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News Briefs
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NEWS BRIEFS Nov-18-2009
By Catholic News Service
U.S.
Social trends, seminary character among issues in abuse causes study
BALTIMORE (CNS) -- An ongoing study of the causes and contexts of sexual abuse by priests delves into a broad assortment of factors, including societal trends, treatment approaches over the decades and the character of seminaries in different generations. An interim report on the "Causes and Context Study" presented to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Nov. 17 during their fall general assembly outlines a complex, multidimensional project. The full study, commissioned by the USCCB in 2002 in response to the sexual abuse crisis, is expected to be completed by late 2010. Some of the general findings suggest there are close correlations between incidents of sexual abuse and events in society, particularly during the social upheaval of the 1960s and 1970s, the authors said. Preliminary findings include little evidence that homosexuality is a factor in who sexually abused minors; the rise in sexual abuse cases in the 1960s and a decrease in the 1980s track with other behavioral changes during the same period; the environment in seminaries when a majority of priest-abusers were educated may be an influencing factor; the number of reported incidents of sexual abuse falls beginning in the 1980s when "human formation" programs began and seminary candidate screening became more "nuanced."
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Bishops OK document criticizing some reproductive technologies
BALTIMORE (CNS) -- Although the Catholic Church shares the pain of married couples facing infertility problems, some reproductive technologies "are not morally legitimate ways to solve those problems," the U.S. bishops say in a new document. The 15-page document, "Life-Giving Love in an Age of Technology," received overwhelming approval Nov. 17 at the fall general assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore. Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities, said the new document would "fill a true pastoral need" among U.S. Catholics for a better understanding of "the difference between the Catholic understanding and the secular understanding of human life." The document is in question-and-answer format, with a short introduction. In it, the bishops reject the use of eggs or sperm from "donors" -- whom the document says are often paid and should instead be called "vendors" -- as well as surrogate motherhood, artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization and human cloning.
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District's same-sex marriage bill could limit work of church agencies
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Recent news reports have mistakenly claimed that the Archdiocese of Washington and its social service arm, Catholic Charities, are threatening to stop providing social services if the District of Columbia City Council's proposed same-sex marriage bill passes, said Auxiliary Bishop Barry C. Knestout of Washington. "Catholic Charities is vowing to continue its services even if a same-sex marriage bill passes," he wrote in a recent open letter to local Catholics posted on the Web site of the Catholic Standard, Washington's archdiocesan newspaper. Bishop Knestout said the level of services will not be the same though, because "without a meaningful religious exemption in the bill, Catholic Charities and other similar religious providers will become ineligible for contracts, grants and licenses to continue those services." Archdiocesan officials and other religious leaders in the district have said if the council is going to pass the measure despite their objections, then it must have a strong protections for religious conscience. Catholic Charities currently serves 68,000 people in the city, including one-third of Washington's homeless.
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WORLD
Sistine Scriptures: New book underlines Bible stories behind the art
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- To really see the Sistine Chapel, it's more important to have a Bible in your hands than mini-binoculars, said Msgr. Roberto Zagnoli, an official of the Vatican Museums. The Italian monsignor is the principal author of "The Painted Word," a new series of books published by the Vatican Museums and the Italian financial newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore. In the four-part series, the Italian monsignor quotes and explains the biblical passages that inspired the famous frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. The first volume focuses on Michelangelo's work on the Sistine ceiling. Visiting the Sistine Chapel with a Bible helps visitors appreciate Michelangelo's work and come to a more vivid understanding of the Scriptures, said Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, president of the commission governing Vatican City State, as he presented the first volume of the new series Nov. 17 in the Vatican Museums. The newspaper is releasing the Sistine Chapel volumes every Friday Nov. 20-Dec. 11. The series will be published in English in December.
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Pope emphasizes inspirational power of medieval cathedrals and art
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Recalling the great European cathedrals of the Middle Ages, Pope Benedict XVI said the contemplation of art and beauty offers a special way to commune with God. At his weekly general audience Nov. 18 in the Vatican's audience hall, the pope gave a brief lesson in art history, explaining the religious significance of the Romanesque and Gothic styles of the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries in Italy and France. Pope Benedict's emphasis on the relationship between spirituality and art came as he was preparing to meet Nov. 21 with more than 200 artists from around the world in the Sistine Chapel. Looking at the cathedrals of the period is important for two reasons, he said. First, the examination of artistic movements of centuries past shows that "the masterpieces are incomprehensible if the religious spirit that inspired them is not taken into account." And second, he said, the wonder inspired by the cathedrals shows that even today, "beauty is the privileged and fascinating pathway to the mystery of God."
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Philippine bishops support new rice strains to help fight hunger
MANILA, Philippines (CNS) -- The Philippine bishops' bioethics office said it supports efforts to develop new rice strains to solve a rice shortage in Asia as long as doing so does not harm the environment. Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi of Caceres told the Asian church news agency UCA News the church will back the introduction of new rice strains if they will help feed more than 1 billion malnourished Asians and Africans. He said Nov. 17 that the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines initially was against genetically modified organisms when the technology was "not yet so well-defined." The archbishop noted "a gradual evolution" toward acceptance as it became apparent genetically modified organisms offered food safety and security as well as environmental sustainability. The archbishop spoke as more than 700 scientists and agriculturalists discussed new rice strains at the Sixth International Rice Genetics Symposium in Manila Nov. 16-19.
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Pope calls for prayers, efforts on behalf of suffering children
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI called for prayers and greater efforts on the part of the international community to help the children around the world who live in dramatic situations. "My thoughts go to all the children in the world, especially to those who live in difficult conditions and who suffer from violence, abuse, sickness, war or hunger," the pope said at the end of his general audience Nov. 18 at the Vatican. Anticipating the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children, which will be observed Nov. 20 and this year will mark the 20th anniversary of the signing of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, Pope Benedict asked the faithful gathered inside the Vatican's Paul VI Auditorium to pray for children. "I invite you to join in my prayer, and at the same time, I appeal to the international community to multiply efforts to offer an adequate response to the dramatic problems of children," he said. "All generous efforts must continue until the rights of children are recognized and their dignity respected."
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Australia's Catholic bishops get perspective of two former Anglicans
PERTH, Australia (CNS) -- When Australia's bishops meet in Sydney Nov. 23-27 they will discuss the impact of Pope Benedict XVI's apostolic constitution welcoming Anglicans into the Catholic Church and will have the somewhat-unique perspective of two former Anglicans. "We're just beginning to talk about it and see what is emerging as to the need, the numbers, and to look at the personnel," said Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett of Lismore, who was received into the Catholic Church in 1965 after he had already served as an Anglican priest. Bishop Jarrett, secretary of the bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, said "considerable difficulties" remain for Anglicans who want to join the Catholic Church, especially for dedicated pastoral clergy with great gifts and loyal congregations that will collapse if their clergy leave. "What's especially difficult is they live in parishes and are very attached to their parish church, which is spiritual home for Anglicans as it is for Catholics," Bishop Jarrett said. "The thought of having to leave it and go out into great uncertainty is a daunting prospect. What the pope is doing is providing a welcome for them."
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PEOPLE
Indian cardinal recuperates after heart attack, angioplasty
BANGALORE, India (CNS) -- Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India and major archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, was recuperating after he suffered a massive heart attack and underwent emergency angioplasty. Cardinal Vithayathil, archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly, was taken off a ventilator at Cochin's Lisie Hospital Nov. 18 and was eating light food. "It is a miracle that our cardinal survived," Father Paul Thelakkat, spokesman for the Syro-Malabar Church, told Catholic News Service Nov. 18 from Cochin. While on his way home after a meeting of the Syro-Malabar synod Nov. 16, Cardinal Vithayathil, 82, suffered a massive heart attack in his car. He was rushed to nearby Lisie Hospital, where doctors resuscitated him and performed the angioplasty, Father Thelakkat said.
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