World and National News Briefs

Printer-friendly versionSend to friendPope receives world weapons report VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The former U.N. weapons inspector monitoring Iraq, Hans Blix, met with Pope Benedict XVI and presented him with a report on the world’s arsenal of weapons of mass destruction. At the end of the pope’s June 14 general audience in St. Peter’s Square, the pope greeted and spoke with the 77-year-old Swedish diplomat for a few minutes on the steps of the basilica before greeting other pilgrims. Blix was in Rome as part of a world tour presenting a report titled "Weapons of Terror," which outlines ways the world can reduce the dangers of weapons of mass destruction. Religious leaders criticize detentions VATICAN CITY (CNS) — "National security" is not a good enough reason to systematically detain refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants, said Catholic, Jewish and Muslim leaders at a Vatican press conference. The leaders were gathered in Rome June 15 by Jesuit Refugee Service, a member of the steering committee of the new International Coalition on the Detention of Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants. The coalition, which includes human rights and faith-based organizations, was formed to study detention policies, assist detainees and lobby for changes in detention practices. Court ruling said to spur mediations SPOKANE, Wash. (CNS) — Spokane Bishop William S. Skylstad said a federal judge’s ruling that parishes in the diocese are not owned by the bishop should spur mediation efforts to settle clergy child sex abuse claims. The June 15 decision by U.S. District Judge Justin Quackenbush overturned U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Patricia Williams’ ruling that the bishop owned parish assets and that they could be sold to pay claims against the diocese by people who say they were abused as minors by priests. "Today’s decision by Judge Quackenbush helps foster an atmosphere in which healing and reconciliation can continue to take place," said Bishop Skylstad in a June 15 statement. Both Quackenbush and Williams "have now strongly backed mediation," the bishop said. "We look forward to the mediation scheduled for this summer, as the parties come together in a spirit of cooperation, working toward a speedy resolution," said Bishop Skylstad. Casino plans draw church leaders’ ire KIEV, Ukraine (CNS) — The Ukrainian Catholic Church has protested plans to open a casino next to its new cathedral in Kiev. Kiev City Council officials had allowed an investment company, Terra Capital, to buy the land adjoining the cathedral for the casino, said the church’s press office. However, the transaction had been "against legal procedure," after a church request to build a secondary school on the same site had been ignored, it added. Cardinal Lubomyr Husar of Kiev-Halych, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, said in a June 9 statement that the casino plan was "an offense against the religious feelings of believers," adding that the church school would better serve "the needs of the district." The cardinal added, "I don’t think people did this on purpose. The thing is that people for whom money is a god now habitually act disregarding other people’s opinions — they are blinded by avarice." Legionaries head says all are faithful VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The head of the Legionaries of Christ, Father Alvaro Corcuera Martinez del Rio, met with Pope Benedict XVI in a private audience in the Vatican June 16. The meeting came about a month after the Vatican asked the founder of the Legionaries, Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, to not exercise his priestly ministry publicly after investigating accusations that the priest sexually abused minors. Father Corcuera said he told the pope the Legionaries and the associated lay movement Regnum Christi were in "the most complete adherence" to the pope and his ministry. Knights of Columbus sets donation record NEW HAVEN, Conn. (CNS) — The Knights of Columbus set records for charitable giving and volunteer service hours in 2005, fueled in part by hurricane response. Statistics released in June by the Connecticut-based international Catholic men’s group set total contributions to charity at all levels at $139,711,619, nearly $4 million more than the previous year. The reported number of volunteer hours by Knights for charitable causes was more than 64 million hours last year, up nearly 1 million hours from 2004. There were almost 400,000 Knights of Columbus blood donors during 2005, and Knights made more than 5.4 million visits to the sick and bereaved. The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest lay Catholic organization, with 1.7 million members in the United States, Canada, Philippines, Mexico, Central America and now Poland.

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