A target of Tito, Cardinal Franjo Kuharic persevered and became the rock of Croatia for Croats everywhere

      We continue with this new series that debuted the beginning of the year, bringing you on a regular basis three times a week the Princes of the Church. Our sixty-fourth red-hat we feature, in alphabetical order is Cardinal Franjo Kuharic, the Archbishop emeritus of Zagreb, Croatia who turned 80 on April 15th. He was elevated to the cardinalate by Pope John Paul II in the Consistory of February 2, 1983. For more on Cardinal Kuharic, click on COLLEGE OF CARDINALS COLLECTION

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No matter how discouraging things might become at times, when weighing the alternatives there's always tremendous hope to stay the course

      In his column today, Pat Ludwa addresses the discouraging situation of those who cleverly degrade Catholic teaching both outside the Church and inside the Church, forgetting what Jesus and His disciples said in Sacred Scripture. He encourages us to stay the course, not give up for there is no shame in falling, but only in failing to get up and after being beaten down so many times by Catholic bashers, it makes it difficult sometimes to answer the bell but remaining loyal to the truth allows us the strength to rise above the discouragement with great hope. For Pat's column Discouragement , click on VIEW FROM THE PEW

Message to the Americas:
The Heart of America lays with Families and the Youth in traveling the Path to Communion

      Following up a year after the Bishops of North, Central and South America, along with the Caribbean contingent, met for the month-long Synod of the Americas in Rome at the end of 1997, Pope John Paul II officially closed the Synod with his Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in America at Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in Mexico City in January 1999. Because of its significance for all Americans, we bring you this important document in several installments over the next few months. For those wanting to read the entire encyclical or check footnotes, go to Ecclesia in America For the sixteenth installment on Chapter Four: The Path to Communion - Challenges facing Christian Families , click on THE VICAR OF CHRIST SPEAKS.

"I want the full renewal of Religious life to blossom forth, for I Am displeased at the modernism, feminism and total lack of humility, obedience and community, My people can clearly see how deeply My Sacred Heart is wounded."

      Those powerful words from Our Lord were imparted to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart on the feast of Saint Teresa of Avila on October 15, 1994, the saint who is known for reform within the Carmelites. Jesus followed up three days later with Message 554 on the feast of Saint Luke, the Evangelist. In both Jesus calls for a return to holiness with his religious. It is interesting that since these were conveyed the Holy Father has come out with several documents on doing as Our Lord asks here, another confirmation of the fulfillment of all Heaven is asking. For Messages #553 and #554 from the Sacred Heart, click on "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..."

SIMPLY SHEEN: Sensationalism sells just like sin sells us down the river

      They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but the words of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen have been known to launch a thousand images in one's mind, one of the ways this late luminary did so much to evangelize the faith. Because of the urgency of the times and because few there are today who possess the wisdom, simplicity and insight than the late Archbishop who touched millions, we are bringing you daily gems from his writings. The good bishop makes it so simple that we have dubbed this daily series: "SIMPLY SHEEN".

"Parents who live in love and affection for one another, and rear their children for the triple piety of God, neighbor, and country make no headlines. But let Glamorous Glamor separate from her husband after eighteen months of biological unity, and it becomes news. The worst is taken; the good is forgotten."

It's official: Papal Trip to Armenia canceled Pope may have to postpone Armenia trip in July because Apostolic Head is ill

      On the heels of the excellent reception and results of the Holy Father's Romania trip, Ecumenism suffered a blow when it was announced this weekend that the throat cancer illness of Catholicos Karekin I would definitely postpone the possibility of a meeting between the two religious leaders which many have regarded as pivotal in the on-going reconciliation and understanding process between the Roman Catholic Church and the Armenian Church, both of whom signed a document three years ago essentially ending 1500 years of discrepancies over the Christ's Divinity. For more, click on cancellation of Armenia trip .

Landmark pact with Lutherans expected to be signed in October at Augsburg, Germany

      Carrying through with the concept of reconciliation before the millennium, the Holy See announced that it has agreed to a joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, a major contention that has split followers of the Augustinian monk Martin Luther from the Roman Catholic Church for over four and a half centuries. Now an understanding has been reached in which both Churches will officially sign a Common Statement of agreement in Augsburg, Germany on the date Luther posted his 95 theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg and which caused a domino effect throughout Europe. For more, click on Catholic-Lutheran agreement.

One-hundred bishops from all over the globe to convene in Rome Wednesday for special seminar organized by the Pontifical Council of the Laity

      Because of the success of the lay ministries conference held over Pentecost Weekend, the Pope has encouraged a similar follow-up conference for the bishops this week in the Year of the Father to help implement and help those lay ministries in their particular dioceses. Organized by Cardinal James Francis Stafford of the Pontifical Council for the Laity and in cooperation with the Congregation for Bishops and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, bishops from every continent will participate in this unique conference that is not a Synod. For more, click on Special seminar.

Church issues new code of conduct for Vatican employees

      It may be 1999 but tradition will still count at Vatican City as a new manual replacing the 1992 manual for Vatican employees and clergy calls for priests to continue wearing cassocks and for the lay workers to dress respectfully as Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State, reminds all that those visiting the Vatican often judge the Church by those who represent it to the public. The manual also calls for strict confidence on official acts of the Holy See, in the manner of the seal of confession. It was necessary to emphasize this in the aftermath of past leaks to the Italian media. For more, click on New Vatican personnel manual

For more headlines and articles, we suggest Catholic World News site at the CWN home page and Church News at Noticias Eclesiales and ZENIT International News Agency. CWN, NE and ZENIT are not affiliated with the Daily CATHOLIC but provide this service via e-mail to the Daily CATHOLIC Monday through Friday.