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TUESDAY March 7, 2000 vol. 11, no. 47 SECTION THREESee why so many consider the Daily CATHOLIC as the "USA Today for CATHOLICS!"
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Presidential hopeful Alan Keyes, holding out slim hope for the nomination on Super Tuesday eve, didn't have to worry about any Bob Jones University controversy when he spoke last night at Franciscan University of Steubenville for his agenda is very much in line with the University's and the president of the orthodox Catholic college Father Michael Scanlan, TOR who welcomed the Roman Catholic candidate. Keyes is one of the few honest candidates who truly lives and preaches his Faith, never waivering in support of pro-life and family values.continued inside.
STEUBENVILLE, OHIO, (ZENIT).- Alan Keyes' last campaign stop
before the Super Tuesday primaries, which are expected to decide the
race, was at the Franciscan University of Steubenville.
An acclaimed orator, Dr. Keyes spoke for 45 minutes Monday evening,
followed by a question and answer session with the audience, which has
become his campaign trademark. The public was invited to this free rally.
"Dr. Keyes is an exemplary model of leadership," says Tom Buck,
president of the Franciscan University Student Association (FUSA), the
sponsor of Keyes visit. "We brought him here to show our students the
leadership qualities they should exhibit upon graduation."
A former US Ambassador to the United Nations Social and Economic
Council, Keyes first ran for president as a Republican candidate in
1996. He hosts the nationally syndicated radio talk show "The Alan Keyes
Show: America's Wake Up Call," and is a recognized leader in the
conservative movement.
ZE00030520
Cardinal John J. O'Connor, soon to be Archbishop-emeritus of New York once Bishop Sean Patrick O'Malley is installed, received final clearance to receive the rare and coveted Congressional Gold Medal when the president signed the legislation to bestow this coveted medal on the ailing prelate suffering from the after effects of brain surgery. continued inside.
NEW YORK, MAR 6 (ZENIT.org).- President Clinton signed legislation on
Sunday awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Cardinal John O'Connor
for his service to the nation. "For more than 50 years, Cardinal
O'Connor has served the Catholic Church and our nation with constancy
and commitment," stated the President.
The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S.
Congress on a civilian. Among the 250 previous recipients are George
Washington, the Wright Brothers, and Mother Teresa.
Cardinal O'Connor continues in a state of weakened health after brain
tumor surgery last year. In fact, Congress put the bill awarding him the
Gold Medal on the fast track in order to make the award as quickly as
possible.
Spokesman Joseph Zwilling said the 80-year-old Cardinal was "feeling
better the last few days, but still weak and not able to resume a
regular schedule." He indicated that is was unlikely that O'Connor will
be able to celebrate Ash Wednesday Mass.
"Whether it was the soldier on the battlefield or the patient dying of
AIDS, Cardinal O'Connor has ministered with a gentle spirit and a loving
heart," stated Clinton. "Through it all, he has stood strong as an
advocate for the poor, a champion for workers, and an inspiriation for
millions."
ZE00030520
During a visit of South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung, the Pope called for and encouraged "inter-Korean" dialogue in an effort to bring peace to this far east region. The Holy Father's words speak to the heart of the matter, stressing the importance of the Korean people as a whole, without division based on politics or economic measures. continued inside.
VATICAN CITY, 6 (NE) Pope John Paul II encouraged on Saturday
peace and reconciliation between North and South Korea. During
his address to South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung, the Holy
Father expressed his joy for the "fresh initiatives to foster
inter-Korean dialogue". "Certainly," the Pope said, "the path of
reconciliation will be long and difficult. Yet despite the
obstacles, you have not allowed yourselves to become discouraged
in your endeavors to establish a climate of good and harmonious
relations."
The Holy Father also called to a special concern for the
individual, stressing that "the most valuable asset of the
nation is its people. Productivity and profit cannot be the
sole measure of progress; indeed development is not authentic
unless it benefits individuals and the promotion of the good of
the family, the nation and the world community." A failure to
recognize "the existence of transcendent truth, in obedience to
which man achieves his full identity," the Pope further said,
"undermines the principles guaranteeing just relations between
peoples and can lead to the rise of various forms of
totalitarianism."
Concluding his address, the Pope encouraged the "efforts to
promote social renewal and reconciliation among all the members
of the Korean family. I pray that the Korean people will
safeguard those spiritual values and qualities of character
which sustain freedom, dignity and truth, and provide a sure
direction for the future. May the Republic of Korea prosper on
the path of genuine progress and true peace."
The roots of Mardi Gras, lost in history, may have begun in ancient Greece where spring fertility rites were inaugurated for the festival of Bacchus, and in Roman history the feast of "Lupercalia."
Nations throughout the world point to different cultural history as the source of their "Carnival" or "Mardi Gras" preceding Ash Wednesday. In Rio de Janiero, where the most blatant cavorting goes on during the Carnival, the Archdiocese there is offering an alternative in preparation for Lent with over 25,000 participating. continued inside.
ROME, MAR 6 (ZENIT.org).- The origins of Carnival (or Mardi Gras) are
lost in history. Apparently it developed out of Greek pagan festivals
some 5000 years ago. These spring fertility rites to Bacchus later gave
rise to the Roman "Lupercalia," which were still celebrated in the first
Christian centuries.
Just as the external trappings of the Feast of the Unconquered Sun were
taken on by Christians in their celebrations of Christmas, so too, the
Lupercalia became a sort of preparatory period for Lent. The Christian
name for the feast, "Carnival," apparently comes from "Caro, Vale"
[Goodbye, meat] or perhaps "Carnem levare" [lift up meat] -- the sense
being that days of fasting and abstinence from meat are on their way.
While the focal point of the celebrations is Ash Wednesday, the
beginning of the celebrations differs from country to country. For
instance "Fasching" [probably from "faseln" -- be fruitful, refering to
the pagan celebration] in Bavaria begins with Epiphany. New Orleans'
Mardi Gras [Fat Tuesday] also begins at this time. On the otherhand, the
German Rhineland celebrates Fastnacht [Fasting eve] starting on November
11 (at 11:11 a.m., of course). Rome's "Carnivale," while not
particularly famous, starts on the Thursday before Lent.
Perhaps the most unusual schedule is that of Basel, Switzerland. A
Bishop had banned "Fasnacht" celebrations, and the people apparently
decided that if the celebration was a sin, they might as well make it a
big sin. As a result, Basel celebrates its Carnival after Lent has
already begun.
In early times, Rome was the center of this festival of the streets,
which was decisive in the development of popular theater, songs in the
vernacular, and folkloric dancing. The use of masks began in Germany and
Switzerland, not for purposes of hiding, but to present short humorous
plays. The custom extended from there to much of the world, for example,
to the elegant Venetian Carnivale.
In Spain, Carnival was prohibited in 1939, with the advent of Francisco
Franco, but reemerged during the democratic transition, although it is
only in evidence in a few cities like Cadiz or Tenerife.
At this time of year, the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro offers a program of processions, retreats, Masses and Prayer Vigils. At the request of Cardinal Araujo de Sales, the Archbishop, Holy Hours and Vigils are scheduled. The retreat, which the Charismatic Renewal Movement has organized for 10 years, began on Saturday in the "Nossa Senhora da Piedade" School. 25,000 people are participating.
Another news-catching initiative is that of the St. Benedict of the Holy Cross parish in Sao Paulo, which will hold a parade of Fr. Esdras Moraes Freire's "samba school." The parade includes some 800 persons, divided into 7 wings and 3 allegorical carts, which will travel along the principal streets of the city. The attraction of the parade is a live representation of "Moses' Prodigies," accompanied by music composed for the occasion. The allegorical carts reproduce passages from the Old Testament, like the Passover and Pharaoh's court, and the wings represent additional prodigies of Moses in the Exodus. "I do everything for the love of God," Fr. Freire said. He explained that the Christian parade is an opportunity for the faithful who do not like the traditional Carnival. "The idea is to celebrate Carnival in a healthy way," the priest, member of the Charismatic Renewal, said. ZE00030505
While the Holy Father reissued his plea to all for prayer and aid in helping the devastated people of Mozambique who are victims to the worst floods in the history of the country, the Central African Bishops met in conference and issued a call to fellow Bishops globally to reach out to their governments to assist in humanitarian efforts and to restore peace to this troubled region. They pointed out that armed militias and regular armies, trained by foreign forces including the U.S., continue to murder, rape and pillage the area. continued inside.
VATICAN CITY, MAR 5 (ZENIT).- Today, after proclaiming the beatification
of 44 martyrs, John Paul II raised his voice a second time to appeal for
aid for Mozambique.
"My thoughts go to the people of Mozambique, who are living through a
tragedy of unheard of proportions, caused by great floods that have
ravaged a vast part of the territory. International solidarity has spent
itself over these days, but there is still much to be done. I encourage
all to continue generously in the rescue work to alleviate, in all
possible ways, the dramatic situation of these brothers of ours," the
Pope said.
On February 25, while on his trip to Egypt, John Paul II urged
international mobilization to assist this country in its emergency.
Spokesman for aid agencies fear that the number of victims caused by the
floods is much higher than originally estimated. The counting of victims
cannot be completed at this time, as the level of water in the affected
areas is still very high.
Hundreds of people in the country have contracted cholera and typhus;
the lack of food has forced others to hunt rats, which increases the
risk of spreading diseases.
Joaquim Chissano, President of Mozambique, stated that the first stage
of reconstruction will require at least $250 million. The International
Monetary Fund and the World Bank have announced that they will increase
credits and speed up funding to the Maputo government.
Meanwhile from the heart of Africa has come an anguished cry,
denouncing the West's indifference to a terrible tragedy.
Central African bishops have blamed the hypocrisy of Western governments
and those of North Africa for ignoring the ongoing war and suffering in
the Great Lakes region.
In a strongly worded message, the Association of Central African
Episcopal Conferences addresses fellow Bishops in industrialized
nations. "In the name of human and Christian solidarity, we implore you
to appeal to your governments, political and economic leaders, and
international enterprises to listen more intently to the anguished cry
of our peoples, victims of the unbridled desire for profit."
In spite of constant appeals for peace, the Permanent Council of the
Association of Central African Episcopal Conferences, which embraces the
Church in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo,
Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Chad, is acutely aware of "the persistence
of armed conflicts and the climate of insecurity."
In their message, the Bishops allege that the acts of violence and
killings are multiplying, while armed militias as well as regular
armies, often trained by foreign military, turn to looting and rape.
This situation causes the displacement of masses of innocent people.
Human rights are trampled, "creating explosive risks," the Bishops point
out; poverty, misery, and AIDS have become permanent fixtures in their
countries.
The Bishops put their finger on the sore, and lay the blame squarely on
certain foreign and domestic elements. Politicized tribes, lack of
transparency in the management of public affairs, the egotism of
politicians, and all-pervasive corruption, the gangrenous poison of
institutions, are concurrent factors that threaten "the future of our
peoples, especially of youth." These are the evils of African societies,
but "foreign powers also bear responsibility for the present situation."
"The unbridled desire for profit, strictly for self benefit, is often
detrimental to our countries, and pressures them to corrupt their
leaders." The profit motive stops at nothing, and the inestimable
natural wealth of the Central African region, "paradoxically has become
the source of our misfortune. Whole nations have been subjected to steel
and fire for the sole purpose of preserving the interests of this or
that foreign country, this or that multinational," the African Bishops
denounce.
In a word, theirs are victim nations of that "unbridled search for
profit," in a continent similar to the Gospel figure assaulted by
robbers on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, which was emphasized in
the exhortation "Ecclesia in Africa," and quoted in this episcopal
message. There are human beings in "urgent need of Good Samaritans to
come to their help," human beings who during this Jubilee Year and more
than ever before, hope for justice. ZE00030507 and
ZE00030502
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