Americas

Officials call for Latin union
THE FUTURE of Latin America depends on its capacity to make progress over national integration, including the possibility of a South American confederation, a Vatican official has said.
Guzman Carriquiry Lecour, undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, developed his thesis in a book entitled A Challenge for Latin America, presented to the Italian Senate last week.
Mr Carriquiry, a native of Uruguay, said that the process of integration should not just be based on free trade treaties, but also on the cultural wealth of Latin America's peoples.
Latin America must stop regarding itself as the "victim" that leads it to blame others for its failures, he insisted.
He also called for an urgent review of Latin America's relations with the United States, insisting that all past ideological clashes between the United States and Latin America were sterile.
He said: "Our roots are Christian. Our culture is Christian. Catholicism will be the decisive factor for national construction and for Latin America's integration in world globalisation."
Pope guided by Guadalupe
A MEXICAN Cardinal has spoken about the Pope's devotion to Our Lady of Guadelupe who he says has guided his leadership of the Church over 24 years.
Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera met with the Holy Father during a plenary meeting of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. He said John Paul II had mentioned his July visit to Mexico when he canonised Juan Diego and beatified the Oaxaca martyrs.
"Ever since I went on pilgrimage for the first time to the splendid Shrine of Guadalupe on January 29, 1979, she has guided my steps in these almost 25 years of service as Bishop of Rome and universal pastor of the Church," the Pope said.
"I wish to invoke her, the sure way to encounter Christ, and who was the first evangeliser of America, as the 'Star of Evangelisation', entrusting to her the ecclesial work of all her sons and daughters of America," he added.
New Catholic search engine
A NEW version of an internet search engine of Catholic sites was unveiled in Mexico last week.
A continental meeting of RI1AL, the Information Network of the Church in Latin America, presented the latest version of www.esglesia.org. The service offers more than 28,000 links.
F,sglesia.org, a service developed by Fr Enric Rivas and the internet department of the Archdiocese of Madrid, is being prepared in English, Catalan, French and Italian.
Holy Week ceasefire urged
A Col OSMAN archbishop has called on rebel groups to observe a ceasefire during Holy Week.
Archbishop Alberto Giraldo Jaramillo of Medellin said the guerrilla groups should demonstrate their "sensitivity toward the Colombian people" by the gesture.
He denounced a recent announcement by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) that it would launch a military offensive blocking country roads, and attacking supply trucks. The National Liberation Army (E1.N) has also indicated its desire for conflict.
The archbishop said: "Colombians want to participate in the central mysteries of our faith with their loved ones, and anybody who claims to represent or defend the people should be respectful of this basic human right."
Papal prayers for victims
JOHN PAUL II has expressed his solidarity with the people of the mining town of Chima, in northern Bolivia, where a landslide buried several hundred houses.
The landslide at Pucaloma hill caused 15 deaths and numerous injuries. A number of people are still unaccounted for.
In a telegram sent by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican secretary of state, to Bishop Juan Vargas Aruquipa of Coroico, the Pope offered his prayers for the deceased and his sympathy for their relatives.
He called on public authorities and people of goodwill to give "effective assistance" with charity and a spirit of fraternal solidarity.
Bishops warn of police state
A NEW report from the bishops of Haiti has said murder, beating and abductions are happening on a daily basis, Aid to the Church in Need has said.
The report from the National Justice and Peace Commission of the Bishops' Conference said 117 people have been killed in the past four months. "We observe that solidarity among the people is dissipating" and "we are worried with the carelessness of certain people in handling the lives of others," the bishops said.
The report called for the authorities to assume their responsibilities and build an atmosphere of peace, justice and respect for the life of each citizen.
Murder at Albanian Mass
A PARISHIONER at a Detroit church was murdered in a fatal shooting during Mass.
Gjek Isufaj, 38, was killed in a shooting at St Paul's, an Albanian Catholic church in the Detroit Suburb of Rochester Hills.
Police said the shooting by Gjon Pepaj, 38, was the result of a lengthy feud between the two men. Pepaj was arraigned on first-degree murder. Bail was denied. If convicted he could be sentenced to life in prison.
The shooting took place during the offertory, when the gunman opened fire on his former friend.
Fr Anton Kcira, parish priest, said, "It was terrible. I kept saying 'peace, peace' to the crowd! But the people were so scared they were jumping out of windows."
Nuns made cross in blood
THREE CArttoi K. nuns said they wanted to protect the children of Iraq with a "symbolic disarmament" when they trespassed on a missile silo in northern Colorado last year.
In a courtoom statement, one of the nuns, Sr Ardeth Platte said: "We hope to dismantle the weapons of mass destruction one by one."
Sr Platte, and two other Dominican Sisters Carolyn Gilbert and Jackie Hudson, were on trial for alleged sabotage and malicious destruction of property related to the October break-in at the Minuteman III silo, where they cut cables and made the sign of the cross on the silo lid with their own blood.