The Vatican's financial accounts for 2008 show a deficit of €911,514 for the operations of the Holy See, and a €15 million deficit for the Vatican city-state. For the Holy See, expenses of €255,953,869 outstripped revenues of €254,865,383.

Archbishop Velasio De Paolis, the president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs, presented a full economic report to a panel of cardinals at meetings in Rome. The report shows that worldwide, Peter's Pence collections drew in €54,387,714 during in 2008.

There was a record number of donations to the Peter's Pence collection, but the worldwide economic slump reduced the total value of those gifts.

Using the bible to judge science

The 400-year-old case of Galileo Galilei and the Inquisition still serves as a valid warning that scientists should not presume to teach the Church about faith and that the Church must approach scientific discoveries with great caution, said the prefect of the Vatican Secret Archives.

Presenting an updated and expanded collection of Vatican documents related to Galileo's trial for heresy during a press conference, Bishop Sergio Pagano said the case teaches Christians they must be extremely careful in using the bible to make judgments about science.

Catholics must be cautious "not to make the same mistakes that were made then" in applying biblical texts to scientific problems in a literal way, he said.

Honduran bishops fear Chavez influence

Church leaders in Honduras remain unsympathetic towards ousted President Manuel Zelaya, and fearful that Venezuela's Hugo Chavez is exerting undue influence over their country's affairs.

Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez had previously asked international observers to take note that Zelaya was removed from office by a legal mandate, and urged the ex-president to remain abroad rather than attempting to return and risking bloodshed.

Now the Honduran cardinal has added that Chavez is risking the country's stability by "putting his hands here", and expressed the wish that the Venezuelan strongman - who had become a close ally of Zelaya - would cease interfering in Honduran affairs.

Vatican endorses Harry Potter film

Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano has endorsed Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

The newspaper acknowledged that the wildly popular work of author J.K. Rowling "lacks a reference to transcendence", but saluted the film for its positive portrayal of "friendship, altruism, loyalty, and self-giving".

L'Osservatore dismissed critics' concerns that the Potter books glorify sorcery and black magic, saying the use of magic in the film is similar to that in "classic fairy tales".

Archbishop closes Bucharest churches

Archbishop Ioan Robu of Bucharest closed all the churches in his archdiocese except for the cathedral to draw attention to the government's decision to build a 19-storey office building next to the cathedral.

The archbishop, who says the building threatens the cathedral's foundations, led 5,000 Catholics in procession to protest the government's action.

(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)