Americas

Santiago, Chile, Aug 5, 2018 / 04:42 pm (ACI Prensa).- Pro-life groups in Chile are criticizing efforts to legalize abortion for any reason up to 14 weeks of pregnancy.

Guido Guirardi, president of the Senate Committee on Health, has pushed for the introduction of a bill to broaden the legalization of abortion, according to La Tercera news.

Guirardi said that there is no comparison between the value of “a complete person, a human being, a woman, who has consciousness, a life history, and a germ of life, which is not a person, which is the union of an ovum and a sperm, that has no consciousness, brain, feeling or life history.”

Chilean president Sebastián Piñera has promised to oppose efforts to expand abortion in the country, saying he will do “everything that is necessary to defend life.”

Last year, Chile approved the legalization of abortion on the grounds of rape, fetal non-viability, or risk to the life of the mother.

Elizabeth Bunster, director of Project Hope, told CNA’s Spanish language sister agency ACI Prensa that the new bill “makes obvious what we were saying: that approving abortion on three grounds opened the door for abortion to be [completely] legalized.”

Bunster emphasized that pro-life groups in the country continue their work by “accompanying women in crisis pregnancies and those who suffer from the consequences of abortion.”

Rosario Vidal, president of the Women Reclaim Movement, warned that “the pro-abortion position has strong media backing and a lot of foreign funding.”

It is important to address the roots of the problem, and various pressures that women face to abort, she said.

“You have to understand that abortion is not a freely made decision, nor does a woman have an abortion to make a decision about her body.”

This article was originally published by our sister agency, ACI Prensa. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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Buenos Aires, Argentina, Aug 5, 2018 / 04:23 am (ACI Prensa).- Shortly before next week’s vote on the abortion bill in the Argentine National Senate, the Tucumán provincial legislature declared the province to be pro-life.

Of 43 provincial legislators, 39 voted in favor of the resolution Aug. 2. The resolution joins other decrees that have declared “pro-life” cities, including Concordia, San Salvador de Jujuy, Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña and San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, among others.

The declaration comes just days ahead of the Aug. 8 Senate vote on a bill to broaden legalization of abortion in the country.

The abortion bill was passed 129-125 by the nation’s lower house on June 14 and must be approved by the Senate before it can become law.

Current law in Argentina prohibits abortion, except when the mother’s life or health is determined to be in danger, or in cases of rape.

The bill pending in the Senate would allow abortion on demand up to the 14th week of gestation. Minors under 16 could get an abortion without having to inform their parents.

Health care workers under the bill could be eligible for conscience-based objections to participating in an abortion if they make such a request in advance “individually and in writing” to the director of their medical center. Institutions and health care facilities as a whole would not be allowed to conscientiously object to abortion.

The pro-life declarations in Tucumán and other provinces are symbolic, as abortion will be legal nationwide if the bill is confirmed by the Senate.

However, lawmaker Sandra Mendoza, who helped introduce the initiative, stressed that the resolution reflects the beliefs of the majority of people in Tucumán, according to the Argentine Catholic Information Agency.

Mendoza said the pro-life position is not denominational or religious alone, but scientific, rational and ethical.

“The argument in favor of abortion, called ‘the right to choose,’ is false. It says nothing of the right to life of the one developing in the womb. The ideology in favor of abortion is trying to plant the idea that only one person exists, when science affirms there are two,” she said.

She added that “as people or human beings we’re not the ones to decide who ought to live or die. Only the supreme being, who is our God, has that decision.”

Tucumán is one of the 23 provinces of Argentina, located in the country’s northeast. It is comprised of 17 departments, 112 municipalities and rural districts, encompassing more than 1.5 million inhabitants.

This article was originally published by our sister agency, ACI Prensa. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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Quito, Ecuador, Aug 2, 2018 / 05:51 pm (ACI Prensa).- The National Assembly of Ecuador on July 31 unanimously upheld the right of parents to educate their children “in accordance with their principles, beliefs, and educational choices” without interference from the State in issues such as sex education.

The legislature’s gesture came in response to recent rulings by the Constitutional Court, including a June 27 decision which takes away “the protective authority of parents” and gives it to the state as the outside guarantor when considering the “rights” of minors “in education and sexual and reproductive health.”

Viviana de González, president of the Family and Future Foundation, said that the National Assembly’s 70-0 ratification of parental rights is supported by Article 29 of the Constitution of Ecuador as well as the United Nations’ Declaration of Human Rights.

“Although this political pronouncement by the legislative branch is not binding on the [recent] ruling of the Constitutional Court, it’s a clear response to the citizens’ public demonstration of a half million parents who took to the streets July 28 in more than 10 cities in the country,” she said.

The march was held in opposition to the government’s intention to impose gender ideology in education. It also demanded that any attempt to legalize abortion in the country be definitively shelved.

Demonstrators marched under the themes #ConMisHijosNoTeMetas (Don’t mess with my children) #EnfoquedeFamilia (Focus on the Family), #AmisHijosLosEducoYo (I’m the one to educate my children), and #SalvemosLas2Vidas (Save both lives).

De González said that the recent resolution by the National Assembly also urges the Constitutional Court and other state agencies to “protect parental rights, the family, childhood and adolescence.”

“Organizations such as the National Front for the Family will remain vigilant so that this resolution leads to concrete actions in support of the family in the different courts of the State,” she said.

This article was originally published by our sister agency, ACI Prensa. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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Quesada, Costa Rica, Aug 2, 2018 / 01:25 pm (ACI Prensa).- The Diocese of Quesada in Costa Rica has set up two reception centers to serve the Nicaraguan refugees fleeing the violence that has plagued their country for nearly four months.

The centers a… […]

Washington D.C., Aug 1, 2018 / 01:30 pm (CNA).- The White House has issued a statement expressing support for the Catholic Church’s diplomatic efforts in Nicaragua and announcing $1.5 million in U.S. funds to bolster human rights organizations an… […]

Managua, Nicaragua, Jul 31, 2018 / 02:59 pm (ACI Prensa).- The streets of Nicaragua were filled on July 28 by thousands of demonstrators supporting the country’s bishops and priests after repeated attacks by paramilitaries with ties to the govern… […]

Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Jul 30, 2018 / 06:02 pm (ACI Prensa).- The Honduran bishops’ conference on Monday denied there exists a homosexual culture at the national seminary, as suggested by a recent report from the National Catholic Register.

In a statement released July 30, the Honduran bishops lamented that “the ‘information’ from Mr. Edward Pentin of the National Catholic Register, a media outlet belonging to the EWTN network, and which is the origin of the information that appears in various digital media of the country and/or abroad, causes pain and scandal in those it supposedly wants to defend.”

“With complete certainty and truth, we affirm there does not exist, nor has there existed, nor ought there exist in the seminary an atmosphere as presented by the aforementioned National Catholic Register report, in which the impression is given that [the seminary] institutionally promotes and sustains practices contrary to morality and the norms of the Church, viewed with complacency by the bishops,” the bishops’ conference stated.

In “Honduran Seminarians Allege Widespread Homosexual Misconduct”, published July 25 in the National Catholic Register, Edward Pentin reported on an anonymous letter written by 48 of the 180 students at the Our Lady of Suyapa Major Seminary.

In the letter, the seminarians say that “we are living and going through a time of tension in our house, due to gravely immoral situations, especially an active homosexuality within the seminary which has been a taboo during all this time.”

They also stated that by “covering it up,” the problem has gained strength, becoming, as a priest said not long ago, an “epidemic in the seminary.”

The seminarians’ letter was supposedly submitted to scrutiny at the plenary assembly of the Honduran bishops’ conference in June this year.

According to Pentin’s sources, when the document was read before the bishops, Cardinal Óscar Andres Rodríguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa (who coordinates the group of cardinals assisting Pope Francis in his reform of the Roman Curia), along with Bishop Angel Garachana Perez of San Pedro Sula, president of the bishops’ conference, criticized the authors of the letter.

The existence of the letter was confirmed to the National Catholic Register by Bishop Guy Charbonneau of Choluteca, who said the bishop’s conference is conducting an investigation to determine if the accusations are true.

“We are currently in this process,” the prelate said. “Each bishop has to deal with this, interviewing the seminarians of his own diocese.”

The National Catholic Register article came out a few days after Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the Auxiliary Bishop of Tegucigalpa, Juan José Pineda Fasquelle, who at 57 was 18 years away from the obligatory age for a prelate to present his resignation.

Bishop Pineda has also been immersed in accusations of serious sexual misconduct and financial mismanagement.

In their July 30 statement, the Honduran bishops lamented that these news reports may have “disturbed” the People of God.

The bishops’ conference explained that Our Lady of Suyapa Major Seminary is “an inter-diocesan institution which, although it is located in in the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa, it is at the service of the formation of candidates to the priesthood from all the dioceses of Honduras, with the exception of the Diocese of Comayagua.”

“The bishops, who are ultimately responsible for the formation of our seminarians, entrusted in 1997 the immediate task (of their formation) to the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (the Eudists) of the Colombian Province, and in recent years they have been joined by Honduran diocesan priests.”

“In the academic formation of the seminarians,” they said, “a significant number of professors including the Cardinal (Rodríguez Maradiaga), priests, nuns and lay people are involved. And, ultimately, each one of the bishops of the Honduran Bishops’ Conference is responsible for the formation, financial support and monitoring the human, spiritual and pastoral growth of the seminarians of our own dioceses.”

The bishops thanked God because “the enthusiasm, commitment, and dedication of so many people at the major seminary, in each one of the dioceses and parishes are bearing abundant fruit.”

However, they noted that it does not surprise them that “in the midst of that fruit weeds would appear.”

For the Honduran bishops “it is evident that there are weeds and evil, especially, in making ‘anonymous’ reports;’ in airing them, mixing in facts, suspicions and interpretations; while ignoring the monitoring given to the challenges that arise.”

“There are weeds in sexual and affective weakness, which affects all of us and can creates inappropriate attitudes and behaviors. There are weeds in sterile pessimism, in spiritual worldliness, in the search of forms of power, human glories or financial well being,” they added.

The bishops acknowledged “that these temptations affect us and that we fall into them. But we equally recognize that the power of God is manifested in our weakness.”

The bishops’ conference said that the bishops, formators, and seminarians are “engaged in a constructive and demanding dialogue to discern how to face the challenges that are posed to us by reality.”

“At this time, to support that commitment, we have requested the collaboration of a bishop emeritus of our continent, with experience in the field of priestly formation and who has also accepted our request.”

The Honduran bishops asked priests to “increase your commitment, and generous dedication to the service of the Gospel such that, following your example, free and mature vocations may come forth, unafraid to serve.”

“We ask current and future seminarians to engage enthusiastically in your discernment process, grow in confidence, authenticity and transparency with your bishops and formators, and let your communities and parishes honestly see the strengths and weaknesses of the seminary.”

Finally, they said, “we ask everyone to increase your prayers for our Major Seminary and avoid any kind of speculation which fails to respect the dignity of bishops, seminarians, the formators, and that of all of us who with limitations and failings seek to carry out the Lord’s work.”

Both Catholic News Agency and the National Catholic Register are part of EWTN News, Inc.

This article was originally published by our Spanish language sister agency, ACI Prensa. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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Melipilla, Chile, Jul 30, 2018 / 01:48 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Chilean bishops convened Monday for the start of a week-long assembly on the sexual abuse scandal in the Church in their country.

The meeting was organized to examine the causes of the ongoing abuse crisis and to establish national guidelines for dioceses on how to handle abuse cases. The July 30 – Aug. 3 assembly is taking place in Punta de Tralca, about 40 miles northwest of Melipilla.

Civil authorities in Chile are carrying out investigations into sexual abuse in the Church spanning 266 alleged victims and 158 Church officials.

Starting Aug. 1, four religious superiors, two deacons, two bishops’ conference department-heads, two lay people from the conference’s prevention council, and two representatives of a conference of religious men and women in Chile will also be present at the bishops’ assembly.

Bishop Santiago Jaime Silva Retamales of Chile’s military diocese, president of the Chilean bishop’ conference, said he has confidence the extraordinary assembly will contribute to the discussion of what the Church should do going forward.

According to the press agency of the Chilean bishops July 27, Bishop Silva said the bishops are “fully aware that the Lord of history, Jesus Christ, will know how to make fundamental renovations with willing hearts.”

“These paths that we seek with determination, paths of truth and justice, reparation and accompaniment, will help us to be a Church more and more similar to the one Jesus Christ dreams of,” he said.

Bishop Luis Fernando Ramos Perez, Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago and secretary general of the bishops’ conference, said the meeting is the next step on the “path of discernment to take on the challenges” Pope Francis asked them to address in their meeting with him in May.

Bishop Ramos said meetings were held within the dioceses, and the reflections and proposals from those gatherings will inform this week’s assembly.

The most recent development in Chile’s investigations into the sexual abuse scandal is the summoning of Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati Andrello of Santiago, a past president of the Chilean bishops’ conference, for questioning by local authorities.

A statement released by the archdiocese confirmed that the cardinal had received a summons and would meet with prosecutors Aug. 21.

Cardinal Ezzati’s questioning will focus on what the cardinal knew about his former archdiocesan chancellor, Fr. Oscar Munoz Toledo, who was arrested July 12 following allegations he sexually abused seven minors.

Munoz has already admitted to sexually abusing one minor, but investigators believe the archdiocese may have been aware of as many as four of his victims. Cardinal Ezzati has been called as prosecutors weigh his involvement in a potential cover-up of Munoz’s crimes.

Cardinal Ezzati denies any participation in covering up abuse. He is quoted as saying, “I reiterate my commitment, and that of the Church of Santiago, to the victims, to the search for truth and with respect to civil justice.”

“I have never covered up nor obstructed justice, and as a citizen I will comply with my duty to provide all the information that helps to clarify the facts.”

So far, Pope Francis has accepted the resignations of five Chilean bishops. Cardinal Ezzati submitted his resignation to the pope in May, together with the rest of the Chilean episcopate, but it has not yet been accepted.

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Fort Worth, Texas, Jul 28, 2018 / 03:33 pm (CNA).- Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick’s alleged crimes might merit removing him from the clergy entirely—and they require accountability for all Church leaders who knew of his alleged misconduct and did nothing, Bishop Michael F. Olson of Fort Worth, Texas has said in a letter to the faithful of his diocese.

“The Church needs to do more than have a serious conversation about these issues, it needs to discern in light of the Truth and to act intentionally,” Olson told CNA July 28. “If conversation does not lead to decision, it quickly devolves into chatter.”

“An important ministry for us as bishops is to ‘see, judge, and act.’ It’s not enough to see. Yet, seeing clearly leads to sound judgment that requires fortitude for us to act,” he added. “If we don’t do that as pastors we sell our vocation as shepherds in exchange for a career as hirelings.”

The Pope accepted Cardinal McCarrick’s resignation from the College of Cardinals on Friday. The Pope directed McCarrick, the 88-year-old former Archbishop of Washington, to observe “a life of prayer and penance in seclusion” until the end of the canonical process against him.

A substantial and credible allegation of child sexual abuse against McCarrick was made public in June.

In recent weeks, McCarrick has faced several additional allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct. These include charges that he pressured seminarians and priests into sexual relationships, and another reported allegation that he had a serially sexually abusive relationship with a child.

Bishop Olson’s July 28 letter said the former cardinal’s alleged crimes have caused “such further damage to the integrity of the hierarchy and mission of the Church” that his prompt laicization should be “strongly deliberated.” Such a move would serve “reconciliation and healing in the light of the justice and merciful redemption as won by Christ and promised to all who are alienated by the corruption of sin.”

“Justice also requires that all of those in Church leadership who knew of the former cardinal’s alleged crimes and sexual misconduct and did nothing be held accountable for their refusal to act thereby enabling others to be hurt,” the bishop continued.

Olson’s letter said McCarrick’s alleged crimes were “scandalous” and resulted in violation of trust and “grave damage” to the lives and health of his reputed victims.

“This scandal and pain are compounded by the horrific fact that reportedly one of his victims was his first baptism after his priestly ordination,” he continued, noting that the claims also include crimes against his subordinates including priests, seminarians and lay Catholics.

“The evil effects of these actions were multiplied by the fact that financial settlements were arranged with victims without transparency or restrictions on the former cardinal’s ministry,” Bishop Olson said.

“Please continue to pray for the reported victims and the families who have been hurt by the alleged crimes and sins of former Cardinal McCarrick and others. Pray also that we can work together to respond not only in word but in action to prevent further crimes and transgressions.”

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. bishops’ conference, on Saturday morning thanked Pope Francis for “his leadership in taking this important step” of accepting the cardinal’s resignation and ordering him to prayer and penitence.

“It reflects the priority the Holy Father places on the need for protection and care for all our people and the way failures in this area affect the life of the Church in the United States,” Cardinal DiNardo said.

A letter sent this week to priests of the Archdiocese of Washington claims that its current archbishop, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, did not know until recently about settlements made by two New Jersey dioceses in response to allegations misconduct on the part of former cardinal Theodore McCarrick. The letter was sent by by archdiocese’s vicar general Monsignor Charles Antonicelli.

Sources close to the Archdiocese of Washington have told CNA that Wuerl was not informed of settlements until June.

The two New Jersey legal settlements involving McCarrick were reached in 2005 and 2007 by the Diocese of Metuchen, the Archdiocese of Newark, and two men who claim they were sexually assaulted by McCarrick while they were seminarians and young priests.

McCarrick was Bishop of Metuchen from 1981-1986, Archbishop of Newark from 1986-2000, and Archbishop of Washington from 2000-2006.

In his letter, Bishop Olson stressed the Fort Worth diocese’s “zero tolerance” for sexual abuse against minors and vulnerable adults perpetrated by clergy, staff and volunteers, “including me, as bishop.” He said he has taken prompt action in response to credible allegations and added that the diocese has sought transparency in calling for victims to come forward, showing respect for protecting victims’ identities.

“Our seminarians, priests, deacons, and religious and lay staff are taught to recognize and to report boundary violations without fear of retribution, no matter the status of the perpetrator,” the bishop said.

Pope Francis named Olson to head the Fort Worth diocese in November 2013. He was ordained and installed as bishop in January 2014.

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Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jul 28, 2018 / 06:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Dozens of women clad in outfits reminiscent of “The Handmaid’s Tale” took to the streets of Buenos Aires Wednesday to protest for legalized abortion, the AP reported.
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