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Southern (Cross Diocese of Savannah Vol. 80, No. 21 $.50 PER ISSUE Thursday, May 25, 2000 Contents Headline Hopscotch 2 News 3 Commentary 4-5 Around the Diocese 6-7 Faith Alive! 8-9 Notices 10-11 Last But Not Least 12 Three transitional deacons ordained for diocese; last major step before priesthood By Father Douglas K. Clark Macon T he historic Church of Saint Joseph was the setting for the ordination of three new deacons on May 20. On account of the ongoing restoration of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Savannah, Saint Joseph’s, the “mother church of Middle Georgia” served as “cathedral for a day.” At the ceremony, Bishop J. Kevin Boland admitted seminarian Daniel Firmin as a Candidate for the Diaconate and Priesthood before his depar ture for Rome and his studies for the priesthood at the Pontifical North American College. He then ordained seminarians Richard Hart, Adam Kasela and Jacek Szuster to the order of deacons. They will remain “transitional” deacons for about a year until their scheduled ordination to the priesthood in 2001. Deacon Hart, who claims Augusta as his home, recently completed his third year of theological studies at Pope John XXIII National Seminary in (Continued on page 7) Pope John Paul II blesses the crowd in Saint Peter's Square on his 80th birthday May 18. The pope celebrated the Jubilee Mass for Priests at which he praised God for his priesthood and reached out to priests who have left the ministry. Italian Catholics protest Gore's support of gay pride meeting By Cindy Wooden “As you renew your commitment to promoting Rome (CNS) equal protection under the law for every citizen and A group of Italian Catholic legislators has asked U.S. Vice President A1 Gore to reconsider his support for a planned gay pride meeting in Rome because it may be offensive to the church. “We think there can be no doubt about the highly controversial and confrontational nature of a World Gay Pride (meeting) right in the jubilee Rome,” said the Italians’ letter, referring to the city’s participation in the church’s celebration of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000. Three members of the Italian parliament, including Carlo Giovanardi, vice president of the chamber of deputies, sent their letter May 17 to Gore after news papers quoted his letter of support for the early July event. Also signing the letter were the president of an Italian Lutheran organization, four Catholic pro fessors, a businessman, a writer and the head of a Catholic family organization. Gore’s letter to organizers of the July 1-9 World Pride Roma 2000 said, “I believe with all my heart that if we cannot conquer the forces of hatred and division that still exist in the world, we can never live in peace and fairness. While I regret that I am unable to join you, I want to offer my very best wishes for a successful event,” Gore said in the letter obtained by Catholic News Service. opposing all forms of discrimination, I stand ready to ensure gay and lesbian Americans have the opportu nity to participate fully in a nation and a world that is united in those goals of importance to us all,” Gore wrote. Writing to Gore in response, the 11 Italian leaders said previous gay pride marches “show that the cele bration is highly likely to turn into a deliberate provocation against the Catholic Church in its doc trine and the very person of the Holy Father.” One cannot ignore, they said, that the march will take place while Rome is in the midst of hosting pil grims for the Holy Year 2000. “The gay pride event is not going to be a merely cultural and peaceful gathering confined to the inac cessible rooms of a conference venue,” the Italians said, pointing to a march through the city that is a central part of the gathering. The letter writers asked Gore either to request organizers to “formally commit themselves to refrain from any manifestation of anti-Catholic hatred” or that he publicly withdraw his endorsement of World Pride Roma 2000. Andrea Giuliani, general manager of the Rome event, told newspapers that Gore was asked in (Continued on page 3) Seminarian Jacek Szuster promises his obedience to Bishop J. Kevin Boland and his successors during the diaconate ordination as Adam Kasela and Richard Hart wait their turn. < Is. cd £ 00 CD Co ^ 0Q o oo ^ CL CO Photo by Nick Oza