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NEW YORK – Jesuit Father John P. Schlegel, former president of Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., has been appointed publisher and president of America Press in New York, effective in November.

Two weeks ago, the Star Wars: The Complete Saga was released on Blu-ray DVD. All six live action movies, from 1977’s “A New Hope” to 2005’s Revenge of the Sith, have been included. During the last 14 years, Star Wars creator George Lucas has tinkered with the films during various re-releases of the films, from […]

On the weekend of Sept. 10-11, I attended a Mass at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen celebrated by Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, who gave the best homily I’ve heard in a long time. Without engaging in vocal calisthenics, Bishop Rozanski presented a very clear explanation of the readings for the day based on the concept of unconditional forgiveness. Bishop Rozanski admitted that this fundamental teaching of Jesus is very difficult for many of us to accept as it really does go against the grain.

ROME – The head of the Italian bishops’ conference condemned the “licentious behavior and improper relations” of Italy’s political class, in what was seen as the strongest church criticism to date of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI has transferred responsibility for two very precise administrative procedures from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments to the Roman Rota, a church court.

“Hagerstown incorporates Tridentine Mass” (CR, Sept. 15) on the extraordinary form of the Mass at St. Mary in Hagerstown twice made the point that the celebrant had “his back to the congregation,” suggesting that somehow he is turning his back on the people. In this position, known as “Ad Orientum,” the priest and the people are both facing the altar of sacrifice.

In this week’s Catholic Review, you’ll read about a group of Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy that has visited 18 U.S. cities to promote interfaith understanding and reconciliation. The “Caravan of Reconciliation” made a final stop at St. Katharine Drexel in Frederick Sept. 25, with Gov. Martin J. O’Malley giving the keynote address. Here’s a […]

DUBLIN ¬ The Dublin Archdiocese has admitted that money from parishes has been transferred into a special fund used to compensate victims of clerical sex abuse.

I wonder again why the Catholic Campaign for Human Development continues to grant funds ($60,000) to organizations such as People Acting Together in Howard, “CCHD Grants Empower Poor” (CR, Sept. 1).

Two letters (CR, Aug. 25) did not get their facts straight. “Who defines marriage?” purports that the Constitution bars religious input into the political process. Learn about Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black’s membership in the KKK and virulent anti-Catholicism; then read the Heritage Foundation’s 2006 analysis about the mythical wall of separation. If we reject the Klan’s input on African-Americans, why do we accept it for Catholic Americans?