The Record Newspaper 26 March 2008

Next week: special issue HOW WE CELEBRATED EASTER

How Catholics around the state marked the key Christian celebration of the year. Stories and photos from all over WA.

■ By Simon Caldwell and Regina Linskey

LONDON (CNS) - An English bishop asked Catholics in England and Wales to mark the fifth anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq by praying for the Iraqi Christian community, which is “undergoing its own Calvary.”

“In the midst of continuing conflict and instability we should all reflect on the lessons that need to be learned and ask how we can contribute to creating a better future for Iraq,” said Bishop Crispian Hollis of Portsmouth, England, chairman of the Department of International Affairs of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.

“Above all, we need to remember the people of Iraq as they struggle to rebuild their country,” he said on March 18. “In particular, we ask you to hold in your prayers the Christian community.”

Archbishop Rahho

He said the plight of Iraqi Christians had been “brought home with terrible force” by the February 29 abduction and subsequent killing of Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul, Iraq.

Meanwhile, it has transpired that shortly before his death Archbishop Rahho had asked for prayers for Iraqi Chaldean Catholics and said he would be the last person to leave Mosul.

“We are asking for your prayers to remove this cloud from our country and our Continued - Page 3

WAS HAWKEY REALLY PM?

Was Bob Hawke really Australia’s Prime Minister from 1983-1991 (devout followers believe so). It’s like asking if Christians were really killed in the Colosseum. Page 12

Vatican seeks JPII stories

■ By

Cindy Wooden

ROME (CNS) - The office in charge of promoting Pope John Paul II’s sainthood cause is looking for English speakers who have a story to tell about their meeting with the late Pope, their prayers for his intercession or graces received after asking for his help.

In a March 17 statement, the Rome diocesan office for the sainthood cause said English submissions to the cause’s Web site were seriously falling behind those in Italian, Polish and French.

The website - www.vicariatusurbis. org/Beatificazione/English/credits. htm - also has space set aside for testimonials in Spanish and Portuguese.

First priest ordained for Diocese of Bunbury marks 50th

■ By a special correspondent

Our shops seem to begin their Christmas sales promotions earlier each year, but anyone passing St Joseph’s Church in Subiaco on a recent Sunday morning might have been forgiven for thinking that they were hearing an exceptionally early Christmas Carol Concert as the strains of “Joy to the World” emanated from

the Church. In fact, they were hearing the concluding hymn of a special Mass to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Priesthood of Fr Bernie Dwyer of the Diocese of Bunbury. So why the Christmas Carol? Long before it came to be associated with Christmas, this hymn was written in 1719 by Isaac Watts(often designated “Father of the English Hymn”) as an English translation of Psalm

has fired almost the whole Board of a leading London Catholic hospital after a long-running dispute over abortion referrals. Page 3

The Parish - Pages 4

The Nation - Pages 6-7

Letters - Page 8

Perspectives - Vista 4-pg 9

The World - Pages 10-11

Panorama - Page 14 Classifieds - Page 15

98, in fact the second of two parts. He published translations of all 150 Psalms; the tune we’re familiar with was written by Lowell Mason, in 1848,and said by him to be “in the style of” Handel.

As a hymn praising the presence and action of God in the world, it was certainly appropriate to the day! Celebrating the occasion with Fr Bernie were

many Dwyer family members and former parishioners and friends from throughout the South West and Great Southern, together with several priests from Bunbury and Perth,and both emeritus Bishops of Bunbury.

Bishop Holohan, the present Bishop, was unable to be present for the Mass, but joined Fr Bernie later in the day for a reception.

Continued - Page 3

Under threat: A woman receives Communion during an Easter Mass on March 23 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baghdad, Iraq.

PHOTO: CNS/THAIER ALSUDANI, REUTERS

Saints for the month

Blessed Francesco Faa di Bruno

1825-1888

feast – March 27

This aristocratic Piedmontese Italian abandoned a military career for mathematics.

Thousands farewell Chiara Lubich

Following studies at the Sorbonne in Paris, he began teaching at Italy’s University of Turin and doing charitable work among domestic servants, female apprentices and unmarried mothers. At the urging of St. John Bosco and despite episcopal opposition, Francesco was ordained a priest at age 51. In 1881 he founded a religious order to carry on his work, especially among young women, and continued to lecture at the university until his death. He was beatified in 1988. ©

Saints for Today Saints for

Stewardship

“Jesus meets the need of each disciple. To the fearful in the upper room, He speaks words of peace. To doubting Thomas, He provides the tangible proof of His resurrection. What do I need to become His disciple? What do I have to share that might meet someone else’s need?”

-By Sharon Huekel

Walking with Him

Daily Mass Readings

31 The Annunciation of the Lord, Solemnity White Isa 7:10-14.8:10 God-is-with-us

Ps 39:7-11 An open ear Heb 10:4-10 To obey your will Lk 1:26-38 Do not be afraid

1 Tuesday White Acts 4:32-37 All in common Ps 92:1-2.5 The Lord is King Jn 3:7-15 Born of the spirit

2 St Francis of Paola, hermit White Acts 5:17-26 Apostles arrested

Ps 33:2-9 Glorify the Lord Jn 3:16-21 God loved so much

3 Thursday White Acts 5:27-33 A formal warning

Ps 33:2.9.17-20 Taste and see Jn3:31-36 God’s truthfulness

4 St Isidore, bishop, doctor of the Church White Acts 5:34-42 Fighting against God

Ps 26:1.4.13-14 Hope in God

Jn 6:1-15 Philip tested

5 St Vincent Ferrer, priest White Acts 6:1-7 Select seven men

Ps 32:1-2.4-5.18-19 Loyal hearts

Jn 6:16-21 Jesus on the lake

6 THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

White Acts 2:14.22-33 Jesus raised to life

Ps 15:1-2.5.7-11 You are my God

1 Pet 1:17-21 Faith in God

Lk 24:13-35 Breaking of bread

7 St John Baptist de la Salle, priest

White Acts 6:8-15 Grace filled Stephen

Ps 118:23-24.26-27.29-30

Your will my delight

Jn 6:22-29 Looking for Jesus

Thousands pack Rome Basilica to pay last respects to Focolare founder

■ By Cindy Wooden

ROME (CNS) - Thousands of people from dozens of nations, a variety of Christian denominations and several other religious traditions packed into Rome’s Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls to pay their final respects to Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare movement.

In a message read at her March 18 funeral, Pope Benedict XVI told the mourners: “Many are the reasons for giving thanks to the Lord for the gift he gave the Church in this woman of fearless faith.”

The congregation’s thanks was expressed with loud, sustained applause that accompanied the measured pace of the six men carrying her coffin on their shoulders from the basilica’s entrance to a carpet at the foot of the altar.

Lubich, 88, died on March 14. The Focolare movement, which she founded in the 1940s, now involves more than 2 million people in 182 countries.

Pope Benedict called her “a messenger of hope and peace, founder of a vast spiritual family that embraces multiple fields of evangelisation,” from spirituality for families to a project that encourages business owners to embrace an “economy of communion” or sharing.

The Pope said he wanted to thank God “especially for the service Chiara gave to the church: a silent and incisive service, always in harmony with the magisterium of the Church.”

She always was guided by the

thinking of the popes, he said. “In fact, looking at the initiatives she undertook, one even could say that she almost had the prophetic ability to intuit and put it into action ahead of time,” he added.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, presided over the funeral Mass, which was preceded by statements of thanks and praise from Orthodox, Anglican and Lutheran representatives as well as from the Jewish, Buddhist and Muslim communities with whom Lubich was in dialogue.

In his homily, Cardinal Bertone said that with her death “Chiara will meet the one whom she loved without seeing and, full of joy, can exclaim, ‘Yes, my Redeemer lives’.”

“The life of Chiara Lubich is a love song to God, to the God who is love,” he said.

Rather than creating institutions, he said, “she dedicated herself to lighting the fire of the love of God in hearts,” helping people find ways to share God’s love with others through a spirituality focused on unity.

Founder touched lives across globe

Chiara Lubich touched the lives of many people, from cardinals, to bishops of other Christian confessions, from people who do not believe in Christ, to people of no faith at all.

■ By Miriam Díez i Bosch

Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, Archbishop of Prague, gave his outlook on Lubich’s spirituality after her funeral, defining it as “a spirituality open to dialogue with other churches, with the other religions of the world: a Christianity for our times.”

The Archbishop of Prague, one of the bishop-friends of Focolare, said he met Chiara Lubich “and her charism” in 1964. “I think, without exaggerating, that this encounter with her spirituality is the greatest gift of God and the Holy Spirit for me and for my life,” he said.

Mgr Aldo Giordano, Secretary-General of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences, said: “Chiara has brought to humanity a charism of God based in unity, and the secret of this unity is in the personal relationship with Jesus on the cross, concretely the moment in which Jesus cries out the abandonment of the Father,

Peter Rosengren cathrec@iinet.net.au JOURNALISTS

Anthony

Sylvia Defendi sdefendi@iinet.net.au

Paul Gray cathrec@iinet.net.au

Mark Reidy reidyrec@iinet.net.au

and therefore makes his own all those of humanity who are abandoned, all the wounded of humanity and their tears.”

Carla Cotignoli, leader of the Focolare communications office, affirmed that “what she always carried in her heart is that a system of life exists that renews politics, renews the economy, that renews culture, that renews art, communication, everything because this reciprocal love is not simply saying ‘let’s love each other a lot,’ but rather is a model of life in the Trinity.”

Focolare Fr Cinto Busquet, a specialist in dialogue between Christianity and Japanese Buddhism, said: “Chiara Lubich

has spoken of unity during her whole life, has built up communion, has lived, has fought with all her strength so that the Church would be more and more this house of communion that John Paul II proposed with so much courage in his documents.

“A few years ago in the gathering of the Focolare Movement, Chiara told us: As an inheritance, ‘Christ in our midst,’ and this phrase of Jesus’ from Matthew’s Gospel, ‘Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.’ Her heritage, not just for the Focolare family but for all the Church, I think is this: We have to always do everything with the presence of the Lord among us and this will be possible if we live among us with a relationship of love, concrete, lived, in communion.”

Anglican Bishop Robin Smith, representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury at the funeral, affirmed: “Chiara was one of the most remarkable Christians, I believe, of the 20th and 21st centuries; she has brought about a unity of not only all Christian people but of all religious people throughout the world and to the end she represented something unique not only in the Catholic Church but also in the universal Church.”

- zenit.org

Both men’s and women’s branches of Focolare exist in Perth. The women’s branch can be contacted on (08) 9349 4052. The men’s branch can be contacted on (08) 6278 3425.

Passing: Pallbearers carry the casket of Chiara Lubich during her funeral at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls in Rome on March 18. Lubich founded the Focolare movement, which now involves more than two million people in 182 countries.

PHOTO: CNS/ALESSIA GIU LIANI, CATHOLIC PRESS

Passing: A man attends the funeral of Chiara Lubich at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls in Rome on March 18.

PHOTO: CNS/ALESSIA GIU LIANI, CATHOLIC PRESS

Cardinal O’Connor fires hospital’s Board

Thanks for your work, but a Catholic hospital should be Catholic in practice: Cardinal

■ By Simon Caldwell

LONDON (CNS) - A British Cardinal has fired almost the entire board of directors of a Catholic hospital where abortion referrals and contraceptives have been offered to patients.

Cardinal Cormac MurphyO’Connor of Westminster requested the resignations of 10 of the 13 directors of London’s Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth. His decision follows the appointment of Lord Guthrie, former head of Britain’s armed forces, as the new chairman of the board in early February.

“In the light of recent difficulties and challenges, the cardinal asked the board to resign their office,” said a spokesman for the cardinal in a February 22 statement. “This was to enable the new chairman to begin his office with the freedom to go about ensuring the future wellbeing of this Catholic hospital. The Cardinal offered his sincere thanks to the old board for their generosity and all they had done for the hospital in the past.”

A February 21 press statement issued by the hospital said the directors were asked to resign at a February 18 board meeting. It said that Lord Guthrie had the support of Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor in ensuring that the hospital continued to provide care “guided by its Catholic ethos.”

“The Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth has a long-standing reputation within London and within the medical world of being a first-

class, caring organisation whose Catholic ethos adds to the care and compassion felt by those who work within it and those treated by it,” the statement said.

In November, the hospital finally agreed to the cardinal’s demands that it adopt a new code of ethics which bans doctors from making abortion referrals and prescribing contraceptives and the morning-after pill.

Soon after, Lord Bridgeman, who was opposed to the code, stepped down as chairman of the board

along with two other senior members of the board of directors. The code was to have been implemented last spring but executives refused to approve it. Some argued that it would be unworkable, unpopular with staff and that it would cost the hospital valuable revenue.

The other two directors remaining from the previous board are Auxiliary Bishop George Stack of Westminster and Nicholas Goddard, chairman of the hospital’s medical advisory committee.

Fr Bernie: 50 not out

Continued from Page 1

Fr Bernie was the first priest to be ordained for the Diocese of Bunbury, which was established in 1954. A native of Wagin and member of a large family, he went to school there and worked for some years in the menswear department of the Wagin Coop, before joining St Charles Seminary.

It was no easy thing to knuckle down to studies with boys some years his junior, but he persevered, completing his secondary education and philosophy studies under the guiding hand of the Rector, Dr Goody (later to become the first Bishop of the new Diocese of Bunbury).

Fr Bernie progressed to St Patrick’s College in Manly for Theology studies before returning to the west for Ordination in 1958. Posted to Albany, where Mgr Charles Cunningham was parish priest, Bernie struck up what became a lifelong friendship with Fr Noel FitzSimons, the other curate. Together they located and excavated the site of the Sancta Maria Mission near Mount Barker, an early missionary venture of the Spiritan priests and brothers during Bishop John Brady’s episcopate in the 1840s.

Fr FitzSimons paid tribute to Fr Dwyer’s support and faithfulness, particularly in those times when either or both found themselves posted to remote areas. On one such occasion, when Fr Bernie was parish priest of Tambellup with Cranbrook and Broome Hill, and Fr Noel of Gnowangerup

and nine other centres, they had agreed to share both the presbytery at Gnowangerup and the ministry to give some respite from excessive driving. Fr Bernie was one of the priests instrumental in bringing the Marriage Encounter Movement to Australia, and worked within the Movement for 16 years. He was tireless in promoting the need for a sound spiritual foundation for marriage, and continued as friend and counsellor to many for marriage preparation.

His hobby was woodwork and many churches throughout the South West and Great Southern areas bear evidence of his skill in furnishings restored or manufactured by him. But his chief work was that of parish priest, a ministry he practised over his 50 years in almost every town and settlement, large and small, in the Bunbury Diocese, from Albany to Mandurah, Gnowangerup to Bunbury. Now retired, Fr Bernie is in the care of the St John of God Sisters at the Subiaco Villa. Bishop Peter Quinn, Fr Bernie’s Bishop for 16 years who visits him regularly at Subiaco, noted Fr Bernie’s holiness: “If you want to know what I mean, go to confession to Fr Bernie. He is obviously a deeply spiritual man, a man of prayer.” He is an avid Eagles fan. After his own celebrations, Fr Bernie was due to join Perth priest and classmate, Fr John O’Reilly, who was ordained with him and Fr Les Baccini (dec.) at a reunion in Sydney for the Class of ’58.

UK prelate warns Iraq’s Christians are going to their own Calvary

Continued from Page 1 Church,” said Archbishop Rahho in a January 18 letter to the New York-based Catholic Near East Welfare Association. The letter, which the association sent to CNS on March 17, referred to a series of church bombings in Mosul in early January.

“We want to stay in our beloved land, despite the situation and the sufferings, especially after these last bombings,” said Archbishop Rahho.

The Archbishop asked for support from the association and said that “as a result of immigration, violence, kidnappings, bombings

and unemployment” the church’s revenue had declined by more than 25 per cent.

However, Archbishop Rahho said the church provided “nonstop pastoral services for Chaldean families forced from Baghdad and other insecure areas” who had settled in villages in northern Iraq.

“We do not want to close our churches or leave Mosul,” Archbishop Rahho said. He added, “Personally, I will be the last person to leave.”

Archbishop Rahho, 65, was kidnapped on February 29 in an attack that left his driver and two bodyguards dead. The archbishop’s body

JohnHughes

Is

was recovered on March 13 after the kidnappers told Catholic leaders in Iraq where he had been buried. His funeral was on March 14.

Conservative estimates put the Iraqi death toll at about 89,000 people, while 4.3 million have been displaced, including more than 600,000 Iraqi Christians.

salespeople.

Is it true when people do business with me, I guarantee they will be treated with courtesy, sincerity, professionalism and efficiency?

Is it true that I have over 40 technicians who are dedicated to getting my used cars in first class condition before sale?

Action: Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor sacked most of the Board of London’s Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth where abortoin referrals and contraceptives had been offered to patients.

PHOTO: CNS

Go forth and prosper

Significant progress for Notre Dame’s School of Medicine

Higher Education

By Dr Michael Shanahan

December 2008 will see the first cohort of 80 medical students complete their studies at The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Fremantle School of Medicine.

These graduates will then take their places as medical interns in the major hospitals, in order to continue their training over two or more years before launching into independent medical practice.

Their graduation will see the completion of the long journey which began with the establishment of the University of Notre Dame Australia in 1989 at Fremantle, drawing on the inspiration and philosophy from the University of Notre Dame Indiana in the United States.

Following accreditation by the Australian Medical Council, the School of Medicine commenced in 2005 with 80 medical students.

These medical students are already graduates with degrees in varied disciplines, and come from diverse backgrounds and life experiences.

Apart from their high academic achievements, ability to communicate, and critical thinking, students are selected to study medicine because of their perceived motivation to serve those who are sick and in need.

The medical course has been the product of several years of hard work by committed and talented people including Prof Mark McKenna, Prof Adrian Bower, Prof Jenny McConnell and many others. Now there are a total of 365 medical students in four years. The teaching requires complex and enormous resources involving academic staff, general practitioners, private and public hospitals. Curtin University of Technology is involved in teaching biomedical sciences, and the WA Rural Clinical School instructs students wishing to work in rural settings. Both these arrangements are working very well.

The students are dedicated and firmly committed to their ambition to become competent medical practitioners having, made significant financial commitments.

This has been reflected in the overall excellent outcomes with regard to their annual assessments. Many have families and have saved to support themselves

Record enrolments

The University of Notre Dame Australia has achieved record enrolments in a tertiary climate that has seen the decline of enrolments in other universities around the country.

A record 1709 new students commenced first semester this year at Notre Dame’s Fremantle Campus which represents an 11 per cent increase on 2007. At the Sydney Campus, with sites in Darlinghurst and Broadway, just over 700 new students commenced their studies this semester, bringing the total student population to just under 1700, a 65 per cent increase on 2007. This increase reflects the fact that the Sydney Campus now has the full contingent of students (first second and third years) in the three year degree courses for the first time since opening in 2006.

during their four years of study and are focused on spending only for essentials. By next year it is hoped there will be 100 per cent of Commonwealth Supported Places and hence the need for full fee paying students will be phased out.

Medical education has undergone great changes especially with the revolution in information technology over the past decade to meet the increasing health demands of the 21st Century.

The traditional training methods of previous generations have given way to integrated learning which combines knowledge of the biomedical sciences with early hands on experience in the clinical settings of general practice.

The emphasis on the outcomes of their training is to meet the future increasing demands for medical services in areas of aged care, public health, mental health, and especially to meet the needs of our indigenous population.

The University of Notre Dame Australia has embarked on a truly significant project with the establishment of Schools of Medicine at the Fremantle Campus, and from the start of this year at the Sydney Campus. The University has a loyal Catholic tradition and it has to be asked what this brings to its role as an educator in Medicine.

The University desires that its graduates in Medicine will be known not only for their excellent knowledge and skills as doctors, but also as caring, dutiful, and compassionate men and women, who will always be ethical in their practice of Medicine.

To achieve an understanding as to what motivates doctors in their professional lives, students are taught the basics of Theology, Philosophy, and Ethics.

These are core units which all students have to show they have achieved a basic understanding of. As students have a variety of religious convictions or none at all, this is a unique experience for UNDA medical students.

Students also share the difficulties that their future patients face through contributing personal service to those in need of help in the community through a Social Justice program that teaches service learning.

All medical students experience the isolation of rural medical practice, and the difficulties faced by our indigenous population by spending some weeks in these remote settings.

The graduation of 80 students from UNDA Fremantle in 2008 will bring to the community in Western Australia a unique body of qualified medical practitioners who will be noted for their professional excellence, understanding and compassion.

The significant increase in numbers were across the board in all eight of the University’s schools but were particularly strong in Arts and Sciences, Education, Nursing, Health Sciences and Medicine.

Students are predominantly school leavers from a wide variety of schools; Catholic, Independent, and Government, from both metropolitan and country regions. The increase also included a significant number of mature-age students.

Rommie Masarei, the Executive Director of Admissions & Student Services, Fremantle Campus said, “It is wonderful to see such a vibrant group of students crowding the streets and buildings of the West End of Fremantle.”

Sydney Campus Registrar Susanna Wills-Johnson was also delighted with the great results. She said “It is pleasing to see so many new bright new faces on Campus.

UNDA into Stolen Generations

Law students from The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle will be volunteering their skills at Perth firm Lavan Legal this semester to assist with over 600 ‘Stolen Generation’ cases.

The Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) approached Lavan Legal last year and asked if they could assist pro-bono with claims for damages arising in relation to the ‘Stolen Generation’ policies applied in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

As the case load is so huge the firm have enlisted the help of up to 50 volunteer law students from Notre Dame and other WA law schools.

Lavan General Counsel, Martin Bennet, came to Notre Dame recently to talk to potential volunteers about the cases they would be dealing with.

“The task of evaluating, analysing and

detailing potentially in excess of 1000 claims provides a challenging opportunity for law students to gain important experience in the civil litigation progress, whilst at the same time valuably contributing to a major social issue,” said Mr Bennet.

The ‘Stolen Generation’ has had a prominent profile in the media recently with Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd’s formal apology.

“The events of the last few weeks emphasise how timely this is and how important this is on a national and international scale. An opportunity of this magnitude and scale to devote energy, resource and skill for such a massive public social cause rarely arises,” said Mr Bennet.

The students will be working with the firm’s legal staff and will receive counselling before they begin, to help them cope with the distressing nature of the victims’ stories.

Alcohol restrictions probed

The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Broome Campus Centre for Indigenous Studies has begun researching the impact of alcohol restrictions currently in place in Fitzroy Crossing.

The research, conducted on behalf of the Western Australian Drug and Alcohol Office, is the first undertaken by the Centre since it was established late last year and involves a two year evaluation of alcohol and drug prevention programs in Fitzroy Crossing.

Director of the Centre for Indigenous Studies, Associate Professor Lyn HendersonYates said the first phase of the research was focussed on evaluating the impact of the current liquor restrictions on the sale of take away packaged liquor exceeding 2.7 per cent in Fitzroy Crossing.

“This part of the project involved speaking

with and collecting the views of as many people, businesses and organisations in Fitzroy Crossing, Derby, Broome and Halls Creek as possible during the collection phase,” Assoc. Professor Henderson-Yates said.

“The stories of the people, gathered alongside statistical information provided by the WA Alcohol and Drug Office, will provide the basis for the final report, which will be provided to the Director of Liquor Licensing for his consideration and decision regarding liquor restrictions in Fitzroy Crossing.”

Assoc. Professor Henderson-Yates said it was exciting to have the Centre for Indigenous Studies established on the Broome Campus.

“Hopefully we can create new partnerships through our work and in doing so help to initiate positive outcomes for Indigenous people,” she said.

Into it: Law students Andrew Corke and Melissa Orlando with Lavan Legal’s General Counsel Martin Bennet and senior associate Anna Hughes (centre).

the Parish

On the wing of a prayer

Fr John Fowles loves being carried up to the heavens, only for him it’s more of a literal experience.

■ By Anthony Barich

Priest and pilot Fr John Fowles is on a mission to raise $1 million for the poverty-stricken people of East Timor and generate interest in World Youth Day through a national “Fly-A-Thon”.

Having grown up on a dairy farm where he did an apprenticeship in Gippsland on the coastal strip southeast of the Great Divide in Victoria, it was during Fr Fowles’ time marketing wholesale goods for a trading cooperative in central Victoria that he felt the urge to do missionary work.

He only spent a month in Papua New Guinea with Melbourne Overseas Missions but it was enough to convince him that he was being called to work for the missions.

He obtained a pilot’s licence so he could work flying supplies into PNG’s villages and patients to hospitals, but they’d sold the plane as the landing strip was too dangerous with cloud cover and nearby mountains making things tough. Missionaries had died. He soon found himself in the seminary and, after being ordained by now-retired Bishop William Brennan in 1996, was given the job of building a church at the Immaculate Heart of Mary parish in Thurgoona, Albury, NSW, relying on the generosity of the community.

In 2003 he had the idea of building a small plane as a hobby, and barely five days later a parishioner approached him offering to donate the $70,000 needed for an aeroplane kit.

Again, with a few locals helping out, he built it over three years, and displayed his project at the Wide Bay Show in Bundaberg,

Queensland, where he flew from Wangaratta, Victoria.

To help the project the parish raffled off trucks and raised half a million dollars.

After this the missionary calling was renewed when a local parishioner regaled him with stories of East Timor’s poverty having just returned from a visit there.

So the plan to raise money for East Timor and help kids from the country get to WYD was born, and since then they have raised $25,000 from CD sales of a music disc inspired by the project produced by Korey Livy, a professional country singer who supports his work, which funded 10 East Timor youth to attend World Youth Day in Sydney in July.

Now up to 16 local pilots have volunteered their planes and services to join him on the national fly-a-thon to talk about his mission and generate awareness of our close neighbour’s plight and raise money for missions in the country.

On May 11 he will address the North of the River Sunday Sesh at Whitford’s Our Lady of the Missions parish where Perth’s Archbishop

Barry Hickey will be present. There will be a welcome for him at the Jandakot airport on May 9, when he travels from Busselton to Perth - by plane, of course.

“Catholic people need to have an openness to helping the missionary work of the Church,” Fr Fowles said.

“As an affluent society, we need to think beyond ourselves to help someone else.

“Our wealth and materialistic way of life is, to me, affecting the spiritual wealth as we’re so concerned with storing up treasures in this world.

“To help the poor is to help Christ, and our country will then be blessed in a spiritual way.”

He says the work may help prepare Australians for World Youth Day, as “even if many can’t go they can be linked through prayer and generosity”.

“We certainly are flying on a wing and a prayer,” he said. CDs can be purchased at Whitford parish on May 11, or to support Fr Fowles’ mission log onto www.flyawaytoheaven.org.au, email flyawaytoheaven@hotmail.com or call 02 6043 2222.

MSA mission to halt R18+ game sales

■ By Sylvia Defendi

Perth-based Media Standards Australia (MSA) is on a mission to halt the sale of R18+ rated video games in Australia, following recent news of the Federal Government’s intention to update the classification system for games.

So far there is no adult classification for games in Australia, which means titles that exceed the MA15+ standards - such as those with excessive violence or sexual content - are banned from sale by the Classification Board.

However, that could soon change at the next Standing Committee of Attorneys-General meeting on March 28, where the controversial proposal will be discussed.

President of MSA Paul Hotchkin said he was deeply disturbed by the computer game industry’s push for an R rating and appealed to the cen-

sorship ministers not to bow down to their demands.

“Many other countries have banned a particularly violent game, Manhunt II, because of its unacceptable gratuitous violence, yet the makers called it ‘a fine piece of art.’

“Another banned game, Grand Theft Auto III, allows players to solicit the services of prostitutes, then kill the prostitute and take the money from the character as a reward,” he said.

Adding that it was already enough that the rest of the game’s activities, such as drug-running, murdering innocent civilians, killing police officers, running down pedestrians, drive-by gangland shootings and causing massively destructive automobile accidents were all accepted within the guidelines of an MA15+ rating.

“Yet the computer games industry is adamant to push for the R rating almost every year,” Mr

Clawing my way back

Here we start a series of testimonies by St Charles Seminary students on how they found their vocation.

■ By Mark Baumgarten Second year seminarian

Igrew up in a working-class suburb of Perth, the middle child of three in a Church-going family (it was not until much later that I realised how much I had been formed by the faith of my childhood).

Nonetheless, by my mid-teens I had stopped practising the faith, having taken on board many of the standard criticisms and dismissals of the Church that circulate within secular society. I did well at school, though the commonly-held notions of what a successful life ought to look like held little appeal to me.

The up-shot of all this was that, as high school wound up, I began a period of spiritual searching.

I spent time in a variety of different scenes, including with New Age, Zen Buddhist, and bornagain Christian groups. Much of it seemed to be of value, but I had not found something that I was willing to make a serious investment in.

Around this time I had a candid encounter with a respected mentor which served to jolt me out of my inherent self-centredness, and I responded by getting involved with various social causes.

In hindsight this broadening of perspective essentially marked the beginning of me slowly and pain-

fully making my peace with the Catholic faith in which I had been first formed.

By ten years after high school I had done a bunch of interesting things (including having worked as a musician, clown, science presenter and labourer; having completed a Bachelor of Arts at UWA; and having lived in a couple of intentional communities) but I had a strong sense that it was time for me to place my bet and go deep in one direction.

I went away for a travelling year of discernment, volunteering with various Catholic communities overseas in exchange for a place to stay.

I’d previously had a couple of relationships, but during the year I came to realise that I would struggle to do justice to both a family and the other undertakings I was feeling drawn to. I was also finally led past the last vestiges of cynicism I had towards the Church, and I returned to Perth knowing not only that I had found my spiritual home but that I wanted to devote my life to what has become my great love.

God is so patient and so generous… It has been very humbling to find myself drawn to love something that I had once been so dismissive of.

Nonetheless, I must trust that God’s grace is sufficient for Him to be able to use even broken instruments like me. Seminary life is not devoid of the challenges that occur whenever a group of people try to live in a communal setting, but my overarching feeling is one of immense gratitude and joy at the privilege of being prepared to serve (God willing) Christ, His Church and all of God’s creation alongside some extraordinary men.

Hotchkin said. MSA was formed 18 years ago in Perth under the name The National Viewers and Listeners Association of Australia.

It represents many family groups Australia-wide and tackles many issues from the tightening of the classification rating system to the exploitation of children or women in advertising.

“We try to make the media accountable and recognise the need to provide pathways for the community to voice concerns about the quality and content of the media we are exposed to,” Mr Hotchkin said.

MSA is therefore urging those concerned to voice their opinions to local censorship ministers.

“It is not just the violence we at MSA are concerned about.

“The computer game industry will soon want to include hardcore sex, make it interactive and then on sell to the adult market,” he said.

Top gun: Fr Joel Wallace (left) and Fr John Fowles with Angel Wings preparing for the Fly-A-Thon starting on May 1. They will be in Perth on May 10.

Fun never stops: St Charles Seminary students Brennan Sia, Mark Payton and Mark Baumgarten having a ball at the Guildford campus.

Stem cells sales “offensive”: Sydney family office

The director of Sydney’s Office for Marriage and the Family has condemned profit-taking from human flesh, after news emerged that a Sydney IVF company is selling embryonic stem cells to overseas researchers.

“To encourage others to become complicit in such a process especially when there is a profit motive involved is even more offensive,” said the Office’s director Chris Meney.

The Office is an official agency of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney.

It emerged in news reports over Easter that a Sydney IVF company, called “the Stem Cell Company,” was developing stem cells with genetic diseases for sale to researchers in the US and Singapore.

International pharmaceutical companies are also likely to become major customers in the emerging market for embryonic stem cells, the reports suggested. The pharmaceuticals are interested in using the disease-carrying cells for drug experiments.

The news follows last year’s decision by the NSW state parliament – in line with similar moves by other states and by the Federal Government - to overturn a ban on stem cells created from human embryos.

Christianity contains answer to violence: ACU theologian

There is no evidence that eliminating religion would eliminate violence from the world, said an Australian Catholic University professor of theology in an Easter reflection published online by the ABC.

Prof Neil Ormorod said “increasing suspicion” is directed by people today towards all stories of self-sacrifice, such as the stories of Jesus, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, because these stories raise the spectre of religious fanaticism.

But while religions can become an excuse for violence, other excuses would rapidly fill the space left if religion were removed, Prof Ormorod argued.

And however much it is sometimes abused, Christianity always contains the seeds of peace within itself.

“However much our modern secular mores may condemn religion for a propensity to violence, Christianity at least need look no further than its founder who turned the other cheek, who renounced violence and offered his life with no defence against hostility, apart from his fidelity to God and the mission he lived,” he said.

At Darwin Mass Horta thanks God for saving his life

East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta gave public thanks to God for saving his life, at Easter Sunday Mass at Darwin’s St Mary’s Star of the Sea Cathedral.

“I made a point in coming to the Cathedral today, and to thank the people of Australia, the people of Darwin and thank God for saving my life,” Mr Ramos-Horta said.

The East Timor President and Nobel Peace Prizewinner received serious bullet wounds during an assassination attempt in East Timor on February 11. He was discharged from hospital in Darwin last week. On Easter Sunday Mr Ramos-Horta spoke to news media after Mass, where he said he felt “a bit tired” but well.

Also speaking at the Mass, Darwin Bishop Eugene Hurley said Easter was a time for people to reach out to each other and bring peace.

Remember economic pressures on families: Pell and Hart

Reminders of the economic pressures facing Australian families were made by the archbishops of Australia’s two largest dioceses, Sydney and Melbourne, in their easter messages.

At Easter Sunday Mass in Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral, Cardinal George Pell urged the Church to pray for people under pressure from interest rate rises.

“Our economy continues to be strong, but interest rate rises are increasing mortgage pressures,” Cardinal Pell said.

In Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart said at Easter the Church is conscious of the suffering of our near neighbours in East Timor, of families losing their homes and life savings and of the loneliness of people young and old.

the Nation

Manning lays down law on Church’s social service before Vic meeting

■ By Paul Gray

Canberra-Goulburn Archbishop Mark Coleridge will deliver a keynote address at a national gathering of major Catholic welfare agencies in Melbourne next week.

The gathering, hosted by Australian Catholic University, is intended to examine the question of Catholic identity in the work of Catholic groups active in the health, education and social service sectors.

Ahead of the meeting, a clear signal about the purpose of social service work was sent by Parramatta bishop Kevin Manning at a social welfare gathering in Sydney last week.

Addressing the 2008 Social Welfare Employment Relations Biennial Conference, Bishop Manning said the primary mission of the Church in the area of social service is to “continue the work of Christ.”

This is done by acknowledging the dignity of each person, by calling them to be fully alive and by reaching out to those who are “poor, underprivileged or marginalized in society,” the bishop said.

Bishop Manning said all of us want life to the full, but many people are held back by circumstances from having that possibility. “It is the role of Catholic social services to be people of hope, who can lead all to this possibility,” he said.

He said Jesus restored the dignity of those he encountered on earth, such as the blind and the lame, and thus “enabled them to move forward.”

PM selects Fr Tate for 2020 summit

■ By Paul Gray

Tasmanian parish priest and former federal government minister Fr Michael Tate has become one of the first applicants selected to participate in the 2020 summit organised by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Fr Tate, formerly a lecturer in law and a justice minister in the Hawke Government, said he will make submissions for fixed three-year terms of office for the federal parliament.

He will also propose that the prime minister should give up his power to appoint the Governor-General.

Fr Tate’s name was one of the first 20 to be announced as successful applicants for the summit to be convened by Mr Rudd on April 19 and 20. Other names

The bishop added: “Emulating this behaviour is the challenge for Catholic social service practitioners, where you become the face and presence of Christ for all whom you encounter, regardless of their condition.”

Bishop Manning said many social services clients have little “experiential knowledge” of what the Church calls the indestructible power of love. “It is your challenge to enable them to experience a glimpse of it in some way,” he told the Catholc agencies.

Catholic social services should help clients recover, or become aware of a sense of being a human person loved by God. “This is the mission, and was the ministry and example of Christ.”

The bishop warned that working in institutions means that the “very core” matter of service is sometimes pushed to the backburner. “So I urge you to keep the person of Christ aflame on the front burner, or hotplate, because, to the other, you are the person of Christ.”

Bishop Manning also urged Catholic welfare agencies to seriously consider the provision of services to rural Australia, which he said is being “starved at all levels of service.”

In a challenge to social service employees to be explicit about their faith, Bishop Manning said a “specific formation” is needed for Catholic welfare workers.

Many of the workers in Catholic Social Services Australia today are not Christian, and this presents an opportunity “to evangelise these people who are not Christians,” he said.

on the “early” list were former defence chief Peter Cosgrove and businessman Lachlan Murdoch.

A total of 1000 applicants will finally be given permission to attend the gathering, to be staged at Parliament House in Canberra.

Fr Tate, parish priest of Sandy Bay in Tasmania, will propose that the power to appoint the GovernorGeneral be removed from the Prime Minister and given instead to the speaker of the lower house and the Senate president. This would increase accountability and be a step forward for democracy in Australia, Fr Tate believes.

Fixed three-year parliamentary terms would reduce uncertainties over when a federal election might be called, Fr Tate told The Record

Catholic welfare workers should ask themselves if they provide good modelling of the faith in their personal lives, the bishop said. Leaders, in particular, should “regularly make explicit the connections between Catholic faith and the philosophy and organisational ethos of the agency.”

Leaders and Catholic welfare staff should make the habit of regularly sharing and talking among themselves about their faith, he said.

Next week’s gathering at Australian Catholic University will take a broadrange view of the meaning of Catholic identity in welfare work.

The meeting, titled the second Colloquium on Mission and Identity in Church-Based Organisations, is cosponsored by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Catholic Church Insurances Ltd, Catholic Health Australia, the Catholic Institute of Sydney, Catholic Religious Australia, Catholic Social Services Australia and the National Catholic Education Commission.

In addition to Archbishop Coleridge, keynote speakers will be Ms Julie Fewster from Jesuit Social Services and Ms Therese Vassarotti from Catholic Health Australia.

The Pro-Vice Chancellor of Australian Catholic University, Prof Gabrielle McMullen, said several key issues face Catholic organisations nationally today.

These include “succession planning, engaging with the marginalized and strengthening our leadership to build broad-based collaborative support,” she said.

Senior MP discounts Vatican role upgrade

A senior federal government source has hosed down suggestions that the position of Australian’s ambassador to the Vatican will soon be upgraded to full-time. Michael Danby MP, chairman of the federal parliament’s Foreign Affairs sub-committee, said in light of ongoing cutbacks at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, he doubted that Australia will have a full-time Vatican Ambassador in the future.

It would take considerable efforts of persuasion by the Australian bishops for the government to accept that a full-time post is necessary, Mr Danby said in reply to a question from The Record.

The present diplomatic arrangement is that the Australian ambassador to Ireland also serves as ambassador to the Vatican, making the Vatican post a part-time one.

For an upgrade to a full-time position to occur “would need a concerted push by the hierarchy over some time,” Mr Danby said.

Last week it was reported that a former Vatican ambassador, Sir Peter Lawler, had urged the parliamentary committee to upgrade the part-time post in time for the visit by Pope Benedict for World Youth Day.

A precedent exists for such a move since the Hawke Government upgraded the position to full-time before the first papal visit by John Paul II to Australia in 1986.

Sir Peter argues that Australia is in an anomalous position by having only a part-time ambassador, since 75 other states have resident ambassadors to the Vatican, including the Islamic nations of Indonesia and Iran. P GRAY

Top students embrace plastic surgery

Top tier medical students in the United States are deserting traditional fields such as general surgery and family medicine in favour of dermatology and plastic surgery, or “appearance medicine”.

Although there are far fewer places for residents in the new fields - 320 for dermatology last year compared with 2603 in family medicine and 5517 in internal medicine -

students apply in large numbers.

Last fall, 383 people applied for 6 places in Harvard’s dermatology program compared with an average of 11 applicants for every place in the college.

The specialties attracting the “brightest and best” have better pay, more autonomy and more controllable hours.

the Nation Groups lament WA prostitution vote

Opponents of WAs decriminalisation of prostitution predict an explosion in exploitation of women, and trafficking

■ By Paul Gray

The sex trade in Western Australia will massively expand because of the legalisation of brothels by the state government last week, says the Australian Christian Lobby.

Meanwhile the Festival of Light has warned that two-person brothels – that is, two prostitutes who keep the money they earn – will be able to set up business next to any family residence anywhere in Western Australia under the new legislation.

The Australian Christian Lobby said it was appalled that a law with such serious repercussions as the legalisation of the sex trade was able to pass in the upper house because one vote was traded off.

The Lobby’s West Australian chief of staff Michelle Pearse said legalizing brothels has been a clear failure in other jurisdictions.

“Similar legislation in Victoria and NSW led to a huge increase in the industry, and the number of illegal brothels tripled,” Mrs Pearse said. She predicted that hand-in-hand with an increase in prostitution will come an increase in sex trafficking,

with more women to be brought to Perth from impoverished countries to provide sexual services for the local industry.

She asked whether it will now become legal for poor women to apply for visas to come to Western Australia to work as a prostitute. If so, she said this would be exploiting their poverty with the sanction of government. “More and more women and children both in WA and from overseas will become unwilling victims of an industry which will effectively be normalized by this legislation,” Ms Pearse said.

Festival of Light Australia spokesman Lance Macormic said it was a sad day for the women of Western Australia to see Labor, Greens and Independent candidates supporting a law which favours brothel owners and pimps.

The new law attempts to make those who set out to profiteer from women’s bodies sound respectable by re-badging them as “sexual service business managers,” Mr Macormic said.

The law passed the Legislative Council by 13 votes to 12 after Independent Shelley Archer announced she would support the bill. Ms Archer was not present in the chamber for the vote but was “paired” with a Liberal.

The Festival of Light said that despite her absence during the vote, it was still Ms Archer’s support which gave the government the numbers to pass the bill.

Mr Macormic said that as a result, a culture which endorses the sale of

sex will now become enshrined in Western Australia.

“Ordinary Western Australians will be concerned to learn that under the new law up to two ‘sole operator sexual service businesses’ could set up in the house or flat next door to their family residence.

“Such two person brothels are not subject to any restrictions on location,” he said.

The Australian Christian Lobby said a great deal of researched evidence and expert testimony was put before the state’s parliamentarians to show the real harm to women

Muslims attend Easter Masses in Melbourne to aid understanding

■ By Paul Gray

While in Rome Pope Benedict was baptizing an Italian Muslim convert to Catholicism, in Melbourne members of the Islamic community paid visits to Catholic churches to watch the celebration of Easter Mass.

The church visits in Melbourne were the second organized show of friendship between Catholics and Muslims in Victoria in the space of eight days.

The first, on March 15, was a joint Catholic-Muslim meeting held to commemorate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.

The meeting was held at the Cardinal Knox Centre, a diocesan administration office of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.

The March 15 meeting was jointly organized by the Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Australian Intercultural Society, a Muslim organization.

Participants included Fr John Dupuche, chair of the Catholic Interfaith Committee, and Prof Ismail Albayrak who holds the newly established Fethullah Gülen Chair for the study of Islam and Muslim-Catholic relations at Australian Catholic University.

“We will not gloss over the differences, but we shall not fail to see the similarities,” Fr Dupuche said at the March 15 meeting.

As well as acknowledging the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, the event was designed to explore the theme of the servanthood and submission of Jesus and the Prophet Muhammad.

Prof Albayrak, who is a Turkish Muslim theologian and expert in the Koran, stated at the meeting: “Servanthood in its most broad definition means that mankind should live in accordance with God’s commandments.

“In other words, human beings should live in harmony with the world around them, without being caught along the way, while walking towards God, through the mysterious corridor of the universe.”

Mr David Schütz, from the Catholic ecumenical and interfaith

commission, drew attention to the theme of servanthood in Jesus’ teaching.

“Although he is clearly the master of the disciples, yet he declares that the greatest honour goes to the greatest servant,” Mr Schütz said.

The event at the Cardinal Knox Centre is the latest product of a three-year Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Australian Intercultural Society and the Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne last July.

Meanwhile across Melbourne a week later, the Australian Intercultural Society organized visits by Muslims to churches to honour the Catholic celebration of Easter.

“While many people in our society are ignorant of many aspects of Islam and the practices of Muslims, many Muslims are also unaware of the practices of non-Muslims,” said the Society’s general co-ordinator, Emre Celik.

He said places of worship are one of the most important sites for better understanding, as they are often seen as “no-go zones” for the followers of different religions.

“Such activities play a vital role in overcoming prejudice and the stereotypes that all too often characterize the limited understanding that people of diverse faith communities have of one another.”

that would occur if they legalized the trade. But Ms Pearse said politicians who had voted in favour of the bill had failed to properly consider this evidence.

As an example, she quoted from New Zealand expert Dr Melissa Farley who concluded that a 2003 New Zealand law sanctioning prostitution had led to an increase in violence against women.

“State-sponsored prostitution endangers all women and children in that acts of sexual predation are normalized,” the NZ expert wrote.

Mrs Pearse asked whether this was really what West Australians want for their state.

“Surely an issue of this gravity was at least worthy of proper scrutiny and investigation by an upper house committee.

She said this idea was originally supported by independent MP Shelly Archer before she made a trade-off with the government.

If an inquiry had been allowed, better policy alternatives such as “the Swedish model” could have been properly considered, Mrs Pearse said.

Setting the pattern for WA? This mobile billboard offering “pump and save” petrol discounts for men visiting the Pink Palace, described by this Melbourne newspaper report as a brothel, circled the MCG before a football match on the weekend of August 4 last year. When not positioning itself outside such public venues it circles the streets of the CBD at night, the report says.

Want happiness? Go to church and pray

People who went to church this Easter were more likely to be happy than those who didn’t, according to new research, the London Times newspaper has reported.

A study of the effect of religion on quality of life has found that religious people are happier the more often they go to church and pray.

The research, presented to Britain’s Royal Economic Society, gathered data from thousands of people across Europe and found that religious practice is linked with greater “life satisfaction”.

The author of the study says religion could also have an indirect effect on happiness - for example, by fostering a stable family home.

Unemployment and even divorce have less impact on believers, acting as a kind of “insurance” against personal disaster, the study found.

In fact the research began as an investigation into why some

European countries had more generous unemployment benefits than others.

While believers suffered less psychological harm, they were also less active in looking for work when they were out of a job.

Meanwhile, authorities in a major British city are determined that children will learn to be happy at school if not at home.

Birmingham City Council has told all of its 440 schools that they must make “wellbeing” as much a priority as English or Maths, and youngsters will be required to attend “emotional barometer” sessions to encourage them to express their feelings and relate to other pupils.

It is hoped that by learning to relate with others the children will behave better in the classroom and results will improve.

Americans sleep more than 10 years ago

People get less sleep today than they did 40 years ago - right?

Wrong, according to researchers at the University of Maryland.

They found that adult sleep averages have increased by three hours per week over the last decadefrom 56 to 59 hours. These findings are out of kilter with those of the National Sleep Foundation, which put adult sleep averages at less than seven hours per night.

One explanation is that the foundation’s annual surveys ask rather general questions about sleep pat-

terns while diaries give a more precise picture, by requiring people to recall only what they did on a single specific day.

Also, the foundation sampled only employed adults, which results in lower sleep averages. Long working hours are still the main thief of sleep.

People who watch more TV also get more sleep than average. That may mean that people go to sleep watching TV, or that unemployed people can sleep longer and watch more TV. 

Listening: A Catholic woman listens to a discussion on Islam in a US mosque. At Easter, Victorian Muslims visited Melbourne Catholic parishes.

Perspectives

editorial letters to the editor Around t he tabl

Easter produced new life - and some death

We must pray for our non-Catholic brothers and sisters, not out of a sense of superiority, who suffer when their leaders lack clarity on the great joys of our common faith

Easter has been a wonderful time, as it always is, and the wonder of it continues to enthuse those who gave their attention to the truths of Christ’s death and resurrection, and celebrated it in the living wonder of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. That is enough, really, and we do not ask for more.

However, when we look at the world around us, Easter this year produced a strange mixture of the bizarre and the beautiful.

THE RECORD

PO Box 75 Leederville, WA 6902 cathrec@iinet.net.au

Tel: (08) 9227 7080

Fax: (08) 9227 7087

Things started badly on Holy Thursday when our own State Parliament passed a Bill to legalise prostitution and to refuse to allow any local government to reject it within its community. The only remaining hope (a slim one) is that Premier Alan Carpenter will wake up from his trance and not proceed with the proclamation of the Bill. It is a mystery that a man with a wife and four daughters would allow himself to pass into history as the Prostitution Premier.

He knows, because it is virtually impossible not to know, that every act of prostitution is an act of disrespect for and abuse of women because, whatever the circumstances surrounding it, an act of prostitution denies the personhood of the people involved.

We can only pray that one day when he watches his daughters go off to school, his mind will be illumined with the realisation that his love and respect for them demands that as Premier he must show the same respect for all other women and their daughters. Prostitution denies the goodness of women.

Saturday’s report showing that the number of homeless in Perth is growing and the amount of crisis accommodation available for them is increasingly inadequate was a sad commentary on a wealthy society. For years now, Archbishop Hickey has been appealing publicly and privately for more concern for the homeless, but the response from the Government and the community has been very slow.

On a much brighter note was the news that Pope Benedict had baptised a prominent Italian Muslim journalist during his Easter baptisms. It is not simply that a Muslim had become a Catholic – not a unique event, and nor is a Catholic becoming a Muslim (See Page 10). This particular baptism was a visible sign from Pope Benedict that religious freedom is the most important human freedom and must be respected by all.

Following the point he made in his celebrated Regensburg address (more for the benefit of the secular West than for Muslims) that religion must express itself rationally as well as with faith in its community relationships, this baptism sanctifies human freedom and human conscience.

Here at home, we were reminded again that we don’t have to worry about Muslims having an inadequate description of the life of Jesus in their Koran. We have a thorough exposition of that life in the Bible, but Saturday’s newspaper reminded us that numerous prominent Christians insist on holding inadequate views about the resurrection, the ascension and the eucharist.

Fortunately for Catholics and for the wider Western Australian population, Archbishop Hickey and the Church as a whole are unshakeable in their faith that the resurrection is real, the ascension occurred, and the eucharist is the living and real presence of Jesus in the Church and in each of us every time we receive communion.

In our gratitude for this faith, we should willingly pray for those many nonCatholics who suffer when they hear their leaders lacking clarity on these great joys of the Faith.

South America provided two other events of interest in the days leading up to Easter. The Parliament in Peru passed a terrible law making divorce so easy that it makes a mockery of marriage, but their northern neighbours, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela avoided a thoroughly pointless war.

The cause of peace on this occasion seems yet again to have been the Queen of Peace. Mary is the patron of all three countries (all under different titles) and when the President of Ecuador led prayers to her under each of those titles, the Virgin Mother of God responded (See Page 10).

This brief review of the mixed messages of Easter surrounding us this year is a reminder that this year and always the important things in life are permanent: Jesus is alive and well, and, as promised, he is present in the Church, while His mother and ours is constantly ready to pour out for us the multitudinous graces God has made available for her to give to those who ask for them.

e

e dnuorA t eh lbat

Feminisation of The Record ?

Iwould like to make a complaint about the feminisation of The Record

We only ever hear of stories where women are abused by men and how dangerous and violent men are, whereas women are considered non-violent.

However if women become violent, it is because they have been driven to it by men.

This lie has been perpetrated for far too long in the mainstream media and I am very disappointed that you have been following the same line as well. The fact is that men suffer this from wives or partners and suffer some brutal injuries as well.

Most men refuse to go to the police, because they know they will still be blamed and thrown out of their homes and lose their children, so they suffer for decades in silence.

Children are also abused by their own biological mother.

Through Family Law in Australia many lives have been tragically affected and thousands of men treated like criminals.

Of the 750,000 non-custodial parents in Australia, the vast majority are fathers.

Between three and five fathers commit suicide every day in Australia; often the reasons left in notes indicate they choose this due to losing their children, homes, family and belongings.

You should stop pandering to radical feminists and start behaving like a true Catholic paper.

Abuse and discrimination against men in the public arena must stop.

Name and address supplied

It’s time we took a stand

The decision of many parents to send their children to private schools is not merely due to the quality of the education that independent institutions provide but also of the traditional values which these schools provide.

These are still popular with many Australians who believe that the moral principles once regarded as the mainstays of our culture have been arbitrarily abandoned without the consent and consultation of the broader community.

Today, the policies of our private schools are under attack from some academics.

Professor Barry McGraw, the new head of the National

Nothing wrong with singledom

Iwish to comment on the article “Single-minded evangelisation” in the “Vista” section of The Record last week (Wednesday, March 12, 2008), p. 1:

I began reading this article with hopeful anticipation that a positive account was to be given on the value of the single nonreligious order vocation to the Church.

However, my heart and spirits sank lower and lower as I read the article and I realised why it was accompanied by a photograph of a newly married couple leaving the church.

Underlying the article is the message that singledom should only be a temporary state and that parishes and their pastors need to assist singles, male and female, to find wives or husbands. In other words, the non-order single state is not seen as a vocation, blessed by God, and with “a pearl of great price” to offer to the Church.

It’s no wonder that many singles do not feel welcome and are leaving the Church if Julie Peace’s attitude is a dominant one.

Given that she runs an introduction agency I did wonder to what degree this article is an advertisement for her agency.

Perhaps she and other married people of like mind might care to remember two facts:

1. Singles come in all ages and either are unable or do not wish to marry;

2. Singles, because of their singledom, have much to contribute to the life of the Church, as well as often a more singleminded devotion (pardon the pun).

Therefore, instead of the Church treating singledom as a temporary state of affairs to be changed as soon as possible, I would suggest it would be more productive and Christ-like to view singles of all ages as a valuable resource and welcome them accordingly.

Judith Woodward.

Curriculum Board, condemns the private school system as being narrowly focused and a threat to the social cohesion of the nation.

Others disapprove because it creates a segregated society producing a number of diverse value systems that divide the community.

Educationalist Louise Samway urges us to adopt some common values, which everybody could understand and respect.

This proposal raises a question: will that new system reflect the opinions, aspirations and beliefs of the Australian mainstream or merely echo the ideological objectives of our social engineers who appoint themselves as our moral mentors?

Is it not time for the community to participate in the decision-making process instead of leaving it to the bureaucrats to decides what is good for us?

Joe Stekl Gosnells

I’m angry, but I can’t judge them

Ihave just finished reading an editorial by Brian Peachey in the Abundant Life magazine about abortions in Western Australia - 80, 000 children in the last ten years ... my first reactions were horror and anger at the people doing these heinous things.

Eighty thousand children were executed with the permission of the West Australian government for all sorts of reasons and some possibility because they were just inconvenient.

It is so easy to fall into this sort of judgement wanting to hit

out at them, to shame them, but I realised if I did this, I would be walking down a worse path.

Those involved may have been desensitised to the wrong of what they are doing.

I know that I am not to judge others or withhold forgiveness from them. In this season of Easter we remember Christ on the cross and now in unison with Jesus, they cry out: “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing”.

It is true that bad laws are passed because, in many cases, not enough good people do anything about them.

In scripture God tells us many times that he will not abandon the innocent, so I am sure that these 80,000 children are with God and have found their life with Him.

All people, whatever their faith is, need to pray for those who are misguided, hurt, cannot cope and those who maybe just don’t care about these children, that God will pour out a great abundance of love and grace on them so they will to come know God as our loving Father, so that they too may see the truth of the wrongness of what is happening and change.

For it is not our anger against them or the hurtful things we say that will change people’s hearts; what will change them and bring about an end to this sin against God, are prayers, our forgiveness, our love and kindness towards them as well as our continued pressure on our State politicians to see that no one has the right to kill another because the law says it is OK.

Geoff Lucey Bassendean

Vista

March 26 2008

The MIGHTY FALL and the

MEDIA CASH IN

Why are newspapers gasping in scandalised horror over the misdeeds of Eliot Spitzer? They wrote the script.

■ By Carolyn Moynihan

The world news in the New Zealand Herald yesterday was dominated by a large photo with a bold caption identifying the subject as “The woman who brought down a governor”. Last week the average Herald reader knew as much about New York Governor Eliot Spitzer as New Yorkers knew about our antipodean newspaper: nothing, nix, nada. Now we, like the rest of world, know that Mr Spitzer has resigned from his top-ranking position and we also know in considerable detail why: he has joined the ranks of American politicians who have fallen from grace through sexual misconduct - and being discovered.

This is a sex scandal - right? A man has disgraced himself by having recourse to a prostitute, which is a crime where he comes from, and paying her and her bosses tens of thousands of dollars in ways that were also possibly criminal. He has betrayed and humiliated his wife and three teenage daughters.

Having presented himself as a crusader against corruption and a man of moral rectitude he has shown himself a hypocrite and undermined, further, public confidence in government.

individuals in this tragedy to increase ratings and sales. And this by the world’s premier newspapers, whose motto seems to be, “We are all tabloids now.” Take the New York Times. On Day One it is all shock and dismay that a liberal hero has fallen. By Day Two they are running a detailed reconstruction of his last assignation with the prostitute. Day

Three brings a profile of Mrs Silda

He has ruined his own life. So what’s with the big picture of callgirl Ashley Dupre - the woman Spitzer had his most recent, incriminating encounter with - in bikini and provocative pose, starring on the front page of section two? Titillation, that’s what; shameless and hypocritical use by the media of the

New York”, as the Times puts it. They should know; they are cowriting the script. Who needs all this stuff?

The public only needs to know what affects the public interest: the criminal charges, if any, and in due course the court findings. Judicious commentary can be helpful in putting such events into perspective. More than that comes of the devil. If the media were doing their jobs well, ordinary reporting would bring to light questionable behaviour before

prostitution is a modern form of slavery. Last year he signed a law creating new criminal penalties for that and other kinds of forced labour.

At the same time he increased the penalty under New York’s existing law against patronising a prostitute.

Like him, the press comes down on forced sex and other kinds of human trafficking like a ton of bricks, because it is politically correct to do so. The buying and selling of sex on a consensual basis, however, finds them ambivalent.

Spitzer after a frantic ring around her friends to collect the gossip on her relationship with her husband.

Ironically, there is also an opinion piece by the estranged wife of James McGreevey, the gay former governor of New Jersey, which ends by urging respect for Mrs Spitzer’s privacy - of all things. Day Four it’s a profile of Ms Dupre herself, “star of the seamy drama that is the downfall of Gov Eliot Spitzer of

it escalated into a major scandal. Wall Street Journal columnist Kimberley Strassel says the press gave Mr Spitzer an easy ride during his campaign against corporate “big guys” while he played the bully himself.

“The former New York attorney general never believed normal rules applied to him,” she says, “and his view was validated time and again by an adoring press.” Mr Spitzer concurred with the view that forced

All the newspapers run ads for “escort” agencies and “adult entertainment”. The Economist a couple of years ago argued brazenly that prostitution was merely part of the market and people should be left free to trade in sex if they wanted to. And what is the greater part of mass media entertainment -from Sex In The City to Seventeen and even Barbie magazine - but commercial exploitation of the sensuality that brought Mr Spitzer tumbling down and daily drags society deeper into the mire?

So let’s have no more gasps of horror and crocodile tears from the media establishment over fallen idols. Let the papers of record and the investigative journalists clean up their own act. Instead of filling pages with the lurid details of personal sins and social crimes, let them get on with their real job of subjecting everyone to fair scrutiny and reporting what will prevent abuses of power and betrayals of faith.

Ordinary people do not want to wade through acres of smut and gossip to get to some useful news and uplifting entertainment. They are trying to build up their families and societies, and if the denizens of Times Square and Fleet Street don’t want to help them, they deserve to go out of business.

Carolyn Moynihan is Deputy Editor of MercatorNet. She writes from Auckland, New Zealand.

‘Without my faith, I would probably worry more,’ says Vicky

How I Pray Now

with Debbie Warrier

My name is Vicky Young and I am going to be 12 this year. When I pray I kneel down and put my hands together. I pray a lot before going to bed and at Church.

I pray for my family to be safe when they’re on holiday. If they’re sick or hurt and in hospital, I pray that they will be well soon. I pray if the day before has not been so good and I feel nervous about going to

school. I pray for luck, forgiveness and to thank God when something good happens.

I have been doing gymnastics for two years. It’s difficult when you play sports on the weekends and have to go to Mass. It means you don’t have as much time to practise.

However, sometimes when I do gymnastics I’m really scared so I pray and that helps.

My mum has influenced my faith by taking me to church for Reconciliation and receiving the Eucharist.

I attend a Parish Religious Education Program while I am at Glengarry Primary School. Through the program I have learnt about: Reconciliation, Holy Communion,

the Last Supper and Confirmation. My R.E. Coordinator for the Parish helps out a lot in the Church. I don’t think you have to be a nun to do that. She runs the computer so that

everyone knows the words to the songs and the responses.

At the Last Supper Jesus turned wine into His blood and the bread into His body. This also happens at Church every Saturday and Sunday.

After He was put on the Cross He was resurrected. I think that means He came back to life. They couldn’t kill Him because He was God. He was put on the Cross because of His beliefs.

I wasn’t born at the time but my mother told me that grandpa had a brain tumor and they prayed about it. After a couple of months the tumor was gone. That influenced my faith. My mum also had cancer. I think that it was something to do with her

stomach. I was really worried about her and so was the rest of the family. I prayed a lot. The cancer went away by itself. I was really excited and relieved because I was scared something bad was going to happen. I thanked God that it didn’t. My faith means everything to me.

Without my faith I would probably worry more. I can pray anytime and any place.

I can teach others about it and how they can join the Church. You feel safe with your faith because you know you won’t go away when you die.

You will have someone to take care of you. I think in heaven the ground will be clouds, there will be unicorns everywhere and everyone will be friends.

Ten s ai nt s to i nspi re y ou Ten saints to inspire you

As World Youth Day draws closer, WYD08 coordinator, Dominican Bishop Anthony Fisher, has released 10 saints whose ermarkable lives Australia’s youth can meditate on as inspirations for changing the world

Ten inspirational saints and blesseds have been named the official patrons for World Youth Day in Sydney From July 15-20 this year.

A tradition of each World Youth Day, the 10 patrons have been chosen by the organisers and approved by the Vatican.

An Australian artist, Richard de Stoop, the brother of Fr Michael de Stoop, assistant priest of St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, was commissioned to recreate their images.

“When deciding who should be the patrons, we focus on who would inspire young people,” said Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, right, the coordinator of WYD08 and Cardinal George Pell’s Auxiliary Bishop.

“Not only do we who are waiting to – and those who ha ence on Australia’s a

“We ask everyon and understand tha extraordinary thing Christ. “ We particularly u know and pray with

The patrons will b of the major event Vigil at Randwick R

Organised by th open to all, WYD0

500,000 to the Fina Benedict XVI.

Born in Corinaldo, Ancona, Italy, in 1890 of a farmworker father who moved his family to Ferrier di Conca, near Anzio. Her father died of malaria and her mother had to struggle to feed her children.

In 1902 an 18-year-old neighbour, Alessandro Serenelli, once grabbed her from her steps and tried to rape her.

When Maria said that she would rather die than submit, Alexander began stabbing her with a knife.

As she lay in the hospital, she forgave Alexander before she died aged 11. Her death didn’t end her forgiveness, however.

Alexander was captured and sentenced to 30 years in prison. He was unrepentant until he had a dream that he was in a garden. Maria was there and gave him flowers. When he woke, he was a changed man, repenting of his crime and living a reformed life.

When he was released after 27 years he went directly to Maria’s mother to beg her forgiveness, which she gave.

“If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to with hold forgiveness,” she said.

When Maria was declared a saint in 1950, Alexander was there in the St Peter’s Square crowd to celebrate her canonisation. She was canonised by Pope Pius XII in 1950 for her purity as a model for youth.

She is called a martyr because she fought against Alessandro’s attempts at sexual assault. However, the most important aspect of her story is her forgiveness of her attacker - her concern for her enemy extending even beyond death.

Patroness of youth and for the victims of rape.

Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Macedonia, 1910. The youngest of five children, only three of whom survived, in a welloff family of Albanian descent. Was reportedly fascinated with missionary life and service and could locate any number of missions on a map and tell others of the service given in each place.

Joined Loreto Sisters of Dublin aged 18, sent to Darjeeling, India at 19 to their noviciate, made first vows 1931, choosing the name Teresa, honouring both saints Teresa of Avila and Therese of Lisieux. Was sent to a high school for girls in Calcutta, teaching geography and history for 15 years. After a retreat in Darjeeling in 1946, felt the call to “follow Christ into the slums”.

Took a nursing course in Patna, got permission from Pope Pius XII in 1948 to leave her community and live as an independent nun, found a small hovel and started her work teaching children of the slums with no proper equipment, making use of what was available – writing in the dirt.

Taught poor children literacy and hygiene. Soon young women flooded to join her and, with donations for facilities, food, clothing, medical supplies and money, she founded the Missionaries of Charity, which spawned homes for the dying, refuges for the care and teaching of orphans and hospitals for lepers, centres for alcoholics, the aged and street people around the world.

Won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and died in 1997, five weeks after celebrating her 87th birthday, of cardiac arrest, always depending on God for her needs. Was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2003.

Born 1905 in Glogowiec, Poland of a poor and religious peasant family, the third of 10 children. Stood out from a young age for her love of prayer, work, obedience and sensitivity to the poor.

Felt the stirrings of a religious vocation at age seven, wanted to enter a convent after finishing school but her parents denied her permission. Called during a vision of the Suffering Christ, in 1925 she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and took the name Mary Faustina, living there for 13 years in several Religious houses, working as a cook, gardener and porter. While living an ordinary exterior life, she hid an extraordinary union with God, with a child-like trust in God.

During her convent years she had revelations, visions, hidden stigmata, participation in the Lord’s Passion, gift of bilocation and prophesy and the reading of human souls.

As an Apostle of the Divine Mercy, she had three roles assigned by Jesus in her visions: reminding the world of the truth of our faith revealed in Scripture about the merciful love of God; entreating God’s mercy for the world, especially for sinners, through the practice of new forms of devotion to the Divine Mercy, the veneration of the Divine Mercy image with the inscription ‘Jesus, I trust in you’; and initiating the Divine Mercy apostolic movement which proclaims and entreats God’s mercy for the world.

Consumed by tuberculosis, she died in Krakow aged 33 with a reputation for mystical union with God and spiritual maturity. Canonised by John Paul II in 1993.

Born in Turin on Holy Saturday, 1901, his father a wealthy agnostic. At 17 he joined St Vincent de Paul Society to serve the sick and needy, then decided to become a mining engineer to “serve Christ better among the miners”, joined in 1919 the Catholic Student Federation and the Popular Party, a political organisation promoting the Catholic Church’s teachings. Helped establish a Catholic daily newspaper Momento based on the principles of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical on social and economic matters, Rerum Novarum. Helped the poor at any cost; kept a small ledger book containing detailed accounts of money spent on each poor person he helped, and while on his deathbed, told his sister to see to the needs of families who depended on his charity. Enjoyed sports and mountain climbing. Love for Jesus motivated his actions, assisting at Mass daily. Would spend all night on his knees in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament and influenced other students to make the annual university retreat given by the Jesuits.

Loved the Rosary and prayed it three times daily. Frequented opera, theatres, and museums; loved art and music and could quote whole chunks of Dante. In 1922 joined the Dominican Third Order. In late June 1925 he had an acute attack of poliomyelitis which doctors later speculated he caught from the poor and sick whom he tended. Died aged 24. At his funeral thousands packed the streets, mostly the poor whom he served for seven years, many were surprised to learn that the saintly young man they new only as “Fra Girolamo” came from an influential family. It was these poor people who petitioned the Archbishop of Turin to begin the cause for canonisation.

tives’ estate, bringing her into cont the parish priest in the south east concerned about lack of Catholic ed She stayed for two years with he school in Portland, Victoria, then Woods for 50 children. Became firs Order in 1867 and moved to a new the education of poor children, dep By 1869 over 70 Sisters educati the country, also involved in an o incurably ill. Established the Order Augusta in 1871, when Bishop Sh Order, excommunicated her due t and he suspected they were becomi clergy. He withdrew the excommu death and restored the Order. Mary mothers in NSW and Victoria. Wa 1995.

mental prayer. Her older sisters Le Clares) joined Religious Orders sh and father. She wanted to join he “undue sensitiveness, having been After her “Christmas conversion” j she says Christ gave her “His weap life, hence her title “Therese of the a year later. A series of strokes left scarred and he was put into an asylu not visit him. Knowing she could n convent, she devoted herself to daily so as not to cause her sister Pauline She became so sick after a time she life if not for her faith, and died writings and sent 2000 copies to oth as her “little way” of trusting in Jes small sacrifices rather than great d the province due to her notoriety a

uth to chan g e the w orld uth to change the world

look to saints, but those become saints – blesseds ave had a particular influand Oceania’s history.

ne to learn their stories, at ordinary people can do gs through the Spirit of urge young people to get to our patrons,” he said. be focused on during some ts, including the Evening Racecourse.

he Catholic Church but 08 is expected to attract al Mass, presided by Pope

Born Helen Mary MacKillop in Fitzroy, Melbourne in 1842, the oldest of eight children to Scottish parents. Her father studied for priesthood in Rome but left before ordination. Worked as a clerk in Melbourne aged 14 and later as a teacher in Portland. Worked as a governess in 1860 at her uncle and aunt’s place to provide for her family in Penola, South Australia, looking after and teaching their children while helping the poor whenever possible, including other farm children on her relatact with Fr Julian Tenison Woods, t since his ordination. Woods was ducation in SA.

er relatives in Penola then opened a opened a school in Penola with Fr st Sister and Mother Superior of the w convent in Adelaide, dedicated to pendant on Divine Providence.

ing in 21 schools in Adelaide and orphanage, the aged poor and the in Queensland in 1869 and in Port heil, who previously approved her to her Order’s central government ing too independent of him and the unication order months before his y also opened homes for unmarried as beatified by Pope John Paul II in

Born in France, 1873, the pampered daughter of a mother who wanted to be a saint and a father who wanted to be a monk. Her mother died of breast cancer when she was almost five years old and her 16-year-old sister Pauline became her ‘second mother’, but Pauline joined the Carmelites five years later. She was so sick many thought she was dying and, while praying before a statue of Mary with her sisters, she saw Mary smile at her and she was healed. By 11 she developed eonie (Carmelites) and Marie (Poor he was left alone with her last sister er sisers at the Carmelites but had saddened by her mother’s death. ust before her 14th birthday, when pons” for the strength to deal with Child Jesus”. Joined the Carmelites her father physically and mentally um, but as a cloistered nun she could not do great deeds for the world in a y sacrifices, even staying as a novice scandal when she became Prioress. said she would have taken her own age 24. Pauline gathered Therese’s her convents, which became known us to make her holy and relying on deeds. Soon her family had to leave nd in 1925 she was canonised.

The Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, is known to World Youth Day pilgrims under the title of Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Help of Christians.

The title “Southern Cross” derives from the constellation of five stars seen only from the southern hemisphere that are on the Australian and New Zealand flags.

Mary is the Help of Christians as she leads all people to her Son with the words spoken at Jesus first miracle, “do whatever he tells you”. She is our help and our advocate.

Archbishop Francis Carroll, former Australian Bishops Conference president, said in 2001: “We have total confidence that Mary the Mother of Jesus will be with us to pray for us and to lead us to her Son. Overshadowed and empowered by the Holy Spirit, Mary conceived and gave birth to Jesus, nurtured him as a child, sought him when lost, elicited his first miracle and stood to the end by his Cross of shame and suffering. She was with the Apostles and Disciples when the Holy Spirit came with Pentecostal power to give birth to the Church. We must be a holy people united in love.

“Pope John Paul reminds us that the Church’s structure is totally ordered to the holiness of Christ’s members and holiness is measured according to the great mystery in which the bride responds with the gift of love to the gift of the bridegroom. Mary goes before us all in the holiness that is the Church’s mystery. She goes before, as “a model of the Church in the matter of faith, charity and perfect union with Christ.”

The ‘Promartyr of the South Seas’.

Born in 1803 at Clet in the diocese of Belley, France. His intelligence and simple piety brought the attention of the local priest, Fr Trompier, who saw to his elementary education. Entered the diocesan seminary, was ordained and was assigned a rundown country parish and completely revitalised it in his three years there.

But he had a great desire for missionary work, so in 1831 he joined the newly-formed Society of Mary (Marists).

But to his dismay he was appointed to teach at Belley’s seminary for five years.

In 1836 the Marists were given the New Hebrides in the Pacific for evangelisation and Chanel was appointed Superior of a small band of missionaries sent there.

They split up upon arrival and he and two others went to the Island of Fortuna and the tribal king, while initially welcoming Chanel, became jealous of his success as he learned the local language and gained the trust of the locals.

The king feared the adoption of the Christian faith could lead to the abolition of some of the prerogatives he enjoyed as both high priest and sovereign.

When his own son wanted to be baptised his jealousy and hatred erupted.

So the king dispatched warriors to kill Chanel, but his death brought his work to completion – within five months the entire island was converted to Christianity.

Born in 1912 in Rakunai, a village on the Melanesian island of New Britain, today an eastern province of Papua New Guinea. Parents were baptised as adults and belonged to the region’s first generation of Catholics. His strong inclination to piety and obedience convinced his parish priest he was born to be a priest. His father thought it was premature but agreed to train him as a catechist at age 18, and he soon excelled and became the catechists’ leader, and organised catechesis for his village, gathering groups for prayer and becoming acquainted with people’s real life situations. In 1936 he married young Catholic Paula la Varpit and had three children, the third born after his death in 1945. After the Japanese occupation all missionaries were imprisoned, except him, so on his own he provided prayer services, catechetisis, administration of baptism, preservation and distribution of Eucharist to sick and dying and assisted the poor. Built a church from branches as the Japanese destroyed the main church. Was on good terms with the military authorities until the Japanese suffered some military reverses. The military police replaced the local authorities and started an atmosphere of repression, forbidding Christian worship and all religious gatherings and gradually became more violent, and decided the Tolais should return to their practice of polygamy, which Peter opposed and was arrested in 1945 and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, held in a concentration camp set in a cave. In a planned murder, he was given an injection and something to drink and his ears and nose stuffed with cotton wool. He convulsed but the “doctor” covered his mouth and kept it closed, and he died a martyr.

Born Karol Jozef Wojtyla in 1920 in Wadowice, the youngest of three children. Enrolled in Krakow’s Jagellonian University in 1938 and in a school for drama. Nazi forces closed the university in 1939 so he worked in a quarry then in a chemical factory to avoid being deported to Germany. Studyied in the clandestine seminary of Krakow, while being one of the pioneers of the also-clandestine “Rhapsodic Theatre”.

Ordained in 1946. While studying in Rome, worked among Polish immigrants of France, Belgium and Holland. Returned to Poland as vicar of various parishes and chaplain to university students. Became professor of moral theology and social ethics in Krakow major seminary. Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Krakow in 1958, Archbishop in 1964 and Cardinal in 1967. Took part in Vatican II, making important contributions to Gaudium et Spes. Elected Pope in 1978. Had more meetings than any of his predecessors with leaders of nations, and over 17 million pilgrims participated in Wednesday General Audiences in St Peter’s Square. Established World Youth Day in 1986 which brought millions of young Catholics together, and instituted the World Meetings of Families in 1994. Successfully encouraged dialogue with Jews, gave extraordinary impetus to canonizations and beatifications, focusing on examples of holiness as incentive for contemporary peoples. Reformed the Eastern and Western Codes of Canon Law and reorganised the Roman Curia. Theology of the Body, his integrated vision of the human person, remains the groundbreaking body of work that explains how the human body is capable of answering fundamental questions about us and our lives, especially relating to sexuality.

Perspectives

Saved through Christ’s death or resurrection?

By Fr John Flader

When St Paul writes that “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Cor 15:17,) does he mean that without Christ’s Resurrection we would not be redeemed? I thought that we were redeemed with Christ’s death on Good Friday. Can you help me?

Iam sure you are not the first person to ask this question.

I have wondered about it myself.

A simple answer is that Christ’s resurrection, along with his death, is an essential part of our redemption. It completes our redemption. But let me explain.

Redemption from original sin involves both a death to sin and a rising to new life.

This rising to new life is likened in the Scriptures to a “new birth”.

St Peter writes that it comes to us through the resurrection: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable...” (1 Pet 1:3-4)

By his death Christ destroyed sin, and by his resurrection he gave us new life. We express this truth in one of the acclamations after the consecration in Mass: “Dying you destroyed our death; rising you restored our life.”

This is the meaning of the words of St Paul you quoted in your question: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Cor 15:17).

St Augustine speaks in a similar vein: “The dead Christ would be of no benefit to us unless he had risen from the dead.” (Sermo 246: 2 PL 38, 1154) St Augustine is saying that not only does the resurrection of Christ confirm the truth of his divinity, but through it we receive salvation.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it like this: “The

Where Heaven and earth meet in the

Paschal mystery has two aspects; by his death, Christ liberates us from sin; by his resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life. This new life is above all justification that reinstates us in God’s grace, ‘so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.’ Justification consists in both victory over the death caused by sin and a new participation in grace.” (Rom 6:4; cf. 4:25; CCC 654)

On a personal level it is through baptism that we come to share in the new life Christ won for us. In baptism we symbolically enter into the tomb with Christ in order to rise with him to the new life of grace. St Paul expresses it graphically: “Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”

(Rom 6:4)

Another aspect of redemption is that it involves not only the justification or sanctification of our souls, that is, liberation from sin, but also the “redemption of our bodies” (Rom 8:23) through their resurrection on the last day.

Christ’s solidarity with us, as head of mankind, is important in understanding this truth. He made himself one with us when he took our human nature. He is the new Adam and, just as through Adam we all sinned, so through the resurrection of Christ we are all raised up.

In this sense St Paul writes: “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.”

(1 Cor 15:20-22) In the words of the Catechism: “Christ, ‘the first-born from the dead’ (Col 1:18), is the principle of our own resurrection, even now by the justification of our souls (cf. Rom 6:4), and one day by the new life he will impart to our bodies (cf. Rom 8:11).” (CCC 658)

In summary, “the resurrection is at the very centre of the redemption: it and Jesus’ death constitute one, unique, saving mystery.” ( F. Ocariz et al, The Mystery of Jesus Christ, Four Courts Press 1994, p. 242)

Commentary on the intersection of faith, sex and culture

Arecent story from Catholic News Service reported that the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had issued a statement saying that baptisms performed “in the name of the Creator, and of the Redeemer, and of the Sanctifier” were invalid.

This should come as no surprise to anyone with just a little knowledge of what sacraments are and how grace is communicated through them.

Harken back to your childhood religion classes and you may remember being taught that a sacrament is “an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace” (Baltimore Catechism, no. 304).

For most people, however, this textbook definition fails to capture

Body Language

By Christopher West

just how wonderful and profound the sacraments really are. Through these “visible signs instituted by Christ” we actually encounter the eternal God in the temporal world and become sharers in his divine life.

There is an infinite abyss that separates Creator and creature. The wonder of the sacraments is that they bridge this infinite gap. Sacraments are where heaven and earth “kiss,” where God and man become one in the flesh. God is invisible. Sacraments allow us to see him through the veil of visible signs. God is intangible. Sacraments allow us to touch him. God is incommunicable.

Sacraments are our communion with him. This communion of God and man that the sacraments bring about has become a living reality in the person of Jesus Christ. Thus, the sacramental life of the church flows directly from the dynamism of the Incarnation, the mystery of the Word made flesh.

In Christ, God has forever wed himself to our flesh and impregnated the material world with his saving power. Indeed, as the early Christian writer Tertullian declared: “the flesh has become the hinge of salvation”.

In contrast to authentic sacramental spirituality, there is a widespread but gravely mistaken (indeed, heretical) notion of spirituality that tends to devalue the body, view it with suspicion, or at times even treat it with contempt.

Catholicism, far from devaluing the body, is a deeply sensual religion.

That is to say, it is in and through the body (sensually) that we

The battle for unborn baby is fought

@home

By Catherine Parish

In this Easter season, the season of hope and new life, the popularity of the film Juno (it’s still on at the cinemas) especially among younger adults has a particular resonance.

Despite the fact that some of its resolutions were questionable in a Catholic moral sense, it is nevertheless a public sign of a possible turnaround in secular thinking, a questioning of current social ‘wis-

dom’ about abortion from a simply human perspective.

It makes clear something that perhaps has always been true, that the battle for each unborn baby’s life is ultimately fought and won in the mother’s heart.

In our increasingly non-Christian world, the Church’s upholding of the moral right to life for every person is absolutely right and true; but this film is a very clear illustration that the Church is simply upholding God’s own truth; the knowledge written on every human heart that every human life from its earliest moments is a complete and wondrous miracle.

No matter what circumstances she is in or her beliefs, or even whether she wants to be pregnant

or not, every woman knows at the core of her being that what is within her from the earliest days of pregnancy is another person as human and unique as she is.

The biggest victory of pro-abortionists has been to deny women permission to admit this truth, and to have this denial enshrined in laws.

Juno is permitted to realise and admit this truth to herself during the course of her visit to the ghastly local abortion clinic.

In a funny but deeply moving episode the little protester outside the clinic informs Juno that her baby wants to live – a hypothesis whose possible truth doesn’t seem to matter to Juno. It is the plea “your baby has fingernails” that

Immersion: A recent Vatican announcement about invalid baptisms should come as no surprise to those with even a little knowledge of what sacraments are and how God’s grace is communicated through them, Christopher West says.

encounter the divine. God doesn’t communicate Himself to us with some sort of “spiritual zapping,” but he meets us where we are as earthly, bodily creatures.

Sacraments are efficacious signs. This means they truly communicate the divine gift they symbolise. However, in order to communicate the divine gift, they must properly symbolise it — both in “form” and in “matter”.

The form refers to the words spoken and the matter refers to the physical reality of the sacrament. Change either one, and you no longer have a valid sacrament.

The matter of the sacrament of baptism is the water and the person being baptised. You can’t baptise an iguana or a squirrel.

The recipient has to be a human person. And you can’t baptise a person with mud. It has to be water. Why? Because the spiritual cleansing of baptism will only occur if the physical sign is one of cleansing.

The physical reality communicates the spiritual reality in as much as it symbolises the spiritual reality. Mud is a symbol of making dirty, not of cleansing. Baptising someone with mud, then, would be a kind of “anti-baptism.”

The form of a sacrament (the words spoken) is just as important.

Baptism communicates the life of the Trinity in as much as each person of the Trinity is invoked in his proper identity and eternal relationship to the other persons — as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Speaking of the Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier touches upon various roles of the Trinity, but not the eternal identity and relationship of the persons within the Trinity.

The spoken word has a purpose and a power that must be respected in any situation, but especially in the sacraments. For the words spoken in a sacrament - so long as they are the proper words - convey a divine power. Change the words, and that divine power is no longer communicated. It seems that some want to avoid the proper baptismal formula because of a reluctance (or even a steadfast opposition) to calling God “Father.”

We’ll address this reluctance in a future column and explore some of the reasons that Christ revealed God as his Father.

Perspectives

Poor taught me not to pity but to act

Edith Cowan University Journalism student Joanna Lawson went to India this summer to establish Branches, a project aimed at helping the exploited working poor in Goa. She bids farewell to the country that has taught her so much.

Mumbai has seen a lot of change over the last decade, and it is only as you prepare to leave this city that it strikes you: “it will be different here next time”.

The times I said “there are too many cars here”, or felt rising incredulity as a person stood and watched while their dog relieved itself on someone’s driveway, fade away when you’re preparing your departure.

Though I might have problems with city life, especially in this super sized berg of exaggerations,

The Vine Branches

By Joanna Lawson

I always feel somewhat torn away when I leave.

It is more of the fact that my feet will no longer tread on Indian soil that causes the problems. I have been infected: not with “Delhi belly” or other ailments that Westerners seem to think will inevitably befall them, but with an affection that appears to have invaded me to a cellular level.

There are so many lessons still to be learned here, and the people I have met along the way probably have not realised that from their place in the margins, they have made admirable teachers.

The poor taught me not to pity, but to act, and to laugh while I am doing it. They show me, beyond a doubt, that it is not possessing but loving that creates true joy in the

and won in a mother’s heart

stops her. The objective moral truth does not move Juno but the physical truth of her baby’s actual fingernails does.

This connection of the abstract right to life to the concrete recognition of the sheer miracle that is conception and gestation is a turning point for Juno.

Juno goes through with her pregnancy because of her detached sense of the baby as a separate person from this moment.

Her baby is a person who deserves the best life she can give him or her even though she feels she cannot take on that responsibility herself.

The delight and wonder of Juno, her stepmother and her friend at the ultrasound visit (and the serve the stepmother gives the ultrasonographer) made this graphically clear; the growing baby is a wonder to behold, quite distinct from the situation of the mother.

One other important glimmer of change was present also – the idea that the baby’s father had feelings also emerged slowly through the film, though he struggled to articulate them.

There was a love between Juno and the boy that was not destroyed by her pregnancy, but seemed to grow as he sorted out his own ideas about it all.

There was a tremendous sense of loss in the short episodes after the birth in the hospital; where one is sure the stepmother would have kept that baby in a minute if Juno had wanted to.

And Juno’s own quiet grief, which gives the final lie to her brash detachment and reminds us that the giving of life requires sacrifice, made you wish that they might have kept the baby, and made a family instead of a mistake. There is hope.

human heart. Neither they nor us take anything with us when we go, we only leave things behind.

My disabled friends in Kanniyakumari showed me that simplicity leaves time and space for people, and it is there we can make relationships that are worthy of our call to true communion, the way God intended. They show love unashamedly and want nothing more than love in return.

The animals showed me to be happy with what I have and to make the most of what you are given. Looking at a street dog curled up in small bed dug out of a warm patch of grit is more of a lesson in resourcefulness than any home economics class I ever attended. Sleeping there by the side of the road, balled up, tail over snout - no blaring horns or loud chatter of pedestrians could disturb their bliss of a good sleep!

And aside from these are the memories of just simply having a high old time. Where else can you pop your head out of your window to investigate the source of cymbals crashing, bands playing

and other sounds of revelry, only to see it is a wedding celebration, and then run out to join in and be welcomed to the party?

Time marches on, and little by little the landscape drops pieces of this picture. Perhaps next time there will be no street dogs. Perhaps the Indian government will have erected housing and the slums will have gone. Anything is possible, especially in India.

So I will take these tidbits of lessons and guard them. I hope they stay with me when I return to Australia, and all of a sudden have a machine to cut vegetables for me, another to mix bread dough for me, and for some reason (long forgotten), another to walk with. There is, I am sure a machine for every job known to man!

But I have learned to love independence, people and experiences that just come with being alive, and I thank the country that I (partly) belong to, Mother India for having me back time and time again so I can remain her student.

Read Joanna’s Blog on the internet at www.thebranchesproject.blogspot.com

A city of many needs: Mumbai, where we find Joanna Lawson bidding farewell to India, learning plenty of lessons about the true, value and joy of life

“Quick divorces will destroy society”

Piura (CNA) - Archbishop Jose Antonio Eguren Anselmi of Piura, Peru, issued an energetic call last week to protect marriage and the family in Peru after the Parliament approved a plan for “quick divorce” that would allow couples to dissolve their civil unions in two months.

At Palm Sunday Mass, Archbishop Eguren expressed his concern for a law that would make it easy for marriages to be dissolved civilly instead of strengthening them, “especially those that are experiencing problems, turning into a mere administrative procedure something that is of great social relevance, as marriages are the place where comprehensive formation of future citizens of our country takes place.”

“Today our society is going through a crisis of moral and institutional principles and values. That has led to the weakening of the social fabric and the proliferation of criminal and immoral conduct that harms the formation of our children and young people,” he said. “It has been proven that marriages and families are the key to transforming these kinds of situations. If we want a healthy society, we must help marriages and families to fulfill the fundamental role they naturally have in society.”

According to the new plan, couples who have been married for at least two years and decide to separate can file for divorce at local government offices. If they have children they must present a court-approved settlement or an agreement about child support and visitation rights.

We need leaders who foster peace in the Holy Land: Catholic Archbishop

ROME (CNA) - The Latin-Rite Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Michael Sabbah, said this week, “We need leaders capable of achieving peace, as that is the only way to put a limit on extremism and begin to establish security” in the Holy Land.

“Israelis and Palestinians, after a century of violence, must understand that they can no longer defend their people with arms, as they only expose them to more violence, more fear and more insecurity. It is time for the states and politicians in leadership to accept their vocation, that is, to build up society and not destroy it,” the archbishop said in his Easter message according to a report by the SIR news agency.

“To say that peace is a risk we cannot take is the same as saying we will remain in violence and death,” he continued. “It’s up to the leaders to choose between peace and extremism. We need leaders ready to pay with their lives the price of peace and not leaders who give orders to kill.”

France to accept Iraqi Christian refugees

Paris (CNA) - France has announced plans to accept nearly 500 Iraqi Christian refugees, many of whom are Chaldean Catholics, the Associated Press reports.

Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner confirmed the plans in a joint television and radio interview on Wednesday, saying he hoped the Iraqis would be in France within weeks. Kouchner said France would not refuse asylum to Muslims, but he said “no one” is taking in Iraqi Christians. Iraqi Christians have been targeted by Islamic extremists since the US-led invasion in 2003.

The foreign minister noted that Paris already has a community of Chaldeans.

the World

Mary prevents bloodshed

Intercession of Virgin Mary prevented war in South America, newspaper reveals

Bogota (CNA) - The Colombian daily El Tiempo revealed on Holy Saturday that a crisis that could have ended in open conflict between Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela was averted by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe confiding the situation to the intercession of Mary under the three different titles by which she is the countries’ patroness.

The crisis between Colombia and its southern (Ecuador) and northeastern (Venezuela) neighbors started on March 1, when Uribe ordered a military raid into Ecuador’s territory against a rebel camp used by Marxist guerrillas to launch terrorist strikes. The raid

targeted and killed the No. 2 FARC rebel leader, Raul Reyes.

In response, Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa cut all diplomatic relationships with Colombia. Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, Correa’s political ally, ordered a massive military surge to the Colombian border as well.

Quoting Fr Julio Solórzano, Chaplain of Colombia’s Presidential Palace, El Tiempo revealed that on March 5, when the rhetoric and blame between the presidents was increasing tensions, President Uribe called for a Rosary to pray for the end of tensions.

The Rosary, prayed at the Presidential Palace’s chapel, was dedicated, upon Uribe’s request, to Our Lady of Chiquinquira, Our Lady of Coromoto and Our Lady of Mercy, respectively the patroness of Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador. Uribe invited all officials at the Presidential palace to the

Rosary, as well as the minister of Defence and the Interior.

“For believers,” El Tiempo wrote “the prayer was more than effective, since only two days after the presidents of the three countries shook hands during the Group of Rio summit, and for many the crisis was over.”

In fact, on March 7, at the Dominican Republic summit, the three presidents vented their differences, but agreed to stand down after Colombia apologized for the raid.

“The President is a man of faith, he always carries with him a wooden Cross and a Rosary. I have heard him pray several times in the motorcade or on the presidential airplane.”

“He always tries to be coherent with his faith in his work, pleasing God with what he does,” Fr Solórzano was quoted by El Tiempo

Come out of closet, Muslim convert says

High-profile Muslim baptised by Pope asks Muslim converts to “come out”

ROME (CNA) - A day after he was received into the Catholic Church by Pope Benedict XVI during the Easter vigil, Magdi Allam, a widely known Italian Muslim, wrote a letter to his own paper on Easter Sunday in which he issued a twofold call: first he encouraged other Muslims who have converted to Catholicism to come out publicly and secondly he called on the Church to be “less prudent” about converting Muslims.

The 55-year-old Egyptian-born convert is deputy editor of “Corriere della Sera,” one of Italy’s leading newspapers, and often writes on Muslim and Arab affairs.

In 2006, when Pope Benedict made his Regensburg speech that many Muslims perceived as depicting Islam as a violent faith, Allam defended the Pontiff’s remarks.

He also infuriated some fellow Muslims with his criticism of extremism and support for Israel. His criticism of Palestinian suicide bombings generated threats on his life in 2003, prompting the Italian government to provide him with a sizeable police protection force. Allam said at that time that he had continually asked himself why someone who had struggled for what he called “moderate Islam” was then “condemned to death in the name of Islam and on the basis of a Koranic legitimisation.”

Word of the conversion of a high profile Muslim was only made known on Saturday when the Vatican announced that one of the seven Catechumens to be received in to the Catholic Church by Pope Benedict at the Easter vigil was Muslim.

Although Allam never prayed five times a day facing Mecca and never fasted during Ramadan, as is required of all Muslims, he did make the pilgrimage to Mecca with his deeply

religious mother in 1991. Reacting to his conversion, the Union of Islamic Communities in Italy – which Allam has accused of having links to Hamas- said “he is an adult, free to make his personal choice.”

But Yahya Pallavicini, an Italian Catholic who turned to Islam and is now vice president of the Islamic religious community in Italy, said he respected Allam’s choice but said he was “perplexed” by the symbolic and highprofile way in which he chose to convert.

“If Allam truly was compelled by a strong spiritual inspiration, perhaps it would have been better to do it delicately, maybe with a priest from Viterbo where he lives,” Pallavicini told ANSA news agency.

In his “letter to the editor” published on Sunday by Corriere de la Sera, Allam explains that it was a meeting with the Holy Father which allowed him “to see the light, by divine grace, as the healthy and ripe fruit of a long process.”

Strong faith: A nun holds a banner during a February 4 rally in Quito, Ecuador, demanding peace and the release of all hostages of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Thousands of Colombians took to the streets across their country and abroad on February 4 in a huge protest against the guerrilla group. The banner reads “We demand liberation of all hostages.”

PHOTO: CNS/GUILLERMO GRANJA, REUTERS

EU wants mandatory abortion laws

Council

of Europe report calls for total legalisation of abortions

■ By Simon Caldwell

LONDON (CNS) - The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has called for an end to all restrictions on abortions in every country in Europe.

It urged the predominantly Catholic countries of Andorra, Malta, Ireland and Poland - where abortion is either illegal or severely restricted - to grant women access to the controversial procedure.

The demands were in a March 18 report by the council’s Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men. The report was approved March 11 by a large majority of the equal opportunities committee.

Although the Council of Europe cannot pass laws, it does pass resolutions which may have significant influence on the laws of its 47 member states.

It will be discussed during a plenary session April 14-18.

Gisela Wurm, an Austrian member of the committee, said in the report that “even in member states where abortion is legal, conditions are not always such as to guarantee women effective access to this right”. “Women must be allowed freedom of choice and offered the conditions of a free and enlightened choice,” she added. The report invited the member states to end all restrictions that hinder access to safe abortion, including medical costs. It also called for access to free or cheap contraception and compulsory sex education in schools.

“The report will undoubtedly be used as leverage toward the creation of a right to abortion on demand in international law, which has always been the most important and ultimate goal of the worldwide pro-abortion lobby,” said John Smeaton, director of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, a pro-life group in the United Kingdom.

The Council of Europe was founded in 1949 to further the cause

British Psychiatrists admit abortion mental illness link

Women may be at risk of mental health breakdowns if they have abortions, a medical royal college in Britain has warned.

London’s Sunday Times reported on March 16 that the Royal College of Psychiatrists said women should not be allowed to have an abortion until they are counselled on the possible risk to their mental health.

The Sunday Times said this “overturns the consensus that has stood for decades that the risk to mental health of continuing with an unwanted pregnancy outweighs the risks of living with the possible regrets of having an abortion”.

The announcement came on the eve of British MPs voting on a proposal to reduce the upper time limit for abortions “for social reasons” from 24 weeks to 20 weeks, a move not backed by the government. A Sunday Times poll showed that 59 per cent of women would support such a reduction, with only 28 per cent backing the status quo. Taken together, just under half (48 per cent) of men and women want a reduction to 20 weeks, while 35 per cent want to retain 24 weeks.

The Sunday Times reported that some British MPs also want women to have a “cooling off” period in which they would be made aware of the possible consequences of the abortion, including the impact on their mental health, before they could go ahead.

It added that over 90 per cent of the 200,000 terminations in Britain every year are believed to be carried out because doctors believe that continuing with the pregnancy would cause greater mental strain.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists recommended updating abortion information leaflets to include details of the risks of depression.

“Consent cannot be informed without the provision of adequate and appropriate information,” it says.

Several studies, including research published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry in 2006, concluded that abortion in young women might be associated with risks of mental health problems.

The controversy intensified earlier this year when an inquest in Cornwall heard that a talented artist hanged herself because she was overcome with grief after aborting her twins. Emma Beck, 30, left a note saying: “Living is hell for me. I should never have had an abortion. I see now I would have been a good mum. I want to be with my babies; they need me, no one else does.”

The college’s revised stance was welcomed by Nadine Dorries, a Conservative British MP campaigning for a statutory cooling-off period: “For doctors to process a woman’s request for an abortion without providing the support, information and help women need at this time of crisis I regard almost as a form of abuse,” she told The Sunday Times.

Dawn Primarolo, the health minister, was set to appeal to MPs last week to ignore attempts to reduce the time limit on abortion when new laws on fertility treatment and embryo research come before parliament. Dr Peter Saunders, general secretary of the Christian Medical Fellowship, told the Sunday Times: “How can a doctor now justify an abortion [on mental health grounds] if psychiatrists are questioning whether there is any clear evidence that continuing with the pregnancy leads to mental health problems.”

of European integration principally by harmonizing human rights law across a continent of 800 million people.

At the heart of the Council of Europe is the European Convention

on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights, through which the convention is enforced and to which Europeans can bring cases if they believe that a member country has violated their rights.

Abortion Laws in Europe

Abortion is illegal or restricted only in a few European countries.

abortion on request permitted in most cases

permitted in limited cases*

only to save a woman’s life banned

Mexican Legionaries of Christ founder dies

WASHINGTON (CNS) - Fr Marcial Maciel Degollado, founder of the Legionaries of Christ, died January 30 at the age of 87 in the US. Fr Alvaro Corcuera, director general of the Legionaries, and members of Regnum Christi, an apostolic Catholic movement associated with the Legionaries, announced on the order’s website that Fr Maciel had died and that in keeping with his wishes “the funeral will be celebrated in an atmosphere of prayer, in a simple and private manner.”

Fr Maciel, who founded the Legionaries in his native Mexico in 1941, was notified by the Vatican in 2006 that he could not publicly practice his priestly ministries after the Vatican investigated claims of sexual abuse made by former seminarians of the order. The Vatican also said it would not begin a canonical process against him because of his age and poor health, calling “the priest to a life reserved to prayer and penance, renouncing any public ministry.” In announcing the decision, a Vatican spokesman also said that, “independently of the person of the founder, the well-deserving apostolate of the Legionaries of Christ and of the association Regnum Christi is recognised with gratitude.” The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s decision was approved by Pope Benedict XVI, though it was considered too lenient by Father Maciel’s accusers, now in their 50s and 60s. Fr Maciel had two greatuncles who were Mexican bishops, one of whom, St Rafael Guizar Valencia, had been bishop of Vera Cruz, Mexico.

US abuse audit and survey find soaring costs, fewer allegations

WASHINGTON (CNS) - The costs to the Catholic Church in the US for legal settlements in abuse cases, therapy for victims of sexual abuse, support for offenders and legal fees soared to more than $658 million in 2007, the fourth year of reporting on the handling of abuse cases by US dioceses and religious orders.

The 2007 Survey of Allegations and Costs released by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops on March 7 also reported a continued decrease in the number of new credible allegations of abuse: 599 new allegations were made in 2007, compared with 635 in 2006, 695 in 2005 and 898 in 2004, the first year of the survey.

Only five of the new allegations involved abuse that occurred in 2007. As in past years, most allegations involved abuse that took place before 1985.

According to the survey conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, dioceses and religious institutes paid $675 million for legal

settlements, therapy, support for offenders, attorneys’ fees and other costs.

In the four previous years of the survey, the highest amount paid out was $511 million in 2005.

Of the $615 million, dioceses spent $547 million and religious orders paid $116 million.

Teresa Kettelkamp, executive director of the US bishops’ Office of Child and Youth Protection, said the annual costs may continue to be high in coming years, as dioceses pay off settlements to victims of abuse.

In 2007 several dioceses and religious orders announced large settlements, including $724 million for the Los Angeles Archdiocese, covering more than 500 claimants, and a settlement of $54 million for more than 100 claimants by the Oregon-based Jesuit province whose members served in Alaska.

A portion of those settlements is being paid by insurers and is not included in the figures for what dioceses and religious orders have spent. Kettelkamp said it’s difficult to predict

whether the number of allegations of abuse will continue to decrease, partly because victims of sexual abuse often wait decades to report what happened to them.

Meanwhile, US schools, parishes and dioceses have put nearly all of the targeted 8.5 million children and adults through training programs meant to teach people at all levels of the church how to prevent abuse from occurring, to spot the signs of abuse and to ensure that it is reported.

An annual audit of compliance with the bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” released at the same time as the CARA survey found that more than 99 per cent of the 37,000 US priests have participated in what is called “safe environment” training.

The training had also been completed by more than 99 perc ent of deacons and educators, more than 98 per cent of 4918 candidates for ordination, 98 per cent of 229,000 Church employees, 98 per cent of 1.4 million volunteers, and more than 96 per cent of

the 5.9 million children involved in Church programs. The audit found 178 of the 190 dioceses that participated to be in full compliance with every article of the charter, it said.

Twelve others were in compliance except for one or two of its 17 articles. Nearly all those fell short on Article 12, the one requiring “safe environment” programs, and almost all gaps were in getting all children through the programs, it said.

“The difficulty has to do with a number of factors,” said the audit report, “the sheer number of individuals in each category; the fluctuation of those numbers; the need to develop and maintain concise record keeping ... and the time-consuming process of selecting safe environment programs that are age-appropriate and in accord with Catholic moral principles.”

Kettelkamp said it has proven especially difficult to track one category of people designated in the charter for the training - parents - so it’s unclear how many have participated.

It takes a family; they do what the village cannot

If it takes a village to raise a child, what does it take to raise a village?

■ By Dr Jennifer Roback Morse

It takes a family to raise a village. Hillary Clinton’s assertion, “It takes a village to raise a child,” has been recycled more times than Al Gore’s garden waste, but few admirers have inquired how the village got there in the first place. Without the family, the village itself cannot function.

If the family breaks down, or fails to form in the first place, the “village” can not possibly provide adequate help to repair the damage. The family does something the village cannot do for itself, namely bring the next generation into being, and socialise them into the kind of people who can participate in a free society.

Without the family doing its job, the state will necessarily grow larger, more expensive and more intrusive.

These are some of the themes of the new paperback edition of my book, Love and Economics: It Takes a Family to Raise a Village When Love and Economics was originally

published in 2001, I had intended it as a loving critique of the Chicago School of Economics, which is my intellectual fatherland. My experience of raising a birth daughter at the same time as a badly neglected adopted orphan son, convinced me that we economists and libertarians had taken the family far too much for granted.

Before I had children, I had tried to argue from libertarian political theory and free market economics to a full-fledged personal philosophy of life. Love and Economics is an extended argument about why that analogy does not work.

Only the family can create the next generation of human beings who will become citizens and consumers.

Simply by being in loving relationship with their children, mothers and fathers lay the groundwork for the development of the conscience. Children without consciences become sociopaths who are extremely expensive, and not only to the taxpayer.

ing of children. Ordinary children all across America, not just severely neglected orphans and foster children, face extraordinary risks.

The children of unmarried mothers, the children of divorced parents, all face elevated risks for physical and mental health problems, substance abuse, educational problems and of course, juvenile delinquency, crime and incarceration. There simply is no substitute for the married-couple, two-parent family.

The sociopath does not care about the impact he has on others and will do anything he thinks he can get away with. Trying to monitor and control the behaviour of a person like that strains the resources of his immediate family, his neighborhood, and his school.

In the course of doing the research for my book, I became aware of the vast body of evidence showing the importance of the married-couple, two-parent family for the wellbe-

For all these reasons, I believe that fiscal conservatives and libertarians can not afford to be indifferent to the fate of the family. When families fall apart, the Hillary Clintons of the world are standing by, ready to promote more intrusive and expensive government to pick up the pieces.

Unfortunately, many of my economist friends appeared to be uninterested in the topic. Perhaps they were put off by my original subtitle for the book, “Why the Laissez-Faire Family Doesn’t Work”.

So I have devised a new subtitle for the book, It Takes a Family to Raise a Village, and commissioned a new, more contemporary cover. I do not attack Mrs Clinton by name. Nor do I offer arguments against specific policies under consideration in the current election cycle.

We need to do better than scamper around responding to the latest presumptuous proposal calling itself family-friendly. Instead, we need to understand the general principles

involved, so we have a framework for evaluating such proposals.

In that spirit, Love and Economics makes a foundational argument that the family is an irreplaceable social institution.

We can not replace married couples with a series of contracts among adults, as some libertarians and economists might argue. Nor can we replace the family with a series of government programs. Mrs Clinton is a symbol of the view that we can.

The government is no substitute for the family. In fact, the government can frequently make things much more difficult for families, by undermining family relationships.

In any good society, the government must do what only it can do: keep order internally and externally, enforce agreements and defend property rights. The market must do what only the market can do: create wealth and provide employment by combining goods and services that satisfy consumers.

But only the family can create the next generation of human beings who will become citizens and consumers.

I do hope my libertarian friends will come to see the connection between their indifference to the family and the progress of welfare state advocates such as Mrs. Clinton.

And I hope that everyone who values the personal over the political and the family over the bureaucratic, will take seriously the arguments of Love and Economics: It Takes a Family to Raise a Village

Jennifer Roback Morse, Ph.D. is the Senior Research Fellow in Economics at the Acton Institute.

Finding the dead among the ruins of Rome

Did Christians really die in one of Rome’s most famous landmarks?

■ By Elizabeth Lev

In Rome, the sacred and the profane have long coexisted side by side. Even now, visitors to the Eternal City can be broken into two major groups: “pilgrims” and “tourists.”

Though the two groups get along well enough, from time to time their differences make themselves felt.

Floods of pilgrims have been pouring into the city for Holy Week. Overwhelmed by the sea of yellow-scarved faithful praying in the basilicas, or tracing the paths of the saints, the few “tourists” in town have sought out secular retreats, such as the great stronghold of pagan sightseeing, the Roman Colosseum.

But even there, while listening to guided tours recounting tales of blood and gore, their ears have been assailed by chanted prayer as Christians returned to invade the ancient amphitheatre.

Frustrated by omnipresent parish banners and papal flags ruining their photo-ops with the self-styled gladiators, befuddled tourists asked whether some movie was being filmed.

During Holy Week, even the Colosseum recovers its Christian guise as the city revives the old tradition of the Stations of the Cross.

Lights and television cameras sit poised in anticipation for the arrival of Benedict XVI this Friday evening to lead the Stations of the Cross.

It seems like an absurd paradox - the Pope and the amphitheaterebut the connection between the Christians and the Colosseum is an old one. The Emperor Vespasian began constructing the Flavian

amphitheatre - now known as the Colosseum - in AD 70. For 450 years it hosted Rome’s bloodiest spectacles, from wild animal hunts to public executions, and of course, the gladiatorial games.

From Seneca to St. Augustine, wise men of the Roman Empire protested the bloodlust provoked by these games, but the Romans would not give up their entertainment until the empire crumbled beneath their feet in the fifth century.

According to one tradition, the gladiatorial games were brought to a close because of the monk Telemachus.

Coming to the arena in 404, Telemachus was horrified by the games, and tried to stop the gladiators, but the enraged crowd took him out of the stadium and stoned him

to death. According to this tradition, the martyrdom of Telemachus then spurred Emperor Honorius to put a stop to gladiatorial combat, although the animal hunts would linger on for another century.

Abandoned for centuries, except for a brief stint as a private family fortress, the Colosseum was gravely compromised in the earthquake of 1349.

The southern wall crumbled and the fallen blocks of travertine were carted away to form the new buildings of a Christian Rome

Ironically, St. Peter’s Basilica benefited the most from the Colosseum. The ambitious project for the greatest basilica in the world relied heavily on the blocks quarried from the ancient amphitheatre. The structure that had been the harbinger of death

would now serve as the foundation for the promise of eternal life. By 1750, the Colosseum had been so depleted that only two fifths of the original external surface remained. It was the papacy that rescued the edifice from complete destruction. Declaring the skeletal structure a martyrium, Pope Benedict XIV forbade any further quarrying of the building and dedicated it to the Stations of the Cross. Pius VII then restored the building in 1805.

As of 1757, numerous confraternities had nestled into the nooks and crannies of the ancient building. Edward Gibbon heard the songs and prayers while writing his “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.” St. Benedict Joseph Labre was one of the many who took shelter in the ancient amphitheatre and prayed for the souls of those who had died there.

Numerous crosses inscribed on the walls attest to this transformation of the Colosseum to a place of prayer and meditations on the sufferings of Christ for our salvation, as well as those of his followers who bore supreme witness to him. The practice of the Stations of the Cross was stopped with the unification of Italy when the confraternities were expelled from the site.

Pope John Paul II restored this practice upon his election to the papacy in 1978, and the tradition has become one of the most moving events of Holy Week.

In the great antagonistic spirit of the arena, a few die-hard pagan guides struggled to subdue the Christian enthusiasm.

With studied expressions of scholarly seriousness, they dismissed the tradition of any Christian having been martyred in the arena.

It is doubtful that they can cite the source for that statement, but it dates to the early 20th century and the works of Jesuit Father Hippolyte Delehaye.

The priest noted that no martyrology placed a Christian death in

the amphitheatre, nor did medieval guidebooks assign a special place to the Colosseum among the marvels of Rome. Therefore, he concluded, no one can say with certainty that any Christian was killed on the site.

Father Delehaye has become a poster child for many anti-Christian manifestos, championed as having torn away the curtain of lies fabricated by the Church. But these interpretations fail to note that Father Delehaye himself recognizes that Christians may well have died in the arena; we just don’t have their names and their stories.

So before we signal a “thumbs down” on Colosseum martyrs, let’s remember that early Christians venerated the resting places of the martyrs, not the sites of their deaths.

St Agnes’ death seems to have been an exception to the rule in the Stadium of Domitian, and the murder of St Peter at the Circus of Nero appears to have been a onetime-only event.

The Colosseum proudly boasted 80 trapdoors in the floor to lift wild animals into the arena, and holding pens for all sorts of feral beasts.

It was the principal place for wild animal hunts and executions. Few places seem better equipped to throw Ignatius of Antioch to the lions than the Flavian amphitheatre, and no better hypothesis has been put forward.

Furthermore, the memory of the Christian martyrs has brought out the best in the ancient building.

No gladiator ever displayed the same heroism that John Paul II did when in his final days he was forced to watch the procession from his chapel instead participating as he had for 25 years.

At the last station, he took his balsa wood cross and leaning his weary head against it, taught the world what it meant to truly “live” the Stations of the Cross, uniting his suffering to Christ’s. - www.zenit.org

Lourdes does not go chasing miracles Lourdes does not go miracles

Simon Hart meets the doctor who guards the shrine’s reputation for authentic cures.

It is a good thing Patrick Theillier is a doctor and not a salesman. Lourdes may enjoy worldwide renown as a place of miracles but its most prominent medic is rather reticent about the principal claim to fame of the Catholic Church’s most popular shrine. “Lourdes does not go chasing miracles,” he says, betraying the scepticism that must serve him well in his work investigating the claims of pilgrims who declare themselves cured.

Chief of the Lourdes medical bureau, Dr Theillier is the man charged with recording and authenticating healings. Hence his office in the Accueil Jean-Paul II – one of the domain’s oldest buildings and formerly the Accueil Notre Dame hospital – is the first port of call for anyone wishing to report a cure. “If it is possible they come and meet me in person or they write or call or e-mail. I want to see them in person – that is important. If they write, I ask them to come and see me.”

The 64-year-old, who is set to retire next year, opened 38 new dossiers in 2007 and 50 in the year before, through these recent additions to the register would be advised not to hold their breath. Only a handful of cases each year earn serious consideration. During the shrine’s 150-year history, over 7200 declarations have produced just 67 confirmed miracles. “There is a caution about declaring miracles,” says Dr Theillier, reinforcing the point.

For all the focus on Lourdes’ famed spring, not every cure follows contact with the water. “There are cures that have happened without the person drinking any water or going into the baths. In fact, there have been people cured far away from Lourdes. There was a grandfather who came from the west coast of Canada to pray for his granddaughter, who was deaf. She regained her hearing the moment he was here praying for her.” The Canadian granddaughter may indeed have been cured but,

as Dr Theillier explains, proving it was down to the intercession of Our Lady “becomes more complicated when it takes place 6000 kilometres way from here. If they came here it might be possible.”

Citing another reason why an investigation might stall, he recounts the case of a woman suffering from cervicalgia – a painful condition requiring a neck brace that had been caused by a car accident – who was “cured on the spot” during Pope John Paul II’s visit in 2004. “She regained her mobility and suffered no more pain. We are studying the case but it will probably never be recognised as a miracle as it was not a serious illness.”

This is one of the seven strict criteria to satisfy. Besides being serious, the illness had to be one that can be diagnosed. It cannot be a psychiatric illness.

There can be no explanation of a cure by medical treatment. Instead it must be sudden, instantaneous and unexpected. It must be complete and, finally, it must be permanent.

The best-known case during Dr Theillier’s decade-long tenure is that of Jean-Pierre Bely, a French-man who was cured on October 9, 1987.

“He was healed 11 years before I arrived. When I took over his case, I met him and saw he had suffered from multiple sclerosis for 15 years and had been declared 100 per cent incapacitated.”

Bely arrived at Lourdes in a wheelchair and on his third day there received the Sacrament of the Sick. “I was invaded by a powerful feeling of liberation and peace that I had never experienced before,” He would later recount in Dr Theillier’s own book, Talking about Miracles. Within days his recovery was complete.

While Bely remained an invalid in the eyes of France’s social security, Dr Theillier’s investigations concluded that he had been

cured completely – and without explanation. “He gave his testimony over 12 years in a way that was very thorough, very true,” said Dr Theillier, who presented Bely’s dossier to the International Medical Committee of Lourdes, a 25-strong body comprising heads of hospital clinics from across Europe. “They had already studied the case of five years earlier but thought it was a bit early. After considering it again they accepted that the healing was entirely inexplicable.”

Procedure demands that the final decision be taken by the Church and so the dossier was passed on to the Bishop of Angouleme, Bely’s home diocese, who reviewed the details before declaring that a miracle had occurred. It was Lourdes 66th and, chronologically speaking, most recent miracle.

Number 67 actually took place in 1952 and was confirmed as an extraordinary cure by the International Medical Committee in 1964.

However, the dossier of Anna Santaniello lay gathering dust in the Archbishop of Salerno’s offices until 2004 when Dr Theillier queried its status. The next year the Italian pilgrim – by now aged 93 – became the latest addition to the list of miracles.

Dr Theillier had long held an interest in alternative medicine – he has diplomas in homeopathy and acupuncture – before settling into his present post in 1998.

“I was a GP but always had an interest in the spiritual dimension of the person.” He was working in nearby Pau when Bishop Jacues Perrier of Tarbes and Lourdes advertised for a new medical bureau chief. “There were 12 candidates and I was chosen.”

Dr Theillier, the 14th incumbent in the bureau’s 125-year history, believes it would be “almost impossible” to perform his duties without his Catholic faith.

Moreover, he admits to having “become increasingly convinced that there is no barrier between the natural and the supernatural” through his work. Yet only when a cure cannot be explained by science does he consider “whether it might be supernatural perhaps, rather than natural”. “Doctors who don’t

believe in the miracles say it’s a question of spontaneous remission, that there are exceptions and medicine cannot know everything,” adds Dr Theillier. “You have to join medical reading and a Catholic spiritual reading to explain a cure as a miracle.” What of the argument that cures can be in the mind, or even the product of a placebo effect? “We pay a lot of attention to make cure it is not a psychological or placebo effect. We do psychological examinations to make sure there are no errors. [The healing] is always instantaneous, sudden and surprising. They always ask: ‘Why me?’ That is the question that keeps coming back with everyone who had been cured.”

Dr Theillier’s tasks extend beyond the question of cures and include welcoming the doctors and medical staff of each pilgrimage and overseeing hygiene at the baths. Until quite recently this was primitive. “You filled the baths in the morning, emptied them at midday, filled them again at two and them emptied them in the evening. You couldn’t take that risk nowadays.”

Following the introduction of a natural purification system in 1992 the water now passes through filters before it runs into the baths although another, more basic factor also plays its part. “The cold stops microbes from developing. It is only 123 degrees. (F)”

Although miracles dominate the regular talks he gives to visitors, Dr Theillier himself prefers to dwell on Lourdes’ countless little cures. “If Lourdes is a place of cures and miracles, it is not just for a few, it is for all of us here. They are not necessarily physical cures, but spiritual ones: the healings within us that occur all the times in Lourdes. In today’s world the miraculous always seems to be spectacular but that is not the case.

“The miracle is a sign that comes from God and that is the purpose of the miracle,” he adds. Somebody once said to me they’d believe in the miracles of Lourdes if they saw someone without arms walk out of here with arms. But if that happened it would not be a sign, you would no longer have the freedom to choose whether to believe or not.”

- The Catholic Herald

Come, sick, to the doctor of life: Pilgrims at Lourdes, France, are assisted by caretakers in 2004. The sick come to Lourdes from all over the world seeking a cure from their ailments. Pope John Paul II reached out to the sick and suffering during his visit that year to Lourdes, telling them, “With you I share a time of life marked by physical suffering, yet not for that reason any less fruitful in God’s wondrous plan.”

PHOTO: CNS/REUTERS

Dr Theillier

Saturday March 29

NOVENA DEVOTIONS

Starting at 5pm, novena devotions to Our Lady of Good Health, Vailankanni will be held at Holy Trinity Church, Embleton. Followed by the Virgil Mass at 6pm. Enq: Monsignor P McCrann 9271 5528 or George Jacob 9272 1379.

Sunday March 30

DIVINE MERCY

Commencing at 3pm, at Holy Trinity Church, 8 Burnett Street, Embleton. There will be a special devotion of the Chaplets of the Divine Mercy at St Thomas More Catholic Church, Dean Road, Bateman. Enq: George Lopez on 9310 9493(hm) or 9325 2010(wk).

Sunday March 30

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

3pm Hour of Grace at Holy Trinity Church, 8 Burnett Street, Embleton. Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Divine Mercy Chaplet. Kissing of St Faustina’s Relic Benediction. Vatican grants plenary indulgence. Enq: Monsignor P McCrann 9271 5528 or George Jacob 9272 1379.

Sunday March 30

EMBRACE THE GRACE BEACH REUNION

Fellow participants from all Embrace the Grace’s are invited to Scarborough Beach BBQ area (right off the amphitheatre facing the ocean) at 11am. Bring lunch, bathers and sport equipment. Friends are also welcome. RSVP by March 20 by calling 9375 2029, or email: respectlife@perthcatholic.org.au.

Sunday March 30

DIVINE MERCY

St Joachim’s Pro-Cathedral, Victoria Park. Program: 1.30pm Holy Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Reconciliation will be available. 2.30pm Holy Mass. Celebrant will be Monsignor Thomas McDonald, other priests are welcome to concelebrate. 3.30pm Benediction. 3.45pm veneration of 1st class relic of St Faustina. Afterwards, refreshments in parish hall and a selection of Divine Mercy materials and DVD’s will be on offer. Enq: John 9457 7771 or Linda 9275 6608.

Sunday March 30

RUBY JUBILEE  PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF TIME.

Starting at 8.30am. Father Michael Gatt will be celebrating his ruby jubilee on his anniversary day at the same time of his ordination. Concelebrated Mass will be held at St Kieran’s Church, corner of Cape and Waterloo Streets, Tuart Hill. Friends and former parishioners of Fr Gatt are most welcome to attend the Mass followed by a brunch in the parish centre. Enq: 9444 1334.

Monday March 31

UNIVERSITY NOTRE DAME AND CARITAS AUSTRALIA

PRESENT: “THE ECONOMICS OF CHARITY WHO CARES”

5:45pm - 8.00pm at the Santa Maria Lecture Theatre (ND 1/103) 19 Mouat Street, Fremantle. An evening with: Jack De Groot CEO of Caritas Australia, Dr C. Lucy Morris CEO Community Vision Incorporated, David Gilchrist senior lecturer & associate dean of School of Business. Light snacks and beverages: Cost $10. RSVP essential by Friday 28 March. Enq: 9433 0611.

Thursday April 3

PRAYER AND MEDIATION SERVICE

Starting at 7.30pm at Our Lady of Grace 3 Kitchener Street, North Beach. For over two years OLG have been offering this peaceful and restorative service every first Thursday in the month. Together through prayer, meditation, singing, silence and bathed in candlelight we rest in God. Enq: 94484888 or 9447 0061.

Friday April 4

Panorama

A roundup of events in the Archdiocese

CATHOLIC FAITH RENEWAL  PRAISE AND WORSHIP

7.30pm at St John and Paul’s Church, Pintree Gully Road, Willetton. There will a Praise and Worship followed by a talk on “Am I my Bother’s Keeper” by Fr Greg Donovan and Thanksgiving Mass. There will be light refreshments after Mass. You are all welcome to attend and we encourage you to bring your family and friends to this evening of fellowship. We look forward to see you there. Enq: Rita 9272 1765, Rose 0403 300 720.

Friday April 4

WITNESS FOR LIFE

Commencing with Mass at St Brigid’s church, Midland at 9.30am, followed by Rosary procession and prayer vigil at abortion clinic, led by Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate. Enq Helene 9402 0349”

Saturday April 5

A MORNING RETREAT

9am-12noon Inner Peace( Part 2) Presenter: Murray Graham (Inigo Centre Director) Donation. Multi-Purpose Room John xxiii College Details and Registration, Murray 93830444

Saturday April 5

PROLIFE WITNESS

Commencing with Mass at St Anne’s church, Belmont at 8.30am, followed by Rosary procession and prayer vigil at abortion clinic, led by Fr Paul Carey ssc. Enq Helene 9402 0349”

Saturday April 5

A MORNING RETREAT ‘ INNER PEACE PART 2

From 9am to 12noon.Presenter: Murray Graham (Inigo Centre Director) Donation. MultiPurpose Room John XXIII College. Details and Registration: Murray 9383 0444.

Saturday April 5

DAY WITH MARY

9am to 5pm St Bernadette’s Church, cnr Leeder & Jugan Streets, Glendalough. A video on Fatima will be shown followed by a day of prayer and instruction based on the message of Fatima. Includes Sacrament of Penance, Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Sermons, Rosaries, procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Stations of the Cross. Please BYO lunch. Enq: Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate 9250 8286.

Friday April 4 to Sunday April 6

GOD’S FARM RETREAT

“The God of unconditional love, now and in the life to come” is the topic retreat master, Fr Tony Chiera VG will share with us on this quiet weekend retreat, assisted by Dr Michael Jackson. Fr Tony celebrates Holy Mass daily and reconciliation. 7.30pm to Sunday 6 April 2pm, at God’s Farm, 40kms south of Busselton. Map available Our hired bus goes directly from Perth to God’s Farm and return. Prompt bookings ring Yvonne 9343 1897. Reservations call Mrs Betty Peaker sfo PO Box 24, Cowaramup 6284. Phn/Fax 9755 6212.

Wednesday April 9

CHAPLETS OF THE DIVINE MERCY.

Commencing at 7.30pm, a beautiful, prayerful, sung devotion held at St Thomas More Catholic Church, Dean Road Bateman, on the second Wednesday of each month. The next monthly devotion is to be held on Wednesday 9 April. All are welcome. Enq: George Lopez on 9310 9493(hm) or 9325 2010(wk)

Saturday April 12

ST PADRE PIO PRAYER GROUP

At Holy Spirit Church, Bent Street City Beach. 9.30am St Padre Pio DVD at Parish Hall. 10.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, Divine Mercy, Silent Adoration and Benediction. 11.30am Holy Mass. 12.30 BYO lunch. Tea and

coffee provided. Books and religious items for sale. All welcome. Enq: Des 6278 1540.

Friday April 25

MEDJUGORJE  EVENING OF PRAYER

7pm-9pm an evening of prayer with Our Lady Queen of Peace at Our Lady’s Assumption Parish, 356 Grand Promenade, Dianella. Program: Adoration, meditation and Rosary, followed by Holy Mass. Enq: 9402 2480.

Saturday April 26

WORLD YOUTH DAY QUIZ NIGHT!

Join the young people of Holy Spirit Church to make this quiz night an unforgettable one! Holy Spirit parish hall. 2 Keaney Place, City Beach, 7:15pm. Tables of 8. Tickets - $10. BYO drinks and nibbles. Tea and coffee available. Enq: Melissa 9446 9682

Sunday May 4

THE 2008 BUSSELTON MAY ROSARY CELEBRATION IN HONOUR OF OUR LADY

12.30 pm at Queen of the Holy Rosary Shrine, Bove’s Farm, Roy Road, Jindong, Busselton. Holy Concelebrated Mass led by Fr Tony Chiera commences at 1pm. Rosary Procession and Benediction following Mass. Afternoon tea provided. All Welcome! For Bus bookings from Perth contact Francis 0404 893 877 or 9459 3873. Note: Roy Road runs off the Bussell Highway, approximately halfway between Busselton and Margaret River.

Thursday May 22 BE THE BEST PARENT YOU CAN

At 15 Cambridge Street, West Leederville. How to tackle parenting in this 21st century of enormous change and challenge. Build the healthy, nurturing family you want. A 6 week program providing tools and roadmaps for the way ahead. Survival Skills for Today’s Families is relevant to children of all ages and children over 8 years are welcome to attend. Cost $80 single parent/family or $120 couple/family. Enq: Relationships Australia on 9489 6322.

Sunday May 25

CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION

Holy Mass commencing at 10.30am. Procession starting at 12.30pm, at St John the Baptist Parish Church, 36 Stirling Terrace, Toodyay. The procession will honour the Blessed Sacrament with Prayers, Hymns and Benediction. A reception will follow. Please bring a plate. Bus services will be available: Contact Desmond 6278 1540, Nita 9367 1366, Chia 9337 3831. Enq: Franciscans of the Immaculate 9574 5204.

Friday June 6 to Friday September 26

PASTORAL CARE COURSE

For ministry with the mentally ill. 17 week course will run on Fridays, 8.45am to 3.30pm from Friday June 6 to Friday September 26. This course involves information sessions on schizophrenia, bipolar, suicide awareness, eating disorders etc plus group work and ward visits. Course donation of $100 is invited. Applications close 2nd May. Enq: Bob Milne, Graylands Hospital, pastoral centre 9347 6685 or 0413 325 486.

Every Sunday

SHRINE OF VIRGIN OF THE REVELATION

Sunday Pilgrim Mass is celebrated at 2pm with Holy Rosary and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at the Shrine, 36 Chittering Road, Bullsbrook. Reconciliation is available in Italian and English before every celebration. On the second Sunday of the month, anointing of the sick is administered during Mass. The pilgrimage in honour of the Virgin of the Revelation is on the last Sunday of the month. The side entrance to the church and the shrine is open daily between 9am and 5pm. Enq: SACRI 9447 3292.

Panorama

Every Saturday VIDEO / DVD NIGHT

Starting straight after the 6.30pm Vigil Mass: at St. Joseph’s Church, 20 Hamilton St. Bassendean. A variety of Videos/DVDs will be shown. The Saints, Conversion Stories, Catholic Teaching etc. Each video is approx. 30mins. Want to learn more about our Catholic faith? Bring the family along, there is no charge. Saturday 29th March - pt.2 of ‘Four Marks of the Church’. Saturday 5th April - pt. 3 of ‘Four Marks of the Church’.

CALLING PAST YCW MEMBERS

Were you a past member of the Perth YCW, or would you like to be informed about the actions and activities of the YCW today? The Perth YCW is in the process of creating a newsletter to “keep you in touch” with the movement, and we would like to hear from any past YCW members and/or supporters who would like to be kept on our updated mailing list. Please email the Perth YCW at perth@ycw.org.au or call Katherine or Vincent on 9422 7910 by Friday April 11th, 2008. We look forward to hearing from you!

CLUB AMICI

Club Amici aims to build community amongst Catholic singles, couples and families by organising social events for people (some events are specifically for people in their 20s and 30s). If you would like a copy of our latest calendar or to be on our mailout list please contact Therese 9405 6735 or email clubamiciwa@yahoo.com.

First Friday of the Month

WITNESS FOR LIFE

Pro-Life Mass at St Brigid’s, Midland starting at 9.30am. Followed by Rosary, procession and prayer vigil at abortion clinic. Led by Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate. Enq: Helene 9403 2444.

Every First Friday

HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND THE RELIGIOUS LIFE

7pm Mass at Little Sisters of the Poor Chapel, 2 Rawlins Street, Glendalough. Celebrant Fr Albert Saminedi. 7.30pm Holy Hour Adoration with Fr Don Kettle. Refreshments to follow in the hall. All welcome.

Every Tuesday

THE GOSPEL OF ST MATTHEW

Exciting revelations into the Gospel of St Matthew are being offered in a free of charge Bible course being conducted by Fr Douglas Rowe SFP St Joachim’s Parish Hall, Shepperton Road, Victoria Park. The course will be held every Tuesday at 7.30pm. Light refreshments will follow. Please bring your bible and a friend.

PERPETUAL ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

Is in its fifth year at Christ the King Church, Lefroy Road, Beaconsfield. 24 hours per day, except at Mass times. All are invited to spend an hour with Jesus truly present. Entrance is from the porch, near the altar on the Lefroy Road side of the church. Enq: Joe 9319 1169.

Third Sunday of the Month

OBLATES OF ST BENEDICT MEET

Venue: St Joseph’s Convent, York Street, South Perth at 2pm. An annual retreat is held at New Norcia, Trinity Sunday Weekend. Oblates are affiliated with Benedictine Abbey New Norcia. We celebrate our 50th Anniversary September 2008. A golden celebration. All welcome. Vespers and afternoon tea conclude monthly meeting. Enq: Secretary 9388 3026.

IS YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER UNDECIDED AFTER SCHOOL?

Is your son or daughter unsure what to do in 2008? Acts 2 College offers them a productive year discovering God’s purpose for their life while learning practical life skills. They will develop practical life skills in addition to learn-

Panorama entries must be in by 12pm Monday. Contributions may be faxed to 9227 7087, emailed to administration@therecord.com.au or mailed to PO Box 75, Leederville, WA 6902. Submissions over 55 words will be edited. Inclusion is limited to 4 weeks. Events charging over $10 constitute a classified event, and will be charged accordingly. The Record reserves the right to decline or modify any advertisment. Please do not re-submit Panoramas once they are in print.

Classifieds: $3.30/line incl. GST 24 hour Hotline

9227 7778 Deadline: 12pm Monday

ACCOMMODATION

■ FAMILY/GROUP ACCOMMODATION

www.beachhouseperth.com Call 0400 292 100

■ TO LET

Mandurah furnished holiday apartment in resort complex. 3 bdrm, 2 bath. Phn 9381 3495 or email: valma7@bigpond.com.

■ ST ANNE’S CHURCH, BINDOON

Accomm for retreat/family/group or single tel 9576 0975.

BOOK REPAIRS

■ REPAIR YOUR LITURGICAL BOOKS

General repairs to books old bibles & missals. 2ndhand Catholic books avail. Tydewi Bindery 9293 3092.

BUILDING TRADES

■ BRICK REPOINTING

Phone Nigel 9242 2952.

■ PERROTT PAINTING PTY LTD

For all your residential, commercial painting requirements. Phone Tom Perrott 9444 1200.

■ BRICKLAYING

20 years exp. Quality work. Phn 9405 7333 or 0409 296 598.

■ PICASSO PAINTING

Top service. Phone 0419 915 836, fax 9345 0505.

FURNITURE REMOVAL

■ ALL AREAS

Mike Murphy 0416 226 434.

HEALTH

■ DEMENTIA REMISSION

Do you, or your loved one, suffer Dementia. Get into Dementia Remission like me! http://www. wgrey.com.au/dm/index.htm or (02) 9971 8093

RELIGIOUS PRODUCTS

■ CATHOLICS CORNER

Retailer of Catholic products specialising in gifts, cards and apparel for baptism, communion and confirmation. Ph: 9456 1777. Shop 12, 64-66 Bannister Road, Canning Vale. Open Mon-Sat.

■ RICH HARVEST  YOUR CHRISTIAN SHOP

Looking for Bibles, CDs, books, cards, gifts, statues, baptism/communion apparel, religious vestments, etc? Visit us at 39 Hulme Court (off McCoy St), Myaree, 9329 9889 (after 10.30am Mon to Sat). We are here to serve.

■ KINLAR VESTMENTS

‘Modern meets tradition.’ Quality hand-made & decorated. Vestments, altar cloths, banners.

Contact: Vickii Smith Veness. 9402 8356 or 0409 114 093.

CHRISTIAN SINGLES

Looking for someone special?

Meet other Christian singles over small group dinners or on individual dates.

FigTrees is Perth’s ONLY genuine Christian dating agency. So, call 9472 8218 to make an appointment or check out our web site figtrees.com.au

9-328 Albany Highway, Victoria Park

Open Tues-Fri 10am - 6pm

ADVERTISEMENTS PANORAMA

Every Sunday LATIN MASS KELMSCOTT

The Latin Mass according to the 1962 missal will be offered every Sunday at 2pm at the Good Shepherd Parish, 40-42 Streich Avenue, Kelmscott, with Rosary preceding. All welcome.

Every

Starting Friday 7pm to 1am Saturday. Corpus Christi Church, 43 Lochee Road, Mosman Park. Prayers according to the booklet of The Alliance of the Two Hearts. Father Bogoni will say Mass and hear confessions all night concluding with Mass to honour the Immaculate Heart of Mary at 1am. Please join us even for an hour. Hymns, Rosaries and silent adoration included. Enq: Vicky 9364 2378 or Catalina 0439 931 151.

MARCH

28

29

30

APRIL

1

PILGRIMAGE

Led by Fr Greg Donovan, 19 Day Pilgrimage to the Holy Land/Turkey 24th Oct - 11th Nov

08. The cost $5500, includes all flights, meals, entrance fees. Confirmation is required by 6th April to secure the booking. For more info pls contact Christina Tan 9332 9881 or Rosemary Yeo 9313 8983

WEDDING MUSIC

■ CLASSICAL MUSIC FOR YOUR WEDDING CEREMONY

Performed by the ‘Simply Classical Quartet’ 9444 1630. Demonstration CD available.

PROPERTY

■ THINKING OF SELLING OR BUYING PROPERTY IN 2008

First Class Service

Accurate Caring and up to date advice

Premium Marketing

Acton Applecross – The Number One Sales Force Joel White 0404 096 214

■ PREMISES REQUIRED

We are looking for premises NORTH of Perth where we can hold daytime clinics for our clients. We require premises for a period of three to four hours during one day of the week; where we can see the clients privately and also has a waiting room. A Doctors surgery would be ideal. Similar offers would be appreciated. Our teachers are highly qualified in the field of Fertility education and management in the Billings Ovulation Method. Please contact Billings WA 0409 119 532 Marilena Scarfe.

THANKSGIVING

O glorious Saint Therese whom Almighty God has raised up and to aid and counsel mankind, I implore your Miraculous Intercession. So powerful are you in obtaining every need of body and soul our Holy Mother Church proclaims you a “Prodigy of Miracles...the Greatest Saint of Modern Times”. Now I fervently beseech you to answer my petition (mention here) and to carry out your promises of spending Heaven doing good on earth... of letting fall a Shower of Roses. Henceforth, dear Little Flower I will fulfil your plea “to be made known everywhere” and I will never cease to lead others to Jesus through you. AMEN (Say this prayer every day for 9 days. By the 4th day ask for a sign if prayer is to be answered.

FOR SALE

■ REED ORGAN:

MASON & HAMLIN  LISZT

3 Manual (5 octave) & full pedals (2.5 octave).

18 stops including 32’ sub-bourdon, 5 couplers (one needs re-building), swell pedal. Includes stool, external electric blower (vacuum), set of ornamental pipes. Main bellows fully rebuilt, organ cleaned and restored to a working condition without changes to the original. Make an offer. Ph.9291 6785

4-6 Parish Visitation, Como - Bishop Sproxton

Mass, Trinity College - Bishop Sproxton

7 Admissio, Redemptoris Mater Seminary

Archbishop Hickey

Catholic Schools’ Staff Breakfast, Burswood

Bishop Sproxton

8 Book Launch of Fr Gerry Arbuckle SM

Heads of Churches meeting - Bishop Sproxton

9

10

Memory and Identity: Personal Reflections

John Paul II

Hard cover

Reflecting on the most challenging issues and events of his turbulent times, including a candid interview about the attempt on his life, Pope John Paul II reveals his personal thoughts in a truly historic document.

$27 + postage

Mother Teresa: The Legacy DVD (Region

1)

This powerful and inspiring documentary film is the definitive portrait of the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize Winner and modern day Catholic icon, Mother Teresa. Following Mother Teresa and her sisters as they work to comfort the poorest of the poor and fight to uphold human dignity, this film is an experience of the way Mother Teresa transcended all political, religious and social barriers with her works of love.

$37.50 + postage

Saint Companions for Each Day

This collection of brief life sketches of some 400 saints presents a panoramic parade of some of the outstanding heroes and heroines of the Catholic Church who, by their holy lives, untiring labours and sacrifices have, through the centuries, helped to sustain the Church.

$15.95+postage

Witness To Hope: The Life of John Paul II

Based on the best-selling book by George Weigel, this is considered the best and most intimate documentary detailing the life of Karol Wojtyla, the poet, philosopher, playwright, actor, mystic and Pope, who survived World War II and Communist Poland to become one of the world’s great defenders of freedom and life.

VHS $20 + postage

DVD (region 1) $54.95 + postage

Saints: A Closer Look

By Fr Thomas Dubay

Who are the Saints? What do they mean for us living today? What sets them apart? How do we achieve this sanctity? How do sinners become saints? Fr Thomas Dubay not only reveals what makes saints tick, but also inspires readers to do the same and equips them with the tools to do so. It is a challenge, but sainthood is still possible for us.

$19.95+postage

Joan of Arc: The Director’s Cut DVD

Ingrid Bergman stars as the St Joan of Arc, the young French peasant girl who roused her nation to fight for their freedom at the behest of the Lord, and inspired the world with her faith, bravery and faithfulness to doing the will of God no matter what the price.

$34.95+postage