The news reports out of Rome highlighted that the Pope Benedict XVI “beg[ed] forgiveness from God and from the persons involved, while promising to do everything possible to ensure that such abuse will never occur again.” The homily delivered at the papal Mass on the feast of the Sacred Heart that marked the end of the Year for Priests was so much more. Here is the translation:
Category Archives: Pope Benedict XVI
Wellsprings Capable of Bestowing the Water of Life
The Ascension & Our Lady of Fatima
Today is a super star feast day in the Catholic Church. For some dioceses here in the US, the feast of the Ascension of our Lord is moved from today until this coming Sunday. In other parts of the country, and the world, the Ascension is celebrated today.
For those of us who don’t celebrate the Ascension today, we get to celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima. It was on this day, May 13th, when Our Lady first appeared to the three little children in a place called Cova da Iria in Portugal.
The Gospel today was one of those times when Jesus really confused his Apostles (John 16:16-20) and the priest at this morning’s Mass said he was confused too because today our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, is at Fatima and celebrating the Ascension.
The ways of the Lord are mysterious and most of time, you just have to sit back and let it happen!
If you want a refresher on the beautiful story of the children at Fatima, check out this site: http://www.culturalcatholic.com/LadyFatima.htm.
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!
Father Fessio Defends Pope and Sets Record Straight
Many priests in parishes this weekend recounted this piece by Father Fessio, the editor and Founder of Ignatius Press, dealing with the consistent attacks on Pope Benedict XVI.
Father Fessio writes: The so-called “stalled pedophile case”, blame for which has been laid at the feet of then-Cardinal Ratzinger, had nothing to do with pedophilia and everything to do with strengthening marriage and the priesthood.
Read full article here.
Happy Birthday and Anniversary, Pope Benedict!
The St Michael Society would like to ask for your prayers of thanksgiving for God’s gift of Pope Benedict XVI and his leadership of our Catholic Church. Today he celebrates his 83rd birthday and on Monday he celebrates the fifth anniversary of his election as pope.
Check out a very interesting story about his birth falling on the eve of Easter as he delivered it firsthand here .
Happy and Holy Birthday, Pope Benedict!
Harry Knox, Pope Benedict, and the Debate On Condoms in Africa
by Christopher Gross and Patrick Looby
It is rare that philosophical arguments can be resolved by simply appealing to empirical data. In many instances, participants in the dispute may agree on the facts but disagree about the implications of those facts or how much weight should be given to them. However, there are rare cases where a thorough examination of the evidence proves one side is correct and the other side clearly wrong. The “debate” between Harry Knox and Pope Benedict is one of those rare instances.
As you may know, Harry Knox, who serves on President Obama’s faith-based advisory council, said earlier this week that he stood by a statement he made last year concerning the Pope. According to Knox, the Pope is “hurting people in the name of Jesus,” because the Holy Father has suggested that promoting condom use in Africa will not end the suffering caused by the AIDS epidemic there and in fact increases the spread of HIV/AIDS. The problem with Knox’s position, despite his appeal to the ’science,’ is that the empirical evidence does not support his attack. It actually favors the Pope.
Obama Nominee Tried to Take Away Catholic Church Tax Exemption
Dawn Johnson, Nominated to head Justice Dept. Office of Legal Counsel
As the St. Michael Society continues with our petition drive urging the resignation of Obama’s faith based initiatives advisor Harry Knox for his attacks on Pope Benedict XVI, there is yet another Obama friend and nominee that has a record of hostility against Catholics. Dawn Johnson, nominated by the President to head the Office of Legal Counsel in the Justice Department, in the 1980s tried to revoke the tax-exempt status of the Catholic Church over the church’s position in defense of the unborn.
Bill Donahue, President of The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, fired back at a recent New York Times editorial encouraging her nomination.
“BASELESS CONCERNS” OVER DAWN JOHNSEN?
February 4, 2010
Catholic League president Bill Donohue directs his comments at an editorial in today’s New York Times:
If someone were nominated to serve in a major legal position in a Republican administration who previously tried to take away the tax exempt status of Islamic mosques and institutions—for purely political reasons—everyone knows that he or she would never be given a hearing. 
So why is Dawn Johnsen’s nomination to head the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel still being considered? She tried in the late 1980s to take away the tax exempt status of the Roman Catholic Church, all because she wanted to silence the Church’s voice on abortion. Yet the New York Times audaciously asserts today that the “baseless objections” and “baseless concerns” of her critics should be ignored.
Since when are objections to proven instances of bigotry considered “baseless”? Would it be “baseless” to object to someone who wants to deny Muslims the same tax exempt status afforded Catholics, Protestants, Jews and others? Would not such a person be branded a bigot who is unfit to serve in any administration, especially in a high post in the Justice Department? If the answer is obvious, then why is her nomination even alive?
Between the appointment of Harry Knox, and the nomination of Ms. Johnson, Catholics are growing increasingly concerned about a trending disdain for Catholics by the President and his Administration. This is why it is so important for Catholics to speak out and take action in every way we can to defend our faith. Please remember to sign our petition urging the resignation of Harry Knox.
Video: Obama Advisor Will Not Back Off Comments Attacking Pope
CNS News has a video and story up in which Harry Knox, who serves on President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, reasserts his comments made back in March that Pope Benedict is “hurting people in the name of Jesus.” 
Read and see it here.
Seems to not quite fit with the warm and fuzzy name of the Council on which Mr. Knox sits, and suggests the Obama Administration’s utter disdain for the Holy Father and Catholics.
Please circulate this to all of your Catholic family, friends and colleagues. Expose the outrage and sign our petition.
We the undersigned, call for the immediate resignation of Harry Knox, who serves on President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
Recently, Mr. Knox once again expressed his prejudice against the Pope and by extension all Catholics when he reaffirmed his view that the Pope "is hurting people in the name of Jesus."
These comments expose that Mr. Knox is openly hostile towards Catholics and their religious leader and should disqualify him from public service in an organization that "will work on behalf of Americans committed to improving their communities, no matter their religious or political beliefs."
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Supreme Knight: Pope John Paul II’s Life, Suffering Has Meaning Today
On the heels of Pope Benedict XVI’s declaration of Pope John Paul II’s life of “heroic virtue,” Catholic News Agency features a terrific interview with the Supreme Knight of the KOC, Carl Anderson.
Anderson has long studied JP II and discusses how the late Pope’s life provides tremendous meaning to us today, well after his death. The Supreme Knight also reflects on the Pope’s public suffering and the importance of salvific suffering as a part of our Catholic faith and tradition.
Read the interview here.
John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter – Salvifici Doloris – was a moving dissertation on the true meaning of suffering to form union with Christ. As we celebrate the birth of our savior this Christmas, we also remember John Paul II and all of those who may be suffering this Christmas season — that they can come to realize that their suffering has meaning. May we pray that in their suffering and struggles more come to realize the saving power of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Pope Calls for Allowing Terminally Ill to Live their Suffering with Dignity
Pope Benedict XVI makes a loving and strong case today for allowing the terminally ill to live their suffering with dignity. The Pope also demonstrates the need to care for and support the terminally ill, reminding us that suffering is a part of earthly life that leads to everlasting life.
As the health care debate rages in the United States, this message is so important to understanding the end of life issues currently being debated.
Pope Benedict Says Theology Gives Stability to Man
Pope Benedict XVI reflects on faith and reason at General Audience:
“How much would the world change if in families in parishes and in any community, relationships were modeled on the three divine Persons, who not only live with each other, but for and through one another.”
