From http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/story.html?id=2607677
Agence France-Presse
Published: Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Brazil's Catholic Church is suing Hollywood for using unauthorized images of Rio's famous giant Christ statue in its disaster movie blockbuster 2012, a lawyer involved in the case said on Wednesday.
Rio de Janeiro's archdiocese is demanding unspecified damages and interest from Columbia Pictures for showing the iconic landmark being destroyed in a worldwide apocalypse in a film that came out last year, the archdiocese's attorney, Claudine Dutra, said.
The archdiocese manages copyright issues related to the 40-meter (130-foot) high statue erected in 1931, which overlooks Rio with its arms outstretched.
Under Brazilian law, copyright resides in the author of a work until his death, and then is passed on to his heirs or estate or successor entity for another 70 years.
The Christ the Redeemer statue was created by Paul Landowski, a French artist of Polish descent, on commission from the Rio archdiocese and erected in 1931.
Landowski died in 1961, meaning the archdiocese holds copyright until 2032, when the sculpture becomes part of the public domain.
In practice, Dutra said, the archdiocese allows use of images of the statue "in 99% of cases."
But it turned down Columbia Pictures' request to show the statue being destroyed by a giant wave.
"The archdiocese refused the use of the religious symbol during pre-production of the movie, but Columbia Pictures did not respect the prohibition," she said.
Dutra added that "many faithful have said they are shocked and offended by the images of the destruction of this sanctuary that the archdiocese wanted to preserve.
"We want Columbia Pictures to publicly declare that it did not intend to cause offense."
Negotiations have been going on since December, a month after the film came out, to settle the lawsuit.
"We are at the start of negotiations and don't know the amount of damages we are looking at. That will depend on an expert's evaluation," Dutra said.
The statue is Brazil's most visited tourist monument, with 1.8 million visitors a year.
It is one of the best-known modern landmarks in the world, along with Paris's Eiffel Tower, Washington's White House and Sydney's Opera House.
Agence France-Presse
Thursday, February 25, 2010
U.K. Religious Schools Forced to Promote Abortion, Homosexuality under Sex-Ed Bill
By Hilary White
LONDON, February 23, 2010 (www.LifeSiteNews.com)
Britain’s Labour government clarified this week that an amendment to the Children, Schools and Families bill, that says faith schools may teach the mandatory Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE) program “in a way that reflects the school’s religious character,” does not, in fact, give the schools freedom to oppose abortion, contraception and homosexual activity on moral grounds.
The clarification has been hailed by a local pro-life and pro-family group as evidence that the spectre of "totalitarianism" has reappeared in Britain.
A recent statement from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), made in response to protests from homosexualist groups against the government amendment, said, “Faith schools cannot opt out of statutory [sex and relationships education] lessons when it comes into effect in September 2011.”
“All maintained schools and academies will be required to teach the full programmes of study in line with the principles outlined in the Bill including promoting equality and encouraging acceptance of diversity. Schools with a religious character will be free, as they are now, to express the views of their faith and reflect the ethos of their school, but what they cannot do is suggest that their views are the only ones.”
The statement quotes Minister Ed Balls telling the Daily Telegraph that religious schools should indeed be “forced” to teach pupils that homosexuality is “normal and harmless.”
Balls said, “If their faith has a view in scripture, they can inform pupils of that. What they must not do is teach discrimination. They must be absolutely clear about the importance of civil partnerships [and that] bullying of homosexuals is wrong.” This is in line with previous statements from Labour ministers that religious schools will not be allowed to teach their religious tenets “as if they are true.”
On Tuesday, Balls told BBC Radio 4's Today program that in addition to promoting homosexuality, religious schools will also be required to promote abortion as a solution to unplanned pregnancy.
Until the passage of this bill, religious schools had the option to teach children that homosexual activity, abortion and contraception are wrong. But that situation, he said, “changes radically with this bill.”
“What this changes is that for the first time these schools cannot just ignore these issues or teach only one side of the argument. They also have to teach that there are different views on homosexuality. They cannot teach homophobia. They must explain civil partnership.
“They must give a balanced view on abortion, they must give both sides of the argument, they must explain how to access an abortion, the same is true on contraception as well,” Balls said. Balls backed up his insistence that faith schools will be forced to abandon their religious beliefs, in a letter to the London Times.
Balls went on to thank Archbishop Vincent Nichols, the head of the English Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, and the Catholic Education Service (CES) for their support of the bill. It was revealed by the government last week that the CES had actually assisted in drafting the legislation.
Balls said, “To have the support of the Catholic Church and Archbishop Nichols in these changes is, I think, very, very important, is a huge step forward… The Catholic Church, which I really welcome, is supporting, for the first time, compulsory sex education with an opt out at 15 [years].”
Anthony Ozimic, communications manager for the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), told LifeSiteNews.com (LSN), “People outside the UK must know that the British government's ideologues are just as radical but even more cunning than the French Revolutionaries.”
SPUC is lobbying against the passage of the bill, and accuses CES of collaborating with a radically secularist, anti-Christian government that is bent on expanding abortion and homosexuality and suppressing freedom of religious expression.
After the Catholic Education Service took credit for the government’s amendment implying that faith schools will be allowed to teach their religious tenets, SPUC responded, “The only people likely to be pleased with the press reports about the misinterpretation of this amendment are the Catholic Education Service (CES), who want Catholic parents and Catholic schools to think they are sticking up for them, when in fact they are betraying their principles.”
Paul Tully, SPUC's political manager, said that CES has only helped the bill to pass by pursuing the amendment. “SPUC condemns the action of the Catholic Education Service (CES) … The CES does not represent Catholic teaching on sex education, and its betrayal of Catholic families is widely lamented within the Catholic Church.”
Anthony Ozimic said, “Compromise and accommodation with this government will result, not in government concessions, but in increased persecution of those who stand up for life and family.
“Catholics in particular have been placed in this grave situation by an unholy alliance, forged by the fake Catholic Tony Blair, between the English bishops and the Labour government. The spectre of totalitarianism, which was seen from Britain in Eastern Europe during the Cold War, has reappeared, this time in Britain itself.”
LONDON, February 23, 2010 (www.LifeSiteNews.com)
Britain’s Labour government clarified this week that an amendment to the Children, Schools and Families bill, that says faith schools may teach the mandatory Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE) program “in a way that reflects the school’s religious character,” does not, in fact, give the schools freedom to oppose abortion, contraception and homosexual activity on moral grounds.
The clarification has been hailed by a local pro-life and pro-family group as evidence that the spectre of "totalitarianism" has reappeared in Britain.
A recent statement from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), made in response to protests from homosexualist groups against the government amendment, said, “Faith schools cannot opt out of statutory [sex and relationships education] lessons when it comes into effect in September 2011.”
“All maintained schools and academies will be required to teach the full programmes of study in line with the principles outlined in the Bill including promoting equality and encouraging acceptance of diversity. Schools with a religious character will be free, as they are now, to express the views of their faith and reflect the ethos of their school, but what they cannot do is suggest that their views are the only ones.”
The statement quotes Minister Ed Balls telling the Daily Telegraph that religious schools should indeed be “forced” to teach pupils that homosexuality is “normal and harmless.”
Balls said, “If their faith has a view in scripture, they can inform pupils of that. What they must not do is teach discrimination. They must be absolutely clear about the importance of civil partnerships [and that] bullying of homosexuals is wrong.” This is in line with previous statements from Labour ministers that religious schools will not be allowed to teach their religious tenets “as if they are true.”
On Tuesday, Balls told BBC Radio 4's Today program that in addition to promoting homosexuality, religious schools will also be required to promote abortion as a solution to unplanned pregnancy.
Until the passage of this bill, religious schools had the option to teach children that homosexual activity, abortion and contraception are wrong. But that situation, he said, “changes radically with this bill.”
“What this changes is that for the first time these schools cannot just ignore these issues or teach only one side of the argument. They also have to teach that there are different views on homosexuality. They cannot teach homophobia. They must explain civil partnership.
“They must give a balanced view on abortion, they must give both sides of the argument, they must explain how to access an abortion, the same is true on contraception as well,” Balls said. Balls backed up his insistence that faith schools will be forced to abandon their religious beliefs, in a letter to the London Times.
Balls went on to thank Archbishop Vincent Nichols, the head of the English Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, and the Catholic Education Service (CES) for their support of the bill. It was revealed by the government last week that the CES had actually assisted in drafting the legislation.
Balls said, “To have the support of the Catholic Church and Archbishop Nichols in these changes is, I think, very, very important, is a huge step forward… The Catholic Church, which I really welcome, is supporting, for the first time, compulsory sex education with an opt out at 15 [years].”
Anthony Ozimic, communications manager for the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), told LifeSiteNews.com (LSN), “People outside the UK must know that the British government's ideologues are just as radical but even more cunning than the French Revolutionaries.”
SPUC is lobbying against the passage of the bill, and accuses CES of collaborating with a radically secularist, anti-Christian government that is bent on expanding abortion and homosexuality and suppressing freedom of religious expression.
After the Catholic Education Service took credit for the government’s amendment implying that faith schools will be allowed to teach their religious tenets, SPUC responded, “The only people likely to be pleased with the press reports about the misinterpretation of this amendment are the Catholic Education Service (CES), who want Catholic parents and Catholic schools to think they are sticking up for them, when in fact they are betraying their principles.”
Paul Tully, SPUC's political manager, said that CES has only helped the bill to pass by pursuing the amendment. “SPUC condemns the action of the Catholic Education Service (CES) … The CES does not represent Catholic teaching on sex education, and its betrayal of Catholic families is widely lamented within the Catholic Church.”
Anthony Ozimic said, “Compromise and accommodation with this government will result, not in government concessions, but in increased persecution of those who stand up for life and family.
“Catholics in particular have been placed in this grave situation by an unholy alliance, forged by the fake Catholic Tony Blair, between the English bishops and the Labour government. The spectre of totalitarianism, which was seen from Britain in Eastern Europe during the Cold War, has reappeared, this time in Britain itself.”
Monday, February 22, 2010
Campaign to have an openly gay President for Ireland
The Irish presidency comes vacant next year, when Mary McAleese finishes her second term. It seems that there is already a campaign being put in place to get Senator David Norris nominated as a candidate for this election. They claim that it will bring Ireland forward and that we would be electing the best candidate. We need to stop this from happening!
http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Ireland-could-elect-first-openly-gay-president-84925402.html
http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Ireland-could-elect-first-openly-gay-president-84925402.html
Thursday, February 18, 2010
French Catholics Force Homosexualist "Kiss-In" Away from Notre Dame
PARIS, FRANCE, February 15, 2010 (www.LifeSiteNews.com)
French homosexualist demonstrators had planned to have a "kiss in" in front of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris this Valentine's day. But in response to the protests of a group of young French Catholics and patriots, it was moved away from the church of Our Lady.
The kiss-in was ostensibly meant to combat “homophobia.” The organizer of the kiss-in, Arthur Vauthier, had nevertheless said that it was a "way to challenge the Church, to question the Church on the question of love and marriage between gays and between lesbians." He had furthermore boasted that he was "not afraid of a backlash."
A number of Catholic and nationalist websites and blogs called on Catholics to "respond with courtesy and firmness to the provocation." French Action called on people to help resist the demonstration, stating that "France is not a nightclub."
The police then advised the demonstration's organizers to change its location because of a possible clash between the homosexualists and the Catholics. The event was moved to Saint-Michel, nearby.
Some homosexualist demonstrators, however, decided to go ahead with their plan anyway.
But a group of roughly 200 young Catholics had gathered by the time the homosexualists decided to start kissing each other in front of Notre Dame. The group of Catholics started shouting at the demonstrators at which point the police stepped in between the two groups and moved the gay activists away from the church. A video shows the Catholics, after moving the demonstrators away from Notre Dame, chanting "Habemus Papam!" – or “We have a pope.”
Similar kiss-ins by Catholic or Mormon places of worship have been performed successfully by homosexualists throughout the world.
French homosexualist demonstrators had planned to have a "kiss in" in front of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris this Valentine's day. But in response to the protests of a group of young French Catholics and patriots, it was moved away from the church of Our Lady.
The kiss-in was ostensibly meant to combat “homophobia.” The organizer of the kiss-in, Arthur Vauthier, had nevertheless said that it was a "way to challenge the Church, to question the Church on the question of love and marriage between gays and between lesbians." He had furthermore boasted that he was "not afraid of a backlash."
A number of Catholic and nationalist websites and blogs called on Catholics to "respond with courtesy and firmness to the provocation." French Action called on people to help resist the demonstration, stating that "France is not a nightclub."
The police then advised the demonstration's organizers to change its location because of a possible clash between the homosexualists and the Catholics. The event was moved to Saint-Michel, nearby.
Some homosexualist demonstrators, however, decided to go ahead with their plan anyway.
But a group of roughly 200 young Catholics had gathered by the time the homosexualists decided to start kissing each other in front of Notre Dame. The group of Catholics started shouting at the demonstrators at which point the police stepped in between the two groups and moved the gay activists away from the church. A video shows the Catholics, after moving the demonstrators away from Notre Dame, chanting "Habemus Papam!" – or “We have a pope.”
Similar kiss-ins by Catholic or Mormon places of worship have been performed successfully by homosexualists throughout the world.
The Mystery of Lent
A meditation on Lent by Abbot Dom Guéranger, O.S.B.
We may be sure that a season so sacred as this of Lent is rich in mysteries. The Church has made it a time of recollection and penance, in preparation for the greatest of all her feasts; she would, therefore, bring into it everything that could excite the faith of her children, and encourage them to go through he arduous work of atonement for their sins. During Septuagesima, we had the number seventy, which reminds us of those seventy years of captivity in Babylon, after which God's chosen people, being purified from idolatry, was to return to Jerusalem and celebrate the Pasch. It is the number forty that the Church now brings before us: a number, as St. Jerome observes, which denotes punishment and affliction.[1]
Let us remember the forty days and forty nights of the deluge[2] sent by God in His anger, when He repented that He had made made, and destroyed the whole human race with the exception of one family. Let us consider how the Hebrew people, in punishment for their ingratitude, wandered forty years in the desert, before they were permitted to enter the promised land.[3] Let us listen to our God commanding the Prophet Ezechiel to lie forty days on his right side, as a figure of the siege which was to bring destruction on Jerusalem.[4]
There are two persons in the Old Testament who represent the two manifestations of God: Moses, who typifies the Law; and Elias, who is the figure of the Prophets. Both of these are permitted to approach God: the first on Sinai,[5] the second on Horeb;[6] but both of them have to prepare for the great favor by an expiatory fast of forty days.
With these mysterious facts before us, we can understand why it is that the Son of God, having become Man for our salvation and wishing to subject Himself to the pain of fasting, chose the number of forty days. The institution of Lent is thus brought before us with everything that can impress the mind with its solemn character, and with its power of appeasing God and purifying our souls. Let us, therefore, look beyond the little world which surrounds us, and see how the whole Christian universe is, at this very time, offering this forty days’ penance as a sacrifice of propitiation to the offended Majesty of God; and let us hope that, as in the case of the Ninivites, He will mercifully accept this year’s offering of our atonement, and pardon us our sins.
[1] In Ezechiel, cap. xxix.
[2] Gen. 7:12
[3] Num. 14:33
[4] Ezechiel 4:6
[5] Exodus 24:18
[6] 3 Kings 19:8
We may be sure that a season so sacred as this of Lent is rich in mysteries. The Church has made it a time of recollection and penance, in preparation for the greatest of all her feasts; she would, therefore, bring into it everything that could excite the faith of her children, and encourage them to go through he arduous work of atonement for their sins. During Septuagesima, we had the number seventy, which reminds us of those seventy years of captivity in Babylon, after which God's chosen people, being purified from idolatry, was to return to Jerusalem and celebrate the Pasch. It is the number forty that the Church now brings before us: a number, as St. Jerome observes, which denotes punishment and affliction.[1]
Let us remember the forty days and forty nights of the deluge[2] sent by God in His anger, when He repented that He had made made, and destroyed the whole human race with the exception of one family. Let us consider how the Hebrew people, in punishment for their ingratitude, wandered forty years in the desert, before they were permitted to enter the promised land.[3] Let us listen to our God commanding the Prophet Ezechiel to lie forty days on his right side, as a figure of the siege which was to bring destruction on Jerusalem.[4]
There are two persons in the Old Testament who represent the two manifestations of God: Moses, who typifies the Law; and Elias, who is the figure of the Prophets. Both of these are permitted to approach God: the first on Sinai,[5] the second on Horeb;[6] but both of them have to prepare for the great favor by an expiatory fast of forty days.
With these mysterious facts before us, we can understand why it is that the Son of God, having become Man for our salvation and wishing to subject Himself to the pain of fasting, chose the number of forty days. The institution of Lent is thus brought before us with everything that can impress the mind with its solemn character, and with its power of appeasing God and purifying our souls. Let us, therefore, look beyond the little world which surrounds us, and see how the whole Christian universe is, at this very time, offering this forty days’ penance as a sacrifice of propitiation to the offended Majesty of God; and let us hope that, as in the case of the Ninivites, He will mercifully accept this year’s offering of our atonement, and pardon us our sins.
[1] In Ezechiel, cap. xxix.
[2] Gen. 7:12
[3] Num. 14:33
[4] Ezechiel 4:6
[5] Exodus 24:18
[6] 3 Kings 19:8
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Irish Bishops Meeting with Pope concludes
From www.irishtimes.com
PATSY MCGARRY Religious Affairs Correspondent in Rome
The Primate of All-Ireland Cardinal Seán Brady said this afternoon that were the remit of the Murphy Commission to be extended to other Catholic dioceses in Ireland, the Catholic Church “will co-operate fully with that inquiry.”
He pointed to the Church’s current co-operation with statutory bodies such as the HSE and the Department of Health in Northern Ireland, as they prepare audits on child protection, as an example of such co-operation.
He was speaking today at a press conference at the Vatican Radio centre in Rome following discussions between Pope Benedict, seven Curial Cardinals and 24 Irish bishops yesterday and this morning on the clerical child sex abuse crisis in Ireland.
Also in attendance at the press conference was the Bishop of Meath Michael Smith, the Bishop of Clogher Joseph Duffy, the Bishop of Ferns Dennis Brennan, and the Bishop of Achonry Bishop Brendan Kelly.
Cardinal Brady said the Pope had “given a strong message of encouragement” to the Irish bishops in dealing with an issue which “he recognized was not an Irish problem, not an Anglophone problem, not a Catholic Church problem.”
Acknowledging “the failures in our leadership” as bishops he said “we were not made to feel like scapegoats “ but were encouraged “by offers of help from the Curia, he said.
Bishop Brennan said that while “victims (of abuse) were central to all our discussions and remain a top priority,” no plans were made for such victims to meet the Pope. He was sure the Pope would do so “when the time is right. They (victims) will tell us that,” he said.
Cardinal Brady said there had been no discussions of the resignations of bishops. “That is a matter between the bishops (concerned) and the Holy See. It would not be appropriate for us to give opinions on the matter.”
He said the bishops had seen drafts of the Pope’s planned pastoral letter to the Irish people and made observations on it. He did not comment on its content.
As regards the papal nuncio’s decision not to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs, Bishop Smith indicated it was not appropriate, according to Vatican protocol, for him to do so.
Pope Benedict told the bishops during two days of crisis talks over a paedophilia scandal that sexual abuse of children by priests was a "heinous crime" that they must address with resolve, the Vatican said today.
The pope "observed that the sexual abuse of children and young people is not only a heinous crime, but also a grave sin which offends God and wounds the dignity of the human person created in his image," the statement said.
"While realising that the current painful situation will not be resolved quickly, he challenged the bishops to address the problems of the past with determination and resolve, and to face the present crisis with honesty and courage," it said.
For their part, the bishops told the pope that they are committed to co-operating with civil authorities on paedophilia scandal, the Vatican added.
A statement from the Vatican said all present at today's meeting "recognised that this grave crisis has led to a breakdown in trust in the Church's leadership and has damaged her witness to the Gospel and its moral teaching".
The statement said the Irish bishops "spoke frankly of the sense of pain and anger, betrayal, scandal and shame expressed to them on numerous occasions by those who had been abused. There was a similar sense of outrage reflected by laity, priests and religious in this regard.
"The bishops . . . stressed that, while there is no doubt that errors of judgement and omissions stand at the heart of the crisis, significant measures have now been taken to ensure the safety of children and young people."
The pope "observed that the sexual abuse of children and young people is not only a heinous crime, but also a grave sin which offends God and wounds the dignity of the human person created in his image".
"While realising that the current painful situation will not be resolved quickly, he challenged the bishops to address the problems of the past with determination and resolve, and to face the present crisis with honesty and courage," the Vatican said.
The pope also expressed the hope the meeting would enable the bishops "to speak with one voice in identifying concrete steps aimed at bringing healing to those who had been abused, encouraging a renewal of faith in Christ and restoring the Church's spiritual and moral credibility".
The pontiff also noted "the more general crisis of faith affecting the Church," the statement said, adding Pope Benedict "also pointed to the more general crisis of faith affecting the Church and he linked that to the lack of respect for the human person and how the weakening of faith has been a significant contributing factor in the phenomenon of the sexual abuse of minors".
The Vatican statement added the pontiff called for "a deeper theological reflection" on the issue, "and called for improved preparation for candidates for the priesthood and religious life and of those already ordained.
The historic two-day meeting between the pope, his senior Curia officials and the bishops at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican concluded shortly after 12pm.
It was indicated yesterday that Pope Benedict’s promised pastoral letter to the Irish faithful, originally scheduled to be published before Lent but delayed because of this visit to Rome by the Irish bishops, may be released sooner than expected.
The meeting with the pope was preceded by a Mass in St Peter’s Basilica, celebrated by Vatican secretary of state Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. In his homily Cardinal Bertone said that only “an authentic and sincere humility” could lead to a “true renewal” of the Irish Church.
Speaking directly to the Irish bishops, he said: “Trials for the church can come from within and from without. Both are painful but the ones that come from within are obviously harder to take and more humiliating. Such is the huge trial that your communities are currently undergoing, trials which see some men of the church involved in particularly execrable acts.”
It emerged last night that the papal nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, has declined an invitation to appear before the joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs.
In a letter to its chairman, Dr Michael Woods, he said it was “not the practice of the Holy See that Apostolic Nuncios appear before Parliamentary Commissions”. Fine Gael TD Alan Shatter, a member of the committee, described the nuncio’s decision as “not only regrettable but incomprehensible”.
PATSY MCGARRY Religious Affairs Correspondent in Rome
The Primate of All-Ireland Cardinal Seán Brady said this afternoon that were the remit of the Murphy Commission to be extended to other Catholic dioceses in Ireland, the Catholic Church “will co-operate fully with that inquiry.”
He pointed to the Church’s current co-operation with statutory bodies such as the HSE and the Department of Health in Northern Ireland, as they prepare audits on child protection, as an example of such co-operation.
He was speaking today at a press conference at the Vatican Radio centre in Rome following discussions between Pope Benedict, seven Curial Cardinals and 24 Irish bishops yesterday and this morning on the clerical child sex abuse crisis in Ireland.
Also in attendance at the press conference was the Bishop of Meath Michael Smith, the Bishop of Clogher Joseph Duffy, the Bishop of Ferns Dennis Brennan, and the Bishop of Achonry Bishop Brendan Kelly.
Cardinal Brady said the Pope had “given a strong message of encouragement” to the Irish bishops in dealing with an issue which “he recognized was not an Irish problem, not an Anglophone problem, not a Catholic Church problem.”
Acknowledging “the failures in our leadership” as bishops he said “we were not made to feel like scapegoats “ but were encouraged “by offers of help from the Curia, he said.
Bishop Brennan said that while “victims (of abuse) were central to all our discussions and remain a top priority,” no plans were made for such victims to meet the Pope. He was sure the Pope would do so “when the time is right. They (victims) will tell us that,” he said.
Cardinal Brady said there had been no discussions of the resignations of bishops. “That is a matter between the bishops (concerned) and the Holy See. It would not be appropriate for us to give opinions on the matter.”
He said the bishops had seen drafts of the Pope’s planned pastoral letter to the Irish people and made observations on it. He did not comment on its content.
As regards the papal nuncio’s decision not to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs, Bishop Smith indicated it was not appropriate, according to Vatican protocol, for him to do so.
Pope Benedict told the bishops during two days of crisis talks over a paedophilia scandal that sexual abuse of children by priests was a "heinous crime" that they must address with resolve, the Vatican said today.
The pope "observed that the sexual abuse of children and young people is not only a heinous crime, but also a grave sin which offends God and wounds the dignity of the human person created in his image," the statement said.
"While realising that the current painful situation will not be resolved quickly, he challenged the bishops to address the problems of the past with determination and resolve, and to face the present crisis with honesty and courage," it said.
For their part, the bishops told the pope that they are committed to co-operating with civil authorities on paedophilia scandal, the Vatican added.
A statement from the Vatican said all present at today's meeting "recognised that this grave crisis has led to a breakdown in trust in the Church's leadership and has damaged her witness to the Gospel and its moral teaching".
The statement said the Irish bishops "spoke frankly of the sense of pain and anger, betrayal, scandal and shame expressed to them on numerous occasions by those who had been abused. There was a similar sense of outrage reflected by laity, priests and religious in this regard.
"The bishops . . . stressed that, while there is no doubt that errors of judgement and omissions stand at the heart of the crisis, significant measures have now been taken to ensure the safety of children and young people."
The pope "observed that the sexual abuse of children and young people is not only a heinous crime, but also a grave sin which offends God and wounds the dignity of the human person created in his image".
"While realising that the current painful situation will not be resolved quickly, he challenged the bishops to address the problems of the past with determination and resolve, and to face the present crisis with honesty and courage," the Vatican said.
The pope also expressed the hope the meeting would enable the bishops "to speak with one voice in identifying concrete steps aimed at bringing healing to those who had been abused, encouraging a renewal of faith in Christ and restoring the Church's spiritual and moral credibility".
The pontiff also noted "the more general crisis of faith affecting the Church," the statement said, adding Pope Benedict "also pointed to the more general crisis of faith affecting the Church and he linked that to the lack of respect for the human person and how the weakening of faith has been a significant contributing factor in the phenomenon of the sexual abuse of minors".
The Vatican statement added the pontiff called for "a deeper theological reflection" on the issue, "and called for improved preparation for candidates for the priesthood and religious life and of those already ordained.
The historic two-day meeting between the pope, his senior Curia officials and the bishops at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican concluded shortly after 12pm.
It was indicated yesterday that Pope Benedict’s promised pastoral letter to the Irish faithful, originally scheduled to be published before Lent but delayed because of this visit to Rome by the Irish bishops, may be released sooner than expected.
The meeting with the pope was preceded by a Mass in St Peter’s Basilica, celebrated by Vatican secretary of state Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. In his homily Cardinal Bertone said that only “an authentic and sincere humility” could lead to a “true renewal” of the Irish Church.
Speaking directly to the Irish bishops, he said: “Trials for the church can come from within and from without. Both are painful but the ones that come from within are obviously harder to take and more humiliating. Such is the huge trial that your communities are currently undergoing, trials which see some men of the church involved in particularly execrable acts.”
It emerged last night that the papal nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, has declined an invitation to appear before the joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs.
In a letter to its chairman, Dr Michael Woods, he said it was “not the practice of the Holy See that Apostolic Nuncios appear before Parliamentary Commissions”. Fine Gael TD Alan Shatter, a member of the committee, described the nuncio’s decision as “not only regrettable but incomprehensible”.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Irish Bishops discuss clerical abuse with Pope
From www.rte.ie/news
Monday, 15 February 2010
Irish bishops have begun a two-day meeting with Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican to discuss the fall-out from reports on clerical child abuse.
The 24 senior clergymen will take part in the unprecedented talks after being called before the Pope in the wake of the sexual abuse revelations.
On the eve of the meeting, survivors of clerical abuse demanded leadership and accountability from the Pope and called for financial compensation for victims.
Four bishops have already resigned over the Murphy Report, which unveiled a catalogue of child abuse and subsequent cover-ups over three decades by the Catholic hierarchy in Dublin.
But the Spokesman for the Irish Bishops Conference, Bishop Joseph Duffy, said it was not their place to speak publicly about resignations.
He said: 'It's not our business as individual bishops to discuss publicly a resignation. That's something that will happen or will not happen as a result of the overall discussion that will take place.'
John Kelly, of Survivors of Child Abuse, said the group wanted the Pope to restore honour to the country.
'The honour that was so severely damaged at home and abroad by the atrocities committed by the anti-Christ over the last 50 years,' he said.
'To restore the true church to Ireland.'
Meetings will be held in the Vatican throughout the day and tomorrow morning with the Pope and up to seven of his senior cardinals and aides due to attend.
All-Ireland Primate Cardinal Seán Brady opened the summit with a presentation and each bishop will be given seven minutes to speak.
Before the meeting, Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone said the scandal is humiliating but can be overcome by faith.
Mr Bertone said: 'Challenges that come from within (the Catholic Church) are naturally harder and humiliating.
'Every kind of challenge can become a reason for purification and sanctification as long as it is illuminated by faith.'
Abuse survivor Michael O'Brien said the Pope should apologise to the people of Ireland.
'We want the Pope to make a proper apology to Ireland, for what happened in Ireland,' he said.
'We don't want a bland apology, we want an apology to those of us in Ireland who were abused and to the people of Ireland who are 100% behind us on this.
'This is not an Irish problem. This is a Catholic Church worldwide problem. Religious orders, worldwide problem.'
Christine Buckley of the Aislinn Centre has called for the Pope to travel to Ireland to apologise in person to the victims.
The Pope also promised to send a pastoral letter over the abuse scandals, but it is not known when this will be published.
Auxiliary Bishops of Dublin Eamonn Walsh and Raymond Field bowed to weeks of intense pressure and announced at Christmas Eve services that they were quitting their posts over the Murphy inquiry's findings.
They were the latest senior clerics to stand down after Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin James Moriarty and Bishop of Limerick Donal Murray also resigned.
Current Bishop of Galway Martin Drennan, also named in the Murphy Report, has repeatedly faced down calls for his resignation.
Abuse survivors met Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on Saturday to insist he convey the distress of families and that the Pope accepts the resignations of Bishops Moriarty, Walsh and Field.
They also called on the Pope to remove Bishop Drennan from office immediately and other bishops who failed to challenge the culture of cover-up.
Bishop Murray will not attend the summit nor will Bishop of Cloyne John Magee who stood aside last March over his mishandling of abuse allegations in his diocese.
Bishop Moriarty is attending as his resignation has not yet been accepted by the Vatican.
Auxiliary Bishops Walsh and Bishop Field did not travel as only diocesan bishops were invited.
Monday, 15 February 2010
Irish bishops have begun a two-day meeting with Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican to discuss the fall-out from reports on clerical child abuse.
The 24 senior clergymen will take part in the unprecedented talks after being called before the Pope in the wake of the sexual abuse revelations.
On the eve of the meeting, survivors of clerical abuse demanded leadership and accountability from the Pope and called for financial compensation for victims.
Four bishops have already resigned over the Murphy Report, which unveiled a catalogue of child abuse and subsequent cover-ups over three decades by the Catholic hierarchy in Dublin.
But the Spokesman for the Irish Bishops Conference, Bishop Joseph Duffy, said it was not their place to speak publicly about resignations.
He said: 'It's not our business as individual bishops to discuss publicly a resignation. That's something that will happen or will not happen as a result of the overall discussion that will take place.'
John Kelly, of Survivors of Child Abuse, said the group wanted the Pope to restore honour to the country.
'The honour that was so severely damaged at home and abroad by the atrocities committed by the anti-Christ over the last 50 years,' he said.
'To restore the true church to Ireland.'
Meetings will be held in the Vatican throughout the day and tomorrow morning with the Pope and up to seven of his senior cardinals and aides due to attend.
All-Ireland Primate Cardinal Seán Brady opened the summit with a presentation and each bishop will be given seven minutes to speak.
Before the meeting, Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone said the scandal is humiliating but can be overcome by faith.
Mr Bertone said: 'Challenges that come from within (the Catholic Church) are naturally harder and humiliating.
'Every kind of challenge can become a reason for purification and sanctification as long as it is illuminated by faith.'
Abuse survivor Michael O'Brien said the Pope should apologise to the people of Ireland.
'We want the Pope to make a proper apology to Ireland, for what happened in Ireland,' he said.
'We don't want a bland apology, we want an apology to those of us in Ireland who were abused and to the people of Ireland who are 100% behind us on this.
'This is not an Irish problem. This is a Catholic Church worldwide problem. Religious orders, worldwide problem.'
Christine Buckley of the Aislinn Centre has called for the Pope to travel to Ireland to apologise in person to the victims.
The Pope also promised to send a pastoral letter over the abuse scandals, but it is not known when this will be published.
Auxiliary Bishops of Dublin Eamonn Walsh and Raymond Field bowed to weeks of intense pressure and announced at Christmas Eve services that they were quitting their posts over the Murphy inquiry's findings.
They were the latest senior clerics to stand down after Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin James Moriarty and Bishop of Limerick Donal Murray also resigned.
Current Bishop of Galway Martin Drennan, also named in the Murphy Report, has repeatedly faced down calls for his resignation.
Abuse survivors met Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on Saturday to insist he convey the distress of families and that the Pope accepts the resignations of Bishops Moriarty, Walsh and Field.
They also called on the Pope to remove Bishop Drennan from office immediately and other bishops who failed to challenge the culture of cover-up.
Bishop Murray will not attend the summit nor will Bishop of Cloyne John Magee who stood aside last March over his mishandling of abuse allegations in his diocese.
Bishop Moriarty is attending as his resignation has not yet been accepted by the Vatican.
Auxiliary Bishops Walsh and Bishop Field did not travel as only diocesan bishops were invited.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
9/11: Total Proof That Bombs Were Planted In The Buildings!
Here is different footage from news stations on the day which raises questions as to what really happened.
Rockefeller Reveals 9/11 FRAUD to Aaron Russo
Here is a very interesting video on what is really happening.
February 11th: Our Lady of Lourdes
From www.communityofhopeinc.orgOur Lady of Lourdes
Date: 1858
Place: Lourdes, France
Visionary: Bernadette Soubirous
At age 14, the poverty-stricken, asthmatic Bernadette Soubirous saw a vision of a beautiful Lady in a grotto on the banks of the Gave River near Lourdes, France. Though Bernadette was despised, disbelieved, and harrassed by local French authorities, crowds began to gather when news spread and when she wouldn't recant the story of her vision.
On 25 February, Bernadette was told to dig in in the earth, which she did to much mockery, but there, the healing waters of the now-famous Lourdes shrine were discovered where the Lady had appeared, and on 25 March, the Lady of the vision announced that she was the Immaculate Conception and that a church should be built at the site. Bernadette became a nun at Nevers, France and, suffering much from physical ailments, died young. Her body remains incorrupt at her convent to this day. St. Bernadette's story can be seen in the 1943 movie, "The Song of Bernadette," starring Jennifer Jones, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of the Saint.
For details on Apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes :
http://www.communityofhopeinc.org/Catholic%20Beliefs/Apparitions-lourdes.html#1
Date: 1858
Place: Lourdes, France
Visionary: Bernadette Soubirous
At age 14, the poverty-stricken, asthmatic Bernadette Soubirous saw a vision of a beautiful Lady in a grotto on the banks of the Gave River near Lourdes, France. Though Bernadette was despised, disbelieved, and harrassed by local French authorities, crowds began to gather when news spread and when she wouldn't recant the story of her vision.
On 25 February, Bernadette was told to dig in in the earth, which she did to much mockery, but there, the healing waters of the now-famous Lourdes shrine were discovered where the Lady had appeared, and on 25 March, the Lady of the vision announced that she was the Immaculate Conception and that a church should be built at the site. Bernadette became a nun at Nevers, France and, suffering much from physical ailments, died young. Her body remains incorrupt at her convent to this day. St. Bernadette's story can be seen in the 1943 movie, "The Song of Bernadette," starring Jennifer Jones, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of the Saint.
For details on Apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes :
http://www.communityofhopeinc.org/Catholic%20Beliefs/Apparitions-lourdes.html#1
Friday, February 5, 2010
How to Keep Lent - Part 1
(An excerpt from the booklet How to Keep Lent, + Imprimatur by Patrick Cardinal Hayes, February 6, 1935).
The Season of Lent
Ash Wednesday is the index to Lent. It tells us the meaning of Lent. It is not a day by itself, but the first day of a period of time, called by the Church, the acceptable time. It is the first of forty days of public penance, which is binding in a greater or less degree upon all Christians who have come to the use of reason.
The Church, usually so rich and grand in her ceremonies, on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the day of salvation, gathers together her people for a ceremony unusually simple in its externals, yet one which contains within it depths of meaning.
On Palm Sunday of last year the Church blessed branches of palm and gave a branch to each of her children. On the first Palm Sunday the Jews bore their Lord and King in triumph into Jerusalem, and waving palm branches in their hands, made the streets resound again and again with their joyous hosannas. We can hardly believe it, but on Friday of the very same week the voices of these same Jews swelled the cry which raised their Lord and King on the ignominious Cross.
We, too, last Palm Sunday joined in the procession and welcomed our God and King with many "Hosannas." How many of us since then have crucified Him over again by mortal sin?
So these palms of last year are burned and reduced to ashes. And on Ash Wednesday these ashes are blessed and the Church throughout the world gathers together her children, places these ashes upon their heads and reminds them of their mortality in the memorable words used by Almighty God when He pronounced sentence of death on our first parents: "Remember, man, thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return."
The Church covers us with ashes in order to imprint indelibly upon our hearts those words first uttered by God Almighty Himself, words which have not lost one jot of their force or meaning. Who dares to say he can forget his origin with impunity? How often we do forget it! How seldom we think of it! How much need in every year for such a season as Lent! This is the truth the Church by her ceremony impresses on us the opening day of Lent. "Remember, man, thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return."
Mindful of our origin we shall not lose sight of our end. No matter how much care we may take to preserve the body, it will decay, it will return to the earth from which it was taken. In what more striking, more effective manner could the Church prepare us for the great work of Lent?
As Ash Wednesday is but the first day of Lent, of a period of time, so the warning must be in our minds and hearts during the whole of Lent. Before the altar of God we make a public act of humiliation. Humbled, we see the seriousness of our crimes and ingratitude as we have never before seen it. This disposition begets an earnest desire to do penance and live up to the spirit of Lent; and the fulfillment of this desire leads us on to a more perfect love of God, which is the essence of perfection, the end for which we were made, and in which alone our true happiness consists both in time and eternity.
Lent calls on us to take account of ourselves before God. It calls on us to search into our souls and see how we stand before God. Lent is the acceptable time and a day of salvation to us according to the manner in which we spend it. If, during these days of public penance, God is liberal and generous towards those who even make but slight efforts, let us not forget that He is equally strict and severe with those who spend the time of Lent carelessly and indifferently, and who abuse the graces and opportunities offered to them at this holy season. Lent, then, according as we use it or abuse it, is a time of salvation or damnation. To abuse Lent is to seek eternal death.
The Right Spirit
However many our practices of self-denial and sacrifice might be, they would be all quite worthless were they not animated by the right spirit. To understand what that spirit is we have but to recall the chief significance of such a season as that of Lent. The forty days are but a journey to Calvary. They lead us to the Cross. They are a meditation upon the passion and death of our Savior. Thus, yearly, the Agony and Crucifixion of our Lord are brought vividly to our mind, that we may, through love of Him, call forth that sorrow for sin which is our best expression of sympathy with the Divine Sufferer.
The spirit of Lent is, then, a spirit of repentance. Our soul is awakened to a sense of its own defects and their gravity, and to the need of an abiding interior sorrow. This spirit will manifest itself first in the active steps we take to stop sin, to avoid the occasions of sin, and to guard ourselves against falling back into sin. We cannot expect to derive any profit or spiritual benefit from Lent, unless, above all things, we put sin behind us, and set our faces, with determination, towards God and the right. This spirit will manifest itself also in outward acts of sorrow for all sins that we have committed, and, hence, the external penances of Lent.
There are Christians who resemble the barren tree of which our Lord speaks when He says: "Cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground?" They bring forth leaves, shadows, appearances, but no fruit. They produce even blossoms and these are good intentions. These blossoms are forever being scattered to the ground by the winds of human respect, want of courage, attachment to the world and love of an easy-going life. There can be no good, true fruit without good works. The good works required of every Christian are comprised under fasting, alms deeds and prayer. There is no one who cannot perform these works, particularly during the Lent season.
The Season of Lent
Ash Wednesday is the index to Lent. It tells us the meaning of Lent. It is not a day by itself, but the first day of a period of time, called by the Church, the acceptable time. It is the first of forty days of public penance, which is binding in a greater or less degree upon all Christians who have come to the use of reason.
The Church, usually so rich and grand in her ceremonies, on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the day of salvation, gathers together her people for a ceremony unusually simple in its externals, yet one which contains within it depths of meaning.
On Palm Sunday of last year the Church blessed branches of palm and gave a branch to each of her children. On the first Palm Sunday the Jews bore their Lord and King in triumph into Jerusalem, and waving palm branches in their hands, made the streets resound again and again with their joyous hosannas. We can hardly believe it, but on Friday of the very same week the voices of these same Jews swelled the cry which raised their Lord and King on the ignominious Cross.
We, too, last Palm Sunday joined in the procession and welcomed our God and King with many "Hosannas." How many of us since then have crucified Him over again by mortal sin?
So these palms of last year are burned and reduced to ashes. And on Ash Wednesday these ashes are blessed and the Church throughout the world gathers together her children, places these ashes upon their heads and reminds them of their mortality in the memorable words used by Almighty God when He pronounced sentence of death on our first parents: "Remember, man, thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return."
The Church covers us with ashes in order to imprint indelibly upon our hearts those words first uttered by God Almighty Himself, words which have not lost one jot of their force or meaning. Who dares to say he can forget his origin with impunity? How often we do forget it! How seldom we think of it! How much need in every year for such a season as Lent! This is the truth the Church by her ceremony impresses on us the opening day of Lent. "Remember, man, thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return."
Mindful of our origin we shall not lose sight of our end. No matter how much care we may take to preserve the body, it will decay, it will return to the earth from which it was taken. In what more striking, more effective manner could the Church prepare us for the great work of Lent?
As Ash Wednesday is but the first day of Lent, of a period of time, so the warning must be in our minds and hearts during the whole of Lent. Before the altar of God we make a public act of humiliation. Humbled, we see the seriousness of our crimes and ingratitude as we have never before seen it. This disposition begets an earnest desire to do penance and live up to the spirit of Lent; and the fulfillment of this desire leads us on to a more perfect love of God, which is the essence of perfection, the end for which we were made, and in which alone our true happiness consists both in time and eternity.
Lent calls on us to take account of ourselves before God. It calls on us to search into our souls and see how we stand before God. Lent is the acceptable time and a day of salvation to us according to the manner in which we spend it. If, during these days of public penance, God is liberal and generous towards those who even make but slight efforts, let us not forget that He is equally strict and severe with those who spend the time of Lent carelessly and indifferently, and who abuse the graces and opportunities offered to them at this holy season. Lent, then, according as we use it or abuse it, is a time of salvation or damnation. To abuse Lent is to seek eternal death.
The Right Spirit
However many our practices of self-denial and sacrifice might be, they would be all quite worthless were they not animated by the right spirit. To understand what that spirit is we have but to recall the chief significance of such a season as that of Lent. The forty days are but a journey to Calvary. They lead us to the Cross. They are a meditation upon the passion and death of our Savior. Thus, yearly, the Agony and Crucifixion of our Lord are brought vividly to our mind, that we may, through love of Him, call forth that sorrow for sin which is our best expression of sympathy with the Divine Sufferer.
The spirit of Lent is, then, a spirit of repentance. Our soul is awakened to a sense of its own defects and their gravity, and to the need of an abiding interior sorrow. This spirit will manifest itself first in the active steps we take to stop sin, to avoid the occasions of sin, and to guard ourselves against falling back into sin. We cannot expect to derive any profit or spiritual benefit from Lent, unless, above all things, we put sin behind us, and set our faces, with determination, towards God and the right. This spirit will manifest itself also in outward acts of sorrow for all sins that we have committed, and, hence, the external penances of Lent.
There are Christians who resemble the barren tree of which our Lord speaks when He says: "Cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground?" They bring forth leaves, shadows, appearances, but no fruit. They produce even blossoms and these are good intentions. These blossoms are forever being scattered to the ground by the winds of human respect, want of courage, attachment to the world and love of an easy-going life. There can be no good, true fruit without good works. The good works required of every Christian are comprised under fasting, alms deeds and prayer. There is no one who cannot perform these works, particularly during the Lent season.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Meteorite falls over Ireland
From www.rte.ie/news
Thursday, 4 February 2010
People throughout the midlands are searching for the meteorite that fell to Earth last night.
Astronomy Ireland says the meteor was spotted over Ireland at around 6pm yesterday.
It says the rock from space was seen blazing in the air by people throughout the country.
Astronomy Ireland says it is unlikely to have injured anyone as it would have 'slowed down when it entered the atmosphere'.
Valentia Coastguard said it has had reports of sightings from people living in Mullingar, Limerick, Ballybunion and Bantry.
Barry Murphy in Crimlin, Co Cavan, said he originally thought it was a plane coming down when he saw it last night.
He described it as being about 2ft square, 'pure white with flames at the back of it'. He said he is convinced that it crashed soon after he saw it in the sky and he searched in a field near his house but has not yet found the meteorite.
YouTube footage purporting to be the fireball is a hoax and had been on the Internet since 2008. Astronomy Ireland's David Murphy said the fireball only lasted a couple of seconds and the footage on YouTube is probably a rocket launch and not a meteor.
The only footage that may have been filmed of the fireball, he says, is likely to come from security cameras that may have caught the meteorite falling.
Astronomy Ireland is compiling reports to try to determine where the meteorite landed and is encouraging people to log what they saw through its website - astronomy.ie.
In February 2003 a meteorite 'middle man' in the UK offered up to £20,000 for samples of a meteorite that may have fallen in Ireland.
Thursday, 4 February 2010
People throughout the midlands are searching for the meteorite that fell to Earth last night.
Astronomy Ireland says the meteor was spotted over Ireland at around 6pm yesterday.
It says the rock from space was seen blazing in the air by people throughout the country.
Astronomy Ireland says it is unlikely to have injured anyone as it would have 'slowed down when it entered the atmosphere'.
Valentia Coastguard said it has had reports of sightings from people living in Mullingar, Limerick, Ballybunion and Bantry.
Barry Murphy in Crimlin, Co Cavan, said he originally thought it was a plane coming down when he saw it last night.
He described it as being about 2ft square, 'pure white with flames at the back of it'. He said he is convinced that it crashed soon after he saw it in the sky and he searched in a field near his house but has not yet found the meteorite.
YouTube footage purporting to be the fireball is a hoax and had been on the Internet since 2008. Astronomy Ireland's David Murphy said the fireball only lasted a couple of seconds and the footage on YouTube is probably a rocket launch and not a meteor.
The only footage that may have been filmed of the fireball, he says, is likely to come from security cameras that may have caught the meteorite falling.
Astronomy Ireland is compiling reports to try to determine where the meteorite landed and is encouraging people to log what they saw through its website - astronomy.ie.
In February 2003 a meteorite 'middle man' in the UK offered up to £20,000 for samples of a meteorite that may have fallen in Ireland.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Desire for sacraments not sufficient reason for annulment
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY – True pastoral charity and concern can never lead the church to grant an annulment to a Catholic whose marriage is valid according to church law, Pope Benedict XVI said.
“One must shun pseudo-pastoral claims” that look only at the desire of divorced Catholics to return to the sacraments, the pope said Jan. 29 in his annual speech to officials of the Roman Rota, a tribunal that mainly deals with appeals filed in marriage annulment cases.
The pope said helping Catholics be able to go to confession and receive the Eucharist is important, but it cannot be done without taking into account the truth about their church marriage.
The church cannot act charitably toward its faithful without upholding justice and truth, he said.
Charity without justice is “only a forgery because charity requires that objectivity that is typical of justice and which must not be confused with inhumane coldness,” the pope said.
For the Catholic Church, he said, a marriage celebrated with the full consent of the couple and following the correct form is always presumed to be valid, and a valid marriage is indissoluble.
Pastors and those who work in church tribunals must beware of “the widespread and deeply rooted tendency” to see justice and charity as totally competing values, the pope said.
Within the church, he said, the idea leads some to think that “pastoral charity could justify any step” taken to grant an annulment for a couple who wants to return to the sacraments.
Defending the permanent bond of a valid marriage is a matter of both justice and love, he said, because it is designed to protect the human and spiritual good of the couple and “the public good of the church,” which teaches that marriage is forever and does not use annulments as a sort of church-sanctioned divorce.
“It would be a fictitious good, and a serious lack of justice, to nevertheless smooth the way toward their reception of the sacraments,” the pope said
Pope Benedict told members of the Roman Rota that those who work on church marriage tribunals must cultivate the virtues of prudence and justice, but especially the virtue of fortitude, especially “when the unjust way appears easier to follow because it means condescending to the desires and hopes of the couple.”
“Both justice and charity require love for the truth and essentially lead to a search for the truth,” he said.
Jan 29, 2010
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY – True pastoral charity and concern can never lead the church to grant an annulment to a Catholic whose marriage is valid according to church law, Pope Benedict XVI said.
“One must shun pseudo-pastoral claims” that look only at the desire of divorced Catholics to return to the sacraments, the pope said Jan. 29 in his annual speech to officials of the Roman Rota, a tribunal that mainly deals with appeals filed in marriage annulment cases.
The pope said helping Catholics be able to go to confession and receive the Eucharist is important, but it cannot be done without taking into account the truth about their church marriage.
The church cannot act charitably toward its faithful without upholding justice and truth, he said.
Charity without justice is “only a forgery because charity requires that objectivity that is typical of justice and which must not be confused with inhumane coldness,” the pope said.
For the Catholic Church, he said, a marriage celebrated with the full consent of the couple and following the correct form is always presumed to be valid, and a valid marriage is indissoluble.
Pastors and those who work in church tribunals must beware of “the widespread and deeply rooted tendency” to see justice and charity as totally competing values, the pope said.
Within the church, he said, the idea leads some to think that “pastoral charity could justify any step” taken to grant an annulment for a couple who wants to return to the sacraments.
Defending the permanent bond of a valid marriage is a matter of both justice and love, he said, because it is designed to protect the human and spiritual good of the couple and “the public good of the church,” which teaches that marriage is forever and does not use annulments as a sort of church-sanctioned divorce.
“It would be a fictitious good, and a serious lack of justice, to nevertheless smooth the way toward their reception of the sacraments,” the pope said
Pope Benedict told members of the Roman Rota that those who work on church marriage tribunals must cultivate the virtues of prudence and justice, but especially the virtue of fortitude, especially “when the unjust way appears easier to follow because it means condescending to the desires and hopes of the couple.”
“Both justice and charity require love for the truth and essentially lead to a search for the truth,” he said.
Jan 29, 2010
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