Colombian Bishop Offers Haven for Guerrillas

BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION, April 25 –– A Colombian bishop has offered to work to set up a safe haven for the country's second biggest guerrilla group, the National Liberation Army, or ELN, to hold peace talks with the government, the BBC reported.

Bishop Hector Gutierrez Pobon of Chiquinquira said residents of the area were prepared to live under guerrilla control if that would help peace. The bishop's idea has the backing of 15 municipalities in the region as well as the Church.

The offer came after the ELN broke off earlier negotiations, accusing the government of failing to take action against right-wing paramilitary groups. Neither the government nor the ELN has yet replied to the offer, the BBC said.

Chinese Priest Gets Three Years in Labor Camp

AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE, May 1 –– A Chinese priest has been condemned to three years in labor camp for his membership in the underground Catholic Church, the news service reported.

Father Lu Genju was jailed April 13 for allegedly performing pastoral activities without the approval of the state-sanctioned Chinese Patriotic Church. “Since 1998, Lu Genju has many times conducted illegal evangelization activities in Wanghuitong village, seriously creating social disturbance,” the sentencing order read.

The sentence of re-education through labor given to Lu on Good Friday is an administrative order that Chinese police can hand out without a trial. It coincided with an Easter crackdown against several members of the underground Catholic Church, which recognizes the primacy of the Pope.

The Connecticut-based Cardinal Kung Foundation issued the following statement in connection with Father Lu's sentence: “This decision … makes official and abundantly clear that people who refuse to join the government-established Patriotic Association and who persist in worshipping in accordance with their conscience are now punishable to three years of labor camp.”

Hundreds Flock to See Image in Canada

GLOBE AND MAIL, May 1 –– Hundreds of people flocked to a Nova Scotia reserve during the last days of April to view an image that reportedly resembles the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus, the Canadian daily reported.

The 3.2-inch image, which appeared in the home of Tina Sack one day after her husband painted a room, has attracted some 700 pilgrims to the town of Indian Brook since it was first noticed in late April.

Pilgrims from all over Eastern Canada have come to pray at the image, which they say appears to be a woman kneeling and cradling a child in her arms.