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Catholic
News & Herald Volume 5 Number 29
Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
•
April 19, 1996
Dismayed By Veto Of Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Religious Leaders From
Staff and Wire Reports
Bishop's Statement Bishop William Curlin made the following
After weeks of being urged by Catholics and others to sign a bill banning the so-called partial-birth
statement regarding the
abortion procedure, President Clinton
President's veto of the
vetoed the legislation April 10. Reaction from Catholic leaders throughout the nation and world has
House Bill to Ban Partial-
been
Birth Abortions. (H.R. 1833):
a letter to President
critical. In
"President Clinton's
Clinton condemning his veto of H.R.
veto of the
1833, the American Cardinals and the
partial-birth
head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference pledged a continuing
contrary to Catholic Christian moral teaching.
education campaign on partial birth
The President's support of this procedure, which
abortions (See religious leaders' letter
is
on page
are repelled
bill
(H.R. 1 833)
9).
The prelates told President Clinton
is
opposing abortion
unconscionable. This procedure is
so harrowing that even
by
is
it,
many
pro-abortionists
indefensible.
that they reacted "with
deep sorrow and dismay" to his veto of the
For those unfamiliar with the procedure, a baby is drawn feet first through the birth canal while its head remains within the birth
legislation.
canal. Scissors are inserted into the base of the
"It will
living
ensure the continued use of
and the brain suctioned. There is no justification for an act
skull
most heinous act to kill a tiny infant just seconds from taking his or her first the
breath outside the "In the
each of
womb,"
they said.
is
frequently speaks of family values, his support of
coming weeks and months,
us, as well as
that
While President Clinton
clearly infanticide.
partial birth abortion belies his
words."
our bishops'
See Veto, page 3
Couple's Gift Means Secure Future For Parish By ELIZABETH
MAYBACH
Staff Writer a wonderful surprise. "It will
FOREST CITY
Croswell and Ethel Ragan always loved Forest City and the Catholic Church. The couple converted to the faith in their mid 60s and were a generous and active part of the community there until they passed away within months of each
making plans
us
now
for the future, plans including a
parish, increasing the
endowments
to
number of diocesan
23 and the
total assets
of the
Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte to $2.4 million. Father Conrad Kimbrough,
now of Holy
Church in Denver, knew the Ragans when he and the couple were Episcopalians. "We met when I was first in Episcopal semiSpirit
nary," he said.
"They were just joyful, happy
than $485,000 and
is
restricted for the use of
as an
endowment,
The church
the principal
will use
gift will
is
income generated by the
"Through their gift, the Ragans left a legacy Immaculate Conception to continue to grow and meet the needs of the parish in perpetuity," said Jim Kelley, executive director of the Foundation. "More and more parishioners are following the Ragans' example by remembering the Church in their wills and
that will allow
estate plans."
Kelley said individuals establishing entake another step in living out the
we make gifts from our monthly income, we also have an
life
minded." Father Kimbrough later converted to Catholicism and the Ragans followed suit
opportunity to give from our accumulated
them."
Immaculate Conception Pastor Father Gabriel
Meehan
said the Forest City gift
was
of stewardship. "Just
assets to
endow
the
as
Church of
the Diocese of
Charlotte," he said.
For information about
experience of
life.
Six years ago,
the Foundation or
establishing an endowment, contact Jim Kelley,
Executive Director of the Foundation, 1524 East Morehead Street, Charlotte, NC 28207,
or call (704) 331-1709 or (704) 377-6871.
at
Asheville as a vice president and general manager of
At a time when he could have easily back to savor the fruits of a very successful career, he decided to get involved with
.
0
that
an
sat
^e
St.
Joseph's.
This small independent hospital, like many other
recover from cancer
surgery
AKZONA,
international corporation with headquarters in The Netherlands.
age
69, he fought hard to
was
complicated by
principal for future expansion.
dowments
John Coli knows hand how the struggle to survive can change the
con-
never used.
— For some,
just surviving doesn't qualify as
first
people, and they were always very Catholic-
some years later. "I was so happy when they became Catholic," he said. "To be in the Catholic Church is the greatest thing in the world to me, and I think it meant the same to
PAUL FREDETTE
ASHEVILLE real living, but
The current Ragan endowment totals more
It.
Dedicated To St. Joseph's
us the great love they had for their parish."
tinue to generate funds for the church because,
Conception Church. Due to their generosity, an endowment has been established for the
is
JOANN KEANE
As the weather finally begins to turn warmer, becoming evident all around the Diocese of Charlotte.
new and bigger church. The Ragans' gift shows
The Ragans had no children and no extended family in the area. As such, they of their possessions to Immaculate
Coli
start
Immaculate Conception. The
all
spring
By let
other.
willed
Photo by
This Could Be
private facilities,
was
facing overwhelming competition in the new environment of managed
a
serious infection. For
week he hovered at death's door, the victim blood of poisoning. Today, he is wiry and energetic — the very image of fitness as a
health care.
Not only did Coli bring
a
wealth
of
experience to this endeavor trom his own business career
AKZONA in
the chief operating officer of St.
(when he retired from
Joseph' s Health Services. At ease
1986 as president and CEO, he had 15,000 employees) but also the sensitivity he had learned from the
in his office,
he leans forward
and earnestly says, "There's nothing like coming face to face with your mortality to make a major impact on your sense of values and priorities. Every morning begins a day I might not "
have had. John Coli was appointed to the board of St. Joseph' s Hospital in 1974, not long after arriving in
sobering experience of looking for at age 50, with two of
employment
four children
still
in college at the
time.
His concern for the future of St. as does his interest in the growth of his
Joseph's Hospital stems
See
Living, next
—
page