Scottish Catholic Observer

Images of the opening of the St Andrews’ Cathedral Garden and Arandora Star Memorial (above), in Glasgow—gifted by the Scots Italian community—that officially opens on May 16.

https://www.facebook.com/ArchdioceseofGlasgow

On the day UK voters decide, debate on Fr Alexander Lucie-Smith’s view that AV will give Catholics a stronger political voice. Have your say.

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2011/05/04/av-will-give-catholics-a-stronger-political-voice/

Defend and promote right to freedom of religion, Pope Benedict XVI tells the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. (Full text of address).

http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2011/05/defend-and-promote-right-to-freedom-of.html

Church in Australia must welcome migrants, says president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.

http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=28912&lan=eng

Vatican opens exhibition of Blessed John Paul II’s personal belongings.

http://www.romereports.com/palio/Vatican-opens-exhibit-of-John-Paul-IIs–personal-belongings-english-4070.html

Widow of 9/11 victim reacts to Bin Laden’s death: “Quite frankly, my first reaction was to pray for his soul,” she said.

http://www.catholicsun.org/2011/may/03/bin-laden-reaction.html

Move to pardon John Gordon, last man executed in Rhode Island, US, 166 years ago. The Irish-Catholic immigrant killed was on Valentine’s Day in 1845, at a time of anti-immigrant hysteria against Irish Catholics.

http://www.projo.com/news/content/GORDON_VOTE_05-05-11_2ONTN1A_v12.1cb17c0.html

Christchurch’s Catholic Cathedral in New Zealand to lose dome damage in earth quake.

http://www.3news.co.nz/Cathedral-to-lose-dome-after-quake/tabid/423/articleID/209939/Default.aspx

US Supreme Court refuses to hear protest against gay adoption resolution.

http://www.catholic-sf.org/news_select.php?newsid=16&id=58500

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