Portugal: a “political” saintOn the occasion of the announcement of the canonization of Blessed Nuno de Santa Maria, planned for next April 26, Lusitanian bishops drew up a Pastoral Note in which they claim that “For Portugal and for the Portuguese population, this fact is reason for hope and rejoice. It must also constitute an occasion for reflection upon the qualities and the heroic virtues of this outstanding historical figure, that should be known and taken as an example by contemporaries”. He represents a role model of sanctity: “Nuno Álvares Pereira was a statesman, who placed the higher interest of the Nation above his personal interest and carrier ambitions, transforming his own life into a mission to the benefit of his homeland and his people. In a time of serious national crisis, he bravely chose to give his contribution to the solution of the major political and social challenges with limitless dedication. Crowned with glory for the victories he achieved, landowner of immense property, he stripped himself of all his possessions and chose to radically follow Christ”.”We are living in times of global crisis, due to the lack of moral values”. In this framework, concludes the Note, “the testimony of the life of Saint Nuno will constitute a powerful change to the benefit of justice and fraternity, of the promotion of more sober and sympathetic lifestyles and initiatives for the sharing of goods. It can also be a call to exemplary citizenship, and a strong invitation to the respectability of political life”. Nuno Álvares Pereira, who lived in Portugal between 1360 and 1431, in 1423, a widower, decided to enter the Carmelitan convent in Lisbon that he founded after many years spent at the service of his sovereign, that had appointed him constable, commander-in-chief of the army.Scotland “ips” cells prevent embryo destruction The Catholic Church and Scotland’s pro-life movement expressed their appreciation for a new scientific discovery that will enable stem cell production to treat diseases such as Parkinson’s and diabetes without embryo destruction. A research team that includes scientists from Edinburgh and Canada based at the Edinburgh University’s “Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine” stimulated the growth of human tissue cells into stem cells with the same power of embryo stem cells. The news was reported by Catholic Weekly “The Tablet” that explained that these “induced pluripotency stem”, known as “ips”, have the capacity of transforming into any body cell. Scientists hope that in this way embryo destruction for research and treatment will no longer be deemed necessary. “We found a safer and easier way to obtain IPS cells”, stated Helen Watt, chairperson of the “Linacre” centre, that is close to the Catholic Church. “This is the last of a series of discoveries that make it technically and morally difficult to claim that embryo stem cell research is necessary or recommendable”. According to professor John Aldane, director of the “Centre for Ethics, Philosophy and Public Affairs of St.Andrews University, “reprogramming adult stem cells, prevents the destruction of human lives and overcomes the risk of rejection on the part of the immune system”.Czech Republic: the Cathedral returns to State ownership Past March 5 the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic stated that the famous Saint-Guy Cathedral, located in the heart of the city’s castle, belongs to the State and not to the Catholic Church, as reported by news agency Cathobel on March 9. The decision follows a 17-year-long legal battle over what is considered to be one of the classical sites of the Czech capital city. It is a definitive decision, since, according to Supreme Court spokesman Petr Knötig, recourse to the Court of Cassation is no longer possible. The largest church in Prague, that belonged to the Catholic Church throughout the centuries, founded in 1344 by the King of Bohemia Karl IV, was transferred to state control in 1954, during the Communist regime that fell in 1989. In September 2006 the Church had recovered ownership after a court ruling but was compelled to return it following a Supreme Court ruling of February 2007. Ales Pistora, Curia spokesman, said he would have recourse to the Constitutional Court and to the European Court, since the ruling “is unfair”. Czech population is divided over the issue, since the Cathedral is viewed as the symbol of both religious faith and politics, since it is part of the castle premise that represents the official seat of the Presidency of the Republic.
