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Highlights from the January 16, 2000 issue of The Catholic New
World newspaper.
THE BISHOP'S COLUMN
Medical Mission Partnership: Santa Cruz, Bolivia and Chicago
Chicago’s Muslims: numerous, devout
Millennium Campaign benefits pilot parishes
Seeking Christian unity, respect in Chicago
News:
Declining U.S. abortion rate heartens pro-life movement
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Catholic bishops lauded the newly released
figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which
showed U.S. abortions in 1997 were at their lowest level in two
decades.
Bishop's remarks spark once-taboo discussion
A German bishop’s suggestion that Pope John Paul II could one
day resign has stimulated open discussion on a once-taboo subject
at the Vatican.
Detention references kill Bible, English classes
Catholic News Service writer Patricia Zapor discusses the INS
decision to suspend Bible and English classes offered by Jesuit
Refugee Services at a detention center in Elizabeth, N.J., apparently
because volunteers talked about detention with the detainees.
Millennium Campaign benefits pilot parishes
Six out of seven exceed fund-raising goals
Parishes that have started piloting the archdiocesan Millennium
Campaign are finding success and, in most cases, exceeding fund-raising
goals. The Office for Stewardship and Development will roll out
the campaign for all parishes next year. Full text available.
“Learn from past,” pope urges
Pope John Paul II said that as he pushed open the Holy Door at
St. Peter’s Basilica Christmas Eve, he was thinking with optimism
about world progress in the new millennium. The pope, in an annual
speech Jan. 10 to Vatican-accredited diplomats, said he felt called
by God from the beginning of his two-decade pontificate to encourage
the world to think of itself as one family.
Pope to visit Holy Land in March
The pope will also celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation
in Nazareth, which became a site of controversy last year when
Muslims announced plans to build a mosque next to the church.
The Vatican announced the trip Jan. 12 after several months of
talks with Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian officials. The Vatican
statement noted the main events but did not provide a detailed
schedule.
Enrollment stabilizing in archdiocese schools
Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic schools closed in on stabilizing
enrollment this year, posting the system’s smallest drop in 17
years.The 312 elementary and high schools in the archdiocese’s
school system have 129,678 students in the 1999-2000 school year,
a decline of less than 1 percent from the previous year. The schools
had seen enrollment declines of between 1 percent and 2.5 percent
every year since 1982.
Feature Our Neighbors in Faith Chicago’s Muslims: numerous, devout
The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago wants
Chicagoans to understand the Islamic faith and to know that there
are about 400,000 Muslims in the area--the second largest religious
group behind Christians. Full text available.
The Interview Seeking Christian unity, respect in Chicago
This week, at the start of Christian Unity Week, Catholic New
World staff writer Michael D. Wamble talks with Southern Baptist
leader the Rev. James Queen. Full text available.
Commentary
Father John Dietzen responds to questions about Gospel references
to the brothers and sisters of Jesus in “The Question Corner.”
Books
Father Andrew Greeley, author of more than 40 novels, may be slowing
down a bit at age 72, but he still has a lot to say about the
Catholic Church. In a new book, “Furthermore! Memories of a Parish
Priest,’’ he takes on issues of church leadership, the church’s
response to sexual abuse charges against priests, the rights of
the laity, and the role of Catholic schools in America.
Harry Potter series author: “I believe in God, not magic”
“I believe in God, not magic,’’ said J.K. Rowling, author of the
popular Harry Potter series of children’s books. During a U.S.
book tour stop in Washington, Rowling discussed the nature of
evil, censorship and faith, among other things.
Parish Pride
St. Athanasius Church
1615 Lincoln St.,
Evanston
Dark days of the Great Depression could not dampen resolve to
build and dedicate this elegant edifice made of grey lannon stone
in 1937. Its English Gothic design, used by architects McCarthy,
Smith & Eppig, dates back to the Middle Ages. In this tree-lined
parish within walking distance of the Northwestern Wildcats’ stadium,
Jubilee Year plans include a Holy Land pilgrimage, sacred concerts
and reflections on work and family.
Church Clips
Start right now -- Here is a “time-raiser” not a fund-raiser,
says Sister of Charity Mary Bookser: “Peace is built hour by hour,
day by day.” She’s part of a coalition of 13 congregations of
women religious called Sisters United News (SUN), and St. Anthony
Messenger Press who are inviting everyone to take part in building
world peace. Since peace begins at home they want to tally “1,000
years” of peacemaking activities, or 8,766,000 hours by the end
of the year 2000. The hours one spends praying for peace or volunteering
for a worthy cause, or even letting go of a grudge, inviting a
lonely neighbor for tea, helping a friend with their math homework,
(you get the idea) all count. Youngsters to adults can pledge
their time by mail to S.U.N., 100 E. 8th St., Cincinnati, OH 45202
or by contacting the magazine’s web site, www.AmericanCatholic.org.
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