That's what the Hartford Courant is reporting: Connecticut News - State, National and World News from Today's Hartford Courant - FROM TODAY'S COURANT:
"The Vatican has reopened an investigation into charges first reported nearly eight years ago that a powerful Mexican priest close to the pope sexually abused seminarians.
The allegations focus on the actions of the Rev. Marcial Maciel Degollado, now 84 and based in Rome. He leads a religious order known as the Legionaries of Christ, which claims 600 priests in 18 countries. Its U.S. headquarters is in Orange and it has a seminary in Cheshire.
The allegations surfaced in a Courant report in February 1997. Nine former members of the Legion said Maciel first abused them years ago when they were young boys or teenagers, ages 10 to 16, in seminaries in Spain and Italy."
Monday, January 3, 2005
Bishop Sees God's Message in Tsunami
The message for all of us is "you know neither the day nor the hour."
From Bishop sees god's message in tsunami :- - India News - Webindia123.com:
"Was the killer tsunami a message from god? A reflection on the way man lives?
Yes, says Bishop Alex Dias of the Stella Morris Cathedral Church, the main Catholic church here.
'I believe that the tsunami is a warning. A warning from god to reflect deeply on the way we lead our lives,' said Dais, as he stood among the ragtag tarpaulin tents in the 900-strong relief camp the church is running for tsunami survivors.
More than 800 people are now confirmed dead in the Indian archipelago of the Andaman and Nicobar, which has 572 islands, islets and rocks, and more than 5,000 still missing, a week after giant tidal waves hit the islands. "
From Bishop sees god's message in tsunami :- - India News - Webindia123.com:
"Was the killer tsunami a message from god? A reflection on the way man lives?
Yes, says Bishop Alex Dias of the Stella Morris Cathedral Church, the main Catholic church here.
'I believe that the tsunami is a warning. A warning from god to reflect deeply on the way we lead our lives,' said Dais, as he stood among the ragtag tarpaulin tents in the 900-strong relief camp the church is running for tsunami survivors.
More than 800 people are now confirmed dead in the Indian archipelago of the Andaman and Nicobar, which has 572 islands, islets and rocks, and more than 5,000 still missing, a week after giant tidal waves hit the islands. "
Sunday, January 2, 2005
My View: Don't Punish the Kids for the Sins of the Parents
FromGay Couple's Sons Anger Catholic Parents - EarthLink - U.S. News:
"Some parents and parishioners have accused the Roman Catholic diocese in Orange County of violating church doctrine by allowing a gay couple to enroll their children in a church school.
The group demanded that St. John the Baptist School in Costa Mesa accept only families that pledge to abide by Catholic teachings, the Los Angeles Times reported in Sunday's editions. Church doctrine opposes gay relationships and adoption by same-sex couples.
'The teachings of the church seem to have been abandoned,' John R. Nixon told the Times. 'We send our children to a Catholic school because we expect and demand that the teachings of our church will be adhered to.'
School officials rejected the demand, and issued a new policy stating that a family's background 'does not constitute an absolute obstacle to enrollment in the school.'"
"Some parents and parishioners have accused the Roman Catholic diocese in Orange County of violating church doctrine by allowing a gay couple to enroll their children in a church school.
The group demanded that St. John the Baptist School in Costa Mesa accept only families that pledge to abide by Catholic teachings, the Los Angeles Times reported in Sunday's editions. Church doctrine opposes gay relationships and adoption by same-sex couples.
'The teachings of the church seem to have been abandoned,' John R. Nixon told the Times. 'We send our children to a Catholic school because we expect and demand that the teachings of our church will be adhered to.'
School officials rejected the demand, and issued a new policy stating that a family's background 'does not constitute an absolute obstacle to enrollment in the school.'"
Difficult Questions Regarding Evil
From Difficult Questions Regarding the Terror Attacks:
"One of the most vexing problems in theology is the problem of evil. If God is good why does He permit great evils, such as the terrorist attacks of 11 September? Could He not, with a mere thought, stop all evil in its tracks, protecting lives and souls from destruction, physical or moral? Is not His goodness diminished when innocent people suffer at the hands of evil men? "
"One of the most vexing problems in theology is the problem of evil. If God is good why does He permit great evils, such as the terrorist attacks of 11 September? Could He not, with a mere thought, stop all evil in its tracks, protecting lives and souls from destruction, physical or moral? Is not His goodness diminished when innocent people suffer at the hands of evil men? "
Saturday, January 1, 2005
Happy New Year!
May the cross be our reference point as we begin this new year. In this vale of tears may its shadow give us hope! May the joy that is the blessing of Christ dwell in each of your hearts.
Pope's New Year Address
From Asia News in Italy:
“We begin the year celebrating Mary, Mother of God, Theotokos. The Holy Virgin offered the world the Messiah who is God’s blessing to every man and woman and the entire world.
The greetings that are exchanged today are based on this blessing, greetings of well-wishing because in Christ God fills us with all sorts of good things, greetings of peace “For he is our peace (Eph 2:14).
It is in this liturgical context that today we celebrate World Peace Day whose theme is the apostle Paul’s entreaty: “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21).
“Evil [. . .] is the result of human freedom” and is defeated when freedom, prompted by grace, firmly turns towards the Good, i.e. God.
May Mary, Queen of Peace, help us all build the fundamental good that is human co-existence. Only thus can the world progress along the paths of justice and fraternal solidarity.
After the prayer, the Pope said:
“Once again I feel close to the communities stricken by the tragic calamity of the last few days.
“In pledging my prayers for the victims and their families I salute the many acts of compassion and empathy taken around the world.
“It is this sense of compassion for fellow humans as well as God’s help that give hope for better days in the coming year.
“We begin the year celebrating Mary, Mother of God, Theotokos. The Holy Virgin offered the world the Messiah who is God’s blessing to every man and woman and the entire world.
The greetings that are exchanged today are based on this blessing, greetings of well-wishing because in Christ God fills us with all sorts of good things, greetings of peace “For he is our peace (Eph 2:14).
It is in this liturgical context that today we celebrate World Peace Day whose theme is the apostle Paul’s entreaty: “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21).
“Evil [. . .] is the result of human freedom” and is defeated when freedom, prompted by grace, firmly turns towards the Good, i.e. God.
May Mary, Queen of Peace, help us all build the fundamental good that is human co-existence. Only thus can the world progress along the paths of justice and fraternal solidarity.
After the prayer, the Pope said:
“Once again I feel close to the communities stricken by the tragic calamity of the last few days.
“In pledging my prayers for the victims and their families I salute the many acts of compassion and empathy taken around the world.
“It is this sense of compassion for fellow humans as well as God’s help that give hope for better days in the coming year.
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