Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Digest

Pope: Hope for babies who are not baptized

By TIMES WIRES
Published April 21, 2007

VATICAN CITY

Pope Benedict XVI has revised traditional Roman Catholic teaching on so-called "limbo," approving a church report released Friday that said there was reason to hope that babies who die without baptism can go to heaven. Benedict approved the findings of the International Theological Commission, which issued its long-awaited document on limbo on Origins, the documentary service of Catholic News Service, the news agency of the American Bishop's Conference.

NASSAU, BAHAMAS

Custody of Smith baby unresolved

Anna Nicole Smith's mother, Virgie Arthur, and ex-boyfriend Larry Birkhead left a Bahamian court disappointed Friday as the latest closed hearing in the custody dispute over the late Playboy Playmate's infant daughter ended without resolution. Birkhead, the baby's father and Smith's former boyfriend, said he hoped to be leaving the Bahamas "soon," though the court set another hearing in the case for Wednesday. All participants are prohibited by Bahamian legal rules from discussing details of the case.

Elsewhere

Berlin: U.S. diplomatic buildings in Germany have increased their security in response to a "heightened threat" that they could be targeted, a German official said Friday. The American Embassy said "U.S. diplomatic and consular facilities in Germany are increasing their security posture" but refused to say if there was a specific threat.

Bangkok, Thailand: Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Friday the government is considering granting amnesty to Muslim insurgents in the south, a step that would be a major policy shift in the three-year conflict. Chulanont also said the government supports Buddhists who have taken up arms to protect their families against Muslim insurgents.

Seoul, South Korea: North Korean atomic agency chief Ri Je Son restated the country's commitment to a nuclear disarmament deal Friday, saying it would invite U.N. atomic inspectors and discuss shutting down its bombmaking atomic reactor as soon as it confirmed the release of its funds frozen in a banking dispute.

Bucharest, Romania: President Traian Basescu said Friday he would not resign, a day after he was suspended by Romania's opposition-dominated Parliament amid allegations that he abused his position.

Harare, Zimbabwe: Fourteen African Anglican bishops issued a message broadly supportive of the Zimbabwean government, sharply contrasting with a call from Catholic leaders for President Robert Mugabe to step down. The Anglicans blamed the plight of poor Zimbabweans on Western economic sanctions.

[Last modified April 21, 2007, 02:43:29]