Friday, June 10, 2005
Santo Subito
Rome, Jun. 10 (CWNews.com) - The cause for beatification of Pope John Paul II (bio - news) will be formally opened in Rome on June 28.
Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the papal vicar for the Rome diocese, made that announcement at the closing of a 3-day conference on family life and education, held at the basilica of St. John Lateran on Thursday evening, June 6. (Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) had opened the same conference with a strong statement on family life.) In his talk, Cardinal Ruini also spoke about the national referendum that Italian voters will face next week, reminding Catholics of his call for them to abstain from the vote.
As he neared the end of his talk, Cardinal Ruini said: "I conclude with a bit of news which, I am sure, will give you great joy." He then proceeded to announce that on June 28, in the same Lateran basilica, the cause for beatification of the late Pope will be opened during the first Vespers service for the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the patrons of the Holy See.
It was also in St. John Lateran that Pope Benedict announced, on May 13, that he was suspending the rule that ordinarily requires a 5-year waiting period before a cause for beatification can be opened. The Pontiff had drawn thundersous approach from the clergy of Rome, on that occasion, when he said that he had given permission to proceed with the cause immediately.
Cardinal Ruini, in his remarks on the Italian referendum, said that he was grateful to the Catholics who were planning to follow the directive from the country's bishops, for "a conscientious choice not to vote." The referendum, on proposals to amend Italy's law regulating in vitro fertilization, offers voters only the choice to embrace the current law allowing such procedures, or to eliminate restrictions on the practice. The Italian bishops have argued that by abstaining from the vote, Catholics can avoid a choice between evils, and also make it unlikely that the referendum will bring the 50-percent voter turnout that is required to make it legally binding. The referendum will be conducted on June 12 and 13.
"We didn't want this referendum," said Cardinal Ruini. "We are not trying to force consciences, but only to make ourselves clear; we are not against anyone."
"On the contrary," the cardinal continued, "we are for someone-- for unborn human life, certainly, and for the children who have the right to know their own parents, but also for the men and women of tomorrow and beyond, who must always be regarded and treated as persons, not as the product of a laboratory or object of experimentation."
Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the papal vicar for the Rome diocese, made that announcement at the closing of a 3-day conference on family life and education, held at the basilica of St. John Lateran on Thursday evening, June 6. (Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) had opened the same conference with a strong statement on family life.) In his talk, Cardinal Ruini also spoke about the national referendum that Italian voters will face next week, reminding Catholics of his call for them to abstain from the vote.
As he neared the end of his talk, Cardinal Ruini said: "I conclude with a bit of news which, I am sure, will give you great joy." He then proceeded to announce that on June 28, in the same Lateran basilica, the cause for beatification of the late Pope will be opened during the first Vespers service for the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the patrons of the Holy See.
It was also in St. John Lateran that Pope Benedict announced, on May 13, that he was suspending the rule that ordinarily requires a 5-year waiting period before a cause for beatification can be opened. The Pontiff had drawn thundersous approach from the clergy of Rome, on that occasion, when he said that he had given permission to proceed with the cause immediately.
Cardinal Ruini, in his remarks on the Italian referendum, said that he was grateful to the Catholics who were planning to follow the directive from the country's bishops, for "a conscientious choice not to vote." The referendum, on proposals to amend Italy's law regulating in vitro fertilization, offers voters only the choice to embrace the current law allowing such procedures, or to eliminate restrictions on the practice. The Italian bishops have argued that by abstaining from the vote, Catholics can avoid a choice between evils, and also make it unlikely that the referendum will bring the 50-percent voter turnout that is required to make it legally binding. The referendum will be conducted on June 12 and 13.
"We didn't want this referendum," said Cardinal Ruini. "We are not trying to force consciences, but only to make ourselves clear; we are not against anyone."
"On the contrary," the cardinal continued, "we are for someone-- for unborn human life, certainly, and for the children who have the right to know their own parents, but also for the men and women of tomorrow and beyond, who must always be regarded and treated as persons, not as the product of a laboratory or object of experimentation."
