1. Top officials optimistic about renewal of Vatican-China deal, By Elise Ann Allen, Crux, September 15, 2020
Over the past week top officials from both China and the Vatican have given indications that the controversial agreement between the two on the appointment of bishops, which expires at the end of this month, will be renewed.
According to Italian news agency Ansa, Vatican Secretary of State Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin spoke to a group of journalists on the margins of a Sept. 14 conference with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, saying the agreement with China is set to expire “in October,” but that the common intention of both parties is to renew the deal.
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His remarks come days after Zhao Lijian, spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, also expressed optimism for the renewal of the agreement during a regular Sept. 10 press conference.
Asked if he was hopeful that China’s deal with the Vatican on the appointment of bishops would be extended for another two years, Lijian said that thanks to efforts from both sides, “the interim agreement on the appointment of bishops between China and the Vatican has been implemented successfully since it was signed nearly two years ago.”
https://cruxnow.com/church-in-asia/2020/09/top-officials-optimistic-about-renewal-of-vatican-china-deal/
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2. Catholic bishops of California launch yearlong anti-racism initiative, By Ann Rodgers, Catholic News Service, September 15, 2020
The Catholic bishops of California have announced a yearlong initiative to address personal and systematic racism, both in the Church and wider society.
After a Sept. 9 Zoom conference with African American Catholic leaders from their state, the California bishops released a statement pledging to “begin a journey aimed at converting our hearts to more fully understand the extent and nature of the sin of racism in ourselves, our church and our nation. This journey is intended to offer tangible change.”
https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2020/09/catholic-bishops-of-california-launch-yearlong-anti-racism-initiative/
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3. Two groups criticize Catholic honor planned for U.S. attorney general, By Julie Asher, Catholic News Service, September 15, 2020
The Association of U.S. Catholic Priests and the Catholic Mobilizing Network said they strongly object to an award the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast organizers plan to present to U.S. Attorney General William Barr during the annual breakfast, which is to be livestreamed Sept. 23 from Washington.
In separate statements, the organizations said Barr, a Catholic, should not be honored because as attorney general, he directed the federal government in July 2019 to resume the execution of prisoners on federal death row
https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2020/09/two-groups-criticize-catholic-honor-planned-for-u-s-attorney-general/
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4. US bishops commend HUD plan to allow homeless shelters to serve on basis of sex, By Catholic News Agency, September 14, 2020, 5:19 PM
The US bishops’ conference on Friday applauded the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s proposal to allow single-sex homeless shelters to serve only those whose biological sex aligns with that of their residents.
The proposal would reverse an Obama-era rule that requires single-sex homeless shelters to accommodate clients based on their gender identity.
The bishops issued a statement Sept. 11 highlighting the dignity of all people searching for emergency housing.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/us-bishops-commend-hud-plan-to-allow-homeless-shelters-to-serve-on-basis-of-sex-55991
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5. Trump administration proposes Mexico City Policy expansion, By Catholic News Agency, September 14, 2020, 10:30 AM
The Trump administration has announced plans to expand the Mexico City Policy, which limits access to U.S. overseas aid by organizations involved in abortions. A new proposed rule, posted to the Federal Register on Monday, would expand the policy to include military and government contracts overseas.
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While the policy previously covered around $600 million in USAID family planning assistance, President Trump directed the State Department to expand it to cover “global health assistance furnished by all departments or agencies” to the extent allowed by the law.
The expanded Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance policy covers nearly $9 billion in U.S. foreign aid under the State Department, USAID, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of Defense. This includes, for example, grants to foreign NGOs under international health programs to fight AIDS and infectious diseases, or to provide maternal and child nutrition.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/trump-administration-proposes-mexico-city-policy-expansion-83352
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6. Cardinal Parolin: Vatican-China deal can help ‘normalize life of the Church’, By Hannah Brockhaus, Catholic News Agency, September 14, 2020, 8:00 AM
The Vatican expects to renew its interim deal with China on the appointment of bishops, as part of efforts to “normalize” the life of the Catholic Church in China, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said Monday.
“With China, our current interest is to normalize the life of the Church as much as possible, to ensure that the Church can live a normal life, which for the Catholic Church is also to have relations with the Holy See and with the Pope,” Parolin said Sept. 14, according to Italian news agency AgenSIR.
“Our perspective is on this ecclesiastical theme,” Parolin added, noting that this goal should also take place “against a backdrop of peaceful coexistence, the search for peace and overcoming tensions.”
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinal-parolin-vatican-china-deal-can-help-normalize-life-of-the-church-27743
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7. NCR exclusive: Campaign names three dozen ‘Catholics for Biden’ co-chairs, By Christopher White, National Catholic Reporter, September 14, 2020
As former Vice President Joe Biden vies to become the second Catholic president in U.S. history, three dozen Catholic lawmakers, ambassadors, educators and nonprofit leaders have signed on to serve as national co-chairs of the campaign’s “Catholics for Biden” outreach.
The list of names, which the Biden campaign provided to NCR, includes, among other notable individuals:
Carolyn Woo, former president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services;
Samantha Power, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations;
Victoria Reggie Kennedy, wife of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy;
Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, who was Hillary Clinton’s 2016 running mate;
Longtime Democratic strategist Donna Brazile.
https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/ncr-exclusive-campaign-names-three-dozen-catholics-biden-co-chairs
___________________________________________________________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. |
