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      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".

"There is more happiness in rejoicing in the good of others, than in rejoicing in our own good. The receiver rejoices in his good; the giver in the joy of others and to such comes the peace nothing in the world can give."

Pope calls on diplomats to the Holy See to promote culture of peace

      Trumping on the same theme of human dignity that he has hammered home throughout his twenty-year pontificate, Pope John Paul II addressed the diplomats assigned to the Holy See yesterday at the Vatican, calling for all to uphold and promote the "culture of peace" in extending the sanctity of life for all, citing specific examples of warring nations that must learn to coexist peacefully as God intended. For more, click on culture of peace.

      VATICAN, 12 (NE) Yesterday in the Vatican Pope John Paul II addressed his traditional speech to the members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See. The Holy Father highlighted the positive and negative signs that are manifested in today's world at the threshold of the third millennium. Among the positive signs, the Pope remembered the processes of peace in Ireland and Spain, also stressing the agreement achieved between the nations of Peru and Ecuador. "I direct my earnest and paternal calling to the Peruvian and Ecuatorian Catholics so that, through prayer and action, they be convinced artisans of reconciliation," said the Successor of Peter.

      "However, the culture of peace is far from being universal, as the flames of persistent conflicts attest," declared the Holy Father, remembering the conflicts in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, as well as the difficult situation in the Middle East. The Successor of Peter also called the world's attention on the violence in the African continent, expressing his solidarity with the different nations. "They are to know that the Holy See doesn't scant efforts to heal their sufferings and to find, in both the political and humanitarian environment, sensible solutions to the serious problems that exist," he said.

      "Facing these familiar problems, Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to have you participate of an intimate conviction: in this last year before the 2000 it is necessary an awakening of our conscience." The Holy Father emphasized that, "International law cannot be the law of the stronger, nor that of a simple majority of States, nor even that of an international organization. It must be the law which is in conformity with the principles of the natural law and of the moral law, which are always binding upon parties in conflict and in the various questions in dispute."

Vatican continues to open its arms in trying to reconcile other faiths

      In anticipation of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which begins next Monday, the Vatican's undersecretary for the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity offered an up-to-date outline on progress in the ecumenical process, expressing optimism that reconciliation can be accomplished with both the Lutheran Church and the Orthodox Church. For more, click on Christian Unity.

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- As the annual week of prayer for Christian unity (January 18- 25) approaches, the undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity has offered an outline of current relations between the Holy See and other Christian communions.

      Msgr. Eleuterio Fortino began his summary with a general affirmation: "The Catholic Church is in dialogue with all Christian communions in the Eastern and Western worlds." He added that this active dialogue is a new development, reflecting the pastoral influence of the Second Vatican Council.

      "At the same time," Msgr. Fortino continued, "while bilateral dialogues have in fact been established, the most serious differences have been identified with great precision, particular in the field of theology."

      Relations with the Orthodox world are complicated, the Vatican official observed, because they involve 15 different autonomous churches. Thus far the dialogue has produced an important statement of common beliefs, promulgated at Balamund in 1993, involving Catholics with the Greek Orthodox churches. He expressed the hope that the dialogue might be extended to include the Russian Orthodox churches, and pointed to the progress in Romania, where an ecumenical commission is considering the disposition of church properties confiscated by the old Communist regime.

      With Lutherans the primary goal for Vatican ecumenical officials is the completion of a common declaration on the theme of justification-- a declaration on which theologians have been working for 30 years. "It should soon be received favorably by the two churches," Msgr. Fortino predicted.

      Finally, Msgr. Fortino noted that the calendar for the Jubilee celebrations in Rome includes a number of events intended to promote ecumenical work. He mentioned the ceremonial opening of the Holy Door of St. Paul outside the Walls, on January 18, 2000, and the recognition of 20th century martyrs on Easter Sunday, May 7, at the Roman Coliseum. In each case, plans call for an extensive collaboration with other Christian denominations in the event.

      Msgr. Fortino listed the dates at which the Vatican had begun formal talks with different Christian bodies:

- with the Ecumenical Council of Churches in 1965,
- with the Anglican Church in 1966,
- with the World Methodist Council in 1967,
- with the World Lutheran Federation in 1967,
- with the World Reformed Alliance in 1970,
- with the Pentecostal movement in 1982,
- with the Evangelical churches in 1977,
- with the Disciples of Christ in 1977,
- with the Orthodox Church in 1980, and
- with the World Baptist Alliance in 1984.

Special "Papal Plaza" being prepared in St. Louis to accommodate overflow throngs wanting to see Pope on his one day visit

      With the Holy Father's twenty-four papal visit to St. Louis, Missouri just two weeks ago, preparations are being finalized for the Pope's first visit to this gateway city. With seating limited for various venues one might be able to get a glimpse of him from high atop the famous gateway arch or they could go to "Papal Plaza." The Archdiocese, under the direction of Archbishop Justin Rigali are providing a special "Papal Plaza" with three jumbotron movie screens to broadcast events of his visit to those who cannot get in to the venues such as St. Louis' magnificent cathedral. For more, click on Papal Plaza.

      ST. LOUIS, 12 (NE) Less than 15 days away from the Pope's pastoral visit to St. Louis on the banks of the Mississippi River in Missouri, very intense activity is taking place at the American archdiocese. Coordination of the routes that the Pope will take in his visit, verification of the security systems at the different events, coordination of the mobilization of the great quantity of people that will attend them, go along with the spiritual preparation to receive the Vicar of Christ.

      Saint Louis' Cathedral, where the Holy Father will preside over a night of prayer, gets ready -as the St. Louis Post Dispatch recently pointed out- "to receive its most important visitor."

      "I just see him shuffling down the center aisle smiling and waving his hand in blessing," declared one of the members of the local staff preparing things for the visit, expressing the great expectation there is for the Holy Father's visit, especially for his presence at the Cathedral that he himself gave the title of Basilica in 1997.

      A great number of people have not been able to get tickets to attend the central events, many of them youths. In order to solve this problem, the Archdiocese plans to prepare a special area -that has been named "Papal Plaza" - so that a great number of youths may gather and participate in a more active way. Three Jumbotron video screens will transmit the most important events of these days at the "Papal Plaza."

Guatamala government guilty of Bishop's death according to two studies just released

     Overwhelmingly supporting the Vatican's assertion that Guatamalan military members brutally murdered Guatamala's human rights crusader - auxiliary Bishop Juan Gerardi Conedera last April, two independent studies from the United States confirm that figures don't lie and that 97% of well over 37,000 killed in Guatamala can be traced to the government-operated military of Guatamala. Despite this evidence, authorities in Guatamala have been trying to cover up the murders by accusing one scapegoat after another including the priest who lived in the same house as the bishop. Strangely none of the government's own people have come forward with evidence, but many other groups have provided undeniable evidence that this dastardly deed was committed and authorized by the government. For more, click on Guatamala guilt

      WASHINGTON, DC (CWNews.com) - Two independent groups released a report on Monday that charges that the Guatemalan military was responsible for the majority of deaths in that country's 36-year civil war, the same charges that may have led to the murder of a Guatemalan bishop last year.

      The American Association for the Advancement of Science and the International Center for Human Rights Research said they used the latest scientific methods to determine who was responsible for the deaths of an estimated 150,000 people, mostly civilians, during the war, which ended in 1996. "The evidence is clear -- tens of thousands have died at the hands of the state," Patrick Ball of the AAAS, who led the study, said in a statement. The researchers used all available documentation and analysis to determine that of 37,255 killings the government was responsible for 97 percent.

      Last April, Auxiliary Bishop Juan Gerardi Conedera released a report by the Catholic Human Rights Office in Guatemala that also blamed the military for most of the killings. He was murdered three days later. Although a priest who lived with the bishop was arrested and charged with the crime, many human rights groups and Catholic leaders have publicly stated they believe the people connected to the military were responsible.

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. Both CWN and NE are not affiliated with the Daily CATHOLIC but provides this service via e-mail to the Daily CATHOLIC Monday through Friday.

     Today we recommend a little corner of the web that isn't so little and a site that could best be considered the megasite of sites for it's main purpose is to provide links. With nearly 9,000 Catholic links, ALA PADRE CATHOLIC CORNER is the most comprehensive links and resource site available for Catholics and faithfully run by the "ala padre" Father John Stryjewski, a hard-working parish priest down south in Grand Bay, Alabama.

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January 13, 1999 volume 10, no. 8   DAILY CATHOLIC