Caroline Farrow Why I stood up to the cyber-bullies FEATURE, PAGE 9
Anthony Symondson The world’s most moving sacred art REVIEW, PAGE 14
Lord Carlile Every school must learn from Ealing FEATURE, PAGE 8
No. 6533
Ordinariate to begin in America in New Year
MADELEINE TEAHAN
THE Catholic Church in the United States of America will witness the establishment of its own Ordinariate on New Year’s Day.
On Tuesday evening, Cardinal Donald Wuerl reported to the American bishops on the implementation of Anglicanorum coetibus, the apostolic constitution which authorises Anglicans to establish their own personal ordinariates in communion with the Catholic Church.
In his historic address to the American bishops, Cardinal Wuerl said: “On October 29 2011 I received a letter from His Eminence Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, indicating that ‘in an audience granted to me on October 28 2011, our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has approved the erection of an ordinariate in the United States.’
“The Congregation has communicated that the canonical erection of the ordinariate will take place on January 1 2012, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. At that time, I assume that an Ordinary will be named and the ordinariate will begin its work.”
The Ordinary of the ordinariate has not yet been announced, though it is expected that, contrary to the situation in England, the American Church will select a Catholic priest involved with the Church’s Pastoral Provision programme.
Pastoral Provision has been the process which enables the ordination of married clergy from other denominations and it has been the expressed wish of the American bishops that the Ordinary of the ordinariate should be experienced in the catechesis of Anglicans.
Cardinal Wuerl told the bishops that 67 Anglican clergy had applied to join the US ordinariate and that so far 35 applicants had progressed to the second stage in the process.
He also said that two Anglican communities had already come into full communion with the Catholic Church in anticipation of the ordinariate.
CatholicHerald.co.uk
Van Rompuy discusses crisis with Pope
BENEDICT XVI met Herman Van Rompuy, the president of the European Council, at the Vatican last week where the two men spoke about the economic crisis in Europe.
During their half hour meeting, the two also spoke about human rights and religious freedom. Mr Van Rompuy gave Pope Benedict the book Europe, a Project Outline and Benedict XVI gave him the gold medal of his pontificate. Mr Van Rompuy has been president of the European Council since December 2009, the first holder of the title. He is a devout Catholic who goes on regular retreats. ................................................ Feature: Page 8 Mary Kenny: Page 12
November 18 2011 £1.50 (Republic of Ireland €1.80)
Bill to impose an ‘abortion duty’ on all local councils
BY SIMON CALDWELL
HEALTH SECRETARY Andrew Lansley is facing mounting criticism from MPs and peers over plans to force every local authority in the country to commission abortion services as part of swingeing reforms of the NHS.
Pro-life groups have also accused Mr Lansley of seeking to impose an “abortion duty” on local councils.
They say his reforms will create “the false idea that there is a legal right to abortion” and a “conflict for any councillor who objected to abortion”.
One group, the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, has already asked its supporters to urge councillors to write to the Health Secretary to object to the proposed reforms.
The outcry erupted after the new policy was revealed by Tory Health Minister Anne Milton, a former nurse, during questions in the House of Commons.
Alison Seabeck, Labour MP for Plymouth Moor View, asked Mr Lansley what steps he would take to ensure “comprehensive sexual health services including abortion and contraception services are commissioned and delivered by all local authorities after the implementation of his proposed NHS reforms”.
Answering on behalf of the Health Secretary, Miss Milton said: “It is the Government’s intention that there should be a small number of activities that local authorities will be required by regulations to commission, and these activities will include appropriate access to contraception and abortion services.”
At present, every Primary Care Trust in the country commissions abortions,
“
No discretion will be given to health authorities to promote policies that may reduce
”abortion
For the latest pro-life news, visit CatholicHerald.co.uk handing millions of pounds of business to such private abortion providers as Marie Stopes International and the British Pregnancy Advisory Service.
The Health and Social Care Bill, which is at Committee Stage in the House of Lords, will abolish the trusts and transfer responsibility for abortion provision to local authority committees or commissioning groups acting on their behalf.
But Lord Alton of Liverpool said it was wrong for councils to be denied any powers to try to reduce the 200,000 abortions performed in Britain each year.
“Mr Lansley insists that his health reforms are about giving greater control to local health providers but in the case of abortion no discretion will be given to health authorities to promote policies which might reduce the 600 abortions commissioned every day in Britain,” he said. “This policy also ensures that the private abortionists, who receive around £60 million a year from the state for their work, will have their incomes guaranteed.
“It’s a curious exception to make and one which tells you all you need to know about the Government’s health reforms.”
Labour MP Jim Dobbin, chairman of the parliamentary pro-life group, said the policy would guarantee business for abortion clinics that offer counselling to women with crisis pregnancies. “It will certainly show where the Government’s priorities are... if the only source of counselling continues to be given by abortion providers,” he said.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said: “Local authorities should have the power to provide local public health services to meet local needs. But there are some services – such as sexual health services – where services must be provided in a universal fashion.”
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Pope flies to Benin amid reports that he is suffering from arthrosis BY STAFF REPORTER
POPE BENEDICT XVI was scheduled to arrive in Benin today for his second trip to Africa as pope.
On Sunday he asked for prayers for his three-day trip and for those suffering from violence on the African continent.
He said he was travelling to Benin “in order to strengthen the faith and hope of Christians in Africa”.
“I entrust this trip and the inhabitants of this beloved continent to your prayers, especially those who experience insecurity and violence,” he said. He prayed that Mary would give support to all those working for reconciliation in Africa.
The visit comes after reports from a respected Vatican commentator that the Pope is suffering from arthrosis, a degenerative condition that makes it painful to walk. The condition, which affects joints in the legs, shoulders and back, prompted him to ask to use a wheeled platform devised for Blessed Pope John Paul II, according to Italian journalist Andrea Tornielli. The condition is also likely to make long journeys difficult.
During the November 1820 visit, the Pope plans to unveil a document he wrote as a follow-up to the 2009 Synod of Bishops on Africa. The text summarises the Synod’s conclusions and presents pastoral priorities for the
Church in Africa. The Pope said the whole purpose of the Synod was to help make Christians “the salt of the earth and the light of the world”.
The Pope’s schedule in Benin includes meetings with political authorities and interreligious representatives, an encounter with children, liturgies with Catholics and a Mass to present the postSynodal document. ................................................... Editorial Comment: Page 13
Pope to tap iPad to light Christmas tree BY KRISTIN GOBBERG
WITH a tap on an iPad, Pope Benedict XVI will light the world’s largest electronic Christmas tree in the Italian town of Gubbio without having to leave Vatican City.
place on the evening of December 7, the eve of the Immaculate Conception.
Before lighting the tree the Pope will send a video message to the citizens of Gubbio thanking volunteers who organise the event.
According to the town’s authorities the Pope will light the tree via a video link set up by the Vatican Television Centre. The ceremony will take
The electronic tree extends more than 2,000 feet up on the face of Mount Igino near Gubbio, and uses more than 25,000 feet of electrical cable.
Oratory cat who met Pope to publish book BY MADELEINE TEAHAN
THE BIRMINGHAM ORATORY cat who met Pope Benedict XVI will publish his memoirs later this month.
The feline, known as Pushkin, became a star of the papal visit when he met the Pope at the Birmingham Oratory in September last year.
The author of the memoirs, Pushkin the Pontifical Puss:
Tails of an Oratory Cat, was not only a favourite with the Pontiff but also with Princess Michael of Kent, who met him at the opening of Newman’s shrine in 2008. The book recounts the meeting between Pushkin and the Pope.
Fr Anton Guziel said: “He has gained hairs and graces. You have to understand that for Pushkin it is a matter of noblesse oblige.”
INSIDE
Fr Alexander Lucie-Smith Is Catholicism bad for the economy? PAGE 8
Will Heaven Remembrance Sunday will outlive veterans PAGE 12
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