In this week’s edition:

• USCCB approves new NAB translation at plenary assembly

• Idaho’s new laws aim to support, promote adoption (very based)

• Bishops call for action over Catholic hospitals found to provide sex changes

• HS student fights against his school, district to keep his pro-life club

• and more!

American bishops approve new New American Bible translation

Summary: As reported by JD Flynn of The Pillar, the bishops approved the revisions for liturgical use with a vote of 216-4.

Details:

• Current lectionaries use an Old Testament translation from 1970 and a New Testament translation from 1986.

• Mary Sperry with the USCCB’s Office for the Biblical Apostolate said that the focus of the new translation was making it “academically excellent” but also understandable for the laity hearing the Word during Mass.

• The text will now be sent to the Vatican for approval.

• If there are no changes to be made the new bibles and lectionaries could be printed in the near future.

• The changes to the NAB also affects the Liturgy of the Hours, which would be updated with the new texts.

• Further details here

Why we care: What an incredible labor of love for all those involved in this project for over the past decade (or more), and how exciting it must be for them to see the fruits of their labor. Change isn’t inherently bad, though it does take some getting used to; for those of use (probably all of us) who have been accustomed to hearing the Word of God in language and terminology of the 70’s and 80’s, the 21st century language will be an odd (though we hope refreshing) change. Do you think the changes are good, bad, necessary or not? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Idaho passes 3 adoption laws aimed at improving education and removing hurdles

Summary: The laws add to Idaho’s near-total abortion ban and hope to open up doors to more people choosing private adoption.

Details:

• One law requires “equal education” in HS sex-ed classes. If contraceptives and STDs are taught, adoption must be as well.

• The same law requires that female college students who inquire about contraceptives, STDs or STIs be given adoption material.

• A second law regulates adoption facilitators, requiring that they be licensed with the goal of reducing fraud.

• The third law gets rid of a limit on how much the birth mother may be reimbursed for her expenses.

• Terry Macroft, the founder of Unplanned Good - a nonprofit that promotes private adoption - said “We're hoping to build the awareness about adoption and help people to understand open adoption.”

Why we care: Amazing work from Idaho here. It seems that adoption is a bit of a complicated and murky process, and so any steps to make that process a bit easier and more accessible are fantastic. We think more states ought to follow their lead in improving adoption education while removing barriers. The pro-life community is often laser-focused on the abortion issue, but in truth it’s really only one side of the equation. Perhaps many of those women seeking an abortion are thinking “I don’t want to do it, but what other option do I have?” Creating a healthy adoption environment seems like a great way to balance the scales, creating a “way out” for those mothers who want to choose life.

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Bishops Conley and Daley slam Catholic hospitals found to provide “pediatric sex-changes”, call for review

Summary: Their call for action comes after 150 American Catholic hospitals were found to have provided the services, some of which were done on minors.

Details:

• Watchdog group Do No Harm published a database of hospitals providing sex-change procedures to children.

• 150 Catholic hospitals were included, 33 of which were doing actual sex-change surgeries on minors.

• Bishop Conley of Nebraska said he has spoken with bishops and Catholic medical professionals about the report, and hoped to speak about it with other bishops at the assembly last week.

• Bishop Daley of Spokane echoed the sentiment of hoping to discuss the matter with fellow bishops.

• While bishops cannot directly influence a hospital’s administration, they are able to remove the hospitals’ ability to call themselves “Catholic”.

• The bishops hope that conversations with hospital leaders can bring about adherence to Catholic moral teachings.

Why we care: We certainly agree that something needs to be done, though it’s unfortunate that the most the bishops could do is remove the “Catholic” designation. It certainly wouldn’t do much in the way of effecting the needed change. The gender transitioning “industry” is bad enough as it is, but it’s particularly grotesque when directed at children. Again, while we’re proponents of subsidiarity, we think this might be one of those times where it’s right to call for a Federal law prohibiting these procedures. That may be a bit of a pipe-dream at the moment; if the bishops can get these hospitals to correct course we’ll consider that a battle won with much to do in the war.

San Antonio HS student speaks about legal battle over his pro-life club

Summary: Senior Diego Salinas had his pro-life club at Sotomayor HS suspended by the school. Pro-life attorneys are working with him to have the club reinstated.

Details:

• Salinas’ club, which only met once after its founding, was shut down in October.

• The club received significant attention from both students and parents.

• Principal Ada Bohlken made the executive decision to suspend the club on the grounds that the club was “creating a distraction in the learning environment.”

• The school apparently also took issue with his use of the school’s name in the club’s Instagram handle, though it appears other clubs were not held to the same standard.

• Students for Life America sent a letter to the school demanding reinstatement on the basis of discrimination.

• As of publication the school had not responded, and Salinas believes that litigation could be in the future.

Why we care: Good for this young man. We admire and applaud his courage not only to start a pro-life club at a public school in such a divided political environment but to also stand up for his rights and push back. We hope that more young men and women across the country might be emboldened by his example and inspired to get involved in the pro-life movement. We wish him the best of luck and hope the situation can be resolved swiftly in his favor without the tedium of court.

Other Stories

• Updates on previous stories:

  • Parish bookkeeper sentenced to 27 months in Federal prison for defrauding church of over $800k

• At home:

  • USCCB advances canonization cause of Adele Brise, recipient of the visions of Our Lady of Champion.

  • Ohio passes bathroom bill require public school students to use the facility that matches their sex.

  • Louisiana law requiring 10 Commandments in public schools blocked by Federal judge

  • Diocese of Oakland to pay out nearly $200 million for some 345 abuse claims

• …and abroad:

  • New confession guidelines from French bishops following abuse allegations

  • Persecutions in Nicaragua continue apace as head of bishops’ conference exiled, anointing of the sick banned in hospitals

  • Church in Switzerland sees record number of people leaving

• Other cool “stuff”:

  • Visit St. Peter’s virtually thanks to AI

Quote of the Week

What’s going on:

• Monday is the Dedication of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

• Sunday is the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

• Notable feast days:

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