Monday, March 31, 2008

An Focal Scóir - March 2008

We welcome the sun of Spring as we enter the month of Saint Joseph which this year now hosts both St Patrick's Day (as per usual) and Easter within a week of each other...

...and the month on CW opens with AB Martin of Dublin warning that RC schools are in danger of being deemed as elitist, Muslim difficulties become reality in Irish schools, Mass cancelled in Donegal due to shortage of priest, Fr Ted gets fitting tribute...

...1.31 billion RC in the world, Chaldean bishop abducted, more sex abuse allegations come to the fore, Vatican insists baptism performed using incorrect wording must be re-performed, Canada bishop says no communion to abortion-supporting politicians, Saint Patrick and the true story...

...vocations crisis in Ireland, death of RC bishop in UK at 57 (RIP), CSA accused priest re-installed in parish, Il Papa says no to feminine theology, tithing or not, nuns seek outside intervention in US diocese, Spanish RC bishop asks youth to stop texting for Lent...

...3rd Papal encyclical on way, Mothers Day 2008, Irish Government and RC bishops (no real difference there except by name) to challenge Europe on special status afforded to RC church in Ireland, AB of Tuam condemns House of Prayer...

...priest traumatised by sexually harassing parishioner, Il Papa says yes to 4 new saints, serving Irish priests admit breaking celibacy rule, Saint Padre Pio exhumed, Vatican apologises for Galileo affair with a statue...

...Protestants are proper churches, death a reality, Cross of Nails, German bishop leader promises liberal agenda (did he tell Il Papa?), WYD08 now costing double original estimate, Tedfest a success, Papal Primacy discussed...

...Moscow Patriarch says no to ecumenical prayers, confessional secrets, RC steps into Spanish political fray (yet again!!), permanent RC-Muslim forum approved by Il Papa, rehabilitation of Luther by Ratzinger (miracles happening again!!...is that a pig flying?)...

...last stand of St. Stanislaus parish, 20 years of the female touch in Finland, new priests forum in Ireland being planned, no vocations = no faith, AD Brisbane admits baptism blunder, English memories of JPII on release, Pauline year set to be busy...

...Bertone leaves Armenia for Azerbaijan, demonic possessions for exorcists only, new auxiliary bishop in Vienna, Irish slander from the pulpit, secularism worries Il Papa, Vatican-Sino relations up for discussion, stalked priest flees lover...

...WYD08 costing more than realised, Mormon vandalism publicised, Saint Padre Pio exhumed, nun awarded compensation for age discrimination, new 7 sins for modern world, year of vocations, rehab of Luther not happening, Irish bishops want no Sunday morning sports activities, clerical strife in Ireland...

...genocide priest gets life, 2 Spanish priests rapped for relativism, gay protest at papal visit to USA, AB of Mosul dead, RC bishop says gays are conspiring against RC church, Pope JPI brother dies, online confessionals...

...Chiara Lubich dies, lapsed generation of RC Irish parents, calls for bishop Braxton resignation, African Pope Arinze, solemnity of St Joseph, 1st RC church in Qatar, underground Iraqi church post-AB of Mosul murder, Irish marriage bureau still popular...

...Holy week begins with Palm Sunday, Spain-Vatican tensions continue, Latin service to new use new text on Jews, Sr Jeannine Gramick the unlikely rebel, Dalai Lama calls for genocide investigation, Lá Fhéile Pádraig 2008...

...priests told sex not ungodly, 17 move towards beatification and canonisation, Vatican silence on Tibet criticised, Vatican-Israeli relations move forward, online English testimonies required for cause of JPII, Jerusalem patriarch retiring...

...terna list in Killaloe Diocese drawn up, Spy Wednesday, papal vestment symbolism, parish overhaul in Irish parishes, priest fined for failure to pay taxes, Hans Kung turns 80...

...Holy Thursday = Holy Oils, crucifixion 'bad for health', German Jews accuse Il Papa of anti-Semitism, Il Papa refused to meet Rice, authors forced from Italy by Vatican, Good Friday...

...AB Martin declares Dublin as missionary territory, Latin Mass under fire, Il Papa accused by Osama of a crusade, Easter Sunday, Confession back in fashion, bishop not for stepping down, tax evasive curate avoids Easter ceremonies, AB Martin condemns violence, Sotto Voce Easter Message, Resurrexit sicut dixit, Alleluia...

...Il Papa baptises Muslim, Irish bishop focuses on CSA for Easter message, St Peter NOT first pope, singing monks get record deal, Irish RC not in agreement with RC hierarchy on condoms, spiritual recommendation guide for priests, former AB Ncube silenced, the Irish Oskar Schindler, Irish RC bishops seeking education veto...

...Spe Salvi in Russian, House of Prayer warning again, Islam-Christian war(?), murder contract against Brazilian bishop, royal succession may be RC yet, 3 brothers join priesthood, late Pope John Paul II to be declared saint, Cork Cathedral new bells...

...Irish parents in middle of education debate, Latin Mass bearing fruit, decline of marriage harming education, RC in Scotland more powerful, Divine Mercy Sunday, Pius XII still classed as Hitler's Pope, tomb of JPII to be moved (?), Church & State debate continues, Il Papa to continue as king breaker...

...and therein is the month of March 2008.