Page 1866 – Archdiocese of Baltimore

HARVEY, La. – Catholic schools played a “vital role” in the Gulf Coast’s path to recovery after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, first lady Laura Bush said on a visit to St. Rosalie Catholic School in Harvey. After her midmorning visit to St. Rosalie, Bush had lunch at Cafe Reconcile in New Orleans, a program of the New Orleans archdiocesan Catholic Charities. Meeting students, teachers and parish and archdiocesan personnel at St. Rosalie Jan. 9, Mrs. Bush said the school “reminds us of the vital role Catholic schools have played in helping children whose lives were devastated by the hurricanes. Catholic schools worked as quickly a possible to re-enroll their students. In September 2005, students from archdiocesan schools were scattered throughout 49 states. By November 2006, 98 percent were back attending the school of their choice.”

Interfaith dialogue is religious exercise

ROME – Jewish-Christian dialogue is primarily a religious exercise, not simply a political or social exercise, said two rabbis and two cardinals at a Rome conference. “When we respond to the divine in the other, we are revering and respecting God himself,” said Rabbi David Rosen, president of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations.

With local radio gone Christian radio moves in

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – After out-of-town interests bought local commercial radio stations in rural America, evangelical Christian interests obtained broadcast licenses on that part of the FM dial reserved for noncommercial use, according to Dee Davis, president of the Center for Rural Strategies in Whitesburg, Ky. As a result, there are now 2,000 evangelical radio stations in the United States, up 85 percent from 1996, when federal laws were changed to permit greater media concentration, Mr. Davis said. “The only format that’s larger is country” music, he added.

Ecumenical prayer service set for Jan. 23

Havenwood Presbyterian Church in Lutherville will hold an ecumenical prayer service on Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. as part of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Different experiences aid brain development

Patricia Falter knew at a very early age that her son Matthew was different than her older son. Matthew has autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes him to have a short attention span and obsession over objects, activities and places. From the time Matthew was very young he had to have a visual schedule of the day’s events in a step-by-step process to keep him focused. Every morning Matthew would need to check his schedule, which would include activities he enjoyed doing and those he did not, to show him that not everything in life is fun.

Unity week highlights what religions have in common

SAN FRANCISCO – The commonality that religious faiths share goes back thousands of years, and Jesus’ intent was for the different faiths to work together, said a San Francisco priest. The annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, observed Jan. 18-25, offers an opportunity for religions to celebrate what they have in common and to promote dialogue among them.

Teens question Catholic leaders at forum

Catholic teens from across the Archdiocese of Baltimore had plenty of weighty questions for archdiocesan leaders during a Jan. 14 youth forum sponsored by the Archdiocese Youth Advisory Council. Meeting at Mount de Sales Academy in Catonsville, more than 60 young people queried two auxiliary bishops, archdiocesan lay leaders and a school principal on the differences between liberal and conservative Catholics, the role of women in the church, being prolife and understanding homosexuality. The teens developed the questions themselves and participated in an open forum and small-group discussions in a dialogue designed to bridge the generation gap.

Pelosi report scandalous

The decision to publish the Catholic News Service story on Nancy Pelosi (CR, Jan. 11) is a scandal. Here we have the case of a supposedly Catholic government official who proclaims her support for all the anti-life positions, and the article treats it as minor criticism of someone “we can always talk to.” This is a blatant case of giving to Caesar what is God’s.

Catholics told action honors MLK Jr. more than words

Hundreds of Baltimore black Catholics were urged to celebrate the life of slain civil-rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. by bridging the racial divide that continues to create tension among all of God’s children. “This is an annual reminder of the racial division in our community,” said Father Donald A. Sterling, pastor of New All Saints, Liberty Heights, during his homily at a Jan. 14 Mass. “We must draw on our faith to create ethnic and racial harmony globally and in our own communities.” The Mass preceded The Men’s Club of New All Saints 27th-Annual Communion Breakfast.

Polish prelate denies allegations

WARSAW, Poland – The Polish archbishop who resigned after admitting he collaborated with his country’s communist secret police denied claims that he failed to inform the pope about his past. Meanwhile, another archbishop has rejected accusations that he also acted as an informer and published an explanation of his secret police contacts.

Archdiocese rings in ethics hotline

At the end of January, the Archdiocese of Baltimore will introduce an ethics hotline for its employees, volunteers, parishioners, vendors and other interested parties to report financial and human resource issues confidentially. The week of Jan. 15, a brochure and poster detailing the new hotline was mailed to all schools and parishes in the archdiocese, and prior to that, a letter was sent from Cardinal William H. Keeler to all pastors, associate pastors, pastoral life directors and principals announcing the program. “The use of a hotline is growing more common in other Arch/diocesan and nonprofit organizations and we believe will help us achieve our goals of transparency and accountability throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore,” the cardinal wrote.

Pray for politicians to use power wisely