Chicago

Victims convene days before bishops meet

It was 10 years ago, inside a Holiday Inn in Markham, Ill., when a small group of Catholics who had been sexually abused by priests gathered for the first time.

Barbara Blaine recalls that the group shared painful stories of the past and talked about how their lives could move forward.

This weekend, nearly 300 victims are expected to attend a national conference of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, which has grown to include more than 5,000 people nationwide and emerged as one of the most powerful voices for victims who were abused by clergy as children.

As the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse crisis has deepened, Blaine said the gathering organized by the Chicago-based group has become important for those seeking support.

The conference began Friday evening and concludes today, just days before the spring meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops addresses the church’s policy on sexual abuse. The bishops’ three-day meeting begins Thursday at the Fairmont Hotel.

Salt Lake City

Capital has surprisingly high gay population

It is the capital of one of the nation’s most conservative states, which is shadowed by the worldwide headquarters of a church that suffuses nearly every aspect of life in Utah. The Mormon church, one of the world’s fastest growing faiths with about 12 million members worldwide, won’t accept homosexuals until they are spiritually rehabilitated.

During the Pride Week Festival that runs through today, plenty of people are gathering around Salt Lake City – a yearly reminder of just how large the gay community here has become. It culminates today with a parade that organizers say is the second largest in the state, behind the annual July 24 “Days of ’47” parade commemorating the Mormon settlement of the Salt Lake Valley.

A Mormon church spokeswoman declined to comment on Pride Week, instead referring a reporter to previous church statements on homosexuality in general. They read, in part: “We realize there may be great loneliness in their lives but there must also be recognition of what is right before the Lord.”

Figures on Salt Lake City’s gay population are hard to come by. Leaders of many of the city’s advocacy groups don’t even venture a guess.

The latest census did not request information about sexual orientation, but did tally 594,391 same-sex couples living together nationwide, with 3,370 of them in Utah.

Modern Bride shares wedding travel advice

New York – Where’s the best place for a secluded honeymoon? An affordable honeymoon? A honeymoon for people who love the beach?

The August-September issue of Modern Bride has recommendations for these and many other types of post-wedding trips. The magazine, which goes on sale this week, says Mexico is the best place to honeymoon if you’re looking for affordability. For adventure travel, the magazine recommends Costa Rica; for food and culture, Italy; and for nightlife, Las Vegas. For seclusion, head to Fiji; for best beaches, Hawaii; and for a ski trip following a winter wedding, Colorado.

Dreaming of a wedding fit for a princess? Consider getting married in an Irish castle. The summer issue of Destination Weddings & Honeymoons magazine explains how to do it, recommending as possible venues Knappogue Castle and Glin Castle, each a 40-minute drive from Shannon airport; Glenarm Castle in Northern Ireland; and Ashford Castle in County Mayo.

Guidebooks outline national park facts

New York – If you’re planning a trip to a national park this summer, make sure to check out the extensive information offered about every part of the parks system at the www.nps.gov Web site.

But if you need more guidance about what to see and do, where to stay, how to get there and other aspects of your visit, several new guidebooks may help.

National Geographic has published the “Guide to the National Parks West,” with information on Yellowstone, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain, Olympic and 14 other parks. The book gives a quick overview of must-sees in each park with just enough specific information on mile markers and trailheads to make planning easy but not overwhelming.

Insight Guides has a new book called “U.S. National Parks West” with chapters on California and the Pacific, the Southwest, the Rockies and the Pacific Northwest. It’s lushly illustrated with extensive background on the history, geology and ecology of each park, in addition to offering practical information about trails, amenities and attractions.

Lonely Planet’s guide to “Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks” is particularly useful for travelers looking to budget their time. The book offers sample itineraries for each park – including Grand Staircase, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands and Arches- for a half-day, full day or a couple of days.