Fr. Tim Kesicki, SJ, president of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, announced the death today of Fr. Daniel Berrigan SJ at the age of 94.

Brian Eyre, writing from Brazil, raises the issue of a chronic shortage of priests in many places and a possible short term solution by inviting back to public ministry those who were debarred from it because they no longer wished to live a celibate life.
Brian also asks why official Vatican documents still refer to priests who have married as 'defections'; "why use language like this that is mean, small-minded and very hurtful?'"
We can only join with Brian in querying the use of such uncharitable language. With such an attitude still prevalent in curial circles in Rome is it any wonder the 'Year of Mercy' has failed to find traction among people?

Pádraig McCarthy points to the 19 March letter of Pope Francis to Cardinal Marc Ouellet of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
Francis has strong words on the importance of laity, and of the dangers of clericalism.

"It is not [for] the pastor to tell lay people what they must do and say, they know this better than we do.”

St Pius V, pope, optional memorial

1st Reading: Acts 16:1-10

Timothy, a half-Jew, joins Paul in the missionary work

Paul went on also to Derbe and to Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish … Read the rest

1st Reading: 1 John 1:5, 2:2

The message we have heard from him and proclaim to you

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no … Read the rest

1st Reading: Acts 15:7-21

Peter and James defend Paul’s missionary practice

After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that … Read the rest

Hans Küng has released a statement to media about a letter he received from Pope Francis following his appeal for an open discussion about 'nfallibility'.
The English version was released simultaneously by National Catholic Reporter and The Tablet.

1st Reading: Acts 15:1-6

The Council of Jerusalem, on what is needed for salvation

Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” … Read the rest

1st Reading: Acts 14:19-28

Paul is stoned and left for dead; but survives to continue his ministry

But Jews came there from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. Then they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the … Read the rest

International Coverage for Letter about "A New Process for the Church and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith".

The story has got a full page in la Repubblica, the main Italian newspaper.