Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, who has served as Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland since 2008, came under fire from Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern. He accused the nuncio of lack of co-operation with the commission set up to inquire into child abuse committed in the Archdiocese of Dublin.
Meanwhile, the Irish Christian Brothers have announced plans to contribute €161 million to assist victims of abuse in government schools and orphanages run by the congregation. Besides expressing regret at what happened, Brother Edmund Garvey, a member of the congregation's leadership team, said that "our fervent hope is that the initiatives now proposed will assist in the provision of support services to former residents of the institutions".
In May, an independent commission on child abuse issued a report saying that in several institutions managed by the Christian Brothers, sexual abuse of boys was a chronic problem.
Bishop suspends traditional Mass
A Canadian bishop has suspended celebration of the traditional Latin Mass by priests of the Fraternity of St Peter (FSSP) because the priests did not want to obey a diocesan directive barring the reception of Communion on the tongue. Bishop Frederick Henry of Calgary imposed the policy, ordering the faithful to receive Communion in the hand in a response to fears of swine flu.
He said the FSSP would be allowed to resume celebrating Mass in the extraordinary form when medical officials say the swine-flu threat has receded.
Help children with AIDS
The president of Caritas Internationalis is calling upon the international community to assist the 2.1 million children with AIDS.
"It's a basic human right that children grow up to become adults, and yet half of children with HIV die before their second birthday because they live in poor countries where access to adequate care is limited," said Cardinal Oscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga of Honduras. "No mother or father should have to watch helplessly as their child dies. No child should have to suffer because they were born in a country with a high AIDS rate and a poor health system."
Burial certificate for Jesus found?
A researcher studying the Shroud of Turin has reported finding traces of writing on the cloth, which she believes is further evidence of the shroud's authenticity. "I think I have managed to read the burial certificate of Jesus the Nazarene," said Barbara Frale, a historian working in the Vatican archives. The words she claims to have discerned refer to "Jesus the Nazarene".
Pope's December prayer intentions
Pope Benedict XVI's prayer intentions for December 2009 have been released by the Vatican. The Pope's general intention is: "That children may be respected and loved and never be the victims of exploitation in its various forms."
His missionary intention is: "That at Christmas the peoples of the earth may recognise in the Word Incarnate the light which illuminates every man, and that the nations may open their doors to Christ, the Saviour of the world."
(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)