Without
God, man loses his greatness; without God, there
is no true humanism'. With these words, Pope
Benedict XVI yesterday recalled the great legacy
of another early Church father, Saint Gregory
of Nazianze, theologian, preacher and poet from
fourth-century Cappadocia. A friend and admirer
of St. Basil, whom the Holy Father remembered
last week, St. Gregory was inspired to seek
Baptism and to enter monastic life, devoting
himself to prayer, solitude, and meditation.
The Pope recalled how St. Gregory 'loved to
leave behind the things of this world and enter
into intimate communion with God, so that the
depths of his soul became like a mirror reflecting
the divine light'. 'Here was a man who sensed
the primacy of God and so speaks to us today,
to this world of ours', the Pope said. 'Without
God, man loses his greatness; without God, there
is no true humanism.
That's
why we listen to this voice and also try to
come to know the face of God'. The Pope recalled
how St. Gregory reluctantly, but in a spirit
of obedience, accepted priestly ordination.
He was then sent to Constantinople, where he
preached his five Orations: 'beautifully reasoned
presentations of the Church's teaching', the
Pope said. The Orations, known as 'The Theologian',
stressed that 'theology is more than merely
human reflection', the Pope explained. 'It springs
from a life of prayer and holiness, from wonder
at the marvels of God's revelation'. Gregory
was elected Bishop of Constantinople and presided
over the Council that took place there in the
year 381. But the Pope recalled how he encountered
so much hostility that he withdrew once more
to lead a life of solitude. 'His spiritual autobiography
from this final period includes some of his
most beautiful poetry', the Pope said. 'As we
admire the wisdom with which he defended the
Church's doctrine, let us be moved by the love
that is conveyed in his poetry'.
At
the end of the audience in the Paul VI auditorium,
the Holy Father greeted the faithful present,
and remembered the young, the sick and newlyweds.
He also recalled St. Dominic of Guzman, tireless
preacher of the Gospel, and pointed out that
tomorrow is the Feast of St. Teresa Benedetta
of the Cross, also known as Edith Stein, co-patron
of Europe. 'These two saints help you, dear
young people, to have simple faith in Christ,'
the Pope said. 'Their example sustains you,
dear sufferers of illness, to participate with
faith in the salvific power of the Cross. They
encourage you, dear newlyweds, to be spread
the light of God through your reciprocal faith'.
[CNA] 1377.2
Vatican-Orthodox
relations
Orthodox Patriarch Alexei II of Moscow has repeated
his demand that the Vatican must curb the 'proselytism'
by Catholic clerics in Russia and eastern Europe.
During an August 7 meeting with Cardinal Roger
Etchegaray, the Russian Patriarch said that
Church leaders should 'speedily' call a halt
to the expansion of Eastern Catholic churches.
The Moscow patriarchate called attention to
Patriarch Alexei's comments shortly after Vatican
officials noted that the August 7 meeting had
taken place in a 'brotherly climate.' Cardinal
Etchegaray, meeting with the Russian patriarch
as a papal envoy, had told reporters after the
meeting that ecumenical relations were steadily
improving, and could soon lead to a 'summit
meeting' between the Russian prelate and the
Pope. In his own comments Patriarch Alexei downplayed
those hopes, suggesting that curbs on Catholic
'proselytism' were required to 'develop further
the positive tendencies in Orthodox-Catholic
relations.' While he acknowledged the broadening
cooperation between the Catholic and Orthodox
churches, particularly in efforts to revive
a public witness to Christianity in Europe,
he insisted that Catholic activity in eastern
Europe 'should not turn into proselytism.'
The
Russian primate said that the strained relations
between Eastern-rite Catholics and Orthodox
in Ukraine is a particular source of tension.
But he added that the Orthodox Church is alarmed
by the 'Uniate expansion' in other traditionally
Orthodox regions. 'Uniate' is the term used
by the Orthodox churches to denote those Eastern
churches that have been restored to full communion
with the Holy See. By far the largest of these
Eastern Catholic bodies is the Ukrainian Catholic
Church. For years the Moscow patriarchate has
bitterly objected to the activities of the 'Uniate'
churches in eastern Europe, and complained about
'proselytism' by Catholic priests inside Russia.
Catholic officials have responded by saying
that missionaries in Russia are not attempting
to lure Orthodox believers away from their parishes,
but trying to reach out to the great majority
of Russians who do not attend any church. [CWNews]
1377.3
Archbishop
Oscar Romero
Archbishop Oscar Romero was quoted telling the
reporters of El Salvador, 'You can tell the
people that if they succeed in killing me, that
I forgive and bless those who do it. Hopefully,
they will realize they are wasting their time.
A bishop will die, but the church of God, which
is the people, will never perish.' Romero was
killed several days later during the Celebration
of the Mass, one day after calling Christian
Salvadorans to obey the law of God, even if
it's contradictory to government orders. Today,
the Vatican is debating whether or not the archbishop
was a martyr for the church, or an assassinated
hero for the political left. Archbishop Romero
quickly ascended to the position of not only
a religious leader, but a political hero for
the peasant farmers of El Salvador at a time
when the country was moving toward civil war.
Shortly after being appointed in the late 1970s,
one of Romero's priests and two members of his
congregation were murdered for defending the
needs of the repressed, impoverished farmers.
It
was at that point that he began a crusade to
end the violence against the poor. The archbishop's
position was not a popular one. His views on
social justice conflicted with those of the
Vatican officials who were concerned with liberation
theology in South America. Additionally, Romero's
picture was often printed next to leftist revolutionaries
such as Che Guevara. It is the Vatican's concern
that the beatification of the archbishop could
stir up unresolved political issues. This concern
was reaffirmed by the Vatican when Pope Benedict
XVI told reporters that 'Romero as a person
merits beatification.' However, in the official
transcript, officials only kept the pope's general
praise of the deceased archbishop as a 'great
witness to the faith.' The removal of the Pope's
support of the beatification has been noted
by Cardinal Tarciscio Bertone, the Vatican's
Secretary of State. The Associated Press reported
that Bertone stated that the pope 'wanted to
be very respectful' of the saints' congregation,
which is still considering the case.' If it
is confirmed that he was a martyr for the Faith,
Archbishop Romero could be canonized. In the
Catholic Church, martyrs can be canonized without
the verification of a posthumous miracle. [CNA]
1377.4
The
world's riches
In his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Benedict
called on the faithful to heed Christ's warning
not to become attached to the world's riches.
He emphasized his point by giving several examples
of faithful people who have put their treasure
in heaven. Addressing a large group of cheering
faithful on Sunday in Castel Gandolfo, his summer
residence, the Pope stressed that 'material
riches, although a good, are not an absolute
good'. He added: 'Above all, they are no assurance
of salvation, but can in fact seriously compromise
it'. After departing in recent weeks from the
usual custom of addressing themes in Sunday's
Gospel, Pope Benedict XVI returned to the tradition
today, and referred to Jesus' words on the risk
of storing treasure on earth. 'It is wise and
virtuous not to allow one's heart to become
attached to the goods of this world,' he said,
'because everything passes, everything can come
to end.
The
real treasure for which we Christians must tirelessly
seek,' the Pope continued, 'lies in the things
from above, there where Christ can be found
at the right hand of the Father.' And he reminded
the crowd that Saint Paul in his letter to the
Colossians speaks of this when he says that
'our life is hidden with Christ in God'. Pope
Benedict recalled that today marks the celebration
of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary
Major, the first basilica dedicated to Our Lady
in 432 by Pope Sixtus III, and looked to her
as an example of one who seeks true treasure.
The Virgin Mary, the Pope said, participated
in the mystery of Christ more than other creature
on earth and therefore sustains us in a walk
of faith because, working with our strength,
she does not let us 'be dominated by greed or
selfishness,' but always helps us 'look for
that which is good in the eyes of God'.
The
Holy Father also drew attention to the 29th
anniversary of the death of Pope Paul VI, who
died at Castel Gandolfo on August 6th 1978,
the Feast of the Transfiguration. The late Pontiff
'completed his earthly mission' at the summer
residence, he said, and 'was called into the
heavenly house of the Father.' The Pope added:
'His memory invites us to raise our eyes to
Heaven and to faithfully serve the Lord and
the Church, as he did in the difficult years
of the last century'. After reciting the Angelus
prayer, Benedict XVI focused on yet another
person who has passed on to their eternal reward,
the Romanian Orthodox Patriarch Teoctist, who
died earlier this week. 'I warmly remember this
noble Pastor who loved his Church and gave a
great and positive contribution to relations
between Catholics and Orthodox, constantly encouraging
the work of the International Joint Commission
for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic
and Orthodox Church,' he said. He also recalled
the 'clear testimony' of his ecumenical commitment
when he made two visits to Pope John Paul II,
and the welcome which he returned to the late
Pontiff when John Paul visited Romania in 1999.
Quoting from the Orthodox funeral rite, he said:
''May his memory be eternal'', and concluded:
'Let us pray to God that he welcome our brother
into the kingdom of light, granting him the
rest and peace that is promised to the faithful
servants of the Gospel'. [CNA] 1377.5
The
attack on religion
'Be
quiet or we'll silence you'
In
a ferocious column published by the Spanish
Socialist daily, 'El Pais,' Professor
Gregorio Peces-Barba, considered the inspiration
behind the current Socialist anti-clericalism
in Spain and author of the course 'Education
for Citizenship,' has threatened the Catholic
Church, warning it to either be silent or 'suffer
the consequences.' In a column entitled, 'Regarding
Education for Citizenship,' Peces-Barba said
the massive opposition by the Church to the
government-sponsored course is illegitimate,
since 'faith cannot be set against the law in
a democratic society like ours.' The Church,
he continued, which 'embraces an anti-modern
and clerical traditional culture and opposes
many legal conclusions of the democratic State'
has no basis for its opposition. Peces-Barba
accuses parents who have opposed the course
of 'extreme arrogance, an attitude of impunity,
and an unbearable sense of superiority, derived
from the idea that they hold to 'superior truths,''
and he accuses the Church of years of 'challenging
legitimate authority, the Constitution and the
law by seeking to impose its views as opposed
to the general interest and the popular sovereignty
which resides in Parliament.'
He
said Catholics in Spain are un-democratic and
hearken back to 'the anti-Enlightenment principles
expressed in the pontifical documents of the
19th century, from Mirari Vos in 1832 to Libertas
by Leo XIII.' The Spanish bishops, he went on,
have 'Iran as their model, where Islam is above
the leaders and the president himself, and where
the death penalty is not only active but is
applied frequently.' The bishops 'cannot and
should not continue down this road or pull so
tightly on the rope. They are responsible for
the agitation that prevents social peace and
belligerent toward the policy of the government
and toward any progress,' he stated. 'They should
have more respect for dissents and avoid condemning
things all the time,' Peces-Barba said. 'If
this new climate is not achieved during the
next legislature, the issue of the actions and
situations of the Church and of establishing
new status, that puts her in her place and respects
the autonomy of civil authority, should be taken
up,' he said in conclusion. [CNA] 1377.6
Top
www.cfnews.org.uk
Freemasonry
At
the beginning of the 20th century, the former
Freemason, Copin-Albancelli, noted: 'Today we
have proof that the destruction of the Catholic
mind is not Freemasonry's entire goal. The proof
of this can be discerned from the fact that
once the religious tradition of France had been
completely eliminated from our governmental
organization, the destructive effort was turned
in another direction. The ideas of property,
family and homeland now became the focus of
the attack. Therefore, the destruction of the
Catholic spirit was not all that we wanted.
However, because of the doggedness of the Church's
resistance, we were sure, at least, that we
must begin by attacking it before undertaking
the rest of the job' (Copin-Albancelli, Le
drame maconnique, La conjuration juive contre
le monde chretien (The Masonic drama: The Jewish
conspiracy against Christianity), 1909,
p. 61).
By
'the rest of the job': one must understand the
resolute Freemasonic action undertaken on behalf
of new morals and laws which have contributed
to the destruction of natural morality. This
task had already begun in the 19th century:
for instance, the legalization of divorce in
1884 through the law introduced by the Freemason,
Alfred Naquet. The legalization of divorce seems
to be one of contemporary Freemasonry's main
objectives, as can be evidenced by recent events,
with Masonic lodges and well known Freemasons
such as Henri Caillavet and Pierre Simon have
been in the forefront in the fight for divorce
by mutual consent, (Cf. article `Visa pour noire
mart' in le Nouvel Observateur, April 24th,
1978: 'In the area of morality, Caillavet has
incontestably contributed to changing the sociological
landscape of France, even if others, generally
from the opposition, have passed the projects
he fathered through Parliament. He proposed
the 1968 law for mutual consent divorce. Also
his were the first liberal measures on abortion
in 1971. His too, the withdrawal of discriminatory
laws regarding homosexuality.' ) sometimes elsewhere
termed, no fault divorce. [Caillavet appears
to be the French equivalent of Roy Jenkins,
the British Labour Home Secretary who was midwife
to the permissive society in Britain in the
60s. Jenkins was instrumental in introducing
Abortion, 'no-fault' Divorce, the decriminalization
of homosexuality, and the abolition of theatre
censorship. Editor, Apropos.]
Freemasonry
has also lobbied for the legal age to be reduced
to 18 years; for widespread sex education, contraception
and abortion, (Cf. The statement by Fred Zeller,
the former Grand Master of the Grand Orient:
' Believe me, recently, it is thanks to our
agreements (between Freemason) against the inveterate
and incorrigible conservatives that we were
able to pass measures such as those concerning
abortion or family planning ', in Nouvel Observateur,
May 24th, 1976, p. 101), artificial insemination,
(Private bill of October 26th, 1978, presented
by H. Caillavet and Mazard), conditioning minds
in favour of euthanasia, and 'the abrogation
of discriminatory laws against homosexuals'.
(Op.cit, Visa pour notre mort', le Nouvells
Observateur).
[Elementary
Guide to Freemasonry, Arnaud de Lassus, Approaches
22, 2004].
'According to the booklet, 'The Hero of Auschwitz',
young Saint Maximilian Kolbe analysed Freemasonry's
aims in the following words (after viewing a
Masonic demonstration in Rome in 1917)
'These
men without God found themselves in a tragic
situation. Such implacable hatred for the Church
and the ambassadors of Christ on earth is nal
in the power of individual persons, but of a
systematic activity stemming in the final analysis
from Freemasonry. In particular it aims to destroy
the Catholic religion. Their deceits have been
spread in the whole world, in different guises,
but with the same old goal: religious indifference
and weakening of moral forces according to their
basic principle: we will conquer the Catholic
Church not with argument, but rather with moral
corruption.''
'Not
with argument but rather with moral corruption'.
It is only in this context that the role of
British Freemasonry can be fully appreciated.
For it is Freemasonry which enabled Britain
to become the standard-bearer of moral corruption
by legalizing abortion, instant divorce and
homosexual intercourse between 'consenting adults'
-thanks to Freemasonry's 'front organisation'
the British Humanist Association which has an
elite active within all the establishment political
parties.'
`Legalized
abortion is not only and end-product of moral
corruption. By enabling moral corruption to
be practised with apparent impunity, it is also
the most effective means of promoting it. For
it is the only truly infallible means of birth
prevention.
It is therefore particularly significant that
the home of Freemasonry became the springboard
for launching legalized abortion throughout
the 'free world'. For it was not until 6 years
later (1973) that this particularly noxious
brand of moral corruption spread to the USA,
and a year later to France. So much for British
Freemasonry being comparatively innocuous.'
[Hamish
Fraser, Approaches No. 77. 1982]. 1377.7
The
'Our Father' banned - but 'mindfulness' is OK
At
Oakland's Emerson Elementary School, California,
students may not be able to say a public 'Our
Father,' but they can publicly practice 'mindfulness'
techniques, adapted from Buddhism, in which
'the children learn to follow their breath,
watch their thoughts and focus their attention
by listening to the tone of a Tibetan singing
bowl until the sound is too faint to hear,'
reported the July 27 Oakland Tribune. Emerson
Elementary, however, has but one of many such
mindfulness programs, the number of which have
grown nationwide to more than 100. One organization
that is encouraging schools to adopt meditation
practices for students is the Hollywood-based
David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based
Education and World Peace.
The
Lynch Foundation promotes Transcendental Meditation,
which David Lynch calls a technique for 'diving
within.' In a message on the Foundation's web
site, Lynch holds out the hope that 'someday,
hopefully very soon, 'diving within' as a preparation
for learning and as a tool for developing the
creative potential of the mind will be a standard
part of every school's curriculum.' Children,
says Lynch, experience the stress of the world,
and, he notes, 'there are hundreds of schools,
with thousands of students, who are eager to
relieve this stress and bring out the full potential
of every student by providing this Consciousness-Based
education today.' Meditation practices in public
schools have not escaped the vigilance of church-state
separationists. In fact, said Edward Tabash,
chairman of the national legal committee for
Americans United for the Separation of Church
and State, the issue could inspire 'a coalition
between religious fundamentalists and atheists'
to fight it. 'It's not the business of schools
to lead kids to inner peace through a spiritual
process,' said Tabash, who says he is a secular
humanist. Proponents of school-based meditation,
however, claim that meditation techniques can
be separated from Buddhism or Hinduism and so
are not in themselves religious. 'What's religious
about learning to follow your breath?' said
Emerson Elementary principle Wendi Caporicci,
whom the Tribune called 'a devout Catholic.'
[California Catholic Daily] 1377.8
Tax dollars at
work
The
California Women's Commission has asked to make
artificial insemination easier for lesbians.
'I know that the status of lesbians is of little
or no concern or no interest to most people,'
said Elaine Suranie, second vice chair of the
California Women's Commission at its International
Briefing at the state capitol on July 26. The
commission is a state government organization,
formed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In
her opening speech, Suranie said, 'The status
of lesbians is the status of women.' The 'institutionalized
discrimination of lesbians and gays is a form
of sexism that seeks to control anyone who steps
out of their narrowly defined male and female
roles,' she said, praising the commission 'for
its longtime support of gay rights.'
'Homosexuality
is not a crime,' said Suranie. Why, then, 'do
so many heterosexuals, most practicing the same
sexual behaviours that most homosexuals engage
in, impose their moral disapproval by demanding
that the state enforce their personal or religious
prejudice against us?'
According
to Deborah Wald with the National Center for
Lesbian Rights, who also addressed the briefing,
'The face of the American family is changing.'
On average, she said, heterosexual marriages
last only seven years, and 'children in large
numbers' are being raised outside of traditional
two-parent families. Women, too, 'are giving
birth to babies conceived with donated eggs,
donated sperm, and even carried in donated wombs.'
Given these facts, she said, 'we owe it to our
children to take a long, hard look at what we
mean when we talk about 'parents' and 'families.''
Wald,
who with her female partner raises two boys
in San Francisco, praised California for assuring
that 'children born into intact lesbian homes
had two legal mothers from birth, without adoptions.'
But all is not well, she said. 'Assisted reproduction
and adoption are how we [lesbians] have children.'
But lesbians cannot inseminate themselves with
sperm without the aid of a doctor, she said,
because, in such cases, 'the donor is legally
the father.' The state Family Code, said Wald,
'needs to be amended to recognize the ways that
lesbians and gay men have children.'
'Figuring
out who parents are is no longer just an issue
of genetics,' said Wald. She urged the state
to adopt two articles of the 2002 Parentage
Act, which would specify that donors are not
parents of children conceived by artificial
insemination. 'By taking doctors out of the
loop, this statute would reduce the complexity
and expense for lesbian couples wishing to use
donor insemination.'
The
commission's support for 'gay rights' is not
surprising. Openly lesbian state Sen. Sheila
Kuehl (D-Los Angeles) is one of its members,
as well as Assemblywoman Julia Brownley (D-Woodland
Hills), whom Kuehl has praised as a 'progressive.'
The other two legislative members are both Democrats:
Senators Gloria Negrete McLeod (Chino) and Jenny
Oropeza (Carson). The commission supports a
bill currently before the state legislature
that would recognize same-sex marriage.
On
Aug. 1, Gov. Schwarzenegger announced three
new appointments he made to the commission.
All are Democrats. The state senate must now
approve the commissioners-elect. [California
Catholic Daily] 1377.9
Lesbian
fire-chief's diktat
In
the United States, four San Diego fire-fighters
are filing legal claims against the City of
San Diego after their superiors forced them
to participate in the July 21 San Diego Gay
Pride Parade, in full uniform and on their city
fire truck. In the past, fire-fighters who attended
the parade generally did so on a volunteer basis.
When the four fire-fighters protested, their
superiors told them they must ride in the parade
or face disciplinary action, reported the California
Catholic Daily. A press release from the Thomas
More Law Center states that, while on parade,
the fire-fighters were 'subjected to vile sexual
taunts from homosexuals lining the parade route.'
Some of the comments hurled at the fire-fighters
along the parade route included: you can put
out my fire; you're making me hot; give me mouth-to-mouth.
When the fire-fighters did not respond, some
in the crowd turned hostile and started yelling
obscenities at them. Other bystanders directed
lewd acts at the fire-fighters, such as exposing
their genitals, grabbing their crotch, and blowing
kisses. 'What happened to these dedicated public
servants was inexcusable,' said Charles LiMandri
of the Thomas More Law Center.
The
law centre is representing the fire-fighters
in their legal claims. 'The City should have
known from past experience the kind of offensive
activities that go on at this event. This was
a clear case of sexual harassment in violation
of state and federal law as well as the City's
own code of conduct,' said LiMandri in the press
release. San Diego Fire Chief Tracy Jarman has
been quoted as saying that the parade is a 'fun
event and all employees are encouraged to participate.'
San Diego's Republican mayor, Jerry Sanders,
appointed Jarman fire chief in June 2006. According
to 365Gay.com, Jarman is 'one of only a handful
of openly lesbian fire chiefs in the country.'
[CNA] 1377.10
Europe
Birth
dearth
Pro-life advocates have been trying to make
it clear to the world that many industrialized
nations are not experiencing overpopulation
but, rather, a birth dearth. Especially in Europe,
population levels are dangerously low and under
the figures needed to sustain the population.
On Saturday, the BBC admitted that pro-life
advocates are right and that abortion has presented
problems, especially for nations in eastern
Europe where it has been considered a method
of birth control for so long that the population
is ravaged. 'Population levels across many parts
of the developed world are declining, but this
is particularly noticeable in former Eastern
Bloc states where the number of children being
born has plummeted within a generation,' the
BBC admitted in an article. The news outlet
quoted Boris Vano, from the Slovak Demographic
Research Centre, who said about the nation of
Slovakia, 'In 1974, 100,000 babies were born
in Slovakia - now barely 50,000 a year.' The
BBC admitted that nations like Poland are experiencing
worker shortages as too few people are alive
to maintain the economy. [LifeNews] 1377.10a
International news
AUSTRALIA
Guide for voters
Australia's bishops have issued a statement
intended to guide the thoughts of Catholic voters
as federal elections approach, emphasizing key
issues to consider. The bishops urge Catholic
voters to 'look beyond their own individual
needs' and assess the needs of the common good.
'At a time when some argue that religious faith
should be removed from political altogether,'
the bishops remind voters to take moral issues
seriously, and encourage Catholics to consider
running for political office. The bishops' statement
lists 8 specific topics for special attention:
'respect for human life; promotion of family
life; dignified treatment for indigenous peoples;
access to proper education; adequate health
care; environmental stewardship; decent treatment
of refugees and immigrants; and pursuit of world
peace'. In their consideration of human life,
the Australian bishops call for the development
of 'alternatives to women facing an unexpected
pregnancy.' They also warn against the acceptance
of euthanasia, cloning, and embryonic research,
noting that stem-cell research can be pursued
by ethically acceptable means rather than the
exploitation of human embryos. The bishops'
statement on family life enters into a lively
debate on industrial law. 'Industrial laws must
also support family life by ensuring a fair
wage-fixing system, an adequate minimum wage,
proper protections for workers' conditions and
fair compensation for the working of unsociable
and un-family-friendly hours,' the statement
says. [CWNews] 1377.11
AUSTRALIA
Edict for Catholic schools
Church leaders headed by Cardinal George Pell
have issued an edict to all Catholic schools,
demanding that students and their parents be
more devout and outlining a plan to lure back
thousands of poorer families who have left the
system. The Church will not ban non-Catholic
students from enrolment - it says it considered,
but rejected, plans for a formal 'downsizing
to accommodate only those who are committed
to the faith'. But it wants to introduce a new
four- way selection test to give preference
first to children from the school's local parish,
then to other Catholics, other Christians and
finally children from other religions. The state's
585 Catholic schools have been urged to 're-examine
how they might maximise enrolment of Catholic
students'. The edict also tells Catholic schools
to increase the proportion of school staff who
are 'practising and knowledgeable Catholics'.
Catholic families will be urged to 'maximise
their participation'. Students and younger teaching
staff will be encouraged to take part in religious
events such as World Youth Day.
Church leaders want more people at Sunday Mass
and deeper involvement in the life of the local
church by students and ex-students. Fears that
the drift of Catholics away from the Church's
schools is seriously 'watering down' numbers
of the faithful has forced Cardinal Pell and
other Catholic leaders to take action in a bid
to reverse the trend. Enrolment of students
from a non-Catholic background in Catholic schools
across the State has more than doubled to 20
per cent over the last two decades. In a rare
pastoral letter, 'Catholic Schools at a Crossroads',
the Bishops of NSW and the ACT admit changes
in enrolment patterns have 'radically affected
the composition and roles of the Catholic school.
. .'.The letter, with Cardinal Pell as head
signatory, said: 'Half the students of Catholic
families are enrolled in state schools and a
growing proportion go to non-Catholic independent
schools. Another enrolment trend of particular
concern has been the decline in representation
in our schools of students from both poorer
and wealthier families.' The letter reveals
church leaders faced pressure to 'downsize'
the Catholic school system to include only students
and staff who embraced the religion. But the
bishops decided against such a radical change.
Catholic schools educate about 240,000 students
and employ 15,500 teachers across the state.
Speaking at the launch of the pastoral letter
at the Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel, Bishop
Walker of Broken Bay said it was time to reassess
the future of Catholic schools. [The Daily Telegraph,
Australia] 1377.12
CHINA
Revised translation for Pope's letter
The
Hong Kong diocese has issued a new Chinese translation
of a message by Pope Benedict XVI to the Church
in China, correcting errors in the official
Vatican version. Shortly after the appearance
of the Pope's message, which was released on
June 30, Hong Kong's Cardinal Joseph Zen said
that there were difficulties with the Chinese
translation. Cardinal Zen was even more forthrightly
critical of an accompanying 'explanatory note'
released by the Holy See in conjunction with
the Pope's message. Now the Hong Kong diocesan
newspaper Kung Kao Pohas released a revised
translation, correcting and clarifying the original.
In public comments at a parish meeting in July,
Cardinal Zen disclosed that he had offered to
provide assistance to the Vatican officials
working on the translation of the document into
Chinese, but did not receive a reply, and only
received the official translation a few days
before it was made public. [CWNews] 1377.13
FRANCE
Cardinal Lustiger, RIP
Cardinal
Jean Marie Lustiger, Archbishop Emeritus of
Paris and one of the key players on the European
stage during the second half of the 20th century,
died in Paris on Sunday at the age of 80. Cardinal
Lustiger had been in a Paris hospital since
April 23. In October of 2006 he told the priests
and deacons of Paris he was suffering from 'a
serious illness.' Born Aaron Lustiger on September
17, 1926, in Paris to a family of Jewish merchants
from Poland, he converted to Catholicism in
1940 at the age of 14, taking the name Jean
Marie, two years after his mother was deported
in 1942 to Auschwitz, where she died. After
many overcoming many difficulties he was ordained
to the priesthood in Paris in 1954. Lustiger
was chaplain for 15 years at the Sorbonne, where
he himself studied as a youth. In 1969 he was
pastor of various parishes in Paris and was
named Bishop of Orleans by Pope John Paul II
in 1979. In 1981 he was named Archbishop of
Paris and in 1983 he was made a cardinal. Known
for his close relationship to John Paul II,
Cardinal Lustiger sought to enthusiastically
implement the 'new evangelization' in an increasingly
secular France. Many attribute the current religious
reawakening in France in part to the efforts
of the late cardinal. The cardinal accompanied
John Paul II on his trip to Israel in 2000,
when the Pontiff characterized the Holocaust
as a 'Golgotha of modern times.' Especially
active in the intellectual world and author
of numerous books, Cardinal Lustiger was also
elected a member of the prestigious French Academy
in June of 1995. In a brief statement, the Archdiocese
of Paris noted that the cardinal played 'a notable
role in our society and in the intellectual
debates of our time.' During his visit to the
United States this past week, French president
Nicolas Sarkozy said that on Sunday, France
lost 'a great figure of the religious, moral,
intellectual and spiritual life of our country.'
The funeral for the late cardinal will be held
Friday morning at t
