A growing number of bishops are speaking out on the subject of pro-abortion Catholic politicians. But there is disagreement over what should be done. Fargo, North Dakota Bishop Samuel J. Aquila said in May that denying Communion to pro-abortion politicians is part of Catholic teaching. Portland, Oregon Archbishop John G. Vlazny said that “Catholics... [Read more...]
SCHOOL CHOICE SUCCEEDS
When school voucher programs are instituted, it stimulates public schools to improve. That, at least, is what the Florida experience shows. In Florida, if a school receives two failing grades in a four-year period, its students can elect to go elsewhere. Performance is measured by standardized tests, and students who choose to use a voucher can attend... [Read more...]
CHURCH AND STATE IN AN ELECTION YEAR
Few things in life are more contemptible than intellectual dishonesty. It’s one thing to be wrong from time to time (true of all of us), quite another to make a living advancing an ideological position that is wholly without principle. Unfortunately, many discussions on church and state are of this sort. And now that we have a man running for... [Read more...]
CATHOLICS AND THE SUPREME COURT: AN UNEASY RELATIONSHIP
Perhaps the most revolutionary changes on the Supreme Court began in the 1930′s. That is when President Franklin D. Roosevelt began to choose justices inclined to approach the Constitution in a “broad” and “flexible” spirit. Some of his appointees were crudely anti-Catholic. Hugo L. Black (1937-71) was a lapsed Baptist... [Read more...]
VIOLENCE AND “THE PASSION” (PART TWO)
Predictions that “The Passion of the Christ” would spur violence have finally come true. Dario D’Ambrosi, who played the burly, sadistic Roman soldier who took delight in whipping Jesus, has been cursed and spat upon in real life; his daughters have also been heckled at school. But Mattia Sbragia, who played the dictatorial high priest,... [Read more...]
BUSH’S “GOD TALK” OFFENDS NADER, ELITES
n Bob Woodward’s new book, Plan of Attack, reference is made to how President Bush prayed “for the strength to do the Lord’s will” when he committed the nation to war. In an interview with the Christian Science Monitor on April 19, presidential contender Ralph Nader characterized Bush’s remarks as follows: “We... [Read more...]
FLAP OVER CARTOON REVEALS TRUE COLORS
When Curtis Kneblik of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati contacted us about an offensive cartoon that appeared in the Dayton Daily News, William Donohue decided to write a letter to the newspaper. It printed the following letter on April 27: “The Mike Peters cartoon of April 14 depicts a bishop who denies Communion to a pro-abortion Catholic politician,... [Read more...]
BISHOP GREGORY SHOWS COURAGE: PRIESTS HAVE RIGHTS, TOO
Bishop Wilton Gregory, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has refused to release the mental health records of a retired priest accused of sexual abuse. The alleged acts occurred in the 1970s in the Illinois Diocese of Belleville; the diocese is now led by Bishop Gregory. As a result of his decision, the Belleville diocese is being... [Read more...]
BISHOPS BEWARE OF LAY CLERICALISM
Anne Burke, interim chairman of the National Review Board (the group empanelled by the bishops to conduct diocesan audits), got into a public dispute in May with some bishops over the authority and longevity of the panel. Burke, who said she will resign from the panel at the end of June, maintains that the bishops have “manipulated” the... [Read more...]
TURNING THE TABLES ON NEWSDAY
The April 28 edition of the Long Island daily, Newsday, ran an article about critics of Monsignor John Alesandro, pastor of St. Dominic’s in Oyster Bay. Some parishioners have lost confidence in his ability to lead the parish, while others have rallied to his side. It wasn’t the story about the parish that bothered us, it was Newsday‘s... [Read more...]