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News Briefs
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NEWS BRIEFS Dec-28-2009
By Catholic News Service
U.S.
'Not a shred of disagreement' between CHA, bishops on health reform
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Despite a New York Times report to the contrary, the Catholic Health Association and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops are working together to achieve health reform legislation that does not expand federal funding of abortion, according to the CHA president and CEO. Sister Carol Keehan, a Daughter of Charity, told Catholic News Service in a telephone interview Dec. 28 that her organization has never wavered in its commitment to health care that protects "from conception to natural death," as outlined in the CHA document, "Our Vision for U.S. Health Care." She disputed a report in The New York Times Dec. 26 that a recent CHA statement on Senate negotiations over abortion funding in health reform legislation represented a split with the bishops. "There is not a shred of disagreement between CHA and the bishops," Sister Carol said. "We believe there is a great possibility and probability that in conference committee we can work toward a solution that will prevent federal funding of abortion." She said the CHA, which represents more than 600 Catholic hospitals in the U.S., "brings a lot of expertise with funding structures in the marketplace" to the debate and hopes to "bring that to bear" during the conference committee's work. Shortly before the Senate approved its version of health reform legislation early Dec. 24, the chairmen of three USCCB committees said the bill should not be approved "without incorporating essential changes to ensure" that it "truly protects the life, dignity, consciences and health of all."
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Hundreds of Christmas gifts pour in to replace what 'Grinch' stole
VIOLET, La. (CNS) -- The Grinch wore a size 11 1/2 shoe, weighed about 240 pounds and was down a few drops of blood. But the parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Violet said the person who stole 65 Christmas gifts collected for the parish's Angel Tree program in the early morning hours of Dec. 20 ignited a positive surge of donations and Christian charity that more than made up for the brazen pre-Christmas theft. "They had the Grinch, but we've got this," said Our Lady of Lourdes parishioner Rainy Cook Dec. 22 as she wrapped some of the hundreds of replacement gifts that came flooding into the church after news of the break-in went global on cable news and the Internet. "It's a resurrection -- having everything taken from us to new life," said Father John Arnone, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, which reopened only a month ago after Hurricane Katrina nearly destroyed the church in August 2005 beneath 12 feet of water. "We probably got in about six or seven times as many gifts as were taken. The outpouring of generosity, support and concern has been overwhelming." The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office arrested Herman "Peter" Smiles, 45, on Dec. 22 for the theft. Deputies said he was on parole for a prior burglary conviction and had confessed to the crime, telling them he had done it after smoking crack. Deputies found six garbage bags filled with the church's Christmas gifts in his home, located only about 100 yards away from the church.
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Catholic Charities worker among climbers lost on Mount Hood
PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) -- When weather permits, Mount Hood rescue teams will begin a recovery effort to find the bodies of a 29-year-old Portland Catholic Charities worker and her 24-year-old climbing partner. Katie Nolan and Anthony Vietti were presumed dead a week after they went missing Dec. 12 in subfreezing temperatures on the snowy south face of the 11,249-foot Cascades peak. Nolan was known for going into the streets and under bridges of Portland to find homeless women who could use help with housing. The Catholic Charities staff Christmas party was transformed into a quiet gathering to remember Nolan and the birth of Jesus. Nolan, who was an evangelical Christian, had traveled worldwide, at one point helping to rescue young women from human trafficking. She also ran marathons. Nolan and Vietti were being led on a descent of Mount Hood's south face by 26-year-old Luke Gullberg, who was found on the mountain Dec. 12 after falling and freezing to death.
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WORLD
Pope's Christmas marked by calls for charity, security incident
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Christmas with a call for unselfish charity and solidarity with the suffering, and underlined the message two days later by lunching with the poor at a Rome soup kitchen. The pope's Christmas was marred by a security scare on Christmas Eve, when a mentally unbalanced woman rushed the 82-year-old pontiff and knocked him to the marble floor of St. Peter's Basilica. The pope was unharmed but French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray suffered a broken hip when he fell in the confusion. The incident occurred as the pope processed into the basilica at the start of the 10 p.m. Mass. Amateur videos posted on YouTube showed a woman wearing a red sweatshirt leaping over the security barrier and grabbing the pope's vestments, as Vatican security guards swarmed above them. The alarmed congregation inside the basilica broke into applause when the pope quickly rose to his feet and continued the procession down the main aisle, looking somewhat shaken. The liturgy proceeded without further incident. Vatican sources confirmed that the woman was the same person who attempted to rush the pope at midnight Mass last year, but was tackled by guards before she could reach the pontiff. The woman, 25-year-old Susanna Maiolo, an Italian and Swiss citizen, was taken into custody for psychiatric evaluations.
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Franciscan Holy Land official is confident about movement toward peace
JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Although a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians may not be reached in 2010, Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, head of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, said he believed there would be movement in that direction. "Peace will take a longer time; peace is a process, it is not just an agreement but also education, and this will take time. But something should happen (this coming year) -- at least a little step toward peace," he told Catholic News Service after the annual New Year's reception for Christian communities hosted by Israeli President Shimon Peres Dec. 28. At the reception, Peres told the Christian leaders that both Palestinians and Israelis have come to a "wide and deep" realization that they have no other alternative but to make peace with each other. "We'd like to come to a peace agreement with the Palestinians based on two states for two peoples, side by side, in mutual respect," said Peres, noting that Israel was also ready to begin negotiations with neighboring Syria and Lebanon. "There must be a better future," he told the religious leaders, who also included Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem, Melkite Archbishop Elias Chacour of Haifa, Israel, and leaders of the Lutheran, Greek Orthodox, Ethiopian and Armenian churches.
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Three more Irish bishops resign in wake of Dublin abuse report
DUBLIN, Ireland (CNS) -- Three more Irish bishops have announced their resignations, bringing the total to four who have resigned as a result of a recent report on how the Dublin Archdiocese covered up clerical sex abuse allegations and put children at risk of further abuse. On Christmas Eve Dublin Auxiliary Bishops Eamonn Walsh and Raymond Field announced they were offering their resignations to Pope Benedict XVI. In a joint statement, the bishops said they "again apologize" and offered their prayers for "those who have so bravely spoken out and those who continue to suffer in silence." The previous day, Dec. 23, Bishop James Moriarty of Kildare and Leighlin announced his resignation, saying that he should have challenged the prevailing culture in Dublin's archdiocesan administration. Bishop Donal Murray of Limerick announced his resignation Dec. 17. The only other serving bishop named in the report, Bishop Martin Drennan of Galway, said he does not believe the report finds him at fault and does not believe he should resign. In 2002, Bishop Brendan Comiskey resigned as head of the Ferns Diocese after a television documentary showed that he had covered up child abuse allegations there.
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Philippine aid workers fear disease in overcrowded volcano shelters
LEGAZPI, Philippines (CNS) -- Church aid workers trying to bring relief to evacuees from the danger zone around the Mayon volcano feared outbreaks of disease as evacuation centers surpassed their limits. Workers told the Asian church news agency UCA News there was a need for portable toilets, tents and building materials. "We now have 502 families -- 2,288 people -- in our school. Of course our classrooms can't accommodate all of them," Adelia Vibar, principal of the primary school in the town of San Jose, told UCA News. "I have only five toilets for all these people. If we are to avoid epidemics we need more, urgently," Vibar said. In all, nearly 10,000 families, more than 47,000 people from 32 villages, have been evacuated from their homes around the volcano, which has been spouting ash and rumbling. The government warned an eruption was imminent.
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In Gaza, Catholics anguished over lack of travel permits for Christmas
JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Members of Holy Family Parish in the Gaza Strip received only 10 of the 300 travel permits Israel issued to Gaza residents over the Christmas period, said the parish priest, Father Jorge Hernandez. Those who did not receive permits were anguished about not being able to travel, he told Catholic News Service in a telephone interview Dec. 24. Among them were several cancer patients hoping to receive scheduled follow-up treatments in Israeli hospitals, he said. "It is very sad for the people to celebrate Christmas in this situation. There is real anguish and a sense of impotence that they are unable do anything to change the situation," said Father Hernandez. "In Gaza it is very important to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace. Our faith and hope is only in him, and only in him do we find the strength to move forward," said the priest. The majority of the travel permits, limited to those over age 35, were given to members of the Greek Orthodox Church, Father Hernandez said. The travel permits are for the Dec. 25 celebration of Christmas as well as the Greek Orthodox and Armenian Christmas celebrations, marked Jan. 6 and 18, respectively.
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PEOPLE
Vatican to decide fate of woman who knocked down pope
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican will decide how to proceed with the young woman responsible for knocking down Pope Benedict XVI during Christmas Eve Mass only after it reviews medical and Vatican security reports, said Vatican spokesmen. Critical to the prosecutor's decision will be the doctors' evaluation concerning the woman's mental state and whether or not she was "of sound mind," Father Ciro Benedettini, vice director of the Vatican press office, told Catholic News Service Dec. 28. The prosecutor will also take into consideration eyewitness accounts, he said. When the Vatican prosecutor has all the information, including a medical evaluation, he can recommend acquitting her of any crime, handing her over to Italian or Swiss authorities, or handing down a sentence, Father Benedettini said. The prosecutor will send his recommendation to the Vatican tribunal, which will then make the final ruling, he said.Susanna Maiolo, 25, jumped a security barrier at the start of the Dec. 24 liturgy as Pope Benedict processed into St. Peter's Basilica. As Vatican security guards tackled her to the ground, she was able to pull on the pope's vestments, causing him to lose his balance and tumble to the marble floor.
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Dominican theologian Father Schillebeeckx dies at 95
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Dominican Father Edward Schillebeeckx, a theologian whose work had a huge impact on the Dutch church, died at the age of 95 Dec. 23 in Nijmegen, Netherlands, where he lived since 1957. The Dominican taught in the department of dogmatic and historical theology at the Catholic University of Nijmegen, now known as Radboud University Nijmegen, from 1957 until his retirement in 1983. He served as theological adviser to the Dutch bishops during the Second Vatican Council and was seen as the main inspiration behind the Dutch catechism for adults. The catechism was published in 1966 after approval by the country's bishops, who wanted the text to reflect the council's new approach to questions of faith. But the Vatican criticized the text, ordered a study of it and in 1972 insisted on its withdrawal from use in Catholic schools. In its obituary, Radboud University Nijmegen described Father Schillebeeckx as "as a pioneer who connected faith, church and theology with modern humanity in a secular society." But his efforts to "rethink the Christian faith in the light of contemporary culture" -- as Vatican Radio described his work Dec. 27 -- led to three separate investigations by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith between 1968 and 1984.
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Bishop Ricard suffers stroke, remains hospitalized in Pensacola
PENSACOLA, Fla. (CNS) -- Bishop John H. Ricard of Pensacola-Tallahassee remained in serious but stable condition Dec. 28 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola after suffering a stroke Dec. 22. On Dec. 27 doctors successfully implanted a permanent shunt to remove excess fluid from his brain. It replaced a temporary shunt implanted Dec. 22. The 69-year-old bishop continues to be alert and able to converse and can move his hands and feet, according to updates on the diocesan Web site, www.ptdiocese.org. He cannot receive visitors or phone calls. According to a Dec. 27 update on the Web site, the bishop's new shunt will enable him to begin to walk and become more active as he continues his recovery. The update also noted that Bishop Ricard has expressed deep gratitude for prayers being offered for his return to full health.
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Copyright (c) 2009 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
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