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HEADLINES:

Will Clinton cut off his nose to spite his face?

     It's more a case of having to save face for the Clinton administration for Bill Clinton has vowed he would veto any bill that includes abortion restrictions attachments. Such is the case yesterday when the U.S. Senate voted to approve funding Clinton's pet project of paying back the United Nations but attached a bill banning funding for abortions overseas. Clinton can't have his cake and eat it too. By now he has to realize if he wants the badly needed funding for the UN he'll have to accept the abortion ban. If he vetoes it, the UN can blame no one by the president for being in arrears. For more, click on Clinton backed into a corner

     WASHINGTON, DC (CWNews.com) - The US Senate voted on Tuesday to approve a State Department funding bill that pays back dues to the United Nations, but also includes a ban on giving US funds to organizations that promote or provide abortions overseas.

      President Bill Clinton said he would immediately veto the bill because it contained the abortion provision, even though it would scuttle UN funding for another year. The US has been assessed $926 million in unpaid dues that cover several years. Congressional Republicans urged Clinton to sign the bill as approved because it contains several important reforms of the State Department and foreign operations, and might be the only way to provide UN funding in this election year.

      Supporters of the abortion ban warned Clinton that if he vetoes this bill, they will attach the same amendment to his request for $18 billion for the International Monetary Fund that he has made a cornerstone of his foreign policy this year.

Long sought after tax break could be bliss for married couples

      A bill that would significantly reduce the tax penalties imposed on married couples was introduced by House Republicans on Tuesday. Sponsored by two midwestern congressmen, it would level the playing field between married couples and singles. Presently couples are penalized for filing jointly while single tax filers gain a tax break. This has not been fair and many Church leaders, as well as politicians, have lobbied for being more fair to those who have taken on the responsibility of marriage and parenthood. For more, click on Tax break.

     WASHINGTON, DC (CWNews.com) - House Republicans introduced new legislation on Tuesday combining a number of earlier bills that would reduce a tax penalty for married couples who end up paying as much as $1,400 a year more in taxes than if they were single.

      Under the bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Jerry Weller, R-Illinois, and Rep. David McIntosh, R-Indiana, married couples would be taxed at 15 percent on the first $49,300 of their total income -- which is comparable to two single people each paying 15 percent on their first $24,650 -- while currently, married couples are taxed at 15 percent on their first $41,200. "This reform would allow families an additional $8,100 of income taxed at the low 15 percent rate, instead of the current 28 percent rate, giving families up to $1,053 in tax relief," McIntosh said. The bill also would increase the standard deduction for married couples to $8,300 -- double the $4,150 for singles -- from the current $6,900 for a couple.

      One result of the current tax law is that it taxes the income of a family's second wage earner at a higher rate than it would if that earner were single, in some cases taking up to 80% of the that spouse's earnings as taxes.

      The bill is strongly supported by Republicans as well as pro-family groups including the Christian Coalition. Opponents criticize the bill because it does not make any provision for in spending reductions to match the estimated $150 billion in reduced taxes over five years. Weller and McIntosh said they hoped at least some of the loss would be covered by money from an expected government budget surplus. McIntosh also suggested reducing welfare spending.

Pope to mark worldwide Vocations Day by ordaining thirty priests in Rome


     Talk about a blessing: to be ordained to the priesthood by the Pope himself! That opportunity awaits 30 Roman candidates who will be ordained at St. Peter's on Sunday when the Church observes Worldwide Day of Prayer for Vocations. Prayers are very necessary as vocations continue to fall off. We desperately need more priests in the Church. Our Lady has said there are so few clergy and until we can replenish she has advised "Mobilize the Laity!" The thirty new priests for the Diocese of Rome will spend the evening in prayer vigil at the Lateran before receiving Holy Orders the next day. For more, click on ordinations to read more.

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- On Sunday, May 3, Pope John Paul II will ordain 30 new priests for service to the Diocese of Rome. The ceremony, to take place at St. Peter's Basilica, will coincide with the world day of prayer for religious vocations.

      In preparation for the sacrament, the young men to be ordained will participate-- along with members of their families-- in an evening prayer vigil at St. John Lateran on Saturday evening, May 2.

      During the 1990s, the number of ordinations for the Rome diocese has consistently fallen between 30 and 40.

Chile's Archbishop-elect seeks to carry on where his predecessor left off"

     Replacing the retired Cardinal Carlos Oviedo Cabada, the new Archbishop of Santiago, Chile Archbishop Javier Errazuriz Ossa pledged to continue the programs of reconciliation begun by his predecessor. He acknowledged that the task is overwhelming but he will be obedient to the Pope and trust totally in God for helping him lead the flock. For more, click on Archbishop of Chile to read more.

      SANTIAGO, Chile (CWNews.com) - In his first message to the Catholics of Chile's capital city on Monday, the recently appointed Archbishop-elect Javier Errazuriz Ossa of Santiago said he will follow the "path of reconciliation" set by his predecessor, Cardinal Carlos Oviedo Cabada, to solve political tensions in Chile's society.

      Archbishop-elect Errazuriz, who had been bishop of Valparaiso for only a year and a half was named successor of Cardinal Oviedo last Friday. Cardinal Oviedo, who was only 69 years old, was forced to step down due to illness. The archbishop-elect will be installed in the largest Chilean archdiocese on May 17, after the General Assembly of the Chilean Episcopate.

      Before becoming bishop of Valparaiso, the archbishop-designate worked for nine years at the Vatican as Secretary of the Congregation for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Archbishop-elect Errazuriz said during his first press conference that he will start his new mission "with hope and feeling a special synchrony with all the initiatives of Cardinal Oviedo. I want to continue his efforts to reconcile Chilean society and work in communion."

      "The Holy Father is asking me to assume a responsibility that overmatches my own capacities. But his decision doesn't discourage me, it gives me trust, because God's plan and actions are after all His own actions, held with His never-ending power, wisdom, and the unlimited generosity of His mercy," he added.

     Today, as mentioned above, is the Feast of Pope Saint Pius V. For the liturgy, readings, meditations and vignettes on this stellar saint as well as preparation for tomorrow's special feast of SAINT JOSEPH THE WORKER, click on LITURGY FOR THE DAY.

Thursday, April 30:
Thursday in the Third Week of Easter and
Feast of Saint Pius V, Pope and Religious

First Reading: Acts 8: 26-40
Psalms: Psalm 66: 1, 8-9, 16-17, 20
Gospel Reading: John 6: 44-51

      A Dominican who followed in the tradition of St. Catherine of Siena nearly two centuries later was Cardinal Michael Ghislieri who went on to become the great Pope Saint Pius V. Another of the great saints who God rose up in the "Century of Saints," Pius V was one of the most influential in Church history as he brought about renewal in the Church, carrying out many of the reforms that would reinstate the holiness and status of Holy Mother Church. Amidst the ruin of the Protestant Reformation, the corruption within the Church, and the threat of Turkish invasion, Pius carried out the teachings of the Council of Trent which had begun in 1545. The fruits of Trent are still evident today for Pius ordered the founding of seminaries for the training of priests, published a new Missal, Breviary, Catechism and initiated the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) for the youth to learn the faith. In addition, he established the Tridentine Mass which he proclaimed would be said "in perpetuity." His devotion to the Rosary and spreading the power of Our Lady's special weapon, proved victorious when he summoned all Catholics to throw themselves upon the Mercy of God and pray the Holy Rosary in begging God to save the Church from the Turks. On October 7, 1571 against unsurmountable odds, the Christian forces were miraculously victorious over the Turks in the Gulf of Lepanto off of Greece. The tremendous power of the Rosary was made manifest and that date became the official feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Pius died in 1572.

Friday, May 1:
Friday in the Third Week of Easter and
FEAST OF SAINT JOSEPH THE WORKER, PATRON OF THE CHURCH
FIRST FRIDAY

First Reading: Acts 9: 1-20
Psalms: Psalm 117: 1-2
Gospel Reading: John 6: 52-59

      So much has been said about this very special, holy, pure and quiet saint...and yet, so little is really known about Saint Joseph. No one can pinpoint the exact year he died, but we do know he died a happy, peaceful death richly deserved because of his obedience to the Will of God in being the earthly guardian of God's Own Son and the Immaculate Mother He chose to fulfill the Act of Redemption. Saint Joseph is the saint most often invoked for the grace of a happy death and the assurance that Jesus is spiritually present at that time with every dying soul. While Mary was the heart of the Holy Family, Joseph was the head, yet always submitting to a higher Power in all things...from accepting Mary's virgin birth as truly from God to rallying the family in the cold of the night to flee from Herod's wrath into a land he knew nothing about, only that God would not abandon him nor those he was charged to watch over. Every virtue can be attributed to this saint who bridged the Old Law, born into the royal family of David's lineage, and the New Law and guided to maturity Jesus Christ, our Savior. Because of his role in protecting the Holy Family he has been designated Protector of Holy Mother Church as well. He is the patron saint of workers for he lifted the work ethics to a new level and taught these values to the Son of God.

Today's Prayer is taken from the Opening Prayer of the Mass for Saint Pius V.

     Father, You chose St. Pius V as Pope of Your Church to protect the faith and give You more fitting worship. By his prayers help us to celebrate Your holy mysteries with a living faith and effective love.

For all other standard features, articles and columns, click on Archives

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Apri1 30, 1998 volume 9, no. 84   DAILY CATHOLIC