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Church in the World"The separation of Church and state must be respected,"Belgium William Jurgensen - 27 October 2007The Catholic Church in Belgium has refused to take sides in the debate that is threatening to split the country along Flemish-speaking and French-speaking lines, writes William Jurgensen. "The separation of Church and state must be respected," Cardinal Godfried Danneels said in a letter telling priests not to seek support for a pro-unity petition from their congregations. The issue arose after the pro-unity group, Spontaan, wrote to 600 priests in Dutch-speaking Flanders and francophone Wallonia, asking them to support its petition to keep the country together. Belgium has not had a government since a general election in June that amounted to a mandate for more devolution. Spontaan hoped that the priests would distribute the petition at the end of Mass. |
 In this week’s issueMaking markets moral Iron and velvet Love in a Catholic climate Someone to talk to A good Lent takes planning South American surprise Can the Church support abuse victims on its own terms? Elena Curti Is the Church too slow in recognising that academies are the future for Catholic schools? Christopher Lamb Goodwin the scapegoat Elena Curti The pain of being a coeliac Catholic Sr M, guest contributor The Church's moral obligation to victims of clerical sexual abuse Speeches from this week's conference in Rome This week in Rome bishops and religious superiors met at the first Vatican-backed symposium devoted to forging a global response to the crisis of clerical sexual abuse that has disgraced ... Archbishop voices 'shame and sorrow' after priest's abuse trial Longley to visit parishes 'damaged' by Walsh Today, Tuesday 7 February, Bede Walsh, who served as a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, has been convicted by a jury, following a 10-day trial at Stoke-on-Trent ...
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