Page 1822 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

WASHINGTON – With immediate plans to shelter families in Los Angeles, New York and San Diego, an interfaith coalition calling itself the New Sanctuary Movement announced plans to try to protect families from deportation in churches and other faith-affiliated places around the country. Following the example of the 1980s church-based network that sheltered Central American immigrants who sought refuge from civil wars at home, the New Sanctuary Movement hopes to enlist religious congregations around the country to publicly shelter people who are at risk of deportation. The organization is particularly focusing on “mixed-status” families, or those that include a combination of people who are in the country illegally and legal residents or U.S. citizens. Among the initial steps announced by the organization May 9:

Sainthood congregation recommends Pope be named venerable

VATICAN CITY – Members of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes met May 8 to consider the cause of Pope Pius XII and apparently voted to recommend that Pope Benedict XVI formally declare him venerable. Passionist Father Ciro Benedettini, vice director of the Vatican press office, confirmed the congregation had met, but since the result of the vote still had to be presented to the pope he would not say May 9 what the result was. Italian newspapers, citing unnamed sources, said the congregation’s cardinals and archbishops recommended that Pope Benedict formally recognize that Pope Pius lived the Christian virtues in a heroic manner.

British church leaders acknowledge ups, downs of Blair’s service

LONDON – Church leaders in the United Kingdom acknowledged the ups and downs of British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s decade in office. While they commended Blair for helping to secure peace in Northern Ireland, church leaders also raised questions over the wisdom of taking Great Britain to war in Iraq. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor of Westminster, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said in a statement May 10 that he recognized the “serious divisions of opinion on the war in Iraq,” but added that “history will make a better judgment than today.”

Bishops, leaders share thoughts on confirmation at summit

More than 200 religious education directors, catechists and priests filled the meeting room at St. John the Evangelist, Columbia, May 9 for an all day Bishop’s Summit on Confirmation, sponsored by the Division of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. “This is an opportunity to encourage and increase enthusiasm for confirmation,” said Scott Miller, coordinator of adolescent faith formation for the division of youth and young adult ministry. “We want to build up the sacrament of confirmation.” The day began with a prayer service led by Bishop Denis J. Madden, urban vicar, before Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, eastern vicar, gave a lively talk on what confirmation is all about and how it fits into a Catholic’s life.

Italian Archbishop among speakers for college commencements

Catholic colleges in the archdiocese have secured an archbishop, a magazine editor, and a seminary president as commencement speakers for this year’s graduation ceremonies in May. Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, will give the commencement address at Mount St. Mary’s University’s 199th commencement exercises May 20 for approximately 580 graduates. Archbishop Sambi is a native of Italy and speaks four languages. He has served The Holy See in Italy, Africa, Cuba, Nicaragua, Belgium, India, Cyprus, Indonesia, and Israel. “As we look ahead to the university’s bicentennial in 2008,” said Mount president Thomas H. Powell, “speakers such as Archbishop Sambi offer us the chance to reflect on our mission and our promise of service to God and our nation.”

What’s cool for pools this summer?

The kids are bored, it’s hot and the pavement is scorching your feet but you have already been to the beach this summer, how do you stay cool? For many adults and children a pool is the best place to be on a hot and humid Maryland summer day. “One of the best things about having an above ground pool is it’s not just a two week summer vacation. It lasts all summer long,” said Sue Lapp, advertising agent for ABC pools since 1978. “It keeps kids at home and its good exercise.”

Pope, Brazilian president discuss youths, family, social concerns

UPDATED SAO PAULO, Brazil – Pope Benedict XVI and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva discussed youths, the family and social concerns when they met May 10. Before the meeting, some analysts speculated that the president would try to steer the conversation away from abortion, which was in the news in Brazil in the days before the pope’s visit. A Vatican spokesman said the issue did not come up during the meeting, which lasted more than half an hour and was attended by first lady Marisa Leticia da Silva. Da Silva mentioned his concerns about the problems of youths and young adults; more than 60 percent of the Brazilian population is under age 29. Pope Benedict and da Silva agreed that moral formation for young people must be a priority, and the president called for greater collaboration between church and state in that area.

Vatican issues toned-down papal remarks

UPDATED SAO PAULO, Brazil – Pope Benedict XVI’s comments on excommunication for pro-abortion Catholic politicians touched on huge and sensitive issues – so sensitive that the Vatican issued a toned-down version of his remarks the following day. Speaking with journalists on the plane taking him to Brazil May 9, the pope left the impression that he agreed with those invoking excommunication for Catholic legislators in Mexico City who had voted in April to legalize abortion. When reporters pressed the pope on whether he supported the excommunication of the Mexican deputies, he answered: “Yes, this excommunication was not something arbitrary, but is foreseen by the Code (of Canon Law). It is simply part of church law that the killing of an innocent baby is incompatible with being in communion with the body of Christ.”

Parishes respond to violence with gun collection, peace vigil

St. Gregory the Great, Baltimore, parishioner Alenthia Epps may live in sleepy Woodstock, but gun violence has preyed on a member of her family and she is applauding her parish’s efforts to rid city streets of firepower. The Sandtown-Winchester parish will be giving $50 rewards for each workable gun turned in between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. May 26 – with no questions asked – the same day St. Bernardine, Baltimore, will be hosting a Peace Prayer Vigil at the Edmondson High School baseball diamond in an effort to purge the city of violence. More than 100 people have been murdered in Baltimore since the start of 2007 and Ms. Epps said churches and members of the community need to rally round the police and political leaders’ efforts to stop the violence.

Oak Crest invests in student employees

On May 9, 49 student employees at Oak Crest Retirement Community in Parkville received more than $96,000 in scholarship money. Oak Crest’s Scholars’ Fund provides scholarships for local area students who work at Oak Crest. To be eligible for the scholarships, students must work at the community for a total of 1,000 hours over a consecutive two year period in one of the community’s five restaurants. They must also meet the criteria of having exemplary work records, good grades and plans for attending college or trade school on a full-time basis.

Pope tells reporters church must keep fighting abortion, poverty

UPDATED ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT TO BRAZIL – On the plane taking him to Brazil, Pope Benedict XVI called Latin America “the continent of life and hope” and said the church must keep up the fight against abortion, poverty and injustice. Speaking to reporters aboard his chartered Alitalia jet May 9, the pope spent more than 25 minutes answering questions, his longest in-flight press conference to date. He said the late Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar A. Romero deserves to be beatified, denounced the Latin American drug trade and said liberation theology has changed with the political times. In remarks about the recent legalization of abortion in Mexico, the pope appeared to support Mexican church leaders who held out the possibility of excommunication for Catholic legislators who voted for the legislation.

Pope wants to help reinforce Christian values, counter threats