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Breakthrough concessions from China could clear the way for diplomatic relations and an end to persecutions

      Are our prayers working or not? Wow! First the communist regime in Cuba, then overtures from Vietnam that they might be willing to develop diplomatic relations with the Holy See and now this news just released that China - the mighty communistic land of Red China is mellowing and, through behind-the-scenes little-publicized meetings between Vatican officials and the Chinese government, they might be ready to make concessions that would pave the way for establishing diplomatic relations with the Vatican. For more, click on A China pattern in place .

      BEIJING (CWNews.com) - A Beijing newspaper reported on Friday that China's Communist government may be prepared to recognize Vatican authority over Catholics in China as a prelude to formal diplomatic ties.

      The United Daily News newspaper said China had made the concession in secret talks with Vatican officials who have made several visits to Beijing. According to the report, the Pope would be allowed to choose and ordain new bishops for the Church in China, but the Communist government would still retain final approval. The reported compromise is similar to the arrangement the Vatican has worked out with Communist Vietnam.

      The newspaper report also said the Vatican agreed to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which China views as a renegade province. However, the Vatican would still maintain unofficial ties with Taiwan's government and would suffer no restrictions on the 300,000 Catholics in Taiwan. The topic of a papal visit to Hong Kong and a reciprocal visit by Chinese President Jiang Zemin to the Vatican are as yet unresolved.

      China's government mandates that all Catholics belong to the state-sanctioned Catholic Patriotic Association, which eschews any connections to the Vatican. The association has an estimated 3 million members while there are an estimated 8-10 million underground Catholics.

Cardinal Carles condemns condoms and other contraception campaings in Spain

      The Cardinal Archbishop of Barcelona is taking no prisoners in his constant attacks on government officials who are promoting the widespread use of condoms as a measure of preventing AIDS and other sexually-transmitted diseases as well as pregnancies. He pulls no punches in letting all know from the pulpit to the political arena that the only safe prevention is abstinence. For more, click on Abstinence is the only answer.

      BARCELONA, Spain (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Ricard Maria Carles of Barcelona this week condemned an AIDS awareness campaign that promotes condom use as dangerous to the spiritual and moral well-being of young people.

      Cardinal Carles said in his weekly newsletter to parishes in his archdiocese that it was "feeble and deceptive" to promote condom use as a way to engage in safe sex. Dr. Francisco Parras, head of the Health Ministry department dealing with AIDS campaigns, said that while he respected the Church's right to comment, this would not influence government-sponsored campaigns.

      "If this was a society where people didn't have sex, then sexual relations would not be a way of transmitting the HIV virus. But Spain is not like that," Parras said.

Grand basilica in Assisi to be virtually ready by Jubilee

      A year and a half ago a devastating earthquake struck the Umbrian region severely damaging many of the priceless art and architecture in Assisi including the great basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. There is still much work to do, but restorers there are confident it will be in "tourist shape" for the glut of pilgrims expected for the Jubilee year. While some pieces are irreplaceable, some, such as the original paintings on the ceilings will be projected via slides giving the virtual impression of being in place just as they were painted centuries ago. Talk about virtual reality! For more, click on Virtual Assisi.

      ROME (CWNews.com) - St. Francis Basilica in Assisi will reopen in time for Jubilee Year celebrations, although some repairs to earthquake damage will still be ongoing, restorers said on Friday.

      More than 168 square yards of frescoes painted by Giotto and Cimabue along with a piece of the ceiling in the upper church were damaged by the September 26, 1997 earthquake which also killed two friars. Head restorer Guiseppe Basile said less than 20 percent of the frescoes had been reassembled so visitors will instead see images of the paintings projected onto the walls and ceiling.

      "People will look up at the ceilings and see virtual copies of the original paintings" projected from slides, said Antonio Paolucci, a former cultural minister now in charge of the restoration project. Some 12 million pilgrims -- three times the usual number -- are expected to visit the basilica in 2000.

Motown providing more help for needy students through special scholarship program by Cardinal Maida

      Cardinal Adam Maida has taken the needs of poor students personally, so much so that he is establishing a special archdiocesan fund for scholarships to provide good Catholic education to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity because of funds. Through this special program those awarded scholarships can choose from over 170 private schools in the greater Detroit area. For more, click on Destiny in Detroit

      DETROIT, 6 (NE) "For many of these children, options are limited. How can something be done to make a difference for them? I have long prayed and even cried over these questions," recently said Cardinal Adam Maida, Archbishop of Detroit. The answer has come in the form of a scholarship program to help needy students afford private school in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park.

      The program will be administered by a Catholic foundation. It currently counts with a 10 million-dollar fund that will be fully destined for the education of children. Students with a grant can choose from 170 Catholic schools in the area or other private schools. This effort is part of the archdiocese's effort to give priority to Catholic education, which has been amply promoted by the Cardinal Maida.

For more headlines and articles, we suggest you go to the Catholic World News site at the CWN home page and Church News at Noticias Eclesiales. Both CWN and NE are not affiliated with the Daily CATHOLIC but provides this service via e-mail to the Daily CATHOLIC Monday through Friday.

     In honor of today's optional feast of Saint John of God we present the official American site for THE HOSPITALLERS OF SAINT JOHN OF GOD also known as the Brothers of Saint John of God which St. John of God founded and which devote themselves to charity to all and sacrifice as their emblem of the pomagranate and the cross symbolize. This Portuguese-born saint is the patron saint of the sick, nurses and hospitals the world over.

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March 8, 1999 volume 10, no. 46   DAILY CATHOLIC