NEWS IN BRIEF

Suicide verdict A YOUNG PRIEST who committed suicide by lying in front of a train received a "devastating" letter the day before he died, an inquest heard this week, Fr Sean Seddon, a priest of the Cardiff Archdiocese, was staying at a nearby retreat suffering from depression. Fr Seddon's adoptive father, Donald Seddon, said his son was "a happy, caring person, who loved to help others less fortunate than himself".
Artist honoured THE ENGLISH ARTIST who spent five years working on a reproduction of the ceiling of he Sistine Chapel for his local church was awarded the rare papal medal Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice at a special Mass last week.
I never apologise THE LONDON-BASED Irish Heritage Group is to stage a show celebrating the wit and genius of George Bernard Shaw later this month. Entitled I Never Apologise, the show marks the 20th anniversary of the group. Proceeds will help towards the restoration of Kylemore Abbey in Connemara. Still talking OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT Minister Baroness Lynda Chalker this week had an audience with the Pope at the Vatican, the second time she has met him. Later in the week, she met Vatican officials for talks on "humanitarian, development and welfare issues". Last year, Baroness Chalker told the Vatican its refusal to allow discussion of birth control at the Rio Earth Summit was "short-sighted".
Family Values THE ARCHBISHOP OF York, Dr John Habgood, has urged the Government to appoint a Minister for the Family. Speaking on Radio 4's The World this Weekend on the eve of a meeting of the General Synod, the archbishop also criticised the controversial Child Support Agency for its "crass" operations.
Bell Harmony BE! LRINGERS, FOUNDERS, hangers and conservationists have finally reached agreement on a code of practice for the conservation of churchbells, to be launched by the Anglican Council for the Care of Churches later this month. Children suffer THE Camp POVERTY Action Group (CPAG) this week published research showing that 2.7 million children living on state benefits are receiving some 25 per cent less than is required for a basic level of subsistence. The report found that on even a "low cost" weekly expenditure, a couple with two children would require an extra £34 per week over the income support level in order to afford the budget.
HIV Mass THE CATHOLIC STAGE Guild and Catholic Aids Link are to sponsor a concelebrated Mass to remember people affected by the HIV/AIDS virus later this month.
No to euthanasia THE DUKE OF Norfolk this week presented a petition in the House of Lords against the Medical Treatment (Advance Directives) Bill which would legalise euthanasia for the first time in British law.
CORRECTION: The telephone number given inlast week's item about the St Joseph's Hospice "Light up a Life" appeal should have been 081-985 0861.