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Holy Father calls for prayers for peace in troubled countries

      To accommodate the massive numbers of faithful who want to be present for his Wednesday papal audiences, the Holy Father abandoned Paul VI Hall this week in favor of the expansive St. Peter's Square on a brisk Autumn afternoon to address the people on the Holy Spirit and to beseech them to join him in prayerful petition that peace will come to Romania through ecumenism in the bitter fight between Orthdox and Catholic, in Guinea-Bissau on the far-western coast of Africa, and in the Congo where in both African countries civil war has torn those lands and people asunder. He expressed concern for all the peoples in those respective territories and reiterated his desire to travel to Romania, but asked for prayers to resolve the present impasse that could jeopardize his trip. For more, click on Papal Audience.

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- As he closed his weekly public audience in St. Peter's Square today, Pope John Paul II asked the faithful to join him in prayer for three particular intentions: for the cause of ecumenism in Romania, for an end to the suffering of the people of Guinea-Bissau, and for progress toward "honorable and peaceful solutions" to the warfare in Congo.

      The Pope's audience centered on the Holy Spirit, "who gives life" and "victory over death." He said that the Holy Spirit, active in believers throughout their lives, continues to work in them after death, "as he conducts us on our final voyage to the Father."

      But as he closed his catechetical talk, the Holy Father turned to the three concerns for which he would ask special prayers. He told the audience that a mixed commission of Church leaders from the Romanian Orthodox and Romanian Catholic churches would begin meeting today, and prayed that their discussions would bear fruit. The key point of contention between the two religious bodies involves the disposition of parish properties which were confiscated from the Eastern-rite Catholic churches in Romania by the old Communist government, and now remain in the hands of the Orthodox Church. A mutually acceptable resolution of this question is regarded as a precondition for a papal trip to Romania. The Pope has made it clear that he would like to make such a trip-- which would be his first visit to a predominantly Orthodox country.

      Regarding Guinea-Bissau, the Pope spoke of the "immense displacement of population" which has occurred during four months of civil warfare. He observed that Catholic missionaries have been caught up in the fighting, which has produced a flood of refugees.

      In Congo, the Holy Father continued, another civil war has produced "tragic and destructive effects" throughout the country. Noting also that neighboring countries had become involved in the Congo fighting, he urged the crowd in St. Peter's Square, "Let us together raise a fervent supplication to the Queen of Peace," asking her help to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.

Church to examine self in respect to Inquisition with Symposium at the Vatican this weekend

     There have been many horror stories about the Inquisition over the centuries, but the Church is set on getting the truth out and dispelling myths that the Inquisition was a torture chamber. Rather, as many theologians have attested to, the symposium will show that it was a safeguard against heresy and a measure to enhance the faith. Yet at the same time the Church is not afraid to examine her own conscience and admit mistakes that were made in the early years, all in preparation of cleansing Holy Mother Church before the new millennium as all Christendom looks forward to Jubilee 2000. For more, click on Inquisition of the Inquisition.

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- A long-awaited international symposium on the Inquisition will convene in Rome this weekend, with 30 scholars from different disciplines participating in the discussions.

      This will be the second symposium of its kind organized by the special Vatican committee charged with preparations for the Jubilee Year 2000. Last year the Vatican hosted a conference on "the Christian origins of anti-Judaism." These discussions are a response to the challenge issued by Pope John Paul II, in Tertio Millennio Adveniente, for an "examination of conscience" regarding the history of Christianity.

      Father Georges Cottier, the theologian of the pontifical household, will be among the first people to address the symposium. He told a Vatican Radio interviewer that a primary purpose of the meeting will be to establish a factual basis for the discussion, setting the Inquisition in the proper historical context. The Inquisition, he added, was a reaction to a real menace: the heresies which threatened to destroy Christian unity. In that regard, he said, the problem was not unlike the dangers posed by "dangerous ideas" in today's world; he mentioned in particular the threat of anti- Semitism.

      However, Father Cottier continued, it is legitimate to raise the question of whether force-- including torture and the death penalty- - can be reconciled with the Gospel. Over time, Christians concluded that they could not. But that understanding had not been developed at the time of the Inquisition, he observed.

In the presence of the King of Kings, you better present yourself properly asserts Columbian priest

     While some are criticizing the pastor of San Luis Beltran parish in Baranquilla, Columbia Father Glotario Emer for demanding that parishioners dress modestly or they will be refused the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, we say more power to him for more priests need to speak out. Maybe then the decorum and reverence will return to Holy Mass where Jesus is truly present, body and blood, soul and Divinity. Too many people forget that He is the King of Kings and just as we would dress for earthly royalty, how much more should we be properly dressed for Heavenly Royalty? For more, click on Dress Code Decorum .

      BOGOTA (CWNews.com) - A priest in Colombia said on Tuesday that parishioners who show up to Mass wearing skimpy or inappropriate clothing will be refused Communion.

      Father Glotario Emer, pastor of San Luis Beltran Church in Baranquilla, said: "I'm not demanding that they dress in luxury, just decently. He added that there were theological reasons to demand certain minimum standards of dress. "A low cut blouse is one thing. But if it's a cut where you can see the breasts, and where the belly is shown, I think it's inconsiderate for people to dress like that," he said.

      He also cited instances of parishioners showing up to Mass "in slippers, gym shorts, undershirts, and sometimes almost in their pajamas." Father Emer said he understood that the tropical heat drives people to seek relief, but added that the faithful must observe a degree of solemnity and respect.

Bulletin: Christians accused of trying to restore the Blessed Trinity in America!

      On the eve of the national elections and in the aftermath of the murder of a baby murderer in Buffalo, New York, pro-aborts are crying that Christian interests are trying to rewrite the Constitution regarding Church and state. The problem is they've got it wrong. The Christian Coalition and other Christian interests are merely trying to reinstate what our founding fathers intended and which, because of Godless legislation over the years, has been so watered down that deception and slander has taken over. They also attack pro-lifers for placing God first and working toward a "theocratic" society where God is first. As far as that goes, Christians everywhere admit it and plead guilty in striving to fulfill the Divine Will for a country dedicated to the Immaculate Conception - a country which has been anything but "immaculate" lately! For more, click on Accused and assured.

      NEW YORK (CWNews.com) - A pro-abortion activist group on Tuesday released a new report that blames Christians for trying to rewrite the US Constitution and limiting "women's reproductive rights."

      The Center for Reproductive Law and Policy pointed out the 12 pro-life lobbying groups have raised more than $40 million annually in recent years, giving them "disproportionate clout in the public sphere." The center also claimed that all of the groups have a hidden agenda. "Every one (of these groups), when you really scratch the surface ... they have an agenda that's Christian-based, their goal is to change the constitution to become a Christian constitution," said Janet Benshoof, the report's editor.

      The report singled out broadcaster Pat Robertson and his Regent University, Christian Broadcasting Network, and American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) as trying to destroy the concept of the separation of church and state. Benshoof called ACLJ "one of the biggest and best-funded of the new crop of public interest law firms formed by the Christian right, and arguably the most influential."

      The center's report also highlighted the National Right to Life Committee and a dozen other pro-life groups, citing their connections to religious organizations and warning of the attempt to creat a virtual theocracy in the US.

For more headlines and articles, we suggest you go to the Catholic World News site. CWN is not affiliated with the Daily CATHOLIC but provides this service via e-mail to the Daily CATHOLIC Monday through Friday.

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October 29, 1998 volume 9, no. 212   DAILY CATHOLIC