CBSNews.com reports:
In a major gesture to traditional, conservative Roman Catholics, PopeBenedict XVI on Saturday removed restrictions on celebrating the old Latin Mass, reviving a rite that was all but swept away by the liberalizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council.
Catholic World News reports:
With a motu proprio entitled Summorum Pontificum, made public on July 7, Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) has provided for a much broader use of the Roman Missal of 1962, explaining that he hopes to encourage "interior reconciliation in the heart of the Church."
The long-awaited motu proprio, which had been the subject of intensive speculation within the Church for more than a year, gives every priest the right to celebrate the Mass using the 1962 Missal, and instructs pastors to "willingly accept" requests from the faithful for access to the older liturgical form.
This second story sounds much more positive in tone and conveys the tone that Benedict sets in his apostolic letter.
The CWN story also gives an explination of the background history that has made this motu proprio necessarry on the part of the Holy See.
The USCCB has published a newsletter for American parishoners to explain this motu proprio through catechesis that includes both the papal documents themselves and a FAQ about the new norms and the "extraordinary form" of the liturgy.
For those of us who prefer to read in German, kath.net has posted the entirety of Benedict XVI's letter online.
Cardinal Friedrich Wetter, Archbishop Emeritus of Munich and Freising, Germany, has been appointed "Special Papal Envoy to Celebrations To Mark The Millennium Of The Archdiocese of Bamberg, Germany" by Benedict XVI. The Pope appointed Cardinal Wetter to head up the Celebration to be held on July 8 (along with the help of Fr. Gerhard Forch, Pastor of the Cathedral, and Msgr. Michael Hofmann, pastor of the parish of Allerheiligen in Nuremberg.
Pope Benedict XVI has announced his Prayer Intentions for July:
"That all citizens, individually and in groups, may be enabled to participate actively in the life and management of the common good."
His mission intention for the month of July is:
"That, aware of their own missionary duty, all Christians may actively help all those engaged in the evangelization of peoples."
The Catholic Church in China is still suffering difficulty and persecution from the Government:
On the first of July, Benedict XVI issued a letter Calling for ecclesial unity in China, while urging Communion among all Bishops.
In "Letter of the Holy Father Benedict XVI to the Bishops, Priests, Consecrated Persons and Lay Faithful of the Catholic Church in the People's Republic of China", Benedict XVI called for unity and reconciliation for the Church in China.
The letter, was signed by the Pope on May 27th, which marks the Solemnity of Pentecost on the Church Calendar. Benedict spoke of the Vatican's openness to dialogue with government officials in China while emphasizing that The Holy See "does not want to interfere in the affairs of the political community" (i.e. the Communist/Totalitarian State).
The Political Church established by the Communist Party (The Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association) does recognises neither the Holy See nor the Magisterium of the Church. The CPCA has been appointing its own PC "Bishops" to perform the work of Bishops - trying to remove the authority of the Pope to appoint Bishoprics.
Benedict stated that CPCA appointed Bishops "are illegitimate, but validly ordained. Therefore, although not in communion with the Pope, they exercise their ministry validly in the administration of the sacraments, even if they do so illegitimately".
Benedict XVI continued: "What great spiritual enrichment would ensue for the Church in China if, the necessary conditions having been established, these pastors too were to enter into communion with the Successor of Peter and with the entire Catholic episcopate!"
The letter continued: The Holy See would desire to be completely free to appoint bishops; therefore, considering the recent particular developments of the Church in China, I trust that an accord can be reached with the government so as to resolve certain questions regarding the choice of candidates for the episcopate, the publication of the appointment of bishops, and the recognition -- concerning civil effects where necessary -- of the new bishops on the part of the civil authorities."
The entire text of the letter, which is titled "LETTER OF THE HOLY FATHER POPE BENEDICT XVI TO THE BISHOPS, PRIESTS, CONSECRATED PERSONS AND LAY FAITHFUL OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA", maybe found online here.
On the 1st of July, the Goverment of China responded to the Pope's letter:
The Chinese government expressed a desire to promote "constructive dialogue" with the Vatican in a statement released after the publication of Benedict XVI's letter to Catholics in that country.
In an official declaration issued Saturday, the same day the Vatican published the Pope's letter, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang said that China had "taken note of the letter released by the Pope."
The statement said: "China has always stood for the improvement of the China-Vatican relationship, and made positive efforts for that. China is willing to continue candid and constructive dialogue with the Vatican so as to resolve our differences.
"China's stance on improving China-Vatican ties is consistent, that is, the Vatican must sever its so-called diplomatic ties with Taiwan and recognize the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China."
Vatican representatives have explained in the past that there are no problems in principle with accepting this condition in view of diplomatic relations with Beijing.
The Chinese government, the declaration continues, asks that the Vatican "never interfere in China's internal affairs, including in the name of religion."
Qin added: "We hope the Vatican side takes concrete actions and does not create new barriers."
In order to help Catholic faithful understand the Papal letter, and the history of the Catholic Church in China over the last 150 years, Benedict issued an Explanitory Note on the Pastoral Letter to the Church in China.
The complete text of the explanitory note can be found here.
Despite the assurances given to the Vatican and Magesterium that the Chinese Government supports the political, social, and religious rights of its citizens, the Chinese Goverment is doing all that it can to supress the Letter from the Holy See.
Catholic News reports:
Beijing, Jul 2, 2007 (CNA).- Several Catholic websites that are housed in mainland China were forced by the government to remove the Pope’s letter to the Catholics in China from their website, reports UCA News.
As of today, some sites still have the full 19,763 Chinese character text, but these are mostly all run by Catholics that are “underground.”
At 6:00 p.m. Beijing time on the day that the letter was issued, several mainland Catholic websites had already been forced to substitute a simplified version of the letter for the full length one they had published only hours earlier.
A priest in charge of such a website registered with the government told UCA News on July 2 he felt helpless because he strongly believes that "China church websites should publish the pope's letter."
The priest, who asked not to be named, said some government officials came to his office on June 29 and asked about the letter but did not explicitly say he could not carry it. The next evening, he uploaded the letter to his site, but was told on July 1 morning he was not allowed to upload the text.
Other popular Catholic websites in China were warned to remove or not upload the letter. Some sites even informed their readers on June 29 that the long-awaited papal letter would be released the next evening, and urged their readers to watch for it and related reports. But since then, the same sites have only carried Vatican news since the government has refused to let the letter or any news about it be published.
After the release of the letter, Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See's Press Office, said that Pope Benedict XVI's letter to Chinese Catholics "is motivated by two great loves: his love for China and his love for the Catholic Church."
On July 1st Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, Bishop of Hong Kong, took part in a pro-democracy demonstration marking the 10th anniversary of the city's return to China.
Cardinal Zen recalled that 10 years ago, during the Mass to mark the hand over, he said: "I hope the political return to the motherland may bring also a return to our traditional culture."
"Looking back now what do we find?" the 75-year-old cardinal asked. "The traditional values of decency, justice, honesty and self-respect have given way to a new culture of toadying the powerful and oppressing the weak."
Cardinal Zen urged: "Let us put down our feeling of helplessness, take courage again and carry on the march for democracy. May the Lord show us a more just and peaceful society at the end of the journey."
Liu Bainian, vice chairman of the Chinese Patriotic Association, reproached Cardinal Zen for taking part in the pro-democracy protest. He said political activism is why Beijing is reluctant to let the Vatican appoint Chinese bishops, the Associated Press reported today.
''If all Catholics in Hong Kong followed suit by demonstrating, how can Hong Kong achieve stability?" Liu said. "If the Vatican supports someone like him [Cardinal Zen], how can it win China's trust?"
The CPCA responded to the Criticisms of Cardinal Zen as well as the letter from Benedict XVI by issuing the following statements:
Cardinal Zen recalled that 10 years ago, during the Mass to mark the hand over, he said: "I hope the political return to the motherland may bring also a return to our traditional culture."
"Looking back now what do we find?" the 75-year-old cardinal asked. "The traditional values of decency, justice, honesty and self-respect have given way to a new culture of toadying the powerful and oppressing the weak."
Cardinal Zen urged: "Let us put down our feeling of helplessness, take courage again and carry on the march for democracy. May the Lord show us a more just and peaceful society at the end of the journey."
Liu Bainian, vice chairman of the Chinese Patriotic Association, reproached Cardinal Zen for taking part in the pro-democracy protest. He said political activism is why Beijing is reluctant to let the Vatican appoint Chinese bishops, the Associated Press reported today.
''If all Catholics in Hong Kong followed suit by demonstrating, how can Hong Kong achieve stability?" Liu said. "If the Vatican supports someone like him [Cardinal Zen], how can it win China's trust?"
The USCCB criticised American politicians for not effecting true immigration reform:
Washington, Jul. 2, 2007 (CWNews.com) - The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has decried the failure of American lawmakers to enact real immigration reform, saying that the current situation causes the exploitation of immigrants.
"As a nation we cannot continue to employ an immigration system that leads to the exploitation of millions of our fellow human beings," said Bishop Gerald Barnes of San Bernardino, California, the chairman of the USCCB committee on migration.
Bishop Barnes said that American immigration policy has created "a large underclass which does not have full rights in our society." This situation is "morally unacceptable," he said.
The USCCB statement urged Congress to make another effort to achieve meaningful immigration reform after the collapse of support for the latest proposal.
Bendict, in a message to the Bishops of Puerto Rico, stated that:
Over the last few years many things have changed in the social, economic and even religious field, at times opening the way to religious indifference and to a certain moral relativism that influences Christian practices and which, indirectly, also affects the structures of society.
This religious situation calls out to you as pastors and requires that you remain united, in order to make the presence of the Lord more palpable among mankind through joint pastoral initiatives that respond to these new realities.
...the spread of a mentality inspired by secularism which, more or less consciously, gradually leads to derision or ignorance of the sacred, relegating faith to a merely private sphere.
A correct notion of religious freedom is not compatible with such an ideology, which at times presents itself as the only voice of reason.
A group of seventy-five people which included teachers, parents, pricinpals, and students picketed the NEA convention in Philadelphia July 1. The protest was intended to bring awareness to the members of the NEA who are either ignorant of or in denial about the NEA's Family Planning Resolution, which supports "reproductive freedom" and "all methods of family planning" - including abortion. Most of the union members are also not aware that the NEA is one of Planned Parenthood's primary advocates (financially and through volunteer action). The auppport of PP by the NEA extends to the fact that the union has co-sponsored large pro-abortion rallies in Washington in 2004, 1992, and 1989.
Benedict XVI used the conclusion of his general audience on July 4th to address young people who are currently preparing for the next World Youth Day (WYD), due to be held in July 2008 in Sydney, Australia. The Holy Father encouraged the young people to:
prepare well for this marvelous celebration of the faith. ... Enter fully into the life of your parishes and participate enthusiastically in diocesan events! In this way you will be equipped spiritually to experience new depths of understanding of all that we believe when we gather in Sydney next July.
CWN reports that:
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has renewed his attacks on the country's Catholic hierarchy, saying that the Venezuelan bishops' conference had misled the public by criticizing his plans for constitutional revisions.
"It saddens me to see these bishops from our Catholic Church lie," Chavez said during a July 3 television address. "They are either ignorant, perverse, or perverts."
The Venezuelan leader was responding to a statement by Archbishop Ubaldo Ramon Santana of Maracaibo, the president of the Venezuelan episcopal conference, questioning the plans for constitutional revisions. Chavez has appointed a committee to draft amendments working without publicity. The Catholic bishops have argued that the process should be open to the public.
The Venezuelan bishops have frequently chided Chavez for his strongarm political tactics and his efforts to centralize power in his presidential administration.
Finally, the Catholic news from Iraq continues to worsen:
U.S. bishops are calling for an immediate halt to what they called deliberate violence against Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq.
In a statement released Monday, Bishop Thomas Wenski, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on International Policy, said: "The deadly cycle of violence must stop if peace with justice for all Iraqis is to be achieved."
The bishops' statement cited a recent attack on the shrine in Samarra and the slayings earlier this month of a Catholic priest and three subdeacons after Sunday Mass.
"These incidences of violence make the possibilities of a secure, stable and democratic Iraq ever more difficult to achieve," the statement said.
It continued: "In a special way, we are deeply concerned for Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq who are especially vulnerable. We call for an immediate halt to the deliberate violence against our Christian sisters and brothers and other religious minorities in Iraq.
"The situation of Christians is particularly dire. The estimated prewar Christian population of 1.2 million has dropped dramatically to an estimated several hundred thousand."
The bishops' statement listed crimes against Christians in Iraq, such as demanding removal of crosses from churches, requiring non-Muslims to pay special religious taxes, mandating that Christian women wear veils, and calling for Christians to abandon their faith and become Muslims.
"Many Christians no longer feel safe gathering in churches and Christian institutions, resulting in the closing of parishes, seminaries and convents," the statement said.
It continued: "These targeted actions against Christians and other religious minorities are not simply signs of general societal violence, but are also attacks on Christianity and religious freedom by the most extreme elements within Iraqi society.
"As an expression of solidarity with our brother bishops in Iraq, we urge U.S. and Iraqi authorities and religious leaders within Iraq to do everything possible to help end the violence and the targeting of Christians and other religious minorities."
