Vatican: John Paul II and Pius XII declared Venerable!!!

HUGE news from over the weekend....

Pope Benedict XVI has signed a decree recognizing the late Pope John Paul II's life of “heroic virtue.” With his signature, Benedict XVI throws the door wide open to the beatification of the much-loved Polish Pontiff and gives him the title "Venerable."

On Saturday morning, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints led by Archbishop Angelo Amato met with Pope Benedict XVI to celebrate their 40th anniversary as a dicastery of the Holy See and to present decrees for papal approval.  Pope John Paul II's name was among the Congregation's nominations for those possessing “heroic virtue.”

The next step towards canonization of John Paul II is a second decree to be signed by the Pope that attributes a miracle to him.  It is thought that this miracle will be one that has already taken place but has not yet been officially recognized. The miracle involves a French nun who was cured of Parkinson´s disease through John Paul II's intercession.

Following the approval of his first miracle, Venerable Karol Woytilya would be eligible for beatification, and pending a second miracle, he could be declared a saint.

The Vatican has processed his case in record time.  Since the Pontiff´s death, less than five years have passed.  Five years is the normal amount of time that must go by before the Holy See can begin the investigation process. In this case, Pope Benedict made an exception just a little over a month after John Paul II's death in March of 2005.

Among other documents signed by Benedict XVI on Saturday morning were decrees authenticating the heroic virtue of Pope Pius XII, Pontiff during World War II; the martyrdom of Jerzy Popiełuszko, a Polish priest killed in 1984, and a second miracle attributed to Bless Mary McKillop, who will now become Australia's first saint. (CNA )

Praise God!

Priest at center of Medjugorje laicized by Holy See

I've been following the ecclesiastical problems faced by the Medjugorje phenomenon since mid-2007. Early on I tried to distinguish between the spiritual fruits of Medjugorje from the authenticity of the "visions" (other folks have made similar points).

That distinction is going to become a whole lot more important after, subsequently to being suspended from his priestly duties last year, the former spiritual director of the six visionaries of Medjugorje was laicized by the Holy See yesterday.

Lest we sugar-coat how grave the situation is, let's be clear about the allegations:

1. Fr. Tomislav Vlasic has fathered a child with a nun

2. He has been uncooperative with Vatican investigation

3. The six original seers have become very wealthy as a result of their "visions"

4. Medjugorje has never been officially approved as an authentic apparition by the Holy See.

Fr. Vladic has received some firm instructions from the Holy See:

"The Pope has insisted that Father Vlasic observes a set of conditions on pain of excommunication which include a total ban on teaching Christian doctrine and giving spiritual direction.

There is also an "absolute prohibition of releasing declarations on religious matters, especially regarding the phenomenon of Medjugorje"." - UK Telegraph

Now, unfortunately I have had to rely on secondary sources to do this post. I prefer to go to primary sources, of course, but don't have the free time at present. If I find anyone with good analysis of this sad situation I'll post it. 

In the meantime, Diane at Te Deus Laudamus has documentation and good links.

Huh? Vatican newspaper: No radical changes in Obama's first 100 days

In counter-point to my previous post, John Thavis of Catholic News Service:

"The Vatican newspaper said President Barack Obama's first 100 days in office have not confirmed the Catholic Church's worst fears about radical policy changes in ethical areas.

"On ethical questions, too -- which from the time of the electoral campaign have been the subject of strong worries by the Catholic bishops -- Obama does not seem to have confirmed the radical innovations that he had discussed," it said. (CNS)

Just because Obama has not (yet) delivered on his most extreme promises (including promises to repeal all restrictions on abortion access in America), does not by any means rule out that his administration is far more pro-abortion/embryonic stem cell research than the previous one. And good heavens, we're only 100 days into his presidential term and he's had his hands full with the economy.

Contrast the above editorial with what Cardinal George, the President of the US bishops, said after meeting with Obama and discussion abortion with him:

"I think on the life issue he's on the wrong side of history," the cardinal said. "I think he has his political debts to pay, and so he's paying them."

"[Obama] said we weren't exporting abortion," the cardinal said. "I said, 'Yes we are.' He would say, 'I know I have to do certain things here. ... But be patient and you'll see the pattern will change.' I said, 'Mr. President, you've given us nothing but the wrong signals on this issue.' So, we'll see, but I'm not as hopeful now as I was when he was first elected."

Hoping things will change is one thing, but ignoring all the signs that they won't is delusional.

Meanwhile, frog in pot of boiling water reports: "Feeling pretty good so far!"

{NB: because I see some people already making this mistake in the comments thread - this is a Vatican newspaper, not the Vatican. I'm waiting to track down the exact author, context, etc.}

Vatican demands UK newspaper issue "immediate and unambiguous" retraction

Looks like the Vatican press office is trying to earn its paycheck today:

The Vatican has demanded that The Times retract a "completely untrue" story that Pope Benedict XVI planned to present a "luxury facsimile" of the 1530 appeal by English peers to Pope Clement VII asking for the annulment of Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon.

[Damian Thompson has a photocopy of the letter, and some fascinating background.]

Frankly they could be doing this sort of thing every day, considering the amount of trashy reporting that gets printed about things Catholic in presses around the world.

But UK tabloids are particularly bad about spreading false (and often clearly false) Vatican rumors.

update - to their credit, at least one reporter has apologized.

Vatican denounces errors behind the economic crisis

A topic I'm sure people aren't all too eager to revisit during the weekend, but bear the Pope out:

Referring to his forthcoming social Encyclical, the Pope then presented a synthetic overview of the crisis, analysing it at two levels. First he considered the macroeconomic aspects, highlighting the shortcomings of a system founded on selfishness and the idolatry of money, which cast a shadow over man's reason and will and lead him into the ways of error. Here the Church is called to make her voice heard - nationally and internationally - in order to help bring about a change of direction and show the path of true reason illuminated by faith, which is the path of self-sacrifice and concern for the needy.

The second aspect of the Holy Father's analysis concerned the sphere of microeconomics. Large-scale projects for reform, he said, cannot come about unless individuals alter their ways. If there are no just people, then there can be no justice. Hence he invited people to intensify their humble, everyday efforts for the conversion of hearts, an undertaking that above all involves parishes whose activity is not just limited to the local community but opens up to all humanity. (VIS)

Notice that this general topic apparently will find a place in the Pope's upcoming social encyclical, which I've blogged about before. I'm blogging on the fly right now so don't have a way of tracking down the latest projections for when this encyclical might be published. What have you heard?

An unclear clarification from the Vatican press office

If this is the Vatican press office's brilliant response strategy to its recent public-relations goofs ...

... they need to go back to the drawing board. Hire me, already. Or at least let me advise. ;-)

Confirmed: no pope photo-op for pelosi

It must have been a switch for her.

Joseph Lawler's reporting for the American Spectator blog confirms that "at the Vatican's request, no photos of Pelosi's Wednesday [meeting] with Pope Benedict XVI will be released."

Instead, she got a very public, internationally-circulated talking-to. That's a double message, if you ask me.

Breaking: Pope lifts excommunications of Lefebvrite bishops

CNS:

Pope Benedict XVI has lifted the excommunication of four bishops ordained against papal orders in 1988 by the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. The move was considered a major concession to the archbishop's traditionalist followers.

The Vatican said the decree removing the excommunication, signed Jan. 21 and made public three days later, marked an important step toward full communion with the Society of St. Pius X, founded by Archbishop Lefebvre in 1970.

It said some questions remain unresolved with the society, including its future status and that of its priests, and that these issues would be the subject of further talks.

The entire CNS article is worth the read. See also:

• CNA: Pope Benedict lifts excommunication of Bishops ordained by Lefebvre
• UK Telegraph: Bishop Fellay salutes 'benevolent and courageous' Pope Benedict
• UK Holy Smoke blog: Pope Benedict is taking a huge risk in lifting the SSPX excommunications
• Associated Press

Thoughts?

update: an initial reaction from an informed canonical source.

Announced: Themes for the next 3 World Youth Days

Hot off the press:

The Holy Father has chosen the themes for the next three World Youth Days so as to help build a spiritual itinerary that will culminate in the World Youth Day celebrations scheduled to take place in Madrid, Spain from 16 to 21 August, 2011.

- 24th World Youth Day (2009): "We Have Set Our Hope on the Living God" (1 Tim 4:10)

- 25th World Youth Day (2010): "Good Teacher, What Must I do to Inherit Eternal Life?" (Mk 10:17)

- 26th World Youth Day (2011): "Rooted and Built Up in Jesus Christ, Firm in the Faith" (cf Col 2:7)

The '09 and '10 WYDs will be held in Rome, 2011 in the Reino de Espana.

update: more from Whispers:

Slated to take up the entire third week of August 2011, interest in the Madrid gathering is already running quite high... and as further proof that Karol Wojtyla's beloved brainchild is here to stay, the jockeying for its 2014 follow-up has already begun in earnest.

update 2: The exact dates for WYD 2011 are August 15-21.

Vatican forgives Lennon. Who's next, I wonder?

Someone at L'OR must have had space to fill:

The Vatican's newspaper [L'OR] has finally forgiven John Lennon for declaring that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, calling the remark a "boast" by a young man grappling with sudden fame. (Reuters)

During the papacy of John Paul II, the Church went through an "apology stage." If this is the beginning of a "forgiveness stage" in the Church, I have some suggestions for who the Vatican should forgive next:

1. Vatican "experts" who claimed Pope Benedict XVI would be a vindictive, blood-thirsty traditionalist tyrant, single-handely ushering in a new dark ages
2. The so-called "new athiests" who have blamed the Catholic church for everything evil that has happened in the world since the Incarnation, except for natural disasters
3. The pop singer Madonna, for the past 25-or-so years (this one will be tough)

There, that should keep L'OR busy.

Fr. Bourgeois' women priest activism to result in Vatican action

His case is one ripe for exommunication: he supports women's ordination, is obstinant in the face of Vatican reprimand, and seems ready to receive the sentence of excommunication.

Well actually, he might be facing more than that, as Canon Lawyer Ed Peters explains:

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has given activist Maryknoll priest, Rev. Roy Bourgeois, about a month to recant his support for women's ordination or suffer excommunication.

Without seeing CDF's warning letter to Bourgeois, it is impossible for me to comment on the precise grounds upon which his excommunication looms, but a related thought occurs to me: given the attitude that Bourgeois showed in his reply to CDF, I suspect that a penal decree here will not only impose an excommunication, it will also lay the groundwork for a fairly expeditious dismissal from the clerical state.

Signed, sealed, delivered.

And ya know, while we've got the official seals out of their boxes....

Statements: Pope, Vatican, Bishops react to Obama victory

The CNS blog is tracking the statements. Here are the significant ones....

• Fluff from Vatican spokesman Lombardi.
• More substance from Cardinal George, president of the USCCB: "We pray that you will use the powers of your office to meet them with a special concern to defend the most vulnerable among us and heal the divisions in our country and our world. We stand ready to work with you in defense and support of the life and dignity of every human person."
• The Pope's message was private: "Asked if the pope mentioned any specific issues he was concerned about, Father Lombardi responded, "peace, solidarity and justice."
• L'Osservatore Romano, meanwhile, the official Vatican Newspaper: "the article said, the vote for Obama was "very pragmatic" because he was the "more convincing" candidate for "an electorate needing new hope, especially for a quick economic recovery."

Breaking: Vatican will drop Eucharistic Prayers for Children

CWNews:

The Vatican plans to remove the Eucharistic Prayers for Children from the authorized prayers of the Roman Missal.

Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson, New Jersey, the chairman of the US bishops' liturgy committee, has disclosed the Vatican plans in a letter to the American bishops. He reported that the Congregation for Divine Worship plans "to publish a separate text at a later time."

The Eucharistic Prayers for Children, like many other liturgical texts, have been criticized for failing to convey an adequate sense of the sacred in the liturgy. In recent years the Vatican has made special efforts to recover that sense of the sacred, and to curtail the proliferation of liturgical texts in order to encourage consistency in the liturgy.

Can't we just get rid of "childrens' Masses" entirely? Instead of bringing the liturgy "down to their level", let's challenge them to begin appreciating a mystery that none of us will fully comprehend our entire adult lives.

Vatican v. Catholic Higher Education

Cardinal Newman Society:

Last week the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education reformed its guidelines governing certain Vatican-approved institutes of “religious sciences.” The document, titled “Reform of the Higher Institutes of Religious Sciences,” was approved by Pope Benedict XVI last June.

..."This latest promotion of ecclesiastical institutes, and especially their rigorous standards for both faculty and students, may appeal to U.S. bishops seeking alternatives to dissenting theology faculty at many Catholic colleges," said Patrick J. Reilly, President of the Cardinal Newman Society (CNS).

Controversy: Priest at center of Medjugorje suspended

The UK Daily Mail editorializes more than reports:

Pope finally launches crackdown on world's largest illicit Catholic shrine and suspends 'dubious' priest

The Pope has begun a crackdown on the world’s largest illicit Catholic shrine – by suspending the priest at the centre of claims that the Virgin Mary has appeared more than 40,000 times.

Benedict XVI has authorised ‘severe cautionary and disciplinary measures’ against Father Tomislav Vlasic, the former ‘spiritual director’ to six children who said Our Lady was appearing to them at Medjugorje in Bosnia.

The Franciscan priest has been suspended after he refused to cooperate into claims of scandalous sexual immorality ‘aggravated by mystical motivations’.

He has also been accused of ‘the diffusion of dubious doctrine, manipulation of consciences, suspected mysticism and disobedience towards legitimately issued orders’, and is suspected of heresy and schism.

Father Vlasic was a central figure in promoting the apparitions that allegedly began in 1981 and continue to this day.

In 1984 he boasted to Pope John Paul II that he was the one ‘who through divine providence guides the seers of Medjugorje’ and the visionaries even said that the Virgin had told them he was a living saint.

But the Bosnian cleric later took a back seat when it emerged that he had fathered a child with a nun called Sister Rufina, and that he refused to leave his order to marry her but instead begged her not to expose him.

The actual source for this report (Diocese of Mostar: "The Canonical status of Rev. Father Tomislav Vlašić, OFM") reveals that Tomislav Vlasic has indeed incurred a very grave canonical penalty from the Holy See.

Photo: Italian museum defies pope over crucified frog exhibit

Reuters:

An Italian museum on Thursday defied Pope Benedict and refused to remove a modern art sculpture portraying a crucified green frog holding a beer mug and an egg that the Vatican had condemned as blasphemous.

The board of the Museion museum in the northern city of Bolzano decided by a majority vote that the frog was a work of art and would stay in place for the remainder of an exhibition.

The wooden sculpture by the late German artist Martin Kippenberger depicts a frog about 1 metre 30 cm (4 feet) high nailed to brown cross and holding a beer mug in one outstretched hand and an egg in another.

Called "Zuerst die Fuesse," (Feet First), it wears a green loin cloth and is nailed through the hands and the feet in the manner of Jesus Christ. Its green tongue hangs out of its mouth.

The claim that Pope Benedict has personally taken an interest in and spoken out about this exhibit raised my eyebrows. This claim originates from Franz Pahl, who has already been hospitalized over the exhibit after he went on a hunger strike to protest it:

Franz Pahl, a regional government official who has led a campaign to remove the work, told the Italian news agency ANSA Aug. 27 that he had received a letter of support from the Vatican Secretariat of State expressing the pope's sentiments.

According to Pahl, the letter said the pope believes the sculpture "has wounded the religious sentiment of the many people who see in the cross the symbol of God's love and our salvation."

A Vatican source confirmed that a letter was sent, but did not confirm the contents. (CNS)

So it's not entirely proven that Pope Benedict himself has spoken against the exhibit, which will eventually visit Los Angeles and New York. Can anyone remember if Pope Benedict has publicly (or has been proven to have spoken privately) about an offensive art exhibit before?

As for the museum/artist's defense:

Museum officials have defended the work, saying it was intended as a self-portrait showing the torment faced by the artist. The sculpture was made in 1990, and the artist, who was said to consider the frog his alter ego, created other variations on the same theme.

What are your thoughts?

Vatican: "Parents of St. Therese of Lisieux to be beatified in France"

Exciting news:

Today Pope Benedict XVI approved the rite of beatification for the parents of St. Theresa of Lisieux, Louis Martin and Marie Zelie Guerin. They will be beatified on October 19 in Lisieux, France.

According to the Office of Liturgical Celebrations, the beatification ceremony of the parents of St. Therese, Doctor of the Church and Patron of Missions, will take place in the Basilica of St. Therese in Lisieux (CNA)

"Pope pleads for peace in South Ossetia"

Yes, he has something to say about it:

Pope Benedict XVI appealed for an immediate halt to the military clash in South Ossetia during a public audience on Sunday, August 10.

Speaking to about 9,000 who had gathered at the cathedral in Bressanone, Italy, where he is spending his summer vacation, the Holy Father spoke of his "profound anguish" over the conflict between Russian and Georgia troops.

The fighting began when Georgian soldiers sought to restore full control of South Ossetia. Russia, which has historic ties to the breakaway region, responded by shelling the Georgian forces' positions.

In his reference to the conflict, Pope Benedict remarked that the violence had already caused the deaths of innocent civilians, and forced many more to flee their homes. The fighting could escalate if it continues, the Pontiff added.

Making an appeal to the "shared Christian heritage" of Georgia and Russia-- both predominantly Orthodox nations-- the Pope promised that Catholics would pray for a quick resolution of the conflict.

He also asked international leaders to "make every effort to support and promote initiatives aimed at reaching a peaceful and lasting solution." (CWNews)

More here from CNS.

"Pope’s prayer intentions for August released"

Without further eloquence:

The Vatican's Press Office released the Holy Father's prayer intentions for the month of August today.

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for is: "That the human family may know how to respect God's design for the world and thus become ever more aware of the great gift of God which Creation represents for us."

His mission intention is: "That the answer of the entire people of God to the common vocation to sanctity and mission may be promoted and fostered, with careful discernment of the charisms and a constant commitment to spiritual and cultural formation." (CNA)

Text: Excerpt of Vatican's communique to ex-bishop Lugo

Translated exclusviely for AmP by a Spanish-speaking friend:

The recent situation which has been created with the election of Mons. Fernando Lugo President of the Republic of Paraguay demands another consideration of, for the good of the country and so that the charge of President of the Republic and the Episcopal ministry can be clearly and definitively distinguished, the petition that he presented in his day that the loss of his clerical state be conceded. In effect, his acceptance of the charge of President of the Republic of Paraguay is not compatible with the obligations of Episcopal ministry and clerical state.

In this way, having carefully examined all the circumstances, His Holiness Benedict XVI has conceded for him the loss of clerical state, with the corresponding loss of those rights inherent to that state, dispensing him at the same time of his religious vows made in the Society of the Divine Word, of the obligation to celibacy (cf. CIC can. 291), and of the other obligations which make up the clerical state (cf. CIC can. 292).

The Pontiff exhorts to Mr. Fernando Armindo Lugo Mendez to be faithful to the Catholic faith in which he was baptized and to live a life coherent with the Gospel.

Note the use of "Mr." (as opposed to "Rev.") in the final address.

The original, full Spanish text is available here.

Confirmed: Vatican laicizes former bishop to become president of Paraguay

If it's true [update: it is true], this is the first time it's happened, and Cardinal Re was mistake in his prognosis (see below):

Pope Benedict granted Paraguay's president-elect a historic waiver to allow the former bishop to take office next month without violating church rules, a Vatican representative said on Wednesday.

The Pope gave Fernando Lugo a special dispensation, downgrading him to layman's status, said Orlando Antonini, the Vatican's ambassador to Asuncion.

Lugo was elected president in April, ending more than 60 years of one-party rule in the poor South American country notorious for corruption and contraband.

"It's the first time this is granted. It was accepted because the people have chosen him and ... because his clerical status is incompatible with serving as president," Antonini told a news conference.

"The Pope has granted him the loss of his clerical status ... he's a layman now," Antonini said after meeting with Lugo. (Reuters)

I'm surprised that this story is not being reported more widely. Reuters, however, can normally be trusted to get this sort of thing basically right [update: it did this time.]

Prensa Latina adds more details:

Papal Nuncio to Paraguay Orlando Antonini delivered Lugo the resolution in which the former San Pedro bishop requested on December 28, 2007 the loss of his clerical state to aspire to the presidency in the April 20 general elections.

"The Holy See after trying to dissuade Lugo not to present himself to the Republic's presidency has suspended him in the priestly exercise," said Antonini, who noted that the Pope granted him a definitive and perpetual dispensation.

This really is the final resolution, arriving earlier than expected.

Back in May, when I last covered this story, Cardinal Re said this solution was impossible:

Lugo was named a bishop in 1994. He had since asked Benedict XVI to be able to "renounce his ecclesial ministry […] to take up again the condition of a layperson in the Church."

The petition was not accepted because, as Cardinal Re noted, "the episcopacy is a service accepted freely forever."

Curious and Curiouser.

update: considering they held a press conference, I'd say it's official:



Orlando Antonini, Vatican's ambassador to Asuncion, speaks during a news conference, in Asuncion July 30, 2008, after a meeting with Paraguay's President-elect Fernando Lugo. Pope Benedict granted Paraguay's president-elect a historic waiver to allow the former bishop to take office next month without violating church rules, Antonini said on Wednesday. REUTERS/Jorge Adorno (PARAGUAY)



Paraguay's President-elect Fernando Lugo (L) meets with Orlando Antonini, Vatican's ambassador to Asuncion, in Asuncion July 30, 2008. REUTERS/Jorge Adorno (PARAGUAY)

update 2: The Associated Press reports.

update 3: Here is the text of the Vatican communique from Cardinal Re in Spanish, with excerpts of it here in English. update 4: Here is an English translation of the most important part of the communique.

"Papal spokesman calls Catholics for Choice ad 'paid propaganda'"

Good to see the Vatican speaking out:

Responding to an open letter from dissident groups asking Pope Benedict XVI to change church teaching on birth control, the pope's spokesman said the letter was "paid propaganda in favor of the use of contraceptives."

The letter, sponsored by the U.S.-based Catholics for Choice and signed by dozens of its national chapters, sections of We Are Church and groups promoting women's ordination, was published July 25 in the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

... Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the papal spokesman, told Vatican Radio that the ad was "nothing new" from a collection of small groups already known for their opposition to church teaching on a variety of topics."

In addition, the harshest accusation -- that the Catholic position is the cause of the spread of AIDS and, therefore, of suffering and death, blocking enlightened policies of public health -- is demonstrably unfounded," he said.

The spread of AIDS has nothing to do with someone's religion, he said, and policies responding to AIDS that rely chiefly on the distribution of condoms "have largely failed."

"Responding to AIDS requires interventions that are much deeper and detailed," he said, and Catholic agencies and religious orders are actively involved in those projects.

The most interesting thing about the protest letter, Father Lombardi said, was the fact that "it does not touch -- in anyway -- the true question at the center of 'Humanae Vitae,' which is the connection between spouses' human and spiritual relationship and the exercise of their sexuality as an expression of it and its fruitfulness."

"In the entire letter," he said, "the word 'love' does not appear once."

Father Lombardi said the letter does not "express a theological or moral position," but seemed to be "paid propaganda in favor of the use of contraceptives. One also could ask who paid for it and why." (CNS)

I normally tend to not quote articles at great length, allowing instead my readers to follow through themselves if they have an interest. But I found everything Lombardi had to say to be topical and enlightening. Well done!

Headline: "Vatican cracks down on attempts to ordain women"

I've been reading the headlines from last week, but suffice it to say that once again the media is trying to make a big deal about old news, or in this case, an old teaching that is simply being repeated.

Sometimes it helps to have a memory that extends more than a couple weeks. Like Carl Olson.

In fairness, something is new here, namely, how these things are treated by Rome:

As of today, though, all of that has changed: The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has just decreed that those who attempt to confer holy Orders on women are excommunicated, as are the women who attempt to receive holy Orders. The decree goes into effect immediately.

Canon Lawyer Edward Peters gives us the details.

For a sociologist's take on this issue, see David Carlin at Inside Catholic.

Vatican issues document on obedience in religious life

Welcome:

The Vatican has issued a new document underlining the importance of obedience in religious life.

Entitled "The Service of Authority and Obedience," the 50-page document from the Congregation for Religious takes the form of an Instruction. It was presented to the superiors of male and female religious orders on May 28 at an assembly held in the Salesianum in Rome.

.... The document from the Congregation for Religious explicitly takes up the question of "difficult obedience," which arises when the individual religious finds the superior's directions "particularly hard to carry out." It also considers situations in which the superior's orders might cause conflicts in the individual's conscience.

Obedience can "give rise to difficult moments," the Vatican document acknowledges. Nevertheless the Instruction observes that religious should reflect on the fundamental role of obedience as a path to understanding God's will. The exercise of religious authority can also be difficult for the superior, the document notes. Everyone in religious life is called to embrace obedience "not just as a passive and irresponsible execution of orders, but as a conscious shouldering of commitments." (CWNews)

CNA has coverage here: "The Instruction seeks to recall, above all, that obedience in religious life can give rise to difficult moments, to situations of suffering in which it is necessary to refer back to the Obedient One par excellence, Christ."

Now there's an example for all of us.

Hide Baptism Records from Mormons, says Vatican

Because aiding kooky practices doesn't help ecumenism:

In an effort to block posthumous rebaptisms by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Catholic dioceses throughout the world have been directed by the Vatican not to give information in parish registers to the Mormons' Genealogical Society of Utah.

An April 5 letter from the Vatican Congregation for Clergy, obtained by Catholic News Service in late April, asks episcopal conferences to direct all bishops to keep the Latter-day Saints from microfilming and digitizing information contained in those registers.

The order came in light of "grave reservations" expressed in a Jan. 29 letter from the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the clergy congregation's letter said.

Father James Massa, executive director of the U.S. bishops' Secretariat of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, said the step was taken to prevent the Latter-day Saints from using records -- such as baptismal documentation -- to posthumously baptize by proxy the ancestors of church members.

Posthumous baptisms by proxy have been a common practice for the Latter-day Saints -- commonly known as Mormons -- for more than a century, allowing the church's faithful to have their ancestors baptized into their faith so they may be united in the afterlife, said Mike Otterson, a spokesman in the church's Salt Lake City headquarters

Of note:

The letter is dated 10 days before Pope Benedict XVI's April 15-20 U.S. visit, during which he presided over an ecumenical prayer service attended by two Mormon leaders. It marked the first time Mormons had participated in a papal prayer service.

I don't think one need take their inclusion as any sort of endorsement. This was an ecumenical dialogue, not an inter-christian summit. Mormon baptism is invalid, which renders them non-christian.

update: Utah bishop responds to Vatican policy on Mormons (CWNews)

CDF officially ends dispute on "baptisms" by "Creator, Liberator, Sustainer", etc.

Today the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith answered two recent disputed questions regarding allowable baptismal formulas and what to do with persons "baptized" using them:

Made public today were the responses of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to two questions concerning the validity of Baptism conferred with certain non-standard formulae.

The first question is: "Is a Baptism valid if conferred with the words 'I baptise you in the name of the Creator, and of the Redeemer, and of the Sanctifier', or 'I baptise you in the name of the Creator, and of the Liberator, and of the Sustainer'"?

The second question is: "Must people baptised with those formulae be baptised 'in forma absoluta'?"

The responses are: "To the first question, negative; to the second question, affirmative".

In other words: "no", baptism may not be validly celebrated using the above-mentioned substitutions for the traditional "Father, Son & Holy Spirit" phrasing, and "yes", people baptized with this substitute phrasing must be baptized absolutely, as opposed to conditionally (conditionally would imply that their previous baptism might have been valid. The CDF says they are absolutely not valid).

Pope Benedict personally approved these answers. Cardinal Levada, who is in charge of CDF, and Archbishop Amato, the no. 2 in charge of CDF, explain the decision (underlining mine):

An attached note explains that the responses "concern the validity of Baptism conferred with two English-language formulae within the ambit of the Catholic Church. ... Clearly, the question does not concern English but the formula itself, which could also be expressed in another language".

"Baptism conferred in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit", the note continues, "obeys Jesus' command as it appears at the end of the Gospel of St. Matthew. ... The baptismal formula must be an adequate expression of Trinitarian faith, approximate formulae are unacceptable.

"Variations to the baptismal formula - using non-biblical designations of the Divine Persons - as considered in this reply, arise from so-called feminist theology", being an attempt "to avoid using the words Father and Son which are held to be chauvinistic, substituting them with other names. Such variants, however, undermine faith in the Trinity".

I'm glad the response makes clear that this false practice came about because of "so-called feminist theology" (theology is theology, there is no such thing as "feminist" or "masculine" theology).

And if you had any doubt about the theological weight this opinion holds, consider:

"The response of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith constitutes an authentic doctrinal declaration, which has wide-ranging canonical and pastoral effects. Indeed, the reply implicitly affirms that people who have been baptised, or who will in the future be baptised, with the formulae in question have, in reality, not been baptised. Hence, they must them be treated for all canonical and pastoral purposes with the same juridical criteria as people whom the Code of Canon Law places in the general category of 'non-baptised'".

That's pretty airtight, but won't prevent the obligatory outraged editorial responses.

Trust me, they're coming.

{updated} To review, CNS confirms that people who have been "baptized" without the proper Trinitarian form of the Sacrament must now be "re-baptized" and confirmed. They must be "re-baptized" before they can be re-admitted to recieving the Eucharist. Furthermore, they must, if married, now receive that Sacrament of Matrimony. If any of them men baptized with this invalid formula were ordained to Holy Orders, they must now be actually ordained.

In short, it's a huge mess.

Plus, people who continue invalidly baptizing with these invalid formulas incur certain penalties. Protestants, to make another point, who have been baptized with one of these invalid formulas, cannot be presumed to share in Christian baptism with Catholics. It's quite a can of worms.

Finally, some folks have mentioned the idea of "ecclesia supplet" as providing a solution to the dilemma posed when people operate and live with the belief that they have received Sacraments, which, in reality, they have not undergone.

That isn't quite correct, but don't lose hope: the proper Catholic theological response in this situation is that "Deus providet" - God provides. Canonist Ed Peters explains how/why in this post (jump down to the section heading 'So where does that leave our penitent?').

He also explains the background to this particular debate, and makes some helpful comments today:

"The rules on baptism are meant to be followed"

You might recall when I blogged against using baptismal formulae contrived to avoid masculine nouns for Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I said back in 2004 that such ‘baptisms’ were invalid, and that people who received ‘baptism’ under them were not even Christian, let alone Catholic.

Looks like CDF agrees.

This type of invalid "baptism" was most notably practiced in Australia over the past decade:

• CathNews: Brisbane Archbishop stops "inclusive" baptism
• Catholic New Times: Cardinal Pell backs stand against 'invalid' baptisms
• ABC News: Brisbane church on notice over unconventional baptisms

And for a glimpse into the mindset that prompted this liturgical abuse, consider these lines from the "Australian Reforming Catholics" website (with emphasis on the "reforming"):

"If the words "Creator, Liberator and Sustainer" enable some people to come closer to the meaning of the Trinity, then why should there be such a problem if people have a choice about the way it is expressed? Our understanding is that not all people are baptised at the South Brisbane Church with these words and if some are assisted in faith through their usage, then there should be concentration on what is most important."

The proper way to approach the meaning of the Trinity is catachesis. The proper way to approach the reality of the Trinity, and of eternal life, is to call upon the Trinity by their revealed names in the sacrament of baptism. This is what is most important: that faith be founded on reality as well as feeling.

After all, feelings don't save - but God does.

Looks like CDF agrees.

[photo: Flickr user "praiseyah"]

Pope's February missionary intention: evangelize.

Today the Vatican released the Pope's prayer intentions for February:

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for February is: "That the mentally handicapped may not be marginalised, but respected and lovingly helped to live in a way worthy of their physical and social condition".

His mission intention is: "That the institutes of consecrated life, which are so flourishing in mission countries, may rediscover the missionary dimension and, faithful to the radical choice of evangelical counsels, be generous in bearing witness to and announcing Christ to the ends of the earth."

Amen.

One to watch: 6-year-old "Nennolina" advances towards sainthood

CNA reports:

An Italian girl who died of cancer at the age of six and a half could soon become one of the youngest saints canonized in recent years.

On Monday Pope Benedict XVI signed papers confirming the “heroic virtues” of Antonietta Meo, who was born in Rome in 1930.

According to Vatican Radio, Meo, nicknamed “Nennolinia,” was a cheerful girl who was diagnosed with bone cancer at the age of five and as a result had to have a leg amputated. She accepted her fate and, wearing a heavy prosthetic leg, continued to play with the other children at her kindergarten.

She wrote many prayers in the form of letters which, according to Vatican experts, reveal a “truly extraordinary life of mystical union” with God. In one of the letters she wrote: “Dear baby Jesus, you are holy, you are good. Help me, grant me your grace and give me back my leg. If you don't want to, then may your will be done.”

Meo died on July 3, 1937.

Church authorities are generally cautious about proclaiming young children saints. But in 1981 the head of the Vatican Congregation for Saints said “'It is possible to speak of a human being being precocious in their sense of good and evil.”

... If canonized, Antonietta Meo would be the youngest canonized saint who did not die as a martyr.

Call it a hunch, but I think she has a really good chance of rapidly becoming beatified and sainted.

Fr. Z. has a short post on her, and there is a Nennolina website (in English here).

Vultus Christi has the text of what Pope Benedict recently said of her, including: "I hope that her cause of beatification may be brought quickly to a happy conclusion." Read the full text here.

O'Rourke and Hardt fail to make a canonical case against providing nutrition/hydration to PVS patients

From my father Canon Lawyer Ed Peter's blog, In the Light of the Law:

Bio-ethicist Dr. John Hardt and canonist Rev. Kevin O'Rourke are trying to use canon law against a Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Responsum that upholds the basic right of patients in a "persistent vegetative state" to nutrition and hydration. I think their arguments are flawed. Here I summarize the events leading up to the CDF Response and then assess Hardt and O'Rourke's attempt to minimize its impact. [Read the full text.]

Related: "CDF releases clarification (confirmation) re: nutrition & hydration" (Sep. 14th)

CDF releases doctrinal note on evangelization

Running to Mass now, but here are the links:

• VIS short "summary outlining the main points of the new document"
• More complete text of the document's summary points.
• update: full text of doctrinal note inPDF format. {Ph/t: Amy.}
• Press conference remarks (Cdls. Levada & Arinze in English, scroll down)
• Catholic commentary from Rocco & Diogenes.
• update: Catholic coverage from CWNews, CNA & CNS.
• Mainstream coverage by AGI & TIME.

My pre-release coverage: "Curia all-stars to release document on Evangelization and Catechesis"

update: AGI is casting this document in light of the Russian Orthodox - Roman Catholic tension:

"This principal seems to respond to the worries of the Russian orthodox church, which accuse the Catholic Church of using economic means for conversions."

In addition, TIME magazine mentions India:

"Roman Catholics have also faced tensions in several states in India, accused by Hindu nationalists of aggressive attempts to convert Hindus."

Cardinal Arinze, in his "anthropolical considerations" of evangelization, highlights African Traditional Religion:

"Since I come from a country in Africa South of the Sahara, I would like to apply some anthropological implications of evangelization discussed by this Doctrinal Note to areas in Africa South of the great desert. In these regions, African Traditional Religion has been the dominant religious and cultural context for centuries. It is also from that context that most converts to Christianity in these countries in the past two hundred years have come."

Diogenes finds in the document a "timely rebuke to Cardinal Kasper for his deplorably wet remarks on the Anglican situation" and quotes his statement.

With Russia, India, Africa and England represented here, I think it's safe to say this is a global message.

Did the Pope condemn "climate change prophets of doom"?

Earlier this week (the day it was issued), I blogged that Pope Benedict had released his Message for the 2008 Day of World Peace. Paragraphs 7 & 8 of that document are entitled "The family, the human community and the environment." Vatican analyst John Allen, in his coverage of the document, said that it represented a "distinctively Catholic shade of green." An excerpt:

On the environmental front, however, Benedict is also well aware that his budding eco-advocacy has drawn fire from critics who warn that it gives aid and comfort to radical secular environmentalists, including thinkers who deny any special moral status to human beings or who reject Biblical notions of human stewardship of the earth as excessively "anthropocentric."

Thus in today’s message, Benedict was careful to signal that he’s not ready to sign up for an “Earth First!” membership card.

I think that's a fairly accurate read of the situation, and nothing here should surprise anyone who is aware of the Church's long-standing tradition of respecting the environment but giving humanity priority.

Today, however, the UK Daily Mail tried to make the Pope's message sensational:

"The Pope condemns the climate change prophets of doom"

Pope Benedict XVI has launched a surprise attack on climate change prophets of doom, warning them that any solutions to global warming must be based on firm evidence and not on dubious ideology.

The leader of more than a billion Roman Catholics suggested that fears over man-made emissions melting the ice caps and causing a wave of unprecedented disasters were nothing more than scare-mongering.

Of course, you don't find the DM using any quotation marks because the Pope said nothing so specific.

I think two excerpts from the actual document are most pertinent to this question:

#7 ...Humanity today is rightly concerned about the ecological balance of tomorrow. It is important for assessments in this regard to be carried out prudently, in dialogue with experts and people of wisdom, uninhibited by ideological pressure to draw hasty conclusions, and above all with the aim of reaching agreement on a model of sustainable development capable of ensuring the well-being of all while respecting environmental balances....

#8 ...In this regard, it is essential to “sense” that the earth is “our common home” and, in our stewardship and service to all, to choose the path of dialogue rather than the path of unilateral decisions...

Here Pope Benedict is making the simple (but almost universally-ignored) observation that the rush to arrive at a "consensus" in the man-made global-warming debate is a disservice to humanity (when it spreads overblown fears and promotes useless "solutions"), and furthermore that artificial, ideologically-driven consensus violates the usual methods of good scientific hypothesis-testing.

Pope Benedict spends a large portion of his message speaking about the role prudence should play:

"Prudence does not mean failing to accept responsibilities and postponing decisions; it means being committed to making joint decisions after pondering responsibly the road to be taken, decisions aimed at strengthening that covenant between human beings and the environment, which should mirror the creative love of God, from whom we come and towards whom we are journeying."

He also succintly lays out the two poles of morality that should guide decision-making about the environment:

Human beings, obviously, are of supreme worth vis-à-vis creation as a whole. Respecting the environment does not mean considering material or animal nature more important than man. Rather, it means not selfishly considering nature to be at the complete disposal of our own interests, for future generations also have the right to reap its benefits and to exhibit towards nature the same responsible freedom that we claim for ourselves.

In what remains (I've already quoted practically everything he has to say), Pope Benedict notes:

• The poor must not be excluded their share in the goods of creation.
• By the same token, the costs of preserving the environment must be shared justly.
• Technologically advanced countries should reassess their levels of consumption (a good reminder at Christmas ) and search for alternative sources of energy for greater efficiency.
• Emerging countries should not have their energy reserves exploited by richer nations.

Three comments that the Pope makes I'm still pondering:

• "Further international agencies may need to be established in order to confront together the stewardship of this “home” of ours..."

Frankly, I think the international agencies currently in existence are most guilty of the temptation to be "inhibited by ideological pressure" and for that reason "draw hasty conclusions." So why exactly would more help a situation that is already plagued by the existing ones?

• "...more important [than international agencies], however, is the need for ever greater conviction about the need for responsible cooperation."

Again, those who are not cooperating seem to be the same folks who are resisting the temptation to - wait for it - "draw hasty conclusions" and become "inhibited by ideological pressure." Isn't that so?

And then this single line:

• "The problems looming on the horizon are complex and time is short."

Sadly, sometimes I think these documents embrace ambiguous phrasing to leave some "hedge room." The problem is, this sentence can be taken to mean precisely whatever it is you take to be the problem and then imbues this self-defined problem with a sense of urgency ("time is short"). In a debate charged with a) lack of clarity and b) exaggeration ... this exhibits both, in my opinion.

Meanwhile, I wouldn't get too perturbed by the UK Daily Mail story. If you need any sense of that publication's journalistic integrity, you need only take a look at the poll it is running today: "Are American Women Better Groomed than British Females?"

The answer looming on the horizon is complex ... and time is short!

Pope calls for "everything possible to be done to halt the spread of AIDS"

From today's Vatican bulletino:

INCREASE EFFORTS TO HALT THE SPREAD OF AIDS

At the end of today's general audience, which was held in the Paul VI Hall, the Pope launched an appeal for everything possible to be done to halt the spread of AIDS.

"December 1," he said, "marks World AIDS Day. I remain spiritually close to everyone suffering from this terrible sickness, and to their families, especially those who have lost a loved one. To everyone I give assurances of my prayers.

"Furthermore, I wish to exhort all people of good will to increase their efforts to halt the spread of the HIV virus, to combat the disdain which is often directed towards people who are affected by it, and to care for the sick, especially those who are still children."

Beyond being true, it's also a smart move to preemptively mention this issue in advance of Saturday's "World AIDS day". Doing so pulls a bit of the rug out from under those who perennially criticize the Church for not endorsing the distribution of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV, as Reuters is wont to do (and thereby falsely claim that the Church doesn't care about those infected with HIV/AIDS):

AIDS activists have often sharply criticised the Church over its position on condoms.

In recent years, several top Church officials have called for a change in Vatican policy on condoms to allow their use by married couples where one partner is affected by HIV or AIDS.

But the Vatican has been loath to issue any document that could be interpreted as a green light for the use of condoms to stop the spread of AIDS, fearing it would endorse promiscuity.

Or, to put it another way, the Vatican is loath to issue any document that could be interpreted as a green light for continuing the prevalence of sexual promiscuity that exacerbates the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Note the difference.

Pope Benedict prays for the Cal. Wildfire Sufferers

I don't remember hearing this reported when it was happening, but seen today on the diocese of San Bernardino website:

In correspondence received from the Vatican Thursday afternoon, Pope Benedict XVI offered words of encouragement and prayer for victims of last week's wildfires and for those who fought the fires.

The message, relayed by his Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, reads as follows:

HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI WAS DEEPLY SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE TRAGIC LOSS OF LIFE AND DAMAGE TO HOMES AND OTHER PROPERTIES CAUSED BY EXTENSIVE FIRES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND WISHES TO EXPRESS HIS SYMPATHY AND CLOSENESS IN PRAYER TO THOSE AFFECTED. HE ALSO OFFERS HIS PRAYERFUL ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE FIRE-FIGHTERS, RESCUE WORKERS AND ALL INVOLVED IN BRINGING RELIEF AND SUPPORT TO THE VICTIMS OF THIS DISASTER. COMMENDING THE DECEASED TO THE LOVING MERCY OF ALMIGHTY GOD, HIS HOLINESS INVOKES UPON THEIR GRIEVING FAMILIES AND ALL THOSE INJURED, ABUNDANT DIVINE GRACES OF STRENGTH AND COMFORT.

November papal prayer intention a medical/legal one

Today's VIS:

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for November is: "That those dedicated to medical research and all those engaged in legislative activity may always have deep respect for human life, from its beginning to its natural conclusion."

... the "3" of a little 1-2-3 punch, I'd like to think. Or at the very least, consistent solid teaching.

Pope's "morning after pill" speech criticized - Reuters

Reuters:

Politicians and pharmacists in Italy responded angrily on Tuesday to an appeal by Pope Benedict for pharmacists to refuse to dispense drugs such as the "morning after pill" if they object on moral grounds.

The Pope told an international conference on Monday that pharmacists should be guaranteed the right to conscientious objection in cases where medicines they distribute can block pregnancy, provoke abortion or assist euthanasia.

Health Minister Livia Turco said that while the Pope had the right to urge young people to be sexually responsible, he could not tell professionals such as pharmacists what to do.

Update: CWNews takes a look at this criticism and Jeff Miller adds some helpful notes.

Meanwhile, in Chile, "Government Responds to Pope By Pushing Morning After Pill".

In Colorado, "Catholic group's expansion triggers dispute over abortion, contraceptive coverage".

"Pope completes second encyclical, a meditation on Christian hope" - CNS

CNS reports!

Pope Benedict XVI has completed his second encyclical, a meditation on Christian hope, Vatican sources said.

The text, tentatively titled "Spe Salvi" ("Saved by Hope"), is about 65 pages, sources said Oct. 16. No release date has been set for the document.

The working title comes from St. Paul's letter to the Romans, in which he wrote: "For in hope we have been saved." The encyclical is said to explore the Christian understanding of hope, with reference to modern philosophy and the challenges of disbelief.

The pope worked on the encyclical this summer, when he had time to write during his sojourns in northern Italy and at his villa outside Rome. At the same time, he was working on a third encyclical that deals with social themes, Vatican officials said.

Cardinal Tauran's Tepid Response to Muslim Letter

"It is a very interesting letter" said the cardinal.

Today's VIS bulletin:

CARDINAL TAURAN: LETTER FROM MUSLIMS IS ENCOURAGING SIGN

VATICAN CITY, OCT 12, 2007 (VIS) - Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue today published a brief comment on a recent letter by 138 Muslim scholars to the Pope and other Christian leaders.

"It is a very interesting letter," said the cardinal, indicating that it is "a new document because it comes from both Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims." It is also "a non-polemical document with numerous quotes from both the Old Testament and the New Testament," he added.

Cardinal Tauran then considered what religious leaders must do to prevent the fusion of violence and religion underlining the need "to invite the followers [of religions] to share the three convictions contained in the letter: that God is One; that God loves us and we must love Him; that God calls us to love our neighbor. I would say that this represents a very encouraging sign because it shows that good will and dialogue are capable of overcoming prejudices, This is a spiritual approach to inter-religious dialogue which I would call dialogue of spirituality. Muslims and Christians must respond to one question: in your life, is God truly One?"

Okay, maybe not tepid, but that's how I read it initially. I'd like to find a full text of it (hint).

Meanwhile: "Vatican thinks theological dialogue with Islam is impossible, experts charge."

Pres. of Pont. Acad. for Life reacts to UK hybrids

CWNews:

The president of the Pontifical Academy for Life has said that the British decision to approve creation of "hybrid" human-animal embryos is "a monstrous act against human dignity."

Speaking to a Vatican Radio audience, Bishop Elio Sgreccia said the British government had "crumbled with confronted by requests from a group of immoral scientists." The government had backed away from plans to outlaw the research on hybrid embryos under heavy pressure from researchers.

In England, meanwhile, the director of the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship charged that decision to approve hybrid-embryo research, made by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), was "shocking abuse of power." Andrea Minichiello Williams observed that Parliament had been studying the question, and preparing for a vote, when the HFEA "completely usurped the democratic process" by claiming the authority to approve the research.