The Cure of Ars on the Church in England

Today a colleague sent me the following hopeful story dating back to St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars, whose Feast Day the Church celebrates today.

The story, we're told, "concerns a Protestant country that once merited the title “Isle of Saints”...

"On May 14th 1854, the Cure of Ars received a visit from Bishop Ullathorne of Birmingham. “I was speaking of prayer for England,” the Bishop writes, “and was describing in a few words the difficulties and sufferings of our poor Catholics for the faith, when suddenly he interrupted me by opening those eyes – cast into shadow by their depth, when listening or reflecting - and streaming their full light on me in a manner I can never forget, he said, in a voice as firm and full of confidence as though he were making an act of faith: “I believe that the Church in England will recover her ancient splendour”. I am sure he firmly believes this, from whatever source he has derived the impression”.

Cardinal Ouellet - One to Watch

Here is an inspirational story of an Anglican journalist's personal encounter with Cardinal Marc Ouellet, recently appointed prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

I've heard other similar stories in which the Canadian cardinal has touched those he's met. On the couple of occasions I've interviewed him, I've noticed a distinct inner peace and an ability to combine a sense of authority without any sense of being judgemental - some signs, to me at least, of genuine holiness.

For some years now, I've been saying he's a possible future Pope. He's certainly someone to watch.

Holy Stairs Defaced

Vandals have defaced the entrance to the Scala Sancta in Rome, scrawling insults against the Pope.

Rome has a serious problem with graffiti, often painted on some of the city's most beautiful and sacred buildings. So although this is very depressing, it's not so surprising.

Rabbi Rosen Welcomes Appointment of Bishop Koch

It's too early of course to say how Bishop Kurt Koch, the new president of the Pontifical Commission for Relations with Jews, will deal with the thorny issue of Catholic-Jewish relations.

But a good omen is that one of Judaism's foremost interlocutors with the Church, Rabbi David Rosen, is pleased with the Holy Father's appointment. His statement reads:

The AJC congratulates Bishop Kurt Koch of Switzerland on his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI's as successor to Cardinal Walter Kasper, giving him the leadership responsibility for the Vatican's relations with the Jewish People as well as with non-Catholic Christians.

"Bishop Koch has a fine record of deep friendship with the Swiss Jewish community as well as profound commitment to the singular religious and historical nature of the Church's relationship with Judaism and Jewry " declared Rabbi David Rosen, AJC's International Director of Interreligious Affairs. He added "accordingly we warmly welcome this appointment and look forward to a close working relationship with Bishop Koch.

In truth, what usually upsets the Jews rarely - if ever - comes from the joint commission, but it still helps that they have someone in the Vatican to confide in when relations pass through a rocky patch, as they no doubt will again.

Benedict XVI Publicly Reprimands Cardinal Schoenborn

Pope Benedict today publicly reprimanded Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, the Archbishop of Vienna, for comments he made recently about Cardinal Sodano and matters relating to Church discipline.

The full statement below is without precedent, but so too was the cardinal's criticism of Sodano, made in comments given off the record to a group of journalists.

This shows how seriously the Holy Father is about preserving unity in the Church, although I suspect quite a few would like him to be similarly hard-line on prelates who publicly dissent from Church teaching and not one who openly criticises a fellow cardinal.

Cardinal Sodano has still to respond to accusations of corruption concerning him and the Legion.

VATICAN CITY, 28 JUN 2010 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office released the following communique early this afternoon:

"(1) The Holy Father today received in audience Cardinal Christoph Schonborn O.P., archbishop of Vienna and president of the Austrian Episcopal Conference. The cardinal had asked to meet the Supreme Pontiff personally in order to report on the current situation of the Church in Austria. In particular, Cardinal Schonborn wished to clarify the exact meaning of his recent declarations concerning some aspects of current ecclesiastical discipline, and certain of his judgements regarding positions adopted by the Secretariat of State - and in particular by the then Secretary of State of Pope John Paul II - concerning the late Cardinal Hans Hermann Groer, archbishop of Vienna from 1986 to 1995.

"(2) Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, and Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. were subsequently invited to join the meeting.

"In the second part of the audience certain widespread misunderstandings were clarified and resolved, misunderstandings deriving partly from certain statements of Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, who expressed his displeasure at the interpretations given to his words.

"In particular:

"(a) It must be reiterated that, in the Church, when accusations are made against a cardinal, competency falls exclusively to the Pope; other parties may have a consultative function, while always maintaining due respect for persons.

"(b) The word 'chiacchiericcio' (gossip) was erroneously interpreted as disrespectful to the victims of sexual abuse, towards whom Cardinal Angelo Sodano nourishes the same feelings of compassion, and of condemnation of evil, as expressed on various occasions by the Holy Father. That word, pronounced during his Easter address to Pope Benedict XVI, was taken literally from the pontifical homily of Palm Sunday and referred to the "courage that does not let itself be intimidated by the gossip of prevalent opinions".

"(3) The Holy Father, recalling with great affection his own pastoral trip to Austria, via Cardinal Christoph Schonborn sends his greetings and encouragement to the Church in Austria, and to her pastors, entrusting the journey to renewed ecclesial communion to the celestial protection of the Blessed Virgin, so venerated at Mariazell".

Newt Gingrich's Impressive New Film on John Paul II

Here's a trailer for Newt Gingrich's new film Nine Days that Changed the World - an impressive movie that premiered last week in Rome. I would recommend it to any educator/catechist teaching about John Paul II, and about the Church's teaching on freedom and democracy.

My write up of the film including an interview with Gingrich can be found here. This isn't a politically partisan film - interestingly, its director is a lifelong Democrat.

Gingrich has already made a film on Reagan and his next project is to make one on Margaret Thatcher. All three leaders were, of course, pivotal in the West's defeat of Soviet Communism.

Fake Priest Attempts Robbery of Venerable English College

An amusing story from the news agency ANSA involving the Venerable English College:

"A thief who disguised himself as a priest to rob a Catholic college in Rome became so caught up in his holy pretence that he blessed the police officers who helped foil his bid to steal a batch of antique books.

The fake cleric, a 52-year-old Venezuelan, mingled among students and teachers on Saturday at the city's Venerable English College, a seminary for priests for England and Wales, before heading to its library and nabbing 25,000-euros worth of books. But the college's vice rector became suspicious when the unfamiliar man could not explain what he was doing there.

When questioned furthered he took flight but was stopped before he could make off with his haul of seven tomes.

Officers said that, even when the game was up, the man kept up the part, blessing them by making the sign of the cross before being taken into custody. Police said they were familiar with the man following attempts to steal antique books and works of art elsewhere."