Jan. 14, 2000

The Catholic News & Herald 1

January 14, 2000

January 14, 2000 Volume 9 t Number 19

S e r v i n g C a t h o l i c s in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte

Inside Breaking the cycle

Sisters of Mercy ministry utilizes education as key to empowerment

...Page 4

From the Cover

Chinese church ordains bishops without Vatician approval

...Page 7

Mother Teresa tops list of century’s most admired ...Page 16

Local News Girl Scouts Girl Scouting is Winston-Salem family tradition

...Page 5

Bishop Curlin to participate in March for Life Masses

Every Week Entertainment ...Pages 10-11

Editorials & Columns ...Pages 12-13 “The Great Jubilee is a time for joyful celebration. It is also a time to deepen our faith in the Christ who brings good news to the poor, and to renew our commitment to the jubilee vision for the oppressed.”

— NC Council of Churches

Photo by Alesha M. Price

Fifteenth Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Dr. Morris F. X. Jeff Jr., keynote speaker at the Fifteenth Annual Diocesan Memorial Celebration for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., talks with Rita Colon, a parishioner from Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte, while her son Christian, 2, waits patiently. See story, page 3.

Jubilee Justice Charlotte Diocese among signers of new pastoral letter “This fiftieth year you shall make sacred by proclaiming liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when every one of you shall return to his own property, every one to his family estate. ... Observe my precepts and be careful to keep my regulations, for then you will dwell securely in the land.” (Lv 25: 10, 18)

By JIMMY ROSTAR Associate Editor CHARLOTTE — The Roman Catholic Church is among more than a dozen faith traditions and religious communities in North Carolina to sign a pastoral letter on economic justice in the Jubilee 2000.

The letter, issued by the North Carolina Council of Churches, challenges people of faith to focus on the year 2000 as a time to act on the scriptural themes of jubilee. Particularly, the letter addresses the theme of liberty for people who are oppressed, especially those who struggle because of economic conditions.

Bishop William G. Curlin of the

Catholic Diocese of Charlotte and Bishop F. Joseph Gossman of the Diocese of Raleigh are the two Catholic leaders to sign the letter. In all, 20 religious leaders signed.

Based in Raleigh, the North Carolina Council of Churches is a cooperative, spiritual agency whose member communions are brought together in study, prayer and action.

The council seeks to deepen levels of unity in Christ among member churches, address certain concerns through cooperative action, and give public witness to justice and peace issues.

“The present time in our state, as in our nation, is a time of economic growth and material abundance,” the letter says. “Many citizens are prospering. It is seldom noted, however, that many among us are being left out of the prosperity, and many are struggling for subsistence.”

Specifically, those who suffer the most are women and children, AfricanAmericans, Latinos, Native Americans and the undereducated, the letter says.

It cites that one in four children under age 6 is poor, and that the U.S. Census Bureau says the overall poverty rate in the state is 12.4 percent.

The “working poor” — particularly those who have moved off welfare rolls into jobs that do not pay living wages — are not faring any better, the letter says. Four of five poor families with children have a family member working, many of whom work full time. And despite an expanding economy and more newly created jobs in the state, the letter says, a living wage is still largely lacking for those who move from welfare to work.

Racism, sexism and an evergrowing disparity between the rich and poor contribute to the injustices of today, the letter adds.

The letter’s signers appeal “to the churches of North Carolina, especially those in our jurisdictions: to see the face of Christ in the faces of those who suffer deprivation; to seek to embrace See JUBILEE JUSTICE, page 4

2 The Catholic News & Herald We note with sadness the intensification of such attacks in the past few weeks,” the bishops said in a statement Jan. 5, the day of the killings. Their remarks were reported by UCA News, and Asian church news agency based in Thailand.

Bronx parish exchanges millennial greetings with Rome, Havana NEW YORK (CNS) — The hopes and prayers of the people of St. Brendan’s parish in the Bronx were heard in churches in Rome and Havana in a New Year’s Eve telephone hookup and satellite broadcast over Vatican Radio.

St. Brendan’s was the only site in the United States chosen for the exchange of greetings, which was heard around the world. The conference call was part of a project called “24 Hours Waiting for the Year 2000 With the Holy Father.”

Organized by the bishops’ conference of Italy, the Diocese of Rome and a Vatican jubilee office, it included the exchange of greetings between Rome and 26 countries.

Dallas Diocese adopts stricter guidelines on Medjugorje events DALLAS (CNS) — The Diocese of Dallas has adopted guidelines on Medjugorje-related activities that clearly define as “private” any devotion to the reported Marian apparitions in the former Yugoslavian republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Bishop Charles V. Grahmann issued the guidelines Dec. 22 for pastors “to clarify the situation on the church’s position.” The guidelines were drawn up following efforts to organize a large gathering for Medjugorje visionary Ivan Dragicevic, who lives in the United States. He frequently tours U.S. cities and claims to have Marian visions wherever he is.

On Epiphany, pope ordains 12 bishops from seven countries VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope John Paul II ordained 12 bishops from seven different countries — including the United States — and said their diversity reinforced the universality of the church. “You come from different nations and represent the universality of the church that adores the Word made flesh for our salvation,” the pope

CNS photo from Reuters

Jordan River location opened to public Thousands of Christians process to a site near the Jordan River marking the opening of the location to tourists. The area had to be cleared of land mines before it could be opened to the public for the jubilee year. Christ is believed to have been baptized by John in the Jordan River.

Sri Lankan bishops denounce bombing, increased violence COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNS) — Sri Lanka’s bishops expressed shock and sadness at continued violence, including a suspected Tamil militant’s suicide bombing that left 13 people dead. “Once again blood has been shed and lives lost in the unending spiral of violent attacks on political leaders, security officers on duty, and civilians.

Episcopal January 14, 2000 Volume 9 • Number 19

Publisher: Most Reverend William G. Curlin Editor: Joann S. Keane Associate Editor: Jimmy Rostar Staff Writer: Alesha M. Price Production Associate: Julie Radcliffe Advertising Representative: Cindi Feerick Secretary: Jane Glodowski 1123 South Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203 Mail: P.O. Box 37267, Charlotte, NC 28237 Phone: (704) 370-3333 FAX: (704) 370-3382 E-mail: catholicnews@charlottediocese.org The Catholic News & Herald, USPC 007-393, is published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, 1123 South Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203, 44 times a year, weekly 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 Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte and $18 per year for all other subscribers. Second-class postage paid at Charlotte NC and other cities. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to The Catholic News & Herald, P.O. Box 37267, Charlotte, NC 28237.

January 14, 2000

The World in

c a l e n-

Bishop William G. Curlin will take part in the following events: January 19 — 4pm Dedication of the Bishop Begley Center for Economic Development Center, Murphy, NC January 20 — 7:30 pm Pro-Life Concelebrated Mass for the Triad Region Holy Cross, Kernersville, NC January 22 — 2 pm Mass and Installation of Lector for the candidates for Permanent Diaconate St. Aloysius, Hickory, NC January 23-24 The National Right to Life March, Washington, D.C.

told them during a Jan. 6 Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. “Around you are gathered the faithful from various parts of the world, to whom you are sent as successors of the apostles,” he said.

Philippine priest-turned-rebel killed by brother’s faction MANILA, Philippines (CNS) — A priest who became a rebel during the rule of the late President Ferdinand Marcos was killed in his family home

Diocesan

plan -

ria. Call the church office at (704) 5278671 for more details.

CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Catholic High School Placement Test is administered each year to all eighth graders who wish to apply to the high school. The placement test is being given this morning from 8:15 a.m.12:30 p.m. at the school, located at 7702 Pineville-Matthews Road. Students should bring a light snack for the break and two sharpened number two pencils. For registration and other information, call the school at (704) 543-1217.

6 GREENSBORO — St. Mary Church, 1414 Gorrell St., is holding their annual Black History Month Celebration Mass, sponsored by the Black History Month Committee, this afternoon at 12:15 p.m. with Father Martin Carter from Our Lady of Victory Church in Brooklyn, N.Y., being

by communist guerrillas led by his younger brother. Police reports said Conrado Balweg, a former Divine Word priest, was having coffee in Malibcong, 170 miles north of Manila, when he was shot at 4 a.m. Dec. 31. UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand, reported the town is in Abra, one of the five provinces in the mountainous and predominantly tribal Cordillera region in northern Luzon. Balweg’s brother, Juvencio, told a Jan. 3 press conference near Abra that the communist New People’s Army command he leads was behind the execution, but he denied firing the bullets, which hit Balweg’s right arm and jaw.

Ecumenical opportunities arise in rural climate, professor says DES MOINES, Iowa (CNS) — Ecumenical opportunities abound in rural America as church and human resources grow more strained there, according to professor Gary Burkart of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan. “Cooperation would appear to be the better path to survival, development and relevancy,” Burkart said in an article in Catholic Rural Life magazine, published in Des Moines. Because of “continuing decline” in traditionally rural areas coupled with “mushrooming growth” from creeping suburbanization, joint ministries are just one of the ecumenical opportunities to be had, Burkart said.

Up to 20 more U.S. bishops could retire this year WASHINGTON (CNS) — Even after two retirements Jan. 4, as many as 20 more U.S. bishops — including three cardinals — could also retire in 2000 because they are at or beyond the retirement age of 75. Six currently active bishops are celebrating their 75th birthdays this year. And sixteen active bishops were already 75 when the new year started. With the two Jan. 4 retirements, 14 are still active.

Church law says at age 75 a bishop “is requested to present his resignation” to the pope.

Philippine archbishop says Asian Catholics must witness by action assisted by Rev. Mr. Curtiss Todd, vice-chancellor of the diocese. A covered dish luncheon follows the Mass.

For details, call the church office at (336) 272-8650.

7 CHARLOTTE — Catholic Singles of Charlotte Newcomers’ Week begins this evening with a welcome dinner and coffee socials during the week on Feb. 8 and 12. Call Ken at (704) 7336499 about the dinner and other activities and call Laurel at (704) 554-0188 and Kristy at (704) 525-3424 about the coffee socials.

Please submit notices of events for the Diocesan Planner at least 10 days prior to publication date.

January 14, 2000

The Catholic News & Herald 3

In the

Participants focus on Dr. King’s goal of racial

By Alesha M. Price Staff Writer CHARLOTTE — January fifteenth, a day associated with positive change, historical firsts and tragedy, is the birth date of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a proponent of nonviolent protest, whose life ironically ended by assassination in 1968.

People reflected on the teachings and traditions of Dr. King and how they are and are not being applied in today’s society at the Fifteenth Annual Diocesan Memorial Celebration for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 8.

Our Lady of Consolation Church was the site for the gathering, which attracted over 80 attendants from all areas of the diocese. This event, sponsored by the African American Affairs Ministry, was held a week earlier than the national holiday celebrated this year on Jan. 17 because of the schedule of the keynote speaker, Dr. Morris F.X. Jeff Jr. Also, parishioners from the Asheville area have stated that there have been conflicts with their own weekend observance of the holiday when the diocesan celebration has been previously held on the Saturday preceeding Dr. King’s birthday, said Rev. Mr. Curtiss Todd, vice chancellor of the diocese and the vicar for the African American Affairs Ministry.

Dr. Jeff, a New Orleans, La., native, has been the director of the City of New Orleans Department of Human Services since 1974. He is the co-owner of the Counseling and Diagnostic Family Institute of New Orleans, a black family service agency, and the founder of the Milne Boys’ Home and Manhood Development Program, a long-term rite of passage for urban males. He has appeared on several television news programs and talk shows.

“The message of Dr. King is virtually unknown among young people and ignored or forgotten by those who lived during that time,” said Rev. Mr. Todd. “We wanted Dr. Jeff to speak at the celebration because he is an expert

Salesian Award, given to a parishioner who best exemplifies the virtues of St. Francis de Sales, is being presented at Mass. For more information, call the church office at (336) 248-2463.

30 ASHEVILLE — The Catholic Association of Family Educators (C.A.F.E.), Western North Carolina’s homeschool support group, is hosting a “Moms’ Evening Out” tonight at 7 p.m. For more information, call Denise Vish at (828) 645-6990 or Sheryl Oligny at (828) 298-0336.

February 4 HICKORY — The next Marriage Encounter is this weekend at the Catholic Conference Center, 1551 Trinity Lane. This is an enrichment program for married couples to concentrate on each other and to grow spiritually and emotionally. For further information or to register, call Tom and Emilie Sandin at (336) 274-4424.

5 CHARLOTTE — St. Ann Church, 3635 Park Rd., is having an attic sale today from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. in the cafete-

Photo by Alesha M. Price

Rev. Mr. Curtiss Todd, vice chancellor of the diocese and vicar of the African American Affairs Ministry, and Fred Dewalt from the African American Affairs Ministry Board of Directors present the 2000 Glenda Rollins-Gaither Service Award to James Bingley from St. James Church in Concord. His daughters and great-granddaughter accepted the award on Bingley’s behalf because of his illness. in the works, talks and goals of Dr. King and in African-American history and has a solid recommendation for the future.”

Dr. Jeff ’s address concerned Dr. King’s fusion of religion and politics and the struggle between social norms and radical change during the time of the volatile civil rights movement in America. He opened with a series of quotes from poems and writings from Dr. King and various other AfricanAmerican authors.

Dressed in Afro-centric garments and speaking in a resonant voice, Dr. Jeff commented about Dr. King’s statement, “nonviolence is power”: “Dr. King had a strategy for his dream and a methodology for his strategy; he came ready for action — nonviolent action.”

He gave statistical information about the socio-economic, medical, and political gap between the races that Dr.

King fought to close during his time.

He made reference to the links among medical statistics about infant mortality, living conditions and financial struggles for African-Americans.

“As we assess where we are 135 years after the signing and passing of the thirteenth amendment and 31 years after the passing of Martin Luther King Jr., we still see the residue of slavery and apartheid in America,” said Dr. Jeff.

He made reference to the “new church — black,” one that encompasses all people and is rooted in spirituality and love of neighbor and God. “The black church is one that is truly in the spirit of what blackness represents, defining more than just color,” explained Dr. Jeff. “It is a healing circle, one that transforms and transcends the evils of life. Blackness is the essence of every living thing, and we must live in that essence and

January 16 CHARLOTTE — The Annual Mass for the Unborn is being celebrated today at 2:30 p.m. at St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Rd. For details, call Cris Seidel at (704) 752-0936.

18 WINSTON-SALEM — There is a natural family planning session tonight at 7:30 p.m. at St. Leo the Great Church, 335 Springdale Ave. For more information, call Tom and Mary Beth Young at (336) 922-0479.

20 HIGH POINT — There is a healing Mass tonight in the chapel of Maryfield Nursing Home, 1315 Greensboro Rd., at 7:30 p.m. For details, call the Rev. Mr. Ron or Bette Steinkamp at (336) 427-9717 or (336) 882-9717.

KERNERSVILLE — For a night of prayer, this year’s Respect Life Mass is being celebrated tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Holy Cross Church, 616 S. Cherry St. Call the church office at (704) 9965109 for more information.

21 ASHEVILLE — The Catholic

Association of Family Educators (C.A.F.E.), Western North Carolina’s Homeschool Support Group, is having a talent show potluck tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Basilica of St. Lawrence, 97 Haywood St. For more information, call Denise Vish at (828) 645-6990 or Sheryl Oligny at (828) 298-0336.

GREENSBORO — Single Again Catholics is having their “Oldies’ Nite” at the Greensboro Ballroom. For directions, admission and other information, call Marilyn Schmidt at (336) 379-7300.

24 CHARLOTTE — Christians in Career Transitions is a ministry devoted to helping people in career crises.

The group meets every other Monday night, including tonight and Feb. 7 and 21 from 7-9 p.m. in the conference room of St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. Included in this ministry are Saturday sessions on “Interview Skills to Get the Job” on Jan. 15 and 22. There are a limited number of openings, so for further information, call Rev. Mr. Jim Hamrlik

go beyond the simplicity of black and white.”

“Dr. Jeff speaks not from a denominational religious perspective, but the basis is spiritual in nature,” commented Rev. Mr. Todd. “He talks about the horizontal relationship with Jesus and God and the vertical relationship among brothers and sisters. His message is in the context of blackness, not as a color, but the universality of blackness.”

Larry Kirwan from Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro said, “we need to form a universal church and accept each other as one community.

We have to be available for one another and give of ourselves to those who have less.”

After the first question and answer session, the audience, who had been actively participating, decided that they wanted to engage in further discussion with the speaker instead of the scheduled word events.

During both question and answer sessions, the plight of today’s youth and how older people could help to guide them in the right direction was repeatedly mentioned.

“We must use our own past experiences and tell children about them.

We need to get back to the practice of sitting in a circle and telling stories to the kids. We can use our life histories as a frame of reference to encourage our children to have the courage to face the future,” said Joann Munden, a parishioner from St. Benedict the Moor Church in Winston-Salem.

Dr. Jeff talked about the importance of teaching children not only the history of Dr. King but also other aspects of African-American history.

Every year, he takes a group of junior and senior high school students on their own version of the “Freedom Ride” during the weekend of Dr. King’s birthday to Selma and Birmingham, Ala. and Atlanta to retrace Dr.

See KING CELEBRATION, page 14 at (704) 542-6459.

27 ASHEVILLE — All are invited to attend a healing Mass at St. Joan of Arc Church, 919 Haywood Rd., tonight at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served after the Mass. Call the church office at (828) 252-3151 for details.

29 ASHEVILLE — The Basilica of St. Lawrence, 97 Haywood St., is having a “Day of Retreat and Prayer” today, starting with 8 a.m. Mass and ending at 3:30 p.m. The spirituality of St. Louis Marie de Montford is being featured in the morning, and the revelations to Sister Faustina of the Divine Mercy are being featured in the afternoon. For reservations, call the church office at (828) 2546042.

LEXINGTON — Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 619 S. Main St., is celebrating the Feast of St. Francis de Sales this afternoon at the 5 p.m.

Mass with a covered dish supper to follow in the parish center. The

4 The Catholic News & Herald

January 14, 2000

Around the Di-

Breaking the cycle of homelessness

Sisters of Mercy ministry utilizes education as key to program clients, educate them and teach

By Joann S. Keane self-sufficiency skills needed for survival.

Editor It is a serious 90-day commitment on the BELMONT — Picture Annie. Her part of incoming women. face is swollen from the abusive blow “When people from the hand of one come here, it is more she thought she loved.

“When people come than homelessness She’s lost her job. that is an issue,” says Drugs consume her here, it is more than Director Nancy Isbandaily existence. The homelessness that is ioly. “Everyone comes 19-year-old mother with a multitude of an issue,” says Director wonders where the issues. Our goal is to next meal will come Nancy Isbanioly. prevent homelessness for her and her 2-year“Everyone comes with from ever happening old child. With seemagain.” ingly nowhere to turn, a multitude of issues.

Following screenshe’s one step away Our goal is to prevent ing and intake to the from life on the street. program, the new clihomelessness from ever Fortunately, Annie ent and staff memis a one-dimensional happening again.” bers develop a plan to amalgamation, whose meet individual goals. life only exists on this “We have a strong newsprint. emphasis on education,” says Isbanioly.

Unfortunately, the situations are “Anyone who comes through our doors all too real. On any given day, dozens without a high school or GED educaof women will come face to face with tion will be required to attain that the angst and anger that consumes diploma,” she adds. seemingly dismal lives. They are While in residence, the clients’ caught a vicious cycle, wishing nothcase manager maintains close coning more than a second chance to tact through each phase of progress. change their lives.

If that wish is serious, a helping hand may be closer than they think.

Catherine’s House in Belmont is a phone call away. Women willing to adhere to a highly structured three-phase program find the doors of Catherine’s House open wide. Inside, a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment stands ready to help break the cycle.

Make no mistake: Catherine’s House is not an emergency shelter; it is transitional housing for women and women with children who are homeless.

Recycling facilities on the grounds of the former Sacred Heart College, Catherine’s House is an outreach by the Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina, a lifeline to vulnerable women in need.

The program of Catherine’s House is underscored by a foundation of faith and hope as a visible witness of God’s merciful love, all in the spirit of Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy. “There is an honest and real commitment,” says President and CEO Laura Flaccus. And Flaccus feels this encouragement is palpable. “I believe the residents respond to that,” she says.

It’s not a Band-Aid approach. The staff of Catherine’s House strive to re-

Belmont Abbey College announces prestigious Grace Award BELMONT — Belmont Abbey College has begun planning for the 2000 Grace Award Dinner, an event traditionally attended by business and civic leaders to recognize a deserving colleague. This year the recipient of the Grace Award - named for Charles L. Grace, president of Cummins Atlantic, Inc. - is Tom D. Efird, president of Standard Distributors, Inc. based in Gastonia.

The dinner will be held at 6 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 25 in the Student Commons on the Belmont Abbey campus.

Corporate tables seating eight are available for $550; individual tickets are $75 each.

Proceeds from the evening benefit

scholarships for employees of companies belonging to the Belmont Abbey College Associates (BACA), which cosponsors the event with the Belmont Abbey College Board of Advisors.

The Grace Award recognizes an outstanding businessperson and citizen whose contributions and commitments have significantly improved the quality of life in the region. Efird is the fifth recipient of the honor, following Herman Blumenthal (1993); Bynum and Rebecca Carter (1994); Humpy Wheeler (1997); and Felix Sabates (1998).

Efird is a former chairman of the Abbey’s Board of Trustees and is continually supportive of the college’s ini-

tiatives. He has also given generously of his time and talents to Gaston College, the Schiele Museum, Hospice of Gaston County, the Community Foundation of Gaston County, the Gaston County Chamber of Commerce, and other community organizations.

“We are pleased to co-sponsor the Grace Award Dinner because it serves two important purposes,” said Bynum Carter, current chairman of BACA. “It recognizes a deserving member of the community and it raises much-needed money for scholarships.”

For more information or to purchase tickets to the dinner, call (704) 825-6735. t

Should specific services be unavailable in house, staff members tap into community resources. Catherine’s House works closely with a Gaston County agencies, including the Department of Social Services.

Phase I consists of securing basic needs such as benefits and healthcare, while meeting daycare or school needs for children. Phase II is considered successful when clients begin a job search, and are enrolled in appropriate classes. Clients open a savings account. Completion of each phase is a celebration, marked with certificates of achievement. Self-esteem soars. Phase III is graduation and clients re-enter the community, ready to take life as it comes — this time stronger, self-sufficient, and one day at a time. t Contact Editor Joann Keane by calling (704) 370-3336 or e-mail jskeane@ charlottediocese.org

January 14, 2000

The Catholic News & Herald 5

Around the Di-

Girl Scouting is more than just

By Alesha M. Price Staff Writer WINSTON-SALEM — The women in the Perrino family are a part of a long-standing tradition.

Susan Perrino is the leader of Senior Girl Scout Troop 1023 — the troop to which her two older daughters, Patty, 17, and Jennifer, 15, belong.

Her youngest daughter, Laura, 12, is a Cadette Girl Scout, the division before becoming a Senior Girl Scout.

The Perrino girls’ grandmother was their mother’s troop leader, and their great-grandmother was their grandmother’s troop leader.

“It has been fun being involved in my daughters’ activities, watching them grow up and experience new opportunities,” said Susan. “I have been a part of the planning stages, so I don’t just send them out the door; I can be a part of that aspect of their lives. I just continued the tradition started in my family.”

Susan began as a Daisy Girl Scout troop leader with her middle daughter Jennifer and moved to the Brownie Girl Scout division and up the ranks with her oldest daughter Patty.

All of the young women are dedicated to Girl Scouts, like their mother and their matriarchs, but Patty has gone the extra mile and was rewarded for her work.

Patty, who has been involved with Girl Scouts since she was in first grade, decided that she wanted to do a multi-leveled project which would put her in contention for the Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouts. The project itself is only part

Courtesy photos

Senior Girl Scout Troop 1023 Leader Susan Perrino presents her daughter Patty with the Gold Award pin, the highest honor in Girl Scouts, at a ceremony in Winston-Salem last year. Patty, who attends St. Leo the Great Church, worked with a teacher to help Hispanic children learn English for her project. of the requirements needed to be eligible to participate in the Gold Award program.

She had to earn four badges over the course of two years, which involve community leadership, self-exploration and relationship development.

Each of the four badges has a minimum of eight requirements, explained Susan.

Each teen has to perform 30 hours of leadership service in which she plans, organizes and evaluates an activity for the group. She has to work 30 hours by either obtaining a part-time

job, including writing a resume and interviewing for the position, mentoring with someone on his or her job, or organizing a job fair. In addition to those tasks, the Senior Challenge has several components all related to self and community improvement.

Patty earned an additional 15 hours as part of her senior challenge by assisting her mother, who teaches faith formation at their church, St. Leo the Great in Winston-Salem.

She worked two months with senior citizens to understand her own grandparents better. She also volunteered in other aspects in and around her community.

“As I started doing the work, I could see how my being a Girl Scout could help out the community,” said Patty. “I saw how I effected change in my community.”

She then wrote a report on how she earned her badges and submitted it and her project proposal to the Gold committee. They approved her idea of helping Susan Moretz, the English as a Second Language teacher at the

elementary school where her mother teaches first grade. She would be helping the teacher to take some of her ideas and create more efficient ways for the children to learn English.

Patty explained, “This is something that I wanted to do because I had met the kids from working with my mother in faith formation, and I thought that combining the two things would be a great way to represent my mom’s school.”

Her project, which lasted from June 1998 to April 1999, had three facets, all focusing on helping the students learn English at a faster rate.

She cut out shapes and figures of various colors in vinyl to serve as flash cards and parts of matching games to help the children learn shapes, colors and sizes. She built a grocery store from plywood and collected cereal boxes, plastic fruit, an old cash register and other items to simulate a shopping experience and to teach them the names of food items and currency.

She also made a dollhouse, cut out pictures of furniture and parts of the house, laminated the pictures and applied Velcro to the backs of the pictures so that the children could learn the names of the rooms, furniture and appliances.

Because of her achievements, she earned her Gold Award pin and received congratulatory letters from businesses and prominent citizens and also received a flag flown over the United States Capitol building from Congressman Richard Burr.

“There were times when she would get discouraged, but she stuck with it, and I am proud of her,” said Susan.

“Boy Scouts get a lot of recognition, and the community doesn’t focus as much on the Girl Scouts,” said Patty.

“As more girls get involved, the community can see that girls can do just as much as the guys can.”

“Being in Girl Scouts is a great way to help with self-esteem, and it can open up job opportunities. You learn to

See GIRL SCOUTS, page14

6 The Catholic News & Herald

People in the

January 14, 2000

Heads of 14 Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas in Holy Land

Greek Orthodox Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece told the Israeli Ha’aretz newspaper.

In addition to the Greek Orthodox patriarch, the gathering included the patriarchs of Moscow, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Moscow, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Cyprus, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and Albania.

Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople is given special honor by all Orthodox churches, recognized as “first among equals,” although he does not have authority to intervene in the affairs of local churches outside his own patriarchate.

Orthodox Christmas is celebrated Jan. 7. Orthodox churches use the Julian calendar, which differs by 13 days from the Gregorian calendar used by the Catholic and Protestant churches.

The Armenian Orthodox Church, which also uses its own separate calendar, will celebrate its Christmas Eve

Jan. 18.

Under rainy skies, the patriarchs participated in a pre-Christmas procession through the narrow streets of the Old City of Jerusalem Jan. 4, culminating in a joint prayer at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where throngs of Orthodox pilgrims joined their patriarchs in worship.

On Christmas Eve Jan. 6, the patriarchs were joined by some political leaders of their countries in a celebration at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat also attended the service. Among the political leaders accompanying the patriarchs was outgoing Russian President Boris Yeltsin, who announced his resignation Dec. 31.

The patriarchs also attended a dinner in their honor at the residence of Israeli President Ezer Weizman. t

Bolivian bishops seek release of some prisoners for jubilee LA PAZ, Bolivia (CNS) — The Bolivian bishops’ conference announced the establishment of a commission to negotiate for the release of prisoners from Bolivian jails during the jubilee year. Juan Carlos Nunez, bishops’ conference spokesman, said the commission was established to “ensure that all technical aspects are covered to make the release of some prisoners possible.” Nunez said that in late 1999 the bishops’ conference requested the release of prisoners for Christmas as part of the jubilee initiatives. But the government released only 27 inmates from Bolivian prisons, arguing that a greater number would had been inconsistent with its new policy on crime.

Court orders debt protesters not to break law again WASHINGTON (CNS) — Superior Court Judge Stephen G. Milliken Jan. 4 released four Catholic protesters seeking debt relief for poor countries, on condition they not break the law over the next seven months. The four, members of the Religious Working

Group on the World Bank and IMF (International Monetary Fund), were arrested Sept. 23 in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda when they staged a peaceful demonstration urging Congress to “do its share” in funding debt relief for the world’s poorest countries.

Indonesian bishop seeks change in government to end conflict JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNS) — An Indonesian bishop urged his country’s president to change government and security officials to end the prolonged sectarian conflict in riot-torn Moluccas province. Bishop Petrus Mandagi of Ambon recommended the change to President Abdurrahman Wahid during a meeting at the state palace Jan. 5. He was accompanied by Archbishop Renzo Fratini, apostolic nuncio to Indonesia, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand.

Ordination by pope ‘overwhelming,’ says new Wyoming coadjutor VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Being ordained one of the first bishops of the millennium by Pope John Paul II was “overwhelming,” said Coadjutor Bishop David L. Ricken of Cheyenne,

CNS photo from Reuters

Christian Orthodox leaders meet in Jerusalem on the occasion of the Orthodox Christmas, which is celebrated Jan. 7. From left is Alexei II of Russia, Ilia II of Georgia and Teoctist of Romania.

By Judith Sudilovsky Catholic News Service JERUSALEM (CNS) — The heads of 14 Orthodox churches celebrated Orthodox Christmas in the Holy Land

in an unprecedented gathering.

It was the first time all the heads of Orthodox churches met together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

“This is a rare, historic event,”

Wyo. Bishop Ricken, who spent the last three years working in the Vatican’s clergy office, was the only American among 12 bishops ordained Jan. 6 in St. Peter’s Basilica. “To be ordained by the Holy Father right at the tomb of St. Peter, with 11 other priests — it was so reminiscent of the Twelve Apostles,” he told Catholic News Service. “The only way I can describe it is I was overwhelmed.”

Illinois Dominican nuns forgive debts for jubilee SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CNS) — To mark the jubilee year 2000, the Dominican Sisters of Springfield have canceled 19 debts owed to them. Most of the debts were loans to communityorganizing groups that help poor people become self-sustaining. Sister Mary Jean Traeger, prioress general of the 312-member congregation, announced the action during community prayer Jan. 1. “Our world needs signs of hope from people of faith,” she said.

“It needs our energetic commitment

to the proclamation of the Gospel. It longs for some assurance that peace with genuine justice is possible. In this spirit of jubilee we decided to cancel several long-term debts owed to our congregation.”

Orthodox patriarch sees little hope for Christian unity soon WARSAW, Poland (CNS) — The leader of the world’s 200 million Orthodox Christians said hopes that Christians will achieve unity soon are “groundless.” He added that Pope John Paul II had taken “larger steps” toward Christian unity than previous popes, but warned that his exercise of papal primacy was still unacceptable to Orthodox churches. “For me, fundamentally, the papacy expresses a spirit far removed from the spirit of the Orthodox Church,” said Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians.

January 14, 2000

From the

The Catholic News & Herald 7

Chinese church ordains bishops without Vatican

priests concelebrated the ordination

By John Thavis Mass. All the bishops laid their hands Catholic News Service on and embraced the newly ordained VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a bishops. move that appeared to aggravate ChiBishop Fu told the congregation na-Vatican divisions, the governmentthat the ordinations reflected China’s approved Chinese church ordained five prosperity and said the development new bishops without papal approval. of the church in China had to keep The ordinations were performed pace with the development of the Jan. 6 during a Mass in a Beijing cacountry. thedral, just hours before Pope John The newly ordained were BishPaul II ordained 12 new bishops in St. ops Peter Fang Jianping Peter’s Basilica. Church of Tangshan, 39; Jin officials in Rome said the The Vatican has Daoyuan of Changzhi, timing was a deliberate provocation, and the viewed the ordinations 71; Lu Xinping of Nanjing, 36; Su Changshan Vatican expressed its of bishops of the of Baoding, 74; and “astonishment and disChinese Catholic Zhan Silu of Mindong, appointment” at the act.

“This decision comes Patriotic Association 39.

Bishop Zhan later at a time when voices have been raised in many as valid because they told UCA News that the parts which lead one to have been performed new bishops had pledged obedience to the pope hope for a normalization by validly ordained during the ceremony — of relations between the bishops, but illicit a point the others did Holy See and Beijing,” not confirm. He said the spokesman Joaquin Nabecause they are timing of the ordinavarro-Valls said. done without a papal tions was not confron“But this gesture poses obstacles that cer- mandate, Father Politi tational.

“We were ordained tainly will hamper that said. today because it is the process,” he said.

Epiphany Day, a big China’s long-standfeast day in the church. If it happens ing refusal to recognize the pope’s on the same day as the Vatican’s ordiright to appoint bishops has been one nations, isn’t it even better?” he said. of the biggest obstacles in ChineseThe vice chairman of the patriVatican relations and a major factor in otic association, Liu Bainian, told the the division between the Chinese unItalian news agency ANSA that the derground church loyal to Rome and ordinations were a sign of the church’s the government-sanctioned Chinese vitality.

Catholic Patriotic Association.

“The Chinese church has bishops Some 300 people, a relatively who are helping it prosper as in few sparse crowd, attended the ordinations places in the world. So I think the pope at Immaculate Conception Cathedral. should be pleased,” he said. He added Among the congregation were reprethat there would be more ordinations sentatives of the Communist Party’s in the future because the average age religious affairs office. of Chinese bishops was too high.

Bishop Liu Yuanren of Nanjing, The pope made no mention of the president of the Bishops’ Conference new Chinese bishops during his annual of the Catholic Church in China, was ordination Mass at the Vatican. But the ordaining bishop, with Bishop veteran China-watchers said the VatiMichael Fu Tieshan of Beijing, chaircan saw the Chinese ceremony as an man of the patriotic association, as act of defiance at a sensitive moment co-ordainer, reported UCA News, an in church-state relations.

Asian church news agency based in Coadjutor Bishop Joseph Zen ZeThailand. kiun of Hong Kong said the ordinaFive additional bishops and 30

CNS photo from Reuters

Newly ordained bishops leave the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Beijing Jan. 6. Chinese Bishop Liu Yuanren ordained five new state-approved bishops in defiance of Pope John Paul II, who alone has the authority for naming bishops in the church. tions were an “act of confrontation” that shows that China has “no real intention of reconciling with the Vatican,” UCA News reported.

He said the ordinations conform with an internal Communist Party memorandum that surfaced in 1999, which called for more ordinations of bishops chosen by secular officials and further division of the underground and the state-sanctioned church.

In Rome, the missionary news service MISNA said the “Chinese government, which once again forces upon Catholics its desire for absolute control, is surely behind the decision of ordination.”

The Vatican missionary news agency Fides reported that the ordinations were a failure for the govern-

See CHINESE BISHOPS, page 8

8 The Catholic News & Herald

In Brief ...

Catechist workshop offers certification, workshops

In the

CHARLOTTE — A catechist recognition workshop is scheduled for Jan. 22 at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Rd., from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. The courses offered meet the requirement for catechist certification. For details, call Marilyn Kravatz, Office of Faith Formation Southern Region coordinator, at (704) 370-3247.

Sisters of Mercy Foundation announces grants to 13 area organizations CHARLOTTE — Sisters of Mercy North Carolina Foundation last month announced $542,245 in grants to 13 nonprofit organizations in Buncombe, Cabarrus, Gaston, Guilford, Henderson and Mecklenburg organizations. The foundation was established in 1995 and operates in part to support nonprofit healthcare, education and social organizations. Receiving grants are: Academic Learning Center in Concord; Cannon Memorial YMCA in Kannapolis; Children first of Buncombe County, Inc., of Asheville; Communities in Schools of High Point, Inc., in High Point; Crisis Pregnancy Center in Gastonia; Eliada Homes, Inc., in Asheville; Energy Committed to Offenders in Charlotte; Jacob’s Ladder in Charlotte; Manna Food Bank in Asheville; Ministry Seven Rescue Mission in Hendersonville; Second Harvest Food Bank in Charlotte; WNC Child Advocacy and Prevention Services in Asheville; and With Friends, Inc., in Belmont. For information on the Sisters of Mercy foundation, call (704) 366-0087. The next grant-making cycle will be April 1, with decisions made in June.

High School students invited to enter 10th annual poster contest NEW YORK — The Christophers’ 10th annual poster contest for high school students is underway, with prizes totaling $2,000. To enter, each artist must illustrate his or her interpretation of the statement “You Can Make a Difference,” a theme that allows students to express themselves on a variety of topics. All students in grades 9 through 12 are invited to enter. Posters must be 15 by 20 inches and include the words “You Can Make a Difference.”

They will be judged on overall impact, effectiveness in conveying the theme, originality and artistic merit. Eight prizes will be awarded, with a first prize of $1,000. Entries must be received by Jan. 28, and winner will be announced April 21. All posters become the property of The Christophers, an nonprofit organization that used print and broadcast media to encourage all people to recognize their unique abilities and use them to raise the standards of public life. Complete rules for the poster contest are available by writing to High School Poster Contest, The Christophers, 12 East 48th St., New York, NY 10017, by calling (212) 759-4050, or on the Web at http:// www.christophers. org/poster.html.

January 14, 2000

Chinese bishops, from page 7

ment and the patriotic association. It said nine of 12 original candidates refused to participate in the ceremony because it was “in clear competition with the Holy See.” In addition, Fides said, more than 130 seminarians at the national seminary in Beijing decided to boycott the ordination Mass after participating in a rehearsal the day before.

Fides said only one of the ordaining bishops had relations with the Vatican, and all of those ordained had “suffered extreme pressure” from Chinese authorities.

Italian Father Giancarlo Politi, who follows Chinese affairs as editor of the magazine Mondo e Missione (World and Mission), said the ordinations highlight a worrisome trend toward greater government involvement in the bishop selection process and raise questions about the eventual reconciliation of the bishops with the Vatican, especially because three of the new bishops were so young.

While China maintains that the election of bishops is a legitimate function of the local church, in practice it is the government and the Communist Party that control the selection of episcopal candidates, Father Politi said.

It is “certainly not a good sign” that this type of government involvement appears to be increasing, he added.

The Vatican has viewed the ordinations of bishops of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association as valid because they have been performed by

validly ordained bishops, but illicit because they are done without a papal mandate, Father Politi said.

That leaves individual bishops in a difficult position with the Holy See. But the Vatican has always avoided using the term “schism” to describe the situation in China, recognizing the political pressures involved, he said.

Some Chinese bishops who belong to the government-sanctioned church are said to have secretly reconciled with Rome, and others would probably not have too much problem reaching a similar understanding at some point in the future — especially older bishops who have suffered strong political pressure, Father Politi said.

“What is alarming is that these (new) bishops are very young and have made a choice that is at least somewhat free. There hasn’t been for them the kind of pressure or fear that existed in the days of Mao (Tse-tung),” he said. t

January 14, 2000

In the

The Catholic News & Herald 9

Pro-life officials heartened by declining U.S. abortion rate WASHINGTON (CNS) — A spokeswoman for the U.S. Catholic bishops lauded the newly released figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which showed U.S. abortions in 1997 were at their lowest level in two decades.

Helen Alvare, director of planning and information for the bishops’ Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, credited the decline in part to the four-year campaign against partial-birth abortions, which she said “exposed people to the reality of abortion.”

Figures released by the CDC in Atlanta showed that U.S. abortion rates had climbed during the 1970s, remained stable during the 1980s and

began a gradual decline in 1991.

The statistics indicate that there were a total of 1,184,758 abortions performed in 1997, which is 3 percent less than the 1,221,585 abortions performed in 1996, and is the lowest number performed since 1978. The number of abortions for every live 1,000 births also dropped from 314 in 1996 to 305 in 1997, which CDC officials claim is the lowest level since 1975.

The national abortion rate, defined as the number of legal abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years, has remained steady at 20 from 1995-97.

Although Alvare was heartened by the CDC figures, she said they are about 10 percent lower than the fig-

ures reported by the Alan Guttmacher Institute, the research organization for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, because some states do not have centralized reporting of abortions.

Authors of the report, published in the Jan. 7 issue of the CDC publication Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, attribute several factors to the decline in abortions including a reduced number of unintended pregnancies, “attitude changes” about having an abortion and reduced access to abortion services.

The CDC statistics from all 50 states and the District of Columbia showed that in 1997, white women re-

Bishop Curlin to participate in March for Life The bishop will celebrate the Mass for diocesan pilgrims Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. At 8 p.m. the evening before, he will concelebrate a Mass that will open the National Prayer Vigil for Life in the shrine’s Great Upper Church. Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore, chairman of the bishop’s pro-life committee, will be the principal celebrant and homilist.

A number of busses have been chartered by the Diocese of Charlotte’s Respect Life Office, parishes and other institutions throughout the dio-

Editor’s note: A story on the national March for Life in Washington in last week’s issue of The Catholic News & Herald included an error regarding the date of a Mass to be celebrated by Bishop Curlin for diocesan pilgrims. The following includes the correct information.

CHARLOTTE — Bishop William G. Curlin will celebrate a Mass for people from the Diocese of Charlotte who will gather in Washington, D.C., for the annual March for Life on Jan. 24. During the evening before, Bishop Curlin will also concelebrate a Mass that opens the National Prayer Vigil for Life.

cese to travel to the march. The annual gathering draws tens of thousands of people from across the country to protest the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 decisions that legalized abortion in the United States. Students representing Charlotte Catholic High School and Belmont Abbey College will lead this year’s march.

For further information on the Diocese of Charlotte’s participation in the national March for Life, contact the Respect Life Office at (704) 3703229. t

ceived 58.5 of all abortions, black women received 35.8 percent and women of other races received 5.7 percent. In a category called ethnicity, about 15 percent of the women receiving abortions were Hispanic, while 85 percent were non-Hispanic.

Only 19 percent of the women receiving abortions were married. Approximately 20 percent of the women who obtained a legal abortion in 1997 were 19 or younger while 32 percent were between the ages of 20 and 24.

According to the report, 88 percent of all legal abortions were performed within the first 12 weeks of gestation.

Laura Echevarria, director of media relations for the National Right to Life Committee, said she was pleased with the “continuing trend toward fewer abortions” and said her organization would “continue working to educate Americans about the tragedy of abortion.”

“The more the American people learn about the humanity of the unborn child and the violence of abortion, the more they reject abortion,” she said.

The Family Research Council’s spokeswoman, Janet Parshall, said the decline in the number of abortions “mirrors the change in attitudes about abortion documented in recent years.” t

Catholic News Service contributed to this article.

Samaritan’s Purse would like to thank the thousands of volunteers who packed shoe

boxes and worked at our Charlotte Processing Center so that needy boys and girls around the world might know the joy of Christmas. Through your hard work, our Charlotte center prepared more than one-fifth of the 3 million gift-filled shoe boxes Samaritan’s Purse shipped around the world. We delivered some of these to children in Honduras and Kosovo recently, and with grins from ear to ear, they had one message for you— Thank you! We appreciate your hard work and sacrifices. They enabled us to share the joyful news of God’s greatest gift, Jesus Christ. May God richly bless you and your family

please contact the Operation Christmas Child Carolinas Office at (704) 366-3269.

For group materials on Operation Christmas Child, call 1-800-353-5949 anytime.

Shoe boxes may be sent year-round to Samaritan’s Purse, 801 Bamboo Road, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization led by

1 0 The Catholic News & Herald Books

Harry Potter author: ‘I believe in God, not

January 14, 2000

Read-

By Anne LeVeque Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — “I believe in God, not magic,” said J.K. Rowling, author of the popular Harry Potter series of children’s books.

During a U.S. book tour stop in Washington, Rowling discussed the nature of evil, censorship, and faith, among other things.

The three Harry Potter CNS photo by Nancy Wiechec books, about a young wizard’s ad- The best-selling “Harry Potter” books focus ventures, have caused a sensation on a young wizard’s adventures. The author, in the publishing world because J.K. Rowling, told Catholic News Service they have held top spots on The that she believes her books to be “moral.”

New York Times’ best seller list as well as on Amazon.com, the online bookseller. characterizing Harry with human failSome parents have wondered ings, but, she says, he is a human child. whether the setting of the books and “I want to show that (he’s human); I their dealing with witchcraft makes for want him to sometimes make mistakes. wholesome reading. ... But he is generally acting with the In the stories, Harry is an orphan best of intentions.”

— reared by unloving relatives — who So far, none of her bad characters discovers at age 11 that he is a wizard. has decided to reform, but Rowling He has a mysterious lightning-bolt hints that in future books there will be scar on his forehead, evidence of an themes of redemption. “You will see attack by the evil Lord Voldemort. redemption and you will see the other He goes to the Hogwarts School of side as well, people struggling to do Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he the right thing who do not.” meets many more children — and Some of the main characters are adults — like himself. based on real people. Harry’s friend “I personally think they are moral Hermione Granger is modeled after books,” said Rowling. “I absolutely agree the author herself, while Ron Weasley, that you have the right to determine what Harry’s best friend, is based on Rowlyour child reads, but I don’t think that ing’s good friend and her daughter’s anyone has the right to determine what godfather, Sean Harris, described by other people’s children read.”

Rowling as a “committed Catholic.”

In discussing the evil Voldemort, Rowling is planning to write a Rowling said, “(other than those) who total of seven books in this series, one are mentally ill and not responsible for for each year that Harry is at wizards’ their actions, evil will be the result of school. She is committed to having the very poor choices and possibly insufentire series remain appropriate for ficient bravery to take the right path. age 9 and up.

And that’s what I’m attempting to “Harry will grow older, and I show with my villain. Here is someone hope grow older plausibly. I do have who had choices — he had a great deal a problem with treating a 16 year old of natural talent which he’s abusing, character as though he were a prehe’s totally self-serving, but he could pubescent.” have gone a different way.

Describing future books in the “That is supposed to be contrasted series, Rowling said, “the books will quite strongly with Harry, who has become darker, in the sense that you come from an equally difficult start in feel more palpable menace from Lord life, but who consistently tries to make Voldemort.” But, she said, “I’m not the right choices. Sometimes he fails.”

Rowling has drawn criticism for See HARRY POTTER, page 15

Word to Life January 16, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B Readings: 1) 1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19 Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-10 2) 1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20 3) Gospel: John 1:35-42

By Dan Luby Catholic News Service We know people for years, at work or as neighbors, waving from across the street and chatting over lunch. We swap stories, recipes and strategic plans. We join the same clubs, sweat the same projects, pray the same prayers.

But until we have visited in people’s homes, until we have met their families, and seen them in their element, and watched them handle the responsibilities and opportunities of hospitality, our knowledge is incomplete. In public, it’s easier to maintain a false front, even for ourselves.

We can play a role, use props and characters to help sustain our illusions about ourselves. But at home,

where people know us, where social conventions and public images fade, it’s harder to pretend. Even if we manage to fool ourselves, our behavior and patterns of relationship reveal us in spite of ourselves.

That’s why I’m so fond of the story in Sunday’s Gospel. Directed

by John the Baptizer to the presence of God in Jesus, the would-be disciples follow him. Accepting his invitation to “come and see” where he lives — to see how he relates to family, friends and neighbors, to put themselves in his hands and discover from personal experience what kind of host he is — they come to believe that he is God’s “Messiah,” anointed to bring salvation to the world. In a life of discipleship, there is no substitute for a personal relationship with Jesus.

May this jubilee year be for us a graced time of accepting more earnestly his invitation to “come and see” how he lives in the sacramental life and biblical tradition of the church, in the struggles and triumphs of daily life, in the silent mystery of prayer and especially in the woundedness and poverty of our brothers and sisters all around us.

What does a visit to your home reveal to attentive guests about your deepest self ?

Question: Who in your life has given hospitality which helped give you life?

“Come and see.”

— John 1-39a

Weekly Scripture Readings for the week of Jan. 16 - 22, 2000 Sunday (Second Sunday in Ordinary Time), 1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19, 1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20, John 1:35-42; Monday (St. Anthony), 1 Samuel 15:16-23, Mark 2:18-22; Tuesday, 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Mark 2:23-28; Wednesday, 1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51, Mark 3:1-6; Thursday (Sts. Fabian and Sebastian), 1 Samuel 18:6-9; 19:1-7, Mark 3:7-12; Friday (St. Agnes), 1 Samuel 24:3-21, Mark 3:13-19; Saturday, 2 Samuel 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27, Mark 3:20-21

January 14, 2000

The Catholic News & Herald 11

Entertain-

Out on video

“Tumbleweeds” Modest, insightful drama in which a flighty, much married Southerner (Janet McTeer), having fled her latest husband with her 12-year-old daughter (Kimberly J. Brown) for San Diego, is about to repeat the pattern with a new boyfriend (Gavin O’Connor) when her daughter demands she stop running from her problems. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be

NEW YORK (CNS) — The following are home videocassette reviews from the U.S. Catholic Conference Office for Film and Broadcasting. Each videocassette is available on VHS format. Theatrical movies on video have a U.S. Catholic Conference classification and Motion Picture Association of America rating. All reviews indicate the appropriate age group for the video audience.

“Dudley Do-Right” (1999) Thin live-action comedy based on the TV cartoon series created by Jay Ward in which the hopelessly square Canadian Mountie of the title (Brendan Fraser) gets some help from his faithful horse in saving his dim sweetheart Nell (Sarah Jessica Parker) from the villainous Snidely Whiplash (Alfred Molina) who’s using a fake gold rush to fleece novice prospectors. Director Hugh Wilson settles for some easy laughs featuring Fraser’s deadpan hijinks, corny dialogue, weak sight gags and overly busy slapstick action. Comic violence, much menace and assorted vulgarities. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of American rating is PG — parental guidance suggested.

“Lake Placid” (1999) Lame horror-comedy in which a big-city paleontologist (Bridget Fonda), a wealthy eccentric (Oliver Platt) and an earnest game warden (Bill Pullman) insist on helping a skeptical rural sheriff (Brendan Gleeson) catch a huge crocodile that has devoured a few locals. Directed by Steve Miner from David E. Kelley’s contrived script, the movie offers sparse spurts of comic mileage with suspense equally absent. Some predatory violence with decapitations, sex references, occasional profanity and intermittent rough language. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted.

“Mickey Blue Eyes” (1999) Frail mob comedy in which an expatriate British auctioneer (Hugh Grant) becomes engaged to a schoolteacher (Jeanne Tripplehorn) whose gangster family immediately ensnares him in mob business that could get him killed. Directed by Kelly Makin, the fish-out-of-water premise is stretched pretty thinly through the course of some mildly amusing situations. Brief violence, irreverent depictions of religious art, some profanity and a few instances of rough language. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

“Mystery Men” (1999) Dopey spoof in which seven would-be superheroes (including Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, Janeane Garofalo and William H. Macy) combine their kooky talents to outwit a nasty megalomaniac (Geoffrey Rush) intent on leveling their metropolis.

Director Kinka Usher fails to rein in the ensemble cast and a chaotic script further dilutes the comedy-fantasy. Intermittent comic violence and some toilet humor. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

“The Thomas Crown Affair”(1999) Cat-and-mouse drama in which a billionaire art thief (Pierce Brosnan) and the investigator (Renee Russo) who will net $5 million for nailing him become romantically involved, complicating whether she will do her job or take off with him as he suggests. Director John McTiernan updates the 1968 crime caper with sleek performances but more explicit bedroom scenes for a slick escapist fantasy of riches and romance without consequences. Sexual encounters with nudity, occasional profanity and a few instances of rough language. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-IV — adults with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted.

CNS photo from Fine Line Features

TV programs of note — week of Jan. 16 B Gerri Pare y

Catholic News Service

Sunday, Jan. 16, 8-9 p.m. EST (CBS) “City of Angels.” Premiere of a Steven Bochco-produced drama series about the professional and personal lives of those at a struggling inner-city hospital in Los Angeles.

Second episode airs Wednesday, Jan. 19, in its regular Wednesday 8-9 p.m. time period.

Sunday, Jan. 16, 8-10 p.m. EST (A&E) “Oprah Winfrey: Preacher Woman.” From the “Biography” series, a profile of the rags-to-riches media powerhouse who overcame poverty and an abused childhood to star in her own TV show as well as movies.

Monday, Jan. 17, 8-11 p.m. EST (ABC) “American Music Awards.”

Live broadcast of the 27th annual awards show hosted by actor-comedian Norm Macdonald, with honors in such categories as pop, rock, soul, r&b, country, Latin and alternative music.

Monday, Jan. 17, 10-11 p.m.

EST (A&E) “Emergency Services Unit.” An “Investigative Reports” program focusing on New York City’s elite team of 450 men and women on call as a combined rescue and SWAT team, dealing with such diverse situ-

ations as subway collisions and armed raids on violent drug-dealers.

Tuesday, Jan. 18, 9-10 p.m. EST (PBS) “Lost on Everest.” A “Nova” rebroadcast about the 1999 discovery of British climber George Leigh Mallory’s body after he and his companion vanished near the summit of Mount Everest on June 8, 1924. Some speculate he may have reached the mountaintop 29 years before Hillary and Tensing, who are credited with the feat.

Saturday, Jan. 22, 7:30-8:55 p.m.

EST (Disney) “Up, Up and Away.”

Light-hearted family film in which a 13-year-old boy (Michael Pagan) from a family of superheroes must rescue his kidnapped parents from an evil megalomaniac bent on world domination through mind control.

Pare is on the staff of the U.S. Catholic Conference Office for Film and Broadcasting.

Can’t remember how a recent film was classified by the USCC? Want to know whether to let the kids go see it? Now you can look film reviews up on America Online.

Once you’re connected to AOL, just use the keyword CNS to go to Catholic News Service’s online site, then look for movie reviews.

1 2 The Catholic News & Herald

January 14, 2000

Editorials & Col-

The Pope Speaks

POPE JOHN PAUL II

Pope, at first audience of 2000, stresses motherhood of Mary

By Benedicta Cipolla Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope John Paul II, at his first general audience of 2000, urged the faithful to reflect on Mary, the mother of Jesus, who is also mother of all Christians.

“All through his childhood, Jesus called Mary his mother. When he later addressed her as ‘woman,’ he was emphasizing that she is not just his biological mother but also the mother of the people of the new covenant,” the pope told a crowd of 7,000 people gathered in the Paul VI Audience Hall Jan. 5.

Following three years of jubilee preparation, the last of which, 1999, focused on the Father, the pope urged those present to reflect on Mary at the beginning of 2000.

The angel Gabriel’s words at the Annunciation, “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you,” “reveal God’s intention to communicate to humanity the true and definitive joy which comes from having the Son present among us,” said the pope.

As mother of Christ, Mary also played a crucial role in the education of her son, he said.

“The mother not only gives birth but also takes part in the education and development of her children. Mary’s behavior certainly influenced Jesus’ conduct,” said the pope.

The pope said Christ’s gesture of washing his disciples’ feet, for example, might have reflected Mary’s own behavior in the home, which could have included bathing guests’ feet as a symbol of humility.

The pope also emphasized the reciprocal nature of the mother-son relationship between Mary and Jesus.

Jesus “thus received from Mary a true education that molded his humanity. On the other hand, Mary was influenced and educated by her son,” said the pope.

Pope tells diplomats he views new millennium with hope VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope John Paul II said that as he pushed open the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica Christmas Eve, he was thinking with optimism about world progress in the new millennium. The pope, in an annual speech Jan. 10 to Vatican-accredited diplomats, said he felt called by God from the beginning of his two-decade pontificate to encourage the world to think of itself as one family. “Twentyone years ago, when I became successor of the apostle Peter, I felt myself charged with a universal fatherhood which embraces all the men and women of our time without exception,” the pope said. “Today, in addressing you who represent practically all the peoples of the earth, I would like to share with each one something personal: At the opening of the doors of a new millennium, the pope began to think that people might finally learn to draw lessons from the past,” he said.

Vocations statistics and the fear of failure At the recent Synod of Bishops for Europe, held in Rome in October 1999, Cardinal Carlo Martini of Milan called for a gathering of all bishops worldwide to examine such issues as the shortage of priests, the role of women, ecumenism and the discipline of marriage.

What a great idea!

One question we all need to explore is why there are fewer vocations to the priesthood today than in the past. It is a complicated question, and there are many factors involved.

Cardinal Godfried Danneels, the primate of Belgium, presented his thoughts on this topic in the September 1998 issue of Origins, a publication of Catholic News Service. He said that becoming a priest today is no longer a step up on the social ladder, it is a step down.

Seminarians today show a lot of courage when they offer their lives to the church. Many older priests are suspicious of the neoconservatism of the younger clergy. Young men tend to be cautious about accepting every theological opinion that comes along, and who can blame them? New-Age thinking is at odds with the deposit of faith.

Those who are called to the priesthood are swimming against the tide. The postmodern era is no longer Christian. They know they will have to proclaim Jesus as Lord in a world where his divinity is being denied more and more. For too many, Jesus is simply a great prophet, like Buddha or Mohammed. In this climate it is not surprising that vocations are down.

The staying power of today’s seminarians and young priests is also an issue. One cardinal expressed astonishment when one of his priests left the active ministry after only two years. It was not because of celibacy or because he had a crisis of faith. He left because he was unable to bear failure of any kind.

Cardinal Danneels commented on this, saying that some priests never have learned to integrate the cross into their lives. They preach the Gospel but are

Hispanic Ministry FATHER VINCENT H. FINNERTY Guest Columnist Hispanics and the larger Church.

An earlier generation of Hispanic leaders that built the current structure of Hispanic Ministry is passing from the scene. The new era demands more sophisticated and flexible leadership, which is not always available. The number of Hispanic vocations remains extremely low, and while lay leadership programs for Hispanics are increasing nationwide, support for them from the Bishops is uneven.

In addition, there is no agreed upon mechanism for ensuring that Hispanic leaders are recognized and promoted within diocesan departments and are effectively utilized within local parishes.

Hispanics, even when possessing comparable skills and experience, are more likely than non-Hispanics to be hired on a volunteer or part-time basis, and then assigned to work with Hispanics only.

Spirituality for Today FATHER JOHN CATOIR CNS Columnist

unable to see any meaning in suffering. As a result they are unable to manage failure or even the appearance of failure.

The younger generation does not want to hear about sacrifice. They are repelled by the idea. But hasn’t it always been so?

I remember resisting my own vocation for more than five years. I was scared to death that I might fail.

I thought: Why should I put myself in danger’s way?

It was a reasonable fear because I knew I was weak.

Somehow the grace of God helped me to trust in divine providence and forget about my own powerlessness. So with a leap of faith, I asked the Lord to make me strong, and I never regretted that decision.

I’m still weak, but I’m getting there day by day.

We all have fears of failure from time to time, but when we learn to trust in God’s strength it doesn’t matter if we are weak or strong. The Lord becomes our strength and our joy.

I am not worried about the future. The church has survived for 2,000 years in far worse circumstances. I think the Holy Spirit has many surprises in store for us in the years to come.

That is why I applaud Cardinal Martini’s call for a wider collaboration among the bishops in dealing with these problems.

Proselytism among Hispanics This month we will continue with two more major findings of a recent study commissioned by the Secretariat for Hispanic Affairs of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in January 1998. They deal with proselytism and leadership in the Hispanic community.

1) Proselytism among Hispanics is increasing, and more and more segments of the Hispanic population appear to be affected.

Most of the “new” Hispanic immigrants originate in countries where Protestant groups are increasingly active and popular. In addition, U.S.-based Protestant groups have increasingly attracted adherents among both the older Hispanic poor and the middle class.

National surveys indicate that the share of the Hispanic population which identifies as Catholic is shrinking annually. Protestant success is based on aggressive outreach and welcoming campaigns aimed at Hispanics. Protestant groups also offer Hispanics opportunities for community participation and social mobility (through ethnic church building) that are discouraged in the Catholic Church. In addition, Protestants provide their congregants with an emotive small faith experience that has few Catholic equivalents.

2) The central obstacle to Hispanic participation in today’s Church is leadership. Without effectively trained and promoted leaders, Hispanics cannot gain sufficient recognition in diocesan departments and parishes to build a dynamic partnership between

We welcome your questions and comments.

Please send your Letters to the Editor to Joann S. Keane, 1123 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28203 or e-mail jskeane@charlottediocese.org.

January 14, 2000

Editorials & Col-

Light One Candle FATHER THOMAS J. McSWEENEY Guest Columnist Rights and wrongs, civil and otherwise Martin Luther King Jr. Day was created as a tribute to a fallen hero of the civil rights movement. It remains that, but, as with many other national holidays, it is in danger of turning into one more long weekend.

I like long weekends. I don’t know anybody who can’t use an extra day off. That’s not the point.

Patriotic holidays remind us about matters of great historic and social substance. Remembrance and celebration by themselves are not enough, though. The value of setting aside special days is that we take the time to stop — to look back at where we came from, to look around at where we are and to look ahead to where we want to be.

Daily headlines confirm that prejudice and hatred still live, but the good news is that tolerance and justice are at work, too, transforming a nation where “separate but equal” was a way of life and a principle of law. This earth-shaking change was — and is — the result of the conviction, persistence and utter bravery of untold people of conscience.

Last July, two men died who have had a vast impact on the civil rights of every American citizen.

The first of these was James Farmer. The founder and director of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and a proponent of Gandhi’s tactics of nonviolent civil disobedience, he was born in Texas, the grandson of a slave. He assured those who feared his According to tradition, “James, the brother of the Lord,” had special information, apparently from Mary, concerning the young life of Jesus. It is the Book of James which relates that the siblings of Jesus described in the Gospels were his step-brothers and step-sisters, Joseph’s children from another marriage.

This notion was opposed later by St. Jerome, who firmly believed in Joseph’s virginity. According to Jerome, the “brothers and sisters” were actually cousins.

The same book identifies the names of Mary’s parents as Joachim and Anna, speaks of her miraculous birth to the aging couple, and describes how she was subjected during her pregnancy to tests and questioning by officials suspicious of her virginity.

Perhaps such works were intended in part to assuage the curiosity of many early Christians, who felt the need, as many of us still do, to know all possible trifling details about Jesus. The four canonical Gospels, of course, were not at all interested in satisfying this type of curiosity. Overall, much in these writings is rather weird, to say the least. They describe wonderful things happening through contact with Jesus, his clothing, even his bath water.

The apocryphal infancy narratives typically portray the young Jesus displaying strange powers, sometimes quite out of character with the Jesus of the four Gospels we know.

Once, for example, while playing with other children, Jesus molded several clay birds. When the authorities protested to Joseph about this violation of the Sabbath, Jesus waved his hands, brought the birds to life, and they flew away. Another time, someone in a crowd accidentally bumped into Jesus, who turned and said, “You will never arrive at where you are going.” A moment later, the man dropped dead.

Many if not most of these writings derive from gnostic sources. While they narrate extravagant stories, particularly about Jesus and Mary, and are not part of the canon of sacred Scripture, they still tell us much about the life, interests and traditions of the early Christian churches.

methods would be construed as weakness that “we are fighting back, we’re only using new weapons.”

He was jailed for forty days for his protests and once avoided lynching by escaping town in a hearse.

CORE’s volunteers focused on integration through peaceful demonstrations and sit-ins that were met with violence. In the 1960’s, James Farmer organized the famous Freedom Rides to protest segregated interstate transportation. The courage of these men and women in the face of arrest, assault and even death won the respect of blacks and whites alike and inspired many to become active in the civil rights movement.

The second was Frank M. Johnson, Jr. who spent nearly a quarter of a century on the U.S. District Court bench in Alabama where he handed down rulings that broke legal barriers to desegregation. Beginning with a decision vindicating the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955, he ruled on a number of cases that outlawed segregation in schools, parks, restaurants and other public accommodations. From voter registration to the integration of the University of Alabama, his decisions had a profound influence.

Other rulings on civil rights issues improved conditions for prisoners and for mental patients.

Judge Johnson endured decades of ostracism by fellow white people, a cross-burning on his lawn, the firebombing of his mother’s house, and countless death threats.

These two contemporaries were as heroic in their actions and their achievements as Martin Luther King Jr. So were the countless men and women of every race and ethnic background who put their lives on the line to demand human rights, freedom and equality.

Indeed, one person can change this world for the better. James Farmer did it. Frank Johnson did it.

Does anyone believe that the job is finished? Take your time to think about it. You have a long weekend.

Question Corner FATHER JOHN DIETZEN CNS Columnist

Nonbiblical traditions about Jesus’ life Q. Some time ago, you responded to a question about the brothers and sisters of Jesus mentioned in the Gospels.

You said one possibility is that these siblings were children of Joseph from a previous marriage.

This explanation “goes back to some very early nonbiblical traditions about Jesus and his life,” you said.

Such a theory was never mentioned in my past. That doesn’t mean it is not a good explanation, but what is the source of your information?

A. Roughly two dozen Gospels concerning Jesus were written in the early centuries of Christianity.

Some of them focused especially on the youthful life of Jesus and on the supposed time between the death and resurrection of our Lord, two subjects about which the canonical Gospels give almost no information.

Two of them are particularly significant, the Infancy Gospel of Thomas and the so-called Book (or Protoevangelium, “First Gospel”) of James.

Along with other early writings, usually attributed to the apostles or their followers, these are traditional sources for much of what we assume to know about Jesus and his family.

Both originated somewhere around the year 140 or 150, in other words perhaps 50 years after the canonical Gospel according to John.

The Catholic News & Herald 13

Justice and Peace JOANNE KENNEDY FRAZER Guest Columnist Catholic Commitment for the New Millennium At the start of the third Christian millennium, our church has embarked on a great jubilee year journey.

All over the United States, in their parishes, small faith communities, and families, Catholics are recommitting themselves to serving those who are poor and to working for justice and peace in the new millennium. They are taking the Jubilee Pledge for Charity, Justice, and Peace, which is being promoted by a variety of U.S. Catholic Conference offices and other organizations. This practical response to the Jubilee Year flows from the themes of Catholic Social Teaching.

However, taking the pledge is only a first step; finding ways to act on it is the challenge.

Below are the points of the pledge followed by suggestions for parish actions: As disciples of Jesus in the new millennium, I/we pledge to: Pray regularly for greater justice and peace.

• Hold a parish jubilee retreat. Use Pope John Paul II’s World Day of Peace message for reflections on your parish’s involvement for Jubilee.

Learn more about Catholic social teaching and its call to protect human life, stand with the poor, and care for creation.

• Revisit the NC Bishops’ 1997 pastoral Of One Heart and One Mind on moral and ethical dimensions of economic conditions in North Carolina. How has your parish responded?

Reach across boundaries of religion, race, ethnicity, gender and disabling conditions.

• Build bridges. Take action on issues of international justice and peace, or work with local immigrant or migrant issues. Apply for an Operation Rice Bowl mini-grant to help with costs.

Live justly in family life, school, work, the marketplace and the political arena.

• Incorporate into prayer groups or hold a parish mission on the discipleship themes and roles for laity presented in the U.S. Bishops’ Everyday Christianity: To Hunger and Thirst for Justice, a short (10 pages) and highly readable document.

Serve those who are poor and vulnerable, sharing more time and talent.

• Analyze the underlying causes of poverty in your own community, e.g., lack of affordable housing, childhood hunger, underemployment, lack of affordable child care, etc. Resolve to attack the reasons for poverty in one of these areas.

Give more generously to those in need at home and abroad.

• Support the Catholic Church’s international relief and development efforts this Lent with Operation Rice Bowl, a Catholic Relief Services program of prayer, almsgiving, fasting and learning. Support the church’s domestic anti-poverty program, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

Advocate for public policies that protect human life, promote human dignity, preserve God’s creation See CATHOLIC COMMITMENT, page 15

1 4 The Catholic News & Herald

King Celebration, from page 3 King’s steps and relive his history.

“The trip affects them profoundly because it brings a consciousness to them about how everything happened during that time,” said Dr. Jeff.

“The Civil Rights Movement was a youth movement. Martin Luther King was only 26 when he was called upon to lead the movement made up of young people who changed this world. We have to turn the focus back on our children.”

Thirteen-year-old Brittani Williams from Our Lady of Consolation Church said she came to the event because she wanted to “spread the word about what she knew and to try to understand the greater meaning behind Dr. King’s message.” She added, “adults should talk to us more so that we can understand because we don’t have the resources, and the teachers aren’t teaching us these things.”

After the sessions, the second annual Glenda Rollins-Gaither Service Award was presented to James Bingley from St. James Church in Concord. His family accepted the wooden sculpture on his behalf because of his illness. Bingley serves as the vice-chair of the board of advisors for the African American Affairs Ministry and has been active in his parish and throughout the diocese.

The award is named for RollinsGaither, a parishioner of Our Lady of Consolation Church and a founding member of the African American Affairs Ministry, who passed away in March 1995.

The closing Mass included a performance by the Kabaka Dancers and Drummers and the Our Lady of Consolation Choir dressed in their individual representations of African-inspired garb.

In his homily, Bishop William G. Curlin said, “we must see each other with our souls and not just with our eyes. The Church is alive when

ClassiEMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Archivist: Archdiocese of Atlanta. Full-time position for individual meeting the following requirements: master’s degree in library science; archival management or related field; 3 to 5 years’ experience in archival work; extensive knowledge of Catholic church; computer literacy (MARC AMC format and programs related to library/archival cataloging); exceptional written and spoken communication skills. Salary commensurate with credentials and experience. Please submit resume and cover letter with salary requirements to: Zoe Johnson, 680 W. Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30308. Fax (404) 885-7494. E-mail: zjohnson@ archatl.com.

Archivist: Diocese of Savannah, Georgia.

Qualifications: Master’s degree in related field, or equivalent; extensive knowledge of the Catholic Church; minimum three years’ relevant archival background including computer expertise; suitable organizational skills; demonstrated ability to work collegially; excellent communications skills; ability to travel. For job description and application contact Archivist Search Committee, Catholic Pastoral Center, 601 E. Liberty St., Savannah, GA 314015196; fax (912)238-2339; e-mail Cooper0987@ aol.com.

Music Director/Organist: Roman Catholic

January 14, 2000

In the

people see Jesus living in each of us, regardless of race or color.”

Chrys Chambers, a parishioner of Our Lady of the Highways Church in Thomasville, left the event with positive feelings and thoughts: “I find Dr. King to be a person who embodies the idea that everyone has their rights, the right to be free to express themselves, to hold jobs, to live where they want.

To bridge the gap of cultural diver-

“As we assess where we are 135 years after the signing and passing of the thirteenth amendment and 31 years after the passing of Martin Luther King Jr., we still see the residue of slavery and apartheid in America,” said Dr. Jeff. sity is important, so it is necessary to be a part of something like this to be a part of the cure.”

Rev. Mr. Todd hopes that in the future more people will attend the celebration: “It is a shame that there was only a fraction of the over 120,000 Catholics in the diocese present at the event. It shows that there is too much apathy among black people and too much unconcern among non-blacks. Dr. King’s legacy has been buried, and his words are just as applicable to today’s time as they were 35 years ago.” t Contact Staff Writer Alesha M. Price by calling (704) 370-3354 or email amprice@charlottediocese.org.

Church of the Most Holy Trinity, 720 Telfair Street, P. O. Box 2446, Augusta, GA 30903. (706)722-4944. www.themostholytrinity.org. Full-time position for experienced organist/choir director. Music degree with concentration on organ preferred. Choral direction, vocal skills and knowledge of Catholic liturgical tradition important for weekend Masses, school Masses, weddings, funerals. Large traditional choir, small Gospel choir, bell choir, children’s choir, and cantors. Worship III hymnal. Oldest Catholic Church building in Georgia, Romanesque style, with fully restored 1868 Jardine Tracker pipe organ, 2 Manuals/29 Ranks, Mechanical Action, on Organ Historical Society’s “exceptional historic merit” list.

1300-family downtown parish with cathedral-like liturgical qualities, ethnically diverse. Competitive salary and benefits package offered. Send resume, references, salary history and demo tape to Rev. Allan J. McDonald at above address. Position available March 1, 2000.

Music Minister: Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Community in the coastal area of the Outer Banks, NC is seeking an energetic, motivated, spiritual individual to develop a music program for a growing faith community. Candidate should be a practicing Catholic. Responsibilities will include: Choir Director, development of cantors, weekend liturgies, weddings, funerals, etc. Knowledge of organ, piano, and other instruments. Ability to work with children helpful. Salary negotiable with benefits package. Position available summer of 2000. Application deadline March 1, 2000. Send resume to: Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish, Att: Very Rev. Michael Butler, V.F., Pastor, Music Minister Search Committee. P.O. Box

CRS Operation Rice Bowl program results announced

BALTIMORE — The Diocese of Charlotte raised $50,366 in last year’s Operation Rice Bowl, a Lenten program of the national Catholic Relief Services office. The program was initiated in 1976 to encourage an active approach to the Lenten season with prayer, fasting, learning and giving.

The program has promoted more than 1,200 long-term development projects in more than 60 countries. While 75 percent of funds collected in the program will be sent to development programs overseas, 25 percent will stay within the diocese for local charity initiatives.

Girl Scouts, from page 5

work with each other and in the community, so you are not as afraid to step out into the world,” continued Patty.

Both mother and daughter agree that their Catholic faith and being involved with Girl Scouts complement one another.

“Girl Scouts and being Catholic go hand-in-hand,” said Patty. “If I weren’t a strong Catholic, I wouldn’t have made it all the way through [with my project]. Girl Scouts just kind of fit into my life.”

While the time for Patty to become her daughter’s troop leader is down the line, she plans to follow in her mother’s,

grandmother’s and great-grandmother’s path later on in life. For now, after graduation, Patty will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she will major in biochemistry or biology to become a research scientist. t Contact Staff Writer Alesha M. Price by calling (704) 370-3354 or e-mail amprice@charlottediocese.org.

Catholic Commitment, from page 13 and build peace.

• Read and act on the U.S. Bishop’s election year statement, Faithful Citizenship: Civic Responsibility for a New Millennium. During the week of March 12th, attend trainings by a national speaker at St. Pius X Church in Greensboro or St. Peter Church in Charlotte.

Encourage others to work for greater charity, justice, and peace.

• Promote the pledge during liturgies and through faith formation.

In prayers for the faithful, through homilies, with confirmation projects, during adult education sessions, take

the pledge and affirm and encourage parishioners to see our world through the Jubilee Justice lens.

The pledge and most of the materials mentioned above can be ordered from U.S. Catholic Conference Publishing Services at 800-235-8722.

Some documents can be downloaded from www.nccbuscc.org. Call the Office of Justice and Peace for information at 704-370-3225.

Joanne Kennedy Frazer is director of the Office of Justice and Peace for Catholic Social Services in the Diocese of Charlotte.

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Rates: $.50/word per issue ($10 minimum per issue) Deadline: 12 noon Wednesday, 9 days before publication date How to order: Ads may be faxed to (704) 370-3382 or mailed to: Cindi Feerick, The Catholic News & Herald, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203.

Payment: Ads may be pre-paid or billed. For information, call (704) 370-3332. nity. Candidate should be a practicing Catholic and possess a B.A. in Theology, Youth Ministry, or related field. Spanish as a second language and musical ability helpful. Salary negotiable with benefits package.

Position available summer of 2000. Application deadline March 1, 2000. Send resume to: Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish, Att: Very Rev. Michael Butler, V.F. Pastor, Youth Minister Search Committee. P.O. Box 510, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949-0510.

Youth/Young Adult Ministry Director: Diocese of Savannah, Georgia. Qualifications: Master’s degree in youth ministry or related field; at least five years of relevant experience; status as practicing Catholic in good standing; demonstrated organizational skills.

Also requires significant travel and strength in oral and written communication. For job description and application form contact Youth Ministry Search Committee, Catholic Pastoral Center, 601 E. Liberty St., Savannah, GA 31401-5196; fax(912)238-2339; e-mail Cooper0987@aol.com.

510, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949-0510.

Music Minister: St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Richmond, Virginia, a growing and diverse community (1,700 families) seeks a full-time Minister of Music. Responsibilities include: planning and preparation for all Sunday and Sacramental Liturgies for the parish and school community and coordination of our parish adult, children, teen, and handbell choirs. The successful candidate will be a highly motivated and organized individual with skill and experience in keyboard, choral, and vocal.

Experience in Catholic Liturgy helpful. Computer skills desirable. Salary commensurate with education/experience. Send resume and cover letter to: St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Attention:Music Minister Search Committee, 9505 Gayton Road, Richmond, VA 23229 or FAX (804)740-2197.

Youth/Young Adult Minister: Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Community in the coastal area of the Outer Banks, NC is seeking an energetic, motivated, spiritual individual to cultivate and implement programs for a growing faith commu-

January 14, 2000

In the

The Catholic News & Herald 15

Beliefnet.com offers Internet site for all faiths

NEW YORK (CNS) — A new Web site is aiming to provide a place for information, inspiration and advice on all religious faiths.

Beliefnet.com, officially launched Jan. 4, includes a combination of columnists, message boards, discussion groups, seminars and a spot for posting memorials.

The site was founded by Steven Waldman, former national editor at U.S. News and World Report, and Robert Nylen, founding CEO of New England Monthly.

In an introductory column, Waldman said the decision to create the site grew out of questions he and his wife faced in trying to incorporate religious faith into their family.

Harry Potter, from page 10

about to write something that is doom and gloom from beginning to end; that would depress me.”

In describing her personal beliefs, Rowling said “I believe in God, not magic. I don’t think children will be seriously disappointed to hear that I don’t believe in magic. I do have doubts, that just goes along with being me.

Sometimes faith is trusting that faith will return.”

According to The Washington Post, Rowling attends the Church of Scotland, which in the United States is known as Presbyterian.

“My daughter goes to Sunday school, I go to church — not as frequently as I should sometimes, but I do. I count myself a member of the church.” t

Waldman was raised a “cultural” Jew and his wife was Presbyterian.

They found they needed to first learn more about religious teachings before they could pass anything along to their children.

“There’s already an abundance of material on the Internet on spirituality and religion, yet it’s hard to find what you want,” said Waldman in a statement. “These Web sites are often disorganized or driven by particular agendas. We think there’s a crying need for a Web site that lets people navigate this intimidating, confusing medium.”

Regular columnists will cover a broad spectrum of beliefs, from Wiccan priestess Margot Adler to Tom

Bethel of American Spectator magazine.

Current contributors also include Father Andrew Greeley, Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong, Harvard theologian Harvey Cox, Southern Baptist leader Richard Land, Buddhist Lama Surya Das and Oregon State University professor Marcus Borg, who serves as Bible columnist.

Among features on the site in the first week of January were a teen-age girl’s diary discussion about whether she should go through with confirmation and columns by Father Greeley about millennium hype and by Arthur Magida, a correspondent for the PBS show, “Religion and Ethics Newsweekly,” about whether Muslim leader

Jubilee Justice, from page 1 with compassion those who struggle for dignity and economic survival; and to study the structures of oppression and the possibilities for changing them.”

The religious leaders make six affirmations in the letter. Their statements focus on living the gospel message of good news to the poor, effecting systemic change by altering structures of injustice, providing ministries of outreach and charity, reducing injustice through moral and political will, empowering the poor in political and economic arenas, and promoting cooperation in society.

A Catholic response to poverty The letter’s principal themes — among them equality, liberty, living wages and eradication of the root causes of poverty — fall directly in line with the Catholic Church’s teachings on social justice, says one diocesan official.

“Catholic social teaching proclaims very clearly that the economy exists for the person, not the person for the economy,” says Joanne Frazer, director of the diocesan Office of Justice and Peace. “Economic choices and in-

stitutions must be judged by how they protect or undermine the life and dignity of the human person, support the family and serve the common good.

“As Catholics, this has been in our mind, in our teaching and in our action, and we see the need to continue to look at the problems that exist and act on them.”

The council’s letter is the second pastoral on economic justice that Bishops Curlin and Gossman have signed within recent years.

In November 1997, the two bishops issued “Of One Heart and One Mind,” which emphasized the ethical and human dimensions of economic life in the state. In that letter, the bishops provide a moral framework based on principles of Catholic social teaching, especially as it applies to human dignity, productive work and wage standards.

The bishops’ endorsement of the new letter is an example of the Catholic Church’s ongoing commitment to challenge people to help the fight against poverty, says Frazer.

Here in the Diocese of Charlotte, a number of diocesan and parish projects and programs are operated

Louis Farrakhan is turning toward a more traditional practice of Islam.

There was an interview with Trappist Father Thomas Keating on centering prayer and a review of the movie “The End of the Affair,” as well as links to the religious texts of various faiths, and discussion boards on topics ranging from humor to grief, from tarot cards and homeopathy to Marian apparitions and fasting.

The for-profit site can be found at www.beliefnet.com. According to a release, the company plans to offer kits aimed at building religious and spiritual community Web sites in February and to add a sales section in the spring.

Access is free. t

by people who seek to end poverty by addressing both short-term crisis situations as well as long-term justice issues, Frazer notes.

In Catholic tradition, the Holy Year — as the jubilee is also called — is a time of forgiveness of sin and debt, of reconciliation and of conversion. The Catholic Church’s preparation — and, indeed, the world’s — for the Jubilee 2000 has been a key point of Pope John Paul II’s ministry, especially in the ’90s. The pope has frequently referred to the forgiveness of debt, both spiritual and material, in his texts and speeches on the jubilee.

The North Carolina Council of Churches’ letter cites Pope John Paul II’s significance in promoting the jubilee movement. It notes that the pontiff “reminds us that the 2000 years that have passed since the birth of Christ represent an extraordinary time not only for Christians but for the whole of humanity and should be celebrated as the ‘Great Jubilee.’” t Contact Associate Editor Jimmy Rostar by calling (704) 370-3334 or e-mail jtrostar@charlottediocese.org.

1 6 The Catholic News & Herald

Living the

January 14, 2000

Pope baptizes 18 babies in Sistine Chapel liturgy

CNS photo from Reuters

Pope John Paul II baptizes Alberto Coles Vollmer of the United States Jan. 9 in the Sistine Chapel. The pope baptized 18 babies during a service marking the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

By John Thavis Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a ceremony enlivened by a chorus of crying infants and the smiles of their older brothers and sisters, Pope John Paul II baptized 18 babies, including one from the United States, in the Sistine Chapel.

“I hope these little ones will grow in the faith they receive today, in a way that allows them to participate actively in the life of the church,” a visibly pleased pope said during the liturgy Jan. 9.

After anointing the 18 babies — 10 boys and eight girls — with holy oil, he deftly poured water over the heads of each and welcomed them into the faith. Some cried, some slept and some chewed on their pacifiers, while their parents beamed.

The heartiest cries came from young Jacopo Guglielmo. The quietest was Maria Chiara Mirabella, whose sister stood on tiptoes afterward, waiting until she could give the pope a kiss on the cheek.

Six brothers and sisters of the baptized took the offertory gifts to the altar, and a few of them, ignoring official prods to move on, paused in conversation with the 79-year-old pontiff, who seemed delighted.

Among the newly baptized were 14 from Italy and one each from Bra-

zil, Spain, Switzerland and the United States. The U.S. baby, Alberto Coles Vollmer, was born in Miami in late November to two Venezuelan parents. He is the grandson of Venezuela’s ambassador to the Holy See. Early in his pontificate, the pope began the tradition of baptizing infants in the Sistine Chapel on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. This year’s Mass was celebrated a few weeks after completion of a 20-year restoration project of chapel frescoes by Michelangelo and other Renaissance artists.

If the babies did not notice the art, the pope did, saying the setting offered a fitting reminder of the history of salvation, the origins of the human being and the universal judgment to come.

The pope told parents and godparents of the baptized that they had a responsibility to guide the children along the path of faith in Christ and the Gospel.

“Be for them examples of solid faith, deep prayer and active involvement in church life,” he said.

Speaking afterward at a midday blessing from his apartment window above St. Peter’s Square, the pope said all Christians should meditate on their own baptism and view it as a “call to return to the roots of the Christian vocation.” t

In a separate Gallup/CNN/USA Today poll, taken earlier in December, President Clinton came out on top.

Rev. Graham second, and Pope John Paul third, when more than 1,000 Americans were asked to select the man they most admire among living persons they have heard or read about.

There was a separate question for most-admired woman.

The question in that poll was open-ended. The president got 10 percent of the first or second mentions by respondents, the preacher 7 percent and the pope 6 percent. t

In U.S. Gallup poll, Mother Teresa tops list of century’s most

was someone they admired, but not the most. Only 3 percent said they did not admire her at all.

Thirty-four percent said Rev. King was one of their most admired figures and an additional 33 percent put him in the next category.

The rest of the top 10, followed by the percentages that said “admire most” and “admire” respectively, were: — Kennedy, 32 and 34.

— Albert Einstein, 31 and 39.

— Helen Keller, 30 and 33.

— President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 26 and 34.

— The Rev. Billy Graham, 26 and 26.

— Pope John Paul, 25 and 34.

— Eleanor Roosevelt, 22 and 34.

— Winston Churchill, 20 and 36.

The other eight people listed in the poll, in the order of how they were rated, were: Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Ronald Reagan, Henry Ford, Bill Clinton and Margaret Thatcher.

Ironically, while the pope came out slightly below Rev. Graham on the “most admired” poll, the world-famed evangelist picked the pope as the man of the century.

Pope John Paul “has brought the greatest impact of any pope in the last 200 years,” Rev. Graham said in a December interview with The Associated Press.

By Jerry Filteau Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — Mother Teresa of Calcutta came out as the most admired person of the 20th century in a yearend Gallup Poll of more than 500 Americans.

Of those surveyed, 49 percent called her one of the people they admire most in the century.

Other Catholics in the top 10 were President John F. Kennedy, who was third, and Pope John Paul II, who ranked eighth.

Most admired after Mother Teresa was the slain U.S. civil rights leader, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The Gallup/CNN/USA Today poll of 511 adults was conducted by telephone Dec. 20-21 and has a statistical margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent.

Those surveyed were given 18 names and were asked, “For each one, please tell me if you consider that person to be one of the people you admire most from this century; a person you admire, but not the most; a person you somewhat admire; or someone you do not admire at all.”

They were allowed to name more than one person among those they most admired.

For Mother Teresa, 49 percent said she was one of the people they admired most, and 32 percent said she