Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, joins his brother Bishops in the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in releasing a statement tomorrow entitled "Because God Loves You." "Because God Loves You" addresses Catholics, stating "New possibilities lie before you - before all of us - at the start of the third Christian millennium. This is a time to look at the world and decide how to better serve your neighbor." The National Conference of Catholic Bishops will publicize this message through a national media campaign, including full page advertisements in newspapers such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and Chicago Tribune.

Cardinal Bevilacqua will be available to the media to discuss "Because God Loves You" as well as the Great Jubilee Year 2000

Monday, January 3, 2000
4:30 p.m. - Cardinal available to media
Radio Studio of Communications Office
5:05 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - broadcast of Live with Cardinal Bevilacqua
Archdiocesan Office Center
222 North 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA

This week's broadcast of Live with Cardinal Bevilacqua will focus on the turn of the century, resolutions for the New Year, and the Bishops' statement, "Because God Loves You." The Cardinal's weekly, live, radio call-in talk program has been on the air since February, 1995. Live with Cardinal Bevilacqua is heard every Monday from 5:05 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on WZZD 990-AM.

"As we embark on the Third Millennium of Christianity, we witness the dawning of a great new era. Our Holy Father has called this era ‘the new springtime,'" said Cardinal Bevilacqua. "During this Jubilee Year, we celebrate the greatest event in the history of mankind - when God became one of us."

"As we step across this great threshold, we know that there is still much work to be done," said Cardinal Bevilacqua. "However, this Jubilee Year is a time of great hope. We hope more people will begin to look beyond themselves to God. We all are called to live in his image, to love one another and to spread peace and harmony. The start of the new millennium is a perfect time to start."
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Editor's Note: The complete text of the Bishops' message "Because God Loves You" is available at www.nccbuscc.org. Archdiocesan news releases can be found at www.archdiocese-phl.org

Contact
Catherine Rossi
Director of Communications
215-587-3747