Cardinal George's Team Takes Shape

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, May 2—“Francis George had one advantage over his 12 predecessors when he became archbishop of Chicago two years ago,” wrote religion writer Ernest Tucker. “Home turf. Still, the northwest side native had been away for most of his adult life — including many years abroad — and needed help running the sprawling archdiocese.”

Tucker reports that Cardinal George has slowly put together a team of collaborators that includes many members of the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin's staff. “The fact there would be a modification is not surprising,'' said Father Michael Place, a theological adviser to Cardinal Bernardin who has moved on to a new position in St. Louis.

Msgr. Kenneth Velo, a close confidant of Cardinal Bernardin who remains on the personal staff of Cardinal George, noted that the current archbishop “seems more recognized than Cardinal Bernardin was at first. Walking through airports, people didn't notice [Cardinal Bernardin] as much as they do Cardinal George,” he was quoted saying.

Msgr. Velo also told Tucker his former boss carefully prepared his remarks while Cardinal George often likes to “speak in the moment.”

Religious Investing Pays

THE NEW YORK POST, May 1—Religious-oriented mutual funds are the fastest-growing category of funds, said Piskora in a story that was headlined “Mutual Fund Investing That Doesn't Suspend Belief.”

“The number of such mutual funds is growing by leaps and bounds, up over five-fold during the last six years alone,” reported Piskora. “Not only the number of funds growing, but the assets within those funds are also growing faster than for all equity funds.” Since 1989, she said, assets in religious mutual funds rose 191% to $4.5 billion.

“This data underscores the fact that more and more Americans want their money to be invested and saved in accord with their beliefs,” John Liechty, president of a firm that invests in accordance with Mennonite beliefs told the paper. Numerous Catholic funds are also in operation.

Disney Avoids Embarrassment

THE BERGEN RECORD, MAY 3—A London Observer Service story by Mark Morris recounts how Walt Disney Corp. Chairman Michael Eisner is seeking to avoid responsibility for what Morris calls the “controversy-plagued religious satire, Dogma” and other projects.

According to Morris, Dogma, “was unloaded by Disney-owned Miramax” to Miramax's own co-chairmen, Harvey and Bob Weinstein, in a $10 million sale that will see the Weinsteins produce the film as individuals. “Buying it outside of their deal with Disney means that they don't have to conform to Disney strictures. Or as the Weinsteins put it, they spare Disney any embarrassment.”

Another controversial Disney project now in production is Summer of Sam, a Spike Lee film about serial killer David Berkowitz, a k a the Son of Sam, that includes scenes of sex and violence that is already felt by studio executives “to be much more graphic than the script suggested,” said the report.