Thomas C. Fox's blog

D.C. officials press for compromise on Catholic Charities

Pope, Anglican Leader to Meet Amid Celibacy, Conversion Debates

Christian leaders issue 'call of conscience'

In Kansas City, Catholic kids mix fun with their faith

Pope's Address to Assembly of Catholic Universities

Now where have I heard this story before?

This from the blog, "Religion, Sex and Politics."

I always find Jesuit Thomas Reese's reflections clear headed.

Catching up on some reading I came across something he wrote nearly a week ago. I recommend it if you are confused about the issue:

Catholic Charities, gays and DC's poor

It has been so unfair. Elements in our Catholic community have repeatedly placed the blame of the sex abuse scandal that has rocked our church at the feet of a gay clergy.

It has been a case of guilty until proven innocent.

Bishops told to unite, build stronger church

Bishops discuss authority over Catholic colleges

Study: No clergy abuse, gayness tie

Streets to close for Catholic Youth Conference

The cappa magna, according to the Random House dictionary is "ceremonial cloak having a long train and a silk or fur-lined hood, worn by cardinals, bishops, and certain other dignitaries." Ordinarily scarlet for cardinals and purple for bishops, the train has varied in length and, it is reported, was originally used as a covering for the back end of a horse.

U.S. Catholic bishops approve document on marriage

New Ind. bishop voted chair-elect of laity panel

Deputy for Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations comments on Vatican's Apostolic Constitution

Reforming the Catholic Campaign for Human Development

Vatican encourages Chinese Catholics, sees signs of hope

A Vietnamese-born lawyer, the first Vietnamese-American to be elected to Congress, and a former Jesuit seminarian, Anh "Joseph" Cao was the lone Republican to vote for landmark health care reform on November 7, 2009.

Cao spoke with National Jesuit News about the process of discernment that he uses in reaching decisions as a U.S. congressman, how those decisions are grounded in his background in Ignatian spirituality and why he didn’t chose the party line in voting for health care reform.

Writes Jerry Filteau, NCR Washington Correspondent: "Another surprise element introduced on the opening day of the bishops’ Nov. 16-19 meeting came during initial informational presentation of several supposedly final segments of the new English translation of the Latin Roman Missal.

"As the first of the five final segments was introduced, Bishop Donald W. Trautman of Erie, Pa., rose to ask what had ever happened to the translations of the antiphons – which the bishops had discussed in the first draft form a couple of years ago, he said, but which had never come back to them in final draft form for actual debate and vote.

"Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli of Paterson, N.J., chairman of the USCCB Committee on the Liturgy, answered that the antiphons did not come back to the bishops for approval because in the meantime the Holy See has taken their translation to itself.

Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in his presidential address at the U.S. bishops' semi-annual gathering, in Baltimore, said Nov. 16 that Catholic publications, universities or other organizations that insist on complete independence from their bishops are “sectarian, less than fully Catholic.”

Bishops defend role in health care bill debate

The Bishops' Line in the Sand on Abortion

La Crosse Diocese prepares for future without Bishop Listecki

First Latin America gay marriage on December 1

A Catholic Vision of the Health Care Reform

Bishops split over Mass translation

Hispanic Catholics react to new bishop announcement

Listecki makes a good first impression

Debate dogs U.S. ambassador

Times' letters: Abortion and the Health Care Debate

Reactionss: Catholic Church, Same-Sex Marriage, Washington DC

The following open letter to President Obama was written by Mercedarian Missionaries Sister Filo Hirota Nov. at the outset of his first visit to Japan last week. She shares with the president some of the feelings of many Japanese who have worked for world peace for many years.

As insightful a essay as you are likely to find anywhere into the state the irrational, politically destructive right, and a complicit media, appeared this morning on The New York Times Week in Review. Entitled "My Near Death Panel Experience," it was written by Congressman Earl Blumenauer (Democratic from Oregon)about his experiences with the health care bill. While it is terrifying to read, it has a happy ending.

I recommend it for its instructive value and to help innculate us from an all too common disease the next time we find it spreading in our communities.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and U.S. President Barack Obama will reiterate their intent to pursue a world without nuclear weapons following their summit meeting Friday, government officials said.

The two leaders will agree to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance over the long term, while postponing a final decision on the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture, a sticking issue between the two countries.

Catholic Church needs more Internet savvy: bishop

Catholic officials: Don'tforsake D.C.'s poor in gay marriage fight

Alien life is possible: Vatican

Priest abuse novel wins honor

How Catholic Bishops Threw the Health Care Debate into Turmoil

Verbally, R.I. bishop isn't turning his cheek, welcomes tussles with politicians

Converted churches combine Anglican traditions, Catholic values

Catholic Church Ready To Walk Over D.C. Gay Marriage

Clinton spreads pro-choice message in Catholic Philippines

Conn. judge: Release church abuse papers by Dec. 1

On the Returnee Catholics

THE INFLUENCE GAME: Bishops shape health care bill

Vatican looks to heavens for signs of alien life

The Left's Stupak Stupification

Yesterday I wrote an article about Sr. Louise Akers' talk at the Call to Action gathering held in Milwaukee over the weekend. Today a received an email from some folks in Australia who, upset by the Akers situation have started a site at which men can apologize ("An Apology to Women") to women "for the continued second class situation that women have to cope with in the Catholic church." I am told, truth be known, the idea originated with a man.

You might want to check it out - and some of you (men) might want to be part of the collective apology.

The World March for Peace and Nonviolence, which involves 50 marchers and the support of dozens of peace organizations including some two dozen Nobel laureates, will be coming to the United States Nov. 3, arriving in New York before moving on to Washington DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

The march began in New Zealand Oct. 2, the anniversary of Gandhi’s birth and will conclude in the Andes Mountains (Punta de Vacas, Aconcagua, Argentina) on Jan. 2.

It has just left Berlin, where its activities coincided with the anniversary of the fall of the Wall. Having crossed Oceania, Asia, the Middle East, northern Europe and the Balkans, the march arrived in Italy today.

Why the World March? As its sponsors affirm:

• Because we can end world hunger with 10 percent of what is spent on arms. Imagine how life would be if 30-50 percent of the arms budget went toward improving people’s lives instead of being used for destruction.

Anglicans welcome offer from Rome

Catholic Church Emerges as Key Player in Legislative Battle

Mexican clergy seek global help as violence grows

US deacon claims miracle cure by 19th century British cleric

Representative Joseph Cao’s Catholic conscience

Dianne Bergant (photo by David Gawlic)Consider for a moment the challenge Sister of St. Agnes Dianne Bergant posed to CTA delegates in a plenary session Saturday morning, based on biblical reflections. She said:

"Our understanding of ourselves or our identity, not merely our practices of social justice, must be radically revised," she said. "While we are certainly called to open our minds and hearts and lives to migrants and to commit ourselves to their well being, we should consider the possibility that the migrants themselves, and not our commitment to them, might be the source of God’s blessing for us.

McClorysWhere there is Call To Action there is Bob McClory, journalist, author, longtime NCR contributor, and CTA co-founder. And where there is Robert McClory there is Margaret McClory, CTA co-founder and organizer and CTA mind and heart for more than three decades.

Bob spoke Saturday morning, relating a meeting he and Margaret had with Holland’s Dominican theologian, Fr. Edward Schillebeeckx, who will celebrate his 95th birthday next Saturday.

The McClorys visited Schillebeeckx two years ago during an NCR assignment on the Dutch church.

The Belgian-born Schillebeeckx remains in Nijmegen, where he taught for so many years at the University of Nijmegen, and where, in a small house on a quiet street.

Sister of Charity Louise Akers addressed the Call to Action gathering in a plenary session Friday evening.

Akers last August was told by Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk to publicly disassociate herself from the issue of women’s ordination or lose her ability to continue making any presentations or teaching for credit in any archdiocesan-related institution.

CTA's Jim Fitzgerald (photos by David GawlicJim Fitzgerald, the new executive director of Call to Action for the first time in his new role stood before more than 2,000 gathered delegates to the 2009 conference held in Milwaukee this weekend.

These were his remarks:

Good evening Call To Action! Peace be with you.

As I complete my first 12 weeks as Call To Action’s new Executive Director, in this month of Thanksgiving, I find so much for which to be grateful.

Call to Action 2009 BrochureThis is the weekend progressive-minded Catholics from throughout the nation trek to Milwaukee for Call to Action's annual gathering. It's a weekend of workshops, talks, exhibits, with plenty of time for old friends to gather over coffee, tea -- and to share stories and renew friendships and hopes. After all, it can get lonely out there in some parishes.

With the "restoration" of a pre-Vatican II church going full speed ahead at the top of the food chain the “what might have been"-ers need some place to come together just to catch their collective breaths and souls.

Cardinal Franc Rodé, who is conducting an apostolic visitation of U.S. women religious communities, spoke about the visitation on Vatican Radio Nov. 4, Catholic News Service reported.

He told Vatican Radio Nov. 4 that some media presented the visitation "as if it were an act of mistrust of American female religious congregations or as if it were a global criticism of their work. It is not,"

In the radio interview, Rodé said the investigation was a response to concerns, including by "an important representative of the U.S. church" regarding "some irregularities or omissions in American religious life. Most of all, you could say, it involves a certain secular mentality that has spread in these religious families and, perhaps, also a certain 'feminist' spirit."

Bishop, Rep. Patrick Kennedy to meet on abortion dispute

Judge won't order Del. bishop to appear at creditors meeting

Paraguayan president dismisses military chiefs

A Gay Catholic Now?

York's Roman Catholic diocese may appeal against High Court decision

Dubuque archdiocese suspects worker took $60,000

The pressure by abortion opponents appears to be paying off as House Democratic leaders signaled that they were prepared to make further changes to their health care bill.

Generally speaking, Democrats had argued that the health care legislation would make no change to existing federal laws regarding how tax dollars could be used to pay for abortions.

Bob McDonnell: Catholic family formed life views

Cross ban in Italy schools

Spokane Catholic Diocese gets more abuse reports

Vatican warns parents that Halloween is 'anti-Christian'