Massachusetts bishop issues warning to Jesuit college
Worcester, USA, Oct. 11, 2007 (CWNews.com) - A Massachusetts bishop has strongly criticized a Jesuit-run college in his diocese, hinting that he could withdraw the school's recognition as a Catholic institution.
Bishop Robert McManus of Worcester issued a statement on October 10, responding to protests from lay Catholics about plans for a conference at the College of the Holy Cross in which Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts will make presentations. Siding with the pro-life protestors, Bishop McManus disclosed that he had urged Holy Cross to cancel the conference plans.
The organizations participating in the scheduled event, the bishop said, "promote positions on artificial contraception and abortion that are contrary to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church." Saying that the Church's position on key issues involving respect for life is "manifestly clear," he questioned why a Catholic school would offer these groups a forum. The bishop warned that the conference could create a "situation of offering scandal understood in its proper theological sense, i.e. an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil." By canceling the conference, he said, Holy Cross would not infringe upon academic freedom, but would "make unambiguously clear the Catholic identity and mission of the College of the Holy Cross."
Bishop McManus noted that as the head of the Worcester diocese in which Holy Cross is located he has the "pastoral and canonical responsibility to determine what institutions can properly call themselves Catholic.” He added: "This is a duty that I do not take lightly…"
The bishop concluded his public statement by expressing his "fervent wish" that Holy Cross would cancel plans for the conference, "so that the college can continue to be recognized as a Catholic institution committed to promoting the moral teaching of the Roman Catholic Church."
California bishop faces contempt charge
Los Angeles, USA, Oct. 11, 2007 (CINS/CWN) - Bishop Tod Brown of Orange, California, has entered a not-guilty plea on contempt-of-court charges stemming from a lawsuit involving sexual abuse by diocesan clergy.
Plaintiffs' lawyers in the sex-abuse suit had asked the judge to hold Bishop Brown in contempt because the bishop approved a move to send a key diocesan official out of the country before that official completed his testimony in the connection with the case.
Although the lawsuit was settled last week, Judge Gail Andler surprised many legal observers by moving forward with the contempt proceedings.
If convicted of contempt, Bishop Brown could face a prison sentence. Hearings in the case are expected to take place in December.
Peter Callahan, the attorney for Bishop Brown, told reporters that the bishop wanted to fight the contempt charges, even after the case was closed, in order to "clear the bishop's name." The attorney said that Brown had hoped that he would "have the opportunity to exonerate himself by telling the truth but he didn't get the opportunity" in the course of the lawsuit brought by the abuse victims.
Earlier in the month, Callahan had said that the contempt charges were merely a stalling tactic, employed by lawyers for the plaintiffs in the abuse lawsuit to postpone the court proceedings. He said Bishop Brown was eager to go to trial in the case. Just hours later the diocese announced an out-of-court settlement in which the diocese will pay nearly $7 million in damages to the plaintiffs.
Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes to meet patriarch Alexis to meet patriarch Alexis II in moscow
Vatican City, Oct .10, 2007 (CINS/VIS) - According to a communique made public at midday today, Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," is due to meet with Patriarch Alexis II in Moscow.
"The visit comes in the context of a series of meetings that the president of 'Cor Unum' will make in the Russian Federation between October 15 and 21," reads the communique. "From October 15 to 17 he will be at Novosibirsk, the capital of the region of Siberia where, accompanied by Bishop Joseph Werth, he will visit Caritas, the Franciscan school and the Sisters of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. In this area the Catholic Church has distinguished itself in recent years for the increase of charitable initiatives throughout the territory.
"From October 18 to 21, Archbishop Cordes - as a guest of Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz - will participate in the work of Caritas groups throughout the Russian Federation. In Russia, this sector is at the basis of much fruitful collaboration with the Orthodox Church. The meeting is particularly significant because it is taking place a year and a half after the publication of Pope Benedict XVI's first Encyclical, which was dedicated to charity. It will, then, be an opportunity to verify how 'Deus caritas est' has inspired charitable commitment in this vast country.
"The talks with bishops and volunteers of Russian Caritas on the influence of 'Deus caritas est,' the visit to Siberia and the meeting with Alexis III, make this trip an important stage of the mission of the Pontifical Council 'Cor Unum'."
Brady a new Bishop for Sydney
Sydney, Australia, Oct.07,2007 (CINS/Cathnews) - Pope Benedict has appointed Reverend Father Terence John Brady as an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Sydney.
The Vatican's announcement was welcomed by Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney.
"I look forward to working with Bishop Brady," Cardinal Pell said.
"He is a man with a deep love of God and loyalty to the church. He is highly respected as a man who has demonstrated wonderful pastoral care for the people of Sydney."
The Australian Associated Press reported Bishop Brady, 60, will join Bishop Julian Porteous and Bishop Anthony Fisher as the third bishop in the archdiocese of Sydney.
He is also assigned to the Titular See of Talattula.
Bishop Brady, who has served in parishes across Sydney, replaces Bishop David Cremin who retired in 2005.
He will be ordained at St Mary's Cathedral on November 16.
U.S. Catholic Bishops Issue Letter Of Solidarity To Bishops In Myanmar
Washington, USA,Oct.07, 2007- The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) sent a letter of support to the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Myanmar addressing the recent outbreak of violence that has overtaken that nation during the past two weeks and offered prayers for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The USCCB also sent a letter expressing the bishops’ concern to the U.S. ambassador of the Union of Myanmar, urging a peaceful solution “in order that there will be stability, peace and non-violence.” Both letters were signed by Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando, Florida, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on International Policy.
The letters were sent in the wake of wide-spread protests against the military government of Myanmar that led to a government crackdown. The non-violent protests against the 45 year old military dictatorship have been met with an increasingly violent response.
The U.S. Bishops’ letter to the bishops of Myanmar concludes with assurances that “in union with Pope Benedict XVI we are offering prayers that the current conflict will be resolved peacefully for the welfare of the people of your nation.”