1. This weekend, the Chaldean archbishop of Mosul, whose diocese no longer exists, was in Manhattan at the Communion and Liberation hosted NY Encounter, an annual event. The title of the panel he was on was “Your Love Is Better than Life” – Psalm 62. Some highlights:
I remember when I was in Mosul, going to church could mean going to die — Archbishop Nona #nyencounter16pic.twitter.com/mfksOxsGu2
— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) January 17, 2016We fight them by living the Christian life — Archbishop Nona #nyencounter16pic.twitter.com/YYOh8sKVLW
— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) January 17, 2016The globalization of indifference is a malignant cancer — Archbishop Nona
— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) January 17, 2016Do not live in fear of terrorism. Have courage. — Archbishop Nona of Mosul #nyencounter16#ChristianGenocide
— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) January 17, 2016I’ll be writing more about what he had to say soon.
2. This is a welcome poll:
This week marks the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade (the March for Life is Friday — join us). The Knights Columbus this morning released a poll they commissioned from Marist that finds that “a strong majority of Americans — including a majority of those who consider themselves “pro-choice” — support substantial abortion restrictions, transcending the typical “pro-life” or “pro-choice” labeling.”
As a press release this morning puts it:
While Americans who identify as “pro-life” overwhelmingly support restrictions on abortion, “pro-choice” Americans also support such proposals — with majorities saying they favor several types of restrictions.
The survey found that more than 8 in 10 Americans (81 percent), including women (82 percent) and nearly two-thirds of pro-choice supporters (66 percent), would restrict abortion to — at most — the first three months of pregnancy. The answer to this question has been approximately 8 in 10 since the survey was launched in 2008.
Additionally, 77 percent of Americans, including 79 percent of women and 71 percent of “prochoice” supporters, say that laws can protect both a mother and her unborn child. Only about 1 in 5 (17 percent of Americans, 15 percent of women, 23 percent of pro-choice identifiers) disagree.
The poll also found majorities of Americans see abortion as both ultimately harmful to women and morally wrong. By a 25-point margin, Americans (55 to 30 percent) say that abortion ultimately does a woman more harm than good. A similar proportion of women agree (56 percent to 31 percent). More than 1 in 4 who identify as pro-choice (27 percent) also share this view.
Six in 10 Americans (60 percent), including 61 percent of women, say abortion is “morally wrong.” One-third of pro-choice Americans agree (33 percent).
“Year in and year out since we began polling on this issue, the American people have understood that the law can protect mother and child alike and have expressed a strong consensus in favor of abortion restrictions,” said Knights of Columbus CEO Carl Anderson. “It is time for a new national conversation on abortion — one that begins with this consensus in favor of restrictions: a consensus that American women and men have already reached, and that includes a majority even of those who call themselves pro-choice.”
In addition, nearly 7 in 10 Americans (68 percent), including 69 percent of women, oppose taxpayer funding of abortion. This includes 51 percent of those who consider themselves prochoice. Fewer than 3 in 10 Americans (29 percent) support it.
Similarly, more than 6 in 10 Americans (61 percent), including 60 percent of women, support laws that would ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, except to save the life of the mother. The percentage was the same for pro-choice supporters (62 percent). Fifty-one percent of Americans — including 50 percent of women — believe health care providers and organizations should have the right to opt out of providing abortion services if they have moral objections. About 4 in 10 (42 percent) of both groups disagree.
Notably, even one-third (34 percent) of those who identify as pro-choice would protect the right to opt out.
The survey of 1,686 adults was conducted Nov. 15-22, 2015, by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion and sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Adults 18 years of age and older residing in the continental United States were interviewed in English and Spanish by telephone using live interviewers. Results for adults are statistically significant within ±2.4 percentage points. The error margin increases for cross-tabulations.
More here.
3. The Center for Medical Progress releases a recap video of some of their Planned Parenthood investigation:
4.
Overall rate of abortions down 40% to 1 in 5 live births, but up a whopping 250% at Planned Parenthood “clinics.” https://t.co/CZ6jrPE6PG
— Chad Pecknold (@ccpecknold) January 19, 20165.
In Europe, where graves outnumber cradles: https://t.co/jpGQbsKYby
— W Bradford Wilcox (@WilcoxNMP) January 17, 20166.
Wisconsin has one of the highest youth suicide rates in US. Follow Rory’s Dairy for insights on our #kidsincrisis: https://t.co/OF9FKqd80G
— Green Bay Press-Gaz. (@gbpressgazette) January 19, 20167. In the New York Times: Drug Overdoses Propel Rise in Mortality Rates of Young Whites
8. Charles Camosy: Why a Catholic hospital shouldn’t be obliged to do a tubal ligation
9.
Money isn’t everything, culture matters: https://t.co/JMdNDa6hRz
— W Bradford Wilcox (@WilcoxNMP) January 19, 201610. Christopher Kaczor raises questions about the school he teaches at: Is Loyola Marymount University Losing Its Catholic Identity?
11. A beautiful statement of tribute– reflecting the treasure of friendship — from Don Henley at the passing of Glenn Fry:
He was like a brother to me; we were family, and like most families, there was some dysfunction. But, the bond we forged 45 years ago was never broken, even during the 14 years that the Eagles were dissolved. We were two young men who made the pilgrimage to Los Angeles with the same dream: to make our mark in the music industry – and with perseverance, a deep love of music, our alliance with other great musicians and our manager, Irving Azoff, we built something that has lasted longer than anyone could have dreamed. But, Glenn was the one who started it all. He was the spark plug, the man with the plan. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of popular music and a work ethic that wouldn’t quit. He was funny, bullheaded, mercurial, generous, deeply talented and driven. He loved is wife and kids more than anything. We are all in a state of shock, disbelief and profound sorrow. We brought our two-year ‘History of the Eagles Tour’ to a triumphant close at the end of July and now he is gone. I’m not sure I believe in fate, but I know that crossing paths with Glenn Lewis Frey in 1970 changed my life forever, and it eventually had an impact on the lives of millions of other people all over the planet. It will be very strange going forward in a world without him in it. But, I will be grateful, every day, that he was in my life. Rest in peace, my brother. You did what you set out to do, and then some.
R.I.P.
12.
Christian girl on ‘The Voice Kids’ fled Iraq when ISIS vowed to kidnap and kill her https://t.co/KycErQs14Zpic.twitter.com/9WC2DlFZYE
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) January 19, 2016PLUS: A piece I wrote about the pope’s new book-length interview, The Name of God is Mercy.
I wrote about an unfortunate response to John Stamos talking about abortion over the weekend here.
And something I wrote about David Bowie and that Pope Francis book here.
Twelve Things that Caught My Eye Today (Jan. 19, 2016)