Quotes and news

Lija parish is holding a New Testament Reading Mara­thon next Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. at St Peter’s church, run by Dominican Sisters, next to the parish church. Besides being part of its evangelisation efforts it aims to raise money for the restoration of the Giuseppe Calì paintings at the parish church. All are invited to take part as readers or listeners. Those interested in reading should e-mail jondemi@maltanet.net.

Confession: a show of mercy, not prosecution

Bishop Gianfranco Girotti, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary that deals with issues related to the sacrament of penance, said priests hearing confessions need to replace any negative or aggressive attitudes with meekness and mercy toward the penitent.

He noted that in the celebration of the sacrament there was a unilateral overemphasis on the accusation and listing of sins. Mgr Girotti emphasised that the most important thing during confession was “the blessed embrace of the merciful Father”.

He said that “at times confession takes on the semblance of a prosecuting tribunal rather than a celebration of forgiveness,” and that the conversation takes on “inquisitorial or, in any case, indelicate tones”.

A confessor is first and foremost a father who welcomes, listens and engages in dialogue, he said.

Bishop faces ‘hate speech’ complaint

Bishop Philip Boyce of Raphoe, Ireland, faces a complaint of hate speech submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions by John Colgan, a Fine Gael party candidate. In a homily the bishop said the Catholic Church is under attack from “a secular and godless culture”. Colgan said the remarks “exemplify antipathy towards secularists which has manifested itself in the ostracising of perfectly good Irish citizens”

Christians in Egypt attacked over a photo

Christian homes and shops in an Egyptian village were attacked, burned and looted by a crowd of 3,000 Muslims after it was alleged that a Coptic Christian man had a photo of a Muslim village girl on his mobile. A Coptic Church spokes­man said the security forces arrived very late and that the attackers were local villagers, not radical Islamists.

Pope praises Scalfaro

Pope Benedict described ex-Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro as “an illustrious Catholic statesman… always strove to promote the common good, and the perennial ethical and religious values of Christianity”.

Vatican press office director Fr Federico Lombardi added that he showed how to be both a convinced believer and a supporter of the fundamental values of the civil and political life of the country, while respecting the pluralism of positions. Scalfaro died on January 29, aged 93.

Plans to use Olympics to renew interest in faith

The bishops of England and Wales will use the 2012 London Olympic Games to renew interest in the Catholic faith. A number of initiatives varying from fighting human trafficking and homelessness to promoting youth ministry and ecumenical dialogue have been planned.

The bishops will also be posting on the internet resources for liturgies and holy hours. The games will be held between July 27 and August 12.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster, president of the bishops’ conference, described the Olympics as “a moment of great opportunity for us all.

(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)