Every day, Aleteia offers a selection of articles written by the international press about the Church and the major issues that concern Catholics around the world. The opinions and views expressed in these articles are not those of the editors.
Rome & the World: 13-second applause for “right” to abortion • donations to abuse victims in France
Credit: AGENCY / Anadolu Agency via AFP
The 13-second applause at the European Parliament, following French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to consider abortion as a human right, should make one shudder, writes Gianfranco Marcelli, journalist of the newspaper Avvenire, which belongs to the Italian bishops.
In his editorial, Marcelli says that that no one has qualified the access to abortion in this way and wonders if perhaps a form of “instinctive modesty has so far prevented us from touching such an unprecedented legal milestone.” Marcelli concludes that even if there is little chance that this proposal will be approved in the following months, it is still a “loud and clear” signal that “risks marking a turning point in common thinking” in Europe.
Avvenire, Italian
How is the financial compensation for abuse victims in France going?
Vatican News inquired about the development of the Selam endowment fund, created three months ago by the Church in France in order to compensate abuse victims. Financed by French bishops, dioceses, and faithful, the endowment has grown considerably, collecting around 20 million euros. Many have donated, including an important number of victims, and dioceses across the country are offering what they can according to their resources. Some do not hesitate to make small sacrifices, as in Rouen where a collection of art bequeathed in the 20th century will be sold to generate money. The process also requires reassuring the faithful and inviting them to participate. "It is a dynamic to be set in motion. We are looking to make a contribution that is useful on the long-term, by reassuring the faithful that the parish will continue to function normally and by allowing them to participate freely," explains Bishop of Créteil, Dominique Blanchet.
Vatican News, French.
Chaldean Patriarchate: the use of Arabic in the liturgy is not a "betrayal" of tradition
The Chaldean Patriarchate, of the Eastern Chaldean Catholic Church, has issued a statement saying that the use of Arabic in its liturgy is not a betrayal of tradition, but responds to the missionary vocation and needs of the present time. Traditionally, the liturgy of the Chaldean church has been performed in Syriac or Chaldean, both languages that have increasingly less speakers. The Patriarch, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, along with other leading Chaldean Bishops, have worked on an update of the liturgy in the last years, which lead to the publication of the missal in various languages, including Arabic. Certain members of the Chaldean Church opposed this translation, but the Patriarchate has said that it is necessary in order to allow their rites to be understood, and reach even non-Christian audiences who might be interested.
Fides, English
Traditionis custodes: what the hermeneutic of continuity really means
The spirit of traditionalism, says American essayist Paul Fahey, is not an authentically Catholic approach to doctrine. Pointing to those who cite Benedict XVI's "hermeneutic of continuity" to criticize Pope Francis and Traditionis custodes, he explains why this is a misuse of the term, recalling that the pontiff emeritus distinguished continuity from a "hermeneutic of discontinuity" according to which "one should follow not the texts of the Council but its spirit.” This, according to the essayist, has today become a "hermeneutic of traditionalism" which considers that one can correctly interpret the historical teachings of the Church and see where they contradict Tradition. A position, he explains, that has to do with "subjective relativism" because it elevates personal interpretations above the Council, and for this reason "undermines the authority of the living Magisterium."
Where Peter Is, English.
In East European conflicts, Rome plays a diplomatic role with an aerial view
Thirty years after the breakup of the Soviet Union, the world is still feeling the socio-political consequences of this event. Victor Gaetan, expert on Vatican diplomacy, explains that the Church orients itself in three ways when confronted with these complicated issues: it is a local actor, a neutral mediator, and a peace-seeking faith.
Gaetan says that the Church’s actions in Central Asia and Eastern Europe reflect the unique Catholic mission to serve the common good, beyond simply its faithful. Gaetan emphasizes how “Rome plays a diplomatic role with an aerial view” as “the Holy See often sees through the eyes of multiple parties at odds with each other and has empathy for these diverse perspectives.” Gaetan says this is especially the case for the issues surrounding Ukraine.
Catholic News Service, English.
