Peace activist lectureson 'conscientious objection'

by Kristin Kroll

"It is not for power, it is for truth. It does not say that we shall overcome, but that this is the day of the Lord and He shall overcome." It, is what Gordon Zahn, nationally known peace activist stands for, conscientious objection.

On Dec. 2, Zahn visited Cabrini College and lectured on several subjects pertaining to conscientious objection. He spoke on the "primacy to conscience" in all matters related to participation in war and the armed forces.

"I have always had a very strong emotional rejection of killing. I believe you should question and think about it and understand when Catholics are obliged to disobey," Zahn said. He serves as National Director of the Pax Christi USA Center on Conscience and War.

"In the past, Catholics felt compelled to prove their patriotism by fighting. Dr. 'Zahn has come out of this American Catholicism tradition to give his belief of pacifism," Dr. Margaret Reher, professor of religion, who arranged Zahns visit,said.

Under the law, provisions are made for those conscientious objectors, who from religious training and belief are opposed to all wars.

Two forms of alternate service groups were established. The first called the lAO is for those people who refuse to bear arms, but will accept a non-combat service job. The second group called 10 (pronounced One-O), is for those who have had a "crystalization of the conscience" and want nothing to do with the military.

The Civilan Public Service duringWorld War II put the 10group, which consisted of70 men, in a camp to perform public services such as cutting down trees or building bridges.

"We were social deviants,'' Zahn said. "We felt like the out people and had resentment to the entire system of which we were a part."

This non acceptance from the general consent of Catholics is still in existence te>?ay.The U.S. Catholic Bishops' Pastoral Letter on war and peace, May 3, 1983, said "To Youth We ask you to study carefully the teachings of the Church and the demands of the Gospel about war and peace. We encourage you to seek careful guidance as you reach conscientious decisions about civic military forces."

In 1980, Pope John Paul II at Drogheda, Ireland said, "To all of you who are listening I say: "Do not believe in violence; do not support violence. It is not the Christian way. It is not the way of the Catholic Church. Believe in peace and forgiveness and love; for they are of Christ."

Although the Vatican praises Catholic conscientious obj!!ctors and see it a sign of maturity, the parishes still have not accepted it.

As William Shakespeare once said, "Conscience makes cowards of us all."

"Shakespeare was wrong, dead wrong," Zahn said. "It is the role of conscience to make heroes."

At this year's Grammy Awards, "album of the year" went to Paul Simon for his controversial "Graceland" album. Burt Bacharach anti his wife Carol Bayer Sager won "song of the year" with "Thats What Friends are For." "Best female rock vocalist" went to Tina Turner while "best female pop vocal" went to Barbra Streisand. Robert Palmer was awarded "best male rock vocal," Steve Winwood won" best male pop vocal" and "best rhythm and blues" went to James Brown.

1987 saw the return of the mini skirt worn shorter and sexier than ever before and complemented by black stockings and pumps, in addition to the oversized jacket.

By July, there had been 400 nearmisses involving commercial air lines, averaging more than one a day. The plight of Northwestern's Flight 255 gripped America's hearts. 156 people perished both on the ground and in the air with one lone survivor. Four-year-old Cecilia Cichan's entire family died in the crash and American adopted her as their own, filling a hospital room with stuffed animals, tuition offers, cards and monetary gifts. AIDS continued to take its toll on U.S. history - becoming the worst known public health problem of this century. No one has ever recovered from it, and scientists continue their search for a cure. The death rate from AIDS doubled this year prompting social and moral controversy over the advertising of condoms.

As the AIDS epidemic grew, so did tension in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. assembled its biggest war fleet since Vietnam there in order to protect international waters.

The U.S. waters were also undergoing some problems. Dead dolphins, syringes, condoms, fecal coliform, and sewage polluted the beaches and waters of California, Texas and the entire East Coast. On Oct. 15, the largest, most powerful economy in the world came crashing down a record 508 points. Wall Street was left in shambles as many lost millions of dollars.

For a smaller group of people in a Texas town, the stock market dilemma was unimportant. To them, all that mattered was saving a little girl named Jessica McClure who mistakenly fell 20 feet into a well. Television shows were interrupted some 55 hours later, and as America and the world stood vigil, little Jessica was raised from the ground.

Around the same time, a position for the U.S. Supreme Court needed to be filled to replace Judge Lewis Powell. It had many potential nominees, the first being Judge Robert Bork whose nomination was defeated. Judge William Ginsburg was the second nominee but resigned due to controversy including an admission that he smoked marijuana during his term as a college professor. Judge Anthony Kennedy of California is presently running, and is expected to win.

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On Nov. 5, there was a partial cease-fire in Central America, headed by

In New York City, Goetz, dubbed the "subway _ was sentenced to six months in jail. fine, psychiatric treatment, and X of community service for earl)~ registered handgun and using i1 four black youths in a New York 1987 also marked a year versaries. On Sept. 17, the natiar. brated the Constitution's 200th with a "We the People" celebr~• Philadelphia. San Francisco's Gate Bridge celebrated its 50th as well. On the '87 sports scene: York Giants won the Supertio.::. Minnesota Twins captured the W ries, the Boston Celtics won the _ • Basketball title once again, the phia Flyers played seven heart\~T games only to lose the Stanley u:; hands of the Edmonton Oilen. Oklahoma Sooners are currenth "number 1" on the college footbal Pat Cash and Martina Navratilo\"a men's and women's Wimbleda:. respectively, and Tim Brown Dame won the 1987 Heisman Tr college football.

This year we said gOC>C:l!IC:. Harold MacMillan, former primeof the United Kingdom; BobBroadway director; Liberace,piani..: Astaire, actor/ dancer; James author; Harold Washington, the fi.-sr mayor of Chicago; and Clara Pelle:: for her popular phrase, 'where's LI::: First Lady Nancy Reag:m the country's social awareness breast cancer through her candid. geous approach.

Wedding bells rang zs Cruise wed Mimi Rodgers; Bru~ pulled a quickie and married Demi~ and Tom Selleck wed Jillie Mack secret ceremony in Nevada.

Madonna sought divorc:: Sean Penn after only 27 months r£ riage, Sylvester Stallone divorced &i_.E: Nielson after a mere six months riage, and the royal marriage ofCharles and Princess Diana was n::calllll to be on the rocks.

Many couples were greet=.; the arrival of children. Cybill Sb,.pr:tJIIII her husband celebrated the arrivalc:I. and Debra Winger and her b;;:alll Timothy Hutton greeted their firs: Noah Emmanual. Io Africa, a 47-y::a-: grandmother served as a surrogate for her daughter and gave birth to triplets.

In Philadelphia, after a • mayoral race between Frank Rizzo incumbent Wilson Goode, Good: elected to serve his second term in The Vietnam Veterans Memori3. dedicated at Penn's Landing. It bea::I; names of the Philadelphia men v.i:a:) their lives in that war. On the ent:::=-ment side, two local radio gaa_ changed from contemporary to overnight. This left the city with40 station.

Looking to the future, Cu:r Canada and Seoul, South K~presently preparing to host the 1988 _pieGames.