Bishop Ratko Peric, who has repeatedly and strongly discouraged belief in the alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje, complained that the visit by Cardinal Schönborn had caused new pastoral problems for his diocese. Mgr Peric expressed his 'regret' that the Austrian cardinal's appearance had lent new credibility to the apparitions.
However, the Austrian cardinal said that "good fruits" have been produced by the Medjugorje phenomenon and also noted that the reported Medjugorje apparitions conform to the pattern of other Church-approved apparitions.
Ex-Dublin archbishop pressed for comments
Two Irish bishops have called on Cardinal Desmond Connell to comment on the severe criticism that the Murphy Report made on the handling of child abuse accusations in the Dublin archdiocese while he was archbishop.
Bishop Willie Walsh of Killaloe and Martin Drennan of Galway have both suggested that the retired cardinal should explain his administrative decisions.
Mgr Connell had opposed the efforts of the Murphy Commission to obtain Church documents about the handling of abuse complaints. However, these were passed onto the commission by his successor Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.
2009 martyrs
The Congregation for Evangelisation has published biographies of the 30 priests, two seminarians, two women religious, and three lay pastoral workers slain during 2009. Six were killed in Brazil, six in Colombia, four in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and three in Mexico.
Christians attacked in Iraq
A Christian student at the University of Mosul, Iraq, was kidnapped on December 28; Islamic militants claimed responsibility. A deacon was wounded by gunfire in Mosul on December 30. Asia News estimates that 2,000 Christians have been killed in the past six years; Church leaders warn of an 'ethnic and religious cleansing' campaign by Islamic extremists.
Government to appeal against 'Allah' decision
The government of Malaysia plans to appeal against a court decision allowing the country's Catholic newspaper to use the term 'Allah' when referring to the Christian God. The court's ruling - which declared as illegal the government policy forbidding the use of 'Allah' by The Herald - has prompted thousands of complaints from the country's Muslim majority, who believe that it is blasphemous to use 'Allah' except in references to the Islamic deity.
Pope's prayer intentions for January
The Vatican has released the prayer intentions of Pope Benedict XVI for January. The Pope's general intention is that young people may learn to use modern means of social communication for their personal growth and to better prepare themselves to serve society.
His missionary intention is that every believer in Christ may be conscious that unity among all Christians is a condition for more effective proclamation of the Gospel.
(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)