An Focal Scóir - May 2007

May, the month of Mary opened with Il Papa expressing solidarity with one of his bishops who was in receipt of death threats due to his referring in a rather nasty way to the gay community. Some MEP's had also attempted to have the prelate brought to the European Parliament on a charge of homophobia but at time of press, it was still proceeding.

Australia received news of 2 new bishops being appointed, Kissinger visits the Vatican, average age of ordinands to priesthood in USA is 35, May Day is remembered, but the Bishop of Southwark suffers from memory failure in relation to his Christmas drinking session at the Irish Embassy in UK and could yet lose his position.

Archdiocese of Dublin CSA Scandal update hints at a greater scale of abuse as may have been previously thought, online confessions, UK bishop anti-BNP advertisements, Irish nun dies from spider bite in Kenya, EU Parliament accuses RC Church of homophobia and Bush and Il Papa meet.

Il Papa speaks of love, Irish should learn from South Africans, Jewish Community warns Il Papa over Latin Mass re-introduction, women priests should be permitted, homophobia alive and well in Croatian schools whilst Cardinal Hummes asks all to reach out to fallen away Catholics (irony lost on anyone here??)

Disgraced Irish bishop Comiskey to give evidence in relation to CSA, Irish courts face having to rule on abortion again, Iraq's endangered Christian community, Lebanese difficulties get hearing in Vatican, Brazil rise in Protestantism and Vatican refers to a comedian as a terrorist!!

European Court rules in favour of Polish gays, Opus Dei not welcome, Turkish Christian community in receipt of death threats, Vatican library to close for 3 years, Irish general election begins and Il Papa worries about environment.

Mugabe again warns RC bishops, Anglican Church issues unequivocal apologies for CSA case, Italian lawmakers criticise Vatican newspaper, RC priest drug smuggling into prison whilst another faces the clerical heave-ho for using prostitutes.

Female RC bishop defies Vatican, Brazilian youth at odds with Vatican on views on sex, CSA cover-ups continue in the Church, Vatican hands down first drug conviction, 1st. ever Nepalese bishop ordained and cardinal says we msut respect our immigrants.

Married man ordained as RC priest, Swiss Guards thanked by Il Papa, new faces in Roman Curia, Anglican Synod in Ireland begins, whilst major reform of the CDF is called for, Il Papa says Church must face vocations crisis and new Secretary of Clergy Congregation is appointed.

Muslim apostasy equals death, Herod tomb found, Pius XII almost a saint, homosexuality a from of prostitution (so says Cardinal), Il Papa says pro-abortion politicians will incur excommunication, Anglican church in turmoil over gay issues whilst Vatican clarifies papal excommunication remarks.

Il Papa flies into Brazil...and abortion row, moral mess of RC church exposed in court case, papal book sells, Marian pilgrims flock to Portugal, Iraqi Christians under threat from Al-Qaeda, Il Papa tries to sell chastity to young Brazilians, wine back on menu in NZ prisons and Il Papa in internet mass row.

Activists protest papal visit, Il Papa hears drug addict stories, Portugal shrine map offers sex sites, Il Papa offends native Indians of Brazil, whilst large crowds in Rome protest against gay rights.

Apocalypse secret denied by Vatican, Jehovahs Witnesses settle CSA claims, priest caught in love triangle, questions raised over raising wartime pope to sainthood, calls to oust Cardinal O'Connor Murphy in UK whilst a warning to all parents in relation to a clerical paedophile on lose in Ireland is followed by a picture and appeal to you all in relation to missing Madeleine.

.....and we now begin the second Verbum Ultimus report for the month of May....

The Dalai Lama was snubbed in Canberra by the economically conscious and dependent Federal Government in a blatant kow-tow to China; a Brazilian is charged with the death of American nun Dorothy Stang and the Dalai Lama announces he is to abdicate any political affiliations and reflect more on his spirituality.

US House of Democrats excommunicate Il Papa; greater lay involvement in RC church is called for and in the UK, teachers call for an end to church vetoes on school jobs while at long last, the code used by hierarchy in relation to abusing clergy is confirmed as having existed and furthermore, still exists. This shock revelation came from no less a personage than Cardinal Rivera of Mexico!!!

Il Papa's Brazilian did not go all that well, with fierce backlash coming to the fore, whilst in Rome, the leftist element of politics renewed their commitment to gay rights with the Vatican more interested in protecting the Christian heritage of Europe (says it all really).

Archbishop Oscar Romero is considered for beatification according to the Pope...only question is why it has taken so damn long!!!

Bishop Patricia Fresen struggles with the hierarchy (don't we all!!) as she continues to ordain female clergy (fair play and long may she continue) whilst a contribution reflections on the clerical errors of Il Papa which have merited a few Papal corrections (infallible hmmmm)...whilst a French village supports its priest and his partner!!!

Ascension Thursday is commemorated, and then astoundingly it seems a paedophile may only serve 1 year in prison before being released on parole....whilst the LA Archdiocese has to sell the chancery to raise funds for CSA victims and in the UK it seems Tony Blair is intent on becoming RC on leaving office...in all honesty do we need another warmonger in the ranks? Remember Hitler?

A cleric in the US believe himself to be God (thankfully he isn't) by advising the Senate to brush up on RC faith or stay out of church because they rebuked Il Papa (I am a dead man blogging in his eyes so!!)...unity between RC and Anglicanism discussed...while Mugabe is criticised yet again but the AB responsible will not apologise for so doing (way to go AB Ncube!!) whilst in the UK, an Anglican Bishop invents a new term - cupcake Christians!!!

Il Papa merits the top accolade in the Anti-Gay Hall of Shame organised by Human Rights Watch (wow that is some (dis) honour!!), while the bible merits being described as obscene in Hong Kong and Vatican-Israel relations are discussed.

In Pakistan, the Christian community is 'advised' by the Taliban that they must convert to Islam (makes a change from the Crusades one supposes), abortion continues as an international issue, whilst a schism in the Orthodox Church in Russia is healed (hint hint to Rome and Moscow) whilst Pope John XXIII is remembered for helping save Roman Jews.

Australian Anglican Synod convenes, clergy in USA to de-criminalise feeding the homeless (only in USA people, only in the USA), a prison nun was helping some prison inmates get high but not on God but rather something rather more illicit, the Scottish Bishops have demanded that teachers undergo a 'piety test' which would be something more recommended for themselves and their hierarchical colleagues one thinks than hard working teachers....

Church interference in Italian politics upsets a few, paper on Tridentine Mass due (or overdue at this stage!!), whilst Iraq sees more trouble with the kidnapping of Chaldean clergy and NYC diocese is ordered to pay a record $11 million as settlement of one CSA case, and in the Czech Republic the current cardinal is left in office despite turning 75 whilst Chavz seeks a papal apology for remarks made by Il Papa (fat chance of that apology happening).

Poland sees citizens taking to the streets for equal rights for gay community, whilst us poor bloggers are very falsely accused by some elements of the Italian media (read RC controlled media there) of promoting BBC propaganda about RC abuse and cover up...attack being best form of defence tact again...in Ireland the Gardaí are set to investigate MORE CSA claims against clergy (nothing new there then)...Scotland wants sex clinics in schools (is that what the new name is for the school shed?)...while the USA asserts it not being under the Papal thumb...

Il Papa condemns sex (for the umpteenth time!!), Turkey wants secularism, China not enthusiastic about religion at the 2008 Olympics, kidnapped priest is ransomed in Baghdad, and Il Papa appeals to Middle East for peace.

A priest deflowers a 13 year old girl, celibacy issue continues to rumble in France (again) and the kidnapped priest is freed in Baghdad, with Vatican again attempting to assert itself in China, with UK clergy fuming over no smoking signs in churches.

Muslims shut down a RC website (hands off this blogspot!!), CofE seeks decent asylum in UK, whilst a priest who ran and won in local elections admitted having a romantic liaison, whilst a survey finds that many believe women should be ordained priests by the RC church (no opposition here) whilst our hierarchy decide to sue South Park (different priorities for sure) whilst Vatican DEMANDS China respect and acknowledge right to appoint bishops!!

Lourdes may get papal visit for 150 years celebration, Pius XII was not silent during Holocaust and papal book Jesus of Nazareth is reviewed.

Gaydar priest Fr Hogan issues statement, Il Papa says Christians should be disciples and missionaries of Christ whilst Sinead O Connor mulls Gregorian chant (wonder will Il Papa endorse it???) whilst Mugabe ups the ante against RC bishops.

Pentecost of Pope John XXIII is pondered, whilst in USA 2 churches sign a communal agreement, whilst within Anglicanism Bishop Gene Robinson is not invited to Lambeth 2008, and monks are branding and protecting their Infidel brand of products!!

Blair to meet Il Papa on leaving office whilst Bishop Walsh of Killaloe diocese says that which we all already know - priests not immune from struggles with sexuality!!! Get rid of celibacy so!!!

The Holy See starts to evict (oft elderly) residents from its portfolio of properties, whilst issuing its census results, and NY archdiocese is gifted $27 million by an atheist (should help with CSA bills), and still in USA a tv presenter says RC Mass is a homosexual act...go figure that one and get back to me....

Il Papa in trouble in Fatherland and in Latin America, Ireland needs more non-denominational schools report, and RC gays challenge authority of church, in UK calls made to end 300 year old anti-Catholic laws, and back to Ireland where more couples are civilly married than traditional services heretofore.

Ireland's cause celebre cleric apologises for being on www.gaydar.ie, but the locals support him, and Poland is to challenge ruling on abortion, papal blundering in Brazil is discussed (again), yet he applauds the parade against unwed couples (how unChristian of him but very PC RC), and the Church of Scotland refuses to condemn Mugabe.

Bloggers yet again condemned for airing Vatican dirty laundry, and in-house decision to install solar panels and other green machines for Vatican, whilst Chavez gets clarification but no apology (told you so), and a review of David Yallop book on papacy of John Paul II.

Statements of Bishop and cleric at centre of gay priest non-story, Pentecost reflection, German clergy rail against Il Papa's old office (Inquisition) and Italian bishops (recognisable due to their constantly suffering from foot-in-mouth) say the RC Church is not to blame even when found to be wrong (someone work that out and get back to me!!!), whilst Anglican Church more direct in accepting liability and addressing the matter.

Mexico to challenge own abortion laws again, Bishop goes to gay priest parish, reflection on re-introduction of Latin Mass, celibacy can be a fulfilling call (and worse it is a priest who has said it!! - must be after a bit of the purple), whilst the silence of the Irish bishops in light of recent happenings is debated.

Archbishop Tutu says there is nothing short of an obsession at present in relation to gay clergy (at last someone other than myself who believes it to be so), Russia arrests gay activists (communism is dead is it??), Papal U-turn on inter-religious dialogue office, papal evangelizing and Amnesty abortion calls merit headlines also.

Female bishop continues to ordain, Moscom Patriarch says representation at Inter-Faith Dialogue not properly representative, Vatican Bank murder trial on tha books for judicial response, Ireland has 9 ordinands to dicaonate, whilst US bishop welocmes gays to communion.

Brazil subsidises birth control pill, Opus Dei has 38 ordinands, laity required to foster vocations, Papal message for World Missions Day, clerical torture by police, whilst Vatican again in denial of CSA claims as presented by the BBC.

Parents of missing girl to meet with Pope, more on the book they do not want printed, to be RC means to accept the weaknesses of the Church (a good clearout never done any harm though!!), online confessions given blessing, UK and Scottish cardinals start beating abortion drums again, priest fires organist who works for sex toy company (bit heavy handed and OTT) an considering that exams are uppermost on many peoples minds, a new patron saint of students is to be appointed on June 3rd...just in time too!!

....and therein lies the 2nd half of the Marian month of May on Clerical Whispers....hope you enjoyed and no doubt the month of the Sacred Heart which is June, shall not fail to lift our hearts....

‘His touch, words and thoughts were more tender than we could have hoped’

The parents of Madeleine McCann made an emotional and spiritual pilgrimage to the Vatican yesterday to pray with the Pope for the return of their missing daughter.

The four-year-old vanished 27 days ago at the holiday resort of Praia da Luz in the Algarve. Since then Kate and Gerry McCann have campaigned relentlessly to find her.

The Catholic couple from Rothley, Leicestershire, met the Pope after he addressed a crowd of 30,000 people at his regular Wednesday audience in St Peter’s Square.

The meeting was arranged through Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster.

Beforehand, the couple sat in the front row, both dressed in black. Mrs McCann had green and yellow ribbons in her hair and wore a homemade green-and-yellow rosary around her neck with Madeleine’s name spelt out in the beads. She clutched Cuddle Cat, her daughter’s favourite toy.

At times she closed her eyes, as though battling with her composure. The couple comforted one another with occasional hugs.

Their most difficult moment appeared to come when, during the ceremony, an English-speaking priest delivered a prayer to the crowd on behalf of the Pope, saying: “In a special way his blessing goes to your children and your loved ones.” The McCanns wiped tears from their bowed heads.

After the Pope’s homily the couple queued patiently behind a barrier as the Pope worked his way down the line, speaking to the specially chosen few, touching them and accepting gifts from them.

When the McCanns’ turn came, their audience lasted all of 30 seconds. The Pope took a hand of each of them, looked them in the eye and said with evident concern that he would pray for them. Mr McCann then kissed the Pope’s hand.

When Mrs McCann offered him a photograph of the smiling girl he took it and touched the image with his hand, as if to bless it.

Seated behind the couple were Francis Campbell, the British Ambassador to the Holy See, and Clarence Mitchell, their Foreign Office liaison officer. Near by, a group of 15 deacons from Britain offered their support.

Richard Edwards, deacon of Our Lady of Lourdes, Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church in Brighton, said: “You can only have sympathy for them. We hope and pray there will be some good news. It was quite clear from the start that they have taken strength from their faith. It is an enormous privilege to meet the Pope from a spiritual point of view.”

At the inevitable press conference afterwards, held in the ambassador’s residence, Mr McCann said of meeting the Pope: “It was more personal than I could ever imagine. There was recognition immediately, looking at Madeleine’s photograph.

His touch, words and thoughts were more tender than we could have hoped, and will sustain us during this most difficult time.”

Mrs McCann added: “It was very emotional but it was a very positive experience really. It has been very helpful to us. He was very kind. He said he would pray for us and our family and continue to have faith in us.”

During the ceremony a butterfly had landed on the ribbons in her hair. It flew away and then returned minutes later to her lapel. She said: “It was strange but lovely. It was like a small sign of hope.”

The couple said that they had mixed emotions about visiting the Vatican because the occasion was tinged by sadness.

Mr McCann said: “In other circumstances it would be the highlight for any Catholic to meet the Pope. But it is tainted by the marked realisation that our daughter is still missing.”

He said the most difficult aspect of the abduction was not knowing where she was.

Mrs McCann said: “The first 72 hours really were the worst time for both of us. It was hard to get away from the dark places. But as time goes on the support we have had, and the prayers, really do give us strength and hope. We are stronger and more positive.”

The Vatican evidently considered the meeting important. Father Frederico Lombardi, the Pope’s spokesman, said that the couple were fervent Catholics.

Father Guido Todeschini, who heads the Telepace televi-sion network, which films the Pope’s audiences, said: “The Vatican hoped the meeting would be of comfort to the family. Not just the Pope but the whole church is praying for the return of Madeleine.”

The McCanns then returned to Portugal to their two-year old twins, Sean and Amelie.

They have no plans to return to Britain, but instead will visit Madrid, Berlin and Amsterdam to issue yet more pictures and appeals for information.

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

New Patron Saint For Students

Sisters of the Assumption worldwide will gather in Rome this coming Sunday, 3 June, to hear their foundress proclaimed a saint by Pope Benedict XVI.

Marie Eugenie Milleret de Brou, born into an intellectual but non-believing family in the France of 1817, was 'converted' in her teens by the preaching of Henri Lacordaire OP.

At 22, she founded the Religious of the Assumption, combining a life of contemplation with the education of women, a cause in which she passionately believed Sr Marie Eugenie of Jesus sent her first sisters to England: Richmond, north Yorkshire, in 1850.

After this, she was besieged by requests for more sisters, more schools, in Europe and abroad. Foundations in the far off Philippines, Nicaragua and El Salvador were before the end of the 19th century.

The gift of a great miracle was the healing of a little girl in the Philippines in the 1990s. In her first year, little Risa Bontoc was found to have a malformation of the brain.

The left hemisphere was deficient and there was no connection between the two hemispheres of Risa's brain. The prognosis was that she would never walk, talk or see: "only a miracle," said one of the specialists, "would make her function normally."

The faith and hope of the Bontoc family, their love for the baby, led them to Paris where baby Risa was laid on top of the tomb of Blessed Marie Eugenie.

The family and the sisters prayed for a cure through Marie Eugenie's intercession.

By the time Risa was four, the American paediatric neurologist following her case reported that "her present capabilities are truly exceptional." And now? Risa is just 12 and a keen student in Assumption College, San Lorenzo.

Her report reads: "Her language development corresponds to the level of her peers. She continues to show a high level of social skills and an intellectual aptitude that corresponds to her age."

It will be Risa who, at the canonisation, will give the Pope the customary 'present' ­ a school for needy children. Marie Eugenie's intense interest in all aspects of human development is expressed in thousands of papers: she loved writing letters.

She communicated her thought to her sisters who, over the years, have passed it on to students, colleagues and friends: "In education, a philosophy, a character, a passion. But what passion? That of faith, of love, of the fulfilment of the Gospel."

Both "philosophy" and "passion" describe her well. Passionate in her personal love of Jesus Christ, carried to adoration by the mystery of the Being of God, Marie Eugenie dedicated her considerable intellectual powers to spreading the Good News in ways adapted to an ever-changing world without compromising the essentials.

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Methodists Go For Major Cyber Revamp

The Methodist Church in Britain is seeing cyberspace as a key part of its communications and mission - and has completely revamped its website.

The UK development agency Christian Aid is among others who are looking to revamp their web presence in an effort to connect the virtual world with life and death struggles in the real one.

For the past week, visitors to http://www.methodist.org.uk/ have seen a completely redesigned site that aims to be "easier to use and more expressive of the best of Methodism", say its creators.

Dave Webster, who jointly heads up Communication for Electronic Resources within the Church, says “the old site was showing its age, and contained far more information than it could easily direct people to.

The new site makes it easier to quickly find useful information, whether you are a Methodist minister or member, or even if you are just interested in one aspect of the Church. It is also more inspiring, and attractive.”

The site will feature a daily prayer, and dedicated sections for particular elements of the Church’s work and mission. The new site also makes use of Web 2.0 ideas, allowing people to form networks around common interests as active users rather than passive readers.

“This moves from the old model where we presented information to people to a new form where the website is also a way for everyone to contribute,” declares Webster.

“Over the past few years we have launched podcasts and weblogs amongst other things, but the new site draws together all of these ideas to create something that it flexible and useful enough to support the whole of the Church in its work.”

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Polish Charity Chief Faces Harassment Charges

The director of Poland's Caritas charitable agency, Father Adam Deren, has been accused of workplace harassment by former employees, the newspaper Rzeczpospolita reports.

Father Deren, under whose leadership the number of Caritas Poland employees has decreased from 28 to 16, says that when he assumed the position, the former director, Father Wojciech Lozewski advised him to fire all employees.

Former employees claim Father Deren called them vulgar names and belittled them.

Father Derene was named this week by Pope Benedict XVI as a member of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the official charitable arm of the papacy.

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Wisconsin Priest To Organist: 'Stop Selling Sex Toys'

A Catholic priest has removed his church's organist and choir director from her duties saying her sale of sex toys was not "consistent with Church teachings."

Linette Servais, 50, played the organ and sung with the choir for 35 years. Much of her work as choir director and organist was done without pay.

When her parish priest asked to meet with her, she thought it was to say thank you.

Instead, she was told to quit her sales job with company known as Pure Romance or she would lose her position in the church. Pure Romance in Loveland, Ohio, is a $60 million per year business that sells spa products and sex toys at homes parties attended by women.

It has 15,000 consultants like Servais.She said her decision was not hard: She began working with Pure Romance after a brain tumor and treatment left her sexually dysfunctional.

The job allows her to help other women who have similar problems.

"After I got over the initial shock, I prayed over this a long time," she said. "I feel that Pure Romance is my ministry."

The Rev. Dean Dombroski felt differently, removing her from the choir loft just before Thanksgiving and gradually taking away other church duties. Servais can no longer take pictures during First Communion services or lead the committee planning St. Joseph's annual late-summer picnic.

Dombroski said he couldn't discuss the situation because it involves personnel. But in a letter to his rural congregation, he wrote: "Linette is a consultant for a firm which sells products of a sexual nature that are not consistent with Church teachings.

Because parish leaders are expected to model the teaching of our faith ... she could stay on as the choir director/organist or she could continue to be a consultant but she could not do both."

Servais responded with her own three-page letter to church members, saying she felt compelled to help other women, especially those suffering from problems caused by cancer. Many choir members quit in support, she said, and some have gathered at her home on occasional Thursdays to sing hymns.

"Father Dean made it sound so sinful," she said. "There is so much more to this business than toys."

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Appeals Court - Victims Of Abusive Priest Can Sue Catholic Seminary That Trained Him

A court of appeals in Seattle has rejected a request to dismiss two lawsuits against a former Sulpician seminary that trained a priest who sexually abused minors.

The U.S. Sulpicians argued that the seminary cannot be held responsible for the abuse committed by former priest Patrick O'Donnell following his ordination. If successful, the lawsuits could be the first in which a seminary is found legally liable for having recommended the ordination of someone who subsequently molested children.

O'Donnell studied at Sulpician-run St. Thomas Seminary in Kenmore, a Seattle suburb, and was ordained a priest of the Spokane Diocese in 1971. He has been accused of molesting at least 65 minors between 1970 and his permanent removal from ministry in 1985.

The lawsuits contend that seminary officials knew O'Donnell had molested boys but recommended him for ordination anyway. They allege that the seminary sent him to sexual deviancy counseling while he was still in the seminary.

O'Donnell has reportedly testified in depositions that he told his seminary spiritual director of his sexual attraction to children and his struggles with his sexuality.

Lawyers for the seminary said a spiritual director cannot reveal what is learned in confession, so he could not have informed the seminary faculty about such conversations.

Thirty-one other victims of O'Donnell have also filed lawsuits against the seminary and the Sulpicians.

The request for dismissal was first denied by a state trial court.

In upholding that earlier decision, the appeals court said that although the lawsuits were entering uncharted waters the trial court's ruling "is a logical extension of existing law."

Father Ronald D. Witherup, Sulpician provincial, and other provincial officials were out of town for several days when Catholic News Service tried to contact them at provincial headquarters in Baltimore May 23, and they could not be reached immediately for comment.

CNS was told the officials would be out of town until early June.

The Society of St. Sulpice is a society of diocesan priests who are released from diocesan duties to devote full time to seminary education.

Among the seminaries the Sulpicians run in the United States are St. Mary's University and Seminary in Baltimore, the nation's oldest seminary, and Theological College in Washington, a national diocesan seminary affiliated with The Catholic University of America.

St. Thomas Seminary's four-year theological program was terminated in 1978 as it and other seminaries nationwide faced significant drops in enrollments.

The seminary became a Seattle archdiocesan conference center and was renamed St. Thomas Center in 1980.

The archdiocese subsequently leased and then sold the property to Bastyr University, which specializes in natural health sciences.

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Cardinal Warns Catholic Politicians Cooperation With Abortion Is A Barrier To Receive Eucharist

Catholic politicians must not cooperate in sustaining through legislation “the unspeakable crime of abortion” and to do so creates a barrier to their receiving holy Communion, says a Scottish cardinal on the approach of the 40th anniversary of passage of the law that made the taking of unborn human life legal.

In a homily to be delivered May 31 at St. Mary’s Cathedral here on the Scottish Day for Life,” Cardinal Keith O’Brien, archbishop of Edinburgh and St. Andrews, decried the killing of about millions of unborn babies and the spreading of the “culture of death” throughout society.

The Abortion Act 1967, passed by the British Parliament, made abortion legal in the United Kingdom for up to 28 weeks gestation.

In 1990, the law was amended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act: abortion became legal only up to 24 weeks except in cases where it was necessary to save the life of or there is grave risk of physical or mental injury to the mother or evidence of extreme fetal deformity or there was a grave risk of physical or mental injury to the woman.

The act does not extend to Northern Ireland, where abortion is only legal there if the life or the mental or physical health of the woman is at serious risk.

“Around 7 million lives have been ended as a consequence of that one piece of legislation,” he says in the homily, posted on the Web site of the Scottish Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

He characterizes as “lies and misinformation masquerading as compassion and truth” the arguments to promote the legislation four decades ago, including that “backstreet abortions were killing women,” “abortion would only be used in extreme cases” and “medical scrutiny would be rigorous.”

Yet, the result of the Abortion Act is “beyond our grasp,” Cardinal O’Brien says, pointing to the murder in Scotland alone of the “equivalent of a classroom full of school children every day.”

Abortion for many women, he notes, has become “an alternative form of birth control,” with the procedure used to “save the life of a woman are almost unheard of.”

The Day of Life to being observed on the same day as the feast of the Annunciation, which marks the journey by the virgin Mary to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was also expecting a child.

At their meeting, John the Baptist, the child in Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy, and Elizabeth said to Mary, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”

The cardinal says that Annunciation affirms “the immense value of life from its very conception.”

“The redeemer in the womb unites himself with all of humanity,” he says. “By becoming incarnate in the womb of Mary, God raises to a new level the greatness of every human life.”

“The joy of that meeting holds out to us the message of delight that should accompany every pregnancy. With every life conceived God acts directly to create a new and unique human being, a person destined to life everlasting,” he says. “Sadly, joy is not always the dominant emotion evoked by news of pregnancy in the world we live in today.”

Society must build a culture that “joyfully accepts new life,” Cardinal O’Brien says.

The Catholic community has a special responsibility to work against a “philosophy which permits the destruction of children in the haven of their mother’s womb,” he says.

He points to his work campaigning on behalf of the developing world, against the possession of nuclear weapons and to protect “the most vulnerable and defenseless” in the womb as all acts in defense of life.

“We must remain witnesses to the truth and be unambiguous in defending life in all that we do,” he says.

He calls for action from those in the health-care industry, urging support for “medical professionals who are unwilling to cooperate in the slaughter … on our universities and medical schools to teach that all human life deserves protection … on our hospitals to end testing procedures designed only for targeting and killing the weak and infirm.”

Politicians must answer whether they will “protect the right to life of all persons in our society from conception until natural death,” the cardinal says, urging voters “to hold these elected representatives to account.”

”I urge politicians to have no truck with the evil trade of abortion,” Cardinal O’Brien says. “Peace cannot be built in the shadow of the abortion rooms.”

Politicians, especially “those who claim to be Catholic,” must examine their consciences and determine whether they are helping in any way sustain “this social evil,” he said.

“I remind them to avoid cooperating in the unspeakable crime of abortion and the barrier such cooperation erects to receiving holy Communion,” the cardinal warns, adding that “I would be failing as a pastor not to highlight the gravity of this situation not just to lawmakers but to anyone – mother, father, boyfriend, counselor who in any way leads a mother to abortion.

He says that, beyond the outright banning of abortion, “there is much we can do,” including legislation aimed at reducing current abortion limits, ensuring parental notification for minors seeking an abortion and providing women considering the procedure full information about the physical and emotional risks to themselves and about fetal development.

“We can work to ensure that the more light, which is shone on this terrible procedure the less acceptable it will be to our society,” he says.

The Day of Life will be marked in Scotland's some 500 Catholic parishes, which have been sent 250,000 leaflets expanding on the day’s theme, “Blessed is the fruit of your women,” and explaining the Catholic Church's opposition to abortion.

In a letter which accompanied the material sent to parishes, Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow urged "every parish in Scotland (to) take the opportunity to remind people that it is 40 years since the Abortion Act was passed into law" and encouraged parishioners to "pray for legislation to protect the unborn child from the moment of conception."

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Parents Of Abducted Girl Meet With Pope

Pope Benedict XVI compassionately held the hands of the parents of 4-year-old Madeleine McCann, blessing them and a photo of the girl at the Wednesday audience.

The couple, who is Catholic, went to ask prayers for their daughter who disappeared while the family was vacationing in Portugal.

Thirty two thousand people were present at the general audience, but the pope took time to meet with Gerry and Kate McCann.

"He was very kind, very sincere," Kate McCann told a packed news conference. According to the Associated Press, she said Benedict reassured them that he would "continue to pray for Madeleine's safe return."

"It was more personal than I ever could have imagined," said Gerry McCann. When Benedict saw a photograph of Madeline he recognized her right away. "His touch and thoughts and words were more tender than we could have hoped and that will sustain us during this most difficult time," he said.

When the Catholic couple expressed their desire to meet with the Holy Father to ask for his prayers the Holy See was quick to say yes.

A Vatican spokesman, Fr. Ciro Benedettini, said British Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor asked for the meeting to be arranged.

"We are talking about a family drama that has touched world public opinion. It could not but touch the Holy Father, especially since these people are Catholics," Benedettini said."The Holy Father is considered the father of all, therefore he was personally touched as a father," the spokesman said.

"Obviously we have very mixed emotions about being here, and of course why we are here." Gerry McCann said as the couple arrived in St. Peter's Square.

"In normal circumstances it would be one of the most exciting things we could do in our own lifetimes, but very much on our minds is the fact that we are here without Madeleine."

Expressing his gratefulness for the support they have received he said, "One evil act seems to be generating so much good.”

Madeleine McCann disappeared May 3 when her parents left her and her 2-year-old twin siblings alone in their hotel room while they went to a restaurant in their hotel complex in Praia da Luz, a resort town in Portugal's Algarve region.

Gerry and Kate McCann have said they will not return to Britain without their daughter.

Kate McCann is traveling with a pink stuffed animal — Cuddle Cat — that her daughter took to bed with her every night.

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Online "Confession" OK

Websites that allow people to confess their shame may help people get comfort from sharing their problems with others but the practice should not be abused, Brisbane priest Fr James Spence says.

The Courier-Mail reports that not even the Catholic Church, once the sole domain for confessions, is totally against the growing practice of internet confession.

Fr Spence was referring to online confessions, anonymous forums where people admit their transgressions, desires or something they want to get off their chests and share with an ever-growing and similarly anonymous audience.

A number of these forums have been created by US evangelical churches. A Florida church created the ivescrewedup.com site as part of a 10-week series on ways people can stuff up their lives “ in marriage, parenting, finances and more. More people read the confessions than post them: gets about 1000 hits a day, and about 200 online admissions.Fr Spence told the Courier-Mail that the Catholic Church has "no problem with the practice as long as it is not abused".

"As far as a sacrament is concerned we wouldn't recognise it as a sacrament but as far as it being helpful, it may very well be that people get some sense of comfort from being able to share their problems with someone else," says Father James Spence, Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

"Psychiatrists often tell people to write down their problems. It's a bit like the old anonymous phone calls. People are able to confront themselves about what they may have done by speaking to someone anonymously. And that can be very helpful to people to share something about themselves," he said.

But in the Catholic sacrament of confession, "the sins, in the name of the Lord, are forgiven", Fr Spence concluded.

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Pope: To Be With The Church, Requires Humility & Acceptance Of Its Weaknesses

“Being with the Church and acceptance of its weaknesses” requires “humility” and “simplicity”, because “only God is truly holy, we are in need of His forgiveness”.

The Pope made these observations today to over 40 thousand people gathered for the general audience in St Peter’s square, during reflections on the limitations of a great figure in Church history, Tertullian.

Among the crowds were the parents of little Maddie, Madeleine Mc Cann the 4 year old English child, abducted May 3rd in Portugal. The Pope greeted the parents, Gerry and Kate briefly at the end of the audience; they hope this encounter will help them further inform public opinion about the event.

Returning to “the line of great figures from the ancient Church, who still today are considered masters of the faith” Benedict XVI focused on the personality of Tertullian, the African apologist from the late II early III centuries, “the first great Christian author to write in Latin”, who communicates the positive essence of Christianity and illustrates its rational foundations.

He underlined that Tertullian, is most famous for his apologetic writings, in which he aims to “counter grave pagan accusations against the Church” and “present positively the Gospel”, in dialogue with the culture of the time, but above all “denounce the un just behaviour of the political authorities of the time towards the Church, by explaining the Christian customs , illustrate the new religion” and show the triumph of the Spirit, which opposes the violence of the persecutors with the fact that “Christians blood is an effective seed, in the end their suffering will be victorious”.

In fact, in a special way Tertullian exhorts Christians to have hope in those times of persecution, exalting hope not only as a virtue, but as “a characteristic which invests every aspect of Christian existence”.

The Pope recalled that it was he who defined human nature as “naturaliter christiana” and maintained that “a Christian cannot hate, not even his own enemies” and that this is the moral repercussion of the choice of a faith which “proposes non violence as a way of life”.

The Pope continued that from the human point of view, one can speak of a drama which plagued Tertullian: with the passing of the years he became ever more exigent of Christians: above all he expected them to face persecution heroically.

In the end he found himself isolated: “an overly individualistic search for the truth along with his intemperance led to his breaking from communion with the Church to become a follower of the Montanist sect”. Still today “there is open debate regarding his behaviour”.

“This great personality – commented the Pope – this figure so rigid in his convictions, who demanded Christians face persecution heroically, spurs me to thought.

In the end it becomes clear that he lacked simplicity, the humility to become one with the Church, accepting its weaknesses”.

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Baghdad - Mahdi Army Imposes Veil On Christian Women

“Extremist Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq are at war over everything, but united by one common denominator: the persecution of Christians”.

So say the faithful of Baghdad.

A letter is circulating the capital, warning Christian women to wear the veil in accordance with domestic segregation.

The letter is signed by the Mahdi army, linked to Moqtada al-Sadr, the radical Iraqi Shiite cleric, who the US considers the greatest threat to security in the country.

Upon till now the Sunni group of “the Islamic State in Iraq” was the most violent threat to the Christian community: from their imposition of the jizya – the “compensation” demanded by the Koran from non Muslim subjects – to their expropriation of property and forced conversions to Islam.

Aina news agency today published an English translation of the letter. In the text the words of the martyr Mohammad Sadiq al-Sadr are underlined, when he inquired “Was the Virgin Mary (peace be upon her) unveiled so that Christian women be allowed to be unveiled? Was Fatima al-Zahra unveiled? And were the wives of the Caliphs in the First Caliphate or others unveiled?

No and then no…Allah forbid and far be it from all of them”.

It then warns that “In the name of the Supreme Being, She is an adulteress, and she even proclaims sinfulness, challenges and fights Allah and his Prophet and ignores and neglects religion”.

In answer to the question “What measure should be taken against a woman who disobeys her father, husband, or her guardian by not committing to the legal veil?” the answer is that husbands and fathers “must guide and educate her religiously in order to convince her. If she is not convinced still, then they must imprison her at home and do not expose her to the forbidden interaction with men”.

In the end it warns that “special committees have been established to follow up on this matter”. It is signed by “The People's Foundation for the Master al-Mahdi Army”.

Meanwhile messages of solidarity with Iraq’s Christians are arriving from world powers, such as Russia. the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recently sent a letter to the Russian Assyrian Committee and Moscow Assyrian Ethno-Cultural Autonomy Organization, which guarantees that in Moscow’s contacts “with representatives of Iraqi authorities and international partners we delicately try to let them understand the need of ensuring conditions for preserving of original culture of Iraqi Christians, their adequate representation in Governmental structures, achievement of civil peace considering legal interests of all confessions and non-admission of discrimination of ethno-religious minorities”.

In order to bring international attention to the plight of these people in danger of extinction Ankawa.com – based in Sweden – launched a protest march to be held this afternoon in Stockholm, in which exiled Iraq Christians took part as well as other religious minorities who have fled Iraq.

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Beijing Warns The World’s Missionaries: “Abide By Our Rules”

Foreign Christian missionary groups seeking to expand their outreach efforts at the Beijing Olympics next year must abide by the mainland's rules, the China Christian Council warned yesterday.

Protestant Reverend Cao Shengjie, said that these religious groups will be forbidden to follow through on evangelisation, while foreigners will be banned from organising any type of religious activity.

These declarations were in response to reports that Christian mission groups were planning to send thousands of volunteer evangelists to the Beijing Olympics as visas will be easier to get.

The government has put the number of Protestant Christians on the mainland at 16 million, which apparently includes only those going to registered churches.

But a substantial number of Protestants sign up to independent fellowships, such as house churches, and face constant persecution and harassment.

This warning to missionaries clashes with the image which China is trying to promote of itself ahead of the Olympics which represent an enormous opportunity for the country. The world’s eyes will be focused on it and that is why it is doing its utmost to represent itself in the best possible way and exploit this opportunity.

Leaders view the Olympics not only as a nationwide celebration, but also as the greatest national coming-out party in history. It is easy to believe in China's aspirations to restore itself to a position of global wealth and power.

But, to become a truly "great nation", China must make two great leaps.

First, it must become more comfortable playing an active and constructive international role.

China's second challenge concerns its hybrid capitalist-Leninist system of governance, which may not function well enough without democratic feedback and the rule of law.

But theory must be followed by practise and this warning to the world’s missionaries does not indicate an opening to democratic principals. The world meanwhile is watching and waiting.

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Anti-Christian Violence Will Destroy The Country, Says Archbishop Of Mumbai

Rising anti-Christian violence “is irrational and greatly harms the country’s development. It projects an image of an illiberal and fascist India which on the long run will destroy everything its people has created,” Mgr Oswald Gracias told AsiaNews.

As he talks about yesterday’s big demonstration by Christian groups in protest against religious intolerance, the archbishop of Mumbai does not mince words.

Indeed, the latest events “have shown that India’s Christian community can no longer remain silent if it wants to ensure the safety of its members. I express my closeness to the demonstrators,” he explained. “Even though I could not be there in person I want to join my voice to that of all those who are demanding that the government protect minorities and safeguard citizens’ human rights.”

Furthermore, the prelate said: “I have full confidence in the people and the constitution of India. If only the government did its duty and followed the precepts of the law which guarantees every citizens security of life and property! The government must listen to the cry of those who suffer from violence and oppression.”

For him the rising number of attacks against Christians “is an ominous sign of the breakdown in Indian society of civil order and inter-religious respect and represents a grave violation of human rights and religious liberty.”

“Some state governments are responsible for the climate of intolerance because they tacitly give encouragement to the lawlessness and this is very bad for the country. India,” he said, “cannot afford such negativity for it will hamper the progress of the nation.” Instead “our country has always been known for understanding and tolerance and sadly the rise tide of violence projects a very negative image of India. The whole world is looking at us and we should not look like this.”

The main risk “is that we are playing with fire. Those who are responsible for these acts of violence against a community like the Christian community which has given so much to the country since the first days of independence don’t realise how much they are putting at risk.

We are but a few but we contribute disproportionately in the fields of education and health care.”
“The contribution by Christians to the country has been made in a spirit of patriotism and loyalty. We are second to none as far as working for the nation and its development,” Mgr Gracias said.

“And yet, the government is ignoring our pain and nothing is changing”.

The archbishop concluded saying: “I pray that this protest may seriously move those who govern us and I hope that such an important message will not be ignored by those who can stop the injustice. On the long run, violence and injustice can only be disastrous for the whole country.”

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Sotto Voce...

My dear bloggies, I am writing to thank you all for your visits to this site for the last 5 months or so, and to express my heartfelt thanks for making this site break the 50,000 hits barrier just within days of having breached the 40,000 barrier.

A few more adjustments have been made to the site as you will no doubt have noticed over the last few weeks, and in the main, they have been a betterment of the site for you.

Attached at the end of the blog is now a visitor map which indicates the concentration of fellow bloggies and where in the world they are based which has even managed to surprise me to be honest...but refreshing in its own right.

To clarify yet again for those of you submitting articles, comments and critiques etc, please do allow time to pass before such are read and posted, and apologies to those of you who have submitted in last week or so and not yet seen contributions posted, but this may be due to fact that site went down for a while last week and information was slow in coming through...I promise it will get there..

Again, as with all stories, all pieces posted here are subject to stringent rules before being published and nothing is posted otherwise...also I do have inside knowledge on some matters moreso than others but I still subject such information to the same technique as others so that it is not castigated as malicious...this may answer a few questions of others and indeed comments submitted especially that of Enda (you know who you are) with the answer to your enquiry being no but I do have a copy of that particular document as referred to in the posting.

Continue to message me but most important of all continue to support by visiting!!! It is a free service after all.....

Sotto Voce

Behind The Collar....

It has been a long time happening but word comes to us here that a date has been set which will challenge the right to publish a book which will lift the lid on some clerical happenings in Ireland.

Some time ago, a 'dissident' cleric decided to put pen to paper and reveal a few tasty titbits about some clerical happenings which will certainly question a few matters like never before.

For example, the bishop that deftly removed a young man who had alleged he was sexually misused in a diocesan boarding school and transferred him to another school so as not to cause further embarrassment...

Another bishop who allowed himself be brought into a Garda Síochána issue which resulted in a high ranking officer losing his job due to the lies of a priest who was himself facing the possibility of an investigation into CSA allegations....

Same said cleric being continuously harassed by members of An Garda Síochána for his having too much knowledge about these and other matters which could indeed expose more than the Donegal corruption case ever would....

We await the challenge in the courts to see how this goes, and failing its success, who knows...we may even actually publish snippets of it here online...

You will indeed all be kept appraised of all happenings with no doubt the inside story every time...watch this blogspot

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Pope To Meet With Parents Of Missing Girl

The Vatican says Pope Benedict will meet today with the parents of a 4-year-old British girl who disappeared while on vacation with her family in Portugal.

Gerry and Kate McCann will be among those brought up to greet the pope during his Wednesday audience with the faithful in St. Peter's Square.

Madeleine McCann disappeared on May 3 when her parents left her and her 2-year-old twin siblings alone in their hotel room while they went to a restaurant in their hotel complex.

Portuguese and British authorities have been investigating the girl's disappearance.

Last week, the McCanns prayed at the Catholic pilgrimage site in Fatima, Portugal, for her safe return.

They say they won't return to Britain without their daughter.

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Top Canonist Rebuts BBC Documentary Charges

The former top canon-law official for the Vatican has answered the charges made in a controversial BBC documentary, denying that the Vatican has sought to cover up evidence of sexual abuse by priests.

In an interview with the Italian socialist newspaper Repubblica, the president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, Cardinal Julian Herranz, said it was false that the Holy See hides or protects priests guilty of abuse or sexual misconduct, and that instead abusive priests receive "very serious punishments" of an ecclesial nature that pose no detriment to civil proceedings.

The interview focused on the BBC documentary "Sexual Crimes and the Vatican," which was supposedly based on a 1962 memo from the office that is now the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

The document reaffirmed the inviolability of the seal of confession, but the BBC film said that it was intended to "protect and hide" abusive priests.

Cardinal Herranz told Repubblica that canonical legislation includes "very harsh penalties, the maximum that can be inflicted upon a priest."

The publication also places "the well-being of children… at the very heart of the Church, just as it was at the heart of Jesus Christ."

The cardinal explained that the document upon which the British documentary was based, the 1962 Vatican instruction Crimen Sollicitationes, not only was not intended to shield possible abusers from canonical penalties, but that it must be interpreted in light of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, which "considers these kinds of acts as very serious offenses and gives precise indications on procedures and penalties."

Cardinal Herranz explained that faced with a possible case of abuse, the bishop has the duty to open an immediate investigation with three main objectives: "preventing scandal, safeguarding the freedom of the witnesses, and guaranteeing that justice is done."

The process could lead to the suspension of the priest, including his complete removal from the clerical state, without prejudicing any civil proceedings that may be initiated.

Cardinal Herranz denounced the "dishonest intentions" of the documentary, which attempted to connect Pope Benedict XVI with the 1962 Vatican document, by noting that the Pontiff is the former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Although the current Pope did eventually become head of the office that released the 1962 document, Cardinal Herranz noted, "in 1962, he was merely a priest."

According to the Spanish prelate, the BBC report, which will soon be aired in Italy on the RAI network, "aims to sully the face of the Church and smear the Catholic priesthood."

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Italians Support Church Through Tax Payments

The Catholic Church has received more than €990 million ($1.3 billion) in tax receipts collected through Italian government this year.

Under the terms of a 1984 concordat between the Vatican and Italy-- an agreement that updated the Lateran Accords governing relations between the Italian government and the Vatican city-state-- the Church benefits from tax provisions that allow the government to collect funds designated for the Church.

Italian taxpayers can make tax-free donations of up to $8 for every $1,000 in income.

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

$11.45m Judgment In Sex Abuse Suit Against Roman Catholic Church

In one of the largest judgments in a child sexual abuse suit against the Roman Catholic Church, a jury awarded a total of $11.45 million in damages Friday to two people who were repeatedly raped by a youth minister as teenagers starting in the late 1990s.

The jury deliberated for seven days before finding that the Diocese of Rockville Centre, the sixth-largest in the United States; a church in East Meadow; and its pastor were negligent by hiring and retaining the man who abused the plaintiffs over a period of three years.

After the verdict, one plaintiff tearfully embraced her mother, then held an impromptu news conference in a hallway at the courthouse. Saying that thousands of children have been victimized, she added, "I am their voice."

The purpose of her suit was to "see the truth come out" and to "prevent the abuse of children everywhere," she said. "Children cannot protect themselves from sexual predators."

While awaiting his turn to speak, the other plaintiff collapsed in the arms of a lawyer, and court aides had to revive him with oxygen.

"He was just overcome with emotion," said one of his lawyers, Paul Mones.

Later, in a telephone interview, the male plaintiff said, "It was extremely difficult for me to relive the experience through the litigation process." But he urged other victims to come forward because "these kids are going to need therapy and support - you have no idea."

Both the female plaintiff, now 23, and the male plaintiff, now 22, testified during the three-week trial that they suffered anxiety, depression, flashbacks, nightmares and difficulties in their careers and in social and romantic relationships as a result of being raped and sodomized by the youth minister, Matthew Maiello.

The jurors, four men and two women, left the courthouse without comment.

A lawyer for the church defendants, Kevin McNiff of the firm Mulholland, Minion & Roe, said they were reviewing the verdict and their options. A diocese spokesman, Sean Dolan, said it was "too early to say" if it would appeal.

"We humbly accept the decision of the jury," Dolan added. "We need to try to understand better in terms of the actual dollar amount what that all means. We want to focus on the lessons we've learned over the last few years in creating the safest church environment we can. We're really saddened by the terrible actions of Matthew Maiello, and I hope the award given by the jury helps the victims."

The jury's awards approached the $6 million given to each of two victims in a California case in 1998, according to Jeffrey Anderson, a lawyer who specializes in sexual abuse cases but was not involved in the New York case.

But the New York case was notable for more than the size of the judgments.

Public attention in church cases has often focused on accused priests rather than on employees other than clergy members, like Maiello, now 33, who pleaded guilty in 2003 to raping and sodomizing four minors, including the two who sued. He served two years in prison and now lives in Connecticut.

This lawsuit was also the first abuse case against the Roman Catholic Church in New York State - and one of the few in the United States - to go to a jury verdict. Most such suits against the church are dismissed, often because of the statute of limitations, or are quietly settled out of court.

"You very rarely get a chance to hear from the victims - how these guys operate, how the kids get trapped and how the parents get fooled - almost never," said Mones, the plaintiff's lawyer. "And almost never do you get to hear a pedophile testify in detail; that's very rare." Maiello was subpoenaed to testify at the civil trial.

Convictions in most criminal cases on child sexual abuse, including Maiello's, result from plea bargains.

The jury attributed 70 percent of the blame to Maiello, who did not contest the suit and has few assets.

But the jury also ruled that the church defendants - the Diocese of Rockville Centre; St. Raphael's Roman Catholic Church in East Meadow; and its pastor, the Reverend Thomas Haggerty - acted "with reckless disregard for the safety of others in the negligent hiring and retention" of Maiello.

That finding of recklessness means that the church defendants are responsible to pay the full award if Maiello does not have the money for his share, said the victims' lead lawyer, Michael Dowd.


The jury awarded $2.5 million to each victim for injuries and suffering to date, as well as $250,000 annually to the woman for the next 12 years, and $115,000 annually to the man for the next 30 years. Her total would be $5.5 million, and his would be $5.95 million.

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Womenpriests’ ‘Ordinations’ Unconnected To Catholic Church, Archdiocese Says

The Roman Catholic Church in Toronto says an ordination ceremony held May 27 by a group that calls itself “Roman Catholic Womenpriests” has “no connection whatsoever to the Roman Catholic Church.”

The ceremony in the tiny West Hill United Church here saw Marie Evans Bouclin, a Sudbury, Ont. woman, ordained by South African woman Patricia Fresen.

Fresen was part of a ceremony in 2002 on the Danube River in Germany, where seven women were “ordained” by a schismatic Argentine bishop. The women were subsequently declared by the Vatican to be excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church.

Since then, the group has performed several other public ceremonies and now claims 14 women priests in Canada and one in the United States.

In the Toronto event, two American women were ordained as priests and three others were ordained as deacons. One of them was the group’s first male, Jim Lauder of Victoria, B.C.
However, the ceremony had nothing to do with the Roman Catholic Church, according to the archdiocese press release issued just prior to the event.

“To avoid misunderstanding, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto is issuing this statement to point out that, despite its name, (Roman Catholic Womenpriests) has no connection whatsoever to the Roman Catholic Church, nor do its ceremonies have any relationship with the sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church.”

The statement said the church has no authority to restructure the sacraments, especially that of priestly ordination.

The Womenpriests organization kept the site of the ordination secret until the day of the event, which took place at 3 p.m. A press conference was held after the ceremony, but it garnered almost no media coverage in Toronto except for a couple of radio reports.

A press release from the organization said the first ordinations in 2002 were designed to “protest an unjust, discriminatory law of the roman Catholic Church, namely, that women were denied access to ordained ministry.”

The organization is now trying to “model another way of being Christian in the Roman Catholic tradition, a way that is more in keeping with what Jesus taught and lived.”

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Pope Liked To Sleep Under Stars

POPE John Paul II often liked to slip out of the Vatican for long walks in the countryside, where he would sleep on the ground under the stars, according to his former bodyguard.

General Enrico Marinelli was appointed head of Vatican security in 1985, and took care of John Paul II for 14 years.

In a new book, 'The Pope and the General', he reveals John Paul's love of nature.

He said John Paul had a secret escape from the Vatican, a small cottage in the province of Frosinone. "We were anxious about it.

A place like that, very isolated and in the middle of the woods, was open to all sorts of danger, especially at night," said General Marinelli.

During his papacy, there were two attempts on John Paul's life, once in Portugal and once in St Peter's Square.

From the cottage, he would take long walks. "He liked to sleep on the bare ground," said the general.

But the pope was keen that the rest of the Roman Curia did not discover his secret.

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Voice Of The Faithful Facing Financial, Membership Crises

Voice of the Faithful, the church reform movement begun in 2002 in reaction to the nationwide clergy abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, is now in a financial and organizational crisis, according to a report recently posted on its Web site.

Twenty-two people, including officers of Voice of the Faithful and members of its National Representative Council from across the United States, met in the Boston area April 27-29 for its semi-annual gathering. Among the attendees were Bill Casey, who chairs the organization's board of trustees, and Mark Mullaney, interim executive director.

According to an account of the meeting posted on the organization's Web site at www.votf.org, "Both Bill Casey and Mark Mullaney described the financial shortfall VOTF will face in the coming months.

Although the number of individual contributors has increased, in the past year or so the number of major donors has declined. VOTF must reverse this trend to erase a projected $100,000 deficit in the next fiscal year."

Council members discussed a variety of strategies to bolster the organization's finances, including charging membership dues and hiring a development director who "can focus entirely on bringing in major donors, obtaining foundation grants and donations, and increasing the level of giving from both," according to the notes.

Voice of the Faithful, based in Newton, Mass., has been without a permanent executive director since Jan. 19, when Ray Joyce left the position after 20 months of service. Joyce himself replaced Steve Kreuger, who held the position from 2002 to September 2004.

Joyce's arrival in May 2005 occurred as part of a reorganization in which the group changed many of its directors and established an advisory council to strengthen its ties to local affiliates across the country.

Eight months later, the group laid off its two part-time office workers, citing "financial and program changes." However, the changes apparently have not been enough to address Voice of the Faithful's deteriorating finances.

Until 2006, the group reported relatively stable levels of contributions of around $600,000 each year. It rose to $661,774 for the year ending May 31, 2006.

Gifts to the group for the seven-month period from June to December 2006, the last period posted on the Internet, totaled $333,438.

During the past five years, Voice of the Faithful has spent rising amounts to solicit contributions. It reported $64,224 in fundraising expenses in 2003, $111,089 for 2004, $151,549 for 2005 and $143,603 in 2006.

It reported $133,261 in development expenses for the first seven months of its current fiscal year.

John Moynihan, spokesman for Voice of the Faithful, told The Catholic Observer, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Springfield, May 17 that "the problem is being solved" through increasing development efforts.

He said attention to the group's major donors has been neglected in the past, a situation which he said should be corrected when the organization hires a part-time development director.

Moynihan likened what has happened to a "Katrina effect."

"When the (priest misconduct) problem hit there were lots of people willing to throw money at the problem," he said, comparing the flurry of interest in Voice of the Faithful after the revelations of sexual abuse by clergy to the outpouring of relief efforts immediately after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005.

Concerns about the future of the national organization extend to other matters, according to the notes included in the May edition of the group's In the Vineyard newsletter.

"In addition to the financial crisis facing VOTF, Bill Casey identified a crisis in leadership.

Evidence of this comes from the low response rates (a range of 1 percent to 5 percent) when members are asked for input on proposals," it said.

The notes from the recent national advisory meeting stated: "VOTF as a whole has difficulty in reaching closure on decisions, Bill said, as well as difficulty in respecting others' positions. In the past few years, rather than leading, many have simply been engaged in fighting about leadership."

Critics of Voice of the Faithful have questioned the claim in its 2006 annual report that it has "more than 35,000 registered members in all 50 U.S. states and 37 countries worldwide."

Moynihan told The Catholic Observer that one becomes a member "if they hit the 'join' button" on the group's Web site, make a donation or join a local affiliate."

The "join" option on www.votf.org requires only that an individual provide a first name, last name and zip code and state that he or she is at least 13 years old.

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

New Catholic School To Be Mainly Non-Catholic

A new primary school run by the Catholic Church will open in west Dublin even though most pupils are likely to be non-Catholic, the Diocese confirmed today.

Ninety children in Diswellstown, near Castleknock, have no school places for September as the two Catholic primary schools are full up.

Following a request from the Department of Education, the Church has agreed to act as temporary patron in a new school to accommodate the extra pupils.

“This is an exceptional situation,” a spokeswoman for the Dublin Diocese said.

“The Archbishop was asked and he felt the children had to be provided with a place to go in September.”

The Church operates a strict enrolment policy at its two Diswellstown primary schools, giving priority to Catholic children.

However, 30 % of pupils registered with the two schools are non-Catholic. This new school – Scoil Choilm – will be located in Blanchardstown beside the James Connolly Memorial Hospital.

A spokeswoman for the Dublin Diocese stressed the patronage would only be on a temporary basis for two years, at which point the matter would be reviewed.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education said it approached Archbishop Diarmuid Martin as the Church is best placed to deal with the matter.

Junior Education Minister Brian Lenihan said the school was one of a number of initiatives to deal with school accommodation problems in west Dublin.

“I have always said that measures would be taken to ensure that there is sufficient school accommodation in Porterstown/Diswellstown and the new school is one of a number of initiatives we are taking to alleviate the school accommodation issues in the area,” Mr Lenihan said.

“I would particularly like to thank Archbishop Martin for his assistance in agreeing to undertake the patronage of the school on this occasion.”

Mr Lenihan said the Department anticipated a continuing need to increase school capacity in west Dublin due to the rapid population growth in the area.

“Schools such as Scoil Choilm and the new community national school will play a vital role in reducing the pressure on parents to find school accommodation for their children,” Minister Lenihan added.

A new community primary school in Diswellstown will also be established on a pilot basis under the auspices of County Dublin Vocational Education Committee from September, 2008.

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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce