Briefly

Washington, D.C.

Bush raising record amounts for re-election campaign

President Bush has raised $83.9 million for his re-election campaign, nearly as much as all his Democratic rivals combined, and is on the way to shattering his own record for money spent to win the White House.

The unprecedented amount of money the president already is reporting — despite facing no opposition for the Republican nomination — is rapidly reshaping how the 2004 election campaign will be waged.

Bush’s bankroll could force the Democratic Party’s leading candidates to forgo accepting money from the federal government for their spring primary elections — and the spending limits that come along with those matching funds.

Combined, the Democrats estimate raising about $87 million for the year — with Howard Dean of Vermont outpacing his party’s pack with $25 million.

Vatican City

Cardinals have plan if pope incapacitated

Although speech is becoming harder for him, Pope John Paul II still can carry out his mission and shows no sign of resigning, several cardinals said Tuesday.

However, papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls hinted a time might come when the Vatican has to re-evaluate how to cope with a pontiff whose skill as a communicator, a hallmark of his 25-year papacy, was clearly declining.

“I work very close with him, and I see his mind, his capacity for projecting things, for putting new goals, which is absolutely intact,” Navarro-Valls said in an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “So the problem is not there — at least it’s not there yet.”

Asked whether the Vatican would have to deal with the problem later if it became necessary, he said: “I suppose so.”

John Paul himself has made clear he does not intend to resign, saying he will carry out his mission to the end.

London

Anglican leaders meet to stop split over homosexuality

The unity of the worldwide Anglican Communion hangs in the balance as international church leaders gather for a closed-door summit to talk and pray about homosexuality, the issue threatening to fracture the 77-million member association.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, spiritual leader of the communion, called the unprecedented meeting in August, after Episcopalians in the United States ratified the election of their first openly gay bishop, the Rev. V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.

The denomination, which is the U.S. branch of Anglicanism, also acknowledged that some of its bishops allowed blessing ceremonies for same-sex unions.

Conservatives worldwide have condemned these moves as unbiblical and threatened to split the communion. At an emotional meeting last week in Dallas, 2,700 U.S. conservatives began moving closer to a break with the Episcopal Church.