Working solutions
MORE than 150 priests in Los Angeles are to participate in a pastoral referral service for people suffering from AIDS. This will work in tandem with the Catholic hospitals in the area, with whom they will provide residential care.
IN A new book entitled The' Hunger Crop — Poverty and the Sugar Industry, Oxfam has begged the EEC to halt its overproduction of sugar beet. This has resulted in rock-bottom world prices for sugar and extreme poverty for the 12 million producers of sugar from cane in the Third World.
THE Israeli occupation authorities have opened the Greek Orthodox Monastery of St Jerome to pilgrims. It had been out of bounds for 20 years because it was in a military zone. The monastery was founded in 455 AD near to the River Jordan and the place where St John is traditionally believed to have baptised Our Lord. Other religious establishments in the area remain closed.
THE deputy Soviet Foreign Minister, Julij Voronzow, has recently been to the Vatican to talk with Archbishop Silvestrini about Soviet disarmament plans.
CATHOLIC lay volunteers have mounted a 24-hour guard at the home of Bishop Antonio Fortich of Bacolod in the Philippines since the attempt on his life. (Catholic Herald, May 15). Bishop Forlich turned down guards offered by the Philippine constabulary.
RIGHT-WING terror squads have stepped up their attacks on opponents of General Augusto Pinochet's government since the Pope's visit last month. Roberto Garreton, head of the Vicariate of Solidarity legal department has said that multiplied death threats and kidnappings during April and May testify to increased violence against alleged left wing groups in Chile.