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News Briefs
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NEWS BRIEFS May-22-2008
By Catholic News Service
U.S.
Religious leaders support reworked U.S. Senate climate-change bill
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Christian and Jewish religious leaders May 21 formally threw their support behind a reworked U.S. Senate bill that addresses environmental climate change. During a media briefing on Capitol Hill, Bishop Thomas G. Wenski -- chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace -- joined bill co-sponsors Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., Joseph I. Lieberman, I-Conn., and John W. Warner, R-Va., and other Christian and Jewish religious leaders to discuss what he called "ground-breaking legislation" that also takes the poor into consideration when combating global warming. "We welcome and support the leadership of these senators in lifting up and seriously addressing how climate change will disproportionately affect the poor and vulnerable in our country and around the world," said Bishop Wenski, who heads the Diocese of Orlando, Fla. "This represents a significant advance on previous proposals." The bill -- set to be debated on the Senate floor June 2 -- calls for reductions in U.S. carbon emissions and the development of clean energy technology. It also establishes an International Climate Change Adaptation and National Security Fund expected to generate more than $342 billion over the life of the bill to help developing countries.
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Federal court criticized for upholding 'gruesome' abortion method
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A federal appeals court's May 20 decision overturning Virginia's ban on partial-birth abortion thwarts "the clear and common sense of our state's citizens that a child who is almost entirely born should never be the victim of this brutal practice," according to the executive director of the Virginia Catholic Conference. Speaking on behalf of the state's two Catholic bishops, Jeff Caruso said he hoped a higher court would "remedy the grave harm done" by a panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Richmond, Va. By a 2-1 majority, the panel said Virginia's Partial-Birth Infanticide Act of 2003 "imposes an undue burden upon a woman's right to choose a pre-viability second-trimester abortion" and is therefore unconstitutional. "I cannot imagine that protecting the gruesome practice of partial-birth abortion is what our country's forefathers had in mind when they crafted our Constitution over 200 years ago," Caruso told Catholic News Service May 21 by e-mail. "Yet somehow two judges have found a way to declare Virginia's ban on the procedure unconstitutional."
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Supreme Court lifts stay of execution in Virginia man's case
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The commonwealth of Virginia ranks second to Texas when it comes to the number of executions carried out since 1976, the year the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty. Now, after a Supreme Court ruling May 19, Virginia will have three more executions in the near future, raising concern from the Catholic community. The first two were previously scheduled, one for May 27 and another for June 10. Christopher Scott Emmett was added to that list when the Supreme Court lifted a stay on his execution, though Virginia officials have not set the date. Emmett challenged Virginia's lethal injection method, claiming that the commonwealth failed to supply enough anesthetic prior to injecting the lethal drugs. In 2001 Emmett was charged with capital murder and robbery for attacking and killing his former co-worker in Danville, Va. Jeff Caruso, executive director of the Virginia Catholic Conference, said the court's ruling prompted his concern about "the bigger picture." Caruso said Virginia has had 98 executions since 1976, which is second only to Texas' 405.
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Restraining order keeps autistic 13-year-old out of Minnesota church
BERTHA, Minn. (CNS) -- An Eagle Bend mother has been cited with violating a May 9 temporary restraining order that prohibits her and her husband from bringing their autistic 13-year-old son onto the property of St. Joseph Church in Bertha. Carol Race received a citation from a Todd County sheriff's deputy May 15, four days after she and her family were at Mass at the parish. She appeared in court May 19 to answer the charge but received a continuance in the case until June 2 so she could hire an attorney. The restraining order came as a surprise, Race said. "I'm just a mom with a kid who wants to go to church on Sunday," she said. "The Mass is the source and summit of Christian life," she added. "This is about implementing church teaching." Father Daniel Walz, St. Joseph's pastor, sought the order in Todd County District Court, according to a May 16 statement from the parish, "as a last resort out of a growing concern for the safety of parishioners and other community members due to disruptive and violent behavior" on the part of Adam Race, the son of St. Joseph parishioners John and Carol Race. Jane Marrin, parish spokeswoman, said that Adam's behavior in the church and his parents' inability to control it, not his disability, prompted the court action.
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Health care providers urged to understand, respect patients' culture
NEW YORK (CNS) -- Catholic health care providers can most effectively serve patients from diverse religious backgrounds by understanding and respecting their cultural practices and exercising common sense. This was the message of Hindu, Sikh and Jewish medical personnel at a May 20 forum during the 24th Catholic Healthcare Administrative Personnel program held May 19-23 in New York at St. John's University with joint sponsorship by St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centers. The program drew 50 administrators and pastoral care professionals from dioceses across the United States. Dr. Amandeep Singh, an attending physician at Flushing Medical Center in Queens, urged health professionals to "understand, validate and respect the beliefs of their patients and integrate them into their care." Dr. Richard Weiss, a rabbi at Young Israel of Queens in Hillcrest, said that Judaism strongly promotes the prevention and elimination of pain. "Pain has some purifying atoning effect, but we don't look to suffer," he said. Stephen McDonald, a chaplain at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, said, "To be a good chaplain, you have to be open to meet patients where they are and not where we are."
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Lawmakers override Bush veto of farm bill
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Not long after President George W. Bush vetoed the farm bill May 21, the House overrode his veto by a 3-to-1 margin. But, unbeknownst to House leaders at the time, about 24 pages of the legislation were not included in the version of the bill delivered to the White House. After the mistake came to light, the House and the Senate voted May 22 to pass it again with veto-proof majorities. Known officially as the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, the bill is the principal piece of farm legislation to be considered by Congress every six years, although even the farm provisions of the bill are now overshadowed by food stamps and other nutrition provisions. Farm and rural provisions account for less than one-fourth of the $300 billion bill, while nutrition programs, including food stamps, account for two-thirds. The rest of the bill includes such items as conservation programs and renewable energy programs, including biofuels production. Rural life advocates, including the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, lost their bid in Congress to sharply reduce the crop subsidy limits given to farmers, with the wealthiest farmers getting the lion's share of the subsidies.
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WORLD
Pope tells German Catholics faith does not limit life, possibilities
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Having faith in God does not limit one's life and possibilities, but rather opens a person to others and helps him or her face the future with courage, Pope Benedict XVI said. Many people today "fear that faith can limit their lives, that they could be caught in a web of commandments and church teachings" and would no longer be free to explore and experiment, the pope said in a message to German Catholics. The papal message, released May 22 at the Vatican, was read at the opening of the May 21-25 Katholikentag, the biennial German Catholic Church assembly, in Osnabruck. Pope Benedict said many people today are like the young brother in the story of Prodigal Son; they feel they have to leave "the father" in order to experience life. But fullness of life comes only when one is in a relationship with God, the creator of all life, the pope said. "A life without God does not become freer and broader. Man is destined for infinity; nothing other than that can be sufficient for him," he said.
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Seton Hall University scholarship to help students study Holocaust
JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J., has established a scholarship for its students to attend teacher-training seminars about the Holocaust. Named in honor of Dominican Sister Rose Thering, who dedicated her life to improving Jewish-Christian relations, the scholarship will be awarded annually to a student to participate in seminars at Yad Vashem's International School for Holocaust Studies in Jerusalem. At the May 18 dedication ceremony of the scholarship in Jerusalem, Dorit Novak, director of the international school, presented Seton Hall University's president, Msgr. Robert Sheeran, with a certificate recognizing Sister Rose's contribution to Holocaust education. Novak said Sister Rose, who died in 2006 at age 85, was a "tireless lecturer" who strove "to make people aware of the evils of the Holocaust and (who was) determined to eradicate intolerance."
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Vincentian-run retreat center in India draws huge crowds, heals many
MURINGOOR, India (CNS) -- After being seriously injured in a bike accident, a 36-year-old Hindu man had lost the ability to speak and was virtually paralyzed on his right side. He was unable to move his hand. Walking was impossible. Despite visiting several hospitals and being treated by neurologists, A. Parthan had little relief. He opted for voluntary retirement from the Indian army because of his disability. But a spiritual retreat changed his life. "I can speak now and I can move my hand. Praise the Lord," Parthan told Catholic News Service, raising his hand at the end of a week of prayer and devotion at the Vincentian-run Divine Retreat Centre. Sitting on the bed from which he participated in the retreat, Parthan said it was because of the repeated plea of his Hindu father-in-law that he turned to the Catholic retreat center 28 miles north of Cochin, in the southwestern Indian state of Kerala. "Jesus has worked wonders here," said Parthan, who said he felt a "sudden healing" during one of the retreat's eucharistic adoration sessions. "I cannot believe it."
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Malawian bishops hope to avoid political polarization, says official
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) -- A church official called the Malawian bishops' warning to priests not to take sides in party politics a pre-emptive move to avoid polarization in the local church before next year's elections. "Some priests do entangle themselves in issues of politics, which hinders their ability to minister to supporters of all political parties in their parishes," said Chris Chisoni, head of the National Assembly liaison project of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace. He spoke in a May 21 telephone interview with Catholic News Service from the Malawian capital, Lilongwe. In a pastoral letter read in Malawian churches May 11, the bishops said, "While the clergy may have their own personal preferences, they should ensure that such preferences are in line with what respects their faith and what will ensure the dignity of the human person, especially that of the poor and the marginalized."
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People of Hope charismatic community inspires Lebanese Christians
BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNS) -- Despite Lebanon's raging violence, an atmosphere of joy permeated the annual Pentecost celebration of the ecumenical, charismatic People of Hope community. Hundreds of people clapped their hands and swayed to the music as they lifted their voices in song and praise. But when they offered intercessory prayers the mood became somber. "We ask you, Lord, to intercede for the situation in Lebanon. We ask for leaders who want peace" were among the pleas after a Gospel reading and a talk about persevering in faith. People of Hope is part of the worldwide ecumenical Sword of the Spirit charismatic movement. The Lebanese community, with about 800 members, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. "I believe this group is really important and crucial for our country in these difficult times because we are a sign of hope for Christians in Lebanon and the rest of the Arab countries," said Tony Jabbour, a Maronite Catholic and one of the group's leaders. "Our presence in itself is a sign, a mission. It's like the leaven in the bread."
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Eucharist unites, strengthens, pope says at Corpus Christi Mass
ROME (CNS) -- The Eucharist has the power to unite people, strengthen them and remind them that only God is worthy of worship, said Pope Benedict XVI at a Mass marking the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. The May 22 Mass at Rome's Basilica of St. John Lateran was followed by a traditional Corpus Christi procession through the streets of Rome to the Basilica of St. Mary Major for eucharistic adoration and Benediction. The pope rode in a canopied flatbed truck to St. Mary's, kneeling in front of a monstrance with the Eucharist. Thousands of priests, seminarians, religious, altar servers, members of Catholic sodalities and the faithful accompanied the pope on foot. In his homily at the Mass, the pope said the rites and rituals of the feast day explain what the feast is about: "First, we are gathered around the altar of the Lord to be together in his presence; second, there will be the procession, which is walking with the Lord"; and, finally, all the faithful will kneel before the Eucharist, honoring Jesus Christ who gave his life for the salvation of all.
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PEOPLE
Kennedy's colleagues in Congress praise his strong spirit
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Capitol Hill colleagues praised the fighting spirit of longtime U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts after learning he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. On the Senate floor May 20, Kennedy's colleagues stopped deliberations to offer words of encouragement for the 76-year-old senator, who was hospitalized in Boston May 17 after he suffered a seizure at his Cape Cod home. Three days later, Kennedy's physicians announced that tests showed the seizure was caused by a malignant tumor in the upper left portion of his brain. He was released from the hospital May 21. A course of treatment has not been announced. "I hope and pray that an all-caring, omnipotent God will watch over Ted and keep (him) here for us and for the nation," said a tearful Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., who has served with Kennedy, a fellow Democrat, for more than 45 years in the Senate. Kennedy, a Catholic, was elected in 1962 to the seat once held by his brother, John F. Kennedy, who became president in 1960. He has worked with Catholic bishops and Catholic Charities officials on a variety of issues, such as immigration, the federal minimum wage and health coverage. He also has been criticized by Catholic leaders for supporting legalized abortion and embryonic stem-cell research.
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South Dakota senior wins Christophers' annual poster contest
NEW YORK (CNS) -- A high school senior from South Dakota is the winner of the $1,000 first prize in the 18th annual high school poster contest sponsored by the Christophers. Jackie Nemec of Dell Rapids High School in Dell Rapids, S.D., illustrated the contest theme, "You Can Make a Difference," by showing that the ripple effect of simple acts such as a smile can sometimes have far-reaching impact. Second place and $500 went to Minji Kim, a junior at Houghton Academy in Houghton, N.Y., for a painting that shows how everyone can help to alleviate world hunger. Gabriela Gonzalez, a junior at Archbishop McCarthy High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., won the third prize of $250 for her anime-style drawing of a teenager symbolically breathing new life into a withered tree. The more than 1,400 entries this year came from across the United States and from as far away as the Philippines, West Africa and China.
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Dallas priest ordained as new bishop for Diocese of Shreveport, La.
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The Diocese of Shreveport, La., has a new leader, following the May 19 episcopal ordination of Bishop Michael G. Duca in the Shreveport Convention Center. In an ornate ceremony complete with a full orchestra, the former rector of Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving, Texas, was officially elevated from monsignor to bishop and becomes the second bishop of Shreveport. Video coverage of his ordination Mass was made available on the diocese's Web site. Then-Msgr. Duca's appointment to Shreveport -- made by Pope Benedict XVI some 16 months after he accepted the resignation of Bishop William B. Friend -- was announced in Washington April 1 by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Bishop Friend retired Dec. 20, 2006, at age 75, the age at which canon law requires a bishop to turn in his resignation. Bishop Friend, who attended the ordination, was named bishop of Alexandria-Shreveport in 1982 and the first bishop of Shreveport when it was split off from Alexandria to form a separate diocese in 1986.
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