Sunday, August 26, 2007

An Focal Scóir - August 2007

The first day of Autumn (Fall in USA) brought us opening stories of the search for religious freedom in Pakistan and not far away, a royal leader engages the Buddhist monks to begin the task of healing the nation.

The Diocese of San Diego is found wanting in relation to its accounting system, a Melbourne priest taunted by skaterboys is suspended for being foul mouthed, and a mother faces charges for an exorcism.

An Italian MP is literally caught with his trousers down whilst a good RC working girl satisfies his needs, an article on why women SHOULD be priests in the RC church, and a beautiful reflective piece from a contributor reminding us all of our roots as we welcome the festival of light.

Bishops fail with lawsuit against South Park and face large legal bill, and Mel Gibson also has money to spare. In USA, a bishops injuries are considered suspicious, whilst an Irish hurler is at the receiving end of sectarian abuse.

Aussie cleric regrets verbage, alleged papal assasin Antonov dies, Aussies petition for married RC clergy, Kenya court says priest was murdered, early Christianity before the papacy, papal carbon footprints.

Italian gay kiss-in, cohabitation, sex education, grieving families unhappy with cardinal, Prodi asks for papal assistance with tax evasion, papal trip to Austria confirmed.

Bible in Urdu language, Buddha reincarnations no subject to State approval, contraception, common ground between Lutheranism and RC, 1920's CSA allegations lodged, polygamy and divorce.

Irish suicide rates worrying but no response, pope to pause at Holocaust monument in Austria, Holocaust children to sue, clerics under pressure not to preach about Iraq war, breakaway difficulties in Anglican church.

Church of England embraces digital era, Romanian Patriarch dies, Cardinal Lustiger dies, addiction support book launched, Hiroshima 62 years later.

New papal election rules, latin mass return not 100% welcome, clerics join police on the beat, papal election rigged??, human rights abuses in China, Bishop Pope rejoins RC, children living in poverty.

RC clergy from Spanish civil war to be remembered, Patriarch / Pope meeting soon, Ncube papers filed, Polish priest in trouble for alleged anti-Semitism, conversion code agreed, Irish family friendly bishop speaks out, Aussie fidelity rules dropped.

Milingo in Zambia, Mexico cardinal under US questioning re CSA, call for CSA priests to be named, RC denies paedophile clergy sent to Pacific, Vatican reassures Jews.

UK police censure tv programme, pope gets green rating, RC parish priest and family welcomed in parish, nude jogging cleric faces defrocking (no wonder he running in nude), Mexican RC cleric jailed for murdering own son.

Tax evasion socially unjust says Il Papa, diocese of Derry faces clerical shortfall and rearranges parishes, Maddie missing 100 days, mid west Ireland bishops condemn Shannon withdrawal by Aer Lingus.

Aussie government gives extra cash to WYD in 2008, new status for RC church threatened in Spain, gift of marriage, friars of hope in Moyross, San diego diocese in hot waters over book-keeping.

Beach nudity is ok, cleric in Ireland outs home help financially abusive of elderly, Amnesty International -v- Vatican, RC unable sack gay headteacher, uncomprimising pope, new cardinals on way (?), bully bishop lashes out in USA.

Feast of the Assumption, Vatican flights advertise Christ, kidnapping of nun, bishop injuries raises more questions, money and power a problem, Novmber consistory of new cardinals, celibate priesthood re-affirmed, adultery charges dismissed against Ncube, arguments against female RC ordination.

...and there ends the first half of this months report and synopsis of Clerical Whispers.........and so we enter into the 2nd half of the month of August with word of ethnic cleansing, Dutch RC bishop believes we should all refer to God as Allah, gay support group working with diocesan blessing whilst many RC's oppose RC Church on abortion...

Archbishop Ncube in trouble again, USA Senators attend gay wedding, Christian Judaic summit, fake cleric unmasked as sex offender, church fined for loud bells, more women priests, pope offensive to so many faiths....

Transfer of attempted papal assassin to new prison, Latin mass back in fashion, cardinal defends politicians consciences, RC decries Amnesty, gay harassment encouraged by Canadian RC school...

Romero to be canonised?...papal Austrian trip unwelcome by many, Artane abuse exposed at last, shroud f secrecy book reviewed, spiritual abuse by the RC Church, Aussie swearing priest resigns...

Bertone believes paedophile scandal a media conspiracy, Ireland now a selfish country and society, RC urges faithful to stop sex abuse, irish politician warns of slippery slope to euthanadia, Polish RC priest not to face prosecution for anti-semitic remarks, call for married priests...

Chinese bishop arrested for spreading word of Papal letter to China, RC priests reflect on their vocations, Aussie bishop urges rethink on celibacy rule and women clergy, Irish Archbishop Martin in trouble with Christian Brothers, sex services on Irish diocesan website,...

Bishop says RC church still not properly dealing with abuse allegations, Mother Teresa still OK for canonisation, priest takes case to Papal courts, right of women to be ordained questioned, God vital to young Americans...

....and to Sotto Voce who is now taking a well deserved break from you all and will be back in a week.....

Sotto Voce