VATICAN POPE

2010-03-18T05:46:13Z

Pope Benedict XVI looks at a prelate during a general audience in St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 17, 2010. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

House Dems on track for vote on $940B health bill

2010-03-18T12:17:50Z

<div><p>House Democrats are pushing to the brink of passage a landmark, $940 billion health care overhaul bill that would simultaneously deliver on President Barack Obama's promise to expand coverage while slashing the deficit, a strategy aimed at winning over the party's fiscal conservatives.</p><p>Leaving nothing to chance, the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles announced that the ...

Retired Catholic bishop endorses health care bill

2010-03-17T19:45:09Z

<div><p>A retired Catholic bishop is announcing his support for President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, despite the church's official opposition.</p><p>Retired Bishop John E. McCarthy of Austin told The Associated Press on Wednesday that h...

Episcopal church approves 2nd gay bishop

2010-03-17T16:00:44Z

<div id="subtitle">Episcopal church approves election of lesbian bishop to LA post; 2nd gay bishop overall</div><div><p>The Episcopal Church has approved the election of a lesbian assistant bishop in the Diocese of Los Angeles, making her the second openly gay bishop in the Anglican global fellowship, diocese officials said Wednesday.</p><p>Episcopal conservatives were quick to critici...

Priests with love lives speak out against celibacy

2010-03-17T14:15:35Z

<div id="subtitle">French priests with love lives speak out against celibacy, as sex abuse scandals swirl</div><div><p>Leon Laclau shared his life, and often, his bed, with Marga over 20 years — all while serving as a Catholic priest in a town in the French Pyrenees.</p><p>His clerical leadership eventually expelled him, prompting protests from his flock and inspiring other priests and their partners arou...

Merkel: Sex abuse scandal major challenge

2010-03-17T13:30:25Z

<div id="subtitle">Chancellor Merkel: sex abuse scandal in Germany major challenge to society</div><div><p>Chancellor Angela Merkel called the sex abuse scandal rocking the homeland of Pope Benedict XVI a major challenge to German society and warned the only way to come to terms with it was to "find out e...

Vatican probes claims of apparitions at Medjugorje

2010-03-17T11:01:21Z

<div><p>VATICAN CITY (Reuters Life!) - The Vatican has opened an investigation into reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary at the small town of Medjugorje in southern Bosnia...

Irish cardinal reflects on position

2010-03-17T10:30:17Z

<div id="subtitle">Irish cardinal says he is reflecting on his part in investigating child abuse scandal</div><div><p>The leader of Ireland's Roman Catholics said Wednesday that he is ashamed of his part in dealing with a child sex abuse scandal 35 years ago, and said he is uncertain what the future holds for him.</p><p>Cardinal Sean Brady has faced calls for his ...

Pope bids to calm child abuse row in Ireland

2010-03-17T10:16:41Z

<div><p>Pope Benedict XVI faced mounting pressure Wednesday over worldwide child sex abuse allegations, as he vowed to write to Irish Catholics this week offering "healing and renewal" over the scandal.</p><p>Pope Benedict's pledge came as Cardinal Sean Brady, the Catholic Church's head in Ireland...

Irish Catholic head apologises over child abuse row

2010-03-17T08:16:20Z

<div><p> The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland apologised "with all my heart" Wednesday over his role in a child sex abuse controversy which has rocked the country.</p><p>Cardinal Sean Brady has faced calls to quit from victims' groups over his attendance at meetings in 1975 where ch...

Merkel demands "truth and clarity" on abuse scandal

2010-03-17T07:30:39Z

<div><p>BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel demanded "truth and clarity" on Wednesday about sexual abuse committed by priests in the Roman Catholic Church against children.</p><p>But Merkel, in a sp...

Germany Church Abuse

2010-03-17T07:17:48Z

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is seen during her speech at the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag) in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, March 17, 2010. Chancellor Angela Merkel called the sex abuse scandal rocking the homeland of VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict, facing a spreading scandal of child sexual abuse by priests in the Roman Catholic Church, said on Wednesday he hopes his imminent letter on the problem will "help repenta...

Pope hopes letter to Irish helps healing

2010-03-17T04:15:56Z

<div id="subtitle">Pope hopes letter to Irish on church abuse helps process of 'repentance, healing and renewal'</div><div><p>Pope Benedict XVI said Wednesday he hopes his upcoming letter to the Irish faithful on the sex abuse scandal in Ireland's Catholic Church helps with "repentance, healing and renewal."</p><p>Benedict told his weekly general aud...

Russian prosecutors say priest's killer slain

2010-03-16T17:45:14Z

<div><p>MOSCOW (Reuters) - Prosecutors claimed on Tuesday to have solved the high-profile slaying of a Russian Orthodox priest in Moscow, saying a man shot dead by police in the Dagestan province was carrying the gun used to kill the priest.</p><p>The November killing of Daniil Sysoyev, who had reported receiving dea...

Sex scandal embroils Catholic Church in Brazil

2010-03-16T16:17:28Z

<div id="subtitle">Sex scandal hits Brazilian Catholic church after TV broadcasts priest, altar boy having sex</div><div><p>Brazilian authorities are investigating three priests accused of sexually abusing altar boys after a video allegedly showing one case of abuse was broadcast on television, police and church officials said Tuesday.</p><p>The case came to light after the SBT network aired a video purportedly showing an 82-year-old priest having sex with a 1...

Under-fire pope urges youth to follow 'the call'

2010-03-16T15:17:13Z

<div><p>Pope Benedict XVI urged young people on Monday to follow "the call" to the priesthood as Catholic groups back in his native Germany hit out at his silence over a snowballing paedophilia scandal.</p><p>"Don't be afraid, dear young people, if the Lord calls you to the religious, monastic or missionary life," the pope said in a message issued ahead of World...

Pope to visit England, Scotland in September

2010-03-16T15:16:34Z

<div id="subtitle">Pope Benedict XVI to visit Scotland, England for 4 days in September</div><div><p>Pope Benedict XVI will visit Scotland and England in September in a four-day visit combining preaching and diplomacy, Buckingham Palace announced Tuesday.</p><p>British officials desc...

Pope to make official visit in September

2010-03-16T14:45:21Z

<div><p>Pope Benedict XVI will make the first ever official papal visit to Britain with a four-day trip in September, the government announced Tuesday.</p><p>The September 16-19 visit by the 82-year-old pontiff, at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II, will see the first official m...

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