Catholic Democrats of Floridatag:www.catholicdemocrats.org,2008:/FL//292008-09-05T18:55:21ZMovable Type 3.31Florida Court Tosses Challenge to Religious Funding Bantag:www.catholicdemocrats.org,2008:/FL//29.4152008-09-05T18:53:07Z2008-09-05T18:55:21Zby Tim Murphy 09-05-08 (Religion News Service) Florida's Supreme Court on Wednesday tossed out two statewide ballot initiatives aimed at ending a longstanding ban on public funding for religious institutions, drawing praise from church-state watchdogs. Civil liberties groups had filed...Catholic Democrats Staff
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Catholic agencies rush to help flooding victims of Faytag:www.catholicdemocrats.org,2008:/FL//29.4132008-08-24T05:58:01Z2008-09-05T06:01:02ZThe tropical cyclone's winds never reached hurricane force as feared. But the storm left a trail of flooding, rough surf, tornados and other effects that damaged or destroyed property and crops, drove people from their homes, knocked out power, put...Catholic Democrats Staff
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Florida 'Climate Change Summit' brings new attention to Global Warmingtag:www.catholicdemocrats.org,2008:/FL//29.3812008-07-24T20:42:17Z2008-07-24T21:03:55ZRoughly 800 policymakers, academics, scientists, environmentalists and business types will explore opportunities for expanding Florida's fledgling renewable and alternative energy industries. As Republican Governor Crist said in a statement, "there is gold in green, and climate-friendly energy sources -- like...Catholic Democrats Staff
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State Catholic Conference poses election questions to candidatestag:www.catholicdemocrats.org,2008:/FL//29.3822008-07-18T20:56:08Z2008-09-05T05:47:10ZThe Florida Catholic has been helping explore issues relevant to Catholics through the "Candidate Questionnaire Project," soliciting and disseminating responses from congressional and state legislative candidates. The third in a three-part series posed questions related to children's health insurance (S-CHIP),...Catholic Democrats Staff
Florida Catholic has been helping explore issues relevant to Catholics through the "Candidate Questionnaire Project," soliciting and disseminating responses from congressional and state legislative candidates. The third in a three-part series posed questions related to children's health insurance (S-CHIP), farm workers, the death penalty, school vouchers, special education services, and the needs of people with disabilities.
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US Bishops conclude meeting in Orlando, dealing with a broad array of liturgical and other issuestag:www.catholicdemocrats.org,2008:/FL//29.3412008-06-19T16:15:40Z2008-06-19T16:50:12ZThe USCCB concluded its semi-annual meeting on June 14, after a lively debate about a new 700-page translation of the Roman Missal. A summary of the proceedings suggested that the bishops had also accepted a report from John Jay College...Catholic Democrats Staff
summary of the proceedings suggested that the bishops had also accepted a report from John Jay College on the implications of the abuse crisis for the priesthood in the US Church.
Perhaps most controversial were the deliberations over a resolution dealing with embryonic stem cell research. Their report, entitled "On Embryonic Stem Cell Research," began with a quote from Pope Benedict, who said early this year that the Church "appreciates and encourages the progress of the biomedical sciences which open up unprecedented therapeutic prospects." The Bishops expressed particular concern about the creation of embryos for the purpose of extracting stem cells from them, but also spoke out against scientists relying on frozen embryos created in fertility clinics. The Vatican is said to be contemplating a more definitive statement about the use of such embryos that are not used for their originally intended reproductive purposes.
The Bishops briefly commented on the emergence of new technologies that bypass the use of whole embryos by reprogramming adult cells directly into stem cells, applauding the role that Catholic researchers are playing in developing these methods. Many scientists and theologians feel that such technologies will eventually overcome all the moral reservations about the use of embryonic stem cells for regenerative research.
One issue not discussed in the document is any concern for the 2/3 of all embryos that die naturally during the first trimester. Reproductive endocrinologists have estimated that 70% of all fertilization events in humans do not result in a viable fetus. Virtually no NIH funding is dedicated to saving these embryos, or even to understanding why they die and are expelled. While fading forms of embryonic stem cell research may imperil a few hundred embryos around the world, hundreds of millions of natural embryo deaths every year apparently elicit no moral concerns--as judged by the virtual absence of research funding dedicated to saving those potential lives.
Matthew 25 suggests that neglecting to help the most vulnerable is a quintessential test of our Christianity. Despite having committed ourselves as Catholics to supporting life "from conception to natural death," it seems unlikely that anyone in the Church is willing to commit ourselves to the logical extension of this conclusion: advocating for the millions and millions of embryos--which actually outnumber live births--that are dying natural deaths through neglect each year around the world.]]>
Bishops applaud accord between Florida farmworkers and Burger Kingtag:www.catholicdemocrats.org,2008:/FL//29.3142008-05-29T17:53:13Z2008-05-29T17:55:01ZFollowing a week at the negotiating table with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Burger King officials agreed May 23 to pay an additional penny per pound to the Florida farmworkers who harvest their tomatoes. See full story....Catholic Democrats Staff
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Successful Catholic Ministry Summit concluded in Orlandotag:www.catholicdemocrats.org,2008:/FL//29.2852008-04-27T14:35:34Z2008-04-27T14:39:02ZCatholic ministry leaders detailed lifelong learning, collaborative ministry, solid formation and a greater need to encourage diverse leadership as crucial to the further growth of a healthy church on the last day of an unprecedented summit meeting. "Emerging models require...Catholic Democrats Staff
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Clinton pushing for seating of Florida delegatestag:www.catholicdemocrats.org,2008:/FL//29.2082008-03-07T04:48:26Z2008-03-07T04:55:10ZFebruary 22, 2008, 3:15 pm Clinton Plans to Press for Florida and Michigan DelegatesBy Katharine Q. Seelye So much for a valedictory speech. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton told Texas Monthly this morning that she plans to push for the delegates...Catholic Democrats StaffClinton Plans to Press for Florida and Michigan DelegatesBy Katharine Q. Seelye
So much for a valedictory speech.
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton told Texas Monthly this morning that she plans to push for the delegates from Florida and Michigan to be seated at the Democratic National Convention, contrary to the plans of the Democratic Party.
Asked if it is her intention to press the issue, Mrs. Clinton said: "Yes, it is. Yes, it is. It's in large measure because both the voters and elected officials in Michigan and Florida feel so strongly about this. Senator Bill Nelson, of Florida, early on in the process, actually sued because he thinks it's absurd on its face that 1.7 million Democrats who eventually voted would basically be disregarded, and I agree with him about that."
Evan Smith, the editor of Texas Monthly, tells us he conducted the interview at 6:30 a.m., Central time, after she had been interviewed by the three morning broadcast shows -- and after her debate last night in which she made comments that were widely perceived to be valedictory.
Mr. Smith said he was "dumbstruck" at her response this morning because he too had interpreted her debate remarks as a signal that she was laying down her sword.
But after his interview this morning, he said, he thinks she is back to battle mode.
"There was no question in my mind, not only in this answer but in answers to other questions, that she's in this thing," he said. "She's in and is going to play hardball."
In portions of the interview that have not been transcribed yet, Mr. Smith said, she said that when she noted in the debate that "whatever happens, we're going to be fine," she wasn't talking about herself but about the American people.
He said he asked her about statements from her husband, Bill Clinton, and other supporters, who have said that Texas and Ohio, which vote March 4, were "do or die" states.
"She said they weren't," he said. "She kept coming back to the idea that she wasn't quitting," even though she has lost 11 contests in a row and is behind in delegates and money. Polls show her even with Senator Barack Obama in Texas and her once-strong lead in Ohio shrinking.
There is a battle raging over whether to seat the Michigan and Florida delegates because those states violated party rules in moving up their primaries. Mrs. Clinton told Texas Monthly that she agreed only not to campaign in those states, not to oppose seating their delegates.
"We do not want to be disenfranchising Michigan and Florida," she said. "We have to try to carry both those states."
The campaign of Senator Barack Obama has said the party should abide by the rules it had set before the voting occurred. Michigan and Florida voted for Mrs. Clinton and she would get more delegates from
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