In a packed auditorium, this year's program opened with Megan Demmler singing a beautiful rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner." Miss Demmler is a very talented young lady.

This year students honored the military. In preparation, students sent a letter to people from Jamestown who are serving in one of the branches of our armed services. In their letter the students stated, "honesty and trustworthiness," as traits necessary to military personnel. Those serving in the military also need to posses, "bravery and courage, to face danger and overcome adversities," the letter said. Military people also, "put others lives before their own while defending our Nation," the students wrote.

Mr. Dan Bender, now serving in the Navy answered the students' letter. He will soon be serving aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt, which has a compliment of over 5,000 people.

Everyone attending was "The cry that comes from all of our hearts is that we never want to even think that such a horror may be visited upon any of our young people, their parents or their loved ones."

In Hartford, Conn., Archbishop Daniel Cronin said a small number of priests throughout the United States had caused "immense harm and scandal."

"Let it be said frankly that this action is immoral and reprehensible and can never be excused," he told several hundred people gathered at St. Joseph's Cathedral. "These priests have hurt those they abused and caused scandal to the faithful of the church."

The priests' words come three days after Pope John Paul II broke his silence on the scandal, saying it cast a "dark shadow of suspicion over all the other fine priests who perform their ministry with honesty."

The clergy sex scandal exploded in Boston in January after documents revealed that a former priest had been moved from parish to parish following accusations of sexual abuse.

Since then, the archdiocese has provided prosecutors with the names of approximately 80 priests accused of sexually abusing children over the past 40 years.

Dozens of priests -- out of more than 47,000 nationwide -- have been suspended or forced to resign.

In California, about 15 demonstrators protested outside St. Mary Magdalen Church in Camarillo to denounce sexual abuse by priests.

They demanded that Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, who was conducting a service, release the names of priests in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles who have been removed due to child abuse.

An archdiocesan spokesman said the names of priests who have had complaints lodged against them were handed over to authorities.

"It's important to let people know that the world is not coming to an end," said Michael Kaminski, 25, who attended a service in Jackson, Miss.

In St. Petersburg, a congregation gave a standing ovation to a bishop when he said he would remain bishop despite recent allegations of sexual harassment.

A former employee of the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg has said Bishop Robert Lynch massaged his legs, booked one hotel room for them and turned cold if he refused the bishop's frequent dinner invitations.

"I did nothing wrong," Lynch said Sunday at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle.