June 22, 2001
Irish voters reject Nice Treaty, support capital punishment ban DUBLIN, Ireland (CNS) — Irish voters rejected a proposed European Union treaty that could have allowed abortion on demand. In a separate referendum, Irish citizens voted for an absolute ban on capital punishment. Both referendums were June 7. The Treaty of Nice, which 54 percent of Irish voters rejected, would have realigned the European Union. Crtics of the treaty said it would have created a “two-tiered Europe,” with smaller countries having reduced representation and votes. Others saw the creation of a European “rapid reaction force” as a threat to Ireland’s traditional neutrality. In rejecting the treaty, Irish voters blocked its implementation in the European Union. A coalition of pro-life groups, nationalists, neutrality activists and environmentalists led the campaign to defeat the treaty. Vatican issues new rules on Third World clergy living abroad VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Concerned about the growing number of native clergy emigrating out of missionary dioceses, the Vatican issued stricter rules to govern how long priests may be gone and to make sure they return home. The Vatican said study and training abroad can be useful for priests from mission territories, but their own dioceses should ultimately benefit. Too often, it said, clergy from developing countries spend many years in Europe or North America because of better living conditions and because they are needed to serve in First World dioceses. It called on bishops to set conditions and a time limit for each case of clergy exchange and to take immediate steps for the return of priests in “irregular” situations. The norms were part of a 14-page instruction issued June 12 by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Ethics courses needed to combat AIDS, says Kenyan church official MURANG’A, Kenya (CNS) — An official of the Kenyan bishops’ conference called for the establishment of ethics and morals courses as a way to help young people avoid contracting AIDS. “The hope of the Catholic Church is to see an education
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CLEMMONS — Holy Family Church, 4820 Kinnamon Rd., will be celebrating a charismatic Mass tonight at 7:30 p.m. The sacrament of reconciliation will be given at 7 p.m., and the laying on of hands will take place after Mass. The next Mass will be celebrated on Aug. 6. For more information, call the church office at (336) 778-0600, Ext. 200 or Jim Passero at (336) 998-7503. 2 CHARLOTTE — Because of the holiday, there will be no cancer support group meeting held at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Pkwy.; however, the cancer support group will be meeting at St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Rd. The next meeting at St. Matthew will be held on Aug. 6 and at St. Gabriel on Aug. 7. For more information, call: St. Matthew - Marilyn Borrelli at (704) 542-2283 and St. Gabriel - Eileen Correll at (704) 3625047, Ext. 217. 5 WINSTON-SALEM — The Healing Companions, a grief support
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CNS photo from Reuters
Afghan refugee peers from tent in detention camp An Afghan man peers from a tent in a detention camp for refugees in southern Iran June 19. Afghanistan has been facing a humanitarian crisis with people fleeing drought, civil war and widespread food shortages. system in which moral ethics and spiritual values are emphasized in efforts to change the morality of the society,” said Augusta Muthigani, education secretary for the bishops’ conference. She said that the war against AIDS would not have an impact unless the education system applied effective strategies to help mold the moral character of young people. Muthigani made her remarks while speaking at the Muragana Diocese’s education day, held June 10 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in Murang’a town in central Kenya. In Ukraine, pope hopes gestures succeed where dialogue has not VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Over the strong objections of the Russian Orthodox Church, Pope John Paul II will visit Ukraine in late June, hoping once again that gestures of respect will succeed where dialogue has not. However, unlike his earlier visits to predominantly Orthodox Greece
sibilities for bringing priests and faithful together in cyberspace, the sacrament of reconciliation will never be administered online, said the Vatican’s top communications official. “The Internet offers an opportunity for dialogue, for response to questions, for interactive instruction and even for pastoral counseling,” Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, said June 5. “It does not offer the opportunity for online confession — which must always be done in the sacramental context of personal encounter,” he said. The U.S. archbishop made his remarks during a World Communications Day celebration in Vienna, Austria. The text of his speech was released at the Vatican.
June 25 CHARLOTTE — A support group meeting for caregivers of family and friends suffering from Alzheimer’s/ dementia will be held today from 10-11:15 a.m. in room E of the ministry center at St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Rd. With advanced notification, activities for the memoryimpaired are also being provided. For more information about the support group or the Shining Stars Adult Day Respite Program for the memoryimpaired, which meets every Monday and Wednesday, call Suzanne Bach at (704) 376-4135. 26 MAGGIE VALLEY — Augustinian Father Jim McBurney, prior of St. Augustine Friary in Pennsylvania, will be facilitating a retreat entitled “Called to Conversion: Into Your Hands I Commend My Spirit” at Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center, 103 Living Waters Lane, beginning today through July 2. Father McBurney will be discussing how surrender to God’s
word and spirit can lead to a deepening of one’s relationship with God. For further details, call the center at (828) 926-3833 or e-mail lwcrc@main.nc.us. 27 CHARLOTTE — All families who have suffered a loss are invited to attend the monthly memorial Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Rd. East, that will be taking place tonight at 7:30 p.m. Call the church office at (704) 334-2283 with the name(s) of loved ones so they may be remembered during the Mass. 27 GUILFORD COUNTY — The Ancient Order of Hibernians Guilford County Division, the oldest and largest order of Irish Catholic men, is looking for more Irish Catholic men to join them for meetings, educational seminars and social events. Contact Michael Slane at (336) 665-9264 for time and location. July
1 CHARLOTTE — The St. Maximilian Kolbe Fraternity of Secular Franciscans will be meeting today from
and Romania, the pope is not scheduled to meet privately with any Orthodox leaders, let alone lead a prayer service with them. Only one ecumenical meeting is scheduled during the June 23-27 trip, and that includes representatives from all of Ukraine’s Christian communities as well as Jewish and Muslim leaders. In Ukraine, Pope John Paul faces the delicate task of balancing his remarks on two subjects he feels very strongly about: ecumenism and martyrdom. Bosnian religious leaders seek aid to rebuild places of worship ROME (CNS) — Ahead of a summit of the world’s most-industrialized nations, Bosnia’s religious leaders appealed for aid to rebuild hundreds of places of worship destroyed in their country’s war. In a joint statement June 8, the Catholic, Orthodox, Muslim and Jewish leaders said the reconstruction of churches, mosques and synagogues would “enable us to fulfill the role of education to peace and faith.” The statement was signed during a meeting in Rome hosted by the Sant’Egidio Community, a Catholic lay movement. The appeal was addressed to the heads of the Group of Eight industrialized countries, who were to hold a summit July 20-22 in Genoa, Italy. South Korean archbishop warns against claims of Marian miracles KWANGJU, South Korea (CNS) — Archbishop Andreas Choi Chang-mou of Kwangju has warned Catholics against helping or joining a group whose claims to Marian miracles have been rejected by the church. The archbishop also asked Julia Youn Hong-sun and her volunteers not to propagate in his archdiocese the alleged miracles concerning her and her statue of Mary, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. In a May 24 letter sent to all archdiocesan parishes, Archbishop Choi asked Catholics to “obey the magisterium.” He indicated that disobedience would be punished. He also asked Youn not to insist that her personal experiences are supernatural and not to propagate them as private revelations. Internet offers a lot, except sacraments, says Vatican official VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Though the Internet offers the church new pos2-4 p.m. at Our Lady of Consolation Church, 2301 Statesville Ave. All visitors and inquirers are welcome. For more information, call Skyler Mood, SFO, at (704) 573-4299. 1 GUILFORD COUNTY — The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Guilford County Division 1, an Irish-Catholic social and charitable inter-parish group, will be having a meeting today from 3-5 p.m. at the Showfety Activity Center at St. Benedict Church, 109 West Smith St. in Greensboro. For further information, call Alice Schmidt at (336) 288-0983. 2 CHARLOTTE — Christians in Career Transition is a ministry of St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., devoted to helping people in career crises. The meeting will take place tonight and July 16 from 7-9 p.m. in the office area of the parish center’s conference room. For more information, call Rev. Mr. Jim Hamrlik at (704) 542-6459