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News, of the hour, on the hour, from Catholic Information Radio.
I’m Bryan Douglas in Philadelphia, and at this hour….
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Lead:
Launching a defense in many ways similar to that penned by French scholar Bernard Levy, the American author Dimitri Cavalli has published an article in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz defending Pope Pius XII according to L’Oservatore Romano.

Cavalli asserts that the "campaign against Pope Pius XII is doomed to failure, saying quote "His detractors cannot sustain their main charges against him -- that he was silent, pro-Nazi, and did little or nothing to help the Jews -- with any credible evidence," unquote.

The author said the proof that exists shows the contrary, noting that in 1933, when the future pope was still secretary of state, he instructed the papal nuncio in Germany to see what he could do to oppose the Nazis' anti-Semitic policies.

The author also points out that Pius the XI's 1937 encyclical "Mit brennender Sorge," which was drafted by Cardinal Pacelli, was considered by the Germans as a "security threat., and when Cardinal Pacelli was elected Pope in 1939, Joseph Goebbels, the German propaganda minister, wrote the Nazi regime was considering whether they should abrogate the concordat with Rome in light of Pacelli's election.

Cavalli concludes his article saying quote, "Perhaps only in a backward world such as ours would the one man who did more than any other wartime leader to help Jews and other Nazi victims, would receive the greatest condemnation" unquote.
I’ll be back with more after this.

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Story 2:
Ralph McInerny, the retired professor of philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, was buried yesterday at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Notre Dame.

The scholar and prolific author died Friday and would have turned 81 on Feb. 24. He was a native of Minneapolis and held degrees from St. Paul Seminary, the University of Minnesota, and Laval University, and had taught at the University of Notre Dame since 1955, and was an acknowledged expert on the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, as well as a prolific author. He penned over two dozen scholarly books, many more scholarly essays, and over 80 novels, including the Father Dowling mystery series.

Story 3:
The Catholic Church and the Church of England continue to have good relations even after Pope Benedict has paved the way for Anglicans to become Catholics in groups.

This is according to Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster during his presentation to Pope on behalf of the bishops of England and Wales who were in Rome for their ad limina visit. He also affirmed that the groundwork of "close cooperation between Anglicans and Catholics that have helped to ensure the various interpretations of and reactions to the Pope’s apostolic constitution have not seriously disrupted the relationships between the Church and the Anglican Communion.

Story 4:
A Cuban priest has warned that the country is on the verge of an economic collapse that can only be prevented if President Raul Castro institutes sweeping economic and social reforms. The economic situation in Cuba has given signs that it is close to free fall, Fr Boris Moreno wrote in the latest edition of Havana Archdiocese magazine. He also said the government should promote exports and small- and mid-size businesses, and allow Cubans "to give their opinions without fear of reprisal.

This is Catholic Information News.

Story 5:
The Haitian Conference of Religious has published a report on the losses suffered by religious communities during the recent earthquake. The Little Sisters of St. Teresa sustained the greatest effect, losing four sisters, seven teachers, and 60 students killed. Five houses and two schools associated with the community were also destroyed.

The nation of 8.8 million is 80% Catholic; according to recent Vatican statistics.

Story 6:
Less than five years after Kyrgyzstan’s ‘Tulip Revolution’ raised hopes that the central Asian nation would embrace greater democratic reforms, President Bakiyev has signed a law restricting the religious freedom of communities with fewer than 200 members. Bishop Nikolaus Messmer, Apostolic Administrator of the country, says that the restrictions do not affect the small Catholic Church in the country, which continues down her path in the pastoral care of the faithful.

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And that’s top news of the hour.
I’m Bryan Douglas, CIR NEWS, for Catholic Information Radio.