Articles for Month: November 2009

By Hilary White BIRMINGHAM, November 25, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Catholics and other “traditional” Christians in Britain have effectively “been disenfranchised” by a government and political class that is determined to hold on to its anti-life and anti-family dogmas, a retired UK Catholic bishop has said. Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue issued what he called a “personal manifesto” for Catholics in the UK at a lecture to students at the Catholic chaplaincy of Birmingham University on Sunday. “Until recently,” he said, he would have encouraged young Catholics to become involved in the political process, “but realistically how welcome is the Catholic voice in […]

OTTAWA, November 25, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A new study released today by the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada reveals that full-day kindergarten in Ontario will cost $1.8 billion annually, about double initial estimates. If the proposed vision for early learning in Ontario is fully implemented, encompassing “the prenatal period through to adolescence,” the costs would easily rise to $6.1 billion annually. This is nearly half the current Ministry of Education budget.  Were the money given to parents instead of being spent on institutional care, parents could receive a minimum of $9,199 dollars per child, annually.  The study conservatively estimates […]

Both governors pro-abortion: one has very mixed record on same-sex issue and other is supportive of gay "marriage"

By Hilary White LONDON, November 25, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – British courts and the British government cannot be forced to change their regulations on discrimination in employment, “unless and until” ordered to do so by the European Union's Court of Justice, says Neil Addison, a barrister and author of a textbook on anti-discrimination law.  This means, said Addison, that the UK is “fully entitled” to ignore the order issued last week by the European Commission demanding that the British government eliminate all protections for religious groups with regards to ”sexual orientation” regulations. Vladimir Spidla, the EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and […]

Quebec's "low religiosity" related to lower marital happiness and a higher propensity to divorce"

By Peter J. Smith CONCORD, New Hampshire, November 25, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The New Hampshire Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case of a ten-year-old home-schooled girl who was ordered into a public school by a family court judge, who decided that the girl, who is Christian, had not been exposed to enough alternative viewpoints. The daughter of parents who divorced in her infancy, Amanda Kurowski had been ordered into public school by family court Judge Lucinda V. Sadler on the recommendation of Marital Master Michael Garner and the testimony of the girl's court-appointed counselor, the Guardian ad Litem […]

ABC shuns Lambert for scheduled 'Good Morning America' appearance

ANN ARBOR, MI, November 25, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday upheld the Maple-South Orange school district's ban on all religious Christmas music including instrumentals, which had been part of the school district Christmas program for years – until one parent complained.  In yesterday's ruling the Third Circuit approved the school policy that prohibits Christmas selections such as “Silent Night,” “Joy to the World,” “Oh, Come All Ye Faithful,” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”  However, the Third Circuit approved concert selections of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Frosty the Snowman.” The Thomas More Law […]

By Patrick B. Craine ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida, November 25, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Bishop Victor Galeone of St. Augustine, Florida also decided to discontinue the CCHD collection, LifeSiteNews.com has confirmed, bringing the list of bishops who decided against holding this year's collection to five. In a November article for his diocesan magazine, Bishop Galeone explains that he had made this decision in May – many months prior to the controversy that erupted this fall over reports that the CCHD is funding groups that support abortion, contraception, and same-sex “marriage.” The bishop lists three reasons for his decision. First, he says, “over the […]

By Kathleen Gilbert PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, November 25, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Bishop Thomas Tobin of Rhode Island clarified his reasons for denying pro-abortion politicians Communion on Tuesday, noting that such politicians are not forced to be Catholic – but if they choose to, they must then “understand what the Church teaches, accept those teachings, and live that faith.” “The most important commitment we can make is our faith, because that defines our relationship with God. Nothing is more important than that. And if your job, your profession, your vocation gets in the way of that, you have to quit your […]