S i g n i s I n d i a

BHOPAL, India--July 6, 2010--Bhopal Archdiocese in central India has launched a project to ensure all its faithful have a personal copy of the Bible to embolden them to give “daily witness” in the Hindu dominated area.

Under the “Bible 4 U” program, Bhopal Archdiocese plans to supply a Hindi version of the New Testament to all its 15,000 Catholics, and the complete Bible to every Catholic family.

Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal told ucanews.com that distribution would be completed this month.read more »

BEIJING, China, July 8, 2010--Mgr Jia Zhiguo, underground bishop of Zhengding (Hebei), was released yesterday morning after 15 months of detention in an unknown location. Last night, surrounded by a hundred faithful, he celebrated Mass in the cathedral of Wuqiu village (pictured) where he lives.read more »

ROME, Italy, July 10, 2010--As the six-month milestone since a devastating earthquake left the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince in tatters nears, the work of rebuilding continues slowly. Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, told Fides news agency that, simply put, "there is still much left to do."

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that took place on Jan. 12 severely damaged much of the city, including many Church buildings.read more »

MANILA, July 13, 2010— Catholic bishops want a proper closure to unresolved questions over the legitimacy of then President Arroyo’s administration.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said that if there is no closure, the issues will just keep coming back.

Pabillo made the statement on Tuesday as the government is considering the full disclosure of the 4-year old report of an inquiry into claims some top military officials were involved in the alleged stealing of the 2004 elections for Arroyo.read more »

VATICAN, July 11, 2010 (Zenit.org).- For the third year in a row, the economic crisis has left the Holy See and the Vatican City State in the red.

This was revealed Saturday in a statement published by the Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organizational and Economic Matters of the Holy See on the 2009 financial statement of the Holy See and the Vatican City State Governorate.

The council met for its 45th meeting last week in the Vatican, presided over by Benedict XVI's secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.read more »

JERUSALEM, July 12, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is encouraging the Latin Catholics in the Holy Land to be visible signs of unity.

The Pope stated this in a message sent to Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem. The letter, which was published today by the patriarchate, was sent June 7, after the Pope's apostolic trip to Cyprus.

The Holy Father wrote to the Patriarch to thank him "for the warm welcome I received from you and from the flock entrusted to your care during my recent apostolic journey to the Republic of Cyprus."read more »

MEXICO CITY, Jul 1, 2010--Bishop Jose Luis Dibildox of Tampico has called on Mexicans to go to the polls on July 4 during the nation's upcoming election. At the same he denounced the violence that has struck several Mexican states, including the murder of the PRI party candidate for governor of Tamaulipas, Rodolfo Torre.

Bishop Dibildox said he would be carrying out his civic duty to vote on Sunday, because “it is an obligation and I must give an example.”read more »

ROME, July 8, 2010 (CNA).- The Leadership Conference of Women Religious’ (LCWR) support for the U.S. health care bill passed in March was a topic in lengthy discussions between LCWR officials and Vatican leaders, who also discussed the doctrinal investigation of the group.

In meetings with Vatican officials last April, LCWR officials answered several questions about the group’s support for the legislation despite the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) opposition to the bill on the grounds it lacked strict restrictions on federal funding for abortions.read more »

MADISON, Wis., Jul 3, 2010--A lawsuit challenging a Wisconsin constitutional amendment which protected the definition of marriage failed to persuade the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which unanimously rejected its arguments. Supporters of the amendment said the challenge was “baseless.”

The suit had challenged the amendment on the grounds it violated a Wisconsin requirement that amendments deal with only one issue. In a 7-0 opinion issued Wednesday, the court judged that the two propositions contained in the amendment’s text “plainly relate to the subject of marriage.”read more »

MANILA, July 10, 2010— Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro will meet members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines on Sunday to discuss the sex education in public schools.

Monsignor Juanito Figura, CBCP secretary general, said it’s like Luistro “seeking to know” the “sentiments” of the bishops over the Department of Education’s (DepEd) controversial program.

Figura said the DepEd chief himself initiated the move to hear with the prelates their points most specifically about the sex education modules.read more »