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By Michael Sneed
Chicago Sun-Times
March 2, 2006

http://www.suntimes.com/output/sneed/cst-nws-sneed021.html

The Chicago Archdiocese isn't the only U.S. Catholic entity on the hot seat these days.

Boston, where the clergy abuse scandal broke, is back in the news again.

*To wit: Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly dispatched a letter criticizing the failure of the Boston Archdiocese to devise a system tracking abusive priests. Reilly claims the diocese still hasn't implemented key reforms promised three years ago as part of the diocese's plan to guard against the sexual abuse of children by priests.

Kennedy Korner ...

Our town's Chris Kennedy, who runs the Merchandise Mart, is mighty proud of his baby sister Rory.

*Why? Because Rory, the youngest of Robert and Ethel Kennedy's 11 children, produced the documentary "Street Fight," which is nominated for an Academy Award. The film chronicles the bloody-knuckles 2002 campaign for mayor of Newark, N.J., between popular four-term incumbent Sharpe James and 32-year-old challenger Cory Booker, a Rhodes Scholar, Yale Law School grad and former college football star.

*How? "The film is about social justice," said Chris Kennedy. "She learned this message from the legacy of our parents. Whether it was Kathleen teaching on an Indian reservation, Joe finding oil for poor people in Boston or Kerry championing human rights in South Africa, Rory was always surrounded by these examples."

*So, where did Rory's career begin? "Columnist Art Buchwald was one of our parents' closest friends, and he had a fetish for cameras," Kennedy told Sneed. "He would buy one every month and sometimes give Rory one of his old cameras. Her first experience was taking pictures [with those cameras] when she was a little kid."

Keaton korner ...

Actress Diane "Annie Hall" Keaton, who was in town shooting "Oprah," took time off Tuesday to tour some of Chicago's architectural gems. A Sneed spotter claims she gave Keaton a tour of the Rookery Building after meeting the actress by chance.

"She absolutely loved the architecture of Daniel Burnham," the source said. At last peek, Keaton was off to the Board of Trade.

Oscar mania ...

'Tis Academy Award time . . . red carpets are unfurling, Roger Ebert's dusting off his tux and the boldface bobbleheads are fretting over which after party to attend. So, in the Oscar spirit . . .

Did you know ...

*Actor/director George "Syriana" Clooney has a draft Guinness dispenser in his home?

*Actor David "Good Night, and Good Luck" Strathairn attended the Ringling Brothers Clown College in Florida?

*Venerable actress Judi "Mrs. Henderson Presents" Dench embroiders tapestries with dirty words sewn in the background?

*Jake "Brokeback Mountain" Gyllenhaal's favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird, and he has a German shepherd, Atticus, named after the novel's protagonist?

*Matt "Crash" Dillon keeps the false teeth he wore in "There's Something About Mary" on a shelf in his apartment?

Well, now you do.

I spy ...

Prince and Princess Robert of Luxembourg grabbing a regal bite at Coco Pazzo.

Elton action ...

*Of babies: You might be interested to know that newlyweds Elton John and David Furnish have decided they will not adopt; both have tons of godchildren.

*And baubles: It certainly pays to be Elton's friend: A guest at his famous Oscar party will win a jewel-encrusted Chopard watch if he/she gets the most correct answers on his Oscar questionnaire.

My, my.

Sneedlings ...

Today's birthdays: Lou Reed, 64; Chris Martin, 29; Jon Bon Jovi, 44; Doc Watson, 83; Mikhail Gorbachev, 75, and Ed Murnane, ageless.

Michael Sneed is seen at 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays on WMAQ-Channel 5.

 
 

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