JULY 14, 2011Volume LXXXV • Number 34

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PARISHES IN THE NEWS

T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E D I O C E S E O F A L B A N Y

Which parish has a new citizen in its midst? Which had to up its offering ofreconciliation? What priest recently served as a “soda jerk?” Find out: Pages 10-11

Catholics Speak OutTwo opinion pages discuss poignant graduations, disturbing“average parish” trends and the struggle to forgive: Pages 4-5

A GAMUT OF EXPRESSIONS cover the faces of children at St. Francis of Assisi parish in Northville during a summercarnival: left, three-year-old Braydn Bovee rides a fire truck; above, Liz Nealon, Bridget McGill and John Nealontake a spin on a scrambler. See the back page for more on the weekend of fun. (Nate Whitchurch photos)

FACES OF SUMMER

BY JONATHAN LUXMOOREC A T H O L I C N E W S S E R V I C E

Oxford, England — Greece’sCatholic Church faces disasterbecause the current economiccrisis is forcing it to end vitalsocial and charitable projects,said Archbishop NikolaosFoskolos of Athens.

“This crisis could be the worstin our history,” ArchbishopFoskolos said July 6. “There’scorruption everywhere, espe-cially among our politicians. Weget no help from the state or otherWestern churches, and our faith-ful can’t give any more. Ourparishes and dioceses are in deep

trouble, and in a few months wewon’t be able to support ourstaffers and employees.”

The archbishop voiced theconcerns as European Unionfinance ministers released emer-gency funding to rescue the fal-tering Greek economy.

Amid violent street protests,the Greek legislature approvedtough austerity measures andtax increases June 29, paving theway for the EU action.

The archbishop said the high-er taxes would have moreimpact on the Catholic Church

ARCHBISHOP’S CONCERNS

Greek Church fears disaster

GREEK CHURCH FEARS DISASTER, SEEPAGE 13

BY BRONWEN DACHSC A T H O L I C N E W S S E R V I C E

Cape Town, South Africa —Sudan and South Sudan need tofinalize their borders so thatpeople in the world’s newestcountry can get to work grow-ing crops in the lush fertileregion, said Rev. Peter Othow,coordinator of developmentand aid for South Sudan’sMalakal Diocese.

“People who live in the borderarea are tense,” Father Othowsaid in a telephone interview

from Malakal, which is seen asone of the potential flashpointsalong the 1,300 mile-border withSudan.

“They can’t settle, becausethey feel that anything couldhappen,” he said, noting that dur-ing a surge of violence in Maypeople fled from surroundingrural areas to Malakal and areafraid to go back.

Some have moved a milesouth of “where they think theborder will be, so that they arefree to cultivate” the land, he

said. With “good security, every-

thing can be achieved,” saidFather Othow, who was bornand raised in South Sudan. Hesaid Church programs aim tohelp communities to be “foodsecure without depending onthe North or neighboring coun-tries.”

For instance, a diocesan pro-gram, largely funded by the U.S.

DEVELOPMENT

South Sudan priest: Finalize borders so people can begin to grow crops

SOUTH SUDAN PRIEST: FINALIZE BORDERSSO PEOPLE CAN BEGIN TO GROW CROPS,SEE PAGE 13