As we open into this month, we begin by reflecting on World AIDS day, priest condemns Obama voters, UK bishops teach clergy how to be gay-friendly, AD of Dublin CSA report going to be explosive, Jewish leaders no to Vatican inter-faith gathering, Aussie parish threatened with excommunication, parish in Bray comes under spotlight with FÁS investigation, December happenings on CW...
...AB Martin comments on children's health, same-sex blessings under the spotlight, 3 names in running for Westminster job, cleric claims Disney corrupts, new Swiss Guard chief under investigation, Vatican says no to decriminalisation of homosexuality, new document on refugees from Vatican in 2009...
...Cuba and Vatican in throes of each other, ordeal of Pius XII, UK church where evil came to stay, Il Papa to visit Israel / Middle East in 2009, Irish priest calls for march on drug dealers homes...
...Bray parish again under scrutiny, Veritas in dispute with BCCI, Vatican says yes to more mosques, doctors no more sit on Lourdes investigations, Cardinals Aguer and Marini at loggerheads, US Anglicans make move to cede, baby abandoned in German crib, martyrs of Japan, call to celebrate Easter on same date / day...
...AB Diarmuid Martin advises his clergy that abuse allegations are 'staggering', Il Papa book on Jesus now in Russian, Donegal fury over CSA ex-priest collection, Bray gets noticed again, death of Alexy II, Jehovah's Witnesses under scrutiny for CSA...
...pp in Lucan intervenes in fisticuffs between 2 Mass goers, Traveller parish in Dublin established, Anglican Schism continues with possible establishment of new province, RC in France to cut jobs, HIV growing problem in Eastern Europe, RTÉ broadcasts Vatican radio in Ireland, The (Last) Word is printed...
...CURA debacle in Ireland comes to an end, Vatican 'rehabilitates' Galileo, 8th December feast day of Immaculate Conception, nuns declared as terrorists by USA police force, AB Weakland never reported CSA, Fr Peyton Sainthood Tribunal established, Dublin 'Pro'-Cathedral to be given full status, AB Ncube silenced by Vatican, Masses to be taxed in Bolivia...
...rise in vocations in Holy Land, lack of trust between bishop and clergy in Diocese of Belleville, Cardinal Arinze retires, Bishop Wishy Washy Walsh of Killaloe to make final ordination, Dublin choir to perform in Vatican, Il Papa to visit tomb of Padre Pio in May '09, Irish prison chaplains call for community prisons, SVP runs out of money in Ireland...
...papal message for World Day of Peace (Jan. 1st 2009), UK law banning RC monarchs to be changed, Da Vinci Code causes probs for Vatican, no clear indication of excommunication of priest who attended female priest ordination, Dignitas Personae issued, Drogheda Mass becoming expensive, Irish Taoiseach praises role of RC in Ireland...
...death of Cardinal Avery Dulles (RIP), Norwegian bishop steps down due to sons bankruptcy, Vatican Christmas tree lit, singing priests now number 1 in charts, re admittance of laicised priest to religious life, Gaudete Sunday, Il Papa says no to visit to Taiwan, 2 priests murdered in Bolivia, papal Grandparents prayer goes global, Veritas in the wars again, Clerical Whispers launches Aid Appeal for developing parishes,
...Diocese of Elphin caught for inappropriate intervention, iBreviary approved for iPhone, Il Papa chooses themes for next 3 WYD's, truly Catholic and truly Homosexual, parish in Bray under spotlight again, Killaloe Diocese makes biggest payout re CSA, Bishop Wishy Washy Walsh threatens to close run-down school, papal mortality and Welsh rugby, Vatican Christmas tree to be recycled...
...Diocese of Cloyne in CSA spotlight, AD of Dublin explians large sum of money spent on AB house, warn in possible rise of suicides, Fr Bourgeois has support of many, Bishop Magee of Cloyne under pressure to quit, Il Papa claims humanity must be saved from homosexuality, annual round of Christmas messages posted...
...Galileo to be rehabilitated by Vatican, confidential Diocese of Cloyne report published, CofE to be disestablished, Vatican liturgies adjusted, pre-signed Mass cards under scrutiny, Cardinal Zen to retire in 2009, top 10 neglected Catholic stories of 2008, Tutu anger over Zimbabwe inaction...
...Il Papa homilies for Christmas and Urbi et Orbi, european RC under spotlight, confirmation of Papal Visit to Holy Land in 2009, Queen (UK) Christmas Message, Reformed Catholic Church Lumen Ceremony, Feast of St Stephen, Diocese of Cloyne still under limelight, Papal Homily for Christmas 2008, European Catholicism and its survivability, 1st Christmas for Nepal...
...Papal visit to Holy Land confirmed, Urbi et Orbi, feast of St Stpehen, Anglican Schism, Iraq gives official recognition to Christmas, Clerical Errors for December 2008, Il Papa claims he is not a rock star, married man to be ordained priest, priest begins walk of protest from Cloyne to Dublin...
...no crib in Dublin Airport regretted by Dublin AB, Presbyterian HQ in Ireland gets £1m grant, 2 Anglicans (father and son) become RC priests, female bishops in CofE to happen within 3 years, commentary on Reformed Catholic Church ceremony in Dublin...
...and thus brings an end to December and indeed 2008, which has been an hsitoric year for CW with the numbers visiting the site increasing, 2 year milestone passed, half million hits, 8000 postings for 2008 alone...
...all thanks to each and all of you!!
May God grant you the peace and joy of the newborn child Christ upon each and all of you, with every blessing as together we journey into 2009.
Gach beannacht
Sotto Voce