Safeguarding a Christian presence
In the places where Jesus walked

This weekend we begin our observance of Holy Week, a time when we remember the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Throughout the week, our Catholic liturgies will be filled with vivid reminders of the days when Our Lord walked on this earth in what we call the Holy Land.

	Editor's View Mary C. Uhler

The Scripture readings for Holy Week will be filled with references to specific places in Jesus' life and death. From the Upper Room to the Way of the Cross, these sites are now sacred places in Jerusalem, along with other places where Our Lord was born, grew up, and lived out his public ministry.

Sadly, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has put the sacred Christian shrines in jeopardy. Fr. Peter F. Vasko, president of the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land, has worked there for 23 years. He is concerned that Christianity will disappear in the Holy Land in 60 years if nothing is done to change the course there. (See the article on the Christian presence in the Holy Land this week.)

Prayer for Peace By Pope Paul VI From the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land Lord, God of peace, who has created man, the object of your kindness, to be close to you in glory, we bless you and we thank you because you have sent us your beloved son, Jesus, making him the mystery of the pasch, the architect of all salvation, the source of all peace, the bond of true brotherhood. We thank you for the desire, the efforts, the realizations which your spirit of peace has roused in our day: to replace hatred with love, diffidence with understanding, unconcern with care. Open yet more hearts to the needs of all our brothers and sisters, so that we may be better able to build a true peace. Remember, Father of mercy, all who are in pain, who suffer and die in the cause of a more brotherly world. For the men of every race, of every tongue -- may your kingdom come: your kingdom of justice, of peace, of love; and may the earth be filled with your glory. Amen.

As we observe Holy Week this year, we Catholics in the United States might want to consider what we can do to help safeguard the Christian presence in the Holy Land. Of course, prayer is the first - and most important - way we can help. I would suggest praying specifically for peace in the Holy Land every day, starting during Holy Week but continuing throughout the year. I have included a Prayer for Peace from Pope Paul VI, which applies to peace throughout the world.

Father Vasko also suggests that Americans can show their support for the Christians in the Holy Land by traveling there. He himself frequently leads pilgrimages throughout the region and says it is safe for tourists. I know a number of people who have visited Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and other countries in that area and have reported few problems, other than having to go through checkpoints and seeing armed guards.

As a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, I am urged to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in my lifetime. I hope to do it soon and am looking forward with much anticipation to walking in the footsteps of Our Lord.

The Equestrian Order is one of the main Church organizations supporting the Christian shrines, as well as educational and social service programs in the Holy Land. But all Catholics can provide financial support through the annual Good Friday collection in their parishes, which goes to support the Christian presence in the Holy Land. Please give generously to this collection, to be held on Good Friday, March 21.

The Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land also provides college scholarships and other excellent programs. Go to the foundation's Web site at www.ffhl.org for more information. We must do all that we can to ensure a Christian presence survives in the Holy Land for future generations.

Mailbag

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Deciding how to use crops involves many questions

To the editor:

I read the agrofuels articles in the February 21 edition [print edition only] with interest. Great concern is given of corn and soybeans being used for fuel rather than feeding the world.

Where does one draw the line of crop use? More grain is being used to feed poultry, cattle, swine, wildlife, etc. than agrofuels.

If we grew all the world's corn for human consumption, every person would have one pound to eat every day. Large amounts of other grains are also being fed by farmers.

American pets are a billion dollar industry. Should we feed pets instead of feeding hungry people?

All sugar in non-diet soda is from corn in our country. Soda is really a luxury we don't need. It can be argued that soda does us little good and much harm. Should we not drink soda so more people can eat?

What is right, what is moral? What do we eat, what do we drink, how do we fuel our machines?

Frankly, I believe we Americans should do much more to help the true needy. We are a spoiled people and don't realize it.

Jim Johnson, Oconomowoc

Using food to make bio-fuel: less food, higher prices

To the editor:

Just read an article with the headline "U.S. to Scale back Food Aid Amid Soaring Prices." The article states that the U.S. Agency for International Development plans to reduce the number of nations, the amount of food given, or a combination of both because the price of wheat, corn, rice, etc., has risen 41 percent in the last six months!

So let me get this straight. We are moving very fast into bio-fuels that use FOOD as its source to make bio-fuel and as a result there is less food or much higher prices for food. That means we cannot help those folks around the world that are hungry and need our help because we need energy and bio-fuels have been promoted to fix this.

Also, we ALL face HIGHER prices for food! . . . and, all the while there is enough oil within the borders of the U.S. to provide the U.S with energy needs for generations while NOT reducing our FOOD supply!

Is this another case of Unintended Consequences? Modern technology allows drilling for oil without danger to the environment. We buy oil from foreign nations that may just withhold it at a time when it would hurt us most. China and Cuba are cooperating to drill for oil just off the U.S. coast!

Hopefully enough people will take note of the situation that's developing and correct it before it's too late.

Michael L. Noonan, Jefferson