Quotes and news

In a reaction to the US Senate’s decision to table the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act, the chair­man of the US bishops’ ad hoc committee on religious liberty, Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, said: “The need to defend citizens’ rights of conscience is the most critical issue before our country right now. We will continue our strong defence of conscience rights through all available legal means.

“Religious freedom is at the heart of democracy and rooted in the dignity of every human person. We will not rest until the protection of conscience rights is restored and the First Amendment is returned to its place of respect in the Bill of Rights. We will pursue legislation in the House of Representatives, urge the administration to change its course on this issue, and explore our legal rights under the Constitution and Religious Freedom Restoration Act.”

Billions are denied religious freedom

Archbishop Silvio Tomasi, the Vatican’s representative at the UN headquarters in Geneva, said that more than two billion people in the world are denied the protections of religious liberty. Mgr Tomasi was addressing the UN’s Human Rights Council. He said: “rising restrictions on religion affect more than 2.2 billion people.” While virtually all nations claim to respect religious freedom, he said: “the gap is growing between widely accepted stated principles, and their daily application on the ground.”

‘Vatileaks’ continue

What the media are describing as ‘Vatileaks’ continued last week with the publication of confidential letters regarding an alledged un­successful effort by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone to take over Milan’s Uni­versity of the Sacred Heart.

According to the leaks, Pope Benedict blocked the move by his Secretary of State, siding with the local archbishop against a move toward Vatican control. Observers say the multiple leaks from the Vatican are designed to undermine Cardinal Bertone’s authority.

Cardinal Bertone questioned the accuracy of the material that has become public. At the opening of an exhibition in Rome featuring docu­ments from the Vatican Secret Archives, he remarked that “these were the documents to look at and to show, which smack of historical truth”. Many interpreted this remark as an indirect comment that the other documents are not reliable.

Moral questions over a pre-emptive attack

Commenting on the possibility of a pre-emptive attack on Iran the US bishops said engaging in a pre­ventive war without clear proof that an attack is imminent raises serious moral and juridical questions.

In a letter written in the name of the US bishops to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Bishop Richard Pates said: “in Catholic teaching, the use of force must al­ways be a last resort. Iran’s bellicose statements, its failure to be trans­parent about its nuclear pro­gramme and its possible acquisition of nu­clear weapons are serious matters, but they do not justify military action.”

Pope’s March prayers

Pope Benedict’s general prayer intention for March is: “That the whole world may recognise the contribution of women to the development of society”.

The Pope’s missionary intention is: “That the Holy Spirit may grant perseverance to those who suffer discrimination, persecution or death in the name of Christ, particularly in Asia”.

(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)