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By Carol Glatz

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican newspaper said the Oscar-winning film, "Spotlight," is not anti-Catholic.

"It is not an anti-Catholic movie, as has been written, because the film succeeds in giving voice to the alarm and deep pain" experienced by the Catholic faithful when a team of investigative newspaper reporters in Boston revealed the scandal of clerical abuse, said the article published Feb. 29 in L'Osservatore Romano.

The paper said it was also a "positive sign" when Michael Sugar, the movie's producer, said he hoped the film would "resonate all the way to the Vatican."

In his acceptance speech at the 88th annual Academy Awards Feb. 28, Sugar said the movie "gave a voice to survivors, and this Oscar amplifies this voice." He then expressed hopes this voice would "become a choir that will resonate all the way to the Vatican."

"Pope Francis, it's time to protect the children and restore the faith," he said.

The fact there was such an appeal, the Vatican newspaper said, was "a positive sign" because it shows "there is still trust in the institution (of the church), there is trust in a pope who is continuing the cleanup begun by his predecessor."

"There is still trust in a faith that has at its heart the defense of victims, the protection of the innocent," said the article, written by Lucetta Scaraffia, a professor of contemporary history and a frequent contributor to the Vatican newspaper.

"Spotlight" won two awards: one for best picture and one for best original screenplay. The film documents the Boston Globe's investigation into the scandal and cover-up of the sexual abuse of minors by clergy in the Archdiocese of Boston.

The Vatican newspaper said the film does not touch on the "long and tenacious fight" by then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in launching action against abusers in the church.

"But a film can't say everything, and the difficulties that Ratzinger encountered only confirm the premise of the film, that is, that too often the church institution did not know how to respond with the necessary determination before these crimes," the article said.

While children are vulnerable to abuse in many other places, like in the family, school or sports teams, it said, "it is now clear that too many in the church were more worried about the image of the institution than the seriousness of the act."

"All of this cannot justify the very grave crime of one, who as a representative of God, uses this prestige and authority to take advantage of the innocent," the article said.

The film, in fact, shows the kind of devastation wrought on victims when "they don't even have a God to plead with anymore, to ask for help," it said.

Jesuit Father Hans Zollner, a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, told Vatican Radio many bishops had urged others to see the film and "take seriously its central message, which is that the Catholic Church can and must be transparent, just and committed to fighting abuse, and it must ensure it never happens again."

Catholic leaders cannot think clerical sexual abuse will go away if they don't talk about it, Father Zollner said. "I think this is one of the central messages of the film."

Director Tom McCarthy had said that while he's excited the pope is a "forward-thinking, inclusive, progressive, reform-minded person," addressing the scourge of sexual abuse will not occur overnight.

"He's taking over the reins of an institution that does not change very quickly," McCarthy said in an interview with America magazine in November 2015.

"Like any leader, within his institution, he's got his work cut out for him. What remains to be seen is how much change, how much action happens under his guidance. I think you just have to wait and see," McCarthy had said.

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Contributing to this story was Junno Arocho Esteves at the Vatican.

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 WASHINGTON-Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York called on everyone "concerned about the tragedy of abortion" to recommit to a "vision of life and love, a vision that excludes no one" on January 14. His statement marks the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Cardinal Dolan chairs the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"Most Americans oppose a policy allowing legal abortion for virtually any reason - though many still do not realize that this is what the Supreme Court gave us," wrote Cardinal Dolan. "Most want to protect unborn children at later stages of pregnancy, to regulate or limit the practice of abortion, and to stop the use of taxpayer dollars for the destruction of unborn children. Yet many who support important goals of the pro-life movement do not identify as 'pro-life,' a fact which should lead us to examine how we present our pro-life vision to others."

"Even as Americans remain troubled by abortion," wrote Cardinal Dolan, a powerful and well-funded lobby holds "that abortion must be celebrated as a positive good for women and society, and those who cannot in conscience provide it are to be condemned for practicing substandard medicine and waging a 'war on women'." He said this trend was seen recently when President Obama and other Democratic leaders prevented passage of the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act, "a modest measure to provide for effective enforcement" of conscience laws.

"While this is disturbing," said Cardinal Dolan, "it is also an opportunity." Pro-life Americans should reach out to "the great majority of Americans" who are "open to hearing a message of reverence for life." He added that "we who present the pro-life message must always strive to be better messengers. A cause that teaches the inexpressibly great value of each and every human being cannot show disdain or disrespect for any fellow human being." He encouraged Catholics to take part, through prayer and action, in the upcoming "9 Days for Life" campaign, January 16-24. More information on the campaign is available online: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxJwfcefUiU

He also cited the Year of Mercy called by Pope Francis as a time for women and men to find healing through the Church's Project Rachel post-abortion ministry.

The full text of Cardinal Dolan's message is available online.
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Keywords: Roe v. Wade, anniversary, Pro-Life, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, 9 Days for Life, USCCB, U.S. bishops, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Year of Mercy, Project Rachel, Pope Francis
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The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), has extended by two weeks, the screening exercise of youths who wish to participate in this year’s World Youth Day to be held in Krakow, Poland from 25 to 31 July 2016. This was disclosed recently by Fr. Zacharia Sanjumi, the deputy Secretary and Director of pastoral agents at the CSN.

Speaking to the Catholic News Service of Nigeria, Fr. Sanjumi said the extension became necessary as a result of the desire to give opportunity for more youths to celebrate the event with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, in Poland. Fr. Sanjumi further disclosed that various Nigerian dioceses are now more involved than ever before in the screening process. He Sanjumi added that all the youth who will travel to Poland will be looked after properly while in Poland. He expressed optimism that the youth participants who travel to Poland will return to the country at the end of the celebrations.

According to the official website, the World Youth Day (WYD) is a worldwide youth encounter with the Pope which is celebrated every three years in a different country. The last WYD was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2013. 

WYD is open to all young people who want to take part in a festive encounter with their contemporaries. The organisers emphasise the religious aspects of the week-long event that draws the youth closer to Christ, by means of prayer and the sacraments in a festive atmosphere together with thousands of other young people who share similar  interests and ambitions.

(CNSNg.org in Abuja, Nigeria)

engafrica@vatiradio.va

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(Vatican Radio) The Order of the Knights of Saint Columba is a Catholic organisation for men in the United Kingdom, founded almost 100 years ago and dedicated to the principles of charity, unity and fraternity. The Order is named after the Irish missionary who travelled to Scotland in the sixth century.

In the Bull of indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, Misericordiae Vultus, Pope Francis noted that the Gospel of mercy calls us to respond in a practical way to the suffering of others. These practical responses are the works of spiritual and corporal mercy, and a lay organisation in the UK is encouraging people to exercise these works.

In the Scottish city of Glasgow, as in other places in the aftermath of the First World War, people were faced with a choice. On one hand, they could look inward and concentrate on their own needs and the needs of their families; on the other, they could live by the principle of charity. In 1919, twenty four men from the city chose the latter, and founded the Order of the Knights of Saint Columba. They did so at a time when social deprivation was a major problem in the UK. These men took as a sort of model for their constitution the encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIII, Rerum novarum, which dealt with the condition of the working classes.

In the very early days of the Order, the first members believed that it was important to remain loyal and devoted to the clergy of the city and surround areas. This same loyalty and devotion to the clergy – as well as to the deprived members of society – is as important for its members today across the UK as it was for those first twenty four members in Glasgow.

In 2016, the Order boasts a membership of 4100. Every year, the Knights of Saint Columba are involved in a number of events in Scotland, England and Wales, including organizing and stewarding at Pro-Life Masses, prayer services and demonstrations, and an annual pilgrimage to the island of Iona, where Saint Columba settled and founded a monastery in 563 AD.

To mark the Jubilee Year of Mercy, the Order has launched an initiative called ‘Open Your Heart to God’s Mercy’, which calls on its members and their families and friends to participate in a particular work of mercy, spiritual or corporal, every month. In some areas, members of the Order are supporting and running food banks. The Knights have also organized Year of Mercy Masses in the metropolitan cathedrals of the UK.

The response to Pope Francis’ opening of the Year of Mercy is not the first time that the Order has responded to the Supreme Pontiff. In 1982, and again in 2010, the Knights were at the heart of stewarding Papal Masses and events in the UK, when Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI made Apostolic visits there.

Speaking about the Papal Mass in Glasgow in 2010, the Order’s current Supreme Knight Charlie McCluskey told Vatican Radio, “I coordinated the 600 Knights and helpers at Bellahouston Park.” Reflecting on the request for 600 volunteers made by the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, Mr McCluskey said, “It was amazing how quickly members of the Order and their friends and families responded. I remember as the Mass ended and the Holy Father left the altar a real spirit of renewal had shown itself throughout the day. It is a memory I will never forget.”

The future is bright for the Order, which will soon celebrate its centenary. Mr McCluskey believes that the lay organization must once more refer to the encyclicals and newer documents coming from Rome so that its members are equipped to answer the sometimes difficult questions posed by those who do not yet understand the faith.

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