ARCHBISHOP CARLO CARDINAL MARTINI LEADING PROGRESSIVE CHURCH THINKER AND LEADER, DIES AT 85............

Carlo Cardinal Martini, the Archbishop-Emeritus of Milan, Italy where he served as the local Ordinary (bishop) from 1979 - 2002, died Friday at age 85, after a multiple years struggle with Parkinson's Disease.  Cardinal Martini was born on February 15, 1927, in Turin; and was ordained a priest as a Jesuit in 1952.  An intellectual and ecumenist, who spend many years of his priestly and episcopal ministry promoting better Catholic-Christian-Jewish relations, he was a prolific writer of books and one of the leading progressive thinkers and leaders of the Church during the pasty sixty years.  His pastoral sensitivity and outreach to the People of God led him to speak out on behalf of encouraging dialogue in the Church on matters such as priestly celibacy, homosexuality, women deacons, condoms, abortion, and the right to die.  A highly regarded biblical scholar prior to being appointed Archbishop of Milan, he had been the Rector of the Grewgorian University in Rome, and the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Jerusalem.  Martini's inclusive approach to theology drew young people, religiously minded persons, agnostics and atheists to him and to a series of forums to discuss topics of mutual interest to those assembled.  Cardinal Martini was seriously considered as papibile, (candidate for pope) in the Conclave to elect the successor to Pope John Paul II in 2005.  Upon being informed of Cardinal Martini's death, His Holiness Benedict XVI released a statement praising the retired prelate stating he was an "authoritative biblical scholar and a zealous pastor".  Pope Benedict will be represented at Martini's Funeral Mass in Milan this Monday September 3rd, by Angelo Cardinal Comastri, the Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica and Vicar for Vatican City State.  The progress and credibility of the Catholic Church in the Modern World over the past thirty years was wonderfully served by this insightful priest and bishop, who despite challenging the Church to be relevant, outreaching, and inclusive, remained a faithful witness to Jesus Christ and the Gospel in ways that stretched the horizons of practicing Catholic-Christians, Jews, and nonbelievers to be more authentically true to all that God calls the World and the Church to be............Fr.  Troy