Nov. 27, 1992

Page 1

3 k

n

^ATHOLIC

i I

z.

0CU-eu

Jerving Catholics in

i

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


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.
Nov. 27, 1992 by Catholic News Herald - Issuu