#ShortNews: German bishops apologize for thousands of sex abuse cases

A top German bishop has apologized for thousands of sexual abuse cases that took place inside the Catholic Church in Germany, according to a devastating report released Tuesday that concludes at least 3,677 people were abused by clergy between 1946 and 2014.

“Sexual abuse is a crime,” Cardinal Reinhard Marx, who is also the head of the German Bishops Conference, told reporters. “I’m ashamed for so many (of us) looking away, not wanting to recognize what happened and not helping the victims. That goes for me as well.”

The apology came on the same day that Pope Francis acknowledged that the sex abuse scandal rocking the Catholic Church was driving people away. He said the church must change its ways if it wants to keep future generations.

Read more: https://www.apnews.com/094a6ca616a24799ab7866f9ca71b992

#ShortNews: Princess becomes Catholic, ineligible for British throne

Princess Alexandra of Hanover has been removed from the British line of succession according to Point de Vue-magazine.

The 19-year-old princess is the daughter of Prince Ernst August of Hanover and Princess Caroline of Monaco. The Princess has recently become a member of the Catholic Church and this the reason why she has been removed from the British line of succession. However, she remains the 12th in the line of succession to the Monegasque throne.

The British succession-law where changed in 2011 with the Perth Agreement. However the ban on Catholics and other non-Protestants becoming sovereign and the requirement for the sovereign to be in communion with the Church of England remained.

Read more: http://royalcentral.co.uk/europe/monaco/princess-alexandra-of-hanover-is-removed-from-the-british-line-of-succession-109243

#ShortStory: Appeal of the Holy Father for Chinese Catholics

There is hope and concern, sadness and uneasiness among Chinese Catholics at the news of the provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops signed between China and the Holy See. There are criticisms of illicit bishops who have been excommunicated because they “have lovers and children” and are “loyal collaborators of the regime against the Lord”, together with requests to be able to see and know of the text of the agreement.

Read more: http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Chinese-Catholics:-hope-and-sadness-at-China-and-the-Holy-See-agreement-45028.html

Appeal of the Holy Father

Dear brothers and sisters,

Last Saturday, 22 September, a Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China was signed in Beijing, regarding the appointment of bishops in China. The Agreement is the fruit of a long and careful journey of dialogue, intended to promote a more positive collaboration between the Holy See and the Chinese authorities for the good of the Catholic community in China and for the harmony of society as a whole.

In this spirit, I have decided to address to Chinese Catholics and to all the universal Church a Message of fraternal encouragement, which will be published today. With this, I hope that in China a new phase may begin, which will help to heal the wounds of the past, to re-establish and maintain the full communion of all Chinese Catholics and to assume with renewed commitment the announcement of the Gospel.

Dear brothers and sisters, we have an important task! We are called to accompany our brothers and sisters in China with fervent prayer and fraternal friendship. They know they are not alone. All the Church prays with them and for them. Let us ask Our Lady, Mother of Hope and Help of Christians, to bless and to keep all Catholics in China, while for the entire Chinese people let us invoke from God the gift of prosperity and peace.