Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone's preview of Pope's US trip
Vatican City, Apr. 10, 2008 (vaticans.org) - Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone , the Vatican Secretary of State, has offered a preview of next week's trip by Pope Benedict XVI to the US, in a pair of interviews with American news outlets.
Speaking to an Associated Press reporter, Cardinal Bertone said that the Holy Father will address the effects of the sex-abuse scandal when he speaks to the clergy in New York. The Pontiff "will try to open the path of healing and reconciliation," the cardinal said. He added that the Pope is keenly aware of the suffering endured by victims of priestly abuse, and the damage done to the Church as a whole, "because it was a contradiction with the great educational mission of the Church."
In a separate interview with the Fox News network-- which was taped for a future telecast-- the Secretary of State added the observation that the sex-abuse scandal has left an "open wound."
Some American observers have questioned whether Pope Benedict avoided a visit to Boston because of the acute fallout from the scandal there. But Cardinal Bertone said that the Pope was limiting his trip to two cities, Washington and New York, in order to conserve his energy. He added, however, in his remarks to AP, that the Pope's health is fine. Even as he maintains a busy works schedule, the cardinal said, "all those who are near to him see his freshness."
The Pope's chief deputy confirmed that when he speaks at the UN, Pope Benedict will focus on human rights and the crucial importance of recognizing natural law. In his remarks to the Fox News network, he said that the Vatican feels some kinship with Americans on the issue of natural law and "the value of religion-- not only in private life but also in public life." The US and the Vatican have frequently been allies, he added, in defense of human life and marriage.
Cardinal Bertone conceded that the Holy See has not always agreed with US policy-- an indirect allusion to Vatican criticisms of the war in Iraq. He spoke to Fox News about a "difference of opinion" on the justification for the use of military force.
In his discussion with AP, the Secretary of State acknowledged that security will be tight during the papal trip, particularly in light of threats issued by Al Qaida that named the Pope as an enemy of Islam. But the Pope will not be deterred by threats, he said. "He entrusts himself to God."
Cardinal Jose Saraiva: Beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman "imminent"
Vatican City, Dec.09,2008 (vaticans.org) - Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, Prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Cause of the Saints, has announced that the beatification of the great British convert and scholar, Cardinal John Henry Newman, is "imminent."
In an interview to be published on Wednesday in the daily Italian edition of L'Osservatore Romano, Cardinal Saraiva said that among the most important personalities to be beatified "soon" is "the case of Cardinal Newman, a relevant intellectual, and an emblematic figure of conversion from Anglicanism to Catholicism."
"Personally, I wish his beatification to happen very soon because it would be very important at this moment for the path of ecumenical dialogue,” Cardinal Martins said.
Cardinal Saraiva Martins also revealed the beatification, latter this year, of the parents of St, Therese of Lisieux, Louis Martin and Azelia Guérin. The heroic virtues of the parents of St. Therese, who is now one of the most popular saints in the Catholic Church and a Doctor of the Church, were proclaimed on March 26, 1944.
Cardinal Saraiva implied that the miracle needed to proclaim them Blessed has been approved by his congregation, and will be announced at the next Consistory.
Source: CNA
Cardinal Toppo: Get together to help and reconstruct lives in Orissa
New Delhi, Dec.07, 2008 (vaticans.org) -“What’s happened in Orissa is indeed tragic! It was a pre-planned destruction. However, the Catholic community should never be provoked. We need to put our act together and collectively help the victims to reconstruct their lives,” declared Cardinal Toppo on his return from a visit to Orissa.
Visibly moved by what he personally heard from the victims and eye witnesses of the “pre-planned and the systematic attacks” on Christians and their institutions in the Kandhamal district of Orissa, Cardinal Toppo was speaking to me at the CBCI Centre, New Delhi today.
Cardinal Toppo, as president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, visited Bhubaneshwar from Jan. 2-4, 2008. When he went to visit the victims in the affected areas, he was denied access by the state government. However, he was able to meet some of the victims at the Archbishop’s House in Bubhaneshwar.
“The series of attacks perpetrated from Christmas Eve till date by communal forces has really marred the sacredness of Christmas celebration as well as destroyed the peace and harmony of poor villagers,” lamented the first Tribal Cardinal of India.
“I was moved when I heard them narrating the sordid stories. The words of St Paul who asked the early Christians to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice flashed my mind,” he added.
“I could see the faith of those victims – priests, religious sisters and Christian faithful strengthened. Undoubtedly, the Church has been strengthened by the harrowing experience. I have no doubt that the Church will grow. No power on earth can stop that growth. When the Church had to suffer, it has come out alive and vibrant,” affirmed the 67 year prelate.
“Archbishop of Cuttuck-Bhubaneshwar Raphael Cheenath, was truly inspired by the Holy Spirit in asking his people to move to safer places without retaliation,” added Cardinal Toppo.
“It was a real Christmas experience for the Christians of Kandhamal district. As at the time of Jesus’ birth, when Mary and Joseph had no shelter, the hapless Christians were forced to live in the jungles without shelter and food,” declared Cardinal Toppo with a deep sigh of faith.
“It was wrongly reported that the Christians assaulted a sadhu (Hindu monk). In fact, I learnt that when the people were travelling by a bus, it’s the personal security men of the sadhu forced their way that led to a scuffle. There is no truth in the allegation that Christians attacked the sadhu,” he added.
Cardinal Toppo said that he was deeply touched by the testimony given by a lay catechist who was ordered by the communal elements to meet them in their camp. When he went there, he saw over 300 persons. They ordered him to renounce the Christian faith and embrace Hinduism. They also ordered him to burn the Holy Bible he was holding in his hand. They threatened him that he would be humiliated by shaving his head. The bold catechist refused to renounce his faith and to burn the Bible. And if they dared to burn it forcefully, they would invite leprosy on them, he added. The Hindutwa extremists dared not do so and they let him go!
Source: CBCI
Cardinal Okogie:Poverty is Nigeria’s major problem
Lagos, Nigeria, Dec.06, 2007 (vaticans.org) - Anthony Cardinal Okogie, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, decried what he called ‘abject poverty’ ravaging Nigerians.
“People are suffering. Nigerian masses are still wallowing in abject poverty,” Okogie noted in his New Year message to Nigerians.
While urging the government to live up to its responsibility, the cleric called for the creation of more agencies in all the local government areas in the country to alleviate poverty in 2008.
Okogie said the Church could also be involved in poverty alleviation programmes for the masses.
The cardinal said the seven-point agenda of President Umaru Yar’Adua would go along way to relieve Nigerians and push their well being forward, if properly implemented.
He also said for the agenda to make a head way, “it must be forcefully and effectively executed to pave way for Nigeria to move forward.”
Okogie also called on the government to make agriculture another revenue earner.
“There are vast forests and fertile lands in the country which could be used for agriculture,” he added.
“Agriculture – like computer – can bring independent economic empowerment to people besides feeding the populace,” he said.
He also called on the Federal Government to let Nigerians know how much had been recovered from corrupt leaders.
The cleric canvassed for an attitudinal change by Nigerians is the New Year, saying “we believe that our situation is not the worst if we change our bad ways, bad characteristics and attitudes and our devil ish ways of doing things.”
The cardinal urged Nigerians to pray for the transformation of the country and its leaders to enhance a better tomorrow.
Source:The Tide Online
Cardinal Hummes: Prayer group for victims of sexual abuse by Priests
Vatican City, Dec.06, 2008 (vaticans.org) - Cardinal Caludio Hummes, head of the Congregation for the Clergy which oversees the world's Four hundred thousand Catholic Priests, told L'Osservatore Romano that he had already urged the Bishops to form a prayer cell in which the faithful and Priests could gather to pray together. This proposal for a prayer group was suggested by him in an effort to help the victims of sexual abuse by Priests that have rocked the Catholic Church in recent years.
Since we all are sinners there have always been problems but in recent days very grave issues have been revealed, he told the Vatican official newspaper. After budding first in Boston in 2002 the Priest scandal started spreading to almost all Catholic diocese in U.S. Sexual abuse have also knocked most of the Roman Catholic Churches in Ireland and other countries. “Only very few clergymen were involved in serious scandals” told Cardinal Hummes.