St. John’s Day at the VaticanHis Holiness Receives the Prince & Grand Master of the Order of Malta
In accordance with long-standing custom, the Pope has received the head of the Order of Malta on St. John’s Day, the feast of the order’s patron. June 24 was the first St. John’s Day that His Holiness Benedict XVI received His Most Eminent Highness Fra’ Matthew Festing, who was elected Prince & Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in March following the death of his much-loved predecessor, Fra’ Andrew Bertie, in February. The Order of Malta, officially the Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem and of Rhodes and of Malta, today has 12,000 knights & dames as members and over 80,000 permanent volunteers as well as 13,000 medical personnel. Unique in international law, it is a sovereign entity that enjoys diplomatic relations with over a hundred countries. Once an actively military order, it now lives out its motto «Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum» (Defence of the Faith and help to the Poor) through countless charitable efforts on five continents. 
— Andrew Cusack
|
News of the WorldAUSTRALIAYoung Catholics yearn for traditionSYDNEY - As pilgrims from across the world gather for World Youth Day, more and more young people are seeking to return to more traditional Catholic Latin masses. The Juventutem movement has been quietly gathering momentum in Australia and around the world since the Pope last year recommended that all parishes offer a traditional Latin service alongside the English mass.
QUEBECJudge overrules father’s discipline of unruly childGATINEAU - A judge has overruled a father’s refusal to allow his 12-year-old daughter go on a school trip in punishment for her unruly behavior.
ALBERTATribunal orders evangelical pastor to cease preachingCALGARY - The Alberta Human Rights Tribunal has forbidden evangelical pastor Stephen Boisson from expressing his moral opposition to homosexuality and ordered him to pay $5,000 “damages for pain and suffering” and apologize to the activist who filed the complaint.
CHILEConstitutional Court outlaws morning-after pillSANTIAGO - The Constitutional Court of Chile has voted 5-4 to outlaw the distribution of the morning after pill. The final text of the ruling has yet to be released, as the justices are wrapping up their opinions.
SOUTH AMERICANewspaper: Virgin Mary Prevented Colombia WarBOGOTÁ - The Colombian daily El Tiempo has reported that the high tensions between Colombia on the one side and Venezuela and Ecuador on the other de-escalated after President Uribe of Colombia had a rosary said in the chapel of the Presidential Palace. The prayer specifically implored the protection of Mary as patroness of Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador.
AUSTRIAPoll: Austrians desire EU treaty referendumVIENNA - Sixty percent of Austrians want a referendum on the new EU constitutional treaty according to an OGM poll. 85 percent believe they have not been properly informed about the treaty. 47 percent expressed dissatisfaction with the EU, compared to the 44 percent who are happy with the EU.
ARGENTINAShrub fires choke Buenos AiresBUENOS AIRES - The Argentine capital has been smoke-laden for nearly a week due to intentional fires started by farmers to clear shrubland north of the city.
Around the Sphere‘A Sexual Revolution’Jennifer Fulwiler writes of her journey from pro-choice atheist to pro-life Catholic in America magazine.
The BNP’s rise and New Labour’s demise are linkedThe growing success of the British National Party is not due to disaffected Conservative Party supporters but rather Labourites discontented with their party’s leadership, Gary Younge explains at The Guardian.
Zimbabwe & the U.N. CharterThe Russian ambassador slammed the proposed sanctions against Zimbabwe as “is nothing but the council’s attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of a member state” and, as Daniel Larison points out at Eunomia, he is right.
A History of Political TrialsNot a single head of state who has faced trial for his political actions has ever been acquitted, writes John Laughland introducing his new book, A History of Political Trials from Charles I to Saddam Hussein, over on Brussels Journal.
Was World War II just as pointless as Iraq? It makes me feel like a traitor to write this. The Second World War was my religion for most of my life. Brave, alone, bombed, defiant, we, the British, had won it on our own against the most evil and powerful enemy imaginable, writes Peter Hitchens at The Mail on Sunday.
Whatever happened to the good old working man?He got rubbed out of history as being no longer desirable or fashionable to the modern world. And who rubbed him out? His supposed best “comrade”, the Socialist Left - that’s who! So writes Tribunus at Roman Christendom.
Political mythsThe Republicans (and the Democrats) have made the great error of believing their own propaganda, as well as relying on stereotype in stead of reality, writes Daniel Larison at Eunomia.
|
