Home Page

STOCKTON, Calif. – A Modesto pastor urged his parishioners to receive the sacrament of penance if they voted for President-elect Barack Obama, who supports legalized abortion, but Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton said the sacrament was not obligatory for Catholics who supported Obama.

SHANGHAI, China – Some Catholics in the Shanghai Diocese said they have witnessed smoke emerging from a bronze statue of Mary holding the Infant Jesus – Our Lady of Sheshan – atop the Minor Basilica of St. Mary.

Catholics throughout Baltimore will celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception – the fact that by God’s grace, the Blessed Virgin Mary was preserved from original sin from the moment of her conception – on Dec. 8. According to the Dictionary of the Liturgy, “the Immaculate Conception is more than just Mary’s preservation from evil. It is her fullness of grace.”

Kindly accept our appreciation for a job well done by reporter Matt Palmer and The Catholic Review staff for the recent article “Eagle Scout overcomes obstacles” (CR, Oct. 23).

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican said the current market crisis calls for a new international agreement to effectively monitor global financial operations and give poorer countries a greater voice in economic policies.

ROME – Saying they were not satisfied with Vatican explanations concerning a Good Friday prayer for the Jews, members of the Italian Rabbinical Assembly said they would not co-sponsor the annual Day of Catholic-Jewish Dialogue in January.