Parishioners start fund for stabbing victims after attack at New Mexico Catholic church

Published May 05, 2013

Associated Press

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  In a Monday April 29, 2013 photo, defendant Lawrence Capener, center, makes a first appearance before Metropolitan Court Judge Sharon Walton in Albuquerque. Walton raised the bond for stabbing suspect Lawrence Capener to $250,000 cash or surety, citing “the harm done to the alleged victims” and comments attributed to Capener in a criminal complaint. Capener, charged with stabbing three people at an Albuquerque Catholic church because he thought a choir leader was a Mason, vandalized a Masonic lodge hours before his attack, police said. (AP Photo/Albuquerque Journal, Pat Vasquez-Cunningham)The Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –  Members of a Catholic church where three people were stabbed during Mass a week ago launched an effort on Sunday to raise money for victims hurt in the attack.

The start of the campaign came as Sunday services resumed at St. Jude Thaddeus Church. Parishioners were also collecting cards and well wishes to give to families.

"God is working in and through all of life's circumstances," a message seeking donations said on the church's website. "Thank you for your prayers and concern and for answering God's call."

Police said Lawrence Capener stabbed three people on April 28 as Mass was ending because he thought a choir leader was a Mason. He has been charged with aggravated battery and was being held on $250,000 bail.

Santa Fe Archbishop Michael Sheehan re-consecrated the Albuquerque church on Wednesday by sprinkling holy water and spreading incense through the building. The move was part of a Catholic ritual required after a sacrilege has been committed at a church.

St. Jude Thaddeus' pastor, the Rev. John Daniel, said he believes parishioners have already forgiven Capener and continued to pray for him and his family.

"What can you do? This is what we are taught to do," he said.

Capener, 24, told police that he also tagged the Sandoval No. 76 Masonic Lodge in Rio Rancho with spray paint just before the stabbing attack, authorities said.

Police later found red and blue spray paint on signs, outside walls and a door. Investigators said he also left the message, "I hope you guess who I am."

Parishioners said they rarely saw Capener attend services but were aware that his mother is active in the church, which is on the city's Westside.

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Catholic schools enjoy huge jump

Selu Teaupa, Leon Dai, Liam Fitzgerald and Pascale Lattouf from St Michael's Primary School in Belfield. Picture: Justin Lloyd Source: The Daily Telegraph

ENROLMENTS in Sydney's Catholic schools are at record highs, fuelled by strong demand in booming south-western suburbs.

New data shows student numbers are at their highest in 25 years, with overall enrolments for the 2013 school year totalling 68,741, a 3.9 per cent increase on last year.

Schools in Sydney's growth areas such as Carnes Hill, Holsworthy and Panania have recorded the largest jump in enrolments.

Clancy Catholic College in West Hoxton led the way with a whopping 1713 per cent increase in seven years.

The number of students in Catholic schools across Australia has been a valuable bargaining chip during negotiations with the federal government for a new Gonski-style funding model.

Clancy Catholic College enrolments have soared since opening in 2006 with 55 students, and it had 997 students in years 7 to 12 this year, the Sydney Catholic Education Office said.

There were also strong gains at St Christopher's Catholic Primary School in Holsworthy and Panania, Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School in Carnes Hill and De La Salle Catholic College in Revesby Heights. Overall, there has been a 3.3 per cent increase in kindergarten enrolments at Sydney's Catholic schools this year, to 6200 students.

Executive director of Sydney's Catholic schools Dan White said student results were above the state average in national testing and year 7 students were part of the enrolment increase.

"Whilst we lose some students out of Catholic primary schools to selective high schools and private high-fee schools, we probably also gain about 25 per cent of our enrolment into year 7 from state education primary schools," Dr White said.

Across Australia, non-government school numbers continue to grow at a much higher rate than government schools.

In the past 10 years, the number of students at Catholic and independent schools has increased by 12 per cent and 31 per cent respectively, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This compares with a 2.6 per cent increase in government schools, which continue to educate the majority of Australia's 3.5 million students.

There is also growing demand at Catholic schools in inner Sydney and eastern suburbs, particularly areas with new high-rise residential developments such as Pyrmont and Zetland - a trend also reflected in the government and independent sectors.

Over the past nine years, enrolments have jumped 99 per cent at Father John Therry Primary School in Balmain and there have also been strong increases at St Brigid's Primary School in Coogee, Our Lady of the Rosary in Kensington, St Andrew's in Malabar and St Francis of Assisi Regional Primary School in Paddington.Judy Gastin, the principal at St Michael's Primary School in Belfield, said enrolments at her school had jumped 40 per cent since she became principal in 2004.

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Catholic schools enjoy huge jump

Selu Teaupa, Leon Dai, Liam Fitzgerald and Pascale Lattouf from St Michael's Primary School in Belfield. Picture: Justin Lloyd Source: The Daily Telegraph

ENROLMENTS in Sydney's Catholic schools are at record highs, fuelled by strong demand in booming south-western suburbs.

New data shows student numbers are at their highest in 25 years, with overall enrolments for the 2013 school year totalling 68,741, a 3.9 per cent increase on last year.

Schools in Sydney's growth areas such as Carnes Hill, Holsworthy and Panania have recorded the largest jump in enrolments.

Clancy Catholic College in West Hoxton led the way with a whopping 1713 per cent increase in seven years.

The number of students in Catholic schools across Australia has been a valuable bargaining chip during negotiations with the federal government for a new Gonski-style funding model.

Clancy Catholic College enrolments have soared since opening in 2006 with 55 students, and it had 997 students in years 7 to 12 this year, the Sydney Catholic Education Office said.

There were also strong gains at St Christopher's Catholic Primary School in Holsworthy and Panania, Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School in Carnes Hill and De La Salle Catholic College in Revesby Heights. Overall, there has been a 3.3 per cent increase in kindergarten enrolments at Sydney's Catholic schools this year, to 6200 students.

Executive director of Sydney's Catholic schools Dan White said student results were above the state average in national testing and year 7 students were part of the enrolment increase.

"Whilst we lose some students out of Catholic primary schools to selective high schools and private high-fee schools, we probably also gain about 25 per cent of our enrolment into year 7 from state education primary schools," Dr White said.

Across Australia, non-government school numbers continue to grow at a much higher rate than government schools.

In the past 10 years, the number of students at Catholic and independent schools has increased by 12 per cent and 31 per cent respectively, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This compares with a 2.6 per cent increase in government schools, which continue to educate the majority of Australia's 3.5 million students.

There is also growing demand at Catholic schools in inner Sydney and eastern suburbs, particularly areas with new high-rise residential developments such as Pyrmont and Zetland - a trend also reflected in the government and independent sectors.

Over the past nine years, enrolments have jumped 99 per cent at Father John Therry Primary School in Balmain and there have also been strong increases at St Brigid's Primary School in Coogee, Our Lady of the Rosary in Kensington, St Andrew's in Malabar and St Francis of Assisi Regional Primary School in Paddington.Judy Gastin, the principal at St Michael's Primary School in Belfield, said enrolments at her school had jumped 40 per cent since she became principal in 2004.

View the original article here

Catholic schools enjoy huge jump

Selu Teaupa, Leon Dai, Liam Fitzgerald and Pascale Lattouf from St Michael's Primary School in Belfield. Picture: Justin Lloyd Source: The Daily Telegraph

ENROLMENTS in Sydney's Catholic schools are at record highs, fuelled by strong demand in booming south-western suburbs.

New data shows student numbers are at their highest in 25 years, with overall enrolments for the 2013 school year totalling 68,741, a 3.9 per cent increase on last year.

Schools in Sydney's growth areas such as Carnes Hill, Holsworthy and Panania have recorded the largest jump in enrolments.

Clancy Catholic College in West Hoxton led the way with a whopping 1713 per cent increase in seven years.

The number of students in Catholic schools across Australia has been a valuable bargaining chip during negotiations with the federal government for a new Gonski-style funding model.

Clancy Catholic College enrolments have soared since opening in 2006 with 55 students, and it had 997 students in years 7 to 12 this year, the Sydney Catholic Education Office said.

There were also strong gains at St Christopher's Catholic Primary School in Holsworthy and Panania, Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School in Carnes Hill and De La Salle Catholic College in Revesby Heights. Overall, there has been a 3.3 per cent increase in kindergarten enrolments at Sydney's Catholic schools this year, to 6200 students.

Executive director of Sydney's Catholic schools Dan White said student results were above the state average in national testing and year 7 students were part of the enrolment increase.

"Whilst we lose some students out of Catholic primary schools to selective high schools and private high-fee schools, we probably also gain about 25 per cent of our enrolment into year 7 from state education primary schools," Dr White said.

Across Australia, non-government school numbers continue to grow at a much higher rate than government schools.

In the past 10 years, the number of students at Catholic and independent schools has increased by 12 per cent and 31 per cent respectively, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This compares with a 2.6 per cent increase in government schools, which continue to educate the majority of Australia's 3.5 million students.

There is also growing demand at Catholic schools in inner Sydney and eastern suburbs, particularly areas with new high-rise residential developments such as Pyrmont and Zetland - a trend also reflected in the government and independent sectors.

Over the past nine years, enrolments have jumped 99 per cent at Father John Therry Primary School in Balmain and there have also been strong increases at St Brigid's Primary School in Coogee, Our Lady of the Rosary in Kensington, St Andrew's in Malabar and St Francis of Assisi Regional Primary School in Paddington.Judy Gastin, the principal at St Michael's Primary School in Belfield, said enrolments at her school had jumped 40 per cent since she became principal in 2004.

View the original article here

Catholic schools enjoy huge jump

Selu Teaupa, Leon Dai, Liam Fitzgerald and Pascale Lattouf from St Michael's Primary School in Belfield. Picture: Justin Lloyd Source: The Daily Telegraph

ENROLMENTS in Sydney's Catholic schools are at record highs, fuelled by strong demand in booming south-western suburbs.

New data shows student numbers are at their highest in 25 years, with overall enrolments for the 2013 school year totalling 68,741, a 3.9 per cent increase on last year.

Schools in Sydney's growth areas such as Carnes Hill, Holsworthy and Panania have recorded the largest jump in enrolments.

Clancy Catholic College in West Hoxton led the way with a whopping 1713 per cent increase in seven years.

The number of students in Catholic schools across Australia has been a valuable bargaining chip during negotiations with the federal government for a new Gonski-style funding model.

Clancy Catholic College enrolments have soared since opening in 2006 with 55 students, and it had 997 students in years 7 to 12 this year, the Sydney Catholic Education Office said.

There were also strong gains at St Christopher's Catholic Primary School in Holsworthy and Panania, Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School in Carnes Hill and De La Salle Catholic College in Revesby Heights. Overall, there has been a 3.3 per cent increase in kindergarten enrolments at Sydney's Catholic schools this year, to 6200 students.

Executive director of Sydney's Catholic schools Dan White said student results were above the state average in national testing and year 7 students were part of the enrolment increase.

"Whilst we lose some students out of Catholic primary schools to selective high schools and private high-fee schools, we probably also gain about 25 per cent of our enrolment into year 7 from state education primary schools," Dr White said.

Across Australia, non-government school numbers continue to grow at a much higher rate than government schools.

In the past 10 years, the number of students at Catholic and independent schools has increased by 12 per cent and 31 per cent respectively, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This compares with a 2.6 per cent increase in government schools, which continue to educate the majority of Australia's 3.5 million students.

There is also growing demand at Catholic schools in inner Sydney and eastern suburbs, particularly areas with new high-rise residential developments such as Pyrmont and Zetland - a trend also reflected in the government and independent sectors.

Over the past nine years, enrolments have jumped 99 per cent at Father John Therry Primary School in Balmain and there have also been strong increases at St Brigid's Primary School in Coogee, Our Lady of the Rosary in Kensington, St Andrew's in Malabar and St Francis of Assisi Regional Primary School in Paddington.Judy Gastin, the principal at St Michael's Primary School in Belfield, said enrolments at her school had jumped 40 per cent since she became principal in 2004.

View the original article here

Catholic schools enjoy huge jump

Selu Teaupa, Leon Dai, Liam Fitzgerald and Pascale Lattouf from St Michael's Primary School in Belfield. Picture: Justin Lloyd Source: The Daily Telegraph

ENROLMENTS in Sydney's Catholic schools are at record highs, fuelled by strong demand in booming south-western suburbs.

New data shows student numbers are at their highest in 25 years, with overall enrolments for the 2013 school year totalling 68,741, a 3.9 per cent increase on last year.

Schools in Sydney's growth areas such as Carnes Hill, Holsworthy and Panania have recorded the largest jump in enrolments.

Clancy Catholic College in West Hoxton led the way with a whopping 1713 per cent increase in seven years.

The number of students in Catholic schools across Australia has been a valuable bargaining chip during negotiations with the federal government for a new Gonski-style funding model.

Clancy Catholic College enrolments have soared since opening in 2006 with 55 students, and it had 997 students in years 7 to 12 this year, the Sydney Catholic Education Office said.

There were also strong gains at St Christopher's Catholic Primary School in Holsworthy and Panania, Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School in Carnes Hill and De La Salle Catholic College in Revesby Heights. Overall, there has been a 3.3 per cent increase in kindergarten enrolments at Sydney's Catholic schools this year, to 6200 students.

Executive director of Sydney's Catholic schools Dan White said student results were above the state average in national testing and year 7 students were part of the enrolment increase.

"Whilst we lose some students out of Catholic primary schools to selective high schools and private high-fee schools, we probably also gain about 25 per cent of our enrolment into year 7 from state education primary schools," Dr White said.

Across Australia, non-government school numbers continue to grow at a much higher rate than government schools.

In the past 10 years, the number of students at Catholic and independent schools has increased by 12 per cent and 31 per cent respectively, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This compares with a 2.6 per cent increase in government schools, which continue to educate the majority of Australia's 3.5 million students.

There is also growing demand at Catholic schools in inner Sydney and eastern suburbs, particularly areas with new high-rise residential developments such as Pyrmont and Zetland - a trend also reflected in the government and independent sectors.

Over the past nine years, enrolments have jumped 99 per cent at Father John Therry Primary School in Balmain and there have also been strong increases at St Brigid's Primary School in Coogee, Our Lady of the Rosary in Kensington, St Andrew's in Malabar and St Francis of Assisi Regional Primary School in Paddington.Judy Gastin, the principal at St Michael's Primary School in Belfield, said enrolments at her school had jumped 40 per cent since she became principal in 2004.

View the original article here

Fox News Poll: New pope gives optimism about Catholic Church

By Dana Blanton

Published March 20, 2013

FoxNews.com

Fox News Poll: New pope gives optimism about church

Catholics worldwide celebrated last week when Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was chosen as the new pope.  Nationally, most Catholics say the election of Pope Francis makes them more optimistic about their church.

Pope Francis was elected on March 13 and formally installed as pope at a Mass on Tuesday.

Fully 76 percent of Catholics say Pope Francis makes them feel better about the future of the Catholic Church, according to a new Fox News national poll.  Only three percent say his election makes them feel worse.  Another 14 percent say the new pope doesn’t change how they feel.

Practicing Catholics who attend mass weekly are just as excited as Catholics who worship less regularly: 79 percent say Pope Francis makes them feel better about the church, two percent say worse and 13 percent feel the same.

CLICK TO VIEW THE POLL

The new poll, released Wednesday, also asked about Pope Francis being the first pope from outside Europe in more than a thousand years:  61 percent of Catholics say that represents a big change for the church, while 36 percent feel it isn’t a big deal.

Two-thirds of practicing Catholics say it is a big change (66 percent), while 30 percent downplay it.

Among all American voters, 54 percent say the new pope makes them feel better about the future of the Catholic Church, while five percent feel worse.  For about a third of voters the new pope’s election does not change how they feel (30 percent).

Voters split over whether the pope being from Buenos Aires is a big change for the Catholic Church (49 percent) or not a big deal (43 percent).

The Fox News poll is based on landline and cell phone interviews with 1,002 randomly chosen registered voters nationwide and was conducted under the joint direction of Anderson Robbins Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R) from March 17 to March 19.  The full poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points.  Among Catholics the poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 5.5 points and among practicing Catholics plus or minus eight points.

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World leaders welcome Catholic church's new Argentine Pope Francis

LONDON –  World leaders sent in their congratulations and Catholics around the world were celebrating Wednesday after the Vatican announced the election of Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio to the papacy -- making him the first pontiff from the Americas.

As bells tolled and crowds cheered across Latin America, President Barack Obama offered warm wishes to Pope Francis and said the selection speaks to the strength and vitality of the New World.

"I offer our warm wishes to His Holiness Pope Francis," Obama said. "As a champion of the poor and the most vulnerable among us, he carries forth the message of love and compassion that has inspired the world for more than 2,000 years."

In Europe, British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Francois Hollande, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel also issued statements of congratulations.

Wednesday was "a momentous day for the 1.2 billion Catholics around the world," Cameron said in a message posted to Twitter, while Merkel, the daughter of a Lutheran pastor, said millions of Catholics and non-Catholics alike would be looking to the new pope for guidance not just in questions of faith but in matters of peace, justice and protecting creation.

Merkel said she was particularly happy for Christians in Latin America, who now had one of their own called to be pope for the first time. Francis was elected after German-born Pope Benedict XVI stepped down last month, saying he lacked the strength to continue in the job.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he looked forward to cooperation with the Holy See under Pope Francis' "wise leadership," while European Union leaders Herman Van Rompuy and Jose Manuel Barroso wished the new Catholic leader "a long and blessed pontificate."

The atmosphere across Latin America brimmed with excitement and surprise, with people bursting into tears and cheers on streets from Buenos Aires to Caracas, Venezuela.

"It's incredible!" said Martha Ruiz, 60, who was weeping tears of emotion in the Argentine capital. She said she had been in many meetings with the cardinal and said, "He is a man who transmits great serenity."

At the St. Francis of Assisi church in the colonial Old San Juan district in Puerto Rico, church secretary Antonia Veloz exchanged jubilant high-fives with Jose Antonio Cruz, a Franciscan friar.

"It's a huge gift for all of Latin America. We waited 20 centuries. It was worth the wait," said Cruz, wearing the brown cassock tied with a rope that is the signature of the Franciscan order.

Arcilia Litchfield, a 57-year-old tourist from Albuquerque, New Mexico, was walking down the cobblestone streets when they glanced at a TV and saw that a new pope had been chosen. She and her husband then went to the San Juan Cathedral, where the remains of Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon are buried.

"It's historic. It's the first time a pope has been chosen from this part of the world," she said. "It hasn't sunk in yet."

Even in Communist Cuba, there was pride as church bells rang to celebrate the news. Elsewhere on the continent, people traded stories about the new pontiff.

"You would see him taking public buses," said Maurizzio Pavia, an Argentine now working in Puerto Rico, who said he was familiar with Bergoglio because they both came from the same region. "He would cook his own food. He would not let anyone serve him."

In the United States, the archbishop of Philadelphia said the new pope is a man of "extraordinary intellectual and cultural strengths."

Archbishop Charles Chaput calls Francis a "wonderful choice" who comes from the "new heartland of the global church."

Despite the overwhelming outpouring of joy and goodwill, not everyone thought the news was positive.

Andrew Reding of the World Policy Institute in New York said the choice of Bergoglio was an example of "superficial change."

"Once again, a conclave has made a bold geographical move while choosing a doctrinal conservative," he said. "To paraphrase an old saying, the more things change in the Roman Catholic Church, the more they stay the same."

On Twitter, the pope's mothballed account was revived and read: "HABEMUS PAPAM FRANCISCUM," a reference to the cardinal's new name: Pope Francis.

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Girl fights to play in Catholic football league

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. –  The Roman Catholic church in Philadelphia doesn't need another public relations headache after years of priest-abuse and school-closure headlines, but it's got one in the form of a pony-tailed 11-year-old athlete.

Sixth-grader Caroline Pla is fighting the archdiocese for the right to keep playing church-sponsored youth football.

The soft-spoken twin has been battling boys on the gridiron since she was 5. She's played the last two seasons in a Catholic Youth Organization league, where the 5-foot-3, 110-pound offensive tackle and defensive end made the all-star team.

But the archdiocese may put the kibosh on her Catholic youth league career. While at least a few U.S. dioceses let girls play football, and about 1,600 girls play on U.S. high school teams, the Philadelphia league is open only to boys.

"First they said it was a boys sport. Then they said it was a safety issue. Then they said it was inappropriate touching. I think they are just constantly looking for excuses to not change it," Caroline said Thursday at her home in Buckingham Township, Bucks County.

She first played in a public Pop Warner league, then moved along with her teammates to the Catholic Youth Organization league in fifth grade. After one season without a hitch, she learned last fall that an overlooked boys-only rule would be enforced. The archdiocese, though, agreed to let her finish the season.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput is now reviewing the ban, with a decision expected next month after a panel of coaches, parents and doctors weigh in.

"Traditionally football is a boys-only sport due to its full contact nature," the church said in a statement. "Most parents and players have preferred this; some now disagree."

Caroline sent Chaput an email in January, explaining that her Catholic youth league team had been the best chapter in her burgeoning, three-season sports career.

By then, she and her parents, George and Marycecelia Pla, had taken to the airwaves to lobby for a rule change. An online petition has attracted more than 100,000 signatures, and Caroline recently appeared on Ellen DeGeneris' show as well as newscasts.

"I'm perplexed that you would contact me last, after publicizing your situation in both the national and regional media," Chaput wrote in a January email shared by the family. "That kind of approach has no effect on my decision-making. CYO rules exist for good reason."

The Women's Sports Foundation believes there are instead good reasons to reverse the rule — and not just for the sake of girls.

"What the diocese is missing is all the wonderful things that come out of co-ed sports. The mutual respect that lasts a lifetime between girls and boys," said lawyer Nancy Hogshead-Makar, a 1984 Olympic gold medalist in swimming who now is senior director of advocacy for the Women's Sports Foundation.

From a safety perspective, pre-pubescent girls and boys are often the same size. And legally, private or religious groups that receive any type of federal funding — through low-income lunch programs or other aid — must abide by Title IX, the 1972 law that guarantees girls equal access to sports, she said. There are exceptions for contact sports, but they cannot be invoked once girls have been allowed to play in a program, she said.

Hogshead-Makar advises colleges to make sports activities co-ed whenever possible — in the weight room, on the team bus, on the court. She believes the mutual contact fosters respect and reduces rates of violence against women.

No matter how Chaput rules, Caroline could still play football next season for Pop Warner or her school team. And she has no plans to play in high school, because she doesn't think she'll be big enough to play her position at that level.

Her brother plays on the high school freshman team, while her twin sister and an older sister have been cheerleaders.

"Right now, I'm one of the biggest, because I've hit my growth spurt and a lot of them haven't," said Caroline, who scored her first touchdown this past season on a 15-yard run. "It's just really fun."

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