Page 1861 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

WASHINGTON – Congress should heed the warnings of a recent report on global warming, with priority given to how climate change will affect the poor, the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Policy urged. In a Feb. 7 letter to congressional leaders, Bishop Thomas G. Wenski of Orlando, Fla., said the recently released report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has clearly and compellingly outlined the case for urgent action to address the potential consequences of climate change.

Catholic Maryland voters shift to GOP?

At a time when Catholics nationwide seem to be returning to their Democratic roots, Catholic voters in Maryland are increasingly casting their ballots for Republican candidates. According to CNN exit polls, Maryland Catholics solidly favored the Republican candidates for governor and U.S. senator in November’s election.

Loyola winning streak continues

It was just another day at the office for the Loyola Blakefield swim team, or was it?
After finishing the regular season with a record of 5-0, the defending champion, Loyola Dons traveled to McDonogh School, Owings Mills, Feb. 10 for the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Swimming Championships.

A 3-2 Maryvale win deflates five-time defending champion IND

Before the start of the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland indoor soccer championship game Feb. 9, Maryvale Preparatory School, Brooklandville, athletic director, Terri Moeser walked into the Clarence Du Burns Arena, Canton, carrying the IAAM B Conference Traveling Championship Bowl secured last season. When he left, the athletic director was carrying the Traveling Championship Bowl for the A Conference.

Nineteen parishes in Baltimore hold regular Spanish Masses

With a consistent congregation of more than 100 each week, a two-month pilot program offering a weekly Spanish Mass at St. Michael the Archangel, Overlea has become a permanent fixture on the parish’s schedule.

Vatican’s No. 2 man keeps high public profile

VATICAN CITY – Listening to an early morning talk show on the radio one recent morning, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone grew annoyed as callers complained about the Vatican’s “silence” on soccer violence. So the Vatican’s secretary of state picked up the phone and soon found himself on the air, giving listeners an earful. Cardinal Bertone pointed out that Pope Benedict XVI, the Vatican newspaper and the cardinal himself had all condemned the recent killing of a policeman at a soccer match – and said if people didn’t know that, they weren’t paying attention. He added that it was a huge mistake to suggest, as some listeners had done, that the pope was somehow detached from the concerns of average people.

U.S. urged to stop Marianas trafficking

WASHINGTON – A Filipina forced into the sex trade and raped hours after her arrival in the Northern Mariana Islands appealed to U.S. senators to change immigration and labor laws in the commonwealth. “I know there are other women out in the (Mariana Islands) community like me,” Kayleen Entena said in her Feb. 8 testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; its jurisdiction covers U.S. territorial islands and other insular areas.

Canada’s Liberal leader gets mixed reviews

OTTAWA – Liberal leader Stephane Dion gets mixed reviews from Canadian Catholic observers who like his emphasis on a sustainable environment and social justice but raise concerns about his highly individualistic notion of rights. They fear his approach as leader of Canada’s main opposition party could mean clashes down the road over group rights, especially those of families, religions and nationalities.

Pope welcomes project to promote vaccine research

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI congratulated the finance ministers of Italy, Great Britain, Canada and Russia for their efforts to promote the development of vaccines to reduce child mortality in poor countries.

Fetal pain legislation before Congress

WASHINGTON – The last prolife bill to be considered by the 109th Congress became one of the first introduced in the 110th Congress when Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., reintroduced the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act. The legislation, which died in the House of Representatives Dec. 6 when it failed to receive the two-thirds majority needed to break a procedural impasse, would require that women undergoing an abortion at least 20 weeks into their pregnancy be informed that an abortion causes pain to the fetus.

Exercise addiction is a health threat

There’s no bigger proponent of exercise than Kelly Wojtowicz. For some 20 years, the registered nurse and certified personal trainer has devoted herself to helping others get in shape and develop healthy lifestyles.

Polish teen lives with Garrett County family