At a news briefing just ended, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi sought to quell speculation in news reports (including yesterday’s posting here) that Rome was considering changes in the canonical statute of limitations to make it easier to laicize future clergy abusers. Reports, especially a front-page story in The New York Times today and from…

But Benedict, an avowed animal lover, would surely be pleased by this story from FOX News (via the American Papist) that a young beaver was rescued from the East River during an NYPD security sweep ahead of yesterday’s UN visit. The poor thing is apparenbtly sick, and was taken to an animal hospital. Awaiting updates.…

Benedict’s homily (text below) at the mass with priests and seminarians this morning at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York (the first papal mass ever at the great church) was a heartfelt and often lyrical call for American priests to overcome divisions so that the church can grow once again. “We can only move forward…

Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) – April 17, 2008 Washington (dpa) – Pope Benedict XVI greeted leaders of other faiths in the United States in a meeting Thursday in Washington, continuing the interfaith contacts that have not always gone well in the first three years of his papacy. While declaring his intention to build on the work…

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