On April 18, 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Partial-Birth Abortion Act

(5-4) that was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush in 2003. This is the first time in 34 years the Court has upheld an actual ban on any kind of abortion. According to Deirdre McQuade, director of Planning and Information, USCCB Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, “There are many good and interesting things in the decision, including: the Court’s straightforward recognition of the child in the womb as a ‘living organism’ before as well as after viability; its forthright statement about the government’s legitimate and profound interest in protecting life; its willingness to defer to legislative fact finding in the abortion context, and its recognition of the pain and turmoil of women undergoing abortion.” To read more about partial-birth abortion and the history of the Partial-Birth Abortion Act, www.lifeissues.org/pba.

In a statement April 28, 2006 prepared for a “Save Darfur Rally”, the U.S. Catholic bishops have called on elected officials to strengthen their efforts to bring a definitive end to the moral and humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

“The Save Darfur Rally was intended to remind leaders that our nation cannot remain silent in the face of killings, rape, and destruction,” said Bishop Thomas Wenski, Chairman, Committee on International Policy, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

“Our country can and must do more, much more, to defend and protect innocent civilians in Darfur. Anything else would be unworthy of us as a people committed to human life and dignity.”

The USCCB has long advocated on behalf of the victims of the campaign of death and destruction in Darfur, where innocent civilians remain trapped in the middle of violent clashes between the Sudanese army and rebel forces, as well as subject to inhuman cruelty at the hands of the janjaweed militia under the sponsorship of the government in Khartoum.

In addition to the 400,000 people who have died since 2003, 2.5 million have been driven from their homes and 3.5 million are at risk of starvation. To read the entire text of Bishop Wenski’s statement.visit: www.usccb.org/

comm/archives/2006/06-083.shtml.

Officials of the Diocese of Rome concluded the initial phase of the process for the canonization of Pope John Paul II. During this phase, more than 120 people who knew Pope John Paul were interviewed about his actions and character, and studies were conducted on his ministry, the way he handled suffering, and how he faced his death, said Cardinal Camillo Ruini, papal vicar of Rome.

The documents from the investigation were placed in four chests, latched, tied with a red ribbon, then sealed with red wax. They will be delivered to the Congregation for Saints' Causes for further study.

Among those attending the ceremony was Sr. Marie-Simon-Pierre, the 46-year-old French nun who believes she was healed of Parkinson's disease through the intervention of Pope John Paul.

The congregation will continue the canonization process according to established Church law: first, studying the documentation gathered by the Diocese of Rome and assisting with the drafting of a "positio," or position paper, outlining how the Pope heroically lived the Christian virtues. The 15 cardinals and 15 bishops who are members of the congregation will study the "positio" and forward their opinion to Pope Benedict XVI.

At the same time, an ad hoc commission of experts with scientists and physicians of every religious orientation, even nonbelievers, will be convoked to study the records and testimony collected in the case of Sr. Marie-Simon-Pierre, a member of the Little Sisters of Catholic Motherhood.