1. Abortion and the People, By Lynn Fitch, The Wall Street Journal, June 15, 2021, Pg. A21, Opinion
When the Supreme Court hears from the parties in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in its next term, the arguments will concern the constitutionality of a Mississippi abortion law protecting life after 15 weeks of pregnancy. At stake will be the right of the people to speak through their elected leaders on the protection of vulnerable life and women’s health.
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As Mississippi’s attorney general, I have the duty to defend the laws of my state, and here I do so gladly. We ask the court simply to affirm the right of the people to protect their legitimate interests and to provide clarity on how they may do so.
Ms. Fitch is attorney general of Mississippi.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/mississipis-people-should-choose-its-abortion-laws-11623709643?
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2. Poll: Regular Mass attendees say politicians who oppose Church teaching on grave matters ‘create confusion’, By Kate Scanlon, Catholic News Agency, June 15, 2021, 6:05 AM
A poll by a Catholic advocacy group released on Tuesday found that, among Catholics who attend Mass regularly, the vast majority say that Catholic politicians who take policy positions contrary to Church teaching “create confusion” among the faithful.
The poll, conducted by CRC Research on behalf of the advocacy group CatholicVote, found that 83% of Catholics who regularly attend Mass say public officials with stated positions contrary to Church teaching “create confusion and disunity.” Nearly three-quarters, 74%, of regular Mass-goers say that these officials should not present themselves for Communion.
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Brian Burch, president of CatholicVote, said in a statement on Tuesday that “Catholic politicians who advocate for policies considered ‘gravely immoral’ create confusion and discord among believers.”
“Catholics’ concern about the flouting of Catholic social teaching by public leaders is less about politics and more about the integrity of the faith, along with reverence and respect due the Holy Eucharist,” Burch said.
“This polling data should bolster the confidence of Catholic bishops as they prepare to discuss how to recover an understanding of the beauty and richness of the sacrament – among all Catholics. The data is very clear: Bishops have an obligation to act,” he stated.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247998/poll-regular-mass-attendees-say-politicians-who-oppose-church-teaching-on-grave-matters-create-confusion
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3. College asks for hold on gender rules, By Alex Swoyer, The Washington Times, June 15, 2021, Pg. A2
A Missouri Christian college asked a federal appeals court to grant its request to halt the Biden administration‘s directive to open showers, restrooms and dorms to the opposite sex, arguing that the order infringes on the school’s biblical beliefs.
In a filing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit last week, attorneys for the College of the Ozarks said the U.S. District Court judge was wrong in dismissing the case last month.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jun/14/college-ozarks-asks-appeals-court-halt-biden-gende/
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4. Record number of abortions recorded in England and Wales in 2020, By Catholic News Agency, June 15, 2021, 6:05 AM
A record number of abortions took place in England and Wales in 2020, according to new statistics.
The figures, released June 10, showed that there were 210,860 abortions last year, the highest number since the Abortion Act 1967 was introduced.
A pro-life group said that the figure — an increase of 1,341 from the previous peak in 2019 — marked “a devastating surge” in abortions after the government allowed women in England to complete medical abortions at home in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248000/record-number-of-abortions-recorded-in-england-and-wales-in-2020
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5. National Right to Life decries new bill aimed at codifying Roe v. Wade, By Catholic News Service, June 15, 2021
The Women’s Health Protection Act, introduced in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House June 8 “would invalidate nearly all existing state limitations on abortion,” said Jennifer Popik, director of federal legislation for National Right to Life.
“This legislation would also prohibit states from adopting new protective laws in the future, including various types of laws specifically upheld as constitutionally permissible by the U.S. Supreme Court,” she said in a June 9 statement.
https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2021/06/national-right-to-life-decries-new-bill-aimed-at-codifying-roe-v-wade/
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6. Archdiocese of Los Angeles issues new guidelines to fully reopen parishes, By Alejandra Molina, Religion News Service, June 14, 2021, 5:23 PM
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has issued new guidelines for its more than 300 parishes, which, beginning June 19, are set to fully reopen.
In a letter to congregants over the weekend, Archbishop José H. Gomez announced guidelines allowing liturgical celebrations — including weekday and Sunday Masses as well as First Communion, confirmation and baptism services — to take place indoors and without capacity limitations, social distancing and prearranged “reservation systems.” The same goes for weddings, quinceañeras and funerals.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/archdiocese-of-los-angeles-issues-new-guidelines-to-fully-reopen-parishes/2021/06/14/bf28a796-cd56-11eb-a224-bd59bd22197c_story.html
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7. Catholic pro-democracy leader released from Hong Kong jail, By The Pillar, June 14, 2021
Agnes Chow, the Catholic pro-democracy activist, has been released from prison in Hong Kong after serving more than 6 months for attending an “unlawful” assembly in 2019. Chow, 24, was convicted of attending public protests against a law that would have allowed for political prisoners to be extradited to mainland China to face trial in some circumstances.
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Several prominent Catholics, including billionaire businessman and publisher Jimmy Lai, have been arrested and imprisoned for attending demonstrations.
Prior to her imprisonment, Chow was banned from standing in Hong Kong elections following election law reforms. She was accused of “sedition” under the terms of the National Security Law, imposed on Hong Kong by the mainland government on July 1, 2020.
https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/catholic-pro-democracy-leader-released
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8. Meeting between Pope Francis and President Biden did not happen, By Catholic News Agency, June 14, 2021, 4:55 PM
President Joe Biden’s attendance at early morning Mass with Pope Francis was nixed from an early plan for the first meeting of both leaders, a reliable Vatican source told CNA.
President Biden is currently in Europe for several high level meetings, offering a potential opportunity to meet with Pope Francis. According to Vatican sources June 15, there is no meeting currently scheduled between the two men.
The President’s entourage had originally requested for Biden to attend Mass with the pope early in the morning, but the proposal was nixed by the Vatican after considering the impact that Biden receiving Holy Communion from the pope would have on the discussions the USCCB is planning to have during their meeting starting Wednesday, June 16.
The U.S. bishops are slated to vote on creating a committee that would draft a document about Eucharistic coherence.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247997/update-meeting-between-pope-francis-and-president-biden-did-not-happen
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9. Fla. governor signs bill requiring moment for school prayer, By Bobby Caina Calvan, Associated Press, June 14, 2021
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visited a South Florida Jewish temple to denounce anti-Semitism and stand with Israel, as the Republican governor cloaked himself in religion Monday while signing a bill into law that would require public schools in his state to set aside at least one minute of silence for children to meditate or pray.
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The state had already been among roughly 18 other states that gave schools the option to do so.
https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-middle-east-prayer-bills-education-52741efc03b880ac3499c90e8896a66d
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10. Pope, religious leaders call for better EU immigration policies, By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service, June 14, 2021
As the remains of a rickety boat, pulled from the floor of the Mediterranean Sea, were enshrined as a memorial to the hundreds of migrants who died when it sank, Pope Francis prayed that such tragedies would “challenge everyone’s conscience and foster the growth of a more supportive humanity that tears down the wall of indifference.”
“The Mediterranean has become Europe’s largest cemetery,” the pope told visitors gathered in St. Peter’s Square June 13 to pray the Angelus with him.
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When Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg, president of the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union, and other officers of the commission met Pope Francis June 11, the continent’s immigration policies were on the top of the agenda.
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The EU policies must be rethought, the cardinal told reporters. “Countries like Italy, Spain, Malta and Greece are left on their own” in rescuing, welcoming, verifying and trying to integrate migrants. “This is a shame.”
https://cruxnow.com/church-in-europe/2021/06/pope-religious-leaders-call-for-better-eu-immigration-policies/
___________________________________________________________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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