Cardinal calls pre-election arms smuggling ‘danger signal’ LAGOS, Nigeria – Lagos Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie called the smuggling of arms into Nigeria a few weeks before the general elections a “danger signal.” “These arms are not in the military barracks; neither are they in the hands of law enforcement agents who are authorized to carry arms,” he said. Speaking with media executives during a March 29 seminar organized by Caritas Nigeria, the archbishop said the weapons were in the hands of politicians and their agents who were prepared to use them in urban warfare if the elections did not go their way. The Independent Electoral Commission has scheduled the elections for April 14 and 21. It would be the first time one democratically elected government would be transitioning to another without any military interregnum. The cardinal condemned Nigerian politicians who had always seen violence as an option for gaining access to power and described their actions as “ominous clouds of violence likely to threaten the April elections.” Cardinal Okogie urged politicians not to regard the elections as a do-or-die affair, adding that “elections are recurrent affairs. If you don’t win today, there is still tomorrow.” He advised the electoral commission to ensure free and fair elections, stressing that anyone using violence to secure victory should be promptly disqualified and prosecuted. The commission “should announce the results based on votes cast, not the result that had been predetermined even before voting began,” he said. Cardinal Okogie urged security agents not to allow themselves to be used by anyone to achieve selfish and ulterior motives. “Your duty is to provide security for all Nigerians, candidates of all the political parties and (electoral commission) officials,” he said. He also asked the judiciary to be clearly independent and discharge its responsibilities without fear or favor. “The judiciary should see to it that cases referred to it in connection with elections are promptly disposed of before the purported winners assume office,” he said. “A situation where the judgment on a case is given months, even years into the tenure of a political officer is manifestly unjust.” When Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, contested his loss in the 2003 presidential election, the case lasted 30 months before it was thrown out by the appeal court. Buhari is a candidate again this year. In one state election, it took close to three years for the election tribunal to confirm the winner after his opponent had already been sworn in. Church must take sin seriously but stress God’s mercy VATICAN CITY – The Catholic Church must take sin seriously, but it must do so like Jesus did, by emphasizing God’s mercy and trust in the sinner’s ability to change, said the preacher of the papal household. In criticizing the Pharisees, “Jesus does not deny that sin and sinners exist,” said Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, offering a Lenten reflection March 30 to Pope Benedict XVI and top Vatican officials. But Jesus “was more severe” toward those who “condemned the sinners than toward the sinners themselves,” the preacher said. From the evidence in the Bible, Father Cantalamessa said, “being merciful appears to be an essential aspect of being in ‘the image and likeness of God.” Mercy is the form God’s love takes in relation to sinners, he said. “After we have experienced it, we must demonstrate it to our brothers and sisters, both on the level of the church community as well as on a personal level,” the Capuchin said. Jesus does not trivialize sin, “but finds a way not to alienate sinners, instead attracting them to himself. He does not see only what they are, but what they can become if divine mercy reaches the depths of their misery and desperation,” he said. Jesus “does not wait for them to come to him; often he is the one who goes out looking for them,” the priest said. “Jesus is firm and rigorous regarding principles, but he knows when a principle must give way to the superior principle, which is the mercy of God and the salvation of a person,” he said. “How these criteria drawn from the actions of Christ can be applied concretely to the new problems today’s society poses will depend on patient research and, finally, on the discernment of the magisterium,” which is the church’s teaching authority, he said. But every Christian must recognize that just as he or she has been forgiven by God forgiveness must be extended to others, Father Cantalamessa said. “One cannot live in harmony, in one’s family or any other kind of community, without the practice of forgiveness and mercy,” he said. Catholic Daughters sponsor scholarship tea The Maryland State Court Scholarship Tea sponsored by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas will take place April 22 from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Musket Ridge Golf Club, Myersville. The theme for this year is Spring Garden Gala and the Catholic Daughters will be wearing hats, pearls and white gloves reminiscent of “Tea” in years gone by. Ladies are encouraged to decorate unique hats to be judged in a contest. Last year the tea was a sell-out with 200 tickets sold. The money raised from this event goes toward Catholic high school scholarships and last year 10, $500 scholarships were awarded. “The Tea provides Catholic Daughters from all over the state of Maryland an opportunity to gather together socially, renewing friendships while supporting the scholarship program,” said Debbie Lattus, committee chair. Vatican to begin broadcasting papal events in HD VATICAN CITY – Keeping in step with the fast pace of communications technology, the Vatican television center is to begin broadcasting in high definition. The first papal event to be aired using the new format will be a special April 15 Mass celebrating Pope Benedict XVI’s April 16 birthday. “We’ve realized that if we want to continue to do a good job of broadcasting footage of the pope to other television stations, we have to be ready for the day” when high definition is expected to become the norm in television broadcasting, said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman and head of the Vatican television center, or CTV. CTV, which is in charge of producing, broadcasting and archiving filmed Vatican and papal events, must keep up with new technology, said Father Lombardi. If they don’t keep up, “people won’t be able to see the pope anymore” on their television screens, he said. After April 15, the center gradually will start to broadcast regular Vatican events in high definition, while the major events will be aired using the new technology. High-definition television, or HDTV, is a digital broadcasting system for television that offers greater resolution and a sharper image than found in traditional formats. Father Lombardi said the capability would allow CTV to provide papal event coverage to the many high-definition television broadcasters around the world that are hungry for programming. CTV also will begin archiving all new footage filmed in high definition to produce high quality documentaries on DVD, he said. Mount St. Mary’s professor wins $63,000 on ‘Jeopardy!’ As he sits on the blue couch in his Walkersville home watching “Jeopardy! America’s favorite quiz show,” Scott Weiss knows most of the answers. “Being in front of everyone on the planet on TV on the show – that’s a different kind of thing!” said the assistant professor in the department of mathematics and computer science at Mount St. Mary’s University, Emmitsburg, who was a recent contestant on “Jeopardy!” The 36-year-old garnered winnings of $63,000 over four rounds. An avid puzzles and games enthusiast with a basement full of board games, Mr. Weiss decided to take an online test (along with 99,999 others) a year ago which began the process of becoming a “Jeopardy!” contestant. He was one of the lucky ones who received a call to audition in Washington, D.C. Then he was invited to Sony Studios in Los Angeles, Calif., for a December taping. In the process, Mr. Weiss made “Jeopardy!” history. He ended a final round in a three-way tie with two other contestants; each had $16,000 after providing the question of Bonnie Parker of the infamous Bonnie and Clyde. The trio returned for a new taping when usually only one contestant advances, the first time this has happened in the show’s 23-year history – a one in 25 million odds. “I did wager intentionally to cause the tie if we all had it right,” said Mr. Weiss. “Having watched “Jeopardy!” for so long, I knew that there had never been a three- way tie before. So I saw a chance to make history and to give away some more of the show’s money.” The Long Island, N.Y., native held a viewing party at his home to watch his four performances. In addition, the university, where he has been employed for nine years, held a large viewing party for faculty and students. During the weekend of March 24-25, the avid “Jeopardy!” fan participated in the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament in Stamford, Conn. where he placed 19th out of 698 competitors – his second best showing. Holy Week schedules Below are the Holy Week schedules for the bishops of Baltimore. Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, eastern vicar March 31 Youth Pilgrimage – 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Palm Sunday, April 1 St. Clement, Lansdowne – 10 a.m. Mass Chrism Mass, April 2 Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Homeland – 7:30 p.m.