5. Church in Ireland

In July 2011, in the midst of the visitation, Irish officials released the 400-page Cloyne Report, detailing the findings to the investigation into the handling of abuse cases by the Diocese of Cloyne. According to the report, the commission “examined all complaints, allegations, concerns and suspicions of child sexual abuse by relevant clerics made to the diocesan and other Catholic Church authorities and public and State authorities.” Furthermore, the commission did not seek to determine whether abuse actually occured, but to reveiw how well the Irish church investigated claims againsts priests and ministers. Among the major findings of the report was that two-thirds of the allegations made since 1996 were not reported to the police, which after the revelations of abuse throughout the world in recent years is completely unacceptable.

After the publication of the Cloyne Report, some within the Irish government began publicly criticizing the Holy See, indicating it was a dysfunctional organization that downplayed the sexual abuse crises within Ireland. Following these criticisms by Irish officials, Father Federico Lombardi, spokesman for the Vatican, speaking in a personal capacity, stated that the criticism of the Holy See was unfounded. The report, which according to Lombardi did not supply any evidence indicating a cover-up of any kind by the Vatican, provides a “new step in the long and arduous walk to find the truth.”

Many believe the sexual abuse crisis within Ireland has created tension between the country and the Vatican. Throughout this year, those tensions have been evident. While it has not been connected in any way to the revelations of the Cloyne Report, the government of Ireland recently decided to close its embassy to the Vatican. Reportedly, the move comes as a cost-saving measure for the government; however, that has not stopped the speculation about it being the most visible sign of tensions between the two nations.

In addition to these ‘tensions,’ over the next few years, the Pope will be tasked with restructuring the hierarchy within the Irish Church. At last count, four dioceses have no bishop at the healm, three bishops are serving past the age limit, and an additional two bishops will reach the retirement age in the coming year and a half. To assist in this endeavor, Pope Benedict XVI recently appointed Monsignor Charles Brown, 52, a priest of the Archdiocese of New York, as the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland. Let’s pray that the Holy Spirit guide the Holy Father in this endeavor and that a new springtime may arise for the Irish church.

4. Religious Liberty Issues in the United States

Over the last few months, issues of religious liberty have been receiving more attention from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as a result of the passage of gay marriage initiatives within many states and the removal of conscience protections within the health care reform law. In September, Archbishop Timothy Dolan (New York), president of the USCCB, wrote a letter to his brother bishops announcing the formation of a new ad hoc committee focused on dealing with issues associated with religious liberties. In the context of that letter, Dolan noted the recent uptick in assaults on the basic right of all individuals for religious freedom:

This basic right, in its many and varied applications for Christians and people of faith, is now increasingly and in unprecedented ways under assault in America. This is most particularly so in an increasing number of federal government programs or policies that would infringe upon the right of conscience of people of faith or otherwise harm the foundational principle of religious liberty.

Dolan also listed several threats that have emerged towards religious liberty, including: the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate ordering the inclusion of contraceptive and sterilization in private health insurance plans, the HHS requirement for the U.S. bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services to provide reproductive services to victims of trafficking, the continuing denial of support for the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) by the executive branch, and the limited exemptions for religious institutions in newly passed laws allowing gay marriages in some states.

During the USCCB’s November meeting this year, Bishop William Lori (Bridgeport), chairman of the new Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty gave a presentation to the entire conference in which he said the government was treating the church “not as a contributor to our nation’s common morality” but as an instrument of divisiveness that should be kept out of public life. He furthermore called on all bishops to defend religious liberty in all that they do–teaching the faithful within their dioceses about the limitations being placed on religious institutions and standing up for the many injustices toward religious freedom occuring throughout the country.

3. New Translation of the Roman Missal

In parishes and diocese throughout the country, individuals, both lay people and clergy, have reported no major issues with the implementation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal. For those communities that began utilizing parts of the new missal before the First Sunday of Advent, the big day was largely insignificant. If your parish did not start using the new parts early, more power to you because you were basically thrown into the new missal with little or no preparation. Hopefully though, the parishes and the dioceses offered some kind of catechesis for the laity and ministers throughout the country so that the people in the pews did not walk into the weekend of implementation blindly.

Personally speaking, my parish began using the new music settings about two months before we were obligated to implement the new translation. At first it was a bit difficult for the people to learn the parts. But, we did not introduce all the music settings at once, we staggered them from weekend to weekend which seemed to help the congregation in the learning process. When the First Sunday of Advent finally came upon us, there was only one person in my parish who was unhappy about the changes; after the first “And with your spirit” an older gentleman in the congregation said rather loudly, “Why do they have to change things?” However, that sentiment was not seconded, at least publicly, by too many people in the parish.

Wherever you and your parish are at in terms of the new translation, we are still in this together. Hopefully we are moving right along with the creed, especially with that ‘consubstantial’ word. There are some great resources out there for those of us who are still needing a little assistance–I admit, I still need some help. More reviews will be coming in the next few days.

2. Beatification of John Paul II

On May 1st, the Feast of the Divine Mercy, a feast day implemented by Pope John Paul II, the late pontiff was beatified in St. Peter’s Square by Benedict XVI. In the most joyous celebration of 2011 for the Catholic Church, an estimated 1.5 million people came to the Eternal City to witness the beatification of our beloved John Paul.

Throughout his priesthood and, even moreso when he was elected to the papacy in October 1978 following the death of John Paul I, the 263rd successor of St. Peter relied on these personal convictions to lead the church. During the vigil of prayer prior to the beatification, Cardinal Agostino Vallini stated:

He was witness to the tragic age of big ideologies, totalitarian regimes, and from their passing John Paul II embraced the harsh suffering, marked by tension and contradictions, of the transition of the modern age toward a new phase of history, showing constant concern that the human person be its protagonist. He was a staunch and credible defender of the human person to the nations and the international institutions, which respected him and have paid him homage, recognizing him as a messenger of justice and peace.

With his gaze fixed on Christ, the Redeemer of humanity, he believed in humanity and showed his openness, trust, and closeness. He loved the human person, pushing us to develop in ourselves the potential of faith to live as free persons, cooperating in the realization of a more just and caring humanity, as workers for peace and builders of hope. Convinced that only the spiritual experience can satisfy humanity he said: the fate of every person and of all peoples is tied to Christ, the only liberator and Savior.

Pope John Paul II taught us all how to live truly Catholic Christian lives. He taught us that being a Christian is not without its challenges and struggles. Through his battle with Parkinson’s Disease, the late pontiff showed us how to embrace the crosses that present themselves throughout life and to continually give praise to God.

Blessed John Paul, we miss you dearly and know that you continue to pray for the Church that you served with all of your strength and loved with all of your heart. Pray for us, that we may come to recognize, appreciate and defend the dignity of every human person; that we may love the church and devote our lives to her; that we may follow your example of humility in all that we do. Finally, pray for those who have not come to know Christ, that they may embrace God’s love for them and come to call Jesus their Savior.

For the church in 2011, there were moments of great joy and happiness that instilled in us a great sense of hope for the future. But, there were also moments of great struggle that forced us to seriously take a look at ourselves and think about where we could make improvements so that we can continue spreading the message of Christ’s salvation throughout the world.

This year’s Top Catholic Stories debuts with numbers ten through six.

10. Questions of Pope’s Health

In the last few months, the secular media went into a frenzy of sorts when Pope Benedict XVI began using a mobile platform during the processions at celebrations in St. Peter’s Basilica. Those within the media almost immediately started questioning whether Benedict XVI’s health was deteriorating.

The platform was first used by Benedict in October of this year. In advance of the Mass, Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi issued a short statement informing the public that the platform was being utilized to reduce fatigue. For now there is nothing more to the story. However, that hasn’t stopped some from speculating about possible successors to Benedict. People need to relax, this is not that big of a deal. Popes are people and people get old–there is not much more to this story than that.

9. Vatican Use of Technology

This year, we saw the Vatican embrace new technology like it has not done in several years. From the launch of the Vatican’s news portal through the use of an iPad, the first ever tweet by a Pope, and to the revolutionary blogger meet-up, the Church is beginning to embrace the ever changing world of the internet and social media. But, is it too little, too late?

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the Catholic Church has fallen behind churches of other faiths, who have been embracing new technology for decades. There is a lot of ground to make up. Hopefully the new evangelization will furthermore inspire and empower Catholics around the world—clergy and laity—to spread the Gospel message of Christ into cyberspace. However, if officials at the diocesan and parish levels refuse to venture into this world, we will lose an entire generation of people who rely on the internet and social media for news and information.

8. The Indictment of Bishop Finn

Bishop Finn | Credit: AP

On October 14th, Bishop Robert Finn of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph was indicted by a county grand jury on the charge of failing to report the sexual abuse of a minor. The charge stems from the May arrest of a priest from the diocese, Father Shawn Ratigan, for possession of child pornography. According to several reports, diocesan officials knew Fr. Ratigan had such pictures in his possession and, rather than removing him from ministry immediately, moved him to a retreat center where he continued to have access to children. Following an independent review of its actions in regards to the Ratigan case, the diocese was found to be negligent in following its own guidelines in such cases. The review also disputed the claims made in media reports that Bishop Finn possessed any knowledge of the presence of child pornography by Father Ratigan.

Bishop Finn was able to avoid the indictment by entering into an agreement with the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office. According to the terms of the agreement, Finn must meet with the prosecutor every month for the next five years and provide details to what steps the diocese is taking to prevent sexual abuse of minors.

In a statement released after the agreement, Bishop Finn wrote: “I am grateful for this opportunity to resolve this matter and to further strengthen our diocesan commitment to the protection of children.” He added, “The children of our community must be our first priority. Each deserves no more and no less. I stand ready to do all within my power not only to satisfy this agreement but also to ensure the welfare and safety of all children under our care.”

7. Archbishop Chaput named head of Philadelphia Archdiocese

Credit: Charles Fox, Philly News

On July 19th, Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Justin Cardinal Rigali and named Denver’s Archbishop Charles Chaput as the ninth archbishop of Philadelphia. The move, which had been widely speculated in the weeks prior, is being called the biggest news maker for episcopal appointments the United States has seen in years and rightfully so. In the months leading up to the appointment, the Philadelphia church had been rocked by new allegations of sexual abuse by priests and a grand jury investigation into the mishandling of abuse cases.

Dealing with difficult situations is not foreign to Archbishop Chaput. Throughout his tenure as shepherd of the Denver Archdiocese, Chaput developed the reputation of being swift, tough and no-nonsense. Based on the current situation in Philadelphia, a shepherd with this kind of reputation is what is needed. As our good friend over at Whispers in the Loggia put it, Chaput’s appointment as Philadelphia archbishop represents “nothing short of a hurricane.”

After his first few months on the job, Archbishop Chaput has already begun making quiet but substantial changes within the structure of the Archdiocese. As one person put, the place has been in bad shape for years and whatever Chaput does to change the current culture is welcome. My prayers continue for the people of Philadelphia and Archbishop Chaput.

6. World Youth Day Madrid

Credit: David Ramos/Getty Images Europe

On August 16th, World Youth Day 2011 officially kicked off its ceremonies in Madrid, Spain with an opening Mass celebrated by Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela. World Youth Day was started by Pope John Paul II in 1984. Since then, the event has evolved into a week-long journey of spiritual growth and a massive celebration of global Catholicism.

This year, Pope Benedict came together with several hundred thousand youth from around the world to celebrate faith. At last count, over 2 million people participated in World Youth Day activities this year, making it the third most attended in history. Among those in attendance were 14,000 priests and 800 bishops who concelebrated the closing Mass with Pope Benedict XVI

During the event, pilgrims from around the world were given a special gift from the Holy Father–the YouCat. This particular book is a small catechism that provides young adults and youth with answers to the basic questions of our Catholic faith.

The most important realization that emerged from WYD Madrid was the vision of so many young people embracing and celebrating their faith in the public square. The youth of today are not afraid of standing up for their beliefs, displaying their faith to anyone they encounter. The youth are no longer the future of the Church…the youth ARE the Church. After seeing the images from Madrid this year, we can all be filled with tremendous hope and joy because Christ is working wonders throughout the world.

Today at 2 p.m. EST (8 p.m. in Spain), the events of World Youth Day 2011 will officially kick off with an opening Mass in Madrid´s Cibeles Square. The Mass will be celebrated by the Archbishop of Madrid, Archbishop Antonio Rouco Varela.

In August 2010, Pope Benedict–who is expected to be in Madrid on Thursday–sent the following message to all the faithful planning to be in attendance for (or planning to follow) this year’s WYD events:

Dear Friends,

I often think back on the World Youth Day held in Sydney in 2008. There we had an experience of a great festival of faith in which the Spirit of God was actively at work, building deep communion among the participants who had come from all over the world. That gathering, like those on previous occasions, bore rich fruit in the lives of many young people and in the life of the whole Church. Now we are looking forward to the next World Youth Day, to be held in Madrid in August 2011. Back in 1989, several months before the historic fall of the Berlin Wall, this pilgrimage of young people halted in Spain, in Santiago de Compostela. Now, at a time when Europe greatly needs to rediscover its Christian roots, our meeting will take place in Madrid with the theme: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” (cf. Col 2:7). I encourage you to take part in this event, which is so important for the Church in Europe and for the universal Church. I would like all young people – those who share our faith in Jesus Christ, but also those who are wavering or uncertain, or who do not believe in him – to share this experience, which can prove decisive for their lives. It is an experience of the Lord Jesus, risen and alive, and of his love for each of us.

1. At the source of your deepest aspirations

Credit: Diocese of Steubenville

This morning, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Robert Daniel Conlon, 62, as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Joliet in Illinois. He succeeds Bishop J. Peter Sartain who was appointed Archbishop of Seattle in September 2010.

Bishop Conlon was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati on January 15, 1977 after completing his theological studies at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary of the West. Since becoming a priest, Conlon has served as associate pastor, as well as Director of the Office of Planning and Research and Assistant Chancellor for the Cincinnati Archdiocese.

In 1987 then-Father Conlon received the degrees of Doctor of Canon Law and Doctor of Philosophy from St. Paul University in Ottawa. Upon his return to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Conlon was appointed Chancellor and Director of the Department of Executive Services.

In 1996, the soon-to-be-bishop returned to parish life, being named pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish. Conlon served in that position until 2002, when he was appointed bishop of the Steubenville diocese by Pope John Paul II.

We welcome the desire of our brother Agostino Cardinal Vallini,
our vicar general for the diocese of Rome,
many of our brothers in the episcopate
and of many faithful
and after obtaining the opinion
of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints,
with our Apostolic authority
we concede that the Venerable Servant of God,
John Paul II, pope,
shall be called henceforth blessed
and that his celebration can be held in the places
under rules established by law,
each year on October 22.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.