Catholic Church

Catholic News Agecny - When the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Parish caught fire Monday, most predicted the worst. It seemed unlikely the structure could survive, or that some of the treasures inside might be saved… Indeed, a full two-thirds of the cathedral’s roof was destroyed in the blaze, as was the famous spire. But despite the images of devastation, the cathedral’s main structure has been saved, along with many of its most priceless contents… Even as firefighters worked to extinguish the last of the flames early Tuesday morning, there was already a massive commitment of resources dedicated to the rebuilding of one of the world’s most recognizable churches.

By Edward Pentin, National Catholic Register - Just two years before his election as Pope Pius XII, Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli gave a stirring and prophetic warning in the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris using words that could just as easily apply to today… But on July 13, 1937, on the eve of Bastille Day, a future pope would give the homily in the cathedral, on a topic fitting for the venue: “The Vocation of France.”… Cardinal Pacelli, at the time Vatican Secretary of State, warned of a coming dark age, but not before waxing lyrical about the “soul of today’s France” and the profound role Notre Dame cathedral has played in the nation’s history.

By John Burger, Aleteia - Longtime Georgetown professor remembered for his erudition, love of teaching and prolific output… Fr. James V. Schall, a Jesuit priest and longtime professor of political philosophy, has died at the age of 91. He had been living in the Jesuit residence in Los Gatos, California… Fr. Schall died April 17, shortly after noon, after a brief hospitalization in Los Gatos.

By Dr. Maike Hickson, LifeSiteNews - Cardinal Gerhard Müller has given several interviews in recent days defending Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's April 10 letter on the roots of the abuse crisis… The former Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith told the German newspaper Die Welt that “in his letter, Benedict has pierced the boil,” and his text “is more intelligent than all the contributions at the Roman 'Abuse Summit' and the know-it-all moral experts at the German Bishops' Conference.”