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NOVEMBER 8
Cardinal Ratzinger highlights the harmony between continuity and development in Church’s doctrine in the magisterium of Pope John Paul II

Rome, 7 (NE) Celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s pontificate, as well as the fifty anniversary of the the student Karol Wojtyla’s doctorate, Saint Thomas Aquinas Pontifical University organized this week an encounter under the title «Faith of studious and obedience of Shepherd». The event was organized by the Congregation for the Catholic Education, the embassy of Poland at the Vatican, the Committee of rectors of the pontifical universities, and the Commission of Pastoral University for the diocese of Rome.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, and Cardinal Pio Laghi, Prefect of the Congregation for the Catholic Education, took part in the encounter, as well as Father Georges Cottier, Theologian of the Pontifical House. During his participation, Cardinal Ratzinger highlighted the depth and density of Pope John Paul II’s magisterium, and how by being connatural to present time questions, it inserted them in the whole unity of church’s tradition, giving testimony of the harmony between continuity and development in Church’s doctrine.

«For Pope John Paul II -stated Cardinal Ratzinger- the human heart, which opens up to Christ's mystery, becomes able to establish a fertile dialogue with history, from which it is born that Wisdom that allows any pupil of the Kingdom to rediscover that “old and new things" are amazingly united. «And this is the wisdom, entirely theological, with which the Pope is filling the world with hope and accompanying the Church through the threshold of the third millennium», he concluded.

For «reasons of security» Mexican government exercises pressure to reduce attendance to massive Mass with the Pope

Mexico City, 7 (NE) The massive Mass which the Holy Father will celebrate in his next visit to Mexico, on January 24, will have an attendance of two million people, stated yesterday Cardinal Norberto Rivera, Archbishop of Mexico. Initially it was planned that the «Sport City» -place where the Eucharistic celebration will take place- could receive five millions Catholics, but the State questioned this intention alleging «reasons of security», exercising pressure to decrease that number. The government's representatives ended up asking to hold the event in another place. Finally an agreement was reached by which the only thing that would be modified would be the number of participants.

The Archbishop of Mexico also informed that the tickets for the celebrations and encounters with the Holy Father would be distributed free, after their arrival, to avoid falsifications or any type of negotiation with them. Finally, Cardinal Rivera declared that they hope to have everything ready for November «imagining as if the Pope was to arrive in December; we don’t want any surprises so all the details have to be finished».

NOVEMBER 7
Pope John Paul II names Bishop Cipriano Calderon as Vice-president of Pontifical Council for Latin America

Vatican, 7 (NE) Bishop Cipriano Calderon, Vice-president of the Pontifical Council for Latin America, has been confirmed in his post of service to the Church by Pope John Paul II. The Spanish Prelate was first named Vice-president of the Pontifical Council in December 1988, and was confirmed for another five years in 1993. Bishop Calderon knows profoundly the reality of Latin America. As a priest and journalist, he followed from Bogota and Medellin the first visit of a Pope to Latin America, when H.H. Paul VI went to Colombia thirty years ago. His articles circulated throughout the world, showing different aspects of the Holy Father’s visit and of the Bishop’s meeting in Medellin. Afterwards, he would initiate and direct with great success the Spanish edition of L´Osservatore Romano. Author of many books and of uncountable articles, Bishop Calderon has been serving the Church collaborating with the Apostolic See many years ago. The Holy Father’s recent nomination of Bishop Calderon confirms the Prelate’s responsibility in his service to the Church for a third five-year period. As it is known, very few Vatican prelates are named in a same post of service for more than two five-year periods. The Pontifical Council for Latin America, created by Pope Pius XII, is presided by Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves, who is also Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops. Before him, Cardinal Bernardin Gantin headed the Council for Latin America

Archbishop Aguer requests global economy to follow moral norms

Buenos Aires, 6 (NE) Archbishop Hector Aguer of La Plata, Argentina, highlighted the importance of respecting moral values in the new global economy. Archbishop Aguer criticized the exchange and trade mechanisms because they are only governed by the desire for profit. These «mechanisms» have failed in their duty of achieving a greater solidarity and understanding between nations. The Archbishop complained that the «global economy» was causing an «eclipse of the superior moral values that are essential to bring order into a chaotic economy».

The process of globalization, he stated, «concentrating on obtaining bigger profits, lacks transcendent objectives». The Argentinean prelate pointed out that without recognizing fundamental values such as «the priority of ethics over technique», «the primacy of the person over things», and «the respect of the order in the creation given by God», the «economy and the technological and productive organization» will not be rightly orientated.

Editors and Catholic journalists join efforts in Brazil

São Paulo, 6 (NE) The Catholic Press Net of Brazil will organize next week a national encounter of journalists and Catholic editors. This event forms part of a series of initiatives promoted by lays and religious groups, as well as by bishops, in order to gain a greater presence in the information and communications media. The topic of the encounter will be «Catholic Communications on the way to the Third millennium», and will have as main issues «the creation of editorial approaches on the celebration of the 500 years of Evangelization and on the Jubilee of year 2000», and «Characteristics and possibilities of a News Station». This last topic is being discussed in collaboration with the National Conference of Bishops from Brazil (CNBB), which at the same time will study this possibility in its next General Assembly and then in its permanent Council meeting.

NOVEMBER 6
Revolutionary decision in the Archdiocese of Parana in relation to the sacraments of Christian initiation. They will be received in the following order: Baptism-Confirmation-Communion

Buenos Aires, 6 (NE) Archbishop Karlic of Parana, who was a member of the team of specialists involved in the preparation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, stated that as from 1999, Catholics in the archdioceses of Parana will receive the Christian initiation sacraments in the following order: Baptism-Confirmation-Communion. The new disposition constitutes a very important change that is in accordance to the well-known pastoral attention shown by Archbishop Karlic.

The disposition was done after an extensive evaluation. In the last two decades, Catholics were receiving first the Holy Communion and after a few years received the sacrament of Confirmation. Nevertheless, before that the order was the one stated by the traditional order, that is: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. As a communique from the Archbishop stated, «the fact that the sacrament of Confirmation is received before the first communion is logic since the Eucharist is the consecration of the Church’s life, in such a way that it cannot be just a stage an end in the process of Christian initiation».

The Archdiocese of Parana has stated that in order to fulfill this new dispositon, children will start studying during two and a half years when they reach more or less age 5, so that they might receive the sacrament of Confirmation in a ceremony that would preferably take place the day of Pentecost. The disposition is in accordance with the Code of Canon Law. Receiving the Confirmation at age 15 or 16 has become a usual practice in many dioceses around the world, and has sometimes proven to have negative spiritual and pastoral consequences. Canonic law states this possibility only as an exception when for pastoral reasons its s delayed beyond the seven years of age.

The pastoral scheme is seeking to harmonize the reception of sacraments in accordance to the liturgical periods. Hence, the sacrament of the first reconciliation will be celebrated in Lent, Confirmations in the day of Pentecost and the Communions will be received preferably during the Easter period. With these dispositions, Archbishop Karlic and the Archdiocese of Parana have taken a decisive step, regarded as necessary by many experts in pastoral work and catechesis.

Pope John Paul II affirms differences between Christian conception of the resurrection and the idea of «reincarnation»

Vatican City, 5 (NE) Yesterday, during his weekly general audience, Pope John Paul II remarked the difference between «the Christian faith in the resurrection of the lesh» and the idea of the «reincarnation». Continuing with his catechesis in preparation for the Great Jubilee of Year 2000, the Holy Father pointed out that «the misunderstandings and oppositions» that faith in the resurrection has aroused through history constitutes a problem that «is proposed again in our days».

Victory in favor of life in Michigan: a great majority opposed to assisted suicide

Miami, 5 (NE) According to the results of last Tuesday’s votation in Michigan state, a great majority of people voted openly against the legalization of the assisted suicide. The votes were in relation to «Proposal B», that aimed to the legalization of this practice that attempts against life and the dignity of the human person. The results shows clearly the opposition: 71 percent against and only 29 percent in favor.

NOVEMBER 5
Uneasiness caused by declarations of Israeli ambassador to the Vatican

Rome, 5 (NE) Recent declarations of the Israeli ambassador to the Holy See have caused uneasiness throughout the world. The Israeli diplomat, Aaron Lopez, seems to have joined the campaign of the Wisenthal Center in Paris to discredit catholic saints. Some people say that it is part of an anti-Catholic campaign promoted by people related to international zionism. The Wisenthal Center recently exercised pressure to avoid the beatification of Cardinal Stepinac, and a similar thing was done against the canonization of Saint Edith Stein, an hebrew of birth converted to Catholicism, arguing that their canonization was offensive to the Hebrew people.

To this execrable campaign seems to join the Israeli ambassador, who suggested that the Catholic Church should shelve plans to pursue the cause for beatification of Pope Pius XII for at least 50 years. The Jesuit Priest, Peter Gumpel, postulator for the cause of Pius XII, remarked as «innapropiate» and «imprudent» the declarations of Aaron Lopez. The Israeli diplomat had subtedly warned that a «fast recognition» of Pope Pius XII could difficult relations between Israel and the Holy See.

Bishops exhort to conversion of mind and heart to carry out economic reform of the Church in Argentina

Buenos Aires, 4 (NE) «To Share the grace of God», is the title of one of the documents issued recently by the Argentinean Episcopal Conference. As the document points out, the bishops from Argentina judge necessary a deep economic reform of the country, that should start «with a conversion of the mind and of the heart».

Among the values that should sustain this reform, the document requests «the cooperation of the faithful ones with the evangelizing work of the Church», since the help that the Church receives from the Argentinean state is many times not well understood and becomes «an occasion for many faithful to think that they are excused of contributing to the maintenance of the evangelizing work». As the agency «AICA» has informed, the document also recommends -against a culture that privileges the competitiveness and the economic success over solidarity - «the evangelical poverty» as well as «the exemplariness or testimony of the Christian community in economic matter, the transparency, the solidarity, and the effectiveness in the use of the means».

Pilgrimage of the Christian Life Movement to the Sanctuary of «Nossa Senhora Aparecida»

Río, 4 (NE) In the day in which the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All the Saints, more than 400 members of the Christian Life Movement (CLM) from many parts of Brazil carried out a pilgrimage to the National Basilica of «Nossa Senhora Aparecida». The pilgrims, members of the different associations of the Movement, carried out the pilgrimage with a spirit of gratefulness to the Lord for the abundant graces received along the year, as well as thanking the Mother of God for her constant intercession.

The Encounter CLM-Brazil ´98 began with a Eucharistic celebration. During the intense day, some of the most important events in the year were recalled, like the pilgrimage of hundreds of CLM members from different countries of America to Rome for the Solemnity of Pentecost and the Encounter of the Movements with Pope John Paul II. Finally, the pilgrims went in procession towards the Sanctuary of «Nossa Senhora Aparecida», Mother of Brazil, as a symbol of their gratitude, and to raise their prayers so that She continues interceding for the growth of the Christian Life Movement in those lands.

NOVEMBER 4
Cardinal Biffi initiates beatification process of italian lay

Rome, 3 (NE) Cardinal Giacomo Biffi, Archbishop of Bologne, initiated this week the beatification process of Giusseppe Fanin, a young italian catholic who lived coherently his faith, becoming during the difficult years after World War II an authentic herald of Christian Social doctrine. Cardinal Biffi, who opened the diocesan phase of the process during a Mass, made reference during his homily to Fanin, remarking his unexceptionable morality as well as «his religiosity and spirit of prayer and his search for a concretely active Christian coherence».

In a same way, recalling that Giusseppe Fanin had been assassinated at the age of 24 by members of the extreme left, Cardinal Biffi expressed how the young Italian catholic was a gift «offered to the Heavenly Father for the new generations of believers». «After 50 years of reflections, the Church in Bologne takes this largely expected initiative, an initiative of faith and of confirmation of the Christian values», indicated Cardinal Biffi, commenting the opening of the process and inviting the presents to keep this «precious» example of «testimony to the Gospel» showed by Fanin along his life.

Archdioceses of Medellin issues Pastoral exhortation

Medellín, 3 (NE) The Archdiocese of Medellin issued a few days ago a pastoral exhortation, inviting the Colombian Catholics to «put a special emphasis in the call to conversion and reconciliation during this month». In the same way, it invited everyone to remember all those who have been called by God into His presence, and to make a reflection in the Christian sense of death, taking into consideration the light irradiated by the victory of Jesus over it.

Recalling All Saints Days, the document made a special call to the sanctity in life, remembering the paradigmatic memory of the saints and invoking their intercession to «increase each day the number of Colombians prepared to make noble the cause of truth and Justice, with our own personal sacrifice and donation». Considering the situation of violence through which Colombia passes, the document exhorted the shepherds, religious, and lays to motivate all the catholic community to express their disapproval to homicide, and to «raise a prayer while making a call to conversion to all those who take part in the violence», as well as to express their «solidarity and consolation with those who are crying for their missing relatives, taken away by it»

NOVEMBER 3
Pope John Paul II recalls the testimony of the saints in Church’s history

Vatican city, 2 (NE) Yesterday, day in which the Church celebrated All Saints day, Pope John Paul II recalled the testimony of those who through history have offered their lives to Jesus. «Saints -stated the Holy Father during his speech before Sunday’s Angelus prayer- are those who have managed to live bravely their faith at all times, giving testimony of Christ without any concessions or compromises». «Now they are preceding us in the joyfulness of the heavenly liturgy. They are an example for us, while they help us with their constant intercession, offering uncountable signals of that light of grace, fruit of the Incarnation’s supreme mystery».

In the same way, remembering next day’s celebration, the Holy Father remarked the relation between these two dates, stating that, although in a way «the Church, pilgrim in history, is happy for the intercessions of the Saints and Blessed, which supports her in the mission of announcing Jesus dead and resurrected; in other way she participates also of the sadness of its sons who are physically separated from their relatives». «Happiness and tears -he said- are intimately united in these dates, a synthesis which can only find its fundament and consolation in Jesus».

Argentinean Episcopal Conference asks education to express «sense for God»

Buenos Aires, 2 (NE) After last week’s meeting of the Argentinean Episcopal Conference, the bishops proposed that «a discernment of the educatonal contents shuld be made», as these contents «do not always express clearly man’s capacity to know truth, nor the essential values of our cultural baggage, as the sense for God and the dignity of the person, which are the authentic fundaments of human rights and social coexistence». In a document written after the meeting, the bishops insisted in the «the necessity of ensuring plenty educational freedom in favor of the pupils and their parents, in which must be included religious education, and the formation of teachers».

The document explains how these needs -which were introduced in the context of the actual educational reform debate-, are in full consonance with «the federal law and with the principles given in international documents and assumed by our Constitution». Together with the educational theme the Shepherds of the Church in Argentina, pronounced temeselves in matters related to economy, expressing that many of the difficulties, even economic ones, that the Argentinean people pass through are a result of «the actual culture which puts competition and economic success as the supreme values». In this context, Archbishop Estanislao Karlic, President of the Argentinean Episcopal Conference, criticized that «the culture has banned God», and remembered that God is not «man’s competitor, but his ally and friend».

NOVEMBER 2
Study group to reflect upon the Inquisition meets in Rome

Rome, 1 (NE) Specialists from many countries have been meeting these days in Rome to reflect about the Inquisition. This study group expects to clarify the situation of the Roman inquisition as well as others. Although some members of the Church do not agree with this, the existence of this plurality is a historic fact. A decisive intervention during the first days of the meeting was that of Father Georges Cottier, Theologian from the Pontifical House. The historic investigation was centered by Father Cottier in the relation between the «sanctity of the Church» and the sins of its sons. «The sins of the sons which certainly require regret, do not mean a negation of the Church’s sanctity», stated the well known Dominican theologian.

In this way the Church does not fear accepting the possibility of some exaggerations and sins from its sons. That’s why, on the way to the new millenium, asks «its sons to purify the many errors, infidelities, and incoherence that could have occurred». With this type of activities, stated Father Cottier, the Church wants to show to the world that it is not afraid of examining its conscience, accepting any mistake committed by its sons. «The Church searches the truth», he indicated, remembering that in this way it is different from the occidental society, which when confronted with the big crimes of this century seems to «suffer of an intense amnesia, treating the incidents as irrelevant in history». The words mentioned by Father Cottier have clearly shown the track over which the reflection on the Inquisition should walk, and at the same time they have demonstrated that if any sinful situations or deeds are uncovered, this doesn’t affect the constitutive sanctity of the Church.

Cardinal Stafford remembers the importance of the dignity of the human person

Vatican City, 1 (NE) «The old person in Church’s social doctrine» was the title of the reflection offered yesterday by Cardinal James F. Stafford, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. During his intervention and in the context of the XIII International Conference «The elderly person and the Church», Cardinal Stafford analyzed the relation between Church’s social doctrine and the old person under different aspects. The first one was «the social place of the elderly people», followed by a reflection on «his integration in society».

In the same way, he talked about the place that elderly people have in the Church. He indicated that «the affirmation of the person’s dignity continues to be the light which illuminates all the central points examined in the context of the Church’s social doctrine». Cardinal Stafford affirmed as well «that we can talk about the dignity of human persons only while his rights are respected»., remembering that the Church, «expert in humanity», goes much further than a «cold» conception of rights, stating that the peoples right’s must be analyzed in terms of «reciprocal respect, solidarity, friendship and fraternal affect».

Series of conferences in Miami will reflect upon the role of the Church in Cuban society

Miami, 1 (NE) The «Center for International Policy Conference» has organized a series of conferences to reflect upon the role of the Church in Cuba. The congress, which started yesterday in the Sheraton-Byscayne Hotel in Miami, will discuss the impact of the Holy Father´s visit to Cuba, which took place in January this year. This important event will discuss as well the role that the Church must have in the life of Cubans considering the catholic roots that are at the base of the Cuban national identity.

NOVEMBER 1
Conference on the ethic dimensions of the International debt took place in New Jersey

Washington, 31 (NE) Answering the invitation made by Pope John Paul II to consider the reduction of the international debt that poor countries have with the United States, a group of bishops and representatives of the Catholic Church, together with some governmental delegates, international bankers, and representatives of non governmental organizations, met at the Seton Hall University (New Jersey) to discuss about this important issue. The «Conference on the Ethic Dimensions of the International Debt» was organized by the Catholic Episcopal Conference of the United States, the Pontifical Council for Peace and Justice and Seton Hall University.

Archbishop Theodore McCarrick of Newark, President of the conference, stated that «this meeting has elevated the moral and human dimensions of the crisis in our days… this offers great hope to a suffering world, and a call to action from our part». According to him, the aim of the conference «is not only to reduce the payments of the poor countries, but to eliminate poverty».

Good relations between the Church and the Spanish government

Madrid, 31 (NE) A new meeting of the Church-Government commission took place yesterday to revise the performance of the mutual treaties and to make an advance in the solution of the unsolved problems. The aim is to revise what has been achieved of the Church-Government Treaties of the 3rd of January 1979. Until now, the unsolved problems between the Church in Spain and the government had been centered, above all, on the problem concerning the teaching of religion in public schools, as well as the payment of teachers of this subject. According to what Madrid's ABC newspaper had stated, the governmental representatives declared that the new tax law will allow the government to modify «the actual Church Financial System and to attend the requirements of the bishops».

Bishop Asenjo, General Secretary of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, described «the good climate of dialogue between both institutions», notifying that a treaty for the primary school religion teachers payment had been reached, as well as their inclusion in the Social Security system. Nevertheless, although the improvements, the problem concerning the teaching of religion still remains unsolved, since this subject continues to be excluded of the public school's educational program.

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