Cardinal Oullet on celibacy, clericalism and ordaining women (Crux) Speaking to Crux, Ouellet said the main reason for organizing the Feb. 17-19 symposium on “Toward a Fundamental Theology of the Priesthood” is to remind all baptized Catholics, not just priests, of the important role they play in the Church amid the challenges it faces. “We are in a crisis of vocations, because there is a crisis of the awareness of who we are as sons and daughters of God through baptism,” Ouellet said. He voiced hope that the symposium would reignite enthusiasm for all vocations in the Church, but especially for the ordained priesthood at a time when it has been marred by abuse scandals and the “clericalism” that Pope Francis so often condemns…
Florida priest sentenced to nearly eight years in prison for sexual battery (The Miami Herald) Father Jean Claude Philippe, convicted of raping a parishioner in the rectory of his church in Homestead, did not apologize when it came time for his sentencing. Instead, he complained about his time in jail and said he was preaching the word of God to inmates behind bars. “The devil is powerful but won’t change me,” he said. “I won’t change my ways. I will continue in my path.” That path, a judge ruled on Thursday, will nevertheless continue in state prison for nearly eight years…
Eastern Catholic leaders meet to discuss importance of liturgical identity (CNS) Eastern Catholic churches must strengthen their liturgical identity, especially given ongoing conflicts in many of the homelands of those churches and the continuing migration of Eastern Catholics to countries where most Catholics belong to the Latin rite, said a Vatican official. Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, spoke at the opening of a conference marking the 25th anniversary of an instruction from the congregation that urged Eastern Catholics to learn more about their liturgies and to exercise great care in translating the texts and modifying the liturgies. He said Eastern liturgies are a treasure belonging to the entire Catholic Church and bind it closely to the Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches as well…
Archbishops’ Super Bowl wager raises thousands for Catholic schools (CNS) The Los Angeles Rams may have won Super Bowl LVI over the Cincinnati Bengals, but students in Catholic schools in both archdioceses are winners as well. Donors contributed more than $22,000 — and counting as of Feb. 17 — for tuition assistance scholarships as part of a friendly wager between Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr of Cincinnati over the game’s outcome…
A virtual tour through Jerusalem’s Christian Quarter (The Jerusalem Post) As tourism gradually returns to the Holy Land, Israeli tour guide David Ha’ivri wants to open up the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem to as many people as he can. Ha’ivri has been spending a lot of time in the Old City in recent months. “I’m personally fascinated by it,” he said. “The Old City is so beautiful and has so many layers of history. And many of the layers are still in use today by the public…”
