The Record Newspaper 10 January 1991

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Medjugorje jo NO PROOF MARIA APPARITIONS HAVE OCCURRED, SAY BISHOPS ROME (CNS):— Yugoslavian bishops said after several years of study there is no proof that Marian apparitions have occurred at Medjugorje.

At the same time, the bishops encouraged better pastoral and liturgical services for the pilgrims who travel to the popular site in western Yugoslavia.

They said this would help visitors avoid practices that are "not in agreement with the spirit of the Church".

Their statement was drawn up at a meeting of Yugoslavian bishops in November and passed on to the Vatican for review.

It was not made public by the bishops or the Vatican.

The contents were confirmed to Catholic News Service by church sources in Yugoslavia.

The souitxb said the statement was approved in a nearly unanimous vote, with 19 bishops in favour and one abstaining.

A Vatican doctrinal official said the statement sounded a clear note of caution to Catholics, but added that it was not a "definitive" pronouncement on the subject. Such a pronouncement, if it is made, will probably take years, another Vatican official said.

In the statement drawn up November 27-28, the bishops recalled that the alleged apparitions, which began in 1981, have been the focus of studies at the diocesan and national level for several years.

"On the basis of research conducted so far, one cannot affirm that supernatural apparitions or revelation are involved," the statement said.

Quote 'On the basis of research conducted so far, one cannot affirm that supernatural apparitions or revelation are involved.'

Quote 'It's almost impassible to stop the pilgimages, but we need to take care of these people.'

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there and need closer pastoral guidance.

"It's almost impossible to stop the pilgrimages, but we need to take care of these people," he said.

Bishop Pavao Zanic of Mostar-Duvno, the diocese that includes Medjugorje, has been one of the strongest critics of events there. He said long ago he did not believe the apparitions were authentic, and he denounced the way local Franciscan priests guided the young "visionaries" and promoted Medjugorje as a place of pilgrimage.

Bishop Zanic has said he is especially upset by the way in which the authority of Mary's "messages" has been asserted against his own episcopal authority.

A Vatican doctrinal official, who asked not to

be identified said the bishops' cautionary statement against defining the apparitions as supernatural should be accepted by the faithful around the world.

"The meaning is clear.

The bishops have reached this conclusion at this point in time, based on the research performed," he said.

But he added that the statement was not meant to be a definitive judgement on Medjugorje. The bishops and the Vatican will no doubt continue to look at new evidence connected with the events, he said.

The alleged apparitions at Medjugorje are said to be continuing today. This has presented problems for Vatican and other officials charged with investigating the claims

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The continual flow of pilgrims to Medjugorje from various parts of the world, however, requires "the attention and care of the bishops," it said.

The statement suggested that the bishops' conference work with the local bishop to set up pastoral and liturgical programs for the pilgrims, who make the trip "motivated by faith".

In this way, it said, "phenomena and contents that are not in agreement with the spirit of the Church" can be avoided.

A Yugoslavian bishop, who asked not to be named, said the statement reflected the view that, whatever the Church's final judgement on Medjugorje, it is recognized that visitors will continue to arrive

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and made it likely that a final judgement will take years.

A leading Manologist and one of the chief supporters of the alleged apparitions, Father Rene Laurentin, said the bishops' statement did not rule out an eventual supernatural judgement on Medjugorje.

The statement does not specifically "exclude" a supernatural cause of the events there, but merely says such a judgement cannot be positively given, Father Laurentin said in a commentary published by the Italian

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newspaper Avvenire January 3.

"The question therefore remains open," he said.

In fact, he said, it would have been impossible for the bishops to declare the apparitions supernatural. because part of the reported message revealed by Mary remains secret and because the visions are still continuing.

The Vatican and the Yugoslavian bishops' conference have discouraged church-organised pilgrimages to Mediugorje, a small village in the province of Bosnia-

Herzegovina. Thousands of Catholics have continued to flock to the site, however, and many supporters describe it as a place of spiritual conversion.

Well before the alleged apparitions began, the Medjugorje Franciscans were embroiled in a dispute over parish control with the bishop, the Vatican and officials of their own order. Bishop Zanic has said this is at the root of the alleged apparitions, but the Franciscans say the jurisdictional dispute is irrelevant.

Tracing root of home violence

Violence is a common occurrence in Australian family life and for a long time it has been unwittingly tolerated, says the director of Centrecare Marriage and Family Service.

"It seems that we see child abuse and spouse abuse as natural extensions of family discipline and control", said Mr Tony Pietropiccolo.

He was commenting on the deaths of eight people in separate family shootings in Adelaide and Brisbane, which he said

were reminders of what happens when family violence is taken to extremes.

The high level of community violence may be due to silence and willingness to accept force as a means of resolving problems, he said.

Other ways of resolving family conflicts had to be learnt.

The high number of suicides among young people indicated that self inflicted violence was becoming an acceptable

way of dealing with frustrations and demands of everyday life.

Mr Pietropiccolo said that governments had to become aware that economic and social policies often contributed to the frustations and misunderstandings within which violence occurred.

Arguments over access to children were unlikely to be the primary cause of such disputes but the unresolved emotions experienced during family breakup.

The answer did not

Help bring peace in Sri Lanka call Mr Michael Whiteley, National Director of Australian Catholic Relief, has written to Senator Gareth Evans saying that "Australians must do all that we can to encourage both the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) to negotiate for a peaceful resolution of problems within Sri Lanka."

"One million Sir Lankan people have become refugees in their own country as a result of the horrific fighting in the north and east of the country. Both Tamil and Singhalese have fled in fear of their lives, many

leaving much-needed food crops behind." Mr Whiteley said.

"These people are now totally dependent on outside assistance for their daily living, and this in a situation where food and medical provisions are in short supply.

"The Catholic Church is at present providing for 25% of the displaced people, and Australian Catholic Refleif has so far contributed some $350,000 to this program.

"While financial and personal resources cannot continue to be stretched in this way, our main concern is for those

displaced by the war, that they have the opportunity to re-establish their lives without having to live in fear.

"There is also a need to recognise that this war is costing every Sri Lankan — both economically and socially," Mr Whiteley said.

In his letter Mr Whiteley added: "I ask that the Government use its good relations with the Sri Lankan Government to actively encourage negotiations to take place, and if necessary and appropriate, offer its facilities as a catalyst in those negotiations."

always rest with counselling, he said.

"There are many people who are not willing to make the effort to use counselling effectively.

They do not see the need or value of counselling.

Counselling cannot work with people who won't accept that part of the access or custody problem may be due to their personal attitudes and behaviour."

He believes that the community may benefit from a new look at

Family Law in Australia.

However, incidents such as those in Brisbane and Adelaide are not simply due to the implementation of Family law in Australia.

"Ultimately, the responsibility for our behaviour rests with each one of us and not with the law or the community. As individual parts of the community, we need to come to a greater understanding of ourselves and the people we call

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Christmas cries for help...

Christmas Day cries for help have turned out to be ongoing opportunities for pastoral contact according to a Manning priest.

An emergency phone service offered by three priests on Christmas Day proved that there are some people for whom Christmas highlights the problems and not the joys of the festive season.

Fr Michael Gatt of Manning, Fr Greg Burke of Morley and Fr Walter Black of Lynwood offered to stay close to their phones between 2-8pm on Christmas Day. They received a number of a calls as a result of the service being publicised in the press and on radio.

Fr Gatt said the idea was to give people in

distress the opportunity of having someone who would listen to their plight.

Fr Gatt's callers included a suicidal mentality, a broken home situation and a sick person.

He has followed up the calls with personal visits that have extended over many hours.

Being of Maltese background himself, Fr Gatt said he can sympathise with people who sense a loneliness on Christmas Day. He said his work as a migrant chaplain had revealed to him the many people who were sad while others were celebrating.

And not only the distressed were interested in the emergency phone service.

One well wisher was so impressed with the idea that he sent Fr Gatt a donation of $50.

Backing for pope's plea THE appeal by Pope John Paul II for a "new e vangelism of the world as we approach the year 2000" was strongly endorsed at a Perth conference recently.

The keynote speaker was Sister Nancy Kellar, a Sister of Charity from New York.

Brought to Perth by the Bethel Covenant Community, Sr Kellar spoke on the gifts of the Holy Spirit and their importance in evanglisation and personal fulfillment in relationship with Jesus Christ.

During five talks to delegates representing a large cross section of Perth prayer groups Sr Kellar presented a challenging word calling on people to "use the gifts you have received".

"God does not want you to become cosy prayer clubs," she said.

"In fact the last words of.

Jesus Christ to his apostles were to `go and make disciples'.

"This was not a suggestion by Jesus but a command and it applies to us today just as much as it did to the first apostles.

"Those who have embraced the gifts of the Holy Spirit must not horde them but rather use them to feed the Word of God to the hungry."

Sr Kellar said a common stumbling block in people reacting to evangelisation was a fear of "messing up" or "looking "It may be true that we experience emotions about the subject including feelings of inadequacy," she said.

"But God doesn't want our capability, he wants our availability and he tells us not to be afraid because he will work through us.

2 The Record, January ;191 19.91

"Often we don't want to accept the challenge of evangelisation for fear of rejection.

"Jesus said we ought to expect rejection like he did."

Sr Kellar said it was important for people to overcome the limited idea of evangelism as street corner rhetoric.

"Evangelism is giving our personal witness by saying to people, 'this is where I was and this is where I am now'," she said.

"Our own experience can be a powerful witness of God." Next month, the Bethel Community is presenting another conference featuring John and Paula Sandford.

It will be held at Newman Siena College, Doubleview on February 8-10 and will feature such topics as bitter root judgements; necessity of forgiveness; honouring

and authority; ministering to depression; restoring basic trust and performance orientation.

The couple held a successful conference in Perth two years ago and are returning by request.

They have extensive experience as teachers, retreat leaders and guest speakers for many Christian denominations and groups involved in church renewal.

In addition to their many articles for Christian periodicals and tapes, they are the authors of The Elijah Task; The Transformation of the Inner Man; Restoring the Christian Family; Healing the Wounded Spirit; Why some Christians commit adultry and Healing the victims of sexual abuse.

For inquiries about the conference, contact (09) 388 1333 during office hours or 381 2516 after hours.

Sister Nancy Kellar addresses the conference on evangelism

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Jubilee joy for At lona Presentation convent on Monday night the jubilee cake was ceremoniously cut by four of the sisters who had made their religious profession on January 6, 1941.

As a group of 10 who reached Australia from Ireland in late 1936 and early 1937 they had continued their schooling at Iona until entering

the novitiate there and later making their profession there.

Sr Carmel Ryan, from Tipperary has had a long career in secondary education and is now on the staff of the Perth Tribunal.

Sr John Ryan also from Tipperary taught in country primary schools mainly in the South West

all her life and is now a member of the Bunbury Outreach diocesan Team.

Sr May McGrath, from Tipperary, taught in secondary schools and for the past five years has been with the St John of God missionary team in Pakistan where she teaches English to prospective St John Sisters

seminary to and students.

Her sister, the late Sister Angela McGrath was a member of the same 1941 profession group.

Sister Bernadette Campion from County Leix taught in primary schools and later became the order's bursar. Today she works at preparing baby clothes for Pregnancy Help.

Contact one of our offices for our informative booklet — "Funeral Planning Because You Care".

Concelebrating the jubilee Mass with Bishop Healy, Quinn and McKeon were Father Eugene McGrath of Bruce Rock, brother of Sister May McGrath, and Father Michael Ryan of Palmyra, brother of Sister John Ryan whose sister Sister Stanislaus Ryan and her Brother Jack Ryan of Goornalling were also present.

and terrifying instruments of death".

At the same time, he asked for defense of international rights that prohibit small countries from being invaded by more powerful ones.

Meanwhile, a Catholic leader in the Holy Land predicted that armed conflict in the Gulf would trigger a world war.

"It would be a world, universal war, with atomic and chemical weapons," said Latin-rite Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem.

The patriarch, however, expressed hope that war could be averted by highlevel US-Iraqi talks. He also expressed sympathy with Palestinian support for Hussein.

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Resolve Gulf crisis via talks, he says VATICAN CITY (CNS): The Persian Gulf crisis must be resolved by negotiations rather than armed conflict, Pope John Paul II told European foreign ministers.

The papal message was sent to a Luxembourg meeting of foreign ministers of the 12-member European Economic Community to discuss the Gulf crisis.

The crisis "does not exclude the imminence of an armed confrontation" with "disastrous" consequences, the pope said in the message to European West governments.

The pope asked that "peaceful means such as dialogue and negotiations prevail over recourse to devastating

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"Palestinians are weak and oppressed and tend to regard as a protector anyone who is strong," he said in a January 6 interview with the Italian Catholics newspaper, Avvenire.

"I believe that Saddam truly carries in his heart the Palestinian cause.

But, realistically,Ido not know what he can do for this cause" said Patriarch Sabbah, a Palestinian.

He expressed hope that the Gulf crisis will be resolved in a way that also helps Palestinians.

Hussein has asked that a Gulf solution be linked to resolving the problems of Palestinians in Israelioccupied territories. The United States has refused such a linkage.

The Holy Land "is the heart of the Middle East and if the heart is healthy, the entire region is in peace." said Patriarch Sabbah.

The patriarch refused to say who he thought was more dangerous. Bush or Hussein, because "only history can establish who was and who was not".

"Saddam is not a madman. He is a head of state who looks after the interests of his country and, therefore, comes into conflict with the international community," he said.

Israel would have little to gain if war erupted, he said.

It would receive "very relative advantages paid for at a very high price." he said.

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3

Guest editorial The TABLET

London Appalled by the prospect of an armed clash between two huge armies which would produce death and devastation on a horrifying scale, American public opinion in particular has been asking whether such a war could be just: whether the cause is sufficient and whether the effect would be proportionate to the evil to be corrected.

These considerations are elaborated in Catholic just war teaching and it is a matter of surprise and regret that some Christian commentators have pooh-poohed such analysis.

Those who apply the just war principles are trying to get to grips ethically with the dilemma posed for the whole international community by the aggression of Saddam Hussein in invading a member state of the United Nations, rubbing it off the map, looting it systematically, and murdering its people.

Those who seek to correct this evil have to avoid being drawn into it themselves, lest they in turn might act unjustly, and careful and serious consideration of principle is not only appropriate but essential.

The reaction against war is not a sign of weakness, contrary to what the hawks like to maintain.

"No more war, war never again", Pope Paul VI pleaded before the United Nations in 1965; and during his visit to Britain in 1982 Pope John Paul II declared that - today the scale and horror of modern warfare — whether nuclear or not — make it totally unacceptable as a means of settling differences between nationsThus the bishops of England and Wales in their measured and sombre statement, stressed especially that war should be undertaken only as a last resort. Here judgements have to be made about the effectiveness of other means of putting pressure on Saddam Hussein to leave Kuwait, and in particular the policy of sanctions.

There is every reason to think that financial sanctions had an effect on South Africa and that in Rhodesia sanctions had something to do with Mugabe's victory: Iraq is especially vulnerable to them because its economy depends on only one product — oil.

A war against Saddam Hussein would be intended not just to expel Iraq from Kuwait but also to strip an aggressor of the benefit of his aggression and to vindicate the United Nations' new-found capacity as an instrument of collective security.

The just war principles require that such a war should only be waged with legitimate authority.

The bishops' statement stressed the achievement of the United Nations in securing united international opposition to Saddam Hussein's unjust act.

Particularly remarkable has been the adherence of the Soviet Union to the international effort against its former client state, and it is this co-operation that makes it possible to proceed where formerly the risk of the two superpowers being drawn into conflict would have been too daunting.

There is no doubt that in the new circumstances after the end of the Cold War Saddam Hussein can be forced out of Kuwait, and one of the just war principles is precisely that there must be a reasonable prospect of success.

The fact that a just war in the Gulf is conceivable does not mean that there should be one. On the contrary.

The message to Saddam Hussein from the international community and from any statesman or private citizen who visits him must therefore be this: get out of Kuwait.

Do not again plunge your country into war.

Do not cause thousands to be killed and wounded, which will be the result unless you go.

And the best hope of a resolution of the Gulf crisis lies in the fact that all the indications are that Saddam does not want a war.

The recent signs offer some hope that the crisis may yet end peacefully.

4

The Record, January 10, 1991

Eli

Church's teaching to be updated VATICAN CITY: Pope John Paul will issue an encyclical in 1991 updating church teaching "in the light of the new issues and problems of our time".

The new encyclical will commemorate the 100th anniversary of "Rerum Novarum", Pope Leo XIII's landmark social encyclical that formed the foundations of modern church teachings that was published May 15, 1891.

The pope also declared 1991 as the "year of the social teaching of the Church" and asked Catholics to study, develop and spread the Church's social doctrine.

Through its social teachings the Church "strives to clarify with the light of the Gospel the everyday life of men and women within the different communities to which they belong — from the family to international society", the pope said.

The formulation of social doctrine is "assisted by the Spirit and sustained at the same time by the judgement of theologians and specialists in the social sciences", he said.

"Rerum Novarum" was "the first social encyclical of modern times", and the new encyclical "will endeavor to appropriate its heritage" and update it in the light of contemporary problems, he added.

The pope did not mention the specific issues to be contained in the new encyclical. During his 12-year pontificate, he has stressed: • The need for a new world economic order to close the widening gap between rich and poor nations.

• Governmental respect for human rights, especially religious liberty.

• An end to the arms race based on viable nuclear and conventional disarmament agreements.

• Greater government protection and promotion of family life.

• Opposition to artificial birth control programs as a means of stemming population growth.

• Equal economic and social conditions for women in the job market.

The new encyclical also would give Pope John Paul an opportunity to detail his ideas for reconstructing Europe in the wake of the collapse of communist rule through most of Eastern Europe. The pope often has called for an end to the ideological barriers dividing Europe and for unity based on the continent's Christian heritage.

Pope Leo's encyclical was written primarily about the condition of workers at a time when the Industrial Revolution was deeply changing European society, especially through the development of a large, unorganised, urban industrial working class subject to exploitation.

Fighting for the alegiance of this working class were Marxist and socialist labour movements with atheistic and anti-clerical ideologies.

The encyclical provided guidelines for judging social and economic changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution and encouraged Catholic organisations to become involved in labour problems.

It supported the right of workers to organise. It also tried to stem the advance of Marxist and socialist labour movements by outlining Christian principles that should govern labour-management relations, especially the need to put human dignity above economic profit.

The state has the role of controlling labourmanagement relations through laws that provide for just wages and working conditions, said the 19thcentury encyclical.

It defended the right to private property and the encouragement by law of a wider distribution of property among the general population. It said the people needed access to private property to adequately raise a family.

Pope Leo's document also was a broad social charter that defended the Church's right to be concerned with humanity's temporal well-being. Viable solutions to human problems were impossible without a moral dimension, said the encyclical.

It said every effort should be made to end poverty through justice and charity.

Under the eye of the Church GLASCOW: Disquiet among teachers at the Catholic Church's power of veto over appointments in denominational schools in Scotland is growing in Strathclyde region, the Scottish local authority with the biggest provision of separate schooling.

The Church was given enhanced powers of veto over appointments to denominational schools in an Act enhancing the self-government of schools, which became law last year.

It means that every appointment or promotion in a Catholic school is made with the direct approval of the church authorities.

Some teachers have expressed concern in Strathclyde region at the application form which asks them to accept the expectations of the Church in relation to religious belief and char-

acter in teachers.

Catholic

A priest is asked to testify that the applicant gives personal witness to the faith in daily life, and to make a recommendation on that basis to Fr Michael Lynch, the Church's representative on the region's education committee.

The Church authorities decide if they should approve the application on the grounds of religions belief and character, as required by the Act. Teachers are unhappy about the power of veto

and non-Catholics are reported to resent the lack of opportunities for employment or promotion in denominational schools.

Some Catholics are concerned about the priest's power, in effect, to block job applications, fearing that their prospects of securing a job or promotion could depend on the reference of a priest who did not consider they were "good Catholics", perhaps because of their domestic circumstances, such as marrying a non-Catholic, living with someone or sending their own children to schools outside the Catholic sector.

New church COPEN HAGEN: Vietnamese refugees who recently settled in Denmark have built a Roman Catholic church in Hjor-

ring, a town whose 20-25 Catholics previously used a local Baptist church for worship.

Sustained by the Holy Spirit VATICAN CITY (CNS): The unity and universality of the Church are sustained by the Holy Spirit, who also protects the distinctive characteristics of believers, Pope John Paul II said.

"The Holy Spirit is love. and love means respect for all of that which is a priority for the person loved," the pope said during his January 2 weekly general audience.

The pope said the Holy Spirit's respect for the particular identity of believers was shown at

Pentecost, when each person heard the Apostles preaching in their own language.

Following the example of Pentecost, the Church continues to respect the language culture, spirituality and customs of individuals, peoples and nations, the pope said.

"The catholicity of the Church includes respect for the values of all," he said. "It can be said that the 'particular' is not annulled by the universal."

Call for calm BOMBAY, India (UCAN): Cardinal Pimenta asked Catholics not to "comminalise" the recent murder of two nuns in the city, be to live their faith in a country battered by interreligious violence.

"Please do not revenge," appealed Cardinal Pimenta to the more than 500,000 Catholics of this archdiocese on India's

west coast.

"It is not easy to forgive, but let us forgive," he said.

Condemning the murder of the two Franciscan Sisters of Saint Mary of the Angles who managed a home for street children, the cardinal urged government authorities to "book the guilty" and to free Indian Christians of fear.

Call to stop laws allowing abortions PRAGUE: The bishops of Czechoslovakia have asked legislators in their country to abolish laws permitting abortion.

The bishops pastoral letter on abortion was read in parishes last week.

The bishops said the Czechoslovakian people have been damaged by their liberal abortion practices — the country has one of the highest rates of abortion in the world.

"It is a signal of great lack of thought when one

Indian priest ordained in Brazil BOA VISTA, Brazil (CNS): The Brazilian diocese with the highest proportion of natives has ordained its first Indian priest.

Alvino Father Andrade da Silva, 31, a member of the Macusi tribe, was on ordained December 29 in a crowded festive, ceremony at the cathedral in Boa Vista.

The Diocese of has Roraima defended Indians against land grabs by gold miners, ranchers and the military.

Bishop Aldo Mongiano of Roraima, who presided at the ceremony, has said that in his state, "the only organisation that can protect the Indians is the Church".

Father Andrade da Silva was raised in a poor Indian village called Boqueirao, but at age 14 moved to Boa Vista, after his father's death. He entered a diocesan seminary in 1985 in Boa Vista and went on to study philosophy and theology at the seminary of the Archdiocese of Manaus. He was ordained a deacon in July and finished his studies in November.

Father Andrade da Silva told reporters that he hoped to be a voice for the Macuxis, who have faced many struggles.

"Today is a day of joy, but not all days are like that," he said.

15,000 About Macuxis live in Roraima, as well as members of nine other tribes.

Bishop Mongiano said that like other Indians in Brazil, the Macuxis have had to fight for their land, rights and culture.

discusses, even publicly, if the expected child is already a human being or not," the pastoral said.

Conception, they said, is nothing other than the beginning of a new human life.

Life is a gift from God, which should not be destroyed, they said.

"We are not masters of life, we are its servants," the bishops said.

The bishops specifically asked legislators, doctors who perform abortions and women who support the current laws to rethink their positions.

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Mexican reshuffle the federal government's National Human Rights Commission on whether the legislation violates the rights of the unborn.

The legislature's decision came after two weeks of mounting presChiapas state legislators sure from bishops and agreed to postpone pro-life groups. That enactment of amend- pressure began after ments to those sections of news reports revealed the state penal code that that the pro-abortion "depenalised" abortion, amendments went virtupending an opinion from ally unnoticed when

MEXICO CITY (CNS): A state legislature in southern Mexico, under political pressure, has temporsuspended arily legislation which would have legalised abortion.

passed along with other penal code reforms in early October.

Bishop Garcia of San Cristobal and Bishop Franco of Tuxtla led 3000 demonstrators in a silent protest march through the Chiapas state capital.

Jorge Serrano Limon, president of the national Pro-Life movement, told reporters during the

march that the group had gathered 20,000 signatures asking Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari to make protection of the unborn a constitutional guarantee.

Abortion is illegal under Mexican federal law. But the government Health Secretariat estimates that there are as many as 800,000 abortions a year.

Praise for celibacy of priests NEW YORK (CNS): In a letter to the priests of his diocese, Bishop Edward D. Head of Buffalo praised their celibate commitment and urged them to support one another.

In his letter, dated October 19 and released last week, he said recent news about lapses in celibacy has led some people to make a "quantum leap from the fact of the woundedness of the very few to the presumption of the failure of all the rest".

He vigorously challenged that view. "Are

the vast majority of priests faithfully living celibacy?" he asked.

"Without a doubt, I can say, 'Yes'. We are men faithful to celibacy. We are men of our word."

He called the celibacy of his priests "truly a priceless gift to our Church".

"It is a commitment that calls us to love deeply as we willingly refrain from loving genitally," he said.

It is also a "countercultural" witness, he said, to "overpoworld a wered . . . by a false

notion of human sexuality in movies, on television, in the press, in magazines".

Responding to suggestions by some commentators that recent sex scandals among Catholic clergy were the result of the Church's celibacy requirement, Bishop Head asked if there would be no such failures "if we were a married clergy".

"I doubt it" he said.

"Wholeness — psychologically and sexually — is not guaranteed through marriage vows."

He said the questioning of celibacy challenges priests ''to support each other more than ever" and to "share each other's burdens".

Celibacy "is a commitment we must renew regularly — even daily," he said.

Even though priests are human and sometimes fail, he said. "I want you to know I firmly believe there is no other diocese blessed more richly than we are with gifted. holy, celibate talented, priests".

Decline in Japanese clergy forecast TOKYO, (CNS) — The same numbers" of clergy, head of the Japan bishops' he said. This likely conference predicted a change is a mixed blessdecline in the number of ing that will force the clergy, but said that could church to shed excessive result in a more involved dependence on the clergy and involve the laity.

One of the characteris- laity more closely, he tics of the Japanese added.

"Maybe we will become church — a relatively high number of priests a truer church," Archbiand religious — is bound shop Shirayanagi said, to vanish in the near asking the 243 Jesuits future, Archbishop Peter present to work in this Sefichi Shirayanagi of direction.

Tokyo told a Jesuit More than 350 Jesuits audience. work in Japan. Of these, A dramatic decrease in 123 are Japanese.

Japan's birth rate, which Among other activities, reached 1.5 per couple the order runs two last year, will naturally universities and four affect the number of middle and high schools. vocations, he said.

"It is unthinkable that He told his audience we can maintain the that one of the most

important tasks con- ested — theology and fronting the Catholic Catholic history.

Church in Japan is to A high level of theologpresent a Christian ical studies will guaranvision for the 21st tee that "our Christian century. heritage is faithfully Citing the expertise and transmitted to future background generations," Archbivaried among Jesuits in the shop Shirayanagi said. country, Archbishop adding that the bishops Shirayanagi asked for consider the Jesuit theotheir co-operation in logical faculty at the working out a program university a cornerstone for the evangelisation of for the understanding of Japan.

Christian tradition in Calling the Jesuit-run Japan.

The prelate also noted Sophia University "the face of the church in the unique study of Tokyo" and thanking the Christian culture and order for its efforts in the history in Japan by field of education, the Jesuits at the Historical prelate pointed out two Museum of Nagasaki special areas of Jesuit and at the Institute of work in which Japanese Christian Culture at bishops are vitally inter- Sophia University.

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The Record, January 10, 1991

5

Message from the pope...

Many people are increasingly concerned that freedom of conscience, which is essential for the freedom of every human being, be recognised in practice and safeguarded by law.

Ihave already devoted two Messages for the World Day of Peace to various aspects of this freedom, which remains fundamental for peace in the world.

• In 1988Iproposed some reflections on religious freedom. It is essential that the right to express one's own religious convictions publicly and in all domains of civil life be ensured if human beings are to live together in peace. I noted on that occasion that "peace . . . puts down its roots in the freedom and openness of consciences to truth".

• The following year I continued this reflection by proposing some thoughts on the need to respect the rights of civil and religious minorities.

• This year I wish to consider the conscience of every person, as a necessary basis for peace in the world.

9

Freedom of conscience and peace

'In certain parts of the world the end of long years of repression when the conscience of iedividuals was not respected and everything most precious to people was stiffed must not prove an occasion for now forms of intolerance."

The need to take concrete steps towards ensuring full respect for freedom of conscience, both legally and in ordinary human relations, has become even more urgent in the light of the events of last year.

The rapid changes which have taken place show very dearly that a person may not be treated as

a kind of object governed solely by forces outside of his or her control.

Rather, the individual person, despite human frailty, has the ability to seek and freely know the good, to recognise and reject evil, to choose truth and to oppose error.

In creating the person, God wrote on the

human heart a law of the person, and, as which everyone can such, is inviolable. discover (cf. Rom 2:15).

Conscience for its part Conscience, howis the ability to judge ever, is not an absolute and act according to placed above truth that law: "To obey it is and error. Rather, by the very dignity of its very nature, it man". implies a relation to objective truth, a truth No human authority which is universal, the has the right to inter- same for all, which all fere with a person's can and must seek. conscience.

Conscience bears witness In this relation to to the transcendence objective truth free-

dom of conscience finds its justification, as a necessary condition for seeking the truth and for adhering to that truth once it is sufficiently known. necessarily This requires that each conindividual's science be respected by everyone else; people must not attempt to impose their own "truth" on others.

The right to profess impose a particular the truth must always way of seeing truth, be upheld, but not in a constitutes a violation way which involves of that individual's contempt for those most personal rights. who may think This can easily lead to differently. strained and hostile relations within Truth imposes itself society or even to open solely by the force of conflict. its own truth. To deny In the end, it is on the an individual com- level of conscience plete freedom of con- that the difficult task science and the free- of ensuring a firm and dom to seek the truth lasting peace is most — or to attempt to effectively confronted.

Religious freedom a force of peace The importance of religious freedom leads me to stress once more that the right to religious freedom is not merely one human right among many others; "rather, (it) is the most fundamental, since the dignity of every 6

person has its first source in his essential relationship with God the Creator and Father, in whose image and likeness he was created, since he is endowed with intelligence and freedom".

The Record, January 10, 1991

"Religious freedom, an essential requirement of the dignity of every person, is a cornerstone of the structure of human rights."

It is thus the most profound expression of freedom of conscience.

The right to religious freedom has a bearing on a person's very identity.

One of the most significant aspects of today's world is the role that religion has played in the awakening of peoples

and in the search for freedom.

In many cases it was religious faith that preserved intact and even strengthened the identity of entire peoples.

In nations where religion was hindered or

even persecuted in an attempt to treat it as a relic of the past, it has once more proved to be a powerful force for liberation.

Religious faith is so important for individuals

and peoples that in mnay cases a person is ready to make any sacrifice in order to preserve it.

In the end, every attempt to ban or crush what a person holds most dear risks fuelling open or latent rebellion.

Formation of conscience Every individual has the grave duty to form his or her own conscience in the light of that objective truth which everyone can come to know, and which no one may be from prevented knowing.

To claim that one has a right to act according to conscience, but without at the same time acknowledging the duty to conform one's conscience to the truth and to the law which God himself has written on our hearts, means nothing more than imposing one's limited personal opinion.

This hardly contributes in any useful way to the cause of world peace.

On the contrary, the truth must be passionately pursued and lived to the best of one's ability.

This sincere search for the truth will lead not only to respect for the search that others are making, but also to a desire to seek the truth together.

• The family plays a primary role in the important task of form-

Mg consciences. Parents have a grave duty to help their children to seek the truth from their earliest years and to live in conformity with the truth, to seek the good and to promote it.

• The school is also fundamental to the formation of conscience when children and young people come into contact with a world which is larger and often unlike the family environment.

Education is never morally indifferent, even when it claims to be neutral with regard to ethical and religious values.

The way in which children and young people are brought up and educated will necessarily reflect certain values which in turn influence their understanding of others and of society as a whole.

Hence, in a way consonant with the nature and dignity of the human person and with the law of God, young people should be helped during their years of schooling to discern and to seek the

"In nations whore religion was hindered or even persecuted in an attempt to treat it as a relic of the past, it has once more proved to be a powerful force for liberation." truth, to accept its demands of human digdemands and the limits nity of no reference is of authentic freedom, made to the source of and to respect the right of that dignity, namely, God the Creator? others to do the same.

The formation of con- In this regard, the role of science is compromised the family, the Catholic if a thorough religious Church, Christian comeducation is lacking. munities and other reliHow can a young per- gious institutions remain son fully understand the essential.

The State, must guarantee their rights in this field and make it possible for them to exercise those rights.

For their part, families and communities of believers ought to appreciate and ever deepen their commitment to the human person and to the

objective values of the person.

In today's world of rapid communication, the mass media play an extremely important and essential role in furthering the search for the truth, provided that they avoid presenting merely the limited interests of

individuals certain group6 or ideologies.

For more and moo. people the media are often their only source of information.

How important, then, that the media be used responsibly in the service of the truth.

Intolerance: A serious threat to peace A serious threat to peace is posed by intolerance, which manifests itself in the denial of freedom of conscience to others.

The excesses to which intolerance can lead has been one of history's most painful lessons.

Intolerance can creep into every aspect of social life. It becomes evident when individuals or minorities who seek to follow their conscience

in legitimate expressions of their own way of life are oppressed or relegated to the margins of society.

In public life, intolerance leaves no room for a plurality of political or social options, and thus imposes a monolithic vision of civil and cultural life.

As for religious intolerance, it cannot be denied that, despite the firm teaching of the Catholic Church according to

which no one ought to be appeared ways of acting compelled to believe, which were less in throughout the centuries accord with the ways of not a few misunder- the Gospel". standings and even conEven today much flicts have occurred to be done to remains between Christians and religious intolovercome members of other in differwhich erance, religions. ent parts of the world is This fact was formally closely connected with acknowledged by the the oppression of Second Vatican Council, minorities. which stated that "in the Unfortunately, we are life of the People of God as it has made its pilgrim still witnessing attempts way through the vicissi- to impose a particular tudes of human history, religious idea on others, there have at times either directly, by a

proselytism which relies on means which are truly coercive, or indirectly, by the denial of certain civil or political rights.

dearly do not advance the cause of world peace.

To eliminate intolerance, it is not sufficient for ethnic or religious minorities to be "protected", and thus reduced to the category of legal minors or wards of the state. This could result in discrimination which hinders or even prevents the development of a harmonious and peaceful society.

Rather, the inalienable right to follow one's conscience and to profess and practise one's own faith, individually or within a community, is to be acknowledged and guaranteed, always provided that the demands of public order are not violated.

Extremely sensitive situations arise when a specifically religious norm becomes, or tends to become, the law of the State, without due consideration for the distincthe between tion domains of religion and political society.

In practice, the identifi-

cation of religious law citizens, and also for with civil law can stifle foreigners living in the religious freeedom, even country even tempora • going so far as to restrict ily for reasons of employor deny other inalienable ment and the like".

This holds true also for human rights. 'I repeat what I stated in the the civil and political Message for the 1988 rights of minorities, and World Day of Peace: for those situations in "Even in cases where the which an extreme and State grants a special uncompromising separajuridical position to a tion of religion and particular religion, there political life, in the rum, is a duty to ensure that of respect for conscience, hinders the right to freedom of effectively conscience is legally believers from exercising recognised and effec- their right to give public tively respected for all expression to their faith

...and the gateway to serious abuses Intolerance can also result from the recurring temptation to fundamentalism, which easily leads to serious abuses such as the radical suppression of all public manifestations of diversity, or even the outright denial of freedom of expression.

Fundamentalism can also lead to the exclusion of others from civil

society; where religion is concerned, it can lead to forced "conversions".

However much one may remain convinced of the truth of one's own religion, no person or group has the right to attempt to repress the freedom of conscience of those who have other religious convictions, or to induce them to betray their consciences by the

offer or denial of certain social privileges and rights, should they change their religion.

There are cases in which individuals are prevented — even through the imposition of severe penalties — from freely choosing a religion different from the one to which they presently belong.

Manifestations of intolerance such as these

Paradoxically, those who were once victims of intolerance can in their

Freedom of conscience, turn create new intolerrightly understood, is by of ance. In certain parts the world, the end of long its very nature always years of repression when ordered to the truth As a the conscience of indi- result, it does not lead to was not intolerance, but to tolerviduals respected and everything ance and reconciliation.

This tolerance is not a that was most precious to the person was stifled passive virtue, but is must not prove an occa- rooted in active love and sion for new forms of is meant to be transintolerance, no matter formed into a positive bow difficult reconcilia- commitment to ensuring tion with the former freedom and peace for all. oppressor may be.

The Record, January 10, 1991 7

Curse or b eSSI11 •

Imagine trying to organise a parish for nomads. Think of the Bedouin, for example, nomads who live in tents and move freely from oasis to oasis across the deserts of the Near East.

How about parishes for the explorers who came a century ago, or for outback settlers. consider Again, migrant workers and their families, people whose movements are determined by the seasonal nature of the harvest.

What do nomads, explorers, settlers and migrant workers have in common with modcitizens in ern general?

All are very mobile

people.

In a highly mobile society, conducting a census is quite a challenge.

So is establishing a parish community.

Mobile populations stretch the ordinary understanding of the parish. They demand flexibility and new approaches.

Of course, nomads, explorers and migrant workers do not sink roots in a particular piece of land they call home, while ordinary modem citizens do.

Most people I know establish their home in a particular place, from which they travel and to which they return regularly.

Fron time to time, they also leave a place that has been home and transfer to anotier part of the city or even clear across the continent. The new place then beco nes home.

Th( mobility of our mod!rn population is similar to that of the old Roman Empire, whe e commerce, professimal opportunity, military service and foropd displacements because of wars or disasters natural played a role. So did climate.

You see, the Roman Empire also had a sunbelt!

A port city such as Corinth, Ephesus or Rome had a highly

DISCUSSION POINTS

not so very different

from that of 20thcentury New York, Toronto, London or diversified and changing population, where travellers from North Africa and the Black Sea mingled with established residents as well as new arrivals from Alexandria and Judea.

Or consider Jerusalem. The description of the crowds present there on the feast of Pentecost is a clear indication of high mobility in the Roman Empire's Jewish population.

With respect to mobility, the situation in Judea and the cities of the Roman Empire in the first century is

By Father Eugene

LaVerdiere, SSS

Sydney.

That means the challenges faced by the Christians of New Testament times are quite similar to ours.

From the way those Christians dealt with their mobile society, we can learn a number of things for parish life today.

First we realise that a mobile society is not a liability but an asset for evangelisation and the dissemination of the Christian message.

Take the New Testament case of Prisca and Aquila.

We learn from Chap-

ter 18 of the Acts of the

Apostles that they were native of Pontus in what is now Turkey up by the Black Sea, but that at some point they moved to Rome.

More recently they had come to Corinth following an imperial decree expelling the Jews from Italy.

At that time it was still normal enou for Christians to identified with the larger Jewish community.

Paul stayed with Prisca and Aquila when he arrived in Corinth from Athens.

Many months later, they accompanied Paul to Syria and took up residence in Ephesus.

•

POSER OVER THIS MOBILE SOCIETY

In Ephesus they that others come to attended the syn- them. agogue and it is there Where I reside, I can that they met an watch the whole Alexandrian named world go by: Asians, Apollos whom they Europeans, Africans, invited to their home too, and visitors from and instructed. With every continent. their blessing and Here is a Christian prayers, Apollos then opportunity. went on to teach the It is also a challenge.

Christian message at Corinth where it People need to be already had been invited and welcomed.

In a mobile society planted by Paul. such as ours, the The story of Prisca parish needs to be and Aquila is a good above all a place of example of mobility hospitality. among the early ChrisThat, too, we learn tians and how it from Prisca nad served the spread of Aquila. Consider the Christianity. It shows way this Jewish Christhat the Christians did tian couple welcomed not always have to Paul at Corinth and travel to bring the Apollos at Ephesus.

Gospel to others.

Their ministry was It easily happened primarily a home min-

istry, the antecedent for a modem parish's ministry of hospitality.

For the very early Christians, hospitality was extremely high on the list of values.

Looking at the New Testament as a whole, we might even consider hospitality a mark of the Church.

To say church was to say hospitality.

In our own mobile society, it ought to be the same. WhenIhear someone say "I really like that parish: They make you feel very welcome there," my heart jumps.

There is no question about it. That parish is meeting the special challenges of ministry in a mobile socity.!

uestions for jet-age hounds turn us into world citizens.

Mobility can also serve as a catalyst for making friends and acquaintances quickly and easily. In our fast-paced society, bonds of co-operation and mutual support need to be cemented fast for everyone's benefit.

Mobility can help us realise, too, that the moments with our growing children are too precious to squander.

After they leave home, they may scatter far and wide.

The more our lives are in flux, the more we benefit from rooting ourselves in God. God is the soil in which we can sink our roots deep and tight.

And seeing God in ourselves and in others helps us establish a common bond that can turn strangers into friends. This is especially true in the parish setting.

A blessing of the Church's universality is that no matter where we go we find people who share our most deeply held values and welcome us as brothers and sisters.

This experience of hospitality and community goes a long way toward enhancing the positive aspects of mobility and diminishing its drawback&

By Neil Parent

"What are you doing for Thanksgiving?" I asked Sharon.

"Bill and I are visiting one of our daughters in Maine," she said.

"What about the other kids?" I asked. "Will you get to see them over the holidays?"

Sharon seemed amused by my question. "Not likely," she laughed.

"Larry, our eldest, is working for a computer company in Seattle.

David is still in the army and our youngest, Sally, is in graduate school in Italy. But she's met someone there whom she is very interested in, so Bill and I are not expecting her back anytime soon." She rolled her eyes for effect.

Sharon and Bill's dispersed family is increasingly typical.

According to the most recent US Census Bureau data, between March 1987 and March 1988 almost 43 million people relocated: 18.2 per cent of the population.

Interestingly enough, by our growing mobility we are reverting to a more nomadic form of life, reversing a trend

What is one problem you have experienced or challenge you have faced as the result of living far from close relatives?

Selected Responsed From Readers: "Losing a support system and a sense of home. You have to start all over and make it for yourself." — Theresa Hecht.

"Not being able to offer my hands when I know they could help." — Virginia Patterson.

"There are the hard times when you want your family there, eg on the anniversary of my father's death. Or when you want to share the good times . . . Our friends become our family in many ways. . . (Also) my mother is getting older and I'm not there.IfeelIshould be there." — Ursula Marks.

"Keeping a sense of presence; not being around when they have problems thatIcould help them solve better ifIwere there. During emergencies I feel a little helpless not being there." — Jim Oxford.

"We've made friends that are like an extended family. . . They're people we can call in the middle of the night if we have to . . . The flip side is that we're unable to support the everyday needs of our extended family, such as an aging parent." — Carol Leffler.

The story of God's people on the move The Bible is a study In mobility. God seems always to be calling people out of the familiar into the unknown.

Abraham and his family pulled up stakes in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) and headed west to Canaan (modern Israel), with a temporary detour into Egypt.

Jesus left Galilee, where he was popular, and

went to Jerusalem to ended in virtual Then in 722 BC, the meet hostility and death enslavement.

Assyrians wiped out the — and glory.

Still, when Moses led northern kingdom of St Paul was constantly them to freedom in the Israel and scattered its 10 on the move.

Sinai, initial jubilation tribes. For all practical Between Abraham and changed to grousing and purposes they were lost to history.

Paul the history of God's griping. people is one of comings In 587 BC, the remainDesert life was hard; the and goings — not all specter of hunger and ing tribe of Judah was voluntary. thrist constantly loomed. drageed into exile in The sojourn of the However, the people Babylon. We are much Israelites in Egypt began adapted and pushed on better informed about as a search for food at a to become a strong them. time of famine and nation in their own land.

Psalm 137 :,:ve poig-

8 The Record, January 10, 1991

By Father John Castelot nant expression to their sentiments: "By the

streams of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion."

As time went on their hard situation improved, however, and they adapted. Many carved

out successful careers.

But this posed the threat of losing their identity as God's people. Heroic efforts by men like Ezekiel were needed to keep them faithful.

This led to adaptation in another area. Cut off

from the temple, they still needed communal worship. So they formed small prayer groups structured around their Scriptures.

This creative adaptation helped them preserve their identity — and their hope.

That hope was vindicated when Babylon was defeated and the victorious Persians allowed

begun thousands of years ago.

As agriculture and cities began to develop,

our ancient ancestors abandoned their continual wanderings for food, shelter and protection in favour of the benefits of staying in one place.

A major difference between ancient and modern nomads, however, is that in tribal days the entire group moved, each person helping the

other.

With us, it is a journey where home was for taken as an individual or them; it also told a lot family, frequently with- about who they were. out the direct emotional Today, our homes and and physical support of cultural backgrounds are others. more nebulous. We may Our mobility is not have local parents but be without a price. It used to born elsewhere, be edube, for example, that cated in the west but people would classify work in the east. themselves as from one Our roots are becoming side of the country or more shallow and another. That told you widespread.

grandparents, parents and children all close by to help each other is quickly joining the list of extinct species.

But there is a positive side to mobility. It can help break us out of narrow provincialism by bringing us into contact with people who look, think and act differently than we do. It can help

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

ms.

thee to go home. Now be another journey into he unknown. met of them, born in Babvon, had visions of native land the

cow red by the old folks' glow ng accounts. When they arrived, the reality wasi shock: More adap-

tato was demanded

and

Relationships are more fluid, too. We can no longer count on having friendships that grow deep and firm by sharing life's events over many years.

Family identity is stretched in a mobile society. Grown children frequently relocate far from their parents. The extended family, with

backbearin g

rgti istruction.

Ix before long they

would be on the road again. Judah proved too small to sustain them; increasing numbers moved out. A popular destination was Alexandria in Egypt.

Once there, attractive philosophies tempted many to apostasise.

Again the majority adapted while maintaining their traditions After a few generations

they naturally forgot their native language. So they translated the Scriptures into Greek — a translation that would become the Bible of the first generation of Christians.

Mobility, courageous and creative adaptation, preservation of the essentials, a living tradition: That is the story of God's people on the move.

George, a widower, is 90. He suffers a severe loss of hearing and greatly weakened eyesight Naturally, he can't drive.

Neither can George see well enough to tend to his bills. He requires help with this major task. At times he has paid bills not really owed or mailed important payments to wrong addresses.

He walks one block to Today, however, most of the grocery for small his relatives live far away. things, but must be Their aid and compandriven to a larger grocery ionship must be augmented by others in the for major purchasers.

George doesn't thrive community. unless he gets to daily Some loneliness is Mass. But he needs a ride inherent to George's to church. existence. His younger At one time George relatives also endure might have benefited times of anguish due to from almost unlimited their distance from him. assistance within his large extended family.

George and his relatives

symbolise the age of mobility — an age when people readily move from one region to another in search of new opportunities and are no longer around to routinely support each other.

Within parishes, the needs of people like George pose a special. new challenge.

The Record, January 10, 1991 9

Message froill the pope...

The need for a just legal order Despite the various national and international Declarations which proclaim the right to freedom of conscience and religion, we still find too many attempts at religious repression.

In the absence of corresponding legal guarantees expressed in appropriate forms, these Declarations are all too frequently doomed to remain a dead letter. Renewed efforts are being made to con-

firm the existing legal order by creating new and effective agreements aimed at strengthening religious freedom. This full legal protection must exclude the practice of any religious coercion as being a serious obstacle to peace.

For "this freedom means that all men are to be immune from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any

human power, in such wise that in matters religious no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his beliefs.

"Nor is anyone to be restrained from acting in accordance with his own beliefs, whether privately or publicly, whether alone or in association with others, within due limits." (Vat II) It is urgent at this moment of history to strengthen juridical instruments capable of

promoting freedom of conscience in political and social life. The development of an internationally recognised legal order could provide one of the surest bases for the peace and orderly progress of the human family.

It is likewise essential that comparable efforts be undertaken nationally and regionally to ensure that all individuals, wherever they live, enjoy the protection of interna-

tionally recognised legal norms.

The State is obliged not only to recognise the basic freedom of conscience, but also to foster it, always with a view to the natural moral law and the requirements of the common good, and with respect for the dignity of every human being.

Freedom of conscience does not confer a right to indiscriminate conscientious objection.

When an assprted free- those who live within the dom turns into licence or limits of their jurisdicaibecomes and excuse for tons, and pay special limiting the rights of attention to the rights of others, the State is minorities. obliged to protect, also by Besides being an issue legal means, the inaliena- of justice, this serves to ble rights of citizens promote the developagainst such abuses. ment of a peaceful and harmonious society.

I will appeal to all heads of state, of government, It goes without saying legislators, magistrates that States are bound by and others — to ensure a strict moral and legal by every means neces- obligation to observe sary the authentic free- international agreements dom of conscience of all which they have signed.

Pluralistic society and the world

What better means is there of building unity within diversity than a commitment on the part of all to a common search for peace and a common affirmation of freedom. — Pope John Paul

The existence of recognised international norms does not preclude the existence of regimes or systems of government which correspond to certain sociocultural situations.

Such regimes, however, must ensure complete freedom of conscience for every citizen and may in no way be used as an excuse for denying or restricting universally recognised rights.

In today's world it is rare for the entire population of a country to have the same religious beliefs and to belong to the same ethnic group or culture.

Mass migration and

population shifts are resulting in the growth of multi-cultural and multireligious societies in various parts of the world.

Respect for the conscience of everyone takes on added urgency and presents new challenges to every sector and structure within society, as well as to government leaders.

How can a country show respect for different traditions, customs, ways of life, and religious obligations, and yet maintain the integrity of its own culture?

How can the culture which is predominant in a given society accept and integrate new ele-

10 The Record, January 10, 1991

ments without losing its own identity and without creating conflicts?

The answer can be found in a thorough education on the respect due to the conscience of others; for example, through greater knowledge of other cultures and religions, and through a balanced understanding of such diversity as already exists.

What better means is there of building unity within diversity than a commitment on the part of all to a common search for peace and a common affirmation of freedom which enlightens and esteems the conscience of everyone?

For the sake of an orderly society, it is also to be hoped that the various cultures existing in a given area will show mutual respect and experience mutual. enrichment.

A genuine commitment to inculturation also serves to increase understanding between religions.

In recent years much has been accomplished in inter-religious understanding active cooperation in the common tasks facing humanity, on the basis of the many values shared by the great religions.

I encourage this cooperation wherever it is possible, as well as the

official dialogues currently underway between representatives of the major religous groups.

The Holy See has the Pontificial Council for Inter-religious Dialogue — specifically to promote dialogue and cooperation with other religions, maintaining absolute fidelity to its own Catholic identity while fully respecting the identity of others.

When undertaken in a spirit of trust, and with respect and sincerity, inter -religious cooperation and dialogue make a real contribution to peace. "Man needs to develop his spirit and his conscience. This is often

the very thing which is missing in people's lives these days The lack of concern for values and the overall identity crisis which our world is now experiencing demand that we move beyond our present situation and make renewed efforts to ask important questions and to seek understanding. An inner light will then start to shine in our conscience and will enable us to understand development in a meaningful way, directing it towards the good of each person and of all mankind, in accordance with God's plan".

This common search — carried out in the light of the law of conscience

and of the precepts of one's own religion, and confronting the causes of present-day social injustices and wars — will lay a solid foundation for cooperation in the search for needed solutions.

The Catholic Church has willingly sought to encourage every form of honest co-operation for the sake of promoting peace. She will continue to make her own contribution towards this cooperation by forming the consciences of her members in openness towards others and respect for them, in that tolerance which accompanies the search for truth, and in a spirit of solidarity.

Message from the pope... we "As seek the t ru th t ogether w i t h respect for conthe science of others, we will be able to go forward along the paths of f reedom which lead to peace, in accordance with the will of God" — Pope John Paul.

Conscience and the Christian

Faced with the obligation of following their own consciences in the search for the truth, the disciples of Jesus Christ know that they may not trust only in their personal capacity for moral discernment.

Revelation enlightens their consciences and enables them to know that freedom which is God's great gift to mankind. Not only has he inscribed the natural law within the heart of each individual, in that "most secret core and sanctuary of a man (where) he is alone with God", but he has also revealed his own law in the Scriptures.

Here we find the call, or rather the command, to love God

and to observe his law.

God has enabled us to know his will. He has revealed his commandments to us, and has set before us "life and good, death and evil"; he calls us to "choose life . . .loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice, and cleaving to him; for that means life to you length of and days . . ."

In the fullness of his love, God respects a person's free choice regarding the highest values he or she seeks, and he thus reveals his full respect for the precious gift of freedom of conscience.

God's laws bear witness to his, since they seek to assist and not hinder our use of freedom.

In themselves, God's laws remain the per-

fed expression of his will and his absolute opposition to moral evil, and it is through them that he wishes to guide us in the search for our final end.

Yet is was not enough for God to demonstrate his great love in the created world and in man.

God "so loved the world that he gave his only Son, the whoever believes in him whould not perish but have eternal life . . . He who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God." The Son did not hesitate to proclaim that he is the Truth, and to assure us that this Truth would make us free.

In searching for the truth the Christian

has recourse to divine revelation, which in Christ is present in all its fullness.

Christ has entrusted the Church with the mission of proclaiming this truth, and the whole Church has the duty of remaining faithful to that truth.

My most serious responsibility as the Successor of Peter is to ensure this constant fidelity by confirming my brothers and sisters in their faith.

More than anyone else, the Christian ought to feel the lion to conform his conscience to the truth.

Before the splendour of the free gift of God's revelation in Christ, how humbly and attentively must he listen to the voice of conscience!

How

modest must he be in regard to his own limited insight! How quick must he be to learn, and how slow to condemn!

One of the constant temptations in every age, even among Christians, is to make oneself the norm of truth. In an age of pervasive individualism, this temptation takes a variety of forms. But the mark of those who are "in the truth" is the ability to love humbly.

This is what God's word teaches us: truth is expressed in love.

The very truth that we profess calls us to promote unity rather than division; reconciliation rather than hatred and intolerance. The free gift of our coming to know the truth places upon us the serious respon-

Absolute truth from God

sibility of proclaiming only that truth which leads to freedom and peace for all: the Truth which became flesh in Jesus Christ.

At the conclusion of this Message, I invite all people, to reflect well on the need to respect the conscience of each individual.

In every sphere of social, cultural and political life, respect for freedom of conscience, ordered to the truth, has many important and immediate applications.

As we seek the truth together, with respect for the conscience of others, we will be able to go forward along the paths of freedom which lead to peace, in accordance with the will of God. From the Vatican, December 8, 1990.

The guarantee that objective tnnit exists is Wed in God, who is Absobrte Troth; selectively speaking, the search for troth and the search for God are one and the same.

This alone is enough to show the intimate relationship between freedom of conscience and religious freedom.

It also explains why the systematic denial of God and the establishment of a regime which incorporates this denial are diametrically opposed to both freedom of conscience and freedom of religion.

However, those who acknowledge the relationship between ultimate troth and God himself will also acknowledge the right, as well as the thrty, of non-believers to seek the troth which can lead them to discover the Mystery of God and humbly accept it

The Record, January 10, 1991

11

to the Editor

Whiteheads: serious allegation from Anne FOX, Pastoral Planning Office Sir, While the practical organisation of the workshops by Evelyn and James is being co-ordinated by the Archdiocesan Pastoral Planning Office, the sponsoring agencies represent a wide cross section of the Archdiocesan Community: WA Council of Religious Institutes, Continuing Board of Education of the Clergy, the Catholic Institute, the Knights of the Southern Cross, Catholic Community Care Commission of WA. Archbishop Foley and his advisory group for pastoral planning have been very supportive of the program and it was their recommendation that parishes ensure that at least two lay people from the parish attend the workshops.

Many people in Perth, lay, religious and clergy, have undertaken short and long term courses with the Whiteheads in Australia, the United States and in Ireland.

It is against this background

from Maureen HELEN, Pregnancy Help Sir, Responsibility for a new life can be a daunting prospect. Fear, pain, uncertainty and confusion can be a woman's response to an unplanned pregnancy.

This is especially true for women who are young, or who are alone and unsupported.

Such people are vulnerable. They are likely to be unsure about their feelings and their ability to cope with a baby and the problems that will result from a pregnancy.

of experience and high recommendation that the opportunity to bring the Whiteheads to Perth was accepted.

Evelyn Eaton Whitehead is a developmental and social psychologist with a doctorate from the University of Chicago. She writes and lectures on questions of adult development, aging, and the analysis of community as a style of group life.

James D. Whitehead is a pastoral theologian and historian of religion. He holds a doctorate from Harvard University with a concentration in Chinese religions. His professional interests include issues of contemporary spirituality and theological method in ministry.

Together in 1978 the established Whitehead Associates, through with which they serve as consultants in education and ministry. They are members of the associated faculty of the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University

in Chicago and consultants to several programs in the Centre for Pastoral and Social Ministry at the University of Notre Dame.

Perth Archdiocese has not brought the Whiteheads over from the USA. Indeed most probably this would beyond our means and we might then have had to charge exorbitant fees. The Whiteheads had been invited to Australia by the Aquinas Academy in Sydney, and the opportunity for Perth to secure their services while already in Australia was then offered.

We are indeed grateful to the Aquinas Academy who have further assisted us by subsidising the Whitehead's Australian domestic air costs. The fees being charged ($60 or $30 concession for a two day workshop providing free child-care), really cannot be considered exorbitant. The budgeting for this program is targeted to cover costs, not to make any kind of profit.

The theme for the workshops, to be held February

2-3 and February 5-6, is "Working Together — Collaboration in Ministry". The following topics will be covered over each two day program; Day one — Ministering Together, convictions and concerns; Changing images of Ministry, from Parenting to Partnership; Transformations of Personal Power; Scarcity and Abundance, Dynamics of grief, loss and hope.

Day two — The legitimacy of the religious leader; Conflict as a face of collaboration; Men and Women in the Church — What we need from one another; Ministry in a prophetic season.

The main part of Mr Peachey"s letter is taken up with attacks on ideas reportedly raised by the Whiteheads in a paper of theirs apparently circulated at a seminar in California.

Mr Peachey notes that he has only read reported excerpts of this paper as reprinted as part of an article in another journal and not

the paper itself. It is always dangerous to condemn, or to praise, a writer on the basis of the way their ideas are reported in another journal, particularly when we cannot be sure how the editorial policy of that journal will effect the reporting.

Mr Peachey claims that The Whiteheads are "clearly in dissent with the magisterium of the Church". This is a very serious allegation indeed, and one Mr Peachey is making on the basis of his own interpretation of the Whiteheads' work.

The Whiteheads enjoy a high reputation in all the countries in which they have worked, and in which t heir publications are known, as having made a very positive contribution to the Church responding to the call of Vatican II. The sponsoring organisations are looking forward to the opportunity provided by the Whiteheads' visit, and by these February workshops for people in ministry in the Church in Perth to work creatively together.

One response of the Church to this pain and distress is provided by a service which deserves to be better known.

In groups, women learn new skills and make new friends.

Pregnancy Help is a part of Centrecare Marriage and Family Service. It is situated centrally in Perth, with easy parking nearby.

The phone number is 325 5592.

a scheme such as this will only add to their problems.

The bishop may, or may not be well versed in the practicalities of economics, but it would be quite reasonable to consider these aspects.

Already our hotch-potch economic and immigration strategies need careful scrutiny and I might also suggest that the bishop's proposal also be carefully researched before a decision is reached.

The plight of these unfortunate people should not be ignored, but there must be a better way of resolving this issue other than importing it especially as we have not yet resolved our own indigenous people's problem.

Pregnancy Help exists to support women who have an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy, or for whom pregnancy creates problems. Counsellors at Pregnancy Help support women as they face isolation, stigma, confusion and distress.

Support can be for a short time or ongoing pregnancy d uring through individual counselling or through group sessions.

Some of the aims of counselling are to i ncrease a woman's understanding of her own situation and its outcomes, and to provide strategies for coping with changes that are inevitable as a result of pregnancy.

Pregnancy Help also provides access to information and community resources.

There is a pool of donated baby equipment and clothing which is provided free of charge.

from Martin FAULKNER, Wungong Sir, The proposal by Bishop Hickey to introduce a scheme to settle Asian refugees into a total agricultural venture could pose an economic and cultural backlash.

Currently, our embattled rural industries are having a difficult time and to promote

Respect, The kind of peace obey from WVE THOMAS, Medina Sir, Maxwell Hammer, like every Catholic, is free in conscience to accept or reject the reported apparitions of Our Lady at Medjugorje (any official Church approval signifying acceptance of the apparitions as being authentic, would not constitute a dogma of faith which calls for implicit belief and obedience of will on the part of the faithful.

He is certainly not free, by an informed conscience, to publicly berate and malign the pope and bishops of the Church who have received a mandate from Christ to teach and govern in His name when He founded His Church on earthl Surely Mr Hammer instead of verbally hammering the pope and the bishops with his tirade of false accusations which hold no substance in fact or truth, would know, as a praying devotee of Our Lady, the the Church hierarchy bears a grave before r esponsibility almighty God to correctly teach and safely guide the people of God in their journey through this life for their ultimate salvation in the next!

I would suggest to Mr Hammer, with respect and sincerity of heart, that he prays to Our Lady to guide and enlighten him in properly fulfilling his role as a Catholic to honour, respect and obey the pope and bishops of the Church as every true, loyal and faithful Catholic is expected to, and

should doll

from JF HARDING, Diane/la Sir, In our prayers for world peace may the faithful keep well in mind the type of peace that we are really all seeking.

That must be true peace, the peace that our Blessed Lord can only provide, the peace which acknowledges truth and justice and respects the dignity of all mankind.

Those of us who are beyond their sixtieth year have lived long enough to witness the tragedy and devastation of spurious 'peace..

The 'peace' that Neville Chamberlain claimed to have achieved with Hitler at Munich and the capitulation which allowed the Marxist Soviet to occupy the Baltic States, the Ukraine and most of Eastern Europe, a peace of cowardice which n urtures murder and genocide.

The 'peace which allowed the Marxist regime in Hanoi to occupy South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and that has brought the fleeing from those unhappy countries of countless thousands of refugees many of whom have perished in the South China sea and of whom many thousands are consigned to a living death in refuges such as Hong Kong.

"Dear Lord, in our quest for peace let us all seek the true peace which only you can give, a true peace which acknowledges the frailties of mankind and never submits and cowardice to i ntimidation.

BAPTISM ADVERTS

Announce a BAPTISM FREE in The Record Classifieds. Post or deliver no phone achmsi the candidate's name. parents' name. date 04 ceremony and the church.

Salute to our Christmas number from Mrs Patricia HALL/GAY, Mandurah

Sir, Thanks to the editor and staff who once again have published an exceptionally readable Christmas edition of The Record, including meaningful messages from our bishops, at such a low

price.

In a society such as ours when the voices of these messengers of God are increasingly ignored, ridiculed or misinterpretated it is good to know that we can rely on The Record for an accurate account of what they say.

Twist to 'goodwill' to men... from M.J. GONZALES Sir, While I can see the point of Bryan Casey's letter (The Record January 3) re trying to avoid war in Iraq/Kuwait by all means possible (though at some stage it might become "necessary" — God forbid), I should like, however, to point out that the Catholic Church's "version" of the Christmas message has never been "Peace on earth and goodwill to all" — (or "goodwill to men", which is the same thing).

That is the message in Protestant Bibles and is a very different message from "Peace on earth to men of goodwill' (or . .

"to those with whom He is pleased", as the Good News Bible words it), which is what is to be found in Catholic approved bibles.

This is not to say that the Church does not teach that we must always have goodwill towards one another: only that, as a Christmas message from the angels of heaven, one has a very different meaning from the other!

One points out that people who are not of goodwill (those who do not please God), will NOT have peace.

It says nothing of "goodwill to men".

12 The Record, January 10, 1991

However, I was disturbed to read that my ever intensifying fears for the image of priests is shared by Bishop Daily of Brookton NY who refers to it as 'almost a persecution . . in regard to our celibate commitment.

I would suggest that

everytime a Catholic questions this commitment and I know many that have, they too add to the persecution and play into the hands of the secular media who are consigned to the task of renouncing its value.

Therefore, I would sug-

gest that sincere Catholics should mount a letter writing campaign defending both priests and priestly celibacy as a matter of urgency, in the hope that the persecutors, no matter from what quarter they spring from, will tire of this

RECORD CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS Minimum $5 tor first 28 words. Post or deliver.

No phone ads. Closes noon Wednesday.

THANKS Prayer to the Holy Spirit. 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. 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, inspite of all material illusions.

I wish to be with you in eternal glory. Thank you for your mercy towards me and mine. Grateful thanks for favours received from the Holy Spirit This prayer must be said for three days after which the favours will be granted, and this prayer must be published. Liz

0 Holy St Jude, apostle and martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need, to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition.

In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. St Jude pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen. Say three Our Fathers, three Hail Marys and Glorias. This novena has never been known to fail I have had my request granted. Thank you St Jude, Mother Mary and Sacred Heart of Jesus for all prayers answered. N.G.

Holy St Jude Apostle virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need, to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition. In return I promise to make your name known and cause your name to be invoked. St Jude pray for us and all who invoke your aid.

Amen. Say three Our Fathers, Hail Marys and Glorias. This novena has never been known to fail. Thank you St Jude. M.C.R.

subtle form of oppression which is no doubt designed to discourage vocations and undermine the strength of the priesthood.

I can assure Catholics that there will be no shortage of opportunities if one is vigilant. By

remaining silent, Christ Himself is mocked, through His priests. We must also pray without ceasing. I urge this apostolate upon my brothers and sisters in Christ as it is not just a matter for priests themselves to respond to.

MORE CLASSIFIEDS PAGE 16

THANKS 0 Holy St Jude. apostle and martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patron in time of need, to you I have recourse from the depths of my heart and humbly beg you to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me now in my present and urgent need and grant my earnest petition. In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. Say three Our Fathers, three Hail Marys and Glorias. St Jude pray for all who honour and invoke your aid. M.S. Thanks to St Clare. Say nine Hail Marys for nine days with candle burning. Three favours, one business, two impossible, bum candle to end and publish final day.

S.M.M.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, may your name be praised and gioriIed throughout the now and forever.

Amen. Say nirw times a day for nine consecutive days and promise publication. to the Sacred Heat M.C.R. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored and glorified throughout the whole world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus pray for us. St Jude worker of miracles pray for us. Amen. Say this prayer nine times a day. On the tenth day your prayer will be answered. Never known to fail. Publication must be promised. Grateful thanks.

MC R Ask St Care for one business and two impossible favours.

Say nine Hail Marys for nine days with candle burning. On ninth day let candle burn out.

Publish this notice in paper.

M.0 R

A.

The 1990 "Flame" Weekend at Santa Maria College in Attadale attracted over 150 energetic Antiochers.

Parish Catholic Youth's Christian Living Camp "Masks" at Eagle's Nest, Gidgegannup, was a highlight of 1990.

1g year

While the 1991 Catholic Youth Conference, which opened on Friday night, seems to have dominated youth affairs in 1990, the pictures on this page are evidence that many exciting and important youth events took place last year.

The pictures on this page are a sign of hope, not just for the four movements represented but for all young people in our Church, and indeed for all Catholics in Perth.

Youth are our present and our future. While we thank most sincerely all the adults who supported youth events in 1990. we encourage even more adults to support young people in the Church during this decade of evangelisation and renewal.

Charis continued its history of quiet success with several great weekends at Eagle's Nest last year.

Catholic Rural Youth Outreach

Rural Students' Accommodation Project CRY() has student accommodation available in Rossmoyne, close to Curtin and Murdoch Universities, for young Catholic men and women from rural areas who are commencing tertiary studies in 1991. Please direct enquiries and applications to: CRY°

PO Box 194 North Perth 6006

or phone Kristi (office hours) 328 9622 David (after hours) 349 8554

YOU ARE INVITED!!

1991 Catholic Youth Conference invites you

to join in two major public youth events:

Perth played host to the Mixing Christian Student's national study session at Maids Vale in 1990.

• IMPORTANT NOTE • In addition to the existing telephone number (328 9878), the Catholic Youth Office now has three additional lines. The new number is:

328 9622

r YOU

YOUNG FRANCISCAN WEEKEND are invited to a weekend at

NANGA BUSH CAMP (near Dwellingup) FEBRUARY 8-10, 1991 Come and share in a Franciscan experience with other young searchers 18 years old and over.

Get closer to God and St Francis of Assisi. nterested?

I

L

Contact Fr Andrew 349 2837 Pat Meek 349 1474 or Fr Finian 274 1159

Public Youth Rally

Youth Mass

Tuesday January 15 Silver Jubilee Pavilion Claremont Showgrounds 7.00pm

Wednesday January 16 Silver Jubilee Pavilion Claremont Showgrounds 7.00pm

All youth, families, friends & parishioners welcome!!

YOUTH OFFICE DIRECTORY

CHAPLAIN: FR PARKINSON 328 9622

ANTIOCH 328 9622

CPY 328 8136

YCNIV 328 9667

CRYO 328 9622

YCS 227 7061

TYCS 328 4071 The Record, January 10, 1991 13 ,

Stories and books

by Colleen McGuiness-Howard

Gentle St Joseph

Joseph is one of the most respected and famous men of all time. Yet we know very little about his life.

Whatever we know about Joseph comes from the New Testament. But the Gospels say nothing about when or where he was born or about his parents or family, only that King David was his ancient ancestor.

Joseph may have been from Bethlehem and eventually made his home in Nazareth. We don't know when, where or how he died.

The Gospels show that God chose Joseph to be the foster-father of his son, Jesus. They also picture Joseph as a faithful Jew who placed his life totally in God's hands. He appears as a strong, gentle, caring and courageous person who

explain anyone.

He was a skilled carpenter or builder providing as best he could for his family. But even his best efforts could not raise his family out of relative poverty.

God sent Joseph a messenger to explain that the Holy Spirit had come upon Mary so that she the would become mother of the Messiah.

The messenger urged Joseph to marry her.

Trusting God, Joseph did so.

The Gospels suggest that Joseph had to face some difficult choices.

According to Jewish customs of the time, Joseph and Mary were probably teenagers when they decided to marry.

They were betrothed but not officially married when Joseph was shocked to learn that Mary was pregnant. Joseph agonised over what to do. He loved Mary and trusted her, yet he could not understand how this happened. He could have ended the betrothal quietly without having to

go back home to Nazareth.

With Mary he raised Jesus in his own deep Jewish faith and taught the boy his trade. A prayerful man, he took his family to Jerusalem each year to worship at the Temple during Passover.

to

carefully observed God's law.

anything

After the visit to the Temple at Jerusalem when Jesus was 12, Joseph disappears from the Gospel record.

We all know well the story of Joseph taking Mary to Bethlehem and how he found a place where Mary's baby could be born out of sight of the curious crowds that filled Bethlehem's inns.

Over the centuries Jesus' followers have come to appreciate Joseph's greatness. Modern popes have named St Joseph patron of the universal Church, a model for fathers, a protector of workers and patron of social justice.

That happy event led to another serious challenge for Joseph. Warned that King Herod wanted to kill Jesus, Joseph guided Mary and the infant to Egypt. Here he somehow made a home for his family until it was safe to

The whole Church . ......1 honours St Joseph each March 19.

-0

Grandmother's House.

An antique picture book

by Ernest ."sister. ( Collins WI$5.99).

Open this book and enter an enchanting Victorian rendered

scenes, for the first time in a pop-up and pull-the-tab format, make this compilation of the best of Nister's work a book to be treasured today as it was at the turn of the century' when it was first created

Favourite Animals. An antique picture book by Ernest Nister. (Collins 66 $5.99).

Open this book and enter an enchanting Victorian world. rendered Exquisitely

scenes, for the first time in a pop-up and pull-the-tab format, make this compilation of the best of Nister's work a book to be treasured today as it was at the turn of the century when it was first created.

.Vutsbell Library by Maurice Sendak ( boxed $16.99).

An exquisite boxed presentation of four tiny books

which in themselves make a libary.

Wonderful gift for any child.

E xquisitely

All about nature Si\ ‘I'ArsE ' L FOSSI 4tos:41, mvster-Oki. 0,•orki thv f,,rtnotton anti origin.

1)ra-over - their doose-upxtraordshar, arietv e

Collins Eyewitness Guides (Collins bb $18.95).

Here is an original and exciting new look at fossils — the remains of longvanished animals and plants.

Stunning real-life photographs of the spectacular remains of ancient lives offer a unique "eyewitness" view of what fossils are, how they were formed, and how they lived, millions of years ago.

See pearls that are 50 million years old, • a dinosaur's toe, • a troublesome "snake" that was turned to stone, • a fossilised human being, • a snail made of precious stones.

Learn how fossils are formed, • how trilobites have been preserved for 590 million years, • where to look for a belemnite, • how fossils helped the pharaohs of ancient Egypt.

Discover which are the most precious fossils in the world, • where ammonites lived, • how big mammoths were, • what a Devil's toenail looks like.

Insect, Collins Eyeultness Guides (Collins bb $18.95).

Here is an original and exciting new look at the intriguing world of insects.

Stunning, real-life photographs of beetles, bugs, bees, butterflies, and more, offer a unique "eyewitness" view of the variety and complexity of insects, their structure, life cycles, and behaviour.

See a queen wasp building her nest, • a caterpillar devouring a leaf, • a cockchafer beetle taking off.

• two stag beetles fighting over a mate, • a damselfly nymph emerging as an adult.

Learn why bees make honey, • how to identify insects, • why leafcutter ants build underground nests, • how diving beetles live and breathe in water.

• how mosquitos spread disease.

Discover how a wasp's compound eyes work and what it sees, • which insects have ears on their knees, • how wasp grubs feed on living caterpillars, • how a butterfly can smell with its wings.

14 The Record, January 10, 1991

)t,r i*ver

the busv

4rki

aro

,erzk• intrtgtitnE hire.

Trk‘tting

The Red-back Spider and Other Venomous Creatures by LE. Kacb. (A Australian Western publication Museum

$6.95.)

Spiders are the spinners of the Living world, and many of them spin webs of extraordinary beauty and symmetry This ability alone is enough to set them apart from other creatures. In their webs they trap for food many kinds of insects which are pests or a nuisance to man; it is fair to think of them as friends, not the foes, of mankind.

or?, ,

Most spiders have a small amount of venom, which they use to stun or kill their prey Humans are bitten in self defence, and usually the bite causes not more than temporary pain; but when a particularly sensitive person is bitten severe reactions may occur.

Altogether there are about 2000 scientifically named species of spider in Australia, but only a comparatively small number are considered dangerous. There are few species of spider capable of killing a human.

' t

416, 4161aL

Tree By Leaf by Cyntha Voigt (lions $6.95).

When she reached the easternmost point of land.

Clothikle sat down on a ledge of rock, with the trees clase behind her She could make out beaches and coves, and the clear. whitc, round lighthouse. Mine. she thought. her imaginatkm picturing the whole mittenshapedpeninsula. mine. And it was. She didn't know why Great-Aunt Clothikk had left it to her and she didn't even care. The whole peninsula was hers, and it was her future Lumber axnpanies always wanted to buy it. hut she wasn't going to sell. ever But then her father returns from the war and there is no money Clothilde's peninsula is going to have to be sold. and there is nothing she can do to prevent it.

Stunk-Infested Custard

by Katie Wales (Pkrolo Books $6.99). .1n (1 What's yellow dangerous?

Yes . . . it's Shark-Infested Custard — the juiciest joke book ever!

Lunch-packed with a mouth-watering menu of delicious food jokes to tickle your tastebuds

Book land for qtrie.A sitidenteasiinork;

Heaps of fun recipes The Easy Cookbook; Microwave for Health (mouthwatering recipes for energy and health); Cooking Ahead (for quick meals and enter-

taining); Meals in Minutes by Marion Raymond (new edition) (Bay Books all $6.95 each except The Easy Cookbook $7.95).

Typically, Bay Books have

produced another inexpensive but interesting array of cookbooks with affordable ingredients and appetite appeal.

These books make interest-

ing culinary endeavours available to all providing good nutrition and easy entertaining ideas. Great for the price.

MEALS IN MINUTES

One of the Crowd. A personal view of newspapers by Martin Flanagan (Sun/Macmillan $16.99).

"A newspaper is a variety performance. It can be bought for a few coins. enjoyed at leisure, and carried about in a pocket or under the arm.

"Much that is great is published in newspapers wt the following day they become, as the old adage says. fish and chip wrappers.

Understanding the MidLife Crisis by Dr Peter O 'Connor (Sun/ Macmillan).

The period between thirtyfive and forty-five is a time of crisis for many males, a time when feelings of frustration and personal inadequacy may surface and marital strains may be felt. It is a stage when many men are plagued by feelings that their life has no meaning or that their physical or mental powers are spent.

What causes these anxieties? Can they be overcome?

Psychologist Peter O'Connor has made a study of what

he terms this 'mid-life crisis'.

Dr O'Connor believes that this time of apparent crisis can also be seen as a creative challenge, as a stimulus for deeper understanding and growth; it can be a time for coming to terms with yourself, understanding more about yourself; a time for taking new directions.

Understanding the Mid-life Crisis is a book which will help many people to cope; it makes fascinating reading for both men and women. It is a book which affects the life of every family This classic work is now in its eighth printing.

Ihave always warmed to that paradox."

Martin Flanagan was first attracted to newspapers by the strident, &event, larrikin journalism of the old Nation Review and by their potential for communicating thoughts. ideas and feelings.

One of the Crowd gathers Flanagan in the Melbourne age on sport, family matters, politics, comedy folk culture and black Australia.

What emerges is one gifted journalist's view of this world

by Colleen McGuiness-Howard

The Guinness Encyc(Guinness lopedia through Collins bb $59.99).

A unique work of reference for the 1990s.

Stimulating and authoritative, covering the whole world of knowledge.

Illustrated throughout in full-colour with photographs and paintings, together with specially commissioned maps and diagrams.

Over 300 double-page spreads explore key topics in depth.

Arranged thematically into subject areas.

Detailed information on each of the world's 172 countries.

Extensive index and thocross-reference rough system.

Over 160 distinguished editors and advisory contributors.

Facts and figures _

4111 THE GUINNESS

ENCYCLOPEDIA t b% pertstroik4

His story

CS. Lewis, A biography

by AN. Wilson (Collins).

The Chronicles of Narnia made C.S. Lewis one of the most successful writers of the twentieth century. He also won an enormous following through his religious books — Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, Surprised by Joy — books which are still read in

their thousands today. His works of scholarship — above all his English literature in the Sixteenth Century — have achieved classic Status.

Lewis was a brilliant. prolific ',writer and a deeply complex man, capable of inspiring both great devotion and gre-at hostility His mother died when he

Faith and Philosophy.

Spinoza on Religion by A C Fox edited with an introduction by A.J. Watt (University of WA Press bb $25).

This book makes a distinctive contribution to the literature on Spinoza's thinking about religious concepts, beliefs and practices. It argues that he was closer to the mainstream JudaeoChristian tradition than he is often seen as being.

Religious issues loom large in Spinoza's philosophy. He wrote on very general questions about the concept, existence and nature of God, and also on more pragmatic questions about the status, function and defensibility of relgious beliefs and practices, interpretation of scripture and religious toleration.

However, his position on some of these issues is not altogether clear. This is partly because he discussed them in two major works, the Ethics and the nactatus Theologico-Potiticus, which

were written for different readerships and different purposes. Most writing on Spinoza's philosophy takes the Ethics as the mature and authoritative source of his views on philosophical issues, including those in the

was nine, while for his father he developed a confused love-hatred; he was to spend the rest of his life trying to resolve his feelings about his parents. A.N. Wilson charts the progress of the clever child from Ulster to Oxford, where he was a Fellow of Magdalen College for most of his adult life. He describes Lewis's unwilling conversion to Christianity the Oxford circle of his friends known as the Inklings, and the genesis of his writing. most intriguingly of the Narnia stories.

He explores Lewis's relationships, with his c106C friend J.R R. Tolkien. with his loved brother Warnie, with a much older woman, Janie Moore. who kept him in willing domestic thrall ti thirty years. and with Joy Davidnun. a divorced and dying woman whom he married in defiance of the church.

A.N. Wilson is an uncannily sensitive biographer. under whose gaze Lewis emerges vigorous, bluff and noisy in all his 'foursquare and independent reality'.

philosophy of religion. This book gives more prominence to the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus, and gives, as a consequence, a rather different view of his position on a wide range of issues related to religion.

The Record, January 10, 1991

15

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER

WORLD-WIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER

. . . weekends of renewal and celebration of love and faith for married couples.

WEEKEND DATES 1991 FEBRUARY 8-10 JULY 26-28 MARCH 8-10 AUGUST 23-25 APRIL 5-7 SEPTEMBER 13-15 MAY 17-19 OCTOBER 18-20 JUNE 28-30 NOVEMBER 22-24 For bookings and more information ring

Chuck & Gloria Lusk 271 0907

24-HOUR VIGIL OF PRAYER AND ACTION FOR A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION TO THE GULF CRISIS

Come to the Cathedral St Mary's, Victoria Square, Perth January 15, 5am — January 16, 5am Ecumenical Service January 15, 6pm For information contact Marya Stewart 361 4981, Bernadette Kennedy 576 1124, Stephen Hall 321 7033 (Supported by the Churches Peace and Justice Coalition)

RECORD CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS

THE PARISH SCENE

Minimum $5 tor first 28 words. Post or deliver.

No phone ads. Closes noon Wednesday.

1M i= iMMI I

BROTHER ANDREW Brother Andrew (co-founder with Mother Teresa of Missionary of Charity Brothers Calcutta) is giving seven retreats at God's Farm, Gracewood, 40km south of Busselton on "Christ's Answers to Today's Problems". He will offer daily Mass in the serenity of the Stone Chapel and be available for private interviews.

Retreats commence January 2325 $65; January 25-28 $75; January 29-February 1 (silent) $100; February 1-3 $65; (young people's retreat) February 5-8 $100; February 8-10 $65; February 12-15 $100.

All the above charges are only suggested donations.

One Day in Perth at Newman Siena College hall on Saturday, February 16, 10am-4pm. BYO lunch, morning tea and a !unch cuppa provided. No need to reserve seats. Brother Andrew requests that it be free and open to all.

More details and bookings from Mrs Betty Peaker, Box 24, PO Cowaramup, 6284.

.

11-,11.1111 IMIP

MINISTRY WORKSHOPS Registrations are open for two workshops in early February to be presented by visiting consultants Evelyn and James Whitehead, for those engaged actively in Church and parish life, and on issues such as: ministering together, changing images of ministry, transformations of personal power, conflict as a fact of collaboration, men and women in the Church, and ministry in a prophetic season.

The programme is offered twice, first on February 2-3, 5-6, 9am4.30pm at Nestor Hall, Catholic Education centre, 50 Ruislip St, Leederville. Free child care provided for those who book ahead. Morning and afternoon teas provided. BYO lunch. Fees are $60, or a $30 concession is available.

For information contact Sandra Brown, Archdiocesan Pastoral Planning Office on (09) 221 1548.

PURSLOWE and Company

Funeral Directors Cnr, Wanneroo Rd and Buckingham Mr

North Perth 4-444835 15 Scarborough Beach Rd

Arthur J. Purslowe & Co. and Associated lompanies, are fully aware of the requirements required for Catholic Funerals.

We have always carried out Funeral Masses and rosaries with dignity and decorum, whether it he a low cost Funeral or an expensive Funeral.

You can he assured that when you call on Arthur J. Purslowe & Co or Associated Companies to conduct a funeral for you, it will he carried out with our full knowledge and understanding of your religious wishes.

Mead & Purslowe Victoria Park 361 1185

Snell & Purslowe Midland 274 3866

289 Albany Highway

1 Marion Street

•

PASTORAL ASSISTANT (Archdiocese of Perth)

Applications are invited for the position of pastoral assistant with deaf and hearing imparied people of Western Australia. Salary is in the vicinity of a stipend.

Desirable qualities include: — Initiative, organisation, and networking skills.

— A commitment to Catholic values and the ability to impart Catholic faith to others.

— Ability to work co-operatively as a team member with good inter-personal skills and an enjoyment in relating to people.

— A dedication to the empowerment of people with deafness/ hearing impairment — Ability to facilitate integration where this is desirable.

— A knowledge of languages of deaf people.

— Current drivers licence.

Applications in writing to: Fr Paul Piten, OSM Catholic Apostolate with Deaf and Hearing Impaired People 25 Windsor Street Perth WA 6000 Applications close Monday, January 21, 1991

We're countrywide too . . !

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING

Is as close as your phone (008) 11 4010 (free call) (Metro callers please use 221 3866) Natural Family Planning Centre 27 'Victoria Square Member of the Australian council of Natural Family Planning inc.

16

The Record, January 10, 1991

Painting, quality work at the right price. John Freakley. Phone 361 4349.

MASONRY REPAIRS and restoration: Chemical tightening of soft mortar, re-pointing fretted brickwork, damp-proofing with silicone injection, tuckpointing. Country enquiries welcomed.

Please phone Steve 481 0753 Building repairs and maintenance. All facets of building trades, eg carpentry, plumbing, roof carpentry, studwork, stumps, pergolas, carports, additions, concrete, etc. References available, please phone Bob on 410 1436 Briddayer requires large or small jobs, free quotes.

Ring 447 6128 or 405 3426

PUBLIC NOTICE

Arthur j.

Wanneroo 409 9119

BUll DING TRADES

Moora parishioners were well represented last month when Sister Alma made her final vows at a ceremony in her order's chapel at South Perth. She is pictured left with Moora parish priest Fr Basil OSB and Sister Christine after the school's graduation Mass last month.

BOOK SALE Up to 90% discount on thousands of books including many by popular authors; also drastically reduced are music books, tapes and children's books.

Illness and injury insurance — AMP. For a small weekly outlay an Income Protection Plan covers you 24 hrs every day, including holidays and weekends. Can you afford not to have this cover with holidays approaching? For peace of mind, phone Brian Jarvey 362 3866 for a free brochure and personalised quotation for your needs. A/H 350 6179.

For an obligation free service to help you plan for: • Family protection • Income protection • Retirement • Tax free savings • Children's education • Mortgage cancellation Please phone VINCE Fassom 321 5833, 459 4261 A/H FURNITURE CARRIED. One item to housefulls.

Small, medium, large vans available with one or two men from $24 per hour, all areas. Cartons and cheap storage available.

Mike Murphy 330 /979, 317 1101, 444 0077, 447 8878, 272 3210, 378 3303, 384 8838.

Country callers: 008 198 120

EAC HER AVAILABLE

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• Paintings • Mosaics • Sculptures for churches and homes

PERSONAL Malaysian lady 30, would like to meet gentleman/ partner between ages of 30-40 for permanent relationship. Address to Malaysian lady do The Record newspaper.

Personal mai is being held at this office and must be collected for `Gent 54', 'Catholic Gent 38', 'Sincere Gentleman', 'Lady 62' 'Anne'.

HOUSE TO LET For rent older style home owned elderly by Catholic couple, now in nursing home. Most convenient position adjoining Ardross shopping area, Applecross.

Apply 364 6642 Neat 3yo furnished 4 brms 2bth/wc, c/port 15 min walk Rockingham City.

Established homely neighbourhood $90pw.

No pets. Bond $360 negotiate Parish-Priest reference required. Write 31 Hunter Way, Padbury 6025.

ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE Dianella one bedroom unfurnished c./yard unit. quiet block close to plaza and transport. $80 per week $200 bond. Phone 275 2579 (wk 222 2733 Therese).

NOTICE CARETAKER/HANDYMAN. Do you need a reliable, honest, conscientious worker, experienced in all aspects and requirements of caretaking and general maintenance of buildings, gardens and grounds?

Then please phone JOHN for further information on 349 8789. Resume CV and references freely available on request. Country enquiries welcome RECORD classifieds close noon W ednesdays.

PILGRIMAGE

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c onsult

293 2268

Individual home ENGLISH TUITION for adults, school students, migrants, any level. Based on needs, interests. Reasonable fees.

Tuition by well qualified, experienced, caring teacher. Phone 272 4569 around 8am

CLIFFORD Kath, May God bless the memory and keep safe my dear friend Kath Clifford who passed away peacefully at the Home of little Sisters on Tuesday. May God give her eternal peace.

Cealia Deering,

(09) 328 7307

TO

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5 nights Medjugorje 2 nights Dubrovnik

From $2360 per person

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Regular departures for 1991 March 27, April 24, May 29, June 51119, July 17, September 411122, October 16.

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Licence No 91A00509