www.catholicnews.sg SUNDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2013
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Christian athletes to aid scandal-hit sports world
VOL 63
INSIDE HOME Bilingual ministry opens new centre
Vatican invites Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin to conference on re-instilling values in sports
Prepares for concert in April
VATICAN CITY – In an effort
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professional sports arena, the Vatican has invited top-tier Christian athletes Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin to help bring ethical values back to a scandal-ridden world of sports. Culture is planning to host an international conference on reinstilling values in sports later this year, inviting representatives from top world governing bodies like FIFA (the International Federation of Association Football), the International Cycling Union and the Italian National Olympic Committee. Msgr Melchor Sanchez de Toca Alameda, head of the council’s Culture and Sport section, told Catholic News Service recently that pro sports “have become a commodity that is subordinate to the free market and, therefore, Instead of sports being an activity that builds important values, respects human dignity and helps shape the whole human person, “it has reduced people to merchan US cyclist Lance Armstrong’s admission to doping was just the tip of the iceberg, he said, since high-stakes commercial interests pressure almost every professional cyclist into the illegal practice. The world of cycling and soccer “We want to work with the big sports bodies to give new value to ence, titled We Believe in Sports, will be one way to get that initiative started, the monsignor said. The council will also have Christian athletes in attendance, to give witness to how the worlds
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Laypeople take up theology courses Support group formed „ Pages 8-9
St Patrick’s School marks 80th anniversary Special Mass celebrated „ Page 10
Basketball star Jeremy Lin (left) and quarterback Tim Tebow have been invited to show how faith and sports can come together.
ASIA Rape case in India Church leaders speak up
of faith and sports can easily come together. He said the council hoped its participant line-up would include !" sports stars: NFL quarterback Tim Tebow of the New York Jets, and NBA basketball player Jeremy Lin of the Houston Rockets.
The goal of the conference is two-fold, Msgr Sanchez de Toca said. First: “to help put healthy values back into sport and counteract the current market logic, because if the current state of affairs con Second: to help the Church see
Episcopal ordination announcements A solemn Vespers cum Holy Hour to prepare for the episcopal ordination of Coadjutor Archbishop-elect William Goh will be held at the Church of the Risen Christ on Feb 17 at 7.30 pm. The ordination Mass will be at the Singapore Expo (The Max Pavilion and Exhibition Hall 9) on Feb 22 at 7.30 pm. Tickets will be allocated to par-
ishes by mid-February. A high-tea reception will be held on Feb 23, from 2-5 pm, at the Catholic Spirituality Centre, 1261 Upper Serangoon Road. All are welcome. Dress code for ordination and reception: smart casual. A thanksgiving Mass will be held at the cathedral on Feb 24 at 10 am. „
sport as an important resource for future priests, Catholic schools, parishes and catechists. The former-modern pentathleteturned-priest said the council also wants to hold a Race of Faith, a 100 # $ della Conciliazione street towards St Peter’s Square during the gathering. “We want to see lots of cardi % Pope Benedict XVI has also condemned doping in sports and called on athletes, coaches and team owners to strive for victory through ethical and legal practices. “Pressure to achieve important results must never drive [people] to take shortcuts as happens in during an audience with Italian Olympic and Paralympic athletes in December. „ CNS
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New nuncio for Malaysia American archbishop appointed „ Page 13
WORLD Insurgency in Mali Situation has reached ‘tragic proportions’, say bishops „ Page 14