TCA Podcast, – “Conversations with Consequences,” Episode 101 – Dr. Stephanie Barclay On Empowering Women Thru Religious Freedom + Gladden Pappin!
Marking Women’s History Month, Dr. Grazie Christie speaks with Notre Dame University Professor Stephanie Barclay about the many ways religious freedom empowers women. Serving as Director of the Religious Liberty Initiative, Professor Barclay says protecting religious freedom is vital for the safety and security of all women across the globe. We also chat with Professor Gladden Pappin at the University of Dallas about an upcoming Saint John Paul II conference on America, Liberalism, and Catholicism. Professor Pappin answers the question: Does the church (still) condemn Liberalism? Stay tuned for an inspiring homily from Father Roger Landry and make sure to tune in every Saturday at 7am ET/5PM ET on EWTN radio!
https://thecatholicassociation.org/podcast/ep-101-dr-stephanie-barclay-on-empowering-women-thru-religious-freedom-gladden-pappin/
___________________________________________________________
1. Catholic churches get reprieve from virus restrictions, Judge: Worship rights violated, By Stephen Dinan, The Washington Times, March 26, 2021, Pg. A8
A federal judge issued an injunction Thursday on Mayor Muriel Bowser’s coronavirus restrictions on the city’s Catholic churches, ruling that the District’s limits of 25% capacity or 250 people at services violates fundamental worship rights.
Judge Trevor N. McFadden said the city has allowed residents to buy alcohol or get restaurant takeout service as “essential” services, but denied that label for churches, even though religious practice is specifically protected by the U.S. Constitution.
The city can still require social distancing at Mass and cleaning, but the judge said churches can be filled to 40% capacity and still meet those standards.
https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/mar/25/dc-catholic-churches-win-holy-week-reprieve-mayors/
___________________________________________________________
2. Speakers say Equality Act ‘overly broad,’ will harm religious liberty, By Kurt Jensen, Catholic News Service, March 26, 2021
A March 22 online webinar on the Equality Act focused on criticism that the legislation is so vaguely worded it would harm religious liberty and obscure biological reality.
The measure would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations, public education, federal funding, the credit system and jury duty.
The webinar was sponsored by the archdioceses of Los Angeles and New York, the dioceses of Arlington, Virginia, and Green Bay, Wisconsin, and the Catholic conferences of Colorado and Virginia.
On Feb. 25, the House of Representatives passed the Equality Act, also known as H.R. 5, in a 224-206 vote. Now it will be taken up by the Senate; the first hearing was March 17 by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The webinar’s moderator, Ryan T. Anderson, who is currently president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, said of the bill: “It’s overly broad and doesn’t define all kinds of actions that are truly discriminatory.”
https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2021/03/speakers-say-equality-act-overly-broad-will-harm-religious-liberty/
___________________________________________________________
3. German cardinal takes further action in wake of independent abuse report, By Catholic News Agency, March 26, 2021, 5:30 AM
A German cardinal has announced further action following the release of a long-awaited independent report on the handling of abuse cases in his archdiocese.
Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne told journalists on Tuesday that the 800-page Gercke Report, issued March 18, was just one stage in an ongoing process.
“I will do everything I possibly can to make the Church do better,” he said.
At the press conference, Fr. Markus Hofmann, vicar general of Cologne archdiocese, unveiled eight steps that the archdiocese would take following the report.
CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner, said that the steps included the creation of an independent inquiry into the handling of abuse cases in the archdiocese, which is Germany’s largest and reportedly also its richest diocese.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/german-cardinal-takes-further-action-in-wake-of-independent-abuse-report
___________________________________________________________
4. British judge: Vatican made ‘appalling’ claims in UK probe, By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press, March 25, 2021, 2:00 PM
A British judge has blasted Vatican prosecutors for making “appalling” misrepresentations to the court about their investigation into the Holy See’s investment in a London real estate deal, determining they don’t have much of a case against their key suspect.
In a remarkable ruling made public this week, Judge Tony Baumgartner of Southwark Crown Court reversed another judge’s decision to seize the British-based bank accounts of broker Gianluigi Torzi and awarded Torzi legal fees.
The Vatican had requested the seizure as part of its corruption investigation into Torzi and other suspects whom prosecutors accuse of fleecing the Holy See of millions in fees stemming from its 350 million-euro investment in a luxury building in London’s Chelsea neighborhood.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/british-judge-vatican-made-appalling-claims-in-uk-probe/2021/03/25/c4a87042-8d88-11eb-a33e-da28941cb9ac_story.html
___________________________________________________________
5. Viennese cardinal displeased by Vatican ‘no’ to same-sex blessings, By Catholic News Agency, March 25, 2021, 9:01 PM
Christoph Cardinal Schönborn has declared he was “not happy with the explanation of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith”, since the message reported by the dicastery was “only a no”, and declared he would, under certain circumstances, bless same-sex unions.
The CDF said March 15 that the Church hasn’t the power to bless same-sex unions.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/viennese-cardinal-displeased-by-vatican-no-to-same-sex-blessings-78875
___________________________________________________________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. |
