Articles by Kevin J. Jones
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In pushback against AG inquiry, Wisconsin Catholics cite decades of church vigilance against abuse
Jun 10, 2021 / 17:04 pmThe Archdiocese of Milwaukee is citing decades of Catholic efforts to prevent sex abuse, along with judicial statements and reviews of Church documents, as among the reasons it is pushing back against a state inquiry into clergy abuse.
Wedding cake, controversy and faith: Colorado baker's book recounts years-long legal fight
Jun 10, 2021 / 03:01 amJack Phillips, a Colorado baker whose decision not to bake cakes for same-sex weddings ended up taking him before the US Supreme Court, has told his story in a book about his profession, his Christian faith, and his belief that religious freedom benefits everyone.
Las Cruces diocese says abuse records disclosed voluntarily, despite New Mexico attorney general's claims
Jun 7, 2021 / 18:00 pmWhile New Mexico’s attorney general has taken credit for securing Catholic Church documents on sex abuse by clergy, saying they will be released to the public soon, a spokesperson for the Las Cruces diocese said it provided the documents voluntarily out of a desire to address the “abhorrent crime” of sex abuse, not because of a search warrant or legal obligation.
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Ottawa archbishop: Some parents say flying LGBT flag ‘hijacks’ Ontario Catholic schools
Jun 3, 2021 / 18:00 pmWith multiple Catholic school systems in the Canadian province of Ontario deciding to fly the rainbow LGBT Pride flag in June, one Ontario archbishop says that the movement contradicts Catholic teaching.
Mixed 'blessings' as Bishop Stowe attends Catholic dissenters' Pride Month event
Jun 2, 2021 / 15:45 pmCatholic dissenters and LGBT activists on Tuesday hosted an online Pride Month “blessing” in reaction to a Vatican statement reiterating that same-sex unions cannot be blessed. Speakers made comments that rejected Catholic teaching, talking about “God’s triumph of queer love” or declaring that pride is not sin but “salvation” and “a promise of liberation for all.”
Chicago archdiocese reinstates Father Pfleger after investigating sex abuse allegations
May 24, 2021 / 18:01 pmOutspoken activist priest Father Michael Pfleger will return to the pulpit, after a Chicago archdiocese investigation concluded there was “insufficient reason” to suspect he was guilty of allegations of sexual abuse.
As S.C. Catholics challenge state’s Blaine Amendment, scholars argue it was ‘born of bigotry’
May 23, 2021 / 14:57 pmCatholics and others challenging South Carolina’s Blaine Amendment are right to argue that the amendment was “born of bigotry and prejudice, based on race and religion,” two scholars say.
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Mindfulness and meditation 'AmaZen' employee program not religious, Amazon says
May 19, 2021 / 14:16 pmCorporate giant Amazon will offer an “AmaZen” component to employees to encourage “mindfulness practices” as part of its revamped employee health, safety, and wellness programs. Despite the Buddhist connotations, a spokesperson has said the component is not religious in nature.
Calif. bill targets university healthcare links to Catholic hospitals, demands further moral compromise
May 11, 2021 / 17:08 pmA bill threatens to ban University of California health systems from partnering with institutions that follow Catholic ethics, prompting concern ideological motives on abortion and LGBT issues will damage longtime partnerships and limit medical care access.
Catholic school district in Canada mandates LGBT Pride Month awareness, staff training
May 9, 2021 / 15:00 pmWhile a Catholic school district in Ontario failed to pass a proposal to fly the rainbow-colored LGBT Pride Flag outside schools in June, the school board changed the proposal to say that staff should “raise awareness around Pride Month.” The board mandated staff training on the issue to encourage “shared understanding” and requested a review from the Ontario education minister.
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Reckoning with history, Long Island diocese names 101 clergy accused of sex abuse
May 3, 2021 / 11:00 amThe Diocese of Rockvillle Centre has released a list of 101 diocesan clergy it believes to be credibly accused of sex abuse of minors. The list is not meant to be complete, and most allegations date back decades.
Texas bill proposes longer waiting limit for divorce: a small step to strengthen marriage?
Apr 29, 2021 / 03:01 amA Texas legislator has again proposed extending the waiting limit on no-fault divorce, a proposal that has drawn support from the Texas Catholic Conference.
Feds allege ex-executive embezzled children’s services non-profit for personal spending
Apr 10, 2021 / 16:00 pmAlleging embezzlement of over $200,000, federal prosecutors have filed charges against John Lynch, a former executive of the historically Catholic Michigan non-profit Holy Cross Children’s Services .
Critics of Nebraska education standards see major flaws on sex, gender
Apr 7, 2021 / 16:27 pmThere are too many ideological and political assumptions in the Nebraska Department of Education’s proposed curriculum standards on sex education, marriage, family and gender that undermine parents and religious and ethical standards, critics have said.
CRS: Relieving Central American pressures could help with immigration challenge for US
Mar 28, 2021 / 16:18 pmImmigration pressures at the U.S.-Mexico border start in Central America—and these pressures need attention in the United States’ immigration debate, an official with Catholic Relief Services said.
After Supreme Court victory, Colorado baker in court for declining gender transition cake
Mar 24, 2021 / 21:01 pmJack Phillips, a Christian cake baker, was again in court for declining to make a cake that expresses messages contrary to his religious beliefs after an attorney who identifies as transgender filed suit over the bakery’s refusal to make a cake to celebrate a gender transition.
Human embryo, or a model? Resist 'depersonalizing' research, ethicist cautions
Mar 18, 2021 / 17:04 pmNew “models” of early human embryos that cannot grow into full human beings provoke ethical questions about whether they are human beings. One ethicist warns that research should be halted out of caution until more is known, because of the ethical dangers and temptations in the experiments.
Patrick: The saint who knew what it was like to be a slave
Mar 17, 2021 / 11:04 amMany know that Saint Patrick, bishop and missionary to Ireland, was once a slave – but few know of his heartfelt plea on behalf of girls and boys abducted into slavery.
How the Irish built Catholic America
Mar 17, 2021 / 03:12 amThe history of Catholic America is, in many ways, an Irish story, with immigrant congregations and their descendants putting their stamp on many churches across the country.
Medal of Honor chaplain Fr. Emil Kapaun's body identified, as sainthood inquiry continues
Mar 5, 2021 / 17:27 pmDepartment of Defense investigators have identified the remains of U.S. Army chaplain and Servant of God Fr. Emil Kapaun among the unknown Korean War soldiers buried in a Hawaiian cemetery, much to the surprise and joy of the priest's relatives and devotees in his home state of Kansas.