During a three day visit to Milan to support the activity of the World Meeting of Families, Pope Benedict spoke several times, addressing young catholics, holding a question and answer session with young people, and preaching 1 million faithful at Sunday Mass. Traditional family values are the key to navigating modern society Pope Benedict told Read more
A personal note, written by Pope Benedict, acknowledges the pontiff’s lack of English created a misunderstanding between himself and the former bishop of Toowomba, Bill Morris. Commenting on Morris’ letter in which he accuses the Vatican of a “lack of care for the truth,” Nuzzi’s Vatileaks book has the Holy Father writing, “Obviously there was a Read more
According to NCR columnist, John Allen, if there was doubt that Bertone was not the target of Vatileaks, journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi puts this idea to rest in the “sensational new book,” His Holiness: The Secret Papers of Benedict XVI.” Allen says Nuzzi’s book leaves little doubt about the resistance around Bertone and the Vatileaks thriller cites the Read more
Later today, the finale of Queen Elizabeth’s 60 years as monarch will be to visit to St Paul’s Cathedral in London for a Thanksgiving Service. In the course of the all the celebrations, it won’t however be the only reference to religion. The 86-year-old queen recently delivered a speech to a group of religious leaders Read more
Gianluigi Nuzzi, author of the 273 page ‘sell out’ book, “His Holiness: The Secret Papers of Benedict XVI” alleging corruption and conspiracies among cardinals in a Vatican power struggle, denies Vatican accusations that he is a criminal. Nuzzi said the book was based on conversations with more than 10 Vatican whistleblowers. “We have a group Read more
US Catholics have come out in support of their nuns whom the Vatican accuses of having serious doctrinal problems. The Washington Post reports rallies are planned or have already been held from Anchorage, Alaska to Boston, organized by the loose-knit Nun Justice Project, a coalition of lay reform groups. Fr Doug Koesel, a Cleveland priest Read more
The British Government is planning to remove sex from the law of marriage, so that same-sex couples can be wed. In current British law marriage is not official until a man and woman have “ordinary and complete” sexual intercourse, which means same-sex couples cannot meet the requirement. Tory MP Edward Leigh says the move will Read more
Former Ireland president Mary McAleese has called on the papal nuncio to show more leniency to priests who speak on controversial matters. McAleese told the Vatican’s Ireland representative, Archbishop Charles Brown, that the priests were held in high esteem by the public. The remarks were reportedly made during a lunch with the Papal Nuncio last month, Read more
Pope Benedict is saddened by the military’s massacre of civilians in the Syrian town of Houla, and has again called for talks to end the violence. “The recent massacre in the Syrian town of Houla in which around one hundred people, including numerous children, lost their lives, is a motive of great sorrow and concern Read more
As the international community prepares for Rio+20, the UN conference on sustainable energy, CAFOD is calling for attention to be given to the poor and displaced as the heart of a ‘green economy’. “We think it’s an important event, and an important opportunity, but more to try and put poverty reduction and poor people’s livelihood Read more