Editor's Desk: Death in Colombia

By Michael F. Flach
HERALD Editor
(From the issue of 3/21/02)

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) condemned the assassination of Colombian Archbishop Isaias Duarte Cancino, a champion of human rights and an outspoken critic of corruption, the influence of drug-trafficking on politics and violence by armed actors.

The archbishop was killed March 16 after exiting a wedding ceremony in one of the poorest neighborhoods of his Diocese of Cali.

CRS officials said they grieve with the Colombian people and the Colombian Church at this time of immense loss.

"Archbishop Duarte's violent death, one of 40,000 in the past decade, highlights the ongoing tragedy in Colombia, but also the courage and dedication of church and civil society leaders to create a path to peace and justice," CRS said.

The agency pledged to continue its work in solidarity with the Colombian church in its struggle for a peaceful solution to the present conflicts.

***

"Religion & Ethics Newsweekly" will feature a special two-part series focusing on America's homeless in consecutive programs broadcast locally on WETA on March 31 and April 7.

There are more than 800,000 homeless in the U.S. today — with approximately 25 percent under the age of 18.  While many live in shelters, others prefer the street because they feel it offers a safer environment.  Cities such as New York, Atlanta, San Francisco and Salt Lake City have started to enforce laws that make it criminal for a person to sleep on park benches and panhandle for money. This makes the lives of the homeless even more difficult. 

In the March 29 program, Lucky Severson looks at what the National Coalition for the Homeless describes as a "national trend to criminalize the homeless" and how such laws are impacting their lives.

"I think it's less of an interest in solving the problem of getting people off the streets, than in moving homeless people out of sight," said homeless advocate Doug Lasdon.
Rising Hope Mission Church in Alexandria was established six years ago as a mission to the homeless and indigent poor. The vast majority of its congregation are unable to work and many suffer from addiction and/or emotional/mental health problems. 

Deryl Davis will visit with pastor Keary Kincannon and his parishioners in the April 5 program for a behind-the-scenes look at the church's unique ministry and how it is providing refuge and hope. 

"The mission of our church," says Kincannon, "is to reach out to those whom society has forgotten and to teach that they can find their healing through serving others."

***

The Knights of Columbus have set up an account that allows the donor to make a tax-deductible contribution for the widow and the children of David O. Coolidge, a prominent Catholic writer and researcher who died March 10 at age 45.

A convert to Catholicism, Coolidge assisted Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde and Family Life Director Bob Laird in April 2000 in drafting a response to Arlington County's proposed domestic partnership policy, which would have provided various benefits to county employees who were in non-marital sexual relationships.

Coolidge is survived by his wife, Joan, and three children, Daniel, 5, Sammy, 4, and Rosie, 2.

Make checks payable to K of C. Memo line read "for David Coolidge." Mail to: The David Coolidge Fund, c/o Knights of Columbus, Attn:  Michael Mancino, 2077 Madrillon Rd., Vienna, VA  22182.

Copyright ©2002 Arlington Catholic Herald.  All rights reserved.