The Dialog

By Nancy Frazier O'Brien

Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court’s June 28 decision upholding the health reform law makes it even more urgent for Congress to act to fix the law’s “fundamental flaws” on abortion funding, conscience protection and immigrants’ access to health care, the U.S. bishops said.

The court found that although the individual mandate in the 2010 health reform law does not pass constitutional muster under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, it can be upheld as an acceptable exercise of Congress’ taxing powers. Read more »

By Julie Asher

Catholic News Service

INDIANAPOLIS — The debate over the federal contraceptive mandate and the fight for religious freedom is not about “a particular policy choice” but is “a debate over the role of religion in American society and the freedom and integrity of the Catholic Church’s mission,” the head of the Knights of Columbus said June 22.

“It’s not an ordinary national debate. There’s a great deal at stake here,” Supreme Knight Carl Anderson said in an interview in Indianapolis. It is an attempt “to redefine the role of religion in America,” he added.

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By TheDialog

ST. LOUIS — Two dozen religious leaders have joined the president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in signing an open letter he wrote to oppose the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ contraceptive mandate and urge it be retracted.

The Rev. Matthew C. Harrison June 21 issued the letter called “Free Exercise of Religion: Putting Beliefs into Practice,” which states that “no government should tell religious organizations either what to believe or how to put their beliefs into practice.”

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By Nancy Frazier O'Brien

Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court, in a mixed opinion with several dissents, affirmed the section of an Arizona immigration law that requires state law enforcement officials to check the immigration status of detainees who they suspect are in the country illegally.

But the court threw out other parts of the law, called S.B. 1070, as an infringement on the powers of the federal government.

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By Catholic News Service

PHILADELPHIA — The jury reached a partial verdict June 22 in the clergy sex abuse trial.

Msgr. William Lynn, former archdiocesan secretary for clergy, was found guilty on one count of child endangerment and acquitted on two other charges, including conspiracy.

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By Maria Wiering

Catholic News Service

BALTIMORE — On the eve of the feast day of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori held up the two martyrs as a source of inspiration for American Catholics during a Mass June 21 launching the U.S. bishops’ much-anticipated “fortnight for freedom.”

“Their courageous witness of faith continues to stir the minds and hearts of people yearning for authentic freedom, and specifically, for religious freedom,” he said.

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By TheDialog

WASHINGTON — In observance of World Refugee Day June 20, Catholic leaders noted that not much has changed in the plight of more than 15 million refugees in the world today.

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor of Little Rock, Ark., spoke of the need for the global community to “welcome the stranger” and to aid the millions of refugees who are forced to escape violence and other kinds of persecution in their homeland.

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By Matthew Gambino

Catholic News Service

PHILADELPHIA — Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia has announced a reorganization of the archdiocesan administration that will result in the loss of 40 jobs and the closing of The Catholic Standard & Times, the 117-year-old archdiocesan newspaper.

Changes include the elimination of some offices and the combination of others, with reduced staffing levels.

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By Catholic News Service

ST. LEO, Fla. — Theologian Richard Gaillardetz told U.S. priests that if they truly expect to carry on the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, they should understand a “new configuration of an ancient vision.”

Gaillardetz, who teaches theology at Boston College and is president-elect of the Catholic Theological Society of America, addressed more than 200 priests gathered at St. Leo University June 11-14 for the inaugural assembly of the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests.

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By Dennis Sadowski

Catholic News Service

ATLANTA — Young adults raised by their biological parents in a stable marriage fared better emotionally, socially and relationally, according to a University of Texas at Austin study.

The New Family Structures Study by Mark Regnerus of the university’s Population Research Center measured outcomes in 40 areas including social and economic well-being, psychological and physical health, sexual identity, sexual behavior and criminal behavior.

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