CNA highlights, March 20th

Some of today's Catholic News Agency articles are especially good reading:

• Vatican Council to emphasize importance of young adults in the working world: "The Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Laity announced the plans for its ninth International Youth Forum, due to be held at Rocca di Papa near Rome from March 28 to April 1 on the theme: "Bearing witness to Christ in the world of work."

Traditionally, the Pope sends a message to these participants. Here's the 2004 message of Jp2.

• Venezuelan bishop responds to Socialist youth brigade: Jesus Christ is the authentic "new man": In response to a plan in Venezuela by supporters of "21st century Socialism" to create a youth brigade to promote the image of a "new man," Bishop Mario Moronta of San Cristobal called on the faithful not to let themselves be guided by ideologies but rather by the Gospel, which reveals that Jesus Christ is the authentic model for the human person.
• Irish primate urges Christians to go beyond parades for St. Patrick’s Day: Christians should go beyond parades and honor St. Patrick by living according to his example, said Archbishop Sean Brady of Armagh and primate of Ireland. In a St. Patrick's Day message, Archbishop Brady urged Christians to carefully read St. Patrick's "Confession of Grace", which tells of the Saint's love for God and desire to share the Good News with the Irish. The archbishop expressed his regret that this work is not widely known...

Here is the full text of the Archbishop's speech. I was not able to find an online text version of St. Patrick's confession, but Amazon is offering copies for about $7. Goodness, another book on the reading list!

Update: Thanks to Hank, who found an online version of St. Patrick's confession here.

Update 2: A headline I missed....

• Holy See: Youth have the right to truth and respect from media: "Youth have the right to ask the media to inform with truth, respecting the dignity due to every human," so said the President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Archbishop John Foley, at a meeting regarding "Information and protection of children's rights" held in Messina, Italy yesterday.....Foley noted that "it is never too early to be involved in the media, not just as users but also as participants," but warned that much of the content in modern media, "especially on the Internet, TV and movies – can contribute to corruption, instead of a healthy development."

That's right, folks: bookmark AmericanPapist. ;-)