Corrections/Additions
In the Jan. 31 Catholic Schools Week section, the byline for the Cathedral Schools article on page 30 was incorrect. The article was written by Marian Crosby, principal of Cathedral School.
In the Catholic Schools Week supplement, also from Jan. 31, Sister Benedict Hayden, ASC, was the last of her community to teach at St. Mary School in Taylorville. Sister Denise Ann Clifford, SL, was principal there from 1973-1981.
The April date for Great River TEC’s Quest, a 24-hour faith filled experience for eighth-grade students, freshman and sophomores, which appeared in the Jan. 31 issue of Catholic Times, was changed to April 16 and 17. For more information call (217) 224-5615, or go online to www.greatrivertec.org.
CNS News
Catholic Times Inserts

file icon February 28, 2010 - 2009 Catholic Charities Annual Report
file icon February 14, 2010 - Diocesan Financial Report FY 2008-2009
file icon February 14, 2010 - Healthy Living
file icon February 14, 2010 - To the Ends of the Earth
file icon February 14, 2010 - 2010 Lenten Calendar

3 Minute Roundup

Catholic agency ends foster, adoption services in D.C.
WASHINGTON — Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington closed its 80-year-old foster care and public adoption program in the District of Columbia so the agency would not have to violate church teaching by licensing same-sex couples as foster or adoptive parents. The program — which covered 43 children and their biological families, 35 foster families and seven staff members — was transferred to the National Center for Children and Families Feb. 1.
Under a new law allowing same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia, Catholic Charities would have been required to place children with same-sex parents for foster care and adoption, which would violate church teaching that marriage is a permanent union between one man and one woman.
“Catholic Charities has been providing foster care in one form or another for decades. ... To transition this to another agency certainly was a real loss for us,” said Edward Orzechowski, president and CEO of Catholic Charities. The National Center for Children and Families “shares our commitment to permanency for children, and our perspective that foster parents are real partners with us in serving these children,” he said.
The law is currently under congressional review, but the district is scheduled to begin issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples in March. Two members of Congress have introduced legislation that would require the district to hold a referendum on the same-sex marriage issue before licenses could be issued. (CNS)
 
Airport security must respect human dignity, pope says
VATICAN CITY — Anti-terrorist measures at airports should always respect the principles of human dignity, Pope Benedict XVI said. Although the pope did not mention specific devices or technology, his words Feb. 20 were taken by many as a reference to the recent move toward full-body scanners, which reveal graphic body images along with potential weapons.
The pope told a group of Italian airport workers that along with their efforts to guarantee security at airports and on board planes, they were also called upon to protect human rights.
“It is important to remember that in every project and activity, the first thing to safeguard and value is the person in his integrity,” he said.
He noted that airports have adopted new measures to counteract the threat of terrorism, which is increasingly aimed at civil aviation.
“Even in this situation, one must not forget that respect for the primacy of the person and attention to his needs does not make this service less effective,” the pope said. (CNS)
 
Momentum builds to cancel international debt owed by Haiti
WASHINGTON — It took a major earthquake, but momentum is building to cancel all of the remaining debt that Haiti has taken on from several international financial institutions.
The years-long effort by organizations such as the Jubilee USA Network and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to convince the institutions to relieve Haiti of its debt got a boost Feb. 5 when Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner announced that the U.S. would work with its worldwide partners to see that the impoverished Caribbean nation’s indebtedness was forgiven.
Geithner’s announcement followed an earlier statement from Dominique Strauss-Kahn, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, who said Jan. 20 that the IMF would discuss with donors ways to “delete all the Haitian debt.”
The actions are significant because Haiti must focus all of its financial resources toward recovery and rebuilding large segments of the country that were destroyed during the Jan. 12 earthquake, said Melinda St. Louis, associate director of the Jubilee USA Network, a coalition of more than 75 religious denominations and faith communities, human rights, environmental and labor organizations focusing on the biblical concept of debt forgiveness.
Geithner’s announcement “is a very positive step,” St. Louis told Catholic News Service. “Having their support is critical. We do have that high-level political commitment and we do consider that a victory.” (CNS)
 

St. Francis Solanus to hold parish mission

Sunday, 31 January 2010
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QUINCY — St. Francis Solanus Parish is hosting a mission on three nights, Sunday, Feb. 7 through Tuesday, Feb. 9 at the St. Francis Solanus Church, 1721 College Ave., in Quincy. The mission will begin at 7 p.m. each evening and end at around 8:30 p.m. Father Johnpaul Cafiero, OFM, will present “No Greater Love — Reflections on the Seven Last Words of Jesus.”

Father Johnpaul will begin the mission experience by preaching at all the weekend Masses (Feb. 6-7) and presiding at two or three Masses at St. Francis. At the mission, he will cover topics such as: faith and doubt, addictions and conversions, depression and surrender, and death and new life. The mission is suitable for individuals from junior high age through senior citizens and the public is invited.  

The oldest of an Italian/Polish Catholic family, Father Johnpaul was born and raised in the New York Metro area. He is a former police officer who has worked as a counselor and chaplain at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center in Chicago. He work has included counseling with gang members and their families while working closely with the police gang-crimes unit of the Chicago Police Department.

Coming from an alcoholic family himself, Father Johnpaul has worked extensively with adult children of alcoholics, both in private therapy and in the 12-Step programs. His work has brought him to minister to survivors of physical and sexual abuse, both in counseling and massage therapeutic work. He serves as chaplain for the Illinois State Police District 15 and District Chicago.

A collection offering for the Franciscan ministries will be taken up each evening and hospitality will be provided following each mission.

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