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June 2012

June 13

Plea goes out for African famine aid

June 13, 2012

WASHINGTON - Millions of people in West Africa’s Sahel region face severe food shortages that could be catastrophic if international aid falls short in the coming weeks, according to representatives of Catholic and other humanitarian organizations. “The crisis is already here. People are already starving in some parts of the region,” said Bill Worms, Sahel communications officer for Caritas Internationalis in Rome.

A faithful lesson learned during accounting class

June 13, 2012

As the university “summer” session began, there were a few things I had come to dread: the sweltering heat, brussel sprouts and the accounting course I am taking this summer. I dreaded this course because one small miscalculation could completely render the following equations inaccurate, and the thought of failure due to one simple mistake seemed a daunting prospect. You might say the same can be said of mathematics of any kind. True — to some extent. But, unlike most other “mathematical sciences,” basic accounting focuses on a notion of balances: assets = liabilities + investments.

Site helps young Catholics grow in faith

June 13, 2012

WHEELING, W.Va. - Young Catholics have a new web site available to them featuring nationally known Catholic speakers, musicians and comedians who have teamed up to help them grow in their faith. Any Given Sunday, Reflections for the Young Church, features 45 national Catholic youth ministry personalities — including Steve Angrisano, Chris Padgett, Matt Maher, Shannon Cerneka and Jamie Dillon just to name a few — who each writes a reflection for the weekly Mass readings. Each week, the site offers a reflection from one of the participating personalities.

Graduation trip brings together students from two different realities

June 13, 2012

TORONTO - Alex Morlando finally met Nathan Louttit, the Attawapiskat native he’s been communicating with through letters, the Internet and Xbox since they were both in Grade 7. “Our teacher assigned us pen pals and (said) we would have to communicate through letters,” said Morlando, now in Grade 8 at Toronto’s Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School. “We started off like that and then we started communicating a little more through Xbox and the Internet. That’s how I really got to know Nathan.”

Vatican set to control new '.catholic' Internet domain

June 13, 2012

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican is in line to control the new Internet address extension ".catholic" and decide who is allowed to use it. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, a nonprofit corporation that coordinates the assignment of Internet domain names and addresses around the world, announced the Vatican's formal application June 13 in London.

Kenyan bishops mourn six who died en route to Catholic celebrations

June 13, 2012

NAIROBI, Kenya - Kenya's Catholic bishops mourned the deaths of six people killed in an air crash en route to Catholic celebrations in the western part of the country. Among those killed were Minister of Internal Security George Saitoto, a Catholic; his assistant minister, Joshua Orwa Ojode; their two bodyguards, the pilot and co-pilot. Their helicopter, en route to the Diocese of Homa Bay, crashed in Ngong shortly after takeoff from Nairobi June 10.

Bishop Fellay, doctrinal officials meet for discussions at Vatican

June 13, 2012

VATICAN CITY - Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior general of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, met for more than two hours with officials of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith June 13. The Vatican did not immediately issue a statement on the meeting, part of ongoing talks aimed at reconciling the breakaway group with the Catholic Church. The society's founder, the late French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who rejected some teachings of the Second Vatican Council and the modernizing reforms instituted in its wake, was excommunicated for ordaining Bishop Fellay and three other bishops without papal permission in 1988. In April, Bishop Fellay submitted to the Vatican his second official response to a "doctrinal preamble" outlining what the Vatican said were "some doctrinal principles and criteria for the interpretation of Catholic doctrine necessary to guarantee fidelity" to the formal teaching of the church, presumably including the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. The bishop's reply was studied by the cardinal-members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and, ultimately, by Pope Benedict XVI. The cardinals and the pope had studied Bishop Fellay's first response, which was submitted in January, and later issued a statement saying his position "is not sufficient to overcome the doctrinal problems that are at the basis of the fracture between the Holy See and the society." While Bishop Fellay has been generally positive about the possibility of reconciliation with Rome, leaked letters show that the society's three other bishops have had serious reservations about the process. In May, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said, "In consideration of the positions taken by the three other bishops of the Society of St. Pius, their situation will have to be treated separately and individually" from the effort to reconcile with the SSPX as a whole and with Bishop Fellay. "It is not that this is a process that necessarily will reach a solution that embraces all the positions" found among all the SSPX members, Father Lombardi said in May. Pope Benedict's latest efforts to bring about reconciliation with the traditionalist group began when he lifted the excommunications incurred by Bishop Fellay and the other SSPX bishops after they were ordained without papal permission. The pope also established a Vatican committee for doctrinal talks with society representatives in 2009 and drafted the "doctrinal preamble" to explain the "minimal, essential" elements on which the society would have to agree for full reconciliation, Father Lombardi had said. When the Vatican's doctrinal discussions with the society began in 2009, both sides said the key issues to be discussed included the concept of tradition in general, as well as the Second Vatican Council's teaching on the liturgy, the unity of the church, ecumenism, interreligious dialogue and religious freedom.

Rights league applauds decision to repeal controversial Section 13

June 13, 2012

OTTAWA - The House of Commons voted 153-136 June 6 to repeal Section 13, the controversial hate-crimes provision of the Canadian Human Rights Act June 6, drawing praise from the Catholic Civil Rights League. MP Brian Storseth’s private member’s Bill C-304 now moves to the Senate where it will be shepherded through by Conservative Senator Doug Finley.

Bill-13 implementation still a work in progress

June 13, 2012

TORONTO - The potential introduction of gay-straight alliances in Catholic schools has angered many Catholics, but several Catholic educators expect such clubs will closely resemble Respecting Difference groups already in operation. “Our expectation is that the content will still mirror the Respecting Difference groups and that the Catholic content will be ensured and so will our denominational rights,” said Bob Murray, director of legislative and political affairs for the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA).

June 14

Cardinal Ouellet homily at Lough Derg

June 14, 2012

Here is the text of the homily given by Cardinal Marc Ouellet, who asked forgiveness on behalf of the Church for the sexual abuse of children by some clergy. ~ RELATED STORY: CARDINAL OUELLET, REPRESENTING POPE, MEETS WITH IRISH ABUSE VICTIMS ~ Dear brothers and sisters, Pope Benedict XVI asked me, as His Legate to the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, that I would come to Lough Derg and ask God’s forgiveness for the times clerics have sexually abused children not only in Ireland but anywhere in the Church.

School gets literacy grant for its ‘love of reading’ [w/ audio]

June 14, 2012

TORONTO - Blessed John XXIII Catholic School students will no longer struggle with an outdated, under stocked and inadequate library thanks to a $119,000 Literacy Grant from the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation. “We are looking forward to restocking the library with recent, relevant and leveled reading material,” said Jacqueline Puri, the school’s vice-principal who spearheaded the application process this winter. “It feels great.”

Judge to oversee Moncton conciliation

June 14, 2012

Former Supreme Court Judge Michel Bastarache plans to wrap up a conciliation process with sexual abuse victims in the archdiocese of Moncton within a year. Bastarache has been tapped by Archbishop André Richard to meet with victims of Fr. Camille Léger and award monetary settlements of $15,000 to $300,000. The archdiocese has also been offering counselling to victims through the Beauséjour Family Crisis Centre since April.

Berlanty’s plight showcased in new Salt+Light documentary

June 14, 2012

I first met Berlanty Azzam just outside the Old City of Jerusalem. Pulling up in a taxi, the business administration student had arrived directly from the Gaza Strip. Our cameraman was determined to capture her exact moment of arrival. It was the first time she had been in Jerusalem in years and, more importantly, the first time that the Israeli government permitted her to leave Gaza since she had been deported there from the West Bank one month earlier. She was now preparing to meet with her lawyers before she contested the deportation at Israel’s Supreme Court.

SSPX says doctrinal difficulties could prolong talks with Vatican

June 14, 2012

VATICAN CITY- The breakaway traditionalist Society of St. Pius X said unresolved "doctrinal difficulties" with the teachings of the Second Vatican Council and the Catholic Church's subsequent liturgical reform could lead to a "new phase of discussions" over possible reconciliation with Rome. The society released its statement June 14, a day after the Vatican presented its superior general, Bishop Bernard Fellay, with an evaluation of the society's position on a series of doctrinal questions and a draft document proposing that the society become a personal prelature. Fellay, who was accompanied by an assistant, met with Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop Luis Ladaria, congregation secretary, and Msgr. Guido Pozzo, secretary of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei." The SSSPX statement said that Fellay listened to Levada's "explanations and clarifications" and offered the cardinal an explanation of the "doctrinal difficulties" that Vatican II and the subsequent reform of the Mass present for the traditionalists. "The desire for further clarifications could lead to a new phase of discussions," the SSPX said. A few hours before the society released its statement, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, told reporters that "the ball is in the society's court" to accept the Vatican's response and clarifications. During the June 13 meeting, Fellay was given the Holy See's evaluation — including the opinion of Pope Benedict XVI — of the society's April response to a "doctrinal preamble" that the bishop would need to sign in order to reconcile the society with the rest of the Church, the Vatican said in a statement. "The subsequent discussion offered an opportunity to provide the appropriate explanations and clarifications" on both sides, it said. "Bishop Fellay illustrated the current situation" of the society and promised to give the Vatican a response "within a reasonable lapse of time," the Vatican said. Also, Fellay was given a draft document "proposing a personal prelature as the most appropriate instrument for any future canonical recognition of the society," it said. A personal prelature is a Church jurisdiction without geographical boundaries designed to carry out particular pastoral initiatives. It is headed by a prelate, who is appointed by the Pope; currently the Church's only personal prelature is Opus Dei. When asked whether giving Fellay a formal proposal of a prelature was a sign the Vatican had approved the bishop's response to the doctrinal preamble, Lombardi told journalists that all doctrinal differences had to be resolved before any formal recognition could be made. "However, evidently (the prelature proposal) was presented so that if the doctrinal issue is resolved, the canonical part is ready," he said. The discussion process is "still open," the Vatican spokesman said, but it seems the Vatican and the SSPX are "drawing closer to agreement in the formulation and presentation of the doctrinal questions" at hand. The Vatican statement said, "The hope was expressed that this additional opportunity for reflection would also contribute to reaching full communion between the Society of St. Pius X and the Apostolic See." Lombardi said the Vatican is showing its willingness and availability to reach an agreement, but that now it is up to Fellay to respond to the Vatican's position. The Vatican spokesman said the society would be holding its general chapter in July, which would be "an occasion for reflection and exchange" of ideas concerning its next step. The statement reiterated that the Vatican would be dealing with the society's three other bishops "separately and singularly," and Lombardi confirmed that only Fellay was actively engaged in discussions with the Vatican. While Fellay has been generally positive about the possibility of reconciliation with Rome, leaked letters show that the society's three other bishops have had strong objections to such a move. Pope Benedict's recent efforts to bring about reconciliation with the traditionalist group began when he lifted the excommunications incurred by Fellay and the three other SSPX bishops after they were ordained without papal permission. The Pope also established a Vatican committee for doctrinal talks with society representatives in 2009. In September, the Vatican gave Fellay the "doctrinal preamble" to explain the "minimal, essential" elements on which the society would have to agree for full reconciliation, Lombardi had said. When the Vatican's doctrinal discussions with the society began in 2009, both sides said the key issues to be discussed included the concept of tradition in general, as well as the Second Vatican Council's teaching on the liturgy, the unity of the Church, ecumenism, interreligious dialogue and religious freedom. The society's founder, the late French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who rejected some teachings of the Second Vatican Council and the modernizing reforms instituted in its wake, was excommunicated for ordaining Fellay and the three other bishops without papal permission in 1988. In April, Fellay submitted to the Vatican his second official response to the "doctrinal preamble" outlining what the Vatican said were "some doctrinal principles and criteria for the interpretation of Catholic doctrine necessary to guarantee fidelity" to the formal teaching of the Church, presumably including the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. The bishop's reply was studied by the cardinal-members of the doctrinal congregation and, ultimately, by Pope Benedict. The cardinals and the Pope had said Fellay's first response, which was submitted in January, was "not sufficient to overcome the doctrinal problems that are at the basis of the fracture between the Holy See and the society."

June 15

Year of Faith activities aimed at bringing Catholics closer to Jesus

June 15, 2012

ATLANTA - The Year of Faith set to begin in October will give Catholics the chance to experience a "conversion" by turning back to Jesus and entering into a deeper relationship with him, the chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis said June 13. Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay, Wis., told the spring meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that the 2012-13 observance stems from Pope Benedict XVI's call for a new evangelization and will incorporate television, radio, social media and numerous online resources to better connect -- or reconnect -- Catholics with their faith.

Young people at eucharistic congress bring legacy of World Youth Day

June 15, 2012

DUBLIN - As the plainchant of "Tantum Ergo" drew the eucharistic procession to a close, the presiding prelates began to filter away. That's when some trip hop music erupted at the back of the massive assembly of pilgrims, which moments before had been on its knees in prayer and adoration.

Pope names new bishop for Moncton, New Brunswick

June 15, 2012

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop Valery Vienneau of Bathurst, New Brunswick, to be the new archbishop of Moncton. The Vatican announced June 15 that Pope Benedict had accepted the resignation of Archbishop Andre Richard, who will reach the usual retirement age of 75 June 30. Archbishop Vienneau, 64, had led the Diocese of Bathurst since 2002. Born in Cap-Pele, he earned degrees in philosophy and in education from the University of Moncton and taught in public schools for nine years. He later entered the seminary, studying in Ottawa, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1982 for the Archdiocese of Moncton. He served in parish ministry and as a university chaplain until 2000, when he was appointed to lead a reorganization of several parishes and to train members of parish pastoral teams. Archbishop Richard leaves the archdiocese after appointing former Supreme Court Judge Michel Bastarache to finish conducting a conciliation process with sexual abuse victims in the archdiocese within a year. The victims allegedly were abused by the late Father Camille Leger between 1957 and 1980. Father Leger, who died in 1990, was never convicted of any crimes. Bastarache led a similar process with more than 90 sexual abuse victims in the Diocese of Bathurst in 2010. Nearly 80 of those victims chose to settle through the conciliation process.

Irish cardinal expresses shame for church failures about abuse victims

June 15, 2012

DUBLIN - As the daily theme for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress switched to reconciliation, Irish Cardinal Sean Brady told pilgrims he was ashamed that the Church had failed to respond properly to abuse allegations. "May God forgive us for the times when we, as individuals and as a Church, failed to seek out and care for those little ones who were frightened, alone and in pain because someone was abusing them," the cardinal, primate of All Ireland, told pilgrims in a rain-swept stadium June 14. Brady came under sustained pressure to resign from abuse victims' groups because he knew about the crimes of one notorious abuser, Fr. Brendan Smyth, in 1975 but did not report him to the civil authorities. Smyth went on to abuse children for many years before being finally jailed in 1994. Addressing abuse victims, the cardinal said: "That we did not always respond to your cries with the concern of the Good Shepherd is a matter of deep shame. We lament the burdens of the painful memories you carry. We pray for healing and peace for those whose suffering continues." Earlier, the congress secretary-general, Fr. Kevin Doran, confirmed that there were a number of abuse victims present at the event in a personal capacity. He declined to identify them, insisting that organizers did not want the victims' presence to be misinterpreted as a public relations exercise. Referring to a large healing stone placed at the front of the altar to commemorate the victims of clerical abuse, Brady prayed that "one day this stone might become a symbol of conversion, healing and hope." "I hope it will become a symbol of a Church that has learned from the mistakes of the past and strives to become a model for the care and well-being of children," he said. Brady's homily was greeted with sustained applause by an estimated 10,000 pilgrims at the open-air Mass, celebrated in the Irish language with music by traditional Irish musicians. The cardinal welcomed the many overseas pilgrims, "especially those of you for whom this is the first time to hear the Mass celebrated in the original language of the Irish people." "We hope that through the universal language of sign, symbol and gesture of our Catholic liturgy, which is itself a source of our communion with Christ and with one another, you will enter with us into these sacred mysteries," he said. Heavy rain failed to deter pilgrims, and organizers said the number of people attending has increased each day. While many pilgrims arrived by train and bus, a large group of parishioners arrived after a two-week walk from Bangor, Northern Ireland. Concelebrants at the June 14 Mass wore plastic ponchos over their chasubles to shield them from the rain. Earlier in the day, a large screen was erected for the many pilgrims who were unable to get a seat at the various workshops and talks. The evening of June 13 Irish police estimate that 12,500 people participated in a eucharistic procession through the streets of Dublin. Many pilgrims carried banners representing their parishes, and the event included boys and girls who had recently made their first Communion. Richard Moore, who was blinded as a child in 1972 when he was shot in the face by a British soldier in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, reflected on the importance of reconciliation in his own life. Moore said that, despite his ordeal, he "never had a moment's anger or a moment's bitterness." He recounted how he met and forgave the soldier decades later. "To sit in a hotel foyer, opposite the man who pulled the trigger and blinded me for life and caused all those hurts to me and my family — and to like him — was an incredible experience," Moore said. He said it was "the power of prayer" that has sustained him and allowed him to forgive. "There is so much that is good in the Church that I experience on a daily basis," he said. "Things need to change in the Church; there needs to be a lot more honesty and a lot more openness, but I am hopeful for the future of the Church." His sentiments were echoed by pilgrims. Mary Walsh of Cork, Ireland, said the eucharistic congress had been "an opportunity for people to come together and share and celebrate the beauty of our Catholic faith. People rightly criticize the Church for its failings," she said, "but the fact that the faith is often inadequacy lived does not take away from the truth of it." Tom O'Sullivan of Belfast, Northern Ireland, said the congress was "allowing the silent majority of the country to come together and share their love for the Eucharist and the Mass." He said he had been heartened and felt his spirits lifted by participating in the events.

Polarization between the religious left, right continues

June 15, 2012

Dennis Gruending’s latest book proves the religious left is still treating the religious right more like bogeymen than the people in the next pew, and that’s a shame. Gruending sees a pattern in these facts: REAL Women of Canada, a conservative pressure group, urged the Harper Government to terminate Status of Women Canada, a government organization answerable to the Minister for Status of Women. The Christian Family Action Coalition (CFAC) lobbied against funding for KAIROS, an ecumenical social justice organization. The government seriously wounded the Status of Women, and entirely cut KAIROS’ funding.

Mass confusion: Misunderstanding at root of 'liturgy wars'

June 15, 2012

VATICAN CITY - Half a century after the start of the Second Vatican Council, the reform of the liturgy initiated there has not lost its power to stoke controversy. On June 13, after years of on-again-off-again talks with the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, which effectively broke from Rome almost 25 years ago to protest the teachings of Vatican II and subsequent changes to the Mass, the Vatican announced that the traditionalists had been formally offered terms of reconciliation.