Today in Church History

1521 Pope Leo X titles King Henry VIII of England "Defender of the Faith"

1954 Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Ad caeli Reginam

1962 2nd Vatican Council (21st ecumenical) convened by Pope John XXIII

Today in Church History

Regina Apostolorum Pontifical college offers Masters on "Church, Ecumenism and Religions".

Rome, Italy, Oct.10,2007 (CINS/Fides) - Why do Jehovah witnesses refuse blood transfusions? In what does their Sabbath consist ? It is true that followers of Scientology believe in reincarnation? What are imams? Why do some Christians reject the primacy of the Pope? Are many young people attracted to witchcraft?

To answer these and other questions the theology faculty of the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical college in Rome, starting its third year of activity, has organised a Masters on "Church, Ecumenism and Religions".

Students may attend lectures at the College in Rome and via video-conference in other cities such as Bologna and Maddaloni, and in the province of Caserta.

The two year Masters course is for students interested in learning more about the different Christian confessions, non Christian religious and 'alternative religious movements'.

Society today marked by religious pluralism and relativism and the Catholic Church's commitment to ecumenism and interreligious dialogue, challenges Catholics to know more about their own identity and more about the characteristics of other religious traditions.
The Masters has three main goals:

1) Make known the position of the Catholic Church with regard to other Christian confessions and the great world religions, presenting historical reports and studying Papal documents and teaching, and guidelines for these relations.

2) Give a clear exposition of the doctrine, traditions and history of the principal non Catholic Christian confessions and great religions from a Catholic point of view and offer fundamental arguments to understand the necessary references on what distinguishes Catholicism from other Confessions.

3) Present in a critical approach alternative movements of religious or pseudo religious spirituality, with studies on their characteristics and doctrine, and a clear exposition of criteria of discernment and pastoral action.

Courses start on 10 October but registration will continue until 15 November.

Info: Dott. Pierluigi Infurna - Facoltà di Teologia, Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum Tel: 06 66527800 - Fax: 06 66527814 - E-mail: pinfurna@upra.org

Church in Rwanda holds 1st Catholic Bible Meeting to mark 40th anniversary of Dei Verbum

Kigali, Rwanda, Oct.10,2007 (CINS/ Fides)- “This has been the first Catholic Bible Meeting in the history of the Catholic Church in Rwanda” says the closing statement of the Bible Meeting held in Kabgayi 17 - 20 September. The statement explains that the Catholic Bishops of Rwanda decided to organise the Meeting as part of celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of the Vatican II's dogmatic constitution Dei Verbum”.
The Meeting ““The Bible in Christian life in Rwanda: achievements, challenges and prospects ”

Brought together 75 bishops, experts in Sacred Scripture, delegates for Bible apostolate, representatives of religious congregations, leaders of other Christian communities, delegates of lay associations and movements and institutions of higher education including major seminaries.
The topics for reflection included: Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church 40 years after the dogmatic Constitution “Dei Verbum”; The Bible in Rwanda, present situation and prospect; the Word of God, source of reconciliation, justice and peace: achievements, challenges, future prospects,; Bible School Tumenye Bibiliya and Bible Camps as testimony and means of evangelisation through the Bible; the Bible and the world of intellectuals; the Bible Society in Rwanda.

Among the speakers Bishop Augustin Misago, of the diocese of Gikongoro, who traced the history of the Bible in Rwanda, of which a complete translation in the local Kinyarwanda was started only in the 1980s at the initiative of the Rwandan Bishops' Conference. An inter-confessional translation used by Catholics, Protestants and 7th Day Adventists was published in 2004.

The experience of Bible Camps was presented by Sr Languida Kagoyire, a member of the Congregation of the Assumption. These camps were introduced in Africa by an Assumption Sister from America to help children begin to read the Bible with songs, mimes and drawings. The method, started in Rwanda in 2001, is used in 5 parishes.

Resolutions made public at the end of the Meeting included: support initiatives of Bible apostolate in dioceses and parishes; start and association of Bible scholars and Theologians; use Catholic media to increase interest in the Bible; valorise the annual Bible Week in May; publish a pocket book edition of the New Testament in Kinyarwanda.

Church Pledges Action on Clerical Sex Abuse Claim

Pretoria, South Africa, Oct.07, 2007 (CINS/CISA)  - The Catholic Church has invited a man claiming to have been sexually molested by a deceased bishop to seek audience with a competent Church authority.

The Church said it noted with great sadness the alleged child sexual abuse of Mario D’Offisi by the late Bishop Reginald Orsmond of Johannesburg during their time together at Boys Town in the 1960’s.

Magazine editor D’Offizi alleges in an autobiography to be released next month that Orsmond sexually abused him during three years at Boys Town in the Magaliesberg.

Bishop Orsmond - who died in 2002 - is remembered for founding the largest private childcare organization in South Africa, the Boys Town children’s home, in 1958.

The Southern African Catholic Church’s spokesman, Fr Chris Townsend, said the church had a clear position against sexual abuse of any kind and had been consistent in strongly condemning the “deplorable behaviour within the church and within society as a whole.”

He said Bishop Orsmond was a larger-than-life character in the lives of so many people and it was unfortunate that allegations of sexual abuse had come years after his death.

“In accordance to our commitment to pastoral care of those who perceive themselves as victims, we invite Mr D’Offizi and all others who feel that they are victims of abuse by Catholic Clergy and Religious to share their story with a competent church authority so that swift and compassionate action can be taken.”

Fr Townsend said the allegations would hurt many people, but hoped justice would be done. “All will be hurting due to these allegations. We all hope that whatever processes are undertaken, justice may be served to the benefit of all affected by this.

The Protocol for dealing with sexual abuse of children in Southern Africa is available on the Church’s official website: http://www.sacbc.org.za

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