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VOL. 36, NO. 24

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FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS

Friday, June 12, 1992

F ALL RIVER, MASS.

CABINDA, Angola (CNS) Pope John Paul II traveled to a volatile northern enclave of Angola and pleaded for a peaceful resol\Jtion of the region's stuggle for independence.

Local aspirations must be recognized, the pope said, but without forgetting the "interests of the whole country." He spoke at an airport Mass June 8 in Cabinda, an oil-rich territorial pocket on the Atlantic.

Citing Angola's recent devastation by civil war, he said it was all the more important to "resolve.

Cabinda's problems without violence, but with peace and dialog."

The pope's words received mild applause from a crowd of about 10,000. The sentiment in Cabinda is almost unanimously for independence, according to local church workers.

"Everyone here wants independence, not autonomy. We want a free Cabinda, free of corruption," said Brazilian Mercedian Sister Maria Luisa Lafuente, who has worked in the enclave for 18 years.

Separated from the rest of Angola by a small strip of Zairean territory, Cabinda has long supplied about two-thirds of Angola's income through oil sales. With the end of the Angolan civil war last year, the territory is poised for an economic breakthrough.

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Pope asks for peace, dialog

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In Cabinda, Angola

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FATHER PATRICK Peyton takes his own advice and prays the rosary in this 1984 photo taken in front of his Family Theater building on Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard. (CNS photo)

Two separatist guerilla movements have continued to wage small-scale warfare near the Zairean border, with the latest shootings coming only two days before the pope's arrival, according to U.N. observers who attended the papal Mass. Security at the airport was unusually heavy.

"It was a little disappointing that he did not kiss the ground here," said Father Jean-Marie Tetika, a Zairean priest who traveled to Cabinda for the Mass.

The pope normally kisses the ground upon his arrival in a new country.

Father Tetika said there were thousands of Cabinda refugees in his diocese, waiting for independence to go home.

"Without independence, there will be no peace," he said.

Cabinda's heavily Catholic population was reportedly divided about the papal visit. While some believed the pope's coming would legitimize Angolan control, others thought the pope might say something in favor of self-determination, Father Tetika said.

The pope's sermon, however, avoided direct mention of independence. While praising Cabindans for their "enterprising spirit," he reminded them that their rich resources were, after all, a result of "divine generosity."

When the pope arrived at the Mass site, riot police quickly moved in to stop hundreds of people who raced to occupy an empty area behind the altar. Later, Vatican security agents took down a plywood altar backing so the crowd could see the pope, and a great cheer arose.

Pope John Paul was greeted by a traditional ceremony in which natives in costumes made ofleaves danced in welcome.

Later, the pope flew to M'Banza Congo in the Congo River basin, where the first Catholic missionaries in Angola arrived 500 years ago.

There, at a prayer service in front of the ruins of a 16th-century cathedral, he asked the international community to keep up support in resettling Angola's estiTurn to Page II

At Earth Summit

Vatican concerned with many issues

WASHINGTON (CNS) - Although media attention has cen" tered on the Vatican's views on population, Vatican delegates at Brazil's Earth Summit have monitored all the major issues, said Camden, N.J., Bishop James T. ary Cr~sade, Family Theater ProMcHugh, a member of the Vatiductions and their simple message, - can delegation.

"The family that prays together In telephone interviews, Bishop stays together."

McHugh said he and other Holy At age 19 he and his older See delegates had attended combrother, Thomas, emigrated to the mittee meetings and met with United States, where both entered representatives of other delegathe Holy Cross community. As a tions. seminarian, young Patrick con"Much of our intervention was tracted tuberculosis, from which in New York" at preparatory comhe recovered after seeking Mary's mittee meetings, he said. intercession; and both he and his For instance, Maryknoll Sister brother were ordained June IS, Roberta Salvador was monitoring 1941. Seven months later, Father discussions on forest protection, Patrick founded the Family Rosary but the' bishop said he did not Crusade by way of thanksgiving think she had made any statements for his recovery. as of June 9.

But in 1945,· frustrated at the The bishop said Msgr. Diarmuid slow rate at which he was spreading his message, he asked officials Martin, assistant head ofthe Vatiof the Mutual Broadcasting Com- can delegation, spoke June 6 in a pany for a free half-hour of net- session outlining strict guidelines work radio time, during which he for disposing of toxic materials.

Some of those voting wanted to proposed to recite the rosary. exempt the military from the guide"Everybody told him the rosary lines, but Msgr. Martin maintained Turn to Page Two Turn to Page 11

"Rosary priest" dies; burial at Stonehill Holy Cross Father Patrick Peyton, world-famous "rosary priest," died June 3 at Little Sisters of the Poor retirement home in San Pedro, Calif. He was 83.

A vigil service was held for him .last Sunday at the Chapel of Mary at Stonehill College, North Easton.

A funeral Mass followed Monday, June 8, and he was buried in the Holy Cross community cemetery on the Stonehill grounds. The college is run by the Congregation of Holy Cross.

Other memorial services are planned at various locations in the nation.

Father Peyton, a native of Carracastle, County Mayo, Ireland, was born Jan. 9, 1909, in a three room thatched cabin. He was one of nine children of John and Mary Peyton. His parents prayed the rosary daily, beginning on their wedding day, and their son promoted the devotion throughout the world through his Family Ros-

A FRANCISCAN FRIAR says goodbye to well-wishers after the last Mass at Our Lady's Chapel, New Bedford, which closed June 7 after 36 years of service to the city. (Hickey photo)

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The Anchor Friday, June 12, 1992

Special Gifts ATTlEBORO $100 Triad, Inc., Chartley

CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS $100 Knights of Columbus Bishop Connolly Council #9444

Parishes CAPE COD SANDWICH Corpus Christi $300 M/M Philip E. Ballou; $100 M/M FrancisJ. Curran; $60 M/M John J. McDonald; $50 M/M Joseph S. Lemieux, M/M Joseph F. Desrosiers NORTH ATTLEBORO Sacred Heart $120 M/M Warren Boehling; $50 MIMI Raymond Lacasse TAUNTON St. Joseph $100 M/M Philip Murphy

JEFFREY E. SULLIVAN FUNERAL HOME 550 Locust Street Fall River. Mass.

Rose E. Sullivan William J. Sullivan Margaret M. Sullivan

672-2391

St. Anne's Hospital gratefully • acknowledges ,contributions that we have received to the Remem, brance Fund during May, 1992.

Through the remembrance and honor of these lives, St. Anne's can continue its "Caring With Excellence."

ST. ANNE'S HOSPITAL REMEMBRANCE FUND Frank P. Botelho Antonio Branco MrS. Beatrice A. Caron Mrs. Eileen F. Carr Robert "Butch" Carvalho Anne Casper Patricia Costa, Leon Cote Celia DeMello Mrs. Enola Desjardins Clara Dunham Mrs. Rita Gamache Pauline R. Gauthier Blanche Greenwood Theresa Lundstrom Mrs. Mary Marchesi Mrs. Lea Nadeau Morin Adeline Occhiuti Dr. Victor A. Palumbo Raymond E. Parise John D. Pettine John A. Pitera Frank Prystac Marie F. Roy William A. Ryan Joseph C. Saulino Margaret Sitarz Helen Sylvia John W. Varanese Walter H. White

We are grateful to those who thoughtfully named 5t.

Anne's Hospital's Remembrance Fund.

Rosary priest dies Continued from Page One was bad radio," recounted James Bacon in a '1984 Catholic News Service story about the priest. "But he walked out of there with a halfhour of time for Mother's Day, May 13, 1945.

"The network people said he should get abig Hollywood star to be on the program. He asked who was the biggest. Everybody said Bing Crosby, who had just won an Oscar for playing a priest in "Going My Way." "What happened next is hard to believe, especially if you know how elusive Crosby was in those days.

"Father Pat picked up a phone, dialed the operator and said: 'I FATHER MICHAEL J. would like to speak to Bing Crosby CONWAY, a Salesian of Don in Hollywood, California.'

"Father Pat with his Irish charm Bosco, was ordained to the got the operator to locate Bing, priesthood May 31 at St. An- who was making "Bells of St. thony Church, Nanuet, NY, Mary's." He couldn't come to the

by Auxiliary Bishop Oscar phone but promised to call as soon Rodriquez Maradiaga, SOB, as he could.

"Bing called Father Pat back of the archdiocese of Teguciwithin the hour. galpa, Honduras. "'This is Bing Crosby," crooned Father Conway, formerly that famous voice. "'Thanks be to God,''' said Father of Winthrop, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Conway of Peyton. "I'm a priest in Albany.

South Yarmouth. He is a grad- Will you do something for the Blessed Virgin Mary?' uate of Don Bosco College, "Bing later told me he said yes Newton, NJ, and holds a mas- before he knew what he was saying. ter's degree in divinity from "I had a feeling that if I turned the J osephinum College, Col- him down, it would snow in my umbus, O. For the past two living room,' Bing said.

"So it happened on May 13, years he has been a master of 1945, that Bing Crosby along with ceremonies for Columbus Bish- ' Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Sullivan of op James A. Griffin and he Waterloo, Iowa, prayed the rosary was a transitional deacon at on the first Family Theater netSt. Mary's parish, Lancaster, work broadcast.

"The Sullivans had lost five sons O. when the cruiser Juneau' was sunk He will celebrate Mass at by the Japanese in World War II. St. Pius X parish, South Yar..After that, Family Theater, with mouth, at noon Sunday, June a format of uplifting dramatic 14. A reception will follow in shows, became a weekly fixture of

the parish center.

The Salesian community, the third largest men's religious society in the world, was founded in 1859 by St. John Bosco, who dedicated his life to the service of youth.

He died in 1888 at age 72 and was canonized in 1934 as the Apostle of Youth.

Killer forgiven FENTON, Mich. (CNS) - As she prepared to bury her two daughters, Kathryn Urbin said she could forgive the serial killer charged with raping and suffocating her girls but could not forgive the system that put him back on the street. "I have no anger whatsoever toward [the alleged killer, Leslie Allen] Williams. It is the system who let him out repeatedly," she said as she stood by the twin rose-colored caskets at St. John the Evangelist Church in Fenton following a prayer service.

Michelle Urbin, 16, and sister Melissa, 14, were two of the four teenage girls whom Williams, a convicted rapist paroled in 1990, confessed to killing.

'111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 THE ANCHOR (USPS-545-020). Second~ 'Class Postage Paid at Fall River. Mass.i Published weekly except the week of July 4. , and the week after Christmas at 887 High.< land Avenue. Fall River. Mass. 02720 by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall , River, Subscription price by mail. postpaid' $11.00 per year. Postmasters send address changes to The Anchor. P.O. Box 7. Fall River. MA 02722.

Vincentians plan regional meeting

the Mutual Broadcasting System. outdoor screens to reach millions Practically every big star in Hol- of people in the South American lywood performed free for the nation, said Grace. unassuming priest.

Family Rosary billboards pro"And when television came in, claimed "try prayer" to a nation Father Pat got into that with such with low morale, Grace said. Wo~ big names as Princess Grace and men marched in the streets prayPope John Paul II praying the ing. Goulart scorned their "silly rosary." . beads," said Grace, but "18 hours With headquarters in Albany, later" his army rebelled and took NY, Father Peyton also had offi- over the government. "Women with ces in eight foreign countries. He their rosaries brought down Goutook his rosary crusade to six con- lart." tinents, over the years reaching Grace, who drove on long joursome 27,000,000 people at giant neys with the priest, said Fl\ther. rallies.

Peyton was "completely dependThe priest's Holy Cross congre- ent on our Blessed Mother." gation has committed itself to con"He called himself'Our Blessed tinuance ofboth the Family Rosary Mother's donkey,''' said Grace.

Crusade and Family Theater Pro- His message was to just "love our ductions. Superior General Father Blessed Mother" and "follow what Claude Grou will meet with pro- her~on said" and "pray the rosary.~' vincial superiors of the worldwide Family Rosary began at Vincongregation to implement specific centian Institute High School in plans. _ Albany, N.Y.: at the classroom of Father Peyton is survived by his Mercy Sister Mary J. Buckley. brother, Father Thomas, who lives The nun recalled the day in 1942 in Notre Dame, Ind., and by a sis- , she met the Jail cleric. ter in Ireland.

"He told me he wanted to get 10 Memories Recounted million American families to say Actress Loretta Young, indus- the rosary, and I said, 'Why not?'" trialist J. Peter Grace, a nun whose she said. A student typed a letter students typed letters for the Fam- for him. ily Rosary movement and Bishop "That letter was multiplied milHoward J. Hubbard of Albany, lions of times," said the nun.

NY, were among those mourning Sister Buckley helped him for Father Peyton. two decades,. until she left the Miss Young, one of the first school to become president of the Hollywood stars to join the Sisters of Mercy. She worked again priest's radio series, "The Family for him from 1972 until her retireTheater," said the priest is "now ment in 1990. up where he belongs with our "He talked [about) Mary every Blessed Mother. minute of his life," said the nun.

"He talked about her as if she "As long and as well as I knew him were a woman he was in love I never had any conversation with with," she said. She imitated his him that Mary didn't dominate." brogue and a familiar comment Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of about the Virgin, "'I love her so.''' Albany highlighted Father Peyton's "When I first saw him he was a "contribution to Marian theology" wonderful eager, young, pure and and said "a giant of the church has innocent priest," she said. passed from our midst."

"His attitude was goodness. If He was "nothing short of phenyou couldn't do what he wanted, omenal" as he "kept Marian devohe'd say 'Never mind. Our Lady tion alive in the church when it loves you anyway.''' could have waned after the Second Grace, chairman and CEO of Vatican Council," said Bishop _ W.R. Grace & Co., a chemical Hubba.rd... company, for 46 years handled the Failings to A void Family Rosary business affairs.

He credited Father Peyton with "We should strengthen ourselves invoking "miracles," including the against these failings: neglect of overthrow of Brazil's leftist Presi- godliness; study without underdent Joao Goulart in 1964. standing; failure to act according Bra~il'was "going communist" to what we believe to be right; when a Family Rosary crusade inability to change bad habits." used dozens of movie teams and -Confucius

Many diocesan members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul will attend the 1992 Northeast Regional Meeting, the 26th such annual conference. This year's gathering will take place June 19 through 21 at Merrimack College, North Andover, and will have as its theme "Love of Our Neighbor."

Vincentians of the archdiocese of Boston will host the event, . which will include a free Saturday excursion to Rockport for spouses of members, to include luncheon.

The program will begin June 19 with registration from noon to 9 p.m. From 1to 4 p.m. there will be a tour of St. Vincent de Paul stores, followed by Mass, dinner and entertainment featuring the Sgro Brothers, who will also perform Saturday night.

Father Daniel Freitas, Fall River diocesan director of the Vincen- , tians, will celebrate at Mass at 7:30 a.m. Saturday for deceased members and for benefactors.

The program for the day includes a business meeting, a discussion of twinning programs, a presentation on "Love of Our Neighbor" and workshops on topics including Spirituality, and Children and Hunger.

The Saturday vigil Mass, a banquet and entertainment are schedROSARY CRUSADE: actresses (from left) Irene Dunne, uled for the evening.

Rosalind Russell and Loretta Young were among 18 stars Breakfast will be available Sunappearing with Father Peyton in this undated photo from an day morning until 9: 15 a.m. and Easter broadcast of The Family Rosary Crusade. (CNS photo) will conclude the conference.

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FATHER ROGER CHAREST,

Prayer should be pause that refreshes, he says

S~M

Fall River Montfort Father is golden jubilarian Montfort Father Roger Mary Charest will observe his 50th anniver'sary of priestly ordination at noon Mass Sunday, July 5, at St. Anne's Church, Fall River. A dinner reception will follow at White's of Westport.

A native of St. Anne's parish, Father Charest attended its parochial school and prepared for the priesthood at the minor seminary of his community in Bay Shore, NY, and at St. John's Seminary, Ottawa', He was ordained Feb. 28, 1942 and until 1949 was a seminary professor with the exception of two years when he was associate novice master at the Nicolet, Quebec, Montfort seminary. In 1949 Father Charest founded Queen of All Hearts magazine, now known as Queen, to promote better knowledge of and devotion to Mary. He was its editor until 1961, when he was named provincial superio,r of Montfort Missionaries in the U.S. and Borpeo c _ As superior, he established a now-discontinued Montfort mission house in Taunton to serve as headquarters for the northeastern mission band of the community, which specializes in parish retreats and missions. He was also among many Montfort Fathers who have been pastor of St. Peter's'parish, Dighton.

In 1969 Father Charest returned tei Queen magazine as managing editor, a position he still holds. He

Diocesan elected \to Dominican post Laurie Biszko of St. Stanislaus parish, Fall River, has been elected to a three-year term as coordinator of the Eastern Province of the Third Order of St. Dominic, also known as Dominican Laity.

Elections were held at a recent provincial gathering in Washington, D.C. The Eastern Province has 5,000 members from New England to Kentucky.

is also director of Montfort Publications and national moderator for the Priests of Mary and the Confraternity of Mary, Queen of All Hearts.

For many years the jubilarian has conducted pilgrimages for the handicapped to the shrine of Lourdes in France. He has traveled extensively, preaching and lecturing on True Devotion to Mary, a form of spirituality originated by St. Louis de Montfort, founder of the Montfort community. He is also an authority on the spirituality of the Legion of Mary and is a former president of the Mariological Society of America.

In 1982 he received the John Cardinal Wright Mariological Award.

In his spare time he enjoys photography and golf.

Poor would lose WASHINGTON (CNS) - Poor and moderate-income students stand to lose out under a private, for-profit school system proposed by communications executive Chris Whittle, said the head of the National Catholic Educational Association. Sister Catherine T. McNamee commented following an announcement by Yale University president Benno Schmidt that he was resigning to head the venture, known as the Edison Project.

Whittle, chairman of Whittle Communications of Knoxville, Tenn., announced plans to create a chain of 1,000 schools to serve 2 million students by 2010. He has targeted 1996 for opening of the first 200 campuses for 150,000 students in grades one to six. ,

'Special ministers' installation, set

Special ministers of the Eucharist will be installed at 7:30 p.m. ceremonies on June 15 at St. Pius X Church, South Yarmouth; on June 18 at St. John Neumann, East Freetown; and on June 22 at St. John the Evangelist, Attleboro.

Candidates are asked to arrive at the churches by 7 p.m.

LA CROSSE, Wis. (CNS) Rather than finding prayer refreshing, most people make a job of it, says a well-known Trappist priest and expert on monasticism. ' The expert, Father M. Basil Pennington, says that's not what Jesus intended when he said: "Come to me all you who labor and are heavily burdened, an.d I will refresh you."

Father Pennington, who gives workshops on "centering prayer," commented in an interview with the Times Review, newspaper of the diocese of La Crosse.

Centering prayer is "very simple. It can be used by anyone who wants to be with God, to experience his love and presence," said Father Pennington.

He said the first step in centering prayer involves settling one's self down, usually in a seated position with one's eyes closed because "we use a lot of psychic energy in seeing. ' "Once we are settled, we turn our attention to the Lord present within us.... In love we turn ourselves over to him. For these 20 minutes we are all his," he said.

Father Pennington suggests use of what he calls "a love word, a prayer word." A matter of personal choice, this word might be a favorite name for God, such as Lord, Jesus, Father Love, "whatever is meaningful for us."

If a person is distracted, he said, this selected word "brings you back to the center."

After 20 minutes or so the prayer is ended gently, perhaps by saying the Lord's Prayer slowly, letting "each phrase come forth with all / its meaning," he said.

With time and practice, Father Pennington says, centering p'rayer can help a person physically, p~y­ chologically and spiritually.

Persons in ministry benefit from prayer in that it can free them from other concerns, allowing them to direct all attention and energy to , the task at hand and leaving them able "to be totally there for your people," he said.

"The energy flows through you, and you don't suffer burnout," he summed up.

The contemplative dimension of prayer is a neglected part of the Catholic tradition, believes Father Pennington.

He cites historical and practical causes.

On two occasions - the Protestant Reformation in the early 16th century and the French Revolution in the late 18th century monasteries were "wiped out," as was their tradition of contemplative prayer, said the priest.

praye~BOX Praye,r for Selection of a Bishop Lord God, you are our eternahhepherd and guide.

In your mercy grant your Church in the dioce.'le of Fall River a shepherd who will walk in yOW way.\' and who.\'e watchful care will bring us your ble.uing.

Amen.

A second factor, he said, is the fear of contemplative prayer within the church. "Part of it is in seminaries. We do not give the emphasis to the formation of spiritual fathers as we should. Formation is too academic and personalist, and deep spiritual formation is lacking."

As a result, he said, "most priests don't feel comfortable or capable to teach this kind of prayer."

A native of Brooklyn, N. Y., the 60-year-old Trappist is currently at a monastery in Lantao, off the coast of China.

His community includes mostly older Chinese who left the mainland in 1950, shortly after the People's Republic of China was formed. Lantao, currently under British rule, will revert to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.

Father Pennington was asked to help the Chinese monks prepare for the change to Chinese rule.

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UNDER THE BIG TENT Friday, June 19th 6 pm to 10 pm Chowder & Clam Cakes 6 to 8 pm ENTERTAINMENT BY ZIP &. ZAP

Saturday, June 20th 10 am to 10 pm Auction at 11 am • Flea Market 9 am to 3 pm Chowder & Clam Cakes 6 to 8 pm Entertainment Featuring George Allen 8 to 10 pm (From "Dialing For Dollars" with Dining &. Dance Music)

Sunday, June 21st 11 am to 4 pm Chicken Bar~B~Q 1 pm (Tickets Limited) Take Dad out for Father's Day

Entertainment King Ludwig's Bavarian Band Flea Market 12 noon ~ 3 pm • Giant Raffle 4 pm

Downstairs of the Church • Mini Mall Consisting of Arts & Crafts • Bake Shop. Toys. Book Room. Basket Raffle • Chinese Auction • Plant Room

Ethnic Food Booths • Celtic Corner • French • Italian • Lebanese. Norwegian. Polish. Portuguese Soda, Coffee, and Socializing

On Our Grounds • Flea Market in Old Church (Sat. & Sun.) • Auction Saturday. Games. Children's Rides • Dunk Tank. Fast Foods. Face Painting • Giant Raffle Booth. Game Booths

4 THE ANCHO~- Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., June 12, 1992

themoorin~ Minority or Mosaic?

Is the term "minority" obsolete as traditionally interpreted?

For generations it has designated a part of a population differing from other parts in some characteristics and often treated differently, either positively or negatively, according to the social mores of the time and place.

In most situations, however, minority designation has referred to a person or group's ethnic and/ or racial traits. In recent years in this country race relations have been in the forefront, especially with rega.rd to Afro-Americans.

But the term minori~y is currently being rethought. Many feel that in some areas of the nation the term really is obsolete.

They cite cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and New Orleans which are more of a mosaic than are areas with only one or two minorities among the popula~ion. What sociological studies and demographics are indicating is that our large cities are becoming racial and ethnic tapestries of whites, blacks, Orientals, Hispanics, Latin Americans and a rainbow of other nationalities.

Asians, however, comprise the fastest growing non-white population in America, with their numbers increasing at a rate 25 times greater than all others. And we have not yet felt their full impact on immigration. When Hong Kong returns to China in 1997, it is thought that a massive new wave of emigrants from the Far East will reach North America.

And if there should be a complete upheaval in China, statistical predictions may be out of the proverbial ballpark. And China is only one part of the world. Wait until throngs of . Balkan refugees wish to emigrate!

All in all, we are experiencing irresistible changes in the face of America and their impact on every aspect of our society is and will be unbelievable.

It is important as this process continues that we look beyond old stereotypes and biases. We cannot pull up the drawbridge and retreat to an ivory tower. This time it won't work.

In the past, our track record in these matters has been deplorable. Let us pray that this time we will reach out to our new brothers and sisters with open hands, not clenched fists.

Msgr. John J. Oliveira A special note of congratulations to Msgr. John J. Oliveira on the occasion of his 25th anniversary of priestly ordination.

Best wishes are, of course, offered to all who are celebrating significant anniversaries, but Msgr. Oliveira rates a unique niche in the diocese by virtue of his service for over 20 years in various capacities that affect many areas of our diocesan life.

As episcopal secretary, diocesan master of ceremonies, director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, diocesan archivist, episcopal vicar and chancellor, he has for more than two decades been involved in most major events that have " touched the diocesan family.

In this world of many hats he has tried his best to be fair and just, a 'most difficult task when one is, so to speak, in center ring. Above all, he has had special care for those with particular concerns, especially his fellow priests. This in itself is not an easy task in today's church.

For what Msgr. Oliveira has done for all in the diocese, a sincere word of gratitude is indeed in order; for what he yet will do, a prayer of support.

The Editor

the

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Published weekly by The Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River 887 Highland Avenue P.O. BOX 7 / Fall River, MA 02722-0007 Fall River, MA 02720 Telephone 508-675-7151 FAX (508) 675-7048 Send address changes to P.O. Box 7 or call telephone number above

EDITOR Rev. John F. Moore

GENERAL MANAGER Rosemary Dussault ~ Le~ry Press-f-all Hlver

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Wlnpt. pIootnpapbJ

SS. PETER AND PAUL STUDENTS REHEARSE FOR A CONCERT AT THE FALL RIVER SCHOOL.

"They shall make a joyful noise." Is. 24:14

Firings, layoffs pose hard problems WASHINGTON (CNS) - So- often drank her lunch," said Fullcial action directors of U.S. dio- " mer. The company kept her on the ceses were asked at a recent three- payroll during her recuperation. day conference in Washington to She's back on the job now, "but view corporate executives not as not a productive worker. She's not the enemy, but as persons strug- carrying her weight." gling to make difficult decisions in - A 62-year-old mail-room times of economic duress. clerk. His duties, once routine, Paul Fullmer, cochairman of now involve sending faxes and the Chicago-based Business Exec- multiple electronic transmissions utives for Economic Justice, said that he cannot handle. The comthat the majority of today's CEOs pany has tried to work with him. are Catholics.

The younger people in the mail Fullmer, president of Chicago's room say "let him go."

Selz, Seabolt & Associates Inc., - A woman in the company's commented during a panel discus- three-person accounting departsion titled: "Catholic Social Teach- ment "who bakes cakes and cooking: Shaping Work, Family and ies" for all the office parties and Community." has "a wonderful personality."The "The conference was sponsored company no longer needs three by the U.S. Catholic Conference people in the department and she's departments of Social Develop- "low person on the totem pole," ment and World Peace, the U.S. but her husband has been laid off bishops' Campaign for Human De- and she needs the job. velopment and Roundtable, a Fullmer's organization has pubforum for social action discussion. lished a 44-page'booklet, "On the It was titled "Catholic Social Min- Firing Line," that explores the istry in the '90s: Traditional Values, question of firings and layoffs of Contemporary Challenges." workers.

Fullmer's group meets regularly . The booklet defends immediate, to discuss difficult issues facing summary firing of employees "for CEOs, including how and when an such reasons as gross theft or employer is justified in firing or sabotage." . laying off employees, what ChrisIn most other circumstances tian "stewardship" entails, and the such as cyclical layoffs, work force health care crisis and. employers' reductions for economic reasons, responsibilities. plant closings or dismissals for As Catholics, Fullmer said, lack of performance - it says that members of his group believe that "as a matter of simple justice" "good business is [following] good employers must ensure that "the financial burden placed on the Catholic values."

But business and ethics "some- terminated or laid-off employee is times clash," said Fullmer. minimized, especially in terms of He described complex workplace unemployment insurance, pensions scenarios that he has faced as a and health insurance." corporate executive, including how Among other basics of justice to deal with: and dignity, it says, are honesty in - An employee, now 64, who is telling an employee the reasons for an alcoholic. "One day she had a termination and the reasonable stroke at noon at a bar where she chances of being rehired, sufficient

advance notice oftermination, and informing the employee person~ ally, usually by his or her immediate supervisor or manager.

Fullmer challenged the diocesan personnel attending the conference to work with Catholic businessmen and women in their dioceses.

Another panel member, Baldemar Velasquez, president of the Farm Labor Organizing Commit-" tee based in Toledo, Ohio, told conference participants that the church has been the most important player in his committee's fight for improved work conditions and wages for Midwest farmworkers.

He cited the "prayers, physical investment and money poured into our struggle."

But it wasn't always so. "When we started, a lot of tiqtes the church was in the way," he said. In rural Ohio at that time, he said, many parishes were "dominated" by agricultural industry.

But "you can never write off the opposition and say they're irredeemable," said Velasquez, who started as a migrant farmworker at age 6.

Velasquez's organization, known by the acronym FLOC, negotiated a precedent-setting agreement with the Campbell Soup Co. that followed a seven-year boycott of Campbell products. Since then it has negotiated agreements on behalf of Midwest farmworkers with Vlasic Foods Inc., a Campbell subsidiary, and with Heinz USA. John Carr, the U.S. bishops' secretary for social development and world peace, said a major challenge facing Catholics is "how do you build and maintain marriage and family" in a world that does not place a high value on such relationships.

• l

f

•

Perseverance key in space, school, astronaut declares,

Problems with the Trinity Proverbs 8:22-31 Romans 5:1-5 John 16:12-15 Perhaps some of our difficulties

By FATHER ROGER with the Trinity flow from the way KARBAN we originally learned of it. Teachers helped us memorize the "three Rather than discover him in a persons in one God" formula, book, they discovered him in a taught us the names of the per- person: Jesus. sons, assured us that we really Paul puts this belief into words were not worshiping three gods, and quickly warned that no matter in our Romans pericope. "Since how long or hard we thought we have been justified by faith," he about the Trinity, we would never writes, "we have peace with God be able to understand or explain it, through our Lord Jesus Christ, even if we worked on it in heaven. through whom we have gained Then, to reinforce the impossi- access to this grace in which we bility of ever comprehending the stand..." When we join ourselves three in one, someone probably to Jesus through faith, we receive also told us the famous St. Augus- the same peace of reconciliation tine story: the one in which he is with God which he received. We walking by the sea pondering the not only note his experience, we Trinity and comes across a boy actually become part of it.

John assumes this experience is trying to empty the sea into a small ongoing. It does not happen just hole he had dug in the sand.

When the saint confronts him once, then is written about and on the impossibility of his project, memorized, so we can proclaim it the boy, turned angel, replies, "It is correctly at the pearly gates, insurjust as impossible for you, Augus- ing our entrance to heaven. If so, tine, to put the Trinity in your why would we need the Holy Spirit?

Though we usually call on his help mind'" Luckily, both our Jewish ances- only during exam time, aiding tors in the faith and the first disci- memorization was not his role in ples of Jesus did not begin with a the early Christian community.

Our evangelist sees him as somemysterious theological dogma; they started with an experience of God. one constantly giving us new inThis approach is the basis for all sights as we experience Jesus and Jewish wisdom literature. Today's his Father in new ways. "I have first reading from Proverbs pre- much more to tell you," Jesus causumes that we learn about Yahweh' tions his disciples, "but you cannot by observing his creation. Wis- bear it now. When he comes, howdom, the key to understanding ever, being the Spirit of truth he God's actions, was placed in the will guide ,you to all truth." universe from the beginning. It is We certainly cannot erase 2,000 intertwined with everything God years of theological reflection just has made. Or, as the Sacred Author because we have problems with its poetically expresses it: "Yahweh formulations or conclusions. But begot me, the first-born of his perhaps we would have been betways" the forerunner of his prodi- ter served if somewhere along the gies of long' ago.. .I was beside line our teachers had stopped givhim as his craftsman, and I was his ing us answers to things for which delight day by day, playing before we had no questions. him all the while."

The best teachers of the faith are The normal way we learn and not those who "spill the beans" understand God comes through right away, but those who help carefully reflecting on our expe- direct us down the roads in which riences of him in our daily lives. we will meet God working in our This is exactly what the Lord's own lives. An experience of God, followers did. Instead of relying not dogmas, prods us to follow on dogmas, they followed the' him. ancient wisdom tradition: they obFather Anthony de Mello often served God working around them. reminded his audiences: "Once we know the name of the bird, we no longer see the bird." When we know how to define something, we stop observing it.

June 15: 1 Kgs 21:1-16; It is much more meaningful to Ps 5:2-3,5-7; Mt 5:38-42 have experienced a Father, Son and Holy Spirit than to have atJune 16: 1 Kgs 21:17-29; tempted to explain their existence.

Ps 51:3-6,11,16; Mt 5:43-48

r---....,aily Reading

June 17: 2 Kgs 2:1,6-14; Ps 31:20"21,24; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 June 18: Sir 48:1-14; Ps 97:1-7; Mt 6:7-15 June 19: 2 Kgs 11:1-4,918,20; Ps 132:11-14,17-18; Mt 6:19-23 June 20: 2 Chr 24:17-25; Ps 89:4-5,29-34; Mt 6:24-34 June 21: Gn 14:18-20; Ps 110:1-4; 1 Cor 11:23-26; lk 9:11-17

C~lIE·S "IIOMI IIA_ (0UIIC1l MINIR"

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The pilot of the space shuttle Endeavour told students at his alma mater that the same determination and perseverance the shuttle crew showed in rescuing a satellite is needed to exceed in any endeavor, including high school.

"We failed many times, but we never gave up," Lt. Col. Kevin Chilton told a packed assembly at St. Bernard High School, which included fellow members of his graduating class of 1972.

"You hung with us all the way, and each of you, with your prayers and good wishes, made it happen."

Chilton got some idea of the school's support for Endeavour when he received a fax message on the second day of the mission. It read: "St. Bernard High School Vikings - our roots have originated from all corners of the earth.

Now with you, Lt. Col. Chilton, . our branches reach the sky'" His first mission in space, Chilton said, offered him several chances to offer thanks to God. "The sunrise you see in orbit is'the most beautiful red, white and blue sight you can imagine," he said.

"In seeing it the first time, I remembered the Resurrection and Transfiguration of our Lord, and how difficult it was for those gathered to gaze upon him. And I thought how our Lord must surely be brighter than the brightest sunrise."

In gazing at the Pacific Ocean and its bright blue expanse, Chilton said, "I thought of Our Lady, and how her love spreads over the earth. It reminded me how fortunate I was to be on this mission."

Chilton, married with two daugh- , ters and living in Houston, carried a consecrated host on board to receive on the Sunday of the mission. He also took along a banner bearing the insignias of St. Bernard's and Endeavour, a banner he presented to the school.

He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1976 with a mechanical engineering degree, served around the world as an Air Force .test pilot, and joined the space program in 1987."A big part of my success was my preparation at St. Bernard's," Chilton said at a press conference before the assembly.

"The teen years are a time of critical growth, where what you learn in high school stays with you for life."

Chilton said he wouldn't mind teaching high school after his astronaut career, "once I've saved enough money to afford it," he smiled.

"But I had great teachers here who helped me a lot. To have that

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Holy Cross sets chapter in France After an absence of 122 years, the priests and brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross are returning to the site of their foundation in Le Mans, France, for a congregational general chapter.

Fifty-nine elected delegates from five continents will meet in Le Mans for three weeks in July to review the state of the congregation and to plan for the future.

The chapter will conclude with the election of a superior general and four assistants who will guide the congregation for the next six years.

In the Fall River diocese, the Holy Cross Congregation operates Stonehill College and Holy Cross Fathers Retreat House, North Easton, and Holy Cross parish, South Easton.

Founded in Le Mans in 1837 by Very Rev. Basil Anthony Moreau, the congregation is best known in North America for its parochial ministry and for its secondary and university level educational institutions.

The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., founded by Rev. Edward Sorin and the first missionary group of brothers sent

by Father Moreau to the North American continent is currently celebrating its sesquicentennial anniversary.

In Canada, along with its work

in parishes and in education, the congregation established the Oratory of St. Joseph in Montreal, an internationally recognized shrine.

The oratory was inspired by Blessed Andre Bessette,' a French Canadian Brother of Holy Cross who was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1982.

Organizers say the general chapter is being held in France because the Holy Cross community wishes to return more closely to the ideals. of its founder and in his spirit con- . tinue to seek more creative and dynamic ways to fulfill its mission of service to the Church.

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The Anchor Friday, June 12, 1992

Breaking out of welfare system is difficult A young woman named Sandra Rosado of New Haven, Conn., had a dream of going to college.

She worked throughout high school and managed to put away $5,000 in a savings account. She hoped to be the first in her family to get a college education. She also encouraged her younger brother to save his earnings for an education.

By ANTOINETTE BOSCO

Prejudice against welfare recipients crops up again and again in the United States, particularly around election time, with the focus on how recipients abuse the system.

But a recent Connecticut story turns the tables on this assumption, showing instead how the system abuses recipients.

While Ms. Rosado and her brother were saving their money, her family was receiving assistance from the Aid for Families With Dependent Children program.

But now comes the rub. One of the restrictions of the Omnibus Budget Resolution Act of 1981 was that families receiving AFDC

benefits could only hold a maximum of $1 ,000 in assests.

Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd said that when state welfare officials found out about Sandra's $5,000 they had no choice but to take action against the family. The officials said that the Rosado family now owes more than $9,000 for AFDC benefits it wasn't supposed to receive.

Senators Dodd and Joseph Lieberman expressed outrage over the case and have co-sponsored a bill to protect families like the Rosados from being liable to the AFDC program for payments received while their high school children earned and saved money for an education.

Dodd wrote: "When we have a system that chokes off initiative and strifles hope, all in the name of keeping a tight rein on welfare recipients, then we have gone down the wrong road."

Sandra Rosado's story gives a clue to why some youths today may not be able to do better than their parents did. If a family that needs welfare assistance is not able to accumulate assests above a measly $1,000 because it is getting some government help, how can the members ever get ahead?

The Omnibus Budget Resolution Act effectively makes it highly unlikely, and in most cases impossible, for children of AFDC families ever to go to college - unless

they find a benefactor to pick up the costs. . Ms. Rosado's story has had a happy development. Dodd reports that the young woman has won a scholarship and is attending college. But she is probably the exception, and her story points out the sad reality of others in her situation whom we have probably never thought about and will never hear of.

How sad that a youngster who has the initiative to save money and go to college can be denied that opportunity. It is hypocrisy to have a government talking from both sides of its mouth - blaming the poor for not breaking out of their cycle of poverty, yet blocking the path to their dreams.

Why the church teaches that abortion is evil

By FATHER JOHN J. DIETZEN Q. I understand that for a long time the church distinguished between an animated (with a soul) fetus and an inanimated (without . a soul) fetus.

St. Thomas and other theologians held, this view. Why did the church change its position so that a fetus is now considered' animated at conception? (Pennsylvania) A. It is important first of all, in

examining Christian teaching and practice, to separate the question about time of animation from that of abortion.

One of the earliest Christian documents we possess, outside the New Testament, is the Didache, commonly called The Teaching of the Apostles. Written probably somewhere around the year 125, it contains an explicit condemnation of abortion and infanticide. .

That condemnation, in one form or another, continued throughout Christian'tradition. Not a lot was known about the formation of humans before birth; hence most ofthe controversies about the time of "ensoulment."

But' that a human being was developing somehow; and to kill it

was wrong, was never disputed by as a crucial stage of fetal developany major theologian or church ment.

But even with this minimal knowofficial.

The question you ask arises from . ledge, deliberate killing of unborn the fact that until very modern human life at any stage was never times people had very little know- considered, from any Christian ledge about how new life develops point of view, a morally responsible in a mother's womb. act.

They knew nothing of how sperm The change for the church and and ovum unite to form a human the rest of the human race came cell. All the living material from the discoveries of biological, of a new human (or other animal) genetic and psychological sciences life was believed to be in the during the past two centuries. male "seed." Females contributed To speak only of genetics, it is only the "nest" and the material now a certainty that the genetic (blood) on which the seed fed and code which identifies each species and each individual for life is presgrew. ,Similarly, little was known about ent in the very first cell. stages of growth, especially before As the axiom goes, from the quickening (first feeling of move- moment the first cell is formed ment), which everyone through- until death occurs, the being "beout the ages understandably viewed comes what it already is."

From the beginning, the cells are living and growing. And the life present is obviously not that of a cat or a monkey. It is definitively identifiable as human life.

To put it another way, the church now has a clear scientific basis, not available in previous centuries, for its teaching that taking the life of the unborn is evil and that killing babies, born or unborn, is no civilized solution to any problem.

A free brochure outlining Catholic prayen, beliefs and practice is available by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to Father John Dietzen, Holy Trinity Parish, 704 N. Main St., Bloomington, III. 61701. Questions for this column should be sent to the same address.

Americans have a lot to learn about worship

By DOLORES CURRAN

"In Africa lives are lived in God's time. Worship, like a visit with a friend, is never hurried. But my experience here [in America] was the exact opposite. I had to hurry to finish Sunday celebrations within 45 minutes. I often wondered why God was given back just 45 of the 10,080 minutes in a week."

So wfOte Rev. Joseph Otoide, a priest of the Nigerian society of Missionaries of St. Paul, in Maryknoll. He had spent a year at Mar-

quette University studying journalism and serving in the campus church. Later, he wrote an article on his experiences in the American church.

Some were humorous as when he asked a question perfectly acceptable in Nigeria of a parishioner in Milwaukee, "Have you always been this fat?"

"I quickly learned that it is not a good conversation opener in the United States," he wrote.

He expressed amazement at how little Americans know about Africa, misconceptions that reach into the church sphere. "My friends are surprised when I tell them that I am a missioner and that my mission society works in the United States. I think some Americans still hold to the old idea of the

white missionary going to Africa to convert pagans."

Father Otoide believes there is a need for,reverse mission to America. "I think the Church in Africa can share its sense of the sacred and of the dignity of persons, and its deep understanding of the relationship between worship and life."

He especially rues the lifelessness of our liturgies, saying "the celebration of liturgy left me cold.

I wished it were livelier, that those sharing in the worship would participate more fully in music and in dialogue during the homily. I wished Americans would give God more time in their lives."

Some sobering but honest reflections from a man of a different culture, same church. We need to reflect on the words of Father

Otoide and other visitors to our churches. A Chinese nun told me, "The Masses are very efficient here, but they are very hurried-up.

Sometimes people don't seem to be there spiritually, just in body. I miss our slower, more sacred liturgies."

Her comment reminded me of an American priest who said, "Sometimes when I'm celebrating Mass, I feel as if I'm the only one celebrating." And of another who reported that if he allotted more than five seconds to the sign of peace, he hear<I about it from disgruntled parishioners.

Timing the Mass has been a traditional pastime for generations of American Catholics. There are some worshippers who spend more time looking at their watches than

at their inner life. They can tell you the len~h of the homily in minutes. These are the ones we call "obligation" Catholics. They are meeting their obligation by being there but they feel little obligation to participate fully in the celebration.

The rest of us, I believe, fall into the trap of equating our rapid pace of life and liturgy with development. We call ourselves developed in a world of developing nations because we cram so much into our lives.

Yet, we hunger for a simpler, more leisurely pace and for a deeper relationship with God. I believe with Father Otoide that we have much to learn from Africa and other 'developing nations on how to develop as humans, caring Christian humans.

~-----------------------...;..-----.....;,,;,;.~~~~---

By Dr. JAMES & MARY KENNY Dear Dr. Kenny: My daughterin-law lost her son in an auto accident. She wants to start a support group for parents who have lost children recently. Do you have any suggestions? - Missouri Yes, I have a suggestion: Do it.

Peer support has many advantages over professional help. People sharing a problem are apt to be more understanding than a professional, no matter how much expertise he or she possesses.

Another advantage is the equal

How to start a support group for grieving parents

status between helper and helped.

The relationship is one of interdependence rather than dependence and thus does not undermine any coping strengths of the person who needs help.

Alcoholics Anonymous is the granddaddy of all self-help groups.

AA has no formal rules and no dues. Only those who have the problem can come - no experts who haven't "been there" themselves.

All self-help groups have begun with a person like your daughterin-law. Someone must get things going. Here's how.

First, she should get names of potential members. She might check with ministers and priests, undertakers, physicians, hospitals and teachers to learn of families who have recently lost a child.

When she has a minimum of 10 possible names, she should invite them to her home for a two-hour meeting. Spend half the time eating something and being social, the other half discussing formation of a support group.

At least 10 families should be invited because generally only one-third of those you ask show up. You need at least four persons to have a successful group.

For advice on the nuts and bolts of organizing it saves time and effort to check with a national organization such as Compassionate Friends.

Here are a few rules to keep a group alive: 1. Meet in members' homes, if possible, to keep it personal.

2. Include a light snack. Eating enhances sociability.

3. Meet at least every two weeks, preferably once a week.

4. Don't reauire attendance.

5. Limit meetings to two or three hours.

6. Keep inviting new members.

7. Take turns in the meeting telling your story, including your feelings.

8. As much as possible, stay focused on the positive.

Since your daughter-in-law wishes to start a group to help handle the death of a child, she should understand the grief process. Grief proceeds through four stages: ' - Grieving parents must first accppt the loss.

- Second, they must express all their feelings. This takes time.

- The third stage is getting used to life without the child.

- The fourth stage involves "replacing" the child. True, a child can never be replaced, but an outlet must eventually be found for those loving feelings that still exist in the parents.

Parents at Stage 2 are not ready for Stage 4. Nevertheless, though at different stages, grieving parents are profoundly capable of understanding and empathy for one another. A good support group for parents suffering the loss of a child will consider all four stages.

Encourage your daughter-in-law to look for parents who have suffered a similar loss. The best way to start is to start.

EI Salvador honors Boston-born friar· SAN SALVADOR (CNS) Franciscan Father Flavian Mucci, a native of Boston, has been given the "Salvadoran Son of Excellence" award for his work with the poor over nearly 25 years.

Roberto Angulo, president of the legislative assembly, presented El Salvador's highest award to foreigners.

Father Mucci has founded more than 30 development projects in El Salvador, of which the best known is Agape in Sonsonate.

"The aim of Agape is to help children, the youth, adults and the aged in all their necessities," Father Mucci said, Its undertakings include a soup kitchen, a retirement home, the only Children's Nutrition Hospital in the country, a clinic, a retreat house and various workshops.

The project was founded in 1978, and Father Mucci said Salvadoran businesses have supplied much of the material and machinery needed.

"If one wishes to help for a year, seeds can be planted; if you want to help for 10, a tree can be planted and if you want to help over 100 years you must educate," he said.

"I chose Central America because I thought I had a debt to pay to society. My father died when I was 14 years old. We were a very poor family and relied on handouts from Christian organizations," Father Mucci told Catholic News Service.

"I have never forgotten my background, and this is my way of paying back - by helping and trying to solve people's problems," he said.

After 25 years in El Salvador, he said, "I realize people are all the same. We all have the same problems and difficulties in life and are scared to try the way the Gospel tells us to live."

Father Mucci has received various awards for his contributions to Salvadoran society, including the Flag of Honor from the Salvadoran government, honors from the American Chamber of Commerce in El Salvador and the "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" cross from the Holy See and the bishop of Sonsonate.

A major street in Sonsonate city, Avenida Fray Flavian Mucci, is named for him.

June 13 1974, Rev. Edward F. Donahue, S.J., B.C. High School, Dorchester, MA June 14 1980, Rev. Msgr. George E. Sullivan, Retired Pastor, St. Joseph, Fall River 1982, Rev. Msgr. Joseph A. Cournoyer, Retired Pastor, St. Michael, Swansea June 16 1975, Rev. James McDermott, Pastor, St. Patrick, Somerset June 18 1935, Rev. James M. Coffey, P.R., Pastor, St. Mary, Taunton 1984, Rev. Declan Daly, SS.CC., Associate Pastor, St. Joseph, Fairhaven June 19 1916, Rev. Hormisdas Deslauriers, Founder, St. Anthony, New Bedford

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., June 12, 1992

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PRO-LIFE Committee members of St. James parish, New Bedford, stand with pastor Father James F. Greene beside their eye-catching billboard that fronts the rectory.

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Motorists on New Bedford's busy County Street can't help but get the message. Courtesy of the ProLife Committee of St. James Church, it's written large on a billboard in front of the rectory: Abortion stops a beating heart.

A dramatic depiction of a cardiogram that suddenly goes flat as it passes through a heart and a color photograph of a baby within the womb busily sucking his thumb further drive home the committee's point.

The professionally painted billboard was financed by way of a rummage, bake and book sale and of a Christmas music cassette, said committee member Steve Massoud; and McMahon Council and Cardinal Medeiros Assembly of the Knights of Columbus constructed and paid for the billboard's sturdy wooden frame.

The committee suggests such billboards as an effective parish pro-life project and will be glad to share its know-how with other groups. It can be· reached care of St. James Church, 233 County St., New Bedford 02740 or by calling the parish secretary at 992-9408.

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Teleconference urges anti-porn citizen action Cardinal Mahoney said porn is WASHINGTON (CNS) - Morality in Media has urged citizens not victimless. Effects include "an to become anti-porn activists and epidemic of sexually transmitted be "fellow warriors in the culture diseases" and ".violent sexual crime committed against women," he war· of the 1990s."

During a national teleconference said, as well as unwanted pregnanbroadcast from Washington, the cies and "hundreds of thousands New York-based organization of abortions each year." which has a branch in Needham Cline cited evidence that watchHeights, called on viewers to fight ing porn can become addictive and what offends them in the media, make people sex abusers. including everything from tasteMany people who view it underless television to illegal, sexually go a "desensitization" so that what's explicit books and tapes. at first stomach-churning become The two-hour telecast included acceptable, he said. Then comes taped comments from Los Angeles "acting out" which escalates until Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, New porn viewers eventually try to York Cardinal John J. O'Connor practice what they've seen. and Ervin Duggan of the Federal Duggan, an FCC commissioner, Co·mmunications Commission. urged viewers not to look to governSpeakers appearing live included ment regulation to curb offensive Victor Cline, a clinical psycholo- media. "Too often efforts to supgist from the 'University of Utah press only create notoriety," he who has treated 300 sex offenders, . explained. and Terry Rakolta, president of "In the end, this issue of decency Americans for Responsible Teleand humanity lies in the realm of vision. ethics and morality," he added.

Kevin Beattie, president of MoMrs. Rakolta, whose efforts got rality in Media, which was founded

by Jesuit Father Morton Hill 30 several sponsors to withdraw supyears ago, said the pervasiveness port from Fox-TV's "Married With Children," recommends letters of of porn is a result of technology. complaint as an effective tactic.

"Pornography, which used to be downtown, is now downstairs in One letter is estimated by advertisthe living room," he said, citing ers to represent the views of 100,000 "video porn, cable porn and dial-a- consumers, she said.

She also said that 100 companporn."

He asked for "fellow warriors in ies buy 77 percent of network time, the culture war of the 1990s" and so fighting through advertisers is not as difficult as it may seem. cited a need for action.

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Catholic response to euthanasia is symposium topic

By Marcie Hickey In his keynote address at the third annual Ethics Symposium hosted by the Ethics Committee of St. Anne's Hospital, Fall River, Dr. Francis Gendreau described a climate in which "proponents of euthanasia or mercy killing [are) able to promote their views on the meaning of life and death by appealing to such slogans as 'the right to die' and 'death with dignity.'''

Advocates of euthanasia, he said, "have indeed proposed all sorts of reasons for killing either by commission or omission."

While the church has been clear in its opposition to the commission of euthanasia, he continued, there are less definite guidelines as to what constitutes euthanasia by omission.

Dr. Gendreau, associate professor of philosophy at Stonehill College, was one of three speakers at the symposium, held at Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River, and themed "The Dilemma of Euthanasia: The Catholic Response."

Also addressing the group were Rev. James O'Donohoe, associate professor of theological ethics at Boston College, and Dr. John R. Delfs, director of the ElderCare program and of geriatric medicine at New England Deaconess Hos-. pital and medical coordinator of the Sherrill House Alzheimer's Care Program, bot!t in Boston.

In his keynote address on "The Dilemma of Euthanasia: Philosophical Considerations" Dr. Gendreau referred to significant church teachings regarding ordinary and extraordinary means of preserving human life.

Pope Pius XII held in 1957 that there is no obligation to use burdensome means to preserve or prolong life since "life, health, all temporal activities are in fact subordinated to spiritual ends."

In its 1980 Declaration on Euthanasia, the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith distinguished between ordinary and extraordinary means of preserving life based on reasonable hope of benefit versus possible burdens imposed by treatment.

At the heart ofthe current debate, said Dr. Gendreau, is whether or not to withhold or withdraw nutri.tion and hydration from permanently unconscious patients.

He outlined the "maj ority view" of "philosophers, theologians, along with the courts" and contrasted it with a Dec. 1991 statement, "Nutrition and Hydration: Moral Considerations," issued by Pennsylvania's bishops.

The majority view, as explained

by Dr. Gendreau, holds that artificial nutrition and hydration are of no benefit to patients in a permanent vegetative state (hereafter known as PVS) as they simply maintain physical existence with no hope of recovery. Their removal need not involve intention to . bring death but simply to discontinue a useless treatment. The cause of death is considered to be the condition requiring original use of artificial sustenance.

The Pennsylvania bishops, however, argued that except when death is imminent or the patient is unable to assimilate what is supplied,

denial of artificial nutrition and hydration is killing by omission, since lack ofsuch sustenance results in the death of an otherwise nonterminal patient.

To provide a framework for ethical decisionmaking, Dr. Gendreau contrasted the opinions of Christian ethicists William May of the Catholic University of America and Rev. Kevin O'Rourke, director of the Center for Health Care Ethics at St. Louis University Medical Center.

While the two "reveal some real philosophical differences in their views about 'quality of life' and personhood, about the goals and aims of medicine, and about who determines the patient's good and the nature of that good," said Dr. Gendreau, both offer valuable guidelines for ethical decisionmaking.

Quality of Life, Personhood According to Dr. Gendreau, May's view is based on the principle that human bodily life, "however heavily burdened and devoid of utilitarian values, is always...'a great and precious good.'''

Father O'Rourke, on the other hand, interprets Pope Pius XII's statement that life is subordinated to the spiritual to mean that the ability to strive for the spiritual purpose of life is a 'legitimate basis for decisions regarding lifesaving treatments. In his framework, "prolonging life is not the ultimate nor absolute goal," said Dr. Gendreau.

May considers medical treatment to be extraordinary if the treatment itself, its side effects or negative consequences "impose grave burdens on the person being treated or on others," said Dr. Gendreau.

May concludes that extraordinary treatment may be refused by competent persons or for incompetent persons by others. However, said Dr. Gendreau, great care must be taken to avoid "the temptation to devalue the lives of the non-competent."

May notes that some seriously handicapped or elderly persons are not capable of"human acts" of the intellect and will and are therefore incapable of pursuing the spiritual purpose of life; yet it is not morally right to deny them lifesaving treatment.

Too often, in May's view,judgment of whether treatment is burdensome or useless is based less on the treatment itself than on determination ofthe patient's quality of life.

The term "quality of life" is thus a major point of contention be-

tween May and Father O'Rourke, said Dr. Gendreau.

The speaker said that Father O'Rourke points out that diminished quality of life can refer to a variety of widely differing situations.

There would be no ethical basis for withholding lifesaving treatment from a person whose quality of life is diminished by handicap but who does not suffer from a fatal condition, says Father O'Rourke; however, in cases where there is a fatal condition, quality of lifeand the ability to strive for the spiritual-may become factors in withholding or withdrawing treatment. .

Dr. Gendreau applied the ethicists' views to the case of the PVS patient. He noted that Father O'Rourke explains that since such patients cannot exercise their intellect or will and cannot feel pain, there is no moral obligation to prolong their lives. Providing artificial nutrition and hydration, Father O'Rourke reasons, will not enable the patient to recover his or her abilities, including the ability to strive for the spiritual purpose oflife. Therefore cessation oftreatment is done with "the desire to stop ineffective therapy, not to kill the patient."

May, on the other hand, maintains that there is a moral obligation to prolong life in the PVS patient "as long as the treatment itself is not burdensome," Dr. Gendreau said.

The speaker noted ttiat May's position is based on the fact that "if a particular means can prolong life but is still refused, then, implicitly, the life permitted to end has been judged not worth living."

"I certainly do not disagree with May's claim that life is an intrinsic good," said Dr. Gendreau, "but I believe life is a good that is relational."

He continued, "My worth as a human being is not just in bodily life but in a collection of goods such as knowledge, freedom and so forth ...[and) in the reciprocal relationship that exists between these various goods."

Contrasting the views of May and O'Rourke led Dr. Gendreau to the conclusion that there is a need to "insist on the value of all humans, while still permitting appropriate moral interpretation of real differences in capacity for consciousness and relationality. ...Otherwise patients unable to engage in cognitive-affective function could fall beyond the pale of human respect." ~

..

SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS engage in a panel discussion. (Hickey photo)

ETHICS SYMPOSIUM moderator Father Mark Hession, left, and speakers, from left, Dr. Francis Gendreau, Father James O'Donohoe, Dr. John Delfs. (Hickey photo) Goal of Medicine , A second difference Dr. Gendreau delineated between May and Father O'Rourke was their views regarding the goals of medicine. . According to Dr. Gendreau, Father O'Rourke criticizes May for concentrating only on the effects of treatment without consideration of the overall condition of the patient-psychological, spiritual, social, economic, etc.-before onset of the illness for which treatment is being evaluated.

This difference indicates that Father O'Rourke subscribes to a holistic view in which medicine is seen as a means of healing and restoring the wholeness of body and psyche, said Dr. Gendreau.

From this follows a doctor-patient relationship of "openness, understanding and mutual trust," said the speaker.

May's position, on the other hand, "implies a view of the goal of medicine as primarily curative...In such a relationship there is the danger to become somewhat insensitive to the needs ofthe patient taken as a whole," Dr. Gendreau continued.

Finally, he said, the patient's good is not to be unilaterally determined by the patient or physician but should be a cooperative effort in which the patient carries out "the negotiated plan for his or her health" and the physician acts in the patients' best interests.

In Dr. Gendreau's opinion, Father O'Rourke's views on the quality oflife and personhood, the goal of medicine, and the need of concern for pre-existing factors that might affect the patient provide "us with a very reasonable model for dealing with the difficult questions associated with the removal of life support."

Clinical Application Father O'Donohoe's presentation was "The Official Catholic Position on Euthanasia: Its Interpretation Within the Clinical Setting."

Euthanasia-"an action or omission which of itself and by intention causes death in order that all suffering be eliminated"- is never permitted, Father O'Donohoe said in summarizing the church's position on the matter.

However, "allowing a person to die may be permitted," he said.

Just as a doctor wou~d be negligerifUi failing to provide care that would restore a patient to health, "it is negligence to treat the dying as if they're about to get well.

That's denial," said Father O'Donohoe. "There comes a time when a docto"r must admit a patient is incurable and is dying."

When that is the case, he con-

tinued, "it is permitted to refuse treatments that would prolong life."

Health care professionals often operate under the false assumption that once a course of treatment is instituted for a patient, such as artificial nutrition and hydration, withdrawing that treatment constitutes euthanasia, said Father O'Donohoe.

Withdrawing treatment, he explained, "may be justified when the means of preserving life becomes burdensome. What's killing the patient is not the action but the pathology [the illness which required use of the treatment)."

He added that "proper care of the dying patient does not end with the removal of the burdensome means. The patient must be made comfortable."

Patient Autonomy Dr. Delfs topic was "The Right to Decline Medical Treatment: The Health Care Provider's Perspective."

He offered a history of patient autonomy, beginning with the 1903 Supreme Court ruling which said that any competent person has the right to decline medical treatment.

The accepted practice, Dr. Delfs explained, is for patients to make decisions based on informed consent, that is: "you understand your medical situation, what is wrong with your body, what your physician is recommending and why; you understand the treatment and possible burdens, what the alternatives are, and what will happen if you say no."

It is the physician's responsibility, he said, to tell the patient "what's going on, what his or her recommendations are, and other options to consider."

The patient can then make a路 decision based on his or her value路 system, said Dr. Delfs.

However, patient autonomy has its limits, he continued. For example, problems arise when the patient cannot understand what's going on and cannot make his or her decision known.

Unfortunately, many people think a living will protects them in this situation, said Dr. Delfs. "The problem with the living will is that ..thousands upon thousands of specific situations" cannot be adequately covered by such an instrument.

A better option, said Dr. Delfs, is the health care proxy that now exists in Massachusetts. "This way you choose the person you trust to advocate for you. Everybody should do this if you know who that person should be."

Dr. Delfs also offered arguments Turn to Page Nine

THE ANCHOR -

Ministers asked to bring about "what should be" KANSAS CITY, Mo. (CNS)Church ministers were urged to develop "the virtue of indignation" and to "work for what should be but is not" by the keynote speaker at the fourth biennial Heartland Conf~rence in Kansas City.

Gloria Durka, a professor at the Graduate School of Religion aild Religious Education at Fordham University, challenged the 600 participants at the recent conference to face up to injustice despite temptations to back away.

She emphasized in particular domestic violence, a problem she called so widespread that "in any parish in the United States, one out of three persons is either a victim or a survivor." She urged her audience to face "the presence of violence within our own midst, especially within families."

The conference, cosponsored by the diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and the archdiocese of Kansas City, Kan., brings together Midwestern church ministers. ' Speakers addressed the conference theme of "Parish Leadership in the '90s: Challenged by Our differences."

Father James J. Bacik, professor of humanities at the University of Toledo, Ohio, said celebrating rather than tolerating pluralism can enrich the church.

Parishioners often become caught up in trying to convert other Catholics to "their side" of issues, such as whether first communion should precede first confession, rather than focusing on the beliefs they share, Father Bacik said.

"We are all 'cafeteria Catholics.'

Nobody takes the whole package into their hearts," he said.

When priests are reassigned they

need to become aware of "tribal customs" in their new parish, said Maureen Kelly, a catechetical adviser for Silver Burdett and Ginn Publishers.

"At least 31 priests in this [Kansas City-St. Joseph] diocese are moving," she said. "They may have been very successful where they are, but that doesn't mean they will be 'as successful" in their new assignments. she added. "the tribe, customs, history and symbols are different" in each community, according to Ms. Kelly.

Awareness and sensitivity to a tribe's customs doesn't mean changes are avoided, she said. "It does mean that you think, 'What do I have to do to keep this group's identity, power, symbol together?'" when planning something new.

Virginia Hoffman, an instructor at Loyola University, Chicago, and author of "Birthing a Living Church," said that small faith groups can be foimed by creating opportunities for people who normally worship at the same time to get better acquainted.

"Food is a tremendous catalyst," she said. "Put that box of doughnuts and coffee as close to the door as you can. People will start talking around the food and get to know one another."

"All adult members ofthe church have "permission" to develop small faith communities, Ms. Hoffman said, just as early Christians would gather in small groups in their homes to share stories and experien~es of ministry.

Just as adults wouldn't ask their parents' permission'to buy a new house or car; she said, adults in the church don't need permission to begin, a small faith group.

Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., June 12, 1992

9

Frozen embryo ruling rapped

'1' H Z.·. ;

ELIZABETH LAVIGNE

St. Anthony School has new principal

WASHINGTON (CNS) - A state court ruling in favor of a man who wants to stop his ex-wife from using frozen embryos he helped create was called an example of a pro-abortion legal system in the United States. The Tennessee Supreme Court unanimously upheld the right of Junior Lewis Davis to refuse to become a father by means of seven embryos fertilized in a petri dish before he and Mary Sue Davis Stowe divorced three years ago.

L.A. rebuilding

But Richard M. Doerflinger, a spokesman for the National Conference of Catholic Bishops said the case "illustrates that our current legal situation is neither prochoice nor pro-woman, but merely pro-abortion." Doerflinger said the court's citation of Davis' "constitutionally protected right not to beget a child" fails to consider that the embryos already exist.

Overwhelmed VATICAN CITY (CNS) - California Jesuit Father John Houle, who concelebrated the canoniza:' tion Mass for St. Claude La Colombiere, said he was "overwhelmed" by the event. It was the medically unexplainable cure of his terminal lung disease that provided the miracle needed for the canonization of the 17th-century French Jesuit. Father Houle, who lives in Los Angeles,said he remembers nothing of the day he and others believe he was cured through the intercession of then-Blessed Claude.

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Campaign for Human Development and the archdiocese of Los Elizabeth Ann Lavigne, presently Angeles have joined in an effort to at Holy Name School, Fall River, spur economic development in has been appointed principal of riot-scarred areas of Los Angeles St. Anthony's School, New Bed- CHD, the U.S. bishops' domestic ford. Rev. Edmond P. Levesque, anti-poverty program, committed pastor,made the announcement $200,000 to the program. Matched last week'at the conclusion of the by the arcltdiocese, $100,000 of the search process. Mrs. Lavigne will CHD money will form a revolving replace Sister Cecile Lebeau, CSC, ' loan fund to make small-business who has served at the school since loans.

1977.

Mrs. Lavigne holds a bachelor's Pharmacy IEII~~~Ir:':'~=CISTS degree from Bridgewater State College and is currently pursuing a Invalid Equipment For Rent or Sale master's degree in elementary administration at Providence College.

Surl,e.1 Garments - 'ord· ",. M.ehines - Jobst She began her Catholic school Holloster - Crutches - Eilitie Stockinls teaching career at St. Stanislaus • Surl,e.1 I Orthoped,c Appll.nces School, Fall River, in 1980 and "."

• Trusses - OI'len - OI'len Milks, Tenls & , .(., ., Relul.tors . Approved for Med,care has been at Holy Name School since 1987. ~~ 24 HOUIL OXYGEN SERVICE Her dedication and commitment ~ ,::-?

24 HOUI EIIEIIENCY PIlESCIIPTION SEIVICE to Catholic education have been .10\ { commendable and she indicated 673 Mlin St., D.nnlsport - 3.·2219 t.,=J that she looked forward to contin550 McArthur Blvd., It.. 28, PlCllllt - 513-2203 ~ 0:::"'('1 uing to share the vision of Catholic ~" education as an administrator.

30 Mlin St., Orl.lnl - 25H132 Mrs. Lavigne is married to Paul 509 Kempton St., N•• B.dford - t93~92 Lavigne, has four children and resides in Westport.

PflCOOOMOO" (PARAMOUN' PHARMACY)

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Response to euthanasia is topic Continued from Page Eight against euthansia from the perspective of medical community.

"Organized medicine is saying don't legalize euthanasia because' it would compromise the trust between physician and patient," he said. "My role is healing and helping to relieve suffering. I think of what patients will think of me if [physicians) become instruments of death."

Euthanasia has gained popular support for a number of reasons, he said.

First, people fear "their values won't be respected" in a clinical situation.

Also, "People are afraid that at the end of life they'll suffer terrible

pain:" And thirdlY,said Dr. Delfs, "30 million people in this country are without health insurance" and many "are afraid they won't have the health services they need."

wonderful healing" growth and resolution of life issues." , Health care professionals should "replace fear with a dignified ending, turn desperation into some"If we're serious [about opposi- thing enobling and healing for the tion to euthanasia)," Dr. Delfs- patient, family and community," he said. ' said, "we won't just say how danThe symposium concluded with gerous it is but we will turn around and meet the needs of people. We discussion of a hypothetical case will demand that physicians know study by panel members Dr. Delfs, how to treat pain. We will see that Father O'Donohoe, Dr. Gendreau hospices are funded so that people and Lorraine Silveira, nurse man- ' get care and love. We will work in ager at the medical intensive care the political arena to get justice" until at St. Anne's Hospital.

Welcoming remarks were ofregarding health insurance. fered by Jim Dawson, president of "One reason euthanasia is such St. Anne's Hospital and Sister a crime," Dr. Delfs concluded, "is Joanna Fernandes, OP, chairperthat the end of life can be a time of son of the hospital board of directors. Father Mark Hession, an Ethics Committee member, moderated the session.

Sponsoring agencies, in addition to the Ethics Committee, were the Diocesan Council of Catholic Nurses, the Permanent Diaconate, and the Diocesan Pastoral Ministry to the Sick.

COLLINS CONSTRUCTION CO., INC. GENERAL CONTRACTORS

SYMPOSIUM PARTICIPANTS included Sister Joanna Fernandes, OP, chairperson of St. Anne's Hospital's board of directors; Dr. Gendreau; and Lorraine Silv,eira, nurse manager of the medical intensive care unit at St. Anne's. (Hickey photo)

55 Highland Avenue Fall River, MA 02720

PRAYER VIGIL FOR VOCATIONS FR. PAT & TEAM Friday, June 12 - 7:15 P.M. MEALS FOR CHARITY CHICKEN DINNER - $4.50 Saturday, June 13 - 5:00-6:30 P.M. BOOK SIGNING & RECEPTION REV. NORMAND THEROUX, M.S. Sunday, June 14 1:30 - 2:30 P.M. - Shrine Theater

* * Please Note * * There will be NO CONFESSIONS June 15-16-17-18-19

678·5201 .~

~'.

10

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., June 12, 1992

Hickey photo

MARY MARTIN

Got a problem? Call Mary

By Marcie Hickey When resident of Barresi Heights public housing for the elderly in Fall River have a problem, they know whom to call-Mary Martin.

The president of the building's tenants' association, she has been their advocate to the Fall River Housing Authority and a representative to the Massachusetts Union of Public Housing Tenants for over 20 years.

At 89, Mrs. Martin keeps up a pace that rivals the Peter Pan role of her actress namesake.

When the elevator doesn't work, an apartment gets flooded or a tenant is locked out, it's Mrs. Martin to the rescue. When an unauthorized car is parked in a resident's reserved space, Mrs. Martin tracks down the owner and sees that the trespassing auto is removed. When unemptied ashtrays were left around the building, she devised a plan limiting smoking areas and providing ash disposal buckets.

"I do what anyone else would do," she says. "I try to help people as much as I can." Problems, big or small, "don't aggravate me," she insisted. "It keeps you going!"

She would like to groom someone to take over the job when she feels it's time to retire (not yet), but "no one wants to!" she says in dismay. "A lot of residents here are younger but ailing. They're afraid they can't do it. But I do it, and I've been in the hospital so many times.

If they had a little more confidence in themselves..."

Confidence is not something Mrs. Martin lacks. She attends the Massachusetts Union of Public Housing Tenants Convention twice a year, bringing with her a "long list" of grievances to air for her fellow residents.

This spring, however, she missed most of the convention at the Cape Cod Plaza Hotel because she had to be hospitalized for a breathing pr.)blem soon after arrival. She'll ca:ch up by reading the material pr,)vided in the convention folder, sh'~ said.

When interviewed shortly after the hospital stay, she was back

home and back to her usual busy schedule, which currently includes collecting donations for a fair at her parish, Our Lady of Grace, Westport; "I got a lot of nice things," she said, showing an elegant heavy crystal vase as evidence.

Between her other activities she works on various sewing or artistic projects.

She made the wedding gown and flower girl's dress for her granddaughter's recent weddingthe fourth wedding gown she's made for a family member. And she has yet another order: another granddaughter is getting married next year.

"I love making frilly, lacey things," she said. "It's not difficultthe hardest part is waiting for them to come for a fitting."

Family members have long been beneficiaries of her sewing talent: she's made many first communion dresses as well as tablecloths and afghans for each of her grandchildren.

The expertise comes from years as "a floor lady in two Fall River shops," where she made sample dresses, nightgowns and pajamas.

This summer she plans to make herself some blouses. In any case, her old-fashioned sewing machine is always out-"I can't lift it, so I just leave it"-and in her bedroom is a tall six-drawer dresser in which all her craft materials from thread, buttons and yarn to fabric are neatly stored.

She also hopes to return to another hobby: oil painting.

"My grandson gave me the frames and paints-I just haven't had time to do any painting."

Her favorite subject is flowers, but there are no originals on her walls because "the minute I make them I give them away."

She recalled having taken art lessons with her grandson before he went to college. "He gave it up then, but right after [college) he went back to it," she said, proudly describing his current advertising job.

Indeed, Mrs. Martin has nothing

but pride and praise for her three children, 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Son Donald and his family live in Merced, Calif., where she has visited more times "than I can count," most recently in May 1991.

Daughters Geraldine Masson and Madeleine Lavoie are closer to home in Westport, where they are also members of Our Lady of Grace parish and Mrs. Lavoie, who emulates her mother's busy life, is a very active official in the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.

"They're so loving," Mrs. Martin says of her children, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. "They're always giving me things I don't even n'~ed. How can I not be happy?"

Mrs. Martin was born in Rhode Island but moved to Fall River when she was two years old and grew up in St. Patrick's parish.

Mrs. Martin's own roots are French, and she has told her weekly canasta partner, a native of France, to speak nothing but French to her "so I won't forget it."

She c0uld move in with her daughte', she says, but "I want to be on fly own and independent. I have my car and still drive."

Ard her philosophy of life is simple and sensible.

"All my children are happy in their marriages. [My grandchildren) are wonderful," she spells out.

"They're so happy it makes me happy, too.. .! can say I'm having a good life."

She adds, "I can afford to help others-when you help other people it doesn't hurt you, it helps you!"

She concludes with a smile, "Why shouldn't I be happy when everything is going so well?"

SALUTING SENIORS

Who gets rich with your health dollars?

By Ron Pollack Jeffrey is eight years old. He plays soccer. He's a Cub Scout.

Sometimes he fights with his brothers. He looks and sounds like a bright, healthy, happy kid.

That's how he seems during' the day. At night, things are very different. Jeffrey has a birth defect in his brain stem, which causes him to stop breathing when he falls asleep. All night, every night, he must be hooked up to machines that monitor his blood-oxygen levels and keep him breathing, setting off alarms when his breathing stops. All night, every night, a nurse monitors the high-tech machinery that crowds his bedroom.

Like any family hit by serious illness, Jeffrey's problem has been tough on the whole family. But his illness is not just physically and emotionally painful for the family.

It is also a financial catastrophe.

The current system of private health insurance has proved itself to be inadequate to the needs of middleincome families like Jeffrey's.

"We thought we had excellent health insurance. But Jeffrey spent most of his first 19 months in the hospital," his mother relates. "By the time Jeffrey was II months old his $100,000 lifetime policy limit was used up. We owe $600,000."

The family will never be out of debt. The really shocking part of this story is that it's not an unusual case. Medical bankruptcy is a nightmare facing more Americans every day. .

Skyrocketing Health Prices We now spend over $7,000 per family every year on health care.

That's nearly three times as much as in 1980, just twelve years ago.

And things are getting worse. According to numbers released by the White House, we'll be spending $14,000 per family by the end of this decade!

Here's the basic problem: Every dollar squeezed out of.your family budget by health costs winds up in somebody's pocket. We'll never solve our health cost crisis until we crack down on the health profiteers: the insurance companies, big drug companies, hospital chains, highpriced medical specialists and medical labs!

Look at where our money is going: American drug companies charge American consumers up to seven times as much for the exact same drugs they sell in foreign countries at much lower prices. Then they spend more on lobbying and advertising than on medical research!

Commercial health insurance companies that sell insurance to small businesses spend a dollar on administrative red tape for every two dollars that actually go for benefits.

The insurance companies waste about $70 billion of our money every year on advertising, lobbyists, paperwork and profits, And there are the high priced medical specialists. Anesthesiologists' first year salaries average $136,000, and the ave'rage doctor makes about $170,000 a year after expenses.

Health care in the U.S. costs 40% more per person than in Canada, even though Canadians live two years longer than we do.

We all deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing we'll be able to afford the high quality health care our family might need.

B,ut none of us will have that peace of mind until we put a lid on the outrageous overcharges of the health and insurance profiteers.

What's at stake is your family's health.

Ron Pollack is executive director of Families USA Foundation

SENIOR WATCH IS AN EDITORIAL SERVICE OF FAMILIES USA FOUNDATION

Poll-vaulting To most of us, pole-vaulting is a sport in which athletes use a pole to lift themselves over a narrow crossbar after a long runningjump.

To John Ashcroft, the wisecracking governor of Missouri, pol/-vaulting is a sport increasingly being adopted by politicians.

"Reading polls," he told a St. Paul, MN, prayer breakfast last year, "provides politicians with information about which way the political winds are blowing and shows them ways of vaulting out in front and getting ahead."

It was not alwayS-so. Polling got off to a bad start in 1936 when the Literary Digest predicted Alf Landon, the GOP candidate, would defeat President Roosevelt. Trou- . ble was, the Digest sent out 10 million ballots to those who had telephones or automobiles. During the Great Depression, that was not a representative sample!

In 1948, political polling was discredited again. It was the famed Gallup organization this time. It saw Thomas E. Dewey defeating Harry S. Truman. Unfortunately, Gallup stopped his sampling in mid-October - too early to measure the late shift to Truman.

Major parties and candidates now hire their own pollsters to read the political crystal ball. It has become a costly process -:-

especially with more people refusing to answer questions. .

If poll-vaulting is important for politicians, it is equally critical for businesses whose survjval depends on the whims and fancies of consumers. I cut my teeth on a big daily paper which lived and died by polling its readers.

What was the most popular feature in the paper? Advice columns, like Dear Abby, were tops - read by 85 to 90 percent of all readers.

Comic strips captured more than 50 percent.

Obituaries earned 20 percent very satisfactory.

When I became editor of a big Catholic weekly, I did readership polling whenever I could afford it.

My first poll, in 1970, showed the most popular feature to be (guess!) an advice column, "Doris Talks to Youth."

We discovered that few people under 18 were reading us; most of our answers on young people's reading habits came from their parents. We discovered Catholic family size was not larger, but the same as everyone else's.

We learned that our readers were older on the average than the rest of society. They also had more education and higher income than the national average. These data were confirmed by a growing number of newspaper polls.

By BERNARD CASSERLY

The lack' of readership by the young and the aging of newspaper readers has been observed in the daily press as well. Are we becoming a nation of non-readers who rely on radio or TV for knowledge of the day's affairs?

If so, the nation is in trouble, and so is the church. Is the church you see on TV the one you know and love? No way. Like politicians, church leaders are going to have to do a lot more opinion sampling before they can pollvault ahead of the rest of us - the people in the pew.

TV program Friday, June 19,9-11 p.m. EDT (CBS) "Age Old Friends." Rebroadcast of an HBO cable movie about an aged widower (Hume Cronyn) who lives in a retirement home where he tries to help a fellow. resident (Vincent Gardenia) face his fears of Alzheimer's disease.

......

Pope Continued from Page One mated 1.2 million refugees and displaced.

"Angola, like other countries in southern Africa, needs your help to avoid dying of hunger, and in order to follow the road of development," he said.

He said returning refugees were also counting on northern Angolans to help them find their families and relocate in their traditional lands.

On his way to the ceremony, the pope made an impromptu stop at a village hut and chatted with a couple and their eight children. As two dogs chased chickens around the yard and astonished neighbors crowded in, the pope sat at a table and asked the father how he made ends meet.

"Can you feed your whole family?" the pope asked. .

"Yes, with the grace of God," replied the man, who farms a small plot near his house. He later told reporters: "One waits a whole lifetime for something like this."

Before leaving, the pope gave the family an envelope containing $500, a Vatican spokesman said.

Annual per capita income in Angola is $600.

Papal pace slows BENGUELA, Angola (CNS) At the foot of a platform altar on a strip of Angolan sand, Pope John Paul II, 72, paused and, for a few moments, showed his age.

On a hot and humid morning, the pope leaned on his staff and let a smile turn into a hard squint.

When he gingerly mounted the 17 steps, an aide held his arm to steady him. .

The applause of 300,000 people in Benguela brought the smile back to his face, reddened by six days of African sun. The pope, his shoulders stooped under gold vestments, blessed the crowd and settled in for another two-and-one-half-hour ceremony.

After 55 international trips, the papal pace has slowed a notch: from grueling to merely hectic.

The marathons of past years the "if this is Tuesday, I must be in Fiji" variety - have given way to more relaxed tours that allow the pope to spend more time with each local church.

Gone are the punishing 13-day, six-country swings in which the pope seemed to delight in wearing out journalists and staff members.

Vatican officials realize that, especially in places like Africa, there is the risk of pushing too hard.

"This is not a very tiring trip, and the pope is hulding up well," said Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls.

One reason is that the Vatican has cut down on the number of ceremonies per day. On his first African trip in 1980, for example, the pope presided over more than 75 events in to days; in Angola June 4-10, there were fewer than 20 public encounters.

Today, sermons and speeches are often shorter and fewer nighttime meetings are scheduled.

All of this does not mean the pope has it easy, howe~er.

In Huambo June 5, for example, the pope was scheduled for a two-hour rest period at the local archbishop's house. But Mass ran late, then lunchtime conversation ran on, and in the end the pope had time only to wash his hands and change his clothes before taking a plane to Lubango.

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., June 12, 1992

11

Vatican concerned

FATHER ANTHONY M. CARROZZO, OFM,(center) celebrates the final Mass in Our Lady's Chapel, New Bedford, with concelebrants Msgr. Henry T. Munroe, Msgr. John J. Oliveira, who was affiliated to the Franciscan Friars, and friars of the chapel. (Hickey photo)

Continued from Page One that "It is important that military authorities do not enjoy any kind of de facto exemptions from environmental norms."

Environmental issues surfaced during the Persian Gulf War when pipelines, oil wells and offshore oil terminals were wrecked, dumping tons of oil onto the land and into major waterways. But Bishop McH ugh said the Vatican also was concerned with the environmental effects of munitions, especially chemical weapons.

Responding to allegations that the Vatican blocked inclusion of family planning and access to contraception in "action programs" to be taken up at the Earth Summit.

Bishops ask acceptance of gays, lesbians by church CHICAGO (CNS) - Three Catholic bishops speaking at a forum on "lesbian and gay people and Catholicism" said they hoped pastoral leaders will adopt less rigid attitudes toward homosexual men and women.

Bishops Kenneth E. Untener of Saginaw, Mich.• and William A. Hughes of Covington. Ky.• and Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton of Detroit addressed a recent Chicago symposium organized by New Ways Ministry. Th~ 1I1111111111111111111111111111111111I11111111111111111111111111111111111

On several nights, he was up late talking to local bishop and priests, then was up at 6 the next morning.

That is typical of these trips, Vatican officials say. So is weight loss due to perspiration during long Masses and prayer services.

His personal doctor is rarely more than a few steps away, and the pope's health is said to be fine.

Before the Angolan trip, some reporters had remarked that the pope looked tired during recent ceremonies. But answering journalists' questions on the plane to Angola the pope was as sharp as ever and seemed in no hurry to break off the encounter.

At this point, the pope is one of the oldest people on his plane. But he genuinely enjoys his forays outside the Vatican and has no intention of giving them up, Vatican sources say.

One big reason could be read in the pope's face when he rode i~to Benguela, a desolate coastal City trying to rebuild after civil war.

There, on his last full day in Angola, the pope received the warmest welcome of his trip.

Thousands ofcheering people lined the streets from the airport into the city, and at one point the pope stopped to enjoy it at close range, mingling with the crowd.

Children held tiny balloons with the pope's picture and chewed on sugar cane as he went by. At one point, a public bus packed with singing Benguelansjoined the papal motorcade.

The partly restored Benguela Railway, central Angola's lifeline. to the sea, carried 18,000 pilgrims to the Mass site, an open-air marketplace surrounded by scrap heaps and sand dunes.

For the pope, the rewards of these trips are found in native choir songs, long communion lines and the happy faces of those gathered to se~ him.

Maryland-based organization seeks understanding and acceptance of gays and lesbians in the church.

The bishops admitted that speaking to the gathering was difficult, even though their own attitudes had changed in recent years.

After learning his brother was gay. Bishop Gumbleton said. he could not face the issue or even visit his brother. He credited an old woman whose son died of AIDS with helping him to accept his brother and comfort his stilltroubled mother on her deathbed.

"When we die," he said, "just about the only thing that will matter will be the way we treated one another."

Church teaching on homosexuality consistently acknowledges that it is a complex issue, that homosexual orientation is not sinful of itself and that gays and lesbians deserve special pastoral concern and sensitivity. he said. The church teaches that homosexual activity, as distinguished from orientation, is morally wrong.

Bishop Hughes, who chaired the U.S. bishops'. task force that drafted "The Many Fac.es of AIDS: A Gospel Response," said four unfair stereotypes about gays are still commonly accepted: that they are attracted to children, that they are sexually active, that they can change orientation and that all gay men are effeminate.

He said Christians are called to be a people of compassion, aware of the difficulties and struggles people face. He likened the church's changing pastoral approach to gays and lesbians to the way it learned to embrace the divorced and survivors of suicide.

The Shape of Virtue "Virtue must shape itself in deeds."-Alfred Lord Tennyson

Archbishop Renato Martino, head of the Vatican delegation, reiterated the church's stance.

"What the church opposes is the imposition of demographic policies and the promotion of methods for limiting births which are contrary to the objective moral order and to the liberty, dignity and conscience of the human being," he told the Earth Summit.

John Klink, another Vatican delegate, said the popUlation. debate had not kept the Vatican from being heard on other issues, such as arms, poverty and development.

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THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., June 12, 1992

VATICAN CITY (CNS) When it comes to relations with the media,should the Vatican be a glass house or a sealed vault?

Two recent Vatican documents seemed to take opposite sides. A new regulation manual for curial employees included a secrecy pledge and several warnings against providing information to outsiders.

In contrast to this "loose-lipssink-ships" mentality was a candid call for openness in the church hierarchy, contained in an instruction by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

It said church leaders must respond "willingly and prudently" to media when requested. The radical equality arising from baptism, it said, requires honest sharing of information among all church members.

The fact is, the Vatican falls short of both ideals. As a vessel of secrecy, it is constantly springing leaks. As a font of information, it dribbles rather than gushes.

For the more than 500 journal-

-.?

VISITORS TO the Sistine Chapel view the controversial Michelangelo fresco. (CNS/KNA photo)

Restorers calling shots on Sistine striptease

. , .

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Vatican: glass house or sealed vault?

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Restorers working on Michelangelo's "Last Judgment" in the Sistine Chapel are trying to decide which figures to undress and which to leave modestly veiled.

After nearly two years of testing and cleaning, experts said the massive fresco painting was yielding the same spectacular colors found beneath centuries ofsoot and grime on the Sistine ceiling.

"The effect will be dramatic" when it is entirely uncovered in 1994, said Fabrizio Mancinelli, one of a five-person restoration team at the museum.

Mancinelli said the famous "breeches" added to about 40 of Michelangelo's nude figures are still the subject of debate among the restorers. Most were frescoed in with plaster and are impossible to remove, but a few were painted dry and may be lifted during the cleaning, he said.

A few of the retouches will almost certainly disappear, but the decision will be made case by case, he said.

"I don't want to ruin the suspense," he added. ' The most famous breeches were those painted by Daniele da Volterra, after the Council of Trent ordered the nudes covered up in 1563. Michelangelo disdainfUlly refused. the papal request to repaint the figures in his apocalyptic work, completed during 1535-41.

Restorers have found that the breeches date from several epochs and are easily identified - from the "classic briefs" of the 1500s to flowing robes of the 1700s. The figure of St. Peter, it was discovered, was covered twice: the first veil was apparently considered too small.

The restoration job is painstakingly slow, but the team has already cleaned about one-third of the surface of the painting, which covers an entire wall behind the Sistine altar.

The cleaning is more complicated and delicate than that of the

chapel ceiling, largely because the altar wall is in easy reach and was therefore frequently touched up, Mancinelli said.

"All you needed was a ladder and a paintbrush," he said. Many of the interventions were botched, he added.'

The experts have' found that Michelangelo used a more "painterly" palette on the "Last Judgment," Mancinelli said. As a result, the colors are different but just as splendid as the stunning ceiling scenes, he said.

One disappointment, however, was the discovery that much of the sky's blue pigment - which used the semi-precious stone lapis lazuli - has disappeared forever. Microscopic examination revealed that the lapis lazuli crystals long ago "bled" out their color. Mancinelli said he suspects the cause was the 17th-century practice of cleaning frescoes with vinegar or wine.

Unlike the Sistine ceiling, uncovered bit by bit, museum officials and the public will see all the restored "Last Judgment" at once when its scaffolding is removed.

Japan's Nippon Television Network is financing and documenting the restoration in return for exclusive reproduction rights.

Pope John Paul II has shown keen interest in the project, Mancinelli said, "but he's never asked about the breeches." .

Reconciliation sought ROME (CNS) - The Catholic Church is embarking on the delicate, but necessary task of fostering reconciliation in South Africa, torn by racial and political tensions, said Bishop Wilfrid Napier of Kokstad, South Africa. The era of condemning apartheid is over since most of the legislation "that needed to be undone has been undone," he said. Now is the time to start rebuilding and "not wait for the politicians to get things right," he told Catholic News Service.

Seminary figures are examined WASHINGTON (CNS) - It was exactly 25 years ago, in the 1966-67 school year, that U.S. Catholic seminary enrollments hit their all-time peak of 42,767 students.

This year the figure is 6,677.

While the figures show a drop of 84.4 percent in a quarter-century, most decline is in high school seminaries, the point furthest from ordination and the least reliable indicator of future priests.

Theology students are the main indicators of upcoming ordination.

In a quarter-century their numbers have dropped by 14 percent.

Part of a gain noted in the early 1980s was due to the addition of new categories to account for the increasing number of candidates taking an extra year of preparation before ordination.

In 1966-67 there were 8,325 priesthood candidates in theological studies. In 1976-77 the number had dropped to 5,257. By 1981-82 it was down to 3,819. A small rebound brought the number back up to 4,039 in 1986-87. This year it is 3,467.

The drop over the past five years has been 572, or 14.2 percent nearly 3 percent a year. In the past year it was 4 percent.

Over the full quarter-century, the decline in theology students has been a little over 58 percent. In other words, there are four theology students today for every lO in 1966-67..

In the same period, the U.S. Catholic population increased by 25 percent. In 1967 there were about 5,600 U.S. Catholics for every seminarian in theology studies. Today that has gone up to nearly 17,000 Catholics per seminarian in theology.

In addition, back in 1967 virtually all seminarians in the theplogy category were on the same fouryear track to ordination. Now most are on a five-year 'track and some on a six-year program.

The categories of"pre-theology," "on leave," "pastoral year" and "fifth [academic) year" were not used or had minuscule numbers in them in the statistics of the 1960s and 1970s.

This year there are 60 I theology students in those extra study years before ordination.

ists accredited to the Vatican, access depends largely on the personality of individual curial officials' and policies set by each department head.

Some Vatican officials treat reporters as if they carry the plague.

Others chat wilIingly to journalists they know well, but can never be named in an article. Most prefer the telephone, some will accept office interviews and others feel more comfortable with a personal tete-a-tete over lunch.

The Vatican's rationale for secrecy is that disclosure of sensitive information could do harm to the church or to individuals. But the new code says even the "orie~ta足 tions" or general policies of curical departments are confidential.

In this ideally private Vatican vision, no curial official would speak to the press without explicit prior permission from superiors.

All information would be channeled through the Vatican press office.

The reality is quite different. A good percentage of Vatican officials try to be helpful, especially if there's a risk of wrong information being published.

For example, in March the Vatican and the rest of the world were receiving widely varying reports from Malawi, where bishops had been interrogated by police after criticizing the government.

The Vatican press office said nothing about the developments.

But a journalist who phoned the right officials at the Secretariat of State and the CongregationJor the Evangelization of Peoples could learn that Vatican diplomats had lodged a complaint with Malawi authorities and that the situation for the moment was considered calm.

For those like doctrinal congregation head Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who never comes to the phone and who refuses most interviews, there are other ways to communicate.

Most cardinals make public appearances - to promote books, deliver speeches or accept awards - and journalists swarm like bees to honey on these occasions. Receptions, too, are a place to establish personal relationships, essential for a reporter seeking curial revelations.

Cardinal Ratzinger, once drawn into dialogue with reporters, is usually gracious and informative, if understandably discreet about pending doctrinal matters.

Even with the friendliest curial officials, however, there is a natural tension that exists with the press.

Introducing the communications council's new document on the church and mass media, for example, Cardinal Andrzej Deskur said he hoped "religious information

may not be sol.ley an occasion for sniping at the Holy See as an agreeable target."

The cardinal, retired president of the council, also warned about the danger ofleaking Vatican documents before their delivery date.

A reporter then stood up and quoted from the council's new document - its call for church leaders to "willingly" respond to the media - and asked: "Isn't this a dream when it comes to the Vatican?"

U.S. Archbishop John P. Foley, communications council president, replied that press relations were much improved from 30 years ago, when he covered the Vatican as a journalist.

Most reporters would agree with that. The Vatican press office headed by Spanish journalist Joaquin Navarro-Valls generally functions efficiently and helpfully, trying to anticipate queries and passing them along to the proper curial departments. The trouble is, the press office often has to wait days - sometimes forever - for departments to send back an answer.

In a 1984 meeting with journalists, the pope said the church wanted "more and more to be. a 'glass house,' where all may see what is happe~ing." The phrase is recalled by Vatican reporters somewhat ironically.

Other curial officials would probably rather quote a 1974 Vatican document on secrecy, which evoked the epistle of James in saying: "That man is perfect who knows how to keep a bridle on his tongue."

"Virtue of indignation" urged on ministries KANSAS CITY, Mo. (CNS)600 church ministers were urged to develop "the virtue of indignation" and to "work for what should be but is not" by the keynote speaker at the fourth biennial Heartland Conference in Kansas City.

Gloria Durka, a professor at tbe Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education at Fordham University, N.Y., challenged conference participants to confront injustice despite temptations to back away.

She emphasized in particular domestic violence, a problem she called so widespread that "in any parish in the United States, one out of tttree persons is either a victim or a survivor."

Really Great "There is a great man who makes every man feel small. But the real great man is the man who makes every man feel great!" G. K. Chesterton

Connolly names top 10 graduates

Hictey photo

FEEHAN'S Heather Galligan and Paul Flanagan

Bishop Feehan's top scholars named Heather Galligan is valedictorian and Paul Flanagan is salutatorian at Bishop Feehan High School, Attleboro. Both are from Plainville.

Miss Galligan intends to study math, science and premedicine at the University of Vermont. At Feehan's senior awards night, she received silver medals in mathematics, science and English, earned a Principal's Leadership Award from the National Association of Secondary School Principals and scholarships from Sturdy Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and Plainville Lion's Club. She also received the Sister Virgini\l Quinlan Award for an outstanding scholar/ athlete.

She participated in numerous extracurricular activities, including the National, French and Latin honor societies. She was a captain. and league all-star in volleyball and softball.

Flanagan will attend Georgetown University and study business administration and Spanish.

At the senior awards ceremony he received a bronze medal in science and recognition in English and Spanish.

He was president of the National Honor Society and vice president of the Spanish Honor Society. He also participated in the mathematics team, academic decathalon, Latin Honor Society, Junior Classical League and student council.

He was an Eastern Athletic Conference all-star in baseball.

In her graduation address, Miss Galligan reflected on goals which Feehan students strive to achieve: sanctity, scholarship and sportsmanship. She said that Feehan, especially through the senior ECHO retreat, taught the graduates that "Christ was and still is our role model. He was able to view people in a way that we can only marvel and work at every day."

Addressing the goal of scholarship, she noted that she and her classmates had, spent 4,320 hours in classrooms, where "every day a new idea was created, a new painting was drawn, and a new concept was mastered."

She challenged her classmates to use the knowledge gained to "end deforestation of the South American rain forest. ..clean up contaminated water while preventing further pollution...discover superior recycling methods."

She continued, "World peace will be in our hands, for it is our generation that will determine the direction of foreign relations."

Miss Galligan then reflected on the lessons of sportsmanship: sacrifice, perseverance, risk-taking.

Friendships gained proved that "all the effort that we put into life will someday be returned. Be a friend and be befriended. Challenge and be challenged. Respect and be respected. Work as a team and the team will work. Love and be loved."

Finally, she added another "s word" to the three already discussed: self.

"Your light, your personality, your talents and your beliefs are your greatest gifts. Do not be afraid to expose them in life," she said. "You make the difference simply because you are who you are."

By earning their diplomas, Miss Galligan said, the graduates "have proven ourselves to our family and friends ... Tomorrow we must prove ourselves to the world."

St. Mary's School Anne Connolly, a sixth-grader at St. Mary's School, New Bedford; is one of five students from the area who will travel to Japan this summer as guests of New Bed~ ford's "sister city" Tosashimizu.

The sister city program aims to give young people the opportunity to learn about and'live in another culture.

Anne is the daughter of William and Barbara Connolly of New Bedford. Her sister Margo is in third grade at St. Mary's.

Eighth-grader Tricia Breton is a member of the Amateur Athletic Union Bay State Magic basketball team which won the state championship. The team will compete in a national championship in New Orleans, LA, in July.

A tournament ended the first year for the after-school cribbage club founded by fifth grade teacher Debra Letendre. Erin Hegarty was champion, with Jonathan Darling earning the runner-up spot.

The club, with 40 third-to fifthgrade members, met weekly. It grew with the help of parent volunteers Trudy Fatula, Kathy Desrosiers, Joanne Silva and Roger Renaud. Cribbage boards were donated, many handmade by Ernest Letendre.

Mrs. Letendre plans to expand the club up to eighth grade next year. She is interested in hearing from other schools with cribbage clubs; she may be reached c/o St. Mary's School, 115 Illinois St., New Bedford 02745.

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., June 12, 1992

Rev. John P. Murray, SJ, prin- for four years. She also particicipal of Bishop Connolly High pated in volleyball; basketball and School, Fall River, has announced softball.

Sarah Rodgers of Tiverton will the top 10 students in the Class of 1992. The class has 127 members, attend either Colorado College or 97 percent of whom will continue Brown University. , She was voted one of the class's their education on the college level. most admired students. She was The top 10 seniors are: Jonathan Whittenhall of Tiver- treasurer of the' National Honor ton, RI, class valedictorian, who Society, a member of the foreign will attend Amherst College. A language club, and participated in commended student in the Na- ski team, basketball, soccer and tional Merit Scholarship Program, tennis. She was also racing officer he also received the Harvard Book for the ski club.

Award. At the senior class awards Jason Sousa of Fall River will banquet June 3, he received a attend the University of Massachubronze medal for excellence in setts-Dartmouth. He received silmath. ver medals for exceilence in PortuHe participated in the National guese and chemistry and particiHonor Society, chess club, choir, pated in the foreign language club. foreign language club and comWendy Ingles of Swansea will munity service program. A four- attend Mary Washington College, year member of the cross country Fredericksburg, VA. She received and spring track teams, he attended a bronze medal for excellence in the boys' state conference in his religion and the drama society senior year. assistant director award.

Frank Garand III of Swansea She participated in the National will attend Holy Cross College, Honor Society, Amnesty InternaWorcester. He was class treasurer tional, foreign language club, sailand was voted by the faculty and ing club, post-prom committee, class members as one of the class's Pioneer Girls and choir. She was most admired students. He re- secretary and assistant director for ceived the Bausch and Lomb sci- the drama society. ence award.

His activities included National Honor Society, choir and foreign language club. He was on the ski Students at St. John Evangelist team, the cross country and spring track teams, and the winter track School, Attleboro, took part in a team, serving as captain in his May crowning of Mary. Eighth. graders led the procession, with s~nior year.

Tiffany Gauthier of Tiverton Michelle Lamarre and Jay Lanwill attend Muhlenberg College, gevin crowning the statue and Allentown, P A. She received an Melissa Fernandes and Angella award for the drama society's best Amadio collecting carnations from supporting actress in a younger second-graders in first communrole. Her other activities included ion attire.

A Mass of Thanksgiving for ski club, foreign language club, National Honor Society and cheer- principal Sister Martha Mulligan, RSM, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunleading.

'Christina Fasy of Portsmouth, day. A reception will follow. Sister RI, will attend Holy Cross Col- Mulligan, who has been principal lege. She was president of the at St. John's for 12 years, will National Honor Society and cap- assume the principalship at Mercytain of the winter track team. She mount Country Day School, Cumalso participated in the foreign berland, RI, in August. language and ski clubs and basketball, soccer and spring track.

She received the Holy Cross Book Award.

Yvonne Troya of Fall River will 103 students graduated from attend Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME. She received silver Taunton Catholic Middle School medals for excellence in French in the school's 21st graduation and advanced placement English ceremonies June 8 at Sacred Heart and was named one of the class's Church, Taunton. The ceremony most admired students. She was was followed by a reception in the class vice president and a member lower church. of the National Honor Society, Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program on youth Team, and Peer Training/ LeaderSunday, June 14, 11-11:30 a.m. ship Corps. She also participated in ski club, volleyball, spring and EDT (CBS) "Touched with Faith winter track, and the cross country .•. Young People at Work in a team, of which she was captain in Troubled Society." Interfaith special reports on youngsters involved her senior year. ' Meredith Lowe of Portsmouth, in community service, including RI, will attend the University of students helping out at a local Notre Dame in Indiana. She is soup kitchen as part of their course president of the Class of 1992. She in Christian morality at Arch·was voted to be the senior girl who bishop Carroll High School in made the most outstanding con- Washington. The special is a protribution to the school and received duction of CBS in consultation a drama society award for best with the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission. actress in a younger role.

Her activities included the National Honor Society, foreign language club, Amnesty International, Montie Plumbing choir and track. She was president Heating Co. of the drama society.

Over 35 Years Cassia Picard of Westport will of Satisfied Service attend Boston College. She was a Reg. Master Plumber 7023 member of the National Honor JOSEPH RAPOSA, JR. Society, Amnesty International, the speech and debate team, and 432 JEFFERSON STREET the foreign language club. She was Fall River 675·7496 involved in Junior Achievement

St. John Evangelist

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St. James-St. John Veterinarian Dr. Lawrence A. Shinnamon visited St. James-St. John School, New Bedford, recently to speak about pet care. Fourthand fifth- graders attended the presentation, which included a slide show on the importance of routine veterinary visits for family pets and a question and answer session.

Dr. Shinnamon urged the children to be responsible in caring for their own pets, which range from gerbils and birds to horses. The veterinarian also handed out guidelines on animal health for students to keep at hand in case of emergency.

Fourth- and fifth-graders also heard a presentation on drug awareness by Det. Donald Cook of the New Bedford Police Department.

The students were shown a video and actual drugs as Det. Cook explained the damaging effects on the body.

A limousine ride and pizza party at a local restaurant awaited top sellers in a recent candy drive. The top students from each grade toured scenic Padanaram and had their pictures taken in the stretch limo.

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BISHOP STANG graduates Shelagh Booth and Keith Byron make last minute adjustments before commencement exercises May 31; class president and salutatorian J onathan Poente, valedictorian Scott Jusseaume, chaplain Father Stephen J. Avila and class officers Aminah Pilgrim, Daniel Travers and Jeffrey Lawrence, Jr.; graduates file into ceremonies at the North Dartmouth school; faculty member Hank Madeira gets assistance from (from -left) Emanuel Paiva, Benjamin Matheson and Eric Greenwood. (Studio Dphotos)

AT BISHOP FEEHAN graduation June 2, top left, Craig DeMoranville and John DeGrafft; bottom left, Peter Savignano, diocesan administrator Msgr. HenryT~ Munroe, and Michelle Laliberte.

Right, Members of the Class of 1992 prepare for ceremonies at the Attleboro school.

(Hickey photos)

AT COYLE-CASSIDY High School baccalaureate Mass at St. Mary's Church, Taunton, on graduation day, June 4, Rich Domingos presents a textbook, symbolizing academics, to celebrant Father路 William Boffa during the offertory procession. Top right, Rob Holland and Laura Watson bring bread and wine for the offertory. Below, twins Kerry (left) and Kristen McQueston offer prayers of the faithful; Jennifer McArdle receives her diploma from Msgr.

Munroe at graduation.

BISHOP CONNOLLY principal Father John P .. Murray, SJ, with, from left, salutatorian Meredith Lowe, Msgr. Munroe, valedictorian Jonathan Whittenhall, and graduation speaker Father William C. Russell, SJ. Graduates of the Fall River school on June 7, from left: Jamie Soares, Robin Delafuente, Aimee Reynolds, Kim Tripp.

Below, left, Nicolo Iachino, an exchange student from Milan, Italy, and classmates Jessica Hasman and Michael Iacovelli; right, faculty member George Angelo congratulates graduates. (Hickey photos)

...

16· THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., June 12, 1992

Iteering pOintl ESPIRITO SANTO, FR Sister Lia Oliveira, FMM, who is n:tiring from the faculty of the parish school after dedicating her entire religious life to its students, will be honored at 10 a.m. Mass Sunday, .June 28. A reception will follow in the parish hall and a dinner at I p.m. at Venus de Milo, Swansea. Further information: at school, 672-2229; or rectory, 672-3352.

ST. MARY, SEEKONK Vincentians meet following 10 a.m.

Mass Sunday.

CATHEDRAL. CAMP, E. FREETOWN .

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ST. CLARE FRATERNITY, FR St. Clare Fraternity of Secular Franciscans will meet at 6 p.m. June 14 at Rose Hawthorne Lathrop Home, 1600 Bay St. All welcome.

LaSALETTE SHRINE, ATTLEBORO Youth rally for eighth-graders to young adults themed "My Place in This World" 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 27. Music, games, liturgy and workshops included in program that will challenge youth to examine how religion relates to their world. Preregistration requested. Information: Father Richard Deslisle, 222-5410. .

Book signing and reception with Father Normand Theroux, MS, translator of Jean Jaouen's Frenchlanguage book, "The Grace of LaSalette: A Story for the World," 1:30 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS at St. Elizabeth Seton parish, North Falmouth, were to 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Father Theroux, a LaSalette priest based in Samantha Mahoney, receiving her award from Men's Club members, from left, Frank McAttleboro, travels worldwide lead- Elaney, Arthur Pauline, George O'Brien and Herbert Sullivan; and Aimee Eggleston, whose ing retreats and days of renewal.

IRISH FESTIVAL, STONEHILL COLLEGE An Irish festival sponsored by the Boston Irish Cultural Center will be held tonight through Sunday at Stonehill College, North Easton. Attractions will include the Clancy Brothers and other musicians and singers, Irish dancing, live theatre, literary contests, an art gallery, a harp exhibition, parades, films, storytellers, crafts and an authentic Irish cottage with live farm animals.

"O'Connell Street Marketplace" will offer food and drink and many traditional sports will be featured. A special children's play area will also offer children's theatre productions.

Further information: (617) 323-8005 or (617) 323-3399.

LIFE CHAIN Attleboro area life chain pro-life witness I :30 to 3 p.m. tomorrow; information: Alice McAndrews, 2260292; Peg Whitbred, 384-7232.

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award was from the Women's Guild. The $1,000 college scholarships are awarded annually on the basis of parish service and academic achievement.

Religion, science join in their efforts to protect enviro~ment WASHINGTON (CNS) - The environmental problem is so serious it needs the joint effort of science and religion to combat it, speakers told a recent special joint congressional hearing.

"This alliance of science and religion seems to be essential for any kind of mitigation of this crisis," noted author Carl Sagan of Cornell University, co-chair of the Joint Appeal by Religion and Science for the Environment, told the committee.

"All the facts in the world are no good unless they are guided by some moral compass. All the moral guidance in the world is no good unless it is guided by facts," Sagan said.

The hearing, chaired by Sen. Al Gore, D-Tenn., came at the end of a three-day conference, "Mission to Washington: Religion and Science in Partnership with the Environment," sponsored by the appeal.

Conference participants told the hearing that restoring the environment was of prime importance.

About 300,000 U.S. congregations of all denominations "now pray for wetlands and endangered species" as well as for "the sick and dying and the oppressed, and victims of racism and the lonely," said Episcopal Father James Parks Morton, dean of the Cathedral of S1. John the Divine in New York and the appeal's other co-chair.

Ismar Schorsch ·of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America said the United States should not wait for environmental problems to hit too close to home.

"To wait until the ozone layer evaporates over Kennebunkport may be too late," Schorsch said.

Kennebunkport, Maine, is the site of President Bush's summer home.

Bush was criticized after the hearing for agreeing to attend the United Nations Earth Summit in Brazil only after the United States won major concessions in a treaty with other industrial nations on pollutant cutback timetables.

Gore said if Franklin D. Roosevelt had showed the same concern

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about Social Security as Bush has about the environment, he would have had a photo opportunity at a nursing home and "signed a sympathy card."

The Washington conference developed a statement which recognized "the indivisibility of .social justice and the preservation of the environment" and took a stand on population control.

"We believe there is a need for concerted efforts to stabilize world population by humane, responsible and voluntary means consistent with our differing values," it said. "For these, and other reasons, we believe that special attention must be paid to education and to enhancing the roles and the status of women."

The Rev. JoartCampbell, general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ, told the hearing that the topic was "an ecumenical land mine" but that the population control portion's wording was a "breakthrough sentence."

Bishop William B. Friend of Shreveport, La., one of the document's signers, said the topic has "sensitivities" for Catholics, but that the statement "will certainly stand the test" of his fellow bishops' scrutiny.

Bishop Friend told Catholic News Service the joint appeal "exploded" some myths about Catholicism.

Contrary to myth, he said, "bishops are very interactive and consult with each other."

Conference participants had seen the church in "strictly an authoritarian model," Bishop Friend said.

China prayer asked vATICAN CITY (CNS) - The Vatican, asking prayers for greater religious freedom in China, said Catholics there face increasing government control and arrest.

Especially in recent months, religious liberty in China has been subject to the "whims" of the Com~ munist party, said a commentary

by Fides, an agency of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

. Salve graduate Joseph Rielly of Fall River is among 1992 graduates of Salve Regina University, Newport.