"Sturmfreie Bude" in den deutschen Bistümern

Pilgerreise des Ständigen Rates der Deutschen Bischofskonferenz ins Heilige Land vom 26. Februar bis 4. März 2007

Seit Montag befinden sich die Mitglieder des Ständigen Rates der Deutschen Bischofskonferenz auf ihrer Pilgerfahrt im Heiligen Land. Zu den Stationen der siebentägigen Reise gehören Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jerusalem, die heiligen Stätten am See Genezareth und Ramallah.

Die Bischöfe und Diözesanadministratoren aus den 27 deutschen Bistümern werden Gottesdienste an christlichen Wallfahrtsstätten feiern, Gespräche mit Vertretern der Ortskirchen und mit Repräsentanten aus Staat und Politik führen sowie kirchliche Einrichtungen besuchen.

Summary in English: The German dioceses are orphaned! All the bishops and administrators are on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Nuovi Vescovi in Italia

Mons. Claudio Giuliodori, nuovo Vescovo di Macerata-Tolentino-Recanati-Cingoli-Treia
Il Santo Padre ha nominato Vescovo di Macerata-Tolentino-Recanati-Cingoli-Treia il Rev.do Mons. Claudio Giuliodori, del clero dell’arcidiocesi di Ancona-Osimo, attualmente Direttore dell’Ufficio delle Comunicazioni Sociali della Conferenza Episcopale Italiana.

Il Rev.do Mons. Claudio Giuliodori è nato a Osimo, in Provincia di Ancona, il 7 gennaio 1958. Ha compiuto gli studi medi e liceali presso il Seminario Minore di Osimo e poi gli studi filosofico-teologici presso il Seminario Maggiore Regionale di Fano. Si è successivamente iscritto al Pontificio Istituto "Giovanni Paolo II" per gli studi su matrimonio e famiglia, conseguendo la licenza ed il dottorato. È stato ordinato sacerdote il 16 aprile 1983 per la Diocesi di Osimo che, dal 30 settembre 1986, è stata fusa con quella di Ancona.

Subito dopo l'ordinazione presbiterale è stato vicerettore del Seminario interdiocesano di Osimo e Vice assistente Diocesano dell'Azione Cattolica per il settore giovanile. Dal 1985 al 1988 ha esercitato il ministero, come Vicario parrocchiale, nella Parrocchia di S. Marco di Osimo. Trasferitosi a Roma ha lavorato come Aiutante di studio presso la Segretaria generale della C.E.I. (1988-1991).

Rientrato in diocesi, è stato nominato Direttore dell'Ufficio diocesano di Pastorale familiare (1991-1998) e Direttore del Consultorio familiare. Ha inoltre assunto l'insegnamento di Teologia Morale e poi l'incarico di Vice-Preside dell'Istituto Teologico Marchigiano di Ancona (1993-1998).

Nel 1994 è stato nominato Direttore del "Centro diocesano di pastorale e di spiritualità" di Colle Ameno (Ancona).

Dal 1996 è anche professore Incaricato di Teologia Pastorale presso il Pontificio Istituto "Giovanni Paolo II" per studi su matrimonio e famiglia. Nel 1998 è stato nominato Direttore dell'Ufficio Nazionale per le comunicazioni sociali della C.E.I. Dal 2002 è Cappellano di Sua Santità. Dall'ottobre 2006 è Consultore del Pontificio Consiglio delle Comunicazioni Sociali.


Mons. Domenico Mogavero, nuovo Vescovo di Mazara del Vallo
Il Papa ha nominato Vescovo di Mazara del Vallo il Rev.do Mons. Domenico Mogavero, del clero dell’arcidiocesi di Palermo, finora Sottosegretario della Conferenza Episcopale Italiana.

Il Rev.do Mons. Domenico Mogavero è nato a Castelbuono (Palermo), diocesi di Cefalù, il 31 marzo 1947. Ha compiuto gli studi nel Seminario di Cefalù e, successivamente, in quello di Palermo. Ha conseguito la Laurea in Diritto Canonico presso la Pontificia Università Lateranense. È autore di vari libri e di numerosi articoli. È stato ordinato sacerdote per l’arcidiocesi di Palermo il 12 luglio 1970.

Ha svolto i seguenti uffici e ministeri: Vicario parrocchiale presso la Parrocchia dei Ss. Apostoli Pietro e Paolo a Palermo (1970-1971); Vice Rettore del Seminario arcivescovile di Palermo (1979-1983); Professore di Diritto Canonico nella Facoltà Teologica della Sicilia "S. Giovanni Evangelista" (1974-1997); Vice Preside della medesima (1984-1997); Membro del Consiglio presbiterale (1984-1997); Giudice presso il Tribunale Ecclesiastico diocesano (1985-1997); Membro del Collegio dei Consultori diocesani (1986-1997); Difensore del vincolo presso il Tribunale Ecclesiastico siculo; Vicario Giudiziale; Assistente diocesano dell’Azione Cattolica Italiana; Vice Presidente dell’Associazione Italiana dei Canonisti.

Già dal 1997 Direttore dell’Ufficio Nazionale della Conferenza Episcopale Italiana per i problemi giuridici, è dal 2001 Sottosegretario della Conferenza Episcopale Italiana.

Summary in English: The Pope has named two new bishops in Italy, both of whom are professors and come from important positions in the service of the CEI (Conferenza Episcopale Italiana). Mons. Claudio Giuliodori, the new bishop of Macerata, was the director of the Social Communications Bureau, while Mons. Domenico Mogavero was Under-Secretary of the CEI before being named bishop of Mazara del Vallo.

Das MISEREOR-Hungertuch 2007

Das Misereor-Hungertuch 2007 lädt ein, uns während der Zeit des Fastens und der Besinnung zwischen Aschermittwoch und Ostern auf die »Bergpredigt« Jesu einzulassen. Mit der Gestaltung dieser ersten Predigt Jesu beschenkt der chinesische Künstler Prof. Li Jinyuan die Betrachter mit wunderbaren Bildern, die davon erzählen, was es bedeutet, ein Jünger, eine Jüngerin Jesu zu sein.

Farben und Formen

Das Hungertuch leuchtet und erfüllt den Raum mit Licht. Kraftvolles Gelb und Orange, warmes Ocker und Rot heben sich von ernstem Schwarz und Grau ab. Ein Kreuz aus Licht, das sich nach oben zum Himmel hin immer weiter öffnet, findet sein Zentrum in Christus, der auf einem Berg, umringt von zahllosen Menschen, steht und predigt.

Feuer, Wasser, Geist
Der Geist Gottes schwebt auf ihn herab – eine Szene, die an die Taufe Jesu im Jordan erinnert. Zu Jesu Füßen brennt ein Feuer, darunter leuchtet ein roter Stempel, in den kunstvolle chinesische Schriftzeichen eingeprägt sind: »höchste güte ist wie das wasser« (Laotse, Daudedsching). Das Feuer steht für das kommende Reich Gottes, das alles neu macht und das alte verbrennt. Das Wasser, so Li Jinyuan, ist wie Christus: es ist gütig, es gibt unterschiedslos allen und nimmt nichts fort. Mit Wasser und Geist ist Jesus getauft worden, der Himmel öffnet sich, von oben und von unten bricht das Reich Gottes ein.

Selig seid ihr ...
In den vier roten Kreisen hat Li Jinyuan vier der Seligpreisungen aus dem Matthäusevangelium szenisch dargestellt (im Uhrzeigersinn von links oben): »Selig die arm sind vor Gott«, »Selig die um der Gerechtigkeit willen verfolgt werden«, »Selig die Friedensstifter« und »Selig die Trauernden«. Hier werden uns Haltungen gezeigt, die alle herausfordern, die Jesus nachfolgen wollen.

... denn euch gehört das Himmelreich
Die Rundung der Baumkrone am unteren Bildrand, gebildet aus einem Wald von kleinen Bäumen, greift das Gleichnis vom Senfkorn auf. Genauso wie das Samenkorn braucht nachhaltige Bildung Initiative, Zeit zum Wachsen, Förderung und Unterstützung, um Frucht tragen zu können. Das kleine Senfkorn ist Gleichnis für das Himmelreich, das Wirklichkeit werden kann. Das Meer wird befahren von zahlreichen Dschunken, an deren Decks sich Menschen tummeln. Sie tragen die Lehre Jesu in die Welt hinaus zu denen, die arm vor Gott sind, die nach Gerechtigkeit hungern und dürsten, zu den Barmherzigen und denen, die Frieden stiften.

Der Künstler Prof. Li (Jahrgang 1945) lehrt in Chengdu/China als Professor für chinesische Malerei. Erst 1979 (nach Kulturrevolution, Gefängnis und Umerziehungslager) hat er die Malerei zu seinem Beruf gemacht. .Seine Bilder kreisen um das große Thema der Harmonie von Himmel und Erde, Göttlichem und Irdischem, Mensch und Natur.

Summary in English: For the last thirty or so years the German Lenten charity "Misereor" has been producing "Hunger cloths" which are hung in churches during the season of Lent. This goes back to an early tradition, whereby a large cloth was hung between the altar and the congregation during Lent, mostly with a small screen through which the elevated host and chalice could be seen at the consecration. Today's hunger cloths are normally hung much higher so as not to obscure the view of the altar. The cloth this year has been painted by Chinese artist Li Jinyuan and represents scenes from the Sermon on the Mount.

Philippa Gitlin is new Director of Caritas-social action

The voice of the Catholic Church on social justice and care in England and Wales has appointed a new Director. Philippa Gitlin becomes the new Director of Caritas-social action with immediate effect.

Philippa Gitlin was formerly Chief Executive of Family Service Units - a national charity providing family support services to socially excluded children and families from 1999 to May 2006 when it was taken over by the Family Welfare Association. Previously she was Director of Fundraising for five years at Depaul Trust, a national charity supporting homeless young people. Prior to her appointment as Director, Philippa was Interim Director at Caritas-social action from June 2006.

"I am delighted to have Philippa as the newly appointed Director of Caritas-social action,” says its Chair, the Right Reverend Terence Brain, Bishop of Salford. “Following the recent review of Caritas-social action, the Trustees feel that Philippa will be very able to carry forward the focus to be given to Caritas-social action, building on the foundations laid by her predecessors."

“I very much welcome Philippa's appointment,” added Terry Connor, Director of The Catholic Children’s Society (South East). “ She is an articulate advocate for Catholic care, has sound knowledge and experience of the wider voluntary sector and is fully conversant with Church structures. Caritas-social action will flourish under her leadership."

Philippa is also a trustee of the National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations (NCVCCO); Chair of Governors of Swiss Cottage School, a local authority Beacon Special Needs school in Camden, London; Member of Council of Queen’s College, London (an independent day school for girls); trustee of a St Vincent’s Family Centre in Victoria, London, and a member of the steering group of Groundbreakers, a network of women chief executives in the voluntary sector.

(Source: Catholic Communications Network England and Wales)

André 23 en Terre Sainte

Du 12 au 16 février 2007 l'archevêque de Paris, Mgr André Vingt-Trois, a conduit un pèlerinage en Terre Sainte préparé en lien avec le Service National de l’épiscopat français pour les relations avec le Judaïsme. Avec le soutien du Ministère du Tourisme d’Israël, plus de 500 personnes ont participé à ce pèlerinage-découverte, conçu dans l’esprit de la visite du Pape Jean-Paul II: parcourant la " géographie du Salut ", les pèlerins ont rencontré les diverses communautés et visité plusieurs institutions israéliennes et palestiniennes.

Voici le texte intégral de la réponse de Mgr Vingt-Trois à l'intervention du Maire de Bethléem:

Messieurs les Maires, Mes Pères,

En vous entendant, je comprends que j’ai eu raison de tenir à ce que nous venions à Bethléem. Je savais que Bethléem vit une situation particulière dans toute la Terre Sainte et que nous ne pouvions pas avoir une idée de ce que peut être un pèlerinage en Terre Sainte si nous ne passions pas par Bethléem.

Nous sommes venus avec plusieurs objectifs, - du moins avais-je, moi, plusieurs objectifs en tête, que je vais vous dire.

Le premier, c’est qu’il faut que nous voyions. On sait, on a lu le journal, on a vu la télévision, on a entendu les informations. On sait qu’il y a un mur, mais il faut le voir avec ses yeux. On n’a pas besoin de beaucoup d’explications pour comprendre, quand on a vu. Nous sommes venus et nous avons vu. Et nous avons vu des deux côtés du mur. Nous avons vu ce qu’il y a de ce côté-ci du mur. Puisqu’il s’agissait pour beaucoup d’entre-nous d’un temps de découverte de la Terre Sainte et qu’un des buts de ce voyage est de nourrir le désir de revenir soi-même et d’amener d’autres personnes, il fallait connaître aussi cette partie de la Terre Sainte.

La deuxième raison, c’est que je savais qu’il y a ici des chrétiens vivants, des communautés chrétiennes vivantes, des communautés chrétiennes qui ont réalisé des choses importantes et qui continuent de réaliser des choses importantes. Il ne s’agissait pas simplement de voir la souffrance, les conséquences de la situation politique, les drames humains que vous avez évoqués, mais aussi de constater la vitalité et la force de votre peuple et de votre communauté chrétienne, et de prendre conscience que nous ne venons pas seulement pour apporter quelque chose, mais aussi pour recevoir quelque chose. Ce que nous recevons, c’est le témoignage d’une confiance dans l’avenir, d’une volonté de vivre, et de vivre dans sa terre, et de vivre dans sa famille, et de vivre dans sa tradition, et de pouvoir élever ses enfants dans cette terre, dans cette famille et dans cette tradition. Avec l’espérance que cela peut s’accomplir dans la paix et non pas dans l’extermination.

La troisième chose qui me paraissait importante, c’était de faire ce que le Pape Jean-Paul II a fait - et que vous avez rappelé tout à l’heure -, même si nous le faisons de façon très modeste, parce que nous n’avons pas de moyens exceptionnels pour le faire : remplacer pour quelques instants le mur par un pont. Par le fait que nous franchissons le mur, nous établissons un passage. Je pense que de ce côté du mur comme de l’autre côté, il y a des hommes et des femmes qui savent que l’avenir ici ne sera possible que si quelqu’un fait des ponts et arrive à trouver une solution pour que tous puissent vivre sur cette terre dans le respect de leurs droits.

C’est pour tout cela que nous sommes venus. Pour dire tout simplement que les chrétiens de France n’ignorent pas leurs frères de Terre Sainte, ni surtout de Bethléem (Le père curé a évoqué les « cartoline » qui viennent de « Francia », il a évoqué les cartes postales que les enfants envoient avec beaucoup de cœur aux habitants de Bethléem). Nous sommes venus parce que nos communautés sentent que la communion est le seul lien vivant qui peut vous aider à tenir et à progresser. Vous savez notre amitié, vous savez notre volonté d’être en relation avec vous. J’espère que toutes celles et tous ceux qui sont venus aujourd’hui sauront motiver des pèlerins à venir non seulement, comme nous le faisons aujourd’hui pour quelques heures, mais même pour une nuit et pour plusieurs nuits, puisque c’est la nuit que Bethléem parle au monde. Merci.

+André Vingt-Trois
Archevêque de Paris

Summary in English: The Archbishop of Paris, Most Rev. André Vingt-Trois, accompanied a group of 500 pilgrims on a discovery visit to the Holy Land, visiting Nazareth, Jerusalem and Bethlehem. In his speech in Bethlehem, he referred to the plight of the people in the Palestinian territories, especially the Arab Christians.

P.S. I hope Archbishop Vingt-Trois will excuse my dwelling a little on his surname, which means "23". In French, Pope John XXIII is known as "Jean Vingt-Trois", so one would be excused for thinking that André Vingt-Trois was the name of a pope and not an archbishop!!

22nd World Youth Day - Palm Sunday 2007

Yes, there is a World Youth Day every year - but it isn't the massive international jamboree, like in 2005 in Cologne or next year in Sydney. Instead, it is a diocesan or national affair which always takes place on or around Palm Sunday (1st April this year).

Here are some of the events taking place this year in Europe:

Belgium: 10th Palm March (Marche des Rameaux) This starts at 10.30 a..m. on 31st March 2007 at the Marian sanctuaries of Beauraing and lasts until 1st April.

France: Like in Belgium many regions have Palm Marches, e.g. the diocese of Angoulême has a march to the Abbey of Bassac. On 31st March in the Abbey there is a liturgy at 7.30 p.m. followed by a Taizé-style vigil, ending at 11.00 p.m.

Austria: On 24th March 2oo7 in St. Stephan's cathedral inVienna there is a WYD from 4.00 to 10.00 p.m.

And on 6th June in Graz there is a candlelight procession and night vigil from 3.00 p.m. until 7.00 the next morning.

Switzerland: The young Swiss catholics (at least the French-speaking ones) meet at Bulle-La Toure from 31.03. to 01.04.2007.

Germany: In Würzburg there is an event at the cathedral starting at 2.00 p.m. on 1st April.

On 31st March a "Love is in the Air" gathering will take place in the Münster in Freiburg from 2.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.

And in Paderborn there will be workshops and a liturgical celebration first at the Kaiserpfalz and then in the cathedral starting at 1.30 p.m. on Palm Sunday, 1st April.

Here is the English translation of the

MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER BENEDICT XVI TO THE YOUTH OF THE WORLD ON THE OCCASION OF THE 22nd WORLD YOUTH DAY, 1st APRIL 2007

“Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (Jn 13:34).

My dear young friends,

On the occasion of the 22nd World Youth Day that will be celebrated in the dioceses on Palm Sunday, I would like to propose for your meditation the words of Jesus: “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (Jn 13:34).

Is it possible to love?

Everybody feels the longing to love and to be loved. Yet, how difficult it is to love, and how many mistakes and failures have to be reckoned with in love! There are those who even come to doubt that love is possible. But if emotional delusions or lack of affection can cause us to think that love is utopian, an impossible dream, should we then become resigned? No! Love is possible, and the purpose of my message is to help reawaken in each one of you - you who are the future and hope of humanity-, trust in a love that is true, faithful and strong; a love that generates peace and joy; a love that binds people together and allows them to feel free in respect for one another. Let us now go on a journey together in three stages, as we embark on a “discovery” of love.

God, the source of love
The first stage concerns the source of true love. There is only one source, and that is God. Saint John makes this clear when he declares that “God is love” (1 Jn 4: 8,16). He was not simply saying that God loves us, but that the very being of God is love. Here we find ourselves before the most dazzling revelation of the source of love, the mystery of the Trinity: in God, one and triune, there is an everlasting exchange of love between the persons of the Father and the Son, and this love is not an energy or a sentiment, but it is a person; it is the Holy Spirit.

The Cross of Christ fully reveals the love of God
How is God-Love revealed to us? We have now reached the second stage of our journey. Even though the signs of divine love are already clearly present in creation, the full revelation of the intimate mystery of God came to us through the Incarnation when God himself became man. In Christ, true God and true Man, we have come to know love in all its magnitude. In fact, as I wrote in the Encyclical Deus caritas est, “the real novelty of the New Testament lies not so much in new ideas as in the figure of Christ himself, who gives flesh and blood to those conceptsCan unprecedented realism” (n. 12). The manifestation of divine love is total and perfect in the Cross where, we are told by Saint Paul, “God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us” (Rm 5:8). Therefore, each one of us can truly say: “Christ loved me and gave himself up for me” (cf Eph 5:2). Redeemed by his blood, no human life is useless or of little value, because each of us is loved personally by Him with a passionate and faithful love, a love without limits. The Cross, - for the world a folly, for many believers a scandal-, is in fact the “wisdom of God” for those who allow themselves to be touched right to the innermost depths of their being, “for God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength” (1 Cor 1:25). Moreover, the Crucifix, which after the Resurrection would carry forever the marks of his passion, exposes the “distortions” and lies about God that underlie violence, vengeance and exclusion. Christ is the Lamb of God who takes upon himself the sins of the world and eradicates hatred from the heart of humankind. This is the true “revolution” that He brings about: love.

Loving our neighbour as Christ loves us
Now we have arrived at the third stage of our reflection. Christ cried out from the Cross: “I am thirsty” (Jn 19:28). This shows us his burning thirst to love and to be loved by each one of us. It is only by coming to perceive the depth and intensity of such a mystery that we can realise the need and urgency to love him as He has loved us. This also entails the commitment to even give our lives, if necessary, for our brothers and sisters sustained by love for Him. God had already said in the Old Testament: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Lev 19:18), but the innovation introduced by Christ is the fact that to love as he loves us means loving everyone without distinction, even our enemies, “to the end” (cf Jn 13:1).

Witnesses to the love of Christ
I would like to linger for a moment on three areas of daily life where you, my dear young friends, are particularly called to demonstrate the love of God. The first area is the Church, our spiritual family, made up of all the disciples of Christ. Mindful of his words: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35), you should stimulate, with your enthusiasm and charity, the activities of the parishes, the communities, the ecclesial movements and the youth groups to which you belong. Be attentive in your concern for the welfare of others, faithful to the commitments you have made. Do not hesitate to joyfully abstain from some of your entertainments; cheerfully accept the necessary sacrifices; testify to your faithful love for Jesus by proclaiming his Gospel, especially among young people of your age.

Preparing for the future
The second area, where you are called to express your love and grow in it, is your preparation for the future that awaits you. If you are engaged to be married, God has a project of love for your future as a couple and as a family. Therefore, it is essential that you discover it with the help of the Church, free from the common prejudice that says that Christianity with its commandments and prohibitions places obstacles to the joy of love and impedes you from fully enjoying the happiness that a man and woman seek in their reciprocal love. The love of a man and woman is at the origin of the human family and the couple formed by a man and a woman has its foundation in God’s original plan (cf Gen 2:18-25). Learning to love each other as a couple is a wonderful journey, yet it requires a demanding “apprenticeship”. The period of engagement, very necessary in order to form a couple, is a time of expectation and preparation that needs to be lived in purity of gesture and words. It allows you to mature in love, in concern and in attention for each other; it helps you to practise self-control and to develop your respect for each other. These are the characteristics of true love that does not place emphasis on seeking its own satisfaction or its own welfare. In your prayer together, ask the Lord to watch over and increase your love and to purify it of all selfishness. Do not hesitate to respond generously to the Lord’s call, for Christian matrimony is truly and wholly a vocation in the Church. Likewise, dear young men and women, be ready to say “yes” if God should call you to follow the path of ministerial priesthood or the consecrated life. Your example will be one of encouragement for many of your peers who are seeking true happiness.

Growing in love each day
The third area of commitment that comes with love is that of daily life with its multiple relationships. I am particularly referring to family, studies, work and free time. Dear young friends, cultivate your talents, not only to obtain a social position, but also to help others to “grow”. Develop your capacities, not only in order to become more “competitive” and “productive”, but to be “witnesses of charity”. In addition to your professional training, also make an effort to acquire religious knowledge that will help you to carry out your mission in a responsible way. In particular, I invite you to carefully study the social doctrine of the Church so that its principles may inspire and guide your action in the world. May the Holy Spirit make you creative in charity, persevering in your commitments, and brave in your initiatives, so that you will be able to offer your contribution to the building up of the “civilisation of love”. The horizon of love is truly boundless: it is the whole world!

“Dare to love” by following the example of the saints
My dear young friends, I want to invite you to “dare to love”. Do not desire anything less for your life than a love that is strong and beautiful and that is capable of making the whole of your existence a joyful undertaking of giving yourselves as a gift to God and your brothers and sisters, in imitation of the One who vanquished hatred and death forever through love (cf Rev 5:13). Love is the only force capable of changing the heart of the human person and of all humanity, by making fruitful the relations between men and women, between rich and poor, between cultures and civilisations. This is shown to us in the lives of the saints. They are true friends of God who channel and reflect this very first love. Try to know them better, entrust yourselves to their intercession, and strive to live as they did. I shall just mention Mother Teresa. In order to respond instantly to the cry of Jesus, “I thirst”, a cry that had touched her deeply, she began to take in the people who were dying on the streets of Calcutta in India. From that time onward, the only desire of her life was to quench the thirst of love felt by Jesus, not with words, but with concrete action by recognising his disfigured countenance thirsting for love in the faces of the poorest of the poor. Blessed Teresa put the teachings of the Lord into practice: “Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Mt 25:40). The message of this humble witness of divine love has spread around the whole world.

The secret of love
Each one of us, my dear friends, has been given the possibility of reaching this same level of love, but only by having recourse to the indispensable support of divine Grace. Only the Lord’s help will allow us to keep away from resignation when faced with the enormity of the task to be undertaken. It instills in us the courage to accomplish that which is humanly inconceivable. Above all, the Eucharist is the great school of love. When we participate regularly and with devotion in Holy Mass, when we spend a sustained time of adoration in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, it is easier to understand the length, breadth, height and depth of his love that goes beyond all knowledge (cf Eph 3:17-18). By sharing the Eucharistic Bread with our brothers and sisters of the Church community, we feel compelled, like Our Lady with Elizabeth, to render “in haste” the love of Christ into generous service towards our brothers and sisters.

Towards the encounter in Sydney
On this subject, the recommendation of the apostle John is illuminating: “Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth” (1 Jn 3: 18-19). Dear young people, it is in this spirit that I invite you to experience the next World Youth Day together with your bishops in your respective dioceses. This will be an important stage on the way to the meeting in Sydney where the theme will be: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). May Mary, the Mother of Christ and of the Church, help you to let that cry ring out everywhere, the cry that has changed the world: “God is love!” I am together with you all in prayer and extend to you my heartfelt blessing.

From the Vatican, 27 January 2007

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

City Mission Budapest 2007

Plans are well under way for the ICNE (International Congress for New Evangelisation) event in Budapest later this year.

ICNE is an initiative founded at the beginning of the millennium by four cardinal archbishops from European capital cities, Jean-Marie Lustiger of Paris, Christoph Schönborn of Vienna, Godfried Danneels of Brussels and Jose da Cruz Policarpo of Lisbon. Later Peter Erdö of Budapest joined the group.

The plan was and is to vitalise the Church in the urban environment, especially by organising annual congresses (called City Missions) in each of the capitals.

The first such congress was in Vienna in 2003, then Paris 2004, Lisbon 2005 and most recently Brussels 2006.

This year in Budapest, from September 16th to 22nd, there will be a number of central events (such as lectures and seminars, workshops and discussions and eucharistic and other celebrations) as well as numerous decentralised activities in the various parishes of the city.

Then, importantly, there are the evangelisation rallies, which are held on stages erected in city streets and squares, shopping centres , stations, etc.

For the city of Budapest, capital of formerly Communist-controlled Hungary, this congress will offer one of the first opportunities to reflect on the past one and a half decades of freedom and their consequences for the faith and the Church.

Thus Cardinal Erdö writes in his letter of welcome:

"In the last one and a half decades we have savoured the taste of freedom which has also brought us many disappointments and raised the issue of justice without providing an answer, that is complete justice, also for the weakest members of our society. We still wear the spiritual wounds of our people ,which have been transmitted from generation to generation and we are still looking, even today, for our ephemeral advantage, often in an absent-minded, even psychologically disturbed way. It is hard for us to find a comprehensive, optimistic outlook. We hardly feel the attraction and promise of the future. But Jesus did not invite us to be despondent."

"If we turn to Him and join in His sacrifice, laying before Him all our worries and even our collective destiny, if we drink from the cup given by Him, then our life can truly light up again."

Irish bishops speak out against alcohol abuse

In their Lenten pastoral letter Alcohol: the challenge of Moderation, the Irish Catholic bishops have broached a topic which they say is as important in the Ireland of the 21st century as it was during the Famine of the 1850s, when a massive Catholic campaign was mounted against excessive alcohol consumption.

Their concern stems in part from two recent surveys which place Ireland at the top of the list for binge drinking among 20 year-olds and also for general alcohol consumption of 15 year-olds(!) and older.

In his speech to the press at the launch of the pastoral letter, Bishop Eamonn Walsh said that "the Bishops’ Conference hopes to do more than encourage a debate on this national problem. Incorporated in the pastoral are some practical suggestions, such as to reduce one’s consumption of alcohol by one third and assess the difference this makes after three months and to initiate a discussion amongst friends and at home about our attitude to and use of alcohol."

"Another is a suggestion for the Season of Lent. Many people decide to observe temperance during Lent in the spirit of giving up in order to become better people. Should people decide to make giving up alcohol part of their Lenten fast and abstinence, the freedom and extra resources they experience could be channelled into helping others in need, at home and in the Third World."

The bishop then specifically pointed out that "prayer often motivates the making of such sacrifices that are turned into positive forces for good and not just arid self-denial."

Filmbespreking: 'Deliver us from evil'

Katholiek Nederland, Hilversum, 18 februari 2007 - De documentaire Deliver us from evil ('Verlos ons van het kwade') van Amy Berg verschijnt 22 februari in de Nederlandse filmhuizen.

Oliver O’Grady, still uit 'Deliver us from evil' (foto: RCV Entertainment)

De documentaire Deliver us from evil vertelt het verhaal van de veroordeelde Amerikaanse priester Oliver O’Grady en enkele van zijn tientallen slachtoffers. De film ontving een Oscarnominatie.

Documentairemaakster Amy Berg weet in iets meer dan 100 minuten je bloed op het kookpunt te brengen met dit relaas. Zij sprak met de griezelig onbewogen O’Grady, Father Ollie voor vrienden, in zijn geboorteland Ierland. Daar leeft hij na gevangenschap en therapie in ballingschap maar wel in vrijheid en redelijk goede doen. Dat kunnen de meeste van de slachtoffers niet zeggen. Hun leven en dat van hun families is verwoest.

Gaat de documentaire op zondag 25 februari een Oscar voor de beste documentaire winnen? Als dat het geval is dan zal dat vooral te danken zijn aan het politieke statement van de film. Op de kwaliteit van de film als documentaire is namelijk wel iets af te dingen.

Als er prijzen moeten worden uitgeloofd voor deze documentaire dan komen die toe aan de slachtoffers van O’Grady. Het verhaal van mijnheer en mevrouw Jyono is hartverscheurend. Als vrome en toegewijde katholieken voelden zij zich zo intens verraden door Father Ollie die hun dochter Ann verkrachtte. Als vader Jyono vertelt over het moment dat hij zich dit realiseerde schreeuwt hij het uit voor de camera: “Mijn hele wereld stortte in. Hij heeft ons leven, ons gezin verwoest. Ik weet niet waar ik heen moet met mijn woede.”

Summary in English: The documentary film "Deliver us from evil" about one of the priests involved in the paedophile sex abuse crisis in the States, is showing in Dutch cinemas. It has also been nominated for an Oscar.

El 77% de los alumnos de la escuela española eligen Religión Católica

En este curso 2006-7, el 77% del total de alumnos de la escuela española, tanto pública como privada concertada o no concertada, están recibiendo formación religiosa católica. Este porcentaje supone que 5.047.279 alumnos reciben enseñanza religiosa en España. Con relación al curso pasado la opción libre por la religión católica ha bajado 0.4 décimas.

Los indicadores porcentuales totales en cada etapa son poco significativos puesto que el descenso, con referencia al curso pasado, se reduce a unas décimas de punto con la excepción de la Ed. Infantil que permanece igual: en Primaria baja 0.8 décimas, en ESO 0.7 décimas y en Bachillerato sólo 0.2 décimas.

Hay que valorar positivamente la ralentización de la caída progresiva de la opción por la enseñanza religiosa en la escuela pública que venía siendo en los tres últimos cursos de 2 puntos cada año. Este curso ha sido de 0.8, 0.7 y 0.9 décimas en Primaria, Secundaria y Bachillerato, respectivamente.

Summary in English: 77% of all Spanish schoolchildren (over 5 million) have this year chosen to take religious education classes at school, only a minimal drop compared with last year. It would seem that the slump of recent years has levelled off.

Guide 2007 de l'Eglise en France

Pour tout savoir sur l’Eglise française …… le Guide 2007 de l'Eglise Catholique en France vient de paraître. Conçu comme un outil pratique, il rassemble toutes les informations utiles sur les diocèses, les mouvements et associations, les statistiques.

Edité par Bayard, Cerf et Fleurus-Mame, il est disponible dans les librairies religieuses (11,50 euros) ou chez amazon.fr (10,93 euros).

(copié en partie du site du Conférence des Evêques de France)

Summary in English: The 2007 guide to the French Catholic Church is now in the bookshops.

New Islam caricature incident

Yesterday, on "Rose Monday" carnival processions made their way through many German cities. Their floats carried, as is the German wont, brightly-coloured papier maché figures poking fun at politicians (George W. Bush has been a regular victim) and at current affairs.

In Düsseldorf, one of the big three carnival cities, one of the floats depicted two identical mullahs carrying a pistol and a sword and wearing a belt of explosives. The only difference was that one wore a notice stating "Cliché" and the other had the word "Reality" attached.

This was considered an unacceptable provocation by the Central Council of Moslems in Germany, who immediately protested in the press.

A further prickly topic, the Pope's Regensburg lecture, was caricatured in the Mainz procession, where the Pope was portrayed driving his Popemobile into a minarett.


Apparently the organizers had "tested" the reaction of Moslems in advance and had found that many were able to laugh at the float. Nobody seemed concerned that Catholics might not appreciate the joke.

Im Februar bewegt sich einiges in der deutschen Kirche

Zu Beginn des Monats Februar 2007 war lediglich ein deutscher Bischofssitz vakant, nämlich Görlitz an der polnischen Grenze.

Nun sind es vier. In den ersten Tagen des Monats wurden von Rom die Rücktrittsgesuche aus Altersgründen von drei Diözesanbischöfen angenommen, Kardinal Wetter von München und Freising, Bischof Kamphaus von Limburg und Bischof Schlembach von Speyer.

Anders als in den Vereinigten Staaten, wo sehr viele Bistümer ohne Bischof sind und mehrere Bischöfe dieses Jahr in den wohl verdienten Ruhestand treten dürften, dreht sich in Deutschland das Rücktrittskarussell wesentlich langsamer. Von den 27 Diözesen haben neun relativ junge Bischöfe in den 50ern. Acht Bischöfe haben eine 6 vorne stehen, und nur sechs sind 70 oder älter.

Der derzeitige Senior unter den deutschen Ordinarien ist Reinhard Lettmann aus Münster, einst jüngster Bischof des Landes. Er ist 74 Jahre alt und wird dicht verfolgt von Kardinal Joachim Meisner aus Köln, der 73 ist.

In den letzten 12 Monaten hat es auch lediglich zwei neue Ordinarien gegeben, Bischof Trelle von Hildesheim und seit seiner Bischofsweihe im Dezember 2006 Bischof Gregor Maria Hanke OSB von Eichstätt, früherer Benediktinerabt von Plankstetten, der nicht nur der jüngste Bischof an Erfahrung sondern auch an Jahren ist (52 J.).




Nach so vielen Rücktritten in nur wenig Tagen war es erfreulich, als dann am 06.02. Domkapitular Monsignore Reinhard Pappenberger zum neuen Weihbischof in Regensburg und Titularbischof von Aptuca (im heutigen Tunesien) ernannt wurde.

Seit 1995 arbeitet Msgr. Pappenberger im Regenburger Ordinariat, wo er zuletzt für die Bereiche Liturgie, Jugend, Ehe- und Familienpastoral verantwortlich zeichnete. Aber er ist kein reiner Funktionär, denn seit 15 Jahren ist er nebenher als Pfarrvikar einer kleinen Gemeinde seelsorgerisch tätig.

Die Bischofsweihe von Reinhard Pappenberger findet am Fest der Verkündigung, dem 25. März 2007, um 15.00 Uhr im Hohen Dom zu Regensburg statt.

Dieses Foto zeigt Monsignore Pappenberger mit Papst Benedikt XVI während seines "berühmt-berüchtigten" Besuches in seiner Heimatstadt Regensburg im September vergangenen Jahres.

Summary in English: 4 of the 27 diocesan sees in Germany are now vacant. Eldest serving bishop is 74 year-old Reinhard Lettmann of Münster and youngest is 52 year-old Gregor Maria Hanke OSB of Eichstätt, who was ordained bishop last December after having been abbot of Plankstetten since the age of 39. Mons. Reinhard Pappenberg, canon and chancery director, has been appointed auxiliary bishop of Regensburg (remember?), the Pope's home city.

No Schism but Ultimatum for Episcopal Church

Late in the evening of February 19th, the impatiently awaited communiqué was published. The Anglican primates had managed to avoid the risk of split or schism, but the communiqué took a surprising hard line against The Episcopal Church.

In effect, The Episcopal Church is given until September 30th, 2007 to:

"1. make an unequivocal common covenant that the bishops will not authorise any Rite of Blessing for same-sex unions in their dioceses ... and
2. confirm that ... a candidate for episcopal orders living in a same-sex union shall not receive the necessary consent,
unless some new consensus on these matters emerges across the Communion"

Should these "reassurances" not be forthcoming, "the relationship between The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion as a whole remains damaged at best, and this has consequences for the full participation of the Church in the life of the Communion."

And it would seem that this document was also signed by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori (see photo with Rowan Williams) and by Nigerian hard-liner Archbishop Peter Akinola. In explanation of their decision, the primates stated: "At the heart of our tensions is the belief that The Episcopal Church has departed from the standard of teaching on human sexuality accepted by the Communion in the Lambeth Resolution 1.10" (which set a biblical standard on the issue).

So, to put it succinctly, either toe the line or you'll be booted out.

Official response to the Times article

Without delay the two Co-Chairs of IARCCUM (International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission) have officially reacted to the obviously sensationalist article in The Times this morning.

They first put the as yet unpublished report Growing Together in Unity and Mission in context and then state:

"Growing Together in Unity and Mission has not yet been officially published. It is unfortunate that its contents have been prematurely reported in a way which misrepresents its intentions and sensationalises its conclusions. The first part of the document, which treats doctrinal matters, is an attempt to synthesize the work of ARCIC (the Anglican - Roman Catholic International Commission) over the past 35 years. It identifies the level of agreement which has been reached by ARCIC, but is also very clear in identifying ongoing areas of disagreement, and in raising questions which still need to be addressed in dialogue. Those ongoing questions and areas of disagreement are highlighted in boxed sections interspersed throughout the text. It is a very honest document assessing the state of Anglican - Roman Catholic relations at the present moment."

"Both the heading of the article ('Churches back plan to unite under Pope') and its opening sentence, which speaks of ‘radical proposals to reunite Anglicans with the Roman Catholic Church under the leadership of the Pope’ need to be put into proper perspective. For 35 years this dialogue has addressed questions of authority, including the papacy. The so-called 'radical proposals' found in Growing Together in Unity and Mission are the same proposals which ARCIC has been putting forward over the past 35 years. What this document says about the Petrine Ministry is not new, but a synthesis of what is said in ARCIC's documents on authority (Authority in the Church I, 1976; Authority in the Church II, 1981; The Gift of Authority, 1999). While it is encouraging that a document of this kind can be produced and that practical day to day cooperation between Catholics and Anglicans can be strengthened, talk of plans to reunite the two communions is, sadly, much exaggerated."

"The second part of the document sets forward proposals for concrete initiatives, identifying aspects of common mission, common study, common prayer which are for the most part already permitted according to authoritative sources of the Catholic Church and the provinces of the Anglican Communion. Most of these proposals aren't new, and some of them have been implemented for decades in some places. The document draws together a series of proposals which IARCCUM’s members believe are possible in the present context given the degree of faith we share. But it also says that local bishops in each part of the world will need to discern what is appropriate locally, given that the context and dynamics of relationships between Anglicans and Roman Catholics differ widely across the world."

"The Times article speculates about the Catholic Church’s response to a possible schism within the Anglican Communion. It should be pointed out that the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity has consistently spoken of the value of the Anglican Communion remaining a communion, rooted in the Apostolic faith, as indicated in this statement from 2004: “It is our overwhelming desire that the Anglican Communion stays together, rooted in the historic faith which our dialogue and relations over four decades have led us to believe that we share to a large degree.” During the visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury to Pope Benedict in November, 2006, the Holy Father noted: “It is our fervent hope that the Anglican Communion will remain grounded in the Gospels and the Apostolic Tradition which form our common patrimony and are the basis of our common aspiration to work for full visible unity.” "

"We hope that when published, Growing Together in Unity and Mission invites a good deal of discussion, and that it will be a helpful instrument on the long journey towards full communion which has been the stated goal of Anglican - Roman Catholic relations for the past 40 years.

Archbishop John Bathersby, Catholic Co-chair of IARCCUM
and Bishop David Beetge, Anglican Co-chair of IARCCUM"

So much for the facts - this makes the question of a private agenda for leaking the document all the more fascinating, of course.

Leaked unity plans for Canterbury and Rome

Hardly could there have been a more dramatic moment for somebody to leak the 42-page document Growing Together in Unity and Mission of the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission than right now when the Anglican primates are sweating over the final communiqué of their historic meeting at Dar es Salaam, and when split or schism within the Anglican Communion is in the air.

It is interesting to speculate who might have his or her own private agenda to throw a spanner in the works at this hour, but the fact is that the contents of what has apparently been leaked makes fascinating reading.

In today's Times of London, Religious Affairs Correspondent Ruth Gledhill writes:

"Radical proposals to reunite Anglicans with the Roman Catholic Church under the leadership of the Pope are to be published this year, The Times has learnt."

"The proposals have been agreed by senior bishops of both churches. In a 42-page statement prepared by an international commission of both churches, Anglicans and Roman Catholics are urged to explore how they might reunite under the Pope."

"The statement, leaked to The Times, is being considered by the Vatican, where Catholic bishops are preparing a formal response."

"It comes as the archbishops who lead the 38 provinces of the Anglican Communion meet in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in an attempt to avoid schism over gay ordination and other liberal doctrines that have taken hold in parts of the Western Church."

"The 36 primates at the gathering will be aware that the Pope, while still a cardinal, sent a message of support to the orthodox wing of the Episcopal Church of the US as it struggled to cope with the fallout after the ordination of the gay bishop Gene Robinson."

"Were this week’s discussions to lead to a split between liberals and conservatives, many of the former objections in Rome to a reunion with Anglican conservatives would disappear."

"Many of those Anglicans who object most strongly to gay ordination also oppose the ordination of women priests."

"Rome has already shown itself willing to be flexible on the subject of celibacy when it received dozens of married priests from the Church of England into the Catholic priesthood after they left over the issue of women’s ordination."

"There are about 78 million Anglicans, compared with a billion Roman Catholics, worldwide. In England and Wales, the Catholic Church is set to overtake Anglicanism as the predominant Christian denomination for the first time since the Reformation, thanks to immigration from Catholic countries."

"As the Anglicans’ squabbles over the fundamentals of Christian doctrine continue — with seven of the conservative primates twice refusing to share Communion with the other Anglican leaders at their meeting in Tanzania — the Church’s credibility is being increasingly undermined in a world that is looking for strong witness from its international religious leaders."

"The Anglicans will attempt to resolve their differences today by publishing a new Anglican Covenant, an attempt to provide a doctrinal statement under which they can unite."

"But many fear that the divisions have gone too far to be bridged and that, if they cannot even share Communion with each other, there is little hope that they will agree on a statement of common doctrine."

"The latest Anglican-Catholic report could hardly come at a more sensitive time. It has been drawn up by the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission, which is chaired by the Right Rev David Beetge, an Anglican bishop from South Africa, and the Most Rev John Bathersby, the Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane, Australia."

"The commission was set up in 2000 by the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey of Clifton, and Cardinal Edward Cassidy, then head of the Vatican’s Council for Christian Unity. Its aim was to find a way of moving towards unity through “common life and mission”."

"The document leaked to The Times is the commission’s first statement, Growing Together in Unity and Mission. The report acknowledges the “imperfect communion” between the two churches but says that there is enough common ground to make its “call for action” about the Pope and other issues."

"In one significant passage the report notes: “The Roman Catholic Church teaches that the ministry of the Bishop of Rome [the Pope] as universal primate is in accordance with Christ’s will for the Church and an essential element of maintaining it in unity and truth.”"

"Anglicans rejected the Bishop of Rome as universal primate in the 16th century. Today, however, some Anglicans are beginning to see the potential value of a ministry of universal primacy, which would be exercised by the Bishop of Rome, as a sign and focus of unity within a reunited Church."

"In another paragraph the report goes even further: “We urge Anglicans and Roman Catholics to explore together how the ministry of the Bishop of Rome might be offered and received in order to assist our Communions to grow towards full, ecclesial communion.”"

"Other recommendations include inviting lay and ordained members of both denominations to attend each other’s synodical and collegial gatherings and conferences. Anglican bishops could be invited to accompany Catholic ones on visits to Rome."

"The report adds that special “protocols” should also be drawn up to handle the movement of clergy from one Church to the other. Other proposals include common teaching resources for children in Sunday schools and attendance at each other’s services, pilgrimages and processions."

"Anglicans are also urged to begin praying for the Pope during the intercessionary prayers in church services, and Catholics are asked also to pray publicly for the Archbishop of Canterbury."

"In today’s Anglican Church, it is unlikely that a majority of parishioners would wish to heal the centuries-old rift and return to Rome."

"However, the stance of the Archbishop of Canterbury over the present dispute dividing his Church gives an indication of how priorities could be changing in light of the gospel imperative towards church unity."

"Dr Rowan Williams, who as Primate of the Church of England is its “focus for unity”, has in the past supported a liberal interpretation of Scripture on the gay issue. But he has made it clear that church unity must come before provincial autonomy. A logical extension of that, once this crisis is overcome either by agreement or schism, would be to seek reunion with the Church of England's own mother Church."

Pope calls for a "Christian Revolution"/Papst ruft zur "christlichen Revolution" auf

In seiner Angelusansprache am gestrigen Sonntag erläuterte Papst Benedikt XVI das, was er ein "Manifest" Jesu nannte, die "Magna Charta" der christlichen Gewaltlosigkeit, nämlich die Herrenworte "Liebet eure Feinde" aus dem Sonntagsevangelium.

Hier einige Originalauszüge:

"... "Amate i vostri nemici" (Lc 6,27). E’ tratta dal Vangelo di Luca, ma si trova anche in quello di Matteo (5,44), nel contesto del discorso programmatico che si apre con le famose "Beatitudini". Gesù lo pronunciò in Galilea, all’inizio della sua vita pubblica: quasi un "manifesto" presentato a tutti, sul quale Egli chiede l’adesione dei suoi discepoli, proponendo loro in termini radicali il suo modello di vita."

"Ma qual è il senso di questa sua parola? Perché Gesù chiede di amare i propri nemici, cioè un amore che eccede le capacità umane? In realtà, la proposta di Cristo è realistica, perché tiene conto che nel mondo c’è troppa violenza, troppa ingiustizia, e dunque non si può superare questa situazione se non contrapponendo un di più di amore, un di più di bontà. Questo "di più" viene da Dio: è la sua misericordia, che si è fatta carne in Gesù ..."

"Giustamente questa pagina evangelica viene considerata la magna charta della nonviolenza cristiana, che ... consiste ... nel rispondere al male con il bene (cfr Rm 12,17-21), spezzando in tal modo la catena dell’ingiustizia. Si comprende allora che la nonviolenza per i cristiani non è un mero comportamento tattico, bensì un modo di essere della persona, l’atteggiamento di chi è così convinto dell’amore di Dio e della sua potenza, che non ha paura di affrontare il male con le sole armi dell’amore e della verità."

"L’amore del nemico costituisce il nucleo della "rivoluzione cristiana", una rivoluzione non basata su strategie di potere economico, politico o mediatico. La rivoluzione dell’amore ... ecco la novità del Vangelo, che cambia il mondo senza far rumore. Ecco l’eroismo dei "piccoli", che credono nell’amore di Dio e lo diffondono anche a costo della vita."

Continuing on the theme of his first encyclical "Deus caritas est", the Pope defines non-violence for Christians - responding to evil with goodness - as a mode of life, not merely tactical behaviour.

And he calls this the "Christian revolution", the revolution of love - as opposed to economic, political or media power.

Il semble évident que Benoît XVI s'est donné la tâche de rencontrer le mal, la violence, l'injustice dans le monde avec la seule amour de Dieu, faite homme en Jésus. On doit attendre avec impatience ses prochaines initiatives!

Anglican split over gays in the Church?

Watching Heaven and Earth on BBC television today, I was reminded of the Anglican Primates' meeting currently taking place in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, where it would seem that 7 bishops refused to take communion this morning because of many liberal Anglicans' affirming stance to gay Christians, even to the ordination of openly gay priests and bishops (so far one - Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire).

As Time magazine reported this week, this group of dissentors is led by the vociferous and very influential primate of Nigeria, Archbishop Peter Akinola.

When approached for an intervíew by two openly gay priests, Colin Coward and Davis Mac-Iyalla, reporting for Changing Attitude and the BBC, he surprisingly hid his face behind his papers and battled his way past, refusing to acknowledge their questions.

Many fear that tomorrow, Monday, might see the announcement of a split within the Anglican Communion, which was indeed welcomed by all three participants in the BBC Heaven and Earth programme, liberals and conservatives alike. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, who has been fighting to maintain unity in the Anglican fold, was advised in no uncertain terms to abandon the sinking ship.

Carne vale

This weekend and until Tuesday whole swathes of Europe are succombing to the pre-Lenten merrymaking that is Carnival, Carnaval, Karneval, Fasching, Fastnacht, Mardi Gras - yes, even the Shrove Tuesday pancake racing (!) in Britain. ♫ Am Aschermittwoch ist alles vorbei ♫.

We Catholics seem to be so much better at this kind of thing than our Protestant brethren, who tend on the whole to be a good deal more sober ("sober" being the operative word). For not only do we bid farewell to meat and fat before the forty days of Lent, but it would almost seem that beer and other alcoholic beverages are going out of fashion for much longer than 40 days, so much of these is consumed at this time.

In so mancher mit maskierten Gläubigen gefüllten Kirche ertönte heute eine heilige Büttenpredigt, ob mit kölschem Humor oder allemannischer Deftigkeit. Wir Christen und die "profane" Gesellschaft wurden regelrecht aufs Korn genommen - und viele Priester glänzten als Dichter.

Et puis je me souviens avec beaucoup de plaisir de ces défilés de personnages déguisés au centre des villages provençaux (Maillane, Graveson) et puis naturellement du Mardi Gras à Nice (mother of New Orleans' celebration of the same name).

Let me leave you with the thoughts attributed (probably falsely) to St. Thomas More on the subject of humour (which we prayed at today's mass):

Give me a sense of humour, Lord,

Give me the power to see a joke,

To get some happiness from life

And pass it on to other folk