Conference Examines Responsibilities of the Catholic University

Posted by Tim Drake

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 2:33 PM

The Vatican announced late last week that the Pontifical Gregorian University is planning a conference to discuss the responsibilities of Catholic universities.

Titled “The Catholic University in Postmodern Societies,” the conference is being held Nov. 16-20 by the International Federation of Catholic Universities.
According to Pedro Nel Medina Varon, adjunct secretary general of the... READ MORE

Permalink | Filed under catholic colleges, education, vatican

Poland Comes to Italy's Defense on the Crucifix

Posted by Tim Drake

Friday, November 13, 2009 3:46 PM

There’s more backlash from the European Court of Human Rights’ decision regarding keeping crucifixes in Italy’s public schools. Poland’s president, Lech Kaczynski, has said that Poland will never agree to remove crosses from its schools.

While the court’s decision did not impact Poland, it could force a review of the use of the crucifix in government-run schools across Europe. The... READ MORE

Permalink | Filed under crucifix, european court of human rights, italy, lech walesa, nation, poland

Brothers in Arms: Top 12 Dioceses That Supported Maine

Posted by Tim Drake

Thursday, November 12, 2009 4:39 PM

Maine released its campaign finance filings, showing contributors to the Diocese of Portland’s successful effort to prevent the legalization of same-sex “marriage.”

According to the campaign finance records, nearly five dozen dioceses and bishops made financial contributions to the effort. Among the largest donations were $50,000 donations from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Diocese... READ MORE

Permalink | Filed under bishops, dioceses, financial contributions, maine, portland, same-sex marriage

Bishop Tobin Asks Kennedy: What Does It Mean to Be Catholic?

Posted by Tim Drake

Wednesday, November 11, 2009 11:54 AM

When Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., originally attacked the Church’s position with regard to the proposed health-care reform bill, Diocese of Providence, R.I., Bishop Thomas Tobin responded and the two agreed to meet.

Congressman Kennedy voted against the Stupak amendment, which barred the use of federal funding for abortion in the House’s health-care reform bill. Kennedy responded that... READ MORE

Permalink | Filed under abortion, bishop thomas tobin, bishop tobin, catholic, health care, health care bill, health care reform, healthcare, rep. patrick kennedy

Who Deserves Credit for the Berlin Wall's Fall?

Posted by Tim Drake

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 4:32 PM

Taking a look at the vast majority of stories commemorating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, there’s one pivotal person missing from the majority of the mainstream coverage: Pope John Paul II.

Is this lack of inclusion an accidental oversight or an intentional act? If the previous Pontiff played no key role worth remembering, then why did the KGB want him dead?

There’s... READ MORE

Permalink | Filed under berlin wall, communism, lech walesa, poland, pope john paul ii, president ronald reagan

House Passes Health-Care Bill, So What's a Catholic to Do?

Posted by Tim Drake

Monday, November 09, 2009 12:53 PM

After Saturday’s passage in the U.S. House of the health-care reform bill, highlighted by the amendment prohibiting federal funding for abortion, what’s a Catholic to do?

It’s being seen as a victory for pro-life advocates who worked to ban federal funding for abortion in the legislation, but observers wonder whether the bill will retain the amendment as it goes through the Senate. The... READ MORE

Permalink | Filed under bart stupak, congress, health care, health care bill, health care reform, healthcare, usccb

Expunging Christ: The Crucifix and the Nation

Posted by Tim Drake

Friday, November 06, 2009 12:31 PM

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance.”  — Psalm 33: 12

On Tuesday, the European Court of Human Rights fined the Italian government for having crucifixes in its schools.

It’s yet another example of oversized, secular bureaucracies pitted against the most natural forms of human agreement, in this case the nation.
The... READ MORE

Permalink | Filed under crucifix, european court, italy

Planned Parenthood Takes on the Bishops

Posted by Tim Drake

Thursday, November 05, 2009 4:57 AM

Last Wednesday, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops began an unprecedented campaign encouraging all Catholics to oppose health-care reform that includes abortion funding.

In response, Planned Parenthood Federation’s president, Cecile Richards, has said that the bishops don’t represent all Catholics and is recruiting Catholics to contact their legislators to support the current health-care... READ MORE

Permalink | Filed under health care, health care bill, health care reform, healthcare, planned parenthood, usccb

Contraceptives May Double Risk of Stroke

Posted by Tim Drake

Friday, October 30, 2009 11:23 AM

According to LifeSiteNews.com, a new study conducted by Chicago’s Loyola University Health System indicates that taking oral contraceptives increases the risk of stroke by nearly double for women.

The study was published by MedLink Neurology. It demonstrated that there are about 4.4 ischemic strokes — caused by the loss of blood supply to the brain — for every 100,000 women of childbearing... READ MORE

Permalink | Filed under contraception, loyola university, medical study, stroke

Archbishop Dolan Gets a Blog

Posted by Tim Drake

Thursday, October 29, 2009 2:21 PM

Boston Cardinal Seán O’Malley has had a blog for three years. Now New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan has started one.

Titled “The Gospel in the Digital Age,” Archbishop Dolan began writing for the blog on Oct. 6. According to The New York Times, his postings every few days have included “war and peace, health care, abortion, charitable giving. The people he has met since taking the job six... READ MORE

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