Quotes and news

Going to Mass together and setting aside time each day to talk to each other are two simple practices that can help Catholic couples strength­en their marriage and be examples to others, Pope Benedict told married couples by means of a message sent to an international seminar held in Brasilia, Brasil.

“In our world, so deeply marked by individualism, activism, haste, and distraction, sincere and constant dialogue between spouses is essential to avoid the emerge, development and degeneration of misunderstandings which, unfortunately, often lead to irreparable breaks no one can then mend.”

The Pope also said married couples have a “duty to sit down together” to discuss problems and deepen their relationships.

US Church official jailed over clerical sex abuse

Mgr William Lynn, a former vicar for clergy in the Philadelphia archdiocese, US, was sentenced to three to six years in state prison. Mgr Lynn was found guilty of not doing enough in his position to prevent child abuse by priests.

He is the first US Catholic Church official to be convicted of a felony not for abusing a child, or even witnessing it, but for his responsibilities in managing priests, some of whom abused children. The priest’s de­fence lawyer, Thomas Bergstrom, described the Court’s decision as “grossly unfair” and “unbelievable”.

Religion more interesting than politics – Tony Blair

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph that he has “always been more interested in religion than politics”. Blair had converted to Catholicism after stepping down from public office.

Blair says he accepts the teachings of the Catholic Church, but is “not a doctrinal ideologue”. He said he became a Catholic because “I just felt more at home there”.

He has no hard feeling for the Anglican Church which he left.

Church needs humour

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, together with the famous television comedian Stephen Colbert, will address a forum on faith and humour.

The forum will be held at Fordham University in September.

Fr James Martin, a popular Jesuit columnist and author of Between Heaven and Mirth, will chair the forum. Fr Martin says the Catholic Church needs the gift of humour.

Pope’s butler says he acted alone, asks for forgiveness

Paolo Gabriele, the papal valet who was arrested in May for stealing confidential papal documents, wrote to Pope Benedict saying he acted alone when he took documents from the papal apartment. He says he recognises and is sorry for his offence and asked the Pope to forgive him.

His letter was also presented to the commission of cardinals investigating the ‘Vatileaks’ scandal.

Scottish Archbishop-elect criticised over comments

The person nominated to be appointed as the new Archbishop of Glasgow, Scotland, Mgr Philip Tartaglia, is under attack because of comments he passed earlier this year after the sudden death of David Cairns, a former Catholic priest who was later a government cabinet minister. Cairns died aged 44.

Last April Bishop Tartaglia questioned whether the sudden breakdown in Cairns’ health might have been related to his lifestyle.

(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)