Notes from CTA regions
Southern Illinois - Active against the death penalty in partnership with the Belleville Diocese, Fellowship of Southern Illinois Laity (FOSIL) deserves kudos for helping to bring Republican Gov. George Ryan to his Feb. 3 decision to declare a moratorium on executions in the state. FOSIL's Lena Woltering was part of the lobbying and press conference Feb. 2, and also, as on past occasions, transmitted a message from Belleville Bishop Wilton Gregory. Thirteen Illinois death row inmates in recent months have been proven wrongfully convicted. Ryan's action may influence 20 other states that are considering moratoria, and could even spill over into presidential politics. Ryan is Ill. chairman for Gov. George W. Bush, whose home state of Texas leads the nation in the number of executions carried out.
CTA Kansas City - Janelle Lazzo's essay on John Paul II losing his mother at age 8 was published in the NCR Nov. 19. "Could the loss of his mother be causing him to over- emphasize woman as mother and diminish her as priest and prophet?" she asked.
CTA Northern California - The California Bishops' Conference has spent more that $340,000 to promote a March ballot initiative that would block spousal rights for gay couples by defining marriage as solely between one man and one woman. CTAer Ellen Turner wrote her bishop in San José and got a meeting with his representative. She argued against the initiative, and has been e-mailing other CTA activists to do the same, quoting the song from the CTA conference, "Who will speak if we don't?"
St. Louis - Laura Grindstaff of CTA affiliate Catholics for Renewal hosted a Next Generation gathering for six young adults interested in hearing more about CTA. They scooped up national CTA literature and showed interest in the Next Generation summer retreat and CTA-Hope, the e-mail list (below).
New affiliates - There are moves afoot to start new CTA groups in Louisville, Ky., Mobile, Ala, and Pinehurst, S.C., Iowa City, Ia., Santa Barbara, Calif., Rochester, N.Y., and Princeton, N.J.