Denver Catholic

3 DENVER CATHOLIC | AUGUST 8-21, 2015 Vatican Notes T he chairman of the U.S. bish- ops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities responded to videos exposing Planned Parenthood's use of fetal tissues that has gained national and inter- national attention. Cardinal Seán O'Malley, archbishop of Boston, cited Pope Francis' teaching on abortion and said that the heart of the controversy should be that both abortion and the obtaining of fetal tissue through abortion are an attack on human dignity. "Pope Francis has called abortion the product of a 'widespread mentality of profi t, the throwaway culture, which has today enslaved the hearts and minds of so many,'" the cardinal said. "The recent news stories concerning Planned Parenthood direct our attention to two larger issues involving many institutions in our soci- ety," he added. "The fi rst is abortion itself: a direct attack on human life in its most vul- nerable condition. The second is the now standard practice of obtaining fetal organs and tissues through abortion. Both actions fail to respect the humanity and dignity of human life. This fact should be the center of attention in the present public contro- versy." Cardinal O'Malley also reached out to those who might be experiencing "revived trauma" due to the videos, which show graphic conversations and images from abortion. He encouraged support and counseling through Project Rachel, an abortion healing ministry. SOURCE: ZENIT.ORG The Francis e ect grips Bolivian prison Pope Francis' July 10 visit to a prison in Bolivia became a turning point for inmates. The pope told inmates and workers, "The man who is standing before you is one who has been forgiven. A man who was and is saved from his many sins." One witness at the Palmasola Prison said, "People cried together, and their eyes were fi lled with joy and hope," Father Leon- ardo da Silva Costa said. "The police, the secu- rity guards, came away from the meeting with a joy that was unusual, brotherly, a smile unlike any other." SOURCE: CATHOLIC- NEWSAGENCY.COM Pope calls Cubans to overcome hostilities Pope Francis, who will visit Cuba Sept. 19-22 as a "missionary of mercy," will ask Cubans to aban- don their hostilities and bitterness. Father Jose Felix Perez, who is helping prepare for the papal visit, said the pope will invite the people to reverse "attitudes of hostility, indiŒ erence and contempt. All that has to do with rancor." In its place there must be "benevolence" and "mercy." The priest pointed out the pope "is very sensitive to the subject of poverty" and will likely make reference to the poor in some way. SOURCE: ZENIT.ORG Pope fi rst to sign up for WYD Less than 24 hours after registration opened for next year's World Youth Day (WYD) in Krakow, 45,000 people had signed up. Pope Francis was the fi rst to register. He announced the theme of the meeting would revolve around mercy. Twenty fi ve years after its start, WYD will return to Poland, the home of St. John Paul II who initiated it. The July 26-31 WYD theme is "Blessed are the merci- ful, for they shall obtain mercy," and is part of the extraordinary holy year which will begin Dec. 8. SOURCE: NEWS.VA NEWS IN BRIEF US bishops respond to Planned Parenthood videos Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley responds to a series of undercov- er videos released exposing Planned Parent- hood's handling of baby parts. PHOTO BY STEPHEN DRISCOLL/CNA Archbishop Samuel Aquila processes Archbishop Víctor Sánchez other faithful the Archdiocese Puebla during a month- visit Mexico. PROVIDED

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