Georgia Bulletin

Washington

• Syrian refugees: Aid agencies adapt as 1.6 million flood neighboring countries

  

  By PATRICIA ZAPOR, Catholic News Service
  Published December 5, 2013

  WASHINGTON (CNS)—With an estimated 6.5 million Syrians—one-third of the country’s population—displaced from their homes, aid agencies are scrambling to meet needs that go beyond traditional emergency assistance. T. Alexander Aleinikoff, the deputy high commissioner for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, told a Washington audience Nov. 22 that the influx of Syrians to adjoining countries—Jordan, […] Full Story

• High court to hear two cases on HHS mandate; declines employer case

  

  Published December 5, 2013

  WASHINGTON (CNS)—The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Nov. 26 to take up two cases that challenge provisions of the Affordable Care Act requiring employers to provide contraceptive coverage on behalf of for-profit companies whose owners object to the mandate for religious reasons. On Dec. 2, the court announced it had declined to hear the appeal of […] Full Story

• Something—or something less—for everyone in new farm bill?

  

  By MARK PATTISON, Catholic News Service
  Published November 21, 2013

  WASHINGTON (CNS)—The farm bill, already one year late, could be even later if the House-Senate conference committee working on the compromise version takes its sweet time. According to Bob Gronski, a policy analyst with the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, the lawmakers are taking the bill one “title” at a time until the conference committee […] Full Story

• Site of Kennedy funeral in ‘63, cathedral is ‘holy ground’

  

  By MARK ZIMMERMANN, Catholic News Service
  Published November 21, 2013

  WASHINGTON (CNS)—On Nov. 25, 1963, a television audience of millions of people around the world prayerfully bid farewell to President John F. Kennedy, as his flag-draped coffin was placed before the sanctuary of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, during the funeral Mass for the slain president. Today, almost 50 years later, […] Full Story

• Bishop urges temporary protected status for Philippine citizens in U.S.

  

  Published November 21, 2013

  WASHINGTON (CNS)—The “widespread loss of life and property” in the Philippines caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan warrants granting temporary protected status to Philippine citizens residing in the United States, a U.S. bishop told federal officials in a Nov. 18 letter. The status, known as TPS, allows citizens of the designated country to reside legally in […] Full Story

• Comet ISON expected to give earth-based observers a Thanksgiving show

  

  By DENNIS SADOWSKI, Catholic News Service
  Published November 7, 2013

  WASHINGTON (CNS)—A “dirty snowball” is expected to put on a show for earth-based observers in the pre-dawn skies around Thanksgiving. Astronomers are projecting that Comet ISON, discovered in September 2012, will be a unusually bright visitor to the inner solar system starting just before Nov. 28 and continuing for days afterward. But, as usual in […] Full Story

• On bishops’ agenda: elections, marriage

  

  Published October 24, 2013

  WASHINGTON (CNS)—Elections for a new president and vice president, a discussion and vote on a Spanish-language book of prayers at Mass, and a proposal to develop a statement on pornography are among the items awaiting the U.S. bishops when they gather in Baltimore for their annual fall assembly. At their Nov. 11-14 meeting at the […] Full Story

• Archbishop honored for service to Catholic education

  

  Published October 11, 2013

  ARLINGTON, Va.—Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory was one of six individuals who received the NCEA Seton Award from the National Catholic Educational Association at the 23rd annual Seton Awards ceremony, held Oct. 7 in Washington, D.C. This award honors philanthropy, leadership and service to Catholic education and is the NCEA’s highest honor. The award is named […] Full Story

• Notable cases from Catholic perspective on Supreme Court docket

  

  By PATRICIA ZAPOR, Catholic News Service
  Published October 10, 2013

  WASHINGTON (CNS)—The Supreme Court’s docket for the term beginning Oct. 7 is notable—from the perspective of the Catholic Church—for a handful of cases accepted or in the pipeline that would refine previous rulings on free speech, public prayer and the Affordable Care Act. The docket so far lacks cases that would appear to be of […] Full Story

• Agencies stretching to meet needs of Syrians displaced by civil war

  

  By PATRICIA ZAPOR, Catholic News Service
  Published September 26, 2013

  WASHINGTON (CNS)—Governments and nongovernmental agencies are struggling to keep up with the needs and pressures created by the displacement of nearly a third of Syria’s population because of the country’s civil war. Assistance to the refugees and displaced people is coming from around the world, although resources are thinly stretched. Representatives of several Catholic agencies […] Full Story

• U.S. Supreme Court overturns key provision of Voting Rights Act

  By PATRICIA ZAPOR, Catholic News Service
  Published September 24, 2013

  WASHINGTON (CNS)—The Supreme Court June 25 overturned the part of the Voting Rights Act used to determine that 15 states have had to comply with the law’s protections for minority voters. The 5-4 decision said: “Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional; its formula can no longer be used as a basis for […] Full Story

• Would attacking Syria be a just war? Some see cloudy, some see clear answers

  

  By PATRICIA ZAPOR, Catholic News Service
  Published September 12, 2013

  WASHINGTON (CNS)—Even with just war theory as a guide, the answers remain murky to moral and ethical questions about whether a military strike is the appropriate response to what U.S. officials believe was a chemical attack against Syrian civilians, analysts said. While President Barack Obama, Congress and other world leaders weigh how to respond to […] Full Story

• Advocates encouraged by legislative successes on abortion

  By ZOEY DI MAURO Catholic News Service
  Published August 30, 2013

  WASHINGTON (CNS)—With the recent success of abortion-related legislation at the state and federal levels, is the end in sight for pro-life supporters? The country watched as Democratic State Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth filibustered against a bill to toughen abortion regulations, only to have it passed later in a second special session and signed […] Full Story

• Western church leaders warn against intervention in Syria

  By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
  Published August 30, 2013

  WASHINGTON (CNS)—As speculation mounted about Western air strikes on Syria, a committee of U.S. bishops called for a political solution, and Catholic leaders in Europe warned military intervention could lead to an escalation of hostilities. In a letter to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, the chairman of the bishops’ Committee on International Justice and […] Full Story

• Millennials, young minority adults suffer high unemployment

  By LYNN LECLUYSE, Catholic News Service
  Published August 15, 2013

  WASHINGTON (CNS)—Emily Rolla, a 22-year-old graduate of the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, recently accepted a retail job at Target after trying unsuccessfully since December to get a job in her field of study. A double major in communication arts and German, Rolla has applied for jobs ranging from public relations, social media management […] Full Story

• Bishop says joblessness, exploitation denying millions ‘honor, respect’

  By MARK PATTISON, Catholic News Service
  Published August 15, 2013

  WASHINGTON (CNS)—Millions of workers are being denied the honor and respect they deserve because of a lack of jobs, underemployment, low wages and exploitation, according to the bishop who heads the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development. “Earlier this year, Pope Francis pointed out, ‘Work is fundamental to the dignity of a […] Full Story

• Madagascar archbishop confirms no contraceptives in CRS programs

  By DENNIS SADOWSKI, Catholic News Service
  Published August 15, 2013

  WASHINGTON (CNS)—A Madagascar archbishop confirmed in talks with leading U.S. church leaders that Catholic Relief Services is not providing or facilitating access to contraceptives and abortifacients in its health care programs in his archdiocese. The Population Research Institute had alleged in a series of reports in July that some CRS workers were engaged in family […] Full Story

• Church musician convention highlights liturgy constitution anniversary

  By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service
  Published August 1, 2013

  WASHINGTON (CNS)—Most Americans will remember Nov. 22, 1963, as the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, but liturgists will note that date also as the day the Second Vatican Council approved the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. The effects of the constitution, promulgated Dec. 4, 1963, are still being felt today, and its golden […] Full Story

• All called to ‘proclaim truth’ of faith, bishop tells deaf conference

  Published August 1, 2013

  WASHINGTON (CNS)—With hands moving quickly through the air, members of the International Catholic Deaf Association signed all the responses in unison for a July 16 Mass celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington as part of their seventh biennial conference. “We have been called to life, we have […] Full Story

• Bishops will closely study final HHS rule

  By CAROL ZIMMERMANN, Catholic News Service
  Published July 4, 2013

  WASHINGTON (CNS)—The final rules issued June 28 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services implementing its mandate that employers provide coverage of contraceptives “will require more careful analysis,” New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan said in a statement. The cardinal, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the 110-page ruling is […] Full Story