Executive order on embryonic stem cells "a sad victory of politics over science and ethics," says Cardinal Rigali

Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, called President Obama's recent executive order on embryonic stem cell research "a sad victory of politics over science and ethics." Under the order, for the first time in U.S. history, federal tax dollars will be used to encourage researchers to destroy live human embryos for stem cell research. Excerpts from Cardinal Rigali's statement follow:
"President Obama's new executive order on embryonic stem cell research is a sad victory of politics over science and ethics. This action is morally wrong because it encourages the destruction of innocent human life, treating vulnerable human beings as mere products to be harvested. It also disregards the values of millions of American taxpayers who oppose research that requires taking human life. Finally, it ignores the fact that ethically sound means for advancing stem cell science and medical treatments are readily available and in need of increased support." - Zenit

Bishop Sartain thanks those who helped oppose proposed abortion legislation

Bishop Peter Sartain wishes to express his sincere gratitude to those who contacted their legislators expressing opposition to HB 2354, the state’s Freedom of Choice Act proposal. The bill has been defeated and will not be called for a vote. This great accomplishment would not have happened without decisive action by the Catholic faithful in the Diocese of Joliet and across the state of Illinois.
We now have the opportunity to contact our legislators once again. This time we need to ask our elected officials to vote yes on HB 3700, a bill that will truly reduce the unnecessary taking of innocent human life. HB 3700 would mandate that an ultrasound be offered to an expectant mother prior to an abortion.
If you would like to receive additional updates on this bill, or on other matters affecting the Catholic Church’s public policy agenda in Springfield, please call 312-368-1066, or go to www.catholicconferenceofillinois.org. Thank you for your actions and prayers.

1. Pope condemns killings in Northern Ireland
   Pope Benedict XVI condemned "in the strongest terms" the recent murders of two British soldiers and a policeman in Northern Ireland, calling them "abominable acts of terrorism."

2. Argentine archbishop calls for promotion of women
   Archbishop Andres Stanovnik of Corrientes sent special greetings to the women of Argentina to mark International Women’s Day (March 8) and called for the promotion of their dignity without ideological distortions.

3. Bishop receives death threats
   Bishop Jose Luis Azcona of Marajo, Brazil, has received death threats for denouncing the sexual exploitation of human trafficking rings in which "politicians, businessmen and police officers" are implicated.

4. Hindu fundamentalists threaten Catholic schools
   Catholics in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh have expressed their grave concern over threats made against Christian schools by the Hindu fundamentalist group Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarti Parishad.

5. Church in Taiwan launches evangelization mission
   As the 150th anniversary of the evangelization of the country is marked, the church in Taiwan is encouraging the laity to be a “bridge church” with the Chinese mainland and bring back to the faith those who have fallen away.

6. First prison chapel for Christians inaugurated in Pakistan
   The maximum-security prison of Adiala in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi now has a chapel, which was built with the support of the government, the Catholic Church and other Christian institutions.

7. Pro-life experts ask Obama not to push abortion in Latin America
   The Latin American Post-Abortion Care Network has sent an open letter to President Barack Obama asking him to reverse his efforts to fund abortion in the region.

8. Connecticut bill regulating Catholic Church pulled
   Following a deluge of phone calls and e-mails, the bill introduced in the Connecticut Senate to reorganize the financial and pastoral structure of the Catholic Church has been pulled and tabled for the rest of the legislative session.

9. Catholics United denies group formed to cover for pro-abortion polls
   Father Bernard Healey, the editor of the Rhode Island Catholic, has written an editorial accusing the group Catholics United of being formed to "give cover to pro-abortion policy-makers."

10. Study reports on U.S. Catholic population
    A new study on American religion finds Catholicism is facing a "stunning" decline in the northeast U.S. as the population center of Catholics shifts to the southwest.