The ban on Eucharistic communion for divorced and remarried Catholics is increasingly contested and disobeyed. Over the past century, they have never felt so deeply in danger. But the Christians fear the worst, with the army not defending them anymore. The first electoral test has rewarded the Muslim Brotherhood, which is now professing democracy. They must go through the secretary of state. In order to obtain 'special faculties' in dispensation from canonical norms, the heads of the curia can no longer go directly to Benedict XVI. > Vatican Diary / Cardinal Bertone has another gear The author of the ranking: an authoritative theologian, himself a non-Catholic

And yet they are among the closest to the vision of Benedict XVI.

The first two are Protestant, the third Orthodox. They are Cullmann, Pannenberg, Zizioulas. The analysis of the European financial disaster written by 'La Civiltà Cattolica' with the approval of the Vatican secretariat of state. In his pre-Christmas address to the Roman curia, Benedict XVI sounds the alarm against 'the sense of having had enough of Christianity, looking round for one's own advantage.' And he offers as examples of living faith: Africa and the young people of Madrid

Who, looking back, is turned into a pillar of salt. A lesson for the Catholic liturgies as well With the theologian and musicologist PierAngelo Sequeri revealing their true essence. Bach the Lutheran on the Bishops' TVīetween Christmas and New Year's, TV 2000 will air all of the Cantatas composed by Bach for the Masses of the Christmas season. In the child born in the stable at Bethlehem, we can as it were touch and caress God.' The pope's homily for Christmas Eve His Son was born in the poverty of the stable. In a successive conclave, the electors appointed by Benedict XVI will be in the majority And then in Berlin, Toronto, Utrecht, Hong Kong, Prague, New York, Lebanon, India. The consistory is scheduled for February 19. > Vatican Diary / The next cardinals, name by name But with numerous excisions of the original text, on points of disagreement. The secretariat of state authorizes 'La Civiltà Cattolica' to publish a glowing article on the Community. Vatican Diary / Sant'Egidio in supervised freedom

The Way to Bethlehem by Inos Biffi