1
C
ATHOLIC
News & Herald Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
Lent 1994... A Time Of Peace By MSGR. JOHN
J.
Volume 3 Number 23 » February
11,
1994
Ash Wednesday.
And Hope
MCSWEENEY
Diocesan Administrator
"Lent is a time of profound truth which brings conversion, restores hope, and by putting everything back in its proper place, brings peace and optimism," wrote Pope John Paul II. During Lent we are often reminded in our Mass prayers and readings of the need for repentance and renewal. The repentance envisioned is a change of mind and heart, to the extent that we need it, to become more holy, more Christ-like, in our attitudes and life. Just as at times we need to change direction in our careers and in bur life endeavors, so in the spiritual life we need to examine and evaluate our status and perhaps make a change in direction. Sometimes it will have to be a complete or radical turning about. Lent is a time for restoring our ideals. All women and men have a longing for meaningfulness in their lives. Goals and values we must have and pursue energetically, otherwise we lose sight of our ultimate end.. .our life in eternity with God. One of the great needs of humankind today is to return to a religious sense. It is quite evident that there is a great need for all of society, including us, to return to God. Decide early on how you will keep Lent. No matter what you decide to do, remember 40 days is a lot of days and a lot of doing. Be sensible. Be specific. Be simple. Likewise set a good example for those around you. Don't act gloomy or glum. Instead, be a sign of hope. You're not on your way to your favorite dentist, you're on your way to Easter. Lent challenges us to face up to our shortcomings, and provides a new call, a new opportunity to put proper emphasis on the spiritual dimensions of life through prayer, self-discipline or penance, and acts of mercy. Repentance is not simply a matter of avoiding sin. Hopefully we all do that to the best of our ability. True repentance or conversion means doing good, our faith bear
letting
fruit in
a harvest of charitable deeds.
Remember, Lent doesn't signal a 40-day cessation of celebration. It simply signals a new key. When you share meals, for example, you can still share them even
in joy,
if
those meals are of simpler fare. Plan
simpler eating.
can
I
make
Ask yourself, "With whom
Easter a time of joy for
will
I
how to use money
share the
someone who
is
saved by
money I save? How poor or homeless?"
Identifying your simple sacrifices with those in need brings special exhilaration
even the most modest meal. Finally, as you travel the Lenten journey, keep your eyes open to the springtime things that are beginning to happen all around. Look and look again. Recognize anew the meaning of God's activity that is taking place all around in so many "ordinary" ways. Make Lent truly a time of truth and my prayer for you is that Lent will bring you hope and peace.
to
"Turn away from your
sins, "
Move
World
nations themselves and repudi-
of the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for
ate this
abuse of American power," said
condemned
provide direct U.S. funding for abor-
4 statement. She described the proposal as "an attack on the values and cultures of the
performed abroad as a method of
vast majority of developing nations
tions
a
the Clinton administration to
Alvare. in a Feb.
our country will not only continue to support the violence of
which strongly supported" a resolution at the 1984 United Nations' population conference that urged governments to
abortion,
"take appropriate steps to help
birth control.
"Simply it
put,
will export
it
to other nations
in the name of population control," said Helen Alvare, director of planning and
women
See Alvare, Page
1
New
She was commenting on the Clinton
method of family planning." The administration submitted the retion as a
vised act to Congress Feb.
3.
"Congress should stand up for innocent life and for the wishes of Third
Matthew
3:2
JOANN KEANE
Catechism
more than a
was approved
in
the process said heads of bishops' con-
said Cardinal Joseph
ferences in English-speaking countries
Ratzinger, head of the Vatican's doctri-
had been notified. In Washington a spokesman for the U.S. bishops said Feb. 3 that only part of the final text had come in from Rome.
late January,
year,
nal congregation.
Cardinal Ratzinger spoke to Catholic
News
Service Feb. 3 in Jerusalem,
where he was attending the Feb. 1-4 Jewish-Christian conference on Reli-
"Until can't say
we receive the when it will be
full text
we
published,"
gious Leadership in Secular Society.
said Msgr. Francis
During his speech, he quoted from the catechism in English.
bishops' director of media relations.
At the Vatican, an
official at the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Diocesan Support Appeal The annual Diocesan Support Appeal, a major source of funding for 30 ministries, is now under way. The campaign began Feb. 6 and will continue through April 10 with a goal of $1,806,000. See story page
3.
J.
Maniscalco, the
"We need the full thing in hand" to determine the final layout before printing can begin, he said. "It's always been a minimum of 10 to 12 weeks from reception to publication," he added. Cardinal Ratzinger said it would be available in bookstores by Easter, which is
U.S. foreign aid funds to pay for "abor-
near. "
approval was given. One Church source familiar with
Foreign Assistance Act that would repeal a 1973 law prohibiting the use of
is
Faith would not elaborate on the date the
(CNS)
information in the pro-life office. administration' s proposed rewrite of the
Kingdom of heaven
— The En-
JERUSALEM
WASHINGTON (CNS) — An offimove by
the
glish-language Catechism of the Catholic Church, under review and revision for
Pro-Life Activities has
"For
Vatican Finally Approves English
To Fund Abortions Overseas cial
said.
Photo by
Version Of Pro-Life Official Criticizes
he
April 3 this year. "I think
we're looking more for
Pentecost than Easter," said Claire Dube, director of Publications Service for the
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in Ottawa. Pentecost will be celebrated
May
22.
See Catechism, Page
)
1
February 11, 199
Catholic Relief Services Begins
Operation Rice Bowl Campaign On Ash Wednesday, lief
Services will begin
Catholic Re-
its
"It
Operation Rice Bowl, a comprehensive family-based parish program of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. This program, run in conjunction with dioceses throughout the U.S., is an both to raise awareness of the problems of global poverty and to provide the means to address them. effort
The program
DR.
MARTHA SHUPING
Respect
and parishes to connect with the Church worldwide in its efforts to address the needs of the poorest of the poor, to assist
MAGGI NADOL
Families are encouraged to fast for one meal each week, or eat a smaller meal,
Post-Abortion Healing Services By
CAROL HAZARD Associate Editor
many women who need
Sometimes the grief is immediate. Sometimes it is manifested years later in
healing and forgiveness might be hesi-
nightmares or unshakable depressions.
tant to attend the reconciliation service.
What's certain
who have
is that
suffer emotional distress. is
many women
abortions will at
some point
What' s needed
healing.
so great that
The Respect such
women
them
to the service.
and offer
to
accompany
Diocese of Charlotte is offering two Post-Abortion Reconciliation prayer
pated in abortion in
services.
Maggi Nadol, Respect Life coordinator
The services are at Holy Family Church in Clemmons on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m., and at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte on Thursday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m. They are for anyone who
for the diocese.
from the
effects of abortion.
abortions and for
all
who have
partici-
some way,"
says
to an
immediate problem, said Father
it
almost always creates bigger prob-
Father Walsh says. "People might think the problem
child or
nephew they
said Dr.
Martha Shuping, a Winstonand contract staff
Salem
will never see,"
psychiatrist
member with Shuping
Catholic Social Services.
"There's a lot of denial involved," is done and over with and But it's not true." Abortion involves "unrecognizable hurts," he said. "The reality is that abortion takes a human life and people belatedly come to realize that." What's more,
that's
abortion
a violent act, not only to the
is
unborn child but also to the woman's body, he said. Despite these and other hurts, "healing is possible and forgiveness is pos-
available after the services.
sible," Father
Moreover, the services will provide an opportunity for people to pray for women who have had abortions, particularly those
who do not feel forgiven. many women
"After an abortion,
are afraid to return to the sacraments, afraid that
God
could not possibly for-
give this," said Shuping.
The feelings of loss and grief can be
The
Walsh
said.
•
readings and music with attention given to lighting in the sanctuary.
Dimness
be replaced by light. Sorrow has spoken, has broken our hearts ... Wake the morning light, make our living bright. Shine on our darkness, oh Lord. Ask God for His light. (From "Send Us Your Spirit," a musical will
Pennsylvania Abortion —
Law
1989 but never enforced —
abortion providers to delay enforcement
receiving information on alternatives to
of the state's abortion law.
abortion and on fetal development; a re-
ceived the emergency request, refused to put the
law on hold while the high
court decides whether to review the case.
In January, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Philadelphia refused to allow the abortion providers to present
new
evidence that parts of the law placed an unconstitutional burden on women seeking abortions.
Among
other things, the law
—
in
C
available at pi
ishes throughout the Diocese of Chi lotte.
The time of Lent is to be observed by Catholics as a special season and works of charity.
Ash Wednesday and Good
Friday, in particular, are the
most
•
requires that a tion
woman seeking an abor-
must wait
at least
24 hours
after
minor must receive the consent of at least one parent or a judge before obtaining an abortion; and abortion providers must file detailed reports with the state. Those provisions were upheld by the Supreme Court in 1992.
The abortion providers plan
to file
an appeal with the Supreme Court by early
The
meal a day can be maintain strength, are allowed
rule of fasting states that only one full
Two
small meals,
sufficient to
but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals breaks the fast, but drinking liquids does not. The rule of fasting obliges all Catholics from age 18 to 59. Abstinence refers to the eating of meat. Under the present law, does not include egg or milk products, meat soups or gravies. The rule of abstinence binds all Catholics 14 years old or older. •
it
•
March asking
view the
The
Substantial observance of the
laws of
fast
an abstinence
is
a
whose work or health would be impaired are excused from fasting and abstaining. The individual conscience can decide if there is a proper cause to excuse. A more serious reason should be present to excuse for the Ash Wednesday and Good Friday serious obligation. Those
• Self-imposed fasting on the other weekdays of Lent is recommended. Abstinence on all Fridays of the year is also highly recommended. The Peace Pastoral of the American Bishops, stating that
incomplete without penance, urges Friday abstinence as something all American Catholics should offer up for the sake of
prayer
is
world peace. Parents and teachers should see to it that even those who are not bound by the laws of fast and abstinence because of age are brought
up
in
an atmosphere that is conducive
The
faithful
to a sense of penance.
should be clearly and positively encouraged to
receive the Sacrament of Penance during Lent. There should be
passed in
same day he
Bowl are
•
(CNS) SuDavid H. Souter denied a Feb. 7 request by Pennsylvania
Souter, acting the
Materials for participation eration Rice
important penitential days of the liturgical year. They are days of both fast and abstinence. All Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence.
•
Justice
international relief agencies.
penance.
Justice Souter Refuses To Delay WASHINGTON
t
service will include Scripture
selection for the service.)
preme Court
CRS projects in 80 countries around world. CRS is one of the world' s largi
it.
speak at both services and lead participants in prayer and meditations designed for healing and forgiveness. Individual confession will be will
Operation Rice Bowl raised mc last year to help fu
than $3 million
of prayer, penance
taken.
lems.
friends or healthcare workers.
deeply after an abortion for the grand-
main goal of Operati Rice Bowl is to provide a meaning] Lenten program for families. the U.S., the
Tom Walsh, pastor of Holy Family. But
have had abortions as well as family members,
"Sometimes family members grieve
hunger and disease, as well as assist efforts to support job-training and otl development projects overseas and
Guidelines For Lent
•
Abortion might seem like a solution
women who
That includes
Executive Director of CRS. Although the funds raised by 0 eration Rice Bowl are used to allevij
Life Office suggests that
process, the Respect Life Office of the
suffers
and donate the money they would have spent on food to CRS. Approximately 75 percent of the funds raised from Operation Rice Bowl are sent overseas; 25 percent are channeled into programs designed for the poor within each par-
connects us
friends and family extend invitations to
"We hope that everyone in the diocese will pray for women who have had
In an attempt to aid the healing
invites families
in the empowerment of those in distress, both here in our own country and abroad.
Sponsoring
Life Office
community. all by linking t prayer and Lenten sacrifice of famili and parishes with efforts at relief improve the lives of the poor in ve tangible ways," said Kenneth F. Hacke ticipating parish
17th annual
the justices to re-
adequate time scheduled for confessions before Easter. Group penance services should not be scheduled for the last days of Holy Week. At no time is it permitted to schedule a group penance service for the purpose of giving general absolution without individual confessions.
The liturgical directions of the Sacramentary and the Lectionary must be faithfully observed regarding all the special Holy Week •
Rites.
Funeral Masses are not allowed on Holy Thursday, Good Friday Saturday. The funeral Rite outside of Mass can be held either Holy or in church or at the chapel on those days, with a Funeral Mass later. •
The RCIA is incorporated into the liturgy during Lent. The Rite is celebrated on the First Sunday of Lent. On the second, third and fourth Sundays of Lent, the Scrutinies take place during •
of Election
entire case.
See Law, Page 16
Mass.
^
3
"
The Catholic News
February 11, 1994
Si
Time Ripe For Evangelizaton; Parishes Adopt Plan, Take Action Southerner By
Tells
About Her Conversion
CAROL HAZARD Associate Editor
No more
No more theorizing. The time has come to
energy,
evangelize. fourth year of
Lady of Lourdes. "My hope and dream is that evangelization will be woven into
Decade of Evan-
the fabric of the ordinary life of the
talk.
In
the
its
gelization, the Dio-
Church."
cese of Charlotte has
ward
the
national plan gives practical
advice for sparking a parish-based evan-
unchurched
gelization program. Suggestions are as
in reaching out to
is
The
taken a giant step for-
people and inactive Catholics.
"This
new dynamism" for the Church, Our
says Father Vilkauskas, pastor of
moment; now
time," says Father
Ed
simple as providing more welcoming the
is
Vilkauskas, di-
Sunday liturgies or talking more openly about the Catholic
rector of the DS A-funded Office of Evan-
"We have the
meat and sub-
faith.
Sounds simple, but
it's
not. That's
Charlotte have adopted the plan. Sev-
because Catholics tend to be closed about their faith. "What' s the mystery?" says Father Vilkauskas. "We have nothing to hide. So invite your neighbor." Inviting someone to church may be considered "politcally incorrect" in the North, but it's a gesture of hospitality in the South, he says. More importantly, Southern Catholics have another hurdle. They have to deal with misunderstandings and prejudice toward the Catholic faith. "In the South, misinformation about Catholicism has been passed from gen-
planning evange-
eration to generation since the Reforma-
gelization.
stance at our fingertips."
The "meat" zation
is
for Catholic evangeli-
the U.S. bishops' document,
Go and Make Disciples: A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization.
The document was
the center-
piece for a Southeast regional evangelilast fall
by
Our Lady of Lourdes Church Monroe, St. Therese Church
in
zation
workshop sponsored
the Diocese of Charlotte.
Mooresville and
St.
Matthew Church
eral other parishes are
in
in
tion," Father Vilkauskas says. "That's
lization strategies as well.
"new
Evangelization will lead to
several centuries worth of rumors." Jerry and in
Diocese of Charlotte P.O. Box 36776 Charlotte,
NC
Kay Maiers on
their
wedding day
in
11,
Our Lady of Lourdes Church
1994
Davidson College was not Jews, blacks, Catholics and
"The point
is
information, under-
Our role grow in un-
standing and communication
open
with other Christians derstanding."
to
women. "That's inconceivable
to us
In the process,
says.
Father Vilkauskas recounts an inciChrist,
says.
prestigious
now," Father Vilkauskas
Dear Friends In
at
28236 Imagine: Three or four decades ago,
February
October 1993
Monroe.
is
to
some
. . .
are
drawn
to
discover deeper dimensions of the Catho-
and join the
RCIA
(Rite of
dent about placing an ad in a local paper.
lic
He wanted
of a
Christian Initiation for Adults) program.
For decades, the faithful put up thousands of crosses on a hill in Lithuania to commemorate victims of communist persecution. Then,
Bible. "Catholics believe in the Bible?'
asked the incredulous advertising man-
The following is the story of Kay Maiers of Monroe and her conversion to
one day, the Hill of Crosses was destroyed by Soviet authorities. But,
ager.
Catholicism, despite her family
"Every time we dispel some little bit of misunderstanding, that's evangelization," Father Vilkauskas says. A devout Baptist Sunday school
proval.
the crosses reappeared. Despite further efforts to eliminate them,
they kept reappearing. The faithful Lithuanians who again and again
up the crosses at night are a remarkable witness of For these people, the Catholic Church has been a great light in an age of darkness. Now that communism has fallen throughout Central and Eastern Europe, other challenges have to be faced. In some places, the horrors of ethnic cleansing have replaced the persecution of Communist regimes. Despite the chaos and upheaval surrounding them, however, Catholics have held o to one thing their faith. The Church sees the spirit and conviction of the people, but it also sees their needs and their deep hunger for faith and truth. In attempting to respond to these needs, the Church is facing formidable challenges. Although people now have the freedom to profess their faith, obstacles still exist which prevent the Church from being able to minister fully to its people and counter secularism and rampant materialism now engulfing society. secretly raised faith.
—
The Collection to aid the Catholic Church in Central and Eastern Europe provides much-needed help in restoring Church institutions, teaching the laity through programs of religious and moral education, spreading the Word of God through the mass media, and restoring Catholic charitable organizations once outlawed by Marxist states.
to include a picture
Our Lady of Lourdes Church, because his wife' s family was Catholic and he wanted to learn more about the faith. He became a spokesman for the Catholic Church,
teacher attended inquiry classes at
about Catholic beliefs, Father Vilkauskas says. "Everything he had thought or heard before was con-
telling others
what he experienced." "The goal of evangelization is not to
trary to
proselytize nor to
make
faith
His Will In Yours.
challenges that
lie
ahead. Sincerely in Christ,
1963, learned the
"/ leave to the
The family may have been highly regarded, but not much was known about their faith in the Protestant South.
See Evangelize, Page
"A valid Will stands as a continuing expression of our concern for loved ones, as well as an ongoing commit-
ment to the Church and the community in which we live'.' Msgr. John
J.
McSweeney
Vice Chancellor
Todd
For more information on how to make a Will that works, contact Jim Kelley, Director of Development, Diocese of Charlotte, 1524 East Morehead St., Charlotte,
E.
Morehead
Catholic Diocese of (or percent of estate) for its religious, educational
and charitable works. Rev. Mr. Curtiss P.
1524
Roman
sum of $
the residue of my
fas.
Street Charlotte. N.C. 28207
NC
Kennedy family was
Catholic.
ou can express your commitment to your Church by making a bequest to the Diocese of Charlotte. Simply have the following statement included in your Will:
Charlotte the
disap-
She traces her interest to the year John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Maiers, who was in fourth grade in
We ask your support in continuing this important work. Through your generous support to this collection, to be taken up on February 16 (Ash Wednesday), we can help our brothers and sisters meet the
s
Born and raised in the South, Kay Maiers never had the opportunity to learn much about Catholicism. Even so, she was fascinated by it.
converts," he
Remember
'
28207, (704) 331-1709 or 377-6871.
1
olic
News
& Herald
February 11, 1994
Pro-Life Corner is*?*
As a
Hi
result of the
actions can protesters
Supreme Court's
now be
decision in
NOW
v.
Scheidler,
threatened against even peaceful pro-life
— or any human rights protesters — under the Rack-
eteer Influenced
and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)
expense to these groups, even
if
at great they are judged not guilty in the
end.
Editorial The Flame Of Hope As Lent begins next week,
the Catholics of the
The Respect Life Office
United States have an opportunity to keep the flame of hope alive in the formerly communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The fourth annual collection to aid the restoration of the
the
NCCB's
Office to Aid the Catholic Church in
(704) 331-1720
Pope: Suffering Of Religious Long Tradition VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope John POPE JOHN PAUL
Church in that area will
be taken up on Ash Wednesday in most U.S. dioceses, including the Diocese of Charlotte. Catholics in the region already have begun to rebuild after decades of repression under communist rule. But their resources are slim and they desperately need help from outside. The Catholics of this copuntry are in the best position to provide that help. The U.S. bishops recognized the need and established the special collection in 1990. They also set up
Diocese of Charlotte
Paul
the suffering of priests, nuns
and brothers
of former Yugoslavia
territories
made by
tradition of sacrifice
is
II
said
II
in the
within the long
religious orders around
the world.
The pope made the remarks during
a special
Mass
The Pope Speaks
for religious orders Feb. 2, the feast of the Presentation
of the Lord. Several thousand religious attended in
St.
Peter's Basilica, and 28 heads of religious orders
Central and Eastern Europe, under the direction of
concelebrated with the pontiff.
Msgr. George Sarauskas. Since 1990, the annual appeal has raised $17 million for more than 450 projects in the region. But much more remains to be done in all three areas of Catholic life education of the laity, leadership training and social service. One major obstacle is the obstruction by former
The pope called religious a "treasure of the Church" and said they offer a particular witness in the world, often paying for their efforts with enormous sacrifice and even martyrdom. "With special affection I am thinking of the men and women religious present in the regions of exYugoslavia, victims of absurd fratricidal violence," he
Christians
said.
not always easy to accept.
—
communists who still hold power in many areas. They no longer call themselves communists but they remain hostile to religion in general and to the Catholic Church
of religious orders and said it was important to preserve
in particular.
this
some cases they have imposed heavy taxes on Church, further diminishing resources. They have
The pope
In
the
slowed the return of Church property confiscated by the old regimes. And they encourage anti-Catholic ideologies and religious cults and sects. In many cases they also control the mass media, making it difficult to spread the Word of God. Msgr. Sarauskas points out that Catholics in the region need many things that we take for granted
—
religious education texts, catechists, pastoral centers,
Your
Ash Wednesday
contribution to the
Church For those who would
collec-
to
(202) 541-3400.
Rev. Msgr. John
3,
Number 23
McSweeney
J.
Robert E. Gately
Editor:
Associate Editors:
Hispanic Editor:
Joann Keane, Carol Hazard
Dalmau
Sister Pilar
Advertising Manager: Editorial Clerk: Sheree
Gene Sullivan McDermott
—
Muslims and Jews. "Everyone wants
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St.,
NC 28207 NC 28237
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He
said that in the journey of family
life,
couples
must periodically stop to ask themselves: "What does the Lord want from us? What is the path he has indicated for our child?"
to
become a meaningful center to the prophetic
words of
will wipe every tear from their eyes," he said. "The bishop of Rome looks toward Jerusalem with
the
love," he said.
in
1
communion," he said in the image of God and their joining in the sacrament of matrimony is
The
creation of
a reflection of the
man and woman
communion found
in the three
persons of the Trinity, the pope said.
Because God is the ultimate source of life, man and participate in God's creation when they have children, he said. "One can then affirm that the genealogy of every person finds its roots in the eternal," he
woman
said.
Pope Calls Family Life
After reciting the Angelus, the pope asked people
full
— Family
to life is
"an
of surprises," the greatest of which for
A
show
their solidarity "with the very
in Africa
who
still
tragedy of war.
many
suffer because of poverty
families
and the
We will not abandon them."
Matter Of Conscience
in the late 1930s, during the
Spanish Civil
BOB GATELY
War, there was a movie "Blockade" starring as I recall a young Henry Fonda. The story was about a Spanish city and its Loyalist garrison blockaded by Franco with the help of his German and Italian allies. Finally a relief ship was to arrive. The movie ended
Editor's
with the ship being torpedoed as it entered the harbor. Fonda spoke the last line of dialogue, "Where is the
Notebook
jtO
fe,
eel
ltd
Jie:
A
conscience of the world?"
(704) 331-1713
Printing:
it
— according Book of Revelation — God
It
Office:
Speaking Feb. 6 to visitors gathered in St. Peter's Square, the pope said the unknown and unexpected are
that of being a great journey of
as a place of encounter and reference for all descendants of the faith of Abraham Christians,
Back Volume
comes
II said.
lem
m
February 11, 1994
new way," Pope John Paul
also spoke about the significance of the city of Jerusa-
coming decades, he said. more young people hear the call to a religious vocation. The pope, recalling the particulars of the feast day,
Of Surprises' VATICAN CITY (CNS)
News & Herald
"the surprise of God which always
The answers to such questions can only be found prayer and in listening to the Word of God, the pope said during his midday Angelus address. "Sometimes, when the events of life are complicated, discerning God's will becomes difficult. But a family that prays will never forget its basic vocation
any way by our age" or in He prayed that more and
'Adventure Full
The Catholic
religious life
sure that such an important vocation
will not be "suffocated in
adventure
Publisher:
Synod of Bishops on
make
of peace so that
meet these challenges. like to do more, we suggest you contact Msgr. Sarauskas at the Office to Aid the Catholic Church in Central and Eastern Europe, 321 Fourth St. NE, Washington, DC 20017-1194 or call
tion will help the
fall's
should help
is
into our lives in a
also cited the long missionary tradition
evangelizing role.
This
vehicles so priests can cover vast distances over difficult terrain as they try to spread the faith.
i
seems to
me
that that question could well
tot
be
asked today in the light of what continues to happen in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The slaughter of innocent civilians continues unabated while the rest of the world wrings its hands and makes empty threats to "do something" if the combatants don't stop it. At the rate things are going, by the time the United States, its NATO allies or the United Nations finally decide to take some action, the whole question will be moot. Everyione will be dead and nobody will have to take any action. I never have been a great admirer of former British
lilt
Ud
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher but I think she is dead right on the issue of Bosnia. On David Brinkley's TV show last Sunday, she called again for action tc
^
stop the slaughter. First and foremost, she says, the arms embargo, must be lifted so the Bosnian Muslims can obtain the weapons to defend themselves. That, she feels, will gc
a long
way toward ending
the fighting.
B4 See Notebook, Page
K
The Catholic News
February 11, 1994
&
Hera
Lincoln Revisited Feb. 12 will be the 185th anniver-
of Abraham Lincoln' s birthday. He vas an extra-ordinary man who gave his ife for his country. If you have ever had
drunk for the
o endure the slings and arrows of unfair ;riticism, consider the many humiliaions President Lincoln suffered during lis
years in office.
many of the made on Lincoln in an
ssay entitled, The Unpopular Mr. Lincoln.
The newspapers of
his times la-
jeled him a "baboon," "the Illinois beast"
jecause of his height (6'4") and his long irms. Lincoln
was
called an imbecile
preserve the Union, "a coward. .timid and ignorant for
'or his efforts to
political lis
.
vacillation. ..pitiable. ..shattered,
iazed and utterly foolish." wrote, ikull
"You could
is
One reporter
not.. .fill his
empty
with brains."
little
slander
not surprising, but in Lincoln's case
went to cruel extremes. For example, the Civil War was very unpopular in the North, more so than most people realize. Just before the 1 864 electhe malice
mm Light
One Candle
Wisconsin journalist had the audacity to write, "If Lincoln were reelected we hope that a bold hand will be found to plunge the dagger into the Tyrant's heart for the public welfare."
Honest Abe didn't get much respect from the other side of the ocean either. Thomas Keiser, an American Lincoln scholar who analyzed nearly 200 English newspapers and magazines, found that the British, who had hailed his election in 1860 as a victory over slavery, turned against him when the South
They
seceded.
The Image ofLincoln in he South, Michael Davis wrote that
When
In his book,
luring the Civil
FATHER JOHN CATOIR
days."
tion, a
J.G. Randall collected
Ale assaults
last three
In the frenzy of war, a
sary
War
Delieved that Lincoln
all
Southerners
A
was a drunk.
Norfolk newspaper often reported the juration of his imagined binges: "It
-umored that Lincoln has
is
now been
him a butcher. Union forces won the
called
the
Battle of Gettysburg, one English newspaper wrote: "President Frankenstein's thirst for war has not yet been quenched by the blood of thousands of his country men... he is as arbitrary and as unscrupulous as the most absolute des-
just stand there, say something.
pot."
Lincoln stood tall. "I do the best I can," he said, " I mean to keep going. If the end brings me out all Against
all this,
what is said about me won't I'm wrong, then 10 angels swearing I was right won't make a difference." Lincoln gives us some good advice here. Anyone besieged by criticism and controversy needs to hang
right, then
matter. If
tough.
The
virtue of fortitude
is
defined
as the strength to bear misfortune, calmly
and
courage
unfairly
a
by mean-spirited
torn
down
critics,
don't
is
is
unfair,
you
your self-respect. Defending a good person is certainly a noble deed, and standing tall in the face of opposition is true heroism. ( For a free copy of the Christopher News Note, "Words Can Hurt, " send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to The Christophers, 12 East 48th Street, New will at least preserve
York,
NY 10017.)
Father John Catior
good person
Your
not be appreciated, but if
you believe the detraction
patiently.
When
may
is
director of
The Christophers.
Post-Abortion Healing Q. A friend of mine had an abora few years ago. I know she feels bad about it, and I feel guilty because [ drove her to the abortion clinic. I showed her what you wrote about praying about it and having something at church about this. She was interested but says she feels afraid to tion
go to church. I didn't
know what
to
self.
The services will be held at Holy Family in Clemmons on Thursday, Feb. 24 and at St. Gabriel in Charlotte on Thursday, March 3, both at 7:30 p.m. If she has concerns about people seeing her
at the service,
may
she
attend whichever service
say to her.
MARTHA W. SHUPING, MD
attend with you she would be more comfortable than if she attended by her-
is
Crosswinds
prefer to
further from
We also plan to use very dim which can be symbolic of the
her home.
A. It's common for many people to lave various fears after an abortion ear that God won't forgive them, fears what other people may think, fears of what a priest might say to them. Be-
—
ause of these very fears, the diocese
is
sponsoring two prayer services specifi-
people
who have
concerns related to abortion. I have worked with the Respect Life office and the priests involved to plan services which we truly cally for
be a way for people to experince God's peace and healing. Perhaps if you invited your friend to
liope will
lighting
darkness experienced after an abortion and which may also give a sense of
a person in this situation, as well as
protection and privacy.
friends or others
The
services are not exclusively for
women who have had abortions, but for anyone connected with an abortion in any way who feels a need for healing and reconciliation. Just for example, there are doctors and clinic employees who have been involved in abortions who have later experienced regret and in fact a number of these people have become well-known pro-life leaders. But
may
would be welcome and
God's forgiveness, not
Even if your friend does not attend, you could attend and pray for her. It may also be helpful to you since you still have some guilt from your part in the abortion.
Individual confession will be avail-
fears don't prevent her
Upward of 35,000 of them descended on the ellipse in Washington, D.C., for the annual March for Life, despite bitterly
cold weather.
sheet of ice hidden under powdery
A
snow
day aptly symbolized the hazardous [jissues that concerned the march. As the march to the Supreme Court bommenced, I prayed that the marchers' efforts would cause the message inscribed in its sculptures, its bronze doors (that
||and its
and
adorning friezes to ring out loudly
the entrance to an ancient
emperor's court.
Two art deco statues guard it: A J mwoman who is seated holds a small Jstatuette of a child in :
one arm and a book
pn the other. She looks as if she is brooding. Across from her is a spartan
ijjman, also seated.
He
holds a tablet with
word "law" on it. Behind him a sword is seen. The woman is the con-
the
man
God
wants for her. Dr. Shuping
is contract staff with Catholic Social Services and also has a
private practice as a psychiatrist in
afraid of confession,
umn may be
priests involved will
be there to extend
Shuping, 1400 Millgate Drive, Suite B,
rep-
Winston-Salem. Questions for this colsent to: Dr. Martha W.
NC 27103.
Life
FATHER EUGENE HEMRICK
resents the authority of law.
A handsome bronze door at the top of the
stairs
contains eight low-reliefs
depicting major breakthroughs in the history of law.
One
relief portrays the
The Human Side
shield of Achilles. That scene, the stat-
ues and a frieze with Moses deliver a simple but powerful message that, in fact, reflects
ment
is
what the
pro-life
move-
ultimately about.
Several scenes are depicted on the The first is that of a
shield of Achilles.
woman
clearly.
With its expansive marble paveJ ment and majestic steps and pillars, the Supreme Court's entrance might re-
semble
templation of justice, and the
from receiving
Some people are but I know that the
able after the services.
The 1 994 March For Pro-life advocates are not fair-
judge-
the healing and restoration that
Winston-Salem,
weather people.
sit in
Please pray for your friend that her
find this to be an opportunity for
healing.
to
ment.
about to be married. This is followed by two men arguing a case before a judge. Next is a city under siege with people being killed. From this bloody scene we are transported to a field where a man is plowing. field
him
he
When he comes to a turn in the is
met by a person who gives
a glass of wine.
This is followed by a scene in which a king looks upon a rich harvest. The final scene is that of a farmer watering
Unexpectedly the cattle are attacked by lions and killed as he looks his cattle.
on
helplessly.
For the Greek poet Homer, who wrote of Achilles' shield, life is subject to universal laws represented by marriage, strife, war, labor, harvests and the unexpected, which can leave us helpless. To cope with these realities, civilizations over time have generated wise laws.
The symbolism of Moses adds an indispensable ingredient. He is not seated
Rather he respectfully stands with God's commandments in hand, pointing us heavlike Authority or Contemplation.
enward and symbolizing the law's need for the transcendent the need to appeal to a higher authority if law is to have real authority.
—
Moses turns our thoughts to the beauty of divine law depicted in Psalm 119: "Lord, how I love your law! It is ever in my mind. Your commands makes
me
wiser than
my
foes; for
it
is
mine
have more insight than all who teach me, for I ponder your will. I have forever.
I
more understanding than
the old, for
I
keep your precepts." See
Human, Page 6
olic
.
News
& Herald
February 11, 1994
Respect good
...what
is it
to profess faith
without practicing it? Such faith has no power to save one, has it? If a brother or sister
has nothing to wear and no food
and you say to them, 'Goodbye and good luck! Keep warm and well fed,' but do not meet their bodily needs, what good is that? So it is for the day,
with the faith that does nothing in practhoroughly
tice. It is
lifeless.
(James
2:
The
Epistle of
James
is
a sobering
reminder that respect for life begins with faith but ends with works. "Faith without works," James reminds us, "is as dead as abody without breath." (James 2:
Because Lent is a special time for us to reflect on our own sinfulness and to draw closer to god, the Church recom-
mends the practice of mortification. This is
I
usually done through fasting and ab-
staining
from meat on Fridays. Tradi-
tionally,
it
also includes the practice of
we
"giving up" something
I
have known. I cannot say that I practice of them but each Lent I try to do at
all
Lifeline
least one. •
Do you know someone who
we can do
unemployed and really hurting? Instead of asking how you can help, do something really constructive. Put some cash tell
envelope and mail it to him. Don't else. You and God know.
anyone
That's
all that
• If
you
how much money you
are in the habit of dropping
This
a quarter into the hands of a homeless
•
Do you
feel
make
it
five.
good about giving
your old clothes to the poor? You'll feel even better if you give brand new clothes instead. After all, if you are doing it for the Lord, doesn't he deserve the best? • On the same theme: when your church collects food for the poor, buy
same groceries for the collection that you would buy for your family. •
saved. Double
and donate that amount to a
matters.
person, give a dollar instead. If you
Lenten season.
this
is
Skip one meal a week. Figure out
is
• Is
who
it
charity.
a great family project.
is
there
•
someone at work or school
really boring, or a pain to
Do you know someone who hasn' them to you have a
been to church
in years? Invite
join you. This
shows
that
respect for their eternal
What
I
am
life.
saying here
spect for life involves
is
that re-
much more
concern for the unborn.
It
ing to imitate Christ every day of our lives.
Lent is a good time to remind us of
that.
be around? Make an honest effort to be friends. If you can't be friends, then at least refrain from speaking or listening to negative talk about them.
the very
like.
The following is a list of some other things
JIM MCINERNEY
gleaned these items over the
years from the example of good people
usually give a dollar,
26)
Suggestions For Lent
You might consider some of them to be radical.
in an
14-17)
Life
than
involves try-
Don't get me wrong. We have to keep fighting abortion, now more than ever. It is the single most important civil rights battle facing this generation. If we
give up on this front, the others aren't
going to matter much. Which leads to
one
me
final suggestion.
Do pro-lifers annoy you? Make you uncomfortable? Good! Lent is the per feet time to practice this bit of mortification. Volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center, join a picket line, or send a check to a pro-life agency or advocacy group.
ii
;
Wording At Conclusion Of Mass Readings Q. Lectors in our parish were told some time ago that we should end the readings with "The word of the Lord" rather than with "This is the word of the Lord." The priest or deacon also says simply, "The Gospel of the Lord." What is the reason for this slight change? Some parishioners have asked me and I couldn't tell them.
Our
pastor isn't too sure either. In other churches we visit some lectors say it the new way, some the old way.
Word "This
more
Three reasons have been offered for change, with which I imagine most
English-speaking Catholics are
now fa-
FATHER JOHN DIETZEN
of God. is
the
Word
of the Lord"
is
a descriptio than an accalamation
inviting the congregation's response:
"Thanks be to God," or, "Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ." The newer recommendation seems to fit the situation better than the former way. The third reason is perhaps the most important. It emphasizes that the Word
book up or gestures
toward it and says, "This Gospel) of the Lord."
The "word" released at
is
the
Word (or
acclaimed and these times is not circumthat
is
scribed by, or identified with, the printed
miliar.
One
to
is
Latin text.
be more
faithful to the
The missal gives "Verbum
Domini," the Word of the Lord, as the conclusion of all three readings, includ-
words
even by that particular proclamation of the Gospel in the Lectionary, or
passage.
We are accustomed to thinking of "Gospel" as one of the four books at the
to
honor the (often
Word of God and our reception of
body of the Lord. Obviously there are enormous differences between these two presences of the eucharistic
Jesus Christ in our prayer and worship.
A
profound similarity between them, however, is a long and sacred part of the Church's tradition. "The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she vener-
body of the Lord,"
ates the
bishops
said the
Vatican Council II, "since from the table of both the Word of God and the body of Christ she unceasingly at
receives and offers to the faithful the
Bread of
Life, especially in the sacred
liturgy" (Constitution elation,
on Divine Rev-
No. 21).
At Communion, when the minister proclaims, "The body of Christ,"
respond
Amen,
in
it is
an acclamation of
so,
I
ways
tain
the book, and the proclama-
prayers, beliefs
and practice
is
avail
even our response to them, can be called the word of God. The first and essential meaning, however, goes beyond all those. The change you ask about, however small it may seem, is intended to help us realize
able by sending a stamped self-ad-
that.
Service
tion of the readings,
dressed envelope to Father John Dietzen, 704 N. Main St., Bloomington, IL 61 701
Questions for this column should be sent to the
same
Copyright
address.)
© 1 994 by Catholic News
Maybe we can grasp the idea a little clearly if we focus on the Gospel.
for-
of the
I
m
(A free brochure outlining Catholic
gotten) parallel between our "reception"
is
.:
more
ing the Gospel.
Another
Question Box
of God is not a book or printed page. This impression could be given when the reader holds the
(Florida)
this
the
believe
it.
It is
ate that a similar proclamatio
mation take place when
we
faith:
appropri-
and accla-
we are fed with
Human (From Page 5) The annual March message of warning
to
for Life sends a
lawmakers who
contemplate justice without reflecting on God's law. The marchers' justifiable
beginning of the
The word
New
itself,
Testament. however, in Greek the origins of our
and Latin, and in English word, literally means "good news," the good news of the Father's love for us, revealed and carried out in the person of our Lord, and in his death and resurrection. You notice, for example, that the heading for the first book of the New Testament, in most if not all Bibles, is The Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ "according to Matthew." Each of the four evangelists, of course, has his own interpretation and theology, and way of presenting that "good news." Obviously, we may miss much of this reality when, by word or gesture, we locate the primary "place" of that word
book itself, rather than in God speaking and empowering his word in our hearts. in the
Common
rage
is
sense
tells
us that in cer-
a reminder to our culture that
America was founded by people able to look heavenward as they contemplated justice and the law. Copyright © 1 994 by Catholic News Service
-the
saints
!>
arounp the year 750, CT DCHCl/IWI RFNFDIPT D0RN BENEPICT WAS THE SON OF
OFANIANE
AIGULF OF MAGUELONE. HE WAS CUP-BEARER TO KING PEPIN AND CHARLEMAGNE ANP SERVED THE ARMY AND ENTERED RELIGIOUS LIFE AND BECAME A BENEDICTINE MONK AT ST. SEINE, NEAR DIJON, FRANCE. HE IN
REFUSED THE ABBACY THERE AND RETURNED TO LANGUEDOQ WHERE HE LIVED AS A HERMIT. BENEDICT ATTRACTED MANY AND BUILT A MONASTERY ANP A CHURCH. SUPPORTED BY EMPEROR LOUIS THE PIOUS, WHO BUILT A MONASTERY FOR HIM AT INDE. NEAR AACHEN, HE BECRME DIRECTOR OF ALL THE DISCIPLES
MONASTERIES
IN
THE EMPIRE
ANP INSTITUTEP WIDESPREAD REFORMS. BENEDICT'S "CAPITULARE MONASTICUM," A SYSTEM IZATI ON OF THE RULE OF ST BENEPICT WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL OF AACHEN. BENEPICT DIEP IN 821. HE IS CONSIDERED THE RESTORER OF WESTERN MONA STICf SM AND IS OFTEti CALLED THE "SECOND BENEPICT." HIS FEAST IS FEB. © 1994 CNS Graphics
II.
1994
bruary 11,
&
The Catholic News
Herald
Entertainment
"Body And Soul," A Nun's Sensitive On Masterpiece Theatre
Story,
"Body and Soul," which drayoung nun's struggle reconcile her independent pirit and lust for life with her ligious vows, airs on MobilMasterpiece jnded Theatre atizes a
undays
at
9 p.m. beginning Feb. on PBS (check lo-
3 nationally
PBS
al
listings).
Kristin Scott Thomas, who layed the young wife in John lortimer's Titmuss Regained" n Masterpiece Theatre, stars in Body and Soul" as Sister Gabriel/ nna Gibson. Sequestered in a
Welch moun-
invent deep in the
16 years, she's thrust idely back into real life in modrn England. When her brother ies suddenly, she obtains leave om the convent to return home for
lins
help straighten out her family's
>
ffairs.
She finds her helpless l-law,
sister-
Lynn (Amanda Redman)
regnant and unable to cope with
oubles confronting the family's arn-spinning mill. The mill rings her into contact with
the first time in years
)r
le
friendly
service
men
— Hal,
manager
3ary Mavers); Daniel Stern ohn Bowe), a banker who helps nna refinance the mill, and Stan eattie (Anthony Valentine), the irrupt mill manager. Never be>re did she have to choose beveen her identity as a sexual
HAVE YOU HEARD HIM CALL?
MATERIAL MATTERS
occupy the time and energies of Sister Gabriel (Kristen Schott Thomas) when a family the convent in "Body and Soul" on Mobile-funded Masterpiece Theatre Sunday evernings beginning Feb. 13 on PBS. Gary Mavers plays Hal, whose life has become intertwined with hers.
emergency sends her out of
woman and
her cloistered persona. Paul Hines adapted "Body and
Soul" from a novel by Marcelle Bernstein. To research her story, Ms. Bernstein traveled across Europe and the U.S., interviewing more than 500 nuns. Among these were a former Chicago police officer and a mini-skirted sister who worked for Cesar Chavez's labor
movement. To make
1
She had spent 25 years
advisor.
an .enclosed
"Body and
certain
fh
Carolina
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work in the community 10 years ago. To make the convent scenes look authentic, she demonstrated such things as how the actress/nuns should sing psalms and how to tuck up their habits when they knelt. follows Anna's sexual and emotional awakening. She also reveals an astute business sense as she takes over the mill, relying on yarn-dyeing skills series
learned in the convent, where she returns several times for advice her Mother Superior, from Emmanuel (Dorothy Tutin) and tips
from
Sister
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The
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f±i
a real-life nun, Sister Giles, as an
Aston Martin car
—
she initially drives
at
even though 5 miles per
hour, the speed of her tractor at the convent farm, frustrating a string of
highway
drivers.
A
British critic praised Ms. Scott Thomas as being "perfect in the role," with a "beautiful medieval face." Another wrote that she's "beautiful enough to make a bishop kick a hole in a stained-
glass
window." The program was drama of the
hailed as "the best
new
season," "captivating to watch" and as a "luminous series from strength to that goes strength." "Body and Soul" was directed by Moira Armstrong, who previMasterpiece directed ously Theatre's acclaimed "Testament of Youth" and "Countess Alice."
She also directed Lady Antonia "Quiet As a Nun" on Mobil-funded "Mystery!" A Red Fraser's
Rooster Films & Television Enfor tertainment production Carlton Television, the series was
produced by Jackie Stoller, with Linda James and Jenny Reeks as executive producers. Masterpiece Theatre is presented on PBS by WGBH, Boston, where Rebecca Eaton is series executive producer. Russell Baker is
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holic
News
& Herald
February 11, 1994
contents copyright
All
©1994 by CNS
"What's
the catechism for the average lay Catholic?...
in
Anyone who
actually reads the catechism is conversing
with the Catholic people of the universal church. This
alone should strengthen the sense of belonging to the universal church."
This
By Father Robert Catholic
News
L.
summary
not a comprehen-
is
sive survey of every opinion held by Catholics. Other viewpoints and ways of expressing the faith exist. But the catechism sets forth those that most clearly represent the faith
Kinast
Service
"What's this I hear about a new catechism?" my disgruntled friend asked. "I thought we got rid of the questionand-answer approach at Vatican Council II. Why bring it back?" I tried to assure my friend that the new catechism does not repeat the approach he recalled. It doesn't use questions and answers, and it doesn't expect readers to memorize its contents. This only delayed his real question. "Well, what's in it for me? What will I get out of reading it?" It would be easy to avoid his question by saying: "That depends. It will be different for each person." While true, this does not do justice to the catechism itself. Although the new Catechism of the Catholic Church primarily is intended for bishops in their role as teachers, and for professional religion teachers and writers in their related roles, the catechism is also being welcomed by the body of the faithful and sales in France and other parts of Europe confirm this expectation. What's in the catechism for the average lay Catholic? The primary benefit of the catechism is that it brings together in one book a summary of the beliefs of the Catholic Church.
shared in common by Catholics around the world and through the ages. The final text of the catechism is the result of consultations held throughout the world over the last few years involving Catholics at every level of the church. Consequently, anyone who reads the catechism is actually conversing with the Catholic people of the universal church. This alone should strengthen the sense of belonging to the universal church. At the same time the individual teachings in the catechism do not stand alone. Every important point is accompanied by cross references and indexes which lead a reader to related teachings. These connections help to build a sense of the whole faith and broaden the understanding of any single point. Given this unified structure, it is less important where a person starts and more important that a person move around tbe whole catechism.
—
FAITH IN THE
However, if someone were to ask me where to start, I would recommend the last part, Book 4, on prayer. This is one of the most personal aspects of the faith for most people, and
MARKETPLACE
the catechism treats it in a clear, inviting way. It first discusses prayer in the Christian life and then the Lord's Prayer.
From Book 4
What
is
your main reason for wanting to
know more about
moving
to
Book
tian Mystery.
"By nature I'm curious! Like anything else I'm involved in, about it. And my faith is the most important thing in my life."
want to know more Tim Prudhomme,
I
—
Colorado Springs, Colo.
have a son and want to keep him abreast it and practice" it better, hopefully he I
internalize
"First,
I
it."
— Kathy Pallante, Apple Valley,
think of
my
personal growth.
I
will
learn from
faith.
If
I
know
my example and
Calif.
God
find
and
of his religion
in
my
everyday ordinary
need material that helps me better tap into and understand my own experience.... Second, want to know more about my faith because it will enhance my ministry and life in community." Rick Connor, Sykesville, Md.
experiences. But
...
I
I
"I'm
would recommend which discusses the
The
eminent prayer
"I
I
2,
liturgy, the Celebration of the Chris-
Christian faith?
more about
me?
the catechism for
Is
a catechist, so
I'm
—
always wanting
to
—
know more about my
faith.
—
I
want
to
second- and third-graders are at the the Bible. My students sacramental age, so anything can do to deepen my understanding of the sacraments will help me teach them." Sue Strickland, Castle Rick, Wash.
know more about
I
—
personal prayer
liturgy
is
the pre-
of the church, is
and
oriented to the
urgy.
These two books address the core experience of faith for practicing Catholics. From this perspective the discussion of beliefs (Book 1) and moral living (Book 3) is best understood. Perhaps the most surprising section would be Book 3, which treats morality. It will surprise a reader who expects to find only a list of what not to do. If a reader is looking for guidance and the rationale for moral action, this will be a most fruitful section. No matter where a person begins, however, it is important to bring to the catechism an attitude consistent with its
purpose.
The catechism does not address "I'm
a deacon, so
I
must know as much as
and teach.... The more understand my and carry out the will of God in my life." I
faith,
—
Bill
I
my faith so can preach able am to understand
can about
the better Riehl,
I
I
Sacramento,
Calif.
all lit-
ev-
ery question a person may have. Its subtitle is not "Everything You Always Wanted to Know about the Catholic Church...."
An upcoming to think
edition asks:
What steps do you
something through?
If
you would
take
like to
when you
respond
really
need
for possible
publication, please write: Faith Alive! 3211 Fourth St. N.E. Washington,
D.C. 20017-1100.
It presents the essential beliefs of the church in a concise formulation. Its purpose is not to convince a skeptical reader or argue against objections to Catholic belief and practice. Its purpose is to witness to the faith
shared by Catholics. In this sense, it presupposes that the reader is disposed to the faith and is searching for insight, clarification, affirmation.
Reading the catechism with this disposition should, therefore, be a positive experience for a believer. It might even be prayerful in the way that studying biblical or theological books can move a person beyond "talk about" God to an "experience of" God. The way material is presented in the catechism provides another service to the reader. Because it is a summary of essential Catholic beliefs, it is a standard by which individuals can measure what is important. If the catechism does not treat a question of burning interest to an individual, that may well be an indication that the question is not a priority for the life of the whole church although it remains important for the individual and deserves to be answered. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is an invitation addressed to each member of the church to recognize and reaffirm the faith that makes us a united people. To accept that invitation is to rediscover what it means to be Catholic and
why Vatican II would never do away with catechisms. to realize
(Father Kinast is director of the\ Center for Theological Reflection, Madeira Beach, Fla.)
The Catholic News
February 11, 1994
&c H.e;
FAITH IN ACTION But Jack knew he was coming back
Thumbing through the
church that not only has its faith, but also has a number of teachings that are not just matters of approach or focus and which it takes seriously. to a
catechism By Father David Catholic
K.
O'Rourke,
News
the basic faith. But there is a lot more. The church teaches so much. I want to know what that is." So we agreed to meet periodically to discuss his religious questions, and he also decided to meet with our group of
OP
Service
This year will see the publication in English of the church's new catechism. For those of us in parishes, this is gong to be helpful.
inquirers. In our parish, as in
Christ....
We believe We believe
returnees gather with our staff to discuss their new or rediscovered faith will the catechism These people find the discussions helpa of the
in one Lord, Jesus
n the Holy Spirit... Ve acknowledge
Not only
We
"provide
>ne baptism....
many others, we
have a group that meets after Mass most Sunday mornings. Newcomers and
Every Sunday at Mass we all recite, We believe in one God, the Father alnighty....
He wanted
summary
both because they church's faith and its enjoy meeting others teachings about the faith, who are religious atechism takes seekers and because hese statements of but it will present them in they all benefit from aith and rearan orderly way. That very the questions that ranges them, preare asked. senting them in an order can be a helpful way But discussions irder that is more of knowing what is can involve a lot of isable to us with opinions. And sooner he problems and important and what or later many people ruestions we have connects with what." are going to get oday. around to asking, Last summer a "What does the church teach?" nan came to see me. Ill call him Jack, That's where the catechism comes ie had been baptized a Catholic but in handy. ladn't practiced his faith in any public Jack already is using one of the vay for at least 20 years. many catechisms that have been pubNow, he said, he wanted to "come lished by the different religious puback to the church," as he put it, "and I lishing companies. When we first beeel the need to study my faith." gan our sessions together, he wanted a He added, "I'm going to need help. I reference guide, so we looked over the eally don't know where or how to available catechisms. tart." Each one of those catechisms has First Jack asked me about what he its own approach, and each one foailed "the basic faith of the church." cuses on a different kind of audience. o I began, "We believe in one God, the He chose the one that seemed to meet ather almighty.. his own needs best. "OK," he laughed. "I guess I know ook to the resurrecion of the dead." A
to know what these are. That is where the catechism will help. Not only will it provide a summary of the church's faith and its
teachings about the faith, but it will present them in an orderly way. That very order can be a helpful way of knowing what is important and what connects with what. As of this writing, we have not yet received our catechisms in English. But Jack and I hope the catechism will be a source of learning and of good discussions.
(Father O'Rourke is pastor of St. Dominic's Church in Benicia, Calif.)
Matthew's
in
a variety
of
ways and
for
a variety
One way to acquire knowledge
is
through reading.
One reason
to acquire
knowledge is to put it to use. That's good for me. Why? First, because make I
things that people read.
And second,
part of
my living by producing my job is to produce a
documentation resource called Origins that people draw ideas from to use their
work
in
for
the church.
Naturally, people also acquire knowledge through conversations, experience, meditation and via television. And sometimes their motivation is simply that they want a response to a question. What does this have to do with the new Catechism of the Catholic Church?
Just this:
— very existence expresses a that one way people electronic age by reading. —Second, predict people often use the catechism to acquire trust
First, its
this
still
learn
in
is
will
I
information they intend to use.
But use where? Parents will use it in discussions with children. Parish will draw ideas from it for ministry to youth, the sick and others. Parish council members will consult it when preparing to discuss parish
Gospel
you
this:
I
am thankful to have learned do they
still
want
By Father John
from
many conversations
Catholic
News
5
David Gibson, Editor, Faith Alive!
its
is
vision of spirituality, beginning
human person's hunger something beyond, something transcendent." (The catechism is expected to be available in English in the next few months. One source from which it can be ordered is the USCC Office of Call:
1-800-
what area would I like
Castelot
Service
All four of the Gospels
echisms of a
were
cat-
Their authors, people of mature Christian faith, wrote in order to share that faith with their brothers and sisters, to deepen it, and sometimes to correct ideas they considered unacceptable. Mark, for instance, emphasized the central importance of the cross for a true knowledge of Jesus. He did this because some had so overstressed Jesus' resurrection as to ignore the place of the cross in his work and in their sort.
dressed considered themselves the only valid Christians. They were upset over the increasing number of gentiles in the Christian communities. Matthew had to convince the Jewish Christians that the newcomers were there because God called them and wanted them there. But while this may have been his overriding concern, he was intent on writing an instructive a catechism. guide for all Christians In a way, Matthew's Gospel is the most "catechetical" of all in its arrangement. His portrait of Jesus is that of a teacher. The body of the Gospel is arranged as a series of five booklets, each with a narrative section followed by a long in-
—
the reign of God.
information as a building block.
computer aids, art, etc., he commented. Among the catechism's strengths, he said,
understanding I want? J.
In these instructions Jesus develops
written information, they are using
Department has said. The catechism is a means of education to use together with other tools such as audiovisual aids,
me as resources in acquiring the
some aspect of his central theme about
tell
the Second Vatican Council," Father John Pollard of the U.S. Catholic Conference Education
add to my grasp of the meaning of faith? Who and what might serve
objectives.
can
the reference
to
struction.
I
in
a theological dictionary, a biblical commentary and the documents of
Reflection: In
ministers
with readers that not only
belongs
section of one's library, along with
"catechetical"
Matthew, too, wanted to correct a seridamaging attitude in his church. The Jewish Christians whom he ad-
of
It
of the
a reference
Publishing Services. 235-8722.)
ously
People acquire new knowledge
book.
"is
for
own lives.
reasons.
Catholic Church
with the
ful,
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The new Catechism
A
similar refrain
closes each instruction: "When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority,
and not as their scribes" (7:28-29). The Sermon on the Mount is universally known, but it is only the first of the five booklets in this catechism. It treats a variety of subjects, like prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The Beatitudes, which introduce the sermon, spell out the basic attitudes and actions that should characterize those who want to be a part of the reign of God's saving love. The fourth booklet has to do with life in the Christian community and emphasizes the need for mutual forgiveness. It warns against scandal, especially on the part of those in leadership positions. A good catechist knows the importance of aids to remembering. This was especially important in an age when few people had books or could read, for that matter. Grouping things in set numbers was a
common teaching device. If one knew that there were eight (or nine) Beatitudes, one would know he had missed something if he could come up with only seven. Seven was a popular number, and so Matthew gave us seven parables in There are seven petitions in Father. We are to forgive, not seven, but 70 times seven times (18:22). A good catechist must be open to the new as well as respectful of the old, and Matthew has left us a subtle selfportrait in Chapter 13:52: "Thus every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old." Chapter
the
13.
Our
(Father Castelot
is
a Scripture
scholar, author and lecturer.)
from a Christian tombstone in the catacombs of Domitilla in reproduced on the cover of all editions of the new Catechism of the Catholic Church. The design dates from the end of the third century A.D. This pastoral image, of pagan origin, was used by Christians to symbolize the rest and the happiness that the soul of the departed finds in eternal life. This logo, taken
Rome,
is
le
News
Catholic
& Herald
February 11, 1994
People
In
Vatican Officials, Eastern-Rite Romanians Seek Canonizations VATICAN CITY (CNS) Vatican officials and leaders of the Eastern-rite Church in Romania have asked for quick
Higgins, a veteran social justice fighter
completion of the sainthood causes of those who suffered for their faith under
lions
known
—
to
many
as "the labor priest." In
his acceptance speech
Msgr. Higgins
said the cruelties, injustices and depri-
on countless milof the world's workers at the close
vations
still
inflicted
The News ing from God. "God absolutely had to have a hand in this," Mrs. Slivnik told the Saint Cloud Visitor, diocesan newspaper. "You think why did he pick us? What have we done to deserve this? But
we're very grateful."
of the 20th century are "mind-boggling."
was made
"Effective labor unions remain the most
Pope
powerful force in society for protecting workers' rights and improving their living conditions," he said.
Stays Off Ski Slopes
John Paul
persecution.
New President Named For
to avoid reinjuring a shoulder.
ment in Romania outlawed the EasternChurch in 1948.
Catholic Medical Mission Board
year-old pope,
communism. The
request
during a late January meeting
at the
Vatican to discuss the pastoral and practical rite
challenges faced by the Romanian-
church after more than 40 years of The communist govern-
ther
Catholic Actor Claude Akins Dies
ALTADENA, funeral St.
Mass was
—A
(CNS)
Calif.
celebrated Jan. 29 at
Elizabeth Church, Altadena, for vet-
eran actor Claude Akins,
who
gained a
guys and burly gentlemen. Akins died Jan. 27 of complications from stomach at his
home
in Altadena.
The
Georgia-born Akins converted to Catholicism when he married in 1952. Varying accounts listed his age at either 75 or 67. Akins appeared in more than 50 movies and more than 400 episodes of television shows. recent acting jobs
One of
a staff mem-
a few aides
areas.
A
Father
McMahon
native of Bergenfield, N.J.,
served 20 years as a
Navy
before his
assignment to the Jesuit Retreat House. St.
Cloud Catholic Couple
Wins $10 Million Sweepstakes ST. CLOUD, Minn.
was playing a priest in
(CNS)— When
sweepstakes officials choose winning does God sometimes offer a
entries,
guiding hand in the selection? Maybe,
Labor Honors Msgr. Higgins WASHINGTON (CNS)
say Alfred and Diane Slivnik of St. Cloud, the newest $10 million winners in the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes. The Slivniks, members of St. Michael Parish in St. Cloud, said they
International
—
The
Washington office of the International Labor Organization gave its highest award Jan. 27 to Msgr. George G.
tVOCZ
dislocated his right
last
Mission Board. The board, which has offices in New York, provides medicines and other assistance for churchrelated medical programs in mission
chaplain in the U.S.
the Family Theater drama "The Search."
who
November, walked for about two hours Feb. 1 near the shoulder
Montecristo resort area in the Abruzzi mountains east of Rome. The pope re-
more
his
slipped off to the Italian
II
ber at the Jesuit Retreat House in Auriesville, N.Y., since 1990, has been named president of the Catholic Medical
reputation for playing blustery tough
cancer
Edward J. McMahon,
— Pope
VATICAN CITY (CNS)
mountains, but stayed off the ski slopes The 73-
NEW YORK (CNS) — Jesuit Fa-
rite
Mountains,
Visits
feel their financial windfall
Funeral
Home,
was a bless-
portedly stopped to eat a sack lunch with
who accompanied
who came seeking something better for themselves and their families." China Bishop Detained After Meeting With Congressman WASHINGTON (CNS) An un-
—
derground Chinese Catholic bishop who met with an American congressman visiting China was arrested and detained for more than a week, possibly because of that meeting. Coadjutor Bishop Su Zhi Ming, 62, of Baoding was arrested by Chinese authorities Jan. 20 and detained in an undisclosed location until the weekend of Jan. 29-30, according to a Jan. 31 statement from the office of
Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J.. Smith called the arrest evidence that China was "backsliding" on human rights.
"Human
him.
rights conditions continue to
deteriorate at a rapid pace," he said.
Anti-Immigrant Hostility Misplaced, Forgetful, Says Bishop
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (CNS)
— Modern
California could not have been built without a period of migration such as the state is undergoing today, said San Bernardino Bishop Phillip F. Straling in a pastoral statement on immigration. In the latest statement by one of California' s Catholic bishops on hostility toward immigrants, Bishop Straling said claims that immigrants are responsible for the state's economic and social ills are "wholly unjust and statistically unfounded." "Ignored in the xenophobic rhetoric
is
those
who
said.
"Nearly
the very family history of
are leveling the assault," he all
family history to
of us can trace our
Cardinal Krol Hospitalized With Respiratory Infection
PHILADELPHIA (CNS) John
nal
J.
was recovering
Philadelphia,
mas
— Cardi-
Krol, retired archbishop of
which followed a recent respiratory infection. The 83-year-old cardinal was admitted to the Philadelphia hospital Jan.
29 with symptoms of severe dehy-
dration, according to Dr. Joseph F.
Majdan. "For a week or so a lingering viral illness,"
prior,
Telephone 252-3535
1401
Asheville,
Patton
Avenue
NC 28806
Dr., Matthews, N.C. 28105
Minutes from The Arboretum Serving the people of Mecklenburg and Union Counties
Groce
-
St.
John M. Prock
-
St.
H. Dale
Joan of Arc Parish Joan of Arc Parish
Steve Kuzma, Director
Member of St. Matthew
Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus
Employment Opportunities Director of Liturgy: Would you like to serve full time beginning July 1, 1994 in a welcoming and prayerful community as the primary developer and coordinator of all parish liturgical programs? Vatican II community, 1 ,200 families located in central North Carolina. Work with Director of Music Ministries and other staff members. Qualifications: Master's degree or equivalent. Salary commensurate with degree and experience. Send resume and transcript to: Rev. James W. O'Neill,
St. Paul the Apostle Parish; 2715 Horse Pen Creek Rd.; 27410.
OSFS;
Greensboro,
NC
MONASTIC GUEST PROGRAM Month long monastic contemplative experience Within the enclosure of a Trappist-Cistercian community Requirements: Ability to live the
full
monastic schedule
Prayer
Work
Readings for the
Week of February
13
-
Community Events
February 19
Silence -
Sunday: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46;
Monday: James
1:1-11;
Mark
1
Corinthians 10:31-11:1;
Mark
& Solitude
All lived within the
Community
Because of the nature of the Monastic Guest Program, it is available only to men. Our Retreat Program, however, is open to both women
and men for private
Tuesday: James 1:12-19;
Mark
Joel 2:19-18; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2;
Thursday: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Luke 9:22-25. Friday: Isaiah 58:1-9;
Mark
retreats
8:14-21.
No
Ash Wednesday:
9:14-15.
Mark
offering required
6:1-6, 16-18.
Monastic Guest program: Br. John Corrigan, O.C.S.O.
Retreat Program: Br.
Stephen Petronek, O.C.S.O
Mepkin Abbey
HC 69, Box 800 lay: Isaiah
58:9-14;
-
1:40-45.
8:11-13.
Luke 5:27-32.
said.
"Because of the protracted nature he became weakened and not able to take an adequate amount of food or liquids."
Funeral Service
Lawn
he had
Majdan
Williams-Dearborn 3700 Forest
Tho-
early February from complications
some brave immigrant
Inc.
at
Jefferson University Hospital in
Moncks Corner, SC 29461 (803) 761-8509
:
The Catholic News
ebruary 11, 1994
Catechism (FromPage
Dube, who said she thought the and U.S. bishops' publishers
same
date, said they
lad received two of four parts of the atechism on diskette and hard copy.
draft
on
lig was done on the hard copy, not
computer version.
Vatican officials were dissatisfied with the translation and have been redoing
l
Vocation Update
Reflections
since then.
By KEITH NESBITT
The U.S. Catholic Conference Office of Publishing
and Promotion Ser-
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom.. (Isaiah 35:1-10)
other U.S. publishing companies as co-
Advent, Christmastide and now the first few Sundays in ordinary time, then Lent. In Advent, St. John
publishers.
the Baptist cried out his
for the English text.
It
has signed on 12
desert.
At
(and probably in their hair.)
Slovenian, Maltese and, in part,
ing would probably be more than 300,000
wisemen knocked through some of the desert stuff too. So what's the deal with the desert? There's no denying it. The Middle East has a lot of it; desert, that is. And that is, after all, where God chose to become manifest. And in the fullness of time, ... (St.
is
,
copies, since 265,000 the only major
were already on
Western
order and several co-publishers have
A
recently said they plan to increase their orders.
DUA Thanks Diocese or Contribution Christian Schools Brother Patrick
of The Catholic Univerof America, has thanked the Dio;se of Charlotte for its contribution of 28,370.88 to the annual collection. In a letter to Msgr. John J. lcSweeney, diocesan administrator, he lid, "We gratefully acknowledge your Dmpelling logic to make your univerty worthy of its proud name and to love us to benefit you and your diocese His, president
ty
multiple ministries.
we
message from the
Christmas, the Holy Family had sand on their sandals
Daniel E. Juday director of the pub-
uiguage in which it has not appeared.
I
strive daily to
Juday also declined to predict a date "We have less than half the text right now and no description of what's still to come or any confirmation of when it will come," he said. He said the Vatican agency overseeing the catechism has indicated the rest would arrive "sometime in Februof publication.
ary."
But
after that,
he
text will
have to be
laid out for pagina-
tion, the footnotes
rechecked and the
make
this
whole
can be sent to the printer.
Once it is
at the printer, the publica-
tion date will
minimum print
eeds."
said, the
paragraph numbers and cross-references in the margins added before anything
assure you
an lvestment in the solutions to your
lat
And Sand
lishing office, said the first U.S. print-
it
Romanian.
its
Lent
Spanish, Portuguese, German,
English
l
On
it
has been published in
ince then
!atalan,
to
for approval in early 1993, but
vices holds all U.S. publication rights
The new catechism was formally isued in its original French edition by ope John Paul II in December 1992. :alian,
was completed and submitted
Rome
Itowever, she noted that cross-referenc-
ie
Hera
1)
.ustralian
/ere targeting the
&
be determined by the
of eight weeks
and bind the cloth
it
will take to
edition,
he
said.
And
at
Epiphany, the
Paul, Galatians 4:4)
But there's not much desert here. There's not any in And while there's sand on Ocracoke, we've just got a lot of red clay and black bogs. And so, it really must have been "in the fullness of time," that God came when and where God chose to come, because if God had chosen to come here, we would have offered pine trees, "black ice," and the Blue Ridge mountains, all of which have their merits (well, two of them anyway), but we wouldn't have the desert. Some will say it's a strange religion that has its heroes and heroines traipse into the desert: Moses and the Israelites for 40 years, Rachel and her children, and Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. Not even Jesus was spared the human need of the desert. And if our journey is toward Jerusalem, as was Christ's, there's no other
Buncombe
or Henderson counties.
way of getting
there except through the desert.
But no one likes it in the desert. We understandably prefer Christmas and grandma's house to all the sand and quiet. "You neglect and belittle the desert," wrote T.S. Eliot. It was thousands of years ago that the Bible was written, and the farther we come away from the symbols and metaphors that religious people used for so long, the more we are in danger not of leaving grandma's house, but of neglecting and belittling the desert.
No, not even Jesus, the son of God, could escape the cosmic order of things;
The resurrection was after the you can't really live until you've been alone somewhere, really alone, with no one but God, yourself and the devil. Alone in the dry heat and the quiet, your bare feet sifting through the hot sand, your body enduring the cold desert nights, huddled next to nowhere, but everywhere nearer to Jerusalem for all of it, like Christ. Nearer the resurrection, because what the prophet said is true: The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom. Jerusalem is just on the other side. KeithNesbitt, a seminarian for the Diocese of Charlotte, is on a pastoralyear assignment at St. Barnabas Church in Arden.
the desert, then Jerusalem, death, then resurrection. desert, as if to say
CENfER j
—
Father/Son Program Sunday, Feb. 20 11-14
for boys
and
years old
their fathers
1:00 -4:00 p.m. St.
Ann
Alvare (From
Parish Center
Page
1)
632 Hillside Avenue, Charlotte, N.C. God's
gift
of sexuality, fatherhood, chastity and
fertility.,
$10 per father/son team, each additional son
to legalize abortion as a population con-
be promoted as a method of family
trol
planning."
can attend for $2.50 more per person. Reservations required. Call for reservation.
Office of Faith Formation
avoid abortion, which in no case should
(704) 331-1723
Strong criticism of the Clinton administration's proposal also came from Rep. Chris Smith, R-N. J., co-chairman of the House Pro- Life Caucus. "Most less-developed nations have laws protecting unborn children from said Smith. "But the Clinton adminis-
during the month of February:
tration appears poised to
Reverend Reverend Reverend Reverend Reverend Reverend Reverend Reverend Reverend Reverend Reverend
Lawrence
embark on
a
crusade to pressure foreign governments
1985 Edward Beauty, 1990 George A. Watkins, 1948 Richard E. Barrett, 1959 Francis K. Brennan, 1962 Clarence F. Hill, 1966 James W. Kennedy, 1970 Vincent J. Mahoney, 1977 Francis J. Tait, 1988 Melchior Reichert, OSB, 1940 William Regnat, OSB, 1953 Hill,
Congress shortly after Clinton and other top officials heard an appeal to end abortion in this country from Mother Teresa of Calcutta at the National Prayer Breakfast.
"Any country
that accepts abortion
people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want," Mother Teresa said Feb. 3. is
not teaching
its
Have you given thought to being a priest
in the Diocese of Charlotte? Come join us as we attempt to simplify our lives and serve
GOD in the manner of St. Francis of Assisi.
MAXMILIAN KOLBE FRATERNITY of the SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER invites you
ST.
to an
INQUIRY SESSION,
2 p.m. Feb. 13
at St.
John Neumann Church, 845 1 Idlewild Road, Charlotte
that
the administration submitted the bill to
abortion except in rare circumstances,"
Please pray for the following deceased priests
method." Both Alvare and Smith noted
Contact Father Frank O'Rourke, Vocation Director 1621 Dilworth Rd. East Charlotte, N.C. 28203 (704) 334-2283
e Catholic
News
& Herald
February 11, 1994
'(^muniquemorwj Historia
De
Mi Vida
Por CARLOS M. CORTES Nacf en Santurce, Puerto Rico, en agosto de 1964. Unico hijo del primer matrimonio de mi padre me crie sin hermanos. Como mis padres ambos trabajaban me cuidaban mis abuelos todos los dfas. En la casa de mis abuelos di mis primeros pasos en el sector de Santurce conocido como el Barrio Obrero. Alia en casa de mi abuela Tata fui creciendo hasta que empece la escuela.
Me acuerdo de lo bello que es Puerto Rico, con el canto de los gallos
levantaba por la manana; en
el patio
me de
casa tenfamos un palo de ciruelos, otro de guanabana, uno de mango y uno la
de aguacate. Como no hace frio en Puerto Rico, podia salir a jugar beisbol o ir a la playa para nadar o jugar en la arena. Asf tuve una infancia
feliz.
Nada me
falto
hasta graduarme en la escuela superior.
cosas se estaban poniendo malas en Puerto Rico. Habfa mucho desempleo y si consegufas trabajo, solo te pagaban a $3.25 la hora. Mi abuela me sugirio que ingresara en el ejercito de los Estados Unidos. Me dijo que saliera del pais a buscar iin buen porvenir en el Norte, donde habfa mas oportunidades de empleo. En febrero de 1985 le di la sorpresa a mi abuela de haber pasado el examen de ingreso en el ejercito y le dije que salfa en dos semanas para en entrenamiento basico. Ella se alegro tanto que hasta lloro de alegria. Nunca me olvido del dfa que nos despedimos, fue diffcil separarnos, pero yo le prometf escribirle con frecuencia. Con un ultimo beso y abrazo me dio su bendicion y parti a una nueva etapa de mi vida. El ejercito es fuerte ffsica y
Entonces
mentalmente,
las
el
entrenamiento es
constante siete dfas a la semana todo dia.
Fui aprendiendo cada dia
el
mas y
poniendome mas fuerte y resistente. Por fin llego la graduation y me dieron una semana libre. Sin decide nada, a mi abuela, compre un pasaje para Puerto Rico y le di la gran sorporesade visitarla. Entre con la puerta abierta sin hacer ruido hasta la cocina, donde ella colaba el cafe, que felicidad sintio de verme de nuevo, vestido con el uniforme, un poco mas fuerte y sin pelo, como se acostumbra en el ejercito. Yo daba muchas gracias a Dios por las bendiciones que diariamente nos brinda. Ahora me tocaba ir al entrenamiento avanzado en Ft. Gordon, Ga. A1H todo era mas suave y llegue a completar las veinte semanas. Pase entonces a Ft. Stewart, donde me entrenaron en "desplazamiento rapido" en caso de algun conflicto internacional Despues estuve trasladandome a distintas bases militares por un periodo de cuatro anos. Al fin llego el dia en que se vencio mi contrato y en febrero del 91 acabe mi deber con el ejercito. Viaje al estado de New York a visitar a unos primos y ver si consegufa trabajo. Alia no me gusto el estilo de vida, mucha gente, poco trabajo y costo de vida muy caro. Entonces me encontre
mama
de un amigo que se crio conmigo en Puerto Rico y hacfa siete anos que no lo vefa. Su madre me dijo que el estaba trabajando en el departamento de radiologfa en el hospital Mercy en Charlotte, Carolina del
con
la
Norte. Conseguf su telefono y lo llame. Jaime se alegro mucho al saber de ml y me invito a venir a visitarlo y si me
Janizel Espinosa, Angelina Rodriguez, Cristina y su
Arrepientete
En
Decidf viajar a Charlotte, pues no nada que perder, tome el autobus y llegue a visitar a mi amigo Jaime. Esto sucedio en marzo del 9 1 Esta ciudad me .
gusto mucho,
mas
tranquila que
New
York y la temperatura bastante agradable.
Mi amigo me ofrecio uno de sus cuartos, pues era soltero y vivfa en un apartamento
de dos cuartos muy comodos y con acceso al uso del gimnasio y de la piscina. Asf empece a conocer a otras personas que trabajaban en el hospital Mercy con Jaime y a la semana siguiente ya conseguf trabaj o en una tienda de equipos de oficina. Un dfa conocf a Leshia, una de las amigas de Jaime que trabajaba en el hospital, sentf que de verdad habfa conocido a una persona especial. Ella en seguida me busco conversation y me
Seguimos saliendo por varias semanas y compartfamos mucho. Yo le lavaba el carro y ella me ayudaba con mi tanda de ropa para lavar. Algunas veces le cocinaba comida invito a almorzar.
El
Y Cree
Evangelio
Jesus nos ensena a veneer el mal con la
tenia
hijos
Providencia, Patrona de Puerto Rico.
gustaba Charlotte podrfa conseguir trabajo tambien.
hermano Christopher Miranda,
de familias puertorriquenas, aparecen en la fiesta en honor a Nuestra Sefiora de la
oracion y la Palabra de Dios.
Cada
aho la Iglesia nos lleva al desierto con Jesus al comenzar la Cuaresma. Necesitamos ese desierto, pero con Jesus. Necesitamos alejarnos de tantas preocupaciones inutiles, de esa afanosa b-squeda de bienes materiales y de comodidades. Necesitamos olvidarnos un poco de nosotros y acordarnos mas de Jesus y de los hermanos y hermanas. La Cuaresma es tiempo para profundizar nuestra fe. Para detenernos en el camino y ver por donde vamos. Para hacer un balance de nuestra vida espiritual. Y, sobre todo, es tiempo para llenar nuestra vida de oracion, de escucha y meditation de la Palabra de Dios, tiempo de arrepentimiento y conversion. Cristo vivo, Cristo Maestro, Cristo
Redentor, tiene que ser nuestra Cuaresma. lo
el
Ya a ese
centro deu Cristo vivo
encontramos siempre en nuestros
hermanos, le servimos en ellos y ademAs de encontrarlo a El, nos encontramos a nosotros mismos.
La Cuaresma
es tiempo de la
preparation a la gran fiesta pascual de la
muerte y resurrection de Cristo y no podemos permitir que nuestro excesivo apego a los afanes de este mundo nos Dt impida morir y resucitar con Cristo. Cristo muerto y resucitado es el centro y el objeto de nuestra fe y de nuestro amor. El en sacramento del bautismo, celebramos los cristianos, en nuestra vida, el misterio de la Pascua de Jesus. En el bautismo morimos a nosotros mismos y a nuestros pecados y malos habitos para resucitar con Cristo. El bautismo exige de nosotros una vida pura, una vida en lucha por la justicia, una vida como la vida de Jesus. ( Con permiso de los Padres de San
....
'
Pablo)
Noticias Diocesanas
"criolla" y le encantaba salir al teatro y a conciertos, en fin, la pasamos siempre
bien alegres.
Leshia era soltera,
que yo y trabajaba en
tres
anos mayor
el hospital
hacia
cinco anos, natural del Carolina del
Con
tiempo yo
ensene a hablar y a leer espafiol y tambien a cocinar comida latina. Por mi parte yo aprendf mucho de su cultura y con el tiempo nos enamoramos y nos casamos en agosto del 92. Ahora vivimos en Carmel Road. Mi esposa sigue trabajando en el hospital y yo en una de
Norte.
las
el
el
area de Charlotte.
Estamos esperamos con mucha ilusion a nuestro primer bebe para el mes de marzo. Mientras tanto mi abuela tiene ya ochenta anos y nos ha visitado aquf en Charlotte. Yo le doy gracias a Dios todos los dfas por sus bendiciones.
Siempre
le
Ayuno y Abstinencia Dos dfas al ano hay ayuno
y abstinencia: el Miercoles de Ceniza y el Viernes Santo. Todos los viernes de
Cuaresma hay abstinencia de
carne.
To Our Friends
mas grandes de
companfas
construction en
le
Miercoles de Ceniza La proxima semana comenzara la Cuaresma con el Miercoles de Ceniza, 16 de febrero y en todas las iglesias catolicas los fieles pueden participar en la liturgia especial de este dfa e ir a recibir la imposition de la ceniza con las palabras: "Arrepientete y cree en el Evangelio" o bien: "Acuerdate de que eres polvo y al polvo has de volver".
hablo a mis amigos del amor
de Dios. Aunque uno este pasando por tiempos malos y pruebas, no hay que perder la fe en el Senor. Si oramos cada dfa, dedicamos nuestro hogar a Dios,
ayudamos
a nuestro prqjimo,
ponemos
problemas en manos de Dios y le servimos deseando el bien para todos, les aseguro que seremos felices y nuestros suenos se veran realizados. los
Carlos Cortes tells us
how he was
born and lived in Puerto Rico with his grandmother until he joined the Army for several years, then
York and
moved to New
finally to Charlotte
where
he got married and is very happy. We are reminded that Lent will begin Feb. 16 with
Ash Wednesday.
The Catholic News
ibruary 11, 1994
Prayer Breakfast...
pope Says Heart 'Broken' By Jews Of Latest Bosnia Atrocity — Pope
VATICAN CITY (CNS)
hn Paul II, saying his heart was broil by news of a lethal mortar attack on Sarajevo market, urged international ders to "try everything" to reach an fective cease-fire in Bosniaerzegovina.
The pope made
the remarks while
aying the rosary Feb. 5, several hours
slammed
a mortar shell
ter
into the
outdoor market in the Bosnian ipital, killing 68 people and injuring ain
Granic and explored the chances for peace.
"The Holy Father pleaded with Granic to do everything possible to arrive at a cease-fire, which is an indispensable condition for arriving at stability in the area," said Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro- Vails. For his part, Granic thanked the pope for his peace efforts in the former Yugoslavian republics, the spokesman said.
On
)0.
Feb. 7, speaking to students of Defense College, the pope
NATO
The pope, who has made countless peals for peace in the former Yugo-
the
avian republics, appeared to be deeply
excuses sometimes given for the fighting in ex- Yugoslavia.
oved by the marketplace bombing, levision news reports in Italy and ound the world showed bodies of cilians lying in pools of blood, with sterical
family members trying to find
Ip.
'With a broken heart, all
I
am forced to
on the
reflected with disappointment
"We
are told that the indescribable
horrors being perpetrated daily on inno-
cent people are the inevitable result of
longstanding ethnic hostility and hatred
—
the hatred of one group for another,"
he
said.
"But this cannot be the whole expla-
the slaughter that occurred today
War
Sarajevo. Criminal hands continue to
nation.
It is
the
stematically destroy and massacre,"
result of a series of concrete policies
and
told several
hundred people present
"No one and no cause can
justify
ponsible for such an unworthy act to
They
will
answer
to
od for this," he said.
Bosnian leaders immediately amed Serbs for the massacre. Bosnian ,rbs
Someone, somewhere makes which bring a terrible aftermath of death, injury, destruction and sorrow," he said.
He added that the cruel and dehumanizing conflict shaking Europe shows that the continent is unsure of itself and needs to "recover its soul."
Mother Teresa clasps her hand in prayer as (1-r) Rep. Earl Hutto, D-Fla., Vice President Al Gore and Tipper Gore applaud during the National Prayer Breakfast. Mother Teresa told 4,000 breakfast guests including President and Mrs. Clinton that "the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion." (CNS photo from Reuters)
denied responsibility and accused
uslims of massacring their own people
Pro-life
peace talks. U.N. officials could immediately determine who fired
derail t
not inevitable:
decisions.
ch abominable actions. I beseech those these crimes:
is
the decisions
the rosary recital.
id
Workshop
MOORESVILLE — A
Evangelize (From Page
in the
Workshop for all parish coordinators
"People from the South have a tendency to believe something because their
arket only increases pressure
on the
and
grandfather said
ternational
even
community
at the price
for the
of the greatest
|\[
those interested in speaking
unborn will be given at St. Therese Church on Saturday, Feb. 19 from 9 a.m. -1:30 p.m. The presenter is Maggi Nadol, Respect Life coordinator for the Diocese of Char-
to "try every-
rifices, so that an effective cease-fire n be reached." The Balkans are moving "toward abyss," he said, and Europe cannot lerate whole cities being destroyed d populations exterminated. On Feb. 4, the pope met privately ith Croatian Foreign Minister Mate
\['
all
Pro-life
lotte.
To register or for more information, call Maggi Nadol at (704) 377-
it,"
says Maiers.
side of Union
County except for Myrtle Beach, was raised Advent Christian by strict parents. Her father was a deacon in the church. Yet, Maiers felt
THIS 1994 MINI VAN
OR ONE OF THREE CASH PRIZES
little
started
back
at
Our Lady of
Lourdes, and again joined the RCIA program. She stayed with the program this time, and was received into the Church at Easter 1992.
Maiers, who's rarely ventured out-
knew
"I it
would be
life,"
if I
didn't follow the route,
my my doubts were
the biggest mistake of
says Maiers. "All
always erased."
The Sunday she was
attach-
to state her
Church was the same day her family had planned their
ment to the Advent Christian religion. The older she grew, the more she yearned
intentions to join the
for spiritual nourishment.
traditional Christmas dinner.
Maiers, 40, visited
6871.
She
all.
3)
The pope said the carnage
e shell into the marketplace.
ing,
& If
Our Lady of
Lourdes Church. She'd go to 8:30 a.m. Mass and, as a formality, she'd attend an 1 1 a.m. Protestant service. She joined the RCIA program, but quit after her husband brought home anti-Catholic propaganda. The marriage ended, and for another year, Maiers didn't go to church at
Knowing
her family would never understand, she to skip church. However, was postponed for other reaseemed as if God were paving
had decided the dinner sons.
the
It
way
for her.
Maiers wondered if she would ever meet and marry someone who shared her faith. After receiving an annulment of her first marriage, she was married in the Church this past October to Jerry Maiers, a cradle Catholic. He had fallen away from his faith and she brought him back. His mother wept with joy. "I believe that the Catholic is
the
Church Christ
believe that with
BENEFIT SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS CHURCH BUILDING FUND
_H0HK_
SEND THIS COUPON AND CHECK TO: (CHECK NO CASH PLEASE) $25.00 PER TICKET DESIRED
FILL IN THE ABOVE COUPON WITH YOUR NAME ADDRESS AND PHONE AS PURCHASER. RULES G TICKET STUB/S WILL BE MAILED TO THE ADDRESS ON THE COUPON ABOVE. DRAWING SCHEDULED FOR 3/26/94 (SEE RULES) WINNER NEED NOT BE PRESENT. RETURNED UNPAID CHECKS WILL VOID TICKET ENTRY WITHOUT NOTICE.
ONLY EL
4000 TICKETS TO BE SOLD
Wedding
let
you
them be."
Invitations
Dean Of Students
and
Full-time
Related Social Stationery
Dean of Students
Catholic High
for Charlotte
School needed beginning
with the 1994-95 school year. Applicants
DORADO INTERNATIONAL SPECIALTY LATIN AMERICAN FOOD
heart," says
lot
things are meant to be and
have to
OF TICKETS.
SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS CHURCH "RAFFLE" 1400 SUTHER ROAD CHARLOTTE. NC. 28H13
my
of comfort in knowing you are where you belong. Maiers. "There's a
Some PHONE NUMBERS HOME
all
Church and I
instituted,
must have a B A or BS degree, a minimum Personal
&
Professional Service
of two years
work experience
in
an edu-
cational institution; strong administrative,
PRODUCTOS
de
MEXICO CENTRO
211 Kverson Charlotte, N.C.
y
SUR AMERICA
Way
28203
(704)552-8845 Charlotte, North Carolina
Member (daily)
1:30 p.m. -5 p.m. (Sunday)
tions
and request for application
Paulette Williams.
Phone (704) 522-9014 )pen 9:30 a.m. -8:30 p.m.
and communication skills; and knowledge of curriculum for secondary education. Send resume, salary expectaclerical
Cissy Carr
of
St.
Patrick Cathedral
lic
RSM.
lo: Sisler
Charlotte Catho-
High School, 3100 Park Road, Char-
lotte,
NC 28209.
Catholic
& Herald
News
February 11, 195
Diocesan News Briefs OWLS Club News CHARLOTTE
—
St.
OWLS. Club will not meet Feb. club will meet March
1
16.
The
6 for lunch and a
new senior center on Ty vola Road. Members will be contacted.
tour of the
Bishop Howze To Visit
ASHEVILLE— Parishioners of the Basilica of St.
Lawrence
(704) 331-1723. For more information, call Jay Hamilton at (704) 663-
a friend. Donations will be accepted.
fice,
CUF Meeting CHARLOTTE — All are invited to
6411.
The on Friday, Feb. 18 at the Catholic Center, 1524 East Morehead St. The program begins at 7:30 p.m.
Post Abortion Reconciliation CHARLOTTE Post Abortion Reconciliation Services will be offered on Thursday, Feb. 24 at Holy Family Church in Clemmons and Thursday, March 3 at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte. Services will begin at 7:30 p.m. Dr. Martha Shuping will speak at both.
Gabriel's
will
welcome
and honor their former pastor, Bishop Joseph Howze of Biloxi, Miss., on Saturday, Feb. 12 with a reception hosted by the St. Anthony Society from 1 p.m.3 p.m. in Laurentine Hall. On Sunday, Feb. 13, Bishop Howze will celebrate 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Masses. A dinner and program of African-American cultural recognition will be sponsored by the St. Anthony Society at 3 p.m. in Laurentine Hall. For more information, call (704) 658-0318.
Lenten Retreat Day
CHARLOTTE — "The Message of
Book of Revelation for Today" is the theme for a Lenten Day of Reflection at the
Gabriel
St.
Church
in the
community center on Satur-
attend the Catholics United For
with the Stations of the Cross, followed 8:30 p.m. by guest speaker, Father
Alfred McBride, a teacher at Pope John XXIII Seminary in Massachusetts. His
For information,
call
—A
weekend
"Clothed With the Sun: Women of the Bible and Us," is April 8- 1 0 at the Va'lle Crucis Conference Center near Boone. Participants will study Scriptural references to women and reflect on the meaning of the stories in their lives. The retreat will conclude with a healing ritual of remembrance. The cost is $95 and includes housing accommodations and meals for the weekend beginning with supper on Friday and ending Sunday after lunch. Early registration is encouraged. For information, call (704) 963-4453. retreat,
Belmont Abbey Receives Grant BELMONT Belmont Abbey
—
College has received a $20,000 grant
GREENSBORO Mass
— The
teachers in Gaston
p.m. The Korean Catholic community
guide,
will
The day will begin with a
morning
ses-
sion from 9 a.m.-noon followed
Duke
St., is
—
at The
Depot on Feb. 19 from 6:30 p.m.midnight. There will be a buffet dinner, dancing and fellowship for all adult members. Tickets are $5 and available
Saturday, Feb. 19 at 7:30
Masses.
after all
Father/Son Fertility Program
— The annual
MOORES VILLE — The sufferings
ther/Son Fertility Appreciation Program
of Christ will be remembered through
for
boys 1 1-14 years old and is Sunday, Feb. 20 from
their fa-
prayer, dialogue and meditation at St.
p.m. -4
Charlotte and the Natural Family Plan-
Therese Church each Friday evening beginning Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. The last session will be on Good Friday, April 1 at 3 p.m. outside the church, weather
2738.
ning Center, the program addresses the
permitting.
thers
at St.
center.
Ann Church
1
in the activity
Sponsored by the Diocese of
physical and emotional changes of early
S
W ANNANOA — The Men'
of St. Margaret
Annual
adolescence.
Club
The cost is $ 1 0 per family. Refresh-
Mary Church will spon-
ments will be served. Reservations are required by Feb. 16. To register, call Pam Smith at the Faith Formation Of-
s
sor a chili/sandwich dinner in the parish
on Sunday, Feb. 13 after 11 a.m. Mass. All are invited to come and bring
hall
limited an
suggested. For
formation, write to
more
ii
Newman
Lectun The Oratory, P.O. Box 11586, Roc Hill, SC 29731 or call (803) 327-209
Heart For The Harvest
—
GREENSBORO
will host three
St.
Pius
workshops
c
relational evangelization beginning Sui 1 3 at 6:45 p.m. John Willett ( Search Ministries will help participan to reach out to people and share the faith. For more information, call Wa Edwards at (910) 282-4147.
The Catholic News & Herald we comes parish news for the diocesan ne
Good photographs, preferab, black and white, also are welcom Please submit news releases and photi at least 10 days before date of publici briefs.
Lenten Meditations fa-
CHARLOTTE
p.m.
Chili/Sandwich Dinner
is
tion.
encouraged. Participants should bring Bibles. For registration and information, call Sharon Mease at (704) 366is
is
car pooling
r<
quired. Parkin
X
GREENSBORO St. Pius is hosting a parish party, Celebration '94,
have a Korean Mass every second Saturday of the month. All are welcome.
by a
brown bag lunch with beverages available. The afternoon session is 2 p.m.-4 p.m. The fee is $15 and pre-registration
at St.
lecture
tration is not
FATHER ROHR
day, Feb.
I
Celebration '94
KoMary Church, 812
The
free. Pre-regi:
will support a reading certification pro-
for Chapter
Contempla tion."
Church
County.
first
and Holy Land tured presenter.
FATHER DOYLE
Korean Mass rean
the fea-
and Liberation and "Action an
from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Inc. of Winston-Salem. The grant
gram
pre
sent "Scriptui
—
Retreat
Doyle, lecturer, teacher, author is
Albuquerque N.M., will
|3
Natural Family Planning SHELBY The Couple to Couple League will teach a series of four classes on the sympto-thermal method of Natural Family Planning on Sunday, Feb. 27 beginning at 3 p.m. at St. Mary Church in the parish hall. For information and registration, call Frieda Ashworth at (704) 484-0997.
(704) 364-9568.
'Women Of The Bible' VALLE CRUCIS
Stephen
ther
and Cor templation
tion
topic will be the new Catholic catechism.
day, Feb. 26. Franciscan Fa-
Center for At
—
Faith meeting
at
Mass will be celebrated at nooi followed by a bag lunch. The afternoo session is from 2 p.m. -4 p.m. Father Richard Rohr, founder of th a.m.
Newman
ROCK
Lecture HILL, S.C. The Rock
—
Newman
Hill Oratory will host the 14th
Lecture on Saturday,
Church, 1694 Bird
March 5
St.,
at St.
beginning
Ann
at
10
FOUR GREAT NAMES to
KNOW
Upcoming Dloceean Events Feb. 12
Regional Assembly
St. Ann, Charlotte
9 am
Sister Jean Under, (704) 331-1712
OSF
Feb. 12
Kickoff
-
MITSUBISHI DIXIE
4 pm
INSURANCE AGENCY,
INC. EXECUTIVE OFFICES 1373 WESTGATE CENTER DRIVE WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27103 PHONE 91 9 760-0565
MITSUBISHI
6951 E. Independence 531-3131
-
Agents
Sunday
•
Brokers
•
Consultants
•
Self-Insurance—Administrators
Campaign for Putting Children & Families First Parishes throughout Diocese Sister Miriam Flduccla, MSBT
(704)
343-9954
Scott Spivak
nmxnn
7001 E. Endependence
5354444
JIIjxectronic organ service
c*u?*.zh
(704) 331-1714
ffrgL Bono Feb.
19 Lay Ministry Training
Christian Morality, Session 2 St. Barnabas, Arden
10 am - 4 pm Sister Timothy Warren, (704) 334-1505
4100E. Independence
-ALL MAKES-
5354455
Rodgers - Hammond - Baldwin- Conn Lowery-Thomas-Kimball-Wurlitzer All Chimes-Carillons
PSM
19 Dollars and Good Sense Workshop for Pastors, Parish Finance Councils and Parish Finance Personnel St. Chares Dorromeo 10 am - 3 pm Sister Jean Under, OSF [704) 331-1712 Feb.
HYunoni
QUALITY SERVICE TO CHURCHES FOR OVER 3 1 YEARS 1337 CENTRAL AVE.
CHARLOTTE, NC 28205 n}usic§Electronics,Inc.
(704)375-8108 1-800-331-0768
THE
hpOlNjE
J.
DEALERSHIPS
WHERE YOU ALWAYS GET YOUR MONEY'S WORTH! F.J. LaPointe, President
Member of St.
Gabriel's
i
February 11, 1994
World and National Briefs Bishops Stress Link Between
appeals separately rather than as a group
the political
Environmental Justice, Poor WASHINGTON (CNS)
after
being convicted of trespassing and blocking pedestrian traffic at Indiana
can Army, appealed for "all those in civic, political and industrial leadership" in the United States to work for a settlement in Northern Ireland.
— Envi-
ronmental justice
is
inextricably linked
to the traditionally Catholic
on
the judicial process for the pro-life group,
according to their lawyer. "Unless we get a couple of miracles, these people
a national
The teleconference, called "The Environment: Hope for a Renewed Earth," aired Jan. 27 from the Washington headquarters of the Catholic Telecommunications Network of is at
the heart
of the solution to the environmental problem," said Walt Grazer, manager of the U.S. Catholic Conference's new environmental justice program. "Without justice for the poor there is no justice for the earth," he added.
are in effect denied their right to appeal," said Robert
Biggest
Numbers Down;
Drop In Theology Students
WASHINGTON (CNS) — The to-
number of U.S. Catholic seminarians dropped by 2.2 percent last fall, from 6,383 in 1992 to 6,244 in 1993. The decline stemmed from a sharp drop in the most significant group theology tal
—
students,
who
final years
are seminarians in their
of study before ordination.
Their numbers declined from 3,178 to
Henke
in an inter-
view with the Northwest Indiana Catholic, newspaper of the Gary Diocese.
Court Asked To Throw Out ChurchState Precedents In School Case WASHINGTON (CNS) In a potentially significant New York school case, the Supreme Court is being asked
—
to reject several of its previous church-
The U.S. CathoConference and the Knights of Co-
state separation rulings. lic
U.S. Seminary
ruling could halt
and
teleconference.
America. "Social justice
The
cause of
justice for the poor, said bishops
other Catholic officials
abortion clinics.
theology students since 1981,
when the-
Minister Viktor S. Chernomyrdin spent
almost an hour together in a private meeting Jan. 28. Details of their conversation, conducted in Russian, were not released. A Vatican spokesman said later
policies will affect the approximately
3,400 lay employees of the Vatican and its city-state. An official of the Vatican lay employees' association expressed satisfaction with the steps.
Holy
Catholics are "on the brink of extermi-
courts said the Legislature vio-
lated the Establishment Clause of the
Constitution and created an impermis-
"symbolic union of church and state," the primary effect of which is "to advance religious beliefs." sible
—
NEW
New York
lege and pre-theology levels of study.
ban, appealed for continuing U.S. ef-
conference Feb.
ended
1
his visa
forts to help resolve the conflict in North-
to the
Father the position of his government
—
ern Ireland. "The U.S. government can
play a significant and positive role in encouraging the peace process by helping to create a climate which situation on," he said.
moves
the
Adams, who heads
Not Be Silenced Again
nation" while the world community does
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Church
nothing to stop the violence, said Arch-
law should be applied with respect for the truth and cannot be bent to fit supposed pastoral interests, Pope John Paul II told Vatican jurists. In marriage cases specifically, charity or mercy cannot be separated from the "demands of the truth" about valid matrimony, he told members of the Roman Rota Jan. 28. The Rota, a Vatican court of appeals, handles annulment cases. A valid marriage must be respected as such, even if troubled, he said. To do otherwise would ultimately do pastoral and social damage, the pope said.
bishop VinkoPuljic of Sarajevo, Bosnia-
Herzegovina. In the three-sided civil war, Catholics first faced the onslaughts of Serbs and article in lic
Some French
Almost
all
Bosnian
Catholic Hospitals
Stop In Vitro, Others Continue ROME (CNS) Two French Catholic hospitals have agreed to stop
—
providing in vitro fertilization services, but several others continue the practice, said Father Olivier de Dinechin, French
bishops' spokesman on bioethical
to
is-
The
doing
in vitro fertilizations are
individuals and institutions gave the
nicating with the Vatican or with local
three or four hospitals
still
commu-
own discretion,
bishops about the situation, he said.
according to the Pontifical Council Cor
Father De Dinechin discussed these cases
Unum, which distributed the aid. Cor Unum, the Vatican's aid coordinating agency, said Jan. 28 that the money
ted
at his
in written
answers to questions submit-
by Catholic News Service. In vitro fertilization is the uniting of sperm and eggs
in a laboratory dish.
®
over Central
This newspaper is printed on recycled newsprint and is recyclable,
age of darkness.
struggles hard to revive the faith after decades of forced atheism.
strives against great
charities
A vvenire, Milan-based Catho-
newspaper.
sues.
Now communism has fallen, but the Church continues to raise the cross.
To succeed
by
bylined
Catholics," he added.
and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The Church held up the
It
1
Pope John Paul II, no world leader "makes his voice heard in defense of us
went to help victims of natural disasters, war and extreme economic crises. Among the individual sums listed was a $300,000 gift from the pope to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees' work in the former Yugoslavia. He also gave another $270,000 for assistance to the victims of war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
light of faith in an
in a Feb.
war victims in 1993. The donations came from money that religious orders, pope for spending
era, the faithful raised the cross all
are being attacked
Catholics are ethnic Croats. Except for
—
and assistance
now
Muslims, he said
Pope Gave More Than $1.3 Million For Disaster Relief In 1993 VATICAN CITY (CNS) Pope John Paul II gave more than $1.3 million for disaster relief
During the communist
the other provisions
Church Law Not To Be Bent For 'Pastoral' Reasons, Pope Says
Lower
after President Clinton
Them
Among
were educational subsidies for employees with children, expansion of maternity leave and special provisions for families with disabled members. The
cation in a small Jewish community.
pate in a
Let
Jan. 28.
Archbishop Says Bosnian Catholics Face Death, World Does Nothing MILAN, Italy (CNS) Bosnian
created to provide special edu-
showed slight increases in the total num-
—
Pope John Paul II to mark the 1994 International Year of the Family. They were announced by the Vatican lished by
meeting Russia's prime minister, expressed his hopes for better economic times in Russia, but focused his attention on the need to ensure religious freedom in the former center of the Soviet Union. The pope and Prime II,
on the principal problems of national and international life."
district
bers of seminarians at high school, col-
Judge's Ruling May Prevent Appeal Of Abortion Protest Sentences GARY, Ind. (CNS) A judge has ruled that 36 members of Collegians Activated to Liberate Life must file
among a package of new benefits estab-
—
peals in a case involving a public school
ology enrollment dropped 8.8 percent from the previous year. The new figures
the largest loss of
Pope Expresses Hopes For Better Economic Times In Russia VATICAN CITY (CNS) Pope John Paul
— The
Vatican has begun paying its employees a "baby bonus" equal to two-thirds of their monthly paycheck every time a child is born or adopted. The policy is
Chernomyrdin "explained
Sinn Fein Leader Urges Continued U.S. Efforts For Irish Peace YORK (CNS) Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, allowed to partici-
was
To Pay Lay Employees "Baby Bonus" VATICAN CITY (CNS) Vatican
the Irish Republi-
lumbus have filed briefs urging the court to reverse the New York Court of Ap-
2,915, for a one-year loss of 263, or 8.3 percent. That
wing of
odds
THE OMTOKV
It
to rebuild Catholic institutions.
in this mission, the
Church needs
434 Charlotte Avenue P.O. Box 11586 Rock Hill, SC 29731 (803) 327-2097
to restore its parishes,
and seminaries. With faith and determination, Eastern European
Catholics are
The 14th Annual
moving ahead.
Cardinal Newman Lecture Saturday, March 5, 1994
—
especially At the same time, they look to the faithful of other countries for all. cross of faith, and raise the once the United States them to help
—
9:30 a.m. Fr.
-
4:00 p.m.
Richard Rohr, O.F.M.
Topics: Scripture and Liberation
Please keep them in your prayers and give generously to the
Action and Contemplation
Collection to Aid the Catholic in
Collection -
Church
Central and Eastern Europe
Ash Wednesday, Feb. 16
Father Rohr lives and works at the Center for Action and Contemplation in All are
welcome
as guests of
PLEASE NOTE: This year's lecture will be held at St. Anne's Church, Rock
Hill, S.C.
New Mexico.
The Oratory 1694 Bi
& Herald
News
16 Trie Catholic
Blacks
Still
February 11, 1994
—
CHICAGO (CNS) Blacks in the United States are still victimized by racism, and whites are slow to realize that, said speakers at a conference on racism sponsored by the Illinois Cathobishops.
lic
By Racism, Conference Told
Victimized
"The legacy of white supremacy
is
"People ask me why I write so much about race," said Page Feb. 3. "I think they're asking why I write about race at all."
The conference launched a threeyear initiative by Illinois bishops to address racism. The effort is being led
the fundamental crisis that sits at the
by the Catholic Conference of
very core of the experiment called
West said white immigrants to the United States found a country much
said Cornel
American democracy,"
West, author and professor, at the Chicago conference Feb. 2. West, a Princeton University professor who wrote the best seller Race Matters, linked poverty, unemployment
and other social
ills
among blacks to the
long history of racism in the United States.
Clarence Page, a journalist with the Chicago Tribune daily newspaper, said whites are reluctant to acknowledge the
importance of race in politics, housing and many other aspects of U.S. life.
more
friendly to
blacks. Whites
them than
were able
Illinois.
it
was
to
to join the
middle class partially through substantial government assistance, such as the GI Bill, he said. Blacks on the other hand were viewed with hostility from day one, West said. "Ever since the first skilled black worker got off the boat, the talk was there were too many poor black people," he said. A legacy of the white supremacy mentality? he added, is cultural decay, evident in U.S. consumerism.
Cardinal Says Major Religions
Share Responsibility For Peace VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Major
The monotheistic
religions have a
religions are obliged to help reduce con-
special responsibility to
and misunderstanding in the world by promoting respect for others and for
more aware of This
their beliefs, a top Vatican official said.
peace, love and
flict
"We savage
need
to
is
the
make people
this basic fact,
he
said.
way to build "a civilization of life
—
the only alterna-
go beyond the age of
tive to war, violence and death," he said.
become
The cardinal noted that the theme of tolerance was an important one, and that
pluralism in order to
aware of the existence of an indivisible human community," said French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. He made the remarks Feb. 8 at the opening of the Conference on Peace and
expected to declare 1995 the International Year of Tolerance. But he said the basis for religious harmony is not merely enduring or supporting the existence of oththe United Nations
but respecting individual freedom
ers,
by Christians, Muslims and Jews, was co-sponsored by ecuPatriarch Orthodox menical Bartholomeos I and by the New Yorkbased Appeal of Conscience Foundation, an ecumenical organization. Cardinal Etchegaray said the common mission of peace shared by all
of conscience. Instead, this reciprocal respect
ing, attended
religions
makes
interreligious dialogue
A durable peace can only be built upon respect for others, including their religious beliefs, he a duty in today's world.
said.
above all in the hands of believers, those who have a "This durable peace
unitive vision of the
which everyone God," he said.
is
human
should be built on ticularly religious
human
rights, par-
freedom expressed in
society's laws, he said. In this sense, he said, tolerance
to spiritually
whites in reality do not want to accept
high percentage of whites, whereas whites are not willing to live among
—
should be an attitude
forged in deeply held religious convictions.
The reluctance of whites with blacks
that blacks are willing to live
blacks.
"Where you live determines so many life choices you face," he said.
Chicago said blacks confront obstacles not faced by other ethnic groups because of racism and that individual efforts alone cannot overcome these barri-
ethnic group ever was, said Massey.
"Housing markets
distribute not only houses but also quality of education, insurance rates, wealth in the form of home equity, exposure to crime and drugs and the peer group your children
associate with."
Blacks are segregated as no other Hispanics typically live in areas that are
50 percent Hispanic, whereas blacks commonly live in areas 90 percent black, he said.
ers.
and cut off neighborhoods will go downhill," said Douglas Massey. "It has nothing to do with the individual characteristics of people. Calling people
"Other groups never lived in such poor neighborhoods," he said. "As you
"If you segregate people
capital, those
concentrate poverty, you concentrate
anything correlated with poverty: crime, joblessness, single parenthood, welfare.
we
"Unless segregation
Law
face the fact that racial
is still
we
with us,
solve the problems before us,"
(From Page
2)
cannot
Massey
added. "These institutional problems are external, powerful and
The request for the emergency stay was aimed at preventing the law from taking effect while that appeal was pending. They said that making women wait
beyond the
control of any individual."
law takes effect before they it imposes "serious irreparable harm." Souter, the justice who handles emergency matters from the 3rd Circuit, rejected their arguments in a six-page
Notebook
opinion.
in the area
until the
(From Page 4)
challenge
attorney general, Ernest Preate
ance strongly held individual beliefs with an openness to the truths of others,
all," said the
A
spokesman
As
air strikes against
by the
Serbian
positions, she feels that should be left to
commanders on the ground
the military
UN peacekeeping They're the experts and know what can be done and what should be done. Unless someone comes up with a with the
forces.
indi-
Jr.,
for military intervention
West, such as
for Pennsylvania's
cated that the law will take effect within days. "It's time to end this once and for
which will stop the killing, I have to go along with Lady Margaret. better idea
spokesman, Robert Gentzel.
"There's got to be some finality."
said.
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Absolute religious beliefs should not be understood as exclusionary, Cardinal Etchegaray said. The challenge facing interreligious dialogue is to bal-
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Tolerance in Istanbul, Turkey. The meet-
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"Love, care, concern, service for remember those?" asked West. "It' s hard to stay in contact with those in a marketing culture." As a solution, West called for "relearning the art of public conversation." He urged reliance on two traditions the prophetic Christian and the radical democratic traditions. Page said whites assume from the success of such black stars as Oprah Winfrey and "the two Michaels Jordan and Jackson" that race is no longer a factor in the United States. But others
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