Articles by Kevin J. Jones
Archbishop Chaput criticizes American inaction on religious freedom issues
Mar 1, 2011 / 11:31 amAmerican inaction and complacency towards promoting religious freedom keeps the United States from exporting one of its “greatest qualities” and hinders an “honest discussion” on the relationship between Islam and democratic assumptions, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput said March 1.
New report: Anti-Christian violence in India had high-level government support
Mar 1, 2011 / 03:45 amA new independent report on anti-Christian violence in the southwest Indian state of Karnataka has charged that the violence was pre-planned and backed by the state’s highest government authorities.
Defunding threat finds Planned Parenthood at vulnerable point in its contentious history
Feb 25, 2011 / 17:10 pmPlanned Parenthood is now at a point of “significant vulnerability” because of a shift against abortion and government spending, one historian of the organization says.
Obama decision on marriage law raises questions of religious liberty, future of marriage
Feb 24, 2011 / 15:05 pmThe Obama administration’s decision not to defend a key federal marriage law raises worrying questions about the religious freedom of Catholics and others who believe in traditional marriage, according to Catholic leaders.
Pastor of Catholic couple killed by Somali pirates praises their faith
Feb 23, 2011 / 03:51 amA sailing Catholic couple killed by Somali pirates during their global cruise to distribute Bibles was a “wonderful part” of a California Catholic parish, the couple’s pastor said.
Bishop of Green Bay ends moratorium on CCHD collection
Feb 22, 2011 / 03:59 amBishop David Ricken of Green Bay has announced the end of a moratorium on local collections for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development because of policy changes aimed at preventing grants to groups whose actions contradict Catholic teaching.
Pro-life cause sees advances in Congressional debate on abortion
Feb 20, 2011 / 15:10 pmKey pro-life measures advanced in the U.S. House of Representatives this week. One committee approved a bill that would ensure health care legislation does not provide funding for abortions, while the House passed a bill that would pull Title X funding for Planned Parenthood.
Vatican ruling against closure of three Mass. churches might not be final
Feb 17, 2011 / 15:47 pmWhile a decree from the Vatican held that three churches in the Diocese of Springfield should not be closed, a canon lawyer who analyzed the ruling said that the document leaves open the possibility that the churches can still be shut down if proper procedure is followed.
House begins debate on ‘long overdue’ abortion funding restrictions
Feb 10, 2011 / 03:15 amThe House of Representatives has begun debate on proposals targeting funding of abortion in the federal budget.
Refusal to air John 3:16 Super Bowl ad censored Jesus, media watchdog says
Feb 8, 2011 / 03:43 amThe Fox Broadcasting Company’s refusal to air a Super Bowl commercial which encouraged the reading of the Bible verse John 3:16 “censored” Jesus Christ while ignoring objectionable material, Media Research Center president L. Brent Bozell III said.
Catholic bishops place bets on Steelers-Packers Super Bowl
Feb 5, 2011 / 05:36 amAhead of the Super Bowl, Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay and Bishop David A. Zubik of Pittsburgh have made a friendly wager on the outcome of the NFL Championship game.
New iPhone app aims to help Catholics go to Confession
Feb 4, 2011 / 01:01 amDevelopers of a new “confession helper” iPhone application say they found inspiration in Pope Benedict XVI’s call for more youth involvement in social communication.
Catholic Church querying US Anglicans for possible ordinariate
Feb 3, 2011 / 23:21 pmCardinal Donald W. Wuerl said in an interview that the Catholic Church has sent out questionnaires to learn more about U.S. Anglicans who have expressed an interest in becoming Catholic. A sufficiently large response would mean the creation of an Anglican ordinariate in the U.S.
Baltimore’s mandatory pregnancy center signs are unconstitutional, federal judge rules
Feb 3, 2011 / 04:01 amA federal judge in Maryland has struck down a law which required pro-life pregnancy centers to post announcements that they do not refer clients for abortions or birth control. The Archbishop of Baltimore declared the ruling “a clear victory.”
Cardinal Wuerl’s new book celebrates glories of the Mass, anticipates new Missal translation
Feb 1, 2011 / 04:01 amCardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington says the new English translation of the Roman Missal represents “a catechetical moment for the whole Church in the country.”
Legislation introduced to permanently prohibit taxpayer funding of abortion
Jan 20, 2011 / 15:29 pmLegislation which would permanently prohibit taxpayer funding of abortion across all federal programs is “one of our highest legislative priorities,” the new Speaker of the House has said in his introduction to the legislation.
Man’s 3,700-mile run across America emphasizes importance of prayer
Jan 19, 2011 / 03:43 amA Catholic man is running across America and praying the whole way. Despite the difficulties he has faced, he says he wants to use his talents to serve God and to help those he prays for.
Proposed legislation reacts to court ruling on Mt. Soledad Memorial Cross
Jan 13, 2011 / 18:28 pmIn response to a federal court’s ruling that the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial Cross is unconstitutional, U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) has introduced legislation he says will ensure that military monuments which include religious symbols are explicitly protected under federal law.
Pakistani archbishop says assassination shows dangerous rise in extremism
Jan 7, 2011 / 00:15 amAssassinated Pakistani Gov. Salman Taseer was a “staunch defender” of the rights of minorities and stood up to extremist groups, the Catholic Archbishop of Lahore said Jan. 6. The archbishop decried the mindset of “religious fanaticism” in the country and warned that its extremists are winning.
Mt. Soledad memorial cross is prohibited endorsement of religion, federal court says
Jan 6, 2011 / 04:05 amThe Mount Soledad Memorial Cross is unconstitutional because it conveys the message of “state-endorsed religion,” a federal appeals court ruled on Jan. 4.