PERTH, WA: January 4, 1990
Registered by Australia Post Publication No. WAR 0202
US invasion under fire
Number 2669
• Page 4
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Priest scores 'first'
Perth priest Father Brian Limbourn has made history by taking o ff the first ever F linders University Medal to be awarded to a student in Theology. file medal is conferred
only on a first class honours student who has demonstrated academic merit of an outstanding character.
For his honours course, Father Limbourn had to take on an extra three semester courses as well as a 20,000-word thesis that is considered to be the equivalent of another three units. Twelve months in the writing, Father Limbourn's thesis was on Chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation and was
supervised by the retiring rector of St Francis Xavier Seminary Father Rom Barry. Father Limbourn was the first from that seminary to do honours in the Bachelor of Theology degree and was given permission to extend his seminary training to eight years in order to complete the degree
part-time at Flinders University while pursuing his regular seminary course program.
Some two-thirds of the Catholic seminarians at Adelaide take the B.Th degree which is now in its 10th year, the main participants in the College of Divinity being the Catholic. Anglican and
Uniting Churches. In addition to the university degree course the College offers a diploma in ministry and pastoral studies. To qualify for the B.Th. students do a Flinders course in sociology, history or education, as well as their regular seminary studies.
That people work towards peace and conserve environment
prayer VATICAN CITY: Gratitude for the liberation of Eastern Europe and renewed appeals for the environment and family life marked Pope John Paul's farewell to the 1980s and salute to the 1990s. The end of hard line communist rule in some Eastern countries is a blessing for the Church "which has a duty and right to bear witness to Christ", he said at the annual end-of-the-year Mass in the Jesuit church of the Gesu. Sitting in front of the pope were Italian and Roman government officials who heard him use the feast of the Holy Family to ask for "ethical and legal norms" to protect the family. Jesus was born into "a concrete human family" and he experienced not only the joys but also the trials and difficulties of family life. Advancing secularism obscured and even negated the natural values of the family, he said, and in Italy secularism had led to separation and divorce, declining birth rates and "the scourge of abortion". In his St Peter's Basilica Mass next day for the World Day of Peace. Pope John Paul said "peace demands a particular responsibility of man for the whole of creation".
"The message of the gospel of peace refers constantly and always to the commandment 'Do Not Kill'" the pope said. He added: "Do not kill another man, do not kill from the very conception in the mother's womb. "Do not limit human existence on earth with violence, terrorism. war, or methods of mass extermination. "Do not kill, because every human life is a common inheritance of all men. "The commandment applies also to destroying in different ways your natural environment. This environment belongs to the common heritage of all men, not only of the past generations but also of the future." During the prayers of the faithful, the pope prayed that "individuals, peoples and the international community, with the help of the spirit, work to construct true peace with respect for and conservation of the order of the universe". He prayed for workers and planners to act as "collaborators with the Creator", protecting and respecting the environment. At his midday Angelus talk the pope called on humanity to join together and take a conscious path towards a real world community.
Noriega: Time for justice now PANAMA CITY: While asylum was initially justifiable, it is now "completely necessary to us that former General Noriega be turned over to justice", Panama's bishops said in a New Year's Eve letter to Pope John Paul.
"As for the state which is to judge him. it will depend on the
of government Panama, as well as on possible extradition arrangements accordexisting ing to treaties." It said that pacification
and
re-
of establishment in democracy Panama "is being morally impeded so long as the presence
of the former general Antonio Manuel Noriega continues in Apostolic the Nunciature". protective "The
spirit of the Church requires first that there be guarantees of his physical and personal safety, such as the exclusion of capipunishment, tal humane treatment, a fair and proper trial . . . and that he be judged only for
specified crimes." the letter said. "It is quite justifiably feared that should he be set free in any part of the world. Mr Noriega would in a short time be causing turmoil, conflict and violence in this already suffering
nation.- the letter said. The bishops were clear on what they think about Noriega's character and conduct. They labelled him as -the author of abominable crimes, destroyer of his people and nation".
They said recent evidence showed Noriega was involved in drugs. torture. plans for extended guerrilla warfare, a decadent lifestyle and witchcraft • US bishops defend Panama actions Pages 3 and 4.
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Unique CATHOLIC MIGRANT CENTRE CHIEF MAKES PLEA choice in human history
Please open up more doors
ADELAIDE: "Our generation faces a choice that is absolutely unique in human history," says Archbishop Faulkner in his Advent letter to the Church and community of Adelaide. The letter, titled Care for the Earth, contains a Christian response to the environmental debate. The Church's response is based on the birth into the world of Christ, the Word made flesh, Archbishop Faulkner says. "All of creation comes from God, all of it is good and all of it reflects the Creator," he says. "Every creature, the atmosphere we breathe, the Murray River, the desert lands of South Australia, the Coorong, each species of plant and animal, the stars that form the Southern Cross, all were created in and through the Word." The right to exploit natural resources regardless of the consequences is an attitude that must be rejected, the Archbishop says. "In the debates between 'development', and 'conservation' in our community here is South Australia we can insist that development must not have automatic priority and pragmatism does not have the last word," he says. "Rather," he says, "plans for development will be tested against the good of future generations, the present and future ecological balance, the rights of individuals and communities, and the value of preserving different flora and fauna that are part of God's gift to us here in South Australia. "For the first time we know that our actions, our consumption and our lifestyle are contributing to the destruction of life on our planet. "We Christians cannot co-operate in the wholesale destruction of other species. "Each year, many thousands of species are extinguished forever from the planet. "This is directly related to the destruction of the Earth's great forests and • to the damage done to the Earth's topsoil, atmosphere, seas and waterways. "We Christians must resolutely oppose such destruction."
Gerald Searle . . . a new call.
gration far outweigh the costs. What we have gained through immigrants is incalculable. "It is a pity that so many are blind to see how we have been enriched through immigration." In the face of racism rearing its ugly head. he
Quote lt Let every person open his or her heart without fear or prejudice and recognise that we all have the same rights and duties and the same responsibility to witness unity and co-operation. yy
divides the Australian community. He argued: "If we are not Aboriginal then we are immigrants of the past 200 years. "The benefits of imrni-
said it was necessary to remind Australians that all this has come about as a result of a false belief. He said: "Racism is based on a false belief that a particular race is
superior to others." It was important that people be reminded that racism and Christianity is incompatible and that Christians throughout Australia need to be in the forefront in the fight against this evil, he concluded. Meanwhile, he disclosed that a National Conference on multiculturalism and the church is being planned for January/February 1991. The steering Committee will be chaired by Father Dino Torresan C.S. It is hoped that as many of the clergy, teachers and diocesan workers will make an effort to attend this worthwhile conference. At the Archdioc.esan elsembly at the end of The Year Of The Mission, Archbishop Foley challenged us "to make sure our Church is a participative and inclusive one."
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Jose Flamenco gives his mother a welcome kiss. 1064,;AMMIF
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peoples which should exist in the coming century — one in which all of God's children live in peace and solidarity with one another," he said. He noted that it was a sad reality that the immigration debate
144'i
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The Catholic Migrant Centre in Perth said goodbye to 1989 with a strong call to political leaders to open more doors to refugees in the new year. Gerald Searle, director of CMC, also pointed out that it was also important to eliminate discrimination in the workforce. He said: "Let every person open his or her heart without fear or prejudice and recognise that we all have the same rights and duties and the same responsibility to witness unity and cooperation." He made an impassioned plea to Catholic people to be leaders of reconciliation. "We believe that Australia has a unique opportunity at this moment in history to become an example and a symbol of the kind of world community of
321 8151 384 5605 335 2602
The Record, January 4, 1990
Christmas reunion El Salvadorian Jose Flamenco had the best Christmas present he can remember last month. He was reunited with his mother in Perth after a two-year wait. Jose came here as a refugee, together with his family, brother and sisters, from El Salvador. In fact there are 12 "in the family" who came to Australia without "Mama".
So for "Mama" Flamenco it was also "a very, very happy occasion". She thanked the Latin American Association here who helped make this reunion possible. When Jose was asked how he felt about having his mother in Perth, his answer was identical of Mama. He said: "I feel very, very happy too."
'Champion the unwanted'
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ADELAIDE:— The whole Church, must champion the weak, the unwanted and the defenceless and speak out in defence of the unborn child's right to life, Archbishop Faulkner said last week. At the annual Mass of Atonement on the Feast of the Holy Innocents, he said the history of our world is the story of human rights, the story of people seeking their rights and recognising the rights of others — or abusing those rights. He said: "I am also convinced that abortion remains a major obstacle to the exercise of human rights. Abortion contradicts the most fundamental of all rights, the right to live, the right to be born and to be loved and valued. "Each human being is directly, personally, created by God: and it is created in his image and likeness especially in this, that it is irreversibly designed by its very nature for immortality after bodily death.
'WEIL
Archbishop Faulkner
-There will be no genuine acceptance of human rights while the unborn are killed. At the same time, as a Church family, we are called to champion the weak, the unwanted and the defenceless in our country and overseas. "We are called to be a true 'Community for the World', to really make a difference to have an impact on our society and to transform our world with Gospel values. In turn we will support the global quest for human rights and lasting values. "I pray that we may so transform our society that pregnancy and parenthood will be seen as one of the richest certainties of adult experience and the fulfilment of one of woman's truest aspirations. "I pray that we may so transform our society that every pregnant woman, married or single, can readily obtain all the professional and practical assistance, and all the human companionship and encouragement, which she needs to help her have her baby."
• Slaughter of the innocents on page 11
Religious liberty PRAGUE: Czechoslovakia's new Parliament has taken a first major step toward religious liberty by lessening state control over churches. The Parliament on December 13, abolished a
law which had made it a crime to "avoid or try to
avoid state control over churches". The law was a major instrument in the
communist
regime's
repression of church life
in the predominantly Catholic country.
Christmas Masses for first time on TV (CNS):— PRAGUE Christmas Masses were broadcast live on television in 1989 for the first time in Czechoslovakia.
A midnight liturgy, transmitted from the Czec.haslovak republic of
Czechoslovakia's state television broadcast a Slovakia, was celebrated midnight Christmas by Bishop Hnilica. It was Mass for the first time the first Mass the bishop. this year. Previously, in exile in Rome since even celebration of mid- 1951, had publicly celenight Mass on Christmas brated in his homeland was often forbidden. since escaping what was
then a harsh communist government. On Christmas Day,
Bishop Hnilica concelebrated the Mum' in the historic St Martin's Cathedral in Bratislava, Slovakia's capital city. Czechoslovakia's new minister of cultural affairs has been to Rome to negotiate the appointment of bishops to the country's nine vacant Sees.
'Papal nuncio action helped save lives' WASHINGTON (CNS): By giving refuge to Gen Manuel Noriega, the Vatican nunciature in Panama "played the decisive role" in ending the fighting in that country, the head of the US National Conference of Catholic Bishops said last Friday. Archbishop Pilarczyk of Cincinnati, bishops' president, said he was issuing a statement "to respond to some of the concerns and the questions" about the deposed Panamanian dictator's "temporary presence in the embassy". "Iam convinced that the actions" of the papal nuncio in Panama, "were intended to save lives and not to hinder the course of justice", he said. "While Noriega's flight to the embassy was an event unsought by the Church and complicates her mission," Archbishop Pilarczyk said, "his acceptance into the embassy clearly played the decisive role in bringing an end to the fighting in Panama. "From the moment Gen Noriega was granted entrance into the embassy," he said, "the fighting in Panama virtually ceased." Catholics and others in the United States "have been struck by the odd spectacle" of Noriega's seeking "temporary refuge" in the Vatican embassy, he said. He called it ironic that Noriega was following the example of Panama's new leader, Guillermo
Endara. who had also taken refuge in the nunciature when he faced threats after winning the presidential election in Panama earlier in the year. Noriega had nullified the election, and Noriega supporters beat and harassed Endara and other opposition leaders. "In responding to a person's plea to protect his life," Archbishop Pilarczyk said of the kind of refuge Noriega sought, "the Church makes no judgment on the quality of that life". He added that "people of every moral and religious persuasion, and sometimes none, have sought the Church's protection down through the years". Archbishop Pilarczyk noted that Nuncio Archbishop Laboa "had first demanded Noriega's pledge to cease hostilities as a precondition to his being allowed to seek temporary refuge". While the Vatican would be pleased if Noriega left, Archbishop Pilarczyk said, "it cannot force him to leave nor hand him over to American authorities without violating" international law. He said he prayed for a solution that would "respect international law, Panamanian sovereignty, legitimate US interests and the unique and vital role of the Holy See in world affairs".
t me among and the Lord I went among them And had seemed to them w fore, turned for rn. weetness ( Testament of St Francis)
Also for the first time since the communist
takeover of Czechaslova1948, all the Catholic clergy of that nation living in exile in kia in
Rome were given visas to travel home.
Several made the trip for Christmas to celebrate their first Masses in their home parishes in
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. .. . . . - • -
Guest editorial Bishop Pat Dougherty Bathurst, NSW
FROM THE EAST Eastern Europe. The "Berlin Wall" came crashing down. The "Iron Curtain" was torn asunder. So suddenly and unexpectedly. A t long last "news of great joy for all the people", a long awaited ray of light! A "star" of hope announcing a new dawn after a seemingly interminable dark night of atheistic and dictatorial oppression. From "the East" comes once again the voice and the message of the Magi: "We saw His star rising, and the sight of the star has filled us with delight." This star leads from the catacombs which decades of persecution had sealed off, to the signs — for some the first — of the blue skies of religious freedom. From the dark catacombs not everyone will emerge: innumerable 20th Century martyrs lie buried there: others have not yet benefitted from recent dramatic changes and must wait that moment of freedom which, please God, willnot delay in reaching them. How special will be this Christmas for all who, in forced silence and obscurity have —from generation to generation" remained faithful to Christ and His Church, whose supremely courageous public profession of faith brought them imprisonment and torture! They are the living martyrs of whom we are very much little brothers and sisters and, perhaps, unworthy ones at that. We Christians of the "free world" will find greater joy this Christmas in the vivid awareness that multitudes of our brothers and sisters will -- some of them for the first time in decades — feel free to publicly celebrate a Christian Christmas. Last year we remembered them, praying for them in their isolation and suffering. This year we pray with them in the freedom common to us all; but we shall pray for them still. The star of hope has appeared, but the sky is not yet free of worrying clouds. Today's Magi — the wise people from the East, from Eastern Europe, proclaim that Herod, godless, andpowerful, has been as unsuccessful in the twentieth century as he was in the first century in his determined efforts to eradicate Christ. Many innocents he has killed, but Christ stands unconquered. The "West" in general, and each of us individually, cannot but see — unless we deliberately close our eyes — that the eradication of Christ, whether by the sword or by more insidious means, is simply "not on" if persons and (as Mr Gorbachev said to the pope) nations are to be truly human and to progress. Christmas without Christ has been tried. And it has failed miserably. Will historians seeking to trace the origins and sequence of "causes" of Eastern Europe's 1989 transformation, take into account the pope from "the east", providentially placed by God as Vicar of Christ throughout this decade? Or the role of the universally invoked intercession of her whom we have even honoured as the "Morning Star", heralding the advent of the "Sun of Justice", the "Prince of Peace"? If Lech Walesa symbolises the immediate genesis of Eastern Europe's emergence — religious and social — from "the catacombs", we are wise to remember that he has ever, unfailingly, courageously, and unashamedly, worn a quite visible picture of Mary on his lapel. Whether we see ourselves as Magi or shepherds or somewhere in between, there is a place for us and there is peace and joy awaiting us this Christmas, provided we are willing to move from near or from far and make the effort to get on our knees before Christ the Saviour whose birthday we celebrate. 4
The Record, January 4, 1990
It's thumbs Priest is shot own Invasion PANAMA CITY, Panama (CNS): Panabishops ma's expressed relief at the downfall of Panamanian strongman General Manuel Noriega but deplore the US military invasion of their country, calling it a "deep wound inflicted on us as a free and sovereign nation". In a nationally televised Mass on Christmas Day, Archbishop Marcos McGrath of Panama City urged the people to "work for peace and reconciliation" and not take revenge on supporters of the ousted leader. Church officials said the papal nuncio to Panama, Archbishop laboa, let Noriega take asylum in the nunciature after Noriega agree to stop fighting the US forces which had invaded to topple him from power. We sincerely ask that nobody should feel a spirit of vengeance," Archbishop McGrath said in his televised message. fie asked Panamanians to return goods stolen during the widespread
looting that followed the US invasion and to work for the future in a spirit of hope.
We can feel a certain happiness at the prospect of rebuilding the nation in an atmosphere of freedom, of democratic participation, but it depends on all of us how it will be done," he said. "We must all accept that we have all had some part, some guilt, in Panama's problems." The carefully worded 750-word statement by the nation's 11 bishops three days earlier expressed similar mixed feelings. The bishops said — t wo principles "National sovereignty" and "popular sovereignty" — were at stake. They avoided a total condemnation of the US military action, noting that it had "the declared purpose of getting rid of a dictatorial regime and installing democracy" and had "tried to be selective, directed toward the freedom of all Panamanians". But they blamed "the international community" for contributing to
A thumb u
LOS ANGELES (CNS): A rchbishop Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles said he supported US military intervention in Panama, noting that democracy "must be sustained". Ihe archbishop. head of the Bishops' International Policy Commitee, said that "the values which our own country holds so dearly are at the very heart of the involvement of the United States in Panama."
Respect for democracy, and the democratic principles which are the foundation stones of any free people. must be sustained," Archbishop Mahony said. "The former government of Panama has not only ignored the wishes of the Panamanian people. as expressed in a lawful election; the indictment of the former president on numerous narcotics char gm also
the state of affairs that led to the invasion, through a "one-sided insistance on the principle of nonintervention" during the years that the Noriega regime was in power.
The bishops condemned Noriega's 'Violation of human rights, the disavowal of the popular will, arbitrary arrests, the practice of torture, the absence of freedom of expression, etc." They said they had tried for years to promote "peacefull, political measures" to end "the sociopolitical crisis which oppressed us" under Noriega. "The Panamanian people did not find any effective help in the international community against these evils," they said. They asked "whether we have really done everything possible" to avoid the US invasion. "We feel deeply hurt in our nationality, in our being as Panamanians," they said. "We feel as if our dearest sentiments and our ancestral aspirations have been trampled upon."
demands attention," the archbishop said. "It simply is not possible to condone the continuing existence of a governmental leader whose leadership has been repudiated by his people and who must face a just court of law as the various charges against him are adjudicated," Archbishop Mahony said, referring to US against indictments Noriega on drugs and racketeering charges.
The only solution W ASHINGTON (CNS): Central American bishops meeting in Costa Rica in late November determined that General Manuel Antonio Noriega had become "the No 1 problem in Panama," and the only solution was his removal from power, said the president of the Costa R ican bishops' c onference.
But the bishops wanted a foreign military invasion avoided "as long as possible," said Archbishop Arrieta of Costa Rica.
"Our discussion of Panama centred around the idea that General Noriega should be removed from the political map of Panama . . . that he had become an absolute dictator and in order for an authentic democracy to exist, he would have to leave," Archbishop Arrieta said concerning the SEDAC meeting. His "anti-democratic" attitude and disregard for the right to "free expression" contributed to the worsening situation, said Archbishop
Arrieta.
But he said the Panamanian poor "suffered the most" from economic sanctions imposed by the US government to punish Noriega, who had been indicted by US grand juries on drug trafficing charges. According to Archbishop Arrieta. the Central American bishops "have no doubt that Guillermo Endara won" the Panamanian presidential election held in May. Noriega declared that election null and void.
VITORIA, Brazil (CNS): A French priest known for his work in the basic Christian community movement was shot in the heart on Christmas Eve in the coastal city of Vila Vehla, in the southeastern Brazilian state of Espirito Santo. Father Gabriel Maire, 53, received death threats four months earlier because of his defence of Brazil's popular movements. He was shot while returning home from a wedding ceremony. The priest, a native of St Claude, France, had worked in Brazil for nine years. Auxiliary Bishop Rocha of Vitoria said he did not know if the killing was intentional. "There are probably people who don't agree with his (Father Maire's) actions in the defense of the popular movements," he said.
Meeting gets o ahead VATICAN CITY (CNS): — The Russian Orthodox official in charge of e cumenical relations announced that a postponed meeting with Vatican officials would take place in Moscow from Jan 14-17. During a Dec 27 press conference at the Danilov Monastery near Moscow. Metropolitan Kin! of Smolensk. Soviet Union, said Orthodox and Vatican officials would discuss the "coexistence" of the Russian Orthodox and Ukrainian Eastern-rite Catholic churches. The metropolitan was quoted as saying discussions with Vatican officials are necessary to avoid a "religious war" in the Ukraine. An official at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity told Catholic News Service Dec 28 that his office was awaiting the formal invitation to the meeting. The meeting originally was scheduled for late November, but it was canceled in what Vatican officials said was an attempt to allow Metropolitan Kiril time to become acquainted with his new responsibilities as head of the office for r elations with other churches. The metropolitan was a ppointed in midNovember. News stories from the Soviet Union, however. speculated that the meeting was postponed, at least in part, because Ukrainian Catholics had taken over a Russian
Orthodox parish in the Ukrainian city if limy. The Church of the Transfiguration had been Catholic until the Ukrainian Catholic church was forcibly merged with the Russian Orthodox Church in 1946. "The Russian Orthodox Church is ready to accept the legalisation of the Ukrainian Catholic Church," Metropolitan Kiril told reporters. But "it's necessary to work out ways of co-existence for the two religious communities in Ukraine at the negotiating table with the authorities of Rome." he said. Soviet television Dec 27 broadcast a picture of a Russian Orthodox priest who reportedly began a hunger strike to protest Catholic attempts to take over his parish.
Historic moment
VATICAN CITY: Vatican Radio's broadcasts to Ukrainian Catholics have produced tens of thousands of letters from people there, Pope John Paul told a general audience recently. For many years. these broadcasts were the only crumbs of spiritual nourishment for those who suffered for their loyalty to Christ and to his vicar the pope." he said. Pope John Paul 11 said Catholics in the Soviet Ukraine are experiencing a historic moment that is "full of new hopes" for their previously outlawed church.
Something to SAY? Something to SELL?
Danger facing Catholic Church NEW YORK (CNS): Jesuit Father Avery Dulles, the noted theologian, says that the greatest danger facing the Catholic Church in the United States was "excessive and indiscreet accommodation" to US culture. Father Dulles in a lecture in New York called US Catholics to a "counterculturalism", but one "measured" and "prudent" in recognition that the Church could benefit from "certain American democratic values and practices". "Our American traditions of freedom, personal initiative, open communication and active participation can undoubtedly be a resource for the renewal of Catholicism in an age when authoritarian structures, repression
and conformity are in general disrepute," he said.
But traditional Catholicism, he said, has "convictions and priorities" different from those embedded in American culture. "The more thoroughly Catholics become inculturated in the American scene, the more alienated they become from their religious roots and the hierarc.hial authorities," he said. "Accommodation, therefore, can increase the crisis of identity felt by American Catholics." Regarding the approach to US culture, Father Dulles said four strategies were pursued by US Catholics: traditionalism, neo-con.servatism, liberalism and prophetic radicalism.
Each of the four strategies, he concluded, has both strengths and weaknesses, and none is "simply wrong".
Father Dulles said he agreed with traditionalists and neoconservatives that the Church is "basically healthy". But he also agreed with the liberals that it could learn "from the American experiment" and with the radicals that it should be "admonished by prophetic reformers" to the extent it adopts the values of middle class America. Neo-conservat ives and liberals who view US society as basically healthy, he said. minimise "the extent to which the tradition of public virtue has been eroded by the quest for private
pleasure and material gain". He said that a new mass culture of "consumerism" had been imposed on the cultural patterns of past centuries. Father Dulles said the predominant trend in US Catholicism since the Second Vatican Council was "accommodationism", and he found this tendency in the hierarchy as well as among theologians and young Catholics who see themselves first as Americans and "only secondarily as Catholics". "Apart from the issue of abortion, on which they are willing to risk a measure of unpopularity." he said, "the bishops increasingly shift their attention to social issues, adopting agendas that in many ways resemble t hose of the liberal
Pinpoint moment of death' VATICAN CITY (CNS): Pope John Paul II urged scientists to keep trying to pinpoint the moment of death and to be prudent in the meantime when deciding when organs can be removed from one body f or transplant into another. "Neither individuals no' society are permitted to endanger life, whatever the benefits that might possibly accrue as a result." the pope told a meeting of international experts. sponsored by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. It was the second conference on the subject in recent years at the Vatican. The pope said greater knowledge about death is of great theoretical and practical importance for society and the church. On the practical level, he said, a "tragic dilemma" is presented when a sick person needs
an organ that could be provided "by another patient lying next to him in a hospital, but about whose death there still remains some doubt". In any case, he said, the sacrifice of a human life is prohibited. "even though it may be for the benefit of another human being who might be felt to be entitled to preference". To help bring these issues into better focus, scientists and scholars should try to "determine as precisely as possible the exact moment and the indisputable sign of death." the pope said. "For, once such a determination has been arrived at, then the apparent conflict between the duty to respect the life of one person and the duty to effect a cure or even save the life of another. disappears." he said. Meanwhile, he said.
scientists and doctors should be careful about policies on transplants and experiments. He said "some form of renunciation is called for" when these methods would harm or degrade an individual. The pope also spoke about the Christian perspective of death — as a time of entry into a new life, as well as a separation from this one. "The moment of this separation is not directly discernable, and the problem is to identify its signs," he said. From this perspective, he offered a definition of death: "It occurs when the spiritual principle which ensures the unity of the individual can no longer exercise its functions in and upon the organism. whose elements, left to themselves. disintegrate." The pope acknowledged that this was an
intelligentsia, notably in their teaching on peace and on the economy." Accommodation has always been "an honoured principle of pastoral and missionary practice", and there can be "no question of simply rejecting" it, Father Dulles said. But the Church must guard against its dangers, he said. Father Dulles, son of eminent statesman John Foster Dulles, who was born to a Presbyterian family and converted to Catholicism while a student at Harvard, said that "by simply echoing the prevailing opinions and values" the Church undermined its "claim to present a divine message" and weakened the "motivation for seeking membership".
the Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus, cancelled its celebrations for the third consecutive year
because of the uprising, known as the "intifada" or shaking off.
The town of Beit Sahour, where tradition says shepherds saw the star announcing the birth of Jesus. also has cancelled its activities. In autumn, the 10,000 residents of Beit Sahour — a mainly Christian vil-
lage in the Israelioccupied West Bank — peacefully withheld their tax payments through a sixweek siege by Israeli troops that ended in October.
The villagers claimed a victory over Israeli authorities. but Israelis said they got the revenues they wanted through the sale of about $1.5
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Arrange your funeral now and give you and your family peace of mind. era in which many complex questions emerge. In working toward answers, he said. researchers should avoid easy solutions and "never lose sight of the supreme dignity of the human person".
to have occurred when spontaneous cardiac or respiratory functions had irreversibly ceased. or when there had been an irreversible cessation of all brain function. The group agreed that organ transplants should During a meeting in wait until the brain death 1985, a working group of of the donor has been the acedemy concluded certified in tests perthat death could be said formed six hours apart.
Christ as joy canceIIed BETHLEHEM, West Bank (CNS): Two West Bank towns linked to the birth of Christ have cancelled Christmas celebrations because of events connected to the Palestinian uprising in Israeli-occupied territories.
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million worth of property seized from the residents. "Due to the difficult conditions which our town is experiencing after the tax raids that lasted for a month and a half and the detention of dozens of merchants and residents, we are obliged to cancel all Christmas festivities," the town said in a statement.
More than 700 people. mostly Palestinians, have died in the two-year-old Palestinian uprising, which began with confrontations between stonethrowing youths and Israeli troops in the territories. The violence has grown to include murders of Palestinians suspected of being Israeli informers.
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The Record, January 4, 1990
5
Pope looks to East European backyard VATICAN CITY (CNS): History's most travelled pope is looking to his East European "back yard" as a potential circuit for the next several years. A combination of longrange Vatican planning 3nd dramatic political reforms in the East have opened real prospects for Pope John Paul II to visit Hungary, East Germany, the Soviet Union and possibly Czechoslovakia. The recent crumbling of ;:ommunist control in iome of these places, and its weakening in others, have prompted Vatican planners to look ieriously at travel 7alendars for 1991 and 1992. Before papal trips an be made, however, .- :ertain minimum conditions must be met in each jf the East-bloc nations. These conditions are best illustrated in Hungary, where the pope is 3xpected to visit in fall of 1991. By then. Vatican bfficials expect, Hungary's Parliament will have passed a landmark
law on freedom of religion that gives legal status to the Church. Most probably, diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Hungary will have been reestablished, too. When Soviet leader Gorbachev Mikhail announced after meeting with the pope that the t wo men had discussed a papal trip to the Soviet Union, Vatican officials were quick to note that "development of the situation" must first take place. The first and most important element, Vatican officials said later, is the involvement of local bishops, who play a major role in the preparation and carrying out of a papal visit. In fact, the invitation for such trips comes primarily from the local bishops' conference, with either assent or a separate invitation from the government. In the Soviet Union, bishops are in place in Lithuania and Latvia — two likely stops on a
papal itinerary — but not in the Ukraine. With the recent decision to allow registration of Ukrainian churches, underground bishops there could come out of their clandestine existence. The Vatican, however, would want to carefully study the hierarchical picture, too. The Vatican has had some form of permanent official contact, if not full diplomatic relations, with most countries the pope has visited. (The exceptions were Botswana and Swaziland in 1988.) Vatican officials expect that a delegate or delegation will be named soon for the Soviet Union. The Holy See also has diplomatic relations with Yugoslavia. That still leaves most of Eastern Europe without permanent contact with the Holy See — something the Vatican would probably want to change before committing to a papal visit. One major obstacle to papal travel in Eastern
been Europe has removed, or at least diminished, by recent political reforms.
tion by local governments. Vatican sources say serious thought is being given to a visit in the Vatican officials realise summer of 1991 to East that a papal trip lends Germany, including Bercredibility to the host lin — where the fall of government — and legithe wall in November timising East European became a symbol of the communist regimes was new political climate. the last thing the pope Czechoslovakia is more wanted to do during the first 10 years of his problematic, although pontificate. He made an the current political may exception for Poland, his reorganisation speed up improvements homeland, where he used the three visits to in church-state relations. The Vatican would still hammer away at government human rights poli- want to name bishops for cies and boost the oppo- eight dioceses and see Solidarity work on a freedom of sition religion law before a trip movement. could be made, Vatican Many Poles say the sources said. pope's first trip there in But Czechoslovakian 1979 was the spark that Bishop Josef Koukl of lit the fire of the political Litomerice recently prereform movement. The dicted a papal visit there pope has been invited for "in the not distant his fourth visit in 1991, future". Because most when he will likely be papal trips are planned hosted by a Solidarity-led two years in advance, government. that would probably The fact that political mean 1992 or later. pluralism is now emerThe itineraries for papal ging throughout the visits are planned by Soviet bloc lessens the local bishops — usually risk of political exploita- in consultation with the
government, since the bishops want full state collaboration. The program is then sent to the Vatican for review. Vatican sources say this would also be the procedure for East European trips. The special set of ethnic and nationalist sentiments in these countries could present difficulties, but the pope has faced similar problems before in other parts of the world. In Hungary, Vatican sources said, the bishops have been given full freedom to design the papal program, which is expected to include Budapest, Esztergom, Pecs and a Marian sanctuary. Vatican officials say there are several important pastoral arguments for papal travel in Eastern Europe today — that he would not go simply to bless the new political arrangements. One obvious reason is that the pope sees the region as ripe for evan-
gelisation, perhaps more so than the secularised West. After decades of state atheism, many people are believed to be ready for the kind of message the pope would bring — not only church members, but those who have done without religion. Another purpose would be to publicly consolidate the church communities and hierarchies. A papal trip as a national or regional event inevitably spotlights local bishops and, to some extent, the clergy and other pastoral workers. Some vatican sources believe East European churches, which have lived halfunderground and without a visible pastoral structure, need this kind of recognition. Others believe a papal trip would increase the church's prestige in society and help end whatever discrimination may still exist against believers, even after political reforms.
FInger on a sore spot •
VATICAN CITY (CNS): When Pope John Paul II met with leaders of the Latin American hierarchy at the beginning of Decmeber, he warned that there must be a "real communion" between members of religious orders and their bishops. Especially to be avoided, the pope said, were "parallel magisteria and pastoral programs that do not sufficiently reflect this communion and unity." The pope was putting his finger on a sore spot that has become sorer over the last year between the Latin American hierarchy and the region's confederation of men and women Religious, known by its Spanish acronym, CLAR The controversy began with a Gospel-teaching program developed by CLAR called "WordLife", which was eventually modified at Vatican insistence. Over the summer, relations deteriorated when the election of a nun as CLAR's secretary general was vetoed by the Vatican and a priest put in her place. 6
The dispute underlines that, even as the church prepares to celebrate 500 years of Christianity in Latin America, there are deep internal differences over how the church should operate and how the Gospel should be spread. CLAR's "Word-Life" program said the fifth centenary was a good moment to deepen the understanding of the Bible among Latin American Catholics and the tens of thousands of religious priests and nuns. The idea was to promote "a collective exerof studycise conversation-action" centred on biblical themes "as understood through the concrete reality of the people." The 83-page Word-Life booklet quoted from the pope's own speeches in its preamble. But much of the Word-Life text used language and terms that are not often found in papal talks. The primary concern in reading the Bible, it said, must be to discover the "concrete and conflictual reality" of the people who wrote it, and then
The Record. January 4, 1990
use the same analysis to "ideologised and reducreading" of study the economic, tive political, social and reli- Scriptures. gious situation of today. The Vatican's CongreThus it is seen that "the gation for Institutes of oppression of the people Consecrated Life and of Egypt happened and is Societies of Apostolic still happening . . . The Life agreed that the Pharaoh is more alive "Word-Life" project than ever, he controls needed a "global reviLatin America and sion" and took over enriches himself, impov- supervision of the program. erishing our people." The program got more According to Vatican specific, denouncing sources, the doctrinal land ownership by "the congregation was also few" and stating that in involved in the review. most Latin American The Vatican's steps countries those who hold provoked a negative power do so to defend reaction among many special interests. A Latin American minority has seised the Religious. means of production and political power, it said, In Brazil, for example emarginating the people. 12 national church It spoke of a "continual organisations wrote to cultural invasion" in the bishops' conference Latin America, and of to protest what they termed repression in how to resist it. handling the affair. In February, the CLAR leaders first bishops of Colombia denounced the program agreed to make changes for what they called its but eventually decided to "Marxist analysis" and drop the project rather ordered it withdrawn than re-work it under from use among the Vatican conditions. But country's Religious and Vatican officials remain laypeople. The Latin upset over the matter, Bishops' saying that Word-Life American Council said the project has since been distrib"fundamental uted privately. had defects" and used an Last April, in the midst
of the dispute. Sister better handle such issues Manuelita Charria was as the Word-Life proelected CLAR secretary gram and the upcoming general and her name 500th anniversary of sent to the Vatican for Latin American confirmation. Christianity. Three months later, the When CLAR represenVatican said no, naming tatives met in Ecuador a instead Mexican Father few days after the VatiJorge Jimenez to the post. can meeting, they wrote CLAR president Father Cardinal Hamer a letter Luis Coscia objected to which one Vatican offiwhat he called Vatican cial described as "harsh". "meddling" and threaThe letter said the root tened to resign. of the controversies was Last September, Cardi- disagreement over the nal Jerome Hamer, head church's "preferential of the Vatican congrega- option for the poor". tion on religious life, met Affirmed at Medellin, with Father Coscia and in 1968. the Colombia, other CLAR officials. An the poor has option for meeting of the account was later given by Father been mistrusted and contested by some in the Coscia. hierarchy, the letter said. Cardinal Hamer, he It spoke of officials who said, explained that the "struck at those bishops decision to substitute who wanted to put it into Sister Charria was made practice, and at CLAR after consultation with which wanted to remain the pope. faithful" to the Medellin The problem was with commitment. the nun's doctrinal and A Vatican source theological qualifications, the cardinal told denied that this was the motive for Vatican the group. intervention. should Father Jimenez With Word-Life it was be seen as a gift from the pope, the cardinal report- necessary to make clear edly said — he was that Religious cannot chosen to help improve simply devise their own relations between CLAR pastoral plan in conflict and the hierarchy, and to with local bishops, he
said. The case of Sister Charria was one of proper qualifications, he said. The episodes have underscored that the 1992 anniversary and the call for a "new evanglisation" in Latin America are seen in widely different ways inside the church. They also recall a similar controversy that preceded a major church meeting in Puebla, Mexico, in 1979 — another occasion when Latin American bishops criticised a preparatory pastoral program by CLAR When the pope addressed men and women Religious at the Puebla meeting, he spoke then, too, of the "duty of magisteria avoiding other than the church's magisterium, for they are ecclesially unacceptable and pastorally sterile." The hierarchy's relationship with Religious is considered especially important in Latin America — Religious were the first to bring Christianity to much of the continent, and they still form the vast majority of the pastoral force there.
Priests get the nod
Road into Moscow. Where is it leading to for the Catholic Church?
ROME (CNS): More than 200 Russian Orthodox priests have been accepted into the Ukrainian Catholic Church by bishops in the Ukraine, according to the church's Rome office. More than 300 parishes in the Ukrainian Socialist Republic are functioning with the Ukrainian Catholic Church's Eastern rite and at least 600 congregations have registered with Soviet officials, said a December 22 statement from the office of Ukrainian Cardinal Myroslav Lubachivsky. New priests have been accepted by Archbishop Volodymyr Sterniuk in Lvov and Bishop Paylo Vasylyk in IvanoFrankovsk. The bishops, recognised as the local diocesan leaders by Cardinal Lubachivsky. operated clandestinely until this year. The Ukrainian Catholic and Russian Orthodox liturgies are similar. The t wo churches were the same until 1596, when the Ukrainians declared their unity with the Roman Catholic Church. Under the religious repression of Josef Stalin, the Ukrainian Catholic Church was forcibly merged with the Russian Orthodox Church in 1946. Since then Catholics either worshipped "underground" or as part of Russian Orthodox congregations. While the Soviet government has not recognised the Ukrain-
Salute to Casaroli on his birthday VATICAN CITY (CNS): A dozen years ago, Cardinal Agostino Casaroli found himself defending the Vatican's attempts at dialogue with communist governments. But as toasts were offered following his 75th birthday Nov 24, he found himself being credited with planting the seeds, watering the shoots and bringing to bloom religious freedom Eastern throughout Europe. Casaroli, Cardinal whom Pope John Paul II appointed Vatican secretary of state in 1979, has spent 26 years negotiating with communist governments — and defending the church's need to do so. The Holy See, he said in a 1977 speech, -has never hidden the fact" that "it is quite happy to be able to give approp-
riate support to the cause of peace". But the church "considers the primary and fundamental objective of its relations with states and governments to be the service of the church and the promotion of life and of religious rights." When communist governments denied Catholics the right to practice their faith, the church prayed, condemned and rediscovered the strength needed to survive in the new catacombs of the Soviet bloc. And while the Cold War was at its iciest, Pope John XXIII selected then Msgr Casaroli to begin in 1963 the delicate work of reestablishing diplomatic contact with the Marxist states. Working quietly and cautiously, he tried to gain even the smallest of concessions for the church and its believers,
who for almost 20 years had been locked out of church buildings, imprisoned or exiled for practicing their religion and denied good jobs because they were Catholic. More than a few people complained that the Vatican's "Ostpolitik", as its overture to East European governments is called, amounted to little more than selling out to communism for a few favours. In Ostopolitik's early days, the Vatican offered such things as a government voice in the appointment of bishops in a swap for guarantees that institutional church life could continue. Cardinal Casaroli had often remarked that it is better for the church to exist under government constraints than not to exist at all. While his skills in dealing with the Soviet
bloc show why he was chosen to teach diplomatic style from 1958 to 1961 at the Vatican's diplomatic academy, he has not shied away from letting communist governments know where the church stands. During a June 1988 speech to a Moscow audience, which included government officials, Cardinal Casarub said Christianity is a reality of human life which could not be ignored — even after half a century of stateencouraged atheism. The Christian faith of Soviet citizens must be considered when planning for the future, he said. 'The realism of men of state makes it a necessity. And respect for man demands it". He praised the reform policies of Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, but added that "because of past experiences, pub-
lic opinion is still skeptical" that the reforms would include religious freedom. Six months later, while 1989 was still a new year. he expressed a bit more optimism. Prospects for future Vatican-Soviet talks "are not negative", he told reporters last January. "We are always ready to dialogue. What was lacking was a partner. Now a partner exists," Cardinal Casaroli said. As 1989 was ending, Cardinal Casaroli joined his boss in welcoming Gorbachev to the Vatican. During the Dec 1 meeting, Gorbachev echoed many of the sentiments Cardinal Oasaroli had expressed in his Moscow speech a year and a half earlier. Gorbachev said the Soviet Union soon would adopt a freedom of
ian Catholic Church, the Council for Religious Affairs in the Ukraine announced December 1 that Ukrainian Catholic parishes could register as other religious communities do. Registration is required for legal public gatherings and for use of church buildings. Cardinal Lubachivsky said on December 22 that "the re-registration of formerly Russian Orthodox parishes as Ukrainian Catholic is not an ejection of one group of parishioners from their church by another group." Rather, he said, it is "the declaration of a single group of parishioners of their true faith as Ukrainian Catholics." The cardinal also denied continuing reports that Catholics have violently attacked Russian Orthodox der*, and faithful in the Ukraine. While religious liberty is a matter of churchstate relations, he said, "I am prepared to discuss the improvement of relations between the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church in the (=text of interchurch dialogue as is appmpriate." "The Ukrainian Catholic Church is always open to dialogue and will act in the spirit of Christian love, forgiveness and reconciliation," Cardinal Lubachivsky said.
conscience law guaranteeing the right of all people "to satisfy their spiritual needs" and that his government and the Holy See would establish official relations. The details of permanent relations, he said. would be worked out "by our diplomatic officials-. who are led by Cardinal Casaorli and Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze. The pope-Gorbachev summit meeting was seen as the summit of Cardinal Casaroli's career as a Vatican diplomat, a career he began at the age of 26 as an archivist in the Secretariat of State. While church law required Cardinal Casaroli to submit his resignation on this 75th birthday to Pope John Paul, church law does not specify when the pope must accept his resignation. The Record, January 4, 1990
7
athways of the
pint
KNOW YOUR FAITH
Compiled by NC News Service
The great Biblical women... I prefer not to think about two women in Mark's Gospel — Herodias and her daughter. The Gospel did not name the daughter, but we know her as Salome. All the other women in
Who are the biblical women? They include destructive women like Salome who demanded the head of John the Baptist on a platter. But they also include women like Queen Esther and Mary, the mother of Jesus, Father John Castelot and Father Eugene LaVerdiere write.
Briefly... "As we scan the pages of the Gospel, many women of different ages and conditions pass before our eyes," wrote Pope John Paul II in his 1988 apostolic letter on women titled The Dignity and Vocation of Women ("Mulieris Dignitatem"). He described the letter as a meditation on the dignity and vocation of women. The Bible provides models of women involved in a multitude of different roles, the pope said. These include women heroically suffering from illness and from the effects of poverty and old age; women valiantly serving the family as wives and mothers; women getting involved in the great social issues of their day. In his meditation, the pope pointed out that the Bible portrait of women again and again insists on the dignity of women. This is apparent especially in the way Jesus treated women. Throughout his public ministry Jesus was "a promoter of women's true dignity and of the vocation corresponding to this dignity," Pope John Paul H said. In all of Jesus' teaching, "as well as in his behaviour, one can find nothing that reflects the discrimination against women" prevalent in his day. The pope observed that 8
Jesus entered into "the concrete and historical situation of women, a situation which is weighed down by the inheritance of sin." One of the ways this inheritance is expressed is through "habitual discrimination against women in favour of men," the pope said. The pope turned to the story of the woman caught in adultery in Chapter 8 of John's Gospel to illustrate that point. In the culture of Jesus' day, the usual penalty for the woman caught in adultery was to be stoned to death. But when the woman was brought to Jesus to be judged, he refused to condemn her. Instead. after telling her to go and sin no more, he urged the woman's accusers to look to their own consciences As the pope put it, "Jesus seems to say to the accusers, 'Is not this woman, for all her sin, above all a confirmation of your own transgressions, of your male injustice, your misdeeds?" The truth expressed in that Gospel story "is valid for the whole human race," the pope said. In it. Jesus sets a standard for all to follow in their treatment of women. "Christ's way of acting. the Gospel of his words and deeds, is a consistent protest against whatever offends the dignity of women," the pope concluded.
The Record, January 4, 1990
Mark's Gospel are tremendous people, beginning with Peter's mother-in-law and ending with those who followed Jesus from Galilee and stayed with him to the cross and the tomb. In between, there is the woman in the hemorrhage, cured at the touch of Jesus' garments. the Sym-Phoenician woman who pleaded with Jesus to cure her daughter, and the woman who anointed Jesus with precious ointments at Simon the Leper's banquet. If I don't like to dwell on the roles of Herodias and Salome, neither do I like to dwell on Judas, nor on the high priests who
plotted Jesus' death. With Herodias and h daughter, I read cn quickly and put them mit of mind. There is something repulsive about a mother requesting that the heed of John the Baptist be served up on a dinner platter at a banquet. It also is hard to imagine a daughter presenting such a demand to her stepfather. And all thisat a birthday party no lesh. Nonetheless, much c•,i be learned from Herodias and her daughter. These women, like t men in the Gaspe!, are complex and fasdnatbig. They lead us to b)k further into Scripture Ior parallels and contrasts The story of John t Baptist's death in Mark's Gospel, for instance, prepares us for Jesus' death. The part played Herodias and her ciau ter prepares us for tl at played by the chef
By Father Eugene LaVerdiere, SSS priests, the scribes and the elders who plotted Jesus' death and even for the part played by Judas who betrayed him. Herodias and Salome are villains all right. But, as the villains in Jesus' passion are counterbalanced by heroes such as Joseph of Arimathea, the t wo women also have their heroic counterparts in the Gospel. In addition, Herodias and Salome have an indirect relationship to t wo outstanding women in the Old Testament. When Mark writes of Herodias and her daughter, he wants us to think of Queen Vashti, the wife of King Ahasuerus. and Esther, the Jewish princess who became a Persian queen in the book that bears her name.
-Queen Vashti is less well known, but must have been a great woman. When the king demanded that she enter the banquet hall and dance for his male guests so he could boast of her beauty, she absolutely refused.
For her refusal, Queen Vashti was banished from court and perhaps was executed, as the book of Esther hints. Ancient Jewish tradition says that she was beheaded and her head brought to the king on a dinner platter! Queen Vashti risked and accepted death for her principles and sense of human dignity. Herodias plotted and obtained the death of John, a great and holy figure, who angered her with his uprightness. We know Esther as a woman of integrity and prayer. She also was a beautiful woman with great inner strength. In a
time of crisis she became a heroine to her people by securing their freedom from a general sentence of execution. Salome used her beauty to destroy her people. Esther used hers to save her people. Knowing that two great women, Queen Vashti, a gentile, and Queen Esther, a Jewess, stand in the background helps considerably when I think about Herodias and her daughter. Now when I read about them, I think of what they were but also of what they could have been. They turned a birthday party into a death-day party. They could have turned a royal banquet into a national celebration of salvation and new life. Herodias and her daughter could have been a new Queen Vashti and a new Esther for their people.
Luke's Gospel of women... By Father John Castelot "The Gospel of Women" is just one of the many descriptive titles given the Gospel of Luke. In general, Luke displays deep compassion for the disadvantaged: the poor, the sick, sinners, foreigners, outcasts and losers. And women were born losers, since they had to play the game according
to rules designed to "keep them in their place". Jesus simply ignored the rules, and Luke enthusiastically underwrote his attitude. Both exhibited a fine their in delicacy approach. a delicacy that was at the same time strong and uncompromising. They insisted on women's dignity as human beings, as persons in their own right.
Jesus — and Luke — quietly restored it. From one end of Luke's story to the other, women figure prominently in Jesus' career. While Matthew highlights Joseph's role in the events surrounding Jesus' birth. Luke places the spotlight on Mary. Without Luke, our portrait of Mary would be little more than a dim sketch.
Society had denied them their personhood;
In the story of John the Baptiser's birth, his father Zechariah is, until
sexism; to acknowledge that for minority and immigrant women racism creates a particularly harsh form of oppression. The Bible contains stories which cast light on such concerns, While women and men often respond to these stories differently, sharing our readings can help bridge some of the bitter divisions which emerge when the subject of women's experience is introduced. Traditionally, women as wife and mother had to ensure that the tribe or nation continued to exist
by bearing legitimate offspring, Many examples, from the story of Sarah and Hagar to that of Mary, deal with a divine intervention which makes it possible for the woman to become mother of the hero. But the Bible also indicates the ambiguity of such demands. The genealogy citing the ancestry of Jesus and the beginning of Matthew's Gospel reminds us of women who had to demean themselves or suffer abuse in order to become mothers. Both Tamar and Ruth
the birth, a sort of silent Elizabeth partner. emerges much more clearly. In the story of the presentation in the temple, the figure of Simeon is balanced by that of Anna. This exemplifies a pattern which will recur all through the Gospel. Luke the artist had a keen sense of symmetry, of balance. The figures of John and Jesus are paralleled in the annunciation and birth narratives. But there is another
balance also. A man s paralleled consistent v by a woman: Zechariah and Elizabeth. loser h and Mary. Simeon ard Anna. In the account of Jesus' public ministry, a stoly involving a man is followed consistently by one involving a woman. In Luke, the cure of a demoniac is followed by that of Peter's mother-inlaw (4:31). The healing of the centurion's servant (7:1-10) is followed by the raising of the widow's son (7:11-17).
In the same chapter, Luke (and Luke alone) tells the wonderful story of the forgiveness of the "sinful woman", who is portrayed in colours that contrast glowingly with those used for the proper, self-righteous host. The healing of the Gerasene demoniac (Luke 8:26-39) is followed immediately by the intertwined stories of the woman with the persistent hemorrhage and the daughter of Jairus. Only Luke has pre-
must take on the guise of prostitute in order to force males to father their offspring. Ruth bears the additional burden, familiar to the immigrant woman, of being a non-Israelite seeking her legitimate place in an unfamiliar society. Solomon's mother, remembered in Matthew as "wife of Uriah", was the victim of David's lust and his power as king to have her husband killed. David forced himself on her.
Joseph is just, he does no denounce her publicly and he accepts God'! chosen as his own child.
oppression of women. Jesus' challenge to the male privilege of divorce (Matthew 5:27-32) destroys any perspective that makes women objects to be used for sexual pleasure, personal convenience or even to continue the family name.
the foreign woman who wins healing for her (Matthew daughter 15:21-28).
Jesus singles out invisible or socially excluded women and praises their faith.
The Samaritan woman's mission brings in the rich harvest of nonIsraelites about which Jesus spoke to his disciples (John 4:4-42). Other sptiocri tues readd depth to this
served the stories ot the good Samaritan and his healing ministrations and the hospitable ministrations of Martha and Mary. So it goes. right up to the Gospel's conclusion, with the women who had followed Jesus from Galilee (Luke alone has named them in 8:1-3), noting Jesus' hasty burial and preparing the materials for a more formal interment. It is to them that the risen Lord first appears,
IN° en of yesterday and today By Pheme Perkins How can the women of the Bible inspire women in the 1990s? I have served as a c onsultant to the bishops' committee developing the proposed US bishops' pastoral letter on women's concerns. The three common pleas from women who responded to the draft of the pastoral were: To recognise the ability, talents and diversity of w omen; to struggle against the poverty, violence and demeaning of women engendered by
Mary is only rescued from disgrace by God's intervention. Because
Those stories do more than tell of the required male hero-saviour's arri. val. They also depict the plight of women iL relationship to powerful males who control thei • lives. They show how hard t is for justice to be done1; such situations. Even th! just man. Joseph, must receive divine guidance The picture of Jesus i:t the Gospels challenge; the blind sterrotypit ft that contributes to
See the story of the sinful woman whose anointing shows up the shallow love and hospitality of Jesus' pious male host (Luke 7:36-50), or
In a society where education of women was rare. Jesus affirms the place of women who receive his instruction (Mary in Luke 10:38-42).
There is no single, stereotyped woman in the Bible. We can find
and they became the first proclaimers of the good news. The "Gospel of Women" indeed! And Luke indicates that this balance continues into the era of the church. When he records the community's first gathering, he notes the presence of the Eleven and continues. "All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women and Mary. the mother of Jesus, and his brothers" (Acts 1:1314).
much to challenge sexism in the name of a God who raises the lowly. The traditional, patriarchal angle of vision in the Bible does not simply condone the sexism which deprives women of recognition, winks at the injustice of their poverty or denies the racism faced by minority women. The hero of the movie "Field of Dreams" hears a voice telling him to "ease his pain". We might take the same message from the suffering, struggles and triumphs of biblical women, for God hears the cry of faithful women servants (Luke 1:48).
Having heard about Jesus, some royal women from Herod's court, dressed in servants' clothes, mingled with the crowds around him. Some, like Joanna, subsequently became followers of Jesus, writes Jane Wolford Hughes.
e story of anna
By Jane Wolford Hughes ( A woman named Joanna, a follower of Jesus, is briefly mentioned twice in the Gospel of Luke, in Chapter 8:3 and 24:10. Here is a story based on her presence in the Gospel.) The room smelled like a garden in the evening. the perfumes of the royal ladies blending with each other. Joanna reclined quietly on her couch, but her hair, piled high on her head, was bare of ornamentation. Rare for a member of the court. Joanna was the wife of Chuza, steward of Herod. the powerful ruler of Galilee. She had come to Herod's grand palace in Jerusalem for his lavish Passover entertainment. As was the custom in 33 A.D.. the women were relaxing in a room separate from the men. The name of Jesus floated above the murmur of conversation. As rumours of his trial were discussed, some royal women admitted they had heard him speak. They confessed to being awestruck by his gentleness and by the majesty and authority radiating from him. He regenerated their hopes of a different life where women would be honoured as persons and people would care for one another. Some told of the cures they saw, adding that they were witnessing the compassionate spirit of God. Others confided
that, disguised in servants' garments, they had joined the crowds following Jesus, listening to him and mulling over his words. The women smiled and embraced each other then, their haughtiness dissolved in the new knowledge of their bond through Jesus. Joanna began to speak. Her words had instant authority with the court women. "He is the promised Messiah who has come to save us. When I first heard him, he awakened something in me. Until then I had lived with the fear that when I died.I would not
believe in him, our spirits will be free. Women for all times will honour him — and remember us."
Joanna told the court a story she had heard about a desperate outcast who had pushed through the crowds surrounding Jesus just to touch his garment. Years of insults had signed their marks on the woman's face and people moved away from her in fear of catching the dreadful hemorrhaging that had plagued her for 12 years. "Even among all these people. Jesus felt her presence and asked. 'Who touched me?' for he felt the power of his
DISCUSSION POINTS People turn to the Bible in hopes of finding someone they can model themselves after, someone whose actions they can follow. What sorts of models can you find in the articles of Fathers Eugene LaVerdiere and John Castelot? If you were to pick a favourite woman biblical character from those mentioned this week, which woman would it be? Why? know what it was to have Father moving from lived. Now I know I am him," Joanna said. alive!" When the woman threw herself before him, Joanna told the women Jesus looked lovingly at that she was a disciple of her, addressed her as Jesus and administered "daughter" and then to the ill and oppressed said, "Your faith has who followed him. She made you well. Go in added that her home was peace and be healed of a meeting place for Jesus' your illness," Joanna said. followers and that she "The woman was transhad sold her jewellery for formed before their food and medicine. eyes," Joanna added. "Once you begin to "And since then she has follow Jesus. you are on a travelled with the discijourney that never ends ples. proclaiming his — even in death." she wonders to all and said. "1 will give my life if ministering to the most it is necessary. You must miserable." do the same, for if we Listening to Joanna
along with the other women was the wife of Pontius Pilate. the Roman prefect of Judea. He was the one who must decide the fate of Jesus. Pilate was no admirer of Herod, but protocol demanded that his court attend such celebrations. Outwardly Pilate's wife seemed indifferent to the conversation, moving among the women like quicksilver. Hiding herself in the composure of her rank, she did not reveal her inner struggle. But the eyes of Jesus had peered into her soul. Now, destiny was touching her. She would speak to her husband about leniency for Jesus. The Scriptures do not dwell heavily on the role of women in Jesus' life. But those who are singled out must have made a vigorous impact. for they had shown an astonishing loyalty and courage. The Gospel writers were sensitive to Jesus' reaction to women, as the story of the woman with the hemorrhage in Mark 5:25-34 reveals. Jesus was respectful. often protective and showed a loving tenderness to women diminished by the despair that comes fmm banishment and powerlessness. Jesus called women as well as men to follow him and they did so in great numbers What better models do we have today than Mary and Martha. Mary Magdalene and Joanna. who publicly followed Jesus on the journey which never ends? court
The Record, January 4, 1990
9
Painting is her lifestyle One is always curious By Colleen to meet 'people who've made their public McGuiness-Howard mark'; to find the behind person tian Brothers in the acclaimed works. errace, and Elizabeth T It was going to be Mary (Dame Mary and doubly interesting in this urack), to nearby D instance, because this lady bears the name of a Loreto. Their father was a famous Western Australtravelled man widely ian family — the who made business trips Duracks. Synonyomous with pio- abroad, bringing back neering up north and momentos from other family ownership of a lands which helped decgroup of stations, the orate the gracious rooms, Duracks were and are a one of which contained cultural family who many artifacts depicting engendered a quality of aborigine life in the life not only for them- Kimberley. Having completed their selves but also for those they touched. For exam- education, Elizabeth and ple the Aboriginals who Mary returned to their were appreciated and station homes up north, mainly living on Ivanhoe loved by the Duracks. and Argyle Stations. This Elizabeth Durack's work reflects this com- is when her art started passion for these people. developing as did Mary's A gracious and attractive writings and their first lady, Elizabeth Durack works in co-operation. During those early days grew up in the family's town house at 263 Elizabeth would do the Adelaide Terrace with a drawings for Mary's first backyard which ran written works. From moving around right down to the Swan River. (Now known as the stations with their drawings and writing, the Durack Centre). Town location was the sisters went to Lonessential for the educa- don where Elizabeth tion of the six Durack studied art. children, whose four Returning to Australia. sons went to the Chris- they went back up north
and art became more and more a way of life. Marriage to Sydney Francis journalist Clancy, and two children, made time for art harder to come by, but she continued and to date, this persistence and love of art has resulted in a formidable output. Elizabeth Durack maintains a quiet profile when it comes to stating her achievements, which can only be discovered through research. The fact is, she has produced much during her 50 years art as.sociation and is probably now our best known Western Australian artist. Her work is interesting, exciting and catching. Rather than putting one off viewing further works, Elizabeth Durac.k's paintings and drawings make one want to see more. Her figures are real people; recognisable and uniquely Australian. They have appeal and tell a story and in fact some of the characters are even lovable, as for example her painting of the Aboriginal Mother and Child (1949) on the front cover of this year's
Christmas Record. Regardless of what words art critics use to describe art, it all comes down to whether the product is palatable to public taste. Elizabeth's art is and one could very easily live with her works and the ongoing enjoyment they provide. Viewing her art brings a realisation of the empathy, compassion and understanding she has for our stark Australian landscape and our indigenous people which came about through her early association in the Kimberley. She has had over 50 exhibitions with a showing every year since 1945, and is planning another exhibition later this year. Her works are widely held in public and private collections in Australia as well as in England, Europe, the USA and Asia. Working in a wide variety of mediums, Elizabeth has written and illustrated her own books, been involved in radio plays. and her art has been in publications of various kinds plus murals interstate and intrastate.
Elizabeth Durack against a background of one of her paintings. Last September she was guest artist at the Australia-Ireland Conference in Dublin and Galway. Currently this delightful artist, who sees her art as on-going, makes paint-
ing tricks to various parts of the State including up north and the eastern goldfields.
of the British Empire, Elizabeth Durack sees her life without art inconceivable.
Recipient of two Imperial Honours — Companion of St Michael and St George and the Order
"It's become more and more my way of life — andIcan't imagine doing anything else!"
New catechism draft for Church VATICAN CITY:— The world's bishops have received the first draft of a new universal c atechism for the church — the first in more than 400 years. Meant as a comprehensive statement of basic truths of the Catholic faith, the document is 434 pages long in the English version. Its basic structure of three main parts —
creed, sacraments, commandments — plus an epilogue on prayer is almost exactly the same as the last such universal catechism, the Roman Catechism issued in 1566 following the Council of Trent. Unlike the Roman Catechism, however, the new document addresses issues unheard of four centuries ago, such as nuclear and chemical warfare, surrogate moth-
erhood. biogenetic research, reckless driving and pollution and toxic waste. Its synthesis of moral and doctrinal teaching relies heavily on Scripture, ancient church writers and the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. The provisional title of the new work is "Catechism for the Universal Church." A note says that the
final version, like the draft, is to be addressed primarily to world's bishops, the chief "teachers of the faith". but that also through the bishops the catechism will be addressed to editors of diocesan and national catechisms and to c.atachists and the people of God. The note stressed that the draft text is not definitive and "does not yet have all the homoge-
neity which one would desire." It said the draft still suffers some "limitations," such as differences in style in various parts of the text and occasional repetitions of the same material in different places. But it added that even the limitations could have a value in the consultation process, because they would afford bishops an opportuntiy to comment
on which style they preferred or where they thought some subjects would be most appropriately treated. The bishops have to comment by May 31. The project for a new universal catechism began with a proposal at the 1985 World Synod of Bishops by Cardinal Law of Boston. Taking up his suggestion, the synod urged the pope to develop "a
catechism or compendium of all Catholic teaching on faith and morals which may serve as a point of reference for the catechisms or compendiums composed in various regions." The synod said the presentation of teaching in the catechism should be "biblical and liturgical, setting out sound doctrine and adapted to contemporary christian life."
Focus on special pastoral care, too The draft catechism is not restricted to a simple repetition of Catholic teaching. It also presents reasons behind the teaching, explanations of its nuances and implications, and at times indications of the church's proper attitude and pastoral approach toward those who find it difficult to live in accord with a particular teaching. While the draft reiterates church teaching against homosexual activity and against divorce and remarriage, for example, it also stresses the pas-
10
toral concern of the church and the need for special pastoral care for those who find difficulty living in accord with those teachings. In the section on the commandments especially, the draft often refers to specific contemporary moral issues. It indicates the principles and directions of church teaching in complex areas where the teaching may not be clearly fixed or may involve different elements in tension with one another. In treating the commandment against killing, for example, it
The Record, January 4, 1990
reiterates the traditional teaching that society has a right to impose the death penalty for extremely grave crimes, but it adds: "Although the right to exact this penalty exists, the church would always urge the exercise of clemency, which is more in accord with the instincts of Scripture and particularly of the Gospel. Alongside the need to protect society and to discourage wrongdoing, there is also the duty to be merciful as the heavenly Father is merciful."
The draft includes among sins against the Fifth Commandment "the drug traffic, a force destructive of life and a social scourge today." It also condemns, in addition to classically recognized sins of murder, suicide, abormutilation, tion, hostage-taking and torture, new "risks to life in an industrial society" — among them the threat to others posed by druken or reckless drivers and "the absence of guarantees and of protection for high-risk industrial concerns (nuclear power stations, those producing toxic matter
or pollutants), which are a growing threat to people and their natural environment." In its teatment of modern warfare it reaffirms the traditionally held "right of lawful self-defence", but it condemns outright "the manufacture and use of chemical weapons." It says it is "morally wrong" for nations to have "defense strategies that rely on weapons on i ndiscriminate destruction." It urges negotiated elimination of nuclear weapons from the arsenals of nations and
prohibition of their use "by international law." The section on the Fifth Commandment is one of several in which modern social teachings of the church on human rights and social justice are incorporated into the draft text along with more traditional moral teachings. The section on the Seventh and Tenth C ommandments includes a treatment of such issues as poverty, development of nations, ownership, work, employeremployee relations, economic systems and
proper use of natural resources. The draft tries to show a sensitivity in areas where Eastern and Western church traditions differ, explaining the legitimacy of each tradition and how each arose historically. It explains, for example, the Eastern traditions of married priesthood, of administering confirmation at the same time as baptism, and of considering the priest the minister of the Sacrament of matrimony, while the Latin Church considers the bride and groom the ministers of the sacrament.
The slaughter of the innocents By Sister Clare Ahern, Si Recently, I had the daunting journey of six thousand kilometers by road and air ahead of me, so I piled into my h and-luggage some reports and books that daily commitment had prevented me from reading. These, I felt, would stimulate and interest me between the snacks and sleeps that were the normal occupation of long air flights. So. somewhere in the sky between Darwin, Alice, Adelaide. Melbourne and Sydney, I opened one of the reports. The first report consisted of a selection of stories and commentaries by aboriginal people from the area where I live. The early part of the report dealt with the murders and massacres of the aboriginal people. the killing times, which began around 1888 and lasted into the early 1900's. I knew all the story
tellers, so I prepared
Shameful events of past myself to read the awful stories that I had either previously heard or now read for the first time. Listening to or reading these shameful events of our history always provides me with disturbing reflections. But, on this occasion. I felt terribly shattered. On the pages before me was the graphic description of the slaughtering of the children. Hector, my long-time friend, was retelling the story of a massacre of his people at a place called Jail Creek. These are his words ... "Right, all the kartigja (white people) get their guns, line up every girl and boy and shoot them down with a rifle. "Whang all the children on the rocks. (Swing the
children by the legs to Why such cruelty to the severely malnourished. one third had intestinal And this is Australia, remote Aboriginal combash their heads against innocent, the little ones. parasites. a country where it munities and those living 1990, Analysis of growth data the rocks). Almost 50% of children was declared that no on the fringes of cities, As I struggled with my gathered between birth "Chuck kerosene, put emotions and confusion, and five years of age tested had intestinal child would suffer from towns and other nonon the firewood and I reasoned that the showed that undernutri- parasites or recognized poverty. Aboriginal settlements in chuck all them dead slaughter on the streets tion at age five was bacterial pathogens in What was the future for northern Australia." bodies in the firewood of Bethlehem happened significantly associated their faeces. these children? I read on Rachel is still weeping. place, put kerosene and because Herod believed with lower birthweights. These findings indicate to discover the state of will weep for many chuck matches... Boy and that one of the little boys Twenty-one per cent of widespread mild-to- health amongst the years. Her voice will -sob girl and children, all was the long-awaited children had evidence of moderate malnutrition adults. and loudly lament, refusburn up, shot down. Get Messiah, the Messiah lower respiratory tract and a high prevalence of ing to be comforted". rass t is d was report The all the kids. whang them expected to bring libera- disease, 19% had signs of infections in children in the researchers with ing. The slaughter of the against a tree." tion and freedom from chronic suppurative oti- that community, particu- concluding — "We have innocents continues, and I stopped, repulsed, oppression to the people tis media and 35% had larly respiratory and no reason to believe that so will our reflection, sickened at the vision of his kingdom. active skin infections. gastrointestinal infec- what we have docu- unless we comfort before me. Into my mind More than three- tions as well as mented in that remote Rachel. stretch out in But why were the slipped a vision of Zeffer- children of the Kimber- quarters of the children trachoma." community is substan- compassion and love to elli's film about the Life ley slaughtered? and enable These poor children, I tially different to what help, had signs of trachoma. of Christ. most other understand. in s and anaemic happen were thought. 20% Did the slaughterers On Christmas night I had watched the section fear that one of them of the birth of Jesus would be the Messiah, which ended with the that one of them would brutal slaughter of the be a leader? Or did they die because children. were not treated as they I saw the soldiers of Herod gallop through the humans, respected as Send cheque and advertisement to: streets of Bethlehem, people? Closes noon Wednesdays. the terminating savagely $5 min. for first 28 words. Or maybe it was CLASSIFIEDS ECORD R lives of the boy children. because the values of the Post or deliver P.O. BOX 50 26 JOHN STREET The slaughter on the adults, values so very No phone calls. streets of Bethlehem and different from ours were NORTHBRIDGE, W.A. 6000 now the slaughter in the not acceptable? Kimberley! The hungry adults I forced myself to read killed some cattle, usu0 Death 0 Baptism (free) 3 Accom wanted 0 Sits wanted another story. This time 0 Death Thanks Engagement available 0 Accom the Chairman told of a ally just one to eat, and O vacant Sits 0 0 In memoriam massacre where the 0 Marriage 0 Wanted to rent 0 Help wanted murderer ran short of 0 Thanks 0 Silver wedding 0 House to let 0 Teacher wanted bullets. 0 Wanted El Golden wedding 0 Flat to let 0 Teacher available As a consequence, the 0 Public Notice 0 Diamond wedding 0 House for sale O Building trades bullets were used for the 0 Personal 0 Jubilee 0 House wanted El For sale adults and the children 0 Information 7 Anniversary El Holiday accom Ci Wanted to buy were killed in the following way. The murderer HAVE YOU ANYTHING WISE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS ADVERTISE FOR gave instructions to his men as follows... FOR SALE? TEACHERS ,iRST IN THE RECORD SELLERS GET BEST RESULTS WITH RECORD CLASS'' cnc "Walk up to the child- the frightful reprisals ren. those little ones, began. "And Rachel wept bang them against the for the children because flat rock like this one they were no more." (banged the children's These thoughts disheads on rocks). Knock them and chuck them in turbed me so much that I changed my reading that fire." perusing a I visualised the cruelty, and began on report medical • the weeping. the scream-based ommunity C ing, the panic, scenes in Kimberley • from "The Killing Fields, Illness in written Aborigines and the words of Jeremy 1989. filled miah $5 Again the slaughter of thoughts — the innocents. ADDITIONAL: 10 cents for each 4 words or less "A voice was heard in The medical survey of Ramah the children in the $5.10 Sobbing and loudly where I had Community lamenting: $ 5.20 lived for many years It was Rachel weeping "more than oneshowed for her children, be third of the children had to Refusing impaired growth, 21% comforted NAME: undernourished. Because they were no were were children t wo more." ADDRESS stunted, six were underThe age-old questions nourished and stunted. TELEPHONE filled my thoughts, "Why and two children, aged do bad things happen? nine to ten years, were The Record, January 4, 1990 11
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Medical survey of kids
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BUILDING TRADES Electrical Contractor J.V. D'Esterre, 5 Vivian St. Rivervale. 30 yrs experience, expert, efficient. reliable. Ring 362 4646. after hours 385 9660. Unit E, 98 President St Kewdale. Painting, quality work at
the right price. John Freakley. Phone 361 4349
Kingdom Electrics Lic No 003467. Prompt 24 hi service to all suburbs, domestic, industrial, commercial, installation and maintenance, computer cabling installed and terminated. Contact Frank on 446 1312. New metal roofing and gutters, carports, patios, maintenance repairs. For personal service phone Ron Murphy 277 5595. Upholsterer, retired professional is interested in
repairs and light recovering work (kitchen chairs) etc. Phone 342 8333.
PUBLIC NOTICE FURNITURE CARRIED. One item to housefulls Small, medium, large vans awilable with one or two men from $24 per hour, all areas. Cartons and cheap storage available. Mike Murphy 330 797), 317 1101, 444 0077, 447 8878, 272 3210, 378 3303, 384 8838. Country callers: 008 198 120.
REAL ESTATE
THANKS
Novena to the Holy Spirit. Most holy apostle, St Holy Spirit, you who solve Jude, faithful servant and all problems light all roads friend of Jesus, the name so that I can attain my of the traitor who deligoal. You gave me the vered your beloved Masdivine gift to forgive and ter into the hands of his forget all evil against me enemies has caused you and that in all instances of to be forgotten by many, my life you are with me. but the church honours I want in this short prayer and invokes you univerto thank you for all things sally, as the patron ot as I confirm once again hopeless cases, of things that I never want to be almost despaired. Pray for separated from you ever, me, I am so helpless and in spite of all material alone. Make use I implore illusions. I wish to be with you, of that particular you in eternal glory. privilege given to you, to Thank you for your mercy bring visible and speedy towards me and mine. help where help is almost C MK despaired of. Come to my Oh Holy Spirit, thou who assistance in this great makes me see everything need that I may receive and shows me the way to the consolation and help reach my ideal. Thou who of heaven in all my gives me the divine gift to necessities, tribulations forgive and forget the and sufferings, particuwrong that is done to me larly (here make your and who are in all request) that I may praise instances of my life with God with you and all the me. I in this short dialogue elect forever. I promise want to thank Thee for oh blessed St Jude. to be everything and confirm mindful of this favour to once more that I never always honour you as my want to be separated from special and powerful Thee no matter how great patron, and to gratefully the material desire may encourage devotion to be. I want to be with Thee you. Amen. Thanks to St and my loved ones in Jude for prayers answered your perpetual glory. and thanks to Our Lady of Amen. Persons must say Revelation, Bullsbrook. this prayer for 3 consecu- for a very special favour tive days without stating granted. Liz one's wish. After 3 days your wish is granted. no Thanksgiving to St matter how difficult it may A nthony for favours be. Promise to publish the granted. Help me again prayer. A.M. please. Y.E. Novena to the Sacred Heart. Most Sacred Heart
of Jesus, may your name be praised and glorified throughout the world now and forever, Amen. (Say nine times a day for nine consecutive days and promise publication). Thanks to the Sacred Heart for prayers answered. Liz.
SHELLEY: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, lounge, kitchen/dining, freestanding games room, patio, pergola, 923sqm suitable for strata title, in cul-desac location near schools, church and others etc. The home is 25 years old Ask Saint Clare for three and freshly painted. Ring favours, one business, two 457 4270. Cash buyer only. impossible. Say nine Hail Marys with faith or not. $102,500 (cash sale). Pray with a candle lit, and let it burn to the end on the ninth day. Publicise THANKS both these prayers. Thank you most Holy Spirit and Thanks Sacred Heart, St Clare. Blessed Mother, St Therese, St Jude, St Anthony Grateful thanks for prayfor help. Please continue ers answered by the Holy to hear and answer my Spirit, Our Lady and St Jude. M.R. prayers. R.C.
Catholic Marriage Preparation & Education Committee
SECRETARY
Part-time, approx 20hrs per week and including 11 Sundays at approximately monthly intervals. Secretarial skills, keyboard and word processing experience are needed, along with ability to deal with public calls. The position is essentially administrative but will appeal to the person who has a genuine interest in people readying themselves for marriage. Apply with relevant details and a reference from a parish priest to:
The Director Catholic Marriage Preparation Office 459 Hay Street, Perth 6000. 12
/mot
THANKS
The Record, January 4, 1990
Most Sacred Heart ot Jesus may your name be praised and glorified throughout the world now and forever. Grateful thanks. W.D.B. Most Sacred Heart ot Jesus may your name be praised throughout the whole world forever and ever Amen. To St Jude. Our Lady, Holy Spirit. Grateful thanks. V.E.S.
Holy Spirit you who solve
all problems, light all roads so that I can attain my goal. You gave me the divine gift to forgive and forget all evil against me and that in all instances of my life you are with me. I want in this short prayer to thank you for all things as I confirm once again that I never want to be separated from you ever in spite of all material illusions. I wish to be with you in eternal glory. Thank you for mercy towards me and mine. This prayer must be said for three days after which the favour will be granted. must be .c The prayer published immediately. L.A.E.
R ECORD classifieds close noon W ednesdays. Post or deliver. No pbone. $5 for 28 words.
from Jan BEESON Sir, My thanks to G.E. Howard (The Record, December 28), for the invitation to come to St Paul's, Mt Lawley, to hear a good sermon, but as a resident of Mt Lawley in the early 1980s I listened to many sermons delivered by Father M. Byrne It is my experience that
sermons, per se, create an atmosphere for reflective thinking. But! Is it too much to ask correspondents to first acquaint themselves with the relevant facts before simply responding to a letter? The 'view' expressed in my earlier letter was my interpretation of the editorial (The Record, December 7), not my
personal assumption about the quality of sermons
If G.E. Howard would carefully read the editorial under discussion it should be manifestly apparent that an invitation to "come to St Paul's- be extended to the Editor of the Record! This is my final suggestion in this matter.
Editor's note: The editor must respectfully sendhis regrets. In the interest of fair play he would have to attend all the fixtures listed in our Christmas timetable Mass supplement . . .! Numbed, stunned, pew warmers seeking alternative spiritual fare could do worse than read The Record. in lieu of silence. .
OBITUARY
First WA Jesuit dies at 90
F ather Francis Xavier Whitely, the first West Australian to enter the Society of Jesus has died in Sydney aged 90. He applied to enter the Jesuits in 1915 on the very day he had heard that he took off second place and an exhibition in the State's public examinations. He was to develop into a legendary missionary, scholar. and strong devotee to the Sacred Heart of Jesus His studies for the priesthood r anged through Belgium, Ireland, France and Wales but it was his final year in France at Paray-Le-Monial — the site of Margaret Mary's dozens of visions — that he embraced wholeheartedly the devotion to the Sacred Heart, leading countless 'Crusaders' to practice the devotion in the years to come. Xavier was fondly known as the "Rambler" and when referring to his time at Parayle-Monial he would say "what a place in which to cleanse and warm the heart as Jesus lovingly pleaded, a place recognised as one of the holiest places on earth." Fr Xavier was to spend ten years in Australia, one of those years at St Louis' School in Claremont, before he went to India. In his book "Give failure it's jubilee" Fr Xavier, a man ever so humble, wrote of his time in India, introducing readers to his story thus 'There is no desire to romance over the past: the present plain narrative records no heroic achievements or near miracles or canonizable virtues — nothing more than the Simple Annals of the Pool
True there be some who might reckon such, the best of a// history and/think probably it may be' On arriving in Bombay the archbishop along with his mission superior greeted him with -Welcome Fr Rambler, you're just the man we want for "Gujarati" Clan Thus commenced life's fairy tale for Xavier — a golden dream come true at last He had a big shed mission in Bandra with 700 poor immigrants come to the big city for wr. good Catholics all with no church to go to but ashamed and shy in grand parish church, shabby non English speakers and who gave up Sunday Mass as a result. On May 27 1944, months after his arrival in Bandra, Fr Xavier said the first Mass in this home-made shed of some fifty by twenty four feet in length with the Sanctuary ten by six feet the verses of "Raichandra It was here 500 poor Cesar' the greatest of immigrants packed themselves philosophers of the Jaina to the very doors of the Church religion in modem times. The to join in this great celebration. "Rambler's" translation from Fr Xavier arrived in Bandra "Gujarati" language to English, with only what he stood up in with verse translation, was and he lived in the church's supplemented by parallel attic. He had only a smattering thoughts from St Augustine of the language of his people. The translation took three Together they built their years and was eventually church/school: 'penniless we endorsed by Jaina leaders and started like most of God's so be taken to be faithful to the ventures' he said. original. The church was built out of Later, Fr Xavier was to return un-squared teak poles and tin to India for another year where sheeting obtained from flat- he taught seminarians, comtened oil drums. The dreams of pleting his life's dream to be the new chaplain and his among his dear "Faces people were realised. Four Beloved" the loving title of his thousand Masses were to be second book mostly of his time said in this big shed — their spent on the missionary field there. labour of love. Retirement was somewhat a Fr Xavier was to be in India for twenty five years, in this heartbreak for Fr Xavier time he was asked to translate because he strongly believed
that "priests do not retire". So when it came for him to leave Canisius College in Pymble and reside in the Mercy Family Life hostel due to ill-health, a great void was felt It was only through the devoted care by the staff there he almost came to terms with not going about his priestly duties Fr Xavier was greatly loved by all who ever had the occasion to come in contact with him, regardless of denomination. He was an inspiration to all. In particular those so very close to him, his immediate and extended family. A memorial Mass will be celebrated for Fr Xavier on Tuesday January 9 at 11 am in Holy Rosary Church Nedlands in thanksgiving for the life of the "Rambler", Fr Xavier Francis Whitely S.J. Pat Hackett
TOMORROW TODAY with Father Joe Parkinson
Sails in the sunset
Nearly 300 young people boarded one of the larger Rottnest ferries for Catholic Parish Youth's Christmas river cruise on December 10 last year.
The cruise has become a fixture on the youth social calendar each year and, considering the great fun had by all on board, it is not hard to see why! Although the numbers were down on previous years, organisers from CPY's Neway team said that the cruises would
continue, and plans are already underway for another cruise early this year.
The 'beach' theme brought out the very best of summer fashion, multiincluding coloured zinc cream striping on many faces, an absolute must for a night-time cruise! The event was a perfect way to celebrate the end
of the school and university year, and a great lead in to the long summer break.
A lot of work behind the scenes from the Neway team for CPY's Christmas river cruise on 10 December.
Left: Chris Girando of Balcatta dressed to kill for the cruise's 'beach' theme. Above: Nearly 300 young people boarded for the cruise. Right: "Anything you say . . .!" Brothers Chris and Rob Parish of Hilton having a quiet chaton board. Below: Some lively ladies getting into the action.
The Record, January 4, 1990
13
The Christmas scene
El C
[-
L . 1. The Irish Club kid's Christmas party was an exciting day for many children. Best of all was a cuddle from Santa for Matthew Flynn (left) John Grimes and Cieran McAdden. 2. Wow! Do I love balloons, says 2 yo Martin McQuade. 3. Into the goodies are (left) Philomena Kavanagh, Claire Cullinane, little Mary and Patrick Kavanagh with their father Michael showing John Grimes just what's in that yummy -contents bowl! 4. Wrapped in concentration, looking at the magician's tricks, this little group e xpresses much of the child's wonder of Christmas.
Young mariner's home-coming
Welcome back, dad!
Having left the freezing temperatures of Galway, Ireland for a sunny Christmas with daughter Maura (left), her husband Pat and children John and 14
Yvonne, Mr John (Jack) Mitchell just had to return to Perth "to make certain it was true!" He'd been out before and
The Record, January 4, 1990
loved it so much, he had to return just to make sure it really was as marvellous as he'd first thought. Conclusion? it is! He's sold on our fair city
and sunny clime, and in particular — being reunited with his family again. So what better place to celebrate than the Irish Club?!
What happens to our stue nts when they leave our schools? lain Johnston of Darlington is a former student of Keaney College and decided to join our Aussie men on the waves. Captured when home on leave from the HMAS Cerberus, based at Western Port Bay, Victoria, lain has spent the last eight months studying basic recruit school training in the customs and traditions of the RAN, and started his category course in fundamentals as an electrical sailor. Home on leave for the first time, lain hopes to graduate in another four months and finds his chosen career "a challenge and really difficult. You have to put your mind to it to get through — but it's a great experience". And being back home? "Just great!"
Frolicking fun folks!
This pile of Catholics decided to give Father Christmas a bit of support in his 'onerous task!' of chatting up ladies during the Wings Away luncheon, watched by the chef who took a few minutes off to assist in the cheer party. President Imelda Reiss on (Kim Robinson) Santa's knee, left rear June Bryant, Tito Giordano, Bill Bryant and Glenyse Holmes.
(Left) Robert Bell, Curator of Craft with potter Pippin Drysdale, and winner of survey competition Laurie Garnett. As an incentive to participate in the Art Gallery of WA's research, a prize was offered during the International Crafts Triennial of a superb porcelain bowl, titled "Spring" and valued at $600, by noted Western Australian potter Pippin Drysdale.
4,11,1 , Anna and City Bruce time Beach hayinge/bOtt of at the a A way annua/ great at Wings Christmas C 4/he's luncheon ofteyoe. Restauraht years old, 4/most .05 (he ( Wings f Alway ormer 74.4 association A for — irlines cabin Australian hostesses fund crew) and ' is an raiser Anna active for is a Pau/ St charity. kincent Beach wor*er at the de City branch.
G wen and Ross Willcock of City Beach parish enjoying fun and frolics at the Wings Away Ckristmas party and injecting, as usual, a lot of life into a party which was already very muck up, up and away!
Tantalisers
' TASTES' of Australia
l
Mundaring's midnight Mass saw an unusual family trio scene ather Kevin Sheehan OFM celebrating Mass with his father Bob as acolyte and mother Mary as special minister for Holy Communion.
by Colleen McGuiness-Howard
1111.1N CLIVAS • ALAN LINDSAN Ito nook 144 Ti. RON
Great Tastes of ..4 ustralia by Helen Clut-a_s and .414 n Lindsay. Published hy Ming. bb. $45. Great Tastes of Australia is a book for food lovers, good cooks arid compulsive readers of cookbooks. Its approach to focx1 is as varied and exciting as the beautiful. V2St continent itself In designing these great tastes from one of the world's luckiest countries, Helen Clucas has taken full advantage of Australia's fresh produce and the rich multicultural mosaic of its society-. Her recipes have the zest of an innovator ever pursuing raw materials and new ways of preparing food. This is not a cookbook concerned with the standard repertoire. Rather it is a collection of highly individual recipes that will provide the centrepiece for any occasion from an outdoor barbecue or picnic . to a romantic candlelit dinner
The book draws inspiration from the great cuisines of the world, yet adds a taste all of its own: it is intrin.sically experimental. yet always discriminating, it is concerned with piquancy and the rich interplay of flavours and textures, yet believes fresh ingredients are primary. It has something of the French in its emphasis on fine sauces, something of the gu,sto of Italian cooking. something of the East's assurance in blending spices — and something of the traditional Australian insistence on "good tucker". But the recipes have something more: an indefinable sense of place. Matched by the sumptuous photography of Alan Undsay. the book captures the flavours of Australia: the lush tropics and cosy winter nights. salt sea spray and the mighty red heart. It is guaranteed to tempt, engrms and satofv.
The Record. January 4, 1990
15
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VESPERS with
THE . PARISH SCENE 50 YEARS AFTER Bill (Ronald) and Daphne Williams celebrated their wedding anniversary in Geraldton, at Mass celebrated by Bishop Barry Hickey. Both converts, they were married in St Peter's Church of England in Essex, exactly fifty years ago. They came to Australia in 1963, have two children, Michael and Catherine, and now reside in Lesmurdie.
uro
s.
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•• St Mary's Cathedral • • * Friday, February 7.30pm Profits to Society of St Vincent de Paul • *
• Enquiries 325 3244, 277 2675 • • •
Father E. McKenna of Rivervale parish has retired as spiritual director to the Perth Senatus of the Legion of Mary, an office he has held for the past ten years. Father E. McGrath of Manning will be the new spiritual director as from January.
MOUNT LAWLEY DINNERS After the "Year of Mission" the parish of St Paul, Mount Lawiey has expanded the meaning of community in the parish. At a series of "dinners for eight" 68 parishioners participated including the eight hosts.
Wofil 1) 1411).1 MARRIA(,1 ENCOt N TI R
YOUTH WORKER
BLESSED SACRAMENT FATHERS
ALL SAINTS CHAPEL
Newlyweds Edwin and Christine Carvalho.
MASSES Monday-Thursday 12.10 and 1.10pm. Friday 12.10, 1.10 and 5.10pm. Saturday 11.30am.
CONFESSIONS Monday-Friday 11.30am-1.30pm, 4.30pm-5.30pm. Saturday 10.30am-11.30am.
EXPOSITION Monday-Friday 8am-5.30pm. Saturday 8am-11.30am.
at Pregnancy Help House in Carlisle The house accommodates young single mothers and mothers-to-be and maintains a 24 hour staff cover by way of a rotating roster system which iequires the worker to sleep over when on shift. QUALIFICATIONS: Experience in youth work or health sciences. An ability to work in a Catholic setting is essential. SALARY: $22,152 per annum. A pplications close Friday, January 22.
Job descriptions of both positions available from 325 6644. A PPLICATIONS to be made IN WRITING together with the names of two referees to: The Co-ordinator Support Programs Centrecare Marriage Family Service 456 Hay Street, Perth 6000
MORNING PRAYER Monday-Saturday 8.10am (The Chapel is CLOSED from 12 noon Saturdays, all through Sundays and on public holidays.)
WEDDING BOOKLETS Typed, printed & prepared (laser printer) for your wedding ceremony.
MEDJUGORJE
LUXOR SERVICES
Contact Chris or Mary 451 4304 •
16 The Record, January 4, 1990
CENTRECARE Marriage Family Service
To be part of a team providing welfare support to families and young women in the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program. QUALIFICATIONS: Competence in general household and garden maintenance. Ability to work alongside and c ommunicate with clients in accommodation program Own vehicle with tow bar is essential and B or H class licence an advantage. SALARY: $13,291 per annum. Applications close January 17.
Booking couple Chuck & Gloria Lusk 271 0907
Member of the r.ustralian Council of Natural Family Planning Inc
Fax: (09) 244 1589
387 Huntms Rd. food/ands, 6018
(Part time)
Next weekends: JAN 19-21 FEB 16-18
*Natural Family Planning Centre 27 Victoria Square
Tel: (09) 445 3049
MAINTENANCE WORKER
Begin the New Year with a renewed relationship, by reaching out to your spouse. BOOK NOW on to a Marriage Encounter Weekend.
Country clients welcome. Phone or write.
Workshops, Seminars, Bereavement Counselling
The service provides consulting and support services to individuals, couples and families. It operates under the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth. A pplications are invited fof the positions of:
MARRIED COUPLES!
NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING 325 6644
•
9 at
LEGION CHANGE
PROFESSIONAL TRAVEL SERVICES L1C91A00487 324 1234
CanItell if I'm fertile . . ? . . . CanIhave a baby? Find an answer through
• •
Gerry Smith
Only speak to the people who know
•
and choir
Grief Management Educational 6crvice,
MEDJUGORJE
WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER
•
STORWILLE JAZZ BAND!
Regular group departures 1990 March 14, 28; April 11, 25; May 9, 23; June 6, 20; July 4, 18; August 1, 15, 29; September 12, 26; October 10, 24.
6 NIGHTS MEDJUGORJE 2 NIGHTS DUBROVNIK from $2230 per person includes airfares For further details and colour brochure please call
Bench International Travel Tel 321 3930 or your travel agents No 9TA00504