Scottish Catholic Observer

SCOTLAND

The Scottish Budget Bill was passed by 79 votes to 48.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-12400444

Councils across the west of Scotland are poised to set their budgets for the next financial year, with deep cuts expected across a range of services.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-12409620

Organisations across Scotland have welcomed concessions outlined in the Budget Bill passed in Holyrood. However, those working across local government, education, business and the third sector warned of the challenges ahead, given the cuts in Scottish Government spending.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5guMHY2vC3yiNbrGesrKcmZoXQXlQ?docId=N0648321297275864404A

UK

Church gaining strength after Papal visit to the UK (above), say Bishop Kieran Conry of Arundel and Brighton, chair of the Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis for the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales

http://www.zenit.org/article-31699?l=english

When addressing the Church of England General Synod yesterday, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster George Stack recalled Pope John Paul II’s Ut Unum Sint in 1995: “the Virgin Mary, as Mother of God and Icon of the Church …. is one of the areas in need of fuller study before a true consensus of faith can be achieved.” http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=17628

INTERNATIONAL

In the wake of criticism from religious leaders—including Archbishop Chaput, a former commissioner on the US Commission on International Religious Freedom—and political experts, President Obama has moved to appoint a religious freedom ambassador, a post he has allowed to remain vacant for the more than two years he has held office.

http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=40289

Leader of Ukrainian Catholic Church resigns

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=9198

Catholic student tweets from Cairo on Egyptian unrest

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1100539.htm

VATICAN

No tickets will be needed for the beatification of John Paul II. Report with video link.

http://www.romereports.com/palio/No-tickets-will-be-needed-for-the-beatification-of-John-Paul-II-english-3525.html

Conference in Rome against euthanasia remembers Eluana Englaro. Text and audio link:

http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=460942

Vatican Radio reaches 80th anniversary. Pope Pius XI greeted listeners all over the world on February 12, 1931, 80 years ago. Link to audio of first broadcast and video of Director of Vatican Radio Fr Federico Lombardi’s reflections.

http://www.romereports.com/palio/Vatican-Radio-fetes-80-years-english-3528.html

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