NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      MANILA (CWNews.com) - An Italian missionary priest was kidnapped by suspected Muslim rebels on Tuesday along with 11 Filipino companions who were released hours later.

      Father Luciano Benedetti was believed to have been taken to a mountain hideout in the southern Philippines, the military said. The official report said the priest and his companions were in his parish when 30 bandits took them at gunpoint to a motorboat which they used to travel to a nearby town. The 11 Filipinos were released, but Father Benedetti was not.

      "I have directed army elements and the local police to carry out pursuit operations," southern military commander Lieutenant General Angelo Reyes told reporters. Father Benedetti is the third foreign missionary abducted by Muslim rebels in the past year. Suspected guerrillas kidnapped an Irish priest in October last year but freed him after 12 days. A Belgian missionary abducted last November was released after 36 hours.