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At Vatican’s Easter Mass, Cardinal Sodano defends Pope against ‘petty gossip’

CWN - April 05, 2010

Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, delivered a remarkable defense of Pope Benedict towards the beginning of Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square.

“We are deeply grateful to you for the strength of spirit and apostolic courage with which you announce the Gospel,” said Cardinal Sodano. “Holy Father, on your side are the people of God, who do not allow themselves to be influenced by the petty gossip of the moment, by the trials which sometimes buffet the community of believers.”

Cardinal Sodano’s intervention was unforeseen in the booklet distributed to those attending the Mass.

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  • Posted by: Cornelius - Apr. 05, 2010 10:05 AM ET USA

    The Vatican reference to 'petty gossip' does not serve well. It suggests a failure to appreciate both the original offenses that are behind all this and the gravity of the media-led assault on the Church's, and the Pope's in particular, moral credibility. This is not simply a matter of 'petty gossip'.

  • Posted by: Steve214 - Apr. 05, 2010 9:08 AM ET USA

    Two things are obvious. 1. There is a clear hatred of the Church and God going on here. 2. The Church is still in desperate need of reform--even today. Even today, a priest, monk, or nun could publicly proclaim that homosexuality is a gift from God, and remain in his/her position...pretty much indefinitely. Even today, an openly gay candidate could be accepted to some seminaries. Even today, some "Catholic" colleges put on a play annually that glorifies homosex with an adolescent.

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