1. Most U.S. adults say the abortion pill mifepristone should stay on the market, Post-ABC poll finds, The survey finds that 66 percent of U.S. adults say mifepristone should remain on the market, while 24 percent say it should be taken off the market, By Emily Guskin, The Washington Post, May 9, 2023, 6:00 AM Two-thirds of Americans say the abortion drug mifepristone, used in the majority of abortions in the United States, should remain on the market, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll. The poll finds that 66 percent of U.S. adults say mifepristone should remain on the market, while 24 percent say it should be taken off the market. Just under half, 47 percent, say access to mifepristone should be kept as is; 12 percent say it should remain on the market but be more restricted than it is now. … About 8 in 10 Americans say the decision on whether to have an abortion should be left to the woman and her doctor (78 percent), while about 2 in 10 (18 percent) say abortion should be regulated by law. … Leaving the decision to have an abortion up to a pregnant person and their doctor is also a majority-held opinion across parties (including 58 percent of Republicans) and religious groups (including 74 percent of White Catholics). … https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/05/09/mifepristone-abortion-poll/__________________________________________________________ 2. Ousted Caritas chief denounces Vatican ‘power grab’, By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press, May 9, 2023, 5:02 AM The Vatican’s main charitable organization, Caritas Internationalis, is hoping to open a new chapter this week after Pope Francis fired top managers over bullying complaints. But the recently ousted head is fighting back, claiming the Vatican engaged in a “brutal power grab” fueled by a “colonialist” attitude. The drama is playing out as the Caritas General Assembly meets May 11-16 to elect new leaders following more than a decade of turmoil and a damaging sex abuse scandal in central Africa. The gathering is a key step in Francis’ efforts to renew the Vatican-based confederation of 162 national chapters that is one of the most visible aid groups in the world. In an extraordinary display of papal power, Francis last November fired the Caritas secretary general, Aloysius John; the Caritas president, Filipino Cardinal Antonio Tagle; and Tagle’s vice presidents, the treasurer and ecclesiastic assistant. The Holy See said an outside investigation had found “real deficiencies” in management that had affected staff morale at the Caritas secretariat in Rome. … John, a French citizen of Indian descent, framed his ouster in racial terms. He said Caritas leaders from wealthier “Northern” regions had wanted to impose their will on the confederation and had never wanted a Caritas leader from the “South.” … https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/05/09/vatican-caritas-charity-abuse-pope/4a287e48-ee48-11ed-b67d-a219ec5dfd30_story.html__________________________________________________________ 3. The end of an era for the Sisters of Charity of New York, By Luis Andres Henao, Associated Press, May 9, 2023, 8:01 AM Through more than 200 years, the Sisters of Charity of New York nursed Civil War casualties, joined civil rights and anti-war demonstrations, cared for orphans, and taught countless children. They’re proud of their history of selfless service. But they can’t ignore their current reality: The congregation continues to shrink and age — and not a single new sister has joined their U.S. group in more than 20 years. After much prayer and contemplation, they made a tough decision that marked the beginning of the Catholic congregation’s end. They will no longer accept new members, and announced in an April 27 statement that they are now on a “path to completion.” … https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/2023/05/09/sisters-of-charity-new-york-nuns-catholic-religious-women/3ffe6d06-ee61-11ed-b67d-a219ec5dfd30_story.html__________________________________________________________ 4. Oakland 2nd California diocese to seek bankruptcy over abuse, By Associated Press, May 8, 2023, 4:37 PM The Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland filed for bankruptcy Monday due to hundreds of new child sex abuse claims, becoming the second diocese in California to do so. The San Francisco Bay Area diocese faces more than 330 lawsuits brought under a California law allowing claims that would have otherwise expired, Bishop Michael C. Barber said in a letter posted to the diocese’s website. Most of them allege abuse that dates back to the 1980s and earlier, according to Barber, and by priests who are no longer active in ministry or deceased. He said a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization would ensure “a fair and equitable outcome for survivors” and allow the church to continue its work. … https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/2023/05/08/oakland-catholic-clergy-sex-abuse-bankruptcy/24d0080e-ede0-11ed-b67d-a219ec5dfd30_story.html__________________________________________________________ 5. U.S. bishops condemn ‘Secure the Border Act of 2023’, By Peter Pinedo, Catholic News Agency, May 8, 2023, 4:30 PM Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso issued an open letter to Congress on May 5 strongly condemning the Secure the Border Act of 2023 as “extreme” and expressing the U.S. bishops’ position that the bill’s passage “is beyond justification.” As chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, Seitz is a hardline advocate for the rights of immigrants and has been highly critical of efforts to restrict immigration by both Republicans and Democrats. The Secure the Border Act of 2023 is sponsored by Republican Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart and Tom McClintock and supported by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The bill proposes to crack down on the record number of migrants who have been crossing the border under the Biden administration. The bill’s proposals include resuming construction of the border wall, ending the policy of “catch and release,” increasing the number of Border Patrol agents, and more. … https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254266/us-bishops-condemn-secure-the-border-act-of-2023__________________________________________________________

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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