June 8, 2012 by Catholic News Herald

Our nation 32

catholicnewsherald.com | June 8, 2012 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Religious liberty concerns on tap for bishops’ meeting Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With a longstanding campaign to press its concerns about infringements on religious liberty by governments and the courts, the U.S. bishops will devote a significant portion of their spring meeting June 13-15 in Atlanta to the issue. The bishops also will receive a 10-year progress report by the National Review Board on the Complete “Charter for coverage the Protection ONLINE: Look for of Children complete coverage and Young of the U.S. bishops’ People” and hear meeting in Atlanta recommendations from the review board stemming from the study “The Causes and Context of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests in the United States, 1950-2010.” Two hours will be devoted to the religious liberty discussion, which will encompass domestic and international concerns as the bishops continue to rally support for and raise awareness about infringements on religious rights in the U.S. and abroad. At the forefront of the bishops’ religious liberty efforts is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ mandate that would force Catholic institutions to provide health insurance coverage to employees for procedures the Church opposes, including abortion-inducing drugs, artificial contraceptives and sterilizations. The mandate was announced Aug. 1, 2011, as part of the rules HHS is issuing to implement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed in 2010. Other concerns have surfaced that PdmVstAng_5_10.pdf

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worry the bishops, including court rulings and policy decisions that have forced Catholic institutions out of adoption and foster care. Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty, said he will update the status of the series of lawsuits filed May 21 across the country by Catholic institutions and organizations challenging the HHS mandate. He also planned to discuss the major activities around the country for the “fortnight for freedom” campaign in support of religious freedom called by the ad hoc committee for June 21 to July 4. He said he also will review “ongoing efforts to educate Catholics and the general public on the Church’s teaching on religious liberty and religious heritage as Americans.” Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, chairman of the bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, will address religious liberty concerns internationally during the twohour discussion. Two other speakers will join Bishop Pates during the session to offer ways Americans can be in solidarity with the Church abroad. Representatives of the National Review Board will look at the progress made on preventing incidents of clergy sexual abuse since the adoption of the charter in Dallas in 2002 and offer recommendations on how to strengthen its implementation for the future. The National Review Board also will offer a series of recommendations to the bishops stemming from the “causes and context” study conducted by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York released in 2011. The study found “no single identifiable ‘cause’ of sexually abusive behavior toward minors” by clergy and encouraged steps to deny abusers “the opportunity to abuse.”

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In Brief Federal court overturns DOMA; appeal presumed BOSTON — With a ruling that acknowledged the final decision will be up to the Supreme Court, a federal appeals court declared the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional May 31. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the provision of the 1996 federal law, known as DOMA, that defines marriage as “a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.” The USCCB and the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, which had urged the court to uphold the law, called the ruling disappointing.

LCWR responds to Vatican order for reform WASHINGTON, D.C. — The national board of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious June 1 said it feels the assessment that led to a Vatican order to reform the organization “was based on unsubstantiated accusations and the result of a flawed process that lacked transparency.” The LCWR board called the sanctions “disproportionate to the concerns raised” and said they “could compromise” the organization’s ability “to fulfill their mission. The report has furthermore caused scandal and pain throughout the church community and created greater polarization,” the LCWR said after its board concluded a special meeting in Washington May 29-31, held to respond to an eight-page doctrinal assessment issued to LCWR by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Citing “serious doctrinal problems which affect many in consecrated life,” the doctrinal congregation April 18 announced a major reform of LCWR to ensure its fidelity to Catholic teaching regarding abortion, euthanasia, women’s ordination and homosexuality.

Milwaukee cites charity, stewardship in payments to abusive priests ST. FRANCIS, Wis. — “Christian charity” and “sound stewardship” prompted the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in 2003 to pay “less than a

handful” of priests who had sexually abused children at least $10,000 to seek laicization, according to Jerry Topczewski, chief of staff for the archdiocese. Topczewski was responding to questions that arose May 30 regarding the minutes of the March 7, 2003, Archdiocesan Finance Council meeting in which council members noted that “currently unassignable priests are receiving full salaries and are budgeted under the Vicar for Clergy. There is a proposal to reduce their benefit to be the same as the current pension benefit, $1,250 per month, and also offer $20,000 for laicization ($10,000 at the start and $10,000 at the completion of the process),” the minutes said. “Also, they remain on our health insurance until they find other employment.” The minutes were one of a series of documents filed by the creditors’ committee in the archdiocese’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.

Spokane reaches settlement in abuse cases, avoids foreclosure WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Diocese of Spokane, Wash., reached a broad settlement May 26 agreeing to pay $1.5 million in unresolved abuse claims, legal and mediation expenses and to replenish its future claims fund. The amount prevents the possible foreclosing of diocesan parishes and schools. “This is an important and significant turning point in a very sad chapter of our diocesan history,” said Spokane Bishop Blase J. Cupich in a three-page letter distributed May 27 to Catholics in the diocese.

Jury sides with brothers in Green Bay abuse suit GREEN BAY, Wis. — A jury May 21 sided with two brothers in a civil lawsuit filed in January 2008 against the Diocese of Green Bay. The lawsuit claimed fraud by the diocese based on plaintiffs Todd and Troy Merryfield’s allegation that the diocese knew that then-priest John Feeney had a history of sexual molestation and was a danger to children. Feeney, 85, was convicted in 2004 of sexually assaulting the brothers in 1978. The circuit court jury awarded damages of $700,000 to the Merryfields. Claims for punitive damages against the diocese were dismissed. Feeney, who was a priest of the diocese from 1952 until he was removed from the clerical state in 2005, is currently serving a sentence of 15 years for three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted sexual assault.

Pope appoints two bishops WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pope Benedict XVI has named Bishop Samuel J. Aquila of Fargo, N.D., as the new archbishop of Denver and also named Bishop Richard J. Malone of Portland, Maine, to head the Diocese of Buffalo, N.Y. The pope also accepted the resignation of Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, who is 75, the age at which canon law requires bishops to submit their resignation to the pope. — Catholic News Service

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