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DILI, East Timor – Timorese Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta has asked Bishop Alberto Ricardo da Silva of Dili to mediate negotiations between the government and a rebel leader. Ramos-Horta said the rebel leader, Maj. Alfredo Alves Reinado, “has expressed his willingness to dialogue with the government should the Catholic Church be the mediator.” He told journalists March 13 that he met with Bishop da Silva the previous day “to explain the government’s stand” on the issues. UCA News, an Asian church news agency, reported on the prime minister’s statements March 14.

St. John School, Westminster, has decided to lengthen its school day by 30 minutes starting in the 2007-08 school year to devote more time to teach the four Rs: reading, writing, arithmetic and religion. A Spanish language curriculum is being introduced as well.

WASHINGTON – Boosting the military of Japan would be a “grave threat” to Asian Pacific countries, said a Japanese archbishop. Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki strongly criticized Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s upcoming referendum to revise Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which is an obstacle to Japan’s remilitarization and military involvement overseas. “Japan without Article 9 would be a serious threat to neighboring countries” because of Japan’s aggressive history before World War II, said Archbishop Takami. If Japanese citizens vote in favor of the referendum May 3, Japan’s Constitution Day, the government would be permitted to maintain de jure military forces which could be deployed for combat.

Though the temptation to sell one’s house without the use of an agent may be strong, an industry professional says people rarely save the amount they would normally spend on commission. “There really are no benefits to doing it yourself,” said Immaculate Conception, Towson, parishioner Mary Wodka, a realtor with Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. in Phoenix. “It takes longer to sell the house, you usually don’t get the best price, you don’t have the access of the multiple listings and there is a mountain of red tape you have to go through.”

VATICAN CITY – The beatitude, “Blessed are the pure of heart,” is an appeal for honesty and humility, the preacher of the papal household told Pope Benedict XVI and top Vatican officials. Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, leading the traditional Friday Lenten reflection at the Vatican March 9, said that only in the 19th century did people begin equating the phrase of Jesus with “do not commit impure acts.” The opposite of purity of heart, he said, is not impurity but hypocrisy.

A funeral Mass for retired Deacon Walton A. Smith will be offered 11 a.m. March 15 at St. Francis Xavier Church, Baltimore. Deacon Smith died March 6. He was 76.

While thousands of Catholics across the United States will be recovering from St. Patrick’s Day revelry March 18, parishioners at St Joseph’s Passionist Monastery Church, Irvington, will be celebrating St. Joseph’s Day. The parish will host a special Mass at 10 a.m. to honor the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, followed by a Heritage Potluck Brunch in the school hall.

In response to “Protest to change Iraq war policies,” (CR, March 1), I say the following:

George Weigel will present a lecture based on his book, “Pope Benedict XVI and the future of the Catholic Church,” March 14 beginning at 7 p.m. in the parish center of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Homeland. Sponsored by the Baltimore Guild of the Catholic Medical Association, the event is free and open to the public.