PEOPLE

Among the 24 guests sharing first lady Laura Bush’s box during the State of the Union address Jan. 23 were: Craig Cuccia, director of Reconcile New Orleans, which trains youths between 16 and 24 in basic life, interpersonal and work skills; Shannon Hickey, a 16-year-old from Lancaster, Pa., who founded Mychal’s Message in 2002 in honor of longtime family friend, Franciscan Fr. Mychal Judge; and Fr. Michael Boland, president and chief executive officer of Chicago Catholic Charities, which recently opened St. Leo Residence for homeless veterans.

In New York City, Cardinal Edward Egan debuted as host of a call-in show on Sirius satellite radio Dec. 4. “A Conversation with the Cardinal” is aired live Thursdays at noon, and Egan takes phone calls from listeners.

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, defeated in November, is leading the “America’s Enemies” program at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a conservative Washington think tank. He plans to continue speaking about the threats posed by “Islamic fascism” and “unfriendly nations” such as Venezuela, North Korea and Iran, he said in a statement released by the center.

Mercy Sr. Norma Giannini, 78, appeared in a Milwaukee court Jan. 16 and pleaded not guilty to charges of sexually abusing two boys at an elementary school where she served as principal during the 1960s (NCR , Dec. 22). She is to appear again Feb. 12 and until then is free on a personal recognizance bond of $10,000.

The tiny church in England where William Shakespeare was baptized and buried is falling apart, and fans of the Bard are being asked to help raise more than $6 million to repair the ravages of eight centuries. Above the burial spot inscribed simply “Will Shakspeare, Gent,” the spire of Holy Trinity Church of Stratford-upon-Avon is cracked, its windows are broken, its bricks are eroding and it is leaking rain. “It’s absolutely desperate,” said Josephine Walker of the Friends of Shakespeare’s Church.

National Catholic Reporter, February 2, 2007