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.

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.

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

In every period of history, including our own, many young people experience a deep desire for personal relationships marked by truth and solidarity. Many of them yearn to build authentic friendships, to know true love, to start a family that will remain united, to achieve personal fulfilment and real security, all of which are the guarantee of a serene and happy future. In thinking of my own youth, I realize that stability and security are not the questions that most occupy the minds of young people. True enough, it is important to have a job and thus to have firm ground beneath our feet, yet the years of our youth are also a time when we are seeking to get the most out of life. When I think back on that time, I remember above all that we were not willing to settle for a conventional middle-class life. We wanted something great, something new. We wanted to discover life itself, in all its grandeur and beauty. Naturally, part of that was due to the times we lived in. During the Nazi dictatorship and the war, we were, so to speak, “hemmed in” by the dominant power structure. So we wanted to break out into the open, to experience the whole range of human possibilities. I think that, to some extent, this urge to break out of the ordinary is present in every generation. Part of being young is desiring something beyond everyday life and a secure job, a yearning for something really truly greater. Is this simply an empty dream that fades away as we become older? No! Men and women were created for something great, for infinity. Nothing else will ever be enough. Saint Augustine was right when he said “our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you”. The desire for a more meaningful life is a sign that God created us and that we bear his “imprint”. God is life, and that is why every creature reaches out towards life. Because human beings are made in the image of God, we do this in a unique and special way. We reach out for love, joy and peace. So we can see how absurd it is to think that we can truly live by removing God from the picture! God is the source of life. To set God aside is to separate ourselves from that source and, inevitably, to deprive ourselves of fulfilment and joy: “without the Creator, the creature fades into nothingness” (Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et Spes, 36). In some parts of the world, particularly in the West, today’s culture tends to exclude God, and to consider faith a purely private issue with no relevance for the life of society. Even though the set of values underpinning society comes from the Gospel – values like the sense of the dignity of the person, of solidarity, of work and of the family –, we see a certain “eclipse of God” taking place, a kind of amnesia which, albeit not an outright rejection of Christianity, is nonetheless a denial of the treasure of our faith, a denial that could lead to the loss of our deepest identity.

For this reason, dear friends, I encourage you to strengthen your faith in God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. You are the future of society and of the Church! As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians of Colossae, it is vital to have roots, a solid foundation! This is particularly true today. Many people have no stable points of reference on which to build their lives, and so they end up deeply insecure. There is a growing mentality of relativism, which holds that everything is equally valid, that truth and absolute points of reference do not exist. But this way of thinking does not lead to true freedom, but rather to instability, confusion and blind conformity to the fads of the moment. As young people, you are entitled to receive from previous generations solid points of reference to help you to make choices and on which to build your lives: like a young plant which needs solid support until it can sink deep roots and become a sturdy tree capable of bearing fruit.

2. Planted and built up in Jesus Christ

In order to highlight the importance of faith in the lives of believers, I would like to reflect with you on each of the three terms used by Saint Paul in the expression: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” (cf. Col 2:7). We can distinguish three images: “planted” calls to mind a tree and the roots that feed it; “built up” refers to the construction of a house; “firm” indicates growth in physical or moral strength. These images are very eloquent. Before commenting on them, I would like to point out that grammatically all three terms in the original text are in the passive voice. This means that it is Christ himself who takes the initiative to plant, build up and confirm the faithful.

The first image is that of a tree which is firmly planted thanks to its roots, which keep it upright and give it nourishment. Without those roots, it would be blown away by the wind and would die. What are our roots? Naturally our parents, our families and the culture of our country are very important elements of our personal identity. But the Bible reveals a further element. The prophet Jeremiah wrote: “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit” (Jer 17:7-8). For the prophet, to send out roots means to put one’s trust in God. From him we draw our life. Without him, we cannot truly live. “God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (1 Jn 5:11). Jesus himself tells us that he is our life (cf. Jn 14:6). Consequently, Christian faith is not only a matter of believing that certain things are true, but above all a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is an encounter with the Son of God that gives new energy to the whole of our existence. When we enter into a personal relationship with him, Christ reveals our true identity and, in friendship with him, our life grows towards complete fulfilment. There is a moment, when we are young, when each of us wonders: what meaning does my life have? What purpose and direction should I give to it? This is a very important moment, and it can worry us, perhaps for some time. We start wondering about the kind of work we should take up, the kind of relationships we should establish, the friendships we should cultivate… Here, once more, I think of my own youth. I was somehow aware quite early on that the Lord wanted me to be a priest. Then later, after the war, when I was in the seminary and at university on the way towards that goal, I had to recapture that certainty. I had to ask myself: is this really the path I was meant to take? Is this really God’s will for me? Will I be able to remain faithful to him and completely at his service? A decision like this demands a certain struggle. It cannot be otherwise. But then came the certainty: this is the right thing! Yes, the Lord wants me, and he will give me strength. If I listen to him and walk with him, I become truly myself. What counts is not the fulfilment of my desires, but of his will. In this way life becomes authentic.

Just as the roots of a tree keep it firmly planted in the soil, so the foundations of a house give it long-lasting stability. Through faith, we have been built up in Jesus Christ (cfr Col 2:7), even as a house is built on its foundations. Sacred history provides many examples of saints who built their lives on the word of God. The first is Abraham, our father in faith, who obeyed God when he was asked to leave his ancestral home and to set out for an unknown land. “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God” (Jas 2:23). Being built up in Jesus Christ means responding positively to God’s call, trusting in him and putting his word into practice. Jesus himself reprimanded his disciples: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’, and do not do what I tell you?” (Lk 6:46). He went on to use the image of building a house: “I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. That one is like a person building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built” (Lk 6:47-48).

Dear friends, build your own house on rock, just like the person who “dug deeply”. Try each day to follow Christ’s word. Listen to him as a true friend with whom you can share your path in life. With him at your side, you will find courage and hope to face difficulties and problems, and even to overcome disappointments and set-backs. You are constantly being offered easier choices, but you yourselves know that these are ultimately deceptive and cannot bring you serenity and joy. Only the word of God can show us the authentic way, and only the faith we have received is the light which shines on our path. Gratefully accept this spiritual gift which you have received from your families; strive to respond responsibly to God’s call, and to grow in your faith. Do not believe those who tell you that you don’t need others to build up your life! Find support in the faith of those who are dear to you, in the faith of the Church, and thank the Lord that you have received it and have made it your own!

3. Firm in the faith

You are “planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” (cf. Col 2:7). The Letter from which these words are taken was written by Saint Paul in order to respond to a specific need of the Christians in the city of Colossae. That community was threatened by the influence of certain cultural trends that were turning the faithful away from the Gospel. Our own cultural context, dear young people, is not unlike that of the ancient Colossians. Indeed, there is a strong current of secularist thought that aims to make God marginal in the lives of people and society by proposing and attempting to create a “paradise” without him. Yet experience tells us that a world without God becomes a “hell”: filled with selfishness, broken families, hatred between individuals and nations, and a great deficit of love, joy and hope. On the other hand, wherever individuals and nations accept God’s presence, worship him in truth and listen to his voice, then the civilization of love is being built, a civilization in which the dignity of all is respected, and communion increases, with all its benefits. Yet some Christians allow themselves to be seduced by secularism or attracted by religious currents that draw them away from faith in Jesus Christ. There are others who, while not yielding to these enticements, have simply allowed their faith to grow cold, with inevitable negative effects on their moral lives.

To those Christians influenced by ideas alien to the Gospel the Apostle Paul spoke of the power of Christ’s death and resurrection. This mystery is the foundation of our lives and the centre of Christian faith. All philosophies that disregard it and consider it “foolishness” (1 Cor 1:23) reveal their limitations with respect to the great questions deep in the hearts of human beings. As the Successor of the Apostle Peter, I too want to confirm you in the faith (cf. Lk 22:32). We firmly believe that Jesus Christ offered himself on the Cross in order to give us his love. In his passion, he bore our sufferings, took upon himself our sins, obtained forgiveness for us and reconciled us with God the Father, opening for us the way to eternal life. Thus we were freed from the thing that most encumbers our lives: the slavery of sin. We can love everyone, even our enemies, and we can share this love with the poorest of our brothers and sisters and all those in difficulty.

Dear friends, the Cross often frightens us because it seems to be a denial of life. In fact, the opposite is true! It is God’s “yes” to mankind, the supreme expression of his love and the source from which eternal life flows. Indeed, it is from Jesus’ heart, pierced on the Cross, that this divine life streamed forth, ever accessible to those who raise their eyes towards the Crucified One. I can only urge you, then, to embrace the Cross of Jesus, the sign of God’s love, as the source of new life. Apart from Jesus Christ risen from the dead, there can be no salvation! He alone can free the world from evil and bring about the growth of the Kingdom of justice, peace and love to which we all aspire.

4. Believing in Jesus Christ without having seen him

In the Gospel we find a description of the Apostle Thomas’s experience of faith when he accepted the mystery of the Cross and resurrection of Christ. Thomas was one of the twelve Apostles. He followed Jesus and was an eyewitness of his healings and miracles. He listened to his words, and he experienced dismay at Jesus’ death. That Easter evening when the Lord appeared to the disciples, Thomas was not present. When he was told that Jesus was alive and had shown himself, Thomas stated: “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe” (Jn 20:25).

We too want to be able to see Jesus, to speak with him and to feel his presence even more powerfully. For many people today, it has become difficult to approach Jesus. There are so many images of Jesus in circulation which, while claiming to be scientific, detract from his greatness and the uniqueness of his person. That is why, after many years of study and reflection, I thought of sharing something of my own personal encounter with Jesus by writing a book. It was a way to help others see, hear and touch the Lord in whom God came to us in order to make himself known. Jesus himself, when he appeared again to his disciples a week later, said to Thomas: “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe” (Jn 20:27). We too can have tangible contact with Jesus and put our hand, so to speak, upon the signs of his Passion, the signs of his love. It is in the sacraments that he draws particularly near to us and gives himself to us. Dear young people, learn to “see” and to “meet” Jesus in the Eucharist, where he is present and close to us, and even becomes food for our journey. In the sacrament of Penance the Lord reveals his mercy and always grants us his forgiveness. Recognize and serve Jesus in the poor, the sick, and in our brothers and sisters who are in difficulty and in need of help.

Enter into a personal dialogue with Jesus Christ and cultivate it in faith. Get to know him better by reading the Gospels and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Converse with him in prayer, and place your trust in him. He will never betray that trust! “Faith is first of all a personal adherence of man to God. At the same time, and inseparably, it is a free assent to the whole truth that God has revealed” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 150). Thus you will acquire a mature and solid faith, one which will not be based simply on religious sentiment or on a vague memory of the catechism you studied as a child. You will come to know God and to live authentically in union with him, like the Apostle Thomas who showed his firm faith in Jesus in the words: “My Lord and my God!”.

5. Sustained by the faith of the Church, in order to be witnesses

Jesus said to Thomas: “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (Jn 20:29). He was thinking of the path the Church was to follow, based on the faith of eyewitnesses: the Apostles. Thus we come to see that our personal faith in Christ, which comes into being through dialogue with him, is bound to the faith of the Church. We do not believe as isolated individuals, but rather, through Baptism, we are members of this great family; it is the faith professed by the Church which reinforces our personal faith. The Creed that we proclaim at Sunday Mass protects us from the danger of believing in a God other than the one revealed by Christ: “Each believer is thus a link in the great chain of believers. I cannot believe without being carried by the faith of others, and by my faith I help support others in the faith” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 166). Let us always thank the Lord for the gift of the Church, for the Church helps us to advance securely in the faith that gives us true life (cf. Jn 20:31).

In the history of the Church, the saints and the martyrs have always drawn from the glorious Cross of Christ the strength to be faithful to God even to the point of offering their own lives. In faith they found the strength to overcome their weaknesses and to prevail over every adversity. Indeed, as the Apostle John says, “Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 Jn 5:5). The victory born of faith is that of love. There have been, and still are, many Christians who are living witnesses of the power of faith that is expressed in charity. They have been peacemakers, promoters of justice and workers for a more humane world, a world in accordance with God’s plan. With competence and professionalism, they have been committed in different sectors of the life of society, contributing effectively to the welfare of all. The charity that comes from faith led them to offer concrete witness by their actions and words. Christ is not a treasure meant for us alone; he is the most precious treasure we have, one that is meant to be shared with others. In our age of globalization, be witnesses of Christian hope all over the world. How many people long to receive this hope! Standing before the tomb of his friend Lazarus, who had died four days earlier, as he was about to call the dead man back to life, Jesus said to Lazarus’ sister Martha: “If you believe, you will see the glory of God” (cf. Jn 11:40). In the same way, if you believe, and if you are able to live out your faith and bear witness to it every day, you will become a means of helping other young people like yourselves to find the meaning and joy of life, which is born of an encounter with Christ!

6. On the way to World Youth Day in Madrid

Dear friends, once again I invite you to attend World Youth Day in Madrid. I await each of you with great joy. Jesus Christ wishes to make you firm in faith through the Church. The decision to believe in Jesus Christ and to follow him is not an easy one. It is hindered by our personal failures and by the many voices that point us towards easier paths. Do not be discouraged. Rather, look for the support of the Christian community, the support of the Church! Throughout this year, carefully prepare for the meeting in Madrid with the bishops, priests and youth leaders in your dioceses, parish communities, associations and movements. The quality of our meeting will depend above all on our spiritual preparation, our prayer, our common hearing of the word of God and our mutual support.

Dear young people, the Church depends on you! She needs your lively faith, your creative charity and the energy of your hope. Your presence renews, rejuvenates and gives new energy to the Church. That is why World Youth Days are a grace, not only for you, but for the entire People of God. The Church in Spain is actively preparing to welcome you and to share this joyful experience of faith with you. I thank the dioceses, parishes, shrines, religious communities, ecclesial associations and movements, and all who are hard at work in preparing for this event. The Lord will not fail to grant them his blessings. May the Virgin Mary accompany you along this path of preparation. At the message of the angel, she received God’s word with faith. It was in faith that she consented to what God was accomplishing in her. By proclaiming her “fiat”, her “yes”, she received the gift of immense charity which led her to give herself entirely to God. May she intercede for each one of you so that, in the coming World Youth Day you may grow in faith and love. I assure you of a paternal remembrance in my prayers and I give you my heartfelt blessing.

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

For all those who are attending this year’s events, may it be a time of great excitement and hope as you experience the global church. My prayer is that many vocations to the priesthood and religious life emerge as a result of World Youth Day Madrid.

JMJ

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.

As shepherd of Catholics in southern Ohio, Bishop Conlon has devoted much of his energy in the promotion of priestly vocations, often making himself available to attend events that encouraged young men to explore a life of service in the church.

Bishop Conlon has also served on various committees for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, including: the Administrative Committee, the Subcommittee on Marriage and Family, and the Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People.

The Mass of Installation will take place on July 14th at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet.

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.

“In resurrectione tua, Christe, coeli et terra laetentur!
In your resurrection, O Christ, let heaven and earth rejoice!” (Liturgy of the Hours).

Pope Benedict XVI delivers 'Urbi et Orbi' Message | Credit: AP

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Rome and across the world, Easter morning brings us news that is ancient yet ever new: Christ is risen! The echo of this event, which issued forth from Jerusalem twenty centuries ago, continues to resound in the Church, deep in whose heart lives the vibrant faith of Mary, Mother of Jesus, the faith of Mary Magdalene and the other women who first discovered the empty tomb, and the faith of Peter and the other Apostles.

Right down to our own time – even in these days of advanced communications technology – the faith of Christians is based on that same news, on the testimony of those sisters and brothers who saw firstly the stone that had been rolled away from the empty tomb and then the mysterious messengers who testified that Jesus, the Crucified, was risen. And then Jesus himself, the Lord and Master, living and tangible, appeared to Mary Magdalene, to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and finally to all eleven, gathered in the Upper Room (cf. Mk 16:9-14).

The resurrection of Christ is not the fruit of speculation or mystical experience: it is an event which, while it surpasses history, nevertheless happens at a precise moment in history and leaves an indelible mark upon it. The light which dazzled the guards keeping watch over Jesus’ tomb has traversed time and space. It is a different kind of light, a divine light, that has rent asunder the darkness of death and has brought to the world the splendour of God, the splendour of Truth and Goodness.

Just as the sun’s rays in springtime cause the buds on the branches of the trees to sprout and open up, so the radiance that streams forth from Christ’s resurrection gives strength and meaning to every human hope, to every expectation, wish and plan. Hence the entire cosmos is rejoicing today, caught up in the springtime of humanity, which gives voice to creation’s silent hymn of praise. The Easter Alleluia, resounding in the Church as she makes her pilgrim way through the world, expresses the silent exultation of the universe and above all the longing of every human soul that is sincerely open to God, giving thanks to him for his infinite goodness, beauty and truth.

“In your resurrection, O Christ, let heaven and earth rejoice.” To this summons to praise, which arises today from the heart of the Church, the “heavens” respond fully: the hosts of angels, saints and blessed souls join with one voice in our exultant song. In heaven all is peace and gladness. But alas, it is not so on earth! Here, in this world of ours, the Easter alleluia still contrasts with the cries and laments that arise from so many painful situations: deprivation, hunger, disease, war, violence. Yet it was for this that Christ died and rose again! He died on account of sin, including ours today, he rose for the redemption of history, including our own. So my message today is intended for everyone, and, as a prophetic proclamation, it is intended especially for peoples and communities who are undergoing a time of suffering, that the Risen Christ may open up for them the path of freedom, justice and peace.

May the Land which was the first to be flooded by the light of the Risen One rejoice. May the splendour of Christ reach the peoples of the Middle East, so that the light of peace and of human dignity may overcome the darkness of division, hate and violence. In the current conflict in Libya, may diplomacy and dialogue take the place of arms and may those who suffer as a result of the conflict be given access to humanitarian aid. In the countries of northern Africa and the Middle East, may all citizens, especially young people, work to promote the common good and to build a society where poverty is defeated and every political choice is inspired by respect for the human person. May help come from all sides to those fleeing conflict and to refugees from various African countries who have been obliged to leave all that is dear to them; may people of good will open their hearts to welcome them, so that the pressing needs of so many brothers and sisters will be met with a concerted response in a spirit of solidarity; and may our words of comfort and appreciation reach all those who make such generous efforts and offer an exemplary witness in this regard.

May peaceful coexistence be restored among the peoples of Ivory Coast, where there is an urgent need to tread the path of reconciliation and pardon, in order to heal the deep wounds caused by the recent violence. May Japan find consolation and hope as it faces the dramatic consequences of the recent earthquake, along with other countries that in recent months have been tested by natural disasters which have sown pain and anguish.

May heaven and earth rejoice at the witness of those who suffer opposition and even persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ. May the proclamation of his victorious resurrection deepen their courage and trust.

Dear brothers and sisters! The risen Christ is journeying ahead of us towards the new heavens and the new earth (cf. Rev 21:1), in which we shall all finally live as one family, as sons of the same Father. He is with us until the end of time. Let us walk behind him, in this wounded world, singing Alleluia. In our hearts there is joy and sorrow, on our faces there are smiles and tears. Such is our earthly reality. But Christ is risen, he is alive and he walks with us. For this reason we sing and we walk, faithfully carrying out our task in this world with our gaze fixed on heaven.

Happy Easter to all of you!

Credit: Reuters

Over the last week or two, the conflict gripping Libya has been in the forefront of most American and international news agencies. In the United States, the debate has surrounded whether or not President Barack Obama had the constitutional authority to commit U.S. armed forces personnel to the international response approved by the United Nations. However, I raised a more important question: is the use of military force in Libya moral?

Until this afternoon, the Holy See has been rather neutral on the conflict in Libya. The only public statements released from the Pope have been those offering prayers and solidarity with the people of the region. The Holy Father has also asked those in positions of military and political responsibilities to ensure the safety of civilians and the accessibility of humanitarian aid. However, today we see a different tone from the Vatican, one that is calling the current use of force into question.

Following the middy Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Benedict XVI released the following statement regarding the situation in Libya:

Faced with the increasingly dramatic reports from Libya, my trepidation for the safety and security of civilians and my concern for the unfolding situation, currently signed by the use of arms, is growing. In times of greatest tension, the need to put to use all means available to diplomacy becomes increasingly urgent and to support even the weakest signs of openness and willingness on both sides involved, for reconciliation in search of peaceful and lasting solutions. In view of this, as I lift my prayer to the Lord for a return to harmony in Libya and the entire North African region, I also appeal to the international bodies and all those in positions of military and political responsibility, for the immediate start of dialogue and the suspension of the use of weapons.

While the Holy Father does not explicitly mention the moral question of the use of force in Libya, he does question whether or not there are more appropriate measures to be taken that could quell the violence and bloodshed.

Let’s continue to keep the people of Libya, North Africa and the entire Middle East in our prayers. Let’s pray that the Lord may protect them from all danger and violence and that all men, women, and children will be given respect and dignity. Let us also pray that the international community will heed the Holy Father’s appeal for dialogue and the suspension of use of weapons.

Pope Benedict XVI ordains a priest in Rome | Credit: Getty Images

Article 6. The Sacrament of Holy Orders

III. The Three Degrees of the Sacrament of Holy Orders

Episcopal ordination—fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders (cont’d)

(1561) The above considerations explain why the Eucharist celebrated by the bishop has a quite special significance as an expression of the Church gathered around the altar, with the one who represents Christ, the Good Shepherd and Head of his Church, presiding.

The ordination of priests—co-workers of the bishops

(1562) “Christ, whom the Father hallowed and sent into the world, has, through his apostles, made their successors, the bishops namely, sharers in his consecration and mission; and these, in their turn, duly entrusted in varying degrees various members of the Church with the office of their ministry.” “The function of the bishops’ ministry was handed over in a subordinate degree to priests so that they might be appointed in the order of the priesthood and be co-workers of the episcopal order for the proper fulfillment of the apostolic mission that had been entrusted to it by Christ.”

(1563) “Because it is joined with the episcopal order the office of priests shares in the authority by which Christ himself builds up and sanctifies and rules his Body. Hence the priesthood of priests, while presupposing the sacraments of initiation, is nevertheless conferred by its own particular sacrament. Through that sacrament priests by the anointing of the Holy Spirit are signed with a special character and so are configured to Christ the priest in such a way that they are able to act in the person of Christ the head.”

(1564) “Whilst not having the supreme degree of the pontifical office, and notwithstanding the fact that they depend on the bishops in the exercise of their own proper power, the priests are for all that associated with them by reason of their sacerdotal dignity; and in virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, after the image of Christ, the supreme and eternal priest, they are consecrated in order to preach the Gospel and shepherd the faithful as well as to celebrate divine worship as true priests of the New Testament.”

(1565) Through the sacrament of Holy Orders priests share in the universal dimensions of the mission that Christ entrusted to the apostles. The spiritual gift they have received in ordination prepares them, not for a limited and restricted mission, “but for the fullest, in fact the universal mission of salvation ‘to the end of the earth,’” “prepared in spirit to preach the Gospel everywhere.”

(1566) “It is in the Eucharistic cult or in the Eucharistic assembly of the faithful (synaxis) that they exercise in a supreme degree their sacred office; there, acting in the person of Christ and proclaiming his mystery, they unite the votive offerings of the faithful to the sacrifice of Christ their head, and in the sacrifice of the Mass they make present again and apply, until the coming of the Lord, the unique sacrifice of the New Testament, that namely of Christ offering himself once for all a spotless victim to the Father.” From this unique sacrifice their whole priestly ministry draws its strength.

(1567) “The priests, prudent cooperators of the episcopal college and its support and instrument, called to the service of the People of God, constitute, together with their bishop, a unique sacerdotal college (presbyterium) dedicated, it is true, to a variety of distinct duties. In each local assembly of the faithful they represent, in a certain sense, the bishop, with whom they are associated in all trust and generosity; in part they take upon themselves his duties and solicitude and in their daily toils discharge them.” Priests can exercise their ministry only in dependence on the bishop and in communion with him. The promise of obedience they make to the bishop at the moment of ordination and the kiss of peace from him at the end of the ordination liturgy mean that the bishop considers them his co-workers, his sons, his brothers and his friends, and that they in return owe him love and obedience.

Source: USCCB

Traditional Anglican Communion Mass | Source: The Anglo-Catholic

On November 4, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI released the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus, which allows the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to establish personal ordinariates for Anglicans wishing to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.

Within the document, the Holy Father stated the reason for the establishment of these ordinariates at this time in history. He writes:

In recent times the Holy Spirit has moved groups of Anglicans to petition repeatedly and insistently to be received into full Catholic communion individually as well as corporately. The Apostolic See has responded favourably to such petitions. Indeed, the successor of Peter, mandated by the Lord Jesus to guarantee the unity of the episcopate and to preside over and safeguard the universal communion of all the Churches, could not fail to make available the means necessary to bring this holy desire to realization.

The Apostolic Constitution outlines the rules and procedures for those Anglican bishops, priests and deacons who wish to continue ministry in the established ordinariate. According to Anglicanorum Coetibus:

Those who ministered as Anglican deacons, priests, or bishops, and who fulfil the requisites established by canon law and are not impeded by irregularities or other impediments may be accepted by the Ordinary as candidates for Holy Orders in the Catholic Church. In the case of married ministers, the norms established in the Encyclical Letter of Pope Paul VI Sacerdotalis coelibatus, n. 42 and in the Statement In June are to be observed. Unmarried ministers must submit to the norm of clerical celibacy of CIC can. 277, §1.

When the news of these ordinariates first broke in November 2009, I was still in the seminary and began discussing the implications of this document on celibacy with a few of my fellow seminarians. Several of us had concerns about married Anglican priests and bishops ministering in the Catholic Church. We wondered what kind of message it would send to those young men discerning the priesthood about the requirement of celibacy. Many of us believed that the influx of married clergy would eventually cause an erosion of the celibacy requirement for priests, which we believed would be detrimental to the priesthood. Little did we know, the Pope was already ahead of us on that issue:

§ 2. The Ordinary, in full observance of the discipline of celibate clergy in the Latin Church, as a rule (pro regula) will admit only celibate men to the order of presbyter. He may also petition the Roman Pontiff, as a derogation from can. 277, §1, for the admission of married men to the order of presbyter on a case by case basis, according to objective criteria approved by the Holy See.

§ 3. Incardination of clerics will be regulated according to the norms of canon law.

Benedict XVI Greets then-Archbishop Wuerl. | Credit: Getty Images

No new ordinariates were immediately established with the signing of this Apostolic Constitution. It was important that the Holy See initially observe the reception of the document by those in the Traditional Anglican Communion, which demonstrates the vast wisdom of the Church. Throughout 2010, however, many Anglican bishops, priests, and parishes throughout England, the United States and other parts of the world began voicing tremendous excitement about joining these new ordnariates.

In the United States, the members of the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church in America voted unanimously to join the Catholic Church in March 2010. According to an article in the National Catholic Register, the vote also means 3000+ members of the Anglican Church in America and 120 parishes will be joining the Catholic Church.

On March 12, 2010, the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada petitioned William Cardinal Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, for the establishment of a Canadian ordinariate. Traditional Anglican Communions in Australia, England, Scotland, and Wales have likewise sent letters to the CDF, requesting the establishment of an ordinariate in their countries.

In September, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released the following statement, which named then-Archbishop Donald Wuerl as the point man for the establishment of ordinariates in the United States.

WASHINGTON | (September 23, 2010)—The Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has named Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington to guide the incorporation of Anglican groups into the Catholic Church in the United States.

In this position, he is a delegate of the congregation and heads the U.S. bishops’ ad hoc committee charged with assisting CDF in implementing the apostolic constitution Anglicanorum coetibus. Pope Benedict XVI issued the document in November 2009 to provide for establishing personal ordinariates for Anglican groups who seek to enter corporately into full communion with the Catholic Church.

The personal ordinariate is a canonical structure similar to a diocese that covers the area of a bishops’ conference. This permits the incoming Anglicans to be part of the Catholic Church while maintaining aspects of their Anglican heritage and liturgical practice.

Other members of the ad hoc committee are Bishop Kevin Vann of Fort Worth, Texas, and Bishop Robert McManus of Worcester, Massachusetts. The committee will be assisted by Father Scott Hurd, who was ordained an Episcopal priest in 1993, joined the Catholic Church in 1996, and was ordained a Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of Washington in 2000. Father Hurd will assist Archbishop Wuerl as staff to the ad hoc committee and a liaison to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

Interested Anglicans are asked to contact Archbishop Wuerl through the Washington Archdiocese.

The ad hoc committee has two tasks:

1. To facilitate the implementation of Anglicanorum coetibus in the United States
2. To assess the level of interest in such an ordinariate in the United States.

In November, shortly after the Holy Father’s trip to the United Kingdom, the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales announced that progress was being made on the establishment of an ordinariate:

Pope Benedict meets with the Bishops of England and Wales | Credit: Libreria Editrice Vaticana

Much has been achieved over many years as a result of the dialogue and the fruitful ecumenical relations which have developed between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. Obedient to the prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ to His Heavenly Father, the unity of the Church remains a constant desire in the vision and life of Anglicans and Catholics…

In collaboration with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) in Rome, the Bishops of England and Wales have been preparing for the establishment of an Ordinariate early in January 2011. Although there may be practical difficulties in the months ahead, the Bishops are working to address these at a national and local level.

Five Anglican Bishops who currently intend to enter the Ordinariate have already announced their decision to resign from pastoral ministry in the Church of England with effect from 31 December 2010. They will enter into full communion with the Catholic Church early in January 2011. During the same month, it is expected that the Decree establishing the Ordinariate will be issued and the name of the Ordinary to be appointed announced. Soon afterwards, those non-retired former Anglican Bishops whose petitions to be ordained are accepted by the CDF, will be ordained to the Catholic Diaconate and Priesthood for service in the Ordinariate.

As of this writing, it is being speculated that the reception of the aforementioned Anglican bishops into the Catholic Church will occur on January 1, 2011 at Westminster Cathedral. And, folks, it’s only going to get more interesting from here. It is going to be an exciting year for the Catholic Church and members of the Traditional Anglican Communion who are seeking to become Catholic.

Throughout this new year, let’s remember to keep all those associated with this process in our prayers. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide and strengthen each of them during this time of transition.

Throughout this year, the Church has continued to suffer the consequences of the uncovering of sins committed by priests against children. During the early months of 2010, multiple accusations of sexual abuse by Catholic priests began emerging out of Germany and several other European countries.

In Germany, one case was especially significant because the accusations centered on a priest who had been previously charged with the molestation of children while Benedict XVI was archbishop of Munich. According to many media reports, the accused priest had been given the authorization by then-Archbishop Ratzinger to move to Munich for therapy; after which, the priest was allowed to continue ministry in the church.

The new cases of sexual abuse that erupted this year sparked additional anxiety among many Catholics and non-Catholics in terms of possible cover-ups and mishandling by bishops. Several church officials have commented on these allegations before.

In 2009, Roger Cardinal Mahony of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles responded to a federal investigation of the abuse scandals that rocked the U.S. Catholic Church: “Our understanding of this problem and the way it’s dealt with today evolved, and that in those years ago, decades ago, people didn’t realize how serious this was, and so, rather than pulling people out of ministry directly and fully, they were moved.”

Bishop Blaise Cupich, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People has also responded to questions regarding previous thoughts on treatment for individual priests accused of sexual misconduct with minors: “There was mounting evidence in the world of psychology that indicated that when medical treatment is given, these people can, in fact, go back to ministry.”

This year’s criticisms of secrecy surrounding abuse cases, however, have sparked calls for the Pope to be prosecuted in an international court for crimes against humanity. Why would people outside of the Church be calling for such extreme actions to be taken? It all stems from Pope Benedict’s previous roles in the Roman Curia.

From 1981 until his election as Supreme Pontiff in 2005, Cardinal Ratzinger held the title of Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). After the massive outbreak of abuse cases in the United States, in 2001 then-Cardinal Ratzinger asked Pope John Paul II to allow the CDF to assume the primary role of oversight in such cases.

This year, it was revealed that a bishop from the United States wrote to Ratzinger about a priest who had been accused of sexual misconduct with minors. According to Richard Dawkins, self-proclaimed atheist and reporter for the Guardian in the U.K., “it was Cardinal Ratzinger’s official responsibility to determine the church’s response to allegations of child sex abuse.”

In the original article, Dawkins cites a case involving an American priest from the 1980s who had been accused of molestation. The date is significant because it represents the period of time when the individual dioceses were responsible for the oversight of abuse cases. At that time, the CDF lacked the necessary mandate to handle such instances; the Congregation’s hands were tied.

In a March 2010 National Catholic Reporter article, John Allen indentifies Ratzinger as “not the point man”:

Ratzinger did not have any direct responsibility for managing the overall Vatican response to the crisis until 2001, four years before he became pope…Bishops were not required to send cases of priests accused of sexual abuse to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith until 2001, when they were directed to do so by Pope John Paul II’s motu proprio titled Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela. Prior to that, most cases involving sex abuse never got to Rome. In the rare instance when a bishop wanted to laicize an abuser priest against his will, the canonical process involved would be handled by one of the Vatican courts, not by Ratzinger’s office.

In fact, after receiving the authority to handle all instances of abuse from Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Ratzinger “led important changes made in church law: the inclusion in canon law of internet offences against children, the extension of child abuse offences to include the sexual abuse of all under 18, the case by case waiving of the statue of limitation and the establishment of a fast-track dismissal from the clerical state for offenders.” (Archbishop Vincent Nichols, Westminster | March 26, 2010)

Following the motu proprio of John Paul II, a multitude of files were received by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome regarding cases of sexual abuse. In an additional NCR article, John Allen writes:

By all accounts, Ratzinger was punctilious about studying the files, making him one of the few churchmen anywhere in the world to have read the documentation on virtually every Catholic priest ever credibly accused of sexual abuse. As a result, he acquired a familiarity with the contours of the problem that virtually no other figure in the Catholic church can claim.

Driven by that encounter with what he would later refer to as “filth” in the church, Ratzinger seems to have undergone something of a “conversion experience” throughout 2003-04. From that point forward, he and his staff seemed driven by a convert’s zeal to clean up the mess.

In actuality, many claim this was the main reason Cardinal Ratzinger was elected to the papacy following the death of John Paul II. It is believed that many of  the members of the College of Cardinals unfortunately envisioned more problems in terms of the abuse of minors by some priests. Because of his actions as Prefect of the CDF, it is completely erroneous to claim that the Pope had anything to do with the mishandling of abuse cases.

Nonetheless, despite all of stress caused by such events, the Holy Father had to continue leading the Church through this difficult time. Throughout all of  the personal attacks, Benedict persevered in his ministry.

It was rather significant that these allegations of abuse emerged during the Year for Priests, which was meant to be a year of renewal for the priesthood. As the Holy Father stated, “had the Year for Priests been a glorification of our individual human performance, it would have been ruined by these events.” In reality, the opposite occurred because these revelations called priests to further renewal and further humility in the exercise of their ministry.

As Catholics, we should be thankful, in a sense, for the negative attention these instances of abuse have received in the media. Despite all of the personal attacks and illogical claims, the media has been responsible for assisting the church in recognizing this most devastating problem. As a result, the Catholic Church has grown stronger in her will to overcome these deplorable acts and grown stronger in her will to bring about spiritual renewal of ministry.

The church has encountered various problems in her 2000+ years of history. Regardless of the threats she has received, the Catholic Church has continued to exist and persevered in the act of ministering the people of God. If anything, these abuse cases should illustrate to all Catholics that the Holy Spirit is guiding the Church. These abuse cases should restore in all of us—priests, deacons, religious, laity—a devotion to ministry and a call to spiritual renewal.

CHRISTMAS 2010

“Verbum caro factum est” – “The Word became flesh” (Jn 1:14).

2008 Urbi et Orbi Message | Credit: Getty Images

Dear brothers and sisters listening to me here in Rome and throughout the world, I joyfully proclaim the message of Christmas: God became man; he came to dwell among us. God is not distant: he is “Emmanuel”, God-with-us. He is no stranger: he has a face, the face of Jesus.

This message is ever new, ever surprising, for it surpasses even our most daring hope. First of all, because it is not merely a proclamation: it is an event, a happening, which credible witnesses saw, heard and touched in the person of Jesus of Nazareth! Being in his presence, observing his works and hearing his words, they recognized in Jesus the Messiah; and seeing him risen, after his crucifixion, they were certain that he was true man and true God, the only-begotten Son come from the Father, full of grace and truth (cf. Jn 1:14).

“The Word became flesh”. Before this revelation we once more wonder: how can this be? The Word and the flesh are mutually opposed realities; how can the eternal and almighty Word become a frail and mortal man? There is only one answer: Love. Those who love desire to share with the beloved, they want to be one with the beloved, and Sacred Scripture shows us the great love story of God for his people which culminated in Jesus Christ.

God in fact does not change: he is faithful to himself. He who created the world is the same one who called Abraham and revealed his name to Moses: “I am who I am … the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob … a God merciful and gracious, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness (cf. Ex 3:14-15; 34:6). God does not change; he is Love, ever and always. In himself he is communion, unity in Trinity, and all his words and works are directed to communion. The Incarnation is the culmination of creation. When Jesus, the Son of God incarnate, was formed in the womb of Mary by the will of the Father and the working of the Holy Spirit, creation reached its high point. The ordering principle of the universe, the Logos, began to exist in the world, in a certain time and space.

“The Word became flesh”. The light of this truth is revealed to those who receive it in faith, for it is a mystery of love. Only those who are open to love are enveloped in the light of Christmas. So it was on that night in Bethlehem, and so it is today. The Incarnation of the Son of God is an event which occurred within history, while at the same time transcending history. In the night of the world a new light was kindled, one which lets itself be seen by the simple eyes of faith, by the meek and humble hearts of those who await the Saviour. If the truth were a mere mathematical formula, in some sense it would impose itself by its own power. But if Truth is Love, it calls for faith, for the “yes” of our hearts.

And what do our hearts, in effect, seek, if not a Truth which is also Love? Children seek it with their questions, so disarming and stimulating; young people seek it in their eagerness to discover the deepest meaning of their life; adults seek it in order to guide and sustain their commitments in the family and the workplace; the elderly seek it in order to grant completion to their earthly existence.

“The Word became flesh”. The proclamation of Christmas is also a light for all peoples, for the collective journey of humanity. “Emmanuel”, God-with-us, has come as King of justice and peace. We know that his Kingdom is not of this world, and yet it is more important than all the kingdoms of this world. It is like the leaven of humanity: were it lacking, the energy to work for true development would flag: the impulse to work together for the common good, in the disinterested service of our neighbour, in the peaceful struggle for justice. Belief in the God who desired to share in our history constantly encourages us in our own commitment to that history, for all its contradictions. It is a source of hope for everyone whose dignity is offended and violated, since the one born in Bethlehem came to set every man and woman free from the source of all enslavement.

May the light of Christmas shine forth anew in the Land where Jesus was born, and inspire Israelis and Palestinians to strive for a just and peaceful coexistence. May the comforting message of the coming of Emmanuel ease the pain and bring consolation amid their trials to the beloved Christian communities in Iraq and throughout the Middle East; may it bring them comfort and hope for the future and bring the leaders of nations to show them effective solidarity. May it also be so for those in Haiti who still suffer in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and the recent cholera epidemic. May the same hold true not only for those in Colombia and Venezuela, but also in Guatemala and Costa Rica, who recently suffered natural disasters.

May the birth of the Saviour open horizons of lasting peace and authentic progress for the peoples of Somalia, Darfur and Côte d’Ivoire; may it promote political and social stability in Madagascar; may it bring security and respect for human rights in Afghanistan and in Pakistan; may it encourage dialogue between Nicaragua and Costa Rica; and may it advance reconciliation on the Korean peninsula.

May the birth of the Saviour strengthen the spirit of faith, patience and courage of the faithful of the Church in mainland China, that they may not lose heart through the limitations imposed on their freedom of religion and conscience but, persevering in fidelity to Christ and his Church, may keep alive the flame of hope. May the love of “God-with-us” grant perseverance to all those Christian communities enduring discrimination and persecution, and inspire political and religious leaders to be committed to full respect for the religious freedom of all.

Dear brothers and sisters, “the Word became flesh”; he came to dwell among us; he is Emmanuel, the God who became close to us. Together let us contemplate this great mystery of love; let our hearts be filled with the light which shines in the stable of Bethlehem! To everyone, a Merry Christmas!

Credit: New York Times

This morning, the Holy Father announced the addition of 24 members to the College of Cardinals. As expected, Archbishop Raymond Burke and Archbishop Donald Wuerl were among those announced. Below, you will find a complete list of the new Cardinals-designate.

• Archbishop Angelo Amato (Italy), prefect of the Congregation for Saints Causes, 72.
• Coptic Patriarch Antonios Naguib (Egypt), 75.
• Archbishop Robert Sarah (Guinea), president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, 65.
• Archbishop Francesco Monterisi (Italy), archpriest of Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, 76.
• Archbishop Fortunato Baldelli (Italy), head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, 75.
• Archbishop Raymond L. Burke (United States), head of Apostolic Signature, 62.
• Archbishop Kurt Koch (Switzerland), president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, 60.
• Archbishop Paolo Sardi (Italy), pro-patron of Knights of Malta, 76.
• Archbishop Mauro Piacenza (Italy), prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, 66.
• Archbishop Velasio De Paolis (Italy), president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, a Scalabrinian, 75.
• Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi (Italy), president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, 68.
• Archbishop Medardo Joseph Mazombwe (Zambia), retired archbishop of Lusaka, 79.
• Archbishop Raul Eduardo Vela Chiriboga, retired archbishop of Quito, 76.
• Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kinshasa (Congo), 71.
• Archbishop Paolo Romeo of Palermo (Italy), 72.
• Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl of Washington (United States), 69.
• Archbishop Raymundo Damasceno Assis of Aparecida (Brazil), 73.
• Archbishop Kazimierz Nycz of Warsaw (Poland), 60.
• Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don of Colombo (Sri Lanka), 62.
• Archbishop Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising (Germany), 57.
• Archbishop Jose Manuel Estepa Llaurens (Spain), former military ordinary of Spain, 84.
• Bishop Elio Sgreccia (Italy), retired president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, 82.
• Monsignor Walter Brandmuller (Germany), retired president of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences, 81.
• Monsignor Domenico Bartolucci (Italy), retired director of the Sistine Chapel Choir, 93.

The consistory that will see the elevation of these newest members will take place on November 20th. For some, the days leading up to the consistory will be quite packed. As you may recall, the USCCB annual General Assembly takes place from November 15-18th. Not to mention, Archbishop-designate Garcia-Siller will be installed as the sixth Archbishop of San Antonio on November 23rd. And, most importantly because of the food, Thanksgiving falls on November 25th. Busy week for some!!

Let’s keep all the new Cardinals-designate in our prayers.

2006 Consistory | Credit: Franco Origlia/Getty Images

Earlier today, reports began emerging that the much talked about November 20th Consistory will be announced at Pope Benedict XVI’s General Audience this coming Wednesday. It’s about time; I was beginning to think no 2010 consistory would ever be announced.

While U.S. Catholics had been hoping for a surprisingly high number of new American princes, only two names seem to be getting the nod: Archbishop Raymond Burke and Archbishop Donald Wuerl. According to our favorite Catholic whisperer, Italian nominees are said to “comprise almost half of the open voting-age spots.”

With the conferring of this new batch of scarlet hats, Benedict will have named a majority of the current voting age cardinals.

On a personal note, if this all pans out, this will be the first time that I will cover a Vatican consistory. Needless to say, it is going to be a tremendous learning experience for me. In fact, the past few months have been new experiences for me and I have already learned quite a bit.

I am positive that I have made mistakes; I am human, what can I say? I thank you all for providing me with the opportunity to learn a lot about my faith and for facilitating an increase in my love for the church. I appreciate it more than you know.

That being said, it’s going to be an interesting end to the year. Let’s travel the road together, shall we?

A special thanks to Marcello Marinoni for these pictures. You can follow Marcello on Twitter: @Bastapastamama.