Cardinals’ council focused on Pontifical Councils for laity, family

On Friday, the final day of the meeting of the Council of Cardinals, the group set their sights on the Pontifical Councils for the laity and the family, with a special mention of the potential inclusion of laity in those councils’ tasks.

According to Fr. Lombardi, director of the Holy See press office, the council of cardinals on July 4 “resumed its reflections on the dicasteries of the curia. The Pontifical Councils for laity and family were studied in particular depth, especially in terms of the contributions and role that should be assumed by laypeople, married couples, and women.”

A possible merger of those two councils into a congregation for the laity is expected, but Fr. Lombardi stressed that “decisions were not made, though more detailed proposals were offered that will subsequently be inserted into the overall framework of the new configuration of the curia.”

Cardinal Bertone Threatens Legal Action Against Italian Magazine

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone has firmly denied allegations made in the Italian magazine L’Espresso that he was an accomplice in smearing the reputation of Dino Boffo, a former editor of the Italian bishops’ newspaper, Avvenire.

In a statement, the Holy See Press Office said the former Vatican Secretary of State “categorically denies” the story as “baseless” and that the allegations are “false and offensive.”

The statement said the cardinal has never been involved in such an action, “much less been the cause of it.”

Catholic aid organizations scramble to meet Iraqi needs

In a tumultuous Iraq facing an increasingly uncertain future, Catholic charity organizations are rallying to meet the immediate needs of those afflicted by ongoing violence.

“Movement is pretty limited, so all numbers and information we get is anecdotal,” Kris Ozar, correspondent for Caritas Egypt, an international relief agency of the Church, said.

“The one thing that’s certain and that I’m hearing around here is that nobody knows, nobody knows,” he said. “Nobody knows where people are going, nobody knows how long people are staying, people are renting houses but for a temporary time because they’re expensive.”

“It’s a lot of uncertainty, absolutely a lot of uncertainty.”

Interview With Archbishop of Campobasso-Bojano Ahead of Pope’s Visit

Pope Francis makes a pastoral visit to the dioceses of Campobasso and Isernia in the Italian region of Molise tomorrow. It goes without saying that the atmosphere there is one of joyful celebration, involving and profoundly affecting the life of 50,000 inhabitants, all caught up in preparations to make their city beautiful in view of the arrival of the Successor of Peter.

Archbishop Giancarlo Bregantini of Campobasso-Bojano discusses this in the following interview in which he describes a land rich in culture and humanity, but often somewhat ‘lazy’ in showing its infinite potentialities.

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Your Excellency, let’s say that the Pope’s visit on July 5 to Campobasso-Isernia is somewhat the jewel in the crown of a series of events which this year have called great attention to the Church in Molise …

–Archbishop Bregantini: It’s true. Everything stems from the gift of having had Campobasso as the “City of Peace” in the March for Peace at the beginning of the year. Then there was my choice, at the request of the Holy Father, as author of the meditations of Good Friday’s Via Crucis, which was followed by different formative initiatives. Finally, the announcement of the Pope’s visit at the end of March – something great …

Audiences & Pontifical Acts

AUDIENCES

Yesterday afternoon, the Pope received in audience Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, archbishop of Genoa and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

The Holy Father has:

– appointed Bishop Eduardo Eliseo Martin of Villa de la Concepcion del Rio Cuarto, Argentina, as bishop of Rosario (area 13,500, population 1,907,000, Catholics 1,694,000, priests 250, permanent deacons 5, religious 349), Argentina.

– appointed Bishop Antonio Manuel Moiteiro Ramos, auxiliary of Braga, Portugal, as bishop of Aveiro (area 1,537, population 315,000, Catholics 274,500, priests 11, permanent deacons 34, religious 192), Portugal.

Meeting of the Council of Cardinals: “free, frank and friendly&

The Council of Cardinals, gathered at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, will conclude its meetings this evening. The next sessions have been scheduled for 15-17 September, 9-11 December and 9-11 February 2015.

With regard to the themes considered, as well as those indicated in recent days (the Governorate, the Secretariat of State and the Institute for the Works of Religion), the Council resumed its reflections on the dicasteries of the Curia. The Laity and Family were studied in particular depth, especially in terms of the contributions and roles that should be assumed by laypeople, married couples and women.

Decisions were not made, but more detailed proposals were offered that will subsequently be inserted into the overall framework of the new configuration of the Curia.

UN Adopts Resolution to Protect Family

Recognizes Family as Natural, Fundamental Group, Entitled to State Protection

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The United Nations has adopted a resolution to protect the family, but as it drafts the resolution’s goals, a petition has been created to ensure they include provisions to protect the family.

The U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva adopted a resolution on June 26 recognizing the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the state, according to the family rights group CitizenGO.

The actual resolution was voted on and passed by a majority vote of the 47 Human Rights Council members, with 26 in favor, 14 against, and six abstentions.

Former sex slaves to take part in South Korea Mass with Pope

A group of South Korean women who were used as sex slaves by the Japanese army during World War II will attend an Aug. 18 Mass with Pope Francis when he visits the country.

According to local media reports, the Archdiocese of Seoul announced on Monday that it had invited the women to take part in the ceremony with Pope Francis. The Mass will be held at the Cathedral of Myeongdong in Seoul. A personal meeting between the pontiff and the women, many of whom are Catholic, has not been set.

Pope Francis will visit South Korea Aug. 14-18 to take part in the VI Asian Youth Day. It will be the third time a pontiff has visited Asia, the last time being St. John Paul II’s trip to the Korean peninsula in 1989.

Portland archdiocese consecrated to Our Lady of Fatima

Faithful from in and around Portland, Ore. filled St. Mary’s Cathedral to overflowing on June 28 for Archbishop Alexander Sample’s Mass consecrating the archdiocese to Our Lady of Fatima.

The Mass and consecration, celebrated on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, were offered particularly for the strengthening of marriage and family life.

“Marriage and family life are in a real crisis. We make this consecration to her to watch over our families and marriages. Families need Our Lady’s love and protection,” the Archbishop said during the homily, according to the Catholic Sentinel.