The Catholic Church Issue Page

Humanae Vitae was a sensitively written expression about the sanctity of marital love and the need to nurture life in marriage written in 1968 by Pope Paul VI. But whatever else it stated, it has been remembered for only one thing: the upholding of the Catholic church's ban on birth control. Less than a decade after the encyclical's promulgation, polls showed it was overwhelmingly rejected by Catholics. Eight out of 10 adult U.S. Catholics simply disregarded it. While bishops were largely upholding the document, many priests in pastoral settings, including confessionals, were saying it was a matter for individual conscience.

The Catholic Worker Movement in the United States has called on the country's bishops to denounce the American-led war on terror while urging the Church and American citizens to repent for "our affronts to God" fed by violence and materialism. Meeting at Our Lady of Mount Carmel-St. Ann Parish in Massachusetts to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the movement, a national gathering of 500 Catholic Workers issued a broad statement that encouraged the Church and "all people of good will" to embrace prayer, fasting, vigils and non-violent civil disobedience to end military occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Pope Benedict XVI continued to paint his distinctive shade of green in Australia yesterday, repeatedly voicing environmental concerns while linking them to a broader range of Christian doctrines and moral teaching. In a session with leaders of other religions held in the Chapter Hall of Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral, the pontiff said religions have a unique capacity to foster "sacrifice and self-discipline," including "a moderate use of the world's goods." That ethos, the pope said, leads men and women "to regard the environment as a marvel to be pondered and respected, rather than a commodity for mere consumption."

There are 47 million Catholic voters, and while they are too numerous and varied to speak of as a monolithic Catholic bloc, they have long been a kind of holy grail for presidential candidates. The winner of eight out of the past nine elections has captured a majority of Catholic votes (they voted for Al Gore in 2000), and there are large Catholic concentrations in key states like Florida, Ohio and New Mexico. The trick is figuring out what Catholics want. For decades, they were part of the New Deal coalition and were largely concerned with economics and foreign policy. More recently, Republicans have cut into that advantage by appealing to Catholics on social issues, a courtship that culminated in George W. Bush's victory in 2004.

Pope Benedict XVI urged world leaders from the Group of Eight to put the needs of the poor and weak at the forefront of their discussions. The pope's appeal came the day before leaders of the world's most industrialized nations began their annual meeting, held this year July 7-9 in Toyako, Japan. Talks this year were to focus on the rising costs of food and fuel, the world economy, development in Africa and global warming, as well as establishing a framework for fair greenhouse gas emissions targets. The pope said he was adding his voice to the "urgent appeal" set forth by the presidents of bishops' conferences associated with the G-8.

The U.S. bishops' conference approved an additional set of grants for the Church in Latin America, bringing the total for the first half of 2008 to $4 million. The Church in the States supports Latin American faithful with grants each year. The majority of the funds come from a Sunday collection, taken up in most parishes in January. The financial support provides aid for seminary and religious formation, religious education, catechesis and youth ministries, evangelization, lay formation and ministry, diaconate training and research.

The U.S. bishops' 1979 pastoral letter on racism, "Brothers and Sisters to Us," sets out the framework to address the issue in the Catholic Church. In it, the bishops call racism "an evil which endures in our society and in our church." The document calls upon Catholics to undergo conversion in their personal lives as well as in their faith communities to end racism in all its forms. The bishops as a whole have been joined by several local bishops in their admonition. Many have tied the issue of race to poverty and segregation.

In 1978 Anna Koop and Dorothy Day, tireless leaders for the human rights and dignity of people with little else for which to claim a foothold in our society, opened the Catholic Worker House in Denver. Inside, one is struck by the quality of life for these families and individuals who share meals and break bread, do the chores and care for themselves alongside the catholic worker staff. They receive no state or municipal revenue. Their motto is that, “if you need a place to stay and there is room, that they welcome you, no questions asked. There is no waiting list for applying and no application for admission. If there is a space, you sign a chore schedule and agree to be about the effort of changing your life. There is no pressure and there are no other requirements religious or otherwise.

Pope Benedict XVI's message for World Peace Day 2009 will focus on the connection between poverty and a lack of peace in the world, the Vatican said. Poverty and malnutrition are signs that too many people have ignored the obligation to promote the common good, a commitment that is essential for promoting peace, said the Vatican's July 1 statement.

The dignity and respect of the human person is the cornerstone of the U.S. bishops' new study guide on torture as a moral issue. The guide, titled "Torture: Torture Is a Moral Issue, a Catholic Study Guide," looks at church teaching as it relates to the use of torture by government authorities around the world and mixes in biblical passages that evoke Jesus' call to "love your enemies." Written by the Catholic Leadership Council within the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, the guide was written for use by discussion groups and classes in Catholic settings as well as individuals, families and others interested in studying the issue. The guide was introduced June 23 in the midst of Torture Awareness Month as designated by religious, human rights and civil liberties organizations.