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VATICAN CITY – The latest Vatican statistics show a slight increase in Catholics as a percentage of the world’s population, and a slow but steady rise in the number of priests and seminarians worldwide.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – When most people think of the Olympic visitors flocking to this city, they imagine athletes and spectators from around the world. But that’s not what sprang to mind for Carolyn Wharton of Star of the Sea Parish in White Rock, nearly 30 miles outside Vancouver.

As Catholics mark the beginning of Lent, Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien will celebrate two Ash Wednesday Masses on Feb. 17 in Baltimore – a 12:10 p.m. liturgy at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin and a 5:30 p.m. liturgy at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen.

Contrary to recent comments that question whether a health care public option can reduce or eliminate competition, the opposite is obvious fact. Who controls compensation for physicians? Carefirst Blueshield Bluecross and United Healthcare control 80 to 85 percent of the market. Their premium structure is forcing doctors out of Maryland. Small businesses are dropping or cutting back or increasing employees’ costs for health care.The public option by its nature is competition to the so-called competitive free enterprise system. When corporations impact the public, our only option is for government to act in our behalf.

Referring to “Wanted: 93,000 Bricks” (CR, Oct. 22, 2009) by Sister Mary Alice Chineworth, O.S.P., Dr. Ronald Valenti , archdiocesan schools chief, reminded students of the service and ministry of the Oblate Sisters of Providence for more than 180 years to the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The article described the Oblates’ need for a building in which to provide health care for sick and aging sisters. Caught in the national economic meltdown, the building had ground to a halt due to lack of resources.Catholic school presidents, principals, staffs and students throughout the archdiocese stepped up to the plate. The sisters received more than $13,000, or500 bricks, to lessen the need. The task remains daunting, to provide a facility to care for those who have given their all as catechists, educators, counselors-consecrated witnesses to the gospel, but hope is higher because of the generosity and compassion exhibited by Catholic school students and personnel of the archdiocese.

WASHINGTON – By refusing to allow residents of the District of Columbia to vote on same-sex marriage, a district board is undermining religious freedom and promoting “partisan paternalism under the guise of righteousness,” according to an analysis by the Archdiocese of Washington.

VATICAN CITY – Pope Pius XII wanted to speak out against Nazi atrocities, but was advised not to for fear of worsening the wartime situation, said the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano.