Foot-And-Mouth Fears Force Church Cancellations

BELFAST NEWS LETTER, March 5 — Low church attendance in Ireland reflects the fear surrounding a recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease there, the paper said.

Masses at churches in the restricted zone in South Armagh were called off March 4. Archbishop Sean Brady said bishops in Ireland could cancel Sunday Masses and that people should not travel to other parishes.

Church of Ireland Bishop Brian Hannon said people in rural areas should not “feel a sense of guilt” about not going to church because of foot-and-mouth disease. He added that it was important to pray for all those affected by the outbreak.

In a statement, Presbyterian Moderator Trevor Morrow expressed his concern for those congregations affected by the scare.

Colombian Rebels Demand Ransom for Priest

AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE, March 5 — The Church in Colombia has revealed that members of the leftist rebel group FARC are demanding a $500,000 ransom for a priest they kidnapped seven months ago, the news service reported.

Father Juan Salvado told reporters the Church had received the ransom demand together with proof that the hostage, Father Guillermo Correa, is still alive. Father Correa's family cannot afford the ransom, and the Church will not encourage kidnapping by paying it, Father Salvado said.

At least 20 Colombians were killed in recent fighting between FARC rebels and right-wing paramilitaries in northwest Colombia. Five civilians died in the clash, which occurred some 250 miles northwest of Bogota. About 50 paramilitaries died in the same area two weeks ago during clashes with the rebel group.

The 8,000-strong Self-Defense Units of Colombia are waging a war to the death with FARC, which has twice as many members and is currently involved in preliminary peace talks with Colombian President Andres Pastrana.

Czech Government OKs Homosexual Partnerships

PLANET OUT, March 5 — The government of the Czech Republic on Feb. 26 approved a bill to create registered partnerships giving homosexual couples most of the benefits and responsibilities of marriage, the homosexual news service reported.

The Czech Chamber of Deputies, which has twice rejected similar bills, will take up the new measure in late August. The Czech Catholic Bishops' Conference council for public affairs announced it will stand aside from what it views as an entirely civil matter, Planet Out reported.

Deputy Premier Pavel Rychetsky, who headed the Justice Ministry while it drafted the bill, told the news service that the legislation is intended to “fully copy the legal relations arising between married couples,” with both the registry and dissolution processes following the laws governing marriage and divorce.