Home Page

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI has named Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, to serve as the camerlengo, the chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church. While the pope is alive, the job is basically just a title. But when a pope dies, the chamberlain is charged with sealing the papal apartments, chairing consultations about the papal funeral, making the practical preparations for the conclave to elect the next pope, and chairing a committee of cardinals taking care of the temporal affairs of the church until a new pope is elected.

FAIRFAX, Calif. – While the Catholic Church in California “does not seek to impose our values on anyone,” it is nonetheless called “to be a strong moral voice on what we believe is necessary for the well-being of society and the good of the human family,” the president of the California Conference of Catholic Bishops told an audience at St. Rita Parish in Fairfax March 27.

JERUSALEM – The faithful must be “more diligent” in searching for the light of God in order to use it to build a better future, said religious leaders in Jerusalem in an Easter message. “We re-search for the light that comes from God, illuminates all creation, guides every true believer in his search, and helps him to find God’s freedom for all his people together with his peace and justice,” the heads of Jerusalem churches said in a statement April 2.

Nancy Fortier Paltell, associate director for the respect life office of the Maryland Catholic Conference, said she was “disgusted” by the Maryland Senate Finance Committee’s rejection of a bill to ban human cloning. In an 8-3 vote March 26, the committee killed the Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007, sponsored by Sen. Roy Dyson of Southern Maryland.

For the thousands of people coming to Baltimore for the National Catholic Educational Association’s 104th convention April 10-13, there will be variety of events and activities to attend after the Baltimore Convention Center doors close for the day. Celebrate the arts with middle and high school students of the Archdiocese of Baltimore at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall at 6:30 p.m. with performances starting at 7:30 p.m on April 9. Witness art, music, drama and dance with talented youths. Complimentary tickets are available for the first 400 out-of-town NCEA guests; inquiries can be made at mhutson@archbalt.org.

SAN DIEGO – In a bankruptcy reorganization plan filed March 28, the San Diego Diocese proposed a $95 million pool to compensate 143 people who claim childhood sexual abuse by priests. Under the proposal 83 victims who say they were forced to have sexual intercourse could receive up to $800,000 each. Forty-four who claim they were touched sexually or forced to masturbate could receive between $176,000 and $575,000. Payments to 16 victims of abuse not involving touch, such as being asked to look at pornography or posing for indecent pictures, could range from $10,000 to $175,000.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Morale is high among priests and soldiers serving in Iraq, Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services told Providence diocesan priests gathered March 21 at Our Lady of Providence Seminary. The archbishop noted that, while there has been a decline in the number of priests serving as chaplains throughout all branches of the military, there is a steady increase in the number of soldiers seeking the sacraments in combat and in families requesting the support of Catholic priests.

VATICAN CITY – Celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI asked young people not to let the question of God drift out of their lives. The pope opened Holy Week with a procession and liturgy in St. Peter’s Square April 1, blessing palms and olive branches in memory of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem a few days before his death. Dressed in red and gold vestments, the pope carried a braided palm as he walked along the cobbled square at the head of a long line of cardinals, bishops and priests. The choir sang a “Hosanna,” evoking the acclamation of the people of Jerusalem when Jesus arrived in the holy city. Some 50,000 people crowded into the sunlit square and applauded the pope, who turns 80 April 16. It was the start of the year’s busiest period of papal liturgies.