The commission wrote to tens of thousands of Victorian parents at some 100 schools last week.

The letter, from CEC chief executive Stephen Elder, claimed that the Greens' education policies would result in less funding for Catholic students and potentially higher school fees.

The letter also warned that the Greens would stop religious exemptions for employment in Catholic schools.

Principals and school leaders have contacted the Greens, saying that they will not pass on Mr Elder's letter.

One Catholic principal said it was not the role of a school to tell parents how to vote.

"I respect the adults in our school community to make up their own mind about who to vote for," he told The Age.

"I didn't see the point in us telling parents how to vote.

"I am sure they have made up their own minds already."

The Greens have called on the commission to send another letter to families correcting its "misleading comments".

The Greens accused the commission of ignoring the best interest of students and Catholic teachings.

Senator Nick McKim said the Greens' policies on asylum seekers, global warming and the environment were more consistent with Catholic teaching than the major parties' policies.

The senator suggested Mr Elder's letter was motivated by his close association with the Liberal Party.

Mr Elder stood by what he stated in the letter.

He said the Greens would strip funding from non-government schools and repel religious exemptions for employment

He added that the Greens had ignored his requests to clarify its education policies.

Australia's federal election is on July 2.

Sources

• The Age
• Image: Sky News

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is to release Iuvenescit Ecclesia ("the Church grows young") on June 14.

It will be the CDF's first major document issued during the pontificate of Pope Francis.

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In March, an international group of 15 bishops, nuns, priests and lay people wrote to Pope Francis and the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith calling for reform.

Many of the signatories to the letter have been subject to CDF investigations and some had subsequently lost their positions.

The Irish Times reported Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi, SJ, stating it is very unlikely there will be any public response from the CDF.

Fr Lombardi said he had not read the letter.

Other Holy See insiders suggested that there was nothing new in the theologians' critique, adding that it looked like similar criticism "voiced 10, 20 or 30 years ago".

Irish Redemptorist Fr Tony Flannery, who Rome has silenced, did receive a type of response from the CDF.

Fr Flannery said the CDF had instructed his superior general to send him a copy of "To Promote and Safeguard the Faith", a 2015 CDF publication.

Fr Flannery cited an article in the Italian publication La Repubblica that stated, "Francis knows well the curial way of stopping careers of theologians and bishops, using the dossiers."

"As archbishop of Buenos Aires and head of the Argentine Bishops' Conference often he saw candidates for episcopal appointments rejected by the Vatican," the article stated.

Recently, Swiss theologian Fr Hans Küng said he has sensed a "new freedom" in the Vatican.

Fr Kung said this after he received a personal response from Pope Francis following an appeal from theologian for debate on papal infallibility.

Augustinian theologian, Fr Iggy O'Donovan, one of five Irish priests to have signed the letter about CDF theological investigations, told The Irish Times: "Küng has got it wrong. He is hopelessly optimistic. Pope Francis is a well-intentioned man but the Curia is fiendishly difficult to reform."

Sources

• Irish Times
• National Catholic Reporter
• The Tablet
• Tony Flannery blog
• Image: National Catholic Reporter

But Fr Küng is refusing to release the text of a letter he said he received from Pope Francis on the subject last month.

The theologian cited the "confidentiality that I owe to the Pope".

Catholic media outlets The Tablet and the National Catholic Reporter have therefore been unable to verify that the letter exists.

On March 9, Fr Küng had issued what he called an "urgent appeal to Pope Francis to permit an open and impartial discussion on infallibility of Pope and bishops".

Now the theologian has issued a statement where he expresses his joy at receiving a "personal reply" from Pope Francis.

Fr Küng noted that the Pope had clearly read his infallibility appeal and had made a response himself, which the theologian saw as significant.

Fr Küng said the Pope is highly appreciative of the considerations that were listed in the appeal.

"Pope Francis has set no restrictions [on discussion]," Fr Küng added.

"I think it is now imperative to use this new freedom to push ahead with the clarification of the dogmatic definitions which are a ground for controversy within the Catholic Church and in its relationship to the other Christian churches," he said.

"I am deeply grateful to Pope Francis for this new freedom and combine my heartfelt thanks with the expectation that the bishops and theologians will unreservedly adopt this new spirit and join in this task in accordance with the scriptures and with our great church tradition."

Sources

• The Tablet
• National Catholic Reporter
• Image: Huffington Post

An international group of bishops, nuns, priests and lay people have written to Pope Francis calling for reform.

They have specifically called for an end to anonymous denunciations.

Many of the letter's signatories have been the subjects of investigations by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and some have subsequently lost their positions.

The 15 signatories include Australian Bishop Patrick Power, theologian Fr Charles Curran and Irish Redemptorist Fr Tony Flannery.

The letter was also sent to CDF prefect Cardinal Gerhard Muller.

The signatories argue as the CDF acts as "investigator, accuser, judge and jury" the process cannot offer justice

They state that the procedures are characterised often by a lack of adequate defence or possibility of appeal.

The writers state that current norms are outdated and follow a model based on "the absolutism of sixteenth and seventeenth century Europe".

The letter-writers propose propose eight principles that should be followed in any Vatican investigation of a theologian.

They centre on requests for an open process, marked by opportunities for theologians to respond to allegations made against them.

The writers' also mention that often in investigations a theologian's work is taken out of context and call for involvement of those being investigated "from the beginning" to help clarify any issues immediately.

The signatories also propose a new procedure for investigations, moving final responsibility for the matter to the Vatican's office for the Synod of Bishops.

They envision that such a procedure would take place in two steps: First, with a limited investigation at the doctrinal office; and then, if necessary, through a seven-member expert committee set up by the synod office.

Four of the committee members would be appointed by the Vatican; three by the theologian in question.

Within six months of the start of the investigation, they suggest that the committee would outline a "process of reconciliation" between the theologian and the universal Church.

The letter was sent in March, but thus far there has been no formal notice of receipt by the Vatican.

Sources

• National Catholic Reporter
• The Tablet
• Image: Courier Mail

A letter was sent to Poland's bishops expressing concerns about their advocacy in favour of the law.

The signatories from Europe and the United States included theologians, historians and lay people.

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The letter also calls on the synod, to be held in October, to resist any moves to allow Communion for the divorced and remarried.

A draft text of the letter and another one explaining the reasons behind it were published in The Tablet last week.

A dozen conservative-minded clergy were behind the initiative, which was signed by 461 clergy.

The number of signatories represents about 12 per cent of priests in England and Wales.

The Catholic Herald described the move as " an unprecedented step".

Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster subsequently issued a statement saying every priest in England and Wales has been asked to reflect on the synod discussion and that their pastoral experience and concern are of "great importance".

He added, however, that the "dialogue between a priest and his bishop, is not best conducted through the press".

One signatory, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Catholic Herald there "has been a certain amount of pressure not to sign the letter and indeed a degree of intimidation from some senior Churchmen".

The first letter, which priests were urged to sign and send to a "support of marriage co-coordinator", stated fidelity to the Church's traditional doctrines of marriage and sexuality.

It also affirmed the traditional discipline of the reception of the sacraments.

Another priest who signed the letter, who also asked not to be named, said the issue of Communion for the remarried was "a matter of pastoral concern and fidelity to the Gospel".

He said: "Mercy requires both love and truth. There's a lot at stake."

"Not all priests would be comfortable expressing themselves in an open letter, but I'd be very worried if there were priests who disagreed with the sentiments it contains.

"The letter calls for fidelity to Catholic teaching, and that practice should remain ‘inseparably in harmony' with doctrine."

Sources

• The Tablet
• Catholic Herald
• Image: New Vision

The letter also calls on the synod to proclaim the Church's "unchanging" moral teaching.

The initiative comes from a group of dozen priests, dubbed by The Tablet as "conservative-minded".

Among their number is the Dominican theologian Fr Aidan Nichols.

The group sent another letter to priests outlining the reasons for their action.

The first letter urges those who participate in this year's synod of bishops to end "confusion" that was caused at last year's gathering.

It also pledges help to those struggling with the demands of the Gospel in an increasingly secular society.

Priests are urged to send the signed letter to a "support of marriage co-ordinator".

The group that sent the letters say they are committed to serve all who struggle to live out the demands of the Gospel in modern life.

They stress, however, that clarity in teaching is never opposed to pastoral practice, but is instead its foundation.

The priests argue that the synod has left many to whom they minister confused.

"All too often it is those who have been most faithful to the teaching of the Church, and have made great sacrifices in order to conform their lives to the Gospel, who have been left in greatest distress," the letter states.

The letters came as American Cardinal Raymond Burke gave several talks in England.

In one talk, Cardinal Burke said the new evangelisation of Western societies will fail unless the Church succeeds in transmitting its teachings on marriage and the family to Catholics.

"If we can't get it straight with regard to the truth about marriage and the family, we really don't have much to say about anything else," Cardinal Burke said.

Without naming anyone, he criticised Church figures who, he said, "will obscure the truth of the indissolubility of marriage in the name of mercy".

Sources

• The Tablet
• National Catholic Reporter
• Image: Catholic News Agency

They urge the Pope to take immediate action to appoint more women to Church leadership positions.

The Pope's frequent references to pastoral care for people and to the status of women are cited.

But the letter stops short of calling for women's ordination, as Pope Francis has already ruled that out.

The groups also ask that banning people from Communion cease.

Among the groups, from Europe, Asia and the USA, are three national associations of priests and the We Are Church lay movement.

Also among the signatories are the American Catholics for Choice and Call to Action.

A press release accompanying the letter states the groups represent millions of Catholics around the world "who are deeply committed to our Church, but hope for changes on issues of governance and care".

They want the Pope to end what they call "the use of Communion as a reward for doctrinal orthodoxy".

Their letter said Communion "gives a place at the table to those who have been made to feel they were not worthy".

"This includes many who have felt alienated from our Church and its sacramental life for many years, including divorced and remarried Catholics, Catholics in same sex relationships, and others.

Communion "is a sacrament of love and peace, of mercy and forgiveness offered by Jesus to all on the night before he died. It does not imply conformity with Church teachings in all instances and it does not endorse all aspects of moral choice made by the recipient," the letter continues.

"It does, however, offer love and healing to Catholics who experience alienation and rejection."

The groups said their proposals are "free of theological complexity and are readily able to be advanced without a break with what some might see as imperative continuity with former teachings".

Sources

• The Irish Times
• The Irish Independent
• The Plain Dealer
• Letter to Pope Francis
• Image: The Guardian

Accused cleric Monsignor Nunzio Scarano wrote to the Pope from Rome's Regina Caeli prison, where he is detained on charges of planning to bring €20 million in cash ($NZ33.5 million) into Italy illegally.

Scarano was arrested on that charge in June, after already having been suspended from his post at the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See because he was being investigated on separate money-laundering charges.

"I never laundered dirty money, I never stole," he insisted in the letter to the Pope dated July 20. "I tried to help someone who asked for help."

Scarano, a senior accountant who headed the office that oversees Vatican property and investments, declared: "I have documentation that proves my honesty and my battles against the abuse of my secular superiors, covered up by some senior cardinals."

He also claimed these unnamed cardinals had "skeletons in the closets" and were "well blackmailed".

Scarano said that he had brought the financial misconduct to the attention of Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, who was secretary to Pope John Paul II and is now Archbishop of Krakow.

He also said he had contacted Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the dean of the College of Cardinals and former Secretary of State. Neither prelate helped him, he said.

Police allege that Scarano and an associate set up a private jet to fly the cash for three Salerno-based shipowner brothers, the D'Amicos, whose family was friendly with Scarano.

Magistrates who asked a judge to order his arrest said Scarano offered his friends "a series of services ... in the area of financial transactions, in particular when there was a need or a request for them to remain secret".

They said the prelate carried out "a series of illegal activities by unscrupulously using his network of contacts in different areas, including businessmen, clergy who looked the other way, secret service agents and Vatican Nank personnel".

Sources:

ANSA

National Catholic Reporter

Reuters

Image: Sydney Morning Herald

"You will have days when you feel down, but don't be afraid. Be strong. Everything passes," the Pope wrote to Patricio Fontanet, who is currently in a prison psychiatric ward after being diagnosed with severe depression.

The correspondence was initiated by Fontanet, who is serving a seven-year sentence.

The Pope's reply began: "Pato, I received the letter you sent me three days ago. Thank you for your gesture ….

"Though I am physically far away I am close to you and your group in spirit, it is as if I can hear everything you hear and say, from a distance."

Pope Francis then said: "I don't want to give you advice because, at present, you don't need it: you are a man who knows well what has to be done and how to do it. I'm confident of this.

"When you are free and more sensible, count on me for anything I can help you with."

Finally, the Pope said "when you are able, please pray for me. A hug. Fraternally, Jorge."

Estefania Miguel from Cordoba, who had a child by Fontanet last year, said: "This gesture of Francis filled my heart and gave me the strength to fight for the truth. I read the complete text to [Fontanet] on the telephone and he was surprised, because he had written the Pope but he never thought he would answer him."

Fontanet was lead singer for a band called Callejeros. He later changed its name to Casi Justicia Social (Almost Social Justice).

After the tragic fire in the Cromagnon nightclub, the then Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio met the band and asked them "not to give up".

Sources:

Patheos

Vatican Insider

Image: Agenciafe