Rift on Communion policy as US Catholic bishops open meeting
Divisions have flared up among U.S. Catholic bishops as they opened a national meeting highlighted by a sensitive agenda item: a possible rebuke of Catholic politicians, including President Joe Biden, who receive Communion while supporting abortion rights.
The Latest: Metro Manila, outlying provinces go on lockdown
___ROME โ Police in Italy have been cracking down on violators of ordinances aimed at reining in what has been weeks of stubbornly high incidences of COVID-19 cases. North Macedonia has recorded more than 126,000 coronavirus cases and more than 3,600 deaths. ___TIRANA โ Albania started a mass inoculation campaign Sunday ahead of the summer tourism season after acquiring 192,000 doses of Chinese coronavirus vaccine Sinovac earlier this week. The church drew media attention after reports it had opened the service to its entire congregation despite a tough coronavirus lockdown and sharply rising infection rate in the Netherlands. ___MEXICO CITY โ Mexicoโs government is acknowledging that the countryโs true death toll from the coronavirus pandemic now stands above 321,000.
Poles hold more protests over abortion; activist released
The poster, she said, celebrated the recent liberalization of the abortion law in Argentina and expressed hope Poland would be next. Mass nationwide protests have recurred repeatedly since then, growing into the largest protest movement in post-communist Poland. The court's judges argued that allowing abortion when there are congenital defects is unconstitutional because the Polish Constitution protects human life. Suchanow and Marta Lempart, the leaders of the Womenโs Strike group that has spearheaded street protests against the law, are now looking for inspiration to Argentina. AdIrene Donadio, a leading strategist with International Planned Parenthood Federation, a group promoting reproductive health and choice, said her organization is appalled that such a restrictive law could be imposed in a European Union member state.
Poland: Near-total abortion ban takes effect amid protests
(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)WARSAW โ A near-total ban on abortion has taken effect in Poland and triggered a new round of nationwide protests three months after the constitutional court ruled that the abortion of congenitally damaged fetuses is unconstitutional. Members of Poland's ruling Law and Justice party, which is aligned with the Roman Catholic Church, had sought the new restriction. The protesters are demanding a full liberalization of the abortion law and the resignation of the government, neither of which seem likely in the short term. Some protesters Wednesday covered their faces with green bandanas, which are the symbol of the abortion rights movement in Argentina. The constitutional court is made up mostly of Law and Justice appointees who ruled on a motion brought by lawmakers from the party.
New protests as Polish court seals divisive abortion ruling
People gather in Warsaw, Poland Wednesday Jan. 27, 2021 to protest after the country's top court on Wednesday confirmed its highly divisive ruling that will further tighten the predominantly Catholic nation's strict anti-abortion law. The Constitutional Tribunal published the justification of its decision, which means it can now be officially printed and take immediate effect. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)WARSAW โ New protests broke out in Polish cities Wednesday, shortly after the country's top court confirmed its highly divisive ruling that will further tighten the predominantly Catholic nationโs strict anti-abortion law. Last year's marches โ some of which led to clashes with police โ were highly critical of the ruling right-wing Law and Justice party. It was made in response to a motion from over 100 ruling party lawmakers, whose names have not been made public.
Bosnian city of Mostar holds 1st local election in 12 years
(AP Photo/Kemal Softic)MOSTAR โ MOSTAR, Bosnia-Long-entrenched ethno-nationalists were projected to win the first local election in Bosniaโs southern city of Mostar in 12 years, but early results of Sunday's vote also indicated multiethnic parties and alliances would be a strong part of the future city council. Mostar is split between Muslim Bosniaks and Catholic Croats, who fought fiercely for control over the city during the countryโs 1992-95 war. It hasnโt held a local election since 2008, when Bosniaโs constitutional court declared its election rules discriminatory and ordered them changed. Thus, the lawmakers from multiethnic parties appear set to become tiebreakers in all but certain disputes between the dominant Bosniak and Croat nationalists. Prior to the war, ethnically mixed couples made up 10% of all marriages in Mostar, and the city was markedly cosmopolitan.
A more conservative court hears same-sex foster parent case
The case is a big test of religious rights on a more conservative court. Catholic Social Services, which is affiliated with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, says its religious views keep it from certifying same-sex couples as foster parents. Kavanaugh, for his part, suggested Wednesday there should be a way for Catholic Social Services to continue to work with foster families. Even liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor seemed to recognize the court was sympathetic to Catholic Social Services. Catholic Social Services did not, and the city stopped placing children with the agency, which sued.
Pelosi to church: โFollow scienceโ on COVID-19 restrictions
WASHINGTON โ House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushed back Friday against the Catholic archbishop of San Franciscoโs criticism of COVID-related restrictions, saying he should โfollow scienceโ rather than advocate for fuller in-person gatherings for Mass and worship. โWith all due respect to my archbishop, I think we should follow science on this,โ Pelosi said. Pelosi noted that faith and science are sometimes seen at odds. โAround here, people say to me, You're a person of faith, why do you believe in science?" โI say, I believe science is an answer to our prayers.
Area Catholic schools push back school start dates due to PPE delays
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. โ The superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of St. Augustine on Thursday announced schools would begin the new school year on August 19, not August 10 as was previously planned. The schools affected include Bishop John Snyder High School, Bishop Kenny High School and St. Joseph Academy in St. Augustine, among others. The collection of schools is the latest in the area to postpone start dates due to COVID-19. Superintendent Decon Scott Conway said the schools are waiting for the delivery of sanitizing products, and instructional devices to upgrade the technology of the schools. We have had a few students test positive during our summer athletic workouts at the high school level, and we communicated with all parents and guardians regarding the positive tests.