As we write this, the Vatican is holding its meeting for the heads of the Catholic Episcopal Conferences from around the world on the sad and distressing topic of child sex abuse.
Month: February 2019
Getting to the Root of the Problem
In 2003, when the first wave of sexual abuse by the clergy in the United States was at its critical point, a Latin American priest visiting New York told me: “We in Latin America read the news about the sexual abuse scandals in the Church in the United States but we can’t understand how such a thing could happen.”
A Response in Faith
On behalf of the people who are served throughout our Diocese in Brooklyn and Queens, we begin the 2019 Annual Catholic Appeal by thanking those who generously responded to the 2018 Annual Catholic Appeal.
Democrats Block ‘Born Alive’ Bill in U.S. Senate
Democratic leaders in the Senate blocked a bill Feb.25 that would criminalize doctors who failed to provide medical support to infants born after a botched abortion, prompting an outcry from pro-life members of the party.
Sports Round-Up March 2
Two St. Edmund Prep H.S., Sheepshead Bay, varsity basketball players recently eclipsed the 1,000-career-point plateau.
Update: Cardinal Pell Convicted on Five Counts; Verdict Will be Appealed
An Australian court found Cardinal George Pell guilty on five charges related to the sexual abuse of two 13-year-old boys; sentencing is expected in early March, but the cardinal’s lawyer already has announced plans to appeal the conviction.
Enthusiasm, Anxiety Percolate at Vatican Conference on Robotics and AI
Watching disturbing developments in politics, entertainment, the economy and even the Catholic Church – especially in light of a recent summit in Rome focusing on the sexual abuse of children by clergy – many people in the 21st century could be forgiven for thinking that the idea of robots taking over the world might not be so bad.
Flatbush Parish Hosts National Haitian Youth Rally
Energetic youth from across the eastern seaboard gathered at Our Lady of Refuge in Flatbush Feb. 23 to participate in the annual Youth Rally sponsored by The National Center of the Haitian Apostolate and The Brooklyn Haitian Ministry. The 2019 theme was “Lead and Be Fruitful.”
Pope to Issue Post-Synod Document on Young People in March
Pope Francis will issue a document on “young people, faith and vocational discernment” five months after the world Synod of Bishops gathered to discuss the topic.
Church Moving From ‘American Problem’ to American Solutions on Clergy Abuse
If the global clergy sex abuse crisis was once thought of as an “American” problem, Pope Francis’s efforts to get the global Church to take the issue seriously may now be drawing on American solutions.