News

Episcopal Church Continues Ecumenical Dialogue

22/10/2009

Episcopal Church logo

The Episcopal Church will continue as normal with ecumenical dialogue as it evaluates the implications of the Vatican’s move to help members of the Anglican Communion enter the Catholic Church.

Bishop Christopher Epting, ecumenical and interfaith officer of the Episcopal Church, revealed this in a statement Tuesday that responded to the Vatican’s announcement of a forthcoming apostolic constitution that would allow Anglicans to enter the Catholic Church through personal ordinariates… Read more »

EU PARLIAMENT: “QUESTION TIME” ON LISBON, UNEMPLOYMENT, HUMAN RIGHTS IN HUNGARY

22/10/2009

(Strasbourg) An “opportunity for a political debate”, a “chance of a live exchange on topical issues” regarding European integration. José Manuel Barroso judges with these words the first “question time” in the history of the European Parliament. The procedural novelty, that has been tested today, is that, during the session, the party leaders ask questions to the president of the EU Commission for half an hour on any issue whatsoever, then, in the second half an hour, any MEP can ask questions on the previous issues, so that the head of the EU Executive can prepare an answer… Read more »

VIETNAMESE PRELATE REPORTS 30,000 NEW CATHOLICS

21/10/2009

The bishop of Kontum celebrated World Mission Sunday by announcing that 30,000 Vietnamese from his region became Catholic in the last year.

On Sunday, Bishop Michael Hoang Duc Oanh also reported to AsiaNews that 20,000 more of the Central Highlands people, called Montagnards, are currently preparing to enter the Church.

“It is the work of the Holy Spirit,” he said, “with the sincere participation and contribution of so many people.”

This year, the country is celebrating the 350th anniversary since the arrival of Catholic missionaries… Read more »

Viżjoni u Pjan ta’ Ħidma mal-Adolexxenti – Seminar

21/10/2009

Konxji mill-fatt li l-adolexxenti joffru sfida sabiħa lil kull min hu nvolut magħhom fil-pastorali, is-Segretarjat għall-Katekeżi qed jorganizza seminar ta’ nofs ta’ nhar fejn ser jiġu ppreżentati u diskussi:

– id-dokument dwar il-formazzjoni nisranija tal-adolexxenti

– il-viżjoni, missjoni u pjan ta’ ħidma,

– itinerarju-gwida kateketika għall-laqgħat mal-adolexxenti.

Dan is-seminar se jsir nhar is-Sibt 24 ta’ Ottubru, l-Istitut Kattoliku, Floriana mid-9.00am sa nofsinhar… Read more »

Report on DISCERN’s Annual Lecture

21/10/2009

Is Secularisation on the Reverse Gear?

Amongst post-modern societies’ members, the element which prevails is the knowledge power rather than the muscle power. Dominant features within these societies are capitalism, post-industrialization, urbanization, rationalization, science, technology and secularization. Collectively these characteristics pose amplified challenges to all societies’ relationships and institutions, including religion. David Martin’s straightforward definition to secularization is “whatever goes wrong with religion, including for example, the introduction of laws permitting abortion and euthanasia”… Read more »

“APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION” FOR ANGLICANS ENTERING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

20/10/2009

Cardinal William Levada

To bring to an end a period of uncertainty, an “Apostolic Constitution” allowing groups of Anglicans, both lay and religious, to enter into “full visible communion” with the Catholic Church is to be published soon. The journalists were briefed about this initiative by the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, car. William Levada, in a press conference held at the Vatican this morning… Read more »

CHRISTIAN VALUES CONTINUE TO MOULD EUROPEAN CIVILISATION

19/10/2009

This morning the Holy Father received the Letters of Credence of Yves Gazzo, head of the delegation to the Holy See of the Commission of the European Communities.

In his address, the Pope referred to the values of the European Union which, he said, “are the fruit of a long and complex history in which, it cannot be denied, Christianity has played a primordial role… Read more »

MELLIEĦA PASTORAL VISIT

18/10/2009

Wara ġimgħa ta’ konvalexxenza, l-Arċisqof Pawlu Cremona kompla bl-impenji tiegħu bi Żjara Pastorali fil-Mellieħa. Fost diversi attivitajiet li se jkomplu matul din il-ġimgħa, nhar il-Ħadd 18 ta’ Ottubru l-Arċisqof iċċelebra Quddiesa fil-Knisja ta’ Selmun fejn wara ltaqa’ man-nies preżenti. Aktar tard filgħodu, l-Arċisqof ltaqa’ mal-membri tas-Soċjeta Ċivili f’laqgħa li saret fiċ-Ċentru Parrokkjali.

Iż-Żjarat Pastorali bdew f’Jannar ta’ din is-sena… Read more »

CARDINAL URGES CATHOLICS TO ENGAGE IN CULTURE

18/10/2009

There is a need for Catholics to engage modern culture, understanding and appreciating its positive aspects while debating its negative points, said the former president of the Italian bishops’ conference.
Cardinal Camillo Ruini affirmed this Thursday in a Vatican Radio interview regarding the recent publication of a book, “Confini” (Limits), that features a discussion between the cardinal and historian Ernesto Galli della Loggia.
The prelate stated that if humanity “wishes to go forward, if it wishes to seriously address the great problems it faces, it must have a broader reason, a reason free from the scientific spirit and from relativism.”
He explained that Benedict XVI’s invitation to “broaden the spaces of rationality” is directed to all of society, although in a more specific way he was indicating for the Church the “path of a genuine evangelization” of the West… Read more »

FIRST MEETING WITH THE SOCIETY OF ST. PIUS X

17/10/2009

Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. released the following declaration:

“The first of the planned meetings with representatives of the Society of St. Pius X will take place on the morning of Monday 26 October.

“For the Pontifical Commission ‘Ecclesia Dei’ the meeting will be attended, apart from by its secretary Msgr. Guido Pozzi, by Archbishop Luis F… Read more »