February 6, 2009
The Catholic News & Herald 1
www.charlottediocese.org
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
Perspectives Catholic approach to Internet addiction; faith amid sickness; letters to editor
Established Jan. 12, 1972 by Pope Paul VI FEBRUARY 6, 2009
| Pages 14-15 Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
no. 14
vOLUME 18
Confronting a Reflecting on the ‘unpredictable power of evil’ gang culture Pope condemns Diocesan youth ministry takes pro-active approach to emerging problem by
Holocaust denial, reaffirms solidarity with Jews British bishop’s comments provoke controversy
KATIE MOORE staff writer
by CAROL GLATZ catholic news service
CHARLOTTE — As times change, so too must the pastoral approach of diocesan ministries. In the Diocese of Charlotte, the Youth Ministry Office is continually adapting to address the latest developments and concerns in its field. The most recent effort to tackle an emerging trend affecting youths in the diocese is the addition of a gang education and prevention resource to the Diocesan Youth Ministry Handbook. “Early last year I was See GANGS, page 4
Catholic concerns
CNS photo by Peter Andrews, Reuters
Concentration camp survivors walk out of the entrance of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp that bears the infamous phrase “Arbeit Macht Frei,” which means “work sets you free,” in Oswiecim, Poland, Jan. 27. Holocaust Memorial Day is commemorated internationally Jan. 27, the anniversary of the date of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945.
Obama administration gets advice from Catholic social thinkers
See OBAMA, page 7
See JEWS, page 5
Catholic schools in diocese ‘celebrate service’
by DENNIS SADOWSKI catholic news service
WASHINGTON — The near collapse of the world’s financial institutions in September 2008 propelled President Barack Obama to the White House, but also will likely constrain what he is able to accomplish on his agenda for change, a Georgetown University professor said in a presentation at The Catholic University of America.
VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI renewed his “full and unquestionable solidarity” with the world’s Jews and condemned all ignorance, denial and downplaying of the brutal slaughter of millions of Jewish people during the Holocaust. The pope’s comments Jan. 28 came a day after the Chief Rabbinate of Israel postponed indefinitely a March meeting with the Vatican in protest over the pope lifting the excommunication of a traditionalist bishop who has minimized the severity and extent of the Holocaust.
Catholic Schools Week highlights service aspect of Catholic education
Courtesy Photo
Kindergarten student Patrick Esposito and sixth-grader Christina Verdi of Immaculate Heart of Mary School in High Point deliver cookies and a “thank you” card to firefighters Jan. 26 as part of Catholic Schools Week.
CHARLOTTE — The 18 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Charlotte recently celebrated Catholic Schools Week. Students, principals, parents and faculty took part in the Jan. 25-31 observance, this year themed “Catholic Schools Celebrate Service.” Civic engagement is a hallmark of Catholic education,” said Karen Ristau, president of the National Catholic
Educational Association. “The majority of elementary and secondary schools participate in service projects ... so it was natural that we choose service as a major theme,” she said. The 2009 theme linked to a recently completed NCEA initiative, “Birthday Blessings See CSW, page 8
Curlin Commons
Culture Watch
Unholy smoke
Groundbreaking held for lowincome senior apartments
Vatican launches YouTube channel; pope on Facebook
Fire damages roof of Chicago cathedral
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