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Church in the WorldDanneels asks for patriotic prayersBelgium William Jurgensen - 24 November 2007Cardinal Godfried Danneels urged Belgians to pray for both the diversity and the unity of their country in a sermon at Mass on the annual King's Day - which celebrates the monarchy, the main symbol of Belgian unity - on 15 November, writes William Jurgensen. He said that the Church did not want to interfere in politics, but was concerned about what he called "the politics of the heart". Cardinal Danneels, Archbishop of Malines-Brussels, told Belgian priests last month not to take sides in disputes between the French- and Flemish-speaking parts of the country (The Tablet, 27 October), saying that the separation of Church and State must be respected. The country has not had a government since the general election on 10 June. Cardinal Danneels spoke out after a pro-unity group asked priests to distribute their petition in their parishes on Sundays. About 20 Flemish nationalist students protested outside the Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula before the King's Day Mass. By contrast, 35,000 people marched through the capital on 18 November to support Belgian unity. |
 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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