Vatican | Common News Update

Jul122020 by adminNo Comments

The Latest: Vatican highlights plight of maritime workers

Health

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican is highlighting the plight of maritime workers during the pandemic, saying bans on shore leave are severely stressing crews stuck aboard ship, some to the point of suicide. Cardinal Peter A. Turkson, who heads a Vatican office dealing with issues of human development, said in a message Sunday that maritime workers “really deserve our esteem and gratitude” for ensuring movement of goods for a “healthy global economy” while much of the world is in lockdown to combat spread of COVID-19 infection. He said that tens of thousands of seafarers who were due to fly home for leave between long stints at sea were prevented from doing so due to lockdown rules. Similarly, thousands of seafarers due to head to sea on new tours of duty were stranded in hotels and dormitories. ...

Jan12019 by adminNo Comments

Vatican letter undermines US cardinal on abuse

World

The Vatican blocked U.S. bishops from taking measures to address the clergy sex abuse scandal because U.S. church leaders didn't discuss the legally problematic proposals with the Holy See enough beforehand, according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press. The Nov. 11 letter from the Vatican's Cardinal Marc Ouellet provides the primary reason that Rome balked at the measures that were to be voted on by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops at its Nov. 12-14 meeting. The blocked vote stunned abuse survivors and other Catholics who were demanding action from U.S. bishops to address clergy sex abuse and cover-up. Ouellet's letter undermines the version of events provided by the conference president, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo. It could also provide fodder for questions during a spirit...

Oct132018 by adminNo Comments

Pope Paul VI, Archbishop Oscar Romero among 7 people to be canonized at Vatican

World

The embroidered banner-portraits of the seven people Pope Francis will proclaim saints already hang on the façade of Saint Peter’s Basilica ahead of the solemn ceremony Sunday. The new tombstone and mosaic portrait of one of them, Pope Paul VI, the somber, timid pope of the turbulent 60s, is already in place in the crypt of St. Peter’s with his title changed from “Beatus” (blessed) to “Sanctus” (saint) above his name. Among those who will be canonized Sunday with Pope Paul are four religious figures: Mother Catherine Kasper, the German founder of a religious congregation; Nazaria Ignacia March Mesa, the Spanish founder of another order; and two Italian priests, Father Francesco Spinelli and Father Vincenzo Romano. Added to the list in July...

Aug162018 by adminNo Comments

Vatican condemns 'predator priests' in Pennsylvania grand jury report

World

Aug. 16 (UPI) -- The Vatican on Thursday said the systematic coverup of sexual abuse at several Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania is "criminally and morally reprehensible." The director of the Vatican's Press Office, Greg Burke, issued a statement saying the Catholic Church takes the grand jury's investigation seriously and "condemns unequivocally" the sexual abuse of minors. "Regarding the report made public in Pennsylvania this week, there are two words that can express the feelings faced with these horrible crimes: shame and sorrow," Burke wrote. The 900-page report, released Tuesday, detailed sexual abuse by "predator priests" in six dioceses -- Allenton, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton. Attorney General Josh Shapiro said the dioceses followed a pattern of "abus...

Sep152017 by adminNo Comments

Vatican recalls diplomat from U.S. over child pornography

World

Sept. 15 (UPI) -- The Vatican has recalled a diplomat from the United States after the State Department last month requested diplomatic immunity be waived over possible violation of child pornography laws.The U.S. Department of State notified the Vatican on August 21 that one of its diplomats had possibly violated laws related to pornographic images of children through diplomatic channels, and requested the waiver.The Vatican said Friday that it has recalled the diplomat in question, whose name has not been released, and opened its own investigation into the matter."The Holy See, following the practice of sovereign states, recalled the priest in question, who is currently in Vatican City," Vatican officials said in a statement."The Promoter of Justice opened an investigation and has alread...