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Vatican moves to calm bishops over same-sex blessings approval

Vatican moves to calm bishops over same-sex blessings approval

THE Vatican moved to calm Catholic bishops in some countries who have baulked over last month's approval of blessings for same-sex couples, telling them that the measure is not "heretical" or "blasphemous". In a five-page statement, the Vatican's doctrinal office also acknowledged that such blessings could be "imprudent" in some countries where people who receive them might become targets of violence, or risk prison or even death. Catholic bishops in some countries, particularly in Africa, have expressed various degrees of dissent over the December 18 declaration, known by its Latin title Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust), which was approved by Pope Francis.…
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‘Blasphemous’ same-sex nativity scene angers conservatives in Italy

‘Blasphemous’ same-sex nativity scene angers conservatives in Italy

A church nativity scene which features two mothers of the Baby Jesus, instead of the conventional Mary and Joseph figurines, has sparked anger among conservative Catholics and politicians in Italy. Nativity scenes are popular in the largely Catholic country, but in recent years they have been increasingly mired in culture wars as its society becomes more secular and multi-cultural. The priest at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, in Capocastello di Mercogliano, a hamlet in the province of Avellino about one hour's drive east of Naples, has defended its depiction of the birth of Jesus. "I wanted to show…
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France warns citizens to be cautious as anger seethes in Muslim world over cartoons

France warns citizens to be cautious as anger seethes in Muslim world over cartoons

CHRISTIAN LOWE and ANDREW OSBORN FRANCE warned its citizens in several Muslim-majority countries to take extra security precautions on Tuesday as anger surged over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad, and the head of Russia's Chechnya region said Paris was pushing people towards terrorism. In Bangladesh, thousands of protesters marched through the capital, with some stamping on a poster of French President Emmanuel Macron, and Iran summoned the French charge d'affaires to register a protest over the cartoons. But in a sign that some countries want to limit the fallout, Saudi Arabia - while condemning the cartoons - held back from…
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