Quotes and news

Jose Maria Simon Castellvi, president of the World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations, said comments by Cardinal Joachim Meisner of Cologne were manipulated as the cardinal was misinformed about the effects of the ‘morning-after pill’. The cardinal had said use of the pill was permissible in rape cases, since the pill was designed to prevent conception rather than cause abortion.

Dr Simon said that in 70 per cent of cases the pill works as an anti-implantation product which was tantamount to an early abortion.

The German bishops are due to discuss the use of the pill in Catholic hospitals at their regular meeting later this month.

Politicians could be denied Communion

In an interview with the Catholic Voice, Cardinal Raymond Burke, head of the Apostolic Signatura, said politicians who vote to approve legal abortion should not receive the Eucharist. He said any political figure who favours legal abortion should be admonished.

He added that “as long as he (the politician) continues to support legislation which fosters abortion or other intrinsic evils, he should be refused Holy Communion.”

‘Don’t worry about being imperfect’

Pope Benedict said that vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life are “works of God” and that “human weakness shouldn’t make people afraid if God calls”. The Pope was addressing visitors gathered in St Peter’s Square before praying the Angelus on February 10.

Clearly stating that the individual “is not the author of his own vocation, but replies to the divine proposal”, he added that people need to trust in God’s strength. Benedict said this strength “acts precisely in our poverty” and in the power of his mercy, “which transforms and renews”. The Pope asked everyone not to get discouraged by difficulties and failures when sharing the Gospel with others.

“May the Word of God also rekindle in us and our Christian communities the courage, trust and enthusiasm to proclaim and give witness to the Gospel,” he said.

Praise for Giussani

Pope Benedict referred to “the faith, the joy, the strength and wealth of ideas, and the creativity of the faith” of Don Guissani, founder of the Movement Communion and Liberation.

He said that he had also come to appreciate the lay movement because of the “great friendship between us”.

The Pope was addressing members of the Priestly Fraternity of St Charles Borromeo, an offshoot of the lay movement.

He also praised Bishop Massimo Camisasca, who established the fraternity before his priestly ordination.

Mgr Camisasca now heads the diocese of Reggio Emilia-Guastella in Italy.

‘Don’t segment the population’ in Mali

In an appeal to Malian residents liberated by French troops, Fr Edmond Dembele, secretary-general of the country’s bishops’ conference, said:

“Remember that not all Mali’s Tuareg and Arab citizens are insurgents and Islamists. We must not segment the population and confuse ethnicity with rebellion,” said Fr Dembele during an interview with Catholic News Service.

He added that French and Malian soldiers had shown a “respectful attitude” to Catholic properties during their campaign to oust the rebels, but said he also feared “lynch law” against Islamist collaborators.

(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)