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News Briefs
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NEWS BRIEFS Mar-14-2007
By Catholic News Service
U.S.
Reject 'inflammatory rhetoric' on immigration, Jesuit urges
SAN FRANCISCO (CNS) -- Look past the "inflammatory rhetoric" of the immigration debate to the root of the issue, urged Jesuit Father Stephen Privett, president of the University of San Francisco, in a Feb. 27 lecture at St. Rita Parish in Fairfax. "We will never resolve the issue of immigration if we do not address its underlying cause -- poverty," said Father Privett, the second speaker in a parish Lenten series based on Pope Paul VI's 1967 encyclical, "Populorum Progressio" ("The Progress of Peoples"). While the encyclical "does not offer us a specific set of guidelines" for dealing with immigration challenges, he said, it does "lay down some central principles and fundamental considerations that should guide our deliberations and discussions." Father Privett acknowledged that the debate is heated, but said Catholics should remember their faith must take into account scriptural insistence on the "radical interconnectedness" of human beings.
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Resist moves to 'bleach out God' from public life, archbishop says
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- America must "look again at the place of religion and Gospel values in our efforts to build the common good," Washington Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl said March 8 in a talk for the Presidential Leadership Lecture Series sponsored by Mount St. Mary's University. The nation's second-oldest Catholic university, founded in Emmitsburg, Md., in 1808, will celebrate its bicentennial next year. The lecture series, held at the University Club of Washington, explores the concept of leadership in today's society. Speaking on "Religious Faith and American Political Life" to a luncheon crowd that included Mount St. Mary's officials, alumni and guests, Archbishop Wuerl expressed concern about the "current effort to bleach out God from our public life." He noted that "until very recently in our public civil life, mention of God was taken for granted and prayer inspired by belief in God was a routine part of public, government-sponsored programs and activities." Now, he said, many consider such things unacceptable, and that poses a great risk for society.
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Hundreds from Jesuit-run colleges discuss racism, poverty at teach-in
NEW ORLEANS (CNS) -- More than 500 students from Jesuit colleges and universities gathered in New Orleans March 9-11 to discuss racism and poverty and engage in spring-break service work. They were among the approximately 2,000 Jesuit-affiliated students who were to descend on New Orleans in a 10-day period to aid in the city's ongoing recovery efforts. The teach-in, "Rebuilding Our Communities: Facing Racism and Poverty," featured discussions on institutional racism, economic development and poverty, environmental racism, fair housing and employment. Sponsored by the Ignatian Solidarity Network in San Francisco and the New Orleans province of the Society of Jesus, the event also featured spiritual reflection and a March 11 Mass presided over by a personal representative of Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, Jesuit superior general. "Every victim has the power to walk ahead. The power is there," said Jesuit Father Fernando Franco in his homily. Father Franco is the director of the social justice secretariat at Jesuit headquarters in Rome.
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Living the Catholic Faith Conference enriches faith of attendees
DENVER (CNS) -- More than 2,000 educators, catechists and other Catholics eager to enrich their faith attended the Denver Archdiocese's annual Living the Catholic Faith Conference held March 9-10 at the Colorado Convention Center. The conference theme was drawn from Jesus' first words in Mark's Gospel, "Repent and believe in the Gospel." "These are the first words Jesus spoke in his public ministry, and they're still the best way to begin and sustain a Christian life," said Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput in a letter to conference attendees. "God is calling each of us to a deeper personal conversion and Gospel witness. The mission of the church depends on God's grace and your generous response in a life of discipleship," he added. In addition to speeches and workshops in English and Spanish, the conference featured Mass, eucharistic adoration, confession and a plethora of exhibits. About 1,000 Hispanics participated in the Spanish-language track of the conference.
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'March Music Madness' mimics NCAA basketball tournaments
PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) -- Just like the "March Madness" that characterizes the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments, "March Music Madness" seeks the best Catholic contemporary song -- but without a play-in game for the 64th and final spot. It is, in a sense, a "playoff," as voters can listen to songs before voting for their favorites. This is the fourth year spiritandsong.com, the contemporary music division of Portland-based OCP, has administered the competition on its Web site, www.spiritandsong.com. OCP was formerly known as Oregon Catholic Press. To start narrowing down the field from the site's "Super 64," the first round of voting began March 12 and was to continue through March 15. The second round was to be conducted March 17-20. Voting for the "Sweet 16" was scheduled for March 22-25, and for the "Elite Eight" March 27-30. The March Music Madness "Final Four" was slated for April 1-3, with the championship set for April 5.
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WORLD
Pope: Faith in God's oneness, church unity essential to Christianity
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Faith in the oneness of God and a commitment to the unity of the church are essential components of the Christian life, Pope Benedict XVI said. "Communion within the church and mission -- the proclamation of the Gospel" -- go hand in hand, the pope said March 14 at his weekly general audience. Addressing about 25,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square under sunny spring skies, Pope Benedict continued his new series of audience talks about early church leaders, focusing on St. Ignatius of Antioch, who served as bishop from 70 to 107. Pope Benedict said St. Ignatius "is called the 'doctor of unity,'" because his primary concerns were to preach the oneness of the triune God, the unity of Jesus' humanity and divinity, and the importance of unity within the Christian community. In writing about the church, Pope Benedict said, St. Ignatius emphasized both its hierarchical structure and the fact that all the faithful are bound to one another through their baptism in Christ.
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Pope, Russian president discuss Catholic-Orthodox relations
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI and Russian President Vladimir Putin spent 25 minutes speaking privately March 13, discussing Catholic-Orthodox relations and ways to strengthen the relationship between the Vatican and the Russian government. Although two translators were present for the private meeting in Pope Benedict's library, they told reporters that the pope and Putin spoke to each other in German and required the translators' assistance only to clarify the meaning of one word. A Vatican statement said the pope's meeting with Putin and the meeting held simultaneously by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, and Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, "took place in a very positive atmosphere." The two meetings paid particular attention to relations between the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, the statement said.
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Vatican criticizes Jesuit liberation theologian, issues no sanctions
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican strongly criticized the work of Jesuit Father Jon Sobrino, a leading proponent of liberation theology, saying some of his writings relating to the divinity of Christ were "not in conformity with the doctrine of the church." In publishing a detailed notification March 14, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said it wanted to warn pastors and ordinary Catholics of the "erroneous or dangerous propositions" in Father Sobrino's work. The notification did not, however, impose any disciplinary measures on Father Sobrino, such as limiting his right to teach or publish as a Catholic theologian. Father Sobrino, 69, was born in Spain and has taught for many years at the Jesuit-run Central American University in El Salvador. Father Sobrino, in a letter to Jesuit superior Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, said the criticisms in the Vatican notification misrepresented his theology. He said the notification is part of an effort by some Vatican curial officials and other church leaders to put an end to liberation theology. His letter, which was posted on the Internet, was dated March 13, and he said it was written after he received a copy of the notification from his Jesuit superiors.
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Conflict in Sri Lanka has slowed church aid work, says Catholic agency
ROME (CNS) -- Conflict in Sri Lanka has slowed Catholic aid work and has caused some projects to be suspended, a church aid agency said. Caritas Sri Lanka reported March 13 that the violence in the country has made it too dangerous to continue tsunami reconstruction in areas that are not controlled by the government. Caritas Sri Lanka is the local affiliate of Caritas Internationalis, an international network of Catholic relief, development and social service agencies. "The government appears to have gone on the offensive and to be seeking a military solution to the conflict," said Father Damian Fernando, director of Caritas Sri Lanka, in a statement released by Caritas in Rome. Father Fernando was in Rome in early March for meetings with Caritas on peace and reconciliation efforts. The fighting between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has killed tens of thousands of people since 1983, when the Tamil rebels demanded autonomy for areas in northern and eastern Sri Lanka.
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Modern adaptation of ancient cradle welcomes unwanted babies in Italy
ROME (CNS) --The story of a baby boy, who was abandoned by his mother at a hospital in Rome, has focused attention on a modern adaptation of an old instrument called the foundling wheel. His mother had placed Stefano, who was named after the doctor who found him, in a special crib near the hospital entrance designed specifically for abandoned babies. Stefano received immediate medical attention from hospital staff, unlike other babies who are left in a garbage bin to die. In mid-March, it was announced that an adoptive family also had been found for Stefano. High-tech cradles like the one Stefano was left in have been touted as a way to save unwanted babies. Known as "cradles for life" or the "baby box," they have been installed in hospitals in various major cities in Germany, Belgium and other European countries. India was also planning to install the cradles. They are fitted with heated mattresses, a ventilation system and electronic sensors linked to an alarm and have been called the modern-day version of the foundling wheel.
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Church leaders in India decide to streamline country's evangelization
BANGALORE, India (CNS) -- Church leaders participating in the first national convention on missionary work in India have decided to streamline the country's evangelization efforts and to share resources among the country's Catholic rites. Convention participants, who included national diocesan directors of the Society of St. Peter Apostle and Indian seminary rectors, adopted a 10-point plan to create a national missionary policy. The pontifical missionary society, which is headed by the prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, supports the formation of seminarians and novices with particular focus on the formation of indigenous peoples. A statement from the March 8-9 convention, which was organized by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, said that "the dioceses will accept a dimension of the universal church and not get bogged down by parochialism." A National Mission Congress will be held next year to determine how resources will be shared among India's Latin-rite, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Catholic churches, it said.
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Mexico City Archdiocese's report reveals poor regular Mass attendance
MEXICO CITY (CNS) -- A report published by the Archdiocese of Mexico City said only 6 percent to 9 percent of its Catholics attend Sunday Mass regularly. The report, which was written by the archdiocesan information director, Carlos Villa Roiz, said the archdiocese's churches are packed for Christmas, Ash Wednesday and popular saints' feast days. If all the archdiocese's Catholics attended Mass, the archdiocese would be challenged to meet the demand, said the report published in the archdiocese's weekly bulletin March 11. "If all Catholics attended Sunday Mass, the (churches) of Mexico City would be inadequate, and priests would have to direct Mass outdoors," it said. Mexico City and the surrounding metropolitan area form one of the world's largest urban conglomerations. Nearly 90 percent of Mexico City's population say they are Catholic.
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PEOPLE
U.S. nun working in Brazil part of round-table event attended by Bush
SAO PAULO, Brazil (CNS) -- A U.S. Holy Cross nun known for her work with underprivileged youths in a Sao Paulo slum participated in a March 9 round-table discussion that drew U.S. President George W. Bush during his five-country trip to Latin America. Sister Angela Mary Carey was invited to take part in the discussion by Christopher J. McMullen, U.S. general consul in Sao Paulo. She was the only American, the only woman and the sole member of a religious congregation among the representatives of the nongovernmental organizations involved in the round table, which was held at a community center. Sister Carey, whose congregation is based in Notre Dame, Ind., described the mission of her organization, known in Portuguese as Projeto Sol (Project Sun). "Mr. President, Project Sun is based on the objective to transform the lives of young people -- imbued with a profound faith in God -- through exposure to the fine arts, theater, dance and sports," she said. "This experience of beauty leads to the ultimate beautiful, which is God."
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Canadian Catholic philosophy professor wins 2007 Templeton Prize
NEW YORK (CNS) -- A Canadian Catholic philosopher is the 2007 winner of the Templeton Prize for his life's work on the need to bring both secular and spiritual dimensions to bear in studying such problems as violence and bigotry. Charles Taylor, 75, is currently professor of law and philosophy at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and professor emeritus in the political science department at McGill University in Montreal, the city of his birth. Presented annually since 1973 by the John Templeton Foundation, the Templeton Prize for Progress or Discoveries About Spiritual Realities has a value of 800,000 pounds, or more than $1.5 million in U.S. currency, making it the world's largest annual monetary award to an individual. The prize was announced March 14 at a news conference at the Church Center for the United Nations in New York and will be presented to Taylor May 2 by Prince Philip in a private ceremony at London's Buckingham Palace. He is the first Canadian to win the Templeton Prize.
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Prayers, faith sustain Indiana family through infant's fight for life
INDIANAPOLIS (CNS) -- At first glance, Anne Therese Felts looks like any thriving 10-week-old baby. "Annie" -- as her older brother and sisters call her -- has a sweet little face and a beautiful smile. And she is healthy now. Every baby is a miracle, but the story of her rare medical condition and amazing fight for life is especially miraculous. She is named for Anne Therese Guerin, the French nun who founded the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods and who was canonized last year as St. Mother Theodore Guerin. At 27 weeks gestation, the fourth child of St. Simon the Apostle parishioners Chris and Paje Felts of Indianapolis was diagnosed with having a rare pericardial teratoma -- a racquetball-size tumor attached to her heart. She overcame overwhelming odds during the hours and days after her premature birth Dec. 28, 2006. From the time of her prenatal diagnosis through her birth at 36 weeks gestation, Anne Therese has been showered with prayers. Those prayers by family members, friends and countless other people of faith continued during complicated heart surgery a day later and throughout her struggle to breathe without a respirator.
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Henry Hyde named honorary chairman of Americans United for Life
CHICAGO (CNS) -- Although he retired from the U.S. Congress last year after serving there more than 30 years, Henry Hyde says he has "not retired from the fight to protect innocent human life." Hyde said in a statement that he had joined the Chicago-based Americans United for Life board of directors as honorary chairman in order to "continue doing everything I can to ensure every vulnerable human being is welcomed in life and protected in law." Daniel McConchie, executive director of Americans United for Life, announced Hyde's appointment March 12. "His long-standing support for pro-life policies has been instrumental in helping make America a safer place for the unborn and all those who are vulnerable," McConchie said. Hyde, a Republican who represented Illinois' 6th District from 1975 to 2006, is best known in pro-life circles for leading the fight against federal abortion funding through the amendment named for him.
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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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