Scottish Catholic Observer

Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland’s deputy first minister, said the killers of Catholic PC Ronan Kerr were ‘the enemies of the people of Ireland’ and stressed communities across political and religious lines were ‘absolutely unified.’

http://news.scotsman.com/uk/Martin-McGuinness-tells-nationalists-to.6746074.jp

Humanitarian agencies are rushing to help thousands of displaced people in Ivory Coast (above) who are in urgent need of assistance after massacre of close to 1000. Tens of thousands, for example, have crowded around a Catholic mission in the western town of Duekoue. Too many for what little food and water are available.

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/decapua-ivory-coast-displaced-4apr11-119190769.html

More than 400 African migrants fleeing Libya on two boats are reported missing, the UN said yesterday, and a Vatican official in Tripoli said the bodies of at least 10 migrants had washed up on the city’s beaches.

http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE7331WF20110404

The only way for the Catholic Church to truly heal from the clergy sex abuse crisis is to lay bare its failures, take responsibility for the harm it has caused, change the clerical culture that gave rise to it and welcome victims in an environment that fosters healing, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin said.

http://www.jsonline.com/features/religion/119201704.html

Pope Benedict XVI is encouraging Catholic laity to intensify their formative efforts so as to more successfully bring the leaven of the Gospel to society.

http://www.zenit.org/article-32223?l=english

Vatican: Decrees for the Congregation for the Causes of Saints released.

http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2011/04/decrees-of-congregation-for-causes-of.html

Hotels still available in Rome for John Paul II beatification.

http://www.romereports.com/palio/Hotels-still-available-in-Rome-for-John-Paul-II-beatification-english-3821.html

Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela of Madrid, Spain, called priests to make frequent confessions in order to end ‘the crisis in priestly ministry.’

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinal-urges-end-to-priestly-ministry-crisis/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+catholicnewsagency/dailynews+(CNA+Daily+News)

Campaign by Christian organisations to defend expelled missionary.

http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=28718&lan=eng

Dutch Catholic school can ban Muslim headscarf, rules court.

http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2011/04/catholic_school_can_ban_muslim.php

AND FINALLY, WEDDING NEWS

The Catholic Church in England and Wales has issued a prayer to bless the upcoming wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/04/us-britain-wedding-catholics-idUSTRE7333D020110404

Charlene Wittstock converts to Catholicism for Prince Albert.

http://www.jsonline.com/features/religion/119201704.html

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