Quotes and news

Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the US bishops, praised the US House of Representatives for approving a reform bill that provides "adequate and affordable health care to all" and "voting overwhelmingly" for a prohibition on using federal money to pay for most abortions. The cardinal said the vote honoured the President's commitment that that the reform should not fund abortions.

An amendment to ban abortion funding passed by 240 votes to 194, and led to passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act in a 220-215 vote.

Vatican search for extraterrestrials

Scientists from around the world met at a Vatican-sponsored meeting to try and answer the question whether there is life on other planets. Chris Impey, head of the Steward Observatory and the University of Arizona's department of astronomy said that the three basic ingredients needed for life have already been found in a lot of places in galaxies.

Maine voters reject gay marriage

Maine voters on November 3 rejected same-sex marriage, overturning a marriage equality law passed in May. Bishop Richard Malone, head of the state-wide Portland diocese, said: "I want to thank the people of Maine for protecting and reaffirming their support for marriage as it has been understood for millennia by civilisations and religions around the world."

UK TAC to join Catholic Church

The English members of the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) have voted to accept Pope Benedict's invitation to enter the Catholic Church. At a recent meeting, English members of the group approved a resolution thanking the Pope for his forthcoming apostolic constitution and asked TAC leaders "to take the steps necessary to implement this constitution".

Although the TAC has relatively few members in the UK, the worldwide body - which boasts a membership of 400,000 - has been active in discussions with Vatican officials about the prospect of corporate reunion.

'Cry of the Earth'

Global climate change is "one of the most critical issues of our time", and how people respond to it will "have consequences for the future of every person and every form of life", said Ireland's Catholic bishops.

In a pastoral statement entitled 'Cry of the Earth', the bishops said, "we should react now to the risk of serious harm posed by the plausible link between certain types of human activity and the damaging effects of climate change". The bishops said the earth's "systems of life are interdependent and finely balanced. Small changes in one part of the planet's rhythms and systems can have significant, if not dramatic consequences for the whole of the earth and its creatures."

The full document is posted at www.catholicbishops.ie.

Virtual tour of St John Lateran

The Vatican website www.vatican.va has launched a virtual tour of St John Lateran, giving a high-resolution, 360-degree view of the basilica.

(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)