Seal of confession is an ‘intrinsic requirement,’ Vatican says

Seal of confession is an ‘intrinsic requirement,’ Vatican says

The head of the Vatican’s Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary released a note Monday reaffirming the inviolability of the seal of confession and the importance of other forms of secrecy in the life of the Church. The text follows action by governments in Australia, California, and other parts of the world, to undermine the…

State Department removes ‘reproductive rights’ section from human rights report

State Department removes ‘reproductive rights’ section from human rights report

CNA—The U.S. State Department has removed the term “reproductive rights” from its annual human rights report, drawing praise from pro-life leaders who say that the phrase had become a thinly veiled reference to abortion.   “‘Reproductive rights’ has long been a euphemism for destroying human life in the womb,” said Lila Rose, founder and president…

HHS delays new conscience rights protections

HHS delays new conscience rights protections

CNA—A rule to protect the conscience rights of medical professionals will be delayed until the end of November, the Department of Health and Human Services announced July 1.  The administration said that the new rule, which would cover doctors and other medical practitioners objecting to procedures like abortion, sterilization, or facilitating euthanasia, is being held…

Tax credits: U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear Montana school choice case

Tax credits: U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear Montana school choice case

CNA—The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case addressing the question of whether states can deny tax credit programs to parents and children who choose religious private schools. “States cannot base laws on hostility to religion. Likewise, no provision of Montana’s constitution can enshrine hostility to religion into state law. We commend the…

IKEA in Poland fires employee for Biblical opposition to pride event

IKEA in Poland fires employee for Biblical opposition to pride event

CNA—An IKEA worker in Poland has filed a lawsuit after being fired last week for posting Bible verses opposing homosexual behavior on the company’s intranet. The issue could just as easily have happened in the U.S. or anywhere else, which means that as a Catholic business professional it is important to clearly understand the matter. …

Blessed John Henry Newman to be canonized October 13

Blessed John Henry Newman to be canonized October 13

CNA—The Vatican announced Monday that Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman will be canonized on October 13 in Rome. During a consistory of cardinals July 1, Pope Francis decreed that Newman and four other blesseds will be canonized together in St. Peter’s Square. Indian Sister Marian Thresia, founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the…

As Alabama Case Closes and Georgia Case Gets Started, Justice Thomas Tears Into Abortion Precedent

As Alabama Case Closes and Georgia Case Gets Started, Justice Thomas Tears Into Abortion Precedent

Daily Report, Law.com—“This case serves as a stark reminder that our abortion jurisprudence has spiraled out of control,” Justice Clarence Thomas said. “Although this case does not present the opportunity to address our demonstrably erroneous ‘undue burden’ standard, we cannot continue blinking the reality of what this Court has wrought.” On the same day that abortion-rights advocates…

Catholic leaders join massive Hong Kong protest

Catholic leaders join massive Hong Kong protest

New York Times—June 17, 2019—Church leaders attended another huge Hong Kong protest that called for the withdrawal of a controversial extradition bill and the resignation of the Chinese territory’s leader. Although chief executive Carrie Lam announced on June 15 that she had suspended the bill, Hong Kong people were not satisfied and turned out in even greater…

‘Damn socialism, why are you chasing me?’ Chinese-Americans see ghost of communism in Democrats’ leftward turn

‘Damn socialism, why are you chasing me?’ Chinese-Americans see ghost of communism in Democrats’ leftward turn

As Catholic business professionals living our faith and doing business in today’s global culture and workplace environment, it is imperative that we clearly know the difference between socialism, communism and capitalism. It’s also critical that we know why Popes throughout the ages have repeatedly condemned the severely individual-ignoring, freedom-restricting, government-imposing principles of socialism and communism.…

U.S. Bishops Approve the Pope’s Capital Punishment Ban

U.S. Bishops Approve the Pope’s Capital Punishment Ban

Sæva indignatio. Few writers in the history of English letters could express “savage indignation” at human folly as did Jonathan Swift who wrote those words for his own epitaph. Our times give ample opportunity to empathize with him, and that is never more so than when clerics get together in large numbers. Bishops have many…

Global Rosary Relay on Friday: Chaplain at Thomas Aquinas College invites participation

Global Rosary Relay on Friday: Chaplain at Thomas Aquinas College invites participation

On Friday, June 28, the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, members of the Thomas Aquinas College community will gather in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel at 6:45 p.m. (PDT). Together we will pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary as part of WorldPriest’s annual Global Rosary Relay — an…

Historic mission bell removed from California college

Historic mission bell removed from California college

CNA—A university in California removed a bell last week after a Native American group claimed the historic piece was disrespectful to their heritage.  Catholic Business Journal wonders what this or that group’s “offense” and “disrespect” have to do with objective historic fact and feat at all. History is, well, just that, history — an objective…

Religious freedom laws ‘more necessary than ever,’ Congress hears

Religious freedom laws ‘more necessary than ever,’ Congress hears

CNA—The House Committee on Education and Labor heard testimony June 25 on the Do No Harm Act, a proposed measure to limit the application of landmark religious freedom legislation.  The Do No Harm Act proposes to limit the application of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Critics of the measure warned Tuesday that tampering with…

Doctors promised disabled woman ‘new doll’ after planned forced abortion

Doctors promised disabled woman ‘new doll’ after planned forced abortion

London, England, Jun 25, 2019—CNA—Following a decision by the Court of Appeals in England to overturn an order for a forced abortion on a disabled woman, new details have emerged about the case. Lawyers told the appeal court Monday that doctors had prepared the woman for the enforced abortion by promising her a new doll after…

Seven New Bishops Beatified in Romania: Who are they?

Seven New Bishops Beatified in Romania: Who are they?

Vatican News—All seven of the Greek-Catholic bishops were arrested in 1948. All of them were imprisoned and left to die of hunger, exposure, disease, or the effects of hard labor, and then buried in unmarked graves. The liturgical chair used during the Divine Liturgy in Blaj on Sunday, was made from the wooden planks of…

Rush to judge others and gossip: and the devil laughs

Rush to judge others and gossip: and the devil laughs

On January 18, 2019, a video of Covington Catholic High School student Nick Sandmann went viral. He was at the Lincoln Memorial standing face to face with a Native American man during the March to Life in Washington, D.C. On the basis of that picture, a frenzy of condemnations from reporters, commentators and politicians were…

Polish priest ordained after cancer diagnosis dies

Polish priest ordained after cancer diagnosis dies

CNA—A young Polish priest who was ordained last month following a terminal cancer diagnosis has died, his community announced Monday. Fr. Michal Los, FDP, died June 17 in the morning, the Congregation of the Orionine Fathers said in a Facebook post. “We believe that he met with the Risen Christ whom he so desperately wanted…

Supreme Court returns case of florist who declined gay wedding to lower court

Supreme Court returns case of florist who declined gay wedding to lower court

ADF/CNA—The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday vacated a Washington state ruling against local florist Barronelle Stutzman, who in 2013 declined to make flower arrangements for a same-sex wedding. The U.S. Supreme Court sent the case back to the Washington Supreme Court, instructing that the case be reconsidered in the light of Masterpiece Cakeshop decision earlier…

Supreme Court gives second chance to Oregon cake bakers who declined same-sex wedding

Supreme Court gives second chance to Oregon cake bakers who declined same-sex wedding

CNA—An Oregon bakery whose owners declined to make a cake celebrating a same-sex commitment ceremony will get another chance in court, after the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 17 ruling ordered lower courts to reconsider a massive fine and other penalties in light of a similar Colorado case. “The Constitution protects speech, popular or not, from…

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