OVERSEAS NEWS IN BRIEF

No bingo
CARDINAL JOHN O'Connor, Archbishop of New York, has notified his priests and parishioners that he plans to replace bingo games as a system of finance with a more "dignified" way of raising money for parochial schools. About one million New Yorkers play bingo regularly.
SA nuns
SOUTH AFRICA'S first independent female religious community has been established. The Daughters of St Francis of Assisi were founded in 1922, but have been governed until now by the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood.
Mexican critics
SIX BISHOPS in Mexico have denounced the corruption and criticised one-party rule in that country. In their pastoral letter, entitled "Christian Involvement in Politics", the bishops said last week that the Church has a right to comment on political issues, despite Mexico's constitution barring clergy from criticising the government.
Turkey sales
THE SALE of Bibles has been suspended in Turkey as of January 6, when a Turkish court ruled that it is illegal to sell and distribute bibles in the Turkish language which have been printed in Turkey.
Potatoes
TROCAIRE, the Catholic Agency for World Development in Ireland. has funded 1,000 tons of seed potatoes to be transported to Ethiopia by the Bandaid chartered ship, Bandaid Star, which arrived on Tuesday in a Dublin port.
Children's murders
THE CATHOLIC Women's League and representatives of 14 other voluntary organisations met in Cape Town last month to present their memorandum calling for the end of alleged assaults, murders and harassment of children by South African police. They charged that 201 children were killed by police in racial rioting during 1985.
No retraction
FOLLOWING THE Vatican's doctrinal congregation's call for Fr Charles Curran's retraction of his views on some religious teachings, the Jesuit professor of theology said last week that he will not retract his views. Meanwhile more than 600 US and Canadian Catholic theologians have signed a statement Supporting Fr Curran.
Pinochet's duty
THE CHILEAN Catholic bishops' conference issued a statement earlier this month warning Chile's military government that it has a "duty to listen to its citizens". The bishops also said that a forthcoming papal visit should not be interpreted politically.