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Archdiocese of New Orleans will release personnel files of clergy accused of sex abuse

null / Credit: Primestock Photography/Shutterstock

CNA Staff, Nov 8, 2024 / 13:25 pm (CNA).

The Archdiocese of New Orleans this week said it will release personnel files of priests accused of sexual abuse amid ongoing negotiations of a major abuse settlement there. 

The archdiocese in September proposed a bankruptcy settlement as part of its plan for addressing sexual abuse by clergy, offering a $62.5 million payout to victims. The abuse survivors have requested approximately $1 billion. 

On Thursday the archdiocese said in an announcement that it had agreed to “nonmonetary plan provisions to be included in the bankruptcy plan,” which will include “improving public accountability and transparency.”

Court documents filed on Thursday said the archdiocese would contract with a college or university to publish, in part, “personnel files” of any “clergy, former clergy, religious, or laity” identified by the archdiocese as a perpetrator of sexual abuse. 

The publication of the files would “promote healing and reconciliation” and help prevent child sexual abuse from occurring in the future, the court documents state. 

In a statement on Thursday, New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond said the Church “is committed to protecting children and preventing the evil of child sexual abuse from occurring in our Catholic parishes, schools, and ministries.”

“I welcome this progress in our reorganization, but more importantly, I welcome the new means to strengthen our existing, effective programs for the safety and security of our children in all of our ministries,” the prelate said. 

“It is my prayer that our work with the committee will continue to be collaborative keeping the survivors at the forefront of decisions.”

In the documents filed Thursday, the archdiocese also agreed that it would “mail written letters of apology to any individual” who filed a child sexual abuse claim there.

In addition, the archdiocese will post a public apology in the archdiocesan newspaper The Clarion Herald, addressed “to all known child sexual abuse claimants.”

The archdiocese will further allot space on its website for victims of abuse to share their stories and will also create “a place of remembrance” for sexual abuse victims at the diocesan chancery. 

And the archdiocese will “remove all plaques, pictures, statutes, or other public recognitions” on its properties of any diocesan officials credibly accused of sexual abuse. 

The archdiocese has been working through the bankruptcy proceedings for nearly half a decade, having first applied for bankruptcy in May 2020.

Last year the archdiocese announced the “difficult and painful decision” to consolidate 11 parish communities, permanently close seven churches, and consolidate three territories in order to ensure sustainability and vitality.

In September of last year the archbishop said the archdiocese would be asking parishes, schools, and ministries for monetary contributions in order to protect their assets during the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings. 

Mexican bishops, activists mobilize against legalization of abortion in Mexico City

The March for Life in Mexico City, April 29, 2023. / Credit: Steps for Life

Puebla, Mexico, Nov 8, 2024 / 12:55 pm (CNA).

As a legislative measure that “seeks the total decriminalization of abortion” in Mexico City moves forward, the Catholic Church in the country is expressing its opposition and concern, with Mexico’s bishops pointing out that, as pastors, they cannot “remain silent” in the face of what they consider a threat to the fundamental right to life.

The Administration and Procurement of Justice and Gender Equality Committees of the Mexico City Congress voted Nov. 4 in favor of the proposal that seeks to eliminate the articles of the Penal Code that penalize voluntary induced abortion, maintaining only forced abortion punishable by law.

In a Nov. 6 statement, the Mexican Bishops’ Conference warned that, contrary to what those defending the measure claim, eliminating the current limit of abortion at 12 weeks of gestation — already permitted in Mexico City — “would open the door to the termination of pregnancy at any time.”

The bishops also pointed out that this measure “puts women’s health and lives at risk by creating the false perception that abortion is safe and the only option when faced with a pregnancy in difficult circumstances.”

They also warned that, if approved, the reform could become a precedent that “will spread to other states in the republic.”

The measure has not been scheduled for a vote by a full session of the Congress, and late Wednesday, the news media outlet Infobae reported that the measure has been tabled indefinitely.

Infobae reported that the decision to delay further consideration of the measure was partially in response to protests by pro-life groups in front of the Legislature’s facilities.

Support for women

In their message, the Mexican episcopate urged the Catholic community to “work and accompany all women,” especially those who “go through dramatic and vulnerable situations,” offering them real alternatives and concrete support.

They also asked the faithful to “make our voices heard in the public square” and to promote a “culture of life” that defends the most vulnerable, fostering a society that values ​​and respects human life at all its stages.

“This task challenges us all,” the prelates emphasized.

The bishops reaffirmed their commitment to “continue providing spiritual and material assistance” to those who need it, extending their understanding and love to those women who have experienced the “drama of abortion.”

Finally, the Mexican pastors emphasized that “the right to life is not a question of ideology or simple political opinion” and stressed that human life has a meaning and significance, which “no law can eliminate or change.”

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

German bishops urge stability amid political turmoil following government collapse

Cardinal Reinhard Marx speaks at a press conference in Munich, Germany, Jan. 27, 2022. / Credit: Screenshot from erzbistum-muenchen.de

CNA Newsroom, Nov 8, 2024 / 12:25 pm (CNA).

A day after Donald Trump won reelection to the U.S. presidency and Germany’s coalition government collapsed, Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich sought to calm fears about political instability in Europe’s largest economy.

“No civil war is threatening us,” Marx said Thursday during the closing press conference of the Bavarian bishops’ fall assembly in Munich.

“Rather, we can make a new beginning in an orderly way,” the cardinal said, according to CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner.

“I believe we underestimate in our country what it means to have functioning institutions that can also deal with difficult situations,” Marx added.

The current chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg, also weighed in on the situation, urging the need for social cohesion and solidarity.

The prelate stressed the importance of the art of political compromise in navigating the current situation — and said he trusted politics to achieve this, according to Domradio.

Marc Frings, secretary-general of the lay group Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK), said in an interview that Germany was entering “a phase of massive uncertainty,” pointing to the fact that early termination of governments is an exception rather than the rule in German politics.

Germans to go to the polls in new year

The comments came after Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner on Wednesday, leading to the withdrawal of all ministers from Lindner’s Free Democratic Party (FDP) from the governing coalition.

Deutsche Welle reported that the move ended the three-party alliance between Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and the FDP, which has been mired in controversies.

According to the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, deep disagreements over financial policy triggered the government’s collapse, particularly the dispute over constitutional debt limits, with Scholz and the Greens favoring higher social and climate spending.

Speaking to reporters in Budapest, where he joined EU leaders for their first meeting since the coalition’s collapse, Scholz advocated for a calm approach to scheduling new elections.

“We should discuss the possible date with as little agitation as possible,” Deutsche Welle quoted the chancellor as saying.

“It would be good if the democratic parties in the Bundestag now reach a consensus on which laws can still be passed in the chamber this year.”

The chancellor announced he would seek a vote of confidence in Parliament in January, potentially leading to new elections in March.

Opposition leader Friedrich Merz and others have called for a much earlier vote.

According to recent polls, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leads with 34% support while the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) has risen to 18%. The SPD currently polls at 16%, the Greens at 12%, and the FDP at 5%.

Trump’s return: Lebanese Christian politicians eye peace, security, and U.S. support

Donald Trump takes the stage during a campaign rally at the J.S. Dorton Arena on Nov. 4, 2024, in Raleigh, North Carolina. / Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

ACI MENA, Nov 8, 2024 / 11:55 am (CNA).

It’s no secret that U.S. politics have far-reaching effects beyond their borders, significantly shaping other parts of the world, including the Middle East. In Lebanon, where tensions and uncertainties persist, many see the U.S. elections as a possible catalyst for meaningful change.

Yet, as it is with every election cycle, campaign promises either evolve into real action or remain unfulfilled. Lebanese Christians, among others, hope for decisions that will foster peace and stability in their country and region.

Here’s what leading Lebanese Christian politicians are saying about Donald Trump’s reelection.

Samir Geagea, the leader of Lebanon’s largest Christian party, extended his congratulations in a message on X (formerly Twitter):

“I extend my congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on his victory for a second term in the U.S. presidential elections; I am confident that the steadfast U.S. support for Lebanon, its constitutional institutions, its sovereignty, independence, and the establishment of its effective state will continue as we have known it. I also congratulate the American people for their commitment to the goals of the democratic process, which serves as the decisive factor in change, renewal, and the continuity of American institutions, especially since we share with the American people the same concepts and values in defense of a safe, free, and independent human being.”

Samy Gemayel, a member of Parliament and leader of the Kataeb Party — one of Lebanon’s oldest political groups — also shared a message on X, emphasizing that Lebanon deserves peace: 

“Congratulations, President @realDonaldTrump, on your election and remarkable comeback. We look forward to renewed U.S. engagement with Lebanon and support for its sovereignty. As you mentioned in your letter to the Lebanese American community, Lebanon deserves peace. It’s time to make it happen.”

Both the Lebanese Forces and the Kataeb Party are well known for their firm stance against Hezbollah. 

Additionally, these parties maintain strong ties with the U.S., a key supporter of the Lebanese Armed Forces. 

Amid rising regional tensions, the Lebanese Forces and Kataeb are working to strengthen cooperation with the U.S. and the international community to enforce U.N. resolutions calling for the disarmament of militias and the empowerment of the Lebanese Army as the sole force responsible for national defense.

Michel Moawad, a member of Parliament and founder of the Independence Movement — a sovereigntist, reform-oriented party — also extended his congratulations to Trump: 

“Heartfelt congratulations to President Trump @realDonaldTrump and Vice President Vance @JDVance on this well-deserved victory. We look forward to strengthening the bonds between our nations and working together for a sovereign and reformed Lebanon that embraces its rightful place within a peaceful Middle East.”

Mouawad is the son of former Lebanese President René Moawad, who was assassinated in 1989. 

Recently, Moawad announced his candidacy for the Lebanese presidential elections, as Lebanon has remained without a president since 2022. He is also the founder of the René Moawad Foundation (RMF), a nongovernmental organization active across Lebanon with programs funded by international partners, particularly the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 

Gebran Bassil, head of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), also congratulated Trump, regaling Trump’s letter to Lebanese Americans concerning Lebanon’s security as a valuable opportunity for the country. 

The FPM is known for its complex relationship with Hezbollah, a bond solidified by the Mar Mikhael Agreement in 2006, which has significantly impacted its relations with the United States. In 2020, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Bassil, citing allegations of corruption and ties with Hezbollah. Last month, Bassil announced the end of the FPM’s tenuous alliance with Hezbollah, though this move may be seen by the United States as too little, too late.

In a recent interview with MTV Lebanon, independent member of Parliament and businessman Neemat Frem expressed optimism about a potential shift in U.S. policy toward Lebanon following Trump’s election. He highlighted the pivotal role of Massad Boulos, a Lebanese businessman and father-in-law to Tiffany Trump, in this context. Frem stated: 

“I extend my greetings to Massad Boulos, who will have a great responsibility due to his closeness to Trump. He will play a fundamental role in providing the U.S. administration with an accurate understanding of the complexities of the situation in Lebanon, as a person familiar with the reality and not as an external observer.” 

Boulos wouldn’t be the first Lebanese Christian to work closely with the Trump administration. 

Darrell Issa was nominated by Trump in 2018 to lead the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. Congressman Darin LaHood of Illinois, also of Lebanese descent, has been an active member of the U.S.-Lebanon Friendship Caucus. And Alex Azar, who served as Secretary of Health and Human Services from 2018 to 2021, is also of Lebanese descent. 

Moreover, recent photos of U.S. Vice President-elect JD Vance visiting a Maronite church quickly went viral on Lebanese social media, sparking widespread positive reactions.

Expectations are high among Lebanese Christian leaders, and the Trump administration faces substantial work ahead to meet them. Trump has promised peace, but as the Holy See’s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, pointed out, he has yet to provide a concrete plan to achieve it. The cardinal cautioned that Trump does not have a “magic wand” —  bringing an end to conflict requires humility, genuine willingness, and a commitment to the interests of humanity as a whole.

This story was first published by ACI Mena, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Catholic priest discusses ‘special calling’ of military chaplains in new film

Father Adam Muda, a chaplain for the U.S. Army, celebrates Mass on the field with soldiers while in Germany. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Father Adam Muda

CNA Staff, Nov 8, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

A new film about U.S. military chaplains, a diverse group of dedicated people who carry no weapons into battle, will be released in select theaters on Nov. 8.  

Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplain’s Journey” tells the story of former Army chaplain Justin Roberts as he travels to the funeral of Catholic priest and chaplain Father Emil Kapaun. Along the way, Roberts, who is Protestant, is inspired by the lives of 419 other U.S. military chaplains who have given their lives in service. The documentary explores the stories of several of these chaplains, including the beloved Kapaun. 

Several chaplains from different denominations provide commentary in the film including Father Adam Muda, an Army chaplain currently serving with the 3-1 Assault Helicopter Battalion at Fort Riley, Kansas.

Four years into his first assignment as a priest in the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey, Muda began to discern becoming a military chaplain. He began to pray about it and asked God for a sign. One day while exercising at the gym a man approached Muda and asked him if he was in the Army. 

“I said, ‘No, I’m not, but I’m a Catholic priest and I’m thinking and praying about becoming an Army chaplain,’” Muda told CNA in an interview. “Then he said, ‘Father, I am a soldier. I am on active duty in the Army and I know that we need more priests in the U.S. Army.’”

With that, Muda went to his bishop at the time and told him of his desire to become a military chaplain. Muda said he still remembers the bishop’s words well: “Father Adam, if God is calling you for this ministry, you have my blessing.”

“This is a calling, and I believe I received a special calling from God for that ministry,” Muda shared. 

He then spent three months at Fort Jackson in South Carolina attending the Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course, which is a 12-week intensive program where the chaplains go through physical, mental, and spiritual training to prepare themselves for work as a chaplain.

The first stage of training includes the chaplains taking part in nearly the same basic training soldiers take part in. The second and third stage focuses on academics and chaplaincy-specific training.

Father Adam Muda, a chaplain for the U.S. Army, during his time in Bulgaria. Credit: Photo courtesy of Father Adam Muda
Father Adam Muda, a chaplain for the U.S. Army, during his time in Bulgaria. Credit: Photo courtesy of Father Adam Muda

The documentary emphasizes the fact that chaplains serve as the moral conscience of battle. Muda added to this point saying that one’s “spirituality is extremely important.”

“From a Catholic point of view, I have to be really good with my spirituality — frequent confessions, spiritual direction … but at the same time we have to be men of prayer,” he said.

Muda also spoke about the heroic life of Kapaun, whom he called an “amazing person” and “really holy.”

“As an Army chaplain, he was a man of selfless service. He put the needs of others before his own,” he said.

Muda said he believes Kapaun will be declared a saint one day and will continue to “intercede for us, for military chaplains, for the Army, for soldiers, and for our country.”

The Army chaplain hopes the new documentary will “inspire many more people to learn about the history of the Army and the brave men and women who served our country, who died for our country.” 

“I hope that more people will learn about the brave chaplains we have had in our history, like Father Emil Kapaun and many others, and that people will continue to research them and these stories will inspire them,” he added. 

“I believe that we chaplains, from all denominations — but especially Catholic priests — will learn from and be inspired by the life of Father Emil Kapaun and that we will all strive to be like him, serving those brave men and women in our military, in our Army, just like Father Kapaun did.”

Microsoft president to unveil ‘AI-enhanced experience’ of St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Nov 8, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Microsoft President Brad Smith is set to unveil an artificial intelligence-enhanced project focusing on St. Peter’s Basilica during a press conference at the Vatican on Nov. 11.

This initiative, titled “The Basilica of St. Peter’s: AI-Enhanced Experience,” is a collaboration between Microsoft and the Fabric of St. Peter, the organization responsible for the conservation and maintenance of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Since Smith launched Microsoft’s AI for Cultural Heritage program in 2019, the tech company has worked on a number of projects that provided digitally enriched ways to explore art, architecture, and historical sites through artificial intelligence.

Microsoft developed the Ancient Olympia project in Greece, which used AI to digitally reconstruct the birthplace of the Olympic Games, offering an immersive exploration of the ruins.

Similarly, Microsoft partnered with Iconem to create digital models of Mont-Saint-Michel in France using AI and 3D modeling to capture the intricate details of the 1,000-year-old Catholic pilgrimage site.

Other companies have also provided virtual reality experiences of historically significant churches in past years, including a 3D immersive exhibition of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre called the “Tomb of Christ” in the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently spoke in Rome on Oct. 23 after the company announced a 4.3 billion euro (about $4.64 billion) investment in Italy over the next two years to expand its hyperscale cloud data center and artificial intelligence infrastructure, which will make the Italian cloud region one of Microsoft’s largest data center regions in Europe and a strategic hub in the spread of AI innovation in the Mediterranean.

Microsoft also announced a collaboration with the municipality of Rome to develop “Julia,” an AI-based virtual assistant that will help the over 35 million visitors expected in the Italian capital for the upcoming 2025 Jubilee Year.

Jubilee pilgrims will be able to ask Julia, a virtual city guide, questions via WhatsApp about cultural heritage sites as well as suggestions for accommodations and restaurants to taste typical Roman and Italian cuisine.

The Vatican and AI ethics

The St. Peter’s Basilica project will not be the first time that the Vatican has partnered with Microsoft on matters of artificial intelligence.

Years before the widely popular release of the GPT-4 chatbot system, developed by the San Francisco startup OpenAI, the Vatican was already heavily involved in the conversation of artificial intelligence ethics, hosting multiple high-level discussions with scientists and tech executives on the ethics of artificial intelligence since 2016.

In February 2020, Smith took part in a Vatican event called “renAIssance: For a Humanistic Artificial Intelligence,” where he signed the Vatican’s artificial intelligence ethics pledge, the Rome Call for AI Ethics, along with IBM Executive Vice President John Kelly III.

Since then the pope has hosted other tech leaders, including Chief Executive of Cisco Systems Chuck Robbins, who also signed the Vatican’s artificial intelligence ethics pledge, in April in Rome.

The Rome Call, a document by the Pontifical Academy for Life, underlines the need for the ethical use of AI according to the principles of transparency, inclusion, accountability, impartiality, reliability, security, and privacy.

Pope Francis chose artificial intelligence as the theme of his 2024 peace message, which recommended that global leaders adopt an international treaty to regulate the development and use of AI. Francis became the first pope to address the G7 summit in June when he was invited to speak to world leaders about AI ethics.

In July, Father Paolo Benanti, a member of the United Nations’ advisory body on AI and adviser to Pope Francis on ethics and technology, visited the Microsoft headquarters in Washington to speak with Smith.

In an interview with GeekWire following the Vatican’s AI conference in 2023, Smith reflected on how having religious leaders in the room at a technology conference “adds an extraordinary dimension to the conversation.”

“You can ask whether this was having religious leaders in a technology meeting or technology leaders in religious conversation; both are true. … It forces one to think about and talk about the need to put humanity at the center of everything we do,” Smith said.

Diocese reverses hymn ban in favor of ‘synodal’ selection of sacred music

null / Credit: New Africa/Shutterstock

St. Louis, Mo., Nov 7, 2024 / 17:30 pm (CNA).

Just days after implementing a formal ban on a dozen “doctrinally problematic” hymns, a Missouri bishop has rescinded his original decree, instead opening a yearlong consultation process to determine how sacred music can best be used to encourage active participation in the liturgy.

In his original decree, dated Oct. 24, Bishop W. Shawn McKnight of the Diocese of Jefferson City listed a dozen commonly used contemporary hymns that were to be “absolutely forbidden” in the diocese after Nov. 1.

The list included such songs as “All Are Welcome” by Marty Haugen, “God Has Chosen Me” by Bernadette Farrell, “Led By the Spirit” by Bob Hurd, and “Table of Plenty” by Dan Schutte.

Acknowledging the “spirited discussion” that took place over his decree on social media and in various media outlets, McKnight wrote in a subsequent Nov. 5 decree that “it is now clear that an authentically synodal process of greater consultation did not occur prior to its promulgation.” 

Pointing to Pope Francis’ emphasis on “synodality” — the pontiff’s call for the whole Church, including laypeople, to collaboratively seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit through prayer, listening, dialogue, and openness — McKnight wrote that he has ordered a “more comprehensive consultation with the relevant parties within the diocese” related to sacred music.

The original decree was the result of a yearslong research effort led by Father Daniel Merz, a diocesan pastor and chairman of the diocesan liturgical commission, which included consultations with priests ministering in the diocese. 

While stating that it is “important to recognize that some hymns in current distribution may not be appropriate for use in Catholic liturgies,” the new decree does not include the specific names of any of the previously banned hymns. 

It instead lays out six criteria from the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Doctrine that pastors and liturgical ministers should consider when determining whether a song is suitable for the liturgy. 

In particular, “it is vital that we ensure the greatest care be taken to prevent scandal from marring the beautiful celebration of the Eucharist,” McKnight noted.

The new decree does retain a diocesan ban on the use of any music composed by persons who “have been found by his or her diocesan bishop or competent authority to be credibly accused of sexual abuse,” specifically mentioning David Haas, Cesaréo Gabarain, and Ed Conlin.

The new decree, echoing the previous one, also lays out four Mass settings approved for use in the diocese — three in English and one bilingual with Spanish — and with which every parish should “become familiar” for the sake of unity, though parishes are not explicitly obliged to use them.

They include the “Chant Mass,” the “Mass of St. Frances Cabrini” by Kevin Keil, the “Revised Mass of Creation” by Marty Haugen, and for Spanish-speaking congregations, the bilingual “Misa del Pueblo Inmigrante” (“Mass of the Immigrant People”) by Bob Hurd.

‘Moving forward with an open mind and an open heart’

According to a draft story for the Catholic Missourian, shared with CNA by the diocese before publication, McKnight has now tasked the diocesan liturgical commission with gathering feedback from musicians, music ministers, and “everyone else who has a perspective on the music used in liturgies across the diocese” by August 2025.

The liturgical commission will gather feedback and present a report to the diocesan pastoral council and presbyteral council that will offer advice to McKnight, who will then make decisions about liturgical music policies for the diocese.

The process will also involve the leaders of the diocesan chapter of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians, a membership organization for Catholic music ministers. 

“It is inspiring to see such passion and enthusiasm about the music that enlivens our Catholic liturgies. Whenever we see this kind of fervor among the faithful, our Church gives us the perfect way to respond — a synodal response,” McKnight said as reported by the Missourian. 

“Rather than the faithful being relegated to the outside as commenters on a decision, with their only response being either obedience or disobedience, it is better to invite everyone in our diocese into a discernment process. The Holy Spirit is working through each one of us. When the people of God speak, we have a responsibility to open ourselves to listen, even when that means changing course and trying a different approach.”

Both of McKnight’s decrees rely on a set of 2020 guidelines from the U.S. bishops, “Catholic Hymnody at the Service of the Church,” which lays out the aforementioned criteria for evaluating whether hymns sung at Mass are accurately conveying the truths that Catholics believe. 

Emphasizing the formative power of music and its influence on Catholics’ understanding and practice of the faith, that document warns that hymns with inaccurate or incomplete theology can lead to a distorted understanding of key doctrines, particularly the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

The bishops’ six criteria, which are categories of potential deficiencies with hymns, include: presentation of Eucharistic doctrine; presentation of Trinitarian doctrine; presentation of the doctrine of God and his relation to humans; presentation of a view of the Church that sees her as essentially a human construction; presentation of doctrinally incorrect views of the Jewish people; and presentation of an incorrect Christian anthropology.

“I am excited about moving forward with an open mind and an open heart,” McKnight said, speaking to the Missourian. 

“Music is such an important part of who we are as Catholics … I am eager to hear from everyone, in a synodal process of deep listening, as we embark on this process together.”

Pro-life advocates on election: ‘Americans have rejected Democrats’ abortion agenda’

A pro-abortion attendee stands during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. / Credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

CNA Staff, Nov 7, 2024 / 16:30 pm (CNA).

Here is a roundup of abortion policy-related news this week.

Americans reject Democrats’ abortion agenda 

Pro-life advocates are calling attention to the significance of the defeat of a 2024 Democratic presidential candidacy that was largely centered on abortion.

“Americans have rejected the Democrats’ no-limits abortion agenda,” Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a post-election press release.

In the run-up to this year’s election, Vice President Kamala Harris amplified claims that women are dying from Republican abortion laws, though no state prohibits life-saving care for a pregnant woman. Harris vowed to restore Roe v. Wade-era standards and firmly rejected religious exemptions in federal abortion laws.

Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, is known for the late-term abortion law he signed in Minnesota that has no limits on abortion at any stage of pregnancy. Dannenfelser noted that for her organization, its “paramount goal” in this election was “to deny Democrats the chance to pass a national all-trimester abortion mandate and wipe out protections for babies and women in all 50 states.”

Meanwhile, during the campaign now-President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly pledged not to institute a national ban on abortion. He also emerged as an outspoken advocate of in vitro fertilization (IVF), a process designed to help infertile couples have children but creates many embryos that are discarded during the process.

During the two candidates’ sole presidential debate, Trump said abortion laws should be left up to the states. He also pledged to consider reimplementing a ban on taxpayer funding for abortion overseas and providing religious exemptions related to any government program requiring health insurance coverage of IVF treatments.

Live Action attributes pro-life success to ‘effective education’ 

Pro-life forces prevailed in Florida and Nebraska in this week’s election despite being heavily outspent by their pro-abortion opponents in both states. In Florida, supporters of an abortion amendment had a campaign war chest of more than $118 million. In contrast, the principal pro-life campaign committees that organized in opposition to the amendment had only $12 million in funding

Nebraska was the only state to have two competing abortion ballot measures. According to Ballotpedia, the organizing campaign in support of the pro-abortion amendment had $13 million total in funding, while campaigners for the pro-life measure received $11 million in contributions. 

Lila Rose, founder and president of Live Action, cited “resources” to provide “effective education” as reasons for the success of pro-life causes in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota. 

“Life wins when there are enough resources to ensure voters know the truth and when we have political leadership that boldly leads,” Rose said Wednesday.

Exit polls: Abortion was not a top issue in this election  

Exit polls revealed that abortion was less of a priority than other issues for voters in this week’s election. Vice President Kamala Harris ran heavily on the abortion issue and lost her bid for the presidency.

Among five issues (foreign policy, abortion, the economy, immigration, and the state of democracy), exit polls by NBC News indicated that only 14% chose abortion as the most important issue to them in voting for the president.

Of that 14%, 74% were Democrats while 25% were Republicans. Top issues were the economy (32%), mostly for Republicans, and the state of democracy (34%), mostly for Democrats.

Pro-life action conference in Calgary draws more than 100 activists

The pro-life flag from the Pro-Life Flag Project (www.prolifeflag.com). / Credit: Pro-Life Flag Project (www.prolifeflag.com)

Calgary, Canada, Nov 7, 2024 / 16:00 pm (CNA).

More than 100 Canadian anti-abortion and anti-euthanasia activists have convened in Calgary for Cultivating a Culture of Life: A Pro-Life Action Conference.

Taking place at Bethel United Reform Church from Nov. 7–9, the summit co-hosted by the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform (CCBR) and the Alberta Life Issues Educational Society (ALIES) will feature plenary presentations, breakout sessions, and panel discussions.

Cameron Côté, the CCBR’s western outreach director who is leading two of the general assembly sittings, told The Catholic Register in Canada that the time is ripe for such a conference to capitalize on the growing interest in pro-life engagement both CCBR and ALIES officials are observing at work.

“We struck upon an all-in-one opportunity for people to learn more about the different opportunities within Canada’s pro-life movement that they can get involved [in], whether in the educational arm or politics or counseling,” Côté said.

Newcomers are one of the target audiences. The other group the organizers hope to engage are activists seeking to reenter the arena after becoming inactive during the COVID-19 pandemic.

An opening banquet will launch the conference on Nov. 7. Keynote speaker Jonathon Van Maren, the communications director for the CCBR, is expected to provide an overview of the cultural and historical figures and events that have resulted in Canada’s dubious status as a nation embracing a culture of death. He will also examine the promising opportunities the pro-life movement could pursue in this contemporary landscape.

Côté begins the first full day of the symposium with a session that will see him advise groups on developing specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely (SMART) goals and evaluate if certain campaigns or programs are delivering a solid return on investment. He will also close the Nov. 8 schedule with a workshop on how to change hearts and minds about abortion.

Association for Reformed Political Action executive director Mike Schouten, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition executive director Alex Schadenberg, and former ALIES executive director Gabrielle Johnson are also guiding plenary sessions. Schouten is providing instruction on how to build effective relationships with politicians; Schadenberg will discuss how to win the assisted-suicide debate; and Johnson will offer insight on how to reach abortion-minded women.

In addition to the headliners, Côté said there is an impressive roster of pro-life advocates guiding breakout sessions. He highlighted Dr. Ted Fenske, a cardiologist and fellow for medicine and public Christianity at the Ezra Institute for Contemporary Christianity who teaches at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

“He’ll be speaking about the abortion pill regime and the increased access and preference towards the abortion pill in Canada and other abortive patient birth control,” Côté said. “I think this is important because as the abortion pill becomes more prevalent in Canadian society, we need to know not only the risks involved with performing someone’s abortion in their home and delivering their child in their own home.”

Jeff Thompson, an assistant pastor at Calvary Chapel in Langley, British Columbia, is another speaker Côté said he is enthused to hear from. Thompson developed the chapel into a Love Life House of Refuge church as he mobilized his congregation to help women in crisis pregnancies choose life and heal from an abortion procedure.

“He has taken leadership at a church level,” Côté said. “I find that the churches, whether Catholic or otherwise, have often struggled to embrace a distinct pro-life ministry within their church. Many people will contribute to external pro-life ministries. I know this is a major function for groups like the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Women’s League. However, I think Pastor Thompson has done a great job, helped by a number of other ministries, [creating something] distinct.”

This article was first published by The Catholic Register in Canada and is reprinted here with permission.

Rector of minor seminary in Nigeria released after 10-day captivity

Father Thomas Oyode, the rector of the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Nigeria’s Diocese of Auchi was abducted on Oct. 27, 2024, and regained his freedom after 10 days. / Credit: Diocese of Auchi

ACI Africa, Nov 7, 2024 / 15:30 pm (CNA).

Father Thomas Oyode, the rector of the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Nigeria’s Diocese of Auchi who was abducted Oct. 27, has regained his freedom.

A statement issued Thursday by Father Peter Egielewa, director of communications for the diocese, provided details of Oyode’s release, relaying the gratitude of Bishop Gabriel Ghiakhomo Dunia of Auchi.

“The Catholic Diocese of Auchi wishes to announce the release of Rev. Father Thomas Oyode from the hands of his abductors,” Egielewa said, adding that the kidnapped priest was set free at about 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6.

Egielewa said the bishop wished to express “gratitude to all for the prayers and moral support received for the 11 days Father Oyode was held captive, including Catholic faithful within and outside the diocese, well-meaning Nigerians within and outside the country, friends, and well-wishers around the world.”

The statement also thanked Nigerian security agencies and vigilante groups as well as hunters who Egielewa said had “labored day and night” in search of the kidnapped priest.

In his statement, the bishop urged the Nigerian government at all levels to work to address the deteriorating security situation around the Edo North Senatorial District and Edo state and take proactive steps to put in place measures that he said will guarantee that people return to their normal peaceful lives in their homes, in their farms, and while in transit.

Oyode was kidnapped Oct. 27 when gunmen attacked the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary, Ivhianokpodi-Agenebode, Etsako East LGA of Edo state. Attackers struck while the priests and seminarians were observing evening prayers and Benediction.

Gunshots at the seminary were said to have prompted all but two students to flee the school premises during the evening incident at the seminary.

An unnamed source said that when the two students were captured by suspected Fulani kidnappers, Oyode intervened, pleading with the Fulani herdsmen to release the students and take him instead.

“The kidnappers released the students and took Father Oyode away,” the source wrote in a WhatsApp group for African Catholic theologians, adding: “Following the abduction, Father Oyode was led into the bush.”

Nigeria has been battling a surge of violence orchestrated by gangs whose members carry out indiscriminate attacks, kidnapping for ransom, and, in some cases, killing.

Boko Haram, a group that allegedly aims to turn Africa’s most populous nation into an Islamic nation, has been a major challenge in the country since 2009.

The abduction and release of Oyode follows a series of other recent kidnappings that have targeted members of the clergy in Nigeria.

On Nov. 5, Father Emmanuel Azubuike, pastor of St. Theresa Obollo Parish of the Diocese of Okigwe, was taken on his way back home from an assignment. He is yet to be released.

On June 9, Father Gabriel Ukeh was abducted from a parish rectory in the Diocese of Kafanchan and then released.

Father Oliver Buba, a priest of the Diocese of Yola, was abducted on May 21 in the diocese; he was later released.

Earlier, on May 15, the Archdiocese of Onitsha announced the abduction of Father Basil Gbuzuo, who was also later set free.

This article was first published by ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.