October 3, 2014

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REUNITED:

100 YEARS:

CLIMATE:

Refugee’s release celebrated at immigrant Mass

Twin-spired St. Ignatius Church marks centennial

Global action urged on carbon threat

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CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO Newspaper of the Archdiocese of San Francisco

www.catholic-sf.org

SERVING SAN FRANCISCO, MARIN & SAN MATEO COUNTIES

OCTOBER 3, 2014

$1.00 | VOL. 16 NO. 25

Poll: Death penalty support lowest in nearly 50 years CHRISTINA GRAY CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

Voter support for the death penalty as punishment for serious crimes in California is at its lowest point in nearly 50 years, according to the latest Field Poll report released on Sept. 12. The Field Poll, a San Francisco-based independent and nonpartisan survey of public opinion, has been tracking California voter’s views on the death penalty since 1956. The latest telephone poll of 1,280 registered California voters was completed Aug. 14-28 in six languages and dialects. It found that 56 percent of voters polled are in favor of the death penalty and 34 percent opposed. SEE DEATH PENALTY, PAGE 2 (CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING)

Elderly people, including religious sisters, wait for the start of Pope Francis’ encounter with the elderly in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Sept. 28.

Pope warns on ‘hidden euthanasia’ of elderly CAROL GLATZ CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis warned against the abandonment and neglect of the elderly, calling it a “hidden euthanasia” rooted in today’s “poisonous” culture of disposal and an economic system of greed. In the presence of his predecessor, Pope Francis also thanked retired Pope Benedict XVI for staying to live at the Vatican and being like “a wise grandfather at home.” “A people who don’t take care of their grandparents and don’t treat them well is a people with no future. Why no future? Because they lose the memory (of the past) and they sever their own roots,” he said. The pope’s comments came during a special encounter and Mass for older people in St. Peter’s Square Sept. 28. Some 40,000 grandparents, retired men and women, and their families attended “The Blessing for a Long Life” event, organized by the Pontifical Council for the Family. Pope Francis specifically invited Pope Benedict to attend the event,

OCTOBER IS RESPECT LIFE MONTH

“Our mission is to show each person the love of Christ,” Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley said in the U.S. bishops’ statement for Respect Life Month. Cardinal Sean “As uniquely O’Malley created individuals, we each have unique gifts which we are called to use to share Christ’s love. We are continually given opportunities to do so in our interactions … We may never know how much a simple gesture of compassion may affect someone’s life.” making it the third time since his retirement in 2013 that the German pontiff has made a rare appearance in public with his successor. Carrying a cane and looking

Reversing RU-486: Babies tell a story of hope

strong, the 87-year-old pope arrived about one hour into the event, which featured music and testimonies from families. About 10 minutes later, while the famed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli sang “Con te partiro” (“I’ll Go With You”), Pope Francis made his entrance with a small group of families. He immediately went to greet and embrace Pope Benedict, who only stayed for the next hour, leaving before the start of Mass. Addressing him as “Your Holiness,” Pope Francis thanked the retired pontiff for his presence, telling the crowd, “I really like having him living here in the Vatican, because it’s like having a wise grandfather at home.” The wisdom and love of older people are instrumental for building the future, and they can even cheer up grumpy teenagers, the pope said. “It’s very good for you to go visit an older person. Look at our kids. Sometimes we see them being listless and sad; (if) they go visit an older person, they become happy,” he said.

As soon as Rebekah Chaveste swallowed the RU-486 pill at a Planned Parenthood clinic, she regretted it. “I was crying and I was alone,” recalled Chaveste, a 20-year-college student who lives in the Sacramento area. “Thank God for smartphones,” she told Catholic San Francisco. Sitting in her car outside the Planned Parenthood, “I googled RU-486” and found a website for RU-486 reversals, abortionpillreversal.com. Chaveste thought it was fake, but called anyway and even though the website was for an organization based in San Diego, the woman at the end of the telephone found a doctor nearby to help her, Chaveste recalled. Abortionpillreversal.com is a website of Culture of Life Family Services

SEE ELDERLY, PAGE 21

SEE RU-486, PAGE 21

VALERIE SCHMALZ CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO

Irish Help At Home QUALITY HOME CARE SERVING THE BAY AREA SINCE 1996 San Francisco 415 759 0520 • Marin 415.721.7380 • San Mateo 650.347.6903

www.irishhelpathome.com

INDEX On the Street . . . . . . . . .4 National . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Faith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . .26


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