ALBANY, N.Y. (CNS) – The lawsuit filed against a Catholic hospital by a same-sex couple seeking spousal benefits is a “cautionary reminder of the true implications of the redefinition of marriage on religious liberty,” according to the New York State Catholic Conference. The lawsuit was filed anonymously June 19 in a federal court in New […]
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Nuns on the Road for Social Justice
During a congregation-wide meeting of Sisters and Associates on “Acting from a Contemplative Perspective” held at the motherhouse in Brentwood, L.I., nearly 70 of the 250 attendees demonstrated for immigration reform by standing on Brentwood Rd. adjacent to St. Joseph Convent to express their solidarity with their immigrant neighbors. Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of […]
Lori in Rome Talks About Threat to Religious Freedom
by Francis X. Rocca ROME (CNS) – On the same day that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Obama administration’s health care law, Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore warned an audience in Rome about what he characterized as the law’s threat to religious freedom. The archbishop, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee […]
Vatican Announces Events for Year of Faith
by Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) – With a hymn and a prayer, Italian Archbishop Rino Fisichella presented the Vatican’s initial calendar of events for the Year of Faith, which begins with a Mass Oct. 11 in St. Peter’s Square. Archbishop Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, said the pope has […]
Diocesan Agencies Win Fidelis Care Grants
Fidelis Care, the New York state Catholic Health Plan, has announced the distribution of $113,290 from its Community Grant Fund to benefit Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens $115,730 to support Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services, and $190,980 to benefit the Catholic Migration Office of the Diocese of Brooklyn. For the eighth consecutive year, Fidelis Care […]
Nostalgia Reigns as Woodside Parish Completes 75th Year
Corpus Christi church, Woodside, celebrated “Nostalgia Day” June 24 to conclude its 75th anniversary year. A 12:30 p.m. Mass was celebrated by Father Patrick J. West, administrator. Following the Mass, the church hosted a “Pot Luck” luncheon, served by parish Youth Ministry volunteers, in the parish auditorium. Church memorabilia was displayed. Local historian and author […]
Vatican Bank Adopts Policy of Transparency
by Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – In an effort to shed a decades-long image of secrecy and suspicion, the Vatican bank has been investing heavily in building a new image of transparency and legality. But recent scandals, such as the May 24 ouster of the bank’s president, Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, for incompetence, and leaked […]
More Court Cases for ObamaCare
by Nancy Frazier O’Brien WASHINGTON (CNS) – Although legal scholars and political observers will likely spend days parsing each line of the 193 pages of U.S. Supreme Court opinions and dissents on the health reform law, the court’s June 28 decision is not likely to be its final word on the Patient Protection and Affordable […]
The Diocese Rejoices!
When the good news reached us that our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, had blessed us by calling two good friends, Msgrs. Ray Chappetto and Paul Sanchez, to serve as our newest auxiliary bishops, we could not have been happier. For them and for us! We are grateful that they responded generously to this high, […]
For God and Country
It’s just the tip of the iceberg. This Aug. 1, the federal government will impose on us regulations that, if followed, not only would violate the consciences of many American citizens but attempts even to change the definition of a church. It is a direct attack on our civil liberties, our Faith and our values, […]