Elizabeth A. Elliott
NCR
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Past articles by Elizabeth:
Interfaith panel discusses responding to refugee crisis
Leaders of Catholic, Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith communities came together Thursday as part of the Kansas City Library's 2016 Immigrant Heritage Series to discuss faith responses to the refugee crisis. Presented by the American Friends Service Committee and the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council, the topic was "Confronting Extremist Violence, the Refugee Crisis, and Fear: Faith… → Read More
Missourians challenge how state obtains execution drugs
The Missouri Court of Appeals heard arguments Wednesday in a case saying a judge incorrectly dismissed a lawsuit challenging the state’s procedures for obtaining the drugs it uses to perform executions, according to the Associated Press. When the court will issue a ruling was unclear. Justin Gelfand is the attorney for two former state lawmakers and two Missouri residents. He argued that the… → Read More
Pfizer bars lethal injection use of its drugs
Pfizer Drug released a statement May 13 saying that it will enforce a restriction on the distribution of drugs considered by some states for their lethal injection protocols. The drugs in question include pancuronium bromide, potassium chloride, propofol, midazolam, hydromorphone, rocuronium bromide and vecuronium bromide. These drugs are FDA-approved and also used in surgery or for treating… → Read More
Fr. Jim Martin meets people where they are
Jesuit Fr. James Martin, editor-at-large at America, gave a presentation May 13 at Creighton University in Omaha about his most recent book Seven Last Words: An Invitation to a Deeper Friendship with Jesus (HarperOne, 2016). He was also the commencement speaker at Creighton University's 2016 graduation ceremony May 14. Martin spoke with NCR after the May 13 presentation. NCR: What do you think… → Read More
Deacons: Synod puts women deacons on the table
The ordination of women deacons gained worldwide attention in October when Canadian Archbishop Paul-André Durocher mentioned the subject during his three-minute address at the Synod of Bishops on the family. Durocher proposed three courses of action for the synod, the third relating to women in the diaconate. "Finally, concerning the permanent diaconate, that this Synod recommends the… → Read More
'Amoris Laetitia,' Francis' pontificate are not 'business as usual,' says Seattle priest
Editor's note: Presented below is the full homily of Fr. Michael Ryan, who has served as pastor of St. James Cathedral in Seattle for 28 years. Ryan provided NCR with his reaction to Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia, saying, "We have the right to the promised land and this is a step in the right direction, maybe even a leap." Think back with me, will you, to what I will always… → Read More
Fr. Edward Hays, writer of more than 30 spiritual books, dies
Fr. Edward Hays, author of more than 30 books and a priest of the Kansas City, Kan., archdiocese, died April 3 at St. Luke's Hospice Care in Kansas City, Mo., after a fall at his home. He was 85. Hays' last posting on his blog is a March 23 reflection on Good Friday. In the blog, he charges the readers to replace the image of Jesus nailed to the cross with that of a door. "A door symbolizes… → Read More
Catholic school welcomes girl and service dog, after public school kicks them out
When Kellsey McGuire and her service dog, Jasper, were denied access to a public school in Illinois in February 2014, a Catholic school welcomed them both with open arms. Kellsey, 10, has had epileptic seizures since she was a toddler. She was on a waiting list for more than five years to get Jasper, a 4-year-old lab mix, who helps alert Kellsey’s family in the event of seizures. The dog “is… → Read More
Three congregations come together at Tri-Faith Campus in Omaha
It started with a conversation about parking lots. Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, a senior rabbi at Temple Israel, a Reform Jewish congregation, was speaking to Bob Freeman, past president of Temple Israel, about building a new place. They both remarked how nice it was to share parking lots with a Methodist church and an Omaha theater on High Holy Days. They planned to relocate to West Omaha and contacted… → Read More
Camaldolese Benedictine, noted author, dies at 84
Camaldolese Benedictine Fr. Bruno Barnhart, author and spiritual director, died at the New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, Calif. Nov. 28. He was 84. Camaldolese Benedictine Fr. Cyprian Consiglio, prior of the New Camaldoli Hermitage where Barnhart was a member, described Barnhart as "a scintillating intellect, but he also had a deep wisdom. He was a marvelous spiritual director." "His… → Read More
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Pope Francis following Texas execution case
Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna, president of the executive council of the World Apostolic Congress on Mercy, has taken the work of mercy of visiting prisoners to heart by corresponding with Richard Masterson, who is scheduled to be put to death Wednesday in Texas. Schönborn was at the Vatican to unveil plans for the European Apostolic Congress on Mercy to be held at the Vatican… → Read More
Church, disability rights groups join forces to battle aid-in-dying laws
Editor's note: The following story originally appeared in the Pro-Life Special Section of the NCR print issue dated Jan. 1-14, 2016. We are providing special access of the full story to you, our online readers. This is a sample of the kind of specialized reporting exclusive to NCR's print subscribers. Subscribe now to our print and Kindle editions. In the lexicon of the medical world, a… → Read More
US church eyes potential of the 'internal forum'
At the close of the Synod of Bishops on the family Oct. 24, NCR reported that the synod's final document "recommended softening the church's practice toward those who have divorced and remarried." The three paragraphs in the final document that dealt with this issue "seems to significantly move decision-making for how [divorced and remarried Catholics] can participate in the church to private… → Read More
Richard Curry, Jesuit who served people with disabilities and veterans, has died
Jesuit Fr. Richard Curry, whose various ministries in theater and bakeries embraced people with disabilities and military veterans, died in Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 19. He was 72. Curry was best known for founding in New York City in 1977 the National Theatre Workshop of the Handicapped, which allowed young people with disabilities the chance to study music, voice, oral interpretation, movement… → Read More
No permanent fix for Nebraska death penalty
Nebraska is unlikely to be able to carry out lethal injections even if the voters decide on the November ballot to override the legislature’s decision to repeal the death penalty. At a news conference Wednesday, University of Nebraska law professor Eric Berger and State Sen. Colby Coash spoke about the state’s death penalty system just after Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts announced on Dec. 4 he… → Read More
US Catholics make Year of Mercy plans
The Year of Mercy began Dec. 8, and churches and church organizations across the United States have special observances and services planned throughout the year. Churches across the U.S. have been designated as pilgrimage churches, and one parish per diocese will open a designated "Holy Door" like the ones Pope Francis opened in Central Africa Republic and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. All four… → Read More
Nebraska governor reverses efforts to import lethal injection drugs
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts announced Dec. 4 the state will no longer try to import drugs to carry out lethal injections, instead opting to review potential protocol changes to capital punishment. On May 20, Nebraska became the 19th state to abolish the death penalty. The bill passed with a 32-15 vote, but was vetoed by Ricketts May 26. The next day, after debating for two and a half hours,… → Read More
Bishop Johnston leads healing service for sex abuse survivors
One week to the day after his installation as bishop of the Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., diocese, James Johnston led a healing service to reach out to survivors of sexual abuse at the hands of clergy over many decades. The fourth of a series of services sponsored by the diocese, the HOPE event was held Nov. 11 at the Nativity of Mary parish in Independence, Mo. The diocese began the program,… → Read More