Oct. 2, 1992

Page 1

1

.

11IH 13dVH3

0£6£-66S£Z 3N

ATHOLIC U0Q0-801

News & Herald

[Serving Catholics in

Western North Carolina

Volume 2 Number 5 • October

in the Diocese of Charlotte

Respect Dear Friends

Life

2,

1992

Sunday

in Christ:

Old Testament book of Isaiah, we read, "Thus says the Lord, who created you 1 ) To be called by name by our Creator places us in a very personal relationship with God. The unique design imprinted on each In the

I

...

have called you by name: you are mine." (Is. 43

we have

person assures us that

On

individual worth.

Respect Life Sunday throughout the United States,

this

wonderful

:

gift

we call "LIFE." The erosion of values and

we

on the

reflect

lack of regard for the dignity

human Ufe have been on a downward spiral since 1973, when the Supreme Court opened the floodgates of abortion with the Roe vs. Wade decision. Since that time, the pervasive disregard for our weaker brothers and sisters has invaded our society. of

We are a country richly

blessed with a cultural and ethnic diversity. However, a

country founded as a haven to offer protection from persecution seems to have taken on

a "search and destroy" mission toward the elderly, the handicapped and the unborn. Catholic Christians, the problems

we

face regarding

issues are very real

life

As

aging,

unplanned pregnancies,

life-altering injuries and illness. But, our response to these issues must be a faith response. Though we live in the world, we are called to live above it. Because we are faith filled people, our response is different. We should be viewed

differently

by those who do not believe in the life-giving message of Jesus Christ, fruits of the Holy Spirit. faced with adversity, one may question whether God cares for him or her, Does God understand the feelings of a 17-year-old student, unmarried and a 79-year-old man, widowed and facing death alone a 36-year-old woman

manifested by the

When personally.

pregnant

...

...

confined to a wheelchair? The reality of the heartache cannot be underestimated, hope-filled

yet, the

message delivered to all by One who shared our humanity must be our guide.

Jesus experienced rejection, fear, pain, verbal and physical abuse. But, His mission,

was not restricted by any physical limitations that you may have life He experienced. The truth remains constant: God is the Author of Life. Everyone who respects human life as a God-given gift must work and pray that laws

"I

have come

that restrict or negate Ufe are

changed so

conception are protected and nourished.

moral

test

those

who

of government

is

how

are in the twilight of

it

that all

from the first moment of Humphrey once said, "The in the dawn of life, the children;

human

treats those

who are

the aged;

and those

life,

lives

Senator Hubert

who are

in the

shadows of life,

the sick, the needy, the handicapped."

During this important election year, I call upon you to exercise your duty as American citizens to make your voice heard at the polls, but begin by being educated on the issues and candidates. While casting our vote is a privilege, it is also a responsibility. Voting affords us the opportunity to impact government policy and direction, not only on the quality of life but life itself. With an assurance of prayers and with every cordial best wish, I am Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend John

Photo by

Guatemala: A Land Of The following

is the first in a series of about the indigenous Indians of uatemala, their remarkable faith in God

wd

the liberating love of Christian mis-

who work

nonaries

\mprove basic

with the people to

Hope, Love And Political Murders — group of and community. newspaper we were shoved noble and CFCA — Foundation back and Aging Faith,

qualities that the Chris-

for Children

tapped lift

these

up

into, that the

is

has

organization seeks to

to the world, nourish

CFCA

living conditions.

movement

attempts to improve the condition of poor

Associate Editor

children and aging throughout the world.

nachetes to clear and work small plots of

on sponsorships for funding, and the good will and labors of 98 volunteers who serve in 20 foreign countries. Hundreds more do volunteer work with immigrants and homeless people in and around CFCA's home base in Kansas City,

and.

Kan.

— As the rooster crows, Indian men and |x>ys tramp along dusty roads into fields of

x>m and beans rhey rely on ;

that

CAROL HAZARD

SAN ANDRES ITZAPA, Guatemala

This

is

to harvest

their

food for the day.

backs for labor and their

a tough

life,

a daily struggle for

It

relies

In foreign outposts,

nalists, priests,

sentatives

CFCA

owns no

sponsors

— have been

the

Mayan Indi-

killed in the last

two

pecades. Yet, in the midst of toil and turbulence,

here

is

extraordinary hope rooted in faith,

liberating love," said co-founder

Bob

Hentzen.

As American

immersed in a foreign land, we wondered among ourselves what Hentzen meant. There we were

they have learned.

Most

do.

Many

are

killed.

Over

taken by

the next four days,

we would

between American volunteers and sponsors

religious order called the

Christian Brothers and supported in part

by

CFCA.

with the native people of Guatemala.

would

All of the students are poor and Indian.

random massacres, the victims of a war "not between two armies but between

tered in

and everything

they need us and

We

would witness Hentzen 's love for "They have done so much for and I want to share them with you," he

me

said.

was a

the Apostles. This

picture of a

who had been martyred. One boy,

We

why we

the people.

"This

In each classroom

why

in their path," said

Hentzen. graduate

learn

need them.

are orphaned; their parents slaugh-

soldiers visitors

will take the skills

hope" run by a

Many

ms

The hope is that they

back into their communities, and share what

come to understand the delicate relationship

esteem and leadership

ligenous Gautemalans

we were

ies.

bus to a boy's school, "a school of great

groups such as the

"We are a tranquil presence reflecting a

masonry, weavand baking. They make

learn carpentry,

business decisions and form governing bod-

the indigenous Indians of Guatemala.

programs sponsored mostly by parishes. The programs are designed to build self skills.

91 percent

Our mission was to experience this land and culture. As it turned out, we were in for much more. Ourrealities were shaken. Our faith restored. Our perceptions changed

a country noted for having the

on human rights. The innocent target of military insurgency operations, tens of thousands of in-

They

ing, pig raising

"ustory, in

worst record

taught academics one week and industry the next.

land or

blends into existing

67

under age 25, 72

electricity,

Fresh off the plane,

by a grenade

Yet, here at Institute Indigena Santiago

82 percent have no have no plumbing.

by

killed

mouth.

were the underpinnings for a brighter future The boys, ranging in age from 1 1 to 22. are

in

seemed.

is

had been

percent of the homes have no running water,

a land with a violent and bloody

It

told,

in his

In a country the size of Maine,

percent of the population

fturvival in

facilities.

it

jour-

repre-

time a

transported

century or more, or so

and support.

a grassroots

founded by two Catholic missionaries

By

21 Catholic

a

It is

tian

Donoghue

CAROL HAZARD

love

articles

F.

Bishop of Charlotte

vlayan Indian carries his harvest on his back in rural Guatemala.

is

the spot to rewrite the Acts of is

the spot to evangelize

See

CFCA,

Page

1


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.