The American deacon whose miraculous cure is attributed to Cardinal John Henry Newman is to proclaim the Gospel at the Churchman's Beatification Mass, it has been confirmed. Deacon Jack Sullivan, from the Archdiocese of Boston, was miraculously cured of a serious spinal disorder after he was inspired to pray to the late cardinal in 2001. It was this miracle which has led to the forthcoming beatification ceremony to be conducted by Pope Benedict on September 19.
A press conference announcing details of the ceremony revealed that Sullivan is to be one of four deacons present at the event and ''Deacon Sullivan and his wife Carol along with other representatives will form part of a procession that will immediately follow the Rite of Beatification when the new Blessed John Henry Newman is proclaimed''.
It was also announced during the press conference that, in addition to five other languages representing the communities of the Diocese of Birmingham, the Prayers of the Faithful would be read in Irish.
The beatification ceremony will be the highlight of September's papal visit to Scotland and England, and also stands as the first to be carried out by Benedict XVI since he became Pope.
Vatican
Benedict coin
Fifty-cent coins bearing the image of Pope Benedict are now in open circulation in Vatican City. Previously, with the Vatican's adoption of the European currency, coins bearing the Pope's face were only made available as part of collections. Now, however, they have become common currency for daily transactions. Some two million 50 cent coins have been minted for use.
Castel Gandolfo
Pope's prayers for victims
Pope Benedict has offered prayers for the victims of the Duisburg festival tragedy in Germany.
Following Sunday Angelus at his summer residence, the Pontiff recalled the 19 people killed in the tunnel crush at the 'Love Parade' music festival. While praying for those killed and injured, he also asked for ''comfort and the closeness of the Holy Spirit'' for those bereaved in the tragedy.
Pope prepares new book
It has been reported that Pope Benedict is dedicating some of his summer at Castel Gandolfo to work on the third instalment of his Jesus of Nazareth book series.
According to Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi, following on from those books dealing with the public ministry of Jesus and then his Passion and Resurrection, the Pope ''has now laid his hands on the third and final part, dedicated to the Gospels of childhood''.
Meanwhile, the second edition of Jesus of Nazareth is being translated for release early in 2011.
Saudi Arabia
Veil ruling advice
While criticising moves elsewhere to ban the traditional veil, an Islamic scholar in the country has nevertheless ruled that where such a style of dress is banned, it is better that women uncover their faces.
The ruling, from renowned scholar Aed Al-Qarn was based on a consideration of possible harassment of Muslim women who insist on wearing the veil while travelling or living in countries that have bans in place. In such circumstances, Al-Qarn said, ''it is better that the Muslim woman uncovers her face''.
Pakistan
Minister urged to resign
A government minister who criticised the murder of two Christians, brothers from the city of Faisalabad, has been called on to resign his post.
Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, himself a Christian, attacked the murders of the men, Emmanuel and Sajid Rashid, who were shot to death following allegations of blasphemy. The brothers were killed after their arrests when it became apparent the charges could not be upheld due to lack of evidence against them.
Despite that lack of evidence, Islamic extremists reacted by claiming the killings were justified and demanded the minister step aside.
In a statement after the killings, one Muslim cleric, Allama Ahmed Mian Hammadi said: ''It is not a cruelty to kill blasphemers; rather blasphemy itself is such an enormous brutality that the one who commits it does not have the right to live in this world. There is no pardon for the blasphemer.''
He added that if Minister Bhatti was himself guilty of blasphemy, in criticising the killings, he should suffer beheading as punishment.
India
Vocations thrive despite violence
A diocese in the country hard-hit by anti-Christian violence has shown increased vocations for the tenth successive year.
According to figures released by Bishop Anthony Chirayath of Sagar diocese, despite a rate of attacks on Christians that places the state of Madhya Pradesh in second place nationally, Christians continue to answer the call to priesthood. The choice of entering priesthood, described by the bishop as ''courageous'', is made by young Christians in the full knowledge of how far extremists will go to suppress Christianity, even to the point of killing priests and religious.
''But in spite of that they come forward to be priests or sisters,'' Bishop Chirayath said, pointing out that from the diocese's humble beginnings with three priests in 1968, there are now 35, and seminary entrants had increased year-on-year..
