NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      BEVERLY HILLS, California (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles presided at a prayer vigil on Tuesday night remembering entertainer Frank Sinatra who died last week at the age of 82.

      Sinatra, who had a long singing and acting career and was linked to scandalous stories involving organized crime and adulterous affairs, reportedly reconciled himself to the Catholic faith of his childhood and returned to church in his last years. More than 400 family and friends attended the private service at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, which included a medley of Sinatra songs, a choir recital, and eulogies by his daughter Nancy, granddaughter Amanda, and close friend, singer Tony Bennett.

      Cardinal Mahony said Sinatra was loved because "he didn't have a perfect life, that he did have struggles and he did have trials and he did have difficulties and he had setbacks just like all people do, and yet he had vision and was able to see beyond that," said Father Gregory Coiro, a spokesman for the archdiocese. "And the cardinal said that greatness comes not from struggle. Greatness comes from the ability to see beyond and then encourage others by being able to overcome," he said.

      Sinatra was to be buried on Wednesday in a private service in Palm Springs, next to his mother, Natalie, and father, Anthony.