OXFORD, England (CNS) --- A nun executed for sheltering Jews during World War II was remembered for her feminine example of holiness during her beatification in Hungary. Cardinal Peter Erdo of Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary, said the martyrdom of Sister Sara Salkahazi of the Sisters of Social Service is "close to us, and her example is within our reach. She is someone of modest circumstances, who lived through the storms of 20th-century history and gave us an example of the feminine way to holiness." Sister Sara "dedicated special attention to the dignity of women" and recognized the burdens of the working class, Cardinal Erdo said at the beatification Mass Sept. 17 in front of Budapest's St. Stephen Basilica. The Mass was attended by about 20,000 people, including several from the Los Angeles Archdiocese. "It was her love for Christ which urged Sister Sara to welcome and shelter those persecuted for their political views or because they were Jewish," Cardinal Erdo said.

Fall training offered at regional catechetical congresses
LOS ANGELES --- The archdiocesan Office of Religious Education will hold its annual fall regional congresses for catechetical and youth ministers over the next few weeks. The 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday congresses include workshops on catechesis, junior high ministry, confirmation, youth ministry and personal growth. Participants may register for any congress: San Fernando, Sept. 30, Alemany High School, Mission Hills (Lynn Lang, 818-365-5123); San Pedro, Oct. 7, St. Matthias High School, Downey (Karina Plascencia, 562-630-6272; San Gabriel, Oct. 14, Bishop Amat High School, La Puente (Eileen Gateley, 626-962-7707); Santa Barbara, Oct. 21, Bishop Garcia Diego High School, Santa Barbara (Sue Spies, 805-569-1135); Our Lady of the Angels, Nov. 4, St. Mary's Academy, Inglewood (David Lara, 310-216-9587).

Celtic Spring concert to benefit 'Yes on Prop 85' campaign
THOUSAND OAKS --- Award winning Irish music and step-dancing group Celtic Spring, recently chosen as finalists for NBC's "America's Got Talent" TV show, will perform Sept. 24, 8 p.m., at St. Paschal Baylon parish hall in Thousand Oaks in a fundraiser for the Yes on Prop 85 campaign. The benefit supporting passage of Proposition 85, the parents' right to know and child protection ballot initiative, will also feature a guest appearance by David Roberti, former president pro-tempore of the California State Senate, for 14 years. Premiere seating tickets, including a 7-8 p.m. wine and cheese reception and audience with Celtic Spring members, are $100 per person; general admission is $25 at the door, with ticket sales and auction proceeds benefitting YES on Prop 85 campaign. St. Paschal Baylon is located at 155 E. Janss Road. For tickets and information, call (805) 640-1940 or e-mail Janet@YESon85.net.

San Gennaro's Day celebrants plan Hollywood procession, Mass
HOLLYWOOD --- Los Angeles' Italian Feast of San Gennaro taking place this weekend in Hollywood will feature a midday procession Sept. 23 followed by an outdoor Mass organized by members of Christ the King Church. Pastor of Christ the King, Father Antonio Cacciapuoti, will preside at Mass on the Main Stage located at 1651 Highland Ave., Hollywood. Procession participants should meet at the Main Stage at noon for the procession in honor of St. Gennaro, who was martyred for his faith in 305 AD. For information: www.sangennarofoundation.org

Amnesty International urged not to abandon neutrality on abortion
WASHINGTON (CNS) --- Amnesty International would risk "its own well-deserved moral credibility" if it were to abandon its neutral stance on abortion, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a letter to the secretary-general of the international human rights organization. "To abandon this long-held position would be a tragic mistake, dividing human rights advocates and diverting Amnesty International from its central and urgent mission of defending human rights as outlined in the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights," Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., said in a Sept. 12 letter to Irene Khan, who is based at the organization's London headquarters. Amnesty members have been debating the abortion issue at country meetings since 2005, when the International Executive Committee was asked to set policy by the end of 2006 on questions including "decriminalization of abortion."

Pope endorses adult stem-cell research
ROME (CNS) --- Pope Benedict XVI endorsed stem-cell research and therapy utilizing stem cells harvested from adults and umbilical-cord blood. He also called for researchers and doctors to work more closely together in applying the latest research. "The possibilities opened up by this new chapter in research are in themselves fascinating" because adult stem-cell studies have pointed to actual and potential cures of degenerative diseases that would otherwise lead to disabilities or death, the pope said at an audience for participants attending a Vatican-sponsored congress on stem-cell therapy. "How can I not feel compelled to praise those who dedicate themselves to this research and those who support it and its costs," the pope said Sept. 16 to about 260 congress participants at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome. Scientists, doctors, scholars and bioethicists met in Rome Sept. 14-16 for an international conference sponsored by the Pontifical Academy for Life and the World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations.

Sex abuse expert says church raised abuse prevention bar for everyone
NEW YORK (CNS) --- The U.S. Catholic Church's response to its child sexual abuse problem has raised the bar on sex abuse prevention for all U.S. organizations that serve children, said Monica Applewhite, an expert in abuse prevention strategies. Writing in the Sept. 25 issue of America, a national Catholic magazine published by Jesuits, Applewhite said that when the U.S. bishops issued their "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People" in June 2002 "the 'industry standards' for child protection changed." "Formerly unwritten rules, like not allowing a sexual offender to work with children and defining specific boundaries for ministry relationships, were now clearly articulated --- not just for the Catholic Church, but for everyone," she wrote. Applewhite is president of the religious services division of Praesidium, a Texas-based organization that provides abuse-prevention training programs for churches, schools and other organizations that serve children and youths.

STANDALONE PHOTO (saved as NB-Music in CNS/Tidings 9-22): PLAYING WITH PASSION --- The Mexican Children's Ensemble performs during the "Leading with Passion!" musical event that took place Sept. 15-16 at St. Monica Church in Santa Monica. The conference also featured presentations from noted liturgical musicians from Los Angeles and the U.S., including Marty Haugen, Gary Daigle, ValLimar Jansen and Jesse Manibusan, and musical performances by many. NEGRITA JAYDE