Catholic World News Service

Daily News Briefs

JULY 23, 1997

* CLINTON COMMENTS CAREFULLY ON VATICAN-NAZI GOLD ACCUSATIONS

* VATICAN PRAISES YELTSIN VETO OF RELIGION RESTRICTION BILL

* SENATE CONTINUES BAN ON FUNDING OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEE ABORTIONS

* IRISH PEDOPHILE PRIEST APOLOGIZES

* BULGARIA WANTS HELP ENDING TALK OF INVOLVEMENT IN PAPAL ATTACK

* UNITED STATES CLARIFIES FOCUS OF RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION REPORT

* SRI LANKA TO LEGALIZE CERTAIN ABORTIONS

* CONGRESS BEGINS HEARINGS ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AMENDMENT

* ATHEIST FIGHTS OVERTIME PAY FOR CHRISTMAS WORK

* US MILITARY CHAPLAIN SCHOOL DEDICATED

* CATHOLIC CULTURAL CENTER PLANNED FOR WASHINGTON, DC

CLINTON ÇOMMENTS CAREFULLY ON VATICAN-NAZI GOLD ACCUSATIONS

WASHINGTON, DC (CWN) US President Bill Clinton, asked to comment Tuesday on allegations of Vatican involvement in sheltering Nazi gold, carefully avoided direct mention of the Church and said all avenues of investigation must be explored.

A documentary film crew claimed on Monday that it had uncovered World War II-era documents that say the Vatican sheltered millions of dollars of gold coins sent there by the Croatian fascist government aligned with Nazi Germany. The accusations were supported by the war crimes conviction of Croatian Alojzije Cardinal Stepinac, but some historians say he was framed and Pope John Paul prayed at his tomb last year. The Vatican dismissed the allegations, saying they were based on rumor and supposition.

Asked about the US intelligence document, Clinton said the United States is taking the lead in the search for Nazi gold taken from Holocaust victims. The Treasury Department has assured me that they have historians combing the records and we will reveal whatever information we have and let the facts take us where they lead us, he said.

[other news items deleted for brevity ... JP]

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