German Church launches new abuse investigations

Germany’s Catholic Church has ordered two separate investigations yesterday into allegations of widespread sexual abuse in its institutions, and into whether Pope Benedict knew about them while he was a diocesan bishop.
With nearly two thirds of dioceses caught up in the widening scandal, the German Bishops’ Conference said that it would examine all 170 allegations [...]

Filipino engineer now a bishop

Pope Benedict has appointed a chemical engineer as bishop of Malaybalay, Bukidnon province in Mindanao, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has announced.

Pope slams airport naked body scanners

In an address to airport workers, Pope Benedict has spoken out against the use of security body scanners insisting that “human dignity must be preserved”.

‘Sackcloth’ for Irish bishops: Cardinal Brady promises

Irish Cardinal Sean Brady says the country’s bishops will perform an act of penance equivalent to putting on “sackcloth and ashes” this Lent as a sign of humility and empathy with the victims of clerical child abuse.

‘We are part of the universal Church’

Bishop-elect Jean Marie Prida Inthirath is set to be ordained and installed on April 10 as apostolic vicar of Savannakhet in central Laos. (UCA News)

Pakistan Muslim platform seeks Pope’s help

A Pakistani Muslim activist platform says it has written a letter to Pope Benedict and the Archbishop of Canterbury protesting what it describes as repeated and blatant blasphemy by the European press.

Child abuse ‘a heinous crime and grave sin’: Pope

In a statement issued after a two-day meeting with the bishops of the Irish Church, Pope Benedict described child abuse as “a heinous crime and a grave sin”.

Admit blame: Bertone tells Irish bishops

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone has told Irish bishops at an extraordinary summit with Pope Benedict that they must admit their own blame in cover-ups of generations of sex abuse of minors, or risk losing the faith of Catholics

Four new Asian cardinals tipped

Pope Benedict is tipped to make as many as four new Asian cardinals at the next consistory expected in October, observers believe.

Taiwan piano couple play for pope

Taiwan-based piano duo, Lina Yeh and her German husband, Rolf-Peter Wille, met Pope Benedict Wednesday before giving their first ever performance at the Vatican.

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