Dear Readers,
The inspiring funeral for editor John-Henry Westen’s wonderful father set us back for over a day, hence Friday’s news is sent only now. It is very helpful to be powerfully reminded about what is important and what is not important and how a life should be lived when one is privileged to attend a funeral such as this one was.
Our European reporter, Hilary White, has moved from England to Rome and so we now have a Rome reporter. Her report on the Pope’s warnings about abuses related to the organ transplant industry is a crucial one.
Pope Benedict certainly now gets what some in the Vatican and in the World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations have so far been refusing to face. News about serious problems related to the Vatican organ donation conference appears to have gotten to the Pope and his all important input was just in time.
It certainly appears that Joe Biden’s bishop is not going to let the new US vice-president in any way think that he is a Catholic in good standing with his pro-abortion, pro-same-sex “marriage” advocacy. Good for the bishop!
There are a few especially important items in the NewsBytes section. Fr. Richard Neuhaus and Jill Stanek make pointed comments about the role of the churches in the advance of the abortion culture in the United States. They reflect some of what we have been saying for some years.
We do not advocate demonstrations or angry exchanges to address the lack of strong religious leadership. That would be counterproductive. Respectful, but firm and well worded repeat communications is far more effective. Our religious leaders need to be challenged far more than they have been by faithful Christians, and others, to be the leaders they should be and have not been. They will greatly benefit personally as much as we all will, if they respond positively to this appeal from their brothers and sisters in faith.
The flurry of correspondence to us from LifeSiteNews readers continues. There are some quite interesting comments. Take a look for yourself.
Steve Jalsevac
LifeSiteNews.com