The following are some recent news highlights...
* A youth association in Italy is organizing demonstrations ('sit-ins') throughout the country on April 18 in support of Pope Benedict, who has reportedly "suffered greatly" over the abuse scandals
* A Catholic college in Georgia run by the scandalized Legionaries of Christ has announced that it will close on April 15. The "abrupt closure" will occur a month before the spring semester ends. The students will reportedly receive "full credit" for the semester
* Great news: Bishop Daniel R. Jenky has ordered that the tabernacle be located "in the direct center at the back of the sanctuary" in all churches and chapels in the Diocese of Peoria (except those which receive a special dispensation). The bishop noted that "where we place the Tabernacle - and how we ritually reverence the Reserved Sacrament - is as important for the continuing Eucharistic catechesis as is all our preaching and teaching." Unfortunately, a long (five-year) compliance period has been granted for the directive. [Related: Tabernacle Reflections]
* More good news: A Mandeville, Louisiana parish will construct a new Gothic-style church after "parish committees rejected the idea of a church with a 'modern' design." It is estimated that it will take at least four years to complete the project. The parish reportedly has the largest congregation in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. [Related: Church Talk Reflections]
* Not good: A model for a new church in L’Aquila, Italy that "can only be described in terms such as 'awful' and 'hideous'" has been proposed. The so-called "power-blogger Fr. Z" has referred to the design as "perhaps the worst ever" and says "If they actually build this monstrosity...the Roj Mahal in Los Angeles will no longer be the [most] ugly church I have ever seen." The design "resembles a glob of white toothpaste."
* The sister in Chicago who scandalized pro-lifers by claiming that "[President Obama] is not pro-abortion. The president is pro-choice. I think they are two very different things" has apologized for & renounced her comment. In her statement, which appears on the archdiocesan site, she says, "I am affirming my belief in the teachings of the Catholic Church and understand that there can be no distinction between pro-abortion and pro-choice because the choice at issue is the choice to kill a child." Her office has also recently been under criticism for giving an award to the controversial Fr. Michael Pfleger. [Earlier story here]
* A 'Vatican expert' has come to the defense of Pope Benedict, refuting six 'attacks' on the Holy Father. Regarding the matter of abuse scandals in the Church, he says that "Here too, the accusation is against the very man who has done more than anyone, in the Church hierarchy, to heal this scandal." His defender concludes that the reason why "this pope [is] so under attack, from outside of the Church but also from within, in spite of his clear innocence with respect to the accusations" is that "he is systematically attacked precisely for what he does, for what he says, for what he is."
* A "Jewish poet, novelist and essayist" has joined other papal defenders saying that "I am not Catholic, but even I am not blind to the immense moral stature of the current Pontiff in comparison to his present-day swarm of detractors, who are a bunch of harassers." He claims that certain persons in the media are "exploiting the scandal" in an "excuse to corner Benedict XVI", and charges that some media personnel have a greater "fascination with the idea of a hypothetical papal resignation, than with the very acts of pedophilia committed by priests"
* A "prominent African archbishop" has lamented that the Good News we announce "sounds so hollow, so devoid of any meaning when matched with our much publicized negative moral behavior" and complains that "Ironically, [certain] priests have become a stumbling block to the promotion of vocations." He also noted that the abuse scandals help to "weaken the authoritative voice of the Church" and says we must "ourselves turn a new leaf, by being beyond reproach" to rebuild confidence and respect.
[4/8]
Posts
