More recent news highlights...
* A "little nun with a commanding voice" in Pittsburgh foiled a recent robbery attempt by instructing a thief to return a wallet he had taken from a car via an open window. Reportedly, the thief apologized to the 5'3" sister and returned the stolen wallet
* Pope Benedict has apparently accepted an invitation to visit Ukraine in 2012. A formal announcement is expected to be forthcoming
* Reports indicate that a two hour long Eucharistic adoration service "in reparation for abuses committed by priests and for the healing of this wound within the church" will take place this Saturday at St. Peter's Basilica
* Pope Benedict recently told the Italian bishops that society is facing a "cultural and spiritual crisis, as serious as the economic crisis." He also encouraged the bishops not to give up their efforts to provide a true Catholic education
* A Catholic priest in Arizona is leading an effort to put an initiative on the ballot aimed at repealing/changing the state's new anti-illegal immigration law. The priest's initiative also seeks a three-year moratorium to prevent future immigration related legislation. It will reportedly be "a real challenge" for supporters to obtain the number of signatures needed to qualify the measure for the ballot [Related: Civics 101: Breaking the law is not okay]
* Shameful: According to reports, a group of women who have had relationships with priests sent an open letter to Pope Benedict requesting an end to priestly celibacy [Commentary: These (brazen!) women imagine that these men would honor vows to them even though these same men failed to honor vows to the all-holy God?] Note: Click here for the importance of & reasons for priestly celibacy
* More bad news: A Jesuit investigation found that some 205 allegations of abuse have been made against priests at the order's schools in Germany. The investigation reportedly revealed "decades of systematic abuse and attempts of a cover-up" in the order, for which a Jesuit official acknowledged "shame and guilt"
* Well said: An editorial penned by a Fall River priest concerning a recent decision to bar a child with lesbian 'parents' from admission to a Catholic school has indicated that the decision "wasn’t a bigoted decision at all, but a courageous, principled, and undoubtedly difficult one, seeking the good of the eight year-old boy and the rest of the children at the school." He noted that "there is a requirement, for the good of the child, that the parents commit to raise the child in a situation that at least does not contradict the values and formation given at the school" and that "If the child’s education will not be coupled to a way of life consistent with it, the parents and school would be placing the child in a spiritually and morally schizophrenic situation - which is obviously harmful." [Related: Defending the Indefensible | Catholic education begins at home]
* More immigration-related news: According to at least one source, the Mass of Reception for the new Coadjutor Archbishop of Los Angeles was "marked by clear indications that support for immigrants will be a priority" for the future leader of the nation's largest diocese. The multi-lingual service included a "lengthy homily" spoken in English and in Spanish. During the talk, Cardinal Mahony said that "A good shepherd here will of necessity work tirelessly for just immigration policies and for the protection of the dignity of all our immigrants", whereas the Mexican-born Archbishop Gomez (now a citizen of the U.S.) said, that "God is with us, and in his loving eyes, no one is a stranger for him, and no one is an alien for any of us." Archbishop Gomez is the first Hispanic archbishop of Los Angeles. He has been "active in the Hispanic community" and has served as chairman of the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church [Related: Civics 101: Breaking the law is not okay]
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