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January 21, 2008 • VOL. 46, NO. 2 • Oakland,
CA
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Demonstrating
for RCNS PHOTO/UCAN |
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Bush visits Capernaum CNS PHOTO/LARRY DOWNING/REUTERS |
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Anti-Catholic attacks CNS PHOTO/ANTO AKKARA |
Bush hopes Palestinian state
would end checkpoints
JERUSALEM (CNS) — U.S. President George W. Bush told residents of
the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Jan. 10, he hoped someday the creation
of an independent Palestinian state would eliminate checkpoints and walls
at the Israeli border. Bethlehem residents have said a 25-foot-tall wall
surrounding the city has left them feeling imprisoned. Israel says the
wall — part of a planned 400-mile cement and barbed-wire barrier
through the West Bank — has proven its effectiveness against suicide
bombers.
Pope’s straight talk causes political storm
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In an apparent rebuke to Rome government officials,
Pope Benedict XVI criticized what he called “very serious degradation”
in areas of the city and the surrounding region. The pope urged the officials
to resolve a series of emergencies in education, housing, poverty, unemployment
and public safety. The talk Jan. 10 ignited a storm of political controversy,
and the next day the Vatican issued a statement expressing amazement at
the reaction. It said it was not the pope’s intention to ignore
the “appreciable commitment” of the city and the region to
deal with the problems.
Warning about actions of Life Teen founder
WASHINGTON (CNS) — The priest who founded the Life Teen ministry
program has established a nondenominational Praise and Worship Center
that is drawing hundreds of participants a week, prompting a warning to
Catholics from the bishop of Phoenix to stay away from the services and
not to support the center.
The Praise and Worship Center has held a handful of worship services in
Mesa, Ariz., since Thanksgiving, attracting as many as 700 people for
services built around Scripture readings, Christian music, prayer and
preaching by Msgr. Dale Fushek, a Phoenix diocesan priest on administrative
leave from Catholic ministry, and another resigned priest.
Msgr. Fushek, who founded Life Teen, an international youth ministry program,
has been on administrative leave since late 2004, when allegations were
raised that he had engaged in improper sexual conduct with teens. A year
later he was charged with several misdemeanor criminal counts of assault,
contributing to the delinquency of a minor and indecent exposure. Some
charges were dropped and the others have not come to trial. The Arizona
Supreme Court is currently weighing Msgr. Fushek’s request for a
trial by jury.
Michigan nuns earn Energy Star award
MONROE, Mich. (CNS) — The renovation of the motherhouse of the Sisters,
Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monroe won a 2007 Energy Star
award for small businesses and congregations from the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. This is the eighth environmental award given to the
religious community for the motherhouse project, which features a geothermal
heating and cooling system, natural light throughout the building, reused
doors and windows, and marble bathroom partitions reinstalled as countertops.
California mission moves to solar power
PALA, Calif. (CNS) — Much of the electricity at Mission San Antonio
de Pala is now coming from solar power. Last year, 216 solar panels were
installed in the picnic area behind the parish’s Juan Diego Center.
The panels, which are connected to the electrical circuit that powers
the center, are expected to provide a financial boon to the financially
struggling mission.
Christians pray at services for Bhutto
LAHORE, Pakistan (CNS) — Christians and Muslims joined in memorial
services for former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in churches around the
country as they called for an independent inquiry into her assassination.
More than 300 people — including nuns, human rights activists and
political leaders from Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party —
gathered at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Lahore for a special Mass Jan. 6.
They placed garlands, bouquets and candles near large portraits of Bhutto
in front of the altar and at the entrance of the cathedral.
The All Pakistan Minority Alliance, a Christian political party, had called
for a National Prayer Day Jan. 6 to honor Bhutto, 54, who was killed in
Rawalpindi, near Islamabad, Dec. 27.
More caution urged in sainthood causes
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican is preparing to issue a set of
instructions to promote “greater caution and more accuracy”
in the opening of new sainthood causes by local dioceses, a top Vatican
official said. Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, head of the Congregation
for Saints’ Causes, said the instructions were needed to reflect
the “new spirit introduced by Pope Benedict XVI in beatification
procedures.”
Vatican official proposes reparation for abuse
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A leading Vatican official has proposed a worldwide
program of Eucharistic adoration to seek spiritual reparation for the
damage caused by the sexual abuse of children by priests. Cardinal Claudio
Hummes, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, said the initiative would
involve dioceses, parishes, monasteries, convents and seminaries in a
prayer movement to support priestly holiness. In a particular way, the
initiative will ask reparation “for the victims of grave situations
of moral and sexual conduct of a very small percentage of clergy,”
Cardinal Hummes said.
