Page 1776 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

“Teresa thought she was acting safely on the Internet. Within 20 minutes, we found out her full name, age, her parents’ names, her street address, phone number, the time of day she and her parents were home, and high schools near where she lived.” – from Tracking Teresa, NetSmartz video for teens If you think you’re up-to-date on the issue of Internet safety, think again, said Chris Weber, director of the archdiocese’s Catholic Education Ministries of Central Maryland housed at Mount St. Mary’s University, Emmitsburg.

Trafficking victim reunited with son

NEWARK, N.J. – Through the work of the Archdiocese of Newark’s Catholic Charities’ refugee resettlement and human trafficking programs, a former trafficking victim was reunited with her 9-year-old son July 26 at Newark Liberty International Airport after more than four years of forced separation.

Activists demand inquiry

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Civil rights activists and church groups in Sri Lanka have demanded an independent and impartial inquiry with international participation into last year’s disappearance of a Catholic priest and his companion in troubled Jaffna.

Church helps Peruvian quake victims

LIMA, Peru – When it comes to dealing with disasters like the powerful earthquake that struck Peru’s southern coast Aug. 15, the Catholic Church has an advantage – the pastors know the people. In responding to an emergency, “you build on your strengths,” said Aaron Skrocki, South American emergency program manager for Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops’ overseas humanitarian and development agency. “Having a local (parish) community in place that knows the people better than any local government official does makes it much easier to get a response effort up and running.” Skrocki arrived in Peru the night after the earthquake and traveled Aug. 17 to Chincha, Pisco and Ica, the three cities nearest the epicenter.

Catholic Extension brings parishes together for recovery

WASHINGTON – Two years after Hurricane Katrina swept through the Gulf Coast, Catholic parishes are facing the lingering effects with some churches still holding Mass in outdoor tents while others are abandoning immediate plans to rebuild.

Refund guaranteed if students aren’t reading

DETROIT – Our Lady of La Salette Catholic School in the Detroit suburb of Berkley is making a guarantee: First-graders will be reading at a second-grade level by the end of the year. If not, parents can ask for a full tuition refund.

Catholic Relief Services commits $100,000 for earthquake

Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Services is committing an initial $100,000 toward relief efforts for thousands of people struggling in the aftermath of Peru’s worst earthquake in more than 30 years.

Peruvian earthquake: scope of damage begins to emerge

LIMA, Peru – When a violent earthquake shook southern Peru in 2001, it jolted the Ica River out of its bed, flooding part of the city of Ica and forcing Celinda Terrones and her children to spend the night on the roof of their house. When a magnitude 8 quake struck Aug. 15, however, their former refuge turned deadly. The initial tremor swelled to a rolling shudder, buckling the walls of their adobe dwelling. As Terrones and her family fled, her adult daughter fell while carrying her 5-year-old son. The daughter stumbled and fell in such a way as to try to protect her son, and falling bricks battered her arms. Then they were in the street, watching as the roof caved in. “Everyone ran out of their houses screaming and holding their children,” Terrones said. “Our house just collapsed.”

Homily leads to headlines about ‘truth and taxes’

RIMINI, Italy – While Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, set out to preach about truth, his appearance at a major conference sponsored by Communion and Liberation led to headlines about “truth and taxes.”

College chaplains offer advice

PHILADELPHIA – Staying involved in church activities and with campus Newman centers is key to students keeping the faith while in college, according to college chaplains. “First and foremost, as in all things Catholic, go to Mass,” said Father John Nordeman, chaplain of the Newman Center at Pennsylvania’s West Chester University.

Church workers warn Filipinos against illegal work

MANILA, Philippines – Church workers in the Philippines have been training people ministering to Filipinos who could be illegally recruited to work in Iraq.

Former bishops’ communications official dies