New CARA report assesses likely Catholic influence on 2008 elections
WASHINGTON (CNS) --- Although Catholic Democrats outnumber Catholic Republicans in the United States, both are outnumbered by the 41 percent of U.S. Catholic voters who are not affiliated with either party, according to new data from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University. In a report titled "Election '08 Forecast," released June 20, CARA compared data on party identification and the social, political and moral views of the estimated 47 million potential Catholic voters in the November election. Currently, 38 percent of Catholic voters identify themselves, either strongly or weakly, with the Democratic Party, while 21 percent said they were affiliated with the Republican Party, strongly or weakly. "If Catholics stick to their current party identification when voting for president, (presumptive Democratic nominee Sen.) Barack Obama would have the potential edge over (presumptive Republican nominee Sen.) John McCain among Catholics by more than 8 million," the report said, noting there would be 18 million Democrats compared to 10 million Republicans if they stay with their party affiliation.

Survey ranks worst places for refugees, issues report cards on others
WASHINGTON (CNS) --- Europe and Iraq were ranked among the 10 "worst places for refugees" in the 2008 World Refugee Survey for policies such as "warehousing" refugees for decades or for forcing them back to dangerous situations in their homelands. The survey, released June 19 in Washington at a press conference and in 20 other cities around the world the same day, also put Bangladesh, China, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Sudan, Russia and Thailand on its list of worst places. It singled out Europe for policies that "make it as difficult as possible to enter" that continent's territory. Countries on the periphery of Europe had the harshest policies, it said, and some forcibly return asylum seekers to dangerous conditions. Europe is home to about 528,000 refugees, largely from Eastern Europe, Afghanistan and Iraq. Iraq, which itself has generated more than 2 million refugees, meanwhile has been a country of refuge for about 45,000 Turks, Palestinians and Iranians. The survey was prepared by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants.

Bishops urge U.S., Mexico to protect rights of undocumented migrants
MEXICO CITY (CNS) --- U.S. and Latin American bishops urged the U.S. and Mexican governments to better protect the rights of undocumented migrants heading north in search of better economic opportunities. "We made a joint call for the U.S. government to seriously consider immigration reforms that are both complete and humane," Bishop Elias Bolanos Avelar of Zacatecoluca, El Salvador, told Catholic News Service following a June 16-18 meeting of bishops from the United States, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. They met in the Mexican border city Tijuana. Bishop Bolanos said calls also were made for the Mexican government to curb the mistreatment of migrants passing through the country on their way to the United States. Many migrants, mostly from Central and South America, and Cuba in increasing numbers, pass through Mexico but are often prey to criminal gangs and corrupt security officials.

Minor's abortion with Catholic Charities' help may have legal effects
WASHINGTON (CNS) --- After employees of a Catholic Charities office in Richmond, Va., helped a refugee minor obtain an abortion, the U.S. bishops' Migration and Refugee Services has revised its agreements with Catholic Charities agencies nationwide to explicitly ban "any services or actions contrary to Catholic teachings and beliefs." News of the Jan. 18 abortion and an exchange of letters from federal and church officials in April surfaced in mid-June after reports in The Wanderer, a national Catholic newspaper based in St. Paul, Minn., and The Washington Times daily newspaper. The abortion already has led to the firing of four employees of Commonwealth Catholic Charities who were involved in facilitating the abortion or helping the minor obtain a contraceptive device. An MRS employee responsible for supervising them also was suspended, according to an April 29 letter from three U.S. bishops to their fellow bishops. According to news reports, the minor in question was a 16-year-old Guatemalan who already had one child.

Priests urged to care for their bodies the way they care for souls
WASHINGTON (CNS) --- With studies confirming that a high percentage of U.S. clerics are overweight and lead inactive and nutritionally unhealthy lifestyles, several Catholic leaders in interviews with Catholic News Service said priests should focus on their bodies with the same care they give the souls of their parishioners. "We should remind our priests to take the time for relaxation and physical exercise," said Baltimore Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien, himself a physically fit 69-year-old Catholic leader. "It's very important for their health and their ministry." A 2001 national survey of more than 2,500 Christian religious leaders --- conducted by the pastoral leadership research project "Pulpit and Pew" based at Duke Divinity School in North Carolina --- said that 76 percent of Christian clergy were either overweight or obese, 15 percentage points higher than for the general U.S. population. The "Pulpit and Pew" study was the largest of recent surveys conducted on the health of U.S. clergy of several Christian denominations, all reaching similar conclusions.

Pope prays for victims of Philippine ferryboat disaster
VATICAN CITY (CNS) --- Pope Benedict XVI prayed for the victims of a ferryboat disaster that left hundreds dead off the coast of the Philippines. The boat carrying about 800 people ran aground and capsized in a typhoon June 21. Two days later, only 38 survivors had been found. The pope, speaking at his Sunday blessing June 22 in St. Peter's Square, said he had been informed of the tragedy that morning. "While I give assurances of my spiritual closeness to the populations on the islands hit by the typhoon, I raise a special prayer to the Lord for the victims of this new sea tragedy, in which numerous children were apparently involved," he said. The Philippines government said it was investigating why the ferry was allowed to sail despite storm warnings.

CRS staff resumes work following surprise rebel attacks in Chad
N'DJAMENA, Chad (CNS) --- Church aid workers have resumed their humanitarian work with hundreds of thousands of people left homeless by war following an inconclusive rebel attack on several towns in eastern Chad. "After three days in Cameroon, we returned to Chad on June 18, after the rebels left the country," said Samba Fall, head of programs in Chad for Catholic Relief Services, the overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. Catholic bishops. Fall, a Senegalese citizen, had been evacuated June 16 along with other CRS staff, humanitarian organizations and United Nations agencies. After four days of surprise attacks on isolated outposts in the African country, the rebels clashed with government troops June 17 in Am-Zoer. Government sources reported that more than 160 rebels were killed in the battle. The rebel alliance said it lost only 27 fighters. Whatever the outcome, the battle seemed to end the current rebel campaign.

Catholics say farewell to Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem
JERUSALEM (CNS) --- Retired Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem officially handed over his staff to Archbishop Fouad Twal during a Mass of thanksgiving, ending 20 years as head of the church in the Holy Land. Patriarch Sabbah turned 75 in March and submitted his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI as required by canon law. He chose to celebrate his final Mass June 21 at the Church of Gethsemane. Archbishop Twal, who has been coadjutor of the Latin patriarchate for nearly three years, replaced Patriarch Sabbah during his installation Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher the following day. As he entered the Church of Gethsemane, Patriarch Sabbah was greeted by a standing ovation. Patriarch Sabbah urged the Christian community to take action by praying, reading Scripture, going to Mass and living lives ruled by love. The community must see the image of God in all people, live in communion with others and be able to forgive while still demanding their God-given rights, he said.

Faith & Politics director predicts less contentious election cycle
WASHINGTON (CNS) --- For Father J. Cletus Kiley, the interplay of religion and politics isn't just a theme to consider in election years; it's his day job as president of the Faith & Politics Institute, a Capitol Hill organization founded by clergy and members of Congress. The nonpartisan, nondenominational institute hosts weekly spiritual reflection groups, sponsors lectures by speakers "whose lives reflect moral courage in the political arena," and organizes retreats and "experiential pilgrimages" for members of Congress. In the course of his two years at the institute, Father Kiley said he's noticed a distinct shift in tone in what had been a contentious sparring match between some Catholic members of Congress and a handful of church leaders who challenged the politicians' participation in the church over their legislative records, primarily support for keeping abortion legal.