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Jerving Catholics in
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News & Herald
Western North Carolina
in the Diocese of Charlotte
Volume 2 Number 13
•
November
27,
1992
Of Women's Pastoral Wins Approval For Different Reasons Rejection
By
CAROL HAZARD Associate Editor
You may have
read about
it
in the
The U.S. bishops' rejection of a long-awaited pastoral on women's consecular press.
cerns
meeting
in
Washington
was hailed as a "stunning women's rights."
victory for
at their fall
Stunning? Yes, because
it
Donoghue. "I accept the teachings of the Church on these matters unequivocally." The problem with the pastoral is that it was "not a good otherwise," he said. "We have to be very sensitive to the needs of women. They are equal in every respect to men. But that does not mean they should be ordained
was
the
first
tory? Yes, because final draft
was a
was
defeated.
many women
reiteration
A
vic-
said the
of hard-line
Vatican teachings on the role of women.
But "a stunning victory for women's
By rejecting the 98-page letter, the bishops have opened the way for more discussion on women's concerns. Howrights?"
ever, the concerns
still
need to be addressed.
Compromising on pastoral, the National
the controversial
Conference of Catho-
Bishops voted to send the document to its
lic
Executive Committee for further action.
It
be sent as a report of the ad hoc that wrote the document. Almost 10 years in the making, the proposed pastoral letter touched on a variety of issues, from inequality in the workforce will
.
committee
Even so, much of the on the document's support of the Church's ban on ordaining to no-fault divorce.
attention focused
Home
ring a recent
home
check on Tuohy's
Photo by
health.
\gency Brings Health Care
JOANN KEANE
Home To
image and likeness of God. Staff members share that vision, and strive to
Associate Editor
HA YES VII .IF, —Pearl Tuohy knew 'I
room turned upside down." Luckshe could reach her telephone. Her call r help was answered by Good Shepherd ,
ame Health
& Hospice Agency.
Charity Sister Loretto John
onded. "I don't
Sisters
Meehan
re-
know how she got in the
or, but she did," says
Tuohy.
Ued an ambulance.
The
Sister John
hospital diag-
spiritual health
different
of a
Bishop John F. Donoghue voted no on the
letter,
women's
even though he ordination.
He
is
opposed to
said the letter did
not say enough about sexism in general and it
did not reflect the progress bishops have in reaching out to
I
women.
of
Good
By
year.
grows
the year 2000,
32.5 million will
The
it
is
'
'me health agency has been at the fore>nt
of
home
health for 35 years.
xesan agency provides re to sick individuals
The
quality health
while fostering
in-
tenty.
Their mission
is
Good Shepindividual is made
simple.
rd believes that every
in society
and the role of women within the
Church, provided
it adhered to limits set by Church policy. "The document was fruitless," said Joan Bone, a Women's Task Force member and acommittee member of St. Peter Chi irch
official
Both
and comDonoghue
ihe task force
urging rejection of the pastoral document. said the
problem with the docuwere "listening to
that bishops
but
Rome
doesn't live here."
Consequently, the document was "watered
down and
draft," said
got worse with each
Bone. "Each
strident as far as
women's
draft got
new more
roles. It didn't
speak to things that are really important. Until
women
"
speak out on issues that
in the pastoral letter
concern them, the issues will never be
agreed with," specifically the Church
addressed, she said. "It's our place to speak
much
condemnation of homosexuality and contraception, said Bishop
out about equality. If women are equal,
we
mean lesser." See Women, Page
are equal. Equal does not
artificial
3
Thanksgiving
Festival...
'Responding to these health care trends
home
health solution," says
treatment there as well."
The
pastoral called for ad-
hospitals to discharge
d die,
sponse to a growing health care trend.
The proposed
vancing equal rights and dignity for women
larger each
familiar confines, they
Good Shepherd as a godsend. Good Shepherd is not some 1990s
we can or
estimated that
show people would rather be taken care of in their homes, and surveys suggest they respond better to
xinties see
continue, "whether the pope says can't."
continues to skyrocket, and the Medicare
points to the
and alone.
ordination,
the aged category.
fall into
less a life-threatening situation forces
lost
women's
cost of hospitalization and basic care
patients sooner.
Residents of rural Clay and Cherokee
the issue of
Shepherd. Across the nation,
the population of elderly
program encourages
And from these may withdraw
On
Reichart said she hopes discussion will
America, says Tom Taaffe, executive director
For many elderly and poor, health care not an issue. Often, it's simply not sought
the county hospital.
its
be
to
Catholic Church or not," she said.
Rome,
how much
want
if
from any others throughout
sed vertigo.
m into the strange, sterile, surroundings
"We
we can't be heard, we will find someone who will listen whether it is in the
heard, and
of their patients.
Clay and Cherokee Counties are no
couldn't move, I couldn't get up, and
I whole
Reichart said passage of the letter would
reach the best possible state of physical,
mental and
mething was wrong.
the
have alienated women.
sions.
that
in the
Force, said she
no vote. "It means the bishops are listening to us. They know they can't just sweep us under the carpet."
Bone ment was
unclear
prohibition on the ordination of women and
By JOANN KEANE
Women's Task
was "thrilled" by
bearing the issue will have on future discus-
"There was
Of Mountain Counties
diocesan
in Charlotte.
made
Residents
a closed issue."
mittee sent letters to Bishop
it is
The
a closed issue.
Pope John Paul II has said the matter of women's ordination should not even be
& Hospice Agency staff nurse Sheilah Miller listens to Pearl Tuohy
Health
visit to
is
it is
women.
discussed. So,
xxl Shepherd
said
Vivian Reichart, chairperson of the
time in the 25-year history of the conference that a pastoral letter
That issue
...
Holy Father has
Taaffe. "Public opinion polls
Change is in sight. High tech equipment formerly available in full service hos-
now available for home use. "Home health care provides a more
pitals is
comprehensive and personalized service," says Taaffe. "it's simply more economical
and often achieves results sooner." "Not too many years ago, you would not have a family member giving intravenous medication," says registered nurse
Kindergarten students Michael Brannon and Manisha Yadav don Pilgrim and Indian costumes and
exchange friendship necklaces
See Health, Page 6
School.
in preparation for
a Thanksgiving Festival
at All Saints Catholic
Photo by CAROL
HAZARD