A daily news service

November 30

Cardinal Law calls to see US electoral process from perspective of faith

Boston, 30 (NE) Reflecting during a recent homily about the United States electoral process, Cardinal Bernard Law, Archbishop of Boston, called faithful to see the situation in the light of faith. "From the perspective of faith," the Cardinal stressed during a homily at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, "two observations come to mind. The first is this: 'We have here no lasting city.' A similar inspired word reminds us that our true citizenship is in heaven."

"The second is that whoever is sworn in as president next January, our task as faithful citizens will be the same: to insist upon the inviolable dignity of every human being, from the first moment of conception until the last moment of natural death and every moment in between."

"Whether Bush or Gore, faithful citizens will have the same task - to be unambiguously pro-life, pro-family, and pro-poor as we seek to impact the public policy of this nation," the Archbishop said. "Jesus speaks to us the truth in love", Cardinal Law said in closing. "He invites us to consider the history of our individual lives and the history of humanity in terms of God's Providential Plan".

Dutch Bishops condemn legalization of euthanasia

Rome, 30 (NE) Holy See Press Office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, expressed the Holy See's concern for the recent approval by the Dutch parliament to the legalization of euthanasia. This law, he said, "raises a grave problem of professional ethics for the doctors who must apply it; once again we find ourselves facing a State law that runs counter to the natural law of the consciences of all."

"Instituting this law most certainly constitutes a sad first for Holland; a law that, among other things, divides legislators from public opinion, a law that violates the dignity of the human person", Navarro-Valls stated. He also recalled that the decision runs counter to the Geneva Declaration of 1948, signed by the World Medical Association, and against the principles of European medical ethics, signed by doctors of 12 countries of the European Community in the conference of professional medical associations in 1987.

In Holland the Catholic Bishops issued a communique rejecting the parliament's decision, which for the first time ever legalizes euthanasia. "The law proposed endangers the protection of life for all the members of society", the Bishops wrote in their message. To legalize euthanasia "contradicts the principle of protecting all human life, a principle that has always been fundamental in our society", the Bishops stressed.

Nuncio in Kenya calls faithful to proclaim truth

Rio de Janeiro, 29(NE) On the occasion of the end of the "Popular Mission", Cardinal Eugenio Rome, 30 (NE) Archbishop Giovanni Tonucci, Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya, called Bishops in this country to fearlessly stand up for and advocate the truth. During a jubilee celebration held recently, the Archbishop stressed the need for Catholics and the church to stand together in the current trying times, united in truth. "As Catholics, we should vigilantly stand for the truth regardless of the fact that people might not like to hear what we say", Archbishop Tonucci said. The Apostolic Nuncio also stressed that although there were human weakness within the church, this should not hinder unity among Christians, highlighting as well the need to increase the number of priests in the country. The ceremony was held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the episcopal consecration of Archbishop John Njenga of Mombassa. The celebration took place at the Holy Ghost Cathedral and was attended by thousands of Catholics as well as several Bishops from Kenya.

Cardinal Ortega highlights fervor of Catholics in El Salvador

San Salvador, 30 (NE) More than a hundred thousand Salvadoran have met last Sunday to conclude the IV National Eucharistic Congress. Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino, Archbishop of Havana (Cuba), presided the celebration as Special Envoy of Pope John Paul II. In his homily Cardinal Ortega affirmed that the celebration of the Eucharist was "the most beautiful and vibrant" action in the Eucharistic Congress, because in it all the people would gather to venerate the Lord. The Salvadoran people, emphasized the Cardinal, is "deeply religious... creative, faithful and audacious in their adhesion to Christ and to his Church". Thousands of men, women, children and even very advanced aged people, many of which had been present at the vigil that began on Saturday afternoon, celebrated with fervor the Eucharist. Also attended the Mass the president of the republic, with several ministers and other civil authorities. After the Mass, a Eucharistic procession was held throughout several streets of San Salvador.

Monument to first Brazilian martyrs to be inaugurated on Saturday

Rio de Janeiro, 30 (NE) Everything is getting ready for the awaited inauguration of the Monument to the first Brazilian martyrs. As it was announced, the monument consists of a modern construction with a capacity for large presentations and celebrations, having as well several separate auxiliary environments. The monument has been built over the site where Dutch Calvinists killed 70 people in 1645 because of their faith. On the 5th of March of this year, Pope John Paul II beatified these first Brazilian martyrs. For the inaugural ceremony, on Saturday December 2, about 30 thousand people are expected to participate in the Eucharistic celebration to be presided by Cardinal Eugênio de Araujo Sales, Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro. The Monument to the first Brazilian martyrs is 30 kilometers far from Natal, the capital of Rio Grande do Norte.

November 29

Pope highlights need of both teaching and witness in evangelization

Vatican City, 29 (NE) In a letter addressed to the prior general of the Roman Union of the Order of St. Ursula, Pope John Paul II recently stressed the importance of Christian formation to encourage a new evangelization. In his message, sent on occasion of the centenary of this institute, the Pope affirmed that catechesis can occur directly through the teaching of the Word "but also through the witness and example of a life given in service to the Lord and His Church." Transmitting the faith in both of these ways, he said, "is essential in a world where so many young people do not have the solid guidance which family education gives," he stressed.

The Pope also recalled that "forming Christ's disciples who are capable of witnessing in their family, professional and social life to the spiritual and moral values which the Gospel has sown in the heart of man is an indispensable work in order for the new evangelization to bear abundant fruits in the century which has just started." The Roman Union of the Order of St. Ursula was born in November 28, 1900, when Pope Leo XIII had the initiative of gathering in one Union the many monasteries of Ursulines who had emigrated throughout the entire world since the foundation of the very first community by St. Angela Merici in 1535.

Spanish dioceses to unite in prayer against terrorism

Madrid, 29 (NE) Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco, Archbishop of Madrid, announced this week that all the dioceses throughout Spain will begin a prayer campaign to stop terrorism in this country. In a recent message to faithful the Spanish Cardinal said that all the Bishops have agreed to encourage in every diocese "the inclusion of prayers in every liturgical celebration, specially in Masses, for the ceasing of all terrorist activities and in favor of peace". "Terrorism", the Cardinal stressed, "is an activity that vilely attempts against the most sacred and inviolable right of individuals: the right to life". Terrorism also damages "truth and the freedom of persons and groups, and hence attempts against the fundaments of social coexistence", the Archbishop further said. In closing, Cardinal Rouco also highlighted that "a society that is near to God will not concede space to terrorism nor its causes". This "most grave immorality… does not admit any ideological cover", he finally stressed.

Brazilian Cardinal encourages "popular mission" in Rio

Rio de Janeiro, 29(NE) On the occasion of the end of the "Popular Mission", Cardinal Eugenio de Araújo Sales, Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, highlighted the importance of this great apostolic initiative that involved thousands of missionaries in this Brazilian city. "More than 200 thousand houses, many visited twice by the missionaries, is a very significant number", pointed out Cardinal Sales. "The popular mission is an excellent instrument to mobilize children, young people and adults in the crusade for the implantation of a happy future for Rio de Janeiro". The Archbishop also affirmed that in the face of Brazil's reality, the evangelizing work must gain more intensity to fight "violence, drug traffic, rupture of families" as well as "the promotion of immorality through the social communication means." Finally, Cardinal Sales announced that the planning work for a second stage of the Popular Mission is already on."

Historic church reconstructed in Sri Lanka

Rome, 28 (NE) Catholic faithful of a city near Colombo, Sri Lanka, have built a new church to mark the first church Portuguese colonizers built in honor of Saint Anne. The church was recently dedicated by the Archbishop of Colombo, Nicholas Marcus Fernando, last November 12th. It is the fourth church dedicated to Saint Anne in this city, the first one of which had been built by Portuguese missionaries in 1547.

To Sri Lanka arrived in 1517 Franciscan missionaries. However, it was not until 1540 when a larger number of missionaries encouraged a missionary effort that gained many conversions. Devotion to Saint Anne grew among the island inhabitants, and nowadays the most popular shrine is in Talawila. The first church dedicate to St .Anne was one of the first ten churches built by Franciscan missionaries, with king Buvenakabahu's approval, whose son and successor would become Catholic and help with the evangelizing work, donating territories in the island to the missionaries.

The original shrine dedicated to Saint Anne, built in the XVIth century, was destroyed by Dutch settlers when the island was made part of this country in the XVIIth century. A second church was built when Catholics recovered their freedom to express their faith, in 1808, after the British crown had taken possession of the island. Years later the church would be transferred to a better place. This third church however, is now partly collapsed, reason that moved faithful in this country to build a new one.

November 28

Pope invites to prayers for vocations to consecrated life

Vatican City, 28 (NE) With the theme "Life as a vocation" the next "World Day of Prayer for Vocations" will be held on 6th May 2001. In his message on occasion of this celebration, made public this weekend, Pope John Paul II highlighted that this theme "is undeniably important in the Christian life". "The word 'vocation' is a very good definition of the relationship that God has with every human being in the freedom of love, because 'every life is a vocation'", the Pope recalled.

This day, the Holy Father stressed in his message, "we turn our attention, in a special way, to the need and to the urgent requirement for ordained ministers, and for persons who are ready to follow Christ on the arduous path of consecrated life in the profession of the evangelical counsels." "We need ordained ministers who are 'in different times and places the permanent guarantee of the sacramental presence of Christ, the Redeemer'", he further said.

In his message, among other themes, the Pope also recalled "the many young people who thirst for values and yet who are often unable to find the way that leads to them." "Truly, only Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life. And so we need to lead them to meet the Lord and help them to establish a deep relationship with Him. Jesus must enter their world, take on their history and open their hearts, so that they learn to know him ever more, as they follow the footprints of his love".

"'The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest'. When one prays for vocations" the Pope said in closing, "one learns to look with the wisdom of the Gospel at the world and at the needs of life and the salvation of every human being. Moreover, one lives the charity and compassion of Christ towards humanity, and one has the grace to be able to say, following the example of Our Lady: 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word'".

Chile: multitudinous Mass closes national Eucharistic congress

Santiago de Chile, 28 (NE) In the framework of the Solemnity of Christ the King, the Church in Chile concluded the National Eucharistic Congress with a multitudinous Eucharistic celebration. Over 200 thousand people gathered in the O'Higgins Park for one of the most important activities in this country on occasion of the Great Jubilee of the year 2000.

The Mass was presided over by Pope John Paul II's Special Envoy, Cardinal Darío Castrillón, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy. In addition, all the Chilean Bishops and over 500 priests concelebrated the Mass. During his homily, Cardinal Castrillón highlighted the importance of reconciliation for Chile. "I will tell the Holy Father that I have met a people with the historical will of reconciliation", expressed the Colombian Cardinal.

"The Holy Father," he pointed out, "wants the Eucharist to be not only the sacrament, but rather that this sacrament, this presence of Christ's love, be a sign and reality of reconciliation, of fraternal love in Chile and that faith be renewed from the sacrament." During the Eucharist, the Archbishop of Santiago, Francisco Javier Errázuriz, made a call to the Chilean people to unite and to face this millennium in peace and reconciliation.

Peru: Catholic professionals gather to reconcile faith and culture

Lima, 28 (NE) Last weekend took place in the city of Lima (Peru) the Second Meeting of Catholic Professionals, organized by the Association of Professionals of the Christian Life Movement. The event was organized to reflect on the urgent need of responsible professionals that commit themselves to the development of the country. More than 200 professionals gathered to share their personal experience of how to reconcile faith and transforming action on culture.

The event, held with the title "Faith and Culture facing the Third Millennium", encouraged Catholic professionals to give witness of their Christian life in the exercise of their profession, thus reducing the rupture between faith and professional work.

According to the organizers, presided over by Andres Cardo Franco, former head of Peru's Ministry of Education and President of the Organizing Committee of the Event, the meeting helped to encourage "each professional to respect the profound dignity of each man. We all, in our specific work environments, should work in order to attain authentic cultural transformations that contribute to the forging of a more just, fraternal and reconciled society."

Archbishop of Miami: Sexual education must be properly understood

Miami, 28 (NE) "For years the Catholic Church has been discredited for practicing chastity," declared Archbishop John C. Favalora of Miami, in a recent article published by the archdiocesan weekly, in which he noted that Catholics " have emphasized that the 'protection' taught in sexual education has had the opposite effect in youth, making them believe that it is right to have sexual relations as long as nobody is affected physically… except the unborn child."

"Now science seems to support the Catholic Church," stated the American bishop. He alluded to a recent report from a British medical association which affirmed that "not only do the programs of sexual education that promote contraception fail in reducing the pregnancy rate among adolescents, but those who go to professional doctors of contraception have actually a greater pregnancy rate."

"The Church doesn't oppose sexual education, which we have given throughout the centuries. What we oppose is the programs of sexual education that only present the biological aspects of sexuality and that imply that the 'effects' of sex may be eliminated by contraception or abortion," stated the Archbishop of Miami. He underlined that human sexuality is a gift received by God, "a taking part in His creative power." Therefore, we cannot abuse of it. It requires "a maturity that may only be expressed within the framework of the commitment of marriage, precisely because it has serious consequences: the creation of a new human life, which brings along concrete responsibilities."

Cuba: religious intolerance against Catholics growing

Miami, 28 (NE) Government intolerance and repression towards Catholics is apparently growing over the last months in Cuba, according to a recent report made public by Fides news agency. The latest move, informed Fides this week, is a law which suspends diplomas or degrees of professionals who enter a seminary or Religious Order. In recent years a number of medical doctors have entered a seminary or joined a Jesuit or Franciscan community in this island. Under this new law, as priests or Religious these physicians will be barred from practicing their profession. Nevertheless, the report continues, the Catholic Church in Cuba "continues capillary evangelization among the people, youth in particular".

November 24

Holy See publishes Instruction on prayers for healing

Vatican City, 24 (NE) The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith made public yesterday an "Instruction on prayers for healing," as a response to the problem that arises in expressing judgement on episodes of healing that come about during liturgical or paraliturgical celebrations. The document, published in seven languages, deals with doctrinal aspects and disciplinary measures and is signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, respectively prefect and secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

"In some cases, by no means infrequent, it is proclaimed that healing has taken place, thus arousing expectations of the same phenomenon in other similar meetings. In this context, mention is sometimes made of a supposed 'charism of healing,'", said a note from the congregation. "These gatherings for healing," continues the note, "also give rise to further questions of their just discernment from a liturgical and disciplinary perspective, especially on the part of ecclesial authorities whose duty it is to lay down and oversee appropriate norms for the proper conduct of liturgical celebrations."

The communique stresses that practices to obtain healing are licit and frequently opportune if they are carried out without distorting their true sense and respecting the Churchc's liturgy. It "seemed appropriate to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to publish" this document so "that it may serve above all as an aid to local ordinaries in better guiding the faithful in this matter, favoring good practices and correcting those which must be avoided."

Reconciliation is at the heart of conjugal spirituality

Lima, 24 (NE) The Vice-president of the Lateran Pontifical University's John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family in Rome, Msgr. Jean Laffitte, pronounced a conference this week on the theme: "Conjugal life and Reconciliation." The event was organized in Lima (Peru) by the Life and Spirituality Institute and Our Lady of Reconciliation Institute, sponsored by the Bishops Commission for the Family.

During his conference, Msgr. Laffitte pointed out that nowadays we live an unprecedented crisis of the family and marriage. Within this framewwork he centered his speech on the offenses and ruptures that every marriage experiences and the path of forgiveness and reconciliation to which every marriage is invited to recur. He also indicated that offenses are not only between the married couples, but rather affect the whole family to the detriment of the formation of the children. He pointed out that a "vertical dimension of the offense" exists. This means, "a rejection of the relationship with God, a rupture in the friendship that He wants to have with each person." "Offenses and other ruptures in conjugal life," he further emphasized, "damage the alliance to God of the married couple."

Notwithstanding, Msgr. Laffitte showed that in the face of such a lamentable panorama of rupture, rises up stronger yet the horizon of forgiveness and reconciliation, a horizon that "restores the offended and the offender in their dignity of human persons." Regarding this theme, he affirmed that forgiveness is "a specifically Christian act" and that by it "communion remains established" and "the conjugal alliance consolidated and vivified."

Further on, he manifested that "reconciliation is at the heart of conjugal spirituality" and that "every reconciling act is an exercise of conjugal loyalty, for it has as its end to repair the offenses and safeguard conjugal love." "Forgiveness," - the vice-president of the Lateran Pontific University's John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family concluded, "creates an atmosphere of reconciliation in the family and generates a reconciled community, a true 'domestic Church.'"

Cuba: theological symposium prepares national Eucharistic congress

Miami, 24 (NE) From December 5 to 7 in Havana, Cuba, a Theological Symposium will be held in preparation for the National Eucharistic Congress. The Symposium will take place with the motto: "I will always be with you" and with the theme: "Jesus, bread of life for a new world." The main speech will be given by Cardinal Bernard Law, Archbishop of Boston. Over the three days many conferences to reflect about the Eucharist. On Wednesday afternoon, December 6, special meetings of the invited lecturers will be held with different groups from Havana. The Symposium will end on Thursday, December 7, with a Eucharistic celebration.

Vocational pastoral is essential for new evangelization, recalls Italian Cardinal

Rome, 24 (NE) "Vocational pastoral is an essential part of new evangelization", stressed recently Cardinal Camillo Ruini, Pope John Paul II' General vicar for the diocese of Rome. The Italian Cardinal higlighted the need to encourage vocations to consecrated life in a message on occasion of the "Day of the Seminary" in Rome, to take place next Sunday November 26. In his message, Cardinal Ruini invited to "dedicate special attention, in youth groups, ecclesial associations and movements, to the theme of faith as a vocation", placing a special emphasis "in vocations that involve a total commitment with the proclamation of the Gospel and the growing of the community". The Cardinal, in a part of his message addressing youth in Rome, recalled that "an encounter with Christ leads unavoidably to a change, to comitting decissions and to a 'countercurrent behaviour'".

November 23

Pope stresses need for unity in the Church

Vatican City, 23 (NE) "Faith, hope and charity are the three great lights of our spiritual journey, guiding us to an ever deeper communion with God and one another" said Pope John Paul II yesterday, during the general audience with pilgrims from all over the world. "Faith and hope find their fulfillment in charity, through which the Father's love for Jesus lives in his disciples. It is this love which makes the Church a single body, of which Christ himself is the head. And it is the Eucharist which is the supreme expression of this unity," said the Pope in his catechesis, during which he stressed the need for unity. "To achieve unity, the Vatican Council recalled that 'this holy objective -the reconciling of all Christians in the unity of the one and only Church of Christ- excedes human powers and capacities. It is because of this that the Council rests all its hope on the prayer of Christ for the Church, on our Father's love for us, and on the power of the Holy Spirit".

Embargo forces Christians to emigrate, says Iraqi Archbishop

Rome, 23 (NE) In declarations to Fides news agency, Syrian-Catholic Archbishop Athanase Matti Shaba Matoka, of Baghdad, called to put an end to the embargo against Iraq, highlighting that the measure is forcing many Christians to emigrate from the country. "Because of the poor economic situation and the effects of the embargo many of our Catholics, young people especially, emigrate", said the 70 year old Prelate who heads the second largest Christian community in Iraq.

The Archbishop stressed the effort that the Church is making to help endure economic and social difficulties. "We try to help the needy families in two ways: through Caritas and other charitable associations and through benefactors, here in Iraq and abroad. The funds collected serve mainly for surgery, medicines and medical treatment", he explained.

Archbishop Matoka expressed as well his hope that one of the fruits of the Jubilee be the lifting of the embargo. "The international community must realize that these measures are a flagrant injustice towards the people of Iraq", he further stressed. "The end of the embargo would enable people to stay in their country, the Church would be able to work for cooperation between the Christian communities to offer more convincing witness to Christ in this part of the world."

Syrian Catholics in Iraq are 50,000, whereas the largest group of Iraqi Catholics are the Chaldeans, today 500,000. The Syrian-Catholic Church was constituted in 1783 with a return to communion with Rome of part of the Syrian-Orthodox Church. According to Fides, it has about 150,000 members, two thirds of which live in the Middle East (Iraq, Syria and Lebanon in nine dioceses) and the rest in the United States.

Archbishop of Lima calls to reconciliation and support to new government

Lima, 23 (NE) Archbishop Juan Luis Cipriani of Lima (Peru) renewed yesterday his call to unity and reconciliation among Peruvians, moments after the proclamation of congressman Valentin Paniagua as the new president of the republic. Archbishop Cipriani stressed that the proclamation of the new president after a time of crisis was a "step forward" towards achieving peace, unity and reconciliation. The Archbishop of Lima expressed as well his hope that the new government will be able to guide the country out of the crisis and overcome it. In relation to this, he called the Peruvian people to offer their support to the new president and government in order to help solve the current crisis. President Paniagua was proclaimed yesterday as interim president of the republic until July 28, 2001. Presidential elections will be held in April 2001.

Arlington Bishop stresses need of coherent witness

Arlington, 23 (NE) "Jesus is the focus of all catechesis and therefore the focus of all you do", stressed Bishop Paul S. Loverde of Arlington during a recent address to participants to the Diocesan Catechetical Conference. "We who form the Church in Arlington must view all we are and all we do through the prism of evangelization", the Prelate said, recalling that it is fundamental that catechists witness the Gospel in a "clear and convincing" way, with an "authentic Christian life". "Therefore, it is imperative that you understand who Jesus is, His teachings, the Church He founded, and the tradition which has unfolded as the Holy Spirit has led the Church through 2,000 years. This is the foundation for the 'new evangelization'," he highlighted. "You are asked to deepen your faith and love of God by study and reflection. This is my hope for you all, that in this year of the Great Jubilee, you will continue to grow in your personal formation in faith and in deepened understanding of the Church's teaching and tradition."

November 22

Pontifical Council for the Family recalls danger of "de facto" unions

Vatican City, 22 (NE) The Pontifical Council for the Family presented yesterday a new document entitled "Family, Marriage and 'de facto' Unions." "In recent years we have witnessed repeated attempts to confer legal validity on 'de facto' unions: These unions ignore or even refuse the very institution of marriage or at least defer it to an uncertain future", recalls the document, highlighting that "in fact, a number of times the same validity for unions of coexistence between two persons of the same sex has been requested, even with the possibility of being able to adopt children". "One and the other", warns the document, "ask to receive the same rights as the family founded on marriage".

"The Pope, on the occasion of the Jubilee of Families on October 14, affirmed that what is necessary is a commitment to defend 'the value of the family and respect for human life, from the very moment of conception. It is a question of values which belong to the basic 'grammar' of dialogue and human coexistence among peoples. I truly hope that governments and national parliaments as well as international organizations, and the United Nations in particular, will not lose sight of this truth'."

"We hope that these pages will also be a useful instrument for politicians and legislators. As the Holy Father has affirmed: 'No human society can run the risk of permissiveness on the basic questions concerning the essence of marriage and the family! A similar moral permissiveness can only bring harm to the authentic exigencies of peace and communion among men. ... It is therefore urgent ... to rediscover the existence of essential and native human and moral values, ... values, therefore, which no individual, no majority and no State can ever create, modify or destroy, but can only recognize, respect and promote'."

Pope names new Archbishop of Washington

Vatican City, 22 (NE) Pope John Paul II named Archbishop Theodore McCarrick of Newark as the new Archbishop of Washington, DC. The Archbishop will succeed Cardinal James Hickey, whose resignation was accepted by the Holy Father after turning 80 last month. Archbishop McCarrick was born in New York in 1930. He was ordained priest in 1958 and received a masters degree from the Catholic University in Washington. He also served as rector of the Catholic University of Ponce, in Puerto Rico, from 1965-1969. Here he directed the "Institute for Spanish Studies" of the University of Ponce. Named Auxiliary Bishop of New York in May 1977, he was afterwards appointed Bishop of Metuchen, New Jersey, in 1981. Pope John Paul II named hem Archbishop of Newark in 1986. The Archdiocese of Washington has a total population of approximately 2.305.090 inhabitants, of which 510,000 are Catholics.

Mexico: meeting to encourage evangelization through sacred art

Mexico City, 22 (NE) "Sacred art, yesterday, today and tomorrow". With this title will take place the First Sacred Art Congress at the Archdiocese of Mexico City, from the 27th to the 29th of November. The event, organized by the Archdiocesan Committee for Sacred Art, will aim to make priests, architects and artists have a better preparation to diffuse and conserve sacred art as cultural and religious strength. As it was informed, the Congress will be structured in three main areas: one referred to yesterday's cultural patrimony, another to the current situation of sacred art and the last one to the horizons of the future. Reflections "will consider visual arts like architecture, painting and sculpture, in other words, the building where the divine worship is developed and where the evangelization task is developed." There will also be a space to expose the need of conservation of the ecclesiastical files and libraries, which are also an important part of the Church's patrimony. During the three days of the Congress the assistants will enjoy an exhibition of contemporary sacred art which will include paintings, sculptures, and ornaments.

India: Nuncio asks for evangelization and unity around Eucharist

Rome, 22 (NE) Unity around the Eucharist, and an increasing evangelizing effort were the requests of the Apostolic Nuncio of India, Archbishop Lorenzo Baldisseri, to the Catholics of this country during visits to different regions of the country in recent days. In a meeting with faithful in the region of Jharkhand, the Nuncio emphasized the necessity of evangelizing those who have not yet heard the Gospel. The Apostolic Nuncio, who carried out a three day visit to this region of India, met tribal Catholics to which he asked "to share the Good News among your tribal brothers and sisters who long for it". It is "a great privilege and a great responsibility", he further stressed. Approximately 600 thousand Catholics live in the region of Jharkhand, making 3 percent of a total population of 21 million people. 30 percent of the people that live in this area belong to the different local tribes. As part of his visit to different regions of India, Archbishop Baldisseri was also present in the city of Kochi, on occasion of the Eucharistic Congress organized in the region of Kerala. Presiding the closing Eucharist celebration on November 12, the Nuncio stressed that unity and integrity of Catholics in the India is founded in the Eucharist.

November 21

Congress to stress role of laity in new evangelization

Vatican City, 21 (NE) The Congress of Catholic Laity, which will be held in Rome's Domus Pacis from November 25 to 30, was presented yesterday in the Holy See Press Office. The event will take place with the theme "Witnesses of Christ in the New Millennium" and is organized by the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, President of this Council, stressed that the congress represents "a very special occasion for the laity to explain the faith that must be witnessed and communicated in all environments, geographical areas and life situations of the modern world."

Almost 600 participants from different parts of the world are expected to attend the congress. In addition to delegates from episcopal conferences, representatives of lay groups and ecclesial movements, numerous representatives of the laity from former communist countries (Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, Ukraine and Georgia) will also be present for the first time.

Bishop Stanislaw Rylko, secretary of the council, indicated that the Jubilee of the Apostolate of the Laity "intends to remind all lay faithful of the roots of their vocation and mission as baptized Christians." Thanks to Vatican Council II, "the sense of shared responsibility in the Church has been invigorated. Many lay men and women are working in the front line of the new evangelization."

Meanwhile, Guzman Carriquiry, under-secretary of the pontifical council, outlined the program for the congress. It will begin on Saturday, November 25, with a message from the Holy Father and the presentation of three reports. The culminating moment will come on Sunday, November 26, solemnity of Christ the King, when Pope John Paul II will celebrate Mass in the Vatican Basilica for the Jubilee of the Apostolate of the Laity.

Cardinal Stafford: "lay groups are in the vanguard of new evangelization"

Rome, 21 (NE) "Lay groups are in the vanguard of the New Evangelization," recently pointed out Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, President of the Pontific Council for the Laity, in an interview on occasion of the Congress of Catholic Laity, that will take place from November 25 to 30, in Rome. In the interview published by the Italian Catholic daily Avvenire, Cardinal Stafford pointed out that "the most promising initiatives in today's Church come from the laity." In addition, concerning the new movements and lay associations born in the last decades, he indicated that "the formation and development of these new lay groups shows that the spiritual needs of many Catholics are not being well responded to by the traditional institutions of the Church." On the other hand, Cardinal Stafford manifested that the lay groups "are a manifestation of new meanings in the evangelization, 'new in its ardor, in its methods and in its expression'." He also pointed out that "the answer to the call to holiness has made the ancient title of the 'lay confessor of the faith' blossom again in the Church."

Cardinal Biffi: Christ has marked the whole history of the humanity

Rome, 21 (NE) The Lord "has undeniably marked the whole history of humanity," recently affirmed Cardinal Giacomo Biffi, Archbishop of Bologna, during the opening ceremony of the Academic Year of the University of Bologna. During the act, the Italian Cardinal recalled that the salvation brought by Christ presents itself in history as something "new and unexpected." "It is not presented as an ideology," he continued, "nor as an hermeneutic system of reality; it's not a pleasant myth to our ears and fantasies; it's not a species of 'New Age' palliative; it's not one of the many social and political illusions that frequently come up in history." Before the teachers and students of the University, the Cardinal observed that "nowadays, men, no matter how distant they are from religious practice, perceive, at least confusedly, that whatever took place two thousand years ago is decisive and providential." "It is a decisive event," Cardinal Biffi explained, "for the possibility of escaping from vanity and absurdity, and providential for the possibility of overcoming the distress and frustration of our mortal situation."

Pennsylvania Bishops issue document to encourage devotion to Eucharist

Philadelphia, 21 (NE) The Catholic bishops in the state of Pennsylvania have published a new document, entitled "Questions and Answers on the Eucharist," explaining, in a simple question and answer format, what the Church teaches and believes about the Eucharist and why. Already more than 445,000 copies of the document have been ordered by the 10 Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania, many of those going to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, which plans to widely distribute the document to its 1.4 million Catholics. Explaining the importance of attendance at Sunday Mass, the Bishops recall that "to absent one's self from the Sunday Eucharist is to diminish one's own spiritual life - one's own communion with Christ's new body, the Church." "We celebrate Eucharist as a faith family - as the Church - on Sunday because it is here that we find our identity, or unity and our very being as members of Christ' body, members of his Church," the document further stresses.

November 20

Pope renews call to justice and peace

Vatican City, 20 (NE) "In man's heart, the seed of hope must never die", recalled yesterday Pope John Paul II, during the Eucharist celebration he presided in the frame of the Jubilee of the armed forces and police, held in St. Peter's Square. In spite of the heavy rain, thousands of military and policemen, together with their families, gathered in St. Peter's Square for their jubilee event carried under the theme "With Christ, Defending Justice and Peace". "The duty of being a sentinel, that looks far away to prevent danger and to encourage justice and peace everywhere, corresponds to each of you", the Pope stressed during his homily. "Be men and women of peace. And to be it fully, you must welcome Christ in your heart, author and guarantee of true peace. He will make you capable of the evangelical strength that will allow you to overcome the seducing temptation of violence". "He will help you to place strength at the service of the great values of life, of justice, of forgiveness and freedom", the Pope stressed.

US Bishops say court decisions encourage culture of death

Washington, 20 (NE) The actions of the Supreme Court of the United States have brought the nation's legal system "to the brink of endorsing infanticide," affirmed the Catholic Bishops in a recent statement called "Abortion and the Court: Advancing the Culture of Death." In it the Prelates state that from its 1973 rulings (Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton), which legalized abortion on request, to its decision last June striking down Nebraska's ban on partial-birth abortion, these rulings "dealt a devastating blow to the most fundamental human right: the right to life."

The Bishops also called citizens to encourage a true legal reform to defend life, even considering a constitutional amendment. "As religious leaders, we know that human life is our first gift from a loving Father and the condition for all other earthly goods. We know that no human government can legitimately deny the right to life or restrict it to certain classes of human beings. Therefore, the Court's abortion decisions deserve only to be condemned, repudiated and ultimately reversed," the Bishops clearly stated.

Nuncio visits Christians victims of violence in Holy Land

Rome, 20 (NE) Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine, visited last Thursday several towns stricken by violence in Holy Land. According to Fides Vatican agency, the Prelate visited the towns of Beit Jala, Beit Sahour and Bethlehem, in which a majority of Christians live, affected by Israeli artillery during actions against Palestine. Archbishop Sambi stayed in the affected areas approximately 8 hours, during which no attacks took place. Many Christians who live in this region lost their houses due to the Israeli attacks. The Apostolic Delegate, who recently renewed his call to peace and dialogue in this region to solve differences between the Palestine and Israeli people, visited the families of those killed during the attacks as well as those homeless.

Faithful in El Salvador celebrate IV National Eucharistic Congress

San Salvador, 20 (NE) The Catholic Church in El Salvador began yesterday the activities for the IV National Eucharistic Congress, which is taking place in the frame of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000. The main activities of the congress will take place on November 25 and 26. A closing Eucharist celebration, presided by the Papal Envoy for the event, Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino, Archbishop of Havana (Cuba), will be held on Sunday 26. The Cuban Cardinal will arrive to El Salvador on Friday 24. During the closing Mass, Cardinal Ortega will ordain priests three deacons. A vigil will preside the closing activity, to which approximately 100 thousand faithful from all over the country are expected to attend. "I call those who are far from God. Please reconsider, the Lord is not far from you", called Archbishop Fernando Saenz Lacalle of San Salvador, in a recent message inviting faithful to the Eucharistic Congress.

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