Page 1853 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

VATICAN CITY – If he looked around the chapel during his Lenten retreat this year, Pope Benedict XVI would have seen an all-male assembly. The absence of women was not deliberate. The invitation to attend the pope’s spiritual exercises goes out to the top two or three officials of Vatican agencies, and almost all of them are men. The retreat chapel offered a snapshot of a Vatican reality: The number of women working in the Roman Curia has steadily increased but, with rare exceptions, they have not broken through to the upper levels.

Pro-life speaker sees signs ‘everywhere’

CHICAGO – Pro-lifers attending an Illinois conference envisioned a nation without Roe v. Wade, and a speaker told them there are many signs the landmark Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion could be overturned. “We see signs everywhere that an overturn of Roe v. Wade may soon be a reality,” said Ann Scheidler of the Pro-Life Action League and an organizer of the 17th annual SpeakOut Illinois. “Most notably, we see signs from abortion supporters who have said they are afraid they may lose the Supreme Court’s support.”

Blakefield alumnus runs coast to coast for cancer survivors

Local News, News

One may think running 3,400 miles from California to Rhode Island would form a blister or two on a runner’s feet. Not so for one Loyola Blakefield, Towson, alumnus who changed running shoes every 100 miles to ensure his feet were as comfortable and fresh as possible during a five and a half month run to raise money for cancer survivors. “Blisters and foot soreness were not an issue,” said the slender Christian McEvoy, 24, who spoke to students at his alma mater, the School of the Cathedral in Homeland, Feb. 28. “I had some slight body aches and injuries, but nothing really stopped me.”

Rome inundated with requests for prayer cards, relics

UPDATED ROME – The Rome diocesan office charged with promoting the sainthood cause of Pope John Paul II has exceeded its postage budget because of increased requests for prayer cards and relics of the late pope. “We were getting about 50 requests a day, but overnight it grew to between 500 and 1,000 requests,” a spokeswoman for the office said March 2. “We could not have foreseen this demand,” she said. “It’s an avalanche.”

Archbishop says Iowa vote regrettable

DES MOINES, Iowa – Archbishop Jerome G. Hanus of Dubuque reacted with “deep sadness” after the Iowa House of Representatives Feb. 22 passed a bill to allow the cloning of human embryos for research. “With deep sadness, I regret the recent action by the Iowa House and Senate to change Iowa’s law which banned human cloning,” he said. The measure, H.R. 287, passed with a 52-46 vote. Fifty-one votes were needed for passage. One Republican apparently accidentally voted for the bill.

Social, legal remedies for violence against women

NEW YORK – Violence against women, both in the United States and around the world, is on the rise and must be addressed with a potent combination of social, legal and economic remedies, said a panel of speakers Feb. 27 in New York. “Addressing Violence Against Women” was the topic of a panel discussion at the Church of the Holy Family.

Antichrist tempts Christians to place dialogue above Jesus

VATICAN CITY – Christians tempted to set aside their belief in Christ as the only savior in order to promote dialogue with others are being tempted by the Antichrist, retired Italian Cardinal Giacomo Biffi told Pope Benedict XVI. Cardinal Biffi, who has been leading a Feb. 25-March 3 retreat for the pope and top Vatican officials, cited as “prophetic” a warning about the modern guises of the Antichrist presented in the work of Vladimir Solovyev, a 19th-century Russian philosopher.

Parishioners help support tower in Kenya

For almost 10 years, the people of St. Stephen, Bradshaw, have had a special relationship with the parishioners of St. Steven in Mombasa, Kenya. So when St. Steven could only finish two floors of a church addition they were building, they called for help from their friends across the ocean. The parishioners of St. Stephen were eager to buy the wood carvings sent over from Kenya to support the tower building fundraiser. According to Mary Bauer, committee chairperson for the Kenya partnership committee, the parishioners loved the carvings and the fundraiser was a success. The parish has had many generous donors who have given thousands of dollars toward the building project, a church addition of a large tower with four floors and a bell at the top.

Loyola College names new vice president

A new vice president for academic affairs at Loyola College in Maryland, Baltimore, has been named. Dr. Timothy Law Snyder, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Fairfield University in Connecticut, will begin his duties this summer.

Grandmother walks parade rain or shine

While sitting in her cozy dining room with pictures and articles scattered across the table, Regina Curran, 81, reminisced about her many years of involvement in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Baltimore City. Ms. Curran has been walking in the St. Patrick’s Day parade for more than 30 years, and this year will be no different. Although her doctor said she may have to sit this parade out because she recently underwent surgery to have a tumor removed from her leg, the St. Joseph, Fullerton, parishioner is determined to continue the tradition. “I’ll get there some way,” said Ms. Curran, who grew up in Baltimore and was a parishioner of St. John the Evangelist, Baltimore, before it closed in 1966. “I’ll ride in a float if I have to!”

San Diego Diocese files for bankruptcy

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Diocese has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to handle more than 140 clergy sexual abuse claims equitably. It is the fifth and largest U.S. diocese to do so since 2004. San Diego Bishop Robert H. Brom announced the decision Feb. 27, the day before the first abuse lawsuit was to go to trial, after a last-minute flurry of negotiations between diocesan and plaintiffs’ lawyers brought no agreement.

Kissling retires; led 25-year fight