News, Views, Articles and Roman Petty Gossip (7/4/10) (News Stories)

by PeterR , Wednesday, April 07, 2010, 13:12 (1144 days ago)

Why Ali fled Afghanistan
http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=20465

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New L.A. leader described as conservative but practical
"Gomez, 58, was ordained a priest in Opus Dei, and has a reputation as a defender of church teaching with a special emphasis on catechesis."
http://ncronline.org/news/new-la-leader-described-conservative-practical
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Remember hard-pressed Christians in Iraq
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/11718
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Muslims in Darfur help to build church as gesture of peace
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/11700
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Clericalism and the Liturgy
"Today, however, the church is divided over just how much of a Pentecost Vatican II actually turned out to be. It is likewise divided over what kind of church we are. This article will explore some of the consequences of this ambiguity."
http://ncronline.org/news/faith-parish/clericalism-and-liturgy
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Anti-Catholic bias irrelevant to scandal
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/89974202.html
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Catholic priest charged in abuse works in India
"NEW DELHI – A Catholic priest charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in Minnesota is working in his home diocese in India and has no plans to return to the U.S. to face the courts, he and his bishop told The Associated Press on Monday. "
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/stories/DN-churchabuse_06int.ART...
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Archbishop Williams: paedophile priests scandal a 'colossal trauma' for Irish Catholic church
'He added that the issue had proven the need for church institutions to be more open and honest, saying it was a "lesson we've all had to learn the hard way". '
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7555843/Archbishop-paedophile-pries...
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Catholic Church Accused of Covering Up Pedophilia: Blame the Jews
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-dershowitz/catholic-church-accused-o_b_525985.html
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Archbishop says 'a few' pedophilia cases in Chile
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jfHiIgVzJqO-pg_E5Mda6nkHeO_QD9ET5IM00
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88 gay couples have married in Mexico City
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5grJesfflOb0tjV_flyYRem81BVMwD9ET7LC00
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About That Vast Anti-Catholic Conspiracy . . .
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/04/05/about-that-vast-anti-catholic-conspiracy/
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Ecumenical News International
News Highlights
6 April 2010

Kenyan Anglican head differs with other church leaders on new law

Nairobi (ENI). Anglican Archbishop Eluid Wabukala of Kenya has chosen to differ with other Christian leaders in his country over a draft constitution that would permit Islamic "Kadhi" courts, and authorise abortion. The archbishop has urged Kenyans to back the law, while suggesting that controversial clauses in it could be revised in future. "The document is better than the current one. It is my feeling that Kenyans should accept it and amend some clauses later," Wabukala told journalists. Still, Wabukala's view is contrary to that of other Kenyan Christian leaders, who have rejected the draft constitution as being against the wishes of their followers in the east African country. The leaders of the Roman Catholic Church and the national Christian council have accused politicians of ignoring their views, and warned of future confrontation. [412 words, ENI-10-0231]

Consternation greets Vatican Easter reaction to child abuse

Rome (ENI). The reaction of some of the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy over the Easter period to accusations that they have failed to deal with cases of clergy abuse and paedophilia in different parts of the world have drawn consternation in many places, as church leaders in Rome closed ranks around Pope Benedict XVI. Speaking in St Peter's basilica in front of the Pope, the Rev. Raniero Cantalamessa, who holds the title of preacher to the pontifical household, caused controversy when he compared the "violent and concerted attack" on the Pope regarding child sex abuse cases to the, "more shameful aspects of anti-Semitism". Jewish leaders lambasted Cantalamessa's comparison, made during a Good Friday sermon. The Jewish Council of Germany said, "This is offensive and indecent for victims of abuses and for victims of the Holocaust." [855 words, ENI-10-0230]

Filipinos' crucifixion ritual unnecessary say religious leaders

Manila (ENI). In the Philippines, where real-life crucifixion re-enactments have become both a holy ritual and a tourist attraction, Roman Catholic and Protestant church leaders have urged people to live out their faith beyond the rituals and penitence of Lent and Holy Week. "If Jesus were watching those who self-flagellate or who get themselves crucified, he would be asking himself, 'Why would they need to do all these things when I have already sacrificed myself, and died for the world and all humankind?'" the Rev. Rex Reyes, secretary-general of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, told Ecumenical News International. Reyes was speaking on 1 April, the day before Good Friday, when 27 penitents, two of them women, from the provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan, north of Manila, were nailed to crosses. [453 words, ENI-10-0229]

US Muslims, Sikhs welcome change in airport security screenings

Washington DC (ENI/RNS). Muslim and Sikh groups have praised the Transportation Security Administration in the United States for rolling back screening rules on passengers arriving from 14 primarily Islamic countries, even as some worry that profiling will continue. The new rules had been enacted after a Nigerian Muslim man tried and failed to explode a bomb onboard a Northwest Airlines jet bound for Detroit on Christmas Day. Civil liberty groups said the rules amounted to ethnic and religious profiling, Religion News Service reports. The suspect in that case, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, had not been subjected to extra screening despite being listed in a government database of suspected or known terrorists. Under revamped policies announced by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on 2 April, international passengers will be compared against intelligence data based on physical descriptions or travel patterns. [335 words, ENI-10-0232]

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