William A. Donohue

      The voters chose as the 73rd TOP CATHOLIC OF THE CENTURY the Director of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights - William A. Donohue , the 52 year-old thorn in the side of Catholic bashers everywhere from ABC Network to Disney to the print media. His goal is to protect the rights of Catholics everywhere and serve as the watchdog for abuses and bias against Catholics that has become so prevalent in today's society. For more on the 73rd selection, click on WILLIAM DONOHUE

Catholic PewPoint helps put things in perspective and clear up the tunnels of confusion!

      As the summer winds down we present all the editorials to date from 1999 for you to review. Take a ride on the twists and turns of humanity in past installments of Catholic PewPoint. In this wild ride of life, through the tunnels of doubt we need to cling to the rails of hope and trust that God will guide us safely over the whirls and swirls, dips and blips, highs and lows that affect us daily in this rollercoaster called life. These commentaries help keep things on a more even keel, slowing the turns so that all can better navigate the dangerous curves and stay on track in heading towards the light at the end of the tunnel. In each Friday issue we run a new editorial that is included in the archives for Tuesdays. To read any of the over fifty installments presently available for 1999, click on and strap in for the Archives of CATHOLIC PewPOINT.

Retroactive articles on Church history available from 33 to 1515 A.D. for summer review

      This summer we present a review of the period from the time of Christ when He founded the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church to the time of the Reformation and Pope Leo X, the 217th in the Petrus line early in the sixteenth century. These are installments 1 through 106. Until we are back to full strength we will continue the archives, giving readers the opportunity to catch up To read any of the 105 installments presently available in this long on-going series, click on the Archives of THE HISTORY OF THE MASS AND HOLY MOTHER CHURCH.

      They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but the words of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen have been known to launch a thousand images in one's mind, one of the ways this late luminary did so much to evangelize the faith. Because of the urgency of the times and because few there are today who possess the wisdom, simplicity and insight than the late Archbishop who touched millions, we are bringing you daily gems from his writings. The good bishop makes it so simple that we have dubbed this daily series: "SIMPLY SHEEN".

"The good are not always good in all things, and the wicked are not always wicked in all things. As it has been said, 'There is so much good in the worst of us and so much bad in the best of us,' that it ill behooves any of us to talk about the rest of us."

      We continue with Ordinary Time, today commemorating the Twenty-second Tuesday in Ordinary Time and tomorrow the Twenty-second Wednesday in Ordinary Time. This Ordinary Time will continue until Friday's feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great. For the readings, liturgies, and meditations, click on DAILY LITURGY.

PRAYER & DEVOTIONS

    In honor of the observance of Our Lady of Light today and her annual purported appearances at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center in Cincinnati, we present a special prayer petitioning the Light of Faith from the Treasury of Novenas:

Lord Jesus Christ, Light of the world, help us to follow the example of Mary, always ready to do Your will. At the message of an Angel she welcomed You, God's Son, and, filled with the Light of Your Spirit, she became Your temple. Through her prayers for us take away our weaknesses and make the offering our lives with You in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass pleasing to You and to the Father. May we rejoice in the gift of Your grace and be united with You and Mary in glory.

Cautious but hopeful anticipation of independence marks voting day tenor in East Timor as world awaits vox populi at the polls

   The mood was cautious but hopeful Monday as thousands of East Timorese finally have the opportunity to speak their minds and hearts in a national election that will determine if East Timor gains their independence from Indonesia. Indonesian President B.J. Habibe has tried to assure the people that the military would not hinder their right to go to the polls and if the majority of the people vote for independence, he will honor it. But many have seen promises broken before and reports of intimidation have surfaced in threats if some venture out to vote. The results should be known tomorrow. For more, click on East Timor Independence.

Death of 90 year-old Archbishop, beloved by the poor of Recife, brings out thousands of mourners in Brazil

   The Archbishop emeritus of Olinda and Recife, Archbishop Helder Camara passed away this past Friday night in his sleep at the age of 90. His funeral was held immediately the next day in Recife, Brazil which is where he shepherded his flock comprised of millions of poor people who loved him dearly. The Holy Father expressed his condolences to the people of Brazil and the prelates and clergy, noting his great contributions to the Church in Brazil. For more, click on Archbishop Camara .

Breakthrough in Archbishop's murder case could trace DNA to military

   Striving to make good on his pledge to wrap up the long, tedious and tainted trial for the murder of Guatamala's Auxilary Archishop Juan Gerardi Conedera who was bludgeoned to death nearly sixteen months ago, the chief prosecutor produced DNA evidence that should totally exonerate the priest who had been falsely accused by the military. Conversely the evidence could also pinpoint whose DNA it is. It is suspected that it belongs to a military person for witnesses saw a military leaving the scene of the murder. It has been the military that has sought to cover up the case and throw scapegoat after scapegoat at the prosecution while hiding behind the government. For more, click on Murder.

US State Department continues to put pressure on the Vatican over Pope's Jubilee Journey

    Despite US protests and pressure, mostly because of possible embarassment over Saddam Hussein making a political show of the Papal Visit, the Holy See and the Patriarch of Iraq's Chaldean-rite are confident Pope John Paul II will go through with plans to begin his historic "Jubilee Journey" in Iraq in December at Ur in Chaldea where Abraham was born. The Holy See has still not confirmed the exact dates. For more, click on Pressure over Iraq

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 features, dossiers and Daily Dispatches at 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.