Motu proprio imminent, Vatican sources confirm
Vatican City, Jun. 17, 2007 (CINS/ CWN) - A papal document calling for broader use of the Tridentine liturgy has been completed and signed, and is now being translated and prepared for publication, according to two different Roman news agencies.
The motu proprio will be released along with an accompanying letter from Pope Benedict XVI to the world's bishops, according to Petrus, an Italian internet site devoted to news about the Vatican.
The Italian site quotes Msgr. Nicola Bux, a personal friend of the Holy Father, as saying that the document's publication is "imminent," saying that it is "a question of days." However, the site also suggests that the long-awaited motu proprio will be released as Pope Benedict begins his summer vacation in July.
The I Media news agency reports that Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, confirmed that the document is being readied for publication. According to I Media, a date has been chosen for the release of the motu proprio, but Vatican officials are not ready to disclose that date. One Vatican source told I Media that it might be wise to think in terms of weeks rather than days before publication.
The Petrus report said that the formal release of the motu proprio would be accompanied by a press conference at which three Vatican officials will introduce the document. Petrus even named the three prelate who will reportedly brief the press: Cardinal s Francis Arinze, the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship; Dario Castrillon Hoyos, the president of the Ecclesia Dei commission; and Julian Herranz, the former president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.
Vatican urges end to Amnesty aid,describes abortion as "murder"
Vatican City,June.14,2007(CINS/BBC) - The Vatican has urged all Catholics to stop donating money to Amnesty International, accusing the human rights group of promoting abortion.
The Vatican, which regards life as sacred from the moment of conception, said it was an "inevitable consequence" of the group's policy change.
Amnesty said it was not promoting abortion as a universal right.
But the group said that women had a right to choose, particularly in cases of rape or incest.
"No more financing of Amnesty International after the organisation's pro-abortion about-turn," said a statement from the Roman Catholic Church's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
The Church's request covers funding from Catholic groups, non-governmental organisations, parishes, schools and individuals.
'Misrepresented account'
The council's president, Cardinal Renato Martino, described abortion as "murder".
"And to justify it selectively, in the event of rape, that is to define an innocent child in the belly of its mother as an enemy, as 'something one can destroy'," the cardinal said.
According to Roman Catholic doctrine, life - which begins with conception - must be respected.
Amnesty says it does not take any position on whether abortion is right or wrong.
But it defended its new position in support of abortion for women when their health is in danger or human rights are violated, especially in cases of rape or incest.
"We are saying broadly that to criminalise women's management of their sexual reproductive right is the wrong answer," Amnesty's deputy Secretary General Kate Gilmore told Reuters news agency.
"The Catholic Church, through a misrepresented account of our position on selective aspects of abortion, is placing in peril work on human rights," Ms Gilmore said.
Some 45 million unintended pregnancies are terminated around the world every year, the World Health Organisation says.
Nearly 70,000 women die annually from unsafe abortions, it says.
Papal patience causes chafing among some Vatican bureaucrats, media
Vatican City,June.09,2007(CINS/CNS) -- More than two years into his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI has proven to be a very patient decision-maker -- so patient that even some of his Vatican bureaucrats are chafing a little.
"There are all these decisions that you thought were already made, and then nothing happens," one Roman Curia official said in early June.
The examples abound:
-- The pope's letter to Chinese Catholics, announced in January, has yet to appear.
-- The papal document widening use of the Tridentine Mass, reportedly ready since last fall, is still awaiting publication.
-- A consistory to name new cardinals, expected in June by most Vatican officials, has apparently been put off until the fall.
-- A slew of key appointments, including the replacement of several Roman Curia heads who are past retirement age, keep getting deferred.
-- The streamlining of Vatican communications agencies, rumored to have been one of the pope's priorities following his election in 2005, still has not happened.
Why are things taking so long? The main reason, according to those inside the Curia, is that the pope believes some of these questions call for consultation and fine-tuning, rather than snap decisions.
"Documents like the one on China clearly require careful preparation, consultation and review, not only on the general lines of the text but also in particular expressions," said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman.
He noted that once a document is finally approved, additional time is needed for translations. The translation phase in where the letter on China is said to be lingering.
As for curial appointments, Father Lombardi said replacing department heads may seem simple to outsiders, but such nominations are often tied to a whole series of other appointments or changes. Therefore a "concordance of circumstances" may be needed before they are announced, he said.
"One thing is clear: The style of this pope and his governance is to not allow himself be pressured or hurried, but to take all the time necessary," Father Lombardi said.
Journalists seem to be the ones most impatient with the pope's patience. A recent article in the Rome newspaper Il Messaggero, under the headline "The Curia Waits, the Pope Doesn't Decide," spoke of a growing "climate of uncertainty" inside the Vatican.
"This proceeding with excessive prudence seems to have caught even the highest officials of the curia off-balance," the newspaper said.
Some Vatican sources dismissed such speculation, saying these kinds of projects have always taken time, especially at the beginning of a pontificate. What has whetted the media's appetite is that several of the initiatives have been pre-announced, they said.
One apparent decision by the pope has struck some as a reversal of an earlier move: The Vatican recently said the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue would get its own president.
In 2006 the pope had placed the council under the wing of the Pontifical Council for Culture, in a move widely seen as the beginning of sweeping reform of the Roman Curia. The restoration of the interreligious council's autonomy is now seen as a signal that the pope does not want to be viewed as downgrading the Vatican agency that dialogues with Islam.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, said in late May that the new head of the interreligious council would be named soon. But there was no clue when the nomination would actually come, and "soon" has taken on new meaning under Pope Benedict .
Last October, Vatican officials promised that the papal letter liberalizing use of the Tridentine Mass was ready and would be published sometime soon. When Cardinal Bertone said in June that people "shouldn't have to wait long" to see the document, there was much scoffing and smiling among reporters.
The pope apparently has decided to wait until this fall to name new cardinals. Sources say nominations will come in October, with a consistory in November. By then there will be at least 16 openings in the 120 "under-80" cardinals who can vote in a conclave.
Top Vatican appointments are bound to come, especially in agencies where the current head is past retirement age, including the congregations for Eastern Churches and Saints Causes, the Pontifical Council for Culture, and the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See.
For months, imminent replacements also have been rumored for the positions of assistant secretary of state and master of papal ceremonies.
Meanwhile, while the media focus has been on big appointments and big documents, the pope has had plenty of other things to occupy his time and energy.
During a three-week period in late May and early June, for example, he held 61 separate audiences, made 44 nominations, gave 25 speeches or sermons, presided over three major liturgies, created four new saints and approved decrees for 17 other sainthood causes.
The pope is also believed to be working on the second part of his work on Jesus of Nazareth; the first volume was published this spring.
Vatican to use solar power for electricity
Vatican City,June.07,(CINS/CNA).- In an effort to be more environmental, the Vatican has decided that it will begin to use solar energy in some of its buildings as of next year.Vatican engineer Pier Carlo Cuscianna came up with the idea of replacing the cement panels that make up the roof of the Paul VI auditorium with photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity. Cuscianna said the cement panels had to be replaced due to weathering, so he thought it was the right time to make the move to solar.
The cells will produce enough electricity to illuminate, heat or cool the 6,300-seat hall, that is used for the pontiff's general audiences in winter and in bad weather, and for concerts.
"Since the auditorium isn't used every day, the (excess) energy will feed into the network, providing (the Vatican) with power, so other Vatican offices can use the energy," Cuscianna told The Associated Press.
A feasibility study, published in L'Osservatore Romano, found that the conversion made economic sense and quoted from Pope Benedict 's speeches calling on Christians not to squander resources and to protect and care for the environment.
The new roof panels will have the same form and almost the same color as the cement panels they are replacing. The Vatican is considering the installation solar panels on other buildings, although landmarks, such as St. Peter's Basilica, would not be touched, he said.
Vatican officals: No plans to stop using open vehicles for Pope
Vatican City,June.07,2007(CINS/AP) - Officials say there are no plans to change the long-standing use of open vehicles for the pope's weekly audience at the Vatican. This, even after a German man jumped a security barrier and grabbed the back of the popemobile today.
When the pope travels abroad, he does use a popemobile outfitted with bulletproof glass, but security experts say it is impossible to ensure 100% protection.
Since the 9-11 attacks, the Vatican has tightened security in St. Peter's Square when the pope is present. All visitors must pass by police to get into the square, with some going through metal detectors or being scanned by metal-detecting wands.
However, virtually anyone can attend. Tickets can often be obtained at the last minute, particularly when the audience is held outside.