03.08.19

Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

Friday, March 8, 2019

The first in a series of Youth and Young Adult Sunday Evening Masses was celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River on March 3 at 6 p.m. (Photo courtesy of Father Tom Washburn) March 8, 2019 â€

1

Diocese, Villanova University partner to offer Master of Science degree in Church Management

FALL RIVER — The Diocese of Fall River is pleased to announce it has entered into a unique partnership with Villanova University’s Center for Church Management to offer an innovative two-year, online Master of Science in Church Management degree designed to provide students with a high-level skill set in effective Church management.

In addition, a 50 percent scholarship is available to any new students from the Diocese of Fall River.

Kevin Kiley, chancellor and chief financial officer for the Diocese of Fall River, will graduate from Villanova’s MSCM in May 2019.

“The program exceeded my expectations,” Kiley recently told The Anchor.

“Thoughtful and engaging professors, practical yet rigorous content for Church leaders, convenient online format with a cross-section of students from across the globe.”

“In our diocese, the number one priority is ‘Rebuilding in Faith and Hope’ and one of the ways we can do that is by giving our laypeople and clergy access to quality Church management educational programs,” said Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. “I am excited about this opportunity with Villanova and the fruits it will bring.

Partnering with Villanova University to provide an affordable Masters in Church Management degree will help us provide even better support to parishes, schools and ministries and 2

hopefully attract additional new talent to work in our diocese.”

According to Matthew F. Manion, ’11 MSCM and faculty director of the Center for Church Management, Villanova is “committed to providing education and scholarship in the Augustinian Catholic tradition on strategic, management and temporal matters in service to leaders of Churches and other Christian ministries. It is an honor to partner with Bishop da Cunha, Kevin Kiley, and the Diocese of Fall River to strengthen the pool of leaders who can combine the mission of Jesus with sound management of the Church.”

Recently ranked the number two online graduate business degree program in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, the MSCM program at Villanova is designed to meet the needs of an international student body of Church leaders and managers — including diocesan and parish finance roles, clergy and laypeople serving in pastoral ministry roles who would like to provide greater value and support to their parish or diocese, and individuals who have worked in business professionally and want to transition to Church work.

It is ideal for professionals who cannot take leave of their positions to relocate and pursue full-time study.

The MSCM can be completed online in only two years of part-time study.

Kiley will graduate from Villanova’s MSCM in May

† March 8, 2019

2019.

The Villanova School of Business currently has similar partnership arrangements with the New York and Philadelphia Archdioceses and the Trenton, Paterson, and Camden dioceses in New Jersey.

The first of its kind in the nation, VSB’s Center for Church Management

is dedicated to serving the Church through education and research. The Center offers a Master of Science in Church Management, as well as several certificate programs and resources for Church management.

Serving more than 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students, VSB is known for academic rigor; creativity

and innovation; hands-on and service learning opportunities; a firm grounding in ethics; and an applied education that prepares students to become outstanding leaders and global citizens within the global, complex, and fast-paced world of business.

For more information, visit business.villanova.edu.

Our Lady of the Assumption Church in New Bedford had the first of a series of Formation Workshops for parishioners in Liturgical ministries. The theme chosen was “RSVP” — the letters R for Reverence, S for Service, V for Vibrancy, and P for Participation.

These concepts and actions will be shared and discussed with all who worship over a period of time throughout the year. (Photo courtesy of Sister Marianna Sylvester)

March 8, 2019 â€

3

New Bedford parish promotes grassroots effort to offer prayer, penance and reparations in response to the Crisis in the Church

By Kenneth J. Souza Editor

kensouza@anchornews.org

NEW BEDFORD — A growing group of faithful parishioners from across the Fall River Diocese have joined a grassroots effort to get every parish in the diocese to offer up prayer, penance and sacrifice during this Lenten season in response to the latest Crisis in the Church.

Organized and led by Edwin Aldarondo of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in New Bedford, the group has now met twice — the latest meeting taking place on Friday, March 1 — and is actively engaged in getting other prayer groups and parish organizations involved.

“We’re hoping everyone can go back to their parish and have something going on — adoration or prayer groups — to sort of incorporate what was already in place so that you won’t have to reinvent the wheel,” Aldarondo said during the latest gathering.

“But if there is nothing in your parish, then you can probably approach your pastor now about the possibility of organizing a Rosary group or something in which each and every one of those prayer groups we can ask and petition to Our Blessed Lord and Our Lady to correct this big issue, this big problem that we have in the Church.”

The effort began on February 1 — appropriately enough, a First Friday — with a PowerPoint presentation on the latest Crisis in the Church in anticipation of the bishops’ meeting in Rome on February 21-24. It was during that meeting that Aldarondo put a call out for 4

parishes to join in and the follow-up meeting nearly doubled in attendance.

“The way to fight this is not just fighting it verbally,” Aldarondo said. “You can’t just say: ‘Oh, I’m going to walk away from the Church.’

It’s sad to say, but that’s what

reparation for the damage that’s being done. There is no other way.”

One parish that is already onboard is Holy Family in East Taunton, where Aldarondo and members of the group recently gave a presentation on the initiative.

Edwin Aldarondo of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in New Bedford addresses a grassroots group working to offer prayer, penance and reparations for the latest Crisis in the Church on March 1. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza) I’m hearing almost everywhere. We just came from a presentation this past Sunday, and when we asked the first question in the beginning, there was one gentleman who got up and said: ‘You know, I’m this close from just walking away from the Church.’ And I had to say to him: ‘Where to? Where are you going to go? To something worse?’

“And I said, ‘You are in the Church and you have a moral obligation. We all have a moral obligation to try to fix this problem.’ The only way we can fix it is to approach our Blessed Mother, and approach Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and we offer our prayers with a sincere heart, and we offer our fasting and

† March 8, 2019

“I think it is very important all the faithful to come together to pray and fast during this Crisis in the Church,” said Karen Coughlin, director of Faith Formation at Holy Family Parish. “The timing of this presentation is perfect. People are preparing for Lent and now they have something to do for Lent and to continue after Easter. Our Lady wants us to pray the Rosary — she has asked us many times to pray the Rosary. By prayer and fasting, people will feel that they are doing something to make a bad situation better. It will empower them to know they are part of the solution.”

And Coughlin believes the effort has already begun to

bear fruit.

“We did notice this past Friday was a First Friday and we had a larger group than usual at Mass,” she said. “I think it was a result of the presentation. Saturday was the storm, so we only had a small crowd. But if the people who saw the presentation can spread the word about prayer and fasting to the people who were unable to join us, that would increase the prayer pool. I heard people talking about forming small groups in their home, coming together to

pray. And, of course we have Adoration Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the Adoration Chapel at the parish center.”

Jane Wilcox, who has been active with the Pro-Life movement at St. Bernard Parish in Assonet and the Living the Fatima Message group in the diocese, is eager to get involved with the effort.

“I think with the way the world is going right now and with the Crisis in the Church, the only thing that Turn to page 11

Bishop da Cunha to cook up ethnic dish to bring diocese into solidarity with global refugees, immigrants, poor

McManus said the plans coconut dahl from Sri Lan“Each Lent, CRS feaare to air the event of March ka; ground nut stew from tures its Operation Rice 21 live on the diocesan CRS Sierra Leone; shakshauka NEW BEDFORD — In Bowl, a staple on the table Facebook page, and hopefrom Gaza; and black bean of Catholic families across August of 2016, an Anchor fully have it there so oththe country during Lent, is a soup from Guatemala. cover story featured a garers can watch when their “The concept of cooking simple cardboard box, a tool den that sprung up on the schedules allow. It promises these simple meals is that for collecting Lenten alms grounds of Bishop Edgar to be an inspirational event families can do this at home — and comes with a Lenten M. da Cunha’s home in Fall and will hopefully calendar that River. The bishop created bring more people guides families the garden, which contained into solidarity through the 40 corn, lettuce, cucumbers, with their poorer days of Lent with tomatoes, green onions, brothers and activities, reflecstring beans and maxime, sisters across the tions and stories.” a cucumber-like vegetable world.

Part of the from his native Brazil.

“By doing this, program offers The bishop told The AnBishop da Cunha chor that his love of garden- Catholics simple is showing how recipes from ing came from the time of fully engaged (he his youth in Brazil where he countries across is) in social justice,” McMaand by using inexpensive, the world and encourages helped his family plant and simple ingredients, they can nus told The Anchor. “This them to cook these dishes harvest each year. year CRS is focusing on put the money they saved in solidarity with the people On March 21 Bishop migrants and refugees of into the Rice Bowl,” said from where the recipes da Cunha is going to take whom there are many all McManus.

“And, they can originated. that love of fresh foods across the world because get a sense of what people “Bishop da Cunha has to another level when he of wars and graciously will be cooking a dinner at terrorism and Sister Rose’s House in New accepted an oppression. offer to cook Bedford for those at the The plight a meal using emergency shelter for men. of the imone of the The event is part of Catholic migrant is Rice Bowl Relief Services’ Operation personal to recipes at the Rice Bowl, which every year Bishop da assists Catholics to remem- Sister Rose Cunha. He’s Home,” exber the poor and those willing to chased from their homes by plained Claire do whatever McManus, poverty, war and oppression. it takes to diocesan Catholic Relief Services, make this CRS director. the official international a successful Catholic relief and develop- “He was right Rice Bowl on board with ment agency of the United campaign States Conference of Catho- this when this Lent.” first asked. lic Bishops, had its begin“I admire He will feed Thomas Awiapo of Catholic Relief Services will be speaknings during World War II Bishop da when the newly-established the residents ing at Santo Christo Parish and then at the Diocesan Cunha’s agency “answered the call to and anyone Youth Convention on March 31 as part of the CRS Rice courage and serve migrants and refugees who chooses Bowl effort during Lent in the Fall River Diocese. willingness to attend. … with compassion and to be open He will be care.” to this unique experience,” assisted by Luke Almeida, a across the world have for According to its website said Martha Reed, Grants meals, which compared cook at the home.” its “mission is to serve the and Quality Coordinator of with our way of life, is very It’s not yet known which most vulnerable continues. the diocese’s Catholic Social simple.

They can feel a conrecipe the bishop will delve We feed the hungry, act as nect with their brothers and Services. “I think it allows into, but some of CRS’s instruments of peace, emthe bishop to show that the power communities and are recommendations are: bamia sisters who have much less mantle of leadership isn’t all than we do.” (orka stew) from Uganda; a voice for the voiceless.

By Dave Jolivet

JolivetDB@comcast.net

business and Church process; it’s putting the Gospel and faith into action. It is also an opportunity for the community to experience Bishop da Cunha’s gentle giving spirit as well.

“My hope for the event is that the guests from both Sister Rose House and Grace House, feel included and cared for as valuable members of the community.

That shelter is more than a safe place to sleep and a hot meal. I want the guests to feel hope and comfort and because the soup kitchen also serves the Greater New Bedford community, it is an opportunity for them to feel included and part of the experience as well.”

McManus told The Anchor that Operation Rice Bowl has been very well-received in the Fall River Diocese since CRS introduced the campaign in 1975. “Last year parishes across the diocese collected $59,145,” she said, “and not only does that help migrants, refugees and the poor around the world, but 25 percent of the donations collected stays within the diocese.”

McManus explained that once parishes send in the monies collected locally, they send it to the diocese and it’s given to the Fall River Diocese’s Catholic Social Services to use for those in need in our area.

“Any funds that CSS receives as part of Operation Rice Bowl goes directly back to the communities we serve at our food pantry, soup kitchen and anyone facing food insecurity across the diocese, including the Cape and Islands,” Reed Turn to page 13

March 8, 2019 †

5

Anchor Editorial

Lent 2019

In his message to us as we began Lent this week (which you can read in this week’s Anchor), Bishop Edgar M. daCunha, S.D.V., urged us “to embrace the spirit of prayer, penance and sacrifice, to recognize our need for continuous conversion, and to pass onto the next generation these same values.”

Earlier in the message he described the “nostalgia” that those of us who are older feel for the days in which churches had good crowds for daily Mass, the Stations of the Cross and other devotions during Lent. The bishop reminded us that “the Church has not changed its teaching, but our secularized world has influenced and affected our view of Lent.”

Our shepherd reminded us that we are not to despair about the “good old days” no longer being here; instead we are to be active participants in Lent, responding to Christ’s invitation that we partake “of fasting, prayer and almsgiving” during this time when He calls us to “conversion of heart.”

Our society became so secularized in part because we did not put conversion at the top of our personal agendas. The bishop noted that so often we think more about “giv[ing] material things to [our] children,” even though these are not always “what is best for them.” Instead of training ourselves or the younger generation in sacrifice, we fail “to put limits” on our desires.

Pope Francis, in his message for this Lent, had a similar theme. “Unless we tend constantly towards Easter, towards the horizon of the Resurrection, the mentality expressed in the slogans ‘I want it all and I want it now!’ and ‘Too much is never enough,’ gains the upper hand.”

Ines San Martin, of the Catholic news website, Cruxnow.com, distinguished those two quotes the Holy Father made as coming from the rock groups Queen and Florence + The Machine (this has nothing to do with the British monarch nor the Italian city). She noted that “[T]his is not the first time a pope has used famous rock lyrics to make a point. For instance, in 1997, while he was in Italy’s northern city of Bologna participating in a Eucharistic congress, [St.] John Paul II took the lyrics of [Bob] Dylan’s famous song, answering a question posed to him a few minutes before by a young man who asked, ‘How many roads must a man walk down before you can call him a man?’ Dylan’s song suggests that the ‘answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind,’ and the pope, who had greeted the musician earlier in the same event, concluded that, ‘It’s true,’ adding that it’s not ‘in the wind that blows everything away into nothingness, but in the wind that is the breath and voice of the Spirit, the voice that calls and says, “Come.”’”

Pope Francis, in a paragraph entitled “the destructive power of sin,” discussed how having no “limits” leads to evil. “[W]hen we fail to live as children of God, we often behave in a destructive way towards our neighbors and other creatures — and ourselves as well — since we begin to think more or less consciously that we can use them as we will. Intemperance then takes the upper hand: we start to live a life that exceeds those limits imposed by our OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER www.anchornews.org

Vol. 63, No. 5

Published bi-weekly by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151; FAX 508-675-7048; email: theanchor@anchornews.org.

Subscription price by mail, prepaid $25.00 per year for U.S. addresses.

Send address changes to 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA, call or use email address.

PUBLISHER – Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Richard D. Wilson fatherwilson@anchornews.org EDITOR Kenneth J. Souza kensouza@anchornews.org

ADVERTISING Wayne R. Powers waynepowers@anchornews.org

Send Letters to the Editor to: fatherwilson@anchornews.org

PoStmaSters send address changes to The Anchor, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720.

THE ANCHOR (USPS-545-020) Periodical Postage Paid at Fall River, Mass.

6

† March 8, 2019

human condition and nature itself.”

Living without discipline, evil takes over. The Holy Father warned, “Once God’s law, the law of love, is forsaken, then the law of the strong over the weak takes over. The sin that lurks in the human heart (cf. Mk 7:20-23) takes the shape of greed and unbridled pursuit of comfort, lack of concern for the good of others and even of oneself. It leads to the exploitation of Creation, both persons and the environment, due to that insatiable covetousness which sees every desire as a right and sooner or later destroys all those in its grip.”

Bishop da Cunha noted that many parents give to their children what their own parents (the grandparents of today’s children) could not give them, because they (the older generation) did not have the money to do so. However, the bishop reminded parents and everyone that something much better could be shared between us: “Lent is a great opportunity for families to spend more time together, to pray together and to teach their children the meaning of Lent, and to teach the importance of cultivating a spirit of sacrifice.” This doesn’t cost money and can be enriching for both the young and the old.

In a similar vein, Pope Francis wrote, “All Creation is called, with us, to go forth ‘from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God’ (Rom 8:21). Lent is a Sacramental sign of this conversion.

It invites Christians to embody the Paschal Mystery more deeply and concretely in their personal, family and social lives, above all by fasting, prayer and almsgiving.”

The Holy Father then gave brief explanations for these three Lenten essentials. “Fasting, that is, learning to change our attitude towards others and all of Creation, turning away from the temptation to ‘devour’ everything to satisfy our voracity and being ready to suffer for love, which can fill the emptiness of our hearts” (“Voracity” is when our stomachs and minds are voraciously consuming whatever we want).

“Prayer, which teaches us to abandon idolatry and the self-sufficiency of our ego, and to acknowledge our need of the Lord and His mercy.” What the Holy Father wrote here ties in well with Bishop da Cunha’s explanation that “Lent is a time for deeper reflection on the mystery of our Salvation as we prepare for the Paschal Mystery of the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus.”

The pope then ended with “Almsgiving, whereby we escape from the insanity of hoarding everything for ourselves in the illusory belief that we can secure a future that does not belong to us. And thus to rediscover the joy of God’s plan for Creation and for each of us, which is to love Him, our brothers and sisters, and the entire world, and to find in this love our true happiness.”

This is for which we are to long and to work this Lent — not merely reveling in some memory of the past, but instead using the Spiritual tools the Church has given us to conform ourselves more to Christ.

Daily Readings Mar. 9 – Mar. 22

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Mar. 9, Is 58:9b-14; Ps 86:1-6; Lk 5:27-32.

Sun. Mar. 10, First Sunday of Lent, Dt 26:4-10; Ps 91:1-2,10-15; Rom 10:8-13; Lk 4:1-13. Mon. Mar. 11, Lv 19:1-2,11-18; Ps 19:8-10,15; Mt 25:31-46. Tues.

Mar. 12, Is 55:10-11; Ps 34:4-7,16-19; Mt 6:7-15. Wed. Mar. 13, Jon 3:1-10; Ps 51:3-4,12-13,18-19; Lk 11:29-32. Thurs. Mar. 14, Est C:12,14-16, 23-25; Ps 138:1-3,7c-8; Mt 7:7-12. Fri. Mar. 15, Ez 18:21-28; Ps 130:1-8; Mt 5:20-26.

Sat. Mar. 16, Dt 26:16-19; Ps 119:1-2,4-5,7-8; Mt 5:43-48. Sun. Mar. 17, Second Sunday of Lent, Gn 15:5-12,17-18; Ps 27: 1,7-9,13-14; Phil 3:17—4: 1 or 3:20—4: 1; Lk 9:28b-36. Mon. Mar. 18, Dn 9:4b-10; Ps 79:8-9,11,13; Lk 6:36-38. Tues. Mar. 19, 2 Sm 7:4-5a,12-14a,16; Ps 89:2-5,27,29; Rom 4:13, 16-18,22; Mt 1:16,18-21,24a or Lk 2:41-51a. Wed. Mar. 20, Jer 18:18-20; Ps 31:5-6,14-16; Mt 20:17-28. Thurs. Mar. 21, Jer 17:5-10; Ps 1:1-4,6; Lk 16:19-31. Fri. Mar. 22, Gn 37:3-4,12-13a,17b-28a; Ps 105:16-21; Mt 21:3343,45-46.

After the Vatican Summit on the protection of minors in the Church

A

fter Pope Francis announced last September 12 that he was convening a meeting in Rome of the presidents of the bishops conferences across the world, together with leaders of Eastern Catholic Churches, religious superiors general, prefects of Vatican dicasteries and other experts, I predicted that Rome 2019 would be a global Dallas 2002.

Seventeen years ago in Dallas, the U.S. bishops came together in crisis — in response to the ongoing disclosures that more than 4,000 priests had been accused in the U.S. of sexual abuse of minors in the previous half-century — to adopt a Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People with its accompanying Essential Norms. The bishops committed the Church in the United States systemically to protect children, care for survivors and eradicate from the priesthood those who have abused minors. The strict measures they adopted have been widely heralded for dramatically reducing the incidents of sexual abuse of minors since.

In Rome two weeks ago, bishops from around the world came together in crisis — in response to ongoing disclosures of clerical sexual abuse of minors and adults in the United States, Chile, Australia, Honduras, Germany, the Vatican and elsewhere — to catalyze the development, fine-tuning and implementation of national and global wide norms to try to elimi-

nate the sexual abuse of minors anywhere in the Church, hold bishops to the highest standard in terms of responsibility, accountability and transparency, and show survivors and the whole Church that behavior Jesus said was worthy of death by millstone won’t be tolerated.

Much good came from the four-day meeting in Rome.

Church leaders were able to hear powerful testimonies from those who have suffered sexual abuse in the Church.

There was frank discussion — some featuring apropos jeremiads — of many ways leaders in the Church have failed.

Many steps forward were indicated. The Holy Father twice spoke strongly and seriously. It would be very difficult for those attending — not to mention those in the Church Universal following through the media — to think that the scourge of sexual abuse in the Church was isolated to foreign situations and deny that it impacts their own. It was not only a wake-up call but a blaring alarm to force even the most lethargic members of the Mystical Body to stir from their somnolence.

At the same time — and it hurts to say this, but out of love for the Church and to prevent future victims, it must be said — Rome 2019 repeated one of the most serious mistakes of Dallas 2002. The U.S. bishops in Dallas didn’t have the courage

to address what the data clearly showed was the main part of the crisis: the culture of tolerance for unchastity in the clergy that made it easier to abuse and harder for Church leaders to eradicate it.

In particular, it didn’t confront the fact

that the crisis of the sexual abuse of minors by clergy was principally not pedophilia, or the sexual abuse of pre-pubescent girls and boys, and not the abuse of sexually mature teenage girls; rather, it was the same-sex molestation of post-pubescent boys.

This is in sharp contrast to figures for the sexual abuse of minors in Protestant Churches and in public schools, where 70 percent of victims respectively are female.

While the cancer of sexual abuse should be attacked and eliminated wherever it appears, if 81 percent of the cancer were found in one organ, serious oncologists would obviously give that malignant tumor special focus. How can the same-sex dimension of this crisis be ignored?

Moreover, the bishops likewise did not address in depth the corrupted culture that permitted such wide-scale abuse and the lack of determination to eradicate it: namely, the practi-

cal toleration in many places of priests routinely cheating on their vocations with men or women. Indulgence of priestly unchastity with adults does not foster an attitude of rigor with regard to policing and extinguishing sexual sins with 17-year-olds. And that culture of unchastity was, in the States, unsurprisingly, predominantly homosexual as well.

When priests cheat on their vocations with women, in general they do so alone, without forming cliques or collared mafias. Moreover, either the wayward priest gets busted for solicitation, or his inamorata gets pregnant or gives him the ultimatum to choose her or the priesthood, with the result being that most priests who persist in infidelity leave the priesthood.

Priests who cheat on their vocation with men or fellow priests, on the other hand, often persist living a double-life as priests. When there’s a high enough incidence, networks can form that can dramatically impact the culture of Church institutions and presbyterates. Various seminaries, religious houses and even dioceses in the 1970s and 80s featured openly homosexual subcultures, much like French gay author Frédéric Martel claims in his recent exposé, “In the Closet of the Vatican: Power, Homosexuality, Hypocrisy,” now exists the Vatican. Even if many of Martel’s claims

are unsubstantiated and seem outlandish, one of his main conclusions is hard to contest: that a clerical culture that keeps widespread samesex activity with adults hidden is one prone to covering up other sexual sins as well, like he says has happened with regard to the abuse of minors.

The unaddressed issues of Dallas 2002 — the failure to address the culture of unchastity in general, the problem of same-sex activity among clergy in particular, and the need to hold bishops accountable — detonated as a time bomb last year, personified particularly in the case of the dismissed cleric Theodore McCarrick. And the failure of the 2019 Rome Summit to address at least those first two issues is portentous.

For all the discussion about transparency February 21-24, there was an obstinate refusal by the organizers to mention the homosexual dimension of the vast majority of the sexual abuse crisis. There was almost a refusal to mention the sexual dimension of the sexual abuse, as if the real cause of the sexual abuse of minors was “clericalism,” or priests worshipping the “god of power, money, pride and arrogance.” Any connection between homosexual unchastity with adults and the sexual abuse of minors, or between homosexual networks and cover-ups, was rejected almost as heresy.

Clericalism, of course, is a partial explanation for why some bishops Turn to page 12

March 8, 2019 †

7

I

(Roman?) Catholic — Part Two

n the first installment of this series I noted that I am a priest of the Roman Rite. However, I did not tell you what that means.

I did not tell you what a Rite of the Catholic Church is, and there are many of them.

To begin with, a rite is not a ritual or part of a ritual, such as the funeral rites, or the rites of Ordination or Baptism. A rite has something to do with rites as those just mentioned, but it has more to do with history. The official definition of Rite in the Church extends to a “Liturgical, theological, Spiritual and disciplinary patrimony” (Oriental Code). “The universal Catholic Church consists of particular churches in communion each other and with the Church of Rome.

Each particular church is governed (apart from rare exceptions) by a bishop” (Code of Canon Law).

Jesus said that His mission was only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Mt 15:24). With the preaching to the pilgrims from many nations at Pentecost (Acts 2:9-11), the Samaritan and Ethiopian contacts of Philip (Acts 8:440), the outreach of Peter to the gentiles (Acts 10), and

the wide ranging missionary work of Paul, the followers of Jesus soon realized that their mission was to the whole world.

We do not know how many of those present at that Pentecost event spoke the message when they returned home, or what was said in Ethiopia or the other places mentioned in Acts, but certainly there are local legends. Because the Christian message was being brought to all, the Greek adjective catholicos was used by Ignatius of Antioch to refer to the early Christian Church in his letter to the Smyrnaeans around the year 110.

This common adjective (universal) had become the proper name of the historic Christian Church. Within that Universal Church, there were local histories which gave rise to the various rites.

Even some of the places mentioned in Acts have had Christian histories which are remembered today in the names of the rites.

In those early years, there were three great metropolitan cities in the Roman world: Rome (in modern

Visit the Diocese of Fall River website at fallriverdiocese. org. The site includes links to parishes, diocesan offices and national sites.

8

† March 8, 2019

Italy), Antioch (in modern Syria), and Alexandria (in modern Egypt). Each of these cities became centers for Christian expansion: Rome for Europe and North Africa, Alexandria for Eastern Africa, and Antioch for the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Asia.

Three rites which arose in the West still exist in our times: the Roman Rite,

the Ambrosian Rite, and the Mozarabic Rite. Since the Diocese of Fall River is of the Roman Rite, I shall assume that all are familiar with the Roman Rite.

The Mozarabic Rite is the smallest rite of the Catholic Church. Elements of this Catholic Rite are also found in the Western Rite Orthodox congregations and the Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church.

While we know that St. Paul wanted to go to Spain, we do not know if he ever got there. Whoever did get there brought Christianity through the Greek language.

Certain aspects of this Greek beginning lasted in the celebration of the Mass and in the architecture of the churches. The style of architecture was also influenced by the Visigoths, who ruled in the fifth century, and the Moslems, who held sway from 711 to 1492.

Before more recent translations into Latin, the ancient books of worship were written in Visigoth and in a

mixed language version.

Over the centuries, this rite has suffered efforts at unification under the Roman Rite and various attempts at preservation and renewal. The present status is one of respect for legitimate heritage in the one Catholic Church.

The Mozarabic Rite Mass is longer in duration than that of the Roman Rite. Imagery and ceremony are used extensively. Ashes were used here for the first time within Liturgical celebrations. Previously, marking people for penance with ashes was done outside of Liturgical events. Extensive use is made of responsories between the celebrant and the people during the Mozarabic Mass, something which Catholics of the Roman Rite often resist.

There are seven variable prayers during the Mozarabic Mass, while in the Roman Rite there are three, along with the free form Prayer of the Faithful. Following the oldest Mozarabic usage, the modern Missal uses the words of consecration from 1 Corinthians 11:24, Luke 22:20, and Matthew 26:28 rather than the word of consecration of the Roman Missal.

Whereas in the Roman Missal, all the Eucharistic prayers are addressed to God the Father, in the Mozarabic Missal, some are addressed to Christ.

We move on to the more modern status of this smallest of rites. In 1842, all of the Mozarabic parishes except two were suppressed in the Spanish city of To-

ledo. In 1851, the chaplains of Capilla Mozarabe were reduced from 13 to eight. By the early 20th century, the only place where the rite was practiced on a regular basis was in the Capilla Mozarabe in Toledo.

The Mozarabic Rite is still celebrated daily in the Capilla Mozarabe. Additionally, all the churches of Toledo annually celebrate this Rite on the Mozarabic feast of the Incarnation (December 18) and on the feast day of St. Ildefonsus of Toledo ( January 23). The two Mozarabic parishes in the city now have about two hundred families. The rite is also used on certain days in the Capilla de Talavera in Salamanca and every Tuesday in a monastery of Poor Clare Sisters in Madrid.

Outside of Spain, the rite has also been celebrated at the Vatican four times in recent years: in October 1963 at St. Peter’s Basilica during Vatican II before all the participants, by Pope St. John Paul II in May of 1992 on the occasion of the promulgation of the new Mozarabic Missal and Lectionary, in December of 2000 during the end of the Great Jubilee, and finally by Archbishop B.R. Plaza of Toledo in 2015.

This tells you a little bit about the Mozarabic Rite, the smallest rite of the Catholic Church and one of the three surviving Western Rites. The third surviving Western Rite is the Ambrosian Rite. More about that later.

Father Buote is a retired priest of the Fall River Diocese and a frequent contributor to The Anchor.

W

‘Exceptions’ and the undermining of the moral law

henever we make small exceptions to universal moral rules, we shouldn’t be surprised that the rules themselves can be quickly undermined. Establishing an “exception” in one case makes people think they’re due an exemption for their case as well. Certain norms of moral behavior, however, do not admit of any exceptions, and we risk undermining morality altogether if we don’t recognize them. Moral norms governing the protection of human life are one such example.

A recent and lengthy article in The Guardian took a look at the practice of euthanasia in the Netherlands. It led off with this provocative title: “Death on demand: has euthanasia gone too far? Countries around the world are making it easier to choose the time and manner of your death. But doctors in the world’s euthanasia capital are starting to worry about the consequences.”

The article points out that, “As the world’s pioneer, the Netherlands has also discovered that although legalizing euthanasia might resolve one ethical conundrum, it opens a can of others — most importantly, where the limits of the practice should be drawn. In the past few years a small but influential group of academics and jurists have raised the alarm over what is generally referred to, a little archly, as the ‘slippery slope’ — the idea that a measure introduced to provide relief to late-stage cancer patients has expanded to include people who might otherwise

live for many years, from sufferers of diseases such as muscular dystrophy to sexagenarians with dementia and even mentallyill young people.”

The logic behind these concerns is clear. If we are willing to make an exception to the rule that direct killing of an innocent human being is always wrong, then it only becomes a matter of “haggling over the price.” If killing by euthanasia can be allowed for a deeply emotional reason, it can certainly be allowed for other reasons too, and soon for nearly any reason, making it difficult, if not impossible, to put the cat back into the proverbial “moral bag.”

The almost instantaneous deployment of abortion-on-demand around the world several decades ago relied on very similar logic: first, grant a single exception, and in time virtually any instance begins to appear plausible and defensible. That exception, of course, was rape.

By playing on the tragedy of sexual assault, abortion advocates managed to direct attention and blame towards the child, an innocent bystander, turning him or her, almost more than the rapist, into the culprit. After the child had been successfully targeted in situations of rape, he or she became generally targetable in other situations as well.

When it comes to abortion, the state of Louisiana in past years required some of the most comprehensive reporting in the U.S., and their detailed records

are a helpful resource for determining how frequent abortions for rape really are. Abortionists were required to fill out a form entitled “Report of Induced Termination of Pregnancy” (Form #PHS 16-ab) for every abortion.

The form stated at the top: “Failure to complete and file this form is a crime.”

Item 9d on the form was entitled “Reason for Pregnancy Termination.”

Statistics compiled from these forms over a 14-year period reveal the reasons for 115,243 abortions in Louisiana during that time: Reasons for Abortion in Louisiana between 1975 and 1988: Mother’s mental health — 114,231 (99.12 percent); Mother’s physical health —­­­ 863 (0.75 percent); Fetal deformity — 103 (0.09 percent); and Rape or incest — 46 (0.04 percent).

This data confirm other calculations indicating that, on average, about 550 women per year in the U.S. become pregnant as a result of rape. Assuming they all ended in abortion, this means that an average of 0.0 percent (onetwenty-fifth of one percent) of all abortions have been performed for rape — or only one out of every 2,500! Yet for every one of the more than 50 countries that now have abortion on

demand around the world, the initial step taken by pro-abortion forces was intense lobbying for abortion in the so-called “hard cases” — especially rape and incest. Once abortion advocates secured the availability of abortion for the “hard cases” they went on to argue for abortion in any situation.

Even if one granted, for the sake of argument, that rape justified a mother’s decision to end her child’s life, could that ever justify the other abortions that occur for non-rape related reasons?

It is duplicitous to justify 2,499 deaths from the one assault, unjust and traumatic as it may have been.

By granting the exception, the moral rule has been, in effect, eliminated, and the doors have been thrown open to the practice of abortion for any reason.

Encouraging exceptions is the entry point into a broader repudiation of our moral duties towards each other, the first of which is the duty to respect the inviolability of each other’s life.

Anchor columnist Father Pacholczyk earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did postdoctoral work at Harvard.

He is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River and serves as the director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia.

See www.ncbcenter.org.

March 8, 2019 †

9

Instinct takes over where my weakness leaves off

I

n my last column I made mention in a roundabout way that there are times, too many I fear, when I find it difficult to pray. The reasons are varied, but one ugly reason is that I’m not strong enough to have the faith I should at times. I know none of us are “worthy” of God’s unconditional love, but sometimes I could do a better job in the trust department.

The human being is a very complex character. I guess the Almighty left the relatively boring stuff for things such as slugs, ticks, and shellfish. Yet even in these seemingly “boring” creatures, God has a purpose, i.e., slugs consume dead and living matter and help fertilize gardens and they are a food source of others; ticks also are a food source of others and help control populations of larger creatures; and shellfish?

That’s a no-brainer — they make a great “sacrifice” for Lent instead of meat and they’re just so darn good year round!

As usual, I find myself digressing. The reason I gave these three examples was despite their seemingly lowliness in the chain of life, they serve a purpose. If they do, how much more do humans.

Yet, despite the loftiness of the human in the chain of life, we are far from perfect. And, getting back to my the point of my opening paragraph, of those far from perfect human beings, I am one of the furthest. I have trouble praying — but lately, I’m finding out I’m not as bad as I think I am.

Human beings are laden with natural instincts. Without any disabilities, humans breathe in and out each day 10

without even thinking — drawing in much needed oxygen and eliminating less needed carbon dioxide. Each day we eat to refuel our bodies (although my fuel tank grows larger with each passing year).

Our bodies crave sleep to restore our strength and energy (again, both of which

seem to be waning with each passing year). I’m sure you get the picture.

But there is one aspect in life, at least in my life I’m finding, that has all the earmarks of a natural instinct — prayer. What? When I said I have trouble praying, I mean that I am a very impatient man when it comes to prayer.

As Queen once sang, “I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now.” And God responds, “You’ll get what is good for you, you’ll get what is good for you, you’ll get what is good for you, and you’ll get it when you’re ready.” Not exactly a Job/God debate, but it has the same flavor.

Earlier I mentioned that the human body craves sleep to restore and rejuvenate, and I do adhere to that instinct.

Yet, I don’t sleep through the night. The slightest of distractions can awaken me and it takes a while to drain my quickly saturated mind. But lately, particularly in times when it is difficult to pray, I’m finding myself doing just that.

I think about how nice and warm and cozy I am despite the freezing temperatures

† March 8, 2019

outside — and I thank God for that. Then I ask Him to protect and take care of my brothers and sisters who are homeless, refugees, immigrants, victims of oppression and prejudice, sick in mind and/or body, dying, alone, afraid, helpless, hopeless, depressed, discouraged, unemployed and mistreated. I pray for the souls in Purgatory, especially for those with no one to pray for them.

Here I think, well I prayed for them already, so they are being prayed for, but then God reminds me that many more have entered Purgatory since my last prayer, so keep praying that prayer. I pray for the Salvation of my family and friends.

I pray for the conversion of sinners. And I pray for peace of mind of certain people and things in my life in need of peace. And I do this every night now. And many times, it lulls me back to sleep.

I don’t know what prompted it, other than realizing

just how good I do have it, despite not having the things I think I need and want. So if you were to ask me if prayer is a human instinct, I give a resounding yes.

I will never know the answer to many of my midnight prayers, but I do trust I’m praying them for

a reason, so I will carry on.

Who knows, maybe someday my daytime prayer life will resurrect. Whether it does or not, I do know my prayers in the dark of night are for people I truly love and care about. And that can’t be bad.

JolivetDB@comcast.net

Grassroots effort to offer prayers, penance for Crisis in the Church continued from page four

we really can do is to offer lot of prayer, right?” Wilcox said. “It seems all the people I know that are faithful Catholics, are all a feeling the same thing. It’s easy for people because they become critical.

And that’s why some people, I hate to say it, they leave the Church because they get too involved in criticizing it.”

Aldarondo said it’s imperative during this crisis to not be critical or disparaging of our priests and bishops, but to support them.

“We have to support and pray for our priests and our bishops and our cardinals and for our pope, whether we like the individual or not is not the point,” Aldarondo said. “The point is that we have to pray for them and we have to work by their side.

We have to collaborate with them in any possible way, but more importantly we have to collaborate with the desires of Our Blessed Mother.

And for too long we have

been putting that to the side.

That’s why we are in the mess that we are today.”

To that end, Father Brendan O’Rourke, I.V.E., parochial vicar of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, offered some words of encouragement.

“It’s wonderful to see so many people here tonight, it’s very encouraging,” Father O’Rourke said. “You know sometimes it’s easy to get disheartened by what’s happening, it really is. But we just have to keep it positive, because each one of us here tonight, we can all do our own. You’d be surprised at how much each one of us can do. And already I’m seeing things happening. I always think about what the Lord said to Peter, ‘You know, Peter, upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’”

Father Matthias Sasko, F.I., the guardian of the Franciscan Friars of the

Immaculate at Our Lady’s Chapel in downtown New Bedford, also praised the promise of prayer and penance in responding to the latest Church crisis.

“It’s really difficult, because you’ve always got to balance the two things,” Father Matthias said. “It’s our bishops, our priests, our Church, our

pope. But at the same time even the Holy Father has been inviting us to just open dialogue and question and even offer constructive criticism. If you don’t see them, you have to be blind not to see these problems right in our faces.”

“The only way we can fix this problem is to approach our Blessed Mother, and approach Jesus in the Blessed

Sacrament, and offer our prayers with a sincere heart, and we offer our fasting and reparation for the damage that’s been done,” Aldarondo said. “There is no other way.”

Those interested in becoming involved with the Prayer, Penance and Sacrifice to offer “reparations” for the Crisis in the Church should contact Edwin Aldaronodo at ealda@ comcast.net.

March 8, 2019 †

11

Father Landry continued from page seven

cared more about defending clergy than protecting victims. But does anyone really believe that clericalism, rather than lust, is a sounder explanation for the sexual abuse of minors? If clericalism causes the sexual abuse of minors in the Church, then what causes it in homes, schools, and sports leagues? Moreover, why does clericalism disproportionately make male victims?

Behind this denial is clearly a desire not to have same-sex attracted priests scapegoated for the clergy sexual abuse crisis. Fair enough: it’s unchristian to scapegoat anyone for anything. But if we really want to eradicate the sexual abuse of children in the Church, then we must courageously confront the data that describe that four out of five victims are teen-age males and follow where it leads.

This does not mean that if a priest has same-sex attractions, he’s necessarily a danger to the young. If he’s chaste in thought and action, he’s obviously not. But let’s be similarly candid: if a priest is engaged in same-sex sexual activity with adults, if a cleric is actively living the gay lifestyle in clear contradiction to his priestly promises, can we all admit that that such behavior is a serious risk factor?

If a 50-year-old cleric is transgressing his promises to have relations with 20-year-old seminarians, then is it shocking that such a man is a danger those a few years younger? None of this means that all priests who betray their vocations with adults will engage in the sexual abuse of minors, but can we really be surprised that some do? The lack of moral brakes, the absence of personal integrity, the capitulation to lust and sin, the capacity for spiritual incest, all make it possible for him to transgress further.

So what are we going to do about it? What is the way forward? It’s to learn from Dallas rather than repeat its mistake. Even though some prefer to ignore the obvious connections, we cannot let the facts be forgotten or ideologically explained away. The Church did so in 2002 and we eventually got McCarrick, who became the personification of the connection between sexual sins with and against 12

† March 8, 2019

majors and the abuse of minors. If the Church as a whole repeats that mistake now and evades the deeper issues, the future will be

unforgiving.

Those who love the Church, those who really want to protect victims, those who long for a holy clergy to help sanctify the

Church, can’t let that happen.

Anchor columnist Father Landry can be contacted at fatherlandry@catholicpreaching. com.

Bishop da Cunha to cook ethnic dinner for CRS Rice Bowl continued from page five

told The Anchor. “The bulk of the funds are used to purchase food from the Greater Boston Food Bank, which offers a significant discount to partner agencies. The total discount by purchasing from the Greater Boston Food Bank works out to about 75 percent. This significant savings allows us to increase the impact of the Operation Rice Bowl funds significantly across the diocese.

“It is important that donors can see that their dollars are truly making a difference in the lives of people right in their own diocese, as well as through the international good works of Catholic Relief Services.”

“Our hope is that Bishop da Cunha’s gesture will be watched and will inspire others to ‘pay it forward,’” said McManus.

As part of CRS’ Lenten

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass

on the Portuguese Channel Sunday, March 10 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from St. Anthony Church in Taunton

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass

on the Portuguese Channel Sunday, March 17 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from Immaculate Conception Church in New Bedford

in Ghana with his wife and four children. His story of initiative and his joyful presefforts in the diocese, a ence has brought inspiration noted speaker from the to thousands of people in agency will be speaking at the U.S.” Santo Christo Parish in Fall Awiapo will also be River during Lent, Thomas speaking at the upcoming Awiapo. According to the diocesan Youth Convention CRS Rice Bowl website, on March 31.

Awiapo grew up “in a small “It’s important to make African village in Ghana, people aware of the plight Thomas was orphaned of our brothers and sisters before the age of 10 and around the world,” said left on his own to struggle McManus. “Most people for survival. He was the who are refugees and immisecond of four brothers; his grants don’t choose to leave youngest two brothers died their homes and go someof malnutrition and lack of where else to take other care. people’s jobs and such. They “His search for food led leave because of some type him to an elementary school, of violence; physical, emowhere he was fed a small tional. They’re trying to stay meal every day. He survived, alive and take care of their studied, and eventually families. Some people don’t won scholarships to attend understand that. college. He later earned a “We’re trying to stress master’s degree from Calithat in Religious Education fornia State University. classes with Operation Rice “Today, Awiapo works Bowl. We want the students with Catholic Relief Serto realize that not everyone vices as a consultant and in the world has what they integral part in bringing have. Some have nothing, global solidarity. He lives globally and locally, and we

can help.”

CRS has created a new Rice Bowl app for iPhones and Androids that can be downloaded from the Apple Store and Google Play. The easy to use app provides daily reflections during Lent; offers simple ethnic recipes; offers integrated social sharing; and it is a new way to track one’s Lenten sharing.

It is available in English and Spanish.

Despite Lent having started a few days ago, McManus said it’s not too late to take part in Operation Rice Bowl. She has about 100 of the cardboard boxes at the Faith Formation Office in Fall River at 508678-2828, and they can be ordered on the CRS website at CRSRicebowl.org.

Reed told The Anchor those “who may need food resources or help applying for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are encouraged to contact the Diocese of Fall River’s Catholic Social Services at 508-674-4681.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, March 10 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Paul E. Canuel, a retired priest of the Fall River Diocese living at Cardinal Medeiros Residence in Fall River

Sunday, March 17 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father André “Pat” Patenaude, M.S., of La Salette Shrine in Attleboro

March 8, 2019 †

13

For and About Our Church Youth

If you loved Him more

I

n preparing for a homily last month I came across this story that I shared with the parish and thought might be a valuable message worth repeating here. It is a story of a young man who appeared to be a budding artist.

Of all his works, he was most proud of his latest masterpiece he had just completed, a painting of the Last Supper. With great enthusiasm, he was anxious to show the piece to his friend and get his opinion. That friend was the writer Leo Tolstoy.

The day finally came when the young artist was able to present his work to the famous writer. He unveiled his rendition of the Last Supper.

Anxiously, he asked his friend, “What do you think?” Tolstoy quietly studied the picture. He pondered every detail as the artist watched impatiently. The silence was finally broken as Tolstoy slowly pointed to the central figure. “You don’t really love Him,” he said quietly.

The confused young man responded, “Why, that is the Lord Jesus Christ!” “I know,” said Tolstoy, “but if you loved Him more, you would have painted Him better.”

While most of us are not budding artists, we are called to be budding servants of the Lord and this story points out that important lesson. What would someone looking at our life say to us 14

Christians who claim to have Jesus at the center of our lives? Would they say, I can see that you love Him, or would they say, “If you loved Him more, you would serve Him better.”

Our Christian faith requires more than prayer and worship. Christianity must become something real, tangible, something that pervades all that we are. It must become something we do. It requires that we go out and serve others. We have been challenged to live our lives in the way that Jesus called us to live.

How are we doing with that? What do our actions say about our love for the Lord. Do we give from our need or from our surplus? Do we do enough or just enough?

Is our faith the center of who we are? I guess we can only answer that for ourselves; but I know that I have met many people in my life that “love Him more.” I don’t mean that they are radicals or conservatives or diehards. I mean, rather, that I see

in them God’s love present and moving outward from their hearts. I see in them evidence of their relationship with God governing their actions, character and values. Simply put, they walk the talk. They let out what so many have trapped inside. As Catholics we are not called to

The Anchor is always pleased to run news and photos about our diocesan youth. If schools, parish Religious Education programs or homeschoolers have newsworthy stories and photos they would like to share with our readers, send them to: schools@anchornews.org

† March 8, 2019

a “me-God” relationship alone. We are called to an apostolic life. We are called to serve others.

We are called to bring Christ to all others. I know that’s the type of Christian I want to be and I work daily to stay on that path. How about you?

Let’s take some time during these quiet months of winter, to examine the quality of our service and remember, “If we loved Him more, we would serve Him better.” Then, let’s

get to work. Let’s look around and see where we can make a difference and then let’s serve Him better.

Frank Lucca is a deacon in the Diocese of Fall River, a youth minister at St. Dominic’s Parish in Swansea and St. George Parish in Westport, and a campus minister at UMass Dartmouth. He is married to his wife of 40 years, Kristine, and the father of two daughters and their husbands, and three grandsons. So blessed!

Comments, ideas or suggestions? Please email him at DeaconFrankLucca@ comcast.net

The crochet/craft club at Espirito Santo School in Fall River (minus a couple of students) recently collaborated with KG Kraft and their patrons to make scarves, hats and throws to be donated to Marie’s Place in the city. (Photo courtesy of Andrew Raposo)

For and About Our Church Youth

The St. John the Evangelist School Fifth/Sixth Grade Boys and Sixth Grade Girls Basketball teams recently won the Fall River Diocese Catholic Athletic League Junior Division Championships. They play for the New England CYO Championship title in Manchester, N.H. on Saturday, March 30. The Fifth/Sixth grade boys are coached by Mark Langelier, Victor Banks and John DiMarco and the sixth grade girls are coached by Maura DiMarco, Mike Castro and Kim Castro. (Photos courtesy of Gina Cuccovia-Simoneau)

Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River recently announced that three seniors have been recognized for their exceptional merit in art.

Above, from left, Benjamin Medeiros ’19 won a Gold Key award for his piece, “Diplopia,” and Ethan Borges ’19 won a Silver Key award for his sculpture, “Koi Shoe,” in this year’s Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Emily Borges ’19 was honored with acceptance into UMass Dartmouth’s Emerging Young Artists 2019 Juried Exhibition for her self-portrait. Medeiros’s piece also was chosen for viewing in the highly competitive EYA 2019 exhibition. (Photo courtesy of Karen Pragana)

March 8, 2019 †

15

R

Living with integrity

ecently, two young men identifying as women stood atop Connecticut ’s high school podiums after their track victories, putting their competitors in an awkward situation. To grumble against the unfair physiological advantages of those who defeated them seems like unsportsmanlike conduct, and to suggest that it’s problematic to allow transgender athletes to compete (not to mention shower, and sleep with them on overnight travel events throughout the season) is simply not allowed in a milieu in which mind trumps matter. What have we done to our girls?

Since 1972, Title IX has guaranteed that every institution receiv-

16

ing federal funding must provide equitable access to men and women, boys and girls, and although it covers every aspect of participation in all institutions, Title IX’s impact on sports has drawn the most attention.

While equal access sounds benign, schools in particular have had to adjust their financial outlays to conform to the new standard, and financing this radical realignment of structures led to the onus being shifted from choice to outcome.

The premise was that males and females chose differently only because of cultural norms, and if society recalibrated its expectations from an early age, then the differences between men and women would become indistinguishable. Thus, encouraging young women in myriad fields seems to have paid off, for not only

† March 8, 2019

did women’s sports grow exponentially, but they flooded the universities in such numbers that by 1982 they achieved parity with men, and now they comprise almost 60 percent of matriculated college students.

Young girls have been told for decades that if they work diligently, they can achieve whatever they wish, no matter the obstacles — but in recent years the social engineers have added a new twist. The flip-side of erasing differences between men and women means that men who identify as women will now be allowed to compete in women’s sports — the very arenas created for them to showcase their newly-tapped talents. This is because a century of feminism has been persistently morphing its agenda. From

its roots of simply providing women equal opportunities to a more aggressive form of forced parity, now even the most radical ideologues have been supplanted by gender feminists, who insist on erasing the most foundational notions of what constitutes a woman.

An Olympic medalist in volleyball, Ana Paula Henkel, wrote to the International Olympic Committee noting that their policy of allowing transgender men to compete in women’s events in the 2020 Olympics was absurd: “This rushed and heedless decision to include biological men, born and built with testosterone, with their height, their strength and aerobic capacity of men, is beyond the sphere of tolerance. It represses, embarrasses, humiliates and excludes women.”

As absurd as the present predicament surely is, it is only the logical outcome of reject-

ing that there is such a thing as natural law, and setting aside the intrinsic differences between male and female. The hormonal games that allow cross-sex transitions today began with the birth-control pill that was readily embraced as an effective way to trick the human body — the first foray into changing the consequences of our natural behaviours. Such hormones have become foundational to how we live, how we establish relationships, and how we navigate the demands of a family-crushing culture; they have become a part of our very identity.

How many of the dreams we offer to young women depend on distancing themselves not only from virtuous and balanced decisions about their lives, but on rejecting their very nature? Are women any happier today than they were 50 years ago when this dangerous experiment of mainstreaming hormones began? To inspire in girls a genderneutral dream only to sandbag them in this irrational way is not only unloving, but perverse.

Perhaps it ’s time for an honest discussion about the premise of this unnatural social experiment and find a reset button. There is another, more honest way to live.

Anchor columnist Genevieve Kineke is the author of “ The Authentic Catholic Woman.” She blogs at feminine-genius. typepad.com.

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks March 9 Rev. Msgr. Henry J. Noon, V.G., Pastor, St. James, New Bedford; Vicar General, 1934-47, 1947 March 12 Rev. Aurelien L. Moreau, Pastor, St. Mathieu, Fall River, 1961 Rev. Adrien E. Bernier, Pastor, St. Mathieu, Fall River, 1989 Rev. George I. Saad, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Purgutory, New Bedford, 1991 March 16 Rev. Francis J. Maloney. S.T.L., Pastor, St. Mary, North Attleboro, 1957 Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, C.S.C., 2006 March 17 Rev. Henry R. Creighton, SS.CC., 2004 Permanent Deacon Michael E. Murray, 2008 Rev. Bartley MacPhaidin, C.S.C., 2016 March 18 Rev. Robert D. Forand, C.P., West Hartford, Conn., 1989 Permanent Deacon Frank W. Mis, 2011 March 19 Rev. John J. McQuaide, Assistant, St. Mary, Taunton, 1905 March 20 Rev. Francis A. Mrozinski, Pastor, St. Hedwig, New Bedford, 1951 Permanent Deacon Lawrence St. Pierre, 2017 March 22 Rev. Joseph A. Martins, Assistant, St. John the Baptist, New Bedford, 1940 Rev. James T. Keefe, SS.CC., Chaplain, U.S. Army, 2003 Rev. Francis X. Wallace, Retired, Former Chaplain, U.S. Army, Parochial Vicar, St. Patrick, Falmouth, 2018

March 8, 2019 â€

17

Around the Diocese A Lenten Taizé service will be held at St. John Neumann Parish, 157 Middleboro Road in East Freetown, on Sunday, March 10 beginning at 7 p.m.

Our Lady of the Cape Parish, 468 Stony Brook Road in Brewster, invites all to join them this Lent for a Bible Study, as they read and discuss the Gospel of John. Using a program called, “Follow Me: Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John,” the group will gather in the parish center hall on eight successive Wednesday mornings from 9:45 to 11:00 a.m., from March 13 to May 1. The workbooks needed are available for purchase for $20 in the parish office; Bibles are also available for a cost of $7. Please contact Kathy Russo at adultfaithformation2@gmail.com, or 508-385-3252, extension 14 to register, or with any questions.

An “all-are-welcome” Bible Study will be offered in the parish hall of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 235 North Front Street in New Bedford, eight Tuesday afternoons beginning at 2:00 p.m. on March 19. The program follows the Ascension Press series, “Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible,” using captivating, informative videos, it uncovers the fascinating story woven through the Old and New Testaments that shows how our Faith is rooted in Sacred Scripture and how the Bible reveals God’s loving plan for our lives. A $20 registration fee covers the Bible Study workbook, Bible Timeline Chart, and the ability to streamline the study videos online at your convenience. Financial assistance is available. For more information or to sign up, contact Father Conrad Salach, Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, at 508-992-9378 or fracms@yahoo.com.

There will be a Healing Mass for those Affected by Addiction on Thursday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral, 327 Second Street in Fall River. Celebrant will be Father Edward A. Murphy, pastor of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Taunton. From 5:45 to 6:25 p.m., there will be a Social Gathering, Sacrament of Reconciliation and Rosary, then from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. there will be a Healing Mass, healing prayers and Benediction. All are invited.

Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, 47 South Sixth Street in New Bedford, will host a Lenten Mission with Tom Kendzia, nationally-known speaker and Liturgical musician, on Friday, March 29 and Saturday, March 30 beginning at 6 p.m. each night. The mission will be based on Henri Nouwen’s book, “With Burning Hearts,” and CDs will be available to purchase (cash only).

St. John Neumann Parish, located at 157 Middleboro Road in East Freetown invites all to its “One Day Only Barn Sale” being held in the parish barn on Saturday, March 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 pm., rain or shine! The Barn Sale has a large variety of items to choose from, and the prices can’t be beat!

La Salette Shrine and St. Nicholas of Myra Parish will present a retreat entitled “The Transforming Power of Holiness” on Saturday, March 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at La Salette Shrine, 947 Park Street in Attleboro. Cost is $20 per person and includes lunch. For more information, call the La Salette office (508-222-5410) or St. Nicholas of Myra Parish (508-8221425). Deadline to register is March 22.

To submit an event for consideration in The Anchor’s “Around the Diocese” listing, send the information by email to kensouza@anchornews.org 18

† March 8, 2019

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese Acushnet — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Evening prayer and Benediction is held Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

ASSONET — St. Bernard’s Parish will have Eucharistic Adoration every Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed on the altar at the conclusion of 9 a.m. Mass and the church will be open all day, concluding with evening prayer and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. John the Evangelist Church, North Main Street, Mondays and Wednesdays from 5-6:30 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the Adoration Chapel at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 71 Linden Street, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

ATTLEBORO — The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette holds Eucharistic Adoration in the Shrine Church every Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. through November 17.

Brewster — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, on First Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. buzzards Bay — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, every First Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending at 5 p.m.

East Freetown — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. John Neumann Church every Monday (excluding legal holidays) 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Our Lady, Mother of All Nations Chapel. (The base of the bell tower).

EAST TAUNTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the chapel at Holy Family Parish Center, 438 Middleboro Avenue, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. On First Fridays, Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Holy Family Church, 370 Middleboro Avenue, from 8:30 a.m. until 7:45 p.m.

FAIRHAVEN — St. Mary’s Church, Main St., has Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday from 8:30-11:30 a.m. in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at 11:30 a.m.

FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of Padua Church, on the corner of Bedford and Sixteenth streets, has Eucharistic Adoration accompanied by music and prayer every first Wednesday of the month from 6-7 p.m.

FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of the Desert Church, 300 North Eastern Avenue, has Eucharistic Adoration Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Thursdays following the 8 a.m. Mass until Friday at 8 a.m.

FALL RIVER — Holy Name Church, 709 Hanover Street, has Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Our Lady of Grace Chapel.

FALL RIVER — Good Shepherd Parish has Eucharistic Adoration every Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass and concluding with 3 p.m. Benediction in the Daily Mass Chapel. A bilingual holy hour takes place from 2 to 3 p.m. Park behind the church and enter the back door of the connector between the church and the rectory.

FALL RIVER — St. Joseph’s Church has a Holy Hour every Tuesday from 6-7 p.m., with Benediction at 6:45 p.m.

FALL RIVER — St. Michael’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with Benediction at 5:30 p.m.

Falmouth — St. Patrick’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration each First Friday following the 7 a.m. Mass, with Benediction at 4:30 p.m.

HYANNIS — St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis, 347 South Street, Hyannis, has Eucharistic Adoration from noon to 3 p.m., daily Monday through Friday.

MANSFIELD — St. Mary’s Parish, 330 Pratt Street, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Benediction at 5:45 p.m.

MASHPEE — Christ the King Parish, Route 151 and Job’s Fishing Road has 8:30 a.m. Each First Friday Mass ends with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Adoration continues until Benediction at 5 p.m.

NEW BEDFORD — Eucharistic Adoration is held every Thursday, with Confessions, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Church. Please use the side entrance.

NEW BEDFORD — There is a daily holy hour from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue. It includes Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Liturgy of the Hours, recitation of the Rosary, and the opportunity for Confession.

NEW BEDFORD — St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, 565 County Street, holds Eucharistic Adoration in the side chapel Fridays from 7:30-11:45 a.m. ending with a simple Benediction NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., ending with Benediction. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

NORTH DIGHTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Wednesday following 8:00 a.m. Mass and concludes with Benediction at 5 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration also takes place every First Friday at St. Nicholas of Myra Church, 499 Spring Street following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with Benediction at 6 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8 a.m.

NORTH EASTON — A Holy Hour for Families including Eucharistic Adoration is held every Friday from 3-4 p.m. at The Father Peyton Center, 518 Washington Street.

NORTH EASTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Immaculate Conception Church Chapel on the first Wednesday of the month beginning after the 8:30 a.m. Mass, until 6:40 p.m. Those wishing to make a monthly commitment can sign up on the parish website at www.icceaston.org or call the parish office at 508-238-3232.

ORLEANS — St. Joan of Arc Parish, 61 Canal Road, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday starting after the 8 a.m.

Mass and ending with Benediction at 11:45 a.m. The Sacrament of the Sick is also available immediately after the 8 a.m. Mass.

SEEKONK ­— Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish has perpetual Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508-336-5549.

Taunton — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Tuesday at St. Anthony Church, 126 School Street, following the 8 a.m. Mass with prayers including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for vocations, concluding at 6 p.m. with Chaplet of St. Anthony and Benediction. Recitation of the Rosary for peace is prayed Monday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m. prior to the 8 a.m. Mass.

Taunton — Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord, 31 First Street. Exposition begins following the 8 a.m. Mass. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed, and Adoration will continue throughout the day. Confessions are heard from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m. Rosary and Benediction begin at 5 p.m.

Taunton — The Chapel of St. Andrew the Apostle, 19 Kilmer Avenue, Taunton, will host Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Taunton — St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Taunton will host Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays following the 9 a.m.

Mass and the St. Jude Novena, until 11:30, ending with Benediction. It will take place at Holy Rosary Chapel during the summer months.

WAREHAM — Eucharistic Adoration at St. Patrick’s Church takes place 9 a.m. Thursday through 7 p.m. Friday. Adoration is held in our Adoration Chapel in the lower Parish Hall. ~ PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION ~

East Sandwich — The Corpus Christi Parish Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, East Sandwich. Use the Chapel entrance on the side of the church.

NEW BEDFORD — Our Lady’s Chapel, 600 Pleasant Street, offers Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day. For information call 508-996-8274.

SEEKONK ­— Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish has perpetual Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508-336-5549.

WEST HARWICH — Our Lady of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street (Rte. 28), holds perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. We are a regional chapel serving all of the surrounding parishes.

All are invited to sign up to cover open hours. For open hours, or to sign up call 508-430-4716.

Abortion at the extremes

O

ne of the crazier features of politics these days is that opponents of our quixotic president seem to have themselves become unhinged: When he cuts federal funds to Planned Parenthood, and through his Supreme Court appointments says he wants to undo Roe v.

Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that effectively legalized abortion throughout the country, the abortion industry and its legislative allies propose to outdo Roe as a mat-

ter of statutory law. And thus in Massachusetts they have proposed “An Act to remove obstacles and expand abortion access (S No. 109).”

The bill clearly states that “the Commonwealth shall not interfere with a person’s personal decision and ability to prevent, commence, terminate or continue their [why not “her”?] own pregnancy… [and] shall not restrict the

use of medically appropriate methods of abortion or the manner in which medically appropriate abortion is provided.”

But the central hold-

ing of Roe, as authoritatively interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court in Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey almost thirty years ago in 1992, was that prior to fetal viability, the state could place no “undue burden” or “substantial obstacle” on a woman getting an abortion.

This is significantly different from the proposed bill’s prohibiting any interference whatsoever on a woman’s terminating her pregnancy.

Among other things, the bill would eliminate the requirement currently in Massachusetts law for at least one parent to consent to abortion for minors. Although this parental involvement can be easily circumvented by going to court for a judicial bypass order, which are granted as a matter of course to young women under 18 in Massachusetts, this eminently reasonable requirement galls Planned Parenthood and company for the simple reason that it puts an adult, preferably a loving parent rather than a bureaucratic judge, between a vulnerable girl and the abortion clinic’s cash register. Therefore, the parental consent law must be repealed, however extreme that might sound.

My thoughts also go to the recent film Gosnell, which relates the arrest and trial of a notorious abortionist in Philadelphia, allowed to practice for decades, who was finally tried and convicted for the murder of a number of viable infants that he delivered before snipping their spinal cords (and oddly preserving their infant feet in jars).

He received a life sentence, which he agreed to as part of a plea bargain in order to avoid a possible death sentence. His defense was that he was just completing the abortions that women had asked him for.

Arguably, the Roe bill in Massachusetts could legalize infanticide as an abortion technique, since it protects abortions from interference up to the

moment of actual birth, if only the doctor decides it “necessary to protect the woman’s physical or mental health,… in light of all factors—physical, emotional, psychological, familial and the person’s age.” Similar bills in New York state and Virginia caused their respective governors to effectively defend infanticide, after all. And it also explains why Democrats in the U.S. Senate recently defeated proposals to place criminal and civil penalties in the federal Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, as well as an equal standard of care for newborns, because they would effectively protect the lives of infants that survive abortion. The federal law up to now has been merely symbolic without those penalties and that standard of care.

Why should the Massachusetts legislature want to go beyond Roe v.

Wade to begin with? It is unquestionably the most controversial decision of the United States Supreme Court since the infamous Dred Scott decision that provoked the Civil War. And why should we do away with informed consent laws, or parental consent laws for minors?

The proposed bill shares the “fetus counts for nothing” view of the abortion industry, and the horrifying idea that the right to an abortion entails more than ending an unwanted pregnancy and extends to a right to a dead baby.

Anchor columnist Dwight Duncan is a professor at UMass School of Law Dartmouth. He holds degrees in civil and canon law.

March 8, 2019 †

19

Anchor expiration date EXAMPLE

FALL RIVER — New mailing labels (right) were recently initiated on all Anchor publications, along with the notice of a $25 subscription amount beginning at renewal time. Below is a sample of the label that shows when the subscription expires allowing readers to renew to keep their subscriptions active. If no payment is received within 30 days of the expiration date, The Anchor will send one reminder notice at a later date. We cannot accept credit card payments by phone.

Subscriber name Subscriber Street Address Subscriber City/Town/Zip Code

Anchor renewal and price changes

FALL RIVER — The Anchor has announced a few changes of which current subscribers should be made aware.

At the renewal date for each subscriber, the annual cost for The Anchor will become $25. The Anchor is also offering its readers the option to renew for two years at $45 for 52 issues, a savings of $5.

The date in which the subscription will expire will be listed in each edition above the name and address of the subscriber on page 24.

Subscribers are encouraged to renew

To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or Email waynepowers@ anchornews.org 20

† March 8, 2019

their subscription by that date by sending a check or money order for $25 made payable to The Anchor, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, Mass. 02720.

Subscribers may also renew via PayPal by visiting The Anchor website at anchornews. org and pressing the “Subscribe” button and following the onscreen directions.

We cannot accept credit card payments by phone.

If a payment isn’t received within 30 days of the expiration date, The Anchor will send out one reminder notice.