Bishop Praises Vote to Abolish Death Penalty

WASHINGTON – Bishop John M. Smith of Trenton, N.J., said he was pleased New Jersey legislators voted to abolish the death penalty, but said he would not have a “triumphalist attitude about it” because capital punishment is such a sensitive issue.

Members of the General Assembly voted to end the death penalty in their state, four days after the measure was approved by the state Senate. Gov. Jon Corzine was expected to sign it into law.

Bishop Smith, who has testified before state lawmakers to oppose capital punishment, said the legislators showed “a great deal of courage” to take what is an unpopular position against the death penalty.

No one has been executed by the state since 1963. Currently, eight prisoners are on the state’s death row.

Australian Law Will Accommodate Pope

SYDNEY, Australia – The New South Wales government has passed special legislation to accommodate Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Sydney for World Youth Day in July.

The temporary laws passed by the government in mid-December will allow police extended powers of search and seizure and the discretion to remove individuals and vehicles from July 15-20 World Youth Day events.

The laws, which have been likened to those enacted for the Sydney Olympics in 2000, also restrict air space above World Youth Day venues such as Royal Randwick Racecourse and the pope’s residence while he is in Sydney.

Nuncio Satisfied With Vatican-Israeli Meetings

JERUSALEM – The papal nuncio to Israel said he was satisfied with the outcome of two days of Vatican-Israeli meetings on taxation issues, social security and the status of church personnel, although no final agreement was reached.

“This meeting was not meant to be a conclusion. This is a process of ongoing meetings,” said Archbishop Antonio Franco, papal nuncio.

“We have to be realistic. These are all difficult issues. Of course it is always a bit frustrating when you don’t reach a 100% solution, but overall I am satisfied. Since last year there has been considerable progress.”

Bishop Pelotte of Gallup, Takes Medical Leave

GALLUP, N.M. – Bishop Donald E. Pelotte of Gallup has taken a medical leave of absence.

The bishop, who has been recovering from injuries sustained during a July 23 fall at his home in Gallup, had received treatment in Arizona, Texas and Florida and returned to his diocese with the hope that a return to familiar surroundings would help his recovery.

But in consultation with his doctors, Bishop Pelotte has now decided to focus solely on his recovery for an undetermined time period.

A Dec. 13 diocesan statement did not say where the bishop will be staying during his medical leave. It simply said he would not be in Gallup.

Last summer the 62-year-old bishop said he had fallen down the stairs at his residence, causing extensive injuries including head trauma and severe bruises to a shoulder, his arms, legs, hands and knuckles.

Brazilian Bishop Will Continue Hunger Strike

BARRA, Brazil – Despite a court order halting work on a controversial water project, a Brazilian bishop who has been on a hunger strike said he would continue until the government shelves the plan.

Bishop Luiz Cappio of Barra in the northeastern state of Bahia began a protest of fast and prayer Nov. 27 over a project designed to rechannel water from the Sao Francisco River, which flows through five states and 503 districts.

On Dec. 11, a Brazilian court issued an injunction halting work on the project, which began in March and involves the construction of more than 400 miles of canals. The government said it would appeal.

Officials say the $3.7 billion project is needed to provide water to 12 million people in northeastern Brazil, an area plagued by drought and poverty.

Opponents say the project will benefit mining companies, large-scale farmers and export shrimp producers while threatening drinking and irrigation water supplies for small farmers and communities.

The Pastoral Land Commission and grass-roots and labor organizations supporting Bishop Cappio have proposed less expensive alternatives that they say could serve more than 30 million people.

Cardinal Mahony Asks Focus on Immigration

LOS ANGELES – In letters to all the presidential candidates, Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M. Mahony urged them to “show leadership on the issue of immigration” and to work to find a “humane and comprehensive solution to our broken immigration system.”

The cardinal expressed disappointment at the tone of the immigration debate and urged the candidates to replace verbal attacks on immigrants with policy solutions.

“I am deeply disturbed that, to date, the discussion on immigration has failed to significantly focus upon policy solutions to illegal immigration,” he wrote.

“Rather, the debate has been characterized by verbal assaults on undocumented immigrants, assaults which have had the effect of alienating immigrants to our country – not only the undocumented but also legal immigrants and newly naturalized citizens,” he said.

Broadway Revives Mass For Theater Community

NEW YORK – A late-night, post-theater Mass – a Manhattan tradition that had gone dark for many years – has been resumed at St. Malachy’s Church in the heart of New York City’s theater district.

The Mass aims to draw performers and other theater workers whose job schedules – which include nightly performances and Sunday matinees – make it difficult for them to go to Sunday Mass.

Dubbed the “Broadway revival” by St. Malachy’s pastor, Father Richard Baker, the first Mass was celebrated Dec. 1.

The Mass is scheduled for every Saturday at 11 p.m. and will fulfill Massgoers’ Sunday obligation.

Boston Cardinal Begins ‘Come Home’ Campaign

BOSTON – Boston Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley opened the bicentennial year of the Archdiocese of Boston by urging disillusioned Catholics to “come home” to the faith.

“Noah’s ark may have sprung a leak, but it is not sinking, and Christ is the captain. To our brothers and sisters in the life rafts, I say, ‘We love you, we want you to return to the practice of the faith, to the faith of our ancestors, the faith of the saints, the faith of the apostles,’” Cardinal O’Malley said.

The Boston Archdiocese has been working in recent years to rebuild trust among Catholics in the wake of the sex abuse crisis and parish and school closings.

Educators React to Shooting in India

NEW DELHI – A shooting that killed a student inside a private school near the Indian capital New Delhi has raised questions from Catholic educators about the educational system in the country and families’ care for children.

Indians reacted with shock and disbelief after two eighth-grade boys took turns shooting, then killed a classmate – an alleged bully – Dec. 11.

One of the boys brought his father’s licensed pistol to the school in Gurgaon, outside New Delhi.

The event became a discussion point in schools and the media, with most involved parties stressing the need to listen to students and give them opportunities to release stress.

Such incidents happen because of the “lack of personal touch and care from parents as well as teachers,” Salesian Father Kuriala Chittattukulam, secretary of the Indian bishops’ Commission for Education, said.

Pope Concerned Over Violence vs. Cardinal

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI expressed his concern over the recent violence aimed at Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino of Caracas, Venezuela.

The cardinal announced he had been verbally assaulted and that the vehicle he and his driver were in was violently attacked by a group of people in downtown Caracas, the capital.

The pope said the news “of the aggression ... by a violent group” caused him concern.

“I am urgently expressing my sincere closeness and solidarity in these regrettable circumstances,” the pope wrote.