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San Francisco, CA: Pope Benedict has captured the hearts of America!
The Pope’s message of hope and peace have
touched everyone, Catholics and non-Catholics like, not to mention
his sincere and frequent apology for the shameless sex abuse and
molestation of children by priests in the past. Pope Benedict
accomplished many “firsts”—the first head of state to be
personally met planeside by President George W., the first head of
state to greet 13,000 guests on the White House lawn, the first
German Pope to visit a landmark Jewish temple and dialogue with a
head rabbi who was tortured by German Nazis, the first Pope to
celebrate Sung Mass at the gothic St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New
York.
In his gentle, soft-spoken way, Pope Benedict
spoke his mind in strong terms, claiming he was ashamed of the sex
scandal, exhorting his bishops to do more to help their flock and to
avoid future mistakes, and urging Catholics to be more proactive in
their faith.
By the way, all the activities, rites and
ceremonies of the papal visit emphasized the diversity and
universality of the Church through the participation of its global
members. An interesting side note: the Kennedys are not the only
prominent Catholics in America. In the mostly Protestant Bush
family, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is the exception, a Catholic
convert.
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These guys have caught the acting bug! Blame
wife Edna, who started it all. City College of San Francisco Board
Trustee Rodel Rodis and Greg Macabenta recently participated in a
Filipina Women’s Network presentation entitled A Memory, A
Monologue, A Rave and A Prayer. Rodel and Greg performed monologues
that dealt with domestic violence.
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No less than Archbishop George Niederauer spoke
at the Pamilya Natin educational presentation the other week at St.
Timothy’s Church in San Mateo. The health fair was sponsored by
the Archdiocese, Catholic Charities, the Philippine Consulate and
CORA (Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse). For once, the
frequently out-of town Con-Gen Marciano Paynor was present as
speaker, along with Mons. Floro Arcamo. The emcees were TV reporter
Frances Dinglasan and San Francisco Police Sergeant Randy Caturay.
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