The Record Newspaper 30 May 1996

What's Inside...

Vietnamese open new community centre in Westminster - Page 3 Jesuit expert on Muslim-Christian relations comments on murder of monks - Page 2 PRINT POST APPROVED PP602669/00303

PERTH, WA: May 30, 1996

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West Perth Mercys 100 years old - Page 2 New marriage preparation guidelines - Page 5 A kindly Governor remembered - Page 11

Archbishop at risk of more legal action

By Peter Rosengren The Brothers are not suing the Archbishop of

Perth over hili ty in the child c(msex-abusc issucs 1)111 sidering joining him amid other Western Australian parties to the case they are currently involved in the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

Archbishop Barry Hickey con-

firmed the possibility of being joined to the case by the Christian Brothers in an interview with The Record earlier this week ABC TV's Four Corners program last Monday alleged the Brothers were suing the Archbishop. Archbishop Hickey said he would be meeting the Brothers to discuss the possibility of being joined to the case on Thursday. "The Christian Brothers have not sued the Archbishop of Perth. They are discussing the possibility of linking the Archbishop of Perth and other Western Australian parties with their court action," he said.

The Archbishop's comments came as clients of law firm Slater and Gordon considered an offer of settlement for the case, which has been underway in the NSW Supreme Court for three years,

put to them by lawyers acting for the Christian Brothers.

Brother Tony Shanahan, congregational leader of the Christian Brothers Holy Spirit Province covering Western and South Australia, confirmed that an offer had been put to the 200 or so men who have taken action In the NSW Supreme Court against the Brothers but said that he could not discuss any details.

But he indicated that the offer Included a "substantial trust fund" which would provide counselling and other services to those who claimed they had been abused by Brothers as children, a limited provision for direct financial assistance to individuals and payment of the legal costs of law firm Slater and Gordon. in exchange for the cases being dropped.

"We're two and a half years down the legal path and neither side has got very far," Br Shanahan said, adding that it would be at least another two years before resolution of the matter, which even then would not be guaranteed.

VOICES director Bruce Blythe. speaking on behalf of the 200 claimants, said a decision by the men was likely by the end of the week but he did not want to comment on the negotiations taking place in any way because they were at a delicate stage.

Br Tony Shanahan Archbishop Hickey. responding directly to last Monday's Four Corners program which claimed the Church was evading its responsibility in the matter of sexual abuse of children, said the public's perception of the leaders of the Church was that they had not always acted as wisely as they should have.

"And therefore we must accept criticism when it is valid and learn from it," he said.

He said the Church office at Victoria Square in the city had received a large number of phone calls from viewers after the program's airing on Tuesday night.

Archbishop Hickey said people were disturbed at the program's

Australia be better in the future."

Clarifying comments on the program about his relationship to the case currently being heard in the NSW Supreme Court, he said that as Archbishop he was responsible for the actions of all the diocese's priests but because of the autonomy of religious congregations it was the superior of the congregation who was responsible for the actions of its members.

This distinction was sometimes misunderstood both within and out the Church but people had to understand this reality, he added.

The Four Corners program. entitled Thrice Betrayed, was Archbishop Barry Marry by report that in one State (not WA) highly critical of the handling especially Church figures. senior sent from priests had been parish to parish when accused: bishops. of allegations concernthat the Church did not appear to ing sexual abuse of children by be facing up to the facts: that it priests and Religious going back should not appear to be playing over six decades.

The program detailed known legal games to avoid financial and new allegations of cases responsibility: and that priests should live in such a way that abuse including at least one people could turn to them in where a priest who was eventually imprisoned for sexual abuse times of trouble.

"I must say that I accept all of boys had been transferred those comments as true. I don't through a number of parishes believe they all apply to the over several decades despite Archdiocese of Perth but to the Church authorities knowing of extent that any of them does I his crimes. The program dealt regret that very much," Arch- mainly with the dioceses of Ballarat and Melbourne in bishop Hickey said.

"I think that criticisms, while Victoria. It was not broadcast in hurtful, often teach us wisdom. that State for legal reasons.

We must, as a group throughout Canada's experience - Page 11

A plea for revival of the Angelus

By Peter Rosengren Archbishop Barry Hickey has urged parents to re-adopt the practice of saying the Angelus with their children despite the fact that it had become somewhat unfashionable in the Church today.

The Archbishop Hickey has had a special prayer card printed dedicated to Mary the Mother of God under this title and had it distributed to the congregation attending the Mass for Our Lady Help of Christians last Friday evening in St Mary's Cathedral, Perth.

Speaking at the end of Mass the Archbishop said the Angelus was a beautiful Biblical prayer.

"The Angelus is one of those prayers that has lost its fashionable place in the Church so some of our young ones don't know it," he said.

"So I'd like the parents here tonight to make sure that the

young ones get a copy and maybe they can say it together in the family so they can remember and see again what a beautiful Biblical prayer it is and how, in the prayer, it reminds us how Jesus was made flesh."

On the front of the card is a prayer Archbishop Hickey has composed asking Mary's help for Australia. It carries a picture of Mary and the Christ child above the world and Australia.

Columban Father Peter Kenny delivered the homily at Friday night's Mass in which he said that Our Lady was asking Catholics to be committed to four things: to Christ in the Eucharist; a life of prayer; the parish in which they live; and finally to joining with Jesus Christ and Mary in fighting on wider social issues such as abortion, euthanasia and pornography.

Archbishop Hickey also told the congregation of his recent overseas trip with St Charles'

Seminary rector Fr Paul Fogarty visiting seminaries in the United States.

He also visited the five Perth students studying for the priesthood in Rome and while there heard the Holy Father in St Peter's Square talk about Pentecost.

"But at the end he said 'I want to bless everyone here pregent and any religious objects you have and any special intentions that you have.'"

The Archbishop said his own intentions had been for vocations in Perth and the archdiocese's seminarians and also for Australia.

"I knew that I'd be coming here tonight. . . . in time to celebrate this Mass. So I asked that in the Holy Father's blessings there be a special blessing for Australia," he said, adding that, despite reports to the contrary the Holy Father looked fit and well.

Continued on Page 2

Children view the statue of Mary Help of Christians at St Brigid's Church, Midland, last Sunday That was a centre of attention in celebrations for Mary Help of Christians feast day last Friday. After Mass the crowds processed around Midland with banners representing various Italian associations, walking with the beautiful Our Lady Help of Christians statue held aloft while the Rosary was said in Italian, interspersed with hymns.

- Colleen McGuiness-Howard

IME

West Perth Sisters face future

With Bishop Gibney's blessing, the concern itself purely with meeting the financial needs of people. They would West Perth Mercy Sisters came to John The celebration of the 100th anniver- also engage in pastoral care of people Street, Northbridge, in what was then sary of the establishment of the Mercy rather than filling a social work func- termed North Perth, in 1896.

Sisters (West Perth) convent in tion, she said They remained there for the next 70 "It would be a centre where a whole years until deciding to sell the convent Northbridge would hopefully be the prelude to them returning to the area in lot of things could happen from," she to the Government which has used it the near future, according to Sister Kaye said, raising the possibility of sharing since for the rehabilitation of prisoners.

Bolwell, Congregational Superior of the premises with other like-minded The Mass was followed by a celebratogroupsA chapel open to the public for West Perth Mercy Sisters. lunch at Rosetti's restaurant. ry Sr Bolwell, who spoke to The Record prayer was also a possibility. at the order's centenary Mass held in St Brigid's church last Sunday, said the Mercy Sisters were hoping to return to Northbridge and establish a centre which, among other things, could house the Congregation's administration and archive, despite having sold the Mercy convent in John St, Northbridge, near the church to the Western Australian Government 30 years ago.

"We're exploring the possibility of coming back because our roots are here and the building is still here," she said.

Hundreds of people including ex-students of Mercy schools crammed St Brigid's at the special Mass, concelebrated by Archbishop Hickey and several priests.

She said there were no specific plans as yet for what kind of work the Mercy Sisters based in Northbridge would carry out.

"Perhaps a centre, like a hub, where we could meet the wants of the needy," she said, adding that, if it were to return. the congregation would probably not West Perth Mercy Sisters stalwarts Sister Brigid, left, and Sister Leonard at the Mass.

By Peter Rosengren

St Brigid's Church packed last Sunday

Due to his visit to the United States, Archbishop Hickey was unable to write his column and will resume his Perspective column next week.

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Murdered monks heroic for staying when they knew lives were in danger: Jesuit

By Peter Rosengren The seven Trappist monks murdered

by Islamic extremists recently had courageously decided three years ago to remain in Algeria despite "personal and highly specific" death threats, one of the Vatican's top experts on Islam said in Perth this week Father Tom Michel SJ, who headed the office for Islam at the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue from 1991 to 1994, was visiting Perth to give a series of talks on Muslim-Christian relations for the Mandorla Centre for Inner Peace when the slaying of the monks was reported.

Speaking to The Record, Fr Michel hailed their decision as heroic, like that of other religious communities who had chosen to remain in the overwhelmingly Muslim nation.

The Algerian Armed Islamic Group, a rebel anti-Government force, claimed responsibility for the deaths of the seven monks kidnapped on March 27.

Fr Michel said the murders, which the group had earlier claimed would be carried out by cutting the monks' throats, had already been widely condemned by Muslim groups inside and outside Algeria.

But he said that while all the religious communities working in Algeria had

received death threats, the seven monks had been singled out in a specific fashion.

"They got personal and highly specific threats in the form of phone calls and other things saying 'if you don't get out of the country, we're going to kill you,'" he said.

However, he said a major factor in the monks' and the other congregations' decision to stay was that many Algerian Muslims had asked them not to leave because they had become a part of Algerian culture.

Fr Michel said he had assisted several groups of Religious in Algeria in 1993 during reflection sessions on discernment of their missions in Algeria.

"They all had to discern whether to stay or leave. One factor in deciding to stay was Algerian Muslims saying 'you're part of our lives'" he said.

"Nobody expects heroism. If some had decided to leave, nobody would have blamed them but the fact that almost all decided to stay is very impressive," he said.

He said that among the Catholic orders or congregations still in Algeria were 16 Jesuit priests and a number of women religious from the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, the Missionaries of Mary and Sisters of Our Lady of Africa.

He added that the other Religious had

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also been receiving death threats.

Regarding members of his own order, the Jesuits, he said that the priests worked in very exposed situations in two Algerian towns. "They're right in the market place and very easy to pick off, totally vulnerable, and they know any time it could happen to them."

The Armed Islamic Group has become one of the main opposition groups in Algeria since the military coup of 1992. he said. "They see the Government as Muslims who have compromised and been corrupted by the influence of secular nations."

Fr Michel said Muslims in Algeria had a mixed attitude to the Armed Islamic Group. "The Government is a usurping government [so] there's not a lot of sympathy with [it]," he said. "On the other hand a lot are turned off by the violent actions of the Group."

He said that the Government was unpopular for a number of reasons, including the fact that it had come to power by coup after Islamic groups won the country's elections in 1992.

Since then it had arrested huge numbers of people and was systematically involved in torture and executions as well as wide-scale imprisonment, he said.

Image and reality - Page 5

Plea to revive the Angelus Continued from Page 1 The prayer card is available at the Church office in Victoria Square. Those who want multiple copies are asked to consider making a donation to cover the cost of printing.

The prayers on the are: Prayer for Australia Almighty God, Deepen in our hearts our love for Mary, Help of Christians.

Through her prayers and under her protection may the light of Christ shine over our

land, and may your blessing remain with us always.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord Amen The Angelus The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.

And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary...

Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

Be it done unto me according to thy word.

Hail Mary_ And the word was made flesh.

And dwelt amongst

us. Hail Mary...

Pray for us 0 holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: we Pour forth beseech you 0 Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may, by his passion and Cross, be brought to the glory of his Resurrection, through the same Christ our Lord, Amen.

Vietnamese joy as centre opens from Vietnamese priests throughout Perth, Geraldton and About 1500 Perth Vietnamese as far afield as Sydney also were present to see Archbishop attended.

The centre will function as Barry Hickey bless the new Vietnamese Catholic Commun- both a Church and a cultural ity Centre in a colourful and hub for the Vietnamese commuvibrant ceremony at Westmin- nity in Perth and will be used to provide help for members of the ster last weekend.

Vietnamese community local The centre, the result of three immigrants arriving for and years hard work by the Vietnamese community in Perth. from Vietnam.

It features six multi-purpose was declared open by lain McLean MLC, representing rooms on the first floor that will be used, among other things, to Premier Richard Court.

Formerly a squash centre that teach classes in Vietnamese.

Mass in Vietnamese will be dosed 10 years ago, the building was bought in 1993 with the celebrated at the new centre assistance of the Archdiocesan each day while three Masses will be celebrated in Vietnamese Development Fund. the weekend. on Renovations began in January Frances Ly, chaplain to Father this year and were finished just in time for the weekend opening the Vietnamese community in that was also attended by Perth Perth. said he was delighted former with the opening. and vicar-general Following the opening and Vietnamese community chapMichael blessing ceremonies Archbishop Monsignor lain, Hickey, Monsignor Keating and Keating.

By Peter Rosengren

all the priests in attendance, concelebrated Mass each wearing Vietnamese-style robes.

Mass was followed by a highly entertaining concert featuring traditional Vietnamese singing and dancing, much to the enjoyment of all who attended.

Archbishop Hickey warmly welcomed the establishment of the centre, saying that it was a tribute to the efforts of the community here in Australia.

With the purchase and re-furbishment of this present site, [the Vietnamese community] has come of age. This new centre is a credit to their enterprise and skill," he said.

Vietnamese Catholic community chairman Lich Lam thanked the Archdiocese for its support over the past twenty years.

You were the one to encourage us to form the community and helped us step by step," he told Archbishop Hickey.

Liturgical dancers, above, lead the procession of the gifts last Sunday afternoon; below, Archbishop Hickey leads the celebrations in the new centre; and, below left, older and younger Vietnamese Australians happy at seeing the fruit of the community's labours.

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Youth rallies send message

By Brian Coyne, Media Officer, Catholic Education Office At no time previously in history have our senses been assaulted by such a plethora of "messages".

All of us can "tune in" to more radio and television programs, attend more lectures, or have access to more books, video tapes, CDs, more computer programs, or more "experiences" than previously available at any time.

And not only are the "messages" more plentiful. So also is the sophistication and quality with which they are produced and transmitted.

It is little wonder then that a pamphlet was recently distributed in one Parish of Perth asking "why do young people find Church so boring?"

The crisis in communication to young people is the pm-eminent challenge facing the Church in the technologically and socially sophisticated nations of the world.

The Catholic Youth and Young Adult Ministry in Western Australia is an important complementary arm to Catholic Education in trying to communicate the faith to young people.

It provides to young people the one thing that Catholic schools, for all their resources, cannot provide - totally voluntary participation.

To be a part of the Catholic Youth and Young Adult Ministry young people have to go out of themselves and make their own deliberate "adult" decision to want to become involved, and an increasing number of young people are attending the ministry's events.

Last Saturday night over 550 young people made such a choice and attended the first of what are scheduled to be a number of major youth rallies at the

Superdrome. It follows a number of smaller events held in the earlier part of this year. The Seize the Day Convention held at Aquinas College in January attracted about 250 young people. The Eye of the Tiger Rally held at Sacred Heart College, Sorrento, in March attracted about 400 young people.

These events are completely produced by young people - the music, the drama, the talks are all given by young people.

The exception to this is a directed talk towards the end of each evening by the director of the Catholic Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Bruce Downes.

The conventions and rallies are an answer to the question of what is the continuing relevance to young people of the wisdom of a youthful carpenter who spent a few short years on earth a couple of millennia ago.

How can this message be relevant when it is transmitted through a medium that is so obviously humanly flawed as is our Church?

The answers to those questions are, at once, both easy and difficult.

The "problem" today is not one of the unavailability or the inaccessibility of so-called religious "knowledge".

Our contemporary "problem" is a communication problem - a problem of making this knowledge relevant to a generation whose minds and senses are assaulted and distracted by untold messages everyday.

Jesus becomes relevant or alive in us most often, not through some intellectual process of deduction, but through the "experience" where His "message". His "light", His "wisdom", or His "truth" intersects with and answers the practical challenges we all have in living.

The atmosphere at times during these rallies is electric. I believe

this "communication" is working because it is faith "experienced" young people talking about and acting out the hopes, uncertainties, joys and troubles that are very tangible in their lives.

The "communication" is working because it is transmitted in their language and at a level of audio-visual and dramatic sophistication that is the equal of anything else in contemporary culture.

The "light" that is illuminating the eyes, hearts and spirits of the young people that I have been meeting at these rallies is a realisation that it is only through developing an interior relationship with the historical Jesus and the Jesus who dwells within each of us, that we can find the peace and inner tranquillity that gives us the power to cope with all the challenges and uncertainties that confront us in our day-to-day endeavours.

Pope John Paul has been exhorting all of us to "Be Not Afraid".

The young people I have been watching have been "getting the message".

University student Alyson Chalon leads the audience at the Superdrome last Saturday night. Below: everybody gets into the community act.

Armadale Xaverians blast John Paul Jets off the soccer field

By Father Steve Casey Last Sunday afternoon, at the Willetton Senior High School Sports Ground, in front of 50 or so delighted spectators, the John Paul Jets Soccer Team of Willetton Parish clashed thunderously with the Francis Xavier Youth Team from Armadale.

Underneath a glorious and sunny sky, Armadale won the

toss and kicked off to defend against their storming Willetton opponents, who immediately went on the offensive and totally dominated the first half with consecutive goals.

The strike capabilities of the likes of Philip Boon, Swee Yong, William O'Keny and Jose Dorn were c!early underestimated by their opponents, so much so that Armadale's goalie, the renowned

Scott O'Callaghan, was brought down after trying to deflect a powerful strike only minutes into the game and was taken right out of action for the rest of the day.

Towards half-time, Armadale's prospects were looking seriously threatened until gutsy Joe Scarrione came to their rescue with an absolutely miraculous shot at goal right on the siren.

In the second half, Armadale

Willetton captain Jason Terpolilli, left, shakes hands with Am-dale captain Scott O'Callaghan before the game.

The Record, May 30 1996 Page 4

confirmed their reputation as stayers when they fought back gallantly, attacking downfield persistent!!p with numerous attempts at goal.

Their efforts were rewarded by keeping Willetton goalless throughout the second half, and by adding to their score with a stunning goal off the boot of Matthew Bazzica.

The final margin of the game was Willetton 5, Armadale 2.

Willefton was ably captained by Jason Terpolilli and Armadale captained by Scott O'Callaghan.

The game was organised by the respective team managers, Father Steve Casey and Lisa Harrison. as a way of bringing young people from different parishes together in a spirit of friendship. helping to build links of community within the archdiocese.

After the game a hungry horde of players and spectators were heartily nourished by a bumper barbecue organised by Willetton Parish Youth Coordinator, Gabby Heuer. Armadale will have the opportunity to reverse the scores when they host a return game later in the year.

Willy O'Keny on the burst for Willetton parish.

Catholic Church did not 'waive' NDA debt

By Peter Rosengren

•

Little Sisters expand day care

By Colleen McGuiness-Howard The Little Sisters of the Poor in Glendalough are planning a bigger, bright, day centre to draw out the many elderly folks living in the nearby multi-storey flats to give them a chance to interact with residents at the Little Sisters and others from within the wider community.

Up to ten elderly people daily will spend a day doing craft, or just chatting, with morning and afternoon tea, and lunch provided: in anticipation of the expected bigger numbers, the dining room has been renovated.

Hospitality is the fourth vow the sisters take and that makes a perfect combination with their superb service to the aged which is of complete caring even during their dying when the Sisters never leave a person alone as they prepare to pass into eternal life.

The Little Sisters of the Poor are a world-wide order with vocations in Australasia coming mainly from Samoa. New Caledonia and Tonga.

In Western Australia, the Sisters have a nursing home and hostel at Glendalough. There is also one in Kalgoorlie where they have, uniquely, in addition. a nursing home for Aboriginal people.

There are 12 sisters at Glendalough and the policy is that unless the sisters can be present in sufficient numbers to be with their staff, creating a family, "we would prefer to withdraw and that is what we have done in the past."

Renovations have also taken place in the nursing homes whereby single rooms, apart from two doubles, have been created, each with an en suite.

There are 31 residents in the nursing home and 55 in the hostel with two respite rooms and, given the beautiful surroundings and aura of peace and homeliness at the Little Sisters, quite understandably many people seek a place there.

However, this is strictly regulated by government control and a formal assessment has to be made to ascertain eligibility.

It's 75 years since the Sisters took over the build-

Contrar to the impression created by headlines in Perth's weekend press. the Archdiocese Sister Colette, left, and Mother Patricia outside the Little had not waived a $6.1 million of the Poor chapel in Glendalough last week.

Sisters loan originally made to the of Fremantle-based University ings from the Oblate Fathers when they arrived Notre Dame in the 1991-92 perifrom the eastern states. Since then they've gone financial od, Archdiocesan from strength to strength in expansion and consoliadministrator Jim Thomas said dation. this week.

New superior at Glendalough, Mother Patricia.

Mr Thomas said that what had says the family atmosphere and sense of peace been transacted between the two which is so evident at Glendalough. is what the institutions was a debt for equity Little Sisters aim for, to avoid institutionalisation swap which made good financial creeping in. sense.

"If they are coming to spend their last days. sureWe haven't waived the debt. ly they want to come into a secure environment Money was loaned to [Notre and this is what we offer and maintain."

Dame] some years ago to purchase land and buildings and to refurbish Ithemi. That was put Jim Thomas under the subject of a mortgage an excellent acquisibeen had and there was also an agreement archdiocese. the for tion regarding the repayment of it."

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Church weakened the traditional stability level of preparation, saying these commercial excellent an is "It he said. cohab- of marriage. He said the Vatican formation programs often had to because teachings against divorce, Mr Thomas said the agreement deal for the Archdiocese to was especially concerned that make up for a lack of underneed control birth and itation land for debt a swapped we've had other forms of cohabitation were standing among young couples. between the two institutions busi- be better explained to today's being accepted by society as It praised the growth of prebeen that the loan arrangements and buildings in the central for preparing couples young he of Fremantle," district ness a as courses marriage would be reviewed in 1995. marriage, a new set of Vatican equal or similar to marriage. said It . development positive on elaborated document The When the agreement had said. preparaon marriage "When we got to the review guidelinesthis week. this social context, saying mar- such courses should not be matured last year the archdiotion said make to considered it was date today was buffeted by such reduced to a "mere formality" riage cese had decided to transact a valmarriage The corrosion of more commercial sense to us to developments such as sexual and suggested the amount of debt for equity swap. required society modern in ues to A headline in the Sunday Times exchange the debt for the title the Church to offer deeper moral permissiveness, a "contraceptive time necessary for a pre-marsaid. he the land." last weekend had given the and theological formation, espe- mentality." widespread divorce riage course be at least an entire He said the decision to engage cially on responsible procreation and a growing tendency to put week, or four weekends, or an impression that the Church had afternoon once a month for a waived or written off the loan, he in the transaction had also been and the total commitment requir- off matrimony until a later age. beforeinvestigated carefully year. d recommende it As a remedy, said. ed by the sacrament, it said.

The content of pre-marriage stages three for elements But the Church had simply hand. ". . . . This was recombasic the for Council The Pontifical courses should be centred on swapped an asset which was mended by the Archbishop's Family prepared the 30-page doc- of marriage preparation: • remote preparation. which basic Christian doctrine regarddebt for an asset in property, a Finance Advisory Committee and ument. titled Preparation for the normal commercial practice, he it was endorsed by the College of Sacrament of Marriage, as a should try to instil at a young age ing matrimony, although it said, resulting in the Archdiocese Consultors," he said. point of reference for bishops' respect for marriage as a form of should also touch on various psyThe College of Consultors is an conferences and other Church complete self-giving, with special chological, medical and other becoming the new owner of five of the University's key buildings archdiocesan finance committee organisations around the world. emphasis on chastity as a condi- issues, it said. and their sites in Cliff and Mouat made up of clergy which advises It was made public on Monday at tion for eventual marriage.

Continued next page the Archbishop, particularly in the Vatican. streets.

Such instruction LIE "We've just changed the matters of financial importance. o ,I-3 In an accompanying note, coun- can be accomdescription of the asset," Mr In addition, Mr Thomas said. cil president Cardinal Alfonso plished through LD' Thomas said. there had been "a very full and Lopez Trujillo, said the Vatican catechesis, serChurch Mr Thomas said he was frank consultation period" prior document responded in part to mons.

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The Record, May 30 1996 Page 5

Iran's revolution of 'some good'

By Peter Rosengren Our image of Islam is almost completely that of dangerous men with guns backed by fanatical bearded clerics bent on creating societies based on the Koran and repression.

But, as with so much on television, the image doesn't match the truth and one priest who has served as a top Vatican specialist on Islamic affairs says that Christians and Muslims need to sit down with each other more often and defuse the sorts of tensions that are created by this popular, if misguided, image.

Jesuit Father Tom Michel should know.

From 1991 to 1994 he was head of the Office for Islam at the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and for ten years before that Councillor for Islamic Affairs for the Jesuit order in Rome.

He has spent most of his life as a priest studying Islam, working in Islamic countries, meeting with Muslim associations and individuals or advising the Church on its relationship with this potent religious force.

Fr Michel was in Perth last weekend to speak on the importance of ChristianMuslim relations for the Mandorla Centre of Inner Peace.

He said most people get their information about Islam from the news media, which is more concerned with it as a geopolitical force.

For example, he said, the almost universal image of the Iranian Islamic state is negative and critical but in fact there were just as many good things that could be said about it as the criticisms that are so often made.

"The good aspects of [the revolution] are the social aspects," he said.Iwas in Iran at the time of the Shah, just to give an example."

I ran had one of the biggest film industries in the Middle East. You'd go to a movie house and [the audience] was 99.5

per cent men. And the movies were the really trashy things, semi-pornographic with a lot of violence against women, degradation of them, and that kind of thing.

"Well, the Iranian revolution stopped that. They closed the tea houses, [and forbade] backgammon and chess, [which took men out of their homes every night].

"And what did they say to the men?

They said you stay at home and you look after your families and raise your children."

He said Iran now produced as many movies as it ever did but with what are termed "humane values", based on the approach that cinema is meant to entertain, with good themes and thought-provoking ideas.

If anything the Iranian revolution represented a reaction both against the excesses of Western secular society and against traditional Islamic society where men have had both the dominance and the Fr Thomas Michel in Perth last week social mobility denied to women and have As a result, he added, recent elections in lived as guests in their own houses.

Iran have seen fewer and fewer religious And the role of women had improved in Iran markedly in some ways: over 50 per leaders being elected.

Fr Michel is currently based in Bangkok cent make up tertiary-level students, female representation in industry is now where he is Secretary of the Office of over 30 per cent and the Iranian parlia- Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for ment has a higher proportion of female the Federation of Asian Bishops' representatives that the US Congress, Fr Conferences.

To the Western eye, influenced so deeply Michel said.

However, while it was possible to point by feminist thought, Islam is a religion that to the beneficial aspects of the revolution oppresses women harshly, relegating In Iran, the bad was undeniably there as them to second-rate citizen status.

But Fr Michel says that, as with so much well, particularly the dominant role of the else about Iran, one has to be careful Islamic clergy.

Iwould hate to see any country that was exactly of what one is talking of.

"The Muslim tradition, as it has grown run by the bishops, the priests and the seminarians," he said. "We aren't trained up over the centuries, has oppressed for this, we don't know how to do it, we women and is oppressing women - and would do it badly and in Iran religious the first people to say that are Muslim leaders who are Ministers of Oil and feminists," he said.

Education and things that they're not However, Muslim feminists want to end trained [have generated] inefficiency and that oppression by going back to the real [enacted] idealism that's unchecked by teachings of Islam which they see as liberating of women. experience," he said.

"I think some of the Western preoccupations are misplaced, such as the veil, which takes different forms in different countries," he said, adding that at rock bottom it was an action of Muslim women wanting to make a statement that they are believing Muslim women.

"They're saying I don't have to be a sex symbol. I don't have to be looking good and keep my looks and buy cosmetics and all of this to keep my man.

"I'm going to be a believing woman and that's the statement they want to make it's not a bad statement."

Fr Michel said his key message was that the historical animosity between Christian and Muslim societies needed to be broken down by the two discovering what they actually have in common as religions which both believe in God. "[The media image] isn't really the way the Church teaches us we ought to be approaching Islam . . . . it's a way God is working in people's lives. And that's where, in my work,I try to concentrate on how do we as believers in God and Jesus Christ see this other group of believers in God," he said.

By doing this, he said, adherents of both religions have it within their power to short-circuit the pattern of violence and conflict that has dogged the two for centuries.

"Sometimes dialogue means trying, in the midst of situations of conflict, to find an alternative. Sometimes before a situation of tension has moved into violent conflict it means trying to find an alternative.

Sometimes it means just helping people to understand the other better so that we overcome these misapprehensions and prejudices," he said.

"I think also sometimes it means sharing our religious experience and coming together as believers and saying 'what does it mean to be a believer in God in the world today? How does God act in my life?

What does it mean to he a real Christian today?"

Kwinana set for faith renewal Nedlands Loretosauri St Vincent's Kwinana is hosting a Faith Renewal Mission at their church, on the corner of Pace Road and Gilmore Avenue from June 24 to 28 and parish priest Father Ossie Lewis is urging people to attend so they can renew and deepen their faith through the Parish Mission.

The Redemptorist Mission team will be led by Fr Leon Pollard assisted by Fr Peter Hung and will commence with a series of parish home gatherings, designed to reach non-practising Catholics "and to build a

groundswell of interest and support for the second Mission stage," said Fr Lewis.

This comprises initial Mission Masses on the weekend of June 22 and 23, followed by daily Masses at 7 am and 9 am, with a short instruction.

The Masses have been time tailored to accommodate early workers and mothers with school children, said Fr Lewis who outlined a week of faith celebration with a major focus at 7.30 each evening from Monday June 24 to Friday 28.

Specific aspects of faith covering Our Family, Our Future: Mary, Disciple and Mother: Forgiveness, Necessary for Life: The Bread of Life; and Sent Forth by the Spirit, will he presented and developed during the course of the Mission.

Keynote services offered to assist those wishing to attend will be baby sitting at the parish hall from 7.30 pm on Mission nights and transport can be arranged to and from the Mission.

For further information please ring 419-2920.

meet T-Rex and friends

Chisholm College's Wizard was a big hit Chisholm College Beaufort Street Campus was the venue last week for the presentation of the old favourite "'The Wizard of Oz" One felt' that this entertainment would be professional, and indeed it was.

Dorothy played by Tammy Megrail and her dog (Kylie McDonald Kenyon) gave the right touch, a bewildered little girl and the faithful dog Toto which had previously bitten the

shrewish Miss Gulch (Renee Cavanagh). Dorothy's rendition of the famous songs were pleasing.

After the opening scene with the aunt and uncle (Brooke Maitland and Robert Nassif) and Miss Gulch the play moved quickly and the other principals as well as Scarecrow (Kelly Marinich) Tinman, (David McLaughlin) and Lion (David D'Alessandro) gave such spectacularly good performances that it

was difficult to believe that these young people were not seasoned pro's.

Wicked Witch was played with dramatic effect by Lynette Pingault. Glinda Good Witch (Amanda Miraudo) was charming in her beautiful dress sparkling with fairy lights.

An enormous cast of Citizens of Oz, Winkles, Munchkins, Jitter bugs, Poppies and Monkeys delighted everyone with their smiles, singing and dancing.

New marriage preparation guidelines Continued from previous page. emphasis to the defence of life, Couples should be instructed in with insistence that on such the Christian vision of the hus- issues as abortion and birth conband-wife relationship, including trol the couples must not "conthe idea of free consent in matri- form to the prevailing mentality," mony, the permanence of the It said.

Couples should be aware of marriage vow, the purpose natural family planning techof sexual relations and the rais- niques, which rely on periodic ing of children. abstinence and are allowed by In this way couples would bet- Church teaching, it added. ter understand the ChurThe document recommended ch's teaching against pre-marital frequent prayer and discusssex, cohabitation and trial mar- ion meetings between the riage, it said. engaged couples and priests, catThe courses should give special echists and lay specialists.

The Record, May 30 1996 Page 6

Those active in pre-marriage formation should be people of sound doctrine and complete fidelity to Church teaching, it added.

The document also included some basic guidelines about the marriage ceremony, saying it should be serious and simple in tone, avoiding excessive pomp and ostentation.

It suggested that readings during Mass be done by someone other than the couple being married; the readings were aimed first of all at them, it explained.

Loreto Primary School in Nedlands came alive to the sight of real dinosaur fossils last week when Dinosaurs at Large, a company which provides hands-on dinosaur displays and learning experiences for children, visited the schooL Students were delighted to meet a life-size replica of Tyrannosaurus Rex who was not particularly interested in eating anyone that day, and to handle real fossils of dinosaur teeth and claws that were millions of years old.

&liers 10 ./Ae CC/110P One Jehovah's Witness does not five missioners make I really must challenge a statement in Peter Dwan's article "Catholics could Jehovah's from much learn Witnesses" in your issue of 23 May 1996.

He writes: "We should remember that for every convert to Catholicism the Jehovah's Witnesses make five". On what basis does he make such an assertion?

The Official Government Census figures for 1991 when compared with the figures for 1986 give the lie to Mr Dwan's claim.

(See Table, above right)

Catholics

Jehovah's Witnesses

1986

96 Population

1991

%Population

4,064,413

26.1

4,606,644

27.3

66.496

0.4

74.551

0.4

Simple mathematics show Catholic growth in Australia during the five years was 542,231. Jehovah's Witness growth was 8,055.

Catholic Church share of Australian population grew by 1.2 percentage points:

have impact on the substance of X-rated material.

At present, Commonwealth rulings on X-rated material may be accepted in States' legislation where so far they have been resisted. elative to the comments on What has entergcl only through the Censorship Bill 1995, packaged The Record, 9 May) I the back door of plain in the could, delivery order mail agree with Richard Egan about the front through in come future, the for he expresses the need Code National Classification Code of door of a Commonwealth Classification. of censorship to be tabled during There is need to write to the debate on the Bill. s expressing conParliamentarian Without knowledge of the Code, materials' R-rated & X about cern the Bill lacks substance In content. respect of its classifications. In particular, the extent to which R Paul Donnelly & X ratings will, in the words of Claremont the Bill, "Take into account standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by he media, including some reasonable adults" calls for the Catholic media, critiof assessment. cise the Pope for being "out The National Classification Code expresses the same con- of step with modern ideas".

The fact that he was out of step cept, "The need to take account Communism helped change with of community concerns about depictions which condone or the history of Europe.

Abraham Lincoln could have incite violence, particularly sexucriticised for being out of been of portrayal the and al violence, persons in a demeaning man- step with contemporary ideas about slavery. Moses could have ner."

Both the public and parliamen- been criticised for being out of tarians need to know the extent step with his times on the matter to which classifications measure of worshipping Golden Calves.

When people attack the Pope up with these principles in practice: and especially why the for being out of step with modern "demeaning manner" of the ideas, they usually mean he's out Code does not appear in the Bill. of step with their ideas on sex It is a word of significance in out of touch with the Western legal matters and might well world's idea that sex is a corn-

Censoring censorship

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In step with Pope

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'

the Jehovah's Witnesses remained static at 0.4 per cent.

I heartily agree Catholics would do well to emulate the Jehovah's Witnesses' missionary activity but don't let us lose sight of the true facts; unless, of course, there

modity to be exploited, trivialised and reduced from a supreme mystery to a consumer option.

What a naughty Pope he is.

Arnold Jago Mildura

Less talk

T

here has been much stress, in talk, on renewal of the Church in Australia and elsewhere.

May I say that no amount of talk, social planning, democratic discussions, organised caring, or liturgical showmanship regression (to the Tridentine Mass), intellectual dreaming on radio or television by 'New Church' gurus, disobedience by dissenters, can remove the blockage caused by secular humanism, and open human minds and hearts to the living waters waiting to flow again to listening and responsive brothers and sisters of Christ.

Real renewal will come when individual Catholics bring themselves to Christ as their Way. their Truth and their Life, and then, as apostles, help to bring others to Him. Will you join in praying and working that all people find this Christ-centred meaning? We are the Sarto Institute, stemming from Papua New Guinea, developing as a Secular Institute.

We pray and work for the renewal of the Church by a deep-

has been a remarkable turnaround in the ensuing five years! In that same period of five years at least 500 adult converts have been received into the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Perth.

Is Mr Dwan saying that 2,500 converted to the Jehovah's Witnesses heresy in Perth in that same period? That is very difficult to believe!

Fr Gerard Dickinson St Mary's Cathedral, Perth

ening of our faith in the truths taught by Christ and found in the Creeds of his Church.

A stamped and addressed envelope will bring you our leaflet with a moderate program of prayer and practice helping you to be an apostle of this renewal.

Pope St Pius X, Joseph Sarto, is our patron in heaven and we live by his motto: "to bring all together in Christ".

It may help some to know that our Institute has nothing to do with the Lefebre group.

Fr W. J. Ryan, sal, c/ P.O. Box 137, Corryong. Victoria. 3707.

Good Pope John

I

am writing in the hope one of your readers might be able to help me?

I am looking for a framed picture of Pope John XXIII and was wondering if one of the Sisters Convents or one of the Parish Priests might have one in storage and are looking for someone who would like one.

I can be contacted on 481 5654.

Ron Clowes Perth

Help of Christians

/

n this period after the solemnity of Mary Help of Christians, our Holy Patroness of Australia on Friday. 24th May.I would like to highlight the great

privilege and obligation that devolves on all Australian Catholics to show our high esteem love and regard for Our Lady with all the honour and solemnity due to her by offering her all our prayers, Rosaries, and novenas, especially during the beautiful month of May. It is also incumbent on us as Mary's children to sincerely thank her for her motherly love, and care and protection and her powerful intercession for us during these dark and perilous Apocalyptic days we are now living in.

Could I suggest that your readers make use of the following prayer to Mary Help of Christians in their daily prayers?

What a great measure of good for our beloved Australia must undoubtedly result and which Our Lady herself promised for the world at Medjugorie when she implored us to fast and to "pray, pray, pray!!"

Prayer to Mary Help of Christians: Patroness of Australia: "Lord. You place deep in our hearts the love of Mary. Help of Christians.

Through her prayers grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens. Under her protection may Australia be granted harmony, justice and peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen."

William Thomas Medina

The curious beast of liberal culture: suave yet vicious A conservative is a liberal who's been mugged by reality.

Back in the 1980's, that was a popular line with American journalists trying to explain the swing back by many former radicals and liberals to the political conservatism of Ronald Reagan.

Recent events in the news show that getting mugged by reality isn't just a problem for with that simple word "evil". liberals. It's a problem for the This is hardly surprising, since whole of the modern world. most liberals lack the insight The tragedies of Port Arthur into human nature that only traand Dunblane, Scotland, are the ditional religions can bring. prime examples. For many in the You see this in the hesitations media, having to report and many liberal-minded people comment on these events has have in using it to describe provided a difficult challenge. human actions like the killing of It is not just the challenge of innocent children and tourists. having \to face up to terrible When something like this hapthings. many of us prefer to focus pens, Even harder for people steeped in the modern liberal our minds on other important way of looking at the world, it is issues like gun control - "if only the challenge of finding appro- these people couldn't get guns, everything would be all right" priate words to describe them.

The word "evil" is the problem. or media violence - "if these peoFor Catholics beholding dreadful ple saw less violence on videos, events as we have seen recently, maybe they wouldn't kill".

Anything except that disturbevil is a word that comes naturally to describe such wanton ing question - the question that the modern world has no acts of violence.

It is a word that reflects answer to: "How could a man Catholic belief about the twin choose to do such a terrible forces - good and evil - that com- thing?"

It is at times like this that modpete within every adult human soul on a daily basis. ern liberal culture is revealed as However, the liberal culture in scared and naive. which we live has great trouble In the face of unregenerate

human evil, the liberal begins to take on the appearance of a child who has no comprehension of the evils he or she may meet when they stray too far from home.

Yes, it is a curious beast, our modern liberal culture.

G. K. Chesterton captured it well when he said the modern world did not, as some Christians thought, suffer from a lack of idealism and morality In fact, the modern world has too much idealism and morality, Chesterton thought - a point that shines through clearly in many naive attitudes and enthusiasms we see around us still.

But because the modern world is childish does not mean that it is pleasant. to the hostility Given Christianity that persists in many corners of our culture, any defence of Christian positions is likely to lead to aggressive attack Not that this is Just a problem

experienced by Christians. In For although Catholics usually today's cultural climate, we often appear to be highly moral peohear complaints from those pro- ple, they often look bad in liberfessing unfashionable opinions al eyes because they hold the that they are being victimised wrong kind of opinions.

A journalist friend of mine because their views are not summed up the problem of "politically correct".

And it is not just right-wing modern culture well the other politicians who complain. For day when he said that in example, one of the strongest Australia, we increasingly seek attacks on "political correctness" to adopt "civic solutions" to I have heard came from the pro- absolutely every problem that ALP writer David Williamson, exists.

"Civic solutions" means things on ABC Arts radio soon after the like gun control - community federal election in March.

The hostility that greets all actions to root out a problem those who hold "wrong" opin- that is disturbing public life.

We have a strong, proud tradiions is one of the most disturbing signs of our times. tion of civic solutions which Sometimes, it seems as though have fixed all sorts of things bad opinions not bad actions, from public health problems to are seen as the real sin by mod- injustices to Aborigines.

Within that tradition. I think ern liberal culture.

Australians strongly supmost relucthe like that, The point is tance to face evil and name it for port the increased gun control what it is, attacking people for measures now being brought in their opinions is another little by the Federal and State indicator of how unsophisticated Governments. Certainly, I do.

But we can't see the gun probour "sophisticated" modern cullem as the whole explanation for ture really is.

Why? Because as anyone who what happened at Port Arthur.

There is something in the soul has spent time out in the world man that needs to be rememof often knows, crooks and shysters look the part of respectable, bered and identified if we are to get to the heart of the problem. morally upright citizens.

The novelist Joseph Conrad But morally speaking, it is what you do, not what you say, that called it the heart of darkness. determines the kind of person The Catholic Church would call it sin. But the modem world, on that you are.

This makes it tough to be a the other hand, has no word for Catholic in the modern world. it at all.

The Record, May 30 1996 Page 7

Features

Persistent trust in God's power the sure hope for alcoholics

By Colleen McGuiness-Howard

Trying to beat the bottle: face up to the problem completely

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) can effectively pick you up and dust you down, turn around your life and face it in the right direction in the view of 'John' who is a recovering alcoholic.

Apparently, ten per cent of Australians are afflicted with the disease of alcoholism, so John estimates that within our Perth million, there would be conservatively 100,000 alcoholics and within that estimate, 1,000 recovering alcoholics.

And as an indicator of alcoholism behind the scene, after one TV community announcement on AA, 90 calls were received.

Recovering means those who have triumphed over alcoholism, but recognising their weakness, vigilantly avoid drink and don't fall into the trap of having "just one!"

Prison visitations highlight the destruction of alcohol in people's lives, John said, "with 76 per cent of the prisoners there through the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of their crime."

People overindulge for various reasons, John suggests, with some drinking copious quantities to socialise, others to blot out reality, and a percentage because of an established hereditary link.

But the success of AA, which has been translated into 140 different languages, with 116 meetings in the Perth metropolitan area including the prisons, and 60 meetings in the country, depends on meticulously following each of 12 steps.

These include, first, to recognise the problem; then admit one is powerless over alcohol; that one's life is unmanageable; forgive oneself and others (a vital step) - while making amends where possible for hurts or wrongs; take a moral inventory as to where one has gone wrong; admit to God and another human being the exact nature of the wrongs; and then continue with that examination of conscience; and most impor-

tantly, to make contact with God. AA members are encouraged to seek God out, pray for His will over one's life, and ask Him for the courage and power to carry out His will.

Having achieved a spiritual awakening through the 12 steps, those in AA are urged to practice these principles in all their affairs.

John said he's seen some come in with no belief in a higher power and with absolutely no idea of God, only to develop a faith which they never had; he concedes however it is easier for those who've come from strong religious traditions.

Some have returned to the practice of their own religions which they had abandoned.

Many have regained their families and spouses (previously lost through alcohol) "to enjoy much more fulfilling relationships."

So much for AA - but how does John, a trained opera singer, fit Into all of this?

Well, having emigrated as a child migrant at the age of seven, John was brought up in Tardun in the care of the Christian Brothers, "where I had many wonderful experiences and I thank God for the Brothers."

From there John joined a monastery but left at the age of 20; until then he'd never drank.

But he was already facing real problems and describes himself as an alcoholic "long before I picked up a drink." and believes another negative factor when he did start drinking, was his biochemical response to alcohol.

He describes alcoholism as a physical, spiritual and mental disease, and wondered why he would sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament praying - speculating how he could commit suicide "and for all my misery to go away, not realising my alcoholism was the major cause of my misery and mental disturbance." Though he confesses to losing his faith, John prayed despite not really believing.

As alcoholism is a disease of

psychological denial, he didn't approach AA for 20 years. Since joining, however, it's made a big difference to his life because he's gained great peace, despite these past two years of trauma in breaking away from alcohol.

"This means, in my case, dealing with living with myself, dealing with people, and getting living skills which I lacked because of my monastic background."

Success with AA means altering attitudes, and depends on how hard you want it, explained John, "and for the short time I've been in the program, people are amazed at the security I've gained - but then I used to attend 14 meetings a week."

Alcoholism is also a dormant disease which surfaces sometimes with people in retirement at one end of life and "with even 13-year-old kids getting it!" at the other end of life, he said.

John, when visiting prisoners, tells them that he was imprisoned in a prison far greater than theirs through alcohol, and "getting sober" from John's experience is a long haul with an estimated five to 10 years before full recovery is found.

AA promises we'll be able to handle situations we've never had, John asserts, living a good life and not a dependent life . . . . with God's help; "this knowledge brings me great serenity and peace."

With self-confidence beyond what he ever envisaged, and greater perceptions of people.

John has learned not to judge or look down on people.

An alcoholic is only on daily reprieve, says John. "because we might fall, and this is one of the best motivations to be spiritual (seeking higher help)."

So John continually prays. goes to AA meetings, and is always vigilant because of what might happen if he slips.

But although there are no 'Musts' in AA, only suggested steps to take, there is one thing that is essential, said John "and that is to forgive. Because if you don't - then it just can't happen."

'We need the indwelling of the Blessed Trinity in our souls' Record contributor Peter Dwan continues a regular series of meditations on the readings at Sunday Mass.

This week the readings for Trinity Sunday

T

rinity Sunday is a great Feast, on which we contemplate one of the principal mysteries of our Faith, the Mystery of the Blessed Trinity, which teaches that in God there are Three Divine Persons, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

The Mystery of the Blessed Trinity wasn't revealed to the Jews in Old Testament times, perhaps because God feared that with their limited understanding, the Jews would think like their pagan neighbours that there was more than one God. There is no Old Testament passage on the Blessed Trinity. However, for the first reading today, the Church has chosen a passage from Exodus Chapter 34: verses _

The Record, May 30 1996 Page 8

A Layman's

Meditation with Peter Dwan 4-6 and 8-9 which gives the basis for the doctrine's eventual revelation: God made a covenant with the Israelites.

He made them His Chosen People, through whom He would eventually send His Divine Son and the Holy Spirit to give the whole human race the possibility and the means of reaching the destination He had planned for them from all eternity.

The covenant made by God with Moses on Mt Sinai was the preparation for the revelation of the dogma of the Blessed

Trinity and its relationship with our salvation.

The Israelites were stubborn, unfaithful and ungrateful to God, despite all He had done for them. God has done even more for us. Will we show ourselves stubborn, unfaithful and ungrateful?

The second reading, (2 Corinthians 13:11-13) is the conclusion of St Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. The final verse: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all," should be familiar to us, as it is one of the formulas the priest may use to greet us at the beginning of Mass.

This is no mere formula. We need to have the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God in our hearts.

If we don't have God's grace in our souls, our actions are not meritorious and won't help us reach Heaven. In other words, we need the indwelling of the

Blessed 'Trinity within our souls. Every temptation we encounter is a choice between whether we want the Holy Spirit or the Evil Spirit in our hearts.

There are always times when we fail, but at those times let us remember the opening words of this reading: "Mend your ways."

The gospel passage, (St John 3:16-18) doesn't mention the Holy Spirit, but it was chosen for today's Feast because two Persons are mentioned.

They are clearly distinguished, one from the other, yet both are the one God. God the Father sent God the Son into the world in order to bring eternal life within the reach of all people.

We cannot claim to fully understand the mystery of the Blessed Trinity.

How could it be otherwise?

If our finite minds could grasp the divine nature and all its qualities it would no longer be divine - it would be finite like ourselves.

Features

A good scrub lets Thomas More's light shine through

By Colleen McGuiness-Howard

S

t Thomas More's international fame didn't stop King Henry XIII having him beheaded in 1535 because he refused to sanction the king's re-marriage when he already had a wife.

That ill-conceived action gave Thomas More immediate sainthood in view of his martyrdom, and his fame and memory have continued on down through the centuries.

Currently the focus on him is in the Jesuits' St Thomas More chapel on the University of Western Australia campus.

The chapel is a veritable All Baba's cave of precious jewels in the form of the wall of stained glass windows which are currently being cleaned, restored and conserved by well-known Western Australian stained glass artist Ken Wildy.

There are a multitude of other magnificent windows within the chapel, but it's the seven King Windows that are now being systematically cleaned with toothbrushes, eradicating the camouflage of man's various pollutants, revealing the deepest of ruby

reds, the purest of blues and the crisp, clarity of greens.

The windows - in fact the entire spectacularly rich visual feast of stained glass treasure within the chapel, reflects the magnificence of the arts, and the heritage bequeathed to the people of WA by benefactors such as Nedlands' long-time parish priest Monsignor Edward Moss and the Ahern, Cullity and Farrell families, as well as anonymous donors.

Richard King, Dublin master craftsman in stained glass, created the windows in Ireland using English antique glass and had them shipped out and installed for the official chapel blessing and opening by Archbishop Prendivfile in 1958.

"But now King's pigmented and kiln-fired art is being destroyed due to air pollution and years of dirt built up on the pigmented surface," observed Mr Wildy.

In his view, they are the finest examples of King's notable works in the southern hemisphere.

He painstakingly massages the pigmented surface of each piece of glass to remove its encrusted pollution deposits which, prior to

cleaning and restoration have a dull and hazy appearance, but after treatment are fully restored in majestic brilliance of colour and grandeur.

What the Catholics of Perth have to come to terms with, Mr Wildy pointed out, is that "our cultural fabric in cathedrals and churches is now approaching a hundred years of age," but owing to the environmental conditions of heat, dust and soot from burning tapers, "the glow and life of our great windows no longer exists . . . they don't shine with radiance as they should."

Citing St Mary's Cathedral, Mr Wildy said the John Hardman windows, the sanctuary east window, Transfiguration and Ascension windows, and those in the Lady Chapel "all need immediate attention."

Through the wisdom of the Jesuits, Mr Wildy asserts, Thomas More College's chapel's "windows to Heaven" will continue to instruct, their radiance continue to be conducive to silence and prayer, and he urges people to see the windows and "glory in the glow of this rich tapestry of glass."

St Thomas More, above, covered by the encrustations of time in the Chapel at Thomas More College and, below, getting a clearer view of the late 20th century following Ken Wildy's ministrations. Mr Wildy, below left, on site in the chapel earlier this month.

Anzacs' pioneering Roman ecumenical service

By Monsignor Michael Keating

C

hristian Unity Week 1996 last week reminded me of events thirty years ago in Rome on Anzac Day 1966.

With the Second Vatican Council just concluded, some of the fruits of the Council were beginning to emerge and Anzac Day 1966 saw'' probably the first ever ecumenical service of its kind in Rollie.

It was arranged by a group of Australians and New Zealanders with significant help from the Australian Embassy to Italy.

At this stage Australia did not have formal ties with the Vatican, and New Zealand did not have an Ambassador in Rome.

The Australian Ambassador was a kindly, erudite man, Alfred Stirling. With his sister, he was a gracious Australian presence during the historical years of the Vatican Council. He has provided a very valuable perspective of the years of the Council and a little beyond in his book A Distant View of the Vatican.

The historical ecumenical service on Anzac Day 1966 was held at the English Catholic Church of San Silvestro. Australian visitors to Rome at that time will remember the tea rooms behind the Church. run by some kindly, I think titled, English ladies. It was a must for English speaking pilgrims to get a good cup of tea.

At this first ever such English ecumenical service in Rome, the preacher was the Rector of the Anglican Church of All Saints in Rome,' Fr Douglas Wanstall.

Such was the historicity of the occasion, the famous Jesuit ecumenist, Cardinal Augustin Bea himself, had to give the permission.

There were about 250 people in attendance. The Italian Government sent a General Aldo Materassi to represent it; in Italy in those days (perhaps even now) a private in the army in full military uniform dressed as a fivestar general, so General Materassi was resplendent with rows of medals and tassels.

After the service, the Australian

Ambassador invited some of us to lunch at his residence on Monte Parioli - from his residence the Ambassador had a view over the trees to the Dome of St Peters over the Tiber.

At the luncheon were the British Ambassador, the Italian General and several Anglican and Catholic clergy Among them was Fr Basil Meeking, recently retired Bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand.

It was a Friday and much to my surprise we were served chicken - usually the Ambassador was meticulous about such things.

In the days of abstinence from meat on Fridays, it presented no difficulty to the Catholic priests present, including myself, that whatever little moral theology we knew, included in it was the understanding that we were exempted from the regulation about abstinence, if it would cause distress and embarrassment to the host.

This was not so for the Anglican Canon beside me; he whispered "Father, what willI do - it's Friday

and we mustn't eat meat on a Friday".

I said to him "Canon, I'll give you a dispensation" (something of course I couldn't do) and he said "Will you? and I will give you one too". And without any more ado he happily tucked into the delicious chicken.

Alfred Stirling was ecumenical at the time when most people could not even pronounce the word.

He showered kindness on me and many others and for instance came to the defence of my Doctoral Thesis and arranged a farewell dinner in my honour with guests of my choice at the Embassy In fact, at the defence which he describes very kindly in his book, the University placed him in a throne like chair on the side, after he had been ushered inside from his limousine flying the Australian flag.

He was a linguist of note and knew Latin from his Oxford days and the defence was conducted entirely in Latin.

The Professors were outdoing one another with their Latin Ablative Absolutes and the like, seemingly to impress him, or so it seemed to me. "Bella Figura" meant much to them and I'm sure benefited me.

Many of us of that time in Rome remember Alfred Stirling with gratitude.

He provided hospitality to most of the Australian Bishops during the Council years and for the student priests he was a very worthy and good representative of the Australian Government.

Though not a Catholic, he showed none of the reserve common at that time between people of different faiths.

He really provided the necessary encouragement and practical help both in 1966 and 1967 for those historical Anzac Ecumenical services in Rome.

As we pray for the unity of Christians in 1996, people of the past such as Alfred Stirling should not be forgotten; they deserve a special place in our prayers.

The Record, May 30 1996 Page 9

Features

Italy a way of life infused with supernatural meaning •

As the year 2000 approaches, Italy will become a centre of heightened tourist activity.

In that Holy Year declared by Pope John Paul II, 30 million pilgrims are expected to visit Rome and the Vatican, marking the end of the second millennium since the birth of Christ.

Karl G Schmude recently visited Italy and, in the first of a three-part series, explores the nature of Italy's religious faith and culture. In subsequent articles, he will focus on Rome and on Assisi.

I

taly has always exercised a powerful attraction for Australians.

By comparison with the hundreds of thousands of Italians who have come to Australia for primarily economic reasons, Australians tend to visit or migrate to Italy in search of more unworldly satisfactions.

Authors and artists in particular - such as Morris West, David Malouf and Justin O'Brien - have been drawn to Italy by its cultural qualities, and many Australians would now go as pilgrims if not as their modern equivalent, tourists. In the words of the Italian journalist, Luigi Barzini, visitors seem to be seeking to fill a "mysterious emptiness in their souls".

Italy offers Australians the reassurance of similarities as well as the stimulation of differences.

It provides a congenial climate for most of the year; varied scenery, arising from its unusual topography of abundant coastline and great mountain ranges, pleasures of the palate, and hospitable people, who seem to harbour a particular affinity with strangers.

These similarities allow Australians to feel at home in Italy, built is the differences that invest the country with special importance and appeal.

Perhaps the most vital difference is the pervasive sense of history in Italy - of living continuity with an ancient civilisation which formed the basis of our own way of life.

For Catholics, of course, this reality is deepened by the vast influence of the Church, not only in the visible monuments that arose throughout the centuries and are still accessible, but in all

kinds of subtle and significant ways that reflect the cultural impact of religious mysteries.

One evening last October, my wife and I were strolling through the narrow streets of Colle di Val d'Elsa, a medieval town north of Siena, when we came upon a procession of the Cross.

A priest was leading his people in prayer as they moved through the various Stations. We quietly joined in, and noticed the presence of candles in the windowsills, so that even those not participating in the procession engaged in a corporate act of faith.

We were also impressed by the respect shown by approaching motorists who, unable to pass on the narrow streets, turned off their engines and lights until the procession entered a more spacious square.

For Australians, the significance - and the surprise - of this small ceremony lies in the ease with which the sacred and the secular are intermingled.

I recall a friend of mine, an Anglican clergyman at the time, swayed profoundly being towards the Catholic faith (which he later embraced) by a visit to Europe. In particular, he found a striking contrast between Italy and Scandinavia In Italy, the Church has been deeply immersed in popular culture, shaping the expectations and experiences of the people, and keeping in touch with ordinary life.

This is despite the obvious abuses and corruptions that have occurred - or, ironically, it may be because of them, since the acceptance of human weaknesses imparts an abiding realism to people's sense of faith.

By contrast, in countries like Sweden. the Protestant purification served to divorce the Church from the surrounding culture. confining it to a devout elite - a process that paved the way inevitably for the privatisation of faith and the emptying out of religious influence from public life.

In a recent memoir entitled A Tuscan Childhood, Kinta Beevor shed light on the power of a religiously inspired popular culture.

Recreating her early years in rural Italy between the two world wars, she described the various secular pursuits that gained meaning by being placed in a

religious context. Thus, such mundane activities as housecleaning and food preparation achieved deeper significance through a religious association.

As Beevor writes: "The main annual event for women in a Tuscan household was spring-cleaning to prepare for the priest when he came to

Thus, as the English anthropologist Mary Douglas once observed of the practice of Friday abstinence, this kind of ritual is of profound effect, for it brings Christian symbols into the very centre of the home - "into the kitchen and larder and on to the dinner table in the manner of Jewish rules of impurity.

Italians crowd to honour the Pope: Pope John Paul II greets handicapped chilPhoto CNS/Reuters dren at the Como stadium on 5 May in northern Italy.

Does the Church still exercise bestow his Easter blessing. In its way, it was as important as the such a decisive influence on the lives of ordinary Italians? Is the grape harvest was for the men."

Beevor also observes that varia- facade of Italian life more tions in cooking were not only Catholic than the underlying dictated by the seasons but also substance?

Without doubt the process of responded to the cycle of feast secularisation has eroded the days.

For the residents of Aulla in cultural foundations of faith in north-west Tuscany, for example, Italy, as it is doing in other tradione of the most important annu- tionally Catholic countries like al events was the Feast of San Ireland and Poland.

The usual indicators are there Severn on the first Saturday of September, and it was actually such as declining Mass attenknown by the name of the local dance and reliance on the Sacraments - and the gap dish.

between civil laws and Church teaching, in areas like divorce and abortion, is plainly widening.

In all these instances, however, the peculiar interplay between religious principles and cultural imperatives has to be considered.

Divorce, for example, has been legal in Italy since 1970, but the Italian divorce rate is among the lowest in Europe. The strength of the extended family culture - the isolation that would follow any rupture of family ties - is a powerful deterrent to divorce.

At the same time, the very strengths of Italian culture can usher in weaknesses.

The most notorious case is the Mafia, which is a grotesque Inversion of the Italian family structure, enlisting family bonds In the service of organised crime.

Yet this is a sphere of life which the Church including, notably, the Pope, and civil officials have vigorously sought to combat over the past decade.

The paradox of Italian culture and Catholicism is borne out by the Thomas Day story of a Mafia chieftain who gave a contract to two men to kill an annoying rival.

One Sunday, they reported back to the don that, despite their best efforts, they had failed.

He was reassuring, suggesting they could try again next week.

As they were leaving, he asked: "Did you boys go to Mass today?"

Why, no, they replied. The don shook his head. "Rubbing out this rival is important for business," he said, "but going to Mass on Sunday is important for your soul."

For many people, the enduring appeal of Italy is the evidence. both majestic and obscure, of a consecrated culture - of a way of life infused with spiritual meaning and oriented to supernatural ends. 'The Church plunged into the whirlpools of human history and accepted the struggles and compromises that come from gathering and sustaining a Christian people.

That long process of evangelisation is fathomless in its effects.

While the signs of Catholic fidelity may now be confined to a minority, Catholicism is still, in the words of a long-time observer of Italian life, John Haycraft, "part of the Italian's psyche in the same way as lungs or a kidney are part of his body."

Education preparing for marriage should remain first with family More excerpts from the Vatican Pontifical Council For the Family's guidelines for the education within the family of the truth and meaning of human sexuality.

I

n particular, the project of education in sexuality and true love, open to self-giving, is confronted today by a culture guided by positivism [a philosophy claiming to be based on recognising only positive facts and observable phenomenal , as the Holy Father notes in the Letter to Families

"The development of contemporary civilisation is linked to a scientific and technological progress which is often achieved in a one-sided way and thus appears purely positivistic.

"Positivism, as we know, results in agnosticism in theory and utilitarianism in practice and in ethics . . . .

Utilitarianism is a civilisation of production and of use, a civilisation of things and not of persons, a civilisation in which persons are used in the same way as things are used. . . . To be convinced that this Is the case, one need only to

The Record, May 30 1996 Page 10

For education to correspond look at certain sexual education programs introduced into to the objective needs of true the schools, often notwith- love, parents should provide standing the disagreement this education within their and even the protests of many own autonomous responsibility. parents."

Moreover, in relation to In this context, based on the teaching of the Church and preparation for marriage the with her support, parents teaching of the Church states that the family must remain must reclaim their own task By associating together the main protagonist in this wherever this is necessary or educational work (Familiaris useful, they should put into Consortia 66) Certainly "the changes that action an educational project marked by the true values of have taken place within the person and Christian love almost all modern societies and taking a clear position demand that not only the that surpasses ethical utilitar- family, but also society and the Church should be ianism.

involved in the effort of properly preparing young people for their future responsibilities." (Familiaris Consortia 66) It is precisely with this end in view that the educational task of the family takes on greater importance from the earliest years: "Remote preparation begins in early childhood in that wise family training which leads children to discover themselves as being endowed with a rich and complex psychology and with a particular personality with its own strengths and weaknesses.' (Familiaris Consortia 66)

Features

Lone voice of sanity in famine came to WA I

By Msgr Sean O'Shea

T

he Record's recent coverage of the Irish Famine 150th Anniversary prompts me to point out an unusual connection WA has with that tragic event.

Undoubtedly many of the early Irish settlers arriving here in the eighteen fifties' would have had first hand experience of the Great Famine as it came to be called.

Many of these were convicts or "ticket of leave' men since the Colony had decided in 1849 to apply to the Imperial authorities Governor Arthur Kennedy Governor Charles Fitzgerald to convert the free colony of of being the two worst tinction Western Australia into a convict Colonial Service in West Africa. areas in Ireland during affected to ten years prior It is in the settlement, the first convicts period. famine the Captain appointments that these arriving on 1st June 1850. intimate had a most Kennedy his establishment Despite This was the 21st birthday of famine the with experience Captain Kennedy background, the colony.

The then Governor of the tragedy as, upon retirement proved to be a genuine humanicolony, Captain Charles Fitzger- from the army in 1846, he had tarian and was unsparing in his ald RN, was succeeded in 1855 taken up the post of Clare efforts to bring succour to the

by Captain Arthur E. Kennedy a County Inspector of the Board of poor and starving thousands.

He publicly berated the retired infantry officer and a Works which included the office of Poor Law Inspector. authorities on both sides of the native of Cultra in Co. Down.

His interest centred mostly in Irish Sea for their bureaucratic He was the third Irishman to hold the position of supreme the south west area of Co. Clare ineptitude and unwillingness to authority In Western Australia, with a focal point in Kilrush deal in a realistic way with an Captain Fitzgerald having been where there was a large work- obvious national disaster. house.

He was particularly incensed born In Kilkee, Co. Clara Well chronicled details of this by a local landlord who continPrior to his appointment at the Swan River Colony Captain region and the area surrounding ued to evict families from their Kennedy had held two appoint- Skibereen in West Cork indicate holdings, even challenging him ments of short duration in the that both share the dubious dis- to a duel.

He later confessed that when he witnessed the evictions he was overwhelmed with a desire to shoot those responsible.

It was commonly understood that offering him an attractive post in the Colonial Service was really a device to get him out of the way and so it was ultimately West Australia's gain.

He is credited with having introduced some enlightened reforms in the Colony and when he retired to take up the governorship of Vancouver Island in 1863 the Colony was in a much more prosperous state.

An instance of his neighbourly disposition was his gesture of appreciation of the work of the Sisters of Mercy when Mother Ursula Frayne, then living in Guildford, was leaving WA in 1857 to make a foundation in Melbourne.

The official account describes it thus: "However, the last journey into Perth was performed on January 22, 185Z but we travelled in great style in the Governor's carriage which his Excellency sent to convey us at the early hour of Sam to ensure our being on time for the only steamer which plied between Perth and Fremantle, a great improvement on the boats of former days.

We arrived and went to the

house of our always kind frienf Mrs Marmion, where w remained until the followin• day. We then took our places ii the cutter "Zillah" and sailed ou to Rottnest Island where wf went ashore to wait for tin evening breeze which we hopec would waft us speedily to ow destination".

Captain Kennedy's abilitie were highly appreciated by tillHome authorities and he was knighted in 1867.

He became Governor of Queensland in 1877 and died at Aden while returning to England on June 3, 1883.

Presently, the Kilrush Urban Council and the local Famine Committee have decided to honour his memory by the erection of a suitable memorial at St Patrick's Terrace, the site of the old workhouse.

Local historians and Australian research historians are presently engaged in researching and collating material, the outcome of which will be a detailed history of the life and achievements of this remarkable humanitarian.

It may well be that because of his early association with WA. some locals would wish to be associated with this well deserved tribute to Captain Kennedy.

Cost of the Lost Boys will haunt Church After revelations in the media.

Australia's Catholic Church finds itself about to enter a new stage of controversy over the sexual abuse of children by clergy and Religious.

Christopher Guly reports on the resolution of a similar case in Canada.

A

fter handling almost 600 claims from victims of sexual abuse at two Ontario Catholic residential schools, the mandate of the Reconciliation Process Implementation Committee was due to expire at the end of May. "It hasn't produced perfection, but it has done a great deal to help re-establish the self-esteem of individuals and (has) been far superior to a civil litigation confrontation in the courts," said Douglas Roche, who has chaired the committee since it was formed in 1992.

Roche, Canada's former ambassador for disarmament at the United Nations who now is a special security adviser to the Holy See's UN observer mission, said all claims were heard by a specially established unit of Ontario's Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

"Everyone who submitted a claim was heard by a two-member panel, who met on average for two hours and submitted a seven-page report on each case," he said.

An additional 232 former students who came forward with abuse claims will have to seek assistance directly from the Ontario government, the Ottawa Archdiocese and the Brothers of

Roche said most claims were the Christian Schools (known as the De La Salle Brothers in for about $10,000 (US$7.200), Australia), who ran St Joseph's which the Ontario government Training School for Boys in paid.

Where warranted, Ottawa's De Alfred, Ontario, outside Ottawa.

Toronto's De La Salle Brothers, La Salle Brothers agreed to who administered St John's pay additional amounts.

Each archdiocese where the Training School for Boys in Uxbridge, Ontario, did not partic- schools were located kicked ipate in the reconciliation in $3,000 (US$2,100) to set up a fund to provide vocational rehaprocess.

With 945 individual cases bilitation, educational upgrading reported from former students at and medical-dental expenses for both schools between 1930 and the victims. the 1980s, the De La Salle Victims were also offered counBrothers' sexual abuse scandal selling services and heard a pubeclipsed the number of claims lic apology from Archbishop that emerged from Newfound- Marcel Gervais of Ottawa land's former Mount Cashel and Archbishop Aloysius AmbroOrphanage in the 1980's. zic of Toronto.

Mount Cashel was run by a difThat event - in late April - proferent branch of the De La Salle duced the most public display of Brothers. the anger and bitterness felt by St Joseph's has since closed; St. the victims in the four-year recJohn's continues to operate as a onciliation process.

Several times, Archbishop public residential school.

Thirty-four De La Salle Brothers Gervais was shouted down from from both schools were charged his pulpit.

Roche was in the congregation with criminal offenses; 18 were convicted. at Ottawa's Notre Dame Roche said that 580 alumni Cathedral-Basilica on April 21. from St Joseph's and St "The devastation in life caused John's received $15.5 million by sexual abuse and, in (US$11.1 million) in compensa- many cases, physical abuse, was in some cases so deep that some tion to date.

The money came from the of the men are never going to get Ontario government, the Ottawa rid of it," he said. brothers and the Toronto and "With stressful conditions in Ottawa archdioceses - and went life, there is a tendency to erupt, directly to Helpline, the associa- which takes the form of volatile tion of former students at the expression. schools.

For someone who hasn't been Some of the funding also sup- in a church for 30 years and to ported the work of Roche and his suddenly walk into a church and two-person staff in Ottawa. see a bishop, well that's stress."

But Roche, a former member of Since each case varied in degrees of severity, the amount Parliament who now teaches at of individual awards granted the University of Alberta in were disparate.

Edmonton, said his commit-

Devastation caused by sexual abuse can be so deep it may never disappear tee's reconciliation process has that the institutions responsible helped "heal the lives" of many for this have learned a hard and bitter lesson. I've learned that the of the former victims.

Roche said many of the victims pain that's inflicted by sexual - who are mostly between ages abuse is real pain, not only for 40 and 50 - were likely to experi- the victim, but throughout the ence pain from the abuse for system - the pain of shame and retribution." the rest of their lives.

Roche said he doubts such will never forget He said he working through the reconcilia- widespread and sustained abuse would occur today at any education process with them. institution. tional "Nothing in my life has been as "Today, we live in a society that difficult and so volatile," he said.

"I've learned that the application is far more transparent and far of social justice is a tough road, healthier, with monitoring and and it must be done. I've learned screening systems," he said.

The Record, May 30 1996 Page 11

To Jesus through Mary. . . .

By Joann Keane

Eight-year-old Courtney Fredrickson joins in a service at Lourdes.

LOURDES, France (CNS) Carol Kahn immersed herself in the brisk waters of Lourdes and dropped to her knees.

Ms Kahn's action might not seem miraculous, but in the heart and mind of the 48-year-old Clemmons, North Carolina, resident, it was a moment of grace she has not been able to kneel in years.

The Holy Family parishioner's ailments are many.

A skin disorder called reflex sympathetic dystrophy has drawn her nerve endings to the outer layer of skin. A simple breeze hurts her skin. A degenerative joint disease and osteo-

arthritis slowly gnaw away at her cold, but you don't feel it. It was bones. so magnificent." Ms. Kahn waded Her pain is extreme; it takes into the baths of Lourdes, settling massive doses of medication for into chin-deep water. her to make it through the day.

"A calmness came over my For at least one week in May, entire body," she said.

Ms Kahn felt physical relief, "I didn't have peace before," while attaining a spiritual cleans- said Ms Kahn. "There is nothing ing that transcends the waters of that could ever give me the peace Lourdes.

I have now."

At first, a sceptical Ms Kahn She credits the Sovereign worried the water would hurt Military Order of Malta with gether aching body. ting her to Lourdes.

"I don't let water touch my skin Ms. Kahn was one of 27 . like that," she said. 'malades" - ailing or invalid peoIf a warm breeze would make ple - and their companions, her wince, water could hit her escorted by members of the assoskin like a bolt of lightning. Yet ciation on their annual internashe calls the water of Lourdes tional pilgrimage to Lourdes. "soft as cotton."

Each year, Knights of Malta take "They said the water would be dozens of afflicted individuals to

Frustrated US groups hope for Vatican III

By Jerry Filteau WASHINGTON (CNS) - Under the banner "We Are Church." a coalition of Catholic reform groups launched a national referendum campaign on May 22, seeking signatures from 1 million US Catholics who favour changes in Church teaching and practice.

But the US National Conference of Catholic Bishops president Bishop Anthony Pilla immediately criticised the plan as liable to cause confusion and division in the Church.

Loretto Sister Maureen Fiedler, coordinator of the campaign, said the coalition was asking Catholics to sign "the rough draft of an agenda for the Third Vatican Council." It calls for: • Full equality for women in the Church, including their ordination to diaconate and priesthood.

• Optional celibacy for priests.

• Participation of the laity in the selection of bishops and pastors.

The declaration also says. "We believe in a Church which affirms: • "The goodness of sexuality.

• "The primacy of conscience in deciding issues of sexual morality - for example: birth control.

• "The human' rights of all persons regardless of sexual orientation.

• "The importance and urgency of issues other than sexual morality for example: peace and nonviolence, social justice, preservation of the environment."

Bishop Anthony Pilla.

It calls for a Church that embraces and welcomes those who are divorced and remarried. married priests, theologians and others who exercise freedom of speech.- Pope John Paul H has repeatedly and strongly asserted the Latin-rite rule on priestly celibacy.

The Vatican also has repeatedly said the Catholic Church does not consider itself able to ordain women and that the topic is not open for debate.

At a press conference announcing the campaign, Sister Fiedler said the coalition hopes to gather a million signatures between May 26 of this year and May 18, 1997 - the successive feasts of Pentecost.

The campaign is a project of the Women's Ordination Conference and Catholics Speak Out.

. . . a column of Marian devotion

It is modelled after signature campaigns for Church reform recently conducted by Catholics in Germany, Austria and several other European countries.

Other groups forming the national task force coordinating the US campaign are the Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church, Call to Action, Dignity/USA. Federation of Christian Ministries, New Ways Ministry. Priests for Equality. Pax Christi-Maine, and Corpus, the National Association for a Married Priesthood.

Officials of those groups also spoke at the press conference, along with Frances Kissling of Catholics for a Free Choice, a group that has been condemned by the US bishops for its support of legal abortion.

But Bishop Pilla said on May 22 the campaign could cause confusion and division.

"I appeal to the leaders of this referendum not to create new divisions in our own ecclesial family by continued challenges to the teachings and the authority of the Church that has nurtured the faith of us all," he said.

He predicted the referendum could easily "spark a counter-referendum, leaving some Catholics polarised."

Bishop Pilla noted that, although the organisers are calling the signature campaign a referendum, "this referendum asks only for agreement. Thus it is hardly an opportunity for all Catholics to enter into dialogue."

Lourdes. The pilgrimage upholds their mission of putting the sick and poor before everyone else.

This year, Dames and Knights of Malta from all over the USA joined an international gathering from 39 countries.

Under their tutelage, thousands made their way to Lourdes.

Tucked away in the south of France, Lourdes is miles from nowhere, though some call it heaven on earth.

It has been 138 years since the Blessed Virgin appeared to young St Bernadette, an apparition sanctified by Pope Leo XIII in 1862.

The sleepy Pyrenees hamlet has been a mecca for the sick ever since.

From faith in rubble a new cathedral comes

By Maria Ruiz Scaperianda OKLAHOMA CITY (CNS) When Father Louis Lamb entered the shattered interior of St Joseph's Old Cathedral in downtown Oklahoma City he saw a light that told him that the church must maintain a presence downtown.

Amid fractured rafters, debris. shattered pieces of stained glass and a thick covering of wall plaster and dust, a lone candle remained lit. It was the vigil light near the tabernacle.

No one can fully explain how the sanctuary lamp could withstand the wreckage of the bomb blast last April that ripped apart the city's federal building nearby.

A restored stained-glass window in The blast lifted the church's St Joseph's Old Cathedral. roof several inches off the cathedral structure and caused could have been even worse. approximately $3 million in The cathedral was spared the damages to the church, almost full brunt of the concussion by a century old and a landmark the part of the Murrah building that was left standing. in the city.

This Easter, much like the To Father Lamb, pastor of the cathedral, the light was a Easter Sunday that preceded sign that "the Lord is with us.... last year's April 19th bombing.

Jesus is the light of the Father Lamb says he reminded world, even though everything the people that "it doesn't matter if we have to worship outelse might be in darkness." side, if a fire or a tornado tore across Harvey Directly Avenue to the east of the up this church - or tore it down, church was the Alfred Murrah because we worship God, not the building." federal building.

Still, upon entering the church On the east side of the old cathedral, the bomb blast blew immediately after the bombout the seven double-panel, ing, Father Lamb acknowledges stained-glass windows depict- he was shocked.

"It shook me up," he said. "So ing the saints. The seven windows in the apse came crashing I guess I don't always practice what I preach.to the floor of the sanctuary.

Several windows on the west A restoration team of experts side were damaged and large is already actively working at sections of the plastered interi- repairing the plastered walls, or walls fell, exposing the lath- repainting, replacing the fractured roof rafters, replacing es.

The rectory adjacent to the shingles in the steeple and church nearly caved in under the roof, and the mammoth the pressure created by the task of putting the pieces of blast. It was judged beyond stained glass back together.

The project should be comrepair and later razed.

The extent of the damages pleted in the northern Autumn.

Kelly named successor to the late Worlock for Liverpool in UK LIVERPOOL England (CNS) - Bishop Patrick Kelly of Salford has been named the new archbishop of Liverpool, succeeding Archbishop Derek Worlock, who died In February The announcement of his appointment was made on May 21 in Liverpool and Rome.

Archbishop Kelly pledged to continue the commitment shown by his predecessor to ecumenism and social justice.

During the press conference at Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Archbishop Kelly spoke of his friendship and admiration for the late The Record, May 30 1996 Page 12

Archbishop Worlock. In a lengthy state- band of white wool worn by ment he said he had gladly accepted the archbishops over their vestments. task of succeeding Archbishop Worlock Archbishop Kelly, recently appointed to when asked to do so by Pope John Paul II. the Anglican-Roman Catholic Internat"Iused the word 'Oridly' on purpose. not ional Commission, spoke of his clear combecause I underestimate the challenge or mttment to ecumenism, to working in have inflated ideas of my own gifts. But I partnership with other churches on social have found from the day I was ordained issues. priest in 1962, when the then-Monsignor "I may not forget, as the Holy Father has Worlock was master of ceremonies as yet again reminded us in his letters ... that Cardinal Godfrey's secretary I can in the the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches: spirit of St. Paul do all things in the one Embrace the ecumenical enterprise; it is who strengthens me." of God. That I promise to do," he said.

On June 29, Archbishop Kelly will travel He also said that the question of relato the Vatican to receive the "pallium," the tionships with people of other faiths was a

"task that may not be neglected."

Archbishop Kelly, 57, was born and educated in the north of England and studied for the priesthood in Rome, where he was ordained in 1962. He became the bishop of Salford in 1964 after five years as rector of St Mary's College, Oscott, a seminary near Birmingham.

As bishop of Salford he initiated a controversial sacramental setup in which children were confirmed at the age of 6 or 7. then made their first Communion the following year. The idea was that in the early church, confirmation was a sacrament of initiation.

International News

Bells of France ring for murdered Algerian Trappist monks

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Catholic parishes rang their bells throughout France on May 26, in mourning for the seven Trappist monks murdered in Algeria by Islamic anti-government rebels.

Archbishop Joseph Duval, president of the French bishops' conference, had asked parishes to ring the bells, along with offering prayers for "the assassinated monks and their families, for the Christians of Algeria and for peace. We pray for the strength to forgive, to love and to make peace."

The French monks were kidnapped on March 27 from their monastery about 40 miles south of Algiers.

Pope John Paul II asked the tiny Catholic community in Algeria to forgive those who murdered the monks, and he appealed to Muslim extremists in the country to stop their campaign of violence.

Speaking to pilgrims marking Pentecost In St Peter's Square, the Pope said the assassinations were "the latest in a series of reprehensible episodes of violence which, for a long time, have been disrupt-

ing life in Algeria and have not spared our Catholic brothers and sisters."

The French Foreign Ministry announced May 23 that a document, signed by the Algerian Armed Islamic Group, claimed the seven French monks kidnapped almost two months earlier had been killed.

Although the monks' bodies had not been recovered as of May 28, there seemed to be little doubt that the message was authentic.

"Despite our deep pain, we thank God for the witness of love given by these religious," the Pope said on May 26.

"Their fidelity and consistency give honour to the Church and surely will be seeds of reconciliation and peace for the Algerian people with whom they were in solidarity."

Speaking of his sympathy for the monks' families, their religious order and the Catholic community in Algeria, the Pope said, "In this tragic trial they must never lack the courage for forgiveness and the strength of hope based on Christ who defeated death.

"With the words of the Book of Genesis:

Abortion legislators 'modern Pilates'

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Legislators who personally oppose abortion but follow the consensus of their constituents on the issue are modern-day Pontius Pilates, a Vatican official said.

Pilate told the people he believed Jesus committed no crime. but he left Jesus' fate in the hands of the crowd, which wanted him crucified. said Archbishop Julian Herranz. president of the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts.

It is important to remember that Pilate turned Jesus over after a. ing, "What is truth?" the archbishop said on May 23 at the opening session of a conference on law and "The Gospel of Life," Pope John Paul II's 1995 encyclical.

"For those parliamentarians, judges and governors today, who like Pilate want to appease their consciences, there is no objective truth which assures the rationality of laws; there is only the conventional, sociological or statistical truth,' Archbishop Herranz said.

If following the will of the majority is what makes a society democratic, then Pilate was the perfect democrat, the archbishop said.

However, such behaviour is not supported by the founding principles on which most modern democracies are based, he said.

While calling for broad participation in shaping the laws of their nations, the founders of democracies never placed in

doubt "the existence of an objective truth about the human person and about universal moral values to be respected, among which is the right to life."

A healthy democracy, he told participants at the Vatican conference, "is a social ordering of freedom" based on rights and obligations which everyone must respect.

"This is why opposition to the permissive laws and jurisprudence of abortion and euthanasia, to state laws which liberalise drugs and sexual perversions, which permit the manipulation and even the cosmetic use of human embryos, the manipulation of genes and other attacks against the dignity of the human person and the inalienable value of life is found not only in the teaching of the Catholic Church and the responsible professional activity of Catholic jurists and physicians," he said.

Other Christians, members of other faiths and even lawyers and health-care workers who profess no faith but see themselves as "culturally humanist" also support a basic right to life, Archbishop Herranz said.

Maronite Bishop Mounged ElHachem of Baalbek, Lebanon, told conference participants Islam's holy book, its law and tradition all affirm a fundamental right to life and the sacredness of the human person.

"It is an integral part of Islamic law, and respect for life is understood to be a primary obligation," said the bishop, a former professor of Islamic law at Rome's Lateran IIniversity.

'I will require a reckoning of man for man, Foreign Ministry official "confirmed the for everyone of his brothers,' Iappeal to all existence of a recording of the voices men of good will, and especially to those of the brothers sent to the French ambaswho recognise themselves as sons of sador in Algiers" along with a late April Abraham, so that never again in Algeria demand that members of the Armed or anywhere will similar actions be Islamic Group held in French prisons be repeated; they are the most serious offens- released in exchange for the monks. es which could be committed against God The communique announcing their and against man," the Pope said. deaths was apparently dated May 21, Pope John Paul also sent telegrams of after French President Jacques shortly condolence to Archbishop Henri Teissier announced he would not negotiate Chirac of Algiers, in whose diocese the monastery with the rebels. of Notre Dame de l'Atlas was located, and to Abbot Bernardo Olivera, the Trappist Archbishop Teissier said in a May 25 general in Rome. statement that he and other French-born In both messages, the Pope repeated his Church personnel would not "betray the hopes that the monks' witness would heritage of self-giving and sacrifice which remain a sign of Catholic-Muslim friend- our murdered brothers left us. ship and would spark an attitude of par"We will remain, we will not abandon don among Catholics living in the our Muslim friends in their moment of difNorth African nation.

"We are all deeply moved by what has ficulty," the archbishop said. happened to our brothers," Abbot Olivera At an evening prayer service in Notre said in a May 23 statement.

Dame Cathedral May 23, Cardinal Jean-They leave us an incredible witness, Marie Lustiger of Paris extinguished the that of the Gospel and the Beatitudes lived seven candles that had been burning in to their final consequences." the church as a sign of constant prayer for The abbot's statement also said a French the monks' safety.

Cardinal confirms attempted ordination of Czech woman BOLOGNA. Italy (CNS) - More than six months after Ludmila Javorova, 65, publicly claimed she had been ordained for priestly ministry in the underground Czech church. Cardinal Miloslay Vlk of Prague said it was true.

"Yes, it is true" that secretly consecrated Bishop Felix Maria Davidek, who died in 1988. ordained her. Cardinal Vlk told // Regno, a magazine published in Bologna by the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart.

"I learned from a meeting with an official of the Holy See that Ludmila has written to the Holy Father to resolve the question," he said in the May interview.

"If a ceremony of ordination of a woman took place, it was and remains invalid," Vatican spokesman Joaquin NavarroValls told CNS on May 21.

"It is necessary to try to place the events in their historical context. otherwise certain facts cannot be understood," NavarroValls said.

"In particular, one must take Into account the climate of terror and extreme persecution of those years and in those places." In the I/ Regno article, Cardinal Vlk

lion of married men. To understand how things became so confused, Cardinal Vlk told the magazine, "it is necessary to understand the concept of the clandestine Church."

From 1954 until 1968. bishops were secretly consecrated with the approval of the Vatican and following Vatican norms, he said.

"Then came the crucial point: the episcopal consecration of Ian Blaha, an engineer, who almost immediately consecrated as a bishop his spiritual father. Felix Maria Davidek," he said.

Cardinal Vlk said questions Cardinal Miloslay Vlk exist regarding whether Bishop Blaha's consecration was authoblamed the fear - as well as rised by the Vatican, and his consome paranoia on the part of secration of Bishop Davidek is underground Church officials - surrounded by even more doubt. for the invalid ordinations of Ms Bishop Blaha told Cardinal Vlk Javomva, but of married priests that even when Vatican officials and bishops as well. told him and Bishop Davidek to Since 1992, the Czech bishops stop ordaining others they did and the Vatican have been work- not believe the orders were in ing toward a resolution of each line with the Pope's wishes, the individual's situation. cardinal said.

Bishop Davidek "was convinced Married priests have been given the option of working as that it could be assumed the permanent deacons in Latin-rite whole Curia was infiltrated by dioceses or joining the Eastern secret agents." Cardinal Vlk quotrite, which permits the ordina- ed Bishop Blaha as telling him.

Attorney apologises for confession taping PORTLAND, Oregon. (CNS) The Oregon district attorney who authorised taping a sacramental confession said on May 22 he had made a mistake in doing so.

The apology was welcomed by the Archdiocese of Portland, but Church officials indicated that the apology alone was not enough.

The archdiocese "remains committed to the destruction of the tape and the guarantee that never again will such a violation occur in the state of Oregon," said Auxiliary Bishop Kenneth Steiner, archdiocesan administrator, in a statement on May 23.

Calling the taping "not a past event but a present sacramental transgression." Bishop Steiner said he had instructed legal counsel to inform a Lane County Circuit Court judge that the archdiocese would formally petition for the tape's destruction.

In his statement, Lane County District Attorney Doug Harderoad said: "I was wrong to authorise taping that conversation.

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"There are some things which are legal and ethical but are simply not right. I have concluded that tape recording confidential clergy-penitent communications falls within the zone of

socially unacceptable conduct.Harcleroad said.

The Vatican deplored the secret taping. calling it a violation of religious freedom, and demanded that the tape be destroyed.

The Record, May 30 1996 Page 13

rnternational News

policy economic Real No artificial embryos selves people: Pope In Brief

VATICAN CITY (CNS) Pope John Paul II has appealed to scientists, physicians and legislators during the joint assembly of two Vatican conferences on May 24 to stop the artificial production of human embryos.

"One cannot see a morally licit solution to the human destiny of the thousands and thousands of frozen embryos, which are and remain always the holders of essential rights and therefore must be juridically protected as human persons," the Pope said.

demand and strive for advancement in every other sphere."

In a separate speech to the VATICAN CITY (CNS) Economic progress is a key mea- Kenyan ambassador, the Pope sure of development, but it is said international resolutions to meaningless unless it is based on foster peace and development in efforts to improve the life, health, Africa must be implemented education and spiritual well- with concrete action.

"Effective international solidaribeing of individuals, said Pope ty is essential to ensuring lasting John Paul II. "All economic and social policy peace and harmony for the should serve the genuine good of whole human family," the people, and not the other way Pope said.

"In the name of our common around," the Pope told new ambassadors from New Zealand, humanity, the international comJordan. Malawi and Kenya on munity cannot ignore the appeals of the developing May 23.

True progress, he said, "pre- nations as they face the grave cludes a vision of life that is challenges" of malnutrition, merely or even principally mate- poverty, illiteracy, disease, huge rial and economic. It is precise- debt and civil wars "fomented ly the spiritual nature of man by unscrupulous arms traffickwhich leads him to conceive, ing," the Pope said.

By Cindy Wooden

Orthodox agree

VATICAN CITY (CNS) Vatican officials said they were pleased that the Orthodox patriarchates of Constantinople and Moscow have avoided a long-lasting rift on the status of Orthodox churches in the former Soviet republic of Estonia.

Giving up absolute claims of jurisdiction over the Estonian Orthodox faithful, the two patriarchates decided on May 16 to allow congregations and priests to decide under which patriarch they will serve.

Fr Peyton's devotees float possibility School of the Rosary priest's beatification integration ALBANY, New York. (CNS) Leaders of the Family Rosary and Family Theatre programs founded by Holy Cross Father Patrick Peyton are polling his supporters to see whether they should pursue a sainthood cause for the "rosary priest."

Father Peyton. who died in 1992, coined the slogans "The family that prays together, stays together" and "A world at prayer is a world at peace."

Born in Ireland in 1909. he came to the United States at age 19 and entered the seminary, but advanced tuberculosis threatened his life.

He eventually recovered from the disease and a lung haemorrhage and in 1941 was ordained a priest.

He always credited his recovery to Mary and out of gratitude to her founded the Family Rosary Crusade in Albany in 1942.

A new brochure on Father Peyton's life distributed by Family Rosary describes him as "a man who became a priest ... a

Walesa award NEW YORK (CNS) Archbishop Renato Martino presented the 1996 Path to Peace Award to Lech Walesa.

The award was given on May 22 during the annual fund-raising event of the foundation, founded by Archbishop Martino in 1991 to carry out projects related to the work of the Vatican's United Nations Mission.

Expanding sales BALTIMORE (CNS) - Work of Human Hands, a handicraft sales program piloted last year in 17 US dioceses, will sell products nationwide this year.

The US Catholic Relief Services organisation is working with SERRV International, a nonprofit agency of the Church of the Brethren, in marketing handicrafts produced by people in the developing world.

Fr Peyton - the Rosary Priest priest who became a crusader ... a crusader who became a legend.... Should he now become a saint?"

"With your help," the brochure says, "he might be the next St Patrick!"

In a May 13 mailing to about 50,000 Catholic families and indi-

viduals, Family Rosary asked for comments from those who knew Father Peyton and support his work as to whether they would back opening an investigation to possible sainthood.

If enough support, information and evidence is gathered to justify a formal petition. the Congregation of the Holy Cross is then expected to petition the Vatican to formally open Father Peyton's cause for beatification.

"In time, we will know if Father Peyton is to be declared a saint," said Holy Cross Father Leo PoiseIli, Family Rosary and Family Theatre president, in a May 15 announcement.

"What we know already is that he crossed and recrossed the continents, reaching the hearts of countless people with the simple, yet compelling message of the family rosary," he said.

"For 50 years he kept Mary's name alive in the hearts of those he met. And today his voice can still be heard as we continue the work."

TV is the 'cigarette of the mind'

Abortion votes

ARLINGTON, Virginia. (CNS) Entertainment is like tobacco in that less exposure to it, and not efforts to make it safer, is what is needed to cure the addiction, movie critic Michael Medved said.

Medved, speaking on May 21 at the inaugural conference of the Centre for Jewish and Christian Values in the Washington suburb of Arlington, said that television today is in much the same state as were cigarettes when the US surgeon general first issued a report stating that cigarettes could be "hazardous to your health."

After the surgeon general's report, cigarette makers were toying with the formula of their smokes to address concerns stated by the surgeon general, Medved said.

"Let's cut down tar and nicotine, let's put on better filters" was the cry, but it was a misguided one, Medved said.

The problem was not tar, nico-

WASHINGTON (CNS) Two of America's most populous states are trying to enact their own bans on the controversial partial-birth abortion procedure.

In California. a vote was scheduled for May 28 or May 29. In New York, a partialbirth abortion ban was approved by the state Senate but a vote on the bill was blocked by Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Homosexual law WASHINGTON (CNS) - A Colorado law known as Amendment 2 banning special protections for homosexuals violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution, the US Supreme Court said in a May 20 ruling.

Colorado's Catholic bishops had urged voters to repeal the amendment. ,A 4

The challenge of building a of moral accountability on the united, just and peaceful world international level" - as seen requires the cooperation of every in support for war crime tricountry, he said in his speech to bunals - but at the same time, there has been "the spread of a the ambassador from Malawi.

In addition to economic resour- relativistic approach to truth, an ces, the international commun- approach in which any objective ity and individual nations must criterion of good and evil is effectap the human resources of tively denied."

The approach is rooted in an their populations and direct them to the cause of peace, the exaltation of individualism that comes at the expense of the Pope said.

"Creative initiative, self-sacri- bonds that make people responfice, commitment to education sible for one another, he said.

'The symptoms of crisis being and research, and an unshakable resolve to achieve the goals experienced by many democraof social justice and the rule of cies today point to the urgent law" must be fostered in all citi- need to ensure a sound education In fundamental civic and zens, he said.

Pope John Paul told the New moral values and a healthy and Zealand ambassador it is iron- free public debate on the ethical ic that there is "a growing dimensions of political and social demand for an objective criterion life." the Pope said.

tlivf-figgg page 14 • rne Recor( tryilf , may 4

tine or filters. "It was cigarettes themselves," he added.

"The same is true of TV," said Medved, whose reviews are read in the New York Post and seen on PBS' "Sneak Previews."

"The real message has to be to cut down," he added, if the goal is to "defeat America's addiction to entertainment."

Even if people cut just one hour of TV watching per day - a figure Medved said is attainable because the average American watches 26 hours of TV a week - "imagine how much more homework a child could do," he said.

Or imagine, he added, the extra time there would "to work for the community, to help our brothers and sisters, to listen to music.

Twenty-eight extra hours a month to spend with your children."

Medved said he is encouraged by a recent study that said TV watching dropped, albeit slightly, between 1985 and 1995.

"This is incredible!" Medved said. Linking the decline to the

proliferation of TV viewing choices, he said, "You have all these alternatives, and people are watching less."

Such choices, he added, "further liberate people from TV." Medved, a Jew, said in response to one participant's question that the oft-stated charge that Jews run the entertainment industry is less offensive than that influential Jews in Hollywood are, as he put it, "secularised."

Saying that Jews in Hollywood are representative of Judaism is "like saying Madonna represents the Vatican," Medved said.

Hollywood's Jewish entertainment executives are "uninvolved" in matters and causes dealing with their faith, he charged.

Jews and Christians who exercise their faith, he continued, have more in common than do religious Jews and secular Jews.

In his talk, Medved said TV makes people impatient, depressed and superficial.

works

By Winnie Graham JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CNS) - When New Zealand Catholic schools became integrated with public schools, it deepened their Catholic character, said a New Zealand cardinal.

Cardinal Thomas Williams of Wellington, New Zealand, told Catholic educators in Johannesburg that education ministry statistics "indicate that integrated Catholic, schools are performing better in all areas. The ministry's measures are as much for educational achievement as for the imparting of values."

Cardinal Williams is an executive member of the New Zealand Council of Proprietors of Integrated Schools.

He was closely associated with the integration of Catholic schools into the state system in New Zealand about 20 years ago.

He visited South Africa in May to advise Catholic educators, who face a proposed bill that would make all stateaided schools become public schools.

Before the Private Schools Conditional Integration Act of 1975 was passed, the Church listed several conditions: It would proceed provided the religious or philosophical character of the school was not disturbed; that once integrated, the school would retain its right to reflect in its teachings its special character and be able to "to exercise the right to live and teach the values of Jesus Christ."

Another condition was that while the school would become part of the state system, the Church would retain ownership of the buildings.

All expenses, including teachers salaries and maintenance, would be paid by the state.

"It was important the proprietors retain the right to safeguard the character,- he said.

THE PARISH S CENE

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SWIMMING POOLS, service, maintenance, equipment. painting (free KAVANAH'S quotes) POOL SERVICE, ph 349 0223. Since 1974.

GRAHAM WILSON complete garden care, lawns mowed, edged, yard cleanups, gutter cleaning, pruning, weeding. phone 349 4800 or 275 5669.

ELECTRICAL. contractor house rewires, ceiling fans. power points, lights, safety switches, boat pumps. pool Lic. 004003. pumps.

Phone Stephen Tierney 354 2263 MASTER plumber and gas fitter, Lic No.140. bathroom renovations, sewer conversions. all maintenance work, new houses. Good rates, all hours. Contact John on 457 7771.

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FOR SALE PIANO for sale. Bentley. upright, in mint condition. $4.000 ono. Please phone 495-4704.

DESIGNER WANTED ARTISTIC PERSON wanted to help design a logo.

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'THANKS NOVENA to St Clare. Ask for three favours. Say nine Hail Marys for nine days with lighted candle. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised. adored. glorified. and loved today and every day for ever and ever. Amen. SM.

HOUDAY ACCOMMODATION WINTER SUNSHINE, BREEZES. SUMMER Kalbarri, comfortable, self contained accommodation by the sea, within walking distance of shops and entertainment, $140 for two: $210 for four, for seven days. (09) 459 8554.

PINK LAKE LODGE, Esperance. 85 Pink Lake Rd, Ph: (090) 712 075 Fax: (090) 714 754. Best value for money in town. The Lodge offers 4 self-contained apartments plus 23 rooms with shared facility.

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THANKS MAY the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised. adored and glorified throughout the whole world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus hear our prayer. St Jude worker of miracles pray for us. St Jude helper of the helpless pray for us.

Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days. SM.

DANCING CLASSES IRISH DANCING classes conducted by The Joyce School of Irish Dancing with qualified teachers registered in Dublin. are held at Bentley, Gosnells.

Kalamunda. Enrolments now being taken from age 4 and upwards. For further info please contact Vanessa and Robert Joyce 293-3837.

Furniture Restoration French Polishing Telephone 370 2181

PUBLIC NOTICE

IN MEMORIAM

Bethany MASSEUSE: professional Clinic, masseuse. dealing with skeletal and muscular pain, sporting injuries, stress. relaxation and deep tissue acupressure. massage.

Monday to Friday 9.30am to 6pm. Saturday 10am to 5pm. Ring Orial 479 7120. $5 discount pensioners.

This service is definitely non-sexual.

George JENSEN. Frederick. Passed away peacefully on 23 May, 1996, aged 95 years.

Formerly of Floreat Park and Wandarrie Station. Mt Magnet. Devoted husband of Winnie (deceased), loving father of George and Val (both deceased). John, Cathy, Laurie and Rosemary and John Elliot.

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Dorothy Edmund and Sheila, Elsa and Neil Bryce. Susan and Eaton, Edward Grandfather of 24. Great grandfather of 3. The burial took place at Karrakatta North cemetery on May 28 after Requiem Mass celebrated in St Cecilia's church. Floreat Park. May he Rest in Peace.

FURNITURE CARRIED housefuls, units, flats offices. including single items, small medium and large vans available with 1 or 2 men, all metro areas and near country. Mike Murphy 008 016 310 (free call all areas): or 24 hour 480 5006.

PSORIASIS SUPPORT GROUP meets every first Wednesday of the month at Bassendean Community Hall at 7 pm. Supper provided. Next meeting, 5 June. Enquiries Gwen Fenech (w) 377-2190. (h) 279-2756.

FIRST Holy Communion and Baptism outfits, for boys and girls. We have the largest and best range in Perth. We are a one stop shop. We have everything you need. We are the specialists in raw silk garments.

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TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS. A traditional sung Latin Mass and Benediction will be celebrated on the feast of Corpus Christi at St John's Pro Cathedral, Victoria Ave, Perth on Thursday 6 June at 7.30 pm. Mass is celebrated there every Sunday at 11.15 am and at Corpus Christi Parish Church, Evershed St, Myareee at 11 am. All welcome. Enq 457-5860 or 382-1451.

FAREWELL BRUNO CELEDIN Trinity College Parent Council invites all Parents. Friends and Old Boys to farewell Bruno Celedin on Sat. 8 June at 8 pm at Gibney Hall, Trinity College.

No charge. Nibbles provided. Drinks available for purchase. RSVP 5 June, 325-3655. Dress: Informal.

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A mother and daughter in traditional dress attend Mass with Pope John Paul II on May 18 near Ljubljana in Slovenia. The Pope praised Slovenia 's social rebuilding efforts as an independent nation.

Statue Repairs to all plaster and c ementiteous religious statuary

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The Catechism of the Catholic Church The Spirit and the Church in the last days Pentecost 731 On the day of Pentecost when the seven weeks of Easter had come to an end, Christ's Passover is fulfilled in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, manifested, given, and communicated as a divine person: of his fullness, Christ, the Lord, pours out the Spirit in abundance.

732 On that day, the Holy Trinity is fully revealed. Since that day, the Kingdom announced by Christ has been open to those who believe in him: in the humility of the flesh and in faith, they already share in the communion of the Holy Trinity.

By his coming, which never ceases, the Holy Spirit causes the world to enter into the "last days," the time of the Church, the Kingdom already inherited though not yet consummated.

We have seen the true Light, we have received the heavenly Spirit, we have found the true

faith: we adore the indivisible Trinity, who has saved us.

the baptised the divine likeness lost through sin.

The Holy Spirit- God's gift

735 He, then, gives us the "pledge" or "first fruits" of our inheritance: the very life of the Holy Trinity, which is to love as "God (has] loved us." This love (the "charity" of 1 Cor 13) is the source of the new life in Christ, made possible because we have received "power" from the Holy Spirit.

733 "God is Love" and love is his first gift, containing all others.

"God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

734 Because we are dead or at least wounded through sin, the first effect of the gift of love is the forgiveness of our sins.

The communion of the Holy Spirit in the Church restores to

738 By this power of the Spirit, God's children can bear much fruit. He who has grafted us onto I I t ee

the true vine will make us bear "the fruit of the Spirit: ... love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. gentleness, self-control."

"We live by the Spirit"; the more we renounce ourselves, the more we "walk by the Spirit."

Through the Holy Spirit we are restored to paradise, led back to the Kingdom of heaven, and adopted as children, given confidence to call God "Father" and to share in Christ's grace, called children of light and given a share in eternal glory.

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THE PARISH S CENE CHARISMATIC MASS FOR HEALING will be held at 6 pm on Sunday, 9 June at St Denis Church, Roberts St, Joondanna by Flame Ministries.

The evening consists of Praise & Worship, Holy Mass, Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and prayers for healing.

INIGO IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY CENTRE invites you to attend for Parenting: Conflict Resolution by Lin Young, coordinator Samaritan and Youth Line in the RE room (follow signs) at John XXIII College at 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm. $5 (donation unwaged), on Wednesday, 5 June.

Enquiries Director, Murray Graham 384-1122.

BULLSBROOK ANNIVERSARY The anniversary of the Dedication of Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, 36 Chittering Rd, Bullsbrook, will be celebrated on Friday 7 June with Holy Mass at 11 am. The Rosary will commence at 10.30 am. All welcome. Further information contact SACRI Assoc, PO Box 311, Tuart Hill 6060 or phone 447-3292.

WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS 2000 is the theme of the Parents and Friends' Federation Annual Conference and 42nd

Franklin Street, Leederville, WA 6007 (Formerly St Mary's & CBC Leederville) AGM on Sat 15 and Sun 16 June at John XX111 College, John XXIII Ave, Mt Claremont. The conference will be opened at 2 pm on Sat by Hon Colin Barnett, Minister for Education with a short address and time for questions. Addresses and speakers include: The Culture of Catholic Schools - Br Jack Dwyer; In search of a Reputation - Adolescent NonConforming behaviours - Dr Steve Houghton; The Tertiary Entrance Examination Existing and Future Arrangements - Dr Michael Partis & Prof Les Marchant.

All welcome, especially parents. Enq 387-5377 or 3875143.

FEAST OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS at St Mary's Cathedral, Victoria Square, Perth on Friday 14 June: 6.50 pm Holy Rosary; Litanies of the Sacred Heart and the Blessed Virgin; 7.30 pm Holy Mass and Consecration to the Sacred Heart and The Immaculate Heart, followed

by Benediction. Principal celebrant His Grace Archbishop Barry Hickey.

(Novena to the Sacred Heart and The Immaculate Heart of Mary from Thursday 6 to Friday 14 June after weekday 12.10 pm Mass; after Saturday 6.30 pm Mass; and after Sunday 7.30 am Mass at the cathedral.)

YEAR 8 SCHOLARSHIPS 1997

Aranmore College is a Catholic co-educational day school of approximately 650 students in Years 8 to 12.

In keeping with the traditions of our Founders (Sisters of Mercy - 1903 and Christian Brothers 1942) the Aranmore College Board is pleased to offer three Scholarships to students wishing to study in Year 8, 1997 at our Leederville based College.

Aranmore offers a unique Middle School Programme for Year 8 and 9 students with a Student Centred Learning approach.

The College examination for the 1997 Scholarships will be held on Friday 28th June, 1996. The three Scholarships will be awarded to students of high academic ability.

Application Forms, including examination details, may be obtained by telephoning the Principal's Secretary on (09) 444 9355.

ENROLMENTS 1997

Some vacancies still exist for 1997 and we welcome your enquiry. Please phone Mary Noonan on (09) 4449345 for further information and/or a copy of the College Prospectus.

Matthew Kelly returns to Perth Catholic International speaker,

Author of "Words from God- and -Our Father..

Speaking at

St Anthony's Catholic Church 96 Innamincka Rd. Greenmount Thursday June 6, 1996. 8pm (Mass 7.30pm) 9 June 1993: "My children, return to the sacraments and return to living lives of prayer"

Continued page 15

Official Engagements MAY 31

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40th Jubilee Mass, Fr Henry Byrne - Bishop Healy Confirmation, Manning - Monsignor Nestor Italian National Ball, WA Italian Club Rev Fr John Pagnin CS Golden Jubilee, Fr McGrath - Bishop Healy Civic Reception for the Ambassador of France Rev Fr J Prendiville SJ Visit to Confirmation candidates, Willetton Archbishop Hickey Visitation, Brentwood/Willetton - Archbishop Hickey Visitation, Mosman Park - Bishop Healy Golden Jubilee Mass, Fr Michael Byrne - Bishop Healy Confirmation, Ocean Reef- Monsignor Keating Confirmation, Cloverdale - Monsignor Keating Council of Priests Meeting

Optometrists Contact Lens Consultants 4 Cantonment Street, FREMANTLE

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NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING (008) 11 4010 (local call charge) (Metro callers please use 221 3866) Natural Family Planning Centre 29 Victoria Square Member of the Australian Council of Natural Family Planning Inc

The Record, May 30 1996 Page 16

* If God really speaks to this 22 year old man from Sydney, why would God use this extraordinary way of communicating with his people?

• If Matthew truly is God's mouthpiece in our times, what is it that God wants to say to us? * What brought about this profound change in the direction of Matthew's life in 1993 while Matthew was a university student? * Matthew speaks with an eloquence far beyond his years.

Come and listen to what he has to say.

Books and Videos available.

All enquiries welcomed.

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