MONDAY     April 17, 2000    vol. 11, no. 76    SECTION THREE

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SECTION THREE Contents: Go immediately to the article:
WORLDWIDE NEWS & VIEWS with a Catholic slant:
  • Holy Father to end and begin month in big way
  • Cardinal stands by canon law as he commands priest not to abandon his parish in Belarus
  • More proof of Pius XII's fervor for helping Jews
  • Cuban Catholic dissident Nobel candidate could be embarassment to Castro
  • Pope pinpoints obedience to Ex corde Ecclesiae directives
  • A revival of faith and followers in France
  • Reconciliation Weekend big hit in Peoria and elsewhere
  • Latest ShipLogs of visitors sailing on the DailyCATHOLIC


  • WORLDWIDE NEWS & VIEWS with a Catholic slant:


    ROME HOSTS FESTIVAL FOR LABOR WORLD ON MAY 1
    Communist Labor Unions Will Also Meet the Pope

        VATICAN CITY, APR 14 (ZENIT).- "Work for All: The Road to Solidarity and Justice," is the slogan for the Jubilee of the labor world, which will be held in Rome on May 1. When presenting the program for this special day, Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, president of the Central Committee of the Great Jubilee, acknowledged that what is most worrying today is not so much human working conditions, but the unemployed, because unemployment amputates us from our own personalities. "And those wounded by the modern economy are very numerous," he added.

        On May 1, there will be an unprecedented feast in Rome, which will include all Italian labor unions, on the same day as their annual holiday. "The participation of this Pope, who came out of the stone quarries of Zakrzowek and of the ovens of Solvay in Borek Falecki and afterwards Nowa Huta... will give this meeting a Jubilee dimension for the whole Church and the whole of humanity," the Cardinal explained.

    On the Outskirts of Rome

        The Workers Jubilee will inaugurate the period of the great events of the Holy Year, so massive that they cannot be held in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, but must take place on the outskirts of Rome, in a new venue tailor-made for big events called Tor Vergata. Hence, the Jubilee enters an altogether different dimension in terms of organization: between Holy Week and May 1, Rome will be invaded by some 2 million pilgrims. And in August, 1 millions youths are expected.

        The Workers' Jubilee will begin on April 30 at night, with a Prayer Vigil in the Basilica of St. John Lateran. The impressive meeting will take place the following day, with over 200,000 workers beginning to arrive in Tor Vergata in the early hours of the morning. Among them will be men and women who have positions of responsibility in different areas of labor at the world level: entrepreneurs, labor unionists, leaders of workers' associations, leaders of the financial world, and of cooperation and business. Although the majority will be Italian, including communist unions, workers' representatives from all countries of the world will be in Rome on May 1.

    Special Mass

        The climax of the event will be a concelebrated Mass at 10:30 a.m., presided by the Holy Father. During the Offertory, gifts will be made representing the commitment to solidarity by a number of associations and labor unions from various countries of the world who favor the humanization of work. One of the most significant gifts will the collection made by the ecclesial campaign to reduce the foreign debt of poor countries. A helmet will be offered, representing the commitment to the defense of life and safety in the workplace. A portable computer will reflect the endeavor to put new technology at the service of man, and a bonsai will represent development that respects nature. Most significant will be a picture of Jesus as a worker.

    Papal Meeting with Labor

        At the end of the Mass, John Paul II will meet the workers of the different categories present in Tor Vergata. The Pope will be greeted on behalf of all by Juan Somavia, director general of the International Labor Office (ILO), representing the entire world of labor; and Paola Bignardi, president of Italian Catholic Action, representing all women workers.

        Next on the program is a musical recital by tenor Andrea Bocelli, who will sing the Jubilee Hymn and several compositions of sacred music, accompanied by the choir and orchestra of the Academy of St. Cecilia, directed by maestro Myung-Whun-Chung.

        Later, the Pontiff will give a message to the world of labor and will be greeted by a delegation from various categories of the working world. The meeting will end with the song "Life Is Beautiful."

    Labor World's Concert

        The afternoon will be dedicated to a festival for workers. At 5:30 p.m. there will be a concert with the possible participation of Noah, Lou Reed, and the Eurythmics. The participation of all these artists will be confirmed at a future press conference. The subject of the concert will be the commitment to the cancellation of the foreign debt of poor countries. The musical show has three objectives: first, to support an educational commitment; second, to sensitize governments of rich countries to the problem; and finally, to encourage concrete signs of personal and collective responsibility. ZE00041413

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    BELARUS CARDINAL ORDERS PRIEST TO DEFY EXPULSION ORDER

        MINSK (CWNews.com) - One hour before Friday's deadline, by which he was due to leave Belarus, Catholic priest Father Zbigniew Karolyak said the head of the Catholic Church in the country, Cardinal Kazimierz Swiatek, has ordered him to defy the government expulsion order and remain in his parish in the western Belarusian town of Brest.

        "Cardinal Swiatek told me that I remain, as before, priest of the parish of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. So I must stay in the parish," he said. The Belarusian government had ordered the Polish priest to leave the country on Thursday after refusing to extend his visa which expired in March. At a hearing, Father Karolyak was fined and a deportation stamp was placed in his passport.

        The priest's lawyer, Igor Kabalik, said that since the cardinal has issued the instruction to Father Karolyak to remain to serve his parish, the priest will not comply with the expulsion order. Kabalik believes that given Father Karolyak's decision to comply with his cardinal's instructions and remain, the authorities will forcibly deport him once the deadline has expired. Kabalik said some half a dozen parishioners at a time are mounting a guard outside Father Karolyak's home in an attempt to defend him. Father Karolyak added that the parishioners will stay all night in the parish church.

        The police chief of the Leninsky district of Brest, Arkady Kostyuchik, fined Father Karolyak, who is a Polish citizen, 44,000 rubles (just over $50) on Thursday for remaining in Belarus without permission. Kostyuchik also issued the order for him to leave the country and the deportation order was stamped in his passport. The parish is contesting this decision and Kabalik said: "We have already lodged an appeal with the police."

        Under canon law, a priest is named to a parish by his bishop and is to exercise that responsibility until the bishop relieves him of it. Father Karolyak has served as priest of the parish for nine years, despite the persistent attempts of the local authorities to remove him. Father Karolyak said there had been "great pressure" on the parish from the authorities.

        The Belarusian government has waged a campaign in recent years against Polish priests who they consider a destabilizing force in the mainly Russian Orthodox country.

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      Russian historian's Letter affirms Pius XII was anything but silent on holocaust horrors

         Russian historian Evghenjia Tokareva has released a monograph of "Fascism, the Church, and the Catholic Movement in Italy" published by the Institute of World History. In this monograph there appears a letter dated January 1941 in which Pope Pius XII addresses a letter to Germany strongly protesting the arrest and deportation of 40,000 Jews. This adds to the countless other testimonies which clearly show Pius XII did all he could to help the Jews threatened by the horrible holocaust. continued inside.

    PIUS XII'S 1941 LETTER PROTESTED TREATMENT OF JEWS

        ROME, APR 14 (ZENIT.org).- Russian historian Evghenjia Tokareva, author of the first Russian monograph on "Fascism, the Church, and the Catholic Movement in Italy (1922-1943)," published by the Institute of World History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said that in "January 1941, Pius XII was ready to address a letter to Germany, to be published in L'Osservatore Romano, with a strong protest for the arrest and deportation of 40,000 Jews to 'lagers,' but he burnt it, explaining that the protests he expressed before caused very harsh reprisals."

        During an interview with the Italian weekly newspaper "Tempi" ("Times"), Tokareva said that in 1943 there were 2,644 priests from 24 countries registered in Dachau. In 1941, under threats from Goebbels, Vatican Radio was obliged to suspend its transmissions for the same reason. Just listening to these was cause for persecution. To name the Catholics and Jews who were arrested or deported was a sure way of eliciting even worse consequences. Moreover, "information on the genocide of Jews was very limited. The Vatican could not even contact Poland, which was invaded. On innumerable occasions Nuncio Orsenigo requested permission... to go there, but not one possibility opened," the Russian historian said. ZE00041401

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    CUBAN CATHOLIC DISSIDENT PROPOSED FOR PEACE NOBEL PRIZE

        HAVANA (CWNews.com) - The most influential leaders of the Cuban dissident movement agreed yesterday to nominate Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in defending human rights of Cubans, including the unborn.

        Biscet, founder of the Lawton Society for the Defense of Human Rights, was sentenced in March to three years in prison after he lead several protests against abortion and the death penalty.

        The committee created to promote Biscet's candidacy for the peace prize, includes the most prominent leaders of dissident organizations including as Elizardo Sanchez, Jesus Yanez, Maria de los Angeles Melendez, and Carlos Alberto Dominguez.

        Dominguez, head of the illegal "Democratic Party," claimed that "Biscet has become a figure similar to Mahatma Ghandi in Cuba, because of the power of his convictions and his absolutely peaceful means."

        The committee has sent a letter to the leaders of the "Group of 77" gathered in Havana, asking them to support Biscet's candidacy despite "the censorship of the Cuban government which will not allow you to see for yourselves the lack of political and civil rights suffered by the people of Cuba."

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      Holy Father reaffirms allegiance to Apostolic Constitution Ex Corde Ecclesiae

         Speaking at the Vatican to students and faculty from Sacred Heart Catholic University campuses in various parts of Italy, Pope John Paul II stressed again and again that the Doctrine, Dogmas and Teachings of Holy Mother Church must not be compromised as he called for all Catholic Universities to measure up to the very name they proclaim: Catholic! While he was speaking to Italians, his main target is really many Catholic universities and educators in America where liberal professors and administrators have been openly defiant. continued inside.

    POPE STRESSES THAT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITIES MUST COMBINE FAITH AND SCIENCE

        VATICAN CITY, 14 (NE) Pope John Paul II received yesterday participants in the Jubilee of Sacred Heart Catholic University, coming from the university's bases in Milan, Rome, Brescia and Piacenza. The pilgrimage falls on the 40th anniversary of the death of its founder, Fr. Agostino Gemelli, and on the 80th anniversary of the foundation of the university in December 1920.

        Addressing professors and students from the university, the Holy Father recalled the Apostolic Constitution "Ex corde Ecclesiae" -directed to Catholic universities-, stating that "university pastoral is that activity from the University which offers to the members of the community the opportunity to coordinate academic studies and 'para-academic' activities with religious and moral values, integrating faith and life."

        Afterwards, the Pope stressed that "the Christian scholar, professor and student, distinguishes himself for his capacity to combine the rigorousness of scientific investigation with the certainty of faith in Jesus Christ, Eternal Word of God, who is the Truth in its fullest sense."

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      Conversions double in France over last decade while drama on Christ playing in Paris gaining rave reviews

         Conversions to Catholicism in France are on the rise as evident by the number of converts to be received into the Church during the solemn celebrations of Easter. The reason is that the French people are returning to their spiritual roots and turning back to God in their search. Many who dropped out years ago are returning now because of what was missing in their life. Also returning are playgoers to the play "Jesus, the Resurrection" in Paris' Sports Palace which is a sequel to the play "His Name Was Jesus." The new play, like the first, is gaining rave reviews from audiences and critics alike and will play through July.continued inside.

    CONVERSIONS TO CATHOLICISM INCREASE IN FRANCE
    Paris' Surprise: "JESUS, THE RESURRECTION" is Colossal Jubilee Drama

        PARIS, APR 13 (ZENIT.org).- Close to 2,500 adults will be baptized in France this Easter, according to the catechumen service of the Catholic Church in France. At present some 9,500 adults convert to Catholicism every year, a figure that has doubled over the past decade.

        According to data given by the dioceses, 80% of those who will be baptized are between 18 and 40 years of age. They come from all social classes, including government employees and persons with an unknown address. About 30% are of humble origin, and 11% live in precarious circumstances. The majority of adult catechumens (79%) did not belong to another religion.

        "They are people searching for God. Many are children of '68 who are seeking a spiritual dimension," stated Fr. Dominique Sentucq, the director of the catechumen service of the French Church.

        Meanwhile in Paris, nine years after his colossal "His Name Was Jesus," Robert Hossein has again won the applause of public and critics alike with his drama "Jesus, the Resurrection," which is playing in the Sports Palace to 5,000-capacity audiences. The play will run until July 16.

        Hossein, a convert to Christianity after achieving professional success, is both producer and director of the new work. His collaborator in writing the script is French historian and academic Alain Decaux. Both hoped to repeat their success with a work dedicated to Christ. In 1991 Hossein presented "His Name Was Jesus," a gigantic remake of the grandiose "A Man Called Jesus," performed in 1984. Its 700,000 spectators made it the greatest box office success in the history of French theater.

        Over the past two decades, Hossein and Decaux, who have become close friends, have given the public a series of works inspired in historical personages or literary masterpieces, including "Rasputin," "Les Miserables," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "Danton and Robespierre." Last year, the play "De Gaulle, the Man who Said No," played for 6 months.

    Jubilee Work

        Hossein and Decaux have made their contribution to the Jubilee with the play "Jesus, the Resurrection." "Everyone spoke about the millennium, but very few referred to Jesus Christ," the famous director said. "In this way, Alain and I thought of filling the void."

        "With Robert I share a common faith in God and man; what is more, the figure of Christ is more contemporary than ever," historian Decaux added.

        Hossein concurred. "His currency needs no emphasizing. Jesus is the man who identifies with the victims of all the tragedies of our time."

        In contrast to the previous works on Christ, this time Hossein's stage design is much more sober. He does not need to take recourse to extraordinary special effects. There are no projections on gigantic screens. The technical prowess is discreet. But Hossein retains his very singular aesthetic outlook. He tries to reconstruct sacred Medieval representations, with dashes of 70s hippie imagination, which have characterized his creativity. If the spectator accepts this world, he will experience very powerful moments.

        In one scene, a young woman wends her way slowly down a mountain, resting her hand gently on her abdomen: it is Mary, silently following Joseph. Behind them, three crosses rise in the distance, while the lighting transforms the caves into Bethlehem's streets. The couple disappears behind a door; night descends. The scenes succeed one another, like choreographic pictures inspired in the paintings of Italian Renaissance masters, or early Flemings, but especially Salvador Dalí.

        There have been two criticisms of the drama, however. A certain coldness in Jesus, played by 6 foot 3 inch tall Georges Ichenko, an impassible Swede with a blond beard and long hair. At all times there is an ethereal air about him. The only moment of tenderness is when he turns to the paralytic, one of the highlights of the "pičce." This would seem to be the director's response to contemporary representations of a very human Christ, like the latest television production, "Jesus."

        Another criticism of the drama is the recourse to surprise effects, already used in previous Hossein productions, which were in part the reason for his success. As, for example, the trick of mixing actors with the public, so that during the miracle of the loaves and fishes, they distribute half a loaf of bread to a number of spectators. Or the fictitious interval when a very human Jesus expels the ice cream and Coca-Cola vendors from the Parisian figure-skating temple.

        The impression is that Hossein is not keen on innovation. He limits himself to removing all that is superfluous and retains those elements that are necessary to witness to his faith. The result is a sort of personal catechism, which attests to the Resurrection as Jesus among us.

        When the performances end in Paris in July, the producers hope to take the play to Rome for the World Youth Day, scheduled for mid-August. ZE00041420 and ZE00041308

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      Bishop Myers proves if it plays in Peoria, it'll play anywhere!

         Speaking of plays, there is none better than one that will cleanse the soul and Bishop John J. Myers of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois has called its recent "Weekend Reconciliation" a huge success. On one night more than 3,000 Catholics attended penance services in 14 regional churches. This same occurrence is happening in various dioceses throughout the country and the world in preparation for the Easter Triduum and Easter and, like in France, fruits are being realized with many fallen-away and lapsed Catholics coming home at last! continued inside.

    USA: INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION CONTINUE

        PEORIA, 14 (NE) Continuing with an initiative of different US dioceses, a "Weekend of Reconciliation" has also taken place in the Diocese of Peoria, Ill., and has been greatly attended by Catholic faithful. "It was a moment of grace and homecoming," stated Bishop John J. Myers of Peoria, commenting the event. On Friday night alone, more than 3,000 Catholics reportedly attended penance services at 14 regional churches in the diocese.

        Other penitential acts in the different parishes of the diocese took place on Saturday. A similar activity took place last weekend in the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ, after an intense three-month campaign to promote the sacrament of confession. Thousands of American faithful went to the 81 temples selected, many of them attending confession for the first time in years.

         For more headlines and articles, we suggest you go to the Catholic World News site at the CWN home page and Church News at Noticias Eclesiales and the Dossiers, features and Daily Dispatches from ZENIT International News Agency CWN, NE and ZENIT are not affiliated with the Daily CATHOLIC, but provide this service via e-mail to the Daily CATHOLIC Monday through Friday.

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    April 17, 2000     volume 11, no. 76
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