U.S. to Admit More Iraqi Refugees Next Year

WASHINGTON – The United States should have the capacity to admit around 1,000 Iraqi refugees a month next fiscal year – an amount “substantially higher” than this year, said a senior U.S. Department of State official.

The United States has “a moral obligation” to protect Iraqi refugees, “particularly those who belong to persecuted religious minorities, as well as those who have worked closely with the United States government,” said Ellen Sauerbrey, assistant secretary of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration.

She told the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom at a hearing on Capitol Hill that the U.S. has been slow to admit the thousands of Iraqis referred by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees because the system was not in place. The United States has admitted less than 1% of the more than 10,000 refugees that the U.N. referred for admission this year.

She noted the work of faith groups, in particular the U.S. bishops’ overseas relief and development agency, Catholic Relief Services, and the Geneva-based International Catholic Migration Commission, for their work providing humanitarian assistance for Iraqi refugees.

Chinese Ordinations with Papal OK Raise Hopes

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican said the recent ordination of two Chinese bishops in communion with Rome was a positive sign for the Church and raised hopes of further appointments.

The comment came in an article in the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, which reported on the Sept. 21 ordination of Bishop Joseph Li Shan as head of the Diocese of Beijing, the Chinese capital.

The two-hour ordination liturgy, attended by hundreds of local Catholics and a number of government officials, followed the ordination of Coadjutor Bishop Paul Xiao Zejiang of Guizhou, China, earlier in September.

The Vatican newspaper indicated that both ordinations had been carried out with the approval of Pope Benedict XVI.

The local Catholic communities, who elected the bishops, had indicated to the Vatican that they were worthy candidates, the newspaper said.

“The Catholic communities of Guiyang and Beijing, having received news of the communion granted by the pope to Bishop Xiao and Bishop Li, gathered in celebration around the new pastors,” the newspaper said.

Busy Bishops Must Have Prayer as a Top Priority

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy – Busy bishops need to put prayer and reflection at the top of their daily agenda, Pope Benedict XVI told a group of recently ordained bishops.

Bishops face many demands and time-consuming tasks and duties, “but the top priority in the life of a successor of the apostles must be reserved for God,” he said.

A deeply spiritual and rich prayer life will help the bishop stay close to and imitate Christ, the pope said.

It will also help him “become sensitive and merciful toward everyone” and help him discern others’ real needs, he said.

“Prayer teaches love and opens the heart to pastoral charity,” enabling the bishop to welcome everyone who turns to him, he said.

Bishop Pelotte Returns to Diocese for Recovery

GALLUP, N.M. – Following a determination that “a return to more familiar surroundings would be good” for his continuing recovery from injuries suffered in a July 23 fall, Bishop Donald E. Pelotte returned to the Diocese of Gallup from Florida.
But no decision has been made about “when he can resume public ministry” and there are no public events on the bishop’s schedule, the diocese said.

“Meanwhile the day-to-day administrative work of the diocese will remain the responsibility of Father James E. Walker, vicar general, in concert with other diocesan officials.”

Bishop Pelotte, 62, has received medical care in Phoenix, Houston and Florida since he received extensive injuries including head trauma and severe bruises to a shoulder and his arms, legs, hands and knuckles.

The bishop said he had fallen down the stairs at his residence.

Lebanese Bishops Say Country May Collapse

BEIRUT, Lebanon – Lebanon’s Catholic bishops said the country “is on the verge of (an) abyss” and warned that if a new president was not elected within the constitutional schedule “the fate of the nation would be grim.”

The country’s Maronite bishops called for “cooperation between parliament and the (feuding) factions so that Lebanon can regain its status among nations.”

Lebanon’s parliament was scheduled to convene Sept. 25 to choose a president.
In addition to an ongoing political impasse and threats by some factions to boycott the election, the makeup of parliament was further disrupted by the assassination of a Christian lawmaker.

Lebanon’s parliament must choose a successor to President Emile Lahoud before his extended mandate ends in November.

Some Lebanese fear that if the lawmakers cannot agree on a candidate, parallel governments could result.

Mass Celebrated on Chicago Streets, Sites of Violence

CHICAGO – Violence can happen anywhere. But when Israel Morales, a neighborhood organizer and parishioner at St. Nicholas of Tolentine parish on Chicago’s Southwest Side, was gunned down this summer near the church, community members decided they had to do something.

The first thing they did was have a Mass outside, near where Morales was killed.
Since then, the parish has had three more street Masses, with another set for Sept. 27, all on blocks where violence has occurred.

The first Masses drew 120 to 150 people; one in late August had more than 200 in the congregation.

“There’s something in the ancient ritual of reconsecrating ground that has been violated in some way,” Father Stan Rataj, the pastor, said. “I think it makes a statement to the people.”