Vatican: Saints and Villains
- February 20th, 2010
- Posted by EUEditor
The date of Mary McKillop’s canonisation has been announced, at the end of a week in which the Vatican also took on the crisis over abuse of children by clergy in Ireland.
MARY MACKILLOP
Mother Mary MacKillop will become the first Australian Saint at a Vatican ceremony on 17.10.10.(See EUAustralia Online, 15.1.10, “Papal Moves: Mary MacKillop, Migration”).
It was announced (19.2.10) at a meeting in Rome for one hundred guests, including Cardinals and Bishops, and a leading advocate for Mary MacKillop’s cause, Sister Maria Casey, from her religious Order, the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart.
Mary MacKillop was a 19th Century nun who founded the teaching order in South Australia especially to benefit poor children, and spread its work throughout Australia and New Zealand.
She has been associated with two miracles in which sufferers were cured of cancer.
Five other candidates for sainthood — from Canada, Italy, Poland and Spain — will be canonised with her in the October ceremony.
LESS JOYOUS
Celebrations were far off the agenda earlier in the week (15-16.2.10) as Pope Benedict XV1 upbraided Irish Bishops brought to Rome to discuss the scandal over sexual abuse committed by clergy against children.
Certain victims said the development was comforting though they regretted it was not followed by dismissals and persisted with requests to see the Pope themselves.
Picture Absoluteitaly