U.S.

Church official cautiously optimistic about DACA bills before Congress

WASHINGTON — The executive director of the U.S. bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services gives credit to a group of moderate Republicans in Congress trying to revive interest in Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals legislation, or DACA, by their efforts to bring not just one bill, but four, to the House floor. “They are surfacing the issue forcefully and making the House deal with it,” said William Canny. A current proposal, led by Reps. Jeff Denham, R- California, and Will Hurd, R-Texas, along with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, is tapping into an obscure House rule called “queen of the hill” which would bring four immigration bills to the House floor for a vote and the bill with the most votes would pass.

Cdl. Dolan: Separating abortion from Title X funds ‘greatly needed’

WASHINGTON — The U.S. bishops’ pro-life chairman praised the Trump administration’s move to reinstate Reagan-era regulations banning any family planning clinic that receives Title X federal funds from making abortion referrals or sharing space with abortion providers. “The news that the Trump administration will be issuing new regulations to separate abortion from the federal Title X family planning program is greatly needed and deeply appreciated,” New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan wrote in a statement May 18.

WORLD

Australian archbishop, convicted of abuse cover-up, stepping aside for now

ADELAIDE, Australia — Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide, who faces a maximum penalty of two years in jail for failing to inform police about child sexual abuse allegations, said he will stand aside from his duties as archbishop while he considers how to proceed legally. In a statement May 23, the archbishop said he was arranging for management of archdiocesan affairs and would step aside as of May 25.

Pope moves ahead 12 sainthood causes

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis issued decrees recognizing that 12 candidates for sainthood, including U.S. Sacred Heart Brother Norbert McAuliffe, lived the Christian virtues in a heroic way. The decrees promulgated by the pope May 19 are the first major step in the sainthood process. Brother McAuliffe was born Sept. 30, 1886, in New York. After joining the missionary Brothers of the Sacred Heart, he was sent to Uganda where he founded the order’s first mission in Gulu, in the north of the country. He died there July 3, 1959.

— Catholic News Service