Different aspects of the universal Catholic Church

Franz Lackner, the new Archbishop of Salzburg in an interview with the  'Salzburger Nachrichten' said he 'totally agreed' with Cardinal Walter Kasper that a way must be found for remarried divorcess to make a new start in the church.

It's of course good news. But one is forced to think of the tyranny that was and is enforced on people who had remarried.

More good news. The president of the bishops' conference in France, George Pontier has said that French Catholics should remain open to dialogue and political engagement in a society that is no longer based on Christian values, rather than retreat into narrowly focused factions.

"It's become difficult to have Chrisitans step back and enter into a dialogue with others, to have them accept that we don't have the whole truth, to have them understand that, by oneself, one cannot reach the full understanding of all things.

"We also have to look into the question of social networks to see what we are doing with them and they are doing with us, in which way they serve us and in which way they alienate or confiscate our freedom.

"What's new is the emergence of these lobbies, their effectiveness, their immediacy, the irrationality of their reactions, the dramatisation of debates," Archbishop Potier said.

It's unfortunate that 'The Tablet' has parted company with Robert Mickens.

The piece below appears in the May issue of 'Connect' an Irish Dominican newsletter.

A shrine to St Bernadette Soubirous, the visionary from Lourdes, has been opened at our church in Drogheda with a full size replica of the incorrupt body of the saint. Large numbers of the faithful have already been attracted to pray at the shrine, over 3,500 at the last count.
Dominican Connect was told that it looks like the interest is set to continue to be substantial over the coming summer months. Opening hours will be Monday to Saturday 10:30 am to 5:00pm. The shrine is closed on Sundays and Bank Holidays. Schools or groups are invited and should contact Rita on 087- 3371938 for more details.