Page 1809 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

SYDNEY, Australia – Cardinal George Pell of Sydney said he regrets the passage of a therapeutic cloning initiative by the New South Wales state parliament.

German man sent for treatment after jumping toward papal jeep

VATICAN CITY – A 27-year-old German man was forced to undergo immediate psychiatric treatment June 6 after he jumped over a barrier in St. Peter’s Square and reached the back of the open jeep in which Pope Benedict XVI was riding. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, refused to release the man’s name but said he was in a Rome psychiatric facility by 2:30 p.m., about four hours after being tackled to the ground by Vatican police. The man was first taken to the Vatican police station and questioned by Gianluigi Marrone, a Vatican judge, Father Lombardi said.

Pope publicly calls on G-8 leaders to increase development aid

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI publicly called on the leaders of the world’s richest nations to keep their promises to increase development aid.

State attorney general to review block on partial-birth abortion ban

DETROIT – Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox will study the June 4 federal appeals court decision blocking Michigan’s Legal Birth Definition Act, and consider an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Maryland bishops write pastoral letter on care of sick and dying

In an age when medical technology makes it possible to extend human life far beyond what was previously possible, the nine active Catholic bishops serving Maryland have completed a new pastoral letter aimed at helping Catholics apply their faith to end-of-life decisions.

Cardinal Keeler, Catholic leaders say letter will help decision-making

Nearly 15 years ago, the Catholic bishops serving Maryland became the first in the country to issue a state-wide pastoral letter on the topic of care for the sick and terminally ill.

Parishioners serve “last supper” at old Our Daily Bread building

Immaculate Conception, Towson, parishioners have been serving the poor and homeless at Our Daily Bread on the first Sunday of each month since Baltimore’s largest soup kitchen opened more than a quarter century ago. Fittingly, church volunteers were also present June 3 as they served 678 meatloaf dinners during the last supper at the Cathedral Street facility. The parish has served Our Daily Bread longer than any other group in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and Catholic Charities officials were thrilled when the final day at the former location occurred on Immaculate Conception’s Sunday.

Inaugural meal at new Our Daily Bread served with little fuss

Local News, News

The location was new, but the crowd was familiar as Catholic Charities served its first meal to the poor and homeless at its new Our Daily Bread Employment Center June 4. Before the dining room opened at 10:30 a.m., 18 people who normally eat at Baltimore’s largest soup kitchen registered for employment training.

Top Vatican official: Documents show Pius XII worked to help Jews

ROME – Thousands of Vatican documents demonstrate that Pope Pius XII worked quietly but effectively to help Jews and others during World War II, a top Vatican official said. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, said June 5 that the documentation of papal charity is the most convincing response to the “black legend” that has depicted the late pope as indifferent toward the victims of Nazism.

Pope to proclaim year dedicated to St. Paul

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI plans to proclaim a year dedicated to St. Paul, in preparation for the 2,000th anniversary of the apostle’s birth, the Vatican said. The pope was scheduled to announce the commemorative year at a vespers service June 28 in the Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls in Rome, on the eve of the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.

Nobel peace laureate: Church can do more for environment

VATICAN CITY – The Catholic Church can do more to protect the environment and put pressure on industrialized countries to slash greenhouse gas emissions, said Africa’s first female Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Diversity Day unites St. Gabriel parishioners