that people have really stepped up,” she said. “We have had gifts as small as $2 from some people and as large as $10,000, so it’s impressive on both ends.”
Beneficiaries do not have to be Catholic to receive funds.
Father Kristopher Cowles, the pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Sioux Falls, helped develop an approach to distributing funds. Parish priests are the first step to connecting families to grants. Pastors talk with families impacted by the virus – whether they face unemployment, the loss of childcare, or the virus itself – and then they try to help.
“We haven’t been able to really have Masses and have a lot of connection with people. I think it gives [priests] that connection … to feel like they’re serving their purpose and just providing relationships for people and being the hands and feet of Jesus. I mean that’s what we’re here for,” Bartmann said.
Bartmann said the money has contributed to basic necessities, like rent, bills, medications, and food.
Families in Sioux falls were hit hard when a Smithfield pork plant shut down on April 19. The plant is the ninth-largest pork producer in the United States, with around 3,700 employees; it faced a spike of coronavirus infections, involving at least 640 cases of COVID-19 and 1 related death.
The Tapia family was among those impacted by the shutdown.
A parishioner of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church alerted Fr. Cowles to the family’s needs. Brianda said the money they received was a huge relief while the family waited for work to resume.
Her husband began to work again on May 12.
Tapia expressed gratitude for the foundation and its contribution to her family but also the family’s Catholic faith, which has brought them closer to God.
“The money was a God-send, it was a surprise and a blessing, because we were running out of food for us and for our two boys (9 and 8),” she said.
“Our Catholic faith has been crucial for us. Faith is always important, but especially in these trial times, in which we feel closer and united to the Lord.”
CNA Staff, May 12, 2020 / 03:20 pm (CNA).- An employee of the Diocese of Saginaw, Michigan is suing the diocese, alleging that his fellow employees retaliated against him after he reported that a Saginaw priest sexually abused his son.
Gabriel Villarr… […]
Madrid, Spain, May 12, 2020 / 02:01 pm (CNA).- Cardinal Beniamino Stella, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy, sent a letter to all Catholic priests in Spain, offering encouragement amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In the May 10 letter, m… […]
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 12, 2020 / 01:00 pm (CNA).- As Virginia’s governor halted the reopening of several northern counties on Tuesday, the Diocese of Arlington said that Bishop Michael Burbidge is monitoring the situation and would be re… […]
Vatican City, May 12, 2020 / 12:15 pm (CNA).- On May 14, people of all religious affiliations are called to participate in a day of prayer, fasting, and acts of charity for the end of the coronavirus pandemic.
The worldwide day of prayer is the initia… […]
Vatican City, May 12, 2020 / 10:55 am (CNA).- On the 100th anniversary of the birth of Pope St. John Paul II on May 18, Pope Francis will offer his morning Mass at the Polish pope’s tomb in St. Peter’s Basilica, according to the Vatican.
M… […]
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