Scottish Catholic Observer

Catholic leaders in Wales say they would welcome strengthening the ‘democratic legitimacy’ of the assembly. Voters go to the polls in the assembly power referendum on March 3.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-12590765

Prince William and Kate Middleton launch St Andrews University’s 600th anniversary celebrations, attending a reception at University House and visiting the Museum of the University of St Andrews, where they were shown the surviving Papal Bull which was granted full university status when conferred by Pope Benedict XIII in 1413.

Video link: http://entertainment.stv.tv/showbiz/231133-prince-william-and-kate-return-to-second-home-of-st-andrews/

New Zealand bride Emma Howard took time out on her wedding day to thank her British rescuer Carl Stockton (above), who pulled her from earthquake rubble. She wed fiance Chris Greenslade at Christ the King Catholic Church.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/2011/02/26/bride-thanks-brit-rescuer-who-pulled-her-from-new-zealand-rubble-86908-22950968/

Pope Benedict XVI: Abortion is never a solution.

Audio link: http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=465605

L’Osservatore Romano described Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi as ‘merciless’ as Pope Benedict called for an end to the unrest in Arab nations.

http://www.ucanews.com/2011/02/25/gaddafi-%E2%80%98merciless%E2%80%99-l%E2%80%99osservatore-romano/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

The Catholic bishops of Egypt will not call for the repeal of Article 2 of the nation’s constitution, which declares Islam to the state religion.

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=9396

An Italian court has ruled Vatican Radio must pay damages to a small town near Rome for electromagnetic pollution created by its transmitters.

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2011/02/25/Vatican-Radio-ordered-to-pay-damages/UPI-74161298670092/

How to register to attend World Youth Day Madrid 2011.

Video link: http://www.romereports.com/palio/How-to-register-to-attend-World-Youth-Day-Madrid-2011-english-3585.html

Sudan has suspended the work of the humanitarian agency Catholic Relief Services in West Darfur state, accusing it of distributing Bibles, according to a local aid official.

http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE71P07V20110226

AND FINALLY

The Pontifical Council for Social Communications will be holding its plenary assembly beginning today. It will look at the way in which digital technologies have created a new language.

Audio link:  http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=464010

Professor Richard Beck of Abilene Christian has drawn considerable attention to his argument that Facebook, by introducing a popular new mans of social interaction, is challenging the role of the Church.

http://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/2010/03/how-facebook-killed-church.html

Jeffrey Tuck on the Inside Catholic site: The Catholic Church is not merely ‘about social affiliation.’

http://www.insidecatholic.com/feature/will-facebook-kill-the-church.html

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