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Q: Could you please explain what "ratum sed non consummatum" means with respect to marriage? I always thought that this was an antiquated term that no longer had any relevance, but recently I encountered it [in a current context]… Why would it matter to the Church whether a marriage has been consummated or not? –Fiona A: The Latin phrase ratum sed non consummatum is translated literally as “ratified but not consummated,” and it has been used by theologians and canonists in regard to matrimony for many centuries. These four Latin words actually contain a wealth of information about the way...

Cardinal Peter K. A. Turkson and Monsignor Mario Toso, President and Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace at the Vatican, released a note last week entitled "Towards Reforming the International Financial and Monetary Systems In the Context of Global Public Authority." The PCJP shares its reflections on the demands that integral development, globalization and the financial crisis make on society. It expresses the considered opinions of its authors and the Council. As with all communique's involving Catholic Social Doctrine, this one focuses on the common good and human dignity, the pillars on which CSD conceptually rests. Like...

For those not fully confident that salvation is free and we must live "sin free", please define "sin" for me in such a way as we may then make a full list of sins of commission and omission and live my life accordingly. You will bog down in a sea of ambiguity. For example ,"Thou shalt not kill" .Does this apply in self defense? War? Accident?Thou shalt not bear false witness? How many lies do you tell each day? "I'm fine, thank you " when your not. "I'll get right on it!" (when you won't). How about stealing? Oh,well ,you...

...he sins of Christians throughout the centuries have fractured the body of Christ. "The great danger is that we get use to this situation of division, taking it simply as a fact."

Pope Benedict XVI has chosen Bishop Koch for the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, replacing another German speaking Archbishop. A lot has been said about this appointment that portrays the new office holder as a good choice, but it's hard to see how this could be the case since many of his public acts and statements put him so squarely against the incipient reform Benedict XVI is said to be accomplishing. Father Z says this is a good appointment (and perhaps it is), but he certainly isn't as he says, "Another man closely tied to Pope Benedict" which seems to...

The following is a copy of an e-mail sent to the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace on Dec. 16, 2003: ------------------------------- This is the title I gave to this e-mail: UNHOLY ALLIANCE - CARDINAL RENATO MARTINO AND SADDAM HUSSEIN. Contents: International News - December 16, 2003 Cardinal Backs Trial for Saddam Hussein December 16, 2003 02:51 PM EST VATICAN CITY - A top Vatican cardinal said Tuesday Saddam Hussein should face trial for his crimes, but stressed the Vatican's opposition to the death penalty and criticized the U.S. military for portraying him "like a cow" having his teeth checked....