Pope elevates conservative who urged “Da Vinci” ban
Vatican City – Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday made his most important change yet in the Vatican hierarchy, placing in the church’s No. 2 spot a conservative cardinal who once tried to lead a boycott of the controversial novel “The Da Vinci Code.”
The Vatican announced the appointment of Italian Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone of Genoa as secretary of state, a position roughly equivalent to that of prime minister.
He will succeed Cardinal Angelo Sodano, 78, who served in the post for 15 years and became especially powerful as the health of the late Pope John Paul II deteriorated.
Bertone, 71, is known to be close to Benedict in both theology and conservative beliefs, reinforcing the traditional direction of the Roman Catholic leadership under this pope.
Bertone worked as a top aide to Benedict when the future pope, as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, headed the office that enforces church doctrine.
Bertone, a member of the Salesian order with a doctorate in church law, is probably best known outside the Vatican, however, for leading the charge against “The Da Vinci Code,” the blockbuster novel by Dan Brown that many church officials find offensive because, among other issues, it questions the divinity of Jesus Christ.
WASHINGTON
Bill OK’d giving Bush line-item veto power
President Bush would receive greater power to try to kill “pork barrel” spending projects under a bill passed Thursday by the House.
Lawmakers voted to give Bush and his successor a new, weaker version of the line-item veto law struck down by the Supreme Court in 1998, despite a recent series of lopsided votes in which they’ve rallied to preserve each other’s back-home projects. It would expire after six years.
The House passed the bill by a 247-172 vote.
Thirty-five Democrats joined with most Republicans in voting for the bill, 15 Republicans opposed the measure and others voted for the bill despite private reservations.
Bush praised Rep. Mark Udall of Colorado, saying, “I appreciate those Democrats who have supported the line-item veto in the past and did so again today.
“The line-item veto is a critical tool that will help rein in wasteful spending and bring greater transparency to the budget process.”
DILI, East Timor
President vows to quit if premier doesn’t
East Timor’s widely respected president threatened to resign Thursday after the country’s prime minister refused to step down, prompting thousands of protesters to spill into the streets as the country faced a deepening political crisis.
President Xanana Gusmao, a former guerrilla chief revered for his role in helping East Timor achieve independence from Indonesia, has demanded that Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri resign or be fired.
“If the situation does not change by early tomorrow morning, I will send an official letter of resignation to Parliament,” Gusmao, said in an address to the nation.
SINGAPORE
Flush with success, city boosts toilet crews
Singapore plans to give its toilet cleaners more potty training.
Already famous for its spotless streets, Singapore is stepping up a campaign against filthy restrooms. The government has initiated a training program to boost the status and skills of its toilet cleaners.
More than 50 toilet cleaners will be promoted to “restroom specialist” upon completing the three-day pilot course in the latest toilet technology, The Straits Times reported.
RENO, Nev.
Slaying suspect fails to show for surrender
A man wanted in the slaying of his estranged wife and the shooting of the judge handling their divorce arranged to surrender in Mexico on Thursday but failed to show up, authorities said.
Darren Mack, 45, was believed to be on Mexico’s west coast and had been spotted previously in Cabo San Lucas and La Paz, Reno Police Chief Michael Poehl man said.
His plan to turn himself in at the U.S. consulate in Puerto Vallarta had been the most significant break in an international manhunt for Mack since the attacks on Charla Mack and Judge Chuck Weller on June 12.
HOUSTON
Jury seated in case of mom who killed 5
A jury was seated Thursday to hear the second trial of Andrea Yates, 41, the Texas mother who claims she was insane when she drowned her five young children in a bathtub in 2001.
Opening statements were scheduled to begin Monday.
During jury selection, several of the potential jurors questioned the legal issue at the heart of the case, saying they disagreed with the state’s definition of insanity.
