NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      NEW YORK, 8 (NE) Cardinal John O'Connor, Archbishop of New York, highlighted recently that in this last year before the Jubilee of the year 2000 "we are asked to open our hearts to Jesus, as Mary opened her heart, her will and her womb to conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit and to bring him into the world. We must prepare for the jubilee," said the Cardinal, "by repentance for all of the sins of the past, by reconciliation with those from whom we are distanced, by the opening of our minds and our hearts with love for God and for everyone made in his image and likeness."

      The Archbishop of New York also affirmed that one of the fundamental roles of Christians, at the threshold of the third millennium, is to help so that the teachings of the Church "may be much more vitally lived out, and much more realistically practiced in our world," infusing"life into this culture of death." Mentioning the Ordinance of the II Vatican Council Ad Gentes on the missionary activity of the Church, the Cardinal reminded of the obligation of all "to be evangelizers," taking "the light of Christ into the darkness." He added that, "No Christian can ever be a pessimist. Our Holy Father repeats perhaps more than any other phrase the words of Jesus, `Do not be afraid'."