|
|
Church in the WorldFirst Catholic church for 80 years openedAzerbaijan 15 March 2008The Vatican's secretary of state has inaugurated the first Catholic church for almost eight decades in the predominantly Muslim ex-Soviet republic of Azerbaijan, a year after it was firebombed by suspected Islamic militants, writes Jonathan Luxmoore. "We have inaugurated this place of worship to mark the humble and modest presence of Christ in this city, and to show how much your community matters for the whole Catholic Church", said Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. The Italian cardinal was preaching last Sunday at a Mass in Baku's new Immaculate Conception Church, built on land given by President Heydar Aliyev on the eve of a 2002 visit by Pope John Paul II. He said that the church's dedication was a sign of "true religious tolerance" in Azerbaijan, whose Muslim, Jewish and Orthodox leaders also made donations for the building and later hosted visits by the cardinal at their respective residences. Catholics make up a tiny minority of the Azeri population of eight million, 94 per cent of whom are Muslim, and have had a Salesian-run sui juris mission since 2000. Masses are attended by foreign diplomats and oil company staff members. The new church, replacing a Polish-built basilica blown up by the Soviet rulers in 1931, was damaged last April when explosives were hurled through its windows. The Catholic mission's Slovak head, Fr Jan Capla, said that this was the only anti-Catholic incident during his five years in the country. |
 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 ...
|
