We give thanks for the election of the new Bishop of Rome, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina who has chosen the name Francis.
We will be praying for him in the hours, days, weeks, months and, God willing, years to come of his Pontificate.
Te Deum laudamus.
The Cardinals need our help; and a recent website has just been set up that allows users to log in and adopt a randomly-selected (one presumes!) Prince of the Church for the Conclave. It is a bit of fun, but has its serious side: we can be encouraged to focus prayer on one man as the Cardinals meet to choose the next Bishop of Rome.
Father Bernard Lynch: ‘The Vatican has told them to get rid of me’
He claims that half of all Catholic priests are gay – and has himself been married to his husband for 14 years. He believes celibacy is to blame for many of the Church’s problems – and that the Vatican must take responsibility for the paedophilia in its midst. Is it any wonder so many people want rid of Father Bernard Lynch?
Read the rest on the Independent‘s website.
I have met Fr Lynch and know him to be a true friend of all who the institutional Church tries to exclude. I can only hope and pray to be a priest as good as he.
Mgr Alban’s Notebook 