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News Briefs
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NEWS BRIEFS Nov-26-2007
By Catholic News Service
U.S.
Detroit-area Chaldean Catholics rejoice as patriarch is made cardinal
DETROIT (CNS) -- Detroit-area Chaldean Catholics expressed pride that Cardinal Emmanuel-Karim Delly, 80, is the first Chaldean patriarch in history to be in the College of Cardinals of the Catholic Church. About 150 Chaldeans from the Detroit area traveled to Rome for the Nov. 24 consistory. "I see it, first, as an appreciation of the service he is rendering in Iraq, but also a recognition of all the people of Iraq, and especially the Christians of Iraq," said Bishop Ibrahim N. Ibrahim of the Southfield-based Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle, prior to leaving for Rome. "The Christians of Iraq are struggling to keep their faith, and even though he will have no right to vote (in papal elections because he is 80 years old), this is still a great honor for him and all Chaldeans," Bishop Ibrahim added. The Michigan eparchy is the diocese for Chaldean Catholics in the eastern United States; they number approximately 100,000 and most of them live in southeastern Michigan. Chaldean Catholics in the western U.S. are in the Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle of San Diego, headed by Bishop Sarhad Yawsip Jammo.
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Campaign launched to establish Bay Area umbilical-cord blood bank
SAN FRANCISCO (CNS) -- Gathered on the steps of San Francisco City Hall, St. Cecilia Elementary School students held red kites they made in memory of a fellow student who died of leukemia and helped mark the opening of a $2.5 million fundraising drive for the first umbilical-cord blood bank in the Bay Area. The Northern California Umbilical-Cord Blood Bank will provide stem cells for transplantation into cancer patients as an alternative to bone-marrow transplants, which are in limited supply and are painful for donors and recipients. The blood bank is sponsored by the Joanne Pang Foundation, named for the St. Cecilia fourth-grader who died of leukemia in 2003 at the age of 9. "There are 70 conditions or diseases that can be effectively treated by stem cells," said Scott Hildula, president of the foundation. In remarks at the Nov. 15 gathering, Dr. Jordan Wilbur, a pediatric oncologist, said a quarter of children with leukemia cannot be cured because suitable bone-marrow donors cannot be found. With umbilical-cord blood donated by mothers, "we now have the potential to cure all patients," he said.
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Prelate says world thirsting for reconciliation, healing among faiths
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (CNS) -- Interfaith dialogue has become increasingly important in a world "thirsting for a genuine reconciliation and healing" of age-old injuries resulting from people's misunderstanding of their differences, especially when it comes to religion, said the head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. In a talk at Jesuit-run Fairfield University on the need for greater understanding among believers, Archbishop Demetrios offered five suggestions for developing dialogue among adherents of various religions, "namely Judaism, Christianity and Islam." He said dialogue participants must unlearn in order to learn; brace themselves for some levels of pain; seek first to understand; recognize the sanctity and power of language; and focus on truth. Before his Nov. 14 address, the archbishop received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Fairfield. The spiritual leader of 1.5 million Greek Orthodox Christians, who is a leader in the ecumenical movement, also was celebrating his 40th anniversary in the episcopacy.
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U.N. nuncio urges religions to be 'loud and clear' against violence
NOTRE DAME, Ind. (CNS) -- Religious leaders must speak out "loud and clear" against those who try to use sacred texts such as the Quran or the Bible to justify violence or human rights violations, the Vatican's nuncio to the United Nations said in a lecture at the University of Notre Dame. Archbishop Celestino Migliore spoke Nov. 15 on "Catholicism and Islam: Points of Convergence and Divergence, Encounter and Cooperation." He said the spread of terrorism has "triggered a renewed interest in Christian-Islamic dialogue. It's not enough for any religion to say: We have nothing to do with extremists, with fundamentalists; or, extremists do not speak for our respective religions," Archbishop Migliore said. "Indeed extremists and fundamentalists do make reference to the same sacred texts; they even dare to portray themselves as the faithful interpreters and keepers of those sacred texts. "Rather, we have to engage those who try to justify their unjustifiable acts of violence and multiform violations of human rights using those same texts and proclaim it loud and clear that those texts do not lend themselves to a reading which leads to violence," he added.
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Students hear of life, death of chaplain who is sainthood candidate
SOUTH HUNTINGTON, N.Y. (CNS) -- Father Vincent Capodanno was killed on the battlefield in Vietnam a little more than 40 years ago. On that day, retired U.S. Marine John Scafidi was close to the age of the football players from St. Anthony's High School who listened attentively as he recalled crouching in a foxhole and hearing the machine-gun fire which would eventually take Father Capodanno's life Sept. 4, 1967. Scafidi spoke as part of a special Veterans' Day presentation Nov. 9, following the team's regularly scheduled Friday Mass before a home game. Veterans from the local community were also invited to the Mass and to hear Scafidi speak about Father Capodanno, a Maryknoll missioner and Medal of Honor winner known for his extraordinary service as a chaplain during the Vietnam War. In June 2006 his canonization cause was formally opened and he now has the title servant of God. A tribunal set up by the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services is gathering information about the priest's life and virtues and is looking for firsthand accounts of his intercession in people's lives.
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Puerto Ricans in U.S., on island have strong ties, says archbishop
CHICAGO (CNS) -- Archbishop Roberto O. Gonzalez was born in New Jersey, but shortly thereafter moved to Puerto Rico with his family. Since then, the archbishop of San Juan, Puerto Rico, has traveled between the island and the mainland United States many times. "I think I've traveled back and forth almost every year since I was 3," said Archbishop Gonzalez, 57. Going back and forth is common among Puerto Ricans, and one of the reasons for the strong ties between those who live in the U.S. and those who live on the island, said the archbishop, who visited Chicago recently to celebrate Mass for the feast of Our Lady of Divine Providence, the patroness of Puerto Rico. Pope Paul VI named her the island's patroness in 1969, but Puerto Ricans had a devotion to her as far back as 1850, he said. Her feast day is Nov. 19, which is the anniversary of the discovery of the island. "In Puerto Rico, it's a major civic holiday as well," said Archbishop Gonzalez. "Every parish has a Mass, and there are processions, and in the afternoon in San Juan there is a 'rosario cantado' -- a sung rosary. Many parishes have novenas or triduums in preparation."
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Disciples Now content to be available on FaithStreams Network site
NEW YORK (CNS) -- FaithStreams Network, an online programming service operated by Faith & Values Media, has joined with the Catholic youth-oriented Web site Disciples Now to strengthen the Web presence of both entities. Edward J. Murray, president and CEO of Faith & Values Media, said the cooperative venture with Disciples Now "will significantly expand our content offerings for Catholic youth." Faith & Values Media is a coalition of Christian, Jewish and Muslim groups dedicated to using the electronic media to enrich spiritual life and build bridges of understanding. Its programming is available on the Hallmark Channel and online at www.faithstreams.com. Disciples Now, established in 1999, is a Web-based ministry for teens, young adults and youth ministers. The site www.DisciplesNow.com will continue to function independently, but its information on Catholic teachings, faith-oriented games and entertainment, and faith-focused forums will also be available on the FaithStreams Network.
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WORLD
Pope concelebrates Mass with new cardinals, gives them rings
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Concelebrating Mass with 23 new cardinals, Pope Benedict XVI gave each of them a gold ring as a symbol of their new bond with Rome. The rings were engraved with the scene of Christ's crucifixion, and the pope told the cardinals it should remind them always "which king you serve" as they assume their new role in the church. The Nov. 25 Mass in St. Peter's Basilica came the day after the pope presided over a consistory to formally create the new cardinals. Among them were U.S. Cardinal John P. Foley, grand master of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, and Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston. The basilica was packed with prelates and pilgrims from around the world, and applause rang out when the pope slipped the ring on each new cardinal's hand. "Receive this ring from the hand of Peter, and know that with the love of the Prince of the Apostles your love toward the church is strengthened," he said.
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Pope expresses hope for success of Middle East conference in Maryland
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI said he hoped the U.S.-sponsored peace conference in Annapolis, Md., would help Palestinians and Israelis reach a "just and definitive solution." The pope endorsed the U.S. bishops' call for prayers for the success of the conference, saying prayers were needed so that negotiators will have the "wisdom and courage" to take real steps toward peace. He said the Palestinian-Israeli conflict "for 60 years has been bloodying the Holy Land," causing "so many tears and so much suffering among the two peoples." The pope made the remarks Nov. 25 at the end of a Mass that he concelebrated with 23 new cardinals. The conference and related meetings Nov. 26-28 include participants from Israel, the Palestinian territories and several Arab states. The Vatican also was sending a delegation to the conference. The Vatican said the delegation would be headed by Msgr. Pietro Parolin, undersecretary for the foreign affairs section of the Secretariat of State. He was accompanied by Msgr. Franco Coppola, another foreign affairs specialist.
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Church officials reopen Mexico City's cathedral with police support
MEXICO CITY (CNS) -- Church officials reopened Mexico City's Metropolitan Cathedral with the support of nearly 50 police officers after services were suspended when protesters interrupted a Mass and kicked over pews. A statement issued by the Mexico City Archdiocese Nov. 26 said it trusted the city police department would protect the church and its worshippers with a contingent of officers stationed there permanently. "We are resuming services as the civil authorities are guaranteeing the security of the faithful, the church officials and the building," the statement said. A heavy fence was erected around the cathedral; police were posted inside and outside the building and searched people entering the cathedral. Hilda Benitez, 53, said she did not mind being searched by police as long as she was safe. "Security is the most important thing," she said. Auxiliary Bishop Antonio Ortega Franco of Mexico City said the church did not want any more conflict with the protesters.
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Vatican prepares new series of conferences on social development
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Forty years after Pope Paul VI's groundbreaking encyclical on human development, "Populorum Progressio," the Vatican is preparing to launch a new series of conferences and publications on poverty, corruption, disarmament, prisons and the ethics of taxation. The new proposals were discussed at the Nov. 20-21 plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, which examined the impact of the 1967 encyclical and the new challenges that have emerged since its publication. In a statement, the council announced proposals for at least four major international conferences on themes related to justice and world peace. It said the topics will include "politics, democracy and values"; disarmament; Catholic social doctrine and the laity; and "ethics and taxation." Future documents will address the topics of poverty and globalization; penal justice and the re-education of convicts; and the fight against corruption, it said.
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New cardinals receive limited-edition copies of compendium from pope
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The 23 new cardinals went home with numbered, limited-edition copies of the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a gift from Pope Benedict XVI. The new cardinals' Italian version of the 2005 compendium is covered with red silk and bears the gold-embossed seal of the pope. In addition to the 14 works of art Pope John Paul II chose to decorate the original compendium, the cardinals' volumes have another 49 photographs and eight full-color miniatures applied to the pages by hand. Printed on special paper, the edition was published by the Italian art publisher FMR. The 23 volumes given away by the pope are among the 2,950 printed by FMR.
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Bishop: Lebanon's presidential vacuum could stir religious conflicts
BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNS) -- Lebanon's lack of a president could stir religious conflicts in the Middle East and affect Christians' role in the country, said a Lebanese bishop. Maronite Bishop Bechara Rai of Jbeil told Catholic News Service that "the danger of the vacuum of the presidency is that it would lead to an absence of the Christian role in Lebanon, so that the actual conflict between the Shiites and Sunnis will continue as a consequence of the war in Iraq. In fact, this conflict aims to determine who will rule the policy in Lebanon. All this will threaten the security of Lebanon and stir up the confessional conflicts in the Middle East," said Bishop Rai. "The second danger, if the vacuum persists," said the bishop, "is it will empty the presidency of its value and active role in the Lebanese political system and again marginalize the role of the Christians in general and especially Maronite Catholics." Lebanon's parliament failed to elect a successor to President Emile Lahoud before he stepped down at midnight Nov. 23, just hours after he announced the transfer of security responsibilities to the Lebanese Armed Forces.
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Quebec cardinal apologizes for sins of past church leaders
QUEBEC CITY (CNS) -- Quebec Cardinal Marc Ouellet has apologized and asked forgiveness for the sins of past provincial Catholic Church leaders regarding clergy sexual abuse, discrimination against women and homosexuals, anti-Semitism and racism. In an open letter to the people of Quebec province issued Nov. 21, the cardinal, who is primate of the Catholic Church in Canada, acknowledged that before 1960 certain Catholics favored "anti-Semitism, racism, indifference toward the First Nations and discrimination regarding women and homosexuals. The behavior of Catholics and some episcopal authorities relative to the right to vote, access to work and the advancement of women was not always equal to the needs of society nor even in conformity with the social doctrine of the church," he said. "I also acknowledge that abuse of power and counterwitness have tarnished the image of the clergy among many and undermined their moral authority," he said. "Youth have suffered sexual abuse by priests and religious, resulting in serious damage and traumas that have shattered their lives. These scandals have shaken the confidence of the people against religious authorities, and we understand."
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PEOPLE
For Americans, becoming cardinal was 'on the edge' of happiest day
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Kneeling before Pope Benedict XVI and becoming a cardinal was "on the edge" of being the happiest day in the lives of the two new U.S. cardinals. Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston used the "on the edge" phrase Nov. 24, but said he had to be honest: "The happiest day of my life is the day as a bishop I ordained my first priest. No day will probably ever equal that." Cardinal John P. Foley, grand master of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, also used the "on the edge" phrase, but said, "the happiest day was my ordination as a priest. That's it. I keep saying that I have never had an unhappy day as a priest and I mean it." The two new U.S. cardinals spoke to reporters immediately after the consistory and immediately before attending a reception in their honor at the Pontifical North American College, the U.S. seminary in Rome. The mood was light-hearted; Cardinal DiNardo explained that he had hoped to be "very composed" when kneeling before the pope, but his new red zucchetto or skullcap kept slipping off. Cardinal Foley used the opportunity to thank the Catholic Press Association for the gift of his new red robes and asked, "Do I look all right, by the way?"
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Northern Ireland's cardinal hopes country's peace is source of hope
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh, Northern Ireland, expressed hope that the Northern Ireland peace process would inspire "peacemakers across the world" by showing them that long-ingrained, violent conflict was possible to overcome. After he received his red hat from Pope Benedict XVI during a Nov. 24 consistory, the primate of all Ireland met the same day with reporters covering the celebrations. He said he was "very honored and humbled" to be inducted into the College of Cardinals, but that he hoped his elevation also would been seen as a sign of the pope's "particular regard and affection" for the people and church in Ireland. The 68-year-old cardinal said he was grateful for the support and encouragement he received from Irish people of other faiths, including members of the loyal orders, or Protestant fraternities, that some critics maintain are fundamentally hostile to Catholics.
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Irish priest, shot in March, returns to South African hospice he runs
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) -- An Irish priest who was shot by robbers in South Africa has returned to the AIDS hospice he runs and says he is grateful to God for his survival. Passionist Father Kieran Creagh, 44, went home to Belfast, Northern Ireland, in March to recover after he was shot twice in the chest by robbers in the Leratong Hospice in Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria. "I feel very blessed to have survived" the attack, Father Creagh said in a mid-November telephone interview from the hospice, noting that doctors told him it is a miracle that he is alive. "The doctor who did the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan said he had never seen anything like it. The bullet went into my back and worked its way around, avoiding every vital organ until it lodged itself in my lung," he said.
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Former diocesan publisher shares 'The Secret of Wealth' in new book
DURAND, Ill. (CNS) -- Owen Phelps, retired associate publisher of The Observer, newspaper of the Diocese of Rockford, Ill., and head of the Midwest Leadership Institute, knows he isn't the richest man in the United States. But he is "America's wealthiest man" and he's got the copyright to prove it. To explain the principles behind true wealth and how to achieve it, Phelps wrote "The Secret of Wealth," published Nov. 15 to mark National Philanthropy Day. "Research shows we all should practice generosity not only for the sake of others, but for our own sakes as well," Phelps said. "Gratitude and generosity are great medicines. The Bible tells us as much and modern research confirms it." Published by ACTA Publications in Skokie, Ill., and listed for $14.99, "The Secret of Wealth" is Phelps' second book. His first, "The Believer's Edge," was published in 2005.
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