Second Colombian Priest Killed in a Week

MISSIONARY NEWS AGENCY, Nov. 7 — Father Henry López, 44, on Nov. 6 became the second priest slain in seven days in Colombia, the Missionary News Agency reported.

Father Lopez died at home in Villavicencio, Columbia; a parish worker found his body, which was tied to a chair and riddled with multiple stab wounds.

One day earlier, Father Saulo Carreño and his secretary, Maritza Linares, were shot to death and their bodies left outside, Missionary News reported.

The news service placed these murders in the context of a wave of assassinations aimed at journalists and other civilians — presumably by one side or another in the ongoing war among drug traffickers, guerillas, paramilitary militias and the government of Colombia.

British Law Would Legalize ‘Euthanasia by Neglect’

INDEPENDENT CATHOLIC NEWS, Nov. 11—The British Society for the Protection of Unborn Children has published documents attacking the draft Mental Incapacity Bill proposed by Tony Blair's government. Dr. John Fleming, writing for the society, said the new bill would legalize euthanasia “by neglect.”

Fleming wrote that “by permitting the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from non-dying patients [the bill] accepts in principle the legal right to assisted suicide and euthanasia (at least by neglect) in contravention of age-old ethical and legal norms in Britain, which have always prohibited intentional killing and serious bodily harm, whether consensual or not.”

The bill, Fleming continued, “provides opportunity for major abuse to the welfare and rights of patients, doctors, other health care professionals and to the community at large,” because it hands the power of life and death to doctors, asking them to interpret so-called “living wills” drawn up long in advance.

The law “would not only permit the involvement of doctors in the intentional bringing about of death, it would force them to comply,” Fleming warned.

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children is also creating publicity kits designed to inform members of the general public as well as parliamentarians about the bill and help them lobby for its amendment or defeat.

Blessed Mother Teresa Honored on Streets of Calcutta

CWNEWS.COM, Nov. 6 — A main thoroughfare in Calcutta, India — Park Street — has been renamed Mother Teresa Road as part of the city's celebration of the sister's beatification, according to CWNews.com.

Local Christians expressed delight at the announcement despite previous concerns about the appropriateness of the street chosen.

In 2002, Ananova.com reported that a group called Lovers of Mother Teresa objected to the selection of Park Street, saying in a letter to Calcutta's mayor: “Park Street is a locality where all bars, pubs and houses of ill repute are situated and the road is known for its night life and not spiritualism.”

Such objections seem not to matter anymore, in a city given over to a broad-based celebration of the beloved missionary nun.

CWNews.com reported that long lines have formed outside an art exhibit celebrating Blessed Teresa and large crowds were expected for an interfaith prayer service in her honor.