NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      LISBON (CWNews.com) - The winner of the 1998 Nobel Prize for literature criticized the Vatican on Friday for its condemnation of his award.

      Jose Saramago, the first Nobel laureate for literature from Portugal and a committed Communist, told a news conference that he applauded the Swedish Academy for not letting his beliefs become an obstacle. "But if the Pope were on the jury they wouldn't have given me anything," he said. The 75-year-old Saramago's 1991 book "The Gospel According to Jesus Christ" was condemned by the Church as blasphemous and was censored by the Portuguese government.

      On Thursday, L'Osservatore Romano, the official Vatican newspaper, called the selection of Saramago as the 1998 laureate "yet another ideologically slanted award." Saramago replied, "The Vatican is easily scandalized, especially by people from outside. They should just focus on their prayers and leave people in peace. I respect those who believe but I have no respect for the institution."