Pope, Vatican mourn Reagan Vatican Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls told reporters at the weekend that Pope John Paul II had learned "with sorrow" about the death of former US President Ronald Reagan.
Abbott wants clamp on morning-after pillFederal Health Minister Tony Abbott is considering tightening access by young teenage girls to the controversial morning-after pill, following reports last month that the emergency contraception was being sold to very young girls.
Historical insights to kick-start lay social movementsA meeting in Sydney this week will hear how time has obscured the role of lay movements in the ongoing development of Catholic social teaching.
Nuns at front line of Mugabe violence against white farmersZimbabwe's Archbishop Pius Ncube has has condemned an invasion of a white-owned farm led by two nuns, amid a fresh upsurge of violence against Zimbabwe's white farmers.
Human Rights Watch urges Vietnam atrocities investigationNew reports that dozens of Christians were killed by government soldiers during peaceful protests in Vietnam’s central highlands this Easter have prompted calls for an independent investigation.
Weeping statue investigation progressesThe Sydney Morning Herald reports this morning on an unnamed scientist "poring over the results of a swab ... somewhere in a secret laboratory in Brisbane".
OPINION
Liturgy is ritualThe word 'ritual' sometimes carries negative connotation of meaningless repetition, 'going through the motions'. Yet ritual activity is part of the human condition and is necessary for our survival. It is purposely done over and over again, and best when the words and actions are done from memory. - Elizabeth Harrington - Liturgy Lines/The Liturgical Commission, Archdiocese of Brisbane
FEATURE
Echo of St Margaret Mary AlacoqueSometimes, the voice of a saint echoes clearly to us down through the centuries. As a young adult, I found myself struggling, in the ordinary way of young people, with feeling alienated from God. - The Word Among Us
Vatican official claims Americans ready for 15,000 troop deaths
Archbishop Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, has claimed that some 100,000 body bags and 6000 coffins have been airlifted to a US military base in Sicily as part of American preparations for war on Iraq.
In an interview with a US Catholic weekly newspaper, Archbishop Martino said he had information that President George W Bush's administration "foresees" the deaths of 15,000 American troops should the predicted conflict become reality.
He also claimed that in addition to the body bags and coffins, a floating hospital for 1000 beds had also been sent to the US military base at Sicily.
But Melbourne's Herald-Sun reported yesterday that the Pentagon has denied Martino's claims
In the light of these facts the Archbishop restated the Vatican's total opposition to war which he said would exact an "unimaginable" price and result in "fire and tumult all over the Middle East."
He said the Catholic response to "a preventative war" on Iraq was a resounding "no" and argued that non-violent alternatives existed and should be used.
SOURCE
The Universe/Herald-Sun
LINKS
New development in Just War teaching (23/1/03)
12 Feb 2003
