A crucifix in the classroom

The “crucifix trial” in the European Court of Human Rights has given rise to an unprecedented intervention of 10 member States as third parties. The European Centre for Law and Justice, which was also authorized to become a third party in the court hearing regarding the legitimacy of displaying crucifixes in Italian schools, reported today that ten other States will have this amicus curiae status in the “Lautsi vs… Read more »

family together on Sunday

Germany’s highest court has ruled that Sunday should be kept as a day of rest and has overturned a Berlin law easing restrictions on Sunday shopping. Most German newspapers on Wednesday greet the ruling, some for reasons of religion and tradition, others out of a concern for workers’ rights.

Many visitors to Germany can find themselves standing outside a closed department store, perplexed to find that they cannot do a bit of shopping during their weekend trip… Read more »

Santa Maria Maggiore

Last Sunday the Basilica of St. Mary Major was the site of the first beatification ever held within its walls — that of a woman religious from Milan, Pierina de Micheli. Archbishop Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, celebrated the ceremony, in representation of Benedict XVI.

“It is the first time that a beatification takes place in this basilica,” said an emotional Sister Nora Antonelli, superior general of the Daughters of the Immaculate Conception of Buenos Aires, the community to which Pierina belonged… Read more »

On Saturday 29th May, 2010, the Secretariat for Parish Life and Activities together with Archbishop Paul Cremona OP, organised a Formation Seminar for the moderators of the Parish Pastoral Council hailing from seventy parishes in Malta.  The seminar was held at the Archbishop’s residence in Attard.

During this seminar, the Secretariat concentrated mainly upon the important work which is being done by the Parish Pastoral Council and its relevance with respect to the pastoral work undertaken in parishes… Read more »

Pope Benedict XVI

PRIMA DELL’ANGELUS

Cari fratelli e sorelle!

Dopo il tempo pasquale, concluso domenica scorsa con la Pentecoste, la Liturgia è ritornata al “tempo ordinario”. Ciò non vuol dire però che l’impegno dei cristiani debba diminuire, anzi, entrati nella vita divina mediante i Sacramenti, siamo chiamati quotidianamente ad essere aperti all’azione della Grazia, per progredire nell’amore verso Dio e il prossimo… Read more »

L-Arċisqof Pawlu Cremona qal li l-Arċidjoċesi ta’ Malta għandha sehem importanti fil-proċess li jħares mill-qrib u jaġixxi quddiem l-uġigħ ta’ min qed ibati, inkluż mill-faqar. Fi kliemu, la f’Malta jeżisti l-faqar, jeżistu l-fqar. Fl-okkażjoni tas-Sena Ewropea ddedikata għall-ġlieda kontra l-faqar u l-esklużjoni soċjali, kien organizzat seminar mill-Aġenzija Caritas flimkien mal-Kummissjoni Ġustizzja u Paċi tad-djoċesi u l-Provinċja Agostinjana f’Malta. Is-seminar iffoka fuq l-effetti tal-faqar fuq il-familja, anki bħala parti mill-kampanja ILQA’ L-ISFIDA…ĠIB IL-FAQAR FIX-XEJN… Read more »

Abortion

The Sydney Archdiocese is backing U.K. bishops in denouncing a television advertisement from an abortion service provider that aired in the United Kingdom this week.

The commercial, produced by Marie Stopes International, one of the biggest abortion providers in the United Kingdom, asks women, “Are you late?” If you’re late for your period, you could be pregnant,” the advertisement states. “If you’re pregnant and don’t know what to do, Marie Stopes International can help.”

The bishops’ conference of England and Wales released a statement denouncing the broadcasting of “services which offer or refer for abortion.”

Today, the Sydney Archdiocese published an article backing the U.K… Read more »

Hamburg University

The University of Hamburg is preparing to launch a new center of Catholic theology and the pedagogy of religion, reports the Vatican. The Vatican press office reported today that on May 18, the Holy See and the city of Hamburg, Germany, “signed an agreement concerning the creation” of the center. The University of Hamburg already has a similar center on its campus for protestant theology… Read more »

Israel

Holy See-Israel relations continued on a positive course last week with another successful meeting of bilateral commission.

The Bilateral Permanent Working Commission between the Holy See and the State of Israel met last Thursday “to continue negotiations pursuant to Article 10 § 2 of the Fundamental Agreement,” a Vatican communiqué reported.”

The Fundamental Agreement was signed Dec. 30, 1993, and it established diplomatic relationships between the two entities… Read more »