Northwoods Catholic Churches -- St. Anne, Boulder Junction; St. Mary, Sayner; St. Rita, Presque Isle

The religious groups challenging the abortion mandate include a group of Carmelite Sisters, Catholic Charities, and the Sisterhood of St. Mary, an Anglican Episcopal monastic order (pictured here). / Credit: Becket Fund for Religious Liberty

Denver, Colo., Sep 19, 2024 / 07:50 am (CNA).

A group of nuns and other religious groups with charitable missions are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to block a New York state mandate that would force them to cover abortions in their employee health insurance plans.

“New York’s abortion mandate is so extreme that not even Jesus, Mother Teresa, or Mahatma Gandhi would qualify for an exemption,” said Eric Baxter, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, the non-profit religious liberty law firm that is arguing on behalf of the nuns. “The justices should exempt religious organizations once and for all so they can focus on caring for the most vulnerable.” 

The religious groups challenging the abortion mandate include a group of Carmelite Sisters, the First Bible Baptist Church, the Sisterhood of St. Mary, an Anglican Episcopal monastic order of contemplative religious sisters, and Catholic Charities, which provide adoption and maternity services. 

The New York abortion mandate “imposes immense burdens on countless religious entities opposed to abortion as a matter of deep-seated religious conviction,” reads the Sept. 18 petition to the Supreme Court.

The petition notes that permitting some religious conduct for preferred subsets of religious groups but forbidding others “is a particularly pernicious form of discrimination under the First Amendment.”

The September petition follows a series of legal issues beginning in 2017, when a group of Anglican and Catholic nuns, Catholic dioceses, Christian churches, and other faith-based ministries sued over the mandate, which prohibited insurance policies from excluding coverage for abortions. The lower courts initially ruled against them, but Supreme Court justices reversed the lower court rulings in 2021 and told them to reconsider in light of Fulton v. Philadelphia, which brought up similar Free Exercise issues. The state courts ruled against the religious organizations again, so the religious groups have returned to the Supreme Court.

“Religious groups in New York should not be required to provide insurance coverage that violates their deeply held religious beliefs,” said Noel J. Francisco, partner-in-charge of Jones Day’s Washington office, which is also arguing on behalf of the nuns. “We are asking the court to protect religious freedom and make clear that the mandate cannot be applied to this diverse group of religious organizations.” 

Initially, the proposed abortion mandate allowed all employers with religious objections to receive an exemption. However, New York redefined the exemption to include only religious groups that primarily teach religion and organizations that primarily serve and hire those who share their faith. Ministries such as the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, which runs a nursing home, do not qualify for the exemption because they serve those in need regardless of religious affiliation. 

“It thus places special burdens on religious traditions holding service of others to be a religious command,” the lawsuit noted.

In addition to the Carmelite sisters, Lutheran, Episcopalian, and Baptist groups are also “deemed insufficiently religious to qualify for a religious exemption — and so are forced to cover abortions in their employee health plans.”

The court will consider whether it will hear the case later this fall. 

Monsignor Éric de Moulins-Beaufort, president of the French Bishops Conference, presides over the Mass that took place on Sept. 14, 2024, at Maison Abraham (Abraham House) in Jerusalem during the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of its foundation as a pilgrim guest house run by Secours Catholique-Caritas France. / Credit: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Sep 19, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

On Sept. 14 in Jerusalem, a new pilgrimage called “Pilgrims of Hope Way” was inaugurated. The event marked the 60th anniversary of Maison Abraham (Abraham House), a pilgrim guest house created by Secours Catholique-Caritas France.

Abraham House is located on top of a hill in the heart of the Muslim neighborhood of Ras al-Amud in East Jerusalem. From here, the view stretches across the walls of Jerusalem, encompassing the city from Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa Compound) to Mount Zion.

“We host pilgrims of all religions, especially the poorest. That’s the mission entrusted to us by Pope Paul VI in 1964,” Bernard Thibaud, the director, explained to CNA. “We were also asked to promote the encounter with the inhabitants of the neighborhood.”

At that time, the political and geographical situation was very different. The house was under Jordanian rule, and Arabs from all over the Middle East could travel to Jerusalem by bus. Only three years later, and to this day, the house has been located in the Jerusalem area under Israeli occupation.

“We mainly have Christian visitors. Around 10% to 15% are Muslims, especially during Ramadan, and a few groups of Jewish people — those who are comfortable visiting an Arab neighborhood,” Thibaud explained.

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary, Pope Francis sent a message of encouragement “to continue this charitable work, so that this house may always remain a place of welcome, encounter, and dialogue for all the children of Abraham who sincerely seek to enter into a relationship with God and with their neighbor.” He also expressed the desire that the Way “will be a sign of hope, inspiring the hearts of the people and leaders of this region to feelings of peace.”

On Sept. 14, Monsignor William Shomali, general vicar of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, blessed the Pilgrims of Hope Way in the presence of many priests, religious people, and lay faithful — which included Christians, Muslims, and Jews. 

Among the attending authorities were the consul general of France in Jerusalem, Nicolas Kassianides; Monsignor Éric de Moulins-Beaufort, president of the French Bishops’ Conference, who presided over the Mass; Didier Duriez, director of Secours Catholique; and Joseph Hazboun and Anton Asfar, directors of the Pontifical Mission and Caritas in Jerusalem, respectively.

The Pilgrims of Hope Way was conceived as a reflection on the mission of the Abraham House. The route winds beneath the garden and terraces of the house, marked by 15 stations with ceramic tiles featuring quotes from the Bible, the Hebrew Bible, and the Koran. 

“It’s inspired by Christian values, but we think that people of all faiths could find inspiration,” Thibauld told CNA. The core message is hospitality: We need to practice hospitality, and this should be expanded, which is the essence of mercy, he said.

The first section on the pilgrimage focuses on hospitality and includes five stations. An icon depicting Abraham and Sarah welcoming the three strangers dominates the small square. “Since the beginning of our path we are invited to meditate on the encounter with the eternal through the unconditional welcome of all strangers,” Thibaud said.

The second section is called “Faith and Charity” and includes four stations: the faith of Abraham, who was ready to offer his only son on Mount Moriah; the pilgrim’s faith represented by Mount Zion; the charity of the good Samaritan; and one of the righteous. 

“That’s what Caritas is and what leads us until today,” Thibaud said. The name “Pilgrims of Hope” is connected both to the history of Caritas France and to the upcoming Jubilee. (Abraham House was also the founding place of Caritas Jerusalem in 1967.)

The third section is titled “Prayer and Hospitality” and features three stations. It aims to honor the history of the House, which used to be home to the Benedictine community and the Syrian-Catholic seminary (1901–1952). A few quotes from the Rule of Saint Benedict are included, like the famous one “Let all guests who arrive be received like Christ.” 

The last section, about “Mercy and Service,” is located in the part of the garden facing Mount Zion and the Cenacle. The Way ends in front of the icon of the “washing of the feet.” 

“During the Way we learn that hospitality expands with the gesture of Jesus’ foot washing, which calls us to practice mercy,” Thibaud said. The last station quotes the prophet Micah (6:8) about what is good before God: “practicing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with your God.”

On its inaugural day, the pilgrimage took about 45 minutes to complete, with participants stopping at every section and taking time to meditate and pray. In the different areas, there were readings, brief meditations, moments of silence, singing, and prayers.

“We usually refer to all our pilgrimages as a ‘Pilgrimage of Hope’ — it’s like a trademark for us,” Thibaud explained. Additionally, the name alludes to the Jubilee. “We are also waiting for pilgrims to visit the Holy Land and show their solidarity and communion with the Church here. When people come as pilgrims, they convey their hope, and the local people welcoming them receive joy and hope that things can start anew. That’s exactly what they represent at this moment: pilgrims of hope.’”

Since Oct. 7, 2023, Abraham House has been almost empty. 

“The only ones who are coming are the people experiencing poverty, those who know about difficulties and hope. The same happened during the COVID pandemic,” Thibaud shared. “Personally, I find that the poor people can give a testimony of hope to the others who may not have so many difficulties.”

Thibaud explained that Secours Catholique-Caritas France has a specific program to help people in need to save money so they can make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The program takes more than a year. 

“They work hard to save money: They run activities, they make cakes, they sell postcards... and we have several weekends of preparation,” Thibaud said. 

On the occasion of the anniversary, about 15 pilgrims experiencing poverty in France reached the Abraham House to celebrate and share their own path of faith and hope. 

One of them, Peter S., gave his testimony: “When I came to the Holy Land the first time on a pilgrimage like this, I found myself and I realized that my life was going to change. Now I’m active in the parish, I go to Mass... I’m turning 60, I’m still as poor as before, but I’m happy.”

By the time these pilgrims arrive in the Holy Land, they have known each other for a long time.   

Thierry D., a father of five including three children with disabilities, shared: “When I first came, I met people among our pilgrim’s group who became family. Even now we’re still in contact with each other; they came to my 25th wedding anniversary. That’s the meaning of the icons on the Pilgrims of Hope Way: I experienced foot washing in France as well as in Bethlehem, and it changed my life.”

In a few months, Thibaud will be retiring from his position as director of Abraham House.

“To me, it was a privilege to be there for four years,” he said. “I will always remember the joy of the Palestinian people, whom I worked with, their way of looking at life, of handling all the problems with lots of patience and joy. Since the beginning, my faith has been built by the testimony of the people most suffering and the poor, they keep building my faith through their shining witness through the injustices and difficulties of life.”

José Masip, co-director of the Congress on Catholics and Public Life. / Credit: Catholic Association of Propagandists

Madrid, Spain, Sep 19, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The Congress of Catholics and Public Life, which is scheduled to celebrate its XXVI edition in Madrid in November, calls on Catholics to act coherently to offer solid foundations to a society in crisis that lives “as if God did not exist.”

Organized by Spain’s Catholic Association of Propagandists (ACdP, by its Spanish acronym), a manifesto has been issued for the Congress titled “Quo Vadis? Thinking and Acting in Times of Uncertainty.”

The manifesto points out that “the greater the loss of permanent references, the more political and social disorder there is” and refers both to “the concealment of everything that expresses the transcendence of the human being” and to the construction of a society that lives “as if God did not exist.”

In contrast, Catholics are encouraged to make “a redoubled effort in defending their foundations” against moral relativism, in an attitude that “is not an exercise in fundamentalism but, on the contrary, means being at the vanguard of the main debate on the future of our societies.”

Demoralization in the face of imposed social disorder

In the manifesto, the ACdP recognizes that there is “a feeling of demoralization” in the face of “the systematic imposition of a new society, of a social disorder that has never been explained or voted on.” The danger of this despondency, the manifesto warns, is that “it drags us toward a fierce individualism.”

Against this background, the manifesto issued in advance of the XXVI Congress of Catholics and Public Life, to be held from Nov. 15–17 in Madrid, holds that both those who consider that all Catholics think the same on political issues are wrong “as well as those who conclude that we have no cohesion in the public sphere, which is why we should refrain from taking any social and political position.”

For the ACdP, Catholic commitment in the field of politics, defined by Christian social doctrine as the highest form of charity, must involve “enunciating and articulating a strategy” that helps to become aware “of the seriousness of the situation and aware of the extent to which the humanistic foundations of our civilization are being attacked at their roots.” 

“The role of Spanish and European Catholics in this area is essential and decisive. If we don’t promote it, no one will,” the text underscores.

Finally, it is emphasized that the transformation of “generally silent and irrelevant” social Catholicism into “a creative minority” constitutes “an unavoidable challenge” for the ACdP and a task that must join “other Catholic groups and movements that feel the urgency of the historical moment in which we find ourselves.”

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

St. Januarius and the miracle of the liquefaction of his blood contained in a relic. / Credit: Louis Finson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Photo2023, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Naples, Italy, Sep 19, 2024 / 04:00 am (CNA).

On Sept. 19, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Januarius, bishop, martyr, and patron saint of Naples, Italy. Traditionally on this day and on two other occasions a year, his blood — which is kept in a glass ampoule in the shape of a rounded cruet — liquifies.

According to documentation cited by the Italian media Famiglia Cristiana, the miracle has taken place since at least 1389, the first instance on record.

Here are some key facts about the liquefaction of the blood of St. Januarius:

1. The blood is kept in two glass ampoules.

The dried blood of St. Januarius, who died around 305 A.D., is preserved in two glass ampoules, one larger than the other, in the Chapel of the Treasury of the Naples Cathedral.

2. The liquefaction is considered to be a miracle.

The Church believes that the miracle takes place in response to the dedication and prayers of the faithful. When the miracle occurs, the mass of reddish dried blood, adhering to one side of the ampoule, turns into completely liquid blood, covering the glass from side to side.

3. The blood traditionally liquefies three times a year.

The saint’s blood traditionally liquefies three times a year: in commemoration of the transfer of his remains to Naples (the Saturday before the first Sunday in May); on his liturgical feast (Sept. 19), and on the anniversary of the eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius in 1631 when his intercession was invoked and the city was spared from the effects of the eruption (Dec. 16).

4. The liquefaction can take days.

The liquefaction process sometimes takes hours or even days, but sometimes it doesn’t happen at all. Normally, after a period that can range from two minutes to an hour, the solid mass turns red and begins to bubble.

The ampoules, which contain a dark solid mass, are enclosed in a reliquary that is held up and rotated sideways by a priest to show the blood has liquified. This is usually done by the archbishop of Naples while the people pray.

According to the Italian Catholic magazine Famiglia Cristiana, the reliquary with the ampoules remains on view for the faithful for eight days, during which they can kiss it while a priest turns it to show that the blood is still liquid. Then it is returned to the safety vault and locked away inside the Chapel of the Treasury of the cathedral.

5. The faithful venerate the relic every year.

With the exclamation “The miracle has happened!” the people approach the priest holding the reliquary to kiss the relic and sing the “Te Deum” in thanksgiving.

6. There is no scientific explanation.

Several investigations have already been conducted in the past to find a scientific explanation that answers the question of how something solid can suddenly liquefy, but none has been satisfactory so far.

7. The liquefaction does not always occur.

When the blood doesn’t liquefy, the Neapolitans take it as an omen of misfortune.

The blood did not liquefy in September 1939, 1940, 1943, 1973, 1980, or in December 2016 and 2020.

The relic also remained solid the year Naples elected a communist mayor, but it spontaneously liquefied when the late archbishop of New York, Cardinal Terence Cooke, visited the St. Januarius shrine in 1978.

8. The blood has liquefied in the presence of some popes.

In 2015, while Pope Francis was giving some advice to the religious, priests, and seminarians of Naples, the blood liquefied again.

The last time the liquefaction occurred before a pontiff was in 1848 with Pius IX. It did not happen when John Paul II visited the city in October 1979 or in the presence of Benedict XVI in October 2007.

This article was first published on Sept. 18, 2021, and has been updated.

Cross overlooking the Casentino Valley. / Credit: Alexey Gotovskiy EWTN / CNA

Rome Newsroom, Sep 18, 2024 / 17:30 pm (CNA).

On Sept. 17, overlooking Tuscany’s Casentino Valley in Italy, Father Massimo Fusarelli, Minister General of the Franciscan Friars Minor and the 121st successor of St. Francis of Assisi, blessed the world with relics of the blood from the stigmata of St. Francis.  

The moment marked the conclusion of the 800th anniversary of St. Francis receiving the stigmata on this very spot on Sept. 17, 1224. After this profound experience, St. Francis, the first documented saint to receive the stigmata, wrote his Canticle of the Creatures while contemplating the natural beauty of this sacred place. 

Located in the Casentino Forests of Tuscany, La Verna is where St. Francis received the stigmata —some or all of the physical marks of Christ’s crucifixion — during a time of deep prayer and contemplation.  

Brother Matteo Brena, Secretary for the 800th Anniversary Celebrations, highlighted the spiritual significance of the site and told EWTN News that "La Verna was a natural, untouched place in St. Francis’ time, and it was here, in silence and solitude, that he came to reflect on the mystery of the cross." 

Brother Matteo explained that the natural features of the mountain, such as its rugged cliffs and splits in the rock, are believed to have formed at the moment of Christ’s death, symbolizing the earth’s participation in the Passion. St. Francis, deeply moved by the connection between nature and Christ’s suffering, spent extended periods in prayer on the mountain, leading to the moment when he received the stigmata. 

The commemoration of the stigmata of St. Francis was marked by various spiritual events, including vigils, prayer services, and pastoral activities. The night before the final celebration, a pilgrimage took place involving a two-hour walk up the mountains in prayer, song, and reflection.  

The pilgrimage culminated in a vigil held at the sanctuary, where 200 young people gathered in prayer, led by Fusarelli. The vigil continued until dawn, offering the young people an opportunity to reflect on the wounds of Christ, seek spiritual renewal, and receive healing through confession, as they welcomed the first rays of the day — the day on which St. Francis received the stigmata. 

The culmination of the anniversary celebrations occurred on September 17, with a procession from the Basilica to the Chapel of the Stigmata. As is tradition, the faithful followed the path taken by St. Francis to the site where he received the wounds of Christ. At the chapel, the pilgrims prayed Pope Francis’ prayer, invoking God’s grace and mercy for all those suffering in the world today. 

Fusarelli reflected on the significance of the stigmata for the Franciscan community.  

“For us Franciscans, the stigmata are both a seal and a new beginning. They are a reminder that at the heart of Francis’ life, and our lives, is Jesus Christ above all else,” he said.  

St. Francis, through his intense devotion to Christ, was marked with the wounds of the crucified Jesus, a grace few have received in the history of the Church. These physical marks symbolized St. Francis’ profound union with Christ’s suffering and his deep humility. Brother Matteo emphasized that the stigmata are “a sign that a life spent for the Gospel, even in suffering, bears fruit.” 

Hundreds of faithful, along with the bishops of Florence and Franciscan brothers and sisters, gathered for the occasion. Pilgrims came from places as far as Indonesia, Burundi, South Africa, and the United States. 

Among the many pilgrims were Marilyn and Peter Salibi from Ohio, who chose to spend their honeymoon at La Verna. Married just two days earlier on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, they came to seek healing.  

"We’re here for the healing of our families, for our marriage, and for a holy life together,” Peter shared, adding that they were also praying for Marilyn’s recovery from Bell’s palsy, diagnosed just before their wedding. 

For Marilyn, St. Francis has always held a special place in her heart. She grew close to the saint during her time at a Franciscan college, while Peter’s devotion was rooted in a San Damiano cross his godmother had given him.  

When Peter shared the significance of his last name, which means "of the cross" in Arabic, Marilyn added that when she once considered becoming a religious sister after spending eight years in a community, she had asked for her name to include "of the cross." Although she was not called to religious life, meeting Peter felt like the fulfillment of that desire, as she now carries the name "of the cross" through their marriage.

Reflecting on their experience together, Peter said, “Marriage is full of beauty and joy, but also sacrifice. It’s about bearing the cross together, for each other and for Christ.” 

Brother Benoit from Burundi, a Franciscan studying in Rome, was also among the pilgrims. “For me, being here is something special,” he said. "What happened 800 years ago feels divine, not human. The way we celebrated it touched many people, including me. It shows that the Gospel way of life St. Francis lived is still possible today.” 

Raul from Mexico, walked 200 kilometers from Lausanne, Switzerland, to La Verna on foot. His journey took over 50 days, during which he faced many challenges, including physical exhaustion and wounds from the long trek. "It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to start fresh and be a new person," Raul shared. “Every day I woke up with strength to continue, despite my wounds. I received much more than I expected.” 

Fusarelli also spoke about the current suffering in the Holy Land, a place long connected to Franciscan history.  

“Today, in the Holy Land, we witness ongoing violence and division,” he said. “Yet, we as Franciscans remain present there, committed to the power of prayer and peace, even when it seems hopeless.” He recounted his recent visit to Bethlehem and Jerusalem, where he saw firsthand the effects of war and conflict. “The silence in these places is profound, signaling the deep pain within the people. But we must continue to pray for peace, not only in the Holy Land but in every place where violence persists.” 

The friar encouraged Christians to be “instruments of peace,” following the example of St. Francis, who traveled to the Holy Land during the Crusades to seek dialogue and reconciliation. “Even when peace seems impossible, we must continue to be a voice for peace,” he urged. 

La Verna is a pilgrimage site for those seeking a deeper connection with God. “This is where Franciscanism was born, and where Christianity was reborn,” said Brother Matteo. Pilgrims are drawn to the mountain’s quiet beauty, its historical significance, and the opportunity to reflect on the mystery of Christ’s Passion. 

Though the anniversary celebrations have concluded, the spiritual journey continues for the faithful. The Holy Door at La Verna, opened for the jubilee year, will remain open until December 31, 2024, granting pilgrims a special plenary indulgence. 

Highlights of the 800th Anniversary Celebration at La Verna can be viewed in the following "EWTN News Nightly" segment:

Anthony Johnson contributed to this report.

null / Credit: Ivanko80/Shutterstock

CNA Staff, Sep 18, 2024 / 16:50 pm (CNA).

Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday amplified claims by several news outlets that a woman has died as the result of pro-life laws. But doctors say that the Georgia woman, Amber Thurman, died because of the abortion pill and medical malpractice. 

ProPublica’s disputed report claimed that Georgia’s restrictions on abortion delayed access to medical care, causing the death of a woman named Amber Nicole Thurman. Thurman died at age 28 in 2022 after being hospitalized due to an infection after she took abortion pills, according to the report.

Thurman received the abortion pills out of state in North Carolina because she was more than six weeks pregnant, the report says. Georgia law limits abortion after six weeks, but Thurman was about nine weeks pregnant when she procured the chemical abortion, according to the Washington Examiner. 

Harris blamed Thurman’s death on Donald Trump on Tuesday, saying: “Women are bleeding out in parking lots, turned away from emergency rooms, losing their ability to ever have children again. Survivors of rape and incest are being told they cannot make decisions about what happens next to their bodies. And now women are dying. These are the consequences of Donald Trump’s actions.” 

Harris’ campaign announced she will speak Friday about Thurman’s death in Atlanta as well as that of another Georgia woman, Candi Miller, who died after not seeking medical help following severe complications due to a chemical abortion. 

What caused Amber Thurman’s death?

Some news reports blamed pro-life limits on abortion for Thurman’s death, but Georgia state law explicitly allows abortions when the mother’s life or physical health is at risk. Thurman had a chemical abortion in South Carolina prior to her arrival in the emergency room, and when she arrived, her unborn twins had no heart activity.  

Dr. Christina Francis, CEO of the American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) and a board-certified OB-GYN who has practiced for two decades, said that Thurman’s death “was caused by legal abortion drugs” as well as medical negligence. 

“Amber Thurman’s tragic death, recently covered by multiple news organizations, was caused by side effects of legal abortion drugs and medical negligence, not pro-life laws,” Francis said in a Tuesday statement.

Thurman went to the emergency room five days after she experienced complications from the abortion pill. Tissue from her deceased babies — unborn twins — remained in her uterus, causing an infection, according to ProPublica. As there was no cardiac activity in the fetuses when Thurman arrived at the hospital, her unborn babies were no longer alive. 

Doctors considered a dilation and curettage “D&C” procedure, which would have removed the twins’ remains. The following day, her doctors did not perform the D&C, and by the time she went to the operating room, more serious problems had developed, including hemorrhaging. From her arrival, it took the doctors 20 hours to operate. She died on the operating table.

ProPublica interviewed Thurman’s best friend, Ricaria Baker, who went with Thurman to obtain the abortion. According to Baker, Thurman missed her scheduled D&C abortion at the South Carolina clinic due to traffic and was told by an employee to have a chemical abortion using the drug regimen mifepristone and misoprostol. Baker notes that Thurman took the pills as she was directed.

“Despite taking the drugs as she was instructed and seeking timely care when she experienced complications, she still died,” Francis commented. “Rather than highlighting the dangers of these drugs, which have caused numerous deaths, abortion proponents are instead trying to blame Georgia’s laws in their push to protect induced abortion at all costs.”

According to the FDA warning label for the abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol, between 2.9% and 4.6% of women will visit the emergency room after taking the drugs.

Abortion pills have four times as many complications as surgical abortions, according to a 2023 report by the Charlotte Lozier Institute. As many as 1 in 5 women will suffer complications after a chemical abortion and as many as 15% will experience hemorrhaging, while 2% will experience infection. 

ProPublica, which first reported on the woman’s death, acknowledged in its initial report that “it is not clear from the record available why the doctors waited to provide a D&C” but cites Georgia’s abortion limitations as the cause. 

A state committee of 10 doctors said that Thurman’s death was preventable and the hospital’s delay played a role in the fatal outcome. 

In Francis’ opinion, it was the doctors’ negligence and the abortion pill complications that killed Thurman — not the state’s pro-life laws, which allow abortions and other lifesaving medical procedures in cases where the woman’s physical health or life is at risk. 

Georgia state law also has other exceptions for abortions, including exceptions for rape and incest for up to 22 weeks of pregnancy. 

There were also no fetal heartbeats detected in the 9-week-old unborn twins, meaning it would not have been an abortion.

“Amber Thurman’s state of Georgia clearly allows physicians to intervene in medical emergencies or when there is no detectable fetal heartbeat, both of which applied to her,” Francis said. “Don’t be misled by those who advocate for induced abortion over the health and safety of women.”

“This woman did not have to die,” said Dr. Susan Bane, another doctor with AAPLOG. “Based on the timeline and her symptoms, she should have had [the D&C procedure] done as soon as she could get to the hospital. It was medical negligence and had nothing to do with any sort of law in Georgia or elsewhere.” 

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America called the rhetoric around the deaths of Thurman and Miller “deadly misinformation.”

“We mourn the senseless loss of Amber, Candi, and their unborn children. We agree their deaths were preventable. But let’s be absolutely clear: Georgia’s law and every pro-life state law calls on doctors to act in circumstances just like theirs,” said Katie Daniel, SBA’s state policy director. “If abortion advocates weren’t spreading misinformation and confusion to score political points, it’s possible the outcome would have been different.”

Do pro-life states ban emergency medical care for pregnant women? 

According to the Charlotte Lozier Institute, no pro-life states prevent emergency life-saving medical treatments for pregnant women, according to one research institute.

“Make no mistake: all state abortion bans currently in effect contain exceptions to ‘prevent the death’ or ‘preserve the life’ of the pregnant person,’ according to KFF,” Francis noted. KFF, formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation, is a leading health policy organization.

KFF outlines state laws on abortion and details what exceptions pro-life states have.

Amid reports that women have been barred from medical care due to pro-life abortion limits, the Charlotte Lozier Institute investigated the claim and found that all pro-life states allow doctors to treat women with pregnancy emergencies according to their medical judgment.

“All pro-life state laws allow doctors to exercise their medical judgment to treat women with pregnancy emergencies. No law requires ‘imminence’ or ‘certainty’ before a doctor can act to save the patient’s life,” read the Sept. 13 Charlotte Lozier Institute fact sheet by Tess Cox, Dr. Ingrid Skop, and Mary Harned.  

The institute found that all pro-life states allow emergency treatments during pregnancy-related emergencies, following reports of women allegedly not receiving the medical care they require in cases of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancies, and other emergencies.

The institute found that all but five of these state laws included language allowing abortion when a woman’s health was in serious jeopardy, while in states without this language, the law permits doctors to use “reasonable” medical judgment to determine if an abortion is necessary. 

“Every state with a strong pro-life law permits doctors to treat women suffering from spontaneous miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies, and the treatment of these conditions is not considered an abortion under any law,” the institute noted. 

“Doctors and hospitals who fail to provide patients with necessary treatment in emergency circumstances may be committing malpractice,” the fact sheet noted. 

The institute cites recent cases that raise concerns that state laws may be preventing pregnant women from receiving necessary care. One woman was turned away from a hospital multiple times before an ectopic pregnancy ruptured her fallopian tube. Other articles report instances of hospitals turning away women who were suffering from ectopic pregnancies, incomplete miscarriages, premature rupture of membranes, and other circumstances.

“While it is not always easy to determine from a news article whether medical malpractice occurred, pro-life state laws are clear: Doctors can intervene in medical emergencies,” the authors wrote.

The Vatican on Sept. 16, 2024, unveiled a commemorative stamp to mark four decades of diplomatic relations with the United States.  / Credit: Governorate of the Vatican City State

CNA Staff, Sep 18, 2024 / 16:20 pm (CNA).

The Vatican this week unveiled a commemorative stamp to mark four decades of diplomatic relations with the United States. 

The two nations first announced diplomatic relations on Jan. 10, 1984. The U.S. Senate subsequently confirmed diplomat William Wilson as the first U.S. ambassador to the Holy See; he had previously served as then-President Ronald Reagan’s personal envoy to the pope. Wilson would serve as ambassador until 1986. 

The Vatican likewise named Archbishop Pio Laghi as the first apostolic pro-nuncio of the Holy See to the U.S.; he would serve in that role until 1990. 

In unveiling the stamp on Monday, Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, the president of the governorate of Vatican City State, said the commemoration was “a sign of the attention and importance that the Holy See and the Vatican City State attach to these diplomatic relations.”

“In fact, entrusting a stamp with the celebration of an event is like making a small art object that will go around the world and convey the message entrusted to it as a sort of manifesto,” the prelate said. 

Alzaga noted that U.S.-Vatican diplomatic relations extend back to 1788, when George Washington allowed that the Holy See could freely appoint bishops in the newly minted country. 

“Since then, a long road has been traveled that has made it possible to arrive at the full diplomatic relations that we enjoy today, at the basis of which there are some common principles, such as the sharing of values and the spirit of goodwill,” the cardinal said. 

Laura Hochla, the deputy chief of mission at the Vatican embassy, said at the unveiling that the stamp symbolizes “the long friendship and close collaboration that unites our two countries.”

“The protection of human rights, the promotion of social justice, and the protection of the rights of vulnerable populations are the basis of this relationship of cooperation, a relationship that is increasingly strong,” she said.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. / Credit: CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 18, 2024 / 15:50 pm (CNA).

Former president Donald Trump and Polish President Andrzej Duda will visit a Polish Marian shrine in the Bucks County suburbs of Philadelphia on Sunday, Sept. 22.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa is located in Doylestown — about midway between the two most populated cities in eastern Pennsylvania: Philadelphia and Allentown. The Catholic shrine pays homage to the historic Black Madonna icon in the southern Polish town of Czestochowa.

The Trump campaign confirmed with CNA that both leaders will attend the same event at the shrine. 

Father Maximilian Ogar, the press secretary for the shrine, told CNA that Trump and Duda will both be present for the unveiling of a monument at the shrine’s cemetery, which will commemorate the Polish solidarity movement’s fight for independence against the Soviet-backed communist regime of the 1940s through the 1980s. 

The event was organized by the Polish-American Smolensk Disaster Commemoration Committee (SDCC). Ogar could not confirm the exact time of the event but said it would take place in the afternoon. 

Ogar said that Trump and Duda are “both invited guests of the committee” and emphasized that this is neither a rally nor a campaign event. He said the event will be open to “a very limited amount of people,” possibly about 1,000. 

“[Trump is] strictly coming here as a private citizen, as a pilgrim, to pay respect to the people,” Ogar said, adding that “most of the events will be at our cemetery.” 

Following the event, Trump will “spend some time in the shrine” and have the opportunity to answer media questions, according to Ogar. He said Duda would attend Mass at the shrine.

In 2020 Trump described himself as a “nondenominational Christian.” His wife, Melania, who was born in Slovenia, is Catholic.

The national shrine in eastern Pennsylvania was first constructed in 1955 as a wooden barn chapel. In 1960, the shrine purchased more land and constructed a larger shrine. The icon of the Black Madonna in Doylestown is a copy of the Polish icon and was blessed by St. John XXIII, according to the shrine’s website.

St. John Paul II, the first pope from Poland, visited the American shrine twice as a cardinal. While serving as pontiff, he blessed and signed the Black Madonna icon that is now displayed at the national shrine. Former President George H. W. Bush visited the shrine during his presidential campaign in 1980 and former President Ronald Reagan visited the shrine while serving as president in 1984.

According to legend, the original icon in Poland was painted by St. Luke the Evangelist on a tabletop that was built by Jesus Christ when he was a carpenter. The existence and veneration of the icon in Poland are well documented as early as the 1300s.

Millions of Catholics venerate the icon in Czestochowa every year. For centuries, there have been reports of miraculous events, such as healings, from pilgrims who venerate the icon.

Nearly one-fourth of Pennsylvania’s population is Catholic, slightly above the national average. Nearly 6% of Pennsylvania is of Polish descent, which is more than twice as high as the national average.

Trump has been trying to court Catholic votes during his 2024 presidential campaign. In July, the former president accused the Biden administration of “[going] after Catholics.” In a speech, he called for “stop[ping] the Biden-Harris administration’s weaponization of law enforcement against Americans of faith.” 

Trump has been critical of Vice President Kamala Harris for her aggressive questioning of his judicial nominees about being members of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization. He has also criticized the Biden-Harris administration over a leaked Richmond FBI memo that called for an investigation into supposed ties between traditionalist Catholicism and white nationalism and has criticized the arrests of Catholic and other pro-life activists who are in jail for violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.

Both campaigns have engaged in a contentious fight for the Catholic vote. The Harris campaign is hosting a “Catholics for Harris-Walz National Organizing Call” to court Catholic votes on Wednesday evening, Sept. 18. 

Bucks County is an important battleground in the swing state of Pennsylvania. President Joe Biden won the county by less than 4.4 percentage points in 2020 and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won the county by about three-quarters of a percentage point in 2016.

Illinois state capitol building in Springfield. / Credit: Paul Brady Photography/Shutterstock

CNA Staff, Sep 18, 2024 / 15:20 pm (CNA).

A pro-life group in Illinois is urging state residents to vote against a question on their ballot related to in vitro fertilization (IVF). 

The advisory question, known as the “Assisted Reproductive Health Referendum Act,” which was approved for the Illinois ballot in May, asks Illinoisians if “all medically appropriate assisted reproductive treatments, including, but not limited to, in vitro fertilization” should be “covered by any health insurance plan in Illinois that provides coverage for pregnancy benefits, without limitation on the number of treatments.”

In Illinois, advisory questions are nonbinding and are designed to gauge public opinion and drive voter turnout. The questions approved for this election cycle are an attempt by state Democrats at “boosting turnout by party faithful,” according to the Chicago Tribune.  

Illinois Right to Life, a pro-life group active in the state, has expressed opposition to the question, noting that “in vitro fertilization is detrimental to the inherent value of life.”

“All children are equal in the eyes of God and one of the most beautiful vocations in life is becoming a parent. Life in all its stages is precious, including embryos. This absolutely includes children born from in vitro fertilization (IVF),” the group said in a Sept. 14 emailed statement. 

“However, it is important to recognize the IVF process can be harmful to new human lives, often commodifies children, and the procedure does not honor the sanctity of life.”

The Catholic Church teaches that while couples struggling to have children can use certain fertility treatments, the use of IVF is “morally unacceptable.” This is because IVF involves the use of artificial means to achieve pregnancy outside of sex between a husband and wife — the marital act — a disassociation that the Church teaches is contrary to the dignity of both parents and children.

In addition, to maximize efficiency, doctors create excess human embryos during the IVF process and routinely destroy or indefinitely freeze millions of undesired embryos.

“We sincerely ask and urge you to vote NO in the advisory referendum regarding in vitro fertilization on the Illinois general election ballot,” Illinois Right to Life said.

Illinois has some of the most permissive abortion laws in the United States, with Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker expanding access to abortion numerous times during his tenure and describing Illinois as an abortion “safe haven.”

In addition, Democratic Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth has led an effort in the U.S. Senate to promote IVF and require insurance companies to cover it. 

On Tuesday, U.S. Senate Republicans blocked the latest pro-IVF bill, which would have required that all individual and group health insurance plans that offer childbirth coverage also provide coverage for IVF. 

The bill did not include any exemptions for insurance plans provided by employers who have religious or other moral objections to IVF, such as the Catholic Church.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops had come out strongly against the federal legislation, saying that the solution to infertility “can never be a medical process that involves the creation of countless preborn children and results in most of them being frozen or discarded and destroyed.”

“Sydney is a very multicultural community,” Bishop Danny Meagher said. “We invite people from all over the world to be part of this occasion of grace.” / Credit: Eduardo Berdejo/EWTN News

ACI Prensa Staff, Sep 18, 2024 / 14:10 pm (CNA).

Sydney Auxiliary Bishop Danny Meagher is already talking up the preparations for the Australian city to host the next International Eucharistic Congress in 2028.

“The Eucharistic Congress is a unique opportunity for people’s hearts to be touched and their minds opened to the richness of the Eucharist, and it is the Eucharist that invites us to be part of the mission of Christ,” Meagher said in an interview with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.

Sydney’s designation for the meeting also reflects the desire of the archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, and the local Catholic community to revitalize the life of the Church in their country.

“We need life in the Sydney Church to flourish. We hope that it will be a great occasion of grace for all those attending, so that they return home with a true sense of grace, formed and transformed by what they have learned,” Meagher said.

Catholic Church in Australia faces similar challenges to West

Despite the rich history of the Catholic Church in Australia, which began as a small Irish convict community and grew with immigration, the country faces challenges similar to those of many other Western nations.

According to Meagher, modern culture, saturated by technology and distractions, makes it difficult for people to find their spiritual center and, consequently, their relationship with God.

“We’re distracted by a million different things. It’s hard to find our center because we’re always looking at our phone ... it’s hard to find our relationship with God,” he explained.

“Currently, among Catholics in Australia, I think between 10% and 15%, depending on the diocese, attend Mass every week. So it’s a pretty low percentage. At Christmas and Easter the numbers increase. Some people attend once a month, others irregularly. But it is difficult to attract people and make them see the importance of our spiritual health,” he acknowledged.

Faced with this reality, the prelate pointed out that the International Eucharistic Congress not only seeks to be a celebration but also a space for formation and spiritual renewal.

“The success of the congress will be measured by how we get people to appreciate and value the Eucharist, change their lives, and become part of the mission of the Church,” Meagher added.

An event for the world

The auxiliary bishop emphasized the multicultural character of the Australian capital.

“Sydney is a very multicultural community,” he said. “We invite people from all over the world to be part of this occasion of grace.”

In addition to the theological presentations and liturgical celebrations, Meagher mentioned that the congress will include elements that connect with the hearts and spirits of those attending.

“We want the entire process to involve people, with good training and elements that touch the heart, so that the entire community participates and recognizes that we are brothers and sisters,” he said.

Meagher assured that the work of the Church “will be to organize a congress of the Eucharist of the highest quality, which offers the best possible formation and which touches and enriches the hearts of the participants with the grace of God.” 

“On behalf of Archbishop Anthony Fisher, I would like to welcome all people from around the world to our International Eucharistic Congress in 2028,” he concluded.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.