LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
April 20/08

Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 14,7-14.  If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.

Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
All avenues must be explored to break the war and death cycle-Daily Star 19/04/08
Barack's bitter truth: Just forget about the Iraqis.By Michael Young 19/04/08

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for April 19/08
All avenues must be explored to break the war and death cycle-Daily Star 19/04/08
Barack's bitter truth: Just forget about the Iraqis.By Michael Young 19/04/08
US marks 25th anniversary of bombing of Beirut embassy-Daily Star
Siniora says Welch's visit achieved no breakthrough-Daily Star
Hariri slams 'despicable' calls to release four detained generals-Daily Star
Franjieh says opposition has 'constructive stance-Daily Star
Fadlallah hits out at American interference in political crisis-Daily Star
Union for Lebanon calls for probe into mass graves-Daily Star  
Truck accident causes traffic back-up on border-Daily Star
National Liberal Party reiterates call for election- Daily Star
EC to host conference on good governance-Daily Star  
AUB's global alumni association inaugurates new Beirut premises-Daily Star  
Press Club honors students with Gebran Tueni Awards-Daily Star  
Symposium stresses problem-solving skills as tool for transformation-Daily Star  
Dignitaries, officials mark 12th anniversary of Qana massacre-Daily Star  
Behind Roumieh's walls, Lebanese escape a societal prison-Daily Star  
UNIFIL troops promote peace through sport-AFP
Carter meets Hamas leader Meshaal in Damascus-AFP
Job recruitment fair at BIEL lures 9,000 Lebanese-Daily Star
Kuwaiti firm acquires Lebanon's Monoprix and Giant for $97 million-Daily Star
US marks 25th anniversary of Beirut embassy bombing-AFP
Putin, Abbas discuss plan for Moscow-hosted peace summit-AFP
Senior Iranian cleric calls on Islamic Republic to defend Muslims worldwide-AFP

Welch: Palestinians in Lebanon, Everywhere Should Have Palestinian State-Naharnet
Hariri Assassins Enjoyed Syrian Protection-Naharnet

Pope addresses U.N., calls for respect for human rights-AP
Pope to address U.N. after meeting abuse victims-AP
Berlusconi says Italy will keep troops in Lebanon-International Herald Tribune
'Iran should not acquire not acquire nukes, period'-Jerusalem Post
Security and Defense: Blue, white, red alert all over-Jerusalem Post
Carter meets Assad in Syria, set to hold talks with Hamas chief-Ha'aretz
Aoun Labels the Majority: Welch Party-Naharnet
Saad Hariri Vows to Confront Attempts to Release the Four Generals-Naharnet
Geagea: Simple Majority Vote Remains an Option-Naharnet

Welch: Palestinians in Lebanon, Everywhere Should Have Palestinian State-Naharnet
Hariri Assassins Enjoyed Syrian Protection-Naharnet
Geagea Accuses Syrians of Assassination Plots against March 14 Leaders-Naharnet
March 14 Officially Asks Washington to Back Lebanon against Syrian-Iranian Intervention-Naharnet
Bush Slams Syria, Iran, Backs Saniora's Government-Naharnet
Hizbullah Kidnaps Policeman in South Beirut
-Naharnet
Saniora to Welch: Arab Initiative is Key to Settlement
-Naharnet
Hajj Hassan Calls for 'Deterring' Hizbullah
-Naharnet
Iran Supports Aoun's 'Precious' Views
-Naharnet
Hizbullah Warns Against Change of UNIFIL Rules of Engagement
-Naharnet
Carter in Syria to see Hamas political leader-The Associated Press
Twelve Years Ago My Children Were Killed in Lebanon-AlterNet -
Since 2001, a Dramatic Increase in Suicide Bombings-Washington Post
Bush targets Iran, Syria in marking Beirut bombing anniversary-Monsters and Critics.com
Zawahri Urges Muslims to Make Iraq 'Fortress of Islam,' Says Bush Covering up Defeat
Pope Prays with Victims of Church Sex Abuse


Welch: Palestinians in Lebanon, Everywhere Should Have Palestinian State

Naharnet/U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch on Friday stressed that Palestinians living in Lebanon should have the opportunity to live in their own Palestinian state. "For Palestinians everywhere, including in Lebanon, the future of Palestinians lies in such a Palestinian state," Welch said after meeting Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in Maarab. "President George Bush is the first American President ... to support the establishment of a Palestinian state," Welch added. "It's our belief that Palestinians living in Lebanon should have the opportunity to live in their own state – Palestine," he said.
Before meeting Geagea, Welch held talks with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in Bkirki where he stressed the need for speedy presidential elections in Lebanon.
"It is not tolerable that the leading Christian office of the land has been vacant for so long," Welch told reporters.
"The United States supports the Christian community in Lebanon. "Truly free and patriotic Maronites should unite for the consensus," Welch insisted.
Welch on Thursday met with representatives of the pro-government March 14 Forces as well as with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Fouad Saniora. "We have tried dialogue over the years … it's time for decision making," Welch said after talks with Saniora. "The parliament should open, it should meet, the election should happen without further delay and should not be stalled by any other condition whatsoever," he added. Welch accused the Hizbullah-led opposition and Syria, without naming them, of trying the scuttle efforts to elect a head of state to replace pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud, who stepped down at the end of his mandate in November.
"Some who have been influenced by outsiders have unilaterally taken steps to arrest this political process, to facilitate their own goals ... and those of their allies," said Welch. "The future of Lebanon belongs to the Lebanese, not to any neighbors, not to the United States," he stressed. He said Washington supports an Arab League initiative which calls for the immediate election of a president, the formation of a national unity government and a new electoral law.
The initiative has stalled over the demand by the opposition to have veto power in the new government.
Welch's visit comes days before lawmakers are scheduled to make an 18th attempt in parliament to replace Lahoud, but there are no signs that the session will take place for lack of agreement between the ruling March 14 coalition and the opposition. Welch on Friday was also to meet with Berri as well as Druze leader Walid Jumblat. On the international tribunal set up to try those behind the 2005 assassination of ex-premier Rafik Hariri, Welch said it was an "irreversible" process.
"It (the tribunal) is crucial to ending the era of impunity for political crimes and assassinations," he said.
Syria has been widely blamed of being behind Hariri's killing but has denied involvement. U.S. embassy spokeswoman Cherie Lenzen said Welch's previously unannounced visit coincides with a ceremony on Friday to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the U.S. embassy bombing in Beirut. More than 60 people were killed, most of them embassy staff. An embassy statement said that families of the Lebanese victims of the 1983 attack will attend Friday's ceremony while the families of the American victims will attend a parallel ceremony in the United States.(Naharnet-AFP) Beirut, 18 Apr 08, 11:48

Hariri Assassins Enjoyed Syrian Protection

Naharnet/Reports on Friday revealed that the international investigation committee trying to pin ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassins came with three major conclusions. The daily An Nahar, citing European diplomatic sources in Paris, stated the conclusions as:
1- The criminal network that assassinated Hariri was able to carry out its task because it enjoyed not only protection, but political and security immunity, at the highest levels during the Syrian hegemony over Lebanon. 2- Masterminds of this terrorist crime and the perpetrators did not expect Hariri's murder to provoke such an unprecedented Arab and international concern.
3- Information, evidence and testimonies obtained by the investigation committee confirm that the political motives behind Hariri's murder resulted from the fact that Hariri was seeking to create a massive independent movement grouping representatives of the various sects with the aim of working together for the liberation of Lebanon from Syrian tutelage and consolidate the country's sovereignty and independence through legitimate, peaceful means and under the umbrella of Arab and international protection, and viewed Hariri's killing as a purely political act. Beirut, 18 Apr 08, 14:01

Saad Hariri Vows to Confront Attempts to Release the Four Generals
Naharnet/Future Movement leader Saad Hariri on Friday vowed to confront escalating calls by pro-Syrian factions for the release of four generals held in connecting with his father's assassination. Hariri fired back at the Hizbullah-led campaign in a statement on the third anniversary of MP Bassil Fuleihan's death from wounds he suffered in the Feb. 14, 2005 bomb attack that claimed Hariri's live. He described the attack as "the most obnoxious terrorist crime that tried to eliminate Lebanon, its independence and sovereignty." "This painful memory also is an occasion to remember all the martyrs who fell while defending our nation, starting with the martyrs of freedom and independence, the martyrs of the Lebanese Army and the Internal Security Forces, and the innocent citizens who were the victims of blind terrorism, which is still trying to harm Lebanon, its Arabism and democracy," the statement added.
The statement stressed :"We would not rest until the coward criminals are brought to justice to get the punishment they deserve in the International Tribunal which is now ready to receive them." It urged "all political forces that are executing the orders of the criminal regime in defending the four generals to go back to their conscience, and stop organizing this flagrant interference in the international investigation for the sake of the memory of the long list of martyrs."
It noted: "The gang of the four generals is at least responsible of reducing the security protection for Rafik Hariri before his assassination, tampering with the crime scene, and participating in creating the lie of Ahmad Abu Adas.
"That's why we urge some political leaders who should have a minimum of national and ethical responsibility, and who are defending this gang, not to participate in this flagrant attempt to acquit the killers."
"The Lebanese, Arab and Islamic public opinions regard this attempt a blatant adoption of the assassination crime itself," the statement told the Hizbullah-led opposition that has been demanding release of the four generals. "Those who prevent the Internal Security Forces and the Lebanese Army from protecting the citizens every day, kidnap their personnel, attack them, and hide wanted people, don't have the right to talk about the investigation in the crime of assassinating a remarkable man like Martyr Prime Minister Rafik Hariri," the statement said in obvious reference to Hizbullah. "They surely are not the suitable reference to determine the fate of the detainees in an international investigation, where the highest executive reference of the United Nations stated that their detention is in the hands of the international prosecution," The Hariri statement said.."Any call to free the gang of the four generals is …a despicable attempt to exert pressure on the investigation and terrorize the judges and those responsible about the international investigation which we trust its honesty and ability to bring the criminals to the justice of the international tribunal regardless of their position," it noted. "The Rafik Hariri supporters would not stand idly by as attempts are being made to assassinate him once again. Justice would eventually prevail," The statement pledged. Beirut, 18 Apr 08, 17:29

Geagea: Simple Majority Vote Remains an Option

Naharnet/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Friday said electing a president by simple majority "remains an option", but a final decision in this regard has not been taken. Other options to deal with the ongoing political crisis include reshuffling Premier Fouad Saniora's government, Geagea told reporters after talks with U.S. assistant Secretary of State David Welch. Welch, Geagea explained, "did not relay any new ideas. He reiterated U.S. support to Lebanon."
"We are not waiting for any side, be it American, French or Syrian, to tell us what we should do. We realize fully what we want to do," Geagea added.
The best-case scenario, according to Geagea, would be for MPs "to head to Parliament and elect a president." Beirut, 18 Apr 08, 18:47

Saniora to Welch: Arab Initiative is Key to Settlement
Naharnet/Prime Minister Fouad Saniora on Thursday affirmed to U.S. envoy David Welch the need to adhere to the Arab initiative and the election of a president.
The state-run National News Agency said Saniora also reaffirmed during his talks with Welch on adherence to the Taif Accord and the seven-point plan adopted during national dialogue sessions in 2006. Welch, following the talks, reiterated Washington's support for electing a president "as soon as possible" without preconditions. Welch also said "We support the legitimate government of Premier Saniora that had been formed through a democratic process."
Progress of the international tribunal "cannot be reversed," Welch noted. The tribunal, he added, would end the era of impunity. Beirut, 17 Apr 08, 19:14

Hizbullah Kidnaps Policeman in South Beirut
Naharnet/Hizbullah partisans on Thursday attacked and kidnapped a policeman in south Beirut, in the second such development in as many days, security sources reported. The sources said the policeman was investigating an illegal construction site in the suburb of Ghadir when he was beaten up by two local residents.
Hizbullah members drove in, kidnapped the officer and whisked him to a Hizbullah office where he was illegally interrogated by party officials on activities of the police force. The policeman told his superiors later that Hizbullah officials set him free only because he is Shiite. Hizbullah partisans attacked a police patrol in the eastern mountainous town of Qmatiyeh Wednesday evening and stripped policemen of two wanted criminals, who remain at large. Beirut, 17 Apr 08, 19:38

Bush Slams Syria, Iran, Backs Saniora's Government
Naharnet/U.S. President George Bush on Thursday accused Iran and Syria of undermining democracy in Lebanon and renewed his support for Premier Fouad Saniora's government. "The United States will continue to stand with the Lebanese government and the Lebanese people as they struggle to preserve their hard-won sovereignty and independence, endeavor to provide justice for victims of terrorism and political violence, and continue to seek the election of a president committed to these principles," Bush said in a written statement. Washington has accused the Hizbullah-led opposition and Syria of trying to scuttle Lebanon's efforts to elect a new head of state to replace pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud, who stepped down at the end of his term in November.
"The people of Lebanon have spent the better part of three decades living under the threat of violence, assassinations, and other forms of intimidation," said Bush.
"Despite this, they and their leaders continue to work for a peaceful and democratic future, even as Syria, Iran, and their Lebanese proxies seek to undermine Lebanese democracy and institutions," he said. Bush took note of the 25th anniversary Friday of the deadly April 18, 1983 bombing of the U.S. embassy in Beirut by the Islamic Jihad Organization, which U.S. officials have said was a forerunner of Hizbullah.
"On the 25th anniversary of that bombing, we mourn for those who perished, and we honor the sacrifice of their family and friends and of the many who were wounded," Bush said of the attack.
"Since the Beirut attack, we and citizens of many countries have suffered more attacks at the hands of Hizbullah and other terrorists, backed by the regimes in Tehran and Damascus, which use terror and violence against innocent civilians.
"All nations should condemn such brutal attacks and recognize that the purposeful targeting of civilians is immoral and unjustifiable," Bush said.
The U.S. president's statement came the same day Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs reiterated Washington's strong support for the Saniora government and urged the immediate election of a president without foreign interference.
"The parliament should open, it should meet, the election should happen without further delay and should not be stalled by any other condition whatsoever," said Welch after meeting Saniora at the Grand Serail. "It's not good that this position, that of president, has been vacant for so long because of course it is the most important Christian office in the land," he said. Welch accused the opposition and Syria, without naming them, of trying the scuttle efforts to elect a head of state.
"Some who have been influenced by outsiders have unilaterally taken steps to arrest this political process, to facilitate their own goals ... and those of their allies," said Welch. "The future of Lebanon belongs to the Lebanese, not to any neighbors, not to the United States," he added.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 18 Apr 08, 04:36

Welch: Palestinians in Lebanon, Everywhere Should Have Palestinian State
Naharnet/U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch on Friday stressed that Palestinians living in Lebanon should have the opportunity to live in their own Palestinian state. "For Palestinians everywhere, including in Lebanon, the future of Palestinians lies in such a Palestinian state," Welch said after meeting Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in Maarab. "President George Bush is the first American President ... to support the establishment of a Palestinian state," Welch added. "It's our belief that Palestinians living in Lebanon should have the opportunity to live in their own state – Palestine," he said.
Before meeting Geagea, Welch held talks with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in Bkirki where he stressed the need for speedy presidential elections in Lebanon.
"It is not tolerable that the leading Christian office of the land has been vacant for so long," Welch told reporters.
"The United States supports the Christian community in Lebanon. "Truly free and patriotic Maronites should unite for the consensus," Welch insisted.
Welch on Thursday met with representatives of the pro-government March 14 Forces as well as with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Fouad Saniora. "We have tried dialogue over the years … it's time for decision making," Welch said after talks with Saniora.
"The parliament should open, it should meet, the election should happen without further delay and should not be stalled by any other condition whatsoever," he added. Welch accused the Hizbullah-led opposition and Syria, without naming them, of trying the scuttle efforts to elect a head of state to replace pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud, who stepped down at the end of his mandate in November.
"Some who have been influenced by outsiders have unilaterally taken steps to arrest this political process, to facilitate their own goals ... and those of their allies," said Welch. "The future of Lebanon belongs to the Lebanese, not to any neighbors, not to the United States," he stressed.
He said Washington supports an Arab League initiative which calls for the immediate election of a president, the formation of a national unity government and a new electoral law.
The initiative has stalled over the demand by the opposition to have veto power in the new government. Welch's visit comes days before lawmakers are scheduled to make an 18th attempt in parliament to replace Lahoud, but there are no signs that the session will take place for lack of agreement between the ruling March 14 coalition and the opposition. Welch on Friday was also to meet with Berri as well as Druze leader Walid Jumblat.
On the international tribunal set up to try those behind the 2005 assassination of ex-premier Rafik Hariri, Welch said it was an "irreversible" process.
"It (the tribunal) is crucial to ending the era of impunity for political crimes and assassinations," he said. Syria has been widely blamed of being behind Hariri's killing but has denied involvement. U.S. embassy spokeswoman Cherie Lenzen said Welch's previously unannounced visit coincides with a ceremony on Friday to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the U.S. embassy bombing in Beirut. More than 60 people were killed, most of them embassy staff. An embassy statement said that families of the Lebanese victims of the 1983 attack will attend Friday's ceremony while the families of the American victims will attend a parallel ceremony in the United States.(Naharnet-AFP) Beirut, 18 Apr 08, 11:48

Hariri Assassins Enjoyed Syrian Protection
Naharnet/Reports on Friday revealed that the international investigation committee trying to pin ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassins came with three major conclusions. The daily An Nahar, citing European diplomatic sources in Paris, stated the conclusions as:
1- The criminal network that assassinated Hariri was able to carry out its task because it enjoyed not only protection, but political and security immunity, at the highest levels during the Syrian hegemony over Lebanon.
2- Masterminds of this terrorist crime and the perpetrators did not expect Hariri's murder to provoke such an unprecedented Arab and international concern.
3- Information, evidence and testimonies obtained by the investigation committee confirm that the political motives behind Hariri's murder resulted from the fact that Hariri was seeking to create a massive independent movement grouping representatives of the various sects with the aim of working together for the liberation of Lebanon from Syrian tutelage and consolidate the country's sovereignty and independence through legitimate, peaceful means and under the umbrella of Arab and international protection, and viewed Hariri's killing as a purely political act. Beirut, 18 Apr 08, 14:01

Geagea Accuses Syrians of Assassination Plots against March 14 Leaders
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea accused Syria of planning the assassinations of leaders from the pro-government March 14 coalition.
"We have information that Syria will carry out new assassinations in Lebanon," Geagea told BBC radio. "A decision to stop these (political) assassinations has not been taken," he added. Geagea said Lebanese security authorities advised March 14 leaders to be cautious. "I'm a target and so are many other March 14 leaders," Geagea told BBC. "We've been told that we are under surveillance."He accused Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri of "seeking to improve Syria's image in the Arab world."Geagea, however, said March 14 was willing to "study" any initiative aimed at ending the ongoing political crisis, adding that the "problem was we don't know whether Berri's new proposal was backed by Hizbullah and (Gen. Michel) Aoun." Beirut, 18 Apr 08, 07:59

March 14 Officially Asks Washington to Back Lebanon against Syrian-Iranian Intervention
Naharnet/The March 14 majority alliance on Thursday asked the United States to support the presidential election, speed up efforts to put the international tribunal in action and back implementation of all U.N. resolutions on Lebanon.  The stand was outlined in a memo presented to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch, who made an unscheduled visit to Beirut. March 14 representatives met Welch at the residence of ex-MP Faris Souaid in suburban Rabiyeh, north of Beirut. Welch, after the talks, called for the immediate election of a president, noting that the presidential election should not have been delayed till now. The March 14 memo said the Lebanese People want the United States to "maintain" its commitment to Lebanon "which is in harmony with international norms."Such a U.S. backing, the memo noted, is "badly needed by the Lebanese people to balance the intervention by regional powers, near and far, that seek to practice illegal influence in Lebanon with the aim of keeping it an arena for conflicts and deals."
That was a clear reference to Syria and Iran.
"Lebanon remains in bad need for support," the memo stressed.
It specifically asked Washington to back "Arab and Lebanese efforts aimed at electing a president immediately and without preconditions."
The memo noted that "Lebanon's crisis originates in Syria, and the Lebanese chapter of which is a result of the Lebanese-Syrian crisis."
The majority alliance also asked the United States to back the Lebanese Army and Internal Security Forces (ISF) with training and equipment.
The memo asked Washington to back "the formation of an international commission to investigate the whereabouts of (Lebanese) detainees held in Syrian jails."
Washington was also asked to support the rejection by Lebanon and the Palestinians to naturalize Palestinian refugees.
The memo asked the United States to support implementation of clause 10 of UNSCR 1701 related to tackling the issue of the Israeli-occupied Shebaa farms.
Washington also is required to prevent attempts by Syria to regain control over Lebanon's decision-making.
Welch is to meet separately Premier Fouad Saniora and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat later in the day. Beirut, 17 Apr 08, 16:24

Hajj Hassan Calls for 'Deterring' Hizbullah
Naharnet/Free Shiite Movement leader Sheikh Mohammed Hajj Hassan on Thursday accused Hizbullah of "barbaric practices … that threaten the mere Lebanese entity." Hajj Hassan called for "deterring" Hizbullah, especially in light of an attack by Hizbullah partisans Wednesday evening against a police patrol in the Shiite town of Qmatiyeh, east of Beirut. He also expressed regret for Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun's "slide into lies."
Beirut, 17 Apr 08, 18:48

Hizbullah Warns Against Change of UNIFIL Rules of Engagement

The Hizbullah-led opposition on Thursday warned against amending UNIFIL's rules of engagement, saying that would change it into "occupation forces."
The stand was outlined in a statement issued after a meeting by representatives of factions allied within the opposition.
The opposition "warns against any change or amendment of UNSCR 1701, especially the rules of engagement that set UNIFIL's jurisdiction and its relation with the Lebanese Army," the statement said. "Any amendment would give the international forces the jurisdiction to use force and erect checkpoints outside its area of deployment," the statement added. "That would transcend on the Lebanese Army's authorities, and would change these forces' mandate from observing implementation of resolution 1701 to occupation forces," the statement added without further elaboration on the remark. The opposition also criticized the ongoing visit to Lebanon by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch, saying it aims at "blocking settlements … and dialogue between the opposition and pro-government factions."The statement also denounced the recent visit to Qatar by Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and said it was an effort to cover up "for the massacres committed in Gaza." Beirut, 17 Apr 08, 17:31

Pope Prays with Victims of Church Sex Abuse
Pope Benedict XVI prayed with tearful victims of clergy sex abuse in a chapel Thursday, an extraordinary gesture from a pontiff who has made atoning for the great shame of the U.S. church the cornerstone of his first papal trip to America. Benedict's third day in the U.S. began with a packed open-air Mass celebrated in 10 languages at a baseball stadium, and it included a speech to Roman Catholic college and university presidents. But the real drama happened privately, in the chapel of the papal embassy between events.
The Rev. Federico Lombardi, a papal spokesman, said that Benedict and Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley met with a group of five or six abuse victims for about 25 minutes, offering them encouragement and hope. The group from O'Malley's archdiocese were all adults, men and women, who had been molested when they were minors. Each spoke privately with the pope and the whole group prayed together.
One of the victims, Bernie McDaid, told The Associated Press, that he shook the pope's hand, told him he was an altar boy and had been abused by a priest in the sacristy of his parish. The abuse, he told Benedict, was not only sexual but spiritual. "I said, 'Holy Father, you need to know you have a cancer in your flock and I hope you will do something for this problem, you have to fix this,'" McDaid said. "He looked down at the floor and back at me, like, 'I know what you mean.' He took it in emotionally. We looked eye to eye." McDaid said the importance of the moment has not sunk in, but that he and others had waited a long time for it, and that "if everyone wants change, then change will occur."
Expected to address the problem only once during his six-day trip — at a Mass with priests in New York City on Saturday — Benedict has instead returned to the issue repeatedly, beginning in a news conference on the flight from Rome to the U.S. He has called the crisis a cause of "deep shame," pledged to keep pedophiles out of the priesthood and decried the "enormous pain" that communities have suffered from such "gravely immoral behavior" by priests.
On Wednesday, he told bishops the problem has sometimes been very "badly handled" and said it was their God-given duty to heal the wounds caused by abuse. He asked each parishioner at Mass on Thursday "to do what you can to foster healing and reconciliation, and to assist those who have been hurt."
But Thursday afternoon's session went a step further. Lombardi said it was believed to be the first-ever such session between a pope and abuse victims.
The session came just hours after the pope celebrated the first public Mass of his U.S. pilgrimage. More than 45,000 people filled Nationals Park on a clear spring day as the pope led the service from an altar erected in centerfield. In his homily, Benedict called the United States a land of opportunity and hope but decried that the nation's promise has been left unfulfilled for some. He said he detected anger and alienation, increasing violence and a "growing forgetfulness of God." "Americans have always been a people of hope," the pontiff said. "Your ancestors came to this country with the experience of finding new freedom and opportunity.
"To be sure, this promise was not experienced by all the inhabitants of this land; one thinks of the injustices endured by the native American peoples and by those brought here forcibly from Africa as slaves."
Later, the pope told leaders of America's Roman Catholic colleges and universities that academic freedom has "great value" for the schools, but it does not justify promoting positions that violate the Catholic faith. Also Thursday, the pope met with Jewish and Muslim leaders, along with leaders of other faiths, and affirmed the church's commitment to inter-religious dialogue.(AP) Beirut, 18 Apr 08, 07:00