PERTH, WA: March 22, 1990
Registered by Australia Post Publication No. WAR 0202
Number 2680
POST ADDRESS: PO Box 50, Northbridge, 6000 W.A. LOCATION: 26 John St, Northbridge (east off Fitzgerald St).
TELEPHONE: (09) 328 1388
FAX (09) 328 7307
Right: Archbishop Marcinkus whose 19-year tenure as president of the bank has finally ended. Below: Cardinal Szoka who will take over as head of the Vatican's budget office.
PRICE 60C
Bank's new boss VATICAN CITY (CNS): An Italian banker was named director general of the Vatican bank, the final step in a major reform aimed at bringing lay expertise to the controversial institution. Giovanni Bodio 67, is currently president of Finreme, an Italian interbanking institute. Bodio's appointment brought to an end the 19-
„At
year tenure of US Archbishop Paul Marcinkus as president of the bank, known formally as the Institute for the Works of Religion. Under Archbishop Marcinkus' management, the bank became involved in the $1.2 billion collapse of Italy's largest private bank, Banco Ambrosiano, in 1982.
eficit scare
VATICAN COULD FACE RECORD SHORTFALL IN 1990 special Council of Cardinals, showed projected expenses of US$152.4 million and income of US$66.5 million for 1990, creating a deficit of about US$86 million. The shortfall has deveThe two main sources loped despite efforts to supplementary hold down costs, said a of income in recent years — top Vatican official. Vatican City State is the worldwide Peter's to show a profit expected from revenues and Pence Vatican City State — will of about US$12.6 million fail to cover the shortfall in 1990. The city-state budget unless contributions increase dramatically, covers administration of said a Vatican financial the 108-acre state in which Vatican offices are statement. The statement, issued located and is considered March 15 at the end of a separate from the Holy three-day meeting of a See's budget.
CITY VATICAN (CNS):— The Vatican could face a record budget deficit in 1990, far more than has been c overed through worldwide giving and other sources.
The Peter's Pence collection brought in
US$48.4 million in 1989,
down from nearly US$53 million the previous year. If Peter's Pence contributions stay the same in 1990. that would still leave a gap of about US$25 million. The Vatican has previously warned that it would have to dip into its investment patrimony if the shortfall cannot be covered. In 1988, the last year for which final figures are available, the Holy See managed to cover the deficit of US$57 million
without touching the patrimony. The Council of Cardinals expressed "deep concern" over the situation and issued a "particularly pressing appeal" to the whole church to give even more generously to the Holy See. Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka of Detroit, who will take over as head of the Vatican's budget office in June, said after the meeting that he hoped the projected shortfall for 1990 could be made up as well. He said the council was being deliberately conservative in estimating
income, and that some costs might be cut further.
ented a policy of "dutiful austerity."
"Without a substantial "But there is a problem, increase in contributions and we certainly have to by the universal church, count on and hope for a it would clearly be major increase in Peter's difficult for the Holy See Pence," Cardinal Szoka to meet its essential said. US Catholics have expenses, despite all the traditionally been among efforts of austerity — the most generous in which will be intensicontributing to the papal fied," the statement said. collection. Cardinal Szoka noted Vatican that most expenses had been cut or held at previous levels for the last few years. The cardinals' statement said the 1990 figure of US$152.4 million repres-
To underline its point about the universal church's responsibility for Vatican operations, the statement quoted from Canon 1271 from the Code of Canon Law, that states which
"bishops are to assist in procuring those means whereby the Apostolic See can properly provide for its service of the universal church." The council said it wanted to "deeply thank" the bishops, priests, religious and the faithful who have made personal sacrifices to help contribute to the Vatican. The cardinals added that they were making "another particularly pressing appeal so that this collaboration may be generously intensified."
Call to nuns, priests to be guinea pigs LOS ANGELES (CNS): and nuns at the request Los Angeles Archbi- of Dr Brian Henderson, shop Mahony has asked an associate of Salk. The priests and nuns from letter said 10 volunteers his archdiocese ages are sought. 65 and older to volunNo human testing has teer to be human begun, pending approval guinea pigs for a from California health proposed AIDS vaccine authorities. The vaccine developed by Dr Jonas has been tested on three Salk, who formulated a chimpanzees without vaccine for polio. signs of infection.
Archbishop Mahony asked for volunteers in a letter sent to 3500 priests •
Under California law, the state can permit AIDS testing on unin-
fected individuals without federal approval. The vaccine has already been tested on 100 people with the AIDS virus, and the US government has given approval to test 1000 more.
The vaccine is considered risky because it is the only vaccine to contain the whole AIDS virus, albeit a strain killed in the laboratory.
A letter, which accompanies Archbishop Mahony's said Salk, 75, would take the first vaccine himself in keeping with scientific tradition. Salk also had taken the first polio experimental vaccine. Archbishop Mahony, said he had heard six nuns and one or two priests had contacted the doctor. The researchers are
"looking for people who would want to volunteer for something that could be very risky," Archbishop Mahoney said. "You're really looking for people who have commitment to humankind and willingness to take risks to benefit others." Cardinal John J. O'Connor of New York said he would consider taking the vaccine. "Anything that is morally licit," he
"should said, considered."
be
Cardinal O'Connor visits AIDS patients in New York, usually on a weekly basis. Cardinal O'Connor was the first to offer himself but he was rejected because of his age — 70. "There is a spiritual aspect of my proposal which is covered by Catholic theology, linked
to the doctrine of giving one's life for another — the example of Christ," said Archbishop Mahony when he heard that his plea had succeeded. "In a certain sense these brave volunteers could receive from the Church the title of 'Blessed' following Beatification, because even if they do not die for their faith, they would risk their lives for charity."