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TUESDAY February 8, 2000 vol. 11, no. 27 SECTION THREESee why so many consider the Daily CATHOLIC as the "USA Today for CATHOLICS!"
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The Holy Father and the bishops he has appointed must be doing something right with the announcement from the Vatican that the population of priests is up and Catholics have increased in number by forty million well exceeding the billion mark worldwide with the New World (North and South America) heading the list as the highest percentage of Catholics: 63% followed by Europe at 41% and then tails off to where Asia is only a little over three percent, another reason the Pope has targeted this largest of continents in the new millennium. continued inside.
VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- For the first time since 1978, the number of
priests in the world rose last year. That was one of the key findings in a
compilation of statistics about the Catholic Church, issued by the Vatican on
February 5.
The Annuario Pontificio, released each year by the Holy See, is a thick (this
year, 2,350 pages) red volume, which contains a variety of official statistics
about Catholic dioceses, religious institutes, the Church diplomatic corps, and
the Roman Curia. The latest edition furnishes the latest available statistics as
of December 31, 1999.
The number of priests in the world at the end of 1999 was 404,626-- up 0.1
percent from the figure for 1998, which was 101,208. The number of
seminarians preparing for the priesthood increased by a slightly greater
margin-- from 109,171 to 109,828, or 0.6 percent. There have been similarly
small but nevertheless encouraging increases in the numbers of permanent
deacons, lay catechists, and missionaries.
The world's Catholic population has also grown, by about 40 million. The new
Annuario Pontificio sets the number of baptized Catholics at 1, 045,000, or
roughly 17.4 percent of the entire world population. Nearly half of that
Catholic population-- 49.5 percent-- lives in the Western hemisphere. Europe
now accounts for only 27.8 percent of the world's Catholics; Africa for 11.4
percent, Asia 10.5 percent, and Oceania only 0.8 percent.
The only continent on which Catholics constitute a majority is the Americas
(which the Vatican treats as a single continent, embracing North and South
America); there Catholics constitute 63.1 percent of the total population. In
Europe, Catholics comprise 41.4 percent of the population; in Oceania 26.9
percent; in African 15.6 percent, and in Asia only 3.1 percent. Those
statistics were essentially unchanged during the past year.
Following the meeting Saturday with Pope John Paul II the new president of Indonesia Abdurrahman Wahid pledged he would work for peace and the Apostolic Nuncio in Jakarta Archbishop Renzo Fratini believes he will for he is on record as calling Wahid a blessing after such bad management by the previous regimes. Wahid, Archbishop Fratini generally believes, is trying to balance religious tolerance and democracy in this 7,000 mile archipelago which comprises the largest Muslim population in the world. continued inside.
JAKARTA (CWNews.com/Fides) - "This president is a blessing
for Indonesia," said Archbishop Renzo Fratini, apostolic
nuncio in Jakarta, referring to Abdurrahman Wahid.
"He is a man dedicated to achieving ethnic and religious
harmony and democracy," the archbishop continued. "In only
two years, Indonesia has made giant steps forward in
politics, economy, and regarding its international
credibility. The leadership of Gus Dur [as Wahid is
generally called] is decisive in this phase of transition
from the old regime to democracy. What is more, now the
army is on the President's side."
Archbishop Fratini commented on what might come of Wahid's
visit to Europe and to the Vatican this and last week. "The
president's visit to the Holy Father is of great
significance for peace, unity, and religious harmony in
Indonesia. The religious implications of the encounter are
evident: Wahid represents moderate Islam and the visit will
help to consolidate the path of dialogue between Christians
and Muslims in Indonesia and throughout the world," he
said. The nuncio added that he is sure the encounter will
send a clear signal of reconciliation for the internal
struggle in the country, particularly the present conflict
in the Malukus.
"Wahid has always been known as a moderate leader," the
archbishop concluded. "For some time now he has had regular
contact with the Sant'Egidio Community in Rome, as a
personality committed to Muslim/Christian dialogue. The
visit will help to strengthen relations between Muslims and
Catholics."
Indonesia is the most populous Muslim majority country in
the world, although there are sizeable Christian
populations in the former Dutch and Portuguese colonies of
the Spice Islands (Malukus) and East Timor. Muslim and
Christian gangs have been warring in the Malukus, leaving
thousands dead over the past year and East Timor saw
widespread bloodshed following an independence vote last
August.
Once again Detroit's Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, already notorious for his gay Masses and ultra liberal tendencies that border on heresy, is at it again by promoting an ordinance that would favor the homosexual lifestyle and contribute to the culture of death camp, something his immediate superior Cardinal Adam Maida vociferously opposes. Wouldn't it be wonderful if Cardinal Maida would just put a muzzle on Gumbleton? continued inside.
DETROIT (CWNews.com) - An auxiliary bishop of Detroit on
Sunday rallied in the suburb of Ferndale for the passage of
a new city ordinance that would ban discrimination against
homosexuals and lesbians and would not exempt churches or
church-run organizations, according to the Detroit News
newspaper.
Bishop Thomas Gumbleton spoke at a rally at St. James
Catholic Church in Ferndale in support of the ordinance
that will go before voters on February 22. "This will send
a message that we do not tolerate any discrimination in
this community," he said. "Every person has certain rights
that extend beyond how they act or live."
The proposed ordinance, which was approved 4-1 by the
Ferndale City Council in September, makes it illegal to
discriminate against anyone regarding employment, housing,
public accommodations, and public services on the basis of
race; color; religion; gender; age; height or weight;
marital status; sexual orientation; familial status;
national origin; or physical or mental disability.
If passed violators, including churches that refuse to hire
homosexuals for positions in charities, educational
positions, day care centers, or even the clergy, would face
$500 fines and civil lawsuits.
A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Detroit said the Church
support human rights for all people and asked whether the
ordinance would "give homosexuals the green light to
practice their acts?" Opponents claim it would. Former city
councilman Robert Paczkowski said, "This ordinance is a
smoke screen to promote homosexual lifestyles. I don't
think a city ordinance should promote same-sex
love-making." He added, "Everyone is protected by the same
laws. No one is discriminating against gays in this city.
They are just trying to get more leverage in their gay
movement."
Paczkowski also commented on Bishop Gumbleton's appearance
at St. James, where the former councilor is a member.
"Gumbleton is the most (left)-winged individual you'll find
and everyone has been trying to shut him up for years," he
said. "He's a full-blown liberal and (St. James) church has
recently been headed in that same direction."
While Gumbleton is doing damage to the Church, another bishop at the other end of Lake Erie Bishop Anthony Pilla is doing all he can to prevent damage control in an Italian village for Goodyear Tires has threatened to close down their plant in Cisterna, Italy, thus leaving 571 villagers jobless. Because Goodyear is headquartered in the Cleveland area, Bishop Pilla has met with executives there and convinced them to take these workers' plight into consideration before they close the plant. Executives have agreed to wait a while before closing in helping them relocate other work. continued inside.
CLEVELAND, FEB 7 (ZENIT).- The future is uncertain for 570 Italian
Goodyear factory workers in Cisterna, Italy, following the American
corporation's decision to close the plant. Nevertheless, a ray of hope
has appeared in the last few days.
Thanks to the intervention of Bishop Anthony Michael Pilla of Cleveland,
where the head offices of Goodyear are located, an Italian delegation
headed by the Mayor of Cisterna met with Samir Gibara, president of the
international tire corporation. Gibara did not make any concrete
commitments, but affirmed that on February 18, instead of definitively
shutting down the factory, production may be halted for one month, thus
giving the union and the Italian government time to find alternative
solutions.
During the meeting possible means of assistance for plant workers were
discussed, in the case that the doors are permanently shut. For the time
being, the Cisterna delegation is concentrating on saving the jobs.
Goodyear is one of the most well-known multinationals in the tire
industry, but the recent acquisition of factories belonging to other
companies, and the restructuring demanded by the globalization of the
economy, have led Goodyear management to close factories in several
countries, such as England, Argentina, and Brazil. Last November, the
European branch announced its plan to cease its operations in Italy,
provoking a strong reaction in the workers and citizens of Cisterna.
Bishop Giuseppe Petrocchi of Latina, the diocese in which Cisterna is
located, then wrote to Bishop Pilla, president of the American Bishops
Conference until 1998, who requested that his director of social action
to look into the problem, organizing a meeting between Goodyear
management and representatives of the Italian workers.
According to observers, even if the chance of influencing the decisions
of a multinational corporation obliged to face challenges posed by
globalization are slim, the fact of having introduced the human factor
as an element to be considered may change the dynamics of the
decision-making process.
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Cardinal James Aloysius Hickey, Archbishop of Washington, D.C. will receive the highest honor the Knights of Columbus fraternity can bestow on someone when he accepts the Gaudiem et Spes Award on April 1st. He joins colleague Cardinal John O'Connor and the late Mother Teresa as the only recipients of this most prestigious award. continued inside.
NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, FEB 7 (ZENIT).- The Knights of Columbus
announced today that its highest honor, the Gaudium et Spes Award, will
be conferred on Cardinal James Hickey of Washington on April 1. The
award recognizes individuals for their extraordinary contributions to
the realization of the message of faith and service in the spirit of
Christ as it is articulated in the landmark document for which the award
is named. The only two previous recipients of the award are Mother
Teresa of Calcutta and Cardinal John O'Connor, Archbishop of New York.
An honorarium of $100,000 accompanies the award.
The Gaudium et Spes award is conferred only in special circumstances
upon persons of extraordinary merit. "Clearly these conditions are met
in the case of His Eminence Cardinal James Hickey," said Supreme Knight
Virgil C. Dechant. "His distinguished career of committed service is
itself a 'special circumstance' of the most remarkable kind, while his
courageous leadership as a priest, Bishop and Prince of the Church has
been extraordinary in all respects, most especially as signaled by his
devotion to the faith and his loyalty to and love for the Holy Father
and the Magisterium."
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His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir , Patriarch of the Maronite Church will celebrate Mass in St. Mary Major Basilica tomorrow as the first eastern rite to celebrate the Jubilee this year. It is to show solidarity with Rome and celebrate their unique roots dating back to the use of Aramaic, the language Christ spoke.
continued inside.
VATICAN CITY, FEB 7 (ZENIT).- A series of Jubilee celebrations in the
diverse rites of the Catholic Church will begin on Wednesday February 9.
The first, to take place in Saint Mary Major, will be the Jubilee of the
Maronite Rite.
His Beatitude Cardinal Pierre Nasrallah Sfeir, Patriarch of Antioch of
the Maronites, will preside the Mass (Syro-Antiochian Maronite Rite) at
5:00p.m. in the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Among the concelebrants will
be Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for
Oriental Churches, and numerous bishops from Lebanon.
Pilgrims will arrive from every continent to participate in the Jubilee
of the Lebanese Catholic community, known as the Maronite Church.
Simultaneous Jubilee celebrations will take place on February 9 in
Lebanon and in parishes that offer the Maronite liturgy around the
world. Among those present will be Monsignor Emile Eid, procurator in
Rome of the Patriarchy of Antioch of the Maronites. He explains that the
Maronite rite has two principal characteristics, one formal, the other
substantial. "The formal characteristic is that of language: we speak a
language, Aramaic, that was used by Christ and the first apostles,
before [the language of the Church] changed to Greek, which was the
language of the Middle-Eastern culture. The second characteristic," he
continued, "is substantial. It is clear that the apostles -- Jews --
used the same prayers that were recited in the synagogue or in the
Temple. When Christ instituted the Last Supper, that is to say the
bloodless sacrifice of his death, so that his presence would be
perpetuated throughout the centuries, this prayer was converted into a
substantial part of the liturgy, with the consecration that makes Jesus
Christ present and alive among us."
ZE00020708
Chicago's Cardinal Francis E. George, OMI has praised the Illinois Governor's decision for moratorium on the death penalty while federal laws are studied by the president in an effort, Cardinal George and his fellow bishops hope and pray, that the death penalty will be abolished as part of the culture of life program that the Holy Father has campaigned for so vigorously. continued inside.
CHICAGO-WASHINGTON, D.C., 7 (NE)(ZENIT) - In a recent public statement, Cardinal Francis
George, Archbishop of Chicago, praised the decision taken by
Gov. George Ryan to impose a moratorium on Illinois' death
penalty until its procedures have been reviewed, topic in which
many North American bishops have been insisting and which has
been clearly denounced by Pope John Paul II during his visit to
St. Louis last year. The Cardinal emphasized that it is the
"first Governor of the 38 states with capital punishment to halt
all executions until the procedures of the death penalty are
reviewed." "A good response to violence in our neighborhoods is
not capital punishment but, rather, the ongoing reform of the
legal and correctional systems, the strengthening of family life
and other ties, and the fostering of respect for the dignity of
all human life," the Archbishop of Chicago affirmed.
Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C. ZENIT reports that the debate about capital punishment
has reached the desk of the President of the United States, Bill
Clinton, who is currently studying the possibility of suspending the
death penalty at the federal level, just days after a similar measure
was taken by the governor of Illinois.
Joe Lockhart, spokesman for the President, confessed that the leader is
"concerned" about the decision of Governor George Ryan to suspend the
death penalty in order to undertake an exhaustive study about the manner
in which it is applied.
Ryan imposed a moratorium on executions in his state confronted with the
fear that innocent people might die. In fact, from 1976 to date,
Illinois has executed twelve prisoners, but has had to release thirteen
people who had been unjustly convicted and sentenced to death. With
further resources or new investigations, the condemned parties were able
to demonstrate the mistakes made by the Courts.
The petition Clinton will analyze at the federal level was presented by
Senator Russ Feingold (Democrat, Wisconsin). Besides asking for a
moratorium, Feingold requested that Clinton order the Minister of
Justice, Janet Reno, to conduct a study regarding the form in which the
death penalty has been applied at the federal level, "in light of the
serious interrogatives raised in Illinois."
The decision to study the problem was made known hours after the Supreme
Court suspended, without further explanations, the execution of a
convicted murderer assassin in the State of Alabama. He had appealed his
case on the grounds that the electric chair constitutes cruel and
unusual punishment.
Capital punishment was reestablished in the United States in 1976. Since
then, more than 500 prisoners have been executed, a third of them in the
state of Texas; some three thousand people are on death row in America's
penitentiaries.
Execution for more common crimes, generally homicides, falls under the
jurisdiction of state authorities. The death penalty becomes the
decision of the central government when federal crimes such as drug
trafficking, kidnapping, or attacks on federal institutions are
involved.
According to Feingold, of 21 people condemned to death by federal
courts, at least 15 are come from minorities. The first convict to be
executed for a federal crime since 1993 would likely be Juan Raśl Garza,
a Hispanic prisoner who has run out of appeals.
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