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September 2009

September 2009

Vatican envoy to UN defends church's response to sex abuse

Wednesday, September 30, 2009
By Megan Sweas
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican has defended its response to the problem of sexual abuse of children by priests, saying that the church had been "cleaning its own house" and that other religions and institutions were similarly tainted. The Vatican delegation to the U.N. Human Rights Council said in an oral statement Sept. 22 in Geneva that church authorities fully understand the gravity of the issue of child sex abuse by clergy and have taken measures to eliminate the problem.
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Patriarch sees no Middle East peace for at least another generation

Wednesday, September 30, 2009
By Megan Sweas
BOISE, Idaho (CNS) -- Those waiting for peace in the Middle East will have to wait for at least another generation, in part because U.S. and Western interests simply lack the will to make it happen, said retired Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem. The patriarch was in Boise to attend the gathering of Northwestern lieutenancy of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher Sept. 24-28. He spoke with the Idaho Catholic Register, Boise's diocesan newspaper, for about 30 minutes following a public panel on Palestinian peace efforts.
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G-20 pledges on economy won't help poor countries enough, Catholic group says

Wednesday, September 30, 2009
By Megan Sweas
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Developing countries are just beginning to feel the worst consequences of the global financial crisis, despite a declaration by world leaders meeting in Pittsburgh that measures their governments implemented to address the crisis have worked, said an international alliance of Catholic development agencies. "A 'Mission Accomplished' sign was all that was missing to make the moment perfect," said a Sept. 25 statement issued in Washington by the International Cooperation for Development and Solidarity, known as CIDSE.
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Catholic organizations aid Philippine victims of flooding

Tuesday, September 29, 2009
By Megan Sweas
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Catholic charitable organizations are stepping up to help victims in the Philippines after the worst flood in decades hit in late September. "Many of the people who have lost everything are sleeping in schools right now," said Luc Picard, Catholic Relief Services' country representative in Manila, Philippines. "They're calling this the Katrina of the Philippines." Picard told Catholic News Service in a Sept. 28 telephone interview that rescuers were still searching for survivors from the flooding and mudslides two days earlier.
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Murdered Yale student recalled as young woman full of life, promise

Tuesday, September 29, 2009
By Megan Sweas
EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. (CNS) -- Murdered Yale University graduate student Annie Marie Le will always be "in our hearts and in our prayers," Dan Nguyen told the congregation gathered at a California Catholic church for her funeral Mass Sept. 26. "I think that I speak on behalf of all of us gathered here when I say I will never fully understand why this has happened ...
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House resolution honors work of women religious in United States

Monday, September 28, 2009
By Megan Sweas
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A U.S. House resolution passed Sept. 22 "honors and commends Catholic sisters for their humble service and courageous sacrifice throughout the history" of the nation. The resolution approved with a voice vote also specifically supports the goals of a traveling exhibit on women religious in the United States that is being sponsored by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, and co-sponsored by 67 members of both parties.
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Foundation seeks place of honor for Pope Pius XII at Yad Vashem

Monday, September 28, 2009
By Megan Sweas
ROME (CNS) -- An effort to add the name of Pope Pius XII to the official list of people who helped protect Jews during the Holocaust is gathering steam and is supported by Pope Benedict XVI, the project's main promoter said. Gary Krupp, president of the Pave the Way Foundation, a nonsectarian organization that seeks to reduce religious conflict, said in a telephone interview Sept. 21 that he had gathered thousands of documents to support his proposal that the wartime pope be named as Righteous Among the Nations.
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Pope urges Czechs to regain values that inspired fight for freedom

Monday, September 28, 2009
By Megan Sweas
PRAGUE, Czech Republic (CNS) -- Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the peaceful revolt that brought down the country's communist regime, Pope Benedict XVI urged people in the Czech Republic to rediscover the spiritual and moral values that sustained their struggle for freedom. In gatherings Sept. 26-28 with political, social, cultural and religious leaders as well as the Catholic faithful, the pope delivered a message of hope meant to inspire both the country's majority of nonbelievers and the minority Catholic community.
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CCHD pulls funding from two agencies, investigates two others

Thursday, September 24, 2009
By Megan Sweas
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The Catholic Campaign for Human Development has canceled grants to two organizations after learning about their involvement in activities contrary to church teaching and is studying the actions of two other groups. Ralph McCloud, executive director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' anti-poverty program, told Catholic News Service Sept. 23 funding was canceled for two San Francisco-based organizations, the Chinese Progressive Association and Young Workers United.
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Papal nuncio says bankruptcy court's lawsuit against him is not valid

Thursday, September 24, 2009
By Megan Sweas
DAVENPORT, Iowa (CNS) -- Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States, said a court official has no authority to demand nearly $73,000 from his office, according to a petition filed in federal court. Archbishop Sambi is asking the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Iowa, where the Davenport Diocese is located, to dismiss a lawsuit by a bankruptcy trustee seeking the funds. His petition, filed in early September, also requests that the matter be heard in federal court because that is the proper jurisdiction. The petition will be heard Sept. 30 in the U.S.
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