NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- Pope John Paul II has signed decrees promoting the causes of 13 candidates for canonization, including the Croatian national hero, Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac.

      Cardinal Stepinac (1898-1960), who died at the hands of the Communist regime, is officially recognized as a martyr. The Holy Father will preside at the cardinal's beatification during his October trip to Croatia.

      The papal decrees also recognized miracles performed through the intercession of five "Servants of God," for whom beatification will soon follow. They are:

• Father Marcellin Joseph Champagnat (1789-1840) of France,
  
• Father Edward Joannes Maria Poppe (1890- 1824) of Belgium,
  
• Bishop Anton Martin Slomsek (1800-1862) of Slovenia,
  
• Father Ferdinando Maria Baccilieri (821-1893) of Italy, and
  
• Anna Schaeffer (1882-195) of Germany.

      The seven other papal decrees recognized that "heroic virtue" shown in the lives of:

• Sister Cunegonde (1234-1292) of Poland,
  
• Maria Dolores Medina Zepeda (1860-1925) of Mexico,
  
• Rosa Ojeda y Creus (1872-1954) of Spain,
  
• Carmela Alesci (1901-1929) of Italy,
  
• Edmund Bojanowski (1814-1871) of Poland,
  
• Elisabetta Girelli (1839-1919) of Italy, and
  
• Maddalena Girelli (1838-1923), also of Italy.