Al Kresta's Blog, page 349

USCCB Decries Refusal to Support Defense of Marriage Act

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issues the following from its Office of General Counsel:

"Marriage has been understood for millennia and across cultures as the union of one man and one woman. Today, the President has instructed the Department of Justice to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal law reiterating that definition of marriage, passed by a Republican Congress and signed by a Democratic President just fifteen years ago. The principal basis for today's decision is that the President considers the law a form of impermissible sexual orientation discrimination.

"This decision represents an abdication of the responsibility of the Executive Branch to carry out its constitutional obligation to ensure that the laws of the United States are faithfully executed. It is also a grave affront to the millions of Americans who both reject unjust discrimination and affirm the unique and inestimable value of marriage as between one man and one woman. Support for actual marriage is not bigotry, but instead an eminently reasonable, common judgment affirming the foundational institution of civil society. Any suggestion by the government that such a judgment represents "discrimination" is a serious threat to the religious liberty of marriage supporters nationwide."

February 23, 2011

Anthony R. Picarello, Jr.
General Counsel
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Canonist: New York's Governor Cuomo should be barred from Communion

February 24, 2011  CWNews.com


A leading canon lawyer has criticized Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany for administering Communion to New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo, a proponent of legal abortion who is openly living with a female partner to whom he is not married.

Edward Peters, a canon-law professor at Sacred Heart seminary in Detroit and a consultant to the Vatican's top court, Apostolic Signatura, said that Cuomo's "public concubinage" is clear and highly public violation of moral norms. He said that "as long as he persists in such conduct, he should refrain from taking Holy Communion" and "if he approaches for Holy Communion, he should be denied the august sacrament in accord with Canon 915." Peters added that Cuomo's support for legal abortion could also be grounds for exclusion from Communion.

The fact that Cuomo received Communion during a Mass for his gubernatorial inauguration was a "grave scandal," Peters told the CNSNews. He said that Bishop Hubbard's homily during that Mass seemed to be "a failure in pastoral care, but more for what he did not say, than for what he did say." In his homily, the bishop had said that Governor Cuomo would be "deeply immersed in the work of evangelization" in his new post.

After the comments by Peters were reproduced in the New York Times, Bishop Hubbard responded by saying that it is "unfair and imprudent" to comment on the situation "without knowing all the facts."

The bishop's statement did not provide any indication for what facts, if any, might have been missing from Peters' analysis. Instead, Bishop Hubbard said: "As a matter of pastoral practice we would not comment publicly on anything which should be addressed privately, regardless if the person is a public figure or a private citizen."

The bishop's reference to private matters did not respond to the canonist's criticism, since Peters was speaking about the public scandal caused by the governor's public reception of Communion, in light of his public espousal of abortion and his public concubinage.

Governor Cuomo, however, followed the bishop's lead, issuing his own statement to say: "My religion is a private matter and it's not something I discuss in the political arena."

[The New York Times said that Peters had declined a request for an interview. He did not. When contacted by the Times by telephone, Peters said that he did not have time for an interview at that moment, but could answer detailed questions later. The Times reporter did not call back.]

MSNBC Tag Teams Pastor Over Pro-Life Billboard

Journalist and publicist Karen Hunter belittled Pastor Stephen Broden on MSNBC Thursday over a pro-life billboard in New York City that reads "The Safest Place for an African-American Is In the Womb." MSNBC's Chris Jansing didn't do much moderating, as she barely questioned Hunter but pressed Broden on the issue.

Vatican studies how to help women post-abortion

Cartoon of the Day - High price of democracy

Today on Kresta - February 24, 2011

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Feb. 24

4:00 – Spirituality at Work: 10 Ways to Balance Your Life on the Job
Inviting us to pause, reflect, and act with the God who is already present, Gregory Pierce boldly confronts and honestly evaluates our struggle to find meaning in the workplace. Unlike books that try to impose religion on the world of work, spirituality@work promotes an authentic spirituality that is rooted in the nitty-gritty of the workplace. Pierce shows how each of us can successfully balance our work with other aspects of life.

4:30 – The Freedom of True Love
Fr. Frank Wagner is a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and has served in the mission field of the United States for over 50 years. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is, in his opinion, the only way to true freedom. Fr. Frank is here to address the enslavement many in our culture have through one or the other of the basic human weaknesses so that neither the inner addictions not outside influences will end up transforming our nation into a society that is no longer free.

5:00 – Haiti: What's Happening A Year After the Earthquake?
The U.N. last week said Haiti's cholera outbreak appears to be waning overall, but high death rates from the virus in rural regions of the country remain a concern. According to figures released by the Haitian government, 231,070 cholera cases and 4,549 deaths from the disease have been reported since the outbreak first emerged in October. This on the heals of the devastating earthquake only a year ago. Catholic journalist Jeff Gardiner visited Haiti shortly after the anniversary of the earthquake and has this report for us.

5:20 – The Mission of Cross Catholic International in Haiti
Jim Cavnar of Cross International Catholic Outreach joins us to follow-up on Jeff Gardiner's report to explain what the primary needs are in Haiti and to tell us what his organization has been able to accomplish with Ave Maria Radio listeners in the past year.

5:40 – We'll be saying what? Preparing for the improvement of the English translation of the Roman Missal
As you know, English translations of the Roman Missal are set to be implemented in Advent of this year. Preparing the Way for the Roman Missal is a multi-media faith formation tool that includes a highly informative yet approachable introductory video that delivers critically important catechesis on the sacred liturgy, along with six straightforward, easy-to-follow audio-visual tutorials that explore all of the forthcoming changes to the prayers of the people at Holy Mass. Louis Verrecchio has created MissalPrep.com to help dioceses, parishes and the lay faithful prepare for the upcoming changes in Mass. He joins us.

Today on Kresta - February 23, 2011

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Feb. 23

4:00 – The Grace Card
The Grace Card is a deeply Christian film directed by David Evans and starring Louis Gossett Jr. Everything can change in an instant ... and take a lifetime to unravel. When Mac McDonald loses his son in an accident, years of bitterness and pain erode his love for his family and leaves him angry with God ... and everyone else. Can Mac and Sam Wright, his new patrol partner, somehow join forces to help one another when it's impossible to look past their differences—especially the most obvious one? Every day, we have the opportunity to rebuild relationships and heal wounds by extending and receiving God's grace. never underestimate the power of God's love. Writer / Director David Evans joins us to discuss the film.

4:20 – Al on the feast of St. Polycarp
St. Polycarp (d. 156) , bishop of Smyrna, disciple of St. John the Apostle and friend of St. Ignatius of Antioch, was a revered Christian leader during the first half of the second century. Saint Ignatius of Antioch praised his single-minded devotion. He told Polycarp "your mind is grounded in God as on an immovable rock." Polycarp had no tolerance for heresy. Marcion, the leader of the Marcionites who followed a dualistic heresy, confronted Polycarp and demanded respect by saying, "Recognize us, Polycarp." Polycarp responded, "I recognize you, yes, I recognize the son of Satan." St. Polycarp never sought martyrdom, but at age 86, Polycarp was led into the crowded Smyrna stadium to be burned alive. When he was tied up to be burned, Polycarp prayed, and the flames did not harm him and he was finally killed by a dagger. Al discusses this extraordinary Saint.

4:40 – Hollywood Anecdotes in this month of Reagan's 100th Birthday and the Oscars this weekend
This month we celebrated the 100th birthday of Ronald Reagan and this weekend will be the Oscars. Stephen Schohett , author of Hollywood Stories, takes us behind the scene of Reagan's acting career, his wit and wisdom on set and he takes us behind the curtain of the Oscars to predict winners and discuss how the awards have changed and developed over the years.

5:00 – The WI, OH and IN Union Protests and Catholic Social Teaching
Amid unprecedented protests in the state of Wisconsin over Republican Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to sharply limit bargaining rights for union employees, the state's Catholic bishops underscored the "moral obligation" of protecting workers' rights and called for lawmakers to carefully evaluate the difficult situation. Gov. Walker faces a deficit of $137 million in the current state budget and the prospect of a $3.6 billion debt within the next two years. A spokesman for the WI Bishops Conference said ""Because you support workers or the right of unions to assert and affirm their interests, (it) doesn't follow that every claim made by workers is valid." Sam Gregg from the Acton Institute is here to look at the protests and Catholic Social Teaching.

5:20 – Direct To My Desk

Today on Kresta - February 22, 2011

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Feb. 22

4:00 – Christians Caught in the Middle of Middle East Strife?
Christians and Muslims are involved together in the democracy and reform movements bubbling up around the Middle East and members of both communities will gain from their success and suffer if they are violently suppressed, said a leading Lebanese Muslim scholar. With demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt, simmering unrest in Yemen and government changes in Lebanon, "I am both worried and hopeful," said Muhammad al-Sammak, whom Pope Benedict XVI invited to speak to the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East in October. Paul Marshall , Senior fellow in the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute, is here to look at Christians in the Middle East protests.

4:20 – Creating Life in the Lab: How New Discoveries in Synthetic Biology Make a Case for the Creator
Each year brings to light new scientific discoveries that have the power to either test our faith or strengthen it--most recently the news that scientists have created artificial life forms in the laboratory. If humans can create life, what does that mean for the creation story found in Scripture? Biochemist and Christian apologist Dr. Fazale Rana , for one, isn't worried. In Creating Life in the Lab, he details the fascinating quest for synthetic life and argues convincingly that when scientists succeed in creating life in the lab, they will unwittingly undermine the evolutionary explanation for the origin of life, demonstrating instead that undirected chemical processes cannot produce a living entity. He joins us.

4:40 – TBA

5:00 – A Tour of Unrest in the Middle East
Two months ago, a Tunisian fruit vendor lit a match, starting a fire that has spread throughout the Arab world. Muhammad Bouazizi's self-immolation prompted anti-government protests that toppled the regime in Tunisia and then Egypt. The demonstrations have spread across a swath of the Middle East and North Africa. Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch is here to give us the latest developments, country by country.

5:20 – Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper
In recent years, Christians everywhere are rediscovering the Jewish roots of their faith. Every year at Easter time, many believers now celebrate Passover meals (known as Seders) seeking to understand exactly what happened at Jesus' final Passover, the night before he was crucified. Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist shines fresh light on the Last Supper by looking at it through Jewish eyes. Using his in-depth knowledge of the Bible and ancient Judaism, Dr. Brant Pitre answers questions such as: What was the Passover like at the time of Jesus? What were the Jewish hopes for the Messiah? What was Jesus' purpose in instituting the Eucharist during the feast of Passover? And, most important of all, what did Jesus mean when he said, "This is my body… This is my blood"? He is with us to answer those questions.

Today on Kresta - February 21, 2011

Talking about the "things that matter most" on Feb. 21

4:00 – Presidents' Day – The Faith of the Presidents
Religion has been a major part of the presidency since George Washington's first inaugural address to President Obama's black liberation Christian background. Despite the mounting interest in the role of religion in American public life, we actually know remarkably little about the faith of our presidents. Was Thomas Jefferson an atheist, as his political opponents charged? What role did Lincoln's religious views play in his handling of slavery and the Civil War? How did born-again Southern Baptist Jimmy Carter lose the support of many evangelicals? Is George W. Bush, as his critics often claim, a captive of the religious right? On this Presidents' Day, Gary Smith answers these questions and many more. He takes a sweeping look at the role religion has played in presidential politics and policies. Drawing on extensive archival research, Smith paints compelling portraits of the religious lives and presidencies of eleven chief executives for whom religion was particularly important. We will examine what each of its subjects believed and how those beliefs shaped their presidencies and, in turn, the course of our history.

5:00 – Presidents' Day - The President, the Pope, And the Prime Minister: Three Who Changed the World
They were three "middle managers" no one imagined could reach the top, but the changed the course of history. Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Pope John Paul II. Not only did they rise to the top, but all three of them also survived assassination attempts, collaborated in the miraculous peaceful liberation of Eastern Europe from Soviet Communism, and reinvigorated their respective countries and the West. They were beacons of optimism cutting through the malaise and despair that afflicted 1970s America, strike-ridden and economically moribund post-imperial Britain, and a Catholic Church rocked by social and sexual revolutions. We talk with John O'Sullivan about these three who changed the world.

5:40 – Presidents' Day - George Washington's Leadership Lessons
George Washington has long been a role model for Americans. Legends of his honesty and virtue are part of America's cultural heritage. But Washington's legacy is much greater than the apocryphal story of the cherry tree. George Washington's Leadership Lessons offers a unique perspective on America's first president—not as a caricature of model behavior, but as an effective, visionary, and inspiring leader of men. On this Presidents' Day, we talk with James Rees , director of Mount Vernon and author of George Washington's Leadership Lessons: What the Father of Our Country Can Teach Us About Effective Leadership and Character.

Pakistani lawmaker faces blasphemy charge for seeking to amend law

Sherry Rehman, Parliamentarian from the Pakistan People's Party, the woman who presented the motion to the Pakistani Parliament to modify the blasphemy law has been formally charged with blasphemy. The decision was taken by a court in Multan, which enlisted the local police to register the charge of blasphemy against Rehman. The court received the denouncement by a local shopkeeper, who accuses the woman of blasphemy in her address on television in November 2010. The local police, for now, have declared her legally incompetent. In recent weeks there have been other attempts to incriminate her but other Pakistani courts have refused to give authorisation.


This news creates "discouragement and deep concern within the Christian community" which, as a local source of Fides confirms, sees its fears being realised: that it has gone beyond the idea of defining "blasphemous", and therefore, anyone who opposes the law on blasphemy can be incriminated.

Meanwhile cases are multiplying in which extremist Islamic groups openly praise the "holy war", the civil disobedience and murders. Fides sources in Pakistan's civil society express growing concern that these attitudes, however, "are not producing any solid responses from the Pakistani Government," which "should stop these preachers of hate and lawlessness." Many mullahs use the Friday sermon to convey hostile messages to increase social and interreligious tensions, to override the rule of law.

"Some are even demanding the use of nuclear bombs against India in the name of holy war in Kashmir," said a note sent to Fides from the Asian Human Rights Commission. Recently, this occurred in Lahore by Hafiz Saeed, leader of the radical Islamic group Jamaat-ud-Dawah, speaking to an audience of over 20,000 militants. Although the leader is wanted for terrorism, he was able to harangue the crowd undisturbed.

"It is absolutely incomprehensible that the Pakistani government close their eyes and allow these terrorists to circulate freely, spreading radical ideas," says the Fides source. "The authorities can not continue with this conciliatory policy towards religious extremism. Inciting religious war is a crime against humanity." The Pakistani civil society forum "Citizens for Democracy", in a note sent to Fides, appeals to the Government to stop and prosecute those who incite religious hatred and murder