Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny -- whose coalition government recently introduced legislation to legalize abortion in Ireland -- is scheduled to deliver the commencement address and receive an honorary degree on May 20 at Boston College, a Catholic and Jesuit institution, the Cardinal Newman Society website reports today (May 7, 2013).
"The American bishops have clearly opposed Catholic honors for pro-abortion politicians in their 2004 statement 'Catholics in Political Life' and their very public criticism of Notre Dame's honors to President Barack Obama in 2009," said Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society.
"By honoring Kenny as a commencement speaker and degree recipient, Boston College is blatantly compromising its Catholic mission and undermining the Church's unequivocal opposition to abortion," Reilly added.
In letters today, The Cardinal Newman Society asked Rev. William Leahy -- president of Boston College -- to rescind the invitation to Kenny, and shared its concerns with Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
AF Sex Assault Protector Arrested for Sex Assault; Col. Jeffrey Krusinski Charged with Sexual Battery
The officer in charge of a program to curb sexual assault in the U.S. Air Force was arrested May 5 for allegedly grabbing a woman by her breasts and buttocks in a parking lot not far from the Pentagon, the Reuters website reports today (May 7, 2013).
Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Krusinski, 41, was arrested on Sunday and charged with sexual battery after the alleged incident in the Crystal City area of suburban Arlington, Virginia, officials said.
Krusinski -- the head of the Air Force's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office -- was removed from his job on May 6, pending an investigation.
News of the arrest came as the Pentagon is preparing to release its annual report on the growing problem of sexual assault in the military. Pentagon officials have said the actual number of sexual assaults in the military -- including those that go unreported -- is as many as 19,000 a year.
Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Krusinski, 41, was arrested on Sunday and charged with sexual battery after the alleged incident in the Crystal City area of suburban Arlington, Virginia, officials said.
Krusinski -- the head of the Air Force's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office -- was removed from his job on May 6, pending an investigation.
News of the arrest came as the Pentagon is preparing to release its annual report on the growing problem of sexual assault in the military. Pentagon officials have said the actual number of sexual assaults in the military -- including those that go unreported -- is as many as 19,000 a year.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Ohio Cath. School Fires Teacher Who Is a Lesbian; Diocese Says Lesbians Violate Teachings of Christ
A Catholic high school in Columbus, Ohio is being targeted for possible legal action because school officials fired a veteran teacher at the school after they discovered that she is a lesbian, The New American website reports today (May 6, 2013).
Carla Hale -- a Methodist who taught for 19 years at Bishop Watterson High School -- told the Columbus Dispatch newspaper that she was terminated in March after a parent noticed an obituary for Hale's mother that included the name of Hale's lesbian partner.
The parent complained to school officials, resulting in Hale being fired from her job as a teacher and coach. Hale has hired an attorney in an effort to be reinstated, since a Columbus city ordinance "makes it a misdemeanor for an employer to discriminate against an employee based on sexual orientation."
A letter to Hale from school officials recounted the policy of the diocese, which reads: "In keeping with the moral values advanced by the teachings of Christ, the tenets of the Catholic Church, and the policies and regulations of the diocese and school, Catholic school personnel are expected to be examples of moral behavior and professionalism." The letter then informed Hale: "Your written spousal relationship violates the moral laws of the Catholic Church.... As a result, your contract with Bishop Watterson High School is terminated effective Thursday March 28, 2013."
Carla Hale -- a Methodist who taught for 19 years at Bishop Watterson High School -- told the Columbus Dispatch newspaper that she was terminated in March after a parent noticed an obituary for Hale's mother that included the name of Hale's lesbian partner.
The parent complained to school officials, resulting in Hale being fired from her job as a teacher and coach. Hale has hired an attorney in an effort to be reinstated, since a Columbus city ordinance "makes it a misdemeanor for an employer to discriminate against an employee based on sexual orientation."
A letter to Hale from school officials recounted the policy of the diocese, which reads: "In keeping with the moral values advanced by the teachings of Christ, the tenets of the Catholic Church, and the policies and regulations of the diocese and school, Catholic school personnel are expected to be examples of moral behavior and professionalism." The letter then informed Hale: "Your written spousal relationship violates the moral laws of the Catholic Church.... As a result, your contract with Bishop Watterson High School is terminated effective Thursday March 28, 2013."
Bishop McManus of Worcester Is Arrested for DUI; "I Ask Forgiveness from the Good People I Serve"
Bishop Robert J. McManus -- head of the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts since 2004 -- was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) this past weekend, after police stopped him in Narragansett, Rhode Island, the Boston Globe website reports today (May 6, 2013).
McManus was arrested at 10:32 p.m. Saturday (May 4) on charges of drunken driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and refusing a chemical test, Narragansett Police Captain Sean Coorigan said. McManus is to be arraigned tomorrow (May 7) in district court in Wakefield, Rhode Island.
"I made a terrible error in judgment by driving after having consumed alcohol with dinner," McManus said in a statement. "There is no excuse for the mistake I made, only a commitment to make amends and accept the consequences of my action."
"More importantly," he added, "I ask forgiveness from the good people whom I serve, as well as my family and friends, in the Diocese of Worcester and the Diocese of Providence." Before becoming head of the Diocese of Worcester, McManus served as head of the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island for several years.
McManus was arrested at 10:32 p.m. Saturday (May 4) on charges of drunken driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and refusing a chemical test, Narragansett Police Captain Sean Coorigan said. McManus is to be arraigned tomorrow (May 7) in district court in Wakefield, Rhode Island.
"I made a terrible error in judgment by driving after having consumed alcohol with dinner," McManus said in a statement. "There is no excuse for the mistake I made, only a commitment to make amends and accept the consequences of my action."
"More importantly," he added, "I ask forgiveness from the good people whom I serve, as well as my family and friends, in the Diocese of Worcester and the Diocese of Providence." Before becoming head of the Diocese of Worcester, McManus served as head of the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island for several years.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Hungary's PM Slams Anti-Semitism in His Nation; But Jews Upset He Didn't Decry Anti-Semitic Party
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban today (May 5, 2013) strongly denounced growing anti-Semitism in Hungary -- the most prevalent in all of eastern Europe -- but stopped short of censuring the far-right anti-Semitic Jobbik party his audience of world Jewish leaders most wanted him to scold, according to the Reuters website.
Orban told the World Jewish Congress (WJC) -- which is holding its four-yearly assembly in Hungary to highlight its concern about rising hostility toward Jews there and elsewhere in Europe -- that anti-Semitism was "unacceptable and intolerable."
He recounted the steps his conservative government has taken to outlaw hate crimes and preserve the memory of the Holocaust, in which over a half-million Hungarian Jews died.
But he did not respond to a call from WJC President Ronald Lauder, who in his opening remarks singled out Jobbik and told Orban "Hungarian Jews need you to take on these dark forces." After Orban's speech, a WJC statement said: "The prime minister did not confront the true nature of the problem: the threat posed by the anti-Semites in general and by the extreme-right Jobik party in particular."
Orban told the World Jewish Congress (WJC) -- which is holding its four-yearly assembly in Hungary to highlight its concern about rising hostility toward Jews there and elsewhere in Europe -- that anti-Semitism was "unacceptable and intolerable."
He recounted the steps his conservative government has taken to outlaw hate crimes and preserve the memory of the Holocaust, in which over a half-million Hungarian Jews died.
But he did not respond to a call from WJC President Ronald Lauder, who in his opening remarks singled out Jobbik and told Orban "Hungarian Jews need you to take on these dark forces." After Orban's speech, a WJC statement said: "The prime minister did not confront the true nature of the problem: the threat posed by the anti-Semites in general and by the extreme-right Jobik party in particular."
300M Orth. Christians Celebrate Easter Today; Month After Cath. Easter Due to Diff. Calendars
While most Christians celebrated Easter over a month ago, as a result of differing calendar calculations, Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter today (May 5, 2013), according to the Huffington Post website.
At midnight on Saturday (May 4), some 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide swarmed churches to hear the words : "Come, receive the light!"
Last night, throughout the world, entire congregations, previously waiting in darkness, lit candles at midnight to celebrate Christ's Resurrection.
Together, they all chanted in various languages -- depending on their geography and culture -- the triumphant hymn familiar to young and old: "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and granting life to those in the tombs." In the United States, for example, millions of Greek Americans greet people on Easter with the words "Christos Anesti!" (Christ Is Risen!).
At midnight on Saturday (May 4), some 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide swarmed churches to hear the words : "Come, receive the light!"
Last night, throughout the world, entire congregations, previously waiting in darkness, lit candles at midnight to celebrate Christ's Resurrection.
Together, they all chanted in various languages -- depending on their geography and culture -- the triumphant hymn familiar to young and old: "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and granting life to those in the tombs." In the United States, for example, millions of Greek Americans greet people on Easter with the words "Christos Anesti!" (Christ Is Risen!).
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Saudi Arabia Lets Private School Girls Play Sports; Throws a New "Bread Crumb" to Women's Rights
Saudi Arabian girls will be allowed to play sports in private schools for the first time, according to a decision announced today (May 4, 2013), the latest in a series of incremental changes aimed at slowly increasing women's rights in the ultraconservative kingdom, according to the Yahoo News website.
Saudi Arabia's official press agency, SPA, reported that private girls' schools are now allowed to hold sports activities in accordance with the rules of Shariah, or Islamic law. Students must adhere to "decent dress" codes and Saudi women teachers will be given priority in supervising the activities, according to the Education Ministry's requirements.
The decision makes sports once again a stage for the push to improve women's rights -- nearly a year after two Saudi female athletes made an unprecedented appearance at the Olympics. Saudi women are bound by strict rules when it comes to their attire, so they cannot, for example, be seen by men while jogging in sweat pants and sweaters.
"It's about time," said Aziza Youssef, a professor at King Saud University. "Everything is being held back in Saudi Arabia as far as women's rights."
Saudi Arabia's official press agency, SPA, reported that private girls' schools are now allowed to hold sports activities in accordance with the rules of Shariah, or Islamic law. Students must adhere to "decent dress" codes and Saudi women teachers will be given priority in supervising the activities, according to the Education Ministry's requirements.
The decision makes sports once again a stage for the push to improve women's rights -- nearly a year after two Saudi female athletes made an unprecedented appearance at the Olympics. Saudi women are bound by strict rules when it comes to their attire, so they cannot, for example, be seen by men while jogging in sweat pants and sweaters.
"It's about time," said Aziza Youssef, a professor at King Saud University. "Everything is being held back in Saudi Arabia as far as women's rights."
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