In a 5-4 decision June 29, the Supreme Court ruled that a Louisiana law requiring that doctors who perform abortions have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals could not stand.
Month: June 2020
Diocese of Brooklyn Launches Videos in Seven Languages to Prepare Catholics as Churches Can Re-open for Weekday Masses on Monday
Weekday Masses in the Diocese of Brooklyn, which includes Queens, can begin this Monday, June 29, 2020. The celebration of Sunday Mass can begin with the Saturday Vigil Mass on July 4, 2020, and on Sunday, July 5, 2020.
Bishops Urge Congress to Address Better Police Training, Accountability
The chairmen of three U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ committees have called for “better practices for formation and accountability for police” in a joint letter to all members of Congress.
U.S. Deporting Guatemalans Has Led to Spread of COVID-19, Report Says
A report by the Washington-based Refugees International organization charges U.S. immigration policy with helping the spread of the coronavirus in Guatemala, as federal agencies in the U.S. and Mexico have repatriated infected Guatemalans through deportations.
Italian-Americans’ Plea: Don’t Tear Down Columbus Statues
Italian-Americans in the Diocese of Brooklyn and elsewhere are decrying efforts by protesters who want to tear down statues of Christopher Columbus.
Vatican Says Don’t Deny Disabled People the Sacraments
In a set of updated guidelines for catechesis released June 25, the Vatican weighed in on what has long been a debate among theologians, insisting that the Church’s sacraments are a gift, and as such, they cannot be denied to disabled people.
Obituaries, Week of June 27, 2020
Evelyn J. Aquila, age 88; Sister Annette Marie Lucchese, O.S.F.; Sister M. Teresa Damien Weber, O.P., age 97.
Diocesan Assignments – June 27, 2020
Very Rev. John J. Costello, to pastor of St. Luke, Whitestone, while remaining Associate Vicar for Clergy and director of Brooklyn Seminarians, effective June 30.
A Step Into the Unknown And Unpredictable
Although this is not usually the forum for personal messages, I do want to make an exception today and wish my classmate, Fr. Dave Dettmer, the Pastor of St. Edmund’s parish in Brooklyn, a very Happy 40th Anniversary of Ordination.
My Favorite Philosopher
Around the middle of March, I received in the mail the issue of America magazine (March 16th, 2020) containing the essay on existentialist philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, which I discussed in the last three columns.