Catholic Culture Dedication
Catholic Culture Dedication

Stories for March 2012

Ordered from most to least recent.

Released Friday, Mar. 30

 Final Lenten Sermon explores faith, reason, and mysticism
 Arab Spring was captured by opportunists, says Patriarch of Jerusalem
 A hostile takeover in the Vatican's institute of sacred music?
 6th Anglican bishop joins Catholic ordinariate
 Jewish-Catholic commission agrees: economic crisis reflects moral crisis
 Italian bishops forbid scattering of ashes after cremation
 Pope Benedict's Prayer Intentions for April 2012
  Tiny Catholic parish struggles to survive in Afghanistan
 Irish census: Catholic majority remains strong, but family breakdown soars
 Australian bishops rally forces against same-sex marriage
 Bishop nixes Catholic campus address by Ted Kennedy’s widow
 Article examines Ukrainian Easter egg tradition
 California court upholds statute of limitations in abuse cases
 Controversial UN document may uphold 'reproductive rights' for children
 Quebec bishops decry euthanasia recommendation
 Vatican message for World Autism Day
 Cardinal Dolan tells Bill O’Reilly: ‘We can’t back down from this fight’
 Cuba releases hundreds detained during Pope’s visit

Released Thursday, Mar. 29

 Vatican announces excommunication of rebel bishops from Ukrainian Catholic Church
 Hunger Games explores dignity of life under tyranny
 Does individualism reflect a failure to understand the Trinity?
 Pope lauds freedom, raps US embargo, before leaving Cuba
 Fidel Castro questions Pope on changes in liturgy
 Bishop Fellay asks prayers for SSPX-Vatican talks
 Japanese Church fights against legal executions
 Iraqi prelate asks faithful to put aside fears
 Former pontifical council staff member questions new document on water rights
 North Carolina bishops issue statement on immigration
 Philippine bishops encourage observance of Earth Hour
 Caritas to launch global campaign against poverty
 Illicit Chinese bishop ordains priests; Maryknoll priest concelebrates
 Arizona immigration law threatens religious liberty, USCCB argues in court brief

Released Wednesday, Mar. 28

 Australian bishop looks to Asia to relieve shortage of priests
 Cuban-Americans cheer US archbishop's call for an end to Marxist rule
 Bishop Finn seeks dismissal of criminal charges in abuse case
 Castro's daughter doubts real reform is possible in Cuba
 Modern society losing sense of family life, Cardinal Scola warns
 Pakistani girl begs court to stop forced conversion and marriage
 Cuba must change, Pope says in final homily
 Prosecutors enter evidence of cover-up in Philadelphia sex-abuse trial
 Slovenia: referendum vote overturns same-sex unions
 New tensions on border of Sudan, South Sudan
 Pope designates Holy Thursday collection for Syrian refugees
 Catholic commentator regrets Pope's decision not to meet anti-Castro leaders
 Vanderbilt's discrimination policy drives Catholic group off campus
 Supreme Court hearing raises prospect that Obamacare may be overturned
 Pope speaks with Raul Castro, will meet Fidel

Released Tuesday, Mar. 27

 Pope plans full liturgical schedule for Holy Week, Easter
 Anglican groups decline to endorse document on union despite differences
 Republicans fail to advance 'social issues'
 Abortionists feel immune from legal requirements
 Cuban police detained activists before Pope's arrival
 World Youth Day theme: 'Rejoice in the Lord Always'
 Key accuser in Philadelphia abuse case has criminal record
 Russian Orthodox spokesman raps British government stand on wearing crucifix at work
 German SSPX leader optimistic on reaching agreement with Vatican
 US bishops grant $3.5M to Church in Caribbean
 Thieves repeatedly target English cathedral
 Burma: army ransacks church, burns Bibles
 Are Islamists targeting Christians in Homs? Catholic groups dispute cause of exodus
 Vatican approves blessing for child in womb
 Judge: federal grants to USCCB for human-trafficking victims are unconstitutional

Released Monday, Mar. 26

 Irish columnist laments bishops' unwillingness to challenge politicians
 European Church leaders protest Saudi fatwa for destruction of churches
 Arriving in Cuba, Pope issues clear call for change
 Trial opens in Pennsylvania sex-abuse scandal
 Vietnam bars Vatican delegation research for late cardinal's beatification cause
 Archbishop warns against attempts to 'redefine nature' by accepting same-sex marriage
 Proper understanding of Vatican II is key to Church's future, Pope says
 Obamacare is constitutional, contraceptive mandate is not, bishop argues
 Cardinal Brady repeats that he will not resign
 Papal visit highlights debate on Church role in Cuba
 Cardinal Bertone lauds Christian activism, raps class warfare
 Pope energizes Mexican Catholics with call to revival of faith
 Canadian judge gives jail term, tongue-lashing to pro-life activist
 Vatican cancels conference on stem-cell research; embryo researchers had been on agenda
 Caritas appeal for Burkina Faso
 EWTN Radio grows to nearly 200 affiliates
 New York bishops oppose ‘chemical digestion’ bill
 Russian patriarch blasts punk rock band’s cathedral action
 Chinese officials detain bishop, compel him to attend ‘learning classes’
 Over 50,000 rally for religious freedom in US

Released Friday, Mar. 23

 European bishops' group supports European Union policies
 America magazine decries US bishops' stand on religious freedom
 President Carter says he clashed with 'fundamentalist' Pope John Paul II
 Ex-priest's guilty plea creates complications in Philadelphia abuse trial
 Syrian refugees flood camps in Lebanon
 China admits transplanting organs from condemned prisoners
 How gay activists seek to intimidate opponents
 Pope sends greetings to Obama, other national leaders
 Pope comments on failure of Marxism in Cuba, scourge of drug traffic in Mexico
 Another Iraqi Christian murdered; exodus continues
 US Catholics grown more skeptical of Obama on religious-freedom issue
 Pope begins 23rd foreign trip, to Mexico and Cuba
 Iowa bishops call for day of prayer, fasting for religious liberty
 Prelate emphasizes US bishops’ support for human rights in Cuba
 US attempts to push contraception agenda through UN women’s commission
 Nuncio backs UN plan for Syria
 European court issues mixed ruling on same-sex marriage
 US bishops to back federal government in immigration dispute with Arizona

Released Thursday, Mar. 22

 Vatican hosting meeting to plan World Youth Day
 Church mediates gang truce in El Salvador
 Russian Orthodox should admit cooperation with Stalin, says Ukrainian Catholic leader
 Indian archbishop: Not involved in negotiations with Italians’ kidnappers
 New Montreal archbishop puts focus on faith, not controversy
 Irish probe police inaction on abuse complaints in Cloyne diocese
 Tracing history of US government promotion of contraception
 Alabama joins EWTN lawsuit against Obamacare
 Papal visit won't strengthen Cuban government, Cardinal Bertone assures
 Rallies for religious freedom to take place across nation on Friday
 Austria: pastor bars homosexual from parish council
 North Carolina bishops criticize Obama statement on marriage amendment
 Beatification causes for Boys Town, Maryknoll founders
 Dutch bishops react to report of castrations; commentator offers context
 At least 1,000 missionaries slain since 1980

Released Wednesday, Mar. 21

 Controversy awaits on Pope's trip to Mexico, Cuba
 Irish columnist: Catholic theology causes abuse
 Castro critics vow presence at Pope's public appearances in Cuba
 Chinese police destroy tombstone of 'underground' priest
 Islamic forces target Christians in Syria
 Montana priest faces child pornography charges
 USCCB urges pastors to promote prayer campaign for religious liberty
 Boston archdiocese criticized for lay employees’ high salaries
 $175M restoration of St. Patrick’s Cathedral
 Egypt: town officials expel Christian family
 Report documents anti-Christian discrimination in Europe

Released Tuesday, Mar. 20

 Vatican report gives blunt assessment of Church crisis in Ireland
 Cause moves forward for beatification of Vietnamese prelate
 Plenary indulgence available at opening of English shrine for extraordinary form
 Sydney archdiocese awards grant for adult stem-cell research
 Walesa backs Cuban democracy activists' plea for meeting with Pontiff
 New archbishops for Baltimore, Montreal
 Santorum believes in sin, Post profile alerts readers
 String of bombings in Iraq; Baghdad church among targets
 Beatification cause advances for Father Walter Ciszek, missionary who endured Soviet gulags
 Vatican officials meet European banking investigators
 'Courtyard of the Gentiles' to meet in Sicily, discuss law and Mafia
 Copts face uncertain future after leader's death
 Dutch report: boys castrated in Catholic psychiatric institutes in 1950s
 Vatican spokesman: Cubans feel they are ‘on the verge of a new age’
 Holy See, archbishop condemn French school shooting
 Jordanian prince urges Arab Christians not to emigrate
 Violence-torn Mexico to greet Pope
 Cardinal Tauran laments ‘right-wing’ ignorance of Islam

Released Monday, Mar. 19

 Why don’t radical Catholics just leave?
 Leading US bank closes Vatican bank’s account
 Nigerian Anglican prelate raps outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury
 Diocese approves exorcism prayers at abortion clinic
 Lawyer-client privilege bars release of some documents, Philadelphia archdiocese says
 Obama administration sketches details of contraceptive mandate
 Lent is 'journey with Jesus across the desert,' Pope tells audience
 Pope's schedule for Cuba has political implications
 Italian premier and Pope share feast day
 Interview with married couple who will write Good Friday meditations
 Land purchased for possible Southern regional seminary
 Syria: nuncio welcomes humanitarian initiative
 USCCB: prayer campaign for religious liberty
 Sostituto blasts Vatican leakers, discusses investigation
 Coptic Orthodox patriarch dead at 88

Released Friday, Mar. 16

 Nigerian archbishop prods government to find terrorists' sponsors
 Catholic bishops prodded Komen to drop Planned Parenthood support
 Dukakis lauds deceased Cardinal Cushing for accepting legal contraceptives
 Vatican not planning to investigate source of leaked documents?
 Catholic, Orthodox leaders reach accord on reconciliation between Poland and Russia
 New Vatican web site hosts doctrinal statements
 Seek to understand the Trinity, says papal preacher
 Vatican says No to deal with traditionalists
 Catholic layman, business owner files suit against HHS mandate
 Papal condolences for bus crash victims
 Chile: bishop, religious urge government not to suppress protestors
 Rwandan bishop acquitted of genocide dies; approved Kibeho apparitions
 Argentina: bishops blast court decision allowing abortion in case of rape
 Cuba: police remove protestors who occupied parish

Released Thursday, Mar. 15

 Court ruling favors rebellious St. Louis parish
 Pope's doctoral dissertation published as part of 16-volume series
 Why President Obama is prepared to sacrifice Catholic support
 Syrian Christians fear for their future
 Church in Quebec faces lawsuit on forced adoptions
 Married couple chosen by Pope to write Good Friday meditations
 Work moves slowly forward on massive cleaning project in St. Peter's Square
 US bishops appeal for Middle East peace
 California bishop laments effects of climate change
 Australian bishop, Maryland governor to address dissident gay Catholic group
 Palestinian Authority: Baptist church is illegitimate
 Vatican preparing new document on right to water
 US bishops decry ‘illegal and unjust’ HHS mandate, call for prayer and penance

Released Wednesday, Mar. 14

 Father Guarnizo defends himself, denies archdiocesan explanation for disciplinary action
 Papal visit should 'revive a sleeping faith,' says Cuban cardinal
 Eucharistic Congress will bring renewal to Irish Church, archbishop believes
 Vanderbilt Law seen violating a principle on which it is founded
 Pope welcomes 'Benedictine torch'
 Another Pakistani Christian woman charged with blasphemy
 Poll shows majority oppose same-sex marriage in Scotland
 Many British oppose government's stand on crucifix case, Vatican newspaper notes
 Vatican newspaper underlines Pope's caution on liturgies of Neocatechumenal Way
 Marian devotion means learning to pray, Pope tells audience
 Vatican newspaper: praise for the Free Hugs Campaign
 Study: suicide rates higher in Protestant nations than Catholic ones
 Following lawsuit, university recognizes Christian pro-life group
 USCCB calls for Good Friday prayer, advocacy for the hungry
 Pennsylvania bishops declare day of fasting for religious liberty
 Syria: nuncio calls upon Assad to end civilian killings

Released Tuesday, Mar. 13

 Revive discussion of the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act, suggests Arkes
 British government will argue against right to wear crucifix at work
 Bishop sees slender hope for talks with White House on HHS mandate
 Irish cardinal meets with abuse victims
 Archbishop of Canterbury will address October Synod meeting
 Papal condolence for Italian terror victim
 Abortions reportedly done at Spanish Catholic hospitals
 Most Americans oppose forced contraceptive coverage
 Former financial officer for Philadelphia archdiocese arrested
 Cuba's government TV to broadcast address by Cardinal Ortega
 Peoria Catholic Charities: new organization emerges after same-sex adoption law
 Anglican leader pays tribute to English Benedictines
 Worldwide surge in priestly vocations continues
 Cuban prelate: charity at heart of Pope Benedict’s visit
 Nigeria: prelate urges calm following bombing of church
 Hundreds of thousands of Christians ordered to leave Sudan

Released Monday, Mar. 12

 Bid for same-sex marriage drains support for Scottish nationalism
 Suit charges widespread fraud by Planned Parenthood
 Tony Blair bucks bishops, backs same-sex marriage
 Steyn appraises the Fluke furor
 The moral hazards of organ transplants
 World's Catholic population up 1.5%
 Leading Cuban dissident speaks, one year after release from prison
 New York bishops were assured same-sex marriage would not pass, cardinal discloses
 South African man, opponent of witchcraft, could be recognized as martyr
 Anonymous hackers now attack Vatican Radio
 Archbishop of Canterbury, Pope pray Vespers together
 Wrong to see Jesus as a political revolutionary, Pope says
 Chinese cardinal reflects on changes in Beijing's approach
 Jewish commentary on New Testament published
 Vatican spokesman recalls Japan’s tsunami, earthquake
 Papal preacher focuses on St. Athanasius
 Priest who denied Holy Communion to lesbian placed on leave
 HHS mandate: USCCB decries unequal treatment of Amish, Catholics
 Catholic parish bombed in Nigeria

Released Friday, Mar. 9

 Spanish lawmakers reject bid to revise pact with Vatican
 Filipino Cardinal Sanchez dead at 91
 Will US bishops hold firm on mandate or seek compromise?
 Philadelphia archdiocese near decision on suspended priests
 Bishop puts Confirmation before First Communion, wins Pope’s praise
 Vietnamese Catholic activists face prison terms for human-right leafletting
 Pakistani police official rapes Christian girl; colleagues decline to take action
 Vatican web technicians minimized damage from hackers' attack
 Defend marriage, oppose same-sex unions, Pope urges US bishops
 Confession spurs New Evangelization, Pope says
 Vatican envoy rebukes UN activism on 'gender ideology,' same-sex unions
 1,000th anniversary of Camaldolese Benedictines
 Archbishop Nienstedt: believers must strive against materialism
 Future Pope Pius XII backed Jewish homeland in Palestine
 Korean bishop rips government over naval base
 Netherlands considers expansion of assisted suicide
 Boko Haram threatens kidnapping campaign against Christian women

Released Thursday, Mar. 8

 See migration as an opportunity, urges Vatican envoy
 New Hampshire House approves conscience policy for contraceptive coverage
 If steroids are illegal, why not contraceptives?
 Proponent of women's ordination loses teaching post at Jesuit university
 Items from Vatican Museums collection on loan for Etruscan exhibition
 New Vatican document explores role of theology
 US lists Vatican as vulnerable to money-laundering operations
 Vatican web site restored
 Former head of Vatican governatorate defends administration against Vatileaks charges
 Vatican newspaper praises Where Do We Go Now?
 Round-the-clock Catholic chaplains at London Olympics
 Interview with new president of Catholic Relief Services
 Diocese will no longer fund agency whose new director backs abortion
 USCCB weighs in on federal budget
 Boko Haram threatens to eradicate Christianity in northern Nigeria

Released Wednesday, Mar. 7

 Vatican overturns parish closings in Cleveland diocese
 White House shifts arguments in favor of Obama mandate
 'Big Government' threatens to quash Church influence
 Pope welcomes Armenian prelates to Rome for Synod
 Pope renews term for president of Italian bishops' conference
 Irish visitation results to be made public soon
 Hackers' attack cripples Vatican web site
 Silence is crucial to prayer, Pope tells Wednesday audience
 USCCB weighs in on 2012 Farm Bill
 New ABC show called deeply offensive to Christians
 Pakistan: bishops’ conference laments plight of Christian, Hindu women
 Adoption: Virginia legislature defends religious liberty
 Germany: Christ’s sacred tunic to be displayed for veneration
 Syrian Christians fleeing to Lebanon

Released Tuesday, Mar. 6

 Vietnamese officials seize more Catholic parish land
 English bishops to join debate against same-sex marriage
 Vatican representative reminds UN: rural women face special problems
 One year later, suspended Philadelphia priests await word on their futures
 Wall Street Journal sees 'chilling' attack on Church freedom
 Brazzaville residents, refugees mobilize to recover after devastating explosions
 Papal condolence after Polish train tragedy
 Westminster Abbey choir to sing at St. Peter's basilica
 Zimbabwe: Christian leaders welcome cardinal’s remarks on same-sex marriage
 Immigration: bishop criticizes Secure Communities program
 Obama administration to end embryo adoption program
 USCCB urges Catholics to lobby for dramatic reduction in nuclear weapons
 Cardinal Cañizares calls for ‘moderation’ of concelebration in Latin Rite
 Maronite patriarch: ‘Arab Spring’ is turning into winter

Released Monday, Mar. 5

 Santorum's faith grew deeper after entering Senate
 Rome's seminarians vie for Clericus Cup soccer title
 Saint's heart stolen from Irish Anglican cathedral
 Santeria leaders upset that Pope will not meet with them during visit to Cuba
 Vatican exhibit highlights work to preserve Scriptures
 Church demolished, hundreds killed by explosions in Brazzaville
 Lenten Retreat ends; Pope thanks preacher
 Anti-Catholicism at Peru's rebellious pontifical university
 European demonstrations call for preservation of Sunday rest
 Vietnamese bishop plans to defy 'No Religion Zone'
 Pope tells Roman parishioners: don't wait; evangelize
 Transfiguration shows Christ as the light from God
 Vatican spokesman emphasizes value of silence
 Vatican newspaper pays tribute to architect Pugin
 Quebec prelate welcomes social media for evangelization
 Cardinal O’Brien: same-sex marriage a ‘grotesque subversion,’ a ‘great wrong’
 Bishop Lori rips America editorial on HHS mandate
 USCCB: preventive war against Iran would raise serious moral questions

Released Friday, Mar. 2

 Slain Pakistani Catholic praised on anniversary of his death
 Cuban bishops look forward to papal visit; exiles have misgivings
 Traditionalist Anglican group removes Archbishop Hepworth from top post
 Commitment to truth is theme of Vatican Lenten Retreat
 Obama mandate promises windfall for pharmaceutical companies
 Papal preacher will explore Eastern doctors of the Church in Lenten sermons
 White House tells US bishops: listen to liberal Catholics
 2.2 billion people denied religious freedom, says Vatican envoy
 Biden: contraceptive mandate mishandled, but 'compromise' is right
 SNAP leader ducked questions in damaging deposition
 Sebelius: contraception will cut medical costs
 Another 'VatiLeaks' story aims to unsettle Cardinal Bertone
 What if American Catholic hospitals close?
 Pro-lifers barred from midwifery in Scotland?
 Catholic college sued over failure to provide distraught student single room
 Religious leaders urge renewed efforts for Mideast peace
 China bans ‘nasty’ slogans in enforcing 1-child policy
 Telegraph exposé on sex-selective abortions
 Pakistan: 2 Christians kidnapped, woman tortured
 US bishops: ‘we will not rest’ until conscience protection restored

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