Recent Catholic News

Bishop Lynch Jets to Indonesia While Terri Schiavo Struggles Through Last Hours of Court Ordered Death by Dehydration Is hospice industry part of the right-to-die crusade? Terri Schiavo: Judicial Murder – Nat Hentoff

CALGARY, March 30, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A supporter of same-sex marriage is using the human rights process to take away Bishop Frederick Henry’s right to freedom of religion and free speech. Despite the Catholic Church’s established role in preparing men and women for marriage and conducting religious marriage ceremonies between men and women, it appears that supporters of same-sex marriage do not want religious leaders to be part of the debate on this issue. Bishop Frederick Henry wrote a letter to the Catholics in his Diocese in January, 2005 outlining the opposition of the Catholic Church to same-sex marriages (see […]

PINELLAS PARK, FL, March 30, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Beyond the support from mega-star Mel Gibson (see LifeSiteNews.com coverage) and unprecedented interventions by Vatican Cardinals, other prominent persons have taken up Terri’s cause. While not commenting verbally, Pope John Paul II entered into Terri Schiavo’s former condition of receiving nutrition via feeding tube. A Vatican press release today noted, “In order to improve the caloric intake and to favor a valid recuperation of strength, enteral nutrition has been started by placing a nasal-gastric probe (tube).” First lady Laura Bush commented on the case Tuesday saying, “It is a life issue that […]

ATLANTA, March 30, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – After igniting an unexpected glimmer of hope by deciding yesterday to consider an emergency appeal in the case of Terry Schiavo, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals today rejected the request of a re-hearing. “Any further action by our court or the district court would be improper,” Judge Stanley Birch wrote. “While the members of her family and the members of Congress have acted in a way that is both fervent and sincere, the time has come for dispassionate discharge of duty.” It has been 13 days since Terri was allowed food or water. […]

ROME, March 30, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The struggle between local bishops and Vatican authorities on forbidding Catholic politicians who support abortion and same sex marriage from receiving Communion was put in focus last week as a top Vatican Cardinal described unworthy reception of Communion by Catholics as Christ’s greatest suffering. The Triduum is the Catholic Church’s most sacred season of the liturgical calendar. In it, the Good Friday commemoration of the suffering and death of Christ holds a prominent part. This year, with the Pope’s health precarious, the duties of the Triduum liturgies fell to the small group of high […]

Lip piercings “can shrink gums” dentists warn As Terri Schiavo’s life ebbed, an expected army of pro-life foot soldiers turned up AWOL If Terri dies, who is safe? Schiavo case could rekindle right-to-die debate in Canada

TORONTO, March 29, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – In a letter published in the National Post yesterday, Toronto psychiatrist Dr. Joseph Berger attests that, even “years after abortion,” a “profound sense of loss” and regret still remain for most women. “In more than 30 years of clinical practice as a psychiatrist, I have not come across an adult woman who, years after having had an abortion, has not had deep regrets, sadness and often a profound sense of loss, especially if she has not had any children,” said Dr. Joseph Berger. Research conducted by the Elliott Institute’s David Reardon, and other researchers […]

SCOTLAND, March 29, 2005, (LifeSiteNews.com) – Scotland’s Cardinal Keith O’Brien has publicly contradicted fellow Bishop Joseph Devine’s stand that the presence of homosexual teachers in Catholic schools would be incompatible with their mission. The public contradiction was greeted favorably by education authorities who disagreed with Bishop Devine’s statement, but sent shockwaves throughout the world’s Catholics. Bishop Devine, president of the Catholic Education Service, was quoted in The Scotman of March 21st as saying: “Being homosexual would not at all be compatible with the charter. It would cut across the whole moral vision enshrined in the charter. It would be offering […]

VANCOUVER, March 29, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Canadian Medical Association Journal reports in a new study that the use of the abortifacient drug, known commonly as the Morning After Pill (MAP) increased over 100% after it was made available over-the-counter in British Columbia. In 2000, British Columbia began allowing pharmacists to dispense MAP to women who requested it without a doctor’s prescription. Pharmacists who attempted to opt out of the programme were unable to obtain a conscience clause from the BC College of Pharmacists. Quebec and Saskatchewan have followed suit, and now Health Canada is considering making it possible for pharmacists […]

PINELLAS PARK, Florida, March 29, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Adding insult to injury, Michael Schiavo has denied Terri Schiavo and her family a Christian burial in the event of her death, planning rather to cremate her remains, which he will then inter in his family plot in Pennsylvania. Religious Brother Paul O’Donnell, the Schindler’s spiritual director, said, “They would like to have her body so they can have a Christian Mass and a Christian burial.” He added, “They want their daughter. If they can’t have her in life, they would hope he’d have compassion and give her in death.” “The family,” […]