Pope Benedict could be preparing his first social encyclical
Vatican City, Mar 15, 2006 (CNA) - Sources
close the Holy See have indicated that Pope Benedict XVI is preparing
his first social encyclical, which may be entitled “Labor Domini,” or,
“The Work of the Lord.”
According to the
report, which has not yet been officially confirmed by the Holy See,
the encyclical would present a Christian vision of human work and
address the importance of work for society. Likewise, it would explore
the necessity and duty of the human person to work in some capacity.
A central theme
of the document looks to be work as a participation in the creative
action of God and, as a consequence, a means of sanctification.
It may also
address the challenges of “neo-liberalism” and of a lack of solidarity
in the world. Sources add that the document would probably not be
issued until at least Christmas.
Since Pope Leo
XII, every pontiff has issued social encyclicals coinciding with the
date of the first social encyclical, “Rerum Novarum.”
The last social
encyclical, entitled “Centesimus Annus,” was released by Pope John Paul
II to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Pope Leo’s historic
document.
The Church will celebrate the 115th anniversary of the encyclical this year.
Church officials deny reports that Pope Benedict has accepted invitation to Britain
Westminster, Colo., Mar 15, 2006 (CNA) - The
office of the Archbishop of Westminster has denied a report, broken
earlier today by Glasgow’s Daily Mirror newspaper, that Pope Benedict
has accepted an invitation to visit Great Britain in 2007.
According to a
BBC report, the "Archbishop's House has had no indication from
Rome if Pope Benedict will visit the UK, nor, if he were to, when that
would be."
The Catholic
Church in England invited the Pope to visit that country last week and
speculation has abounded that a possible trip could fall on the 25th
anniversary of John Paul II’s 1982 visit to Britain.
While
Westminster’s Archbishop, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor has stressed
his desire that the Pope be made aware of the delight a visit would
bring to the British people, he admitted that it was too soon to say
what one could look like or if it would be feasible.
It’s not Bishop Olmsted who’s denying autistic boy communion, says Diocese
Phoenix, Ariz., Mar 15, 2006 (CNA) - Officials
from the Diocese of Phoenix have responded to recent criticism over a
local autistic boy who some claim is being denied communion by Bishop
Thomas Olmsted.
A March 4th
headline in the Arizona Republic newspaper blared that the Church had
denied communion to 10-year old Matthew Moran, a charge which the
diocese says, is mistaken.
Under the Moran
family’s recent practice, Matthew would receive the host on his tongue
where it would sit only momentarily before his father would take it out
of the boy’s mouth and consume it himself.
Phoenix Bishop
Thomas Olmsted said that this practice does not allow the boy to truly
“receive” the Body of Christ and that Church teaching is clear on norms
for Eucharistic reception. He wrote in a recent letter that Matthew is
not prohibited from receiving communion, only that he could "not able
to approve the present practice."
Rosalind
Gutierrez, who is director of the Diocesan Office of Worship, and
Isabella Rice, director of the Office of Disabilities and Pastoral Care
Ministries, submitted an editorial piece to the Arizona Republic
outlining the situation from the Church’s perspective. It will appear
in tomorrow’s edition.
They say that
although it has been reported that Matthew cannot receive communion
without spitting it out, evidence from the Diocese of Pittsburgh
disputes this.
That diocese
provided Phoenix officials a statement from the boy’s catechist there
which said that “After many practices in the classroom, (Matthew) was
able to consume some unconsecrated hosts”, and “did sip the
unconsecrated wine.”
Gutierrez and
Rice also cited Fr. David Driesch, pastor of St. Bernard Parish in
Pittsburgh, who stated, “On the day of his First Holy Communion, I gave
Matthew the consecrated host, he received it and consumed it in my
presence.”
The Diocese of
Phoenix is now asking what happened? The editorial stated that “The
documents from the Diocese of Pittsburgh clearly prove that Matthew is
able to receive the Eucharist in the manner prescribed by the Church
and in the manner in which he received at his First Holy Communion.”
Gutierrez and
Rice added that “accordingly, the Diocese of Pittsburgh never endorsed
the present practice of just touching the consecrated host to Matthew’s
mouth or tongue. Therefore, Bishop Olmsted has never denied the
Eucharist to Matthew.”
They said that
in fact, it is Bishop Olmsted who “is seeking to return Matthew to the
fullness of reception that he previously experienced.”
The prelate,
they pointed out, “is asking that Matthew again receive the Eucharist
in ways that are consistent with Church teachings and the documents.
The reception of the Eucharist is not ‘in the eye of the beholder,’ as
some apparently would like us to believe. The reception of the
Eucharist is an objective, grace-filled reality at which the
consumption of the consecrated host brings the communicant into a
oneness with Jesus Christ and His Church.”
“Continuing to deny Matthew the fullness of the grace of the Eucharist”, the letter stressed, “would be unconscionable.”
The diocese says
they are determined to work with Matthew and his family because he
“deserves to be able to take the Eucharist fully and completely.”
Gutierrez and
Rice said that “the decision to receive the Eucharist” is that of the
individual. No one can receive on our behalf — it is an act of our free
will to approach the Blessed Sacrament,” and explained that “For this
reason, Bishop Olmsted continues to commit the resources of the Phoenix
Diocese to assist the Moran family.”
“We also trust”,
they wrote, “that God is not restrictive in how He blesses people. If
Matthew never receives Eucharist in the manner prescribed by the
Church, we trust that God will continue to bless Matthew in ways known
to Matthew and God alone.”
Pope Benedict begins his first teaching series: no contrast between Christ and His Church
Vatican City, Mar 15, 2006 (CNA) - Exactly
one month after completing a catechetical cycle begun years ago by his
predecessor John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI today began his own series
of catechesis, which will focus on the mystical relationship between
Christ and the Church--left in the hands of the Apostles.
The Holy Father
announced the new theme during his general audience today, during which
some 30,000 people had gathered in St. Peter’s Square to hear him.
"The Church”, he began, “was constituted upon the foundation of the Apostles as a community of faith, hope and charity."
This project of
God, he continued, began "when certain fishermen in Galilee met Jesus,
and allowed themselves to be conquered ... by his invitation: ...
'Follow me and I will make you fishers of men'."
Benedict told
the crowd that "after Mary, pure reflection of the light of Christ, it
is the Apostles, their word and their testimony, that convey the truth
of Christ to us.
“Yet theirs”, he
said, “is not an isolated mission, it is part of a mystery of
communion, one that involves the entire People of God and takes place
in stages, from the old to the new Covenant."
The Pope pointed
out that Jesus' message "is completely misunderstood" if it is
separated "from the context of the faith and hope of the chosen
people." This, he said, is because "Jesus addressed Himself first of
all to Israel in order to 'gather them' together in the eschatological
time that had arrived with Him.”
“Jesus'
preaching,” he said, “like John's, is both a call of grace and a sign
of contradiction and judgment for the entire people of God."
Benedict
continued, saying that although the preaching of Jesus is "always a
call to individual conversion, ... to interpret Christ's announcement
of the Kingdom in individualistic terms would be unilateral and
groundless," because in biblical tradition and despite its novelty, "it
is clear that the entire mission of the Son-made-flesh has a community
goal."
He went on to
point out that the choice of twelve Apostles is a number that recalls
the tribes of Israel. This, he said, "reveals the significance of the
prophetic-symbolic action inherent in the new institution.”
“Choosing the
Twelve, introducing them to communion of life with Him and rendering
them participants in His mission of announcing the Kingdom, ... Jesus
wishes to say that the definitive time has arrived in which God's
promises are fulfilled."
He stressed that
“the twelve Apostles are the clearest sign of Jesus' will concerning
the existence and mission of His Church, the guarantee that there is no
contrast between Christ and the Church.”
In this light,
Benedict said that the slogan which became fashionable some years ago:
'Yes to Jesus, no to the Church,' is completely irreconcilable with the
intentions of Christ."
"Between the Son
of God made flesh and His Church there exists a profound, unbreakable
and mysterious continuity, by virtue of which Christ is present today
in His people, and especially in those who are the successors of the
Apostles."
In February, the
Holy Father completed the catechesis series begun by John Paul, which
explored all the Psalms and canticles which are contained in the
Church’s Liturgy of the Hours prayers.
New Orleans’ historic black church remains open despite parish merger
New Orleans, La., Mar 15, 2006 (CNA) - African
American parishioners of St. Augustine’s Church in New Orleans are
upset that their parish is slated to close today. The historic black
parish will be closed and its territory merged with another parish in
the wake of Hurricane Katrina. But archdiocesan officials have said the
church will remain open and continue to welcome members of the
community for Sunday mass.
In the aftermath
of Hurricane Katrina, the Archdiocese of New Orleans is trying to
consolidate its resources as it deals with $84 million in uninsured
losses. The archdiocese is only expecting 65 percent of its pre-Katrina
population to return in the next two years. As a result, seven parishes
are being closed or merged and the reopening of another 23 parishes is
delayed.
According to
canon law, the closing of a parish does not necessitate the closing of
a church. One parish can have several churches or places of worship.
But parishioners
said this assurance of Sunday masses wasn’t enough. They officially
appealed the decision Thursday. They also held a standing room-only
mass Sunday, with music provided by well-known artists Ellis and
Branford Marsalis, in an effort to convince the archdiocese not to
close the historic parish. Even non-parishioners came out to support
the appeal. The archdiocese, however, told the Associated Press that it
had no plans to reverse its decision.
St. Augustine’s
was founded in 1841 by slaves and free people of color. It was a parish
of mostly Italian immigrants in the early 1900s but became a
predominantly black church once again in the 1960s.
According to the AP, about half of the 350 pre-Katrina families that belonged to the parish have returned so far.
Did media downplay attacks on Turkish parish?
Mersin, Mar 15, 2006 (CNA) - On
March 11th, a young man armed with a long knife entered a Catholic
church and threatened two monks and about 25 young people who were
rehearsing for a Passion play. The young man also broke a door and
stole a cell phone. No one was injured. He was arrested and later
released.
But, rather than
reporting the violent crime, some newspapers downplayed the event or
reported that the boy had entered the church accusing the monks of
prostituting boys and girls, Fr Hanri Leylek, one of the monks, told
AsiaNews.
Fr. Leylek said the perpetrator had initially entered the church and mixed in with the youth of the parish.
“One of the boys
called me, telling me there was a stranger creating problems, who
wanted to talk to a priest. I went out of the room and started to talk
to him; seeing that he was saying disjointed things and threats, I
asked him to go outside. He refused and only threatened all the more,
swearing,” recounted Fr. Leylek.
When the young
man refused to cooperate, the priest decided to use the telephone in
the corridor to call the police. This is when the young man pulled out
a knife, about 80 cm long, which he had hidden behind his back.
Fr Leylek tried
to calm the young man. When another priest came into the room, Fr.
Leylek discreetly left and went to the police station nearby.
When the priest
arrived with policemen, the young man threatened the officers as well.
After further discussions with the young man, he surrendered to police.
“This was the
second attack on our parish,” Fr. Leylek told AsiaNews. The first took
place two months ago. Another young man kicked down the two doors of
the convent and forced his way in, saying he wanted to talk to a
priest. He was not armed but had burned books in the parish information
office. Two priests spoke to the young man, who later left with police
without resisting.
Since the murder
of Fr Andrea Santoro Feb. 28, national news media continue to talk
about missionaries and their proselytism, reported AsiaNews. According
to the Asian news agency, some say “this approach hides the political
struggle of religious fundamentalism against the current Turkish
government and its resolve to take Turkey into Europe.”
Schiavo's family publishes book about her final days
Tampa, Fla., Mar 15, 2006 (CNA) - Terry
Schiavo’s family has collaborated on a new book about the final weeks
of her life. The 41-year-old severely disabled Florida woman died last
March, after her husband, Michael Schiavo, had her feeding tube removed.
Terry’s parents,
Robert and Mary Schindler, her brother, Bobby Schindler, and her
sister, Suzanne Schindler Vitadamo, recount their personal suffering
and struggle to prevent Terry’s husband from having her feeding tube
removed.
“A Life That Matters: The Legacy of Terri Schiavo, A Lesson for Us All” will hit bookstores March 28.
Michael Schiavo, who recently remarried, is releasing his own book on the 15-year ordeal one day earlier, March 27.
Vocations up despite growing secularism, says Spanish cardinal
Madrid, Spain, Mar 15, 2006 (CNA) - In
a letter to mark “Seminary Day” in Spain on March 19th, Cardinal
Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, Archbishop of Madrid, noted that despite
growing secularism in the dominant culture, vocations to the priesthood
continue to rise.
Pointing out
that more than 200 seminarians are currently studying for the Madrid
archdiocese, the cardinal emphasized that “the number and generosity of
our seminarians proves that the Lord continues to call men to the
apostolic priesthood, despite the progressive secularism of the
dominant culture and the secularist attempts to rid our people of their
Christian roots and values.”
“Our prayer to
the Master of the harvest to continue sending workers to his harvest is
not in vain, nor sterile is our cooperation with the grace of God to
bring to fruition the vocational seeds that are sown with ecclesial
rigor and evangelical care in the Christian life,” the cardinal added.
He criticized
youth ministry programs that don’t lead young people to “a personal,
living and cordial encounter with Jesus Christ, so that they can open
themselves to his will and respond generously to the Christian
vocation.”
Cardinal Rouco
said that “Seminary Day” is an opportunity to pray for seminarians and
to express spiritual and economic support for their commitment to
Christ and mankind. It’s also a chance to make the faithful,
especially families, aware of the greatness of the priestly vocation
and the urgent need to promote it among children and young people.
He called the
increase in priestly vocations an “eloquent sign of the fecundity of
Christian life in communities and Christian groups and of the real
appreciation of their members for this ministry.” He questioned
whether the shortage of vocations in other parts of Europe might not be
due to the abandonment of the Christian roots of the continent and to
the lack of apostolic vigor.
Cardinal Pompedda demands ‘reciprocity’ towards Christians in Islamic countries
Rome, Italy, Mar 15, 2006 (CNA) - Cardinal
Mario Francesco Pompedda, prefect emeritus of the Supreme Tribunal of
the Apostolic Signatory, is demanding a greater reciprocity in granting
the same rights and recognitions that Muslims enjoy in Europe to
Christians in Muslim countries.
“The same just
opportunities that Italy and other European countries have granted to
Muslims should be available for Christians in Muslim-dominated
countries,” the cardinal said. This would apply also to the
ongoing discussion about allowing Islam to be taught in Italy’s public
schools.
The cardinal
also warned about the use of the term “clash of civilizations,” saying
that “Any chance of clashing or collision should be avoided through
mature inter-religious dialogue among cultures.”
He added that he
opposes the idea of defining the Christian identity as innately opposed
to Islam. “This would mean heading down the path towards ‘holy
war,’ a term which in itself is insulting.”
Cardinal
Pompedda said dialogue with Islam must be based “on three pillars:
reciprocity, the renouncing of a ‘clash of civilizations,’ and the need
for a faith that is lived and is not reduced to the simple proclamation
of values.”
Venezuelan Archbishop calls for understanding between government and opposition groups
Caracas, Venezuela, Mar 15, 2006 (CNA) - During
a meeting with top opposition leaders this week, the Archbishop of
Caracas, Cardinal-designate Jorge Urosa Sabino, underscored the need to
reach an understanding between the government and major opposition
groups in order for the upcoming December elections to be legitimate.
Both groups, he
said, “have explained their points of view to me and I personally
believe it is important, as I have said on repeated occasions, that
there needs to be a political agreement between all sectors of the
country” so that those who don’t think conditions currently exist for
legitimate elections in December can feel “that the doors are open for
authentic and truly democratic elections.”
The
cardinal-designate said that his meeting with opposition leaders was a
reflection of his commitment to dialogue and of the mission that the
bishops have as builders of peace in Venezuela.
Nevertheless, he
added, the greatest responsibility falls to the ruling party, which
holds a majority in all branches of government and has the duty to
ensure free and fair elections in December.
He also said the
government must display a willingness to foster reconciliation in the
country and to “apply diverse measures of amnesty to those who have
been sentenced for crimes that have to do with political issues.”
Archbishop Urosa
said the Church would continue to promote dialogue among the different
factions, as “the most important thing is that we find a democratic
solution to the existing disagreements.”
Notre Dame Cathedral begins centuries-old Lenten Conference cycle
Paris, France, Mar 15, 2006 (CNA) - Last
week, Archbishop Vingt-Trois of Paris, began the traditional cycle of
Lenten teachings which are given each Sunday at the Cathedral of Notre
Dame, a tradition which goes back to 1835.
This year’s
theme is “Here is the man” (Ecce Homo), which hearkens back to the
exclamation of Pontius Pilate, presenting Jesus to the crowd. This
week, the Archbishop will explore the question “How can we live our
humanity more deeply, truly and in its full dignity?”
The first conference was presented last week by physician Axel Kahn, along with
Jean Vanier,
founder of the Community l’Arche, which is dedicated to assisting
handicapped people. They both reflected on the great human experience
of difference.
This week, the reflection explored the question of “becoming” and the constant realization of man throughout his whole life.
"Through the
reflection proposed today, we can measure better that human becoming is
not just a simple chronology from which humanity is striving to escape
in avoiding the question of death, " said Archbishop Vingt-Trois.
"With the death
and resurrection of Christ, it’s the proper sense of history that falls
into death and becomes a source of life, it is the origin of a new
filiation that goes beyond the transmission of flesh and blood."
Referring back
to the previous Sunday’s Gospel on Jesus’ Transfiguration, he said that
“The transfiguring illumination on the mountain is also a reading of
human life, it manifests what is invisible to our eyes: the everlasting
presence of God compared to the historical swiftness of our humanity.”
In the light of
this transformation, he said, it is not only the person of Jesus who is
transfigured but the whole of human history.
The Cathedral announced that next week’s theme will be on the question of human suffering.
Cuban dissident steps up pressure for release of political prisoners
Havana, Cuba, Mar 15, 2006 (CNA) - The
leader of the Christian Liberation Movement in Cuba, Oswaldo Paya
Sardinas, has issued a statement demanding improved prison conditions
in that country and the immediate release of political prisoners.
In his letter,
Paya denounced “the inhumane conditions of confinement, the lack of
medical assistance, and the physical and verbal abuse” of which
political prisoners are victims.
The statement
makes specific mention of Juan Carlos Herrera, one of 75 dissidents
sentenced to 28 years in prison and who suffers from serious health
problems, “which have been aggravated by the cruel conditions since he
was unjustly imprisoned in March of 2003.”
Prisoners, be
they “political or common,” Paya noted, “are also, above all, human
beings,” and thus their “dignity and rights deserved to be treated with
respect.” The dissident group also called on the international
community to “raise its voice in solidarity with the Cuban political
prisoners.”
Paya also
enjoined all Cubans not to be “indifferent in the face of this
situation of systematic mistreatment” of these “peaceful prisoners,
whose only crimes have been defending the rights of Cubans and offering
peaceful solutions for the problems and malice that are afflicting the
Cuban society.”
Lastly, the
group expressed its solidarity with Juan Carlos Herrera in “his demands
for medical assistance, dignified prison conditions and just and humane
treatment.” It also called for “the immediate release of all peaceful
political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.”
