Catholic san Francisco Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper
Abu Ghraib’s investigator slams handling of scandal The Abu Ghraib prison abuse was actually more severe than reported in mainstream media outlets and former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was less than honest in his knowledge of the notorious scandal, charges the retired Army major general who headed the investigation of the abuse. In an Oct. 4 appearance at the University of San Francisco’s Center for the Pacific Rim, retired Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba accused Rumsfeld of being untruthful with him and also misleading Congress when the former Secretary of Defense claimed he had not read the Army official’s report.
“I would find it rather disturbing if no one had forwarded the report to the secretary of defense,” said Taguba. “I do not believe he had not seen the report.” In 2004, amidst allegations of abuse in its military prisons in Iraq, the Army ordered Taguba to conduct an investigation at Abu Ghraib prison west of Baghdad. Although by order of his commanding officers his investigation was limited in scope to the military police at Abu Ghraib, Taguba was nevertheless critical of military intelligence, the CIA and private contractors for their roles in abuse at the prison. Accompanying the report were more ABU GHRAIB, page 8
(PHOTO ©2007 ARNEFOLKEDAL@GMAIL.COM)
By Michael Vick
St. Vincent ruling due Oct. 16 Marin County Supervisors are expected to make a final decision on land use issues related to St. Vincent School for Boys at a Civic Center meeting in San Rafael Oct. 16. Officials are finalizing an update to the Countywide Plan, which is Marin’s guide for land use and future growth. At an earlier public hearing Sept. 25, three of the five county Supervisors indicated tentative agreement with a St. Vincent plan to create a “Community of Care” that would include senior and caregiver housing on a small portion of the school’s property north of San Rafael, with 85 percent of the school’s 770 acres of land dedicated to open space. With the future of St. Vincent’s residential care facility for at-risk boys at stake, pastors of parishes in Marin are urging parishioners and others to attend the 1:30 p.m. Supervisors’ meeting Oct. 16 to once again demonstrate community support for St. Vincent’s plan.
Ava Alexandra Ragasa, 6, admires the floral display submitted to the Cathedral Festival of Flowers from Good Shepherd Parish, Pacifica. A student at St. Thomas More School, Ava is the daughter of Norman and Mariluz Ragasa. See festival winners on Page 3.
‘Your mother’s a nun?’ ‘Sister Moms’ respond to call to religious life By Liz Dossa “Your mother’s a nun?” Sister Pat Galli’s son, Mark, receives amazed looks when he tells friends about his mom. She’s “Grammy” to his kids, “Sister Pat” to parishioners of Most Holy Trinity in San Jose where she ministers, and simply “Pat” to the rest of the Burlingame Sisters of Mercy community. She is not alone. A U.S. group of women religious who are mothers, called Sister Moms, includes about 100 members. Almost all widows or divorced women with annulments, they share the experience of entering religious life in mid-life when their children are independent. Mark, for example, was in college when his mother told him of her decision to enter the Sisters of Mercy 18 years ago. “These days there are more stages to life,” said Sister Cindy Kaye, vocation director for the Burlingame Mercy
Mercy Sister Pat Galli is “Grammy” to her grandsons Colin Lola and Declan Galli.
Sisters. “Women in this age group are definitely seeking religious community. For mothers, spirituality was never put first. Now, if they have time and energy, they can focus on the spiritual life.” Sister Elaine Stahl’s five children have also accepted her transformation from a deeply prayerful hospice nurse to a member of the Mercy community. She will take perpetual vows in January in Auburn, Calif. Sister Nancy Uhl is a widow and affiliate (postulant) of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur whose adult daughter, Sarah, said “Go for it, Mom!” when she heard about her mother’s growing sense that the Sisters of Notre Dame are where she belonged. Sister Pat’s children, in a sense, prompted her discernment process. When she brought them for religious education classes at Daly City’s St. Andrew Parish in the early 1970s, the person registering them asked, “Which CCD class would SISTER MOMS, page 12
INSIDE THIS WEEK’S EDITION Archbishop statement. . . . . . 5 ‘The War’ reviewed . . . . . . . . 9 Vocations . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-13 Scripture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Bioethicists see threats to dignity of human life
Assumpta and Patron Awards announced
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October 12, 2007
Holy Spirit meet photos tell Datebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 story of intense prayer Classified ads . . . . . . . . 22-23 ~ Page 21 ~ www.catholic-sf.org
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No. 30