In this week’s edition:

• Developments in the controversial Nativity scene in the Vatican

• Cardinal Cupich issues a letter about norms during Holy Communion

• SCOTUS will hear a case involving Catholic Charities

• Nancy Pelosi criticizes Pope Francis, +Cordileone

• and more!

Controversial keffiyeh goes missing from the Vatican’s nativity scene despite artist’s defense of its inclusion

Summary: The Nativity scene featured a Palestinian keffiyeh when revealed on Dec. 7, but by Dec. 12 the headdress had been removed.

Details:

• This year’s scene was created by artists from Bethlehem, which is situated in Palestine.

• The Palestinian keffiyeh has become associated with support for the Palestinian resistance movement.

• The inclusion of the headdress caused backlash, but the project’s leader says it was meant only to acknowledge the existence of Palestinians.

• The Vatican was aware of the keffiyeh’s presence, signing off on it during installation on Dec. 5.

• The Vatican did not provide a reason for its removal nor did it state whether it would be returned on Christmas with the infant Jesus.

Why we care: The situation in the Middle East is a complicated one, and we won’t pretend like we have the knowledge or space to accurately break down the issue. Simply put, we think it’s unfortunate that the Vatican allowed what could very clearly be interpreted as a political statement to insert itself into what should be a purely apolitical subject. We assume no one would think to lay the infant on an Israeli flag despite the fact that Jesus was Jewish. There’s a time an a place for these topics and we feel the Nativity scene is not it.

Cardinal Cupich asks Chicagoans to stand for Communion and not draw attention to themselves

Summary: The cardinal’s letter said that doing otherwise “…would be contrary to the norms and tradition of the Church, which all the faithful are urged to respect and observe.”

Details:

• The letter, published in the archdiocese’s newspaper, cites norms established by the Vatican and approved by the USCCB.

• The cardinal urges the faithful not to disrupt the processions to receive Holy Communion.

• While he acknowledges that “…reverence can and should be expressed by bowing…”, the Cardinal Cupich warns against any “…gesture that calls attention to oneself or disrupts the flow of the procession.”

• While not explicitly stated, it would seem that the cardinal means genuflecting and receiving Holy Communion while kneeling to be among these disruptive gestures.

Why we care: One could almost certainly write an entire opinion piece dedicated to the norms and whether they are good or not, and whether something being a norm suggests that it is right or of the highest quality. We think you’d have a hard time finding someone who believes genuflecting and kneeling to receive to be less reverent, so why do they seem to be discouraged? Why does the orderliness of the queue to receive our Lord and Savior in the Most Holy Sacrament seem to be of greater import than the reverence and honor due to Jesus? We’re not promoting the abandonment of order altogether in favor of an Italian-style rush-to-the-front (though there’s some compelling arguments for it); we simply believe that the Church leadership has better things to do than nitpick over the licit manner in which the faithful choose to receive the Holy Eucharist.

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Supreme Court to determine whether Catholic Charities activities qualify as religious

Summary: In March, the Wisconsin Supreme Court had ruled Catholic Charities ineligible for a tax exemption, a decision the organization appealed to SCOTUS.

Details:

• The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that because Catholic Charities employs non-Catholics, does not seek to propagate the faith and does not provide a uniquely religious service that they would not qualify for a tax exemption.

• As such, Catholic Charities would have to continue to contribute to the state’s unemployment system, which it has done since 1972.

• SCOTUS has agreed to hear their case and rule on whether Wisconsin has violated the group’s 1st Amendment rights.

Why we care: It seems patently obvious to us that the work that Catholic Charities (and similar organizations) does is religious in nature. We are clearly commanded by Christ to tend to our fellow man, to carry out the corporal works of mercy. Any disagreement over the nature of their services seems to stem from an overly narrow legal viewpoint designed to milk what tax dollars are available out of charitable groups. We hope that SCOTUS will find in favor of Catholic Charities and set a precedent favorable for other religious charities.

Pelosi criticizes Holy Father for China deal, +Cordileone for Communion ban

Summary: Pelosi said she is “not too happy” with the Vatican’s agreement with China and said her Catholic faith “has nothing to do with the bishops”.

Details:

• Pelosi criticized the bishop appointment deal reached by the Vatican and China, say she has “…a completely different view [from Francis].”

• The congresswoman also expressed her support for the pro-democracy Cardinal Zen

• In the same interview, Mrs. Pelosi criticized +Cordileone of San Francisco for banning her from receiving Communion, saying she has continued to receive anyway.

Why we care: Far be it from us to agree with Nancy Pelosi on matters of the faith, but we certainly agree that there could be cause for concern in allowing the Chinese government to have a say in bishop appointments. Then in a blink of an eye we’re back to the Pelosi we’ve come to expect, eating and drinking judgement on herself. Not that we think she’d have much of an argument but she could have appealed the ban, though the window for that has passed. It certainly does bring to attention the fact that there is a group of Catholics who don’t know or don’t care about the requirements for receiving Holy Communion and the ways in which one could fall out of a state of grace. Perhaps as much as, if not more than most we should pray for the conversion of these souls who desecrate our Lord’s Precious Body and Blood.

Other Stories

• At home…

  • Defense bill passed in the House of Representatives would restrict coverage of some transgender care under military-provided healthcare.

  • Archdiocese of Washington to tackle $3 million deficit.

  • Satanic display in NH gets attacked, taken down shortly after its erection.

• …and abroad…

  • In a strangely backwards turn of events, the UK has permanently banned puberty blockers for minors. If only we could do the same…

  • Crown of Thorns to be publicly venerated at Notre Dame.

  • LGBT pilgrimage removed from Jubilee calendar could soon return.

• ..and on the pro-life front…

  • Trump says he would not restrict access to the abortion pill.

  • Euthanasia up 16% in Canada

  • Texas AG Paxton is at it again, this time suing a NY doctor for sending abortion pills to Texas.

  • HUGE VICTORY: Planned Parenthood to close location in Idaho, leaving only one clinic in the state.

• In memoriam

  • Historian Lee Edwards passed away at the age of 92

  • Prominent black Catholic Fr. Gus Taylor passed away last month. He was 85.

  • Bishop-emeritus Frederick Henry of Calgary died at 81

Quote of the Week

What’s going on:

• Notable/interesting feast days:

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