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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.