U.S.

Prioritize federal funds for families to embrace life, not abortion, says U.S. bishops’ pro-life chair

WASHINGTON — The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act is “a modest but important step” to make the long-standing policy of preventing federal taxpayer funding of elective abortions permanent and government-wide, said Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities. “Congress can better serve the common good by prioritizing policies that comprehensively assist women, children and families in need in ways that will not only encourage childbirth but make it easier to welcome and raise a new child,” he added in a Jan. 27 letter to Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., in support of the measure they have sponsored in their respective chambers of Congress. Under the legislation, the Hyde Amendment and related provisions would be made permanent and government-wide, rather continuing to require these be reauthorized routinely as part of appropriations bills for various government departments as it has since the 1970s. (OSV News)

Proposed new rules on contraceptive mandate called ‘disheartening’

WASHINGTON — The U.S. bishops’ religious liberty chairman called it “disheartening” that proposed new rules on the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive mandate eliminate “protections for moral convictions” of employers who object to being forced to cover contraceptives in their employee health plans. The proposal was issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor and the Department of the Treasury and aims to end Trump-era rules giving employers more ability to opt out of providing contraceptive coverage in their health plans. New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, who heads the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Religious Liberty, said it’s “past time for HHS to leave well enough alone in this regard.” On Feb. 2, HHS and the Labor and Treasury departments published their proposed rule in the Federal Register, www.federalregister.gov. (OSV News)

Biden calls for unity at first restructured National Prayer Breakfast

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden called for national unity in remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 2, the first time the annual event has been held since it was overhauled by a new organizer instead of the private religious group that organized the event in the past. In a speech to members of Congress and with a remote audience tuning in from a nearby hotel, Biden, who is Catholic, said at the interfaith event that different religious groups in the U.S. often share a calling to help their fellow man. “Whether you’re Christian, whether you’re Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, or any other faith, or no faith at all, it speaks to all of us as human beings who are here on this Earth primarily to care for one another; look out for one another; and to love one another,” Biden said. “And it’s not always easy. It’s hard. But that’s our mission.” (OSV News)

Pope appoints priest as auxiliary bishop for Diocese of El Paso

WASHINGTON — Pope Francis has appointed Father Anthony C. Celino, a priest of the Diocese of El Paso, Texas, to be an auxiliary bishop of the diocese. Bishop-elect Celino, 50, currently serves as judicial vicar and director of the diocesan tribunal and also is pastor of St. Raphael Parish in El Paso. The appointment was publicized Feb. 8 in Washington by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Vatican nuncio to the United States. Bishop-elect Celino, who was born in the Philippines, was ordained to the priesthood June 9, 1997. Since his ordination, he has had a number of parish assignments and has served various roles in diocesan offices, including as diocesan administrator, vicar general, moderator of the curia and chancellor. (OSV News)

WORLD

Diplomats, faith leaders urged to advance religious tolerance

UNITED NATIONS — A combination of U.N. ambassadors, religious leaders, diplomats, academics, representatives of nongovernmental agencies and several musicians gathered Feb. 3 in a vast conference hall at the United Nations headquarters in New York City to mark World Interfaith Harmony Week. The special week, observed this year Feb. 1-7, is a product of a 2010 U.N. resolution, first conceived by Jordan’s King Abdullah II, known for his commitment to religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue. The week stresses the need to advance mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue as a way to promote harmony among all people. “We all need each other to open doors for one another,” said one speaker, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis. “We can’t allow harmony week to be just one week. It has to continue throughout the year and throughout our lives.” (OSV News)

Pope: Consecrated persons have ‘special role’ in fulfilling Church’s mission

VATICAN CITY — While Pope Francis was “on mission” in Africa he urged consecrated persons to embody the Church’s missionary spirit in spreading the Gospel. In his message read out to consecrated persons gathered for Mass on World Day for Consecrated Life in Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major Feb. 2, the pope said that consecrated persons have a “special role” to be examples among God’s people derived from their “total dedication to God and his kingdom, in poverty, chastity and obedience.” The theme for World Day for Consecrated Life 2023 is “Brothers and Sisters on Mission.” “If each person in the Church is a mission, each and every one of you is so with your own grace as a consecrated person,” the pope said in his written message. He also praised the “stupendous variety” of charisms which consecrated persons offer to build the church and its mission, “so that the Church can witness and proclaim the Gospel to everyone and in every situation.” (CNS)