vatican | The Jamestown Sun | Jamestown, North Dakota

Superior of troubled Legion of Christ steps aside

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The superior general of the troubled Legion of Christ religious order has stepped aside unexpectedly, saying he simply doesn't have the energy to oversee the radical reform of the congregation ordered by the Vatican.

By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press , October 11, 2012

Pope arrives in Lebanon with message of peace

BEIRUT (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Lebanon on Friday and urged peace at a time of great turmoil in the Middle East, saying the import of weapons to Syria during the country's civil war is a "grave sin."

By Victor L. Simpson, Associated Press , September 14, 2012

Vatican blames media for latest scandal - again

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican on Monday blamed the media for fueling the scandal over leaked Vatican documents and insisted there are no power struggles or problems of unity in the Holy See's governance.

By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press , June 18, 2012

Pope beatifies John Paul II before 1.5M faithful

VATICAN CITY — Some 1.5 million pilgrims flooded Rome to watch Pope John Paul II move a step closer to sainthood in one of the largest Vatican Masses in history, an outpouring of adoration for a beloved and historic figure after years marred by church scandal.

By By Nicole Winfield, The Associated Press , May 01, 2011

Pope: Pakistan, others, must protect Christians

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI urged Pakistan to reverse its blasphemy laws, saying they were a pretext for violence against non-Muslims, and demanded that all governments do more so Christians can practice their faith without fear.

February 04, 2011

Vatican creates financial watchdog amid bank probe

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican on Thursday created a financial watchdog agency and issued new laws to fight money laundering and terrorist financing in a major effort to shed its image as a tax haven that for years has been mired in secrecy and scandal.

December 31, 2010

Pope urges courage for Catholics in China, Iraq

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Iraqi Christians celebrated a somber Christmas in a Baghdad cathedral stained with dried blood, while Pope Benedict XVI exhorted Chinese Catholics to stay loyal despite restrictions on them in a homily laced with worry for the world's Christian minorities.

December 25, 2010

Pope celebrates Christmas Eve amid security fears

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI ushered in Christmas Eve with an evening Mass on Friday amid heightened security concerns following the package bombings at two Rome embassies and Christmas Eve security breaches at the Vatican the past two years.

December 25, 2010

Report: Pope seeks debate on condoms, AIDS

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI sought to “kick-start a debate” when he said some condom use may be justified, Vatican insiders say, raising hopes the church may be starting to back away from a complete ban and allow condoms to play a role in the battle against AIDS. Just a year after he said condoms could be making the AIDS crisis worse, Benedict said that for some people, such as male prostitutes, using them could be a step in assuming moral responsibility because the intent is to “reduce the risk of infection.”

November 26, 2010

RELATED CONTENT

Image

Pope grants broad powers to Legionaries delegate

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The pope has granted broad powers to the archbishop he selected to overhaul the Legionaries of Christ following revelations that the order’s founder led a double life. A decree approved by Pope Benedict XVI and published Saturday on the Legionaries’website said Archbishop Velasio De Paolis can override the Legionaries’own constitutions as he goes about reforming the order and purging it of its institutional abuses.

November 05, 2010

Italian police seize $30 million from Vatican

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Italian authorities seized $30 million from a Vatican bank account last week and said they have begun investigating top officials of the Vatican bank in connection with a money-laundering probe. The Vatican said it was “perplexed and surprised” by the investigation. Italian financial police seized the money as a precaution and prosecutors placed the Vatican bank’s chairman and director general under investigation for alleged mistakes linked to violations of Italy’s anti-laundering laws, news reports said.

October 01, 2010

Pope defends celibacy for priests at rally

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI strongly defended celibacy for priests as a sign of faith in an increasingly secular world Thursday, insisting on a church tradition that has increasingy come under scrutiny amid the clerical sex abuse scandal.

July 23, 2010

Vatican revises rules on clerical sex abuse

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican revised its in-house rules to deal with clerical sex abuse cases Thursday, targeting priests who molest the mentally disabled as well as children and doubling the statute of limitations for such crimes. Abuse victims said the rules are little more than administrative housekeeping since they made few substantive changes to current practice, and what is needed are bold new rules to punish bishops who shield pedophiles.

July 16, 2010

Belgium trumps Vatican on probes

BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium insisted Monday in a dispute with the Vatican over credibility that Belgian law enforcement authorities — not the potentially biased Catholic Church — will investigate sexual abuse cases involving clergy. A panel created by Belgian bishops 12 years ago to look into abuse cases disbanded on Monday, saying last week’s seizure of its 500 case files rendered its existence pointless. Its chief, Peter Adriaenssens, accused authorities of betraying the trust of hundreds of victims and using his group to tap into information and testimony from abuse victims.

July 02, 2010

Belgium church panel on sex abuse shuts after raid

BRUSSELS (AP) — A panel appointed by the Catholic church to investigate clerical sex abuse in Belgium is shutting down after police seized all its files during a raid last week, the group’s chairman said Monday.

June 28, 2010