So why does Meghan have to be baptised?
The news that Meghan Markle will be baptised before she marries Prince Harry next spring proved confusing for many newspapers.
The Evening Standard got into trouble when it tried to explain why Meghan Markle had to go through the ceremony. Its report, later taken down, said it was because she was a Protestant. But as Giles Fraser, as vicar, tweeted: “Dear @EveningStandard. The Church of England is Protestant. Henry VIII, etc.”
American blogger Terry Mattingly asked why, if Markle was already a Protestant, she was being baptised. “I have never heard of anyone being re-baptised in order to be confirmed as an Anglican.”
An unexpected boom in conversions
At ncregister.com, Fr Mitch Pacwa claimed that “We are in a time of the first ever mass conversions of Muslims.” Speaking to Patti Armstrong, Fr Pacwa, an expert on the Middle East, said he had begun hearing about the phenomenon more than 10 years ago, on Al-Jazeera: “They were reporting on the mass conversions of Muslims – as many as 6-8 million – in sub-Saharan, Africa, and they have repeated the warning every year,” he said.
“I’ve confirmed it with Africans I know who have told me again and again about conversions in places like Nigeria, Uganda, Mali … that’s why Boko Haram has become so active. They are actually quite scared and trying to terrorise. But the very act of terrorising people has ended up with people becoming more disgusted with Islam.”
It was possible, Fr Pacwa said, that Islam’s growth had already peaked.
Puerto Rico’s faith amid great suffering
On his blog, Cardinal Seán O’Malley described “joy amongst the suffering” in Puerto Rico, which he recently visited. In the aftermath of the recent hurricanes, agriculture has suffered especially. “It was a coffee growing region, and now so much of that has been destroyed. I also understand that about 60,000 businesses have closed.” Hospitals and schools have also ceased to function; many people are emigrating. In response, Catholic charities have been “so proactive in getting food and water out to people, particularly in the rural areas”.
Cardinal O’Malley was also struck by the traditional practices of Puerto Rican Catholicism, especially in rural areas. At a newly- ordained priest’s first Mass, “a number of parishioners brought up gifts for the new priest. One woman was wearing a sort of habit, indicating that she made a promise (a ‘promessa’) and her promise was to the Blessed Mother, but others would be to St Anthony or another saint. Then, for a number of months or a year, they wear a garment to indicate that they’ve made this promise.”
The priestly ordination, “in the midst of all their sufferings”, was “a consolation and source of joy for the community”.
✣ A Russian Orthodox bishop has been blamed after a satellite he blessed failed to launch into space.
The Meteor-M satellite crashed shortly after lifting off from Vostochny space centre in Russia’s far east. It had been blessed by Bishop Lucian of Blagoveshchensk and Tynda.
Deacon Andrey Kuraev, a theologian and blogger, told the Govorit Moskva radio station that the bishop should be held accountable. “It is very strange that the Church seemingly offers services but is never held liable for the quality of these services,” he said.
Other priests have defended the bishop. Fr Svyatoslav Shevchenko told the RIA Novosti news agency: “Let’s put it this way: if you bless a car that has an empty gas tank, it won’t start.
“We address our prayers to God, but that doesn’t rule out the possibility of human error.”
✣ Catholic actor Eduardo Verástegui could be in the running to be Mexico’s next president, according to the country’s media. Hugo Eric Flores, president of the Social Encounter party, said he was in discussions with Verástegui about an “important post” on their slate of candidates for next year’s elections.
The actor, who starred in the film Bella, is a pro-life advocate who prays the rosary and attends Mass daily.
It confirms Constantine the Great was responsible
Restorer Antonia Moropoulou on dating the marble cladding of Jesus’s tomb
National Geographic
I dared to say everything I wanted to say
Pope Francis on his meeting with Burma’s military chief
Catholic News Service
It’s like doing a road trip with a friend
Angèle Regnier on travelling around Canada with St Francis Xavier’s arm
CBC radio
I’m convinced that we are at the limit of licitly having and using nuclear weapons
Pope Francis
In-flight press conference
150,000
Size of the congregation at the first ever papal Mass in Burma
Source: CNS
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