Vatican

"We need to understand what circumstances led to this incident," said an archdiocese spokesman ("Archdiocese investigating priest: He's suspended indefinitely after arrest on charges of indecent exposure," Jan. 24). Celibacy, that unnatural restriction, is forced on clergymen by the male-dominated Vatican. That's what led to these circumstances. Until the Catholic Church understands that it must change, these circumstances will lead other clergy to expose the church to embarrassment as a result of their natural desires.

"We need to understand what circumstances led to this incident," said an archdiocese spokesman ("Archdiocese investigating priest: He's suspended indefinitely after arrest on charges of indecent exposure," Jan. 24). Celibacy, that unnatural restriction, is forced on clergymen by the male-dominated Vatican. That's what led to these circumstances. Until the Catholic Church understands that it must change, these circumstances will lead other clergy to expose the church to embarrassment as a result of their natural desires.

In light of the new document from the Vatican that classifies the attempted ordination of a woman as a canonical crime equal in gravity to molesting minors ("Vatican issues new rules on sexual abuse cases," July 16), how many strikes is the Vatican allowed before the Church of God declares, "You're out!" Joe and Lorraine Gordon, Timonium

A 28-year-old guy living in his parents' basement in South Philadelphia just might be one of the foremost experts on the Archdiocese of Baltimore, if not the whole American Catholic Church. Rocco Palmo facetiously calls himself "The Church Whisperer," and over the past six years, his blog has become a must-read for ecclesiastical insiders. After starting with just three readers a few days before Christmas in 2004, Palmo has built up a audience of roughly 500,000 unique visitors each month.

The Vatican recently expanded access to its archives up to 1939, and it is expected to open its archives from World War II within five years. Many scholars believe documents in the archives may help clarify questions about the Vatican's conduct during the Nazi period, including the Holocaust. Although the opening of the archives is an important development, evidence already in the public record shows that - contrary to the beliefs of many - both Pope Pius XI (1922-1939) and Pope Pius XII (1939-1958)

With the financial backing of the Vatican, University of Maryland researchers will lead an international group of scientists to study adult stem cells from the intestines with the hope of discovering treatments for diseases while bypassing the ethical debates that have embroiled such research for a decade. The partnership, known as the International Intestinal Stem Cell Consortium, brings together researchers from the Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Maryland; the University of Salerno, Bambino Gesu — an Italian children's hospital; and the Istituto Superiore di Sanita — the Italian equivalent of the National Institutes of Health.

A 28-year-old guy living in his parents' basement in South Philadelphia just might be one of the foremost experts on the Archdiocese of Baltimore, if not the whole American Catholic Church. Rocco Palmo facetiously calls himself "The Church Whisperer," and over the past six years, his blog has become a must-read for ecclesiastical insiders. After starting with just three readers a few days before Christmas in 2004, Palmo has built up a audience of roughly 500,000 unique visitors each month.

ROME -- Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo, the provocative and colorful African prelate known for exorcisms, mass healing ceremonies and temporarily breaking with the church to marry a Korean acupuncturist, was excommunicated yesterday by the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI signed off on the most serious punishment that the Roman Catholic Church can mete out, apparently the final chapter in Milingo's bizarre, tumultuous story spanning more than two decades. The edict came after Milingo presided over the "installation" in Washington of four married men as bishops this week.

JERUSALEM -- Israel and the Vatican signed yesterday an agreement to begin diplomatic relations, ending the 45-year refusal by the Roman Catholic Church to recognize the Jewish state.The agreement was described by both sides as a political and religious milestone after 1,900 years of enmity between Christians and Jews.Pope John Paul II is likely to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, possibly in 1994, once the diplomatic ties are in place."We thought the time was proper. We have new, positive developments that must be taken into consideration," said the Vatican's representative, Monsignor Claudio Celli, after signing the pact.

Sins between man and man will never be forgiven until the on who has committed the wrong gives the victim what he owes and appeases him If a person wronged another and the latter died before he could ask for forgiveness, he should take 10 people and say the following while they are standing before that person's grave. 'I have sinned against God the Lord of Israel and against this person by doing the following to himRabbi Moshe ben Maimon, "Laws of Repentance"MORE than 50 years after the most horrendous act of man's inhumanity to Jews, Vatican officials recently released a statement that they claimed to be an act of repentance.

Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Vatican's ambassador to the United States, died Wednesday of complications from surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, church officials said. The 73-year-old Italian prelate had undergone lung surgery nearly three weeks ago and had been on assisted ventilation for much of his postoperative care. Archbishop Sambi, whose title was apostolic nuncio, was one of Pope Benedict XVI's first major appointees and had served in the U.S. post since 2006. He fell ill when he was preparing to return to Rome, where it was widely expected he would be named a cardinal.

Defying canon law and a Vatican decree that promised excommunication, four Roman Catholic women took vows as priests Saturday during an elaborate ordination ceremony full of song and messages of inclusiveness at a Protestant church in Catonsville. Andrea Johnson, presiding as bishop, ordained two women from Maryland, Ann Penick and Marellen Mayers, one from Pennsylvania and one from New York in the sanctuary of St. John's United Church of Christ. The church was filled with family members — including husbands of three of the ordinands — and friends, including some who are employed by the Archdiocese of Baltimore but who support the ordination of women.

In light of the new document from the Vatican that classifies the attempted ordination of a woman as a canonical crime equal in gravity to molesting minors ("Vatican issues new rules on sexual abuse cases," July 16), how many strikes is the Vatican allowed before the Church of God declares, "You're out!" Joe and Lorraine Gordon, Timonium

With the financial backing of the Vatican, University of Maryland researchers will lead an international group of scientists to study adult stem cells from the intestines with the hope of discovering treatments for diseases while bypassing the ethical debates that have embroiled such research for a decade. The partnership, known as the International Intestinal Stem Cell Consortium, brings together researchers from the Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Maryland; the University of Salerno, Bambino Gesu — an Italian children's hospital; and the Istituto Superiore di Sanita — the Italian equivalent of the National Institutes of Health.

There may well be a silver lining threaded within the dark, menacing cloud that now blankets the Vatican — a cloud that grows heavier with each new disclosure of clerical sex abuse. The long-suppressed promise of the Second Vatican Council may, at long last, gather the necessary energy and velocity, as does a hurricane swirling over open water. Should this happen, the overdue reforms formulated by Vatican II may flood into the church. As proclaimed by the pope who convened it, John XXIII, the intent of Vatican II (1962-65)

WILLIAM A. WILSON, 95 First U.S. ambassador to the Vatican William A. Wilson, the first American to serve as ambassador to the Vatican and a member of President Ronald Reagan's "kitchen cabinet" of advisers, has died. He was 95. Wilson was among a group of about a dozen conservative, wealthy Los Angeles businessmen who became confidants and advisers to Reagan, first as he sought to become governor of California, and later, president. They also helped bankroll his campaigns for office.

QUIETLY and persistently, the Clinton administration has tried to dissuade Pope John Paul II from making a planned pilgrimage to a religious site in Iraq later this year, to no avail.Under the personal direction of Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, the United States has been trying to shame the pope out of visiting Ur in the Mesopotamian desert, where the patriarch Abraham was born, as part of millennium celebrations.Washington worries that the pope will be "manipulated" by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and that his brief stay there will "legitimize" the dictator.

Israel and the Vatican will end years of diplomatic standoff by establishing official relations by the end of this month, Israeli officials and American religious leaders say.The 14-point agreement is to be signed in Jerusalem Dec. 30 after being initialed in Rome the day before, they said yesterday.Although the Vatican has recognized Israel, its unwillingness to establish full diplomatic ties has been a sore point between Catholics and Jews.The agreement, which follows 18 months of intensive, behind-the-scenes diplomacy, is said to include a pledge by the Catholic Church to join Israel in new efforts to oppose anti-Semitism.

You know him, you love him - Tom Hanks!" said David Letterman on Monday night as he called the Everyman superstar to the stage. But how well do we know him? What makes Tom Hanks run? That question races through your mind during the technologically phenomenal yet otherwise middling antics of Angels & Demons, the sequel to The Da Vinci Code. Although it's come out second, it's based on the first Dan Brown thriller to center on Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon, an academic with a habit of butting heads with zealots.

Pope Benedict XVI's pilgrimage to the Holy Land veered into controversy over his past on Tuesday when the Vatican denied and then acknowledged his membership in the Hitler Youth during World War II. The conflicting accounts came in response to criticism by Israeli leaders that the German pontiff's address at the Holocaust Memorial on Monday had failed to acknowledge his witness of Nazi terror as a conscript in the youth movement and the German army....