Catholic san Francisco Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper
Inclusion of abortion ban key to passage of House health bill By Patricia Zapor
The largest church in North America, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington marks its 50th anniversary Nov. 20. It is a national place of prayer and pilgrimage for more than one million visitors each year. See story page 15.
WASHINGTON (CNS) – In the end, the successful battle to include strict language prohibiting funding for abortions, led by pro-life congressional Democrats with the strong support of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is what made the difference in the Nov. 7 House vote to pass a sweeping health care reform bill. In a rare Saturday night vote, the House approved the “Affordable Health Care for America Act” by a razor-thin vote of 220-215. One Republican voted for the bill and 39 Democrats voted against it. The passage of the House bill moves the focus to the Senate, which was expected to take up debate on its own health care bill later in November. Assuming the Senate passes a version of the legislation, differences between the two bills will have to be reconciled separately. The outlook in the Senate is unclear. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said Nov. 8 that the House bill was “dead on arrival” in the Senate. Key to passing the House bill was the approval of an amendment by Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., to prohibit the use of federal funds to pay for abortion, including barring abortion coverage from insurance plans which consumers HEALTH BILL, page 14
‘Happier than all of us here together:’ Reflections on a visit to a rural African parish By Rick DelVecchio A recent trip to a rural African parish to spend time with women, children and parish groups was a revelation of sorts for Maritsa Techioli, a parishioner at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Redwood City. Techioli and another Mt. Carmel parishioner, Maritza Longland, traveled with Father Paulinus Mangesho, Mt. Carmel’s parochial vicar, to the priest’s hometown parish in Kiriani, near Mt. Kilimanjaro. The two parishioners are in the vanguard of a sister parish initiative focusing on spirituality rather than on material aid, which is the more common connection when a financially wealthy parish reaches out to one that has great need. What impressed Techioli was the abundance of spiritual wealth among the people of drought-stricken St. Francis Xavier Parish in the Diocese of Moshi. She related an encounter with 80 children preparing to receive their First Communion this Christmas. “You should see their faces – happy as ever,” she said in an interview at Mt. Carmel. “It was surprising to me that these kids really walk long distances, to learn about loving Jesus and what it is to take First Communion. You should see some of
In Kiriani, Tanzania, children attend Mass at St. Francis Xavier Church, sister parish to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Redwood City. land. A third factor is the high level of education of Tanzanians, who are schooled under a British system, learn 11 subjects in a year of elementary school and are worldly enough at a young age to know what the term Golden Gate means. Father Mangesho noted that Tanzanian culture is personal, and the Church embodies this. Even in a large congregation Mass, everyone knows everyone else, and if
them, walking five or six kilometers. They didn’t ask for anything, and they are happier than all of us here together. “Coming from North America, where we have everything basically,” she said, “that caught my attention.” Tanzanian Catholic culture reflects the nation’s unity despite a population made up of 120 tribes. It also reflects a traditional spirituality that reveres ancestors and the
there is a new member people take time to learn the newcomer’s story and ask if there is anything that person needs. At the same time, if a parish member does not show up for Mass, people reach out to see if the absent member needs help. Parents teach their children to put an offering in the collection basket, not only to support the Church now but also to develop the habit of supporting it in future generations. The children, when they are married, will pass on the practice to their children. Church music in Tanzania is integrated with each Sunday’s readings, so that throughout the liturgy the assembly is reminded of the Word. People also look forward to going to Mass because they like to sing. The difference between singing and listening is a point Father Mangesho looks forward to sharing more with the Mt. Carmel community as the sister parish relationship develops. He plans to speak to the parish youth group and to grades six through eight in the parish school. Father Mangesho, a member of the Apostolic Life Community of Priests, also known as the Holy Spirit Fathers, who has been assigned to parish work in AFRICAN PARISH, page 13
INSIDE THIS WEEK’S EDITION Afghanistan war . . . . . . . . . . 3 Flu season adaptations . . . . . 7 Jesuits Massacre . . . . . . . . . 10 Archbishop’s Journal. . . . . . 12 Commentary & letters . 16-17
News in brief A nation mourns ~ Page 4-6 ~ November 13, 2009
Vatican conference explores universe ~ Page 8 ~
Scripture & reflection ‘Year for Priests’ ~ Page 18 ~
ONE DOLLAR
Media & Datebook . . . . 20-21 Classified ads, services . . . . 23
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