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Wuerl Knew McCarrick Abuse Allegations In 2004

January 24, 2019 Featured Today Comments Off on Wuerl Knew McCarrick Abuse Allegations In 2004

By ED CONDON and J.D. FLYNN WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNA) — An allegation of misconduct against Archbishop Theodore McCarrick was reported to Donald Cardinal Wuerl in 2004, despite Wuerl’s insistence he knew nothing about McCarrick’s alleged sexual misconduct until 2018. Wuerl forwarded the report to the apostolic nuncio in Washington, D.C., the Diocese of Pittsburgh said Thursday, January 10. A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Washington confirmed to Catholic News Agency that an allegation against McCarrick was presented to Wuerl while he served as bishop of Pittsburgh, as part of a complaint made by laicized priest Robert Ciolek. In a statement, the Diocese of Pittsburgh said January 10 that laicized priest Robert Ciolek appeared in November 2004 before its diocesan review…Continue Reading

Neither Left Nor Right, But Catholic… Catholic Social Teaching And Affirmative Action

January 23, 2019 Featured Today Comments Off on Neither Left Nor Right, But Catholic… Catholic Social Teaching And Affirmative Action

By STEPHEN M. KRASON (Editor’s Note: Stephen M. Krason’s Neither Left nor Right, but Catholic column appears monthly [sometimes bimonthly]. He is professor of political science and legal studies and associate director of the Veritas Center for Ethics in Public Life at Franciscan University of Steubenville. He is also co-founder and president of the Society of Catholic Social Scientists and a lawyer. (Among his books are: Liberalism, Conservatism, and Catholicism; The Transformation of the American Democratic Republic; Catholicism and American Political Ideologies, and a Catholic political novel, American Cincinnatus. This column originally appeared in Crisismagazine.com.) + + + A few months ago when I was on a panel at my university on the topic of evaluating American liberalism and conservatism…Continue Reading

Unity And Tyranny

January 22, 2019 Featured Today Comments Off on Unity And Tyranny

By DONALD DeMARCO When an interviewer asked what keeps him up at night, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke of the “polarization” that “really does worry me.” One of the responsibilities of the leader of a nation is to encourage unity. In this regard, it would appear that Trudeau’s expressed concern is congruent with that of Christianity. “The unity of mankind,” writes Jacques Maritain in Ransoming the Time, “is at the basis of Christianity.” But is Trudeau’s vision really compatible with that of Christianity? How one approaches fostering unity can separate the true leader from the pretender. A simple test to distinguish the two lies in how they perceive what is equal and what is not equal. With regard to…Continue Reading

McCarrick Accuser Says . . . “Unfathomable” That Wuerl Forgot Allegations

January 21, 2019 Featured Today Comments Off on McCarrick Accuser Says . . . “Unfathomable” That Wuerl Forgot Allegations

By ED CONDON WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNA) — The man who made a 2004 accusation of misconduct against Archbishop Theodore McCarrick said January 16 he is in disbelief after Donald Cardinal Wuerl told him he forgot about the allegation sometime after becoming Washington’s archbishop in 2006. In a January 15 letter, Wuerl wrote to Washington, D.C., priests that “when I was asked if I had any previous knowledge of allegations against Archbishop McCarrick, I said I did not. Only afterwards was I reminded of the 14-year-old accusation of inappropriate conduct which, by that time, I had forgotten.” In a previous letter to priests, sent January 12, Wuerl did not mention forgetting the allegation, instead he said he was bound by confidentiality…Continue Reading

St. Jerome Emiliani… A Father To All The Fatherless

January 20, 2019 Featured Today Comments Off on St. Jerome Emiliani… A Father To All The Fatherless

By RAY CAVANAUGH St. Jerome Emiliani transformed from a spiritually wayward young man into a priest known for inexhaustible charity — even though such charity was a hazardous occupation in a sixteenth-century Italy often stricken by plague. His transformation would ultimately lead to sainthood and a universal patronage. February 8 is his feast day. Born in Venice in 1486, Jerome was one of four sons born to a family that had wealth and political prominence. Because of his background, he had superior educational opportunities. But even though he was intelligent, he lacked the temperament of a scholar. Instead, he was a highly sociable and energetic young man. One relative (who became a nun) described Jerome as “a youth who had…Continue Reading

Is Bolton Steering Trump Into War With Iran?

January 19, 2019 Featured Today Comments Off on Is Bolton Steering Trump Into War With Iran?

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN “Stop the ENDLESS WARS!” implored President Donald Trump in a Sunday, January 13 night tweet. Well, if he is serious, Trump had best keep an eye on his national security adviser, for a U.S. war on Iran would be a dream come true for John Bolton. Last September, when Shiite militants launched three mortar shells into the Green Zone in Baghdad, which exploded harmlessly in a vacant lot, Bolton called a series of emergency meetings and directed the Pentagon to prepare a menu of targets, inside Iran, for U.S. air and missile strikes in retaliation. The Wall Street Journal quoted one U.S. official as saying Bolton’s behavior “rattled people. . . . People were shocked. It…Continue Reading

Pope To Diplomats . . . Remember Transcendent Dimension Of Human Persons

January 18, 2019 Featured Today Comments Off on Pope To Diplomats . . . Remember Transcendent Dimension Of Human Persons

By HANNAH BROCKHAUS VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) — Upholding the dignity of the human person and the rule of law are essential for good politics, Pope Francis said January 7 to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See. Such politics promote the common good and establish and maintain peace between nations, he said, by considering “the transcendent dimension of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God.” The Pope made his annual address to the diplomatic corps in the Vatican’s Sala Regia. “Respect for the dignity of each human being is thus the indispensable premise for all truly peaceful coexistence,” he said, “and law becomes the essential instrument for achieving social justice and nurturing fraternal bonds…Continue Reading

An Answer To A Sedevacantist Wannabe

January 17, 2019 Featured Today Comments Off on An Answer To A Sedevacantist Wannabe

By FR. JOHN T. ZUHLSDORF (Editor’s Note: Someone who is “seriously considering adopting some form of sedevacantism” wrote recently to Fr. John T. Zuhlsdorf, and Fr. Z posted his reply on his January 7 blog. The question and answer are reprinted here with permission.) + + + Quaeritur: Father, I’ll get straight to the point: I’m having difficulty believing that the Pope is the head of the Church. I know that regarding the past heresies Popes were often negligent in carrying out their duty to oppose error, but it seems that recently Rome has been actively spreading error. This is most obvious under Francis, of course, although it’s not a new phenomenon — Vatican II and the liturgical reforms, which…Continue Reading

Critics Warn… New Mexico Bill Could Allow “Suicide Tourism”

January 16, 2019 Featured Today Comments Off on Critics Warn… New Mexico Bill Could Allow “Suicide Tourism”

SANTA FE, N.M. (CNA/EWTN News) — Proposed legislation in New Mexico could legalize assisted suicide in the state, and may even allow for the prescription of deadly drugs outside the state via telemedicine, and by health-care professionals other than physicians. Deacon Steve Rangel, associate director for the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the bill was disheartening to read. “In our Catholic faith, we know the dignity of life from conception to natural death,” he told Catholic News Agency. Rangel cited several particularly objectionable points in House Bill 90, known as the “Elizabeth Whitefield End of Life Options Act,” including a provision that medical practitioners other than doctors can administer the drugs, without ever having examined the patient in…Continue Reading

The Case Against The Sign Of Peace At Mass

January 15, 2019 Featured Today Comments Off on The Case Against The Sign Of Peace At Mass

By REY FLORES O Lord Jesus Christ, Who said to Your Apostles: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you,” regarda not my sins but the faith of your Church, and deign to give her peace and unity according to Your will: Who live and reign God, world without end. Amen. — At Solemn Mass, the Celebrant kisses the Altar, and giving the Pax (Kiss of Peace) to the Deacon, says: “Peace be with you.” The Deacon answers: “And with your spirit.” + + + The above comes from the Roman Missal. Seems simple enough; right? The sign of peace was something done on the altar between the celebrant priest and the deacon. My question is this: When…Continue Reading