NEWS
Wednesday, October 11, 2006 - The Michigan Daily ---7A
SPRIESTScombine his computer know-
how with business. Ministry
Continued from page 1A was still a major part of his life,
but not yet a career interest.
1997. It wasn't until he was 23
According to the United that he discovered he needed
States Conference of Catholic to reorganize his priorities and
Bishops, the past 40 years have contribute more time to minis-
seen a steady decline in the try. He drifted apart from his
number of diocesan priests. In girlfriend of five years who
1964, there were 6,958 more had gone to medical school in
priests nationwide than last Pittsburgh. He spent all day
year, when there were 28,967. Sundays at St. Mary and often
The number fell by more than worked on church-related proj-
700 from 2003 to 2004. ects two nights a week.
Why is the priesthood losing Friends and parishioners
its appeal for young men? tooknote of Meuser's piety and
"Our culture measures suc- profound devotion.
cess by size of house, car and "Guys were introducing me
paycheck;' Meuser said. "It's to their girlfriends, saying, 'I
like keeping up with the Jone- want you to meet Jeremy. He's
ses gone wild." the guy who runs the church,"
One of the most prominent he said.
factors that discourage men Meuser constantly found
from becoming priests is the himself trying to discern what
sacrifice of conventional fam- God wanted him to do with his
ily life. Meuser said that while life.
he's giving up the chance to Then it hit him.
raise his own kids, he's able to One day, Father Charlie
devote his time and energy to Irvin, senior priest at the Lan-
the family of the church and sing Diocese, said what Meus-
God. er now knows God was saying
Jeremy Meuser is small in all along.
staturebut walks with an asser- "Have you ever thought of
tive step. Always tightly clasped being a priest?" Irvin asked
in his hand are a green Liturgy him.
of the Hours prayer book and Meuser was surprised at the
his personal notebook, where question, but quickly realized
he jots down appointments, he'd been considering priest-
seminary obligations and ideas hood for a long time although
for his own creative writing. he'd never pursued it.
He's quick witted and has a Irvin gave Meuser's phone
remarkable eye for detail. His number to Father Jerry Vincke,
computer engineer persona is director of seminarians for the
displayed as he recalls specific Lansing Diocese. After sev-
dates, times, events and even eral serious conversations with
Bible passages with incred- Vincke, Meuser decided he
ible ease. At the seminary, he would apply for a position in
puts his keen eye for detail to the seminary.
service for others, mentioning Enteringythe seminary is one
that he often proofreads class thing,butitrequires persistence
mates' letters tothe bishop. His and dedication to become an
faith runs deep, and he harbors ordained diocesan priest.
the theological knowledge to All seminarians in the Lan-
justify and defend his beliefs. sing Diocese must complete an
Meuser's presence demands eight-year program. Students
your attention. And once he spend the first four years work-
has it, he'll tell you exactly why ing toward a bachelor's degree
he wants to become a priest. in philosophy and the second
Ever since he was a fifth- four pursuing a degree in the-
grader at St. Patrick Parish ology.
of Whitelake, Catholicism Upon completing their stud-
has been deeply embedded in ies, seminarians attain a mas-
Meuser's life. ter's degree of divinity.
He began his service to the Meuser entered the semi-
church as an usher and then nary as a third-year philosophy
moved up, eventually gaining student because of his degree
the privilege of serving Eucha- from the University.
rist at Mass. These experienc- During the first semester
es, he said, helped strengthen of his fourth year of theologi-
his faith. cal studies, Meuser will be
"I was formed at a young ordained a deacon. At the end
age to respond to the church of the year, he will write a let-
in a real and physical way;' ter to the bishop, asking to be
Meuser said. ordained a priest. Provided
During his high school there is no change in policy, his
years, Meuser devoted much of ordainment will occur on June
his time tohis new position as 11, 2011.
head server at a different par- Meuser's schooling keeps
ish, Church of the Holy Spirit him busy. On a typical day,
in Highland, of which his par- Meuser wakes up at 6:30 am.
ents are founding members. and goes to morning prayer,
Once he arrived at the Uni- mass and then breakfast. He
versity,Meuserjoined St. Mary has classes in the morning,
Student Parish. afternoon and occasionally at
The time he spent there night. Lunch begins at noon
moved him along on his spiri- and dinner is served promptly
tual journey. He still recalls at 5:30 p.m. His evening con-
Father Tom Firestone, a former sists of more prayer but also
St. Mary pastor, challenging a the opportunity to socialize in
group of Catholic student lead- the student lounge if he doesn't
ers to strengthen the church's have any classes.
presence on the campus. When asked if he had any
After graduating with a advice for someone consider-
bachelor's degree in computer ing the priesthood, Meuser
engineering in 2000, Meuser offered a definitive response.
took a technology-related job "Patience and prayer;" he
at Orchard Lake Schools. He said. "If God wants you to be
took classes at the Wayne State a priest, you'll get there some-
School of Business, hoping to day"
Fire erupts at U.S.
ammo dump, sets
off series of blasts
PEACE SHIRTS
White T-shirts hung by the Washtenaw County Medical Society Alliance for Stop American Violence Day line the sidei
City Hall last night. Each shirt commemorates 42 victims of domestic violence in Michigan last year.
PAGE
Continued from page 1A
Rep. Ray LaHood (R-1ll.)
has called for the current
page class to be sent home
and the whole program to be
reviewed.
Nguyen said he and other
pages found LaHood's call
alarming.
"We are united in that we
want to make sure the page
program is preserved," he
said.
Nguyen described the page
program as having been one
of the most significant parts
of his life.
"For someone like me who
doesn't have a million dol-
lars and is a first-generation
American, it was a wonder-
ful way to feel like I was a
part of the American fabric;'
he said.
Yet the future of the page
program is in jeopardy as the
Foley sex scandal continues
to unfold.
Two weeks ago, reports
by ABC News revealed that
Foley exchanged sexually
explicit instant messages and
inappropriate e-mails with
several underage male House
pages.
Foley resigned from Con-
gress on Sept. 29 after a
reporter from ABC News
confronted him with a graph-
ic instant message transcript
in which Foley discussed
masturbation techniques
with an underage male page.
Earlier this week, there
were reports that at least one
former male page who served
in the House in the fall of
2000 had sexual relations
with Foley after the page had
left the program. He was 21
years old.
Nguyen said many of the
pages in his class were suspi-
cious of Foley.
"We always saw that Mr.
Foley was very friendly to
male pages," he said. "There
were signs, for an observer
like myself, but I never knew
what I know now."
Nguyen said he never
felt threatened. The dormi-
tory where he and the other
pages lived was guarded by
police, and the page pro-
gram enforced curfews and a
buddy system.
"I always felt safe when
I was there;' Nguyen said.
"But then again, I was a
Democratic page."
In the fallout from the
Foley sex scandal, questions
have been raised about how
much the Republican House
leadership knew about Fol-
ey's actions and when they
knew it. Several prominent
conservative voices, includ-
ing the editorial page of the
Washington Times, have
called for House Speaker
Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) to
resign for failing to act after
he learned of inappropriate
e-mail exchanges between
Foley and pages.
Hastert has refused to
resign and maintains that he
acted properly.
The FBI is investigat-
ing Foley's conduct, and the
House Ethics Committeeis
reviewing the Republican
leadership's handling of -.
situation. III '
"If there were people who
knew that the pages were
being sexually harassed,
you have to ask yourself,'
Nguyen said. "Are these the
right people to be in charge
of young people and to be in
charge of our country?"
Nguyen hopes the ge
program will survive ,the
current political uproar.
"By eliminating the page
program we would be pun,
ishing the victims who came
forward" Nguyen said. "That
is unfair."
FO TBA LL injury." "I think the biggest thing be a real good team if we just erwise-undefeated Nittany
During Michigan's 7-5 2005 we learned, we can't fall stay focused and don't worry Lions' national title hopes
Continued from page 1A season, the team dealt with apart even when components about what just happened. last season with a 27-25 win,
multiple injuries. When asked are missing," Breaston said. Move on." thanks to a last-second catch
will return, Carr said in April. on Monday about coping with "Other people have to step it Next, they'll go up against a by Manningham.
"He has a tremendous attitude, them, Breaston said this year's up and carry the burden. Just hungry Penn State team Satur- The Wolverines have beaten
but certainly it's going to be squad should be able to deal because one man goes down, day night at Beaver Stadium. Penn State seven consecutive
significant time to rehab that with adversity. we're still a team. We could Michigan spoiled the oth- times.
R C Ciest date leases can be signed. cle Ann Arbor, a nonprofit flyers and determine where to dent of the building.
"I see itsas the same thing that that offers recycling programs place the recycling bins. She Radina filled out a recom'
Continued from page 1A happened whenthe city changed to city residents. Recycle Ann said she hopes that a majority mendation form requestini
the ordinance for leasing - a Arbor gave them some educa- of University Towers' residents recycling while he was a resi-
here" small minority of students make tional materials. will now recycle. dent last year.
Isley compared the way the a lot of noise and they get what Isley said she has arranged "I am happy to see Univer- "There are a lot of tenants
program was changed to a city they want," Isley said. for someone to come in from sity Towers has finally offered in that building, and recycling
ordinance that goes into effect After the article ran, build- the city's System Planning recycling" said LSA junior will definitely cut down on the
this fall that pushes back the ear- ing management called Recy- Department to help pass out Travis Radina, a former resi- trash;' Radina said.
-
Communications and polit- At times, DeVos seemed think that Granholm did a said. "He was more confron,
DD BATical science Prof. Michael to be channeling President really good job of deflecting tational and more challenging
Continued from page 1A Traugott said this was part Ronald Reagan, who defeated that tactic." of the governor. I just Wiso
of a Granholm effort to tie incumbent Democrat Jimmy Traugott said Granholm he'd nailed her a little harder
Recent polls show Gra- DeVos to President Bush, who Carter in 1980 in part by displayed a stronger com- on certain issues."
nholm holding a small lead is unpopular in Michigan. pointing to the nation's eco- mand of policy than DeVos Bri Fritz, chair of the Uni
with just under a month "She has picked up her ref- nomic malaise during Cart- - something that he said versity's chapterof Studensf4)
remaining before the Nov. 7 erences to the Bush admin- er's term. should be expected from Granholm as well as the state-
election. istration, he said. "She's DeVos twice used a famous someone who has been in wide organization, agreed.
DeVos repeatedly attacked playing to general dissatisfac- Reagan soundbite from that office for four years. "They both seemed ate
Granholm for her handling of tion with presidential perfor- race. "She speaks with an urgen- more confident, a little more
the economy. mance." "Are you better off now cy that I associate with having surefooted," she said. "It wat
"The facts are that Michi- The two candidates than you were four years a lot to say and understanding more questions about the
gan has the worst unemploy- revealed more policy differ- ago?" he asked viewers. that there's a limited time to actual issues."
ment in the country," he said. ences when asked to list spe- But Granholm quickly say it," he said. But Fritz said she thouglit
"Unfortunately, we have to cific ways they would fix the turned that argument around, Unlike last week's debate, in Granholm was the clear Wir-
fire the governor and head in state's economy. saying that while Michigan which the candidates had virtu- ner.
a new direction." Both said they would elim- struggled, DeVos prospered alfree reigntoanswer questions "I thought it went really
Granholm looked to parry inate the Single Business Tax. at the state's expense as head and respond to charges from well for the governor' she
those jabs by saying that she Most of DeVos's ideas had to of Alticor Corp., the parent one another, last night they had said. "The governor is coming
wasn't the one at fault - the do with either cutting red tape company of Amway. time limits for their responses out strong and she's answer-
root of the problem, she said, for businesses or working to "Is he better off than he and were only allowed 30 sec- ing our questions, and I think
lies in Washington. increase trade and tourism, was four years ago?" she said onds to rebut charges made by that's really important."'
"We need a tiger on behalf while Granholm focused on in her closing statement. "My their opponent. Last night's debatq,
of our manufacturing indus- education and job training to guess is he is, because he is University College Repub- broadcast on NBC afffl
try at the World Trade Orga- diversify the economy. somebody that supported the licans Chair Rob Scott said ates across the state from
nization, and instead the Granholm also reiterated unfair trade agreements that both candidates fine-tuned WOOD-TV in Grand Rap-
Bush administration has been her plan to speed up pub- got Michigan into this mess their performances in last ids, likely drew a m'uch
nothing but a pussycat," she lic works projects slated for in the first place." night's debate, but added smaller audience than th
said, referring to what she the next ten years - a pro- Jamie Ruth, chair of the that DeVos still had room for first debate because it had
calls a failure by the federal posal she has compared to University's chapter of the improvement. to compete with the; st
government to enforce trade New Deal programs through College Democrats, said this "I think that Granholm game of the Detroit Tigers'
agreements, thereby hurting which the federal government response was effective. came across as more confi- American League Ch -
Michigan's manufacturing- employed laid-off workers "I'm no fan of Reagan, but dent and DeVos came across pionship Series against the
based economy. during the Great Depression. he is no Reagan;' he said. "I different than last time;' he Oakland Athletics. -
School shooter told authorities to leave, opened fire
BAGHDAD (AP) - A
fire broke out at an ammu-
nition dump at a U.S. base
in southern Baghdad on
yesterday night, setting off
a series of explosions from
detonating tank and artil-
lery shells that shook build-
ings miles away. The U.S.
military said there were no
immediate reports of casu-
alties.
It was not clear whether
the ammunition holding
area at Forward Operat-
ing Base Falcon was hit by
an attack. The cause of the
fire was not immediately
known, said Lt. Col. Chris-
topher C. Garver, a military
spokesman.
Explosions from deto-
nating tank and artillery
ordnance and small-arms
ammunition stored at the
site went off for hours after
the fire erupted.
Large flames and smoke
rose from the region, and
flashes from the blasts and
showers of sparks were vis-
ible on the horizon from
several miles away in cen-
tral Baghdad, where the
force of the blasts could
be felt. The blasts came at
times sporadically, at times
in rapid succession, lasting
into the night. Helicopters
were seen in the night sky
flying over the area.
The blaze broke out in
an ammunition holding
area, where material is kept
temporarily before distri-
bution to the units at Fal-
con, said Lt. Col. Jonathan
Withington, a spokesman
at the base. He said more
than three battalions were
stationed there at the time
of the fire but he would not
give a specific number of
troops.
"There is a lot of ammu-
nition there, but it's not a
full storage depot," he said.
"This does not degrade our
operational ability at all."
He said the cause of the
fire was under investiga-
tion.
LANCASTER, Pa. (AP)
- The Amish schoolhouse
gunman opened fire on his
10 hostages just moments
after demanding authorities
get off the property, giving
state troopers no time to try
to save the girls, according
to investigators and 911 tran-
scripts released yesterday.
Charles Carl Roberts IV
threatened to kill the chil-
dren "in two seconds" dur-
ing a 70-second call to a 911
dispatcher.
"Don't try to talk me
out of it, get 'em all off the
property now," Roberts told
a Lancaster County dis-
patcher in a calm, flat voice,
his only contact with police.
Before authorities could
react, he hung up and start-
ed shooting inside the West
Nickel Mines Amish School,
killing five girls and wound-
ing five others before killing
himself.
"He clearly did not give
the police any opportunity
to get off the property," said
Lancaster County District
Attorney Don Totaro, who
did not release the actual
audiotapes to avoid further
traumatizing the Amish
community and Roberts'
family.
"He did not seem emo-
tional. He did not seem
angry," Totaro said.
The 911 transcripts were
released in response to a
Right-to-Know request filed
by The Associated Press.
The 911 center receivetl
four initial calls about the
Oct. 2 shooting - inlud-
ing Roberts' call; a nearl'
three-minute call from hid
wife, who had talked to htm
by phone and found his sji-
cide notes; and one from
farmer calling on behalf o
the Amish teacher.