John Paul Appoints Irish Chaplain

IRISH BISHOPS CONFERENCE, Nov. 10 — Effective Nov. 1, Pope John Paul II's private chaplain is Father Joseph Murphy of the Diocese of Cloyne, Ireland.

After studying at Ireland's famous Maynooth Seminary, Father Murphy attended the Pontifical Irish College and Pontifical French Colleges in Rome, and the Pontifical Gregorian University. He was ordained in July 1993.

Four years later, Father Murphy became an official of the Secretariat of State of the Holy Father. In January 2002, he was appointed private secretary to Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of state to John Paul.

Pope Asks Europe to Cherish Christian Heritage

VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE, Nov. 10 — Pope John Paul II continues to call upon European nations to recall the defining role Christian faith has played in each of their cultures, according to the Vatican Information Service.

In a Nov. 7 talk, the Pope told pilgrims at a seminar: “As Christians engaged in public life, you have come together to reflect on the prospects currently opening up before Europe.”

To build the “new Europe” envisioned by founders of the European Union, the Holy Father said, “it is necessary that Europe recognize and preserve its most cherished patrimony, made up of those values that have and continue to guarantee her a providential influence in the history of civilization. Many cultural roots have helped to solidify these values, yet it is undeniable that Christianity has been the force able to promote, reconcile and consolidate them.”

“For this reason,” John Paul added, “it seems logical that the future European constitutional treaty, aimed at achieving ‘unity in diversity,’ should make explicit mention of the Christian roots of the continent. A society forgetful of its past is exposed to the risk of not being able to deal with its present and, worse yet, of becoming the victim of its future.”

Vatican Jumps Into Biotech Fray

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Nov. 10 — The Holy See on Nov. 9 joined in the contentious debate over the use of genetically modified organisms for food, the Associated Press reported, by convoking a two-day conference of scientists on the subject: “GMO: Threat or Hope?” The conference was meant to prepare the way for a Church statement on the issue.

The Associated Press noted that Cardinal Renato Martino, organizer of the conference, has already spoken out in favor of the use of genetically modified foods if they can be shown to alleviate hunger.

Cardinal Martino said the Vatican is deeply concerned about world hunger and poverty, and the controversy over the use of genetically modified organisms was more political than scientific in nature. The cardinal pointed out that most Americans consume food from genetically modified crops, and he did so himself for 16 years while living in New York City, suffering no ill effects.

According to the Associated Press, the ecology group Greenpeace claimed the Vatican's original lineup of speakers had been badly skewed in favor of genetically modified organism advocates but that just before the conference began the Holy See invited a Greenpeace scientist and a Zambian priest who oppose the technology.