In this week’s edition:

• New Pontifical Academy for Life document receives criticism

• Minors in Montana can now obtain abortions without parental consent

• Fr. Rupnik’s artwork is back!

• Recipient of Our Lady of Akita visions passes away

• and more!

Pontifical Academy for Life appears to deviate from Church’s stance on artificial nutrition, hydration

Summary: Last month the Pontifical Academy for Life (PAFL) published a ‘lexicon’ for bioethical issues, but the section on Artificial Nutrition and Hydration (ANH) has drawn scrutiny over perceived changes.

Details:

• In recent history the Church has held that a person in a a vegetative state must be provided with nutrition and hydration, granted that they may still be assimilated (see here and here).

• The new document says that ANH are “not simple health care procedures” because they are “prepared in the laboratory and administered through technical devices,” which seems to lump ANH in with extraordinary care, meaning they could be stopped without moral issue.

• Fr. Ted Pacholczyk of the NCBC said that he does not interpret this as a substantial departure from previous teaching.

• If anything, it calls for better discernment, rather than always simply saying that ANH is good/bad, father said.

• Bioethicist Charlie Camosy has said the text is ripe for misunderstanding and is “…an odd framing of the issue….”

Why we care: Departure or no, this is a touchy subject that requires a delicate and nuanced - yet intelligible - approach. Topics like this are especially relevant given the situation with Margo Naranjo that has been in the news. There was also recently a caller to the Patrick Madrid show whose son was in a comatose state after being struck by lightening, and the doctors encouraged restriction of nutrition to prevent aspiration. We recognize that bioethics aren’t always a black-and-white issue, but it seems that having an accessible, agreed-upon, and unconfused directive available to the lay faithful would no go unappreciated.

Minors no longer need parental consent for abortions in Montana

Summary: A unanimous decision by the Montana Supreme Court nullified a state law that required parental consent for a minor to obtain an abortion, citing a right to privacy.

Details:

• The law in question was passed in 2013, but was immediately blocked after a challenge by Planned Parenthood and never went into effect.

• The majority opinion holds that “..minors, like adults, have a fundamental right to privacy, which includes procreative autonomy….”

• MT Gov. Greg Gianforte has expressed his disappointment with the decision.

• Montana is a currently a majorly pro-choice state, allowing abortion through all 9 months of pregnancy.

Why we care: What kind of world do we live in in which parents are not allowed or expected to help make decisions for their children? This seems in keeping with the recent in trend in certain states to keep parents out of the loop when it comes to their child’s mental and physical well-being. We are of course disturbed by and hopeful for a change in Montana’s abortion laws, but this growing situation with the “mandatory forfeiture” of parental rights can only have negative consequences. Let’s hope we nip this thing in the bud before it gets too out of control.

Art by Fr. Rupnik again used on the Vatican News website

Summary: The Vatican News website marked the Feast of the Assumption with an article featuring a mosaic of the Dormition of Mary by Fr. Marko Rupnik, the highly controversial former Jesuit.

Details:

• In keeping with their recent trend, the Vatican News website continues to use Fr. Rupnik’s artwork in commemorations of major feast days.

• The use ignores the urging by abuse victims and their advocates to cease

• This comes on the tail of news that one of Fr. Rupnik’s mosaics was seen hanging in Pope Francis’ apartment.

• Archbishop-emeritus Cardinal O’Malley wrote in June that “We must avoid sending a message that the Holy See is oblivious to the psychological distress that so many are suffering.”

Why we care: Actions matter, not just words. While the words of the Vatican, including the waiving of the statute of limitations, indicate that it is serious about Fr. Rupnik’s abuse, the actions say otherwise. Why not remove the mosaic from the Holy Father’s apartment? Why choose an image of the dormition for the feast of the assumption by a controversial artist when there are surely more relevant pieces by uncontroversial Catholics? We wish we had an answer or even a guess, but at this point it defies al reason.

Sister Sasagawa, to whom Our Lady of Akita is said to have appeared, passes away at 93

Summary: Sister Agnes Sasagawa of the Handmaids of the Holy Eucharist, to whom the Blessed Mother is said to have appeared and given admonitions under the title of Our Lady of Akita, passed away on August 15 at the age of 93.

Details:

• Sister Sasagawa’s visions began in June of 1973.

• The Blessed Mother’s words to the sister primarily concerned the wrath of the Father and the need for reparations for the sins of man.

• Our Lady of Akita subsequently warned of a “terrible punishment on all humanity” should humanity not repent.

• These and other supernatural events were investigated and recognized by Bishop John Shojiro Ito of Niigata (who also founded the sister’s order).

• While the Vatican has not ruled on the apparitions, Cardinal Ratzinger allowed Bishop Ito’s statement to stand in 1988.

Why we care: Though Catholics are not bound to accept private revelations and recognize that not all of our readers may subscribe to the warnings of Our Lady of Akita, it still stands out as a significant event in the recent history of the Church. Specific warnings aside, there should be nothing contestable about our Holy Mother’s calls for us to “pray in reparation for the sins of men”, to “recite the rosary” and “pray for the pope, the bishops, and priests”, and to offer “Prayer, penance, and courageous sacrifices”. May these admonitions inform our daily lives, and may Sister Sasagawa rest in peace.

Other stories

• A peculiar relic - St. Maximilian Kolbe’s beard

• AZ Supreme Court rules use of ‘unborn human’ ok for ballot explainer

• Planned Parenthood to provide free abortions, vasectomies at DNC in Chicago

• Argentina sees marked decrease in vocations

• State Department sued over policy change that makes it harder for foreign priests to get green cards

• Rampant liturgical abuse in Nigeria condemned by bishops

Quote of the Week

What’s going on:

• Aug 22 is the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

• Notable Feast Days