Sunday, January 31, 2010
Prayers Of Winter
“God of power and might, be with [insert person’s name] as he/she recovers from a winter illness. Warm him/her in the light of Your love, that he/she might find the time, rest, and treatment to feel better soon. Remind [insert person’s name] that he/she is Your beloved child and that You are with him/her during this illness, and always. Amen.”
Beauty Of Winter
"God of creation, thank you for the beauty of winter- for snow, icy window panes, evergreen trees, warm coats, sledding, and hot cocoa. Let us enjoy Your creation in all its glory, this winter and always. Amen."
"God of safety, keep me and my loved ones safe on icy roads. Help me pay attention and drive cautiously. Grant me energy and patience if the drive takes longer than usual. Keep me warm and safe from harm. Be with me, be with me, be with me, in Your loving and precious name. Amen."
Prayer for the Increase of Priestly and Religious Vocations
we thank you for offering your life in sacrifice on
the Cross, and for renewing this sacrifice
in every Mass celebrated throughout the world.
In the Power of the Holy Spirit
we adore you and proclaim
your living presence in the Eucharist.
We desire to imitate the love you show us
in your death and resurrection,
by loving and serving one another.
We ask you to call many young people to religious
life, and to provide the holy and generous priests
that are so needed in you Church today.
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.
Amen.
Prayer For Priests
Give him a deep faith a bright and firm hope
and a burning love
which will ever increase
in the course of his priestly life.
In his loneliness, comfort him
In his sorrows, strengthen him
In his frustrations,
that the soul is purified,
O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests,
take to your heart your son who is close to you
in a world which needs him so much.
Be his comfort,
be his joy,
be his strength,
the ideals of consecrated celibacy.
Prayer to St Luke
Most charming and saintly Physician, you were animated by the heavenly Spirit of love.In faithfully detailing the humanity of Jesus, you also showed his divinity and his genuine compassion for all human beings.
Inspire our physicians with your professionalism and with the divine compassion for their patients.
Enable them to cure the ills of both body and spirit that afflict so many in our day.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Prayers Of Winter
“God of power and might, be with [insert person’s name] as he/she recovers from a winter illness. Warm him/her in the light of Your love, that he/she might find the time, rest, and treatment to feel better soon. Remind [insert person’s name] that he/she is Your beloved child and that You are with him/her during this illness, and always. Amen.”
Beauty Of Winter
"God of creation, thank you for the beauty of winter- for snow, icy window panes, evergreen trees, warm coats, sledding, and hot cocoa. Let us enjoy Your creation in all its glory, this winter and always. Amen."
"God of safety, keep me and my loved ones safe on icy roads. Help me pay attention and drive cautiously. Grant me energy and patience if the drive takes longer than usual. Keep me warm and safe from harm. Be with me, be with me, be with me, in Your loving and precious name. Amen."
Prayer for the Increase of Priestly and Religious Vocations
we thank you for offering your life in sacrifice on
the Cross, and for renewing this sacrifice
in every Mass celebrated throughout the world.
In the Power of the Holy Spirit
we adore you and proclaim
your living presence in the Eucharist.
We desire to imitate the love you show us
in your death and resurrection,
by loving and serving one another.
We ask you to call many young people to religious
life, and to provide the holy and generous priests
that are so needed in you Church today.
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.
Amen.
Prayer For Priests
Give him a deep faith a bright and firm hope
and a burning love
which will ever increase
in the course of his priestly life.
In his loneliness, comfort him
In his sorrows, strengthen him
In his frustrations,
that the soul is purified,
O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests,
take to your heart your son who is close to you
in a world which needs him so much.
Be his comfort,
be his joy,
be his strength,
the ideals of consecrated celibacy.
Prayer to St Luke
Most charming and saintly Physician, you were animated by the heavenly Spirit of love.In faithfully detailing the humanity of Jesus, you also showed his divinity and his genuine compassion for all human beings.
Inspire our physicians with your professionalism and with the divine compassion for their patients.
Enable them to cure the ills of both body and spirit that afflict so many in our day.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Prayers Of Winter
“God of power and might, be with [insert person’s name] as he/she recovers from a winter illness. Warm him/her in the light of Your love, that he/she might find the time, rest, and treatment to feel better soon. Remind [insert person’s name] that he/she is Your beloved child and that You are with him/her during this illness, and always. Amen.”
Beauty Of Winter
"God of creation, thank you for the beauty of winter- for snow, icy window panes, evergreen trees, warm coats, sledding, and hot cocoa. Let us enjoy Your creation in all its glory, this winter and always. Amen."
"God of safety, keep me and my loved ones safe on icy roads. Help me pay attention and drive cautiously. Grant me energy and patience if the drive takes longer than usual. Keep me warm and safe from harm. Be with me, be with me, be with me, in Your loving and precious name. Amen."
Prayer for the Increase of Priestly and Religious Vocations
we thank you for offering your life in sacrifice on
the Cross, and for renewing this sacrifice
in every Mass celebrated throughout the world.
In the Power of the Holy Spirit
we adore you and proclaim
your living presence in the Eucharist.
We desire to imitate the love you show us
in your death and resurrection,
by loving and serving one another.
We ask you to call many young people to religious
life, and to provide the holy and generous priests
that are so needed in you Church today.
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.
Amen.
Prayer For Priests
Give him a deep faith a bright and firm hope
and a burning love
which will ever increase
in the course of his priestly life.
In his loneliness, comfort him
In his sorrows, strengthen him
In his frustrations,
that the soul is purified,
O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests,
take to your heart your son who is close to you
in a world which needs him so much.
Be his comfort,
be his joy,
be his strength,
the ideals of consecrated celibacy.
Prayer to St Luke
Most charming and saintly Physician, you were animated by the heavenly Spirit of love.In faithfully detailing the humanity of Jesus, you also showed his divinity and his genuine compassion for all human beings.
Inspire our physicians with your professionalism and with the divine compassion for their patients.
Enable them to cure the ills of both body and spirit that afflict so many in our day.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Prayers Of Winter
“God of power and might, be with [insert person’s name] as he/she recovers from a winter illness. Warm him/her in the light of Your love, that he/she might find the time, rest, and treatment to feel better soon. Remind [insert person’s name] that he/she is Your beloved child and that You are with him/her during this illness, and always. Amen.”
Beauty Of Winter
"God of creation, thank you for the beauty of winter- for snow, icy window panes, evergreen trees, warm coats, sledding, and hot cocoa. Let us enjoy Your creation in all its glory, this winter and always. Amen."
"God of safety, keep me and my loved ones safe on icy roads. Help me pay attention and drive cautiously. Grant me energy and patience if the drive takes longer than usual. Keep me warm and safe from harm. Be with me, be with me, be with me, in Your loving and precious name. Amen."
Prayer for the Increase of Priestly and Religious Vocations
we thank you for offering your life in sacrifice on
the Cross, and for renewing this sacrifice
in every Mass celebrated throughout the world.
In the Power of the Holy Spirit
we adore you and proclaim
your living presence in the Eucharist.
We desire to imitate the love you show us
in your death and resurrection,
by loving and serving one another.
We ask you to call many young people to religious
life, and to provide the holy and generous priests
that are so needed in you Church today.
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.
Amen.
Prayer For Priests
Give him a deep faith a bright and firm hope
and a burning love
which will ever increase
in the course of his priestly life.
In his loneliness, comfort him
In his sorrows, strengthen him
In his frustrations,
that the soul is purified,
O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests,
take to your heart your son who is close to you
in a world which needs him so much.
Be his comfort,
be his joy,
be his strength,
the ideals of consecrated celibacy.
Prayer to St Luke
Most charming and saintly Physician, you were animated by the heavenly Spirit of love.In faithfully detailing the humanity of Jesus, you also showed his divinity and his genuine compassion for all human beings.
Inspire our physicians with your professionalism and with the divine compassion for their patients.
Enable them to cure the ills of both body and spirit that afflict so many in our day.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Prayers Of Winter
“God of power and might, be with [insert person’s name] as he/she recovers from a winter illness. Warm him/her in the light of Your love, that he/she might find the time, rest, and treatment to feel better soon. Remind [insert person’s name] that he/she is Your beloved child and that You are with him/her during this illness, and always. Amen.”
Beauty Of Winter
"God of creation, thank you for the beauty of winter- for snow, icy window panes, evergreen trees, warm coats, sledding, and hot cocoa. Let us enjoy Your creation in all its glory, this winter and always. Amen."
"God of safety, keep me and my loved ones safe on icy roads. Help me pay attention and drive cautiously. Grant me energy and patience if the drive takes longer than usual. Keep me warm and safe from harm. Be with me, be with me, be with me, in Your loving and precious name. Amen."
Prayer for the Increase of Priestly and Religious Vocations
we thank you for offering your life in sacrifice on
the Cross, and for renewing this sacrifice
in every Mass celebrated throughout the world.
In the Power of the Holy Spirit
we adore you and proclaim
your living presence in the Eucharist.
We desire to imitate the love you show us
in your death and resurrection,
by loving and serving one another.
We ask you to call many young people to religious
life, and to provide the holy and generous priests
that are so needed in you Church today.
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.
Amen.
Prayer For Priests
Give him a deep faith a bright and firm hope
and a burning love
which will ever increase
in the course of his priestly life.
In his loneliness, comfort him
In his sorrows, strengthen him
In his frustrations,
that the soul is purified,
O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests,
take to your heart your son who is close to you
in a world which needs him so much.
Be his comfort,
be his joy,
be his strength,
the ideals of consecrated celibacy.
Prayer to St Luke
Most charming and saintly Physician, you were animated by the heavenly Spirit of love.In faithfully detailing the humanity of Jesus, you also showed his divinity and his genuine compassion for all human beings.
Inspire our physicians with your professionalism and with the divine compassion for their patients.
Enable them to cure the ills of both body and spirit that afflict so many in our day.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Vatican newspaper amused but disappointed with 'Sherlock Holmes'
Despite its good showing at the box office, Guy Ritchie’s “Sherlock Holmes” has failed to impress the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, which echoed the disappointment of some reviewers who found the sleuth to be too "modernized."Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's protagonist is difficult to recognize "between one fistfight and another," the paper said.
The character Sherlock Holmes has captured the imaginations of adults and children since his creation in 1886 by Arthur Conan Doyle. In the new film, his character is played by Robert Downey, Jr.
The Vatican newspaper dedicated an article to the film last week, saying that although the story was "amusing" and held "a hundred surprises" in every scene, the way the character of Sherlock Holmes was "deconstructed" to become a member of “the underground" was perplexing.
The article expressed a general disillusionment with the character who "boxes in the most sordid circles of London, makes himself easily unpleasant to most (especially to Watson), offends gentile, enamored damsels and leaves lords and prime ministers with their mouths wide open.”
According to L'Osservatore, the Ritchie's characterization of Sherlock Holmes can be summarized as “(he) jumps, flees and fights."
In the Vatican paper's opinion, it will be difficult for this "adrenaline-filled operation," modified to modernize the main character, to be approved by readers, who will be "trying to recognize their literary hero between one fistfight and another."
Warner Bros. reported that the movie grossed a record $24.9 million on its Christmas Day debut.+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us 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 we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: CNA
Parents have right to choose Catholic schools: Iona
What parents want ought to be “front and centre” in the debate over education, the Iona Institute has said. In a statement yesterday, the director of the Institute, David Quinn, said that the real question in the education debate “isn’t whether the Church or the State should control our primary schools, but what do parents want?”
His statement came in the wake of a poll published by the Irish Times yesterday, which revealed that, in the wake of the publicity surrounding the Catholic Church, a majority of people want the Church to relinquish control of primary schools.
According to the poll, carried out by MRBI, 61 per cent of people said the church should give up control of the school system, 28 per cent said it should maintain its position and 11 per cent had no opinion on the matter.
There were no great differences in terms of age. Over 65s were marginally more supportive of the church’s position, but the views of the 18-24 age group were almost identical.
The poll focused on the fall out in the wake of the Murphy report into the handling of child sex abuse by the Dublin archdiocese.
The statement by Iona, however, claimed that that the poll ignored “the right of parents to send their children to a publicly-funded school of their choice.”
A poll conducted last summer by Red C on behalf of The Iona Institute, shows that a clear majority of people (72 percent) “support the principle of parental choice with regard to schools.”
Quinn continued, “The right of parents to have their children educated according to their own beliefs is enshrined in both domestic and international law. There are undoubtedly too many Catholic schools at present compared to the real level of demand for them, but nonetheless publicly-funded denominational schools have a right to exist.”
He added, “This isn’t an ‘either/or’ issue, that is, it isn’t a question of either the Church or the State running our schools. Instead, and within reason, there should be different kinds of publicly-funded schools reflecting the wishes of parents, as there is in England where a third of publicly-funded schools are denominational.”
The Red C poll commissioned by The Iona Institute asked respondents to choose between two statements and found the following results:
- ‘In a modern society all publicly-funded schools should be run by the State’ – 25 percent chose this statement.
- 'Parents should be allowed the right to choose from a variety of publicly-funded schools for their children, including Church-run schools’ – 72 percent chose this statement.
A previous Red C for The Iona Institute, conducted in April 2008, also asked people what kind of school they would send their children to, given a choice.
Exactly half said they would send their children to a denominational school.
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Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us 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 we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: CIN
David Cameron wants a boom in faith schools
The biggest expansion of faith schools since the 19th century would be encouraged by a Tory government, David Cameron signalled yesterday.Senior figures in the Roman Catholic Church have already expressed a strong interest in running the 'free schools' proposed by the Conservatives.
Under the plans, faith groups, charities and businesses could apply to operate the new schools using taxpayers' money.
The Tory leader cited his six-year-old daughter Nancy's 'excellent' education at a Church of England school as he declared himself a supporter of faith schools 'politically and personally'.
Labour has been accused of undermining faith schools by overhauling admissions rules and robbing them of the power to select children on religious grounds.
There are about 7,000 state-run faith schools in England and several hundred more in the private sector, the vast majority of which are Christian.
Education watchdogs say there is evidence that as many as a fifth of private faith schools fail to teach about other religions.
But Mr Cameron said yesterday: 'I support faith schools, I think they have a lot to bring to education.
'I'm in favour of choice and discretion. I think that actually drives up quality and standards in our education system.
'Faith schools often bring a culture and an ethos to a school that can help them improve. I'm a supporter politically and personally.'
Tory sources say the party envisages the biggest expansion of church schools since the establishment of thousands of 'national' schools almost 200 years ago.
The Conservative plans would be in an Education Bill passed as a priority if the party wins power.
Parents, charities, businesses, universities and other not-for-profit organisations could apply directly to Whitehall to set up the free schools, which would be independent from local authorities.
The blueprint, based on similar reforms which proved hugely popular in Sweden, would smash the state monopoly on school provision.
Malcolm McMahon, the Bishop of Nottingham and a leading figure in Catholic education, said:
'The free schools idea interests me greatly because, of course, that was exactly how Catholic schools were founded - by local communities getting together, pooling their resources.'
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Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us 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 we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: DMUK
Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Faces Ex-communication For Support Of Catholic Women Priests
Blessings come in all shapes and sizes, but none could be better--at the moment--for supporters of Women's Ordination Conference, than a male priest/activist suddenly facing excommunication. God does work in mysterious ways.
Meet Fr. Roy Bourgeois, a celebrated priest and Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
He's joined forces with supporters of Women's Ordination, which has been sending a clear message to the Vatican for decades--that womenpriests were part of the original Catholic Church before Canon Law was re-written and should be honored as such today.
"If we are to have a vibrant, healthy Catholic Church, we need the faith, wisdom, experience, compassion and courage of women in the priesthood," Bourgeois says of the issue.
"Many learned scholars have studied the issue and concluded that there is no justification in the Bible for excluding women from the priesthood. With all due respect, I believe our Catholic Church's teaching on this issue is wrong and does not stand up to scrutiny."
The ripple effect of Bourgeois's pleas may be felt all the way to the Vatican, but the result, thus far, is forcing heads to turn.
For starters, Bourgeois has been threatened with excommunication by the Vatican's Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith for his support of Women's Ordination.
All this comes to light in a series of talks Bourgeois and others, including Roman Catholic Womanpriest Dr. Victoria Rue, hosted in support of women's ordination at several forums in the San Francisco Bay Area Jan. 22-25. (Fr. Roy is on a cross-country speaking engagement tour.)
"The Catholic Church is at a crisis point," Bourgeois candidly notes.
"Hundreds of Churches are closing because of a shortage of priests. Yet there are hundreds of committed and prophetic women saying that God has called them to serve as priests. Having an all-male clergy implies that men are worthy to be Catholic priests, but women are not.
"Sexism," he adds, "like racism, is a sin. And no matter how hard or long we may try to justify discrimination, it is always immoral."
Rue, a Roman Catholic womanpriest ordained in 2005 (learn how here) who leads the Sophia in Trinity Catholic community in San Francisco, and somebody whom this blogger has written about in the past in articles that appeared in The Advocate--she is lesbian--says that "Priesthood is both a spiritual and a political act."
"The Catholic Church says that the invitation to priesthood comes from God and that God created men and women of equal dignity," she adds. "Yet the Church's doctrine on ordination implies that a woman cannot be a priest. This 'stained-glass ceiling' is wrong and must be changed. The early Church had women priests, and Roman Catholic womenpriests see ourselves as continuing this important tradition. There will never be justice in the Catholic Church until women can be ordained."
Bourgeois's support is certainly welcome. He is a Maryknoll priest, human rights activist, founder of the School of the Americas (SOA) Watch, and a 2010 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, along with the School of the Americas Watch.
The nomination came about for non-violent protest of the U.S. government's role in the training of foreign military operatives who have used the training to torture civilians, particularly in Latin America, according to the group's website.
In the meantime, should the womenpriests movement continue to blossom, it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility--although a big stretch--that a female could occupy the Pope's throne in the distant future.
Is pink smoke on the horizon?
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Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us 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 we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: THP
Haitian church leaders buried
Late Port-au-Prince Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot and his vicar general, Msgr. Charles Benoit, have been buried following their funeral Sunday in the courtyard of the Notre Dame Cathedral. They were remembered at a service, amid the apocalyptic ruins of the church, that did not pass without addressing the deeper questions facing this shattered nation, the Miami Herald Reports.
"A lot of Haitians are asking, 'Why did this happen?' Many are even asking, 'Why would God cause this?''' Auxiliary Archbishop Joseph Lafontant told a crowd that included Haitian President René Préval, diplomats and homeless church members.
"God wants to unite the people," he said. "It is a way to build a new Haiti."
Though the service honored two men, it served as a mass for the entire nation.
For the devout, the quake that claimed Haiti's archbishop did not test faith, but just strengthened it.
"God is only the hope because God caused this," said Odette Augusta, 40, a mother of seven who was left homeless.''
Chairman of the Catholic Relief Services' board and Archbishop of New York Timothy Dolan was also a celebrant at the funeral, CRS adds.
More than 1,000 people came to the grounds of Port-au-Prince's cathedral and gathered in front of two coffins holding the remains of two Haitian clergy, Archbishop Miot and Monsignor Charles Benoit, the vicar general.
Among the mourners were CRS President Ken Hackett; Sean Callahan, CRS' executive vice president for overseas operations; CRS Haiti Country Representative Karel Zelenka; and Monsignor David Malloy, general secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Mourners stood under a sun that blazed down on the devastated capital city, where it is now confirmed that more than 100,000 people died.
Dolan read a message on behalf of Chicago Cardinal Francis E. George, president of the USCCB. "The Church in the United States stands with you," the statement said.
"In our prayer, we recall that Jesus, too, wept before the tomb of one whom he loved," said the cardinal's message. "With you, we recall in trust that he is the resurrection and the life, offering himself to us and calling us to himself, even in our darkest hour. "
The cardinal also said the Catholic Church in the United States was committed to "doing everything we can so that you may rebuild and renew and begin again your lives of faith and family and service to Haiti. From the first days after the earthquake, our representatives of Catholic Relief Services have labored to bring food, water, medicine and hope."
Among the many celebrants was Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando, representing the USCCB Secretariat for Latin America. Bishop Wenski, who attended the 1997 installation of Archbishop Miot in the now-ruined cathedral, said before he left for Haiti that the funeral Mass, "symbolically marks the funerals for all the numbers of countless people who have died under the rubble or are buried in unmarked graves."
In this Roman Catholic country, he was known as a mediator, the one many turned to in times of crisis.
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Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us 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 we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: CTHUS
Ricci beatification process re-launched
Italian Bishop Claudio Giuliodori of Macerata, the birthplace of famous China missioner, Matteo Ricci, has re-launched the process to beatify the Jesuit priest. Bishop Giuliodori presided at the first session of a diocesan tribunal into the matter in San Giuliano Cathedral, UCA News reports.
The tribunal’s main task is to hear witnesses to ascertain whether people considered Father Matteo Ricci a holy man during and after his lifetime and whether devotion to him still exists.
Father Ricci was born in 1552 in Macerata, Italy and died on May 11, 1610 in Beijing.
The tribunal session swore in officials including the new Postulator for the Cause, Jesuit Fr Tony Witwer. A historical commission has also been established to collect all writings and documents attributed to Father Ricci.
The commission will then make a study and evaluation of his works and transmit its verdict to the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints.
The beatification process for the famous Italian Jesuit missioner to China was re-launched in Macerata, the city of his birth, by the local bishop on Jan. 24.
The canonization process was first opened in April 1984 and the diocesan phase concluded on April 13, 1985.
Matteo Ricci was then declared a “Servant of God.” For several reasons, however, the process lost impetus but Bishop Giuliodori has taken renewed interest in the cause.
Last October, he told UCA News he hopes this new phase will rapidly lead the Church to recognize the “missionary genius and spiritual stature” of Father Ricci and beatify him.
Bishop Giuliodori will lead a pilgrimage from Macerata to Beijing in July to pray at the priest’s tomb.
On Feb. 6 an exhibition will open in Beijing to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the priest’s death.
It is entitled, “Matteo Ricci: the Encounter of Civilizations in China of the Ming” and will move to Shanghai on April 2, and Nanking on June 4.
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Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us 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 we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: CTHAS
French Philosopher Defends Benedict XVI
A leading French philosopher and journalist published a defense of Benedict XVI in the Huffington Post, affirming that much of the media has been spreading disinformation about the Pope."It is time to put an end to the disingenuousness -- the bias, in a word -- and the disinformation concerning Benedict XVI," said Frenchman Bernard-Henri Lévy in his article, published Sunday.
The post comes one week after the Pope visited Synagogue of Rome.
The writer, of Jewish origin, stated that "texts have been quite simply distorted, regarding his trip to Auschwitz in 2006, for example, where it was asserted […] that he paid homage to the 6 million Polish dead, victims of a mere 'band of criminals' without mentioning that half of them were Jews."
"The falsehood is downright staggering," Lévy asserted, "considering that, on that day, Benedict XVI plainly spoke of the attempt of the 'powerful of the Third Reich' to 'eliminate the Jewish people' from the 'ranks of the nations of the earth.'"
The writer addressed the topic of the Pontiff's recent visit to the Synagogue of Rome, and the "chorus of disinformers" who reported negatively on this event.
He acknowledged the Holy Father's gestures and words as he paid tribute to the victims of the Holocaust and underlined the Church's commitment to build relations with the Jews.
Lévy also defended the role of Pope Pius XII in standing up for Jews against the Nazis. He stated, "We owe it to historical accuracy to point out that, before engaging in clandestine action, opening -- without saying so -- his convents to Roman Jews hunted by the fascist bullies, the 'silent' Pius XII made a number of speeches broadcast by radio."
"It's especially surprising," the writer noted, "that we place the entire weight of responsibility for the deafening silence concerning the Shoah that echoed throughout the world, or nearly all, upon the shoulders of a Sovereign of the time who had neither cannons nor aircraft at his disposal" who "went to great lengths, most historians tell us, to share with others who were informed the knowledge available to him" and "who in fact saved a great many of those he was morally responsible for, in Rome, but elsewhere as well."
The Frenchman concluded that "one can be both Pope and scapegoat."
Lévy, a regular contributor to the Huffington Post, is known as one of the leading "New Philosophers."
The term refers to those thinkers in France who criticized Marxism in the 1970s, as well as the philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre, Friedrich Nietzsche and Martin Heidegger.
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Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us 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 we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: Zenit
Phoenix Diocese pushes to make stronger marriage bonds
With the definition of marriage being challenged nationwide, the Catholic Church in Phoenix has introduced significant changes in its program for couples who want a church wedding, lengthening the preparation time from six to nine months.Partly in response to efforts promoting gay marriage and a growing trend of unwed couples living together, Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix has decided to intensify the church's teaching for people planning a Catholic marriage.
The new rules for pre-marriage preparation include more time and deeper education.
The goal is to strengthen marriages and a couple's Catholic faith at a time when marriage is on the decline in the United States.
Few dispute the value of marriage-preparation programs.
Studies indicate that a solid course of marriage preparation, particularly one based on developing interpersonal skills, succeeds in reducing divorces.
But some in the church fear the changes detailed in the bishop's July pastoral letter, "Covenant of Love," which became mandatory this month, may result in even fewer church weddings.
The letter points to four "concerns" that led to the updated policies, which will include post-wedding marriage classes and ongoing education about marriage. They are:
• Fewer marriage role models and increased cohabitation.
• A high divorce rate.
• A growing number of single-parent families.
• "Increasing confusion" over the meaning of marriage in society because of efforts to legalize gay marriage.
The changes, Olmsted hopes, will help counteract those trends.
"Many young people know little about their call to be married in the church and to receive the grace of that sacrament," said Michael Phelan, a layman who leads the diocese's Office of Marriage and Respect Life.
"It could be compared to a dearth of culinary knowledge. If I know little about the difference between eating at a fast-food restaurant and a four-star feast, I won't value the whole experience."
Among the changes being instituted are:
• Nine months of pre-marriage preparation time instead of six. Several methods of preparation will remain available, including intensive weekend sessions or a series of weeknight meetings, but the time will be lengthened.
• A full course in Natural Family Planning, a type of family planning that does not use artificial forms of birth control. The church opposes use of contraceptives, from condoms to pills.
• More comprehensive courses on practical skills and the theology of marriage, including the reasons for the church's position on gay marriage. The church believes marriage can only be a union between a man and a woman.
Andrew Junker, a reporter for the Catholic Sun diocese newspaper, recently went through the marriage-preparation courses and said he found them worthwhile, even though he was skeptical at first.
"For a lot of people, it seems like a lot of hoops to jump through," he said. "But once we started getting into it, the vast majority was really helpful just on the level of communication."
An increased emphasis on the theological underpinnings of marriage may be helpful to the numerous people seeking Catholic weddings but who are not really practicing the faith, Junker said.
"They presented the theology very positively, not as arcane rules devised to make your life miserable," he said.
Still, he said, most of his friends are not and would not consider a Catholic marriage if they are considering marriage at all. They are part of a nationwide trend of fewer people getting married. Since 1980, marriage rates in the United States have dropped from 11 per thousand people in 1980 to 7.1 per thousand in 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Donald Scott, who was married in 2006 at All Saints Catholic Newman Center at Arizona State University, said he sees the trend of fewer marriages among friends who have been couples for years without tying the knot.
Scott, who did a marriage-prep course four years ago with his wife, Christa, said the course provided "a jumping-off point to discuss things we might not have thought about."
He said he would have had no problem with a longer engagement period, as it stands in the new policy, from six to nine months.
"My opinion is that it is better to have more time in advance to discern your marriage and the potential issues than to have not enough time and have those issues come up later," he said.
The Numbers
Church weddings have been on the decline in the Phoenix Diocese, officials say. The diocese covers Maricopa, Yavapai, Coconino and Mohave counties in Arizona.
Out of an average of 27,000 marriage licenses issued a year in those counties - a number that has held steady for 15 years despite population growth - the number of weddings conducted in a Catholic church has dropped from 1,542 in 1993 to 1,389 last year, according to figures provided by the diocese. The numbers have rarely topped 1,800 in the 40-year history of the diocese.
Even though about 15 percent of diocese residents profess to be Catholic, only 5 percent of marriages take place in church.
The decline has occurred even as the diocese has grown at a rate exceeding the population generally, from an estimated 355,000 members in 1993 to 644,000 today.
Mark Gray of Georgetown University, who has researched Catholic marriage in the United States, says the trend is not restricted to Phoenix.
Overall, he said, the number of Catholic marriages has declined from 10 or more per 1,000 Catholics in the 1940s and '50s to 3.5 today. The number in the Phoenix area for 2008 was 1.9 marriages per 1,000 Catholics.
The reasons, Gray said, may have to do with the rise in divorce and second marriages, which the church may not allow, the trend to getting married later in life, increased numbers of interfaith marriages and a preference for other marriage venues such as resorts or beaches.
The latter trend is especially pronounced in Sun Belt states, he said.
Statistics are hard to come by for other religious traditions. The lack of central organizations among other large denominations means few numbers are available.
Religious Tradition
Most religious bodies say they promote pre-marriage preparation, but they leave it to individual pastors to determine what is needed.
Steve Bass, head of the Southern Baptist Convention in Arizona, said each church develops its own requirements.
"As a student of those churches, I can tell you the overwhelming majority of our pastors do require a number of pre-marital counseling sessions before they will officiate the wedding ceremony," he said.
The United Methodist Church has a similar practice, said spokesman Steve Hustedt.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has requirements similar to the Catholic Church.
Len Greer of Gilbert, Arizona spokesman for the LDS Church, said Mormons must complete preparation classes to be married in the temple but not to be married elsewhere. He could not provide statistics for Mormon weddings, temple weddings in Arizona or the percentage that get married in the temple.
Not everyone agrees with the new policy for Catholics.
Roberta Meehan, an acknowledged foe of Olmsted's conservative approach who is ordained as part of the Roman Catholic Womenpriests movement, said the diocese should offer marriage preparation, but one size does not fit everyone.
"What works for two Ph.D. scientists is not the same for a couple of 19-year-olds just out of high school," she said. "Each couple should be counseled on an individual basis."
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The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: AZ
Nigerian archbishop says violence more political than religious
A Nigerian archbishop said the cause of recent violence between Muslims and Christians in the African country was more ethnic and political than religious.More than 200 people were believed dead after clashes in mid-January in the central Nigerian city of Jos, where similar riots in 2008 killed about 300.
Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos said the origin of the current conflicts, like those of 2008, was a struggle for political control of the city between the Hausa people, who are predominantly Muslim, and the indigenous residents, who are mostly Christians.
Media reports describing the violence as a religious clash between Muslims and Christians were inaccurate, Archbishop Kaigama told the Vatican missionary news agency Fides.
While speaking with journalists Jan. 24, Kaigama reiterated his remarks and denied a report that a Muslim attack on a parish spawned the recent violence there.
"In particular, it is not true that a church was attacked and burned," he said. "The origin of the conflicts of today, like those of November 2008, are the contrasts between the Hausa ... and the indigenous peoples."
The archbishop told Fides Jan. 20 he met with several Christian and Muslim leaders to clarify the situation, assess the damage and ascertain the exact number of victims. He said it was still unclear how many people had died and how many houses, churches, or mosques have been burned.
"I fear that both Christians and Muslims will inflate figures regarding their victims," the archbishop said.
"The spread of false information incites the people and increases the violence," he said, adding that authorities need to be impartial and honest in presenting data on casualties and damage to structures.
Archbishop Kaigama told Fides the situation in Jos had calmed. He said police and army troops were patrolling the streets of the city and enforcing a curfew imposed soon after the violence broke out Jan. 17.
The archbishop said most of the Christian churches that were set on fire were not Catholic.
Archbishop Kaigama said the Islamic-Christian joint committee was scheduled to meet Jan. 25 to "assess the situation and take measures to avoid similar incidents from happening again."
The bishops of the ecclesiastical province of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria denounced the violence in Jos, saying that "some extremists claiming to be Muslims suddenly set upon Christians in their churches and homes, killing and burning."
"It is sad that such occurrences in the recent past have not been convincingly investigated and addressed and are not found preventable," the bishops said after meeting Jan. 18 and 19.
They also said the government's continued insistence that all is well despite a lack of presidential leadership had "dangerous consequences for the nation." Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua left for Saudi Arabia in mid-November for treatment for a serious heart condition but did not cede power to the vice president.
"Nigerians deserve better than a presidency by remote control," the bishops said. "Any society living with such self-deceit is surely courting disintegration."
Jos has been the scene of serious intra-community clashes in the past decade.
In addition to the 2008 clashes, in 2001 a conflict resulted in more than 900 deaths, as well as the burning of churches and mosques.
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Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us 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 we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: CNS
Abuse victims propose that funds for monument go to Haiti survivors
Survivors of institutional child abuse want €500,000 - which has been earmarked for a monument to victims - to be given to survivors of the Haiti earthquake.The proposal was made to Taoiseach Brian Cowen in a meeting last Friday with two of the main groups representing victims.
Michael O’Brien of Right of Place, who met Cowen in Clonmel, said that the direct aid gesture would ‘‘genuinely mean more to victims of clerical abuse than a piece of stone on O’Connell Street’’.
The erection of a monument to survivors of abuse was one of the proposals in the Ryan Report into the abuse of children in state-run institutions.
The government established a committee last October to consider the location and nature of the memorial, which was to include the 1999 apology to abuse victims by former taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
Cowen told the groups that the government would consider the proposal.
If it is accepted, it would raise the national contribution to Haitian aid to €22.5 million.
The government last week also sent an 80-tonne consignment of supplies to Haiti.
As well as the official state contribution, Irish charities have raised millions of euro for Haiti, with contributions from businesses and members of the public.
The United Nations has appealed for more than €400million to fund the enormous relief operation under way in Haiti, where millions of people are homeless.
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Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us 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 we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: SBP