June 10, 1994

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iATHOLIC

News & Herald I

Volume 3 Number 38 • June

Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte

U.S. Church Leaders from- the dusk of 'Bishop William

Does Not

Letter

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WASHINGTON

"The bishops of the world have received an Apostolic Letter from the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, affirming 'the Church does not have the authority to ordain women to the priesthood.' For those who hold the Holy Father in deep esteem and

(CNS)

Limit

U.S.

Church leaders welcomed Pope John Paul reaffirmed the

II's apostolic letter that

Church ban on women priests, but said it

10,

1994

Say Pope's

Women

fundamental Christian vocation

their

according to the gifts that they have been given."

confirms the Church's teachings on

Although all the U.S. bishops commenting on the May 30 letter said they would support it, Archbishop Rembert

Archbishop Weakland, who has urged that the Church not close the door to women's ordination, admitted that he was among those who would have trouble with the pope's letter. "I certainly will be obedient to this command," he said. "Yet, in a spirit of

priestly ordination.

G. Weakland of Milwaukee said his obe-

filial

dience to the document "will not be done

inner turmoil at this decision.

without much sacrifice and inner search-

in the

ing."

in

should not be seen as diminishing the importance of women in the Church's life.

respect as the Vicar of Christ, his letter

Pope John Paul

women

II

has not dismissed the magnificent contribu-

Church and its mission of salvation. Rather, the Holy Father has chosen to uphold the tradition held and taught by the Catholic and Orthodox Churches for the tions by

to the life of the

Restricting priestly ordination to men in the Catholic

Church "does not

the potential of

women in the Church," Archbishop William H.

some non-Roman Catholic Churches ordain women to their respective ministries. While not denying their right to do this, the

For those whose theology of the priesthood coincides with that of

some non-Roman Catholic churches, Pope John Paul

II's letter

be a source of disappointment. This is certainly not the intent of the Holy Father. I pray that all will carefully read and interpret his letter as a sincere conviction to reaffirm the Church's tradi-

will

tion regarding priestly ordination.

know that

sincerely that

it

will not be

done without

much sacrifice and inner searching." Questioning the

letter's effects

on

archbishop said Pope John Paul "has

"The Church is completely committed to the equality of

persons

all

Catholic

certainly thought of these consequences."

"We must trust that the Holy Father

in dig-

and nobility," he said. "The Church however does not accept an understanding of equality which ignores the unique roles and gifts of women and men."

is

The pope's "On Reserving

apostolic letter, titled

declaration will pose for the faith of

Priestly Ordination to

many."

nity

sensitive to the reactions this declara-

tion will cause," he said.

"We must also

trust that, in his pastoral concern,

he will

help us face the difficulties which this

Men Alone," says the Church's ban on women priests is definitive and not open

ington called the letter "a decisive and

to debate among Catholics.

The all-male

conclusive reaffirmation of the Church'

priesthood does not represent discrimi-

teaching on the ordination of women."

nation against

women,

"In reaffirming the seriousness with

pope

which the Church holds this doctrine, the Holy Father has done the Church a great

said.

In his statement,

urged

"all

those

Cardinal James A. Hickey of Wash-

but fidelity to

Christ's plan for the Church, the

Archbishop Keeler

who may

find this fur-

service," he said in a statement. "If

follow his teaching,

we

we

shall better un-

ther affirmation of the Church' s authen-

derstand the roots of the ministerial priest-

teaching difficult to accept to receive

hood and its true role of service in the life

it

support Archbishop William Keeler, president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, who urges us to prayerfully understand this affirmation of the Church's authentic teaching and to accept it lovingly and see in it a call for us to live out fully our fundamental Christian vocation according to the gifts we have been

I

my obedience will result deepening of my faith, but I state long run

Keeler, president of the U.S. bishops'

tic

I

must also express my own

conference.

Today,

Holy Father recognizes that our Church's theology concerning ordained priestly ministry differs from theirs. As the Chief Shepherd of the Universal Church, he recognizes a need to clearly restate the Church's tradition concerning ordination to the priesthood. It is obvious that he does not want to mislead individuals jvith the hope that the Church's tradition is now subject to change in accord with that belief held by non-Roman Catholic Churches.

I

women, on theologians and on ecumenical dialogue, the Milwaukee

said Baltimore

past 2000 years.

limit

a

loyalty,

lovingly, pray for understanding and to

see in

it

a call for

them

to live out fully

The Bishop's

of the Church." See React, Page 3

Blessing.

given by God."

News &

Catholic

Herald Wins

Awards

"wo National Writing — The WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla.

iitholic (

News & Herald brought home

o national writing awards from the

Ijitholic

— both Associate Carol Hazard — were announced to

fay 27 at the annual

CPA convention at

Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley of Tampa. Hazard was awarded third place for

lapel, outside

l]est personality profile" for

If

Catholic Bulletin,

her story

Oratorian Father Conrad Hoover and

li Journalist, the

CPA's

publication,

ilazard includes input from a number okey and interesting sources for a comp;hensive article."

The

first

place winner in this eat-

ery for diocesan newspapers with cir-

was

the

Paul-Minneapo-

Hazard also won third for "best feature story" for a story about confession

a comeback. "Great lead, short and to the point, a different perspective on what could be a routine topic," The Catholic Journalist says. The Vermont

making

Catholic Tribune, Burlington, Vt., placed first in

the category for newpapers of this

size.

P ministry to people with AIDS. "Movie piece about ministry to AIDS," says ft May 1 994 awards issue of TheCatho-

St.

lis.

Press Association.

The awards litor

culations of 17,001 to 40,000

ing

The Catholic News & Herald, serv46 counties in western North Caro-

lina,

has a circulation of 33,780.

pleting

its

Com-

third year of publication, the

diocesan newspaper won two honorable

mention awards for photography by Associate Editor Joann Keane at the 1993 convention.

See Awards, Page 3

Bishop William G. Curlin blesses Thomas Wall as Jim and Sarah Wilkinson look on during Photo by JOANN K, a recent visit to Holy Infant Parish in Reidsville.


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June 10, 1994 by Catholic News Herald - Issuu