Quotes and news

"The family, that place where love and life, respect for the other and hospitality are encountered and transmitted, is truly the 'fundamental cell of society. ...The family is the first school in which one learns respect for others, mindful of the identity and the difference of each one."

Cardinal Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, in his September 19 message to Muslims around the world marking the end of Ramadan.

Laïcité positive

"Mr President, have used the expression 'laïcité positive' to characterise this more open understanding - it is fundamental to insist on the distinction between the political realm and that of religion... and to become more aware of the irreplaceable role of religion for the formation of consciences and the contribution it can bring to... the creation of a basic ethical consensus in society."

Pope Benedict to President Nicolas Sarkozy during the Pope's visit to France during September 13-14.

De-demonising Pius XII

"The Catholic Church under the pontificate of Pius XII was instrumental in saving the lives of as many as 860,000 Jews from certain death at Nazi hands. ...The Pope saved more Jews than all the other world leaders and religious leaders combined."

Gary Krupp, Jewish founder and president of the Pave the Way Foundation, during a three-day conference on Pius XII from September 15 to 17.

Closing of hospitals

If the parliament in Victoria, Australia, goes ahead with a proposed law about abortion there is a good possibility that Catholic hospitals would have to close their maternity wards, which handle one-third of births in Victoria. Archbishop Denis Hart of Melbourne has warned lawmakers about this possibility. The archbishop's strong warning has created uncertainties about the fate of the legislation, which had already been approved by the lower chamber. The bill would expand access to legal abortion, particularly in cases that were deemed 'emergencies'.

Diocese vs Dominicans

The diocese of Sacramento, California, is taking the Dominicans to the Church's tribunal. It is asking the court to decide what should be the share of Dominican order towards the settlement of a lawsuit involving sexual abuse by a priest. The bishop took this action as he strongly holds that since a Dominican priest committed the abuse, then the order should take responsibility and pay.

Cathedral set ablaze

In the central Indian diocese of Jabalpur, where Catholics form only 0.3 per cent of the population, two men set fire to the 150-year-old cathedral and caused irreparable damage to the altar. In Orissa, where the current wave of persecution began, reports are emerging of forced conversions of Christians to Hinduism.