Dec. 9, 1994

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News & Herald Volume 4 Number

Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte

Pope Says

15

•

December

9,

1994

Christians Should

Give Witness During Advent VATICAN CITY (CNS) — advancing our Prepar-

ing for Christmas should remind Chris-

society," he said.

in

"In the face of this scenario, the believer should, like the Baptist,

against violence, racial hatred and disre-

his voice heard in proclaiming the salva-

life, Pope John Paul II said.

Like St. John the Baptist, who proclaimed the coming of the Lord, today s faithful should announce moral truths to contemporary society, the pope said at a Sunday blessing Dec. 4.

The pontiff said he was referring to the "many serious situations" that plague modern society: moral indifference, a "contempt for human life in its first stages or as it proceeds to its natural end," racial hatred, violence, war, and

tion of the Lord, fully adhering to his

spect for

'

intolerance.

All these are causes of "that desert

of injustice, pain and desperation that

Sees

Coalition

is

Gospel and witnessing it visibly in the world," he said.

The pope said parents have a pri-

mary responsibility to educate their children to be "courageous witnesses" of Christ's teaching.

All Christians should seriously re-

on their faith and their lives during Advent, he said, particularly through the sacrament of penance. As Christmas approaches, people should strive to give up the superfluous, search out the essential, and create a climate of silence and prayer, he said. flect

Clinton

Move On

Embryo Research As Too WASHINGTON (CNS) — Despite President Clinton's surprise announce-

ment denying ation of

federal funds for the cre-

human embryos

for research

purposes, a coalition representing prolife,

.

Msgr.

McSweeney begins a 3-month renewal program

in

Rome

priestly theological

beginning Feb.

1,

By JO ANN

KEANE

and

in the

cellor

—

Msgr. John J. McSweeney, chancellor and vicar general of the diocese, has been selected to

KEANE

participate in a three-month priestly theo-

and spiritual renewal program in Italy. The renewal program offers priests theological and biblical studies, while deepening their personal spirituality. The program is conducted by professors from the different pontifical

logical

Rome,

universities in

Rome

Rome.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for broaden my global vision of the

and as administrator prior

to

my

bishop of Charlotte," said Bishop Curlin. "He has been a strong support during my first months as the

arrival as the third

new bishop."

Ordained in Msgr.

1974, McSweeney was the first priest ordained in the

Diocese of Charlotte, which was

established in 1972.

chapel.

Msgr. McSweeney,

who

served since July as pastor of St.

also has

Thomas

Aquinas Church in Charlotte, remains as chancellor and vicar general of the diocese.

am

pleased to honor Msgr.

McS weeney s request that he be allowed "I

'

the privilege of studying in

Rome,"

man/nonhuman organisms and putting human embryos in animals for gestation.

try

Dehon Distinguished Minis-

Award, presented by

the Province of

American Life League called Clinton's Dec. 2 announcement on embryo research "deceptive" and said the experimentation he banned is "only a small proportion of destructive research using human emIn a separate statement, the

em-

seeable future" would include cloning, genetic diagnosis for sex selection, cross-

species fertilization, development of hu-

primarily because almost

all

of them

would involve our government

in de-

stroying human life at its earliest stages," said Msgr. Lynch.

"Some experiments

actually

would

require that hundreds of human embryos

be specially created

in the laboratory for

the sole purpose of being manipulated

experimenta-

and then destroyed," he added.

"We urge you to reject this panel's recommendations, and to pursue instead federally funded projects which treat all human beings with the respect due to human subjects," Msgr. Lynch wrote.

Douglas Johnson, federal legislative

and the production of "surplus"

human beings for the in vitro fertilization process would not be affected, the Ameri-

can Life League

said.

do not believe that federal funds should be used to support the creation of human embryos for research purposes, and I have directed that NIH not allocate any resources for such research," Clinton "I

said Dec. 2.

Earlier,

an

official of the U.S. bish-

ops' conference had been

among

those

urging Dr. Harold Varmus, director of the National Institutes of Health, to reject proposals

by the

NIH Human Em-

said

the Priests of the Sacred Heart, Sacred

bryo Research Panel for funding embryo

Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wis. See Leave, Page 12

research.

has brought extraordinary

diagnosis of genetic problems in an

The production of human embryos

Bishop William G. Curlin, bishop of the 46-county Diocese of Charlotte. "Msgr.

McSweeney

of fertilization better, and aiding in the

"We object to all these experiments,

American Life League.

in private labs solely for

ceived the

Under those proposals, research eliwould include studies aimed at improving successful

gible for federal funds

ment, released Dec. 5 at a press conference in Washington convened by the

tion

Msgr. McSweeney holds ecclesiastical honors including Prelate of Honor, bestowed by Pope John Paul II. He is the only priest in North Carolina to hold the honorof Papal Knight, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. In 1992, he re-

Just hours before Clinton's announcement, the advisory committee to the NIH director voted unanimously Dec. 2 to endorse the panel's proposals.

bryo before it is implanted in the womb.

Research deemed unacceptable and "not to be federally funded for the fore-

ministrator following the appointment of

April 13.

addition to the studies, the program al-

Conference, said the bishops' conference objects to all the experiments recommended for approval last September.

and leaders of pro-life or other groups.

"This injustice and the use of public money taken from Americans who are disgusted by such human experimentation cry out for a firm and clear repudiation by public officials," said the state-

bryos."

Mass with the Holy Father in his private

Church," said Msgr. McSweeney. In

Catholic Bishops and U.S. Catholic

pregnancies, understanding the process

it is

Aug. 20, 1993, Msgr.

McSweeney was elected diocesan ad-

lows participants to frequently celebrate

to

is

Little

morally repugnant," said a statement signed by more than 70 scientists, scholars, attorneys

On

former Bishop John F. Donoghue as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Msgr. McSweeney served as administrator of the diocese for eight months until the installation of Bishop Curlin on

me

name of curing serious disease,

not morally neutral,

dedication to his ministry, as both chan-

Associate Editor

CHARLOTTE

In

re-

"The manipulation and destruction if done

Chancellor Selected For Three-

Month Study Program

human embryo

of one set of human beings, even

1995.

Photo by JOAN

all

search should be banned.

following Bishop Curlin's canonical possession of the Diocese.

spiritual

pro-family, medical and legal groups

said Dec. 5 that

From The Catholic News & Herald iles, Msgr. John J McSweeney and Bishop William G. Curlin in a photo taken April 12, 1994

make

tians of their duty to give clear witness

Msgr. Robert N. Lynch, general secConference of

retary of the National

director for the National Right to Life

Committee, said after Clinton's announcement that the president, "after meditating on the recent defeat of ranks of pro-abortion incumbents, has suddenly displayed a spark of respect for the sanctity of innocent

"We hope

human life."

that spark will

grow,"

Johnson added.

In its statement, the coalition urged Congress to "enact and enforce laws and

See Embryo, Page 3

iiolic

News

& Herald

December

Advent Reflection

By REV. MR. JAMES M. COLLINS Advent is a time when Christians stand in anticipation and joy while waiting for the coming of the Messiah on Christmas. Advent is a time to reflect on Christ and how we are to live our lives in Christ.

In Luke's Gospel this Sunday, John the Baptist continues to proclaim the message of conversion to all the people. The crowds, tax collectors and soldiers, full of anticipation and wonder, ask John: "What are we to do?" John is telling the people to change their way of life. He is telling them to stop thinking so much about themselves and reach out to those in need. This, according to Luke's Gospel, is how ordinary people and the

1994

Teleconference Panelists Seek Ways To Deal With Violence WASHINGTON (CNS) — Guns, to prison for life.

gangs and government were three targets of a Dec. 3 teleconference on violence featuring a blue- ribbon panel of politicians, clergy and experts.

Playing the parts of concerned citizens, the dozen panelists were asked how they would counter the violence in fictional accounts of a husband's increasing abuse of his wife and the gang slaying

Noting that his violently killed,

own

Fulwood

brother was said violent

criminals don' t consider the consequences

outcasts of society are to prepare for the Lord' s coming.

of a 10-year-old boy for unknowingly

"We ought to get to the end of the cycle to prevent these things from happening," he said.

But O'Connor replied that judges should have the ability to "carry out the sentence that the people designed." She added that the wealthy should find it in

As

wearing a

their "enlightened self-interest" to help

a sign of their conversion the people are to give of

themselves to the less fortunate of their society.

In Paul's letter to the Philippians, he tells us to rejoice. The fruits of our giving of ourselves to others will be a peace of mind and heart. For this we can rejoice and experience the joy of Christ while we anticipate His second coming. The most basic expression of our faith is our joy in living our lives according to the Gospel.

We too might ask the question: "What are we to do?" How do we show that we have experienced true conversion? What are the fruits of our conversion?

"What are we to do?" We are to be Christ to one another. In my ministry over the years I have tried to exemplify Christ in my life to others. I have listened to many life stories of pain and suffering; families in turmoil during crisis; parents experiencing heart ache over their children; people troubled by their past. I have experienced many struggles to overcome pain and suffering in my own life. The job pain and suffering that comes with being a person with cerebral palsy discrimination, being looked at by people as if something is wrong with me and being told all my life that I could never do this or that. My experience has led me to Christ and to the experience of His love and joy in my life.

An example of my own conversion in one area of my life happened about 15 years ago. I was introduced to a girl with cerebral palsy in a day care for handicapped children. My initial reaction was that of fear and anxiety because up

—

avoided being around others with cerebral palsy since they reminded me of my disability. I didn't know how to respond to this little girl. After a few minutes, I realized that this child is loved by God and that I should love her just the same. God filled my spirit and my heart with love and compassion toward this child.

Through her I experienced the love of Christ in my life which led to the conversion of my own insecurities about my having cerebral palsy and being around persons with disabilities. So much so, that my fear and anxieties began to diminish and I became a volunteer worker for a period of time. My conversion also helped me understand Christ' s acceptance and presence in my life. To experience acceptance and love as you are is, for me, the joy of life. It is in giving of myself to others in their pain and suffering that I experience the peace and joy that St. Paul talks about.

Our being the image of Christ's love and forgiveness to one another will require us to give of ourselves by living out the Gospel values of love, justice and peace.

"What are we to do?" We are to reach out to the poor and disadvantaged of our society. We are to be examples ofjustice and peace in our homes and communities.

This Advent you and I can make a difference in someone's life and experience a true conversion of heart by reaching out to one another in love. When you and I get

to this point I

rival

gang's colors.

Panelists included former congress-

Leckey

said churches "should re-

Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and Dolores Leckey, execu-

by

tive director of the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for

Family, Laity,

Women

and

Youth.

Father Drinan drew applause from the audience at the Washington National

women and men

seeking help

in

spouse- abuse situations. She said the U.S. bishops' pamphlet on domestic vio-

When I Preach

Remember Me, "Never underestimate the power of the pulpit," Leckey lence, is

...

particularly helpful.

said.

when he said, "The

Father Drinan praised the bishops'

churches have to do something to get rid of the 70 million guns in this country."

new pastoral message on violence, Con-

Episcopal Cathedral

fronting a Culture of Violence: A Catho-

Framework for Response.

And United Methodist Bishop Felton

Such levels of gun possession are found only in the United States, he said, and

lic

"not in any civilized country

May of Harrisburg, Pa., lauded the bish-

— not

England, not Canada or Japan. The churches have to crusade against guns."

Addressing the gang scenario, Isaac Fulwood, Washington's retired police chief, said it was not unusual for police to round up gang leaders for a summit to cool down the violence. But that is only a temporary measure, he said. "We have got to reinvent the community," Fulwood added. Because there is no structure in gang members' own families, he said, "gangs are their families."

Stephanopolous, assigned the role Councilman "Newt of City Stephanopolous" in one role-playing exercise, said he would say to citizens, "I'm going to tell you something you're not going to believe: I'm from the gov-

will."

a seminarian for the Diocese of Charlotte. He is completing his studies at Sacred Heart School of Theology, Hales Corners, Wis., and will be ordained to the priesthood next June.

Rev. Mr. Collins, a permanent deacon,

the poor in their community. joice" if they find themselves "inundated"

another.

ourselves for the needs of our family and neighbors, then we have experienced true

front

dential adviser George Stephanopolous,

conversion in Christ. The fruits of our conversion will be a peace beyond all understanding in which we experience the love of Christ in and through one

where we

are not concerned for ourselves, but offer

of their actions.

man Jesuit Father Robert Drinan, presi-

ernment and I'm here to help."

But he warned that government would not be able to do as much as citizens want it to do because of budget cuts. "The churches are going to have to pick up the slack," Stephanopolous said.

"Because if they don't do it, nobody

to the point in our lives

9,

ops' 1986 pastoral letter, Economic Justice for All.

Crediting the pastoral for "proactive, not reactive" stance

is-

Bishop May said, "If these ideas were implemented, there' d not only be sues,

less violence in the U.S.A., but also less

violence in the world."

Moderator Tim Russert, best known as host of NBC's

"Meet the Press,"

said

he was asked "why a nice Catholic boy ... would spend his Saturday afternoon here, at an Episcopal cathedral."

His answer: "I did this for my son. P

hope that from some of the inspiration from this panel, some other 9-year-old boy will have the same kind of love that my son Luke knows, that they hear the sweet sounds of Christmas rather than gunfire."

The teleconference was shown

live

hundreds of satellite downlink sites.

The Catholic Telecommunications Network of America made it available on satellite, as did Episcopal and Methodist at

teleconference facilities.

Fulwood criticized the wave of "three

is

its

on

and you're out" proposals that would send a third-time convicted felon strikes

It

on

was also taped for future showing

PBS and

the Faith

&

Values cable

channel.

Belmont Abbey Hoopsters Head Opposes Food Programs Into Holidays On Winning Note

Council Of Churches

Proposed Cuts GREENSBORO

In

— The executive

board of the North Carolina Council of Churches, meeting on Nov. 29, expressed alarm and concern about a proposal in

BELMONT and high incomes, with only $1 out of every $6 going to the poor. "To target the poor in the effort to downsize government is radically unfair and would have

the U.S. Congress to limit

and reduce nutrition and safety net programs for the

cruel consequences," said the board.

poor.

rector of the council, said the council

"We dency

deplore and protest the ten-

to attack the

poor instead of

at-

tacking poverty," said the board's state-

ment. the

It

said that to reduce support for

most vulnerable and disadvantaged

persons in our society, especially for

would be "utterly immoral."

The Council of Churches was responding to a proposed bill that would

children,

cap and diminish funding for school lunch and breakfast programs; food stamps; a

program for pregnant women and infants; Aid to Families With Dependent Children and other programs for low-income people. The resolution contends that most entitlement spending, $5

nutrition

out of $6, goes to persons with

medium

Rev. Collins Kilburn, executive

wants to appeal to newly-elected

di-

mem-

bers of Congress, Republicans and Demo-

from action that would push destitute people further into destitution. "We are especially concerned about children, their mothers and families who need assistance, not punishment," said Kilburn. "We hope and pray that all of those who have been elected to public office will want to do justice, which in biblical terms means defending the cause of the poor and the needy."

The North Carolina Council of Churches is an ecumenical organization comprising 25 denominational bodies, including the Diocese of Charlotte, plus

crats, to refrain

five individual congregations.

—

Belmont Abbey

College's men's basketball team heads into the holiday break with a

winning

the

Abbey

to just

38 percent shooting.

Caldwell and Kris Clinton of Arlington, Texas, led the Crusaders with 10 points

record after a 71-56 road victory over

each.

Erskine Monday (Dec. 5). The Crusaders are 4-3 after the first seven games of

Charlotte, Tina Easter of Lincolnton and

the season.

The Lady Crusaders downed Erskine 76-64 Monday ter five

to

remain undefeated af-

games They wound up their pre-

holiday schedule Thursday night (Dec. 8) at hone against Piedmont.

The women, led by Seleeta Moore of Keesha Wilson of Gastonia posted a pair of home victories, downing Florida Southern 94-91 in overtime Dec. 1 and beating Queens 76-63 Dec. 3. The Lady Crusaders had to come from behind in both games.

meeting Newberry and the women facing Wofford.

The men played their first home game Nov. 30, beating Limestone 68-54

Against Florida Southern, the Abbey railed by 22 points in the second half before Moore sparked the comeback, finishing with 29 points. Easter scored 22 points and Wilson contributed 16.

The Lady Crusaders were down six

to

avenge an earlier overtime loss to the Saints. Richard Loftis of Hendersonville and Marcus Caldwell of Lexington com-

points at halftime against Queens before Easter and freshman Larae Allen oi Millington, Tenn., pulled out the victory.

bined for 36 points to lead the Crusaders. as It was a different story Dec. 3

Easter led the scoring with 17 points while Allen had 15 on perfect shooting

Queens put on a defensive show to down the Crusaders 78-61. The Royals held

with six of six from the field and three oi

Post-holiday action for both teams

begins

at

home

Jan. 7 with the

men

three

from the

free

throw

line.

The Catholic News

December 9, 1994

&

!

Say Catholics Must Reach Out To Those With AIDS U.S. Bishops

His Excellency, The Most Reverend William G. Curlin, is pleased to announce the following appointments in the Diocese of Charlotte:

WASHINGTON — Catholics must reach out to persons with

HIV/AIDS

because that is the "only authentic Gospel response" to the suffering and anxi-

Catholic Conference Committee on Do-

ward those infected with HIV is the only authentic Gospel response. Discrimination and violence against persons with HIV/AIDS are unjust and immoral and entirely contrary to Gospel values."

The statement also called on Cathlics

mestic Policy and

to fight

ety associated wit the crisis, said

December

19,

1994

Rev. Msgr. Arthur L. Duncan, from Pastor, Holy Angels Church, Mt. Airy, to Pastor Emeritus, Holy Angels Church;

AIDS/HIV health

Bishop John H. Ricard.

Bishop Ricard,

Effective

who chairs the U.S.

is

auxiliary bishop of

Baltimore, made his comments in a state-

ment issued to coincide with World AIDS Day, Dec. 1 The same day the U.S. bishops' Catholic Communication Campaign for-

Rev. Msgr. Anthony Kovacic, Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith while continuing as Vicar for the Permanent Diaconate;

mally released "Living with AIDS:

Rev. Richard C. Contiliano, from Parochial Vicar, St. Charlotte, to Pastor, Holy Angels Church, Mt. Airy;

Thomas Aquinas Church,

S.D.

January 25, 1995 Rev. Msgr. John J. McSweeney, V.G., Sabbatical Studies, North American College, the Vatican; Effective

"As a community of faith, we have a special role to play in responding to the

suffering occasioned by

Rev. Thomas Crangle,

St.

pecially

dignity of every

OFM Cap., Parochial Vicar, St.

Thomas Aquinas Church, Charlotte.

John

Rev. Msgr.

J.

HIV/AIDS, es-

by emphasizing the worth and human being. We must reach out with compassion to those affected by this disease and must stand in solidarity with them and their families," Bishop Ricard said. "The Gospel de-

Thomas

McSweeney, V.G. Chancellor

human embryo research.

"Further, we urge that,

as

is

done

Dr.

Reproduction; Helen Hull

and Family; Father Frank A. Pavone, national director of Priests for Life; Sister Christine Setticase

of

St.

of the Daughters

Paul; and Father Paul

Marx of

Human Life International.

E

piscopal Calendar

Bishop William G. Curlin will take part in the following events during the

PRIESTHOOD

The

next few weeks:

be linked to efforts to ensure that they are welcomed and involved in society, Pope John Paul II said.

"An authentically human world cannot be built if individuals and families are not put in a position to be in control of their own lives in a context of free and supported development inspired by universal and lasting values," he said.

He made his remarks during a Dec. 3 meeting with the Italian minister of family life and social development on the U.N. -proclaimed International Day of Disabled Persons.

Discussing the social situation of people with disabilities is appropriate because "it is not possible to effectively meet the needs and requirements of those

cannot be counted on, "one must

6 pm Preside at Hispanic Mass, Holy Trinity, Dobson

December 24

"Living With AIDS An Occasion of Grace" can be purchased from the U.S. Catholic Conference Publishing Services for $19.95 plus $3.25 shipping costs by calling (800) 235-8722 or writing USCC Publishing Services, 3211 Fourth St., NE, Washington, DC 20014-1 194. :

make every

effort to find a substitute

bility

cient

of being able to

autonomy

in

move

St.

society," he said.

The family is the primary environment in which every person develops his or her identity and ability to relate to others, he said.

The experience of growth in a loving and supportive environment, Pope John Paul said, becomes even more important

who encounter, during this development, more or less serious ob"for persons

stacles of various kinds."

The pope said while the Church will continue its tradition of direct assistance to people with disabilities, "it will not

miss the opportunity to offer to

support

In Yours.

Bishop William G. Curlin

ou can express your commitment to your Church by making a bequest to the Diocese of Charlotte or to your parish. Simply have the following statement included in your Will:

10:30 am Mass Patrick Cathdral

St.

Charlotte (or (or

Roman

Catholic Diocese of

parish, city) the

sum of$

percent of the residue of my estate) for

religious, educational

and

who

risk,

be-

cause of their handicaps, being placed the margins of society."

well as an ongoing commitment to the Church and the community in which we live!'

December 25

Call (704) 331-1722

its

every initiative that aims at promoting

HisWll

Patrick Cathedral

The Catholic News & Herald

with suffi-

our complex modern

Midnight Mass

For Information, Contact: Gene Sullivan Box 37267, Charlotte, NC 28237

Or

disease.

"A valid Will stands as a continuing expression of our concern for loved ones, as

of the Friends of the Vatican

Support Your Diocesan Newspaper in

• Urging the U.S. government to respond to the worldwide dimension of the

Remember

"/ leave to the

Advertise

of their ability to pay.

December 10

Hosting reception on behalf

28203 (704) 334-2283

Urging private and public agencies to deliver health and human services to people with AIDS "in a sensitive and nondiscriminatory manner" regardless •

particularly toward those

Museum

Charlotte, H.C.

spread.

its

a culture of acceptance and solidarity,

December 15

Contact Father Frank O'Rourke Vocation Director 1621 Dilworth Road East

ing

families are not involved," the pope said.

ily

of Charlotte

Educational programs about the

with disabilities if their respective nuclear

in

PO

—

When, for whatever reason, the fam-

The Diocese

•

disease and legitimate means of prevent-

will offer the person the concrete possi-

Hitchcock, director of Women for Faith

Consider

Efforts to eliminate the causes of

addiction.

for people with disabling conditions must

Human

Service of Others

•

values pertaining to per-

sexuality.

embryo research," the statement added.

Signers included William A. Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights;

gible to receive any public money as long

at the

human

sonhood and

family or community experience that

institutions or individuals be made ineli-

PUT YOUR GIFTS

thentic

Catholic Church's centuries-long care

Thomas W. Hilgers, director of the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of

with other cases of civil rights violations,

by:

human

as they conduct such unethical

policies which forbid direct support" for

HIV/AIDS

Promoting Church teaching on au-

Pope Says Church Must Welcome Disabled As Well As Care For Them VATICAN CITY (CNS)

Embryo (From Page 1)

•

An

Occasion of Grace," a 30-minute video funded by the Catholic Communication Campaign. The video highlights what the Church can do as a practical response to the AIDS crisis and showcases parish and diocesan programs in Houston, Los Angeles, Hollywood, New York City, Albany, N.Y., and Rapid City,

Rev. Mauricio W. West, from Parochial Vicar, St. Gabriel Church, Charlotte, to Acting Chancellor, Diocese of Charlotte, with residence at St. Gabriel's;

Rev. Ignatius Zampino, OFM Cap., Pastor, Aquinas Church, Charlotte;

mands reverence for life in all circumstances. Thus compassion and love to-

its

charitable works."

For more information on how to make a Will that works, contact Jim Kelley, Diocese of Charlotte, Office of Development, 1524 East Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28207, (704) 331-1709 or 377-6871.

at

December

9,

1994

Pro-Life Corner

—

"The family is indeed sacred; it is the place in which life the gift of God can be properly welcomed and protected against the many attacks to which it is exposed ... In the face of the so-called culture of

—

death, the family

is

the heart of the culture of life."

Pope John Paul II is....

Editorial Prayer In Schools With all the major

The Respect Life Office issues facing the country,

Diocese of Charlotte.

(704) 331-1720

it

begins to appear that the question of prayer in the public

going to come in for more than its share of few months.

House Speaker-to-be Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., has promised that the House will vote by July 4 on a proposed constitutional amendment to permit prayer in schools

Theologians Must Help People See Truth VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Theologians must

is

attention in the next

help

the world see the beauty of the truth even it is

the schools.

shrouded in mystery, Pope John Paul

II said.

"Among the dangers which threaten contemporary

While such a

step

touted by

is

some

as a

means

to

reverse the nation's moral decline, not everyone sees

it

way.

that

when much of

culture, the

the

law professor and former congressman, says he feels the same way about the issue as he did when he voted against it in Congress 20 years ago. He believes the "difficulties of school prayer would outweigh the benefits."

Jesuit Father Robert Drinan, a

That's the same stand the U.S. bishops took

when

they last addressed the issue in 1983. Speaking for the

Hoye who was

bishops, Msgr. Daniel

then general

most serious is the crisis of meaning and of

the truth, which generates moral decline and despair,"

pope said Dec. 2 during a meeting with members of

the International Theological Commission.

Theologians, he said, must help people rediscover "the joy of the truth which saves and liberates."

"You must present to our contemporaries the beauty of the mystery of salvation and its power of liberation," pope said. At the same time, he said, theologians must "face with courage new questions placed before the

the Church."

They also imitate the lifestyle of a poor person chosen by Christ as He fulfilled His ministry becoming human, being born in a stable, working as a carpenter with Joseph, and detaching Himself from home and property to preach and heal, he said.

The vow of poverty and the communal sharing of goods has been esteemed throughout Church history, the pope said, but its relevance as a sign of total :

secretary of the U.S. Catholic Conference said that

In order to carry out their double mission of helping

allowing public school prayers could not "justify the

people understand the faith and helping the church deal with new issues, the pope said, theologians must be

problems

it

might create

terms of the American

in

diversity of religious beliefs

and traditions and the right

of religious minorities in our pluralistic society."

Our society is even more pluralistic and diverse it was in 1983. And Jesuit Father F. Michael Perko

than

of Loyola University of Chicago says it is going to become even more pluralistic. And, he says, "As America

becomes more

pluralistic,

it

will

make

faith-filled

and prayerful people. "Spiritual

the confusion

(over prayer) so far child's play in comparison."

Voluntary prayer is legal in schools as long as it is and not dictated by school officials.

Many of the proposals advanced so far for restoring prayer in the schools would allow school officials to designate the prayers which would be said.

It was just such prayers that were largely responsible for the development and growth of Catholic schools in this country. Bill Bassett a law professor at Jesuitrun University of San Francisco, says Catholics formed their own schools because their children were "subject silent, private

,

The commission, whose members study contempowas celebrating its 25th anniversary. The commission president is Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Conrary theological questions and advise the Vatican,

commitment to Christ continues to grow.

"Today, in a world where immense wealth and greed coexist with scandalous poverty, the Church

gregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

seeks to follow Christ' s own example of poverty and of loving concern for the poor," he said.

"Far from simply adding their poverty to that of the

The pope

said the fact that the

commission

section of the doctrinal congregation

is

At the same time, he

said, the fact that the

that the

Church asks you

to offer

its

Any

bets on

what kind of prayers

will

be said in proposed

if the

amendment is approved?

m

The Cathouc

ews & Herald

Editor:

magisterium a

poor who fill the world," he

women

consecrated

them

men and

true wealth,

which

belongs to the spiritual order."

The Beatitude that promises the Kingdom of God to the poor does not refer j ust to those who are indigent, the

pope

said, "but rather to the

"The poor

humble who seek God and

—

in spirit are all those

who do not place

money or material goods, but instead open themselves to the Kingdom of God," he said. In Jesus' their trust in

Christians are

from the "tyranny" of money and material goods, Pope John Paul II said.

While following Christ requires putting God and neighbor ahead of the accumulation or attachment to things, some of the faithful are called to go further by renouncing ownership through the profession of a vow of poverty, he said Nov. 30 at his weekly general

preaching

He warned of a "double danger" of material

wealth, he said. "With richness, the heart closes to God

and closes also

vow, consecrated women and men respond to Jesus' call to the rich young man, "sell all you own ... and follow me," the pope said. their

to one's neighbor."

Religious men and women, in addition to renouncing private wealth and ownership, free themselves from worldly goods to foster their prayer, contemplation and service to others, he said.

In addition to privately following the spirit of the

vow, the pope

Through

said,

"are called to bring

place themselves under his protection with trust."

audience.

December 9, 1994 Volume 4, Number 15 Publisher:

commis-

fruitful collaboration."

called to free themselves

public schools in this part of the country

for

sion president is the head of the congregation "is a sign

prayers."

in the public schools

not a

their reflections.

from reading the King James Bible or saying Protestant

many proselytizing influences

is

a "guarantee of

autonomy" theologians must have

the necessary

Pope Says Christians Must Free Themselves From Material Goods VATICAN CITY (CNS) All

to

life is, in

an indispensable condition for theological research," he said.

effect,

said, religious

communities must em-

brace poverty, avoiding every appearance of luxury and sharing what they have with other provinces and houses

of their order and with the poor.

Merry Holiday?

Most Reverend William G. Curlin

Robert E. Gately

Associate Editors: Joann Keane, Carol Hazard

I'm indebted to John Fitzgibbon of Swannanoa for my attention to this little gem.

Hispanic Editor: Luis Wolf Advertising Manager:

Gene

Editorial Assistant: Sheree

calling

Sullivan

He notes that Asheville is a very unique city. It' s the

McDermott

only one in the United States, as far as he knows, that Office:

1524 East Morehead

PO Box

Mail Address:

St.,

NC 28207 NC 28237

celebrates the Christmas season without even mention-

Charlotte,

37267, Charlotte,

ing Christmas.

Phone: (704) 331-1713

The theme of the

festival in downtown Asheville year is "Light Up Your Holidays." That's right.

There's not the first mention of Christmas.

Editor's

Notebook Bob Gately

this Printing:

Mullen Publications,

The Catholic News

&

Inc.

Herald,

USPC

007-393,

is

pub-

by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, 1524 East Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28207, 44 times a year, weekly lished

except for Christmas week and Easter week and every two weeks during June, July and August for $15 per year for enrollees in parishes of the lotte

and $18 per year for

postage paid

Charlotte,

NC

Catholic Diocese of Char-

other subscribers. Second-class

Charlotte NC. POSTMASTER: Send address The Catholic News & Herald, PO Box 37267,

at

corrections to

Roman

all

28237.

In a letter to the Asheville Citizen-Times, Fitzgibbon says that many Christians are boycotting the downtown stores for their Christmas shopping because they feel insulted.

He

says "It

is

too bad that the

downtown

merchants must suffer because of the insensitivity of the promoter' s designation."

Fitzgibbon sent copies of his letter to 2 1 churches in the Asheville area and he hopes that other people will join his protest.

He

who wish to do Chamber of Com-

suggests that those

so write to the Citizen-Times, the

merce or

to

Ralph Young who

is

the chairman of the

festival.

Sounds I

like a

good idea to me.

know courts have ruled that displays of religious

symbols or manger scenes on public property in connection with Christmas violate the separation ofchurch and

See Notebook, Page 6

The Catholic News

December 9, 1994

&.

UcralS

New Age Thinking Recently I visited a huge Barnes and

Noble Bookstore. While browsing around I discovered that "New Age" books covered an amazing 60 shelves, whereas the whole section labeled "Christianity" had only 10 shelves. Imagine, all of Christian literature amounted to only one-sixth of the

"New Age" books.

"New Age" thinking

is

essentially

Church, Gnosticism in its various forms

same thing. It was a return to paganism under the guise of pseudodid the

Christian enlightenment. Much of today

it

engenders

many

levels

and encourages an unbridled, superstitious belief in anything and everything.

Some of the titles I saw on the shelves were:

Dream

Spells,

Aroma

Therapy,

Numerology, Sacred Stones, Palmistry, Magical Herbalism, Alchemy Symbolism, Modern Witchery, Psychic Rituals and Universal Vibrations just to name a few. Admittedly, some are more harm-

—

less than others, but all

of them smack of

the occult.

There is a deep hunger out there for something more than materialism. The New Age literature seems to be meeting that need by offering a strange brand of pseudo salvific wisdom. In the early

s

in the

7th and

1

1

its

claim to various forms of occult knowledge and power.

ing on many points from what the Church

teaches and propounds, often reflect a ray of that truth which enlightens

all

meri'(Crossing the Threshold of Hope, Knopf, 1994) As the "Flower Children" of the 60' began seeking out gurus to learn more about the realm of the supernatural, many of them went off the deep end reading the

books of psychics, channellers, and other

Good

Turner Network Television rightly

incredible that after being tricked he

gave into Laban' s demand to work. The scheming but lovable character of Laban, beautifully played by Giancarlo Giannini, credibly demonstrates how this could

husband but who helps us sense what it was like for her when the couple was unable to have a child.

The most charming character in Laban, Rachel's father who tricks Jacob into marrying his daughter Leah, and then has him work seven years to win Rachel's hand.

When we read about Jacob, it seems "Jacob"

is

une uanaie

mm

Father John Catoir

Some spiritual searching takes a more benign form. For instance, when the Beatles appeared on the scene in 1 962, they pioneered the new fascination with Hindu and Buddhist mysticism. I found it fascinating myself. Pope John Paul II said: "The Church has a high regard for the precepts and doctrines of Hinduism and Buddhism.. .which although differ-

described the production of the biblical

"Jacob" when they said, "It is a beloved Old Testament parable of devotion, integrity, redemption and faith." Better family entertainment we could not get!

"Jacob" will be aired through Dec. 17.

There are a number of things I liked about it. First, Matthew Modine as Jacob artfully portrays kindness, compassion, suffering and faith, while remaining a very human being.

Unlike the lead characters in some biblical movies, Modine offers a certain naturalness which has the viewer not only admiring him, but feeling that the virtues he portrays could be imitated.

Beautiful Lara Flynn Boyle who plays Rachel does not let physical beauty overrun the beauty of a devoted and loving woman who not only supports her

Lignt

8th centuries which lays

Turner's 'Jacob'

•

'

roots in the Rosicrucians, a secret society prominent

antagonistic to the teachings of the

Church. The enthusiasm undermines revelation on

has

occultism

strange oracles of the dark. This wise.

When you open

world of darkness anything can happen.

Consult your local newspapers about cults that ended in mass murders and mass suicides, proving once again that charismatic charlatans, under the influence of evil spirits, can manipulate innocent people.

A recent "New Age" best seller enThe Starseed Transmissions, by sold 100,000 copies.

Carey claims to be a channel for a ghost who communicates words of questionable wisdom. Years ago we used to be titled

Ken Carey has

suspicious of people

who heard

voices.

Now they're best-selling authors.

Whereas once we worried about

who believed little or nothing, now we have to be concerned about people who believe anything and everything, sometimes to their own peril. Bepeople

ware of cults and spirits of the dark. ( For a free copy of the Christopher News Note, "Hard Times, Hard Choices, " send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to The Christophers, 12 East 48th St., New York, NY 10017.)

Father John Catoir is director of The Christophers.

Family Entertainment

happen.

We

was not

yourself to the

The Human Side

anyone who had benefitted from the goodness of a Jacob would hold onto him at any cost. realize that

Father Eugene Hemrick

A number of biblical scholars today tell

us that if we truly want to become one

with the Bible the place"

we must imagine "seeing

where

its

stories took place

and the people involved. "Jacob" aids our imagination with its desert scenes and authentic costumes. We get a real sense of what it must have been like during the nomadic life of Israel's patriarchs..

The two-hour presentation of "Jacob" excellently summarizes his life, starting with him taking the birth right from his brother Esau, and explaining his

name, which means "attached

to the

Scripture scholars tell us that although Esau was born first, Jacob was attached to his heel, and, as it were,

heel."

tripped

him up by clinging

to

to get to

it

his father Isaac's first blessing.

Esau

'

s anger drives Jacob from Beer-

sheba and causes him to journey to Laban in Haran. It is the beginning of his intimate journey with God. Fatigued by his dispute with Esau

and the desert's heat, he lies down on a rock and dreams about a ladder to heaven on which angels are descending and ascending. It is here that he hears God's promise that the land upon which he rests will be given to him and his descendants.

Later his name will be changed from Jacob to Israel.

The movie's high point for me was its artful portrayal of the covenant between God and Jacob. No matter whether he is disappointed at not having Rachel as his first wife or is wrestling with an

angel, Jacob' s commitment to God comes

through forcefully.

Most would agree that the meaning of commitment today has been greatly diminished. This seeing

is

partly caused

by

more commitments broken than

kept in society as a whole. "Jacob" forcefully counters this, allowing us to

ine

what commitment

imag-

really implies

through its artful portrayal of the workings of commitment between God and Jacob.

Father Hemrick is director of research for the United States Catholic Conference.

CopyrightŠ 1994by Catholic News Service

Medication For Attention Deficit Disorder Dear Dr.Shuping, Your recent column on Attention Deficit Disorder drew my attention

name is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity

because my first-grade daughter is having attention-focusing problems. I would appreciate any recommendation you could make for books or reading material and especially information on the medications used for this

are also hyperactive.

disorder.

the situation around fairly quickly,

Disorder all,

be sure that an accurate diagnosis has been made.

Often, in a one-on-one situation with a doctor or other adult the child will be able to pay attention, even though there may be real problems in the classroom. So it' important that evaluation forms be completed by parents and teachers and scored by a professional to clarify the diagnosis.

Some

you use the term "hyperactivity," which was an earlier name for this disorder. A more recent brochures

I

sent

since

many, but not

If children are having problems

with

attention to the point that the ability to

learn

is

Crosswinds

impaired, medication should be

considered.

I

prefer to start with behav-

Martha W. Shuping,

ioral interventions, but if those don' t turn

think First of all, it's important to

(ADHD)

children with the attention disorder

it is

MD

I

best to try medication even

temporarily, rather than waste a whole

school year and have the child fall further the

The medication apparently works by increasing the availability of a par-

can be

ticular neurotransmitter normally present

behind.

Of

the medications, Ritalin

most widely used for

ADHD.

It

is

everyone's brain but which

extremely helpful for some children. The

in

change can be almost immediate and may be dramatic. Kids who were failing everything and never finishing any of

present or less available in

work may start making A's. The improvement is not always that great but

three to four hours, so

their

it

can be.

Ritalin fast

and

needed

is

is

less

ADHD.

usually given after break-

after lunch. It lasts only

about

two doses

are

to get through a school day. It's

given after meals to prevent possible

nausea or decreased appetite. Ritalin can cause difficulty sleeping but this isn't usually a problem since the medication should wear off by bedtime. Most children take Ritalin without experiencing side effects. Two other medications, Cylert and Dexedrine, are similar to Ritalin, but less

commonly used.

See Crosswinds, Page 7

loiic

News

& Herald

December

9,

1994

An Abusive Marriage And The Marriage Vows Q. This past Sunday the Gospel "What God has joined together let no man separate." The priest then told of a woman who ran into the street to get away from her husband who was beating her and often her children. She was badly bruised and bloody. The people gathered told her to leave him and go to her mother's home. She said she would rather die than break her marriage vow. With that her husband came and began beating her and took her home. Our priest told us how weak we are running to the courts getting divorce after divorce. He seemed to be holding this woman up as an example of strength in marriage. There was no mention of the man's role in this marriage. And if that woman seeks a divorce to protect her life and very often the lives of her children how can that woman be considered the guilty one? said,

generous and faithful, but something serious about marriage vows got lost some-

where. When they were married, this woman promised to love her spouse, for better or for worse, for richer or for

What love is shown in being a coopher and her children? Blunt as

sound, this

is

it

may

objectively what she does

when she remains

in

such a destructive,

violent situation.

If we interpret the words of Jesus the way the priest did, aren't we saying

women

abusive behavior, not only for her sake

that Jesus condones beating

would condone even the death of women at the hands of their husbands? I cannot believe this. It would be encouraging sin, it seems to me. (New York) that he

A. Let' s pass by for now the priest' and talk about the wife in his

Father John Dietzen

erator in her spouse's violence against

Any husband who behaves this way toward his family is seriously sick. He has a gross personality disorder, which he is acting out on the nearest persons available. Certainly he is missing something essential in his commitment and relationship to his wife and children. To accept and adapt to such behavior is not what marriage vows mean.

Fidelity to the promise to "love for better or for worse" means, in this instance, doing everything possible to stop

and

Question Box

poorer, until death.

his abusiveness to

go on.

spouse

faithful, not unfaithful,

make both of them dependent, in a very unhealthy way, on

Genuine "tough" love will say: This will not continue. For your sake as well as for ours, you need help. Get it. You must have some kind of long-range

up with them, however, in marriage or any other good relationship, is that you are helping each other grow emotionally, spiritually and mentally.

That is clearly not happening here.

The man is seriously hurting both himself and his family. And the mother, if she is capable of any alternative, is permitting harm, not only to herself and the children, but to her husband as well.

Marriage vows are meant to be kept.

But if a spouse is brutally and destructively abusive, part of keeping those vows is to do whatever is possible to end the circumstances that make that abuse

and the children's, but for

his sake as

well.

therapy. If he will not, her promises to

possible.

love him, as well as the obligation to love

homily.

herself

If this is the only way to move one' spouse out of an atmosphere that is destroying him and everyone else, the other

admire such a woman' s desire to be

being

to his or her marriage

attitude

I

is

Someone may protest: There are hard things in every marriage; you learn to put up with them. True. The reason you put

and the children, do not require

her to continue in a situation that allows

vows by following

this course.

It

may be

alternative

is

the harder way, but the

to

each other's needs and weaknesses.

People in this kind of painful life need our prayers, for wisdom and courage for themselves, and for understanding in those around them, especially their families and religious leaders.

(A free brochure outlining basic Catholic prayers, beliefs and practices is available by sending a stamped selfaddressed envelope to Father John Dietzen, Holy Trinity Church, 704 N. Main St., Bloomington, IL61701. Questions for this column should be sent to Father Dietzen at the same address.)

Copyright© 1 994 by Catholic News

Service

The Double Role Of Blessings Catholics are taught to share their

determine that an additional deduction of

The end

about $3,500 will offset the higher tax.

George and Jane decide to make a special gift to a Catholic organization in the

blessings as well as count them.

new

of one year and the beginning of a

one can be a powerful time of reflection.

Your gift to Catholic causes, your parish or the Diocese of Charlotte doesn't have to be in cash. While many find it convenient to write a check, there are other assets

you may not have considered giv-

ing.

Do you own

securities that

have

increased in value but don' t return

much

in

dividends? Have some of your hold-

ings decreased in value, or are you think-

ing about selling

some?

These blessings can be given to benefit people here in the Diocese of Charlotte without detracting from your present

diocese whose work they support. Their

Stewardship

adviser suggests a gift of securities to

minimize an outlay of cash.

The securities have increased substantially from $7 to $35 a share over the 20 years the Porters have held them. By giving appreciated securities that have been owned for longer than a year, George and Jane benefit in the following ways: • They are allowed a deduction for the current fair market value of the 100 shares of stock. At their 36 percent federal income tax rate, the deduction of $3,500 saves them

James Kelley

Benefits such as these

may make

it

or your parish remain unchanged.

pated to further Christ's work. Full deductibility of most gifts of appreciated

Your tax adviser can help answer any questions you may have about ways of giving and tax benefits, or you may wish to call or write me at the Diocesan Development Office, 1 524 E. Morehead St., Charlotte, N.C. 28207 or call (704) 331-1709 or )704) 377-6871.

property for taxpayers

who

itemize de-

ductions, coupled with the tax deduction

or future lifestyle. In fact, charitable

$1,260.

your gift creates, expands the incentives

giving may actually enhance your finan-

•

for charitable giving.

Porter, a hypothetical (but typical) couple

They do not incur capital gains tax on the increase in value. At rates as high as 28 percent, this tax would have cost them $784 if they sold the

whose marginal income

securities.

vate foundations. But the benefits to you

cial situation.

Let' s take a look at

George and Jane tax rate rose to

36 percent with recent changes federal tax law.

Compared

to just three

owe

years ago, they will

in the

5 percent

more in taxes on their income.

Meeting with their tax adviser, they

($1 ,250)

•

of giving to the diocese, Catholic causes

possible for you to give more than antici-

You may have

heard that this de1995

ductibility is being eliminated in

for gifts of appreciated property to pri-

James Kelley is diocesan director of development.

They completely offset higher taxes

without reducing their cash reserves.

They can use the cash they preserved to purchase new securities and achieve a

new

cost basis for tax

purposes.

Notebook(From Page 4) state but

I

have yet

to hear of

most of them seem to fall within the 250word limit. any court

word Christmas.

Unless someone changed a few statutes while I was looking the other way,

ruling out the use of the

the legal

name of the

holiday

is

Christ-

mas.

Our expression of opinion on California' s Proposition

1

87 has brought

—

most on the subject of them disagreeing with us. I'm going to give it another week to see if any more or at come in before we print them least those which space permits. So far in several letters

—

As is our usual custom there will be no edition of The Catholic News & Herald between Christmas and New Year' s. Our Christmas issue will be published Dec. 23 and the next issue after that will be published Jan. 6.

Please take this into consideration in seeking publicity for events taking place the first

week

in January.

Items about them should be published in the Dec. 23 issue and the material should be in our hands by Dec. 14.

5T. EULALIA, A CELEBRATED MARTYR OF SPAIN, LIVED AROUND 300 AD. ACCORDING TO LEGEND, AT 12 YEARS OF AGE, EULALIA DENOUNCED AN ORDER THAT ALL

PEOPLE MAKE SACRIFICES TO THE 60DS OF THE EMPIRE. SHE REPROACHED THE JUDGE, PACIAN FOR TRYING TO DESTROY SOULS

BY ASKING PEOPLE TO DENY THE ONLY TRUE GOP. SHE WAS TORTURED TO DEATH AFTER

TRAMPLING THE JUDGE'S SACRIFICE SET BEFORE HER. EULALIA IS MENTIONEP BY ST. AUGUSTINE ANP HAP R HYMN WRITTEN IN HER HONOR BY PRUDENTIUS. HER FEftST PAY IS

©

DEC. 1994

IO.

CNS Graphics

EULALIA

Bishop's

Stewardship Report people of God of the Diocese of Charlotte to the

For the

fiscal

year ending June 30, 1994

Independent Auditors

Report Bobby

T.

Martin, CPA, PA.

Certified Public Accountant

700 East Stonewall St. - Suite 665 Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 I

have audited the Statement of

Financial Position of the Central Administrative Office of the Catholic

Diocese of Charlotte, as of June 30,

Dear Brothers and Sisters

1994,

in Christ:

and the

related Statements of

Functional Expenditures,

Activities,

and Cash Flows for

The annual financial report of the Central Administrative Charlotte for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1994,

is

the year then

ended. These financial statements are office

presented

of the Diocese of

in the following three

pages.

The contents of this report are the responsibility of the Diocese of Charlotte. To provide additional assurance about the reliability of the financial information contained in this report, the Diocese contracted Bobby T. Martin, CPA, P. A. to conduct an independent audit of this information.

the responsibility of the Diocese's

Management. My responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on my audit.

I

conducted

my audit in

accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. These standards

As your bishop,

I

am accountable

to you, the

people of the Church of Charlotte, for the

require that I plan

and perform

the

proper stewardship offunds. The following report shows that the Central Administrative Office of the Diocese of Charlotte is financially healthy. The numerous programs, ministries

audit to obtain reasonable assurance

and support services provided by

are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test

the Central Administrative Office of the Diocese (reference:

Statement of Functional Expenditures and Schedule of Diocesan Support Appeal Expenditures) are dependent on your generosity. Your gifts to your parish, to the Diocesan

appeals fund the work of the Church. While much progress has been made since the founding of the Diocese of Charlotte 22 years ago, there remain many

Support Appeal and

to special

unanswered needs.

As

basis, evidence supporting the

amounts and disclosures financial statements.

estimates

amounted to 99.8% of total and ministries of the diocese,

the Statement of Activities shows, expenditures for the year

additional financial support

and

is

needed.

As we approach

new year,

the joyful celebration of the Lord's

your continued commitment to the Church. It is only by your generous assistance that we can bring God's love through the many ministries of charity provided by the Church of Charlotte. the beginning of another

I respectfully beg

call

beg

God to

bless

you and all of your loved ones.

you blessed before the Lord.

Devoted

in Christ,

„

I

am, as always,

May all who benefit from your charity

in the

audit also

and

significant

made by Management, as

well as evaluating the overall financial

statement presentation. I believe that

my audit provides a my opinion.

In my opinion,

reasonable basis

for

the financial

statements referred to above present fairly, in all

I

An

includes assessing the accounting principles used

financial support received. In order to expand the programs

birth

about whether the financial statements

material respects, the

financial position of the Central

Administrative Office of the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte at June 30, 1994,

and the results of its operations for the year then ended in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

Most

Rev. William G. Curlin

Bishop of Charlotte

Bobby

T.

Martin, CPA, PA.

September

8,

1994

hop's Stewardship Report

December

9, 1994

Central Administrative Office of The Catholic Diocese of Charlotte Statement of Financial Position June 30, 1994

ASSETS Cash and Cash Equivalents

$ 252,895

Pledges Receivable, Note 3 Assessments Receivable Notes Receivable - Parishes, Note 2 Other Notes and Loans Receivable, Note 4 Investments (Market Value $ 6,411,038) Property, Plant, and Equipment, net Note 6

293,874 160,991 1,418,224

6,302,752 6,279,407 8,447,593

Total Assets

23,155,736

LIABILITIES AND

NET ASSETS

Accounts Payable Short-Term Advances Note Payable, Note 7

$ 265,850 1,396,867

600,000

Total Liabilities

2,262,717

Net Assets:

Permanently Restricted: Endowment Fund

$ 127,966 1,806,151

Deposit and Loan Custodian Fund

6,045,995

Total

7,980,112

Temporarily Restricted

3,668,626

Unrestricted: Designated - Self Insurance Undesignated Total

235,000 9,009,281

9,244,281

Total Net Assets Total Liabilities

20,893,019

and Net Assets

$ 23,155,736

Permanently Restricted

Statement Unrestricted

Temporarily

Deposit

Restricted

and Loan

Endowment

Total

of Activities Support and Revenue: Year Ended June 30, 1994

Assessments

$

Contributions, Collections

Investment Income Rental Income Health Benefits Collected Property Insurance Collected

Lay Employees Benefits Collected Tribunal Donations

Grants Diocesan Support Appeal Other Support-DSA Programs Catholic Conference Center Other Net Assets Released From Restrictions Total Support

and Revenue

837,235 62,386 510,815 321,688 868,850 832,181 821,259 31,105

$ 837,235 240,304

$ 177,918

13,022

$

104,391

$

15,190

643,418 321,688

322,493

1,191,343

206,389

832,181 821,259 31,105 206,389 1,806,000

1,806,000 103,492

291,778 200,645

100,260

2,699,394

(2,699,394)

7,477,336

30,180

103,492 291,778 300,905

15,190

104,391

7,627,097

Expenditures:

Program

5,816,408 1,646,635

5,816,408

Administrative and General

Total Expenditures

7,463,043

7,463,043

Change

In

Net Assets

Other Changes

in

14,293

Interfund Transfers

Net Assets, Beginning

The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of these financial statements.

30,180

15,190

104,391

164,054

Net Assets:

Cumulative Effect of Change In Accounting Principle

Net Assets, June

1,646,635

30, 1994

2,357,107

2,357,107

593,026 8,636,962

1,281,339

$ 9,244,281

$ 3,668,626

15,190)

1,853,986

1,700,949

127,966

10,471,877

$ 1,806,151

$ 127,966

$ 14,847,024

(

5,189)

(

December

9,

Bishop's Stewardship M<

1994

1

^U-

Statement of Functional

Expenditures Year

Ended June

30,

1994

Program: Vocation Office Bishop's Office

$

Lay Employees' Health Benefits Lay Employees' Retirement Programs Property and Liability Insurance Programs Grants

_

Continuing Education Catholic Conference Center

Other

Program

121,205 School Superintendent Office 106,366 Permanent Diaconate 18,808 Family Life 14,265 CRISM 24,108 Catholic Schools Office 81,504 Faith Formation 348,234 Parish Lay Worship 4,900 PLW - Minority Grants 40,398

PLW

and Generai:

Expense

-

Evangelism

African-American Ministry Hispanic Ministry Hispanic Ministry - Outreach Vietnamese Apostolate

1,187,540 262,723

Rental Property Expense Depreciation Expense

79,935 116,437

Catholic Social Services

Total Administrative

and General

391

$

Media

$ 5,816,408

Administrative Interest

Program Agencies:

80,394 32,997 586,501 33,543 365,109 8,430

Priests' Benefits

Administrative

Year Ended June 30, 1994

Diocesan Pastoral Council

DSA Administration Other DSA Expense

Total

Schedule of Diocesan Support Appeal Expenditures

211,159 292,042 366,418 1,030,543 833,745 225,260

1,646,635

Campus Total

Ministry

Program

Agencies

Total Expenditures

25,924 13,649 122,916 53,573 58,164 495,050 220,812

$1,750,267

$ 7,463,043

Permanently Restricted

Statement of Cash Flows Year Ended June 30, 1994

Unrestricted

Temporarily

Deposit

Restricted

and Loan

Endowment

Total

Cash Flows From Operations Change In Net Assets

30,180

14,293

$

$

104,391

$

15,190

164,054

$

Adjustments to Reconcile Change In Net Assets Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities: Depreciation Increases (Decreases) in Accounts Receivables Increase in Accounts Payables

116,437

116,437

72,806

14,978)

280,853

(387,927)

(56,219)

88,185) 233,511 1,396,867 ( 178,271)

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities 1,585,139

383,839

(283,536)

(41,029)

1,644,413

(

160,991)

(

233,511 1,396,867

Increase in Short-term Debt Decrease (Increase) in Interfund Receivables

(

Cash Flows From Investing Activities Purchase of Property and Equipment Decrease In Investments

309,358) 3,238,775

56,219

309,358) 3,294,994

Net Cash Provided By Investing Activities 2,929,417

56,219

2,985,636

(

(

Cash Flows From Financing Activities Reduction in Notes Payable

(5,348,920)

Increase in Loans Receivable

(1,404,165)

137,486

(1,266,679)

(6,753,085)

137,486

(6,615,599)

Net Cash Provided (Used) by Financing Activities Interfund Transfers

2,258,205 19,676 199,343

Increase (Decrease) In Cash Cash, Beginning

Cash, June 30, 1994

$

219,019

(5,348,920)

(

383,839)

(

5,189)

(15,190)

(151,239) 151,239

$-

(

$

1,853,987 131,563) 350,582

219,019

top

s

Stewardship Report

December

9,

1994

Notes To Financial Statements June

30,

1994

STANDARDS OF REPORTING

(1)

have been prepared in accordance Accounting PrinPractices For Churches and Church-Related OrgaReporting ciples and the National Conference of Catholic recently adopted by nizations, Bishops. They include all administrative and program offices and departments of the Central Administrative Office of the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte (The Diocese) within the Piedmont and Western North Carolina Region. No provision for income taxes has been made since the Diocese is not subject to income taxes under the Internal Revenue Code.

The accompanying

financial statements

with generally accepted accounting principles and with

The accompanying

financial statements exclude the accounts of organiza-

Diocese such as parishes, schools, cemeteries, homes, and other institutions owned and operated by religious orders of men and women. tions of the

The value of

properties such as church buildings, schools, rectories, and

the like are not included in the

RETIREMENT PROGRAMS

(5)

accompanying

The accounts of the Diocese ciples of fund accounting. This

The Diocese of Charlotte Retirement Program for Lay Employees (The Lay Plan) became effective as of January 1,1981. The Lay Plan is a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all lay employees of the Diocese of Charlotte. The Diocese collects funds from the parishes based upon a percentage of the lay employees' salaries and remits the actuarially determined liability for future benefits to an insurance

pany under a group annuity

Pension expense for 1994 was $685,173 (1993, $361,495) for the Lay Plan.

Pension expense is based on actuarially computed normal service costs. It is the intent of the Diocese for the annual minimum funding to be the actuarially

recommended

contribution amount.

Accumulated plan

benefits and plan net assets obtained

January

tuarial report dated

1,

from the

latest ac-

1993 are presented below:

financial statements.

are maintained in accordance with the prin-

the procedure

is

com-

contract.

by which resources

for vari-

Actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits

$3,903,636

Net assets available for benefits

$5,019,276

ous purposes are classified for accounting and reporting purposes into funds established according to their nature and purposes.

The assets,

liabilities,

and fund balances of the Diocese are reported in

self-

balancing fund groups as follows: Unrestricted Funds

Funds available

-

for

and used both

The rate of return used in determining the actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits was 7%. The actuarial liability was determined based on assumed salary increases of 5% per year.

in the Diocese's

In addition to the

Lay Plan

the Diocese has also established the Diocese of

regular activities and available for specific current expenditures entirely at the

Charlotte Clergy Retirement Plan (The Clergy Plan) to provide retirement

discretion of

benefits for priests within the Diocese.

its officials.

Temporarily Restricted Funds tures but only in

-

Funds available

to

meet current expendi-

compliance with restrictions specified outside the Diocese.

Permanently Restricted Funds include Deposit and Loan Funds

-

-

Principally funds

which have been designated

Annual collections from the parishes Fund and designated for priests' benefits. At the discretion of the Diocese Pension Committee, which meets annually to review the status of the Plan, the Clergy Plan is funded by making periodic transfers to the Custodian Fund as funds held for others. for this purpose are included within the Unrestricted

as

available to be loaned, usually at a nominal rate of interest, for the mutual

LAND, BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT

(6)

benefit of parishes and other organizations.

Land, buildings and equipment

Endowment Funds - Funds wherein the donors have stipulated that the principal be invested

and maintained

come earned from the Custodian Funds

-

intact

and

1994

1993

$ 3,067,018

$ 3,014,650

1,501,624

1,288,313

1,135,881

1,092,202

Furniture and equipment

235,861

235,861

Rental property

214,574

214,574

2,802,600

2,802,600

8,957,558

8,648,200

509,965

393,528

$ 8,447,593

$ 8,254,672

Land

for assets entrusted to the Diocese

only for the purpose of receiving, holding, investing and disbursing such assets

June 30, 1994 (with comparative figures

in perpetuity, with only the in-

investments available for expenditure.

Funds which account

at

for 1993) are as follows:

upon the authority of the depositor.

Future parish

sites

and other property

Buildings and improvements

Catholic Conference Center

2)

LOANS AND RECEIVABLES FROM PARISHES Less allowance for depreciation

Loans and receivables from parishes at June 30, 1994 (with comparative figures for 1993) are summarized as follows: 1994

1993

The Diocese records

Deposit and Loan Funds: Diocesan loans Apostolate revolving fund loans Total, All

Funds

1,212,049

$ 388,351 1,167,359

$ 1,418,224

$ 1,555,710

$ 206,175

is

discovered or

or another reasonable basis.

ment using the

The Diocesan Support Appeal campaign begins

and equipment at historical cost or fair

determined to belong to the Central Administrative Office of the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, such property is recorded at historical cost, if available,

Depreciation

PLEDGES AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES

(3)

land, buildings

value at date of gift. If additional property already in service

is

computed on the

straight line

historical cost of the property

and equip-

method.

in the fiscal year prior to

by DSA program agencies. At June 30, 1994, $293,874 in pledges out of a goal of $1,806,000 had not been collected. The Diocese has a history of collecting 100% of pledges, therefore, no provision for uncollectible pledges has been made. The majority of temporarily restricted net assets represents DSA income to expended in the next fiscal year.

the expenditure of funds

Other receivables

at

(7)

The notes payable at June 30, 1994 is due on demand and interest is pay1/2% under a line of credit negotiated with a bank. At June 30, 1994, the unused line of credit available was $5,977,421. able at prime less

June 30, 1994 are summarized as follows:

Unrestricted:

Assessments receivable Accrued interest receivable Miscellaneous

1994

CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

(8)

$ 134,290

Notes payable by Parishes and other Diocesan organizations to various banks and other lending institutions with unpaid balances at June 30, 1994 aggregating approximately $ 1 1 ,950,000 have been endorsed by Most Reverend Wil-

1,844

24,857

$ 160,991

liam G. Curlin, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte.

(4)

NOTES AND LOANS RECEIVABLE (9)

Other notes and loans receivable at June 30, 1994 (with comparative figures for 1993) are summarized as follows:

Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools Note Receivable-Property Other

1994

1993

$5,829,517

$4,591,517

186,860 286,375

186,860 393,478

$ 6,302,752

$ 5,171,855

CHANGE IN METHOD OF REVENUE RECOGNITION The timing of revenue recognition was changed from when the contribution is received to when the pledge is received. The effect of the change increased net assets by $366,680.

The Diocese adopted FASB of the adoption was to

effect

1

17 in the current fiscal year.

The cumulative

increase temporarily restricted net assets by

$1,990,426 and to decrease deferred restricted support and revenue by a corresponding amount..

<December9,1994

The Catholic News

Mary Of Guadalupe, Empress Of The Americas, Pray For Us

Hail

By FIDEL

MELO

and she promised to give him the proof the bishop asked for. The Lady assured Juan that the next day she would give him the sign. Due to his uncle's illness, Juan Diego could not meet the Blessed Virgin for the promised sign.

Two days later, on Dec. 1 2, when he was going to the Tlatelolco Church, he had to pass by Tepeyac to bring a priest to his dying relative. The Blessed Mother came down the hill to meet him. She listened to Juan's excuse for not having come the day before. When he finished speaking she said: "It is well, youngest and dearest of my sons, but now listen to me. Do not let anything afflict you and be not afraid of any illness, accident or pain.

Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Do you need anything else? Your uncle will not die, be sure he is now

hope and pray that all is well with all of you there in the [Charlotte Diocese. Because Dec. 1 2, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, is coming soon, I'm glad to share with you a short history of the Guadalupe appariHello dear readers!

I

!

j

tion of 1531.

At dawn on Dec.

9,

convert, Juan Diego,

1

95 1 an Indian ,

was going

to

Tlatelolco (Mexico City) to attend Mass.

As he was passing at the foot of Tepeyac Hill he saw a brilliant light on the summit and heard strange celestial music. Filled with wonderment, he stood still Then he heard a feminine voice asking him to ascend. When he reached the top he saw the Blessed Virgin Mary standing in the midst of a glorious light and attired in heavenly splendor. The beauty of her youthful countenance and her look of loving kindness filled Juan Diego with unspeakable happiness as he listened to the words which she spoke to him in his Indian language. According to Nican Mopohua, a Nahuatl document, the Blessed Virgin told him in his own Nahuatl language: "My son, Juan Diego, where are you going?" He answered, 'Noble Lady, I am on my way to the church at Tlatelolco to hear Mass." And then she said, "You must know and be very certain in your heart, my son, that I am truly the perpetual and perfect Virgin Mary, holy mother of the true God through whom everything lives, the Creator and master of heaven and earth."

"I wish and intensely desire that in this place my sanctuary be built, so that in it I may show and make known and give all my love, my compassion, my help and my protection to the people. I am the merciful mother of all of you who live united in this land and of all mankind, of all who love me, of those who cry to me, of those who seek me, of those who have confidence in me. Here I will hear .

CrOSSwinds

(From Page

5)

well."

Having heard these words, he

Although most professionals consider Ritalin the standard, first-line medication for ADHD, I have also had very good results with some antidepressants, particularly Imipramine. This, medication acts on a 24-hour basis, so you can usually use it once a day at bedtime.

There's no need for the child to have to take medication at school and symptoms are controlled throughout the day.

It

may

take a little longer (days or even weeks)

their weeping, their sorrow and will remedy and alleviate their suffering, necessities and misfortunes. Therefore, go to the dwelling of the bishop in Mexico and tell him that I sent you and that it is my desire to have a sanctuary built here."

The bishop was reluctant to believe the Mexican man's story, so he returned

Tepeyac (Tepeyacac,

to

in Nahuatl),

found the Blessed Virgin waiting for him and told her of his failure. "I am only a poor man. I am not worthy ofbeing there where you send me. Pardon me, my Queen, I do not want to make your noble heart sad. I do not want to fall into your

of the Indian's mantle. Early on the same day she had also appeared to Juan's uncle and restored him to health as she had told Juan Diego she would do.

Our Lady of Guadalupe left her image imprinted on the cloak of an Aztec Indian, Juan Diego, who was her messenger. At that time, the apparitions of the virgin were needed as a symbol of unity to stabilize the conflict of the opposing Aztec and Spanish cultures. The miracle of Guadalupe is a living reality

today and I think we are exhorted to be her messengers in the present time; to be her helpers

— ambassadors

Christ's love.

She told him to climb to the top of the hill where he had seen her and spoken with her on three occasions.

She said he would find many flowers blooming there which he was to cut and bring to her. Juan Diego did as he was told, although on this stony summit no flowers had ever bloomed before. He found a miraculous garden of roses which he cut as Our Lady had asked and took them to her. She arranged them in his mantle, telling him to take them to the bishop; that it was the sign that would

stranger or any other person to

persuade him to carry out her wishes.

When Juan Diego, radiantly happy, stood before Bishop Fray Juan de

She wants us

of Jesus to

meet a

whom we

have been a stranger; to make unity in charity the key of salvation. She asks us to share the Christian fraternity in our society with the love of Jesus Christ (Mt. 25: 35-40).

With

the

same

spirit,

she

brings us the faith in the treasures of salvation and with love and respect for each other's lives and cultures.

Greetings and prayers to all of you

with God's love and a special blessing

William G. Curlin. is a seminarian for the Diocese of Charlotte at St. Vincent de Paul Seminary, Boynton Beach, Fla. for our bishop,

Fidel Melo

.

ference of Catholic Bishops and the

You and your daughter' s teacher should

Extension Society s board of governors.

Father Kenneth Velo, president of

From 1976 to 1982, Archbishop Sheehan served as rector of Holy

Catholic Extension, recently announced

Trinity Seminary in Dallas.

the appointments of Archbishop Michael

ing as pastor of Immaculate Conception

on a behavioral plan as well.

The book, Dr. Larry Silver's Advice Parents on Attention Deficit Hyper-

tor

to

activity Disorder,

goes into

much more

the staff

II.

'

J.

Sheehan of Santa Fe, N.M., and John

types of professionals

W. Croghan, chairman of the Lincoln Capital Management Company of Chi-

causes of

cago.

detail

on various treatments

available,

who can help, ADHD, and how to know if

the

United States Catholic Conference and

worked

as assistant general secretary

until 1976.

Parish in

Grand

John Paul

II

Prairie,

While serv-

Texas, Pope

appointed him as the

first

bishop of the Diocese of Lubbock.

In April 1993, the

pope named him

Written by a

"These gentlemen bring tremendous

the apostolic administrator of the Arch-

readable and a great

experience and commitment to Catholic

diocese of Santa Fe. The following Sep-

make the decisions that you are facing. The book,

Extension," Father Velo said. "Arch-

tember he was installed as archbishop.

Croghan is chairman and founder of

your child has medical doctor,

ADHD. it's

guide for someone trying to

The

(800-368-5777), costs $17.95.

For a wealth of practical things you can do as a parent to help improve attenorder the Parent's Guide to Atten-

tion,

tion Deficit

cost

is

Disorder (800-542-1673).

$16, including shipping. is contract staff with

Dr. Shuping

information. If medication is prescribed,

Catholic Social Services and also has a

remember it's never the whole solution.

private practice as a psychiatrist in

Catholic

marvelously painted in the most upon the course fabric

exquisite colors

archbishop and a Midwestern businessman, both with outstanding reputations, have been named to the Catholic Church

somewhat different mechanism.

Your doctor can give you additional

—

ions there appeared the Virgin Mary's portrait

She begged him to go back again.

The bishop then requested that the Lady give him a sign. Juan reported this to her

displeasure."

from the American Psychiatric Press

^Carolina

cascaded to the floor. To the astonishment of the bishop and his compan-

ers

Archbishop, Layman Named To Extension Society Board he joined of National ConCHICAGO, — A Southwestern

begin to work, but can be just as effective as Ritalin and a good alternative for children who have problems with Ritalin or other meds. The antidepressants also increase the availability of one or more neurotransmitters, although by a to

re-

Zumarraga and told him of his encounter with the Blessed Virgin, he opened his mantle to show him the sign as the flow-

joiced and begged her to give him the sign for the bishop.

continue to work together with your doc-

fir

&

Winston-Salem. Questions for this column may be sent to: Dr. Martha W. Shuping, 1400 Millgate Drive, Suite B,

Winston-Salem,

NC 27103.

bishop Sheehan has a great interest and understanding for missions in the United States because he has served in both Lubbock and in Santa Fe. John Croghan is a Catholic layman who has earned respect in business circles for his financial acumen and his expertise in investment banking."

Archbishop Sheehan, originally from Kansas, studied in Texas and abroad. In 1964, he was ordained in Rome and returned to Texas to serve as associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in

Tyler and as secretary of the diocesan

968 he returned to Rome to study canon law at Lateran University, earning a doctoral degree in 1 97 1 Later that year

iBookSVioppc McAlwavf Rb. dwlotte, NC 28211

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graduated with honors from Loyola

University with a bachelor of science degree in 1952. He received his masters

degree from Harvard University.

In 1 992 he was elected to the Northwestern University board of trustees. He a director for numerous organizations, including Evanston Hospital, Lindsay is

Manufacturing, Morgan Stanley Asia Pacific Fund, Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets and St. Paul Bancorp. He is a of the finance council for the

Archdiocese of Chicago. Croghan and his wife Rosemary are the parents of six children.

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i.olic

News

& Herald

December

People LIGUORI,

Editor, Dies

Mo.

more and

At 81

(CNS)

—

Adam

Maida of

J.

Detroit

with the expectation of taking on greater

81, a well-known journalist, chaplain and parish missionary, died Nov. 19 at St. Anthony's Hospital, St. Louis, after

responsibility in the church. In

receive their red hats from

II, they were joined by close to 1,000 family members, friends and archdiocesan faithful for prayer, litur-

the positions they hold

Born

ceive

Grand Rapids, Mich.,

Rome to

Pope John

Paul

A funeral Mass

was concelebrated by 30 Redemptorists and other priests Nov. 22 in the Liguori Mission House chapel. Burial followed in the Redemptorist cemetery. Father Miller was editor in chief of the Redemptorists' family-oriented monthly magazine, Liguorian, from 1961 to 1977. in

The News

joined the College of Cardinals Nov. 26

Redemptorist Father Louis G. Miller,

suffering a heart attack.

1994

Cardinals William H. Keeler of Balti-

Redemptorist Father Miller,

Former Liguorian

In

9,

gies in historic

Rome

churches and

sightseeing expeditions. In addition to active cardinals are

now,

named

all

of the

to Vatican

congregations and councils. But some of

new cardinals probably will renew assignments from the pope.

the 30

in 1913,

Father Miller followed three older brothers into the Redemptorist order.

Salvadoran Auxiliary Archdiocesan Administrator

Cardinal O'Connor Says Killing Abortion Doctors Not Justifiable VATICAN CITY (CNS) At a Vatican conference on human life, Cardinal John J. O'Connor of New York examined the pragmatic and moral as-

Basilica.

Among

pects of a highly sensitive topic: the

relatives

now

—

Named

SAN SALVADOR (CNS) — Aux-

Bishop Gregorio Rosa Chavez of San Salvador was named Nov. 28 as iliary

archdiocesan administrator following the

killing of doctors

sudden death of Archbishop Arturo Rivera Damas two days before. Minutes after his appointment was made public, Bishop Rosa Chavez said that he accepted the responsibility, "placing my faith in God's help and in the help of the people I will serve." The announcement was made by archdiocesan vicar Msgr.

Jose Ricardo Urioste Bustamante, who had met shortly before with the papal nuncio to El Salvador, Archbishop Manuel Monteiro de Castro. The San Salvador archdiocesan consultative council, comprised of six priests, voted to make the bishop administrator until a new archbishop is chosen.

tions. In

new

celebrated

Mass with

at

both pro

ing has dealt with the controversial issue.

—

The Vatican has placed a Benedictine priest from Rhode Island in charge of the Abbey of ReginaLaudis in Bethlehem, a cloistered community of Benedictine nuns. The priest, Father Matthew Stark, said he will serve a three-year term as

the

delegate of the Holy See at the abbey.

was made

He

before the Mass began. Getting out of the

was

where the abbey is located. He said the Holy See was aware of allegations that arose in the late 1 980s of cultlike leader-

closed in the car door. Pope John Paul's

ship practices there, but contrary to some

in

June

with the approval of Archbishop Daniel

A. Cronin of Hartford, the archdiocese

car to enter St. Peter's Basilica and vest

personal physician disinfected the finger

local speculation, he said he was not sent

and put a bandage on it before the pontiff put on the liturgical vestments and celebrated the Mass. The blood-stained bandage was changed after the Mass and before the pope led the midday Angelus prayer from his apartment window over-

to investigate them.

the sick, mentally ill, abandoned children

related to the Rafols family of

pointed superior. Displaying heroic effort, she often confronted hostility cre-

Rafols,

is

and disabled people.

At age 23, Blessed Maria was ap-

Among her relatives are Juan

Statesville.

some of the hospital employees.

During the Napoleonic wars, she labored in bombed ruins, endangering her life to save the sick and children. She even

BornNov. 5, 1781 in Vilafranca del Penedes, Spain, Blessed Maria was part

ventured into the enemy camp to plead with the French general for help with the

of a simple, hardworking family. She

sick and

attended a boarding school in Barcelona

Blessed Maria struggled tirelessly for the approval of her small community.

parishioners of

to

St.

They

ated by

are

Philip the Apostle in

complete her formation while mainand

Finally in

piety.

public vows. The victim of calumny, she

She then joined a group of 1 2 young under the direction of Father Juan Bonal, administrator of Our Lady of Grace Hospital in Zaragoza. The community formed an apostolic association

was imprisoned during

825, the sisters took their first

later released

Mother Benedict

This newspaper

o INSURANCE AGENCY,

newsprint and cyclable.

is

INC.

EXECUTIVE OFFICES 1373 WESTGATE CENTER DRIVE WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27103

is

printed on recycled

With Red Hats VATICAN CITY (CNS)

1

the Carlist War, and spent her remaining years at her foundling home. She died Aug. 30, 1853 at age 72.

women

DIXIE

Square.

wounded.

taining a life of solitude, prayer

Duss, 84, who founded the abbey in the 1940s, continues in her post as abbess.

Cardinals See Greater Responsibility

dedicated to serving the most helpless;

Pope John Paul II beatified five servants of God, two priests and three sisters. One of the sisters, Blessed Maria

Isabel Rafols of Kelly Street.

said the appointment

St. Peter's

On the brilliantly sunny morning of Oct. 16,

and Felita Rafols of Kerley Court and

Conn. (CNS)

By Pope

Five Beatified

Of Cloistered Nuns' Abbey

bandage on his right little finger. Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls told reporters the pope hurt his finger just

looking

Among

Vatican Puts Priest In Charge

BETHLEHEM,

cardinals Nov. 27 wearing a small

for the liturgy, the pope's finger

Relative Of Statesville Family

Statesville.

—

II

a speech that looked

II presides over the beatification of five religious in St. Peter's those now a step closer to sainthood was a Spanish nun whose live in Statesville. (CNS photo from Reuters)

abor-

and con arguments, Cardinal O'Connor offered a carefully worded judgment against the moral legitimacy of such assassinations and said they had damaged the pro-life cause. He gave the talk Nov. 25 at a conference sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers. It was apparently the first time a Vatican meet-

Car Door Closes On Pope's Finger Before Mass With Cardinals VATICAN CITY (CNS) Pope John Paul

who perform

Pope John Paul

PHONE

919 -760-0565

re-

Agents

•

Brokers

•

Consultants

•

Self-Insurance—Administrators

— U.S. been happening since you last Have there been marriages, births or deaths in your family? Did you change jobs or retire from full-time employment? Areyouthinking

Don't Let

hat's

| looked at your will?

txxptnxt

about ways to make a difference in people

'

s

Your Will Age With You.

through your faith?

Times change. People change. And as they do, so should your will, if it is to do the best job of distributing your property. Meet with your attorney to review your will every few years and after any major life changes. As you plan, focus on your goals for yourself, your family, and charitable interests such as your parish, Catholic schools, Catholic agencies or the diocese. All can find a place in your will.

Call or write today for information about planning and updating lives

Readings for the Week of December 11

-

December 17

Sunday: Zephaniah 3:14-18; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18.

Monday: Any readings from Common of Blessed Virgin Mary.

a will.

Please send a free copy of

"How

to

Make a

Will Thai Works," without obligation.

Tuesday: Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13; Matthew 21:28-32.

Name

Wednesday:

Isaiah 45:6-8, 18, 21-25;

Luke 7:18-23.

Street

Thursday: Isaiah 54:7-10; Luke 7:24-30.

Friday: Isaiah 56:1-3, 6-8; John 5:33-36.

Saturday: Genesis 49:2, 8-10;

Matthew

1:1-17.

City, State,

Phone

(

Zip

)

Mail to Jim Kelley, Director of Development, Diocese of Charlotte, 1524 E. Morehead Street, Charlotte, NC 28207, or call (704) 331-1709 or 377-6871.

December 9, 1994

&

The Catholic News

l

ie

Diocesan News Briefs CHRISM Christmas Party CHARLOTTE — The

Charlotte

from7:30-8:30p.m. during the month of December.

Day by Day With Jesus,

Coping With Aging Parents

book

Vicariate Retirees will have a Christmas

Party on Saturday, Dec.

17 from 11

at

(704) 366-6026 for information.

Fifty Plus

their relationships with the Lord.

Ann

Church. Cost is $4 per person. There will be lunch and door prizes. Bring an unwrapped toy or clothes for a child as a donation. Reservations are required by Dec. 13. Call Adele at (704) 33 1 - 1 720 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday or after 6 p.m. a.m.-2 p.m. at St.

— Are you taking

CHARLOTTE

care of your aging parents in your home, theirs or another location?

A

—

The St. John Neumann Church Fifty Plus Senior Club

group meets at St. Gabriel Church Thursday, Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the family room to share methods of coping with aging parents. For information, call the church at (704) 364-543 1 or Bernadette at (704) 573-9881.

live

New Year's Eve Party KANNAPOLIS The St. Joseph Church New Year's Eve Party is Satur-

entertainment and door prizes in the

day, Dec. 31 from 8 p.m.-l a.m. in the

church hall on Wednesday, Dec. 14 be-

Activity Center. Cost

will

have a Christmas party with

The

$7 for members and $10 for guests. Bring a non-perishable food item as a food basginning at

1 1

a.m.

cost

.is

ket donation. Reservations are required.

Tickets will not be sold at the door. For information, call Ann Mclntyre at (704)

— is

BYOB

and those attending must be 18 years of age or older. Tickets are for sale after Masses at St. James and St. Joseph Churches. is

545-5046.

Advent Journey Ever Met

An Angel?

CHARLOTTE

— Have your en-

countered an angel? If so, Christian Mothers at St. Gabriel Church wants to hear from you. The group is planning a

program on angels Jan. 5. If you believe you have met an angel, call Holly McRae at (704)

364-9789.

CHARLOTTE

—

Mary Hugh Mauldin

Mercy

Sister

will present the

"Advent: A Journey Thorough the Eyes of Isaiah," at St. John Neumann Church Dec. 1 1 and Dec. 18 from 8:459:45 a.m. Catechist credit is given.

Babysitting is provided. For information call (704) 535-4197. series,

1

9.

A communal penance service will be

offered at the concluding service.

The

obtain a

Holiday Sports

48th

New

St.,

NY

York,

10017.

lege

On Medjugorje

GREENSBORO— Wayne Weible, author of two best-selling books, Medjugorje: The Message, and Letters From Medjugorje, will speak at St. Paul the Apostle Church on Monday, Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. A convert to Catholicism three years ago, Weible is a former newspaper publisher and columnist who writes and lectures on Medjugorje and personal experiences from his 1 8 trips there.

CHARLOTTE

—

St.

baseball, basketball, fitness, soccer,

swimming, volleyball and tennis. The fee is $1 10 a week and discounts are available for families with more than one child. For information, call the Belmont

Abbey Office

—

CHARLOTTE

Sale

BELMONT

— Known

for his

37

Aquinas Church has Eucharistic Adora-

years of pastoral and Marian work, his

tion of the Blessed Sacrament on Fridays

television appearances

on

EWTN

and

warm and delightful personality, Capuchin Father Sylvester of New Jersey will conduct a Eucharist Devotion of Forty Hours at Queen of the Apostles Church Dec. 17-19. All are invited to attend and share.in the special graces of God's love, adoring Jesus, the Christ Child. Forinformation, call Jan Rogers at (704) 825-5277 or827-7593. his

FOUR GREAT NAMES to

KNOW

Local Knights Are 'Stars'

MORGANTON — The Knights of

Columbus Council 9579 earned the disof

"Survivors," a

—

HICKORY A Knights of Columbus yard sale at St. Aloysisus Church is Saturday, Dec. 10 beginning at 8 a.m.

The money will be used for community projects. Donations can be delivered to the activity center or call Steve Purcell at

Del Zoppo on Saturday, Dec. 10

Council,

mation, call the Lay Ministry Office at (704) 334-1805.

The Catholic News & Herald welcomes parish news for the diocesan news briefs. Good photographs, preferably black and white, also are welcome.

Please submit news releases and photos lication.

will

MAGGIE VALLEY — A weekend

retreat for

diocesan and parish leaders,

"A

Lead with Joy and Hope,"

Call to

Jan.

27-29

at

is

$80. For

information, call(704) 926-3833.

HYunoni

William McKeon, director of the

Vincentian

Novena

is conducting a solemn novena in honor of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal at St. Mary Church beginning Saturday, Dec. 10. The novena, which includes prayer, Mass and confession, will be offered twice daily at 1 a.m. and 7 p.m through Monday, Dec.

Catholic

St.

Gabriel Church

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1337 Central Ave. CHARLOTTE, N.C. 28205 ItJusic&Electronics.lnc.

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JMM Thanks to St. Jude and the Blessed Mother for prayers answered through their intercession.

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NEW YORK — The Christophers,

throughout the world, ever.

St.

Leadership Retreat

oriented activities.

a non-profit organization based on the Judeo-Christian values of service to God and humanity, has published a new book,

the Sacred Heart of Jesus be

adored, loved, glorified and preserved

us.

ther

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May

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charitable agencies.

promotion of the fraternal insurance program and sponsorship of service

6951 E.Independence 531-3131

—

Christmas trees be sold by the Knights of Columbus at St. Vincent dePaul Church through Dec. 1 1 Sale hours are: Monday-Friday from 4 a.m. -9 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. -9 p.m., and Sundays from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.. Proceeds will go to

re-

tention,

MITSUBISHI

CHARLOTTE

and wreaths

Solemn Novena

membership recruitment and

10 days before the date of pub-

at least

Card Of Thanks

recognizes overall excellence in the areas of

at the

Catholic Conference Center. For infor-

Christmas Tree Sale

lead the retreat. Donation

Star

to certi-

(704) 324-0136 for pick up. Items must

the organization's most outstanding award, for the 1 993-94 fraternal year. The award

tinction

program leading

fication will be conducted by Dr. Patrick

widow/widowers support group meets at the Catholic Center on the third Sunday each month from 4:30-6 p.m. Contact Suzanne Bach at (704) 377-6871 for more information.

Yard

(704) 825-6672.

HICKORY — A bereavement coun-

seling training

Survivors Meet

at

Bereavement Counseling Training

Blessed Sacrament Devotion

Thomas

sponsoring a holiday sports day

for children ages 9-17

from Dec. 19-23 and Dec. 26-30 from 8:30 a.m.4:30 p.m. The camp will offer aerobics,

be pre-priced.

Adoration Of The Blessed Sacrament

is

camp

Lecture

Camp

BELMONT— Belmont AbbeyCol-

copy, write to The Christophers, 12 E.

favors, entertainment, mixers and break-

This event

To

$ 1 2 each or $20

per couple and includes admission, party

fast.

available for $6.

is

support

Christmas Party

CHARLOTTE

featuring daily

and insights from people on

reflections

.

M .MM ,„,.

with the moral, social, and economic stresses of caring for children.

— Putting Children and Families First

uholic

News

& Herald

December

9,

199

i

Q>mun\i

(IpmtmiqMMorios

\ Angel Rivera y su esposa Iris (no presente en la foto) dirigiendo una de las charlas Foto por A. DE AGUILAR del retiro para matrimonios y parejas en Kernersville.

Janet y Mariano Lara dandose un beso, retiro

como

parte de una de las dinamicas en el

de integration matrimonial.

Foto por A.

DE AGUILAR

Renovando Nuestra Relacion Por ARTURO DE AGUILAR "Doy gracias a Dios por haberme dado a la mujer mas hermosa, pues la

que vive en Orlando, Florida, fueron los

y te pido perdon por te he podido valorar".

porque solo fue un dfa, pero su contenido y resultados fueron todo lo contrario.

Tuve el gusto de estar presente durante parte del seminario y fue una de las partes mas hermosas. Durante esa parte todo el grupo de participantes compartio algunas de sus experiencias mas profundas de su relacion como como seres humanos, pareja, reconociendo virtudes y defectos.

bellezaes la

interior...

veces que no

Esta frase, salida desde lo hondo del corazon, la dijo uno de los hombres que, junto a sus esposas, participaron del dfa

de reflexion para matrimonios y parejas que se llevo a cabo el sabado 19 de noviembre en la Parroquiade Holy Cross, en Kernersville.

Iris y Angel Rivera, un matrimonio

El

todo el mundo bautizandoles en el nombre del Padre, del Hijo y del Espfritu Santo,

ensenandoles a observar lo que yo les he ordenado. He aquf que yo estoy con ustedes todos los dfas, hasta el fin del El Bautismo con

nombre de la Santisima por lo tanto, el hecho que el Senor quiso para darinicio a laexistencia de \anueva creatura que nace en aquellos que aceptan y creen en la palabra de vida.

Esta nueva vida nace de la participacion en la muerte y resurrecion de Jesus, que

el

agua en

Trinidad

el

es,

Bautismo mediante el signo del agua que es al mismo tiempo

se realiza

en

reflexion matrimonial.

Bautismo

Jesus envio a sus discfpulos a anunciar la "Buena Nueva" y a bautizar: "Vayan pues, y hagan discipulos por

mundo" (Mt 28: 1 9ss).

que dirigieron este pequeno seminario de

el

mi,

si

Fue pequeno

( I

no

lo atrae

mi Padre que me ha

enviado" (Jn 6:44). Y es la fe, generada por la atraccion del Padre, que gufa al creyente hacia el Bautismo: "Quien crea y sea bautizado vivira, pero quien no crea sera condenado" (Mc 1 6 1 6). A la fe solemnementeprofesadaen la celebration del Bautismo, Dios Padre responde concediendo al creyente el perdon de los :

pecados y el

la

gracia de ser hijo adoptivo:

Bautismo nos hace

Dios en

el

hijos e hijas de Hijo Amado, entregado por

"Todos ustedes son de hecho Dios por la fe en Cristo Jesus, puesto que han sido bautizados en Cristo, se revistieron de Cristo" (Gal 3:26ss).

Con permiso de los Padres de la Sociedad de San Pablo. nosotros: hijos de

instrumento de destruction e indispens-

"O ^no saben ustedes que fuimos bautizados en Cristo Jesus fuimos bautizados en su muerte?

Por medio del Bautismo fuimos, pues, sepultados junto con El en la muerte, y

Nuestros dos queridos amigos de Orlando realizan estos retires como parte de su compromiso pastoral como ministros laicos. Ellos han estado viniendo a nuestra diocesis por varios anos, participando no solo en este tipo de ministerio, sino tambien en la evangelization de nuestra diocesis visitando a los hispanos en diferentes localidades. Esta vez el Padre Jose Waters los invito, ellos cumplieron su mision y el resto esta en manos de Dios.

Al seminario de reflexion asistieron cerca de veinte parejas de muchas comunidades, como Charlotte, Statesville, Greensboro y otros lugares.

Fue una experiencia maravillosapara los participantes. De acuerdo a una de las parejas, "Nunca habfa participado en algo asi." "Creo que impacto mi vida

los

En Lourdes, Francia, en el ano de 1858 Nuestra Santisima Madre se aparecio a una nina llamada Bernardita.

Se dirigio a ella con estas palabras: "Yo soy la Inmaculada Concepcion".

Algunos anos atras el dogma de la Concepcion de Maria fue declarado por su Santidad Pfo IX. Parece que la Virgen decidio manifestarseparadejarnos saber

que lalglesiaestabacorrectaal reconocer este misterio como verdad de fe.

Muchas personas confunden o

como

Cristo fue resucitado de entre los

muertos por medio de la gloria del Padre, asf nosotros caminamos en una nueva vida"

(Rm 6:3-4).

Unidos al Senor Jesus, en el misterio de su ^ascua, los bautizados entran en la comunion vivificante de la Trinidad

ARTURO DE AGUILAR

Esta celebration no es un tiempo

en sf, sino mas bien una fiesta importante que esta comprendida dentro de la Navidad. La Epifania realza el hecho que Dios se ha hecho hombre, que se hace presente en nuestra naturaleza

Dios Padre actua con potencia en el Bautismo, como ha actuado en la

"Con Cristo ustedes

han sido sepultados en el Bautismo, y en El tambien fueron resucitados por la fe en la potencia de Dios que lo resucito de entre los muertos" (Col 2:12).

Es el Padre que mueve los corazones a la conversion necesaria para recibir a

Jesus y seguirlo: "Nadie puede venir a

manifestacion gloriosa de Cristo.

Tradicionalmente se ha asociado

el

liturgico

texto de la visita de los reyes de oriente

mortal.

(Mt 2:1-12) con la Epifania, pues es asf que el evangelista nos da a entender la superioridad de Jesus ante cualquier otro senor de la tierra. Tambien de ahf viene la costumbre de muchos de nuestros pafses latinos de celebrar el dia 6 de enero a los famosos "tres reyes magos".

Ese dfa se les da jugetes a los nifios y se hace una fiesta.

Esta palabra proviene del griego

Santisima.

resurrection del Hijo:

La Epifania Por

que significa manifestacion.

Era utilizada por los romanos para designar una visita oficial del emperador.

Su uso en el Nue vo Testamento se deri va de la tradition apocalfptica del Antiguo Testamento respecto a la "venida del Senor". Aquf designa el dfa de Cristo, aunque la aparicion de Jesus en la tierra no es la realization plena de la venida del Senor, pues no es hasta el fin de los tiempos, con la Parusi'a, que se espera la

pareja", fue la frase que un matrimonio compartio al terminar el dfa.

La presencia de Dios podia sentirse alrededor de los presentes y creo que el Senor toco muchos corazones.

La

tematica del seminario fue la

relacion de la pareja entre si y

como

familia para mejorar su comunicacion y lograr conocerse mejor.

Entre algunas de las experiencias que hubo, una pareja anuncio su proximo enlace matrimonial, otraparejacomento la buena noticia de que pronto serfan papas y muchos otros compartieron que

manifestaron la palpable presencia del Espfritu durante todo el dfa.

Esperamos volver a tener a Iris Angel pronto entre nosotros para que compartan ese don que el Senor les ha dado de dar testimonio de su compromiso matrimonial ante los demas.

La Inmaculada Concepcion

able fuente de vida:

que

como

identifican la Inmaculada Concepcioi con el nacimiento de Cristo. Ellas creen que este dogma se refiere a Cristo, pero no es asf. Esta verdad de Fe revelada por Dios reconoce que Maria fue preservada de toda manchade pecado original desde su concepcion. Esta es una gracia que Dios en su grandeza le concedio privilegiadamente en prevision de los meritos de Jesucristo.

Maria nunca cometio pecado alguno, por gracia de Dios y porque siempre i\xi fiel a su Senor. Maria, con su ejemplo, nos anima a vivir como ella lo hizo: engrandeciendo al Senor y con espfritu alegre en Dios nuestro Salvador.

El pasado 8 de diciembre celebramos este dogma que fue reconocido como tal en el ano 1 854 y desde esa fecha hasta hoy dfa se continua celebrando como tal.

El vigilar y orar con Maria nos acerca cada dfa mas a su Hijo y nos reaviva y

alimenta

la fe,

para

asf,

dfa tras dfa,

alcanzar a conquistar la felicidad a la que

estamos llamados

como hijos de Dios

To Our Friends

La Iglesia celebra esta manifestacion

Workshop for couples conducted by and Angel Rivera this past Nov. 19 Holy Cross Parish in Kernersville.

del Senor el 6 de enero diciendo en el

Iris

prefacio de la misa propio para ese dfa:

at

"Porque tu unico Hijo, manifestandose en nuestra naturaleza mortal nos restauro con la nueva luz de su inmortalidad".

Celebramos pues a Cristo, lumen gentium: Luz de los pueblos.

First of a two-part article about baptism.

Explanation of the feast of the Immaculate Conception which we celebrated Dec. 8. Seminarian Arturo de Aguilar writes

,

about the Epiphany.

The Catholic New>

December 9, 1994

World and National Briefs Irish-Born Priest Convicted Of Conspiracy In Armored Car Heist A ROCHESTER, N.Y. (CNS) federal jury convicted an Irish-born priest and an illegal Irish immigrant of con-

—

spiracy in connection with a $7.4 million

armored car robbery. Father Patrick Moloney, 62, a Melkite-rite priest, and Samuel Ignatius Millar, 39, who was smuggled into the United States illegally by one of his acquitted co-defendants, were taken into custody following the verdict Nov. 28. Both face up to five years in prison

Feb.

9.

when they are sentenced

The other two defendants

in the

case, a former Rochester police officer

and an unemployed New York City teacher, were acquitted of all charges in connection with the Jan.

attendance and promoted students' critical thinking and writing skills. Imple-

mented at the start of the new school year makes attendance at Sunday services 50 percent of the reli-

this fall, the policy

—

ton apologized to victims of sexual abuse,

offered the Church's support and aid to

and urged all Catholics to "be wide awake" to signs of abuse within the Church family. He celebrated a Mass of Understanding and Healing Nov. 27 at lary Queen of the Holy Rosary Church victims,

n Lexington, whose founding pastor as sentenced Sept. 30 to 10 years' robation on sexual abuse charges. Msgr. sonard B. Nienaber, 87, pled guilty to 0 counts of sexual abuse of children. In 1, 24 people brought 36 counts against

who is serving his probation in by the Servants of the an order devoted to the care of

priests.

WASHINGTON

(CNS)

—

Post-

stamp program for so many years and is so meaningful to so many Americans, I have asked the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to develop designs for a Madonna and Child stamp to be included in the 1 995 program."

School's "No Pray, No Play" Rule Increases Pupils' Mass Attendance AURORA, 111. (CNS) St. Joseph

—

Services director Kenneth Hackett de-

said in a telephone interview

for the policy

dents have to earn passing grades

want

— and 90 percent of

the

tired

coming

Aurora

took a look at

levels

and

institutions

CRS The

enough fuel to make it through has taken its toll on the Sarajevans, he said. "You don't see any fat people," Hackett, just back from a visit to the Balkans where he

Anti-Immigrant "Hardness Of Heart" Called A Conflict With Gospel

(CNS)

from

headquarters in Baltimore Nov. 29.

if they

school's students play sports.

SAN FRANCISCO

into the third year

daily struggle of finding enough food and

to take part in extracurricular ac-

tivities

They're

stu-

came about because

— All

of the Church

CRS

operations.

VATICAN CITY (CNS)

—

In a

document outlining moral guidelines for

San Francisco Archbishop John R. Quinn. In a Nov. 29 pastoral letter, Archbishop Quinn said a spreading hardness of heart toward immigrants, which he called "appalling and so profoundly in

on doctors and nurses

conflict with the Gospel," is behind a

refusal," said the 122-page

wave of blaming immigrants for economic and social problems. A fruit of

Titled, "Charter for Health

that attitude

and of the recent passage of is fear and humiliation that keeps people from seeking medical care and from sending their children to school, he said.

tifical

Proposition 187

Health Care Workers and released at the Vatican Nov. 23. It quoted extensively

health care workers, the Vatican called to refuse to

go

along with laws that allow abortion.

Health care personnel "are obligated to raise objections of conscience" to such

laws and make clear their "civil but firm document.

ers," the text

Care Workthe Pon-

was prepared by

Council for Pastoral Assistance to

from previous Vatican documents and papal speeches, cataloguing norms and

(CNS)

—

Unchecked

Colorado could lead to the creation of a "Rocky Mountain theme park" surrounded by "a growing buffer zone of the working poor," says Archin

dealing with such issues as terminal

ill-

ness, organ transplants, genetic experi-

mentation and procreation. The guidelines were framed by the principle that, in the Church's view, all health care must be performed in the service of life and with

full

respect for the

human person.

bishop J. Francis Stafford of Denver in a

It centered on growth in the Western Slope region, which includes such resorts as Vail and Aspen.

"The task on the Western Slope is not to indict any particular group or shut down

newspaper. state's

the tourist resorts in an effort to return to

an imagined pristine past; but to encourage growth in a direction, and at a pace, and with a variety, that serves the maximum number of people who actually live and work there in the best possible way,"

Pope Discusses Middle East Peace Process With Egyptian President Pope VATICAN CITY (CNS)

—

John Paul II discussed the ongoing Middle East peace process with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak during a Nov. 23 meeting, the Vatican announced. Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro- Vails characterized the private audience as cordial and said the peace process and presence of the Catholic Church in Egypt were

among

"various themes" discussed.

Egypt's population is about 90 percent

Muslim. Catholics number about 206,000 of Egypt's almost 55 million The Vatican released no other details of the meeting.

Q

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charges of blasphemy against the prophet

Muhammad,

has been acquitted and London-based International Institute for the Study of Islam and Christianity reported. Masih' s acquittal was announced at a Nov. 27 hearing in the high court in Lahore, Pakistan. Masih was accused of blasphemy against the founder of Islam in December 1 99 1 by a member of a fundamentalist Sunni Musfreed, the

lim party after a dispute involving a

water faucet. Despite the fact that sevheard no derogatory remarks about the prophet Muhammad from Masih, he was found

eral witnesses said they

November 1992

trial

and

sentenced to death.

Pope Says He Wants To Visit Sarajevo As Soon As Possible VATICAN CITY (CNS)

— Pope

John Paul II said once again that he would go to the besieged Bosnian city of Sarajevo as soon as possible. The pope said he made the archbishop of Sarajevo, Vinko Puljic, a cardinal Nov. 26 as a sign of "my esteem for his courageous apostolic zeal." "At the same time, I want it to be a sign of my closeness to the Catholics of Sarajevo and the whole of Bosnia-Herzegovina and to all of the populations tried by the war which, in the last few days, has re-ignited and rages in a very worrying way," the pope said.

Joan of Arc Parish Joan of Arc Parish

Priest Says Brazilian Troops Tortured Young Drug Suspects RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (CNS)

—

Brazilian soldiers who participated in

a drug raid on a Rio de Janeiro shantytown tortured young suspects with beatings

and near-drownings, a Catholic priest said Nov. 28. "I saw about 15 youths lying on the floor of the church, their hands behind their backs with someone asking them questions," Father Olindo Antonio Pegoraro said. "There was blood, lots of blood on the floor of the church," he said

in a television interview.

He also

heads of young men into a water tank and holding them until they almost drowned. said he

saw

soldiers forcing the

Vatican Newspaper Criticizes Proposed Broadcast Of Execution

VATICAN CITY (CNS)

— The

proposed televised execution of a deathrow inmate in Ohio would be a "horrible and offensive spectacle" and an affront to human dignity, the Vatican newspaper said. "To televise the death penalty would expose to the mockery of public

opinion a human being who, while guilty of serious crimes, remains a person and deserves respect for his life and his death,"

L 'Osservatore Romano, commentary Nov. 27. The article appeared after an Ohio judge sentenced 22-year-old Tyson Dixon, con-

the newspaper,

consultation, planning, and preparation for individuals and small businesses.

Accounting services available.

Tax H. Dale Groce John M. Prock

— Gul Masih, a

pastoral advice for medical personnel in

Archbishop Warns Against Creation Of Rocky Mountain "Theme Park"

citizens.

>V&ce>

(CNS)

Pakistani Catholic sentenced to death on

guilty at the

Vatican Asks Health Care Workers To Refuse To Honor Abortion Laws

should do everything possible to protect the rights and dignity of immigrants, said

Heights of the Mountains Are His," was published in the Nov. 23 issue of the Denver Catholic Register, archdiocesan

pied such an important place in our

Catholic Relief

pass religion class unless they go to church. The nickname "no pray, no play"

new pastoral letter. The letter, titled "The

in 1995. Runyon said, "Because, Madonna and Child stamp has occu-

how

of siege and another cold winter, Hackett

sion not to issue the popular Christmas the

is

pel message, so they won't be able to

reversing an earlier Postal Service deci-

stamp

WASHINGTON (CNS) — "Tired,

fed-up, tough"

scribed the people of Sarajevo, the Serb-

growth

master General Marvin T. Runyon has rescued the Madonna and Child stamp,

LONDON

Sarajevans "Tired, Fed-Up, CRS Director

Tough," Says

besieged capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

DENVER Yes, Virginia, There Will Be A Madonna And Child Stamp In 1995

Pakistani Catholic Acquitted, Freed After Blasphemy Conviction

gion grade for fifth through eighth grades.

institution run

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Archbishop Stafford wrote.

Each Monday students answer five written questions about the homily and Gos-

1993, heist.

5,

Bishop Apologizes To Sex Abuse Victims, Offers Church's Support LEXINGTON, Ky. (CNS) Bishop J. Kendrick Williams of Lexing-

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12

News

ic

& Herald

December

1994

9,

Cardinal: Catholic Education

Needs To Be ST.

PAUL, Minn. (CNS)

Unified Worldwide

— Catho-

education must be unified worldwide,

lic

although that doesn' t necessarily mean it

should be uniform, said Cardinal Pio Laghi, who heads the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education.

While in St. Paul to receive an award, Cardinal Laghi told the Catholic Bulle-

newspaper of the

tin,

St.

Paul-Minne-

Teachers in Catholic schools have an especially important role, he said. "A teacher in a Catholic school I stress this point

vocation and a mission," he said.

The teachers must be grounded in values they will transfer to students, which

is aided by specialized training such as that offered through the Murray

that

said.

cul-

Catholic school teachers to pursue a graduate degree.

"That means to inculturate the mes-

faith in Catholic school

ues of the Gospel. It is unifying, but there

ing up" must continue into adulthood,

a diversity," he said in an interview.

"What we expect

Foreign Minister At Vatican meeting with pope. before VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope

Israeli

that is holy for another person."

Navarro-Valls said the pope used gratulations to Peres on winning the

Valls.

an enemy. He is facing terrible problems such as poverty, bitterness, population

problem areas

as: "re-

tions with

Lebanon; and the future of the

Holy City of Jerusalem." Navarro- Vails said they also reviewed Vatican-Israeli relations following the establishment of full

diplomatic relations.

994

entitled to say 'why?'

"All of us together must help him overcome the obstacles and make (self-

Our Lady, the first ? thi ng she did to the angel was ask why It' s not exclusive. Our Lady herself asked

make

the

smooth

organization of a Palestinian-run

Gaza a

terri-

great success," he said.

community and from

Israel is es-

ers

,

told reporters. "Religiously,

it

is

way)," Peres said.

"On the Arab side, we hear more and more voices that say the interest of the Muslim world in Jerusalem is basically religious. King Hussein (of Jordan), for

come and work for the improvement

of the economic conditions."

"I do believe that the contribution of pope to introduce tolerance among the different religions, between Jews and Catholics, is of great importance. I do believe it has had an effect, even on the

Muslim

idea," Peres said.

the

In an earlier interview Peres said he

was pleased

that the Vatican-Israeli

agreement signed in December 1 993 recognized the distinction between political and religious questions in the Holy Land.

The agreement said the Holy See, while exercising its moral authority, would remain "a stranger to all merely temporal conflicts," a principle applying "specifi-

cally to disputed territories

and unsettled

borders."

"Our aim is to establish with the Muslims the same understanding reached with the Vatican," the Israeli official told Telepace, an Italian Catholic television

democratic foundation,

Cardinal Laghi said Catholics are entitled to

He

question the Church. recalled a

common

saying of

times past when Catholics were expected to "pay, pray and obey." "Now, you're

he

said. "It's

your

system. But even

'

why."

needs of Catholic families."

Leave

leaders," he said.

B ut Peres said he thought it would be any moderation among members of the Palestinian Hamas movement. "Hamas is definitely com-

(From Page

1)

Currently, Msgr. McSweeney is a member of the board of directors of the

esan positions of vice chancellor, director of planning and development, and vocations director.

National Catholic Development Confer-

Born in Oneida, N.Y., Msgr.

McSweeney received a bachelors of arts

ence, and the national advisory commit-

in

tee of Catholic Relief Services. Locally,

he serves on boards for Good Shepherd Home Health/Hospice and Catholic Social Services Corporate Board.

In addition, Msgr. McSweeney has served as pastor of St. Ann Church in

philosophy from Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Conn., where he also received a masters of divinity. He holds a masters of science from the University

as administrator of Charlotte Catholic

Dame and was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters from Belmont Abbey College in 1993.

Msgr. McSweeney' s leave begins Feb. 1, 1995. Bishop Curlin has appointed Father Mauricio West, parochial vicar at St. Gabriel, as acting chan-

High School.

cellor effective Dec. 19, 1994.

Charlotte;

the

example, has suggested that the holy places will be under the sovereignty of the Almighty in heaven not such a bad

—

U.S. Catholic education faces par-

sential to the peaceful progress of Pales-

open to all religions and we intend to keep it (that

"Politically Jerusalem

tool for continuing educahe said, is the new Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Acknowledging that Americans have

Those few schools "should be open to everybody, but preference should go to Catholic families," he said. "They have to adjust themselves to meet the

of which

and, on the other side, that political lead-

and

A good

tion,

schools are in the suburbs.

all

not

never had a capital but Jerusalem," he

politically closed

any continent.

"That label, 'Catholic,' cannot be different," he said. "A Catholic in the United States is the same as one in Japan

sometimes "have the faith and morals of a child," he said. "That's not enough because that's not up to the status of an adult."

tory very difficult.

density,"

is

the spiritual leaders call for tolerance

is

today."

in the country's

Peres told Telepace, "Arafat

Arab capital, and the Jewish people have

"Jerusalem

religiously open," he said.

know

a tradition of questioning authority rooted

was never an

faith traditions.

I

not easy in a society such as

is

because of the dysociety, according to Cardinal Laghi. "People are moving in and out. But it's not so easy to move buildings." Migration to the suburbs has resulted in declining enrollment in innercity Catholic schools and few Catholic

At the later press conference, Peres said Pope John Paul asked him about continuing violence and terrorist attacks in Israel and its occupied territories.

Peres told the pope he thought the solution lies in "overcoming extremism by a double effort: on the one side, that

it

moral

namic nature of U.S.

tinian self-rule, Peres said.

three

up and grow in

belief to be practicing and moral.

Yasser Arafat.

national protection of Jerusalem's char-

members of the

to continue to be brought

ticular challenges

tional

to

people were unchurched. Our people have

estine Liberation Organization President

Financial assistance from the interna-

would be open

was

"I

or Italy."

At a press conference after the meetwas asked about the Vatican' continuing request for some sort of inter-

Muslims and

he said.

when I was here that so many

Nobel Peace Prize along with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Pal-

rule in)

Christians and for guarantees that

.

1

ing, Peres

acter as a city holy to Jews,

surprised

result

the meeting to extend his personal con-

listed the

tainly are not practicing,"

vide the unifying force for Catholics on

'The most urgent problems for peace in the Middle East were examined" during Peres' meeting with the pope and a later meeting with Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican secretary of state, said Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-

He

the majority are not Catholic and cer-

Cardinal Laghi said the Gospel will pro-

cess.

lations with the Palestinian people; rela-

they have to face living in a society where

"We respect all

confrontation," he said.

tagonists of the Middle East peace pro-

"Particularly in the United States,

be expected in an identical way in Japan or the United States or in Africa," he said.

Cardinal Laghi, former apostolic pro-nuncio to the United States, visited St. Paul to receive the first John Ireland Award from the University of St. Thomas. Named for the founder of the university and the first archbishop of St. Paul, the award was given for outstandin Italy can't

are not seeking controversy nor

"We

Shimon Peres Dec.

high-level meetings with the chief pro-

Cardinal Laghi said.

in Catholic education

Adults often become preoccupied with jobs, career and family and as a

John Paul II met Israeli Foreign Mini ster continuing his

and that "bring-

ing contributions to Catholic education.

the

his

station,

1,

Children are being brought up in the

sage of the Gospel, incorporate the valis

Pope Discusses Middle East With

Thomas, Cardinal Laghi The program provides tuition for

Institute at St.

must be unified "in a way respects cultures and evangelizes tures."

II

—

a job, but a

apolis Archdiocese, that Catholic education

welcomes Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres to a private Pope John Paul audience at the Vatican Dec.2.They discussed the Middle East peace process and bilateral ties. (CNS photo from Reuters)

— does not have

in

Queen of the Apostles Church

Belmont; and

Church

St.

John the Evangelist

in Waynesville.

He

also served

of Notre

Msgr. McSweeney has held dioc-

difficult to find

mitted to destroying the peace process,"

he

said.

"And

dialogue,

it

is

if

they are suggesting a

with rifles not with ideas."

COORDINATOR OF RELIGIOUS FORMATION Full-time position in a regional school system (6 schools). Candidate

should possess an

MA in religious studies or theology and a minimum

of 5 years teaching experience. Would coordinate 6-12 retreat program; inservice teachers on various catechetical topics and liturgy planning;

develop middle school service program and

Hannah's Sisters

CHARLOTTE — Hannah's Sisters,

a support group for

women who

have experienced miscarriage or stillbirth, will meet Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. in the St. John Neumann Church library. Call Patsy Albrecht at (704) 536-3348 for information.

set forth

and implement

future curriculum directions. Position begins 2/1/95 but will consider

July

1,

1995 date for suitable candidate. Excellent benefits. Salary

negotiable depending on qualifications and experience.

For job description write:

MACS Search Committee 1524 E. Morehead St. Charlotte, NC 28207

Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools