U.S.
Poll: U.S. still considers abortion a complicated issue
WASHINGTON
— Despite abortion having been part of the national debate for nearly a
half-century, it remains a complex and complicated issue to a
significant majority of Americans, according to a survey released April
17. Sixty-two percent of Americans “see abortion as a complicated
issue,” with 36 percent saying “it is simple and straightforward,”
stated the survey, “Young People Set to Impact the Debate on Women’s
Health Issues,” issued by the Public Religion Research Institute.
“Americans who say abortion should be either legal in all cases or
illegal in all cases are more likely to say the issue is simple and
straightforward than those who hold more qualified attitudes,” with
close to half of the absolutists declaring it simple and
straightforward. By comparison, only about a quarter of those who
believe abortion should be legal — or illegal — in most, but not all,
cases say the issue is simple and straightforward. Robert P. Jones,
PRRI’s CEO, said, “Even though we’re seeing younger people being more
supportive, and older people being more opposed, all generations are
seeing it as being a more complicated issue. The exception are people
who are out on the poles … at both ends of the spectrum.”
Pope accepts resignation of U.S. Ukrainian Catholic archbishop
WASHINGTON
— Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Stefan Soroka
of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and has appointed
Auxiliary Bishop Andriy Rabiy of the same archeparchy to be apostolic
administrator. Archbishop Soroka, 66, is resigning for medical reasons.
The resignation and appointment were announced in Washington April 16 by
Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Ukrainian-born Bishop Rabiy was named an auxiliary bishop for the
archeparchy last August and his episcopal ordination took place in his
native Lviv last September. He will remain apostolic administrator until
a successor to Archbishop Soroka is appointed. Archbishop Soroka has
headed the Philadelphia archeparchy since February 2001. In addition to
Bishop Rabiy, Auxiliary Bishop John Bura also serves the archeparchy.
WORLD
African, European bishops: Globalization demands vigilance from Church
CAPE
TOWN, South Africa — While globalization at its best can enable the
sharing of spiritual and material riches, it also can lead to huge
destruction, the bishops of Europe and Africa said after a four-day
meeting in Fatima, Portugal. Globalization is a dynamic process that
“affects all areas of individual, family and social life, including
economics, politics, culture and religion,” said an April 16 statement
by the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences and the Symposium of
Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar. Twenty-five bishops were
among the more than 35 participants from the two continents who met
April 12-15 to discuss the effects of globalization on the church and
cultures in Europe and Africa. The European and African bishops’ joint
statement said that, on one hand, globalization “can serve justice and
peace” and “can spread noble and constructive ideas and values.” Yet,
globalization, “when marked by sin as is often the case today, tends to
cause a profound gap between rich and poor, between powerful and weak;
it strengthens the struggle for power, for growing profit and hedonism;
it destroys the legacy of high culture, spirituality, and human dignity,
triggering a deconstruction of the very foundations of existence,”
according to the statement.
Pope: Respect lives of very ill patients like Alfie Evans
VATICAN
CITY — Highlighting the plight of a seriously ill toddler in Great
Britain and a severely brain-damaged man in France, Pope Francis called
for greater respect for every patient’s life and dignity. After praying
the “Regina Coeli” with people gathered in St. Peter’s Square April 15,
the pope asked that everyone pray for “people, such as Vincent Lambert
in France, little Alfie Evans in England, and others in different
countries, who have been living, sometimes for a long time, in a
condition of serious infirmity, (and are) medically assisted for their
basic needs.” These “delicate situations,” he said, are “very painful
and complex. Let us pray that every sick person may always be respected
in their dignity and cared for in an appropriate way for their
condition, with the unanimous contribution of family members, doctors
and other health-care workers, and with great respect for life,” he
said. Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Academy
for Life, said he strongly hoped there could be an opening of dialogue
and collaboration between Alfie’s parents and hospital officials so that
“together they may seek the integral well-being of Alfie and caring for
his life will not be reduced to a legal controversy. Alfie cannot be
abandoned; Alfie, and his parents likewise, must be fully loved,” the
archbishop wrote in a statement released April 15.
Chilean abuse victims welcome pope’s letter, call for zero tolerance
SANTIAGO,
Chile — Victims of clergy sexual abuse welcomed Pope Francis’ letter in
which he apologized for underestimating the seriousness of the crisis
in Chile. James Hamilton, Jose Andres Murillo and Juan Carlos Cruz,
victims of Father Fernando Karadima, released a statement April 11
saying they appreciated the pope’s letter and were “evaluating the
possibilities” for meeting with the pope. “The damage committed by the
hierarchy of the Chilean Church, to which the pope refers, has affected
many people, not just us,” the victims said. “The purpose of all our
actions has always been about recognition, forgiveness and reparation
for what has been suffered, and will continue to be so, until zero
tolerance against abuse and concealment in the Church becomes a
reality,” they said.
Retired pope celebrates 91st birthday
VATICAN
CITY — Retired Pope Benedict XVI had a “peaceful and familial” 91st
birthday April 16, celebrating with his 94-year-old brother, Msgr. Georg
Ratzinger, who was visiting from Germany, the Vatican said. Pope
Francis offered his early morning Mass for his predecessor and then sent
his personal best wishes to the retired pope, who lives on the other
side of St. Peter’s Basilica in a refurbished monastery. The birthday
evening plans, the Vatican press office stated, included a visit and
performance by the Swiss Guard band. Pope Benedict was elected in April
2005 to succeed St. John Paul II. He stepped down Feb. 28, 2013.
— Catholic News Service