Making pro-choice advocates ‘rethink their position’

From the America magazine blog:

This morning’s “Morning Edition” had a segment on writer Elizabeth McCracken and her new book about her first child who died in utero. It is the kind of story that will make pro-choice advocates re-think their position and is a perfect example of how we in the pro-life community can change the culture to better reflect the reality of pre-natal human life.

Most-viewed CNS stories for December — and one film review

This monthly list typically is just about CNS news stories. But for December there’s one exception not included below: If this list included film reviews, the movie “Doubt” would also be here in the top 10. And since the review was released on Dec. 12, before many people knew that the subject of the story is suspected priestly sex abuse of a child, you may want to click on the link above to see what the U.S. bishops’ Office for Film and Broadcasting thought of the movie.

Other than that, here’s this month’s list, in case you missed any of these stories. I would particularly recommend No. 1 on this list, which came to us from The Pilot, Boston archdiocesan paper.

1. Couple say rosary, prayers helped them survive ordeal at Mumbai hotel (Dec. 4).

2. Vatican makes clear its opposition to U.N. homosexuality declaration (Dec. 2).

3. Archbishop asks for tolerance of differing views in same-sex debate (Dec. 3).

4. U.S. dioceses prepare for gloomy economic forecast, pray for the best (Dec. 18).

5. Pope gives Curia treats, heavy 2008 analysis to chew on for Christmas (Dec. 22).

6. Vatican mum on newspaper report of pope’s visit to Holy Land May 8-15 (Dec. 16).

7. Church opposes considering homosexuality a crime, spokesman says (Dec. 11).

8. Cardinal Dulles dies at 90; Jesuit theologian made a cardinal in ’01 (Dec. 15).

9. More women leaders needed at the Vatican, says Cherie Blair (Dec. 15).

10. Cardinal Dulles remembered as ‘priest’s priest’ at New York funeral (Dec. 19).

Bishop of Salt Lake City calls for immigration reforms

The emotional issue of immigration reform may have stalled in the U.S. Congress, but the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ migration committee, speaking to a group in his home Diocese of Salt Lake City, believes lawmakers are destined to deal with the topic sooner rather than later.

The Intermountain Catholic, newspaper of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, covered the talk by Bishop John C. Wester. In its story, headlined “Understanding will come from immigrants’ stories,” the paper provides coverage of  the bishop discussing some of the myths about illegal immigrants.

Bishop Wester also talked about the need for reform and about the courage lawmakers will have to muster to tackle such a politically unpopular issue.