PRESS OFFICE ON ATTEMPT TO DISCREDIT FRANCISCANS IN MOSCOW

VATICAN CITY, OCT 14, 2002 (VIS) - The following declaration was made today by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls regarding an attempt to discredit some Franciscans in Moscow:

"The Holy See has received worrisome news concerning a dishonorable operation aimed at discrediting the community of Franciscan Friars Minor Conventual in Moscow and, through them, the Catholic Church.

"Unbeknownst to them, the Religious saw an apartment that they owned - which they had rented to a private person who stated that he wished it for a work of charity - turned into a house to be used for prostitution.

"Recently, a noted daily paper in the capital, as well as the first and third television channels, spread a subtly false news story, including images of persons attired in religious dress and portrayed in immoral behavior, with the evident intention of harming the reputation of the Catholic community.

"The pontifical representative in Moscow has energetically protested to the competent authorities. At the same time the local superiors of the Franciscan Order distributed a press release in which they rejected every accusation and denied the false information being spread in Moscow.

"The Holy See joins these legitimate protests and hopes that justice runs its course, as is becoming to a State of law."

OP;FRANCISCANS; MOSCOW;...;NAVARRO-VALLS;VIS;20021014;Word: 220;

PAPAL TELEGRAM FOR THE ATTACKS IN INDONESIA

VATICAN CITY, OCT 14, 2002 (VIS) - Following is the telegram sent by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, in the Holy Father's name, to Archbishop Lorenzo Fratini, apostolic nuncio in Indonesia, upon the attack Saturday, October 12, in Bali:

"His Holiness Pope John Paul II has been deeply shocked by news of the terrible attack in Bali which has caused many deaths and injuries and he asks you to convey to the civil and religious authorities the assurance of his prayers for the victims, commending them to Almighty God and invoking divine strength and comfort on the injured and on all affected by this tragic event. Such cruel and misguided violence cannot be the path to a more just and civil society, and it must be condemned by all who aspire to a world of peace built on respect for the inviolable dignity of every human life."

TGR;ATTACK BALI;...;SODANO; FRATINI;VIS;20021014;Word: 160;

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 14, 2002 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Jacques Diouf, general director of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).
- Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, major archbishop of Lviv of the Ukrainians, Ukraine.
- Archbishop Luigi Pezzuto, apostolic nuncio in Tanzania.
- Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto, apostolic nuncio in Senegal, Mali, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde and apostolic delegate in Mauritania.
- Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic life.

On Saturday October 12, the Holy Father received Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 11, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, apostolic nuncio in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
- Archbishop Timothy Michael Dolan of Milwaukee, U.S.A.
- Bishop Rafael De La Barra Tagle, S.V.D., prelate of Illapel, Chile on his "ad limina" visit. - Bishop Luigi Infanti Della Mora, apostolic vicar of Aysen, Chile on his "ad limina" visit.
- Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

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SITUATION AND PERSPECTIVES OF FAMILY AND LIFE IN AMERICA

VATICAN CITY, OCT 11, 2002 (VIS) - Today the Pontifical Council for the Family released the "Santo Domingo Declaration," the result of the meeting which took place in that city from September 1 to 5 on the theme "Situation and perspectives of family and life in America."

In the meeting promoted by the Pontifical Council for the Family, participants included members of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), the presidents of the episcopal conferences of America as well as some married couples and university professors. Those who participated approved the document unanimously and decided to publish it "on the significant date of October 12."

The first section, entitled "Situation of the family," states that "due to strong ideological pressure, it could be said that there exists the goal to dismantle piece by piece the structure of the family, based on marriage."

The second part of the document, "Truth of family and life," emphasizes that "a healthy society and culture are reflected in and nourished by the health of the family. Similarly, a sick society and culture are reflected in a weak and deteriorated family. The future of humanity will not be possible without recognizing and respecting the values of the natural institution of the family."

"We are distressed by the pretext of giving legal recognition - with the juridical effects that the tradition of peoples only recognizes in marriage. an eminently public good - to the so-called 'de facto unions' in their diverse versions and stages. Even greater is our concern when such an expectation applies to people of the same sex. It is inadmissable to ask that the union of homosexuals and lesbians be considered a legitimate union and included as 'marriages', or that they have a supposed right to adopt children."

The third and last section, "The need for action," urges "politicians and legislators, not only Catholics to vote against immoral laws, just as they are obligated to vote for laws that favor the common good. We ask them insistently to search for creative initiatives that promote the family and life which emerge as one organic and positive legislation."

"The right to conscientious objection," concludes the document, "is particularly urgent in the face of an avalanche of proposals on unions at different levels which attack the singularity of marriage."

...;DECLARATION SANTO DOMINGO;...;...;VIS;20021011;Word: 390;