TCA Podcast, – “Conversations with Consequences,” Episode 194 – The Life and Legacy of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI With the passing of Benedict XVI on New Year’s Eve, Ashley McGuire joins Dr. Grazie Christie reflecting on the wonderful words and writings of the late Pope including his just-released Spiritual Testament, contemplating a life so well-lived. Edward Pentin also joins from Rome with the latest surrounding the Pope Emeritus’ funeral and his profound teachings on faith and reason. Father Roger Landry offers a beautiful homily for the Epiphany pouring through Benedict’s own insights for the Solemnity. Catch the show every Saturday at 7amET/5pmET on EWTN radio! https://thecatholicassociation.org/podcast/ep-194-the-life-and-legacy-of-pope-emeritus-benedict-xvi/__________________________________________________________ 1. Benedict’s Prophetic Voice, While Pope Benedict foresaw the mistakes of our day with crystalline clarity, he responded to these errors with Christian hope, not with despair., By Michael Warsaw, National Catholic Register, January 6, 2023, Opinion During Joseph Ratzinger’s more than 70 years of priestly service, his formidable Catholic intellect blessed us with a legacy of insights matched by very few others in the long history of the Church. And he was never more profoundly prophetic than when he warned in April 2005 about “the dictatorship of relativism” that is crippling so many lives in our increasingly irreligious modern world. … In contrast to those determined to build the dictatorship of relativism, “We, however, have a different goal: the Son of God, the true man,” he declared. “He is the measure of true humanism. An ‘adult’ faith is not a faith that follows the trends of fashion and the latest novelty; a mature adult faith is deeply rooted in friendship with Christ. It is this friendship that opens us up to all that is good and gives us a criterion by which to distinguish the true from the false and deceit from truth.” We pray now that Pope Emeritus Benedict will stand together with his great friend and collaborator John Paul II “in the window of the Father’s house,” to employ Cardinal Ratzinger’s own compelling imagery at the conclusion of his homily at John Paul’s funeral Mass. From these heavenly heights, we hope that in God’s providence this holy tandem of contemporary popes will continue their intercession for the men and women of our time, just as they toiled so courageously on our behalf throughout their long lives of earthly service. Michael Warsaw is the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the EWTN Global Catholic Network, and the Publisher of the National Catholic Register. https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/benedict-s-prophetic-voice__________________________________________________________ 2. South Carolina Supreme Court strikes down state abortion ban, By James Pollard, Associated Press, January 6, 2023 The South Carolina Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a ban on abortion after six weeks, ruling the restriction enacted by the Deep South state violates a state constitutional right to privacy. The decision marked a significant victory for abortion rights’ advocates suddenly forced to find safeguards at the state level after the U.S. Supreme Court overtured Roe v. Wade in June. With federal abortion protections gone, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic sued in July under the South Carolina constitution’s right to privacy. Restrictions in other states are also facing challenges, some as a matter of religious freedom.But since the high court’s momentous decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, no state court until Thursday in South Carolina had ruled definitively whether a constitutional right to privacy — a right not explicitly enumerated in the U.S. Constitution — extends to abortion. https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-health-south-carolina-state-government-6cd1469dbb550c70b64a30f183be203c__________________________________________________________ 3. Idaho court tosses lawsuits aiming to block abortion bans, By Andrew Selsky, Associated Press, January 6, 2023, 12:34 AM Idaho’s Constitution does not implicitly enshrine abortion as a fundamental right, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday as it dismissed a series of lawsuits brought by Planned Parenthood. The ruling was a blow against those who are fighting Idaho laws that took effect in August, including one criminalizing all abortions after six weeks of gestation except to save a pregnant person’s life or because of rape or incest. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/idaho-court-tosses-lawsuit-that-aimed-to-block-abortion-bans/2023/01/05/d454a86a-8d5b-11ed-b86a-2e3a77336b8e_story.html__________________________________________________________ 4. Pro-life governors won, Voters want leadership on the issue, By Scott Walker, The Washington Times, January 6, 2023, Pg. B3, Opinion Every pro-life governor who ran for reelection in November won by large margins. Instead of running from the issue, they provided leadership on the issue of life — and went on to victory. … The lesson here is simple: Voters want leaders. Pro-life governors overwhelmingly found ways to stop late-term abortions. This is a reasonable position for most Americans. They have shown you can be pro-life and win. Scott Walker is president of Young America’s Foundation and served as the 45th governor of Wisconsin from 2011 to 2019. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/jan/5/pro-life-governors-won-in-2022/__________________________________________________________ 5. Biden visits Vatican embassy to pay respects to Benedict XVI, By Zeke Miller, Associated Press, January 5, 2023, 8:04 PM President Joe Biden on Thursday paid his respects to Benedict XVI, the first pope to resign in six centuries, following his burial during a ceremony at the Vatican. Benedict, who became pope emeritus after stepping down from his role as leader of the Roman Catholic church in 2013, died Dec. 31 at age 95. Biden, who is Catholic, visited the Vatican embassy, formally known as the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See, to sign the condolence book for Benedict. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-visits-vatican-embassy-to-pay-respects-to-benedict-xvi/2023/01/05/5e8310c2-8d51-11ed-b86a-2e3a77336b8e_story.html__________________________________________________________ 6. Abortion rights bill fast-tracked in Minnesota to become law, By Steve Karnowski, Associated Press, January 5, 2023, 5:47 PM A bill to strengthen abortion rights in Minnesota is on the fast track to becoming law as it passed its first test Thursday. A House health panel approved the legislation, which codifies protections into state statutes, 11-8 on just the third day of the 2023 session and sent it to its next committee stop on an expedited path to a House floor vote. Backers hope to put the bill on Democratic Gov. Tim Walz’s desk for his signature by the end of the month. As lawmakers across the country reconvene, they’re getting their first chances to take up key abortion proposals in the six months since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade — and left the question of whether abortion is legal to the states to determine. Nationwide, scores of bills are in the pipeline that would either expand or restrict access. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/abortion-rights-bill-fast-tracked-in-minnesota-to-become-law/2023/01/05/b1063746-8d35-11ed-b86a-2e3a77336b8e_story.html__________________________________________________________ 7. New Jersey sets aside $15M for abortion provider upgrades, By Mike Catalini, Associated Press, January 4, 2023 New Jersey will award $15 million in zero-interest loans and grants to health care facilities that provide abortion services for facility improvements and increased security, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday. The new financial aid stems from last year’s U.S. Supreme Court decision to strip away the federal right to abortion, the governor said in a statement. “This is a matter of defending a fundamental right that remains under attack throughout our country. New Jersey will continue to serve as a safe haven for both providers and patients,” Murphy said in an emailed statement. https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-health-new-jersey-state-government-006f9a1182946397c9e79342ad80c778__________________________________________________________

TCA Media Monitoring provides a snapshot from national newspapers and major Catholic press outlets of coverage regarding significant Catholic Church news and current issues with which the Catholic Church is traditionally or prominently engaged. The opinions and views expressed in the articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The Catholic Association.
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