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Vatican

Vatican's Opening of Holocaust-Era Papal Archives Could Better Catholic-Jewish Relations Vatican's Opening of Holocaust-Era Papal Archives Could Better Catholic-Jewish Relations
Vatican's Opening of Holocaust-Era Papal Archives Could Better Catholic-Jewish Relations A week before (COVID-19) dominated every headline, the Vatican announced it would open up the papal archives of the controversial Holocaust-era Pope Pius XII.  Over 150 scholars of "all faiths and nationalities" applied for review of these secret documents covering Pius XII's papacy from 1939 to his death in 1958. Historians have been particularly interested in studying the documents from the World War II period. While the Vatican was officially neutral during the war, there has long been public criticism that Pope Pius XII remained silent over the fate of the Jews and did not do enoug…
What Commits Someone To Selflessness? Alena Dillon's Novel 'Mercy House' Puts Nuns Center Stage What Commits Someone To Selflessness? Alena Dillon's Novel 'Mercy House' Puts Nuns Center Stage
What Commits Someone To Selflessness? Alena Dillon's Novel 'Mercy House' Puts Nuns Center Stage If you’re lucky, you just know. Fairfield native Alena Dillon knew she wanted to write from an early age. She did the requisite sports, youth groups and choir available to most suburban children, but words — stories— were her passion. In fifth grade she wrote her first novel — a take on a popular Disney movie released at the time, “A Kid in King Arthur’s Court.” “In seventh grade I would just write unassigned short stories for my English teacher,” recalled Dillon. “She was very generous with feedback, even though they were so tragic and terrible. They were always about someone dying.” A…