According to Vatican News Service, on October 29, 2002, the new web site of the Vatican Apostolic Library was presented. The site is the result of collaboration between the Holy See and Hewlitt-Packard. On the Vatican web site www.vatican.va, there will now be a special new site for the Apostolic Library, fully accessible to the public, where the following five sections can be found: History and Structure; Catalogue; Services; Treasures of the Library and other information.

In a statement for the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion, the bishops reaffirmed their commitment, "no matter the sacrifices required, to bringing about a reversal of this tragic" action. The statement particularly praised the role of youth in pro-life activities. "What is perhaps most striking on this anniversary is how many young people have taken up the cause for life and how impassioned is their support," the bishops said. Thirty years after Roe vs. Wade, the bishops said, "fewer doctors are willing to be involved in abortion. More Americans identify themselves as pro-life ...Ultrasound and other medical advances have made possible a greater appreciation of the humanity of the unborn child...[And] thousands of pro-life groups, individual parishes, Catholic social service agencies and pregnancy resource centers have provided practical assistance and support to thousands of women facing difficult pregnancies."

The revised "Essential Norms of Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons" have received the approval of the Holy See. This approval (or recognitio) was given in a letter from Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, dated December 8, 2003. "This closeness is now once again confirmed," Cardinal Re continued, "through the approval of the present ‘Essential Norms,’ which will help to restore, wherever necessary, the trust of the faithful in their pastors, assuring at the same time the defense of the innocent and the just punishment of the guilty." These norms now constitute "particular law" for the United States. The effective date is March 1, 2003 to allow time to prepare for their implementa-tion. The norms were originally adopted, together with the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," at the bishops’ semi-annual meeting in June and sent to the Hoy See for its recognitio. The Holy See requested further reflection and revision by a "mixed commission" made up of four representatives of the Holy See and four representatives of the USCCB. The Mixed Commission met in Rome on October 28-29, and the results of its work were discussed and approved by the full body of U.S. bishops at their meeting in Washington, November 11-14.

Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Bernard F. Law, 71, Boston's archbishop since 1984, and named a temporary administrator to head the Archdiocese. The resignation follows a year long scandal over the handling of priestly misconduct cases in the Archdiocese. In a brief December 13 statement, the Vatican said the pope accepted the resignation of Cardinal Law, under a church law provision for "illness or other serious reason."

The pope has appointed Boston's Auxiliary Bishop Richard G. Lennon, 55, to serve as the Archdiocese's apostolic administrator, or interim leader. Bishop Lennon served two years as rector of the archdiocese's seminary until being made auxiliary bishop last year.