Vatican Sets Up Sports Department

He made saves as a soccer goalkeeper in his high school years in Poland, skied and kayaked in Europe and swam laps in the papal pool. Now Pope John Paul II has set up a sports department to give the Vatican a kind of new playing field in its drive to spread Christian values around the world.

The Vatican announced the initiative Tuesday, pointing to the millions of people who will follow the Olympics in Athens this month as proof of the important role sports plays in today's world.

"The Holy Father has always been interested in sports, and as a means of evangelization and a great way to form youth," said the Rev. Kevin Lixey, an American priest involved in establishing the department in the Pontifical Council for Lay People.

Sports can bring out the worst in people...

Just about anything can bring out the worst in people. Missals at Mass can bring out the worst in people. How many times have you heard somebody bugged when the priest (or lector) fumbles over or skips a word? "Oh, that idiot again. Will he never learn to read?" Is it the missal causing them to sin - or their own imperfectly prepared hearts?

Or how about the old lady fingering her Rosary and saying Hail Marys during the consecration? Should we forbid the Rosary in Catholic Churches? And, unlike sports, the Rosary isn't even a moral neutral.

But it's the same principle. Just because there are some who fall into sin, it does not mean sports are bad. In and of themselves, sports are morally neutral, but they can also be an excellent tool for forming a child's (particularly a boy's)moral foundation. I cannot imagine raising a physically healthy boy up to moral adulthood without exhausting him physically during his teenage years. And sports is one way to do this.

And we can pray that with Our Church's guidance, children who would otherwise be sitting home watching MTV and playing video games will be out learning focus, determination, and good sportsmanship. If a child does not learn that swearing is unacceptable from his parents, where else can he learn it? I'll tell you where - from his Catholic coach. There is so much good that can be done with sports, I really believe the Pope is onto something good.

only when the parents stay home.

Actually, the reason I used the cursing example is that I have first hand experience of families making changes in their homes when one of their boys is on our team.

I don't stop my players from talking trash at the other team, with the one caveat that they must never curse, and NEVER take the Lord's name in vain.

To be honest, some of the boys have an easier time of this than their mothers. I was continually benching one of our star players for taking the Lord's name. His parents were no better. The mother complained to me. I told her it was a Catholic League and we couldn't have it there and it really didn't matter what she allowed in her own house. Well, to make a long story short, cursing is now forbidden in that house. The mother eventually ended up thanking me for the more civil tone in her home.

Honestly, most parents appreciate rules and are happy to abide by them if they know them in advance.

Honestly, most parents appreciate rules and are happy to abide by them if they know them in advance. >>

That's good to hear. I guess we are more high strung here in NJ.

Father pleads guilty to beating coach with bat

Man gets fine, community service for attack at Little League practice

Friday, July 23, 2004

A Livingston father pleaded guilty yesterday to beating a Little League baseball coach with an aluminum bat in front of a team of 7-year-olds.

David Lomita, 43, apologized in Livingston Municipal Court to Livingston residents, the baseball league, the children and the coach, David Kramer, for the April 10 incident.

"I'd like to apologize to all of the families affected by this, the town of Livingston and also the Little League children who were obviously affected by this," said Lomita. "And to Mr. Kramer."

Lomita's attorney, Frank Arleo, described the incident as unfortunate.

"Had he realized the impact, I think he would've thought twice," said Arleo.

Kramer, who suffered minor injuries to the head, leg and arm from the beating, did not speak during the proceedings. Afterward, he said he accepts the apology, but he isn't sure if he will return to coaching.

"I'm just hoping he understands the magnitude of what's involved," said Kramer. "I hope it wasn't an act."

The Livingston American Little League had suspended both men from attending any games.

Lomita, in exchange for his guilty plea, must pay a $1,000 fine and perform 30 hours of community service. Judge Robert Jones also ordered that Lomita must consult a counselor to see if he has anger management issues.

Jones scolded Lomita, saying the altercation could have been deadly. Lomita charged the field during practice and beat the coach in retaliation for a snide remark Kramer made earlier. A group of boys, including Kramer's son, witnessed the beating.

"It's one thing to push each other and one thing to use fists," said Jones. "When you pick up that bat, you can kill somebody."

Jones said Lomita was lucky the charges had been downgraded from an indictable offense in Superior Court to municipal court. Lomita was originally slapped with assault and weapons charges, which carry a stiffer penalty if convicted.

"If you were in any other county but Essex, you wouldn't be standing in municipal court at this point," said Jones. "When you picked up a bat, you could've killed somebody. That's never going to happen again, right?"

He added, "I hope and pray we never see this happening again."

The two men did not speak to each other during or after court.

Pat Ippolito, president of the Livingston American Little League, said he is glad the incident is over. He said the league's board of directors will have to consider whether either man will be allowed to participate in future Little League activities.

"We're happy it died down, and we're happy it's over with," said Ippolito.

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