Page 1846 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

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

WASHINGTON – After a quarter-century as head of an organization working to change the Catholic Church’s stand on abortion, Frances Kissling is stepping down as president of Catholics for a Free Choice. Ms. Kissling and others describe Catholics for a Free Choice, which supports legal abortion, as a “church reform group.”

Some Iraqi Christians say it was better under Saddam

AMMAN, Jordan – Seen as allies of the West, Christians and their institutions have become targets of extremist Islamic groups in Iraq, say Iraqi Christians. “Christians are facing a big problem in Iraq. Maybe all Iraqis are facing big problems, but I am talking about the Christians now,” said Ra’ed Bahou, the Pontifical Mission for Palestine’s regional director for Jordan and Iraq. Saddam Hussein’s regime – no matter how cruel and despotic – kept the lid on any sectarian violence, said one Iraqi Catholic refugee in Jordan, who asked that his name not be used. He said Saddam, a secular leader, was especially good for Christians, as long as they stayed out of the way. “Saddam (controlled) everything. Nobody could say anything bad especially (about) us Christians,” he said. “Christians in the Middle East are very good people. We are peace-loving people.” Another refugee said that after years of living in fear and daily bombings many Iraqi Christians felt they were actually safer with Saddam.

Spirit-filled St. Ursula students support campaign

When it comes to the pride teacher Brendan Bailey and his seventh-grade homeroom, 7C, have in St. Ursula School, Parkville, you can see it all on their shirts. To help celebrate this year’s spirit day, Mr. Bailey’s 29 students purchased blue T-shirts with gold letters that read “7C rox my sox.” The students wanted to do something to make their class stand out at spirit day, said Mr. Bailey.

Loyola professor publishes book on United Nations

Father Joseph Rossi, S.J., associate professor of theology at Loyola College in Maryland, Baltimore, has published his second book chronicling the connection between the American Catholic Church and the United Nations.

TIME TO TIME: The Rite of Election

On Sunday we were preparing to welcome some 850 new Catholics to the Church when the weather turned nasty: we canceled the ceremonies, which normally are events of great joy. The sanctuary overflows with the participants, each full of anticipation. They look forward to Easter and being received into full communion at the Easter Vigil. The Rite of Election marks the beginning of the final, more intense phase of their preparation. Based on the testimony of godparents, sponsors and catechists, the Church “elects” the catechumens and candidates to continue the journey of faith toward full communion. This election by the Church is founded on the election of these individuals by God who acts in and through the Church. You should rejoice with me that the Church continues to grow! The numbers indicate that our priests and RCIA teams are hard at work: there are 269 new catechumens (those seeking Baptism) and 581 candidates (those already baptized Christian), the largest number since 2004.

Biblical scholars reject claim about tomb of Jesus

JERUSALEM – Catholic biblical scholars and an Israeli archaeologist rejected filmmakers’ claim that a tomb uncovered nearly 30 years ago in Jerusalem is the burial site of Jesus and his family. Dominican Father Jerome Murphy-O’Connor, a biblical archaeologist and expert in the New Testament at the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem who was interviewed for the film two years ago, said he did not believe there was any truth to the claim. “It is a commercial ploy that all the media is playing into,” he told Catholic News Service Feb. 27.

U.S. needs diplomats who know religion, Iran

WASHINGTON – Diplomats who understand the religious sensibilities of Iran are needed to act as translators between Iranian and American officials to resolve peacefully the dispute over Iran’s nuclear weapons program, said the executive director of Pax Christi USA. “We have seen no evidence in this (U.S.) administration to practice any skilled” diplomacy, Dave Robinson told Catholic News Service after a Feb. 26 press conference by U.S. Christian leaders who had returned that morning from a weeklong trip to Iran. Pax Christi USA is affiliated with Pax Christi International, a Vatican-recognized Catholic peace movement.

Education still a priority for standout baseball player

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Long before Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chris Capuano reported to spring training this year he was doing his homework, working out and preparing for what he hopes will be another All-Star season. Mr. Capuano has always done his homework. The words hard worker and intelligent are used all the time to describe the 1996 valedictorian of Cathedral High School in Springfield. In an interview in his family home, the left-handed pitcher agreed that he is focused and driven.

Catholic Family Expo expands in U.S., abroad

When the Catholic Family Network began hosting its Catholic Family Expo 17 years ago, the Woodstock group had a small following of mostly home-school advocates looking to broaden their Catholic horizons. Fast forward to 2007 and the organization is planning to host more than 2,000 Catholics at its four-day expo at the Baltimore Convention Center this summer featuring local speakers, Catholic scholars from throughout the U.S. and international celebrities.

City Council passes smoking ban in Baltimore

It appeared to be the pinnacle of Catholic Robert W. Curran’s political career when eight of his colleagues on the City Council supported his bill Feb. 26 to declare the municipality a smoke-free zone. Calling the 9-2 vote historic, the council vice president and parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi, Baltimore, told his supporters their vote would save thousands of lives and serve as an inspiration for the Maryland General Assembly to follow suit and create a statewide smoking ban.

Owls overwhelm the MIAA A Conference