Cardinal keeps limits on private Masses in St Peter’s, allows some exceptions

Reaffirming the principles that led the Vatican to severely limit private celebrations of Mass in St Peter’s Basilica in the early morning, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the new archpriest of the basilica, said exceptions would be made for “groups with particular and legitimate needs”. In addition, requests by priests to celebrate alone, without a congregation, “may…

Christian legal group denounces ‘targeted smear campaign’

A Christian legal group said last Wednesday that its inclusion in a report claiming that “religious extremists” are seeking “to roll back human rights in sexuality and reproduction” is part of a “targeted smear campaign”. ADF International was responding to a report issued by the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) ahead…

Touching in a time of no touch

We are a people of the incarnation and reaching out to tangible things is important to us, writes Canon Benedict Fee Three statues; two big, one small; one is in Rome, two in Ireland; one north of the border, one south of the border. The first is found on the right-hand side of St Peter’s…

Vatican Roundup

Vatican issues new regulations on public contracts The Vatican’s Secretariat for the Economy issued last Tuesday a set of regulations related to new norms for awarding public contracts unveiled by Pope Francis last year. The regulations are contained in a decree signed by Fr Juan Antonio Guerrero Alves, SJ, the Pontifical Delegate and prefect of…

Dealing with begrudgers

The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. Local begrudgery is a problem that is not confined to Ireland. Today’s three readings tell how Ezekiel, St Paul and Jesus had to face it. So, if you feel that you are being under appreciated, that you are being undervalued, then you are in very good company.…