Feb

13

Culture Council to Study Secularism

February 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment

The Pontifical Council of Culture will dedicate its next plenary assembly to the theme of secularization.
The council, presided over by Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, will gather March 6-8 for the assembly.
“It will be three days of intense dialogue and cultural exchange to try to respond to the questions of a globalized postmodern culture,” the dicastery announced […]

Feb

13

Sister Lucia’s Beatification Process to Begin

February 13, 2008 | 1 Comment

Pope Waves 5-Year Waiting Period
Benedict XVI announced he will dispense with the five-year waiting period established by Canon Law to open the cause of beatification of Sister Lucia, one of the three Fatima visionaries.
The news was announced today in the cathedral of Coimbra, Portugal, by Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ […]

Feb

13

Instruction on Saints’ Causes Due Out Monday

February 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment

“Sanctorum Mater,” concerning norms regulating the opening of saints’ causes, will be presented Monday, the Vatican announced today.
The document, from the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, will be presented by the dicastery’s prefect, Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, accompanied by the secretary and under-secretary.
A supplement, “Index Ac Status Causarum,” will be presented at the same time.
Cardinal Saraiva […]

Feb

13

Lebanese Christians Still Hoping, Says Priest

February 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Feast of Maronite Church’s Patron Celebrated in Rome
By Tony Assaf
Lebanese Christians’ cry for peace was heard in Rome with a “Concert of Hope.”
Father Daoud Reaidy, superior of the community of the Maronite Antonian Order in Rome, inaugurated the Feb. 8 concert in Rome’s Trastevere district.
“Normally we use the voice to speak, to dialogue, to cry […]

Feb

13

Bishops: Mexico’s Drug War Needs Faithful Catholics

February 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Prelates’ Lenten Letter Urges Adequate Valuing of Material Goods
Mexican bishops are proposing Lent as a good time to work against phenomena caused by the overvaluing of material goods, especially drug trafficking.
In a pastoral letter, the Mexican episcopal conference, presided over by Bishop Carlos Aguiar Retes of Texcoco, said the key to the fight against giving […]

Feb

13

Archbishop Censures Clinton Stop at Catholic University

February 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Says Senator’s Record Not Consistent With Church Teaching
The archbishop of San Antonio said he was “surprised” to hear that a local Catholic university will be the spot for a campaign rally for Senator Hilary Clinton, whose records he says are not consistent with Church teaching.
Archbishop José Gomez said this today in a press statement ahead […]

Feb

13

Priest Penalized for Praying in Algeria

February 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment

2006 Pro-Islam Law Begins to Have Effects
A Catholic priest was sentenced by the tribunal of Oran, a city in northwestern Algeria, to a year in prison for having “directed a religious ceremony in a place which has not been recognized by the government.”
Father Pierre Wallez is the first victim of legislation approved in March 2006 […]

Feb

13

Presentation of the Instruction “Sanctorum Mater”

February 13, 2008 | 1 Comment

  The Holy See Press Office today announced that at 11.30 a.m. on Monday, 18 February, a press conference will be held to present the Instruction of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, “Sanctorum Mater”, concerning norms regulating the opening of causes for beatification.
  Participating in the press conference - during which the supplement […]

Feb

13

Coadjutor Named for Lancaster

February 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Benedict XVI appointed Augustinian Father Michael Campbell as the coadjutor bishop of Lancaster. With this appointment he will be the eventual successor of Bishop Patrick O’Donoghue. Bishop O’Donoghue turns 75 — the retirement age for bishops stipulated in canon law — in 2009. Michael Campbell was born in Larne, Northern Ireland, in 1941 and ordained […]

Feb

13

Archbishop: Iraqi Christians Not Losing Hope

February 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment

The fact that three kidnapped Christians in Iraq were prepared to die for their faith before converting to Islam shows that the faithful there aren’t losing hope, said the archbishop of Kirkuk.Archbishop Louis Sako told the SIR news agency of the Italian bishops today of the recent case of 40 students who were traveling on […]

Feb

13

Papal Homily at Conclusion of Christian Unity Week

February 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Here is the homily Benedict XVI delivered Jan. 25 at the liturgy of vespers on the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul for the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The service was held at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.* * *
LITURGY OF VESPERS
ON THE FEAST OF THE […]

Feb

13

Pope’s Q-and-A Session With Roman Clergy

February 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Following a Lenten tradition, Benedict XVI met Thursday with parish priests and clergy of the Diocese of Rome. During the meeting, the participants asked the Pope questions. Here is a translation of the questions and the Holy Father’s answer.* * *
[Deacon Giuseppe Corona:]
Holy Father, I would like first of all to express my gratitude and that […]