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September 8, 2018
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sept. 9 (Year B) Isaiah 35:4-7; Psalm 146; James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37
September 9, 2018
VATICAN – A top official from the Vatican Secretariat of State acknowledged allegations made by a New York priest in 2000 concerning Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick, according to a letter obtained by Catholic News Service.
September 10, 2018
By now thousands of people have either scoffed at or praised Pope Francis for responding to another round of sexual abuse revelations with a long letter condemning clericalism.
Prelates in Germany and Austria have united to support Pope Francis in response to a former papal nuncio's demand for his resignation.
VATICAN – Responding quickly and appropriately to the problem of abuse must be a priority for the Catholic Church, said Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley, president of the Vatican's Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
OTTAWA – The future of the Catholic Church depends on rediscovering the fire of mission and overcoming the “despair” brought on by scandal in the Church, says Bishop Pierre-Olivier Tremblay.
In 2008, Regina Mundi Centre was on the brink of closure.
QUEBEC CITY – St. Marie de l’Incarnation, a French Ursuline nun sent to establish the order in New France in the 17th century, has not yet delivered all her secrets.
VATICAN – Members of Pope Francis' international Council of Cardinals expressed "full solidarity" with him in the midst of questions about his handling of the clerical sexual abuse scandal and said the Vatican is planning a response to allegations made against him by a former nuncio.
September 11, 2018
VATICAN – Bishops must remember, particularly when under attack, that their role is to pray, be humble in knowing God chose them and remain close to the people, Pope Francis said in his morning homily.
WASHINGTON – The Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference and Caritas India are among 19 Catholic institutions that have decided to divest from the fossil fuel industry.
It started with Jennie McRae wanting to celebrate her French-Canadian roots, but circumstance soon took over and launched her on a greater journey.
When Britain declared war on Germany on Sept. 3, 1939, it was just a formality that Canada would follow suit, which it did a week later. As the war clouds darkened and Canadian troops prepared for the Second World War, Archbishop of Toronto James McGuigan issued a pastoral letter, published in The Register on Sept. 7, 1939:
EDMONTON – On the surface, it was speeches and a light meal, but on a deeper level it was building relationships.
Please come again Re: Where are the missionaries who will evangelize today? (Aug. 5-12): Fr. de Souza criticizes the Cathedral of St. Boniface, Man., calling it “the saddest church to visit in Canada.” Granted, the new cathedral does not “soar” like the former one, but it is exactly the juxtaposition between the old and the new that makes this an interesting site to visit. The new cathedral enshrined within the shell of the old one respects our past and incorporates the new. It is not architecture that gives spirituality to a cathedral but, rather, the Christian community that worships within its walls. Perhaps Fr. de Souza should delve into our history and come for another visit. Aurise Kondziela, Winnipeg, Man.
Word of thanks Our ears are ringing with the onslaught of abuse reports and our shoulders sag with the burden we carry for our Church. We’re all appalled, ashamed and saddened to the core of our being. Rightly so. As for penalty to the perpetrators, the public media discussions of how to handle this should never have had to occur. It should begin in the confessional with a penance which suits the sin and then subjugation to the laws which apply to any other person, as this abuse is not only a sin in the eyes of the Church but it is also a crime. As these cards are laid on the table, we also see much goodness which must not go unmentioned. I would like to give credit to all the priests, bishops, monsignors and popes of my time who have influenced my life. They have taught, forgiven, counselled, ministered and been friends. They have never asked for a penny, never laid a hand on me, except in compassion, and have always lifted me up, never condemning or criticizing. They have nourished my soul and enabled my growth, peace and understanding. I thank them all from the bottom of my heart! Lynn Cristini, Edmonton, Alta.
ROME – The concern of now-retired Pope Benedict XVI and the promises made by the majority of church leaders were not able to stop the evil of clerical sexual abuse, which has been the 9/11 of the Catholic Church, the retired Pope's personal secretary said.
Canadians take water for granted. We have more ocean shoreline than any nation on Earth and our freshwater lakes and rivers cover almost 12 per cent of Canada’s landmass.
Earlier this summer, I came as close as I’ve ever come to proverbially setting my hair on fire over the unfolding catastrophe seeming to cripple the Church. And that was before the infamous j’accuse letter from Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò alleging Pope Francis was well aware of the sexual scandal roiling around former cardinal Theodore McCarrick.
What is clericalism? My heart goes out to our priests and bishops — the good ones, which is most of them. To say that the Catholic priests in my life have been beacons of virtue and guidance would be an understatement. This is why I get disturbed by the simple use of “clericalism” as an explanation for the abuse crisis. Perhaps a “policy of maintaining the power of a religious hierarchy” has something to do with this cancer, but I wonder to which “hierarchy” this term refers? Is it the majority of good priests and bishops who want nothing more than to serve their parishioners while remaining true to their holy order? Or does “clericalism” refer to those poorly formed bishops and priests who either practice an utter disregard for true Catholic sexual morality in general and celibacy in particular, or cover up for those that do? If this second definition is what is referred to by “clericalism,” then I’d have to agree. Mario Loreto, Toronto, Ont.