Scottish Catholic Observer

Scottish Labour pledges same-sex marriage ‘options’ in its manifesto (above); Church spokesman criticised Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland for calling on the next Scottish Government to alter the law on marriage.

http://www.christian.org.uk/news/scottish-labour-pledges-same-sex-marriage-options/

Coalition Government looks to Church to help fulfil Big Society vision.

http://tinyurl.com/3n23adc

Writing meditations for Pope Benedict XVI, nun gives voice to abused children.

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1101391.htm

Pope Benedict laments the ‘tragedy’ of a growing number of African migrants who have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea while trying to reach Europe.

http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2011/04/pope-mourns-deaths-of-libyan-refugees.php

Modern world misunderstands marriage, says Holy Father.

http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=476581

Safeguard Church unity, Pope urges bishops of India’s Syro-Malabar rite.

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=9901

Departures from German Catholic Church soared in 2010.

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=9903

Salesians in Ivory Coast are ‘working at maximum capacity’ to assist those impacted by the country’s violence.

http://ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/World.php?id=2964#ixzz1Isnnwfcg

COMMENT

James MacMillan: ‘No sane Catholic today imagines that they are accusing the Jews of deicide.’

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/features/39No-sane-Catholic-today-imagines.6746559.jp

AND FINALLY

A Catholic school in north Belfast has given a cross-community award to an Orange Order education officer who regularly visits to speak to pupils.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12996966

Rangers to contest Uefa sectarian singing charge.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/12996888.stm

—Cross Wires is the Scottish Catholic Observer newspaper’s blog