NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      ALEXANDRIA, Louisiana (CWNews.com) - The Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana suffered serious losses on Monday when the chancery building was gutted by a mysterious fire.

      No one was seriously injured, although a firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene, but nearly all of the secretarial and departmental offices were gutted. Sacramental records, including baptism and marriage records, and financial records may have survived because they were stored in vaults, but there condition could not be determined until the scene had been investigated.

      Fire department spokesmen said the fire at the St. Joseph Catholic Center began around 6:15 pm and was under control 45 minutes later, although the fire was still burning. Bishop Sam Jacobs was on the scene was firefighters battled the blaze and later said he was thankful no one was seriously injured. "We don't know what caused it," Bishop Jacobs said. "It looks like most of the secretarial and departmental offices in the back are burned and gutted. It's hard to tell from the outside. "Right now, I have no idea what this means for the diocese," he added. "We just have to see the damage once the fire's out."