Pope Francis, Catholics, and Christians in the news & Bible verses

mtierney said:

Mixing religion and politics in a diplomatic challenge — worth a try?

https://cruxnow.com/news-analysis/2020/01/forget-the-swiss-how-about-the-vatican-to-broker-us-iran-relations/

 I think that one problem with that approach would be that government's wariness and suspicion of Pope Francis, and general antipathy towards his outlook.

By "that government" I mean, of course, the Trump administration.


It is the government we have. Do you think, in the current moment, with an essentially  religious war in the offing, such a meeting could be fruitful?


mtierney said:

It is the government we have. Do you think, in the current moment, with an essentially  religious war in the offing, such a meeting could be fruitful?

 The argument that it's "an essentially religious war" is EXACTLY what is wrong with the thinking of Trump's supporters.


The “Two Popes” ...

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/14/world/europe/pope-francis-celibacy-book.html

I personally am prone to accept Pope Francis’ conditional or initial approach. 


Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI did not co-author the book Des profondeurs de nos coeurs (From the Depths of Our Hearts) with Cardinal Robert Sarah, and this morning asked the Guinean cardinal to have his name removed as co-author, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, his personal secretary, told the Italian news agency ANSA, after midday on Jan. 14.

“I can confirm that this morning, at the instruction of the emeritus pope, I asked Cardinal Robert Sarah to contact the editors of the book requesting that they remove the name of Benedict XVI as co-author of that same book, and also to remove his signature from the introduction and conclusion [to it],” stated Archbishop Gänswein, who is also the prefect of the papal household.

He said: “The emeritus pope in fact knew that the cardinal was preparing a book and had sent a brief text on the priesthood authorizing him to make whatever use he wanted of it. But he did not approve any project for a book under the two names, nor had he seen or authorized the cover.”

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/01/14/benedict-xvi-has-asked-cardinal-sarah-have-his-name-removed-book-priestly-celibacy


The American book publisher stated the book here will list both names.


mtierney said:

The American book publisher stated the book here will list both names.

 This would seem to be disrespectful to the Pope Emeritus, but I suppose it will make a few more bucks.  If the covers are already printed, the least they could do would be to put an X through his name.


"This is the sad age we live in, folks, where a major Catholic publisher (indeed, the primary one for Pope Benedict’s books, before and after becoming a pope), expressly ignores his stated wishes for one of their books in which he wrote part of the text."

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2020/01/pope-benedict-eschews-co-authorship-ignatius-says-no.html


After streaming police procedurals, mysteries, and multi-episodes of  aristocratic family life, this cooking show is a chill pill and so enjoyable. Inspirational, too!

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2020/01/love-of-baking-culinary-skills-and-prayer-make-religious-brother-a-winner/


Jan. 24 marks an important day for lovers of the news: it’s the Feast Day of Saint Francis de Sales, the patron saint of journalists.

With all that is going on in the world today, being informed is crucial.


There is a video on this topic, but I couldn’t share it. 


Good News!

NYT: Pope Fires Conservative Archbishop of Philadelphia

From what I have read, Archbishop Kaput was very much in the mold of Pope Ratzinger, who appointed him.  


I chose the above picture to illustrate Pope Ratzinger's  love for fine clothes and all the other luxuries that come with being a Prince of the Church but has anyone else ever noticed the man's amazing resemblance to Return of the Jedi era Emperor Palpatine?


Klinker said:

I chose the above picture to illustrate Pope Ratzinger's  love for fine clothes and all the other luxuries that come with being a Prince of the Church but has anyone else ever noticed the man's amazing resemblance to Return of the Jedi era Emperor Palpatine?

 He's retired, with appropriate headgear.  Looks more like a retiree in Florida.


"This year, 'Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home' turns five years old. The systems that support life continue to collapse all around us, and the fifth birthday of Laudato Si’ has occasioned a moment of reflection for many."

https://www.ncronline.org/news/earthbeat/laudato-si-five-years-continued-call-courage 


I love that picture.


Catching up on other than Washington doings. 

https://cruxnow.com/interviews/2020/02/amazon-synod-concerns-also-relate-to-australia-archbishop-says/

excerpt..

“The Catholic Church moves slower, as a worldwide Church. I think Chesterton said “it’s the most democratic of institutions, because the dead have a vote.” Our tradition has a vote, we are not making it up as we go. That needn’t be a weight around our necks, and it can actually be liberating not to have to reinvent every day what my belief or morals will be. That I too have an identity, a tradition and community I am part of.

“But it tells me that in respecting that, there will be things that are not going to change, or are not going to change quickly. I think that a positive approach would have been to think within what is possible, are we doing the best? There might be changes to canon law in the future, and we might help with that. But are we doing the best with what we have already? I don’t think so.”



It's Ash Wednesday.

A handy guide -


I don’t think anyone’s noticed that I posted some links to new approaches to Lenten recipes in the Vegan thread. Thought  I’d mention it here. 


There’s a vegan thread? I’ll check it out. I am adjusting to eating more veggies, but it won’t  hurt to look. Let you in on a secret, Joanne, I no longer have to fast during Lent: Too old!
But I have given up cookies, my nemesis. Not a week yet, and I am suffering, but holding on question breaks are tough.


Does anyone know how the Italian Cardinals have been effected by all of this?


mtierney said:

Can’t remember this action ever happening before....

Here's a link to the Archdiocese's website:

https://www.rcan.org/cardinal-joseph-w-tobin-cssr-suspends-weekend-masses-and-week-catholic-schools-proactive-response 

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, announced today that he has dispensed the faithful of the Archdiocese from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass until further notice. Additionally, he has suspended the public celebration of Mass for Saturday evening, March 14, and Sunday, March 15, 2020, after evaluating recommendations of state and health officials. This decision will be reviewed daily, and any new determination will be announced next week.

The celebration of daily Mass will continue. Churches of the Archdiocese will remain open and the faithful are encouraged to pray while maintaining a prudent distance from each other.

Klinker said:

Does anyone know how the Italian Cardinals have been effected by all of this?

 Vatican has arranged for live-streaming: 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/14/religious-festivals-cancelled-or-scaled-back-due-to-coronavirus


Saw this lovely idea for Lent. Instead of giving up a favorite food, why not put something that you do not need in a box each day. At the end of Lent it can be donated.

It works well with the spread of COVID -19, as many families will be in need.

It's not too late to start.


Morganna said:

Saw this lovely idea for Lent. Instead of giving up a favorite food, why not put something that you do not need in a box each day. At the end of Lent it can be donated.

It works well with the spread of COVID -19, as many families will be in need.

It's not too late to start.

 What a wonderful idea! And something so constructive to do. Thank you.


Fr. Jim Worth at St. Joe's in Maplewood streamed Sunday Mass at 10:00 am this morning on his Facebook page.

He said he'll continue as needed in the next week, or two, or who knows.


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