(Zenit.org) - An international competition to select the official hymn for World Youth Day 2005 is under way. According to Web page (www.korazym.org), the works submitted must fulfill certain requirements. The text of the score must relate to the motto chosen for the Cologne meeting: "We have come to worship him." (Matthew 2:2). Traditionally, the World Youth Day hymn reflects the message of the meetingThose wishing to submit works must write catchy melodies. In addition, the text and music must respect the cultural features of the host country as well as that of the most numerous linguistic groups. The hymn must also be trans-latable into German, English, French, Spanish, and Italian. Deadline for submissions to the Cologne Committee is February 29, 2004. A jury will select the winner, who will receive a 5,000-euro prize.(approximately $5,958)

On November 5, 2003, the day President Bush signed into law the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, the Chairman of the Committee for Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Charles Chaput, stated, "Today I want to express my deep gratitude, and that of all the U.S. Catholic bishops, to President George W. Bush for signing into law a ban on one of the most inhumane procedures ever inflicted on a human child - partial-birth abortion."

"For 30 years, abortion has been legal at any time during pregnancy, for any reason or none at all, and by any method one wanted to employ to kill an unborn child. President Bush’s signing of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act marks the first time in three decades that our nation has placed any restriction on an abortion procedure. This is a vital step in the right direction for our nation - and for the women who have suffered and the children who have died because of this uniquely intimate form of violence..."

New York, NY - In September, a top Vatican official in charge of promoting Jewish-Christian dialogue assured the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) that a recent statement regarding Mel Gibson’s film "The Passion" made by a Vatican representative in Rome "bears no official status." In a letter to ADL, Walter Cardinal Kasper, President of the Commission of Religious relations with the Jews, indicated that "The view expressed by Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos is a purely personal one and bears no official status." Cardinal Kasper indicated that the Vatican has not had a chance to view the film, and has decided not to make an official statement at this time.