NATION - eight Catholic bishops joined in the signing of an ad asking for interenational debt relief, sponsored by Pax Christi USA - Brief Article

National Catholic Reporter, Oct 1, 1999 by Matt Kantz

1,800 sign Pax Christi ad calling For debt relief

Eight Catholic bishops were among the signers of a full-page advertisement in The New York Times Sept. 19 calling for international debt relief.

"International debt, in excess of $200 billion, is a hurricane wreaking havoc upon the lives of impoverished people throughout Africa, Latin America and Asia," the ad said. "Canceling most international debts owed to the United States would cost about $3 per U.S. citizen."

Close to 1,800 Catholics and organizations signed the ad, which was sponsored by Pax Christi USA, the U.S. branch of the international Catholic peace movement. Signers' contributions paid for the $34,000 cost of the ad, according to Pax Christi national coordinator Nancy Small.

Prelates who signed the ad were Bishops Walter F. Sullivan of Richmond, Va., who is Pax Christi USA president, and Michael D. Pfeifer of San Angelo, Texas; Auxiliary Bishops Nicholas D'Antonio of New Orleans and Thomas J. Gumbleton of Detroit; retired Archbishop Raymond G. Hunthausen of Seattle; and retired Bishops Albert H. Ottenweller of Steubenville, Ohio, and Francis A. Quinn of Sacramento, Calif. Also, Auxiliary Bishop P. Francis Murphy of Baltimore, who died before the ad was published, lent his name in support of the ad.

The ad was timed to coincide with the Sept. 25 start of an annual meeting in Washington of leaders of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

Missouri veto of partial-birth abortion ban blocked

A ban on partial-birth abortion became law in Missouri Sept. 16, but a federal judge's temporary injunction the next day put the law on a path that is expected to lead to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Missouri Senate, meeting in Jefferson City, voted 27-7 to override Gov. Mel Carnahan's veto of the legislation. The previous day the House voted 127-34 to override. A two-thirds majority was required in each house to override the veto.

It was only the third override of a Missouri governor in this century, and the seventh in history.

U.S. District Judge Scott O. Wright in Kansas City issued a temporary restraining order Sept. 17 barring immediate enforcement of the new law at the request of Planned Parenthood and its abortion provider.

Both sides expect that the issue of the bill's constitutionality will eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court, probably in about three years.

"This [court action] was something that was anticipated," said St. Louis Auxiliary Bishop Joseph F. Naumann. "The override was a tremendous victory for pro-life people, for people that care about the dignity of human life."

Bishops urge assistance For immigrant naturalization

In a new statement on citizenship, U.S. Catholic bishops called immigrants "an indispensable thread" in the rich fabric of America and renewed their commitment "to assist newcomers in becoming citizens."

In "Welcoming the Stranger: From Immigrant to Citizen," the bishops called on Congress to appropriate funds to reduce a backlog of 1.8 million naturalization applications. They expressed opposition to proposals that would further delay the naturalization process or deny automatic citizenship to those born in the United States. The new document -- prepared by the Committee on Migration of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops -- was released in Washington to coincide with National Citizenship Day Sept. 17.

Many people cannot afford the fees that fund the naturalization application process, the bishops said, and fees often are diverted to pay for Immigration and Naturalization Service enforcement activities or administrative functions rather than naturalization costs. "Our elected officials must consider supplementing fees for naturalization with appropriated funds," they stated.

They urged the INS to work with nonprofit community groups to improve services for those undertaking naturalization.

The bishops said it is unfortunate that, as the world is becoming a global village, "there are those among us who would make less room for those who seek to have a place at America's table." History has shown that "new citizens add to the economic, political and social vitality of our nation," they said. "We must look at the immigrants in our midst not as strangers but as new U.S. citizens in the making, helping us to forge a new and better United States of America."

Cardinal hopes for `new era' in Catholic-Jewish relations

A letter from Cardinal John J. O'Connor of New York to Jewish friends expressing hope for a "new era" in Catholic-Jewish relations appeared as a full-page advertisement placed by the letter's recipients in The New York Times Sept. 19.

The letter, dated Sept. 8, noted that repentance is one theme of the jubilee observance Pope John Paul II had called for.

"Ash Wednesday, March 8th, has been specially set aside as a day for Catholics to reflect upon the pain inflicted on the Jewish people by many of our members over the last millennium," O'Connor wrote. "We most sincerely want to start a new era."

The letter was tied to the Jewish High Holy Days -- the beginning of the Jewish New Year, which is Rosh Hashanah, and the Day of Atonement, which is Yom Kippur.