More News Highlights

Some more recent news highlights...

* Pope Benedict met with some 26 victims of the Baghdad cathedral attack who are being treated in Italy along with their relatives in a private audience

* Police are investigating a recent 'series of burglaries' in the Bronx, which have included Catholic schools & churches

* Una Voce recently published its report on the third anniversary of Summorum Pontificum. The report is dated 9/14/10 [Note: See highlights below]

* Under pressure, the Smithsonian pulled a vile video that outraged many Catholics (details of the disgusting video not repeated here). The Smithsonian receives funds from the federal government [That is, your taxpayer dollars]

* Cardinal Bertone recently charged that "Christians are the most persecuted and discriminated against religious group" in the world and he called on the international community to "combat intolerance and discrimination against Christians with the same determination that it battles hatred for members of other religious communities"

* More 'ecumenical craziness': Cardinal Bertone has reportedly given the schismatic Orthodox a relic of the Apostle St. Andrew [Related: Ecumenism (Q & A) | There once was a vacuum cleaner salesman...]

* Anglican update: The ordinariate in Australia reportedly 'may be' established by Easter or Pentecost in 2011. Also, a group of Anglicans in Canada have voted overwhelmingly (90%) to enter the Catholic Church under the provisions of Anglicanorum Coetibus

[12/1]

News Highlights

Some recent news highlights...

* The Vatican Post Office issued a new postage stamp to commemorate the reopening of the Vatican Library. The library was reopened Monday after a three year renovation

* The Archdiocese of New York is expected release a list of schools next month that may be closed or merged. The changes may affect more than 10% of all schools in the archdiocese

* The Vatican Splendors exhibit is scheduled to open on October 2 in Pittsburgh. The exhibit will reportedly include hundreds of "treasures from the Vatican" as well as items from churches in the area

* Rather than teaching responsibility, Edmonton's archbishop has called for an abrupt end to 'casino fundraising' in his archdiocese, citing "morality". Critics note that such fundraising is a "critical" source of funds for the schools and is "harmless and moral" for responsible persons

* The papal tartan created especially for Pope Benedict's trip to the U.K. is in high demand. Reportedly, the manufacturer's phones "have been ringing off the hook" as numerous persons seek to purchase the plaid

* Three suspects have been arrested in connection with thefts of parishioners' property in the Archdiocese of Hartford. The suspects were captured after a police chase. The thefts apparently occurred after communicants left their pews to receive Holy Communion. The suspects' vehicle reportedly contained narcotics

* An Evansville nun who had been trying to help a man reportedly became the man's victim. The nun gave the man some money and drove him to a bus station. She later gave the man more money and offered him additional assistance. In return, the man reportedly stole her money and her credit card as well as church keyboard. He fled the scene and is being sought after by police

* Celebrating your defeat? An AFP article notes that "The Vatican for the first time took part in anniversary celebrations of the 1870 capture of Rome by Italian troops which ended the Papal States’ domination of the city for more than a thousand years." The article is accompanied by a picture of Cardinal Bertone at the event, which was called both a 'tribute' and a 'celebration' [Commentary: What must Pope Pius IX and his successors through Pope Pius XI - "prisoners of the Vatican" for decades - think of this craziness? Should St. Peter's ever be taken over would we eventually 'celebrate' that as well?]

[9/21]

More News Highlights

Some more recent news highlights...

* A group opposing the sale of a Catholic healthcare system in Boston has written a letter to Pope Benedict asking him to stop negotiations. Already included in the agreement is an option allowing the Catholic healthcare system to "go secular" (e.g. provide abortion, contraception, etc.) upon donating $25 million to charity. The payment has been compared to Judas' 30 pieces of silver

* Here we go again: Cardinal Bertone has scandalized & confused Catholics by issuing a letter on Pope Benedict's behalf which pays tribute to 'Brother Roger' (a Protestant founder of 'Taizé ecumenical community') and states that the Protestant "has entered into eternal joy" [Note: For more on the Church's defined dogma of 'no salvation outside the Church', click here]

* A Protestant school in California has fired a number of employees because their beliefs were at odds with those taught by the Protestant 'church'. Most of the employees fired were Catholic [Hmm... Why were Catholics hired to begin with? And why did Catholics accept positions there?]

* A call to shoot oneself in the foot? An elderly Irish woman is calling on females in her country to join her in boycotting Mass one Sunday (e.g. commit a grave sin) in an attempt to advance a feminist agenda in the Church (e.g. an impossible-to-be realized desire for women priests). Reportedly. her eldest son - who is a monk - supports her plan [Big problem here, ladies: Missing Sunday Mass without a suitable reason is a grave sin. To be forgiven, one must have sufficient contrition. If you will not repent of the grave sin of missing Sunday Mass, how do you expect to receive forgiveness? Is your feminist agenda really worth risking eternal hellfire?]

* No surprise here: Researchers studying documents from the Vatican Secret Archive have determined that voting patterns among bishops at the Second Vatican Council were influenced by non-Catholics. According to their analysis, Church leaders "were almost impervious to outside influence and opposed to most kinds of change" in areas where the Church "enjoyed a stable monopoly." Where bishops did not have this advantage, "leaders of other religious institutions were a crucial source of influence" [Related: Summary of Changes Since Vatican II A Revolution in the Church?]

[8/11]

Possible legal action over police raid in Belgium

Reports indicate that the Mechelen-Brussels archdiocese may consider taking legal action over the recent raid on church property which was conducted in the wake of abuse allegations. During the police search, bishops were detained for nine hours, confidential records were confiscated, phones were surrendered, and tombs were violated. The detention of the bishops reportedly also gave some the impression that the bishops were suspects. A diocesan spokesman has said that "we cannot exclude that there might be legal action if necessary" over the raids which "tarnished" the image of the Church in Belgium. Cardinal Bertone lamented the actions as "serious and unbelievable", claiming that "There are no precedents, not even in Communist regimes."

An earlier statement noted that "...the Secretary of State reiterates its firm condemnation of all sinful and criminal acts of abuse of minors by members of the Church, and the need to repair and face such acts in accordance with the requirements of justice and the teachings of the Gospel. It is in the light of these needs that the same Secretary of State also expresses great surprise at how some searches were conducted yesterday by the Belgian judicial authorities and its indignation at the fact that the tombs of Cardinals Jozef-Ernest Van Roey and Léon-Joseph Suenens, deceased archbishops of Malines-Brussels, were violated. Added to the dismay over those actions, is regret for some breaches of confidentiality, owed to those very victims for whom the searches were conducted."

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Recent Activities of the Holy Father

The following are some highlights from Pope Benedict's recent activities...

* The Pope has reconfirmed Cardinal Bertone as Vatican Secretary of State even though the Cardinal has passed the age limit for resignation

* The Holy Father participated in the traditional blessing of lambs on the feast of St. Agnes. The lambs have the honor of having their wool be used in palliums

* Pope Benedict reportedly told a rabbi that he has finished his second book on Jesus of Nazareth

* The Holy Father has asked for prayers for unity during this week of prayer for Christian unity. He notes that unity is "first and foremost a gift from God"

* The Pope appointed a female, Flaminia Giovanelli, as under secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace

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