Page 1874 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

Catholic teens from across the Archdiocese of Baltimore had plenty of weighty questions for archdiocesan leaders during a Jan. 14 youth forum sponsored by the Archdiocese Youth Advisory Council. Meeting at Mount de Sales Academy in Catonsville, more than 60 young people queried two auxiliary bishops, archdiocesan lay leaders and a school principal on the differences between liberal and conservative Catholics, the role of women in the church, being prolife and understanding homosexuality. The teens developed the questions themselves and participated in an open forum and small-group discussions in a dialogue designed to bridge the generation gap.

Pelosi report scandalous

The decision to publish the Catholic News Service story on Nancy Pelosi (CR, Jan. 11) is a scandal. Here we have the case of a supposedly Catholic government official who proclaims her support for all the anti-life positions, and the article treats it as minor criticism of someone “we can always talk to.” This is a blatant case of giving to Caesar what is God’s.

Catholics told action honors MLK Jr. more than words

Hundreds of Baltimore black Catholics were urged to celebrate the life of slain civil-rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. by bridging the racial divide that continues to create tension among all of God’s children. “This is an annual reminder of the racial division in our community,” said Father Donald A. Sterling, pastor of New All Saints, Liberty Heights, during his homily at a Jan. 14 Mass. “We must draw on our faith to create ethnic and racial harmony globally and in our own communities.” The Mass preceded The Men’s Club of New All Saints 27th-Annual Communion Breakfast.

Polish prelate denies allegations

WARSAW, Poland – The Polish archbishop who resigned after admitting he collaborated with his country’s communist secret police denied claims that he failed to inform the pope about his past. Meanwhile, another archbishop has rejected accusations that he also acted as an informer and published an explanation of his secret police contacts.

Archdiocese rings in ethics hotline

At the end of January, the Archdiocese of Baltimore will introduce an ethics hotline for its employees, volunteers, parishioners, vendors and other interested parties to report financial and human resource issues confidentially. The week of Jan. 15, a brochure and poster detailing the new hotline was mailed to all schools and parishes in the archdiocese, and prior to that, a letter was sent from Cardinal William H. Keeler to all pastors, associate pastors, pastoral life directors and principals announcing the program. “The use of a hotline is growing more common in other Arch/diocesan and nonprofit organizations and we believe will help us achieve our goals of transparency and accountability throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore,” the cardinal wrote.

Pray for politicians to use power wisely

It is not surprising that the local and national media has been touting the arrival of Nancy Pelosi to her powerful position as majority speaker in the House of Representatives. However, it is confusing to witness the praise and honor which has been enthusiastically lavished upon the new speaker of the house by her former neighbors in Little Italy, and other local Catholics, priests and nuns when considering her terrible voting record.

Abortion is not the only issue

I wish to respectfully disagree with James Dickinson’s letter (CR, Jan. 4), in which he states that the right to life should take issue before all others – meaning the end of legal abortion. I agree with him that Democrats should change the pro-abortion platform. In the same breath, if the Republicans think that prolife is the one and only issue in their platform, why don’t they try a little harder with this administration in their quest for “peace” to use other methods than militarism, bullets and bombs?

Character carries Cavs

The Jan. 11 ice hockey match-up between Archbishop Spalding, Severn, and reigning league champion Mount St. Joseph, Baltimore, was a “character game” according to Spalding’s head coach, Steve Moeglein. “We have a young team and we were a little shell-shocked in the first eight to 10 minutes of play,” said Moeglein on the 6-2 loss as the Cavaliers were unable to get off a shot in the early portion of the contest.

Humility and Excellence; a winning combination

There were two things that Kirk Salvo took away from his high school wrestling days at Mount St. Joseph, Baltimore, humility and excellence. Now into his second season as the Gaels head coach, Salvo, ’84, challenges his wrestlers to focus on the same.

Baltimore supports critically injured veteran

The harsh reality of the war in Iraq smacks Corey Fick in the face every time the Towson resident visits his boyhood friend Ryan Major in the hospital and sees his fellow St. Pius X School alum struggling to heal after a land mine explosion resulted in the amputation of both of his legs. Not wanting money to be an issue for his childhood friend, Mr. Fick, a 21-year-old St. Pius X, Rodgers Forge parishioner, and some friends held a bull roast at St. Pius Jan. 13 which drew more than 500 people and raised approximately $50,000. The money will be funneled into the Ryan C. Major Foundation, which will pay for essentials the U.S. Army will not fund, such as a handicap ramp to the entrance of his mother’s Silver Spring home.

Area Catholics urged to support Sudan relief efforts

As support from parishes and schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore continues to help relief efforts in violence-riddled North Sudan, a Catholic Relief Services representative working in that country urged local Catholics to endorse United Nations aid. “The Catholic population has been extremely generous throughout this conflict,” said Mark Snyder, a CRS field representative stationed in Khartoum, who was in the organization’s headquarters in Baltimore for a press call Jan. 10. “But, we need the people here to lobby their political representatives for more U.N. support and to insure funding, so our programs won’t fade away.”

Former Gibbons coach dies at age 49