Catholic News (Kingdom, tradition, blood, mission, churches)

[Scott1]

Holy See Appeals to Shiite Cleric in Peace Effort

VATICAN CITY, AUG. 17, 2004 (Zenit.org).- The Holy See appealed to
radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to adopt a willingness for peace, as
it pressed its efforts to save the Shiite holy city of Najaf in
Iraq.

A few hours earlier today, Ajmed al-Shaibany, al-Sadr's spokesman in
Najaf, said: "We receive with pleasure the initiative of the Pope in
the Vatican and we ask him to intervene to resolve the crisis."

Father Ciro Benedettini, assistant director of the Vatican press
office, confirmed that "the Holy See is always ready to help the
parties so that they can talk and dialogue, on the condition that
there really is a will to undertake peaceful ways for the solution
of conflicts."

"As is known, the apostolic nuncio in Baghdad is following firsthand
the development of the situation and the Vatican Secretariat of
State continues to be in close contact both with him as well as with
the Chaldean patriarch and the country's episcopate," Father
Benedettini added.

On Monday, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican secretary of state,
expressed in a radio interview the Holy See's willingness to provide
its "good offices" so that those involved will engage in a dialogue
to make possible a peaceful way out.

Archbishop Fernando Filoni, apostolic nuncio in Iraq, said that for
now "it is impossible to make predictions; it is necessary to wait
and see what happens."

"If [al-Sadr] shows his own willingness to find a peaceful solution
to the conflict, we will have to accept it, but it is useless to
make predictions until he clarifies his real intentions," the papal
representative told AsiaNews.

Militants loyal to al-Sadr have been confronting U.S. and Iraqi
forces in Najaf since Aug. 5. Today, a U.S. warplane bombed near
Najaf's vast cemetery as fighting with Shiite militants intensified.

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[Scott1]

Plan to Use Pepper Spray Against Immigrants Is Assailed

Church Leaders in Mexico Call U.S. Program a Violation of Rights

MEXICO CITY, AUG. 18, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Church leaders in Mexico condemned the plan by U.S. border authorities to use rubber bullets full of pepper spray to stop immigrants -- men, women and children -- from entering the United States.

Mexico's Foreign Relations Ministry last week said the use of the pepper spray launchers was an alternative to firearms, as both governments worry about people's lives being endangered in rock-throwing incidents between migrants and U.S. Border Patrol agents.

In its latest issue, the Mexico Archdiocese's weekly Desde la Fe stressed that in no way should there be an endorsement of the use of violence against immigrants.

The weekly appealed to authorities in both countries to start work on a migratory reform that does not violate Mexicans' human rights.

Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, archbishop primate of Mexico, said: "I believe that all states have the right to guard their frontiers, to order emigration. But all states -- Mexico and the United States in this concrete case -- have the strict obligation to protect human rights, not to violate the most important rights of persons, and not to sacrifice a person's dignity to guard a border."

Bishop Renato Ascencio León of Ciudad Juarez said that the use of the rubber bullets would violate human rights.

"The argument of the personnel of the Border Patrol is not valid which states that it is better to use rubber rather than lead bullets," as with one human rights are violated and with the other life is harmed, the bishop said.

[Scott1]

Physicians Group Assails Cloning Decision in United Kingdom
Ethically Unacceptable, Says International Federation

ROME, AUG. 18, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Lamenting the United Kingdom's
decision to authorize the cloning of human embryos for research
purposes, Catholic doctors insisted it is "ethically unacceptable to
deliberately sacrifice the life of any human being."

On Aug. 12, the International Federation of Associations of Catholic
Doctors (FIAMC) published a statement decrying the authorization
given the day before to a Newcastle laboratory to carry out
experiments with human embryonic stem cells (CMEH) for therapeutic
uses.

The permission is limited in time and subject to review. It was
issued under the condition that it is exercised for
strict "therapeutic" purposes and limited to the 14th day of the
embryos' development.

In the note, FIAMC President Gian Luigi Gigli said that "as always,
the 'ethical' justification for the cloning studies is CMEH's
curative potential of such important illnesses as Parkinson's,
Alzheimer's and diabetes."

"As always, the humanitarian ends are a simple veil which allows the
manipulation of public opinion to conceal the enormous financial and
industrial interests hidden behind the CMEH," he added.

"Once again, the high uncontrolled growth potential of these cells,
which signifies a high risk that they will deteriorate if used to
repair or replace organs or tissues, has not been mentioned," Gigli
added. "Moreover, a powerful means has not yet been found to induce
immune tolerance before the CMEH can be used."

"Research with adult stem cells is not recognized, despite the fact
that they are the only ones that have already given important
results from the clinical point of view," he added.

"In fact," he continued, "just in the last weeks [the science
journal] Nature has published a study carried out in California,
demonstrating that cells from the brain of a rat are turned into
cells of blood vessels; while German researchers published in The
Lancet that stem cells derived from bone marrow improved cardiac
function after heart attacks."

"In the same magazine, English scientists published that skin cells
were transformed into brain cells, fostering the hope of finding a
cure for Parkinson's free of ethical problems," Gigli said.

"Paradoxically, The Lancet, one of the most prestigious medical
magazines in the world, has started a campaign for research with
human embryonic stem cells as the United Nations debate approaches
on the prohibition of cloning, and U.S. voters are being polled,"
the statement observes.

"A very recent issue of this magazine was dedicated almost
exclusively to the medical, scientific and legal topics on stem
cells, with an editorial that urged scientists to exert a strong
lobby for the cause," the FIAMC president said.

"Ironically, the magazine's press note only underlines progress in
the field of adult stem cells. However, the editorial stated that
the clinical applications of embryonic stem cells are about to
fall," Gigli said in the statement.

"FIAMC reaffirms that it is ethically unacceptable to deliberately
sacrifice the life of any human being, including in the embryonic
state, even if it is done to improve the conditions of health of
other human beings," the statement said.

"FIAMC invites all Catholic doctors and researchers to become an
active lobby, also on the occasion of electoral events, to obtain a
total prohibition of all cloning of human embryos, even if it is for
therapeutic reasons," it added.

[Scott1]

Muslims and Catholics Condemn Attacks on Churches in Iraq
Joint Statement Condemns Terrorist Acts

VATICAN CITY, AUG. 19, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Muslim and Catholic Church
representatives have jointly condemned the attacks on churches in
Iraq.

The presidents of the Islamic-Catholic Liaison Committee published
a "Joint Statement on the Situation in Iraq," in the wake of the
four attacks on Christian churches in Baghdad and the two in Mosul
early this month. The attacks left 10 dead and 50 wounded.

"We firmly condemn ... the terrorist acts that continue to be
perpetrated in Iraq and that involve also the civilian population,"
affirmed a joint statement of professor Hamid Bin Ahmad Al-Rifaie,
president of the Saudi Arabia-based International Islamic Forum for
Dialogue, and Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, president of Pontifical
Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

"We condemn in particular the suicide attacks in areas in which are
located places of worship, both against Muslims and against
Christians gathered for worship," the document stated.

"Such acts of blind violence offend the sacred name of God and true
religion," it continued. "They evidence a gross misunderstanding of
the history and culture of this sorely tried country. They represent
a grave threat to peaceful coexistence and the ordered development
of Iraqi society."

The statement added: "It is our sincere hope that, with the help of
the Almighty and Merciful God, the Iraqi people may finally enjoy
the gift of peace, in an atmosphere of mutual respect and genuine
collaboration among all its citizens of whatever religious
tradition."

[Scott1]

French Bishops Calls Kidnapping of Journalists in Iraq
"Intolerable
Blackmail"
Express Desire for a "Rapid Liberation"

PARIS, AUG. 30, 2004 (Zenit.org).- With an appeal to solidarity and
a call to prayer, French bishops condemned the kidnapping of two
French journalists in Iraq by Muslim terrorists.

After executing Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni last Thursday, the
Sunni Muslim group called the Islamic Army claimed responsibility
for the kidnapping of Christian Chesnot of Radio France
International and Georges Malbrunot of Le Figaro, who disappeared
Aug. 20.

The criminals are threatening to kill the two reporters if the
French government does not revoke in 48 hours, which expire on
Monday night, the law prohibiting the wearing of religious symbols,
such as the Islamic headscarf, in public places.

In the statement, issued by Archbishop Jean-Pierre Ricard, president
of the bishop's conference, expressed on behalf of all the French
bishops "the profound closeness of all the Catholic Church of France
to the two hostages, their families, their friends and all
journalists: their concern is ours, as is their hope."

"I express our total solidarity with all persons who, by reason of
their governmental, diplomatic, professional, humanitarian
responsibilities or in the name of their faith, manifest their
reprobation or condemnation of an intolerable blackmail, and unite
their efforts to seek the rapid liberation of the two journalists,"
he continued.

In addition, the Bishops invited all Catholics to "ardently take up
the prayer today" formulated at Lourdes Aug. 15 together with the
Pope and pray "for peace, so that courageous men and women will be
found who will implement it."
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