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HEADLINES:

Immediate aftermath of Court decision against Pro-Lifers evokes strong reactions

     The president of Human Life International, Father Richard Welch expressed grave concern that radicals on both sides may take the decision and run with it - the pro-aborts flooding the courts with class-action suits and fanatical pro-lifers going into a vigilante mode in retaliation of the unjust decision reached earlier this week that pro-life demonstrations were akin to racketeering. He did express optimism, however, when hearing that Cardinal Francis George, OMI has pledged the Church's support in appealing the decision, saying "That is where the Church belongs - right at the forefront of protecting our religious and civil liberties in a court system that has now become a venue for the culture of death in America." For more, click on Reaction

     CHICAGO (CWNews.com) - Pro-life and pro-abortion groups on Tuesday continued to react to Monday's guilty verdict in the racketeering lawsuit against Operation Rescue, Pro-Life Action League (PLAL), and their leaders, even as the court set a date for a hearing on a requested injunction order barring protest activities at clinics.

      PLAL director Joseph Scheidler, one of the defendants in the lawsuit, said neither he nor his group had any money left to pay any of the damages, which could amount to millions of dollars, after paying the legal fees for their defense. "A million dollars, a billion dollars, a trillion dollars, the national debt -- they won't get it," he said. "You can't get blood from a turnip -- and we're turnips." Clinics in Milwaukee and Wilmington, Delaware, were awarded damages totaling $85,926.92, which will be tripled under federal racketeering law, and because this was a class-action lawsuit, other clinics could join in.

      Other pro-life leaders not involved in the lawsuit said on Tuesday they feared the judgement could backfire and bring forth a radical fringe to take up the protests. Father Richard Welch, president of Human Life International, "Our immediate concern is that it may bring more radical opposition elements to the forefront -- Christians who have no assets to lose and no fear of long jail terms or even the death penalty." Father Welch said he was heartened to learn that the Archdiocese of Chicago will participate in the appeal process. "That is where the Church belongs -- right at the forefront in protecting our religious and civil liberties in a court system that has now become a venue for the culture of death in America."

      The presiding judge in the case, US District Court Judge David Coar, set June 30 as the date for a hearing to determine if he should issue an injunction order against pro-life protesters from using a variety of tactics in abortion clinics demonstrations. The injunction, which will affect more than 1 million pro-lifers nationwide, will be aimed at prohibiting a more widespread set of activities than is already prohibited under federal law, which already bans blockades.

Netanyahu to take part in Auschwitz Demonstration on 50th Anniversary

      It was announced in Warsaw that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would participate in the massive march in front of the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz this week. He said he will do so not only to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of Israel, but also to honor over 1.5 million Jews who were gassed at Auschwitz during World War II. In recent months there have been strong sentiments on both Jewish and Christian sides over the controversy of the Cross outside Auschwitz which stands for the martyred Catholics as well as all others, specifically Saint Maximillian Kolbe and Blessed Edith Stein. The Polish government has pledged their support in helping the march go peacefully. For more, click on Auschwitz March.

     WARSAW (CWNews.com) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that he will lead a march at the Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz this week to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of Israel and the Holocaust which provided its impetus.

      The Israeli organizers of the "March of the Living" say its chief aim is to disprove and protest against spreading claims in Europe that the Holocaust never happened, as well as remember the 1.5 million Jews, out of a total of 6 million, who were killed at the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. It will be the first time that an Israeli prime minister will join the march.

      Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek has urged his countrymen to respect the march and its participants by refraining from protests over calls to remove a cross planted near the camp. Some Jewish groups have called for the removal of the cross from a former convent, but Catholics retort that many others also died in the Nazi camp including St. Maximilian Kolbe and Blessed Edith Stein.

      "I think Poland's good image in the world demands this ceremony should take place with concentration, with the gravity required by the Holocaust and death of a huge number of people of various nationalities who died in Auschwitz and Birkenau," Buzek told private Radio Zet in an interview on Wednesday. He said he did not know directly of any plans to disturb the march, which he would attend, but this was possible.

Pope Pleads for Texas man on Death Row

     Despite the eleventh hour, the Holy Father made an impassioned plea to Texas Governor George Bush, Jr. to have mercy on convicted killer Joseph Cannon who admitted to killing a Texas woman twenty-one years ago. Like death-row inmate Karla Faye Tucker, who the Pope also intervened for but was still executed in February, Cannon found religion in prison. Little hope is held out that Bush will stay the execution because of his tough-on-crime track record. For more, click on Death Row to read more.

POPE SEEKS CLEMENCY FOR TEXAS CONVICT

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- Pope John Paul II has again intervened personally to seek clemency for an American criminal who is scheduled for execution.

      The Vatican press office today confirmed that the Holy Father has written to Texas Governor George Bush, Jr, asking him to commute the sentence of Joseph Cannon, a convicted killer who was scheduled for execution last night. The Pope's letter was delivered through the apostolic nuncio in the United States, Archbishop Agostino Cacciavillan. However, the archbishop acknowledged that the chances of persuading Gov. Bush to commute the sentence are slim.

      Joseph Cannon was sentenced to die after being convicted of the murder of a Texas woman 21 years ago, when he was only 17. He would be the first American in several years to die for a crime committed while he was still legally a minor. Cannon argues that his years in prison have changed him, bringing him to embrace religion.

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Events today in Church History

     For events throughout the centuries that are memorable in Church history today, click on ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME

Historical Events in Church Annals for April 23:

303 A.D.


Death of Saint George by beheading at the order of Diocletian. This martyred soldier is not only the Patron Saint of England and Portugal, but also of soldiers and the Boy Scouts of America.

981 A.D.


Death of Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg also of Prague who was an Archbishop who played a key role in the conversion of Russia.

1014 A.D.


Brian Boru, King of Ireland defeats the Danes at the Battle of Clondarf, preserving the faith in the emerald isle.

1445 A.D.


Margaret of Anjou marries King Henry VI, monarch of England with the blessings of Pope Eugene IV.

1500 A.D.


Explorer Pedro Alvarez de Cabral lands in Brazil and proclaims it for Portugal, bringing the faith to this largest of South American countries.

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Medjugorje Monthly Message for March 25th

   Dear children! Also today I call you to fasting and renunciation. Little children, renounce that which hinders you from being closer to Jesus. In a special way I call you: Pray, because only through prayer will you be able to overcome your will and discover the will of God even in the smallest things. By your daily life, little children, you will become an example and witness that you live for Jesus or against Him and His will. Little children, I desire that you become apostles of love. By loving, little children, it will be recognized that you are mine. Thank you for having responded to my call. For more on Medjugorje, click on MEDJUGORJE

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PROVERB OF THE DAY

"Varying weights are an abomination to the Lord, and false scales are not good."

Proverbs 20: 23

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

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Apri1 23, 1998 volume 9, no. 79   DAILY CATHOLIC