World

Church helps business owners

KRABI, Thailand (CNS) — The aftereffects of the deadly tsunamis may linger in southern Thailand long after the region is cleaned up and rebuilt, with tourist officials reporting business at less than 10 percent of where it was before the killer waves. The tsunamis struck the region near the beginning of its high tourist season, crippling the industry. The decline in business eventually could lead to massive layoffs and business closings, business owners said. Tourism officials said occupancy rates for the region’s hotels are usually 70 percent to 100 percent during high season. In effort to help, the Catholic Church in Thailand has awarded cash grants to Catholic business owners to help them pay staff salaries and rebuild businesses. Bishop Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil of Surat Thani, whose diocese encompasses the six southern provinces affected by the tsunamis, said many of the workers in the tourism sector migrate from Thailand’s impoverished northeast and cannot afford the loss of work.

Muslims find help in nuns

KLONG HIN, Thailand (CNS) — A group of Muslims left homeless and jobless by the tsunamis that hit Phi Phi Island found their strongest advocates to be a group of Thai Catholic nuns. About 600 people from Phi Phi fled to the Muslim village of Klong Hin on the Thai mainland in the days following the tsunamis. The majority of those on Phi Phi sold souvenirs or operated small food stands. Many were unregistered vendors, leaving them unable to claim benefits for their destroyed businesses. Sacred Heart Sister Marasi Junchalor, who has worked with the Muslim community since early January, said the government’s rules for compensation were unfair and discriminated against the many small and usually poor workers who contributed to life on the island.

Prayer saved bishop from death

ROME (CNS) — An Iraqi archbishop kidnapped in January said his abductors were ready to slit his throat at one point, but stopped when the prelate asked to say a prayer. The prayer turned into an extended conversation with one of his captors and may have helped save his life, said Syrian-rite Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa of Mosul. Archbishop Casmoussa revealed details of his ordeal in a testimonial circulated by the International Catholic Union of the Press in mid-February. The archbishop was seized by armed men in mid-January and released unharmed less than 24 hours later, following an appeal from Pope John Paul II.

Vatican rep meets with U.N.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Two top Vatican officials met the president of the U.N. General Assembly at the Vatican March 2. The Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, and the Vatican’s foreign minister, Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, met with Jean Ping, president of the 59th session of the U.N. General Assembly. Ping, who is also the foreign affairs minister of Gabon, came to the Vatican with Gabon’s ambassador to the Holy See, Desire Koumba. Because he was unable to meet with Pope John Paul II, who remained in the hospital recovering from a tracheotomy, Ping told the Vatican officials to relay his greetings to the pope on behalf of the members of the United Nations. The talks at the Vatican focused on "U.N. reforms," the "worrying" situations unfolding in some African nations and action being taken by the African Union, papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said in a written statement.

Brits called to focus on poverty

LONDON (CNS) — Churches in Britain have united to launch a document they hope will place poverty on the political agenda as national elections approach. Churches Together in Britain and Ireland published a 62-page book that calls for combating poverty by creating wealth. Titled "Prosperity With a Purpose: Churches’ Vision of a Just Society," the document was released Feb. 28, about two months before Britain’s general election, which is expected to be held in May. The group, made up of the Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Evangelical churches, said a principle of "nobody left behind" should be embraced by the mainstream political parties. "It is the responsibility of those engaged in politics to reconcile the outcomes of the market economy with the common good," the report said. The document criticizes the notion that wealth is created only by making poor people poorer, and it recognizes the contribution to the common good made by business and industry.

Casinos lure students from school

MACAU (CNS) — Three months before his graduation, Ah Wai quit school and abandoned plans to become a social worker in favor of dealing cards at a newly opened casino in Macau. In January, the 23-year-old Macau resident was promoted to manager; he now monitors operations at gambling tables in the casino, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. As the "Monte Carlo of the Orient" continues to add casinos, church officials expressed concern that students may be sacrificing their future and long-term security by forgoing their education for the quick cash provided by casino jobs.

Scottish husband ordained priest

INVERNESS, Scotland (CNS) — A married man and former Anglican priest has become a Catholic priest in Scotland. Father James Bell, who is in his 60s, was ordained in St. Mary’s Church in Inverness, Scotland, March 2 by Bishop Peter Moran of Aberdeen. Father Bell is a former priest in the Scottish Episcopal Church, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. "He brings a wide and rich experience to his new role, and I am delighted to welcome him to the priesthood," said Bishop Moran in his homily. About 700 Anglican ministers converted to Catholicism in the two years following the Church of England’s 1992 decision to allow the ordination of women. More than a third of them became Catholic priests; a large proportion of them were married.

Human rights non-negotiable

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — While prisoners lose certain liberties, they must never be denied basic human rights or stripped of their dignity, said the head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Opening a two-day seminar on "The Human Rights of Prisoners," Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the council, told the audience that imprisonment "never separates one from the love of God" and, "therefore, never separates one from his human dignity." The March 1-2 international seminar attracted more than 80 prisoner advocates, scholars and chaplains from some 30 countries to discuss how the church could play a larger role in promoting and protecting the rights of prisoners and detainees. The justice and peace council organized the event with the International Commission of Catholic Prison Pastoral Care, which helps religious and laity provide spiritual care and assistance to the prison community.

Nation

Greater voice needed

WASHINGTON (CNS) — African-American and Hispanic Catholics need a more institutionalized voice in the church’s social ministry, said several officials of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "We have to find ways to get all voices around the table. We can’t afford to have some persons outside and some persons in," said Beverly Carroll, executive director of the USCCB Secretariat for African-American Catholics. The legislative agenda is filled with major issues of importance to African-Americans and Hispanics such as Social Security, public education and health care, she said.

Prayers for lady who faked cancer

STURTEVANT, Wis. (CNS) — For at least four years, the parish community at St. Sebastian in Sturtevant has been praying for one of its members, Heather Thoune Brehm, even including her in a list of about 70 ill parishioners in the parish bulletin. Now Brehm has been accused of bilking the local community out of at least $31,000 for alleging she suffered from ovarian cancer and for accepting donations given to her from the proceeds of several area fund-raisers. Franciscan Father James Kendzierski, St. Sebastian’s pastor, has asked that Brehm’s name be removed from the bulletin listing, but said prayers for the young woman and her family will continue, adding that they need prayers more than ever before.

End to sexism urged

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Donna M. Hanson of Spokane, Wash., a leader for 40 years in Catholic social work, called for an end to sexism in the church as she received the Harry A. Fagan Roundtable Award Feb. 19 for her contributions to Catholic Charities and social justice locally, nationally and internationally. The award was presented in Washington during the annual meeting of the Roundtable, the national association of diocesan social action directors. In her talk Hanson asked her fellow social action leaders "for your help in assuring that sexism join racism as the insidious evils that must be eradicated from our church and our world."

St. Paul’s grave found?

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A Vatican archeologist believes he has rediscovered the tomb of St. Paul, buried deep beneath the main altar of the Rome basilica dedicated to the apostle. The sarcophagus, which lay hidden for centuries, had a hole into which the faithful could stick pieces of cloth to make secondary relics, said Giorgio Filippi, the archeologist and inscriptions expert at the Vatican Museums who carried out the studies. The tomb lies directly beneath a historic inscription that reads: "Paul Apostle Martyr." The marble sarcophagus was apparently first placed there during reconstruction of the basilica in 390 AD. "I have no doubt this is the tomb of St. Paul, as revered by Christians in the fourth century," Filippi said as he stood next to the main altar of St. Paul Outside the Walls. He spoke in an interview with Catholic News Service. Filippi’s discovery was the result of more than five years’ archeological sleuthing. Surprisingly, the findings have not yet made a huge impression inside the Vatican or in ecclesiastical circles. The Vatican newspaper, for example, has yet to report on the discovery. The sarcophagus lies several feet below the marble structure of the main altar, embedded in a platform of concrete.

Death penalty ruling hailed

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The Supreme Court’s March 1 ruling overturning the death penalty for crimes committed by juveniles was hailed as validating the position of religious, child advocacy, legal and medical groups that had urged the court to find such executions unconstitutional. In a statement issued the same day the court’s 5-4 decision was announced, Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio of Brooklyn, N.Y., chairman of the U.S. bishops’ domestic policy committee, said the bishops’ conference "is very encouraged that the Supreme Court has recognized that executing juvenile offenders is indeed cruel and unusual." The court’s majority opinion, written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, will remove about 72 people nationwide from death row.

Dignity of mentally ill affirmed

LINCOLN, Neb. (CNS) — As their state was going through a major reform in behavioral health care, the Catholic bishops of Nebraska issued a joint statement affirming the human dignity of the mentally ill and those suffering from problems of substance abuse and addiction. "Mental illness, substance abuse disorders and other addiction problems are often stereotyped and stigmatized," they said in the statement, released Feb. 18 by the Nebraska Catholic Conference in Lincoln. "This stigma can, and often does, spawn uncharitable, un-Christian attitudes and reactions of indifference, neglect, disdain, exploitation, even abuse and violence." The bishops urged Christians instead to "reach out in compassion to help those so afflicted." In 2003 and 2004, the Nebraska Legislature passed measures to transform the state’s behavioral health care system from a regional one to one that focuses on community-based services.

24 parishes, 10 schools close

ST. LOUIS (CNS) — The Archdiocese of St. Louis has announced a parish consolidation plan that will result in the closing of 24 parishes and 10 elementary schools. The closings follow an 18-month planning process that included consultation and several drafts of the plan from a committee of lay people and priests in two of the archdiocese’s 10 deaneries. One is the South City Deanery, in the southern half of the city of St. Louis, and the other is the Northeast County Deanery, an older suburban area in St. Louis County. The Northeast County Deanery’s 25 parishes are being consolidated into 11, and its 15 elementary schools merged into nine, under the plan approved by Archbishop Raymond L. Burke of St. Louis. The consolidation plan for South City Deanery will result in the closing of 10 of its 35 parishes and four of its 18 elementary schools.

Film examines Holocaust

WESTON, Conn. (CNS) — Connecticut filmmaker Agnes Vertes’ documentary on the Holocaust, "Passport to Life," highlights the little-known, heroic story of foreign diplomats — including an archbishop and a priest — who saved thousands of Jews in Budapest, Hungary, during the Nazi occupation of that country. She should know. Her husband was among those who were saved. "I feel this is so important to get the word out," said the 65-year-old documentarian about the film that already has received three industry awards. "These people did what their conscience dictated," she said. "The reason I made this is because a lot of people know about (Raoul) Wallenberg," who saved 100,000 Jews by issuing them Swedish passports to save them from deportation to the death camps, Vertes added.