Bishop Is Hailed as Church Hero

THE TOLEDO BLADE, March 27—Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz “drew a line in the sand” in 1996 when he promised excommunication for any Catholic in his diocese who maintained ties with a handful of groups, including Planned Parenthood, the Hemlock Society, and several Masonic organizations, according to Blade religion writer Judy Tarjanyi.

During an appearance before a large and enthusiastic gathering of the Toledo chapter of Catholics United for the Faith, Bishop Bruskewitz “estimated he received 400 negative communications and 45,000 positive ones in the form of letters, faxes, e-mails, and bouquets of flowers.”

“Meanwhile, Bishop Bruskewitz's diocese, which takes in 87,000 Catholics and 132 parishes spread over 25,000 square miles, is flourishing,” reported Tarjanyi. “The diocese will ordain at least nine priests in May (there have been 36 ordinations over the last seven years), and last year started its own college-level seminary, St. Gregory the Great. The seminary is fully accredited and has 27 students enrolled.”

Bush to Court: Reconsider Prayer Before Play

ASSOCIATED PRESS, March 26—Texas Gov. George W. Bush has asked a federal appeals court to reconsider its ruling that student-led prayer before football games at public high schools in Texas are unconstitutional, the AP reported.

A spokesman said the governor “supports the right of students to participate in the free exercise of religion, a right which is guaranteed under the Constitution,” the wire service reported.

The ruling, 2 to 1 by a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on March 1, upheld a lower court's decision allowing limited prayer at graduation ceremonies but prohibited the prayers or other “solemnizing ceremonies” before football games.

Connecticut Bishop Promotes Vocations

THE ADVOCATE, March 10—A profile by the Stamford, Conn., daily of Bridgeport Bishop Edward M. Egan highlighted his efforts to promote vocations.

“The St. John Fisher Residence in Stamford for young men considering the priesthood was opened at Egan's behest in 1994,” reported staff writer Cameron Martin. “This year, seven new candidates are scheduled to be ordained.”

“He put a lot of energy and personnel into promoting vocations because that wasn't really happening,” said Father Nicholas Calabro, a priest of the diocese. A key element in the seminary's success has been the practice of perpetual Eucharistic adoration, carried out by the students with wide support from area parishes.