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News Digest

Issue of August 26, 2012 – September 8, 2012 The following items are condensed. For the complete articles, please read the print edition of The Catholic New World. To subscribe, call (312) 534-7777.

News Update

Looking for Crusaders

When you were growing up did you sell subscriptions of the Catholic New World to raise money for your school? Were you a member of the Children's Crusade? We are doing a story about the effort for our 120th anniversary edition and would like to hear from you. Send us an email about your experience to editorial@catholicnewworld. com or call Joyce Duriga at (312) 534-7577.

Mass for atonement

Cardinal George will be the main celebrant at a Mass for atonement and hope Sept. 15, 10 a.m. at Holy Family Parish, 1080 W. Roosevelt Road. This event marks the 10th anniversary of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

All are welcome. For information, contact Thomas Tharayil at (312) 534- 8267 or ttharayil@archchicago.org.

New financial position created

Betsy Bohlen, the Cardinal's delegate for parish transformation since April 2011, has been appointed administrator for financial protocols, a new position for the archdiocese. The appointment was made by Cardinal George and was effective July 1.

In her new role, Bohlen is responsible for ensuring that the archdiocese achieves financial stability through the protocols developed by the Finance Council. She will report to Father Peter Snieg, moderator of the curia, working closely in developing action plans, overseeing protocol-related initiatives and ensuring successful implementation. Areas of focus include initiatives to stabilize parish/school aid, improve pastoral center operations, improve bank performance and raise additional revenue.

As part of this role, Bohlen will continue to provide oversight of Parish Transformation along with Father Ron Lewinski.

LCWR to continue dialogue

St. Louis (CNS) — Members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious announced Aug. 10 at the close of their four-day assembly in St. Louis that they will continue to dialogue with church officials about the Vatican's doctrinal assessment of their organization.

LCWR's outgoing president, Franciscan Sister Pat Farrell, said the group's leaders would begin dialogue with Seattle Archbishop Peter Sartain, who is charged with overseeing the group's reform. He attended the organization's board meeting the following day. Sister Farrell said LCWR members hoped its leaders would have "open and honest dialogue" that would lead to greater understanding and to greater opportunities for women to have a voice in the church. She said the officers would "proceed with these discussions as long as possible but would reconsider if LCWR is forced to compromise the integrity of its mission."

News Digest

Vatican numbers hint at fading faith practice

Vatican City — The percentage of Catholics practicing their faith is declining almost everywhere around the globe. Almost all bishops report it, but it's difficult to prove statistically.

Each year, the Vatican's own statisticians compile mountains of data about the number of Catholics, baptisms, priests and religious, weddings and annulments in each diocese and country.

The numbers illustrate trends over time, but many factors lead to the variations, said Enrico Nenna, the chief statistician in the Vatican's Central Office for Church Statistics.