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Latest NewsSlump in applications to Catholic universities3 February 2012Catholic-affiliated universities and colleges have seen a dramatic drop in applications, according to latest figures. St Mary's University College, Strawberry Hill, and Leeds Trinity have suffered a fall of 14 and 16 per cent respectively while Roehampton University, south-west London, which incorporates the Catholic Digby Stuart College, has seen a drop of more than 25 per cent. Overall, universities across the UK have seen an 8.7 per cent decline in applications. Vatican threatens legal action after corruption exposé3 February 2012
The Vatican has threatened to take legal action against an Italian TV broadcaster after one of its news programmes used internal church documents to argue that Pope Benedict XVI and his Secretary of State, Tarcisio Bertone SDB, effectively removed an archbishop for trying to clean up corruption and financial mismanagement in Vatican City. The 25 January broadcast of "The Untouchables", a weekly investigative news programme on the commercial station La7, based its exposé primarily on the private letters of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, who served as deputy governor of Vatican City State from July 2009 until September 2011 and is now papal nuncio to the United States. Journalist and presenter Gianluigi Nuzzi used messages the archbishop sent to the Pope and Cardinal Bertone between March and July 2011 to allege grave instances of corruption, infighting and character assassination inside Vatican City. Above: Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò. Photo: CNS Old rite return ‘only a first step'3 February 2012The President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Kurt Koch, said last week that Pope Benedict XVI's readmission of the celebration of the Mass in the pre-conciliar "extraordinary form" was only a "first step" in liturgical renewal. Speaking at a conference on Joseph Ratzinger's theology at Freiburg im Breisgau, Cardinal Koch said the time for further steps was "not yet ripe" as liturgical issues were still fraught with "ideology", particularly in Germany. But he said accusations that Pope Benedict wanted to go back to pre-conciliar liturgical practice "cause the Pope suffering," he said, as the opposite was in fact the case. He also added that not everything that was liturgical practice today was based on council texts. Ramsgate monks’ £200,000 sell-off3 February 2012
A community of Benedictine monks is in the process of selling more than £200,000 worth of antique books, chalices and other sacred items from its former monastery in Ramsgate. The collection, which was kept at St Augustine's Abbey, includes a recusant-period chalice, a rare fifteenth-century manuscript, altar crosses and even an exorcism kit. The monks are due to sell up to £80,000 worth of sacred items at an auction next week. Hundreds of books from the monastery's library have already been sold at two auctions: one in November and another last month. The auctions sold £130,000 worth of items for the monks, who moved to the formerly Franciscan-run Chilworth Friary, near Guildford in Surrey last year, ending 149 years of residence in Ramsgate. Picture: Items for auction include a gold Omar Ramsden chalice and paten from 1927, which is expected to fetch up to £18,000 ‘Card-carrying Catholics' drive3 February 2012
The Church is distributing cards across parishes for Catholics to carry with them as a mark of Catholic identity and a starting point for evangelisation. The initiative comes from the bishops' department for evangelisation and catechesis. One million cards will be sent to 24 Catholic dioceses, including the Bishopric of the Forces and the Ordinariate, this month and next, as a reminder that all baptised are invited to know and share their faith. On one side of the credit-card-sized resource is a space for the owner to sign, a list of six things that Catholics are called to do, and the instruction: "In the event of an emergency, please call a Catholic priest." On the other side is a quote from Blessed John Henry Newman. For other recent bulletins, select from the list here: |
 Latest NewsVatican threatens legal action after corruption exposé Old rite return ‘only a first step' Ramsgate monks’ £200,000 sell-off ‘Card-carrying Catholics' drive In this week’s issueFaith and unity through diversity Holy hearts that know how to adore Lifetimes of service For the halt and the lame Tablet Education A heart-warming tail The Tablet BlogElena Curti The pain of being a coeliac Catholic Sr M, guest contributor Why the Benedictine family will survive Christopher Lamb
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