archives

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Orlando, Florida

A national advisory body to the U.S. bishops intended to represent “the church in miniature” has endorsed a “dialogue on the national level” with the country’s priests, intended to move towards “reestablishing trust” between bishops and priests damaged by the sexual abuse crisis.

That dialogue would be focused on implementation of the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” adopted by the bishops in June 2002, though it would also consider broader questions in the relationship between bishops and priests.

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Orlando, Florida

The Vatican is currently considering the issue of “embryo adoption,” according to a member of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and may release some sort of ruling shortly.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, made the comment this morning during floor discussion of a proposed statement from the U.S. bishops on embryonic stem cell research.

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Orlando, Florida

In effect, the U.S. bishops voted today to amend their directives on Catholic health care to make clear that providing artificial nutrition and hydration to patients in a persistent vegetative state, as well as other debilitating conditions, is generally obligatory.

Technically, this morning’s vote simply authorized the Committee on Doctrine to begin work on revisions to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, the primary document governing the operation of Catholic hospitals and health care facilities in the United States.

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Orlando, Florida

So far, the most animated discussion during the spring meeting of the U.S. bishops was sparked by the latest update on a John Jay College study of the causes and context of the sexual abuse crisis – with early indications suggesting that the crisis was driven to a large extent by broad social changes in the 1960s and 70s, as opposed to factors internal to the Catholic church.

O’Brien says he will ban the Legionaries if they fail to comply

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Orlando, Florida

Demanding what he calls greater “transparency and accountability” from the controversial religious order known as Legionaries of Christ and their associated lay movement, Regnum Christi, Archbishop Edward O’Brien of Baltimore has directed both groups to disclose all activities within his archdiocese, and to refrain from one-on-one spiritual direction with anyone under 18.

When we begin now to reflect on these scripture lessons this morning, we have to adjust our thinking somewhat in order to be aware of why the Pharisees, the religious leaders, were so shocked and upset because Jesus was eating, having a meal, in the house of Matthew, a tax collector. The Pharisees, these religious leaders, described Matthew, a tax collector, a public sinner and he's eating with other sinners.

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Orlando, Florida

Two experts in religious sociology addressed the U.S. bishops this afternoon, each in a way making a simple point. They might be summarized as follows:

• Christianity in America is being “de-Europeanized” through immigration, especially among Hispanics and Asians, with the Catholic church looming as a bellwether of demographic transformations that will eventually engulf other churches and the entire society;