For Truth and Love of the Church in China

From Asia News Italy:
With the ‘Letter to Chinese Catholics’ published today, Benedict XVI launches the Church and society in China into the third millennium. Putting together “truth and love” the Pope accurately identifies the problems Christians and the Chinese state have to face and moves towards a solution that guarantees a fruitful future for China [...]

Pope Formally Announces Year of St. Paul 2008-2009

From CNS:
Pope Benedict XVI announced a special jubilee year dedicated to St. Paul, saying the church needs modern Christians who will imitate the apostle’s missionary energy and spirit of sacrifice.
The pope said the Pauline year will run from June 28, 2008, to June 29, 2009, to mark the approximately 2,000th anniversary of the saint’s birth.
He [...]

Letter to Catholic Chinese on Saturday

From The International Tribune:
Pope Benedict XVI’s eagerly awaited letter to Roman Catholics in China will be released on Saturday, the Vatican said, the pontiff’s latest effort to reach out to Beijing and bring all of China’s faithful into the Vatican’s fold.
A Vatican statement issued Friday said the pope’s letter — addressed to bishops, priests and [...]

New Bishop for Superior

Peter F. Christensen

Confirmation on the Motu Proprio from Vatican

Today’s Vatican News Service confirms what many news agencies are reporting that the Secretary of State met with selected bishops from around the world to present the forthcoming Motu Proprio to them, along with the Holy Father’s letter of explanation. In Italian:
Given below is the text of a communique released today by the Holy See [...]

Catholic News Site

Pew Sitter…sort of the way the Diocese Report used to be, although much more positive…

Pope: Avoiding the Temptation to Deny the Divinity of Jesus

By looking to St. Cyril…from Asia News Italy:
“Denying Christ’s divinity”, which was at the centre of Aryan heresy, “is still today a temptation for Christians”. In order to counter this “integral catechesis” is needed, through which the faithful can teach Christianity “which truly involves our entire existence and which makes us credible witnesses of Jesus [...]

Reshuffling the Curia/New Position for Archbishop Foley

- Accepted the resignation from the office of grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, presented by Cardinal Carlo Furno, upon having reached the age limit.- Appointed Archbishop John Patrick Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, as pro-grand master of the Equestrian Order of [...]

Catholic Church in Manila Lays Down Dress Code for Mass

From Gulf News:
The Archdiocese of Manila has issued a dress code that calls on the faithful to present themselves in formal and more conservative attire when attending mass, a local paper said….
Male Catholics should wear “long-sleeved polo shirts, collared shirts, or t-shirts paired with either slacks or jeans”, the circular directed, advising against wearing caps, [...]

Motu Proprio Released on Papal Elections

Pope Benedict is reverting back to the pre-Pope John Paul II revisions…Father Z has the summary.
Also he notes that the release date for that “other” Motu Proprio is now July 6th

Vatican II According to McBrien

This stuff is so silly it defies belief. After Vatican II what people believe no longer center on truth according to Notre Dame’s Fr. McBrien, from The Tidings:
There were always Protestants attracted to the Catholic Church in the pre-Vatican II era for biblical, theological or historical reasons, all of which were carefully laid out in [...]

USA Today: Are There Really 69 Million Catholics?

Plus instructions on how to formally declare yourself a defector….
From USA Today:
Are there really more than 64 million U.S. Roman Catholics?
That’s what the 2007 Official Catholic Directory, due out this week, will say. But what about the dead, the double-counted and the disgruntled ex-Catholics — all of whose names may still plump up parish rolls? [...]

Motu Proprio Update

According to Father Z’s sources it is being printed.

Cool Gadget

Want to map out your daily walk/run? Find out how far it is?Or are you traveling and looking to map out a dialy job/walk?
This is way cool…Google Maps Pedometer

"A Life Completely Oriented Toward Christ"

In days where “orientation” often means something entirely different, the Pope on the Feast of the Birth of John the Baptist points out the orientation that all humans should share. From Asia News Italy:
An Angelus entirely dedicated to the figure of John the Baptist, “witness” of Christ and of the “truth without compromise”, was proclaimed [...]