Economic crisis shows why life shouldn't be built on money, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The current global financial crisis illustrates why it is a mistake to build a life on passing realities like money and success, Pope Benedict XVI said. "We see this today in the collapse of the great banks: This money disappears, it's nothing. And so all these things we thought were real and were counting on are in fact realities of a second order," he said Oct. 6, the day European stock markets plummeted following news of government bailouts for two more mortgage and banking companies. "We need to change our idea of realism. The realist is someone who recognizes in the word of God, in this reality that appears so weak, the foundation of everything," he said. The pope made the impromptu remarks at the opening session of the world Synod of Bishops on the Bible. He said the morning's Scripture readings had brought to mind Christ's parable of the two houses, one built on sand and one built on rock.

As term opens, court declines to take four abortion-related cases
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- On the opening day of its fall term Oct. 6, the Supreme Court declined to hear four cases dealing with abortion or abortion-related protest efforts. It let stand lower court rulings that: require Arizona to issue "choose life" license plates to those who request them; uphold a multimillion-dollar verdict against anti-abortion activists who used "wanted" posters that identified four abortion doctors in Oregon; reverse a Missouri Department of Corrections policy that said prisoners could not be transported by prison authorities to have abortions, which are paid for by the prisoners themselves; leave intact the New Jersey Supreme Court's ruling that an abortion doctor had no legal obligation to advise a patient that the 6- to 8-week-old fetus she sought to abort was "a complete, separate, unique and irreplaceable human being."

Archbishop hopes to see real work on immigration begin after election
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (CNS) -- Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of San Antonio said he would like to see a moratorium on new state and local immigration legislation and echoed an earlier call by the body of U.S. bishops for an end to federal enforcement raids. "We need to find a way to stop lashing out at the problem and to start making sensible policy," the archbishop told Catholic public policy officials during a rally at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City. "This is a national crisis and it calls for national leadership," added the prelate, who is the nation's only active Hispanic Catholic archbishop and one of 26 active Hispanic bishops in the U.S. church. "I understand that the presidential candidates don't want to touch this issue before the election. Nor does Congress after the bitter failure of the 2007 immigration bill," he said. "But this is the hard work of democracy," he continued. "As soon as this election is over and a new government sworn in, we need to insist that our leaders roll up their sleeves and get to work on comprehensive immigration reform."

Calm, consistency seen as key to strong church ties for mentally ill
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Calmness and consistency are crucial in welcoming those with mental illnesses into full participation in the church, a Capuchin Franciscan priest said Oct. 6 during a Web-based seminar sponsored by the National Catholic Partnership on Disability's Council on Mental Illness. Father Bob Malloy, chaplain and staff member at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit, joined Connie Rakitan, co-founder of Faith and Fellowship, a small-group, faith-sharing network in Chicago for those with and without mental illness, in discussing the topic "Come to the Table: Nurturing the Sacramental Life of People With Mental Illnesses." "Just as we build ramps and make accommodations for physical disabilities, we need to build psychological ramps and make attitudinal adjustments" to bring those with mental illness into greater participation in the church, said Deacon Tom Lambert, who moderated the discussion and who co-chairs the Archdiocese of Chicago's Commission on Mental Illness with Rakitan.

Vincentian Family Day is Nov. 1
MONTEBELLO -- Prayer, fellowship and inspiration for action marks this year's Vincentian Family Day Nov. 1 at the De Paul Evangelization Center in Montebello. Celebrating its 20th year, the theme for this annual event is "Vincentians: Together We Are Saints in the Making." Members of the Vincentian family include: Congregation of the Mission; Daughters of Charity; Ladies of Charity; Society of St. Vincent de Paul; Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth; Vincentian Marian Youth; Vincentian Service Corps; and Friars of the Sick Poor. De Paul Evangelization Center is located at 1105 Bluff Rd., Montebello. Information: (323) 721-6060.

Columban Dance planned for Oct. 25
BURBANK - The Columban Fathers 51st annual evening dinner-dance will take place Oct. 25 at the Burbank Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, 2500 Hollywood Way, Burbank. A cocktail hour will start at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. with dancing from 9 p.m. to midnight. Entertainment will be by The Mulligans and The Lads. The event will feature a special raffle and door prizes. A $60 donation includes dinner, dance, tax and tip; $15 includes dance only beginning at 9 p.m. For dinner reservations, contact Mary Dempsey, (626) 337-0075. For additional information, call (323) 665-4289.