News Briefs

On April 16 the Rev. Edwin Gariguez of the Philippines was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for his “fearless” leadership in protecting the environment and the indigenous community on the island of Mindoro. • The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on April 17 appealed a ruling by a federal court in Massachusetts that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services violated the First Amendment in a contract to provide services to victims of human trafficking with the conference. • Ireland’s parliament rejected legislation on April 19 that would have allowed a controversial 1992 Supreme Court ruling permitting abortion in limited circumstances to take effect. • The Catholic bishops of Guinea-Bissau in West Africa on April 17 repudiated a military coup and called for the respect of democratic rule and for prayer to resolve the conflict peacefully. • Bishop Richard G. Lennon of Cleveland on April 17 said he would not appeal a Vatican ruling but would reopen 12 parishes to promote “peace and unity” in the diocese. • Cecil Chaudhry, a Catholic who fought for human rights for religious minorities in Pakistan, died on April 13 in Lahore at the age of 72.