The U.S. bishops gave unanimous support November 16 to the beatification cause of Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador, who was assassinated in March 1980. His change from close associate of El Salvador’s ruling aristocracy to one of its fiercest critics earned him death threats from his opponents and admiration form the country’s poor majority. Archbishop Theodore McCarrick of Newark, introducing the resolution, said the beatification cause has been endorsed by conferences of bishops "all throughout Latin America" and by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.

The U.S. bishops also endorsed the sainthood cause of Father Francis Seelos, a Redemptorist priest whose cause officially opened 87 years ago. Seelos earned a reputation as a confessor who could read people’s hearts. He also won a reputation as a healer. Seelos ministered in Baltimore and Pittsburgh and died in 1867 in New Orleans while serving people during a yellow fever epidemic.

"Because God Loves You: A Message From the U.S. Catholic Bishops for the Jubilee Year 2000" was approved by the U.S. bishops for publication as an advertisement in major newspapers the weekend of Jan. 1-2. At their fall meeting the bishops also approved publication in booklet form of a longer version aimed at Catholic clergy and lay people. "Because God loves you, you have the power to touch hearts with compassion, heal wounds in those around you and act selflessly," the newspaper version says. It adds: "This is a jubilee year of celebration. This is a time to look at the world and decide how to better serve your neighbor. Thanks to God you can do it!" Bishop Wilton Gregory of Belleville, IL, introducing the messages November 15, said the primary message of both texts is that "because of God’s love for us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, each person has the capacity for good."

Bishop Diarmuid Martin, secretary of the Pontifical council for Justice and Peace, told Catholic News Service that the street demonstrations during the World Trade Organization’s recent meeting in Seattle, Wash., showed that the world body is doing too little to involve civil society in its desisions. The four day meeting of the WTO, which has 135 member nations, ended Dec. 3 and was marked by days of sometimes violent protests over issues that ranged from farm subsidies to miniumum labor standards in developing nations. "It is very clear that all over the world there is immense anxiety at globalization." Martin said. "While condeming the violence, which is counterproductive, it is necessary to ask why there is this widespread anxiety." he said. "The WTO cannot proceed without the support of civil society, issuing decisions from on high.". . .The Vatican said discussions at the Seattle meeting should be guided by the need to fight poverty. The Vatican has permanent observer status at the WTO.