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.