February 13, 2004
The Catholic News & Herald 1
www.charlottediocese.org
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
Parish Profile:
St. Margaret Church | Page 16
Established Jan. 12, 1972 by Pope Paul VI fEBRUARY 13, 2004
Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
A MATTER OF MARRIAGE
vOLUME 13
no. 20
A CONVICTION TO SERVICE
Archbishop of Boston finds expanded ruling on gay marriage ‘troubling’ by CATHOLIC NEWS SER-
VICE BOSTON — Boston Archbishop Sean P. O’Malley said the Supreme Judicial Court’s expanded ruling on gay marriage is “more troubling” than its initial decision. The court’s Nov. 18 decision struck down Massachusetts’ opposite-sex-only marriage laws, but the new ruling, issued Feb. 4, declared that same-sex couples have the right to get married. The 4-3 ruling, delivered in an advisory opinion sought by the state Senate, “clearly demonstrates the overly activist stance of the four-judge majority,” said the archbishop in a Feb. 5 statement. He also said the justices who issued the
opinion “seem determined to blur the constitutional separation of powers and to usurp the rightful role of the Legislature.” After the November ruling, the state Senate was considering a bill that would have given same-sex couples all the “protections, benefits and obligations of civil marriage” but would have called the unions something else. But, before voting on the measure, the Senate asked the court if the bill would comply with its Nov. 18 ruling. In its Feb. 4 opinion, the court said no. “This court’s majority answer deserves a commensurately strong response,” See MARRIAGE, page 13
MACS trains staff to save lives KAREN A. EVANS staff writer
CHARLOTTE — For most children, a bee sting leads to a few tears and pain for an hour or so. But for some, insect bites or exposure to certain plants and foods can lead to an allergic reaction characterized by anxiety, hives, difficulty breathing, vomiting or worse. For the past year, teachers and faculty members of Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools (MACS) have been trained to be first responders in just such
Rev. Mr. Gerard LaPointe stands outside the Carolina Department of Correction’s minimum-security facility in Waynesville. The permanent diaconate now spearheads the prison ministry for the Diocese of Charlotte.
To be the hands of Christ Permanent deacons fill vital roles in parishes and diocese
Keeping our schools safe
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Photo by Joanita M. Nellenbach
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by taking on some of the work he can’t handle,” he said. These servants of the Catholic Church may be found performing baptisms, marriages, assisting at the altar at Mass, serving as RCIA and marriage preparation teachers, serving on parish councils and in various other parish and diocesan duties. The Diocese of Charlotte has 74 permanent deacons in service the Catholic Church. Rev. Mr. Ben Wenning, permanent deacon at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte, is also the coordinator of the diocesan permanent diaconate. “I never looked at myself in a leadership role for the diaconate,” he said. “However, the
Holy Spirit had his way and that is why I am here now. I find it very rewarding.” A deacon is an ordained minister in the Catholic Church and is one of the three forms of the sacrament of Holy Orders, the origins of which can be found in the Acts of the Apostles. Both permanent and transitional deacons are ordained into the one order of deacon. A transitional deacon is a man who is to be ordained a priest and is referred to as a transitional deacon, because he is in the process of transition to priesthood. Men who are ordained deacons and
Cardiac care
Making strides
Culture Watch
Knights donate emergency equipment
MACS students collect shoes
‘Passion’ controversy continues to grow
staff writer
a case. Each school is required to have five trained adults, but most have seven or eight responders. The first step in forming the MACS First Responder Team was to change state legislation, allowing non-medical personnel to treat people suffering an allergic reaction. Paula Knish, a registered nurse for MACS and Kathie Holder, RN, MSN and MACS health director, worked with See MACS, page 8
KAREN A. EVANS
Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series, “A Look Inside,” that explores the various departments and ministries of the Diocese of Charlotte. CHARLOTTE — For almost 20 years, permanent deacons have provided vital extra pairs of hands for churches in the Diocese of Charlotte. “The permanent diaconate is an ‘enabling ministry,’” said Rev. Mr. Andrew Cilone, the permanent deacon at Immaculate Conception Church in Forest City and the Hickory region vicar for the permanent diaconate. “Permanent deacons ease the burden of the parish priest
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