ADDENDA - catholic church agenda for the year 2000 - Brief Article

National Catholic Reporter, Dec 24, 1999

BISHOP EDWARD O'DONNELL of Lafayette, La., has announced that the diocese will forgive a portion of 15 parishes' debt in keeping with Pope John Paul II's recommendations for the year 2000. The diocese will pay the parishes' liability and property insurance premiums, according to a letter from O'Donnell to pastors and administrators. "The extent of the forgiveness is not huge," the bishop said, "Fifteen parishes are involved, all with less than $59,000 annual income with little or no savings on deposit. The amount forgiven and assumed by the diocese is $52,670."

DEFROCKED PRIEST JOHN J. GEOGHAN pleaded innocent to charges he assaulted two young boys in Boston in the 1980s and 1990s. Alleged victims shouted in the courtroom after his plea was announced. "You filthy pig," Paul Mendez, an alleged victim in one of the civil cases, shouted as Geoghan was led out of the courtroom.

DESPITE IRAQ'S REJECTION of a visit by Pope John Paul II for security reasons, the pontiff has not given up all hope of making a Holy Year pilgrimage to Ur, church sources said. The sources indicated in the announcement Dec. 10 that Iraqi authorities were unable to organize the visit because of the "abnormal conditions" caused by the United Nations economic embargo and no-fly zone. Reports from Baghdad spoke of a postponement rather than a cancellation.

THE JOHN XXIII INTERNATIONAL Peace Prize will be awarded to the French humanitarian organization, Aid to Those in Distress-Fourth World, the Vatican announced. The organization was selected for its "evangelical commitment in the struggle against extreme poverty, for its active interest in the area of human rights and for its work on behalf of children," a Vatican statement said Dec. 14. Pope John Paul II is to bestow the award, which carries a cash prize, at a Jan. 2 ceremony at the Vatican, during a celebration of the Jubilee for Children.

CARDINAL ANGELO SODANO, Vatican secretary of state, met with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexei II to discuss the possibility of joint Catholic-Orthodox celebrations in Russia during the jubilee year 2000. The cardinal also held talks with Russia's foreign minister and prime minister Dec. 13. Speaking to reporters, Sodano would neither confirm nor exclude reports that a meeting might be arranged in Jerusalem between Pope John Paul II and Patriarch Alexei, perhaps as early as January, to coincide with the Orthodox celebration of Christmas.