Controversial Lefebvrist Bishop Richard Williamson has described differences between the Vatican and the Society of St Pius X as ''absolutely irreconcilable''.
Having become notorious for a television interview which communicated his denial of aspects of the Holocaust, Bishop Williamson has now given another interview, this time on the subject of relations between the Holy See and the breakaway Lefebvrists.
''The two positions are absolutely irreconcilable,'' he said. ''2+2=4 and 2+2=5 are irreconcilable. That is, the SSPX abandons the truth, which God forbids us to do. Or those who say 2+2=5 convert and return to the truth. Or the two meet halfway and say that 2+2=4-1/2. That's wrong. Either the SSPX becomes a traitor or Rome converts, or it's a dialogue of the deaf.''
Vatican
Cardinal Bertone stays
Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone is to stay at his post beyond his 75th birthday, it has been confirmed. Having offered his resignation to the Pope as required on attaining his 75th year, the cardinal was asked to remain in place despite the ruling contained in canon law.
In a letter announcing the decision, Pope Benedict XVI told Cardinal Bertone: ''I do not wish to forgo your vital collaboration.''
Justice and Peace post
The first female undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace has been appointed.
Flaminia Giovanelli is a graduate in political science from the University of Rome and holds diplomas in library science and religious studies. She began working in the then Pontifical Justice and Peace Commission in 1974.
A statement issued on behalf of the president and secretary of Justice and Peace said: ''The appointment of Ms Giovanelli confirms the great trust the Church and the Holy Father Benedict XVI place in women.''
Pope Benedict's 'Travels'
The book, The Travels of Benedict XVI in Italy has been released. It follows the Holy Father on his 16 pastoral visits to 20 cities around Italy, while it also documents his travels to important sites within the city of Rome. It contains pictures from each of the visits and addresses, including homilies, given by the Pope and others in welcoming him on such occasions. The book, published by the Holy See's Libreria Editrice Vaticana, is currently available in Italian.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that the Pope has completed the second part of his Jesus of Nazereth. During the course of a recent meeting with American Rabbi and writer Jacob Neusner, the Pope is said to have shared news of the book's completion with him.
Haiti
Church leaders' funerals
The Catholic Archbishop of Port-au-Prince and his Vicar General have been buried in the quake-devastated capital.
Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot was killed when the January 12 earthquake caused him to fall from a balcony. The body of Vicar General Msgr Charles Benoit was found amid the rubble of the city's ruined cathedral. It is reported that he was found with his hands around a reliquary containing a host. The faithful of Port-au-Prince were led by surviving Church leaders, together with New York Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, chairman of the board of Catholic Relief Services, who represented the US Bishops' Conference.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Cardinal's apology
Cardinal Christoph SchÎnborn of Vienna has issued a letter to the Bishop of Mostar arising from his visit to Medjugorje.
In a fax to Bishop Ratko Peric, the cardinal expressed his regret for any difficulties his private December visit may have caused. Bishop Peric had earlier stated, in a letter to the Austrian cardinal, that the visit had aggravated conflict within his diocese over the question of alleged apparitions at Medjugorje.
''Your Excellency, Dear Brother in Christ,'' Cardinal SchÎnborn wrote. ''I have received your letter from January 2 of this year. I regret if you have the impression that my pilgrimage to Medjugorje did a disservice to peace. You can be sure that this was not my intention.''
Russia
Relic on board space station
Religious paraphernalia, including a relic of the True Cross have been taken aboard the Russian segment of the International Space Station. The items aboard include the Gospels, four icons and crosses.
Speaking from on board the station, cosmonaut Maksim Suraev said of the True Cross relic: ''It will be with me the whole expedition and will return with me to Earth.''
Pakistan
Christian girl (12) murdered
The Christian community in the country has been outraged by the murder of a 12 year-old domestic worker by her Muslim employer. Protestors took to the streets of Lahore to demonstrate when it was revealed the girl, Shazia Bashir, had been killed after suffering a period of physical and sexual abuse at the hands of a leading Muslim lawyer.
Sohail Johnson, the head of a local Protestant NGO alleged that Shazia had shown signs of torture when she was admitted to hospital. ''Shazia was admitted to the hospital with a broken jaw,'' he added.
A large percentage of Christian girls from poor families are hired by wealthy Muslims, and are often physically, psychologically and sexually abused, Johnson explained.
''In some cases, their employers marry them off to Muslim servants, and forcibly convert them to Islam,'' he said.
Dominican Republic
Earthquake response
The Archbishop of Santo Domingo has rejected claims that the Haitian earthquake was God's punishment for sin.
''I have always maintained that God is a God of love,'' Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez said. ''I emphatically reject the idea that this is a punishment from God. How can God be pleased with the deaths of so many? I completely reject that, and besides, theologically that cannot be explained.''
Vietnam
Catholic clampdown
Police are reported to be staging a clampdown on a parish after Catholics protested at the destruction of a crucifix.
Responding to Catholic anger at the army's demolition of a cross in a cemetery earlier this month, police moved to prevent any approach to the church in Dong Chiem parish, threatening to arrest anyone trying to enter the building. At one checkpoint near the church a Redemptorist, Br Anthony Nguyen is alleged to have been beaten unconscious.
Saudi Arabia
Rape victim faces lash
A Filipino worker in the strict Islamic kingdom is facing the lash after she was raped.
Under strict interpretation of sharia law, the woman, who miscarried the baby conceived in the attack, was involved in sexual relations outside marriage, and as such, is subject to the punishment. Her 'crime' was discovered during a health check at the end of her Saudi stay and she was arrested. It was in prison that she suffered her miscarriage.
United States
Annual March for Life
The annual March for Life rally in Washington DC has attracted 300,000 marchers. The January 22 march, which takes place to mark the anniversary of the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision that legalised abortion also claimed 75,000 online participants. Gathering on the National Mall, the marchers heard numerous speakers urge them to continue being a voice for the voiceless.
Meanwhile, attendees at the linked pro-life vigil at the captial's Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception heard Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio stress that ''we believe that the right to life is inscribed in the conscience of humanity. It is not merely a Catholic issue, but a human one''.
Nigeria
Violence condemned
Christian and Muslim leaders have joined in calling for an end to violent clashes in the city of Jos.
The group, led by Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja and Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, president of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, condemned the recent fatal violence and backed police efforts to end the fighting and bring perpetrators to justice.
''Settling any kind of grievances through violence and bloodshed is ungodly. Rather than solve problems of misunderstanding in any society, violence and bloodshed only compounds them,'' the religious leaders said. ''We commit all those who have been killed to the mercy of God.''
It has been estimated that some 400 people have been murdered in the latest wave of violence, blamed variously on tribal and religious differences.
Bishop kidnapped
The Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Benin has been kidnapped. Bishop Peter Imasuen had just celebrated Mass at the city cathedral when he was snatched by gunmen. It appears the bishop became a target just days after the local governor ordered the withdrawal of soldiers from the streets of Benin, where they were stationed to dissuade kidnappers. A ransom of 50 million Nigerian naira has been demanded.
Serbia
Message to Patriarch
Pope Benedict XVI has sent a message of goodwill to the new leader of the Serbian Orthodox Church. In his message, the Pontiff wished Irinej Gavrilovica ''abundant gifts of grace and wisdom for the fulfillment of his high responsibilities in the service of [his] Church''.
Patriarch Gavrilovica, who is 80, was enthroned on January 23. He replaced Patriarch Pavle, who died in November at the age of 95.
Spain
Pro-life rallies nationwide
March 7 has been announced as the date for mass pro-life rallies across the country.
Spain Says Yes To Life is the theme chosen by organisers, who selected March 7 to voice opposition to new legislation on abortion, which is expected to pass later that month.
The event will be marked by simultaneous rallies in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and France.
India
Hindus go green
Hindu pilgrims to the annual Kumbh Mela celebration have been urged to think of the environment as they prepare to ceremonially bathe in the Ganges river.
A large newspaper advertisement has called on those attending the event, which begins on January 28, to avoid using soaps and detergents in the river to protect the waters. The call is part of a major river-conservation project in India.
In addition, local authorities have asked pilgrims to ''abstain from using polyethylene and plastic as it is unhealthy for the environment. Throw all non-degradable litter, empty bottles, tins, polyethlene bags, etc in dustbins.''
Churches attacked
Two Christian churches in the state of Karnataka have been attacked and damaged. Hindu extremists are being blamed for the damaged caused to the buildings in the villages of Thernamakki and Inkal. The attackers broke windows and desecrated a cross and statue of the Virgin Mary.
Men chased away in the course of the second attack were identified as members of the Sri Rama Sene, a right-wing Hindu party, raising fears that a new wave of anti-Christian violence is being stoked among fundamentalists.
Russia
Holy water scare
Over 100 Russian Orthodox faithful have been hospitalised after drinking holy water during Epiphany celebrations. In addition to the traditional full immersion in water to mark the January 6 Epiphany celebration, many Orthodox accept bottled water to consume later.
A spokesman revealed that a total of 200 people needed medical treatment in connection with poisoned water, including 48 children. The source of the poisoned water appears to have been wells around one specific church in Sibera.
