Catholic News & Interesting News about Religions Far & Near

U.S. Congress praises the academic excellence of Catholic schools!
"The U.S.Congress took the occasion of National Catholic Schools Week 2006 to praise the academic excellence of Catholic schools and to thank Catholic educators for their contributions to the country. Senate Resolution 364 saluted the high academic achievements of Catholic schools and added that they present a broad curriculum "that emphasizes the lifelong development of moral, intellectual, physical and social values in the young people of the United States."

Domino's founder Tom Monaghan to build "Ave Maria": a town devoted to Catholicism
Groundbreaking on a 5000 acre tract of land in southwest Florida recently marked the beginning of a realization of a dream. Domino's founder Tom Monaghan will contribute $400,000,000.00 towards the establishment of a cathedral and university which will be the centerpiece of a town based on Catholicism.
Read more.

Uproar over Mohammed "blasphemy"
A recent cariacature of Mohammed, the Islamic prophet, has caused much feedback from the Muslim community. Protests and violence by followers of the Islamic religion are wide spread. Recently it was learned that there is a bounty on the head of the cartoonist(s) (up to 12 different cartoonists reportedly worked on the cartoon) who created the cariacature of the Prophet Mohammed. Now the Vatican has spoken out against the violence...
Vatican to Muslims: Practice what you preach

MORE...
French editor Serge Faubert, chief editor of the French daily newspaper France Soir, was fired over the Mohammed controversy...

Church Issues page on Yahoo!

Proof that David fought Goliath?
In a Reuters (news service) article which ran in the New York Post on November 14, 2005, it is revealed that "An Israeli researcher claims to have discovered the first archaeological evidence suggesting that the biblical story of David slaying Goliath actually happened."

The Article goes on to state that a piece of broken pottery recently dug up in southern Israel bore an inscription in "early Semitic style" which likely rendered the name of Goliath, according Aran Maeir, the director of the ten year excavation. Mr. Ameir considers the pottery shard to be "very good evidence" that the name Goliath in the Bible is not some "literary creation."

AP Photo taken on Oct. 31, 2005 and released by the Israeli Antiquities Authority shows a mosaic with writing in ancient Greek with references to Christ, on the floor of what is believed to be the oldest church in Israel that ...

CHRISTIAN NEWS!! Ancient Christian Church - possibly the oldest in the world, uncovered in the Holy Land (vicinity of Armageddon) Dedication stone reads: "to the god, Jesus Christ" and contains early Christian symbol of a fish... Two mosaics inside the church — one covered with fish, an ancient Christian symbol that predates the cross — tell the story of a Roman officer and a woman named Aketous who donated money to build the church in the memory "of the god, Jesus Christ." The church's location, not far from the spot where the New Testament says the final battle between good and evil will take place, also made sense because a bishop was active in the area at the time, said Tepper, who works with the Israel Antiquities Authority...

Catholic Social Services
Scranton Diocese - Pittston, PA
Gabriel House, directly across the street from the closed St. John the Baptist Elementary School in Pittston, held an Open House on Sunday, June 12th, 2005

Gabriel House, the building which originally housed St. John's Academy and, in later years, the convent of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who served St. John the Evangelist Church, and been completely renovated and is ready to hold Open House.

The half-way house, a facility for women recently released from prison, recovering drug addicts, women suffering from mental-health problems or victims of domestic violence, was in the planning for 5 years. According to the article, it was difficult to find a place to relocate these women while renovations were under way:

“and for those who didn’t want to leave the Pittston area, the Pittston Housing Authority found a place for them,” stated Ann Marie McCawley (Project Director) in the Times Leader article.
“We had a lot of trouble trying to relocate them because a lot of people don’t want them in their neighborhood.”

Noticeable construction work on the Gabriel House, 13 William Street, Pittston, began almost immediately after the Diocese of Scranton announced on March 26, 2004 that St. John the Baptist Elementary School (12 William Street, Pittston) was closing. According to the article, "grant money was secured in April 2004". However, the official press release from the PENNSYLVANIA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY announcing the approval of a $1,073,976.00 loan was issued on December 11, 2003. You can view the official PHFA press release here:
PENNSYLVANIA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY COMMITS $1,073,976.00 FOR APARTMENTS IN PITTSTON

At the time of the December 11, 2003 press release, other loans and grants amounting to $1,933,860 had already been secured (for a total of $3,007.836.00), and an architect (Ralph J. Melone) and contractor (Panzitta Enterprises Inc.) were also named for the project, and the plan for 16 apartments was already set. The Dec. 11, 2003 PHFA press release stated that the residents of Gabriel House are "formerly homeless individuals with special needs." The December 2003 press release referred to the apartments as the "Saint Gabriel Apartments".

The third floor of the building serves as a shelter for teenagers. It is not part of the Gabriel House organization, but no further information was given in the article. The PHFA press release of Dec. 11, 2003 stated that the "fourth floor" would be used as a youth shelter leased by Catholic Social Services.
Times Leader (June 5, 2005 - Genelle Hoban) article on Gabriel House is no longer available.

Catholic Schools :
Trinidad
How a Catholic school was "reborn" in Trinidad - after it was closed by the Bishop.

"Holy Trinity Academy formed during the summer of 2004 when, at the last minute, the Pueblo Diocese withdrew support from a parents group attempting to revive Trinidad Catholic Schools. Efforts to save the school were transformed nearly overnight into a major drive to start a new private religious school, secure facilities in which to meet, and start the school year off on schedule."
Catholic academy deems first year successful- www.trinidad-times.com article, ID#693, is no longer available.

Catholic Churches
Diocese of Scranton - Nanticoke, PA
From the Times Leader, May 27, 2005:The fate of Nanticoke's oldest church, and one of the oldest in the Diocese of Scranton, has been a recent topic of conversation. According to the Times Leader article, the Church was given a reprieve. The article is no longer available for viewing free of charge.