NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      GUATEMALA CITY (CWNews.com) - An Italian-born priest serving a Guatemala church and as an army chaplain was shot and wounded on Monday by unidentified gunmen in his church.

      "The army was profoundly concerned to receive the news of an attack on [Father] Sebastiano Crestani today at 1:40 [1940 GMT] inside San Juan de Borromeo Church," said a faxed statement from the Guatemalan army's information office. Media reports said the 60-year-old priest had been shot five times.

      The attack comes as officials continue to investigate the murder of Auxiliary Bishop Juan Jose Gerardi on April 26, just two days after releasing a report on human rights abuses during the country's 36-year-long civil war.