Weekly News (Fourth Week of January 2011)

1. Pontiff Plans Full Schedule for Holy Week, Easter

Will Lead Vesper Service for Consecrated Life Day

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 27, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI will preside at a full schedule of Holy Week and Easter events this April, the Vatican is reporting. [Read More]

2. Pro-Life Month Stresses Pro-Life Family Values

MANILA, Jan. 29, 2011—A series of activities aimed to highlight the value of family and sanctity of life will be part of the month-long celebration of Pro-Life month this February. [Read More]

3. True Religious Freedom Includes Christians in Europe and Middle East, Expert Says

Vienna, Austria, Jan 28, 2011 / 06:15 am (CNA).- A true understanding of religious freedom which includes Christians in public life is the corrective for both the “subtle” discrimination facing European Christians and the open intolerance for Christianity elsewhere, an Italian religion expert said. [Read More]

4. Military To Unveil Homosexual Indoctrination Plan

WASHINGTON - Officials say Pentagon leaders will roll out a plan Friday that is expected to give the military services about three months to train their forces on the new law allowing "gays" to serve openly. [Read More]

5. Porn - The 'Elephant In The Pew'

Churches throughout the world are being encouraged to observe International Porn Sunday next week. [Read More]

6. French Watchdog Says No to Same-Sex Marriage

Paris (AP) - France's law prohibiting gay marriage does not violate the constitution, the country's top constitutional watchdog ruled Friday, all but challenging parliament to debate overturning the ban. [Read More]

7. Women Who Had Abortions: Latest Mental Health Study Bogus

Although a new study claims women suffer few mental health problems in the aftermath of an abortion, women who have had abortions or work with those who have say the personal evidence significantly counters the study’s results. [Read More]

8. Canadian Blood Services Seeks End to Gay Donor Ban

OTTAWA, January 27, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A spokesperson for the Canadian Blood Services (CBS), the federal blood donor agency, told the Toronto Star yesterday that the lifetime ban on homosexual men donating blood is outdated and needs to be loosened. [Read More]

9. When a Pupil Has 2 Daddies

Boston Catholic schools will accept kids of same-sex ‘parents,’ but other dioceses take a different approach. The Archdiocese of Boston has decreed that children of same-sex couples can enroll in its parochial schools. [Read More]

10. Canadian Bishops Call Youth to Chastity

OTTAWA, Ontario, January 27, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Youth are called to embrace the challenge of chastity by dedicating themselves to prayer, surrounding themselves with supportive friends, dressing modestly, and choosing entertainment wisely, say the Canadian bishops in a new pastoral letter to young people released Tuesday. [Read More]