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03/24/2006
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	50 years! Celebration begins in historic Co-Cathedral
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WORLD

Haiti election sets stage for democracy, say bishops
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CNS) - Several Haitian bishops have expressed hope that the recent presidential election sets the stage for a stable democracy and the removal of U.N. peacekeeping troops. They said the situation is still volatile in the poorest country in the Americas, and the church can play a role in dampening political passions and fostering reconciliation so that a new government can take root after several years of social and political instability. The church is present in every city and town, making it important for the rebuilding of the country's institutions, said Msgr. Andre Pierre, permanent secretary of the Haitian bishops' conference. "The church is helping the people focus on peace through meetings, preaching and radio messages," he said March 8. "It's giving direction, helping people to calm down." About 80 percent of Haiti's 8.1 million population professes Catholicism.

Former Polish official fined for insulting pope
WARSAW, Poland (CNS) - Poland's former communist regime spokesman has been fined for insulting Pope John Paul II in a 2002 newspaper article, in the first binding court judgment of its kind. In a March 7 ruling, the Warsaw Appeal Court rejected a claim by former spokesman Jerzy Urban that he acted "within the bounds of free criticism" in writing the article, in which he described the late pope as a "hoary idol" and "living corpse." The court said Polish law did not permit free speech to be cited for "violating the honor of public figures." Urban, who gained notoriety in the 1980s as spokesman for the regime of Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski, published the front-page article in his satirical weekly, Nie (No), on the first day of Pope John Paul's August 2002 visit. He urged the then 82-year-old to "die and save us all embarrassment." In his article, the spokesman urged "all sensible people" to write to the pope, advising him to "go to bed" and "stop making a scary spectacle of himself."

NATION

University 'blessed' that massive fire hurt no one
SPOKANE, Wash. (CNS) - Jesuit Father Robert J. Spitzer, president of Gonzaga University in Spokane, saw "some hidden blessings" in the March 13 fire that destroyed a $10.3 million, 225-bed apartment complex under construction on campus. "We feel blessed that no one was hurt and that it did not spread by wind, which could have caused much more damage than occurred," he said in a statement. "It was harrowing simply watching it come down, but we're moving forward with contingency plans and will be off one year on this project only." The Kennedy Apartments complex, being built on the site of the Jesuit university's former Colonial Bowl, was to house juniors and seniors beginning in the fall. University officials were "assessing options to accommodate" the 223 students who had been assigned to the 75 three-bedroom units in the facility, according to a news release. Cause of the fire, which was believed to have started at approximately 12:05 a.m. March 13, was under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Because the fire occurred during the university's spring break, most students and faculty were not on campus. All university offices and departments continued to operate without interruption and classes resumed as scheduled March 20, the school said.

Franciscans reach settlement with victims
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The St. Barbara Province of Franciscans has reached a tentative settlement of about $28 million with 25 victims of sexual abuse by Franciscan priests or brothers. News of the agreement was made public March 13. Most of the alleged abuse occurred at St. Anthony's High School Seminary in Santa Barbara, a Franciscan institution that closed in 1987. Some also occurred elsewhere in California, including at Old Mission Santa Barbara, a historic mission church run by the Franciscans. Because the mission is part of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, the archdiocese was also a defendant in some of the cases and is to pay a portion of the settlement. The Franciscan provincial minister, Father Melvin A. Jurisich, told Catholic News Service that the aim of his community throughout the settlement negotiations has been "to do the right thing." He said the financial settlement was "only one part" of the order's efforts to seek healing and reconciliation for people who have suffered abuse from members of the order. He said he has met personally with those plaintiffs who wished to do so - 14 of the 25 - and he described those meetings as a "very difficult, very powerful experience."

Nation's first cathedral to reopen in November
BALTIMORE (CNS) - It will take nine days of events to celebrate the completion of the two-year restoration of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, America's first cathedral. The renovation will be completed in time for the scheduled reopening of the basilica Nov. 4. Special events are scheduled through Nov. 12. This year marks the bicentennial of the start of construction on the basilica in 1806 on top of a hill overlooking Baltimore. The basilica was designed by Benjamin Latrobe, chief architect of the original U.S. Capitol in Washington. When ground was broken for the cathedral, Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore was the only Catholic bishop for the entire country. Michael Ruck, chairman of the board of the Basilica Historic Trust, announced plans for the reopening of the historic church at a press conference March 15 inside the basilica.

PEOPLE

Woman's penny project sends prayers, support
THIBODAUX, La. (CNS) - The words "In God We Trust" on the U.S. penny were the inspiration for Thibodaux resident Sally Sobert's Power of Prayer Penny Project, which she began shortly after U.S. forces invaded Iraq in 2003. "When President (George W. ) Bush first started to talk about a war with Iraq, there were a lot of people who were against sending our troops over there. I wanted to find a way to show our soldiers that we cared about them, that we were praying for them and that no matter whether we believed in the war or not, we supported them," Sobert said. She said she witnessed the power a prayer coin had on a friend who received it while she was recovering from an injury. "Whenever my friend rubbed the coin, it brought her comfort," she told The Bayou Catholic, newspaper of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Sobert's prayer pennies for the military are spray-painted red or blue, then affixed to a card that reads: "God has so blessed America. You are one of his many blessings. Thank you. Thanks be to God for you. Keep this penny as a reminder that our prayers are with you. Thank you for serving our country and for protecting the world. God bless you and keep you." To date, according to Sobert, more than 50,000 of the penny cards have been distributed to troops in the U.S. and Iraq.

Parish aided after 2001 attacks returns favor
MANHASSET, N.Y. (CNS) - Parishioners at St. Mary's Church in Manhasset were overwhelmed with gifts and support after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. After Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, they wanted to repay that kindness by helping a parish damaged by the storm. "Other parishes sent us teddy bears, a banner, cards and cookies," said Msgr. John McCann, pastor of St. Mary's, describing the concern shown after the World Trade Center collapse. Now they're reaching out to Sacred Heart in D'Iberville, Miss., in the Biloxi Diocese, as it recovers from hurricanes. St. Mary's parishioners initially sent $7,500 to help with the church's most pressing needs. Rebuilding costs for Sacred Heart's church, elementary school, parish hall, rectory and parish offices will cost at least $5 million, not including the costs of materials such as vestments, Bibles, computers and desks.

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