1. Republican bill would call on departments to probe attacks on pro-lifers, By Valerie Richardson, The Washington Times, September 21, 2022, Pg. A2
House Republicans sought Tuesday to prod federal authorities investigating rising attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers, accusing the Biden administration of a lackluster response to the surge in violence spurred by the fall of Roe v. Wade.
The Protect Pregnancy Care Centers Act would require the Justice and Homeland Security departments to disclose information to Congress on their efforts, “including details gathered on groups that have claimed responsibility for the attacks and the number of prosecutions initiated against perpetrators.”
The legislation, which has 28 cosponsors, said the Justice Department “has abdicated its duty and failed to provide justice for victims of violence.”
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/sep/20/republicans-biden-administration-has-failed-addres/
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2. Belgian bishops propose prayer for gay couples, not marriage, By Nicole Winfield and Samuel Petrequin, Associated Press, September 20, 2022, 10:26 AM
Belgian bishops on Tuesday published a proposed text for a prayer liturgy for same-sex couples that includes prayers, Scriptural readings and expressions of commitment, despite a 2021 Vatican directive barring church blessings for gay couples.
The Flemish-speaking bishops stressed that the “moment of prayer” was by no means akin to a sacramental marriage, which Catholic doctrine says is a lifelong union between a man and woman. Rather, they said their proposal is part of the Belgian church’s effort to be more responsive to its gay members and to “create a climate of respect, recognition and integration.” They cited Pope Francis’ call for the church to be more welcoming to gays.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/belgian-bishops-propose-prayer-for-gay-couples-not-marriage/2022/09/20/363c2a46-38f0-11ed-b8af-0a04e5dc3db6_story.html
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3. Cardinal Zen gets new trial date, The criminal trial of Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun is set to start next week after it failed to begin as scheduled., By The Pillar, September 20, 2022, 8:56 AM
The criminal trial of Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun is set to start next week after it failed to begin as scheduled, The Pillar has learned.
The 90-year-old cardinal was due to appear in court in Hong Kong on Sept. 19, but the hearing did not take place after a judge in the case tested positive for COVID-19.
The hearing was initially rescheduled tentatively for Wednesday, but will now begin on Sept. 26 sources close to the case have told The Pillar.
https://www.pillarcatholic.com/cardinal-zen-gets-new-trial-date/
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4. Human rights activists call on U.S. State Department to return Nigeria to religious freedom watchlist, By Catholic News Agency, September 20, 2022, 5:00 PM
Human rights advocates are calling on U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to put Nigeria back on a list of the world’s worst violators of religious freedom in light of increasing attacks against Christians.
In 2020, the State Department designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern (CPC)” in the State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report. The country was placed on the list “for having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom. “
Then, in November 2021 the State Department removed Nigeria from the list of CPCs despite what observers say was an increasing number of attacks against Christians.
In a Sept. 19 letter addressed to Blinken, 68 religious freedom NGOs and human rights experts called on the secretary of state to “designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and appoint a Special Envoy to investigate the situation and make recommendations, in consultation with local representatives.”
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252346/human-rights-activists-call-on-us-state-department-to-return-nigeria-to-religious-freedom-watchlist
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5. Pro-life pregnancy center network calls Elizabeth Warren accusations a political ‘stunt’, By Joe Bukuras, Catholic News Agency, September 20, 2022, 4:35 PM
A leading international network of pro-life pregnancy centers is pushing back against claims made by U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and other top Democrats that it engages in “misleading practices” and could use the data it collects to incriminate women seeking abortions.
Warren and six other senators made those allegations in a Sept. 19 letter sent to Jor-El Godsey, the president of Heartbeat International.
“We all know what this is,” Godsey said in a statement Tuesday. “This is naked politics intended not to help women but to influence elections. It is clearly a stunt designed to appease Big Abortion power brokers.”
Heartbeat International currently serves over 2,800 affiliated pregnancy centers, maternity homes, and non-profit adoption agencies worldwide.
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Besides Warren, of Massachusetts, the other senators who signed the letter are Mazie K. Hirono of Hawaii, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Ron Wyden of Oregon, Edward Markey of Massachusetts, and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252345/heartbeat-international-elizabeth-warren-pregnancy-centers
__________________________________________________________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. |
