Tag: court

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Kevin Wondrash, Catholic Herald Staff

Schools in Dane County fully open

MADISON — School parents and administrators, teachers, and staff in Dane County got a victory in their efforts to open Catholic schools to all students.

On September 10, the State Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction halting the Dane County Order requiring all schools, public and private, in the county to open virtually for students in grades three through 12.

This meant Catholic schools in Dane County could hold in-person instruction for all students immediately.

Families take action

The county order, Emergency Order #9, was issued on August 21 just days before many Dane County schools in the Diocese of Madison were scheduled to open for full in-person instruction.

Schools had spent most of the summer making preparations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Kevin Wondrash

Society to hear talk on restorative justice

MADISON — Ron Johnson, coordinator of the Dane County Community Restorative Court, will be the guest speaker of the St. Thomas More Society meeting on Friday, April 21, at 7:30 a.m., at St. Patrick Church Hall, 404 E. Main St.

The public is welcome. Bring a friend or colleague. There is no charge.

Johnson, originally from Milwaukee, is a former teacher and principal, as well as a father of seven. His career includes working with programs that address gang prevention and intervention, youth violence, youth development, and employment.

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Patrick Hardyman

Supreme Court ignores principles in ‘Declaration of Independence’

Patrick Hardyman

On September 21, 1996, President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which had earlier passed in the Senate by a vote of 85-14 and in the House of Representatives by a vote of 342-67.

DOMA had two major effects, “No state (or other political subdivision within the United States) need treat a relationship between persons of the same sex as a marriage, even if the relationship is considered a marriage in another state and secondly the federal government may not treat same sex relationships as marriages for any purpose, even if concluded or recognized by one of the states.”

Voters approve amendments

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Brent King, Director of Communications, Diocese of Madison

Appellate tribunal confirms guilty verdict of Fr. Gerald Vosen

MADISON — Diocese of Madison officials were recently notified by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, in Rome, of the publication of the findings of the appellate tribunal court’s hearing of the appeal of Fr. Gerald Vosen, who was placed on administrative leave in 2004 and formally suspended since 2008.

With this release, we inform the faithful of the diocese and the general public of the appellate tribunal’s conclusions.

The appellate tribunal has confirmed the finding of the first-instance tribunal (Diocese of Madison’s — 2007) that Fr. Gerald Vosen is guilty of two offenses against the sixth commandment (sexual misconduct), with minors under the age of 16.

Likewise, the appellate tribunal confirmed the penalty issued by the first-instance tribunal, namely, Father Vosen’s permanent removal from all ecclesiastical ministry with the admonition to lead a life of prayer and penance. No further right to appeal exists.

The confirmation of this penalty means that Father Vosen is not to exercise any public ministry, whatsoever, nor is he to present himself publically as a minister of the Church, including by wearing clerical dress.

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Fr. Robert Barron

We’ve been here before

Recently, I had the privilege of spending four hours in the Sistine Chapel with my Word on Fire team. Toward the end of our filming, the director of the Vatican Museums, who had accompanied us throughout the process, asked whether I wanted to see the “room of tears.”

This is the little antechamber, just off of the Sistine Chapel, where the newly-elected pope changes into his white cassock. Understandably, tears flow in that room, once the poor man realizes the weight of his office.

Papal memorabilia

Inside, there were documents and other memorabilia, but what got my attention was a row of albs, chasubles, and copes worn by various popes.

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Kevin Wondrash

Diocese of Madison applauds court ruling

The Diocese of Madison issued the following statement in regard to the Supreme Court decision regarding contraception in employee health insurance coverage.

MADISON — The Supreme Court ruling on Monday, June 30, is a positive step toward recognizing the truth that the God-given freedom of religion and freedom of conscience cannot be disregarded by the government in its attempt to force its own beliefs on people of faith.

It must be recognized that the freedoms of religion and conscience can never be relegated to a church, synagogue, or mosque, and that they are the rights of every individual, conferred by God.

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Kevin Wondrash

City considers buffer zone around clinics

MADISON — The city of Madison is considering a proposal to impose a buffer zone of 160 feet around abortion clinics in the city.

“This buffer zone is quite severe — over four times the size of the controversial Massachusetts buffer zone being considered by the U.S. Supreme Court — and it would effectively end all sidewalk counseling at the Planned Parenthood abortion center on Orin Rd.,” said Pro-Life Wisconsin in a statement.

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Susanna Herro, For the Catholic Herald

Catholic lawyers meet for educational lunches

MADISON — Topics like the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Abraham Lincoln, and learning how to provide even more compassionate client care are topics for educational lunches being planned with Catholic attorneys in the Diocese of Madison.

Continuing Legal Education credit (CLE) will be requested for each of these up-coming topics for the lunches sponsored by the diocesan St. Thomas More Society.

Speaker on November 1

On Friday, Nov. 1, Attorney James A. Ranney will speak on “Choosing Our Judges: Wisconsin’s Longstanding Debate.”

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