Vatican Calls Gaddafi Death the End of a "Harsh Regime"
The Vatican is calling the death of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi the end of a “harsh and oppressive regime” that was based on power instead of human dignity.
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Number of Women Religious in Steep Decline
Dismal numbers released last month at the annual assembly of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), an organization recently investigated by the Vatican for its support of female ordination and homosexuality, may foreshadow the end of many orders in the U.S.
Pope Announces "Year of the Faith" for 2012-2013
Pope Benedict XVI has announced plans to invoke a "Year of the Faith" for 2012-2013 in order to "give new impetus to the mission of the whole Church to lead men out of the desert in which they often find themselves, to the place of life, of friendship with Christ."
Protestors Desecrate Church in Rome
The Italian version of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement turned violent in Rome this weekend and resulted in the desecration of a Catholic church where a statue of the Virgin Mary were destroyed.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) is reporting that rioters broke into the 18th century church of Santi Marcellino and Pietro near St. John Lateran square where much of the violence was centered.
“When I came down, I saw the entrance door had been smashed in,” the church’s parish priest, Father Giuseppe Ciucci, was quoted by Italian media as saying.
“The Virgin Mary’s statue, which was at the entrance, had been taken away and I saw it had been thrown into the street and smashed,” he said.
“I went into the sacristy and I saw the door there was also destroyed. The large crucifix at the entrance had been vandalized,” he added.
Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said he "condemned the violence and the fact that a church was desecrated by some protesters who broke in and destroyed some images." He called the clashes between police and protesters "horrific."
During the course of the melee, hooded protesters torched cars, smashed banks and hurled rocks at police. The perpetrators of the violence were said to have infiltrated the larger and more peaceful demonstration of malcontents who turned out to protest Italy's high unemployment, political class, and $83 billion in austerity measures that resulted in the raising of taxes and the cost of health care.
About 70 people were injured during the demonstrations which results in millions of dollars in property damage.
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Photo is by Alessandro Bianchi of Reuters
Catholics Leaders Publish Powerful Ad Protesting Birth Control Mandate
The leaders of 20 national Catholic organizations have published a joint statement protesting the “preventive services” mandate issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in two major Capitol Hill newspapers.
Church Official: Egyptian Government Complicit in Slaughter of Christians
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
A spokesman for the Catholic Church in Egypt is claiming that the army and police "used" a mob of street fighters to carry out an attack on thousands of peaceful Christian demonstrators in Cairo this past weekend that left more than 25 dead and 200 injured.
Poland Celebrates Eucharistic Miracle
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Polish Archbishop Edward Ozorowski led the faithful in a special Mass on Sunday to celebrate a Eucharistic miracle that occurred in 2008.
Bishop Says Archdiocese Will Stop Conducting Marriages If Forced to Wed Same-Sex Couples
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Same-sex marriage has already forced the Church out of the adoption business in many U.S. states where the unions are sanctioned, but it is now threatening to force the Church out of the marriage business too, says Archbishop Barry Hickey of the Archdiocese of Perth, Australia, who says he'll stop performing marriages altogether if forced to conduct the unions.
US Bishops Call for Urgent Action on Threats to Conscience Protection
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has launched a national program aimed at encouraging the faithful to take a stand against a recent decision by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to require all private health plans to include coverage for contraception, sterilization, and related "patient education and counseling" services for women.
Pope's Visit to Germany Expected to be "Difficult"
Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
When Pope Benedict XVI steps off a plane in his native Germany tomorrow morning, he will be embarking on what many say will be a difficult four-day visit to a land where Catholic teaching is mostly opposed or at least ignored and militant groups are planning large boycotts and protests.
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