Two Seminarians Killed in Car Crash

NBC5, Sept. 20 — Mundelein Seminary students Matthew Molnar and Jason Cheek were killed Sept. 15 in a car accident on the seminary grounds, reported Chicago's NBC affiliate. The two, who were studying for the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kan., were back-seat passengers in a car that struck a tree on university grounds. The accident took place at 1:40 a.m.

Fellow seminary students Robert Spaulding and Mark Rowlands have been charged in the accident. Spaulding, the driver of the vehicle, was charged with reckless homicide and two counts of driving under the influence. Rowlands was the owner of the vehicle. Both Rowlands and Spaulding have been placed on indefinite leave of absence pending the outcome of their criminal investigations.

Kansas City, Kan. Archbishop Joseph Naumann described Molnar and Cheek as “wonderful and exuberant missionaries of Christ's love.”

Church in Massachusetts Supports Ballot Initiative

BOSTON GLOBE, Sept. 20 — Catholic dioceses in Massachusetts are joining other churches for a one-day signature-gathering effort on Oct. 2 to protect traditional marriage, said the Globe. Organizers hope to gather enough signatures to advance a 2008 ballot initiative that would ban same-sex “marriage.”

All four Catholic bishops in Massachusetts plan to send letters to their parishioners urging them to support the signature drive.

‘‘As faithful citizens, we have a moral obligation to defend the truth, no matter how counter-cultural or unappreciated our convictions might be,” Bishop George Coleman of Fall River wrote in a Sept. 12 letter. ‘‘The time is upon us to take a stand and to act, lovingly but firmly, to restore and defend the truth about marriage.”

If the organizers gather the 66,000 signatures necessary by Thanksgiving, and 50 lawmakers in two sessions of the Legislature approve it, the initiative could make it on the 2008 ballot.

Maine Says No to Federal Abstinence Funds

KENNEBEC JOURNAL, Sept. 20 — Maine became the third state in the country to turn down federal funds for an abstinence-based sexual education program, said the Journal. The state has rejected the funds because federal guidelines do not allow the money to be used to teach “safe-sex” practices.

“This money is more harmful than it is good,” said Dr. Dora Anne Mills, public-health director. “You can't talk about comprehensive reproductive information.” She added that since the teen pregnancy rates and abortion rates have decreased, Maine does not need the funds.

Maine had accepted federal abstinence funds between 1998 and 2004, but it did not seek the $165,000 in funds during the current fiscal year. California and Pennsylvania have also rejected the federal funds.

LifeTeen Questioned in Colorado

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, Sept. 19 — Some parishioners at Light of the World Catholic Church in Littleton, Colo. are calling into question the parish's launch of LifeTeen because of accusations against the organization's founder, reported the News.

Msgr. Dale Fushek, the founder, was placed on administrative leave in December and is the subject of a civil lawsuit filed in Maricopa County, Ariz., Superior Court.

“In terms of the application of the LifeTeen program in the archdiocese, we have a long track record. It's been very successful and trustworthy,” said Francis Maier, chancellor for the Denver Archdiocese.

LifeTeen, which is based in Arizona, is an independent organization serving more than 120,000 teens weekly in 19 countries.

Father Michael Pavlakovich, pastor of Light of the World Catholic Church, said that Msgr. Fushek lives in Arizona and will have no contact with Colorado teens.

LifeTeen Chairman Vince Roig, in a posting on the organization's web site in December 2004, said, “We believe the allegations against Msgr. Fushek are totally inconsistent with his character and honorable service to the Church and teens for the past 26 years.”