More News Highlights

Some more recent news highlights...

* Vatican spokesman Fr. Lombardi is reportedly 'downplaying' WikiLeaks disclosures, claiming that "There’s nothing new, nothing that wasn’t abundantly well known" in the disclosures

* Various reports indicate that the Vatican Bank is under 'new scrutiny' in the money-laundering case which led to the seizure of millions of dollars a few months ago. Reportedly, court documents indicate that the bank "deliberately flouted anti-laundering laws 'with the aim of hiding the ownership, destination and origin of the capital'" and "reveal investigators' suspicions that clergy may have acted as fronts for corrupt businessmen and Mafia"

* Cardinal Burke recently lamented that many American Catholic colleges are 'Catholic in name only'. In an address earlier this month, the prelate noted that "A Catholic college or university at which Jesus Christ alive in His Church is not taught, encountered in the Sacred Liturgy and its extension through prayer and devotion, and followed in a life of virtue is not worthy of the name"

* Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Ireland has apologized for the abuse scandals and subsequent cover-up. He noted that "Many of those who came forward did not want to damage the Church they loved; they simply wanted abuse to be stopped effectively and definitively" and noted that "Their love of the Church was betrayed by leadership in the Church"

* Scandalous: TFP volunteers examined websites of nearly 250 Catholic universities & colleges in America and discovered that "101 (41%) of Catholic universities and colleges currently list pro-homosexual student clubs on their web sites. Among Jesuit-run universities, however, the number increases to 100%" They note that "Many of these clubs sponsor events that promote the homosexual movement’s most radical agenda, the redefinition of marriage and the social acceptance of unnatural vice, which is contrary to Catholic moral teaching". TFPStudentAction.org has launched a petition in protest [Related: Catholic teachings on homosexuality (Topic Page)]

* Here we go again: A dissenting priest in Wisconsin has questioned Church teachings concerning the all-male priesthood. His (inaccurate) comments appear in a newspaper column [Related: Top Reasons Why Women Can't Be Priests]

[12/13]

Scandals update

Brief updates on scandals in Ireland & Brazil...

IRELAND:

> Pope Benedict's letter concerning the Irish abuse scandal is expected to be released on Saturday

> Cardinal Sean Brady apologized to "anyone who has been hurt by any failure on my part" and said that "I am ashamed that I have not always upheld the values that I profess and believe in." He has been criticized for failing to notify authorities regarding a meeting he attended where two alleged victims signed a confidentiality clause. The alleged victims were compensated by the archdiocese without an admission of liability

BRAZIL:

> A television station in Brazil aired a video, filmed via hidden camera, that reportedly portrayed an elderly priest having a 'homosexual encounter' with a 19 year old. This priest - and two others - were suspended for "alleged homosexual activities with boys and young men". Early media reports indicated that the priests were bishops, but this has been denied. Brazil is "home to the world's largest Catholic population"

Related: Scandal in the Church (apologetics)

[3/19]

Update on the Holy Father's 2010 U.K. Visit

It is being reported that the during the Pope's 2010 visit to the UK, "the Vatican did not want the trappings that (normally) accompany such a visit." Therefore, the Holy Father has declined to stay at Buckingham Palace and will instead stay with the Apostolic Nuncio in Wimbledon. He has also reportedly rejected the customary "palace banquet and procession in a gold carriage" on his historic visit. News reports also indicate that the Holy Father does not plan to visit Ireland during this trip.

[12/18]

Important refreshers for Catholics

Considering recent events, it seems opportune for Catholics to refresh their memories on facts regarding priestly celibacy, apparitions, and homosexual 'marriage'...

* Priestly celibacy: In a recent clarification, a Vatican spokesman has denied that the hold up in publishing the Apostolic Constitution regarding Anglicans entering the Catholic Church concerns the issue of celibacy. The clarification says that the delay in publishing the document is "purely technical in the sense of ensuring consistency in canonical language and references" and anticipates the document will be completed "by the end of the first week of November." The clarification reaffirmed earlier statements that ordination of Anglicans who are married will be a special - but not unprecedented - exception to the rule of celibacy and that this would occur on a case by case basis. According to the clarification, the ordination of seminarians who had converted from Anglicanism is "purely speculative." In all cases, married Anglicans who receive a special exception to the rule of celibacy and are ordained as priests would be prohibited from serving as bishops. Some faithful Catholics fear the arrangement may threaten the rule of priestly celibacy, but Vatican statements have affirmed that celibacy will be the norm in the Church even for converted Anglicans. It is important for today's Catholics to keep in mind the very important & weighty reasons for priestly celibacy, reasons which are summed up here in the article 'Why Priestly Celibacy?' (click above link to view)

* Marian Apparitions: Once again alleged visions are causing controversy in the Church. The most recent example is occurring in Knock where a "Dublin-based clairvoyant" has been predicting 'repeat apparitions' of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the historic shrine. The Archbishop has condemned the alleged apparitions and warned his flock about them, but thousands of people have disobeyed him. Disobedience is also rampant in other alleged apparition sites (e.g. Medjugorje). Therefore, it seems a fitting time to remind Catholics of some basic facts such as: (1) Most alleged apparitions are false, (2) Alleged apparitions may be more likely to be false than true, (3) Misplaced belief in false apparitions may be dangerous, (4) Apparitions may not add to the deposit of the faith, which was completed with the apostles, (5) Information from apparitions is not required for salvation, (6) Persons should not propagate or promote unapproved apparitions (including "reading, publishing, possessing, translating, and distributing literature which treat of unapproved apparitions"), (7) Unexplained "phenomena" do not guarantee authenticity of an apparition, and (8) Persons should not center their faith around an apparition. For additional reminders, please click here.

* Homosexual 'marriage': Sadly, a group of Catholics in Maine is working against the Church in an effort to keep 'legalized' homosexual 'marriage' in the state. Some of their comments suggest that these poorly formed Catholics feel it's somehow "charitable" to offend God if it makes a group of sinners happy. During this confused age, it is especially important that Catholics know how to counteract such misguided reasoning with facts such as those in the earlier news brief entitled "The End of Freedom in America?" (click here to view)

"[L]et all be warned and strengthened with special care against wrong principles and false teaching" (Pope Leo XIII, "Rerum Novarum", 1891 A.D.)

[11/2]