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A Reasonable St. Thomas
The "great work" of St. Thomas Aquinas was to show not only that faith and reason are compatible, but also that there is a natural harmony between the two, says Benedict XVI. At a general audience, the Pope said that "The Church has been justified in consistently proposing St. Thomas a master of thought and a model of the right way to do theology." The Holy Father explained that St. Thomas "studied Aristotle and his interpreters in depth," and provided his own commentaries on "the Aristotelian works, distinguishing what was valid from what was doubtful or to be refuted all together."
News Bytes for Your Parish Bulletin
- 10 European States Join Italy to Defend Crucifix
- Tent Chapels Sent for Chile's Reconstruction
- Peter's Pence Collection Focuses on Love for Poor
- Knights of Columbus Note Record-Breaking Donations
- Cardinal Calls for Truth Regarding Tiananmen
Health-Reform Clarifications
The U.S. bishops' position on health care reform for the nation has been "misrepresented, misunderstood and misused for political and other purposes," say three prelates most directly involved in the debate. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Bishop William Murphy and Bishop John Wester, who lead the respective committees on pro-life advocacy, justice and human development, and migration, respectively, released a statement called "Setting the Record Straight." Among other things, they asserted that they supported a plan of health coverage for the poor and needy that also showed "full respect for the life, health and conscience of all." This in turn meant the bishops opposed health plans that would pay for abortions.
On Authority and Obedience
A pope cannot do whatever he wants, but instead must obey Christ and his Church, says Benedict XVI. The Holy Father made this reflection when he spoke of the last of the three primary tasks entrusted to priests. He acknowledged that broaching the theme of authority isn't easy, given that 20th-century dictatorships made mankind suspicious of authority. The Church's authority, however, is that of service, exercised in the name of Christ, Benedict XVI noted. He said that priests' authority comes from God, and added, "No one is really capable of feeding Christ's flock if he does not live a profound and real obedience to Christ and to the Church."
A Searchable Catholic Bible
A new online service bills itself as the first one to make the complete Catholic Bible available for keyword search. Catholic.net said that an English and Spanish Bible, both translations approved by the Vatican, are being offered for searching through the program. The search engine allows users to share Bible passages with their blogs, with Facebook and Twitter, and with other social media Web sites. It also allows people to add a search widget to their own personal Web page.
Politicians' Challenge
Christian politicians face an "exacting challenge" as democracy weakens under the onslaught of relativism and individualism, says Benedict XVI. In a speech to an assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the Pope noted that the "technical formation of politicians certainly does not enter the mission of the Church." Yet, its mission is, he said, to give a moral judgment to things of the political order, whenever this is required by the fundamental rights of the person and the salvation of souls."