I have been in Panamá for a few days now. The atmosphere here is very Caribbean. The kaleidoscopic music, the quick staccato accent of the Spanish, and the rich racial mix of the people, all exude its interaction with the dynamic and controversial history of the Caribbean region. There is also a definitive connection to the United States: the Panama Canal. A remnant of the long history of the Canal Zone, the currencies between the two countries are fixed. One balboa (the Panamanian denomination) is equal to one dollar. For Americans coming into the country, there is no need to change money. In the course of transactions I often received change in both currencies.

WASHINGTON—Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City called on the faithful "to pray for an end to the human rights abuse of abortion, and for a culture of life, where through God's grace all will come to know they are made in His Divine Image."

His statement on January 18 marks the 46th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in all 50 states. Archbishop Naumann, who gave the opening prayer at the March for Life the same day, chairs the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The full text of Archbishop Naumann's message follows:

The pro-life ethic challenges us to care about the sacredness of every human being throughout the life spectrum.  We are called always and everywhere to promote the dignity of the human person.

Begun in 1908, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated each year in cities and towns across the country and around the world.

Members of Christian congregations from all denominations in the Sacramento area, including Catholics in the Diocese of Sacramento, are invited to attend a workshop on “Combating Racism in the Church,” and a worship service on Thursday, Jan. 24 at Capital Christian Center, located at 9470 Micron Ave. in Sacramento.

The workshop and worship service are being held as part of the area’s observance of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, celebrated Jan. 18-25. The event is sponsored by the North State Ecumenical Council.