Can. 1251 "Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday."

I'm no canon lawyer but to me Canon 1251 is crystal clear.

However, Can. 1253 states "The conference of bishops can determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence as well as substitute other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety, in whole or in part, for abstinence and fast."

To me Canon 1253 is muddier.

cannoli.

"The Seventh United Nations Survey on Crime Trends and the Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (1998 - 2000)" www.unodc.org/…/7sc.pdf

The US has a 2.97% per 100000 inhabitants when it comes to homicides with a firearm in 1999. Switzerland has 1.01% in 1999 and 0.53% in 2000. Singapore, which has zero tolerance, has none in 1999 and 0.2% in 2000.

So Switzerland has the lowest in the world? Who are they trying to fool?

Go figure!

www.thebostonpilot.com/article.asp

It's time to flush out the kumbahyah priests and bishops!