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JERUSALEM – A Catholic Palestinian legislator praised the new Palestinian Cabinet and said it was likely to succeed. “This is a good start,” said Bernard Sabella, a Fatah member of the Palestinian Parliament. “In effect it is a government which combines the more practical and pragmatic elements of Fatah, the independents and second-rank Hamas” members. Fatah and Hamas are Palestinian political factions with radical members and representation in government.

Joe Boys, 67, didn’t grow up in one church. His father was in the United States Army, and his family traveled often. Now that his grandson, Stephen, is Catholic and many of his friends are Catholic, he, too, is preparing to make the next step in faith. “I was not really happy in the churches I attended, but in the Catholic Church you get the feeling of unity,” said Mr. Boys, who is inspired by his grandson, who is stationed in Iraq. “I told him (Stephen) I want to learn how to pray hard for him. I want to be closer to Stephen.”

ALLENDALE, N.J. – A New Jersey health care initiative has reached its goal of getting Catholic hospitals in the state to donate umbilical-cord and placenta blood for adult stem-cell research. During a March 9 press conference at the Elie Katz Umbilical Cord Blood Program facility in Allendale, Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark and Father Joseph Kukura, president of the Princeton-based Catholic HealthCare Partnership of New Jersey, reported on the progress of an alliance among 10 Catholic hospitals that provide obstetrical services.

When it comes to the role of godparents in a child’s life, Church of the Holy Apostles, Gambrills, pastor Father Jeffrey S. Dauses wants sponsors to heed their lifelong responsibility to be an active and present support in the life of the child. “In the rite of baptism, there’s a question specifically directed toward the godparents; are they willing to be of assistance to the parent and to support the child in his or her life of faith, not just in the rite of baptism, but as a lifelong responsibility,” said Father Dauses, who conducts dozens of baptisms annually. “It’s always been my dream that godparents would also serve as the sponsor at confirmation, to show that ongoing connection and their ongoing presence in the life of this child.”

Protecting the safety of children and providing support to victims have been top priorities of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, according to archdiocesan officials. Following the adoption of new protocols in 2003, the archdiocese has conducted criminal background checks on thousands of parish, school and archdiocesan employees. More than 50,000 volunteers who come in contact with young people have also undergone required screenings, and employees and volunteers alike have undergone yearly training in ethics in ministry that includes discussion of protecting children from abuse.

A Senate child sex abuse bill that Catholic leaders said would have crippled the church’s many ministries in Maryland was defeated March 16 on an 8-2 vote in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. Sponsored by Sen. James Brochin, a Baltimore County Democrat, Senate Bill 575 would have suspended Maryland’s existing statute of limitations allowing civil lawsuits against the three Catholic dioceses serving Maryland for claims stretching beyond the current seven-year limitation.

Providing avenues for healing to victims of childhood sexual abuse and creating a safe environment for all children entrusted to the Church’s care form the foundation of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s child protection efforts. Senate Bill 575 fails to promote either of these goals. For this reason, and for the reasons stated below, the Archdiocese of Baltimore is opposed to this legislation.

MEXICO CITY – Catholics and civic organizations have launched a campaign against a Mexico City proposal to legalize abortion during the first three months of pregnancy. The proposal “has awoken the conscience of civil society in this city,” said Armando Martinez, president of the College of Catholic Lawyers in Mexico City, at a March 18 press conference after Mass in Mexico City’s Metropolitan Cathedral. Martinez said the proposal would violate the Mexican Constitution, and he pledged to file a challenge before the nation’s highest court if it is approved.

ROME – Curiosity about the New Testament figure of Judas and a feeling that his reputation as the worst sinner in history “isn’t fair, isn’t right” led British novelist Jeffrey Archer to attempt a new version of the story. Archer, presenting “The Gospel According to Judas by Benjamin Iscariot” at a March 20 press conference in Rome, said he is a practicing Anglican who wanted his new book to be backed up by solid biblical scholarship. So he convinced Father Francis J. Moloney, provincial of the Salesians in Australia and a former president of the Catholic Biblical Association of America, to collaborate.