Archbishop Fabriciano Sigampa of Resistencia in Argentina said children “should know that, in reality, the gifts come from the efforts of their parents and with the help of Jesus”. He is also against plans to build a house for Santa Claus in the city square. The bishop said Christmas should not be confused with a “fat man dressed in red”.

2,000 claim abuse

Close to 2,000 people have filed abuse claim complaints against members of the Catholic Church in The Netherlands, according to information given by Dutch investigators.

Complaints have also been made against two former bishops. The claims are a cause of great scandal and have rocked the Church in the country.

Australian Catholics protect marriage

Australian Catholic lay groups have joined the Sydney archdiocese in calling upon Members of Parliament to support traditional marriage.

They are asking Parliament to “protect the unique institution of marriage as traditionally understood and actually lived as the complementary love between a man and a woman”.

Sydney’s Cardinal George Pell is actively supporting the petition, which is being circulated in Catholic groups in an effort to gather a great number of signatures.

Neocatechumenal Way discussed

Four Japanese bishops discussed with the Pope and Vatican high officials the future of the Neocatechumenal Way in Japan. The meeting was held more than a year after the Neocatechumenal Way’s Redemptoris Mater seminary in Takamatsu was closed.

Bishop Francis Osamu Mizobe of Takamatsu and the diocesan pastoral council wanted to shut down the seminary because of concerns the activity of the Way’s members was damaging the unity of Japan’s small Catholic community. The bishops said more talks have to be held with the Vatican and the Neocatechumenal Way’s co-founder, Kiko Arguello, to agree on the way forward.

Nicaraguan bishops oppose Ortega

The campaign of President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua to be elected for a third term is being opposed by the country’s bishops. Although the constitution limits the president to two terms Ortega managed to get the country’s Supreme Court, which his critics say is packed with Ortega allies, to approve a possible third term.

Archbishop Leopoldo José Brenes Solórzano of Managua said all Nicaraguans should take the country’s constitution as their point of reference point. “It is like a traffic light: when you get a red light you have to stop.”

Cardinal decries loss of freedom

The Chinese government has been criticised throughout the world for its decision not to allow Liu Xiaobo to travel to Norway to receive the Nobel Prize for Peace.

Among the critics was Cardinal Joseph Zen, who also decries the loss of freedom of the Catholic Church in China. He said the efforts of the Chinese government are undermining the unity of the Catholic community.

(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)