Vatican Clarifies Pope's Words to Bush

ASSOCIATED PRESS, July 25 — After several commentators suggested that Pope John Paul II's words to President George W. Bush did not condemn all forms of embryo stem-cell research, the Vatican issued a statement saying the Pope found all forms of such research immoral, the wire service reported.

Some commentators had speculated that the Pope's references to “the creation for research purposes of human embryos” might allow research — which destroys the embryo — on “leftover” embryos produced in fertility clinics. The Vatican's statement firmly denied this possibility, quoting the encyclical The Gospel of Life: “This moral condemnation also regards procedures that exploit living human embryos and fetuses — sometimes ‘produced’ for this purpose by in vitro fertilization. … The killing of innocent human creatures, even if carried out to help others, constitutes an absolutely unacceptable act.”

‘Pied Piper of Rome’ Dies

THE IRISH TIMES, July 21 — Monsignor Patrick Carroll-Abbing, who gained renown for his work with Italian street children, died July 9 aged 88, the Irish daily reported.

The Dublin-born monsignor started a boys’ home known as the “Shoeshine Hotel” during World War II, sheltering homeless children and war orphans.

He went on to found nine more “Boys’ Towns,” a “Girls’ Town,” and many day-care centers, ultimately housing or educating over 7,000 Italian children and winning the nickname “The Pied Piper of Rome.”

Although many of his charges were street-hardened, used to begging and stealing, he won their trust. Monsignor Carroll-Abbing did not confine his compassion to children. He served as chaplain of Rome's Knights of Malta Military Hospital during the war, and in February 1944 created Medical Aid for the Battle Areas, which set up hospitals, provided food and supplies, and aided evacuations. After the war he continued founding clinics and distributing food.

On the day that Rome was liberated, he was awarded the Silver Medal for Valor on the Field of Battle.

New Financial Charges Against Naples Cardinal

ITALY DAILY, July 17 — Italian prosecutors have called for a trial of Cardinal Michele Giordano, archbishop of Naples, on charges of fraud and tax evasion.

The charges are related to the 1995 purchase of three barns by the Naples branch of the Vatican bank, Istituto per le Opere di Religione.

Prosecutors contend that the official price of the sale hides almost a half million dollars channeled illegally to a real estate agency. Cardinal Giordano was acquitted last year of usury charges in a separate case.