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Reconciliation and Mercy mark the Slain Swiss Guard Funerals

      It was the funeral Mass for suspected killer Swiss Guard Cedric Tornay that brought home the love, mercy and reconciliation exhibited by slain Swiss Commander-elect Alois Estermann's parents when they embraced the parents of Tornay at the Kiss of Peace. While some might call for vengeance, both sets of parents felt the deep loss of their sons and in that bond there was unity and understanding. For more, click on Funeral Masses

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican Secretary of State, presided today at the funeral for Colonel Alois Estermann, the slain commandant of the Swiss Guard, and his wife Gladys Meza Romero.

      "This is the time for pardon," the cardinal said, as he asked for "mercy" for Cedric Tornay, the Swiss Guard corporal who apparently killed the couple before committing suicide.

      Remarking that the slain commandant had attended Mass just two hours before his death, Cardinal Sodano called upon mourners to revive their "Christian hope," and to look forward to the resurrection from the dead. He called for "contemplation on the mercy of our heavenly Father, who never takes anything from his children without giving them something greater."

      Seven cardinals and 30 bishops concelebrated the funeral Mass, as the Swiss Guard in full regalia surround the casket of their fallen leader. Cardinal Sodano stressed that he was acting on behalf of the Holy Father as he conveyed his profound sympathies for the families of the victims. Turning to the members of the Swiss Guard, he added: "The Pontiff renews his thanks to you, and his gratitude for the precious service you have done for 500 years.... He hopes that this dark hour will not dampen your enthusiasm, but rather will be an occasion for still greater dedication to your important work, and greater fraternal spirit among your ranks."

      Finally the cardinal paid tribute to Colonel Estermann for his "great example of silence, fidelity, and continual generous service to the successor of Peter and the Holy See." He noted that Estermann had no fear of death-- as he had shown when he leapt to the aid of Pope John Paul II during the assassination attempt of May 1981-- and that he finished his service with a remarkable record of devotion.

      In a dramatic gesture of forgiveness, the parents of Colonel Alois Estermann today attended the funeral of Cedric Tornay, the man accused of killing their son.

      The Tornay funeral was held at St. Anne's church at the Vatican today, Bishop Amedee Grab, the head of the Swiss bishops' conference, presiding. Claudio Caratsch, the Swiss ambassador to the Holy See, also attended, as did a Vatican delegation led by Cardinal Darien Castrillon Hoyos, and a large number of uniformed Swiss Guards.

      Tornay died of a gunshot wound, evidently self-inflicted, soon after he apparently shot and killed the Swiss Guard commandant and his wife.

      At the moment of the Kiss of Peace, Tornay's parents turned to those of Alois Estermann and embraced in a sign of their mutual mourning and reconciliation.

Devastating Mudslides strike area of Campania, Italy

      Two hours of torrential rains of biblical proportions over a mountainous region left barren by earthquakes and volcano activity over the years, have left the city of Sarno and other parts of this region south of Naples devastated with thousands homeless and many feared dead or missing. The powerful force of nature has left this area reeling in disbelief as Pope John Paul II extended his deepest sympathies to the people of this area and called on all to pray for the victims. Conditions have worsened with the mud hardening as the Sarno River resides, making it more difficult to extract those trapped as extensive rescue efforts got underway. For more, click on Mudslide disaster.

      SARNO, Italy (CWNews.com) - At least 48 people are dead and 70 more are missing after mudslides slammed through towns in southern Italy on Wednesday, leaving thousands homeless and scores of villages buried in mud.

      Rescuers, assisted by the army and volunteers, continued digging through debris in villages of the Campania region south of Naples. Many children are feared to be among the dead and missing. The mudslides hit Italy just months after three earthquakes hit central Italy, killing 11 people and leaving 1,000 homeless. Days of torrential rain swept mud and topsoil off mountains and hills in the areas affected and combined to create a fast-flowing wave of mud. The end of rain and a return to warmer weather on Thursday made rescue operations more difficult as the mud begins to harden.

      Pope John Paul II called the slides a shocking disaster and said he was praying for the injured, the dead, and the missing and their families. In a telegram to the head of the bishops' conference in Campania, the Holy Father said he "shared the pain of family and friends of the victims and those still missing in the mournful effects of this shocking disaster."

Guatamalan authorities indict murder suspect of human rights bishop.

      Ten days after Auxiliary Bishop Juan Gerardi Conedra was brutally murdered, Guatamalan law authorities feel they have the culprit, enough to formally charge twenty-four year old Carlos Enrique Vielman with his murder. Determination on whether it was a sole act of violence on Vielman's part or part of a larger conspiracy because of Conedra's outspoken policy on human rights is still being determined. For more, click on Arrest to read more.

      GUATEMALA CITY (CWNews.com) - The prime suspect in the murder of an auxiliary bishop on April 26 was formally charged on Tuesday by the presiding judge in the investigation.

      Judge Jorge Figueroa opened formal court proceedings against Carlos Enrique Vielman after the suspect made his first court appearance, pleading innocent to the murder of Bishop Juan Gerardi. The bishop was found in a pool of blood in the garage of his Guatemala City home, his head crushed by a wedge of cement. Vielman was arrested four days later. Vielman was portrayed by his attorney who is a chronic alcoholic who does not even fully understand the charges against him.

      Prosecutors said Vielman was identified by two eyewitnesses and forensic evidence. Human rights leaders have claimed that Bishop Gerardi was murdered in retaliation for releasing a report two days before his death on atrocities committed by the army and rebel forces during the 36-year-long civil war that ended in 1996.

Despite support for religious persecution bill, International Relations Committee caving in to Clinton pressure

     Even though the House Ways and Means Committee passed a much-needed religious persecution bill, much of it had lost its teeth due to compromises made by the International Relations Committee in trying to appease Bill Clinton whose agenda is not in alignment with the bill and who is striving to favor China despite their miserable record of religious persecution. For more, click on religious persecution bill to read more.

      WASHINGTON, DC (CWNews.com) - The House Ways and Means Committee approved a religious persecution bill on Wednesday, after removing provisions enacting President Bill Clinton's economic sanctions against Sudan that had been approved by another committee.

      Rep. Bill Archer, R-Texas, chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, said the International Relations Committee had overstepped its jurisdiction when it had cleared attachment of the sanctions proposed by Clinton last November to the bill. He criticized the committee for deciding to "openly legislate in the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means." The Ways and Means Committee's approval of the bill also lacked a recommendation for the full House's action.

      The bill would create a special office with the State Department to monitor religious persecution worldwide and would impose economic sanctions, including denial of foreign aid and visas and a ban on exports, against countries that persecute religious minorities. Clinton has said he opposes the bill because its goals could be accomplished by other means. However, Clinton's opposition may also be due to a potential clash with China, which has consistently suppressed religious minorities and which the Clinton administration has fought to grant favored trading status. Clinton has also said the bill's mandatory sanctions would force the administration to look the other way to avoid imposing sanctions, despite the law's requirements.

For more headlines and articles, we suggest you go to the Catholic World News site. CWN is not affiliated with the Daily CATHOLIC but provides this service via e-mail to the Daily CATHOLIC Monday through Friday.

   Dear children! Today I call you, through prayer, to open yourselves to God as a flower opens itself to the rays of the morning sun. Little children, do not be afraid. I am with you and I intercede before God for each of you so that your heart receives the gift of conversion. Only in this way, little children, will you comprehend the importance of grace in these times and God will become nearer to you. Thank you for having responded to my call.

For more on Medjugorje, click on MEDJUGORJE

According to the testimony of the visionaries in Medjugorje, Our Lady introduced herself: "I am the Queen of Peace" Mary is calling all of humanity to PEACE, PEACE, PEACE - for it is necessary to save all humanity. We have to begin by first creating peace within our hearts, then in our families and then in this war-threatened world. This can be done in the following manner:

COMMITMENT TO GOD

Turn to Him and communicate with Him. He is our Eternal Father. Let Him rule your life. Begin by turning away from sin.

FAITH

Through our trust in the Lord and our total belief that Mary is the Mother of all God's children on earth. Faith is our lifeline to God. So live it.

PRAYER

Our Lady specifically calls for daily prayer consisting of the Apostles' Creed, 7 Our Father's, 7 Hail Mary's, and 7 Glory Be's which incorporate the "Peace Rosary"; then the whole Rosary and, if possible, all 15 Decades meditating on the Mysteries; daily reading of the Word of God in Sacred Scripture; and personal communication with God throughout our active daily duties and during quiet time with your own special prayers between you and God.

FASTING

Mary asks us to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays and, if possible, on only bread and water. If this is unfeasible, then restraining from various activities is encouraged so that we may begin to abandon our worthless worldly values, denying the flesh, the world, and the devil. These sacrifices will help assure eternal bliss for ourselves and others.

SACRAMENTS

Our Blessed Mother asks us to receive the Holy Sacraments as often as possible. She requests monthly Confession or even more frequently for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and asks that we worthily and reverently receive her Divine Son in the Holy Eucharist as often as possible at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

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May 8-10, 1998 volume 9, no. 90   DAILY CATHOLIC