08.10.01

VOL. 45, NO. 30 • Friday, August 10, 2001

FALL RIVER, MASS.

Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year

Two take

House vote hailed

next step

towards priesthood

By JERRY FILTEAU CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE WASHINGTON - A leading U.S. cardinal hailed as an important advance for humanity the House of Representatives' vote to ban all cloning of human embryos in the United States.

The House passed the Human Cloning Prohibition Act by a vote of 265-162 on July 31. Violators could face minimum fines of $1 million and up to 10 years in prison.

Representatives first defeated by a margin of 249-178 a rival bill that would have allo:Wf:ld~lpuing of human embryos to obtain stem cells for research and clinical use.

The substitute bill would have banned the implanting of cloned embryos in, a womb .to produce human babies for the next 10 years. .'

Cardinal William H: Keeler of Baltimore, chairman pf the U.S. bishops' Committee o.nPro-Life Activities, called t~ v()te "an important first· step#'lJhe path to a truly humane fut:w:e, fuwbich man remains the master~ not the product of bis.· te«hnQlo/n''''' He was quoting from P~~~}ob.fi Paul II's address to PreSkIent Bush when the two met ill Italy two weeks ago. .. 1·· Cardinal Keeler ~geiJ Senate "e ~as>soon passage of the.m as· possible!' He s . . 's~cll a law "will send a clear siWJall that we are not merely the vic~$ (If techcan litllit nical advance, tha.l and direct our technolQgiclll powers to serve and notdemean human dignity," .:, .

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Fame of St. Thomas More is spreading ~

Book by Cape Cod author shows the timeless impact of the 16th century lawyer-diplomat on modern day living.

By JAMES N. DUNBAR

NORTH FALMOUTH look back at 16th century Tudor England and focusing on today's world as well, historian and scholar C. Robert Wray examines the "man for all, seasons" in his book "St. Thomas More at the Millennium."

In a very readable chronicle of the life and times of the scholar, lawyer and diplomat who suffered martyrdom rather than approve the removal of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church, Wray, a member of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, paints a literary portrait of a man who would today be a

In a marvelous

champion of Christian unity.

More, says Wray, by his own example would place charity and peace atop the priorities of the world's statesman and politicians, who would also be shown how to not take themselves too seriously.

In a recent interview at his summer cottage, Wray, a former Naval officer, headmaster and dean.who holds bachelor's and master's degrees in history from the University of Notre Dame, talked about what moved him to document a profound look at More's inner life and thought, his family life, the education of his children, his humor, the acts of charity that so characterized his daily existence, and his constant life of prayer and devotion.

But more than that, the man who resigned as an obedient servant and Lord chancellor to his king, Henry VIII, over the latter's actions, is also Turn to page 13 - Book

FALL RIVER - Two men studying for the priesthood for the Fall River diocese will be admitted to candidacy at separate ceremonies this weekend for future ordination as deacons and then priests.

Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., will accept and bless Joseph R. Chagnon of Swansea at ceremonies during Mass Saturday in Our Lady of Fatima Church, Swansea.

On Sunday, the bishop will accept and bless Karl C. Bissinger of Fall River during Mass at St. Joseph's Church, Fall River.

The rite of candidacy is when a man aspiring to receive the sacrament of holy orders makes a public expression of his intention to do so.

The bishop,.in turn, gives the Church's public expression of this intention.

The rite of "Admission to Candidacy" is celebrated when there is clear evidence that the aspirant's properly informed intention has sufficiently matured. This rite is usually celebrated during the years when a seminarian is in major seminary, customarily during second or third years of theology. .

Bissinger and Chagnon are receiving candidacy prior to beginning their upcoming studies at the Pontifical North American College in Roine.

Karl Oement Bissinger Bissinger, 30, a native of Fall River, is the son of Andrew and Therese (Clement) Bissinger of that city, and is a member of St. Joseph Parish. He has a sister, Lisa Renee Teixeira., He attended Wiley Elementary School and Morton Middle School and graduated from B.M.C. Durfee High School in 1989. He did undergraduate studies at Bristol Community College; received a bachelor's degree in philosophy from UMass Dartmouth in 1998; studied French at Middlebury College in Vermont; and graduated from Bridgewater State College in 1999.

Prior to entering the seminary he was involved in his parish as a Mass server, lector and choir member and taught religious education at St. Louis Parish. In college he worked for the Writing/Reading Center at UMass Dartmouth as a writing tuTurn to page 13- Step

2

THE ANCHOR -Diocese of Fall River - Fri., August 10, 2001

St. Pius X to host coffeehouse concert with John Polce

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SOUTH YARMOUTH - A country and in Europe and has Coffeehouse Concert with John reached a large audience through Police presenting music for all ages his many recordings. .One of Polce's published sons, will be held August 17 at 7 p.m., at the St. Pius X Church Life Center, "Lord, I Believe," has been played across the world at liturgies and 5 Barbara Street.

The Friday concert, which may prayer services.

Deacon David P. Akin of St. well be the pilot for future coffeehouse presentations, will range Pius' says he's looking forward to from quiet reflection to joyous the evening..

"I'm excited about the John praise.

"John has a special anointing Polce conce.rt and the coffeehouse I from the Lord," says Mark Girardin, concept," he told ~1\nchor. "This GEORGE T. RYAN, KGCHS, left, and Dennis J. Loone::'y"J-r.'::",-K-C-*H-S-,-r-ig-h-t-,g-r-e-et-B-j-ShOP music director at St. Pius. "This . will give the young and old alike dedication to the Lord through 27 an opportunity to enjoy fellowship Sean O'Malley, OFM Cap., at Our Lady of Victory Church, Centerville, following the Mass for years of full-time concert ministry as well as form new friends while members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. Also pictured at far left is Father Marc Hession, is a testament to John's skill con- fostering the message of Christ." .. pastor of Our Lady of Victory and a member of the order. (Anchor photo by Bruce McDaniel.) sidering how few artists sustain Tickets (no charge for stupopularity." dents and children) may be During that time John has per- obtained at the door the day of formed thousands ofconcerts in this the show.

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Members of·Order of the Holy Sepulchre attend Mass. on" Cape

CENTERVILLE -

Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem gathered Sunday for a Mass with Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., at Our Lady of Victory Church here.

The bishop was the principal celebrant and homilist.

The custom of gathering local members of the Order that includes laity and clergy was begun five years by Bishop O'Malley; reported Father Mark R. Hession, pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish and himself a

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Dt 10:12-22; Ps 147:12-15,19-20; Mt 17:22-27 Dt 31 :1-8; (Ps) . Dt32:3-4,7-9,12; Mt 18:1-5,10,12-

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Rv11:19a;12:16a,10ab; Ps 45:10bc,1112ab,16; 1 Cor 15:20-27; Lk 1:39-56 Aug 16 . Jos 3:7- ! ..

10a,11,13-17; Ps 114:1-6; Mt 18:21-19:1 .

Aug 17 Jos 24:1-13; Ps 136:1-3,1618,21-22,24; Mt 19:3-12 Aug 18 Jos 24:14-29; Ps 16:1-2,5,7-8,11 ; Mt 19:13-15 Aug 19 Jer 38:4-6,8-1 0; Ps 40:2-4,18; Heb 12:1-4; Lk 12:49-53

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member of the organization and .its diocesan liaison.

"It began with the bishop's invitation to members of the Order who might live on the Cape and other nearby areas - notably Boston - t<;> come and celebrate 'the Eucharist with him," Father Hession explained. "The bishop gathers with them each year at a different parish on the Cape.

Attendance this year was the greatest thus far.

The ecclesiastical Order traces its origin to Godfrey de Bouillion, who instituted it in 1099. It takes its name from the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre where its· members were knighted. National divisions of the Order exist in many countries. The Order was reorganized in 1847 and women were admitted after 1888.

"Fundamentally, its members make a true spiritual commitment. in many ways to the Church," Father Hession said.

"They help financially by their generosity with the works of the Church in the Holy Land, and by virtually being a knight or a lady of the Holy Sepulchre they commit themselves to a deepening spirituality in their lives. So this is just one way in which the bishop obviously encourages their faith and encourages them and thanks them for their generosity and their witness."

The spiritual shot-in-the-arm message from Bishop O'Malley in the prayerful.setting of the Eucharist comes at "delicate and troubling times in the history of the Holy Land," Father Hession noted. "Giving our attention to the confrontational situation that involves Palestinians and our Jewish brothers and sisters is very important." .

The social side of the gathering included a brunch that followed Mass at the Wianno Club in Osterville.

In Your Prayers Please pray for the following priests during the coming week Aug. 13 1896, Rev. Edward 1. Sheridan, Pastor, St. Mary, Taunton 1964, Rev. Msgr. Leonard 1. Daley, Pastor, St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis 1991, Rev. Gabriel Swol, OFM e,onv., Fonner Associate Pastor, Holy Rosary, Taunton . _ /Aug.14

1947, Rev. Raphael~arciniak, OFM Conv., Pastor, Holy Cross, Fall River 1969, Rev. Conrad Lamb, O.S.B., MissiQllary in Guatemala Aug. 15 .

1926, Rev. Charles W. Cullen, Founder, Holy Family, East Taunton

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THE ANCHOR (USPS-545.{)2() Periodical Postage Paid at FaIl River, Mass. Published weekly except for the first two weeks in July ani the week after Christmas at 887 Highlanl Avenue, FaIl River, Mass. 02720 by the Catholic Press ofthe Diocese ofFaIl River. Subscription price by mail. postpaid $14.00 per year.

POSTMASTERS send address changes to The An::hor. P.O. Box 7. FaIl River, MA fJ2722.

Aug. 17 .

1882, Rev. Cornelius O'Connor, Pastor, Holy Trinity, West Harwich 1996, Rev. Msgr. Maurice Souza, Retired PastO~ $t. Anthony, East Falmouth ~ . Aug.18 1977, Rev. Msgr. William H. Dolan, Pastor, Emeritus, Holy Family, East

Taunton

LaFleur appointed principal at St. Margaret's Regional

By JOHN E. KEARNS JR. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, DIOCESAN OFACE OF CoMMUNICA1l0NS

BUZZARDS BAY - Mary Ann LaFleur has been named principal of S1. Margaret's Regional School here, it was announced by Augustinian Father William T. Garland, diocesan Director of Education.

LaFleur, who served as assistant principal at the school for the past year, has 30 years of classroom experience as a teacher and special students program supervisor.

After teaching in schools in New Hampshire, LaFleur, who is a native of Duxbury, joined the faculty at S1. Margaret's as a language arts/reading teacher two years ago, when her husband, Edmond, became superintendent of schools in Bourne.

And she hasn't regretted the move. "In a good school, everybody works together, and people do it here at S1. Margaret's," she explained.

She was quick to praise the students, the commitment of teachers and the involvement of the parents to a degree that she said she hasn't seen in a long time.

In reflecting on her new position, she said she is "excited to begin.

"I want to develop a longterm strategic plan for financial stability and academic excellence," she said. 1'm starting to formulate goals toward that end."

The new principal was also quick to credit her immediate predecessor at the school, Charles B. Lindberg, as her mentor. He retired from the post in June.

"Chuck Lindberg was a real promoter of trying different things," she said.

Because of his encourage-

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Classes: St. Margaret's Regional School is located on Main Street 5 Wednesday evenings in Buzzards Bay and is ready.

7-9 p.m. ing to begin its eighth year.

Retreat Day It offers a Catholic education for grades kindergarten through October 13, Cathedral Camp eight and has an extended care program for before- and afterSt. John the Evangelist Parish • Pocasset MARY ANN LAFLEUR school hours. With one class of September 12, 19, 26, October 3,10 each grade level and a maximum The two-year program attempts of 30 students per class, its enREGISTRATIOIYDEADLIIYE- AUGUST25, 2001 to identify potential administra- rollment of 256 students is alCertificate of Paitici pation from the Diocesan Department of tors and provide them with most at capacity. It draws stuPastoral Care awarded to all who complete course requirements. monthly learning opportunities dents from several towns includFOR INFORMATION CAli. SISTER SHIRlEY AGNEW, RSM, TEL 508477-6170. on a variety of aspects related . ing Bourne, Plymouth, Mashpee PLEASE LEAVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS ON THE MACHINE. to the operation of a Catholic and Falmouth. school.

Different speakers are brought in to address matters CITIZENS-UNION SAVINGS BANK INTRODUCES ONLINE BANKING such as finances and budgets, recruitment and retention of faculty, legal issues and fund-raising and development. Participants also serve an internship under a seasoned principal.

"Mrs. LaFleur participated in the training program and her capabi Iities and strengths came through," noted diocesan Superintendent of Schools James A. McNamee. "She is a very committed person and will do well at the school."

After graduation from Sacred Heart High School in Kingston, LaFleur earned a bachelor of science degree in el-' ementary education from Plymouth State 'College in Ply-

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THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River ---, Fri., August 10,200 I

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The MCC is the official public policy voice of the Roman Catholic Church in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, speaking on behalf of the bishops of the Archdiocese of Boston and the dioceses of Worcester, Springfield and Fall River. .

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THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., August 10, 200 I

the moorin&..v

the living word

24/7 The time .of"our lives The happenings and events of our times often implode on our lives and lifestyles. In tum, our social order becomes a reflection of our demands and needs. An example of this phenomenon is what has been termed the "24/7 earthquake." In short, the figures stand for open 24 hours, seven days a week. More and more people are being drawn into this rapidly developing cultural and social revolution. Day runs into night and night into day as this economic upheaval spreads from coast to coast. "Open 24 Hours" is no longer the exception. Round-the-clock stores are spreading like wildfire.

From Home Depots to Wal-Marts, this always-open policy is creating a true change in our economic life. Driven by the fact that the Internet never closes and that shopping on-line is always present in our lives at any time of day, the retail world is striking back at such competition. The answer is to never close the doors. Shoppers, night .and day, are always at hand.

The fallout from this reality is becoming a serious social concern.

First and foremost it is a reflection of our total lack of patience. As the saying goes, people want what they want when· they want it.

The computer has brought immediacy to our lives. In. the process we are losing our self-control. From this viewpoint, machines are becoming our masters. We are losing the ability· to discipline how we control the way we live. As our creeping economy continues to siow down, this 24/7 plays into a real business battle. There are profits to be made by never shutting the doors. When profit margins are tight, time becomes an important balance for the bottom line.

Yet in this quest for monetary gain it is the life of people that is being changed. Stores need people to work the varied shifts. Many single parents are working two jobs and their children are in the care of 24-hour baby-sitters. Some parents need this for only a few hours per week. The need for economic security, is, in' many situations, keeping the family apart. As a result we have invented a spurious concept called "quality time."

Translated; this means that in the long run we spend less time with one another. The time we do share becomes a ·very special moment. This lack of time does not help the necessary bonding process in the lives, for example, of young children. More and· more family members have no time for one another. They are constantly on the move creating a massive void in their lives. When families do gather they face a group of strangers. Divorces and separations have already created havoc in families. This drive to work aroundthe-clock will only create a greater degree of separation.

Once a trend becomes a constant, there is no turning back. The 24/7 syndrome will continue to spread and develop in all areas of life. What we must do is take control of our lives. We do have a choice. Freedom is the power rooted in reason and will to act or not to act, to do this or: that. By free we shape our own life.

Sometimes we simply become a creature of whim and let the times and its fancies control our lives. As our social order continues its headlong drive for the so:.called good life, we all have to face the fact that change has now become a constant. The need to adapt to changes is always present. However, in the process of facing the challenges .of change we must not lose the gifts of freedom and choice that the good Lord has given each of us.

The demand to rightly order our lives will be constantly challenged by the many developing forces that are being thrust into our life patterns. Much patience will be demanded for all as they make choices that will indeed change their lives.

will

The Editor

theancho~

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIYER 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 j=AX (508) 675-7048 Send address changes to P.O. Box 7 or call telephone number above

EDITOR NEWS EDITOR PRODUCTION MANAGER Rev. Msgr. John F. Moore James N. Dunbar Dave Jolivet

.

A MAN LOOKS AT HIS DESTROYED HOME ON THE EAST COAST OF TAIWAN AFfER TYPHOON. TORAH HIT. ABOUT

100 CHILDREN ATTENDING A CATECHETICAL CAMP AT A RURAL PARISH (eNS

WERE TRAPPED FOR DAYS AFfER STORM DAMAGE CUT OFF TRANSPORTATION ROUTES.

PHOTO FROM REUTERS)

"You ARE MY REFUGE IN THE DAY OF DISASTER," (JEREMIAH 17:17).

The soul is present from the moment of conception Editor's note: This story by freelu:lce writer Dale O'Leary appeared in the July 28 edition of the Providence Journal. Her column is reprinted with permission.

Science can only show us a continuous process from conception through birth. There are no breaks ~ no discontinuity. Therefore, it is certainly reasonable to assume that when the new DNA pattern, There was a. time when the be- which makes a unique human beginning of life was shrouded in ing, is spun out, God provides a mystery. Today everything has human. soul. , Some may ask: How do you changed. Science has revealed the most intimate details of the begin- know a soul is present in a justning of human life and technology conceived embryo? But the quesis now available to interfere in the tion is: How do you know it is not? process in ways never imagined. It And if you don't know for sure is important, therefore, to remem- exactly when the soul is present,· then you must act as if the soul, ber what scientists cannot see the human soul. and therefore a human person wor- .

According to Catholic teaching,' thy of respect, exists from the moeach human soul is created individu- ment of conception. ally by God and joined to the matWe do know from science that ter provided by the mother's egg the embryo is alive and is human and the father's sperm. The soul, and if given' the proper conditions once created, is immortal. When will grow into what no one can the body dies, the soul is separated deny is a person. We do know that from the body, is judged, and as- children conceived by artificial signed to wait until the day when means are in every way as human , the world ends and the bodies of as those conceived the natural way. the dead are raised and joined with If the embryos who are chosen their souls and receive the Last to be implanted have souls from the Judgment. All this is an awesome moment of conception then so do mystery. those which are discarded or chosen Even those who are not Chris- to be the subjects of experiments. tian have a sense that there is someTechnology, which demands the thing in the human person which sacrifice of the lives of human be- . does not die when the body dies ings, is the great temptation of our a part of each of us that lives for- age. Like all true temptations, it ever. presents us with a choice between When does God give the soul? sbmething which ilPpears to be Science cannot provide the answer. wonderful, something which will

solve problems, and the fact that to get it we must do something we know is wrong. Some succumb to the temptation try to convince themselves that the wrong thing they have to do to get the good thing isn't all that bad, and that the benefits so outweigh the loss that the action is justified, but the ends do not justify the means. No Ol)e, not even God, has the right to use a person as an object to forward his own ends.

The desire to have a c·hild is good, but if the life of a child is bought by the sacrifice of a score of extra or defective embryos, then the cost is too high. If all the diseases in the world couJd be cured by sacrificing just one unborn human being, the price would be too high.

There are those who argue that if we can do it, it will be done, which is absurd. There .are many thirigs which we can do which shouldn't be done.

We can blow up the world with nuclear bombs, enslave our fellow man and commit genocide, but we shouldn't.

HiJm~ being are not objects to be produced, manipulated or subjected to. quality control. No one has a right to have a child, let alone a perfect child. The rights belong to the children and the most fundamental right is the right to life.

Dale O'Leary is a freelance

writer.

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., August 10, 2001

A fish tale As difficult as it is to be- the end. But, the Sox then went lieve, we're already on the on to a four-game sweep of the downside of summer. With Au- powerful Texas Rangers, resurgust comes the spawning of recting hope in us eternal peshurricanes in the Atlantic, days simists. Emotionally, it felt like and days when the dew point is I had hooked a big one and the the same as the air temperature, and back-toschool commercials pop up like tulips in the springtime.

August stirs up so many memories, like burgers and hot dogs,

By Dave Jolivet body surfing at the beach, watermelon juice streaming down my chin, fight was on. and a constant hankering to grill Like Santiago in Ernest up a slab of any kind of deep- Hemingway's "The Old Man sea denizen. I've always loved and the Sea," there's a love afa nice hunk of charred sword- fair between the catcher and the fish or tuna, but in August, the catchee. Sox fans (Santiago) desire runs deeper, and I know it will be a difficult task couldn't quite figure out why. to reel in the marlin (a Red Sox championship), if we land it at Until now.

As with most of my other all. We know there will be moemotions, this urge is dictated ments of great elation, thinkiby the Boston Red Sox: Stay ing the fish has lost its will to fight and is now an easy catch. with me on this one.

Last week, the Sox were We also know there will be swept in a three-game series by moments when the line unreels the Anaheim Angels. I thought at breakneck speed and our it was an omen to have been catch may never be seen again.

Santiago eventually wins the clobbered by a bunch of Angels. Consequently, like many battle and secures his mighty others in Red Sox Nation, I catch to his undersized boat. It's viewed this as the beginning of August now, and Sox fans are

My View

from the Stands

already way too committed to watching our "fish" in the World Series. We've got the Home Town Team securely fastened to our leaky vessel.

Next comes the sad part. As Santiago heads back home, sharks (the Yankees, and their fans!) routinely attack and bite chunks off the' beautiful marlin.

Santiago is helpless against the predators as they pick away at his catch. The similarities here are just too eerie. By the time a physically and emotionally exhausted Santiago beaches his boat, all that's left of the marlin is a carcass. Deep down inside, Red Sox fans know that in four weeks or so, we will sit, Santiago-like, gazing at our TV sets wondering what happened.

Yet, if we manage to beat off the sharks with an oar, we can make it to September with our catch still in tow. Here I go again.

I have to keep reminding myself not to expect the perfect catch. I have to keep reminding myself that even if we do survive August, "The Old Man and the Sea" month. Sep-

Parish nurse progralll to kick off in Oct. DIGHTON - A basic parish nurse program, presented in 21 modules taught from October through May, will be offered by Saint Anne's Hospital at the Dourdan House, site of the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation.

Each month, nurses will meet on a Tuesday morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; one Friday evening and a Saturday in the months of November and April.

It is open to all registered nurses and 32 contact hours will be awarded upon its completion.

To kick off the program an open house will be held at the Dourdan House October 4 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and includes a light lunch and dinner.

Parish nurses challenge the nursing profession to reclaim the spiritual dimension of nursing care, the health care system to provide whole person care and the, faith community to restore its healing mission.

For more information call Sister Carole Mello at 508-674-5600 ext. 2064 or email Wendy Merriman at whmerr@aol.com.

Fall River Celebrates America in cooperation with Michael's Fund and the Rhode Island Blood Center.

The drive will be held at the Fall River Line :Pier today from 4 to 10 p.m.; Saturday from noon to 9:30' p.m., and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.

Donors must be between the ages of 18 and 60; be in good health; and willing to give a sample of blood for matching' purposes. The procedure takes only 10 to 15 minutes.

For more information contact the Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce at 508-676-8226.

We can make it to October!

Grilled marlin anyone?

Dave Jolivet is a fonner sports writer/editor and a smff member of 1heAnchor. Co1T1/1U!nIsare welcome at Dave.lolivet@AnÂŁlwrnews.org.

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Bone marrow drive among Fall River Celebrates America events FALL RIVER - Fall Rive~ Celebrates America this weekend with a myriad of activities on the citis waterfront, and Chairman Karl Hetzler has included an event close to his heart.

Hetzler, a recent bone marrow donor, has scheduled a giant, Bone Marrow Drive to benefit the thousands of people suffering from diseases treatable with marrow or blood stem cell transplants.

The National Marrow Donor Program finds donors for patients who do not have a family member to match.

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THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., Aug':lst 10, 2001

Does'the,Bible countenance genocide?

Q. Detractors of the Bible sometimes point to Chapter 31 of the Book of Numbers, where God orders the eUmin,ation of an entire people. When the soldiers construe the command to inean only males, Moses, at God's command, dispatches them to slay the women and children, too, with one exception: The virgins you may keep, for yourselves.

Bible mockers point out that it was our God who first invented genocide. How can we justify the killing of both innocent and guilty? How about those soldiers keeping girls as sex slaves, and all with the Lord's blessing? (Illinois) A. First of all, we obviously

Questions' and' Answers

By Father John ~. Dietzen cannot, from a Christian, or even later Jewish, perspective theologically justify these wholesale slaughters. Without attempting to do that, however, we can acknowledge that,from the Hebrew outlook of those times, there was more to this practice than meets the eye. ,Through a centuries-long series of complicated ethnic and religious experiences, these "holy wars" were seen (even to some degree in Christian understanding) as a way God used human instruments to establish and confirm Israel as the people and land chosen to playa major role in the history of his salvation of the world.

Tribes and cultures whose religions and military ambitions created an obstacle to t\'lat pur, pose were to be eliminated. "If Israel had been dominated by any less tolerant attitude she would have amalgamated with her pagan neighbors and in so doing lost all that she was to contribute to the world." The ideas behind the ban (the command to totally destroy the enemy) "cannot be accepted as the word of God for the modem Christian, but they may well have been so for Israel in the sense that they must be understood in the light of God's purpose" and what was needed to accomplish it (The Interpreter's Bible Vol. 2, p.

458).

Two points are significant.

When Israel is commanded to totally "destroy" the enemy (e.g.

Deut 7:2 and 20: 17), the Hebrew ,verb, here translated as destroy,

is' especially used in relation to a holy war. Objects or persons'under the "ban" must be wholly consumed as a holocaust to God. Their destruction, something similar to sacrifice, in effect dedicates them to the deity. While this devastation is morally reprehensible to us, it is radically something ,other than an act of wanton vengeance or cruelty when viewed in that context.

From the aspect of God's purpose for the people and land of Israel; an interesting distinction is made that doesn't appear in your question. If a distant enemy nation, which threatens to corrupt the relation between Israel and Yahweh, refuses to make peace, every male is killed; women and children are taken as booty, but not to be slain (Deut 20:12-14).

If,' however, enemy cities occupy land given to Israel for its inheritance, Hebrew militants are to save alive "nothing that breathes" (Deut 20:16). Israel's sense of God's supreme lordship over all people and creation makes their compliance with his law, as they understand it, an act of religious obedience. ' From this it should be obvious that taking "virgins" as spoils of war involved something different from making them sex slaves.

Every woman who had had intercourse was killed; those who had not were taken captive (Num 31:17-18).

We have here another element of a holy war; everything offensive and contemptuous to Yahweh (including women who had contributed to building up the pagan Midianite population) was to be destroyed. But the unmarried girls taken captive could now bear children for the conquering people of .Israel.

I agree, this viol~tes all our concepts of morality, for individuals or nations. The insights I point out, however, are not insignificant and for a long time guided ,the Hebrew people in the ways they related to their God. A free brochure in English or Spanish, outlining marriage regulations in the Catholic Church and explaining the promises in an interfaith marriage, is available by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Father John Dietzen, Box 325, Peoria, IL 61651.

Questions for this column may be sent to Father Dietzen at the same address, or e-mail ijdietzen@aol.com.

Iteering pQintl Publicity Chairmen are EAST FREETOWN -A disasked to submit news items for 'this column to The Anchor, abilities workshop will be held P.O. Box 7, Fall River, 02722. August 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Name of city or town should at Cathedral Camp. It will help be included, as well as full parents and caregivers of adult dates of all activities. DEAD- children with disabilities prepare LINE IS NOON ON FRI- for the future planning of their loved ones arid include informa'DAYS. Events published must be tion on trusts and wills. A lunof interest and open to our ,cheon will be provided. Register general readership. We do not before August 17 by calling carry notices of fund-raising Catholic Social Services at 598activities, which may be ad- 997-7337. vertised at our regular rates, FAIRHAVEN - Our Lady's obtainable from our business Haven will offer a program entitled office at 508-675-7151.

"Elder Issues," August 16 from ASSONET - Bishop Sean P. 3:30-5 p.m. Guest speakers will O'Malley, OFM Cap., will be prin- explain issues dealing with longcipal celebrant of the 10:30 a.m. term care insurance, estate planning feast Mass at St. Bernard's Church and long-term planning. FOf more on August 19. For more informa- information call Linda Laverdure at 508-999-4561. tion call 508-644-5585.

ATTLEBORO - Catholic Social Services will hold an information session on August 21 from 7-9 p.m. at its Attleboro office, 10 Maple Street, for all persons interested in adopting older special needs children. They will also present ari eight-weekModel Approach to Partnership in Parenting Program beginning in September. For more information call 508-226-4780.

, FALL RIVER - An afternoon of reflection and prayer entitled "Praying with Icons," will be held Sunday from 1-5 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Church Education Center, 550 Tucker Street. It will be led by Patricia Pasternak.

For more information call the religious education office at 508672-8340.

NEW BEDFORD-TheCour-

age Group will meet Saturday at 7 p.m. in the rectory of Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. Courage is a support group for Catholic men and women who are confronting same sex attraction issues and who are striving to lead chaste lives. For more information call Msgr. Thomas Harrington at 508-992-3184.

NEW BEDFORD - Calix, a group which enlists Catholic men and women who are gratefully celebrating recovery from alcoholism, drug addiction and other dependenCies will meet Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at the parish center of Holy Name ofthe Sacred Heart ofJesus Church.

Newcomers always welcome.

NORTH DARTMOUTH A Separated-Divorced Support Group will meet August 13 from 7-9 p.m. at the Diocesan Family Life Center, 500 Slocum Road.

The Rev. Andy Morgan will be guest speaker.

WEST HARWICH - St. Francis of Peace, Secular Franciscan Order, will meet Sunday at Holy Trinity Church for a noon Mass.,A rosary at the statue of St. Francis will follow.

WEST HARWICH - The Holy Trinity Charismatic Prayer Group will hold a Life in the Spirit Seminar Saturday and Sunday. Attendees will learn about the Third Person of the Trinity. Contact Deacon Vincent Walsh at 508-4308262.

Teaching young ones to pray With schools opening, parents and children are get- activities and interests distract them, crowding out prayer ting focused once more on studying and leaming. When time. While they grew up saying the family rosary, it's my children were young, this was also the time when hard to pray this way in their homes today. So what are we put some attention on how to supplement the reli- the alternatives? gious instruction theY,would getin CCD classes. Most Some priests have told me that they encourage parof the time we were determined to say the rosary as ents to bring their children to the church when nothing is going on so that they can show them sacred items and often as' possible. images, explaining what My devotion to the rosary began many years bethey are and why they're fore I was a mother. I was there. They say storytelling fortunate to have been a is a very important form of - student.atthe College ofSt. active prayer for youngRose in Albany, N.Y., in the ' sters, where characters do days when Holy Cross Fagood for others, and that ther Patrick Peyton was a

By Antoinette Bosco good publisJred material frequent visitor there. He abounds to help parents had a mission to get famiteach children to pray. lies praying every day, specifically saying the rosary.

It is especially important for children to understand Father Peyton actually was based at my college, com- that prayer is a two-way street - them talking to God ing back there after trips he would take to various places, and God talking back. To hear him, they have to listen. often Hollywood. He would tell us stories about stars One book I recommend to many parents, published who were devout Catholics, and we were, indeed, im- by Sorin Books, is:'Children Praying, Why and. How pressed. to Pray With Your Children," by Joan Bel Geddes. It This summer, the Vatican Congregation for Saint- brings together important insights on spirituality and hood Causes formally opened the cause ofpossible can- child development. ' onization ofthis priest, who nev~r stopped saying, "The The author underscores her conviction that "prayer family tha,t prays together, stays together." should be at the level where a person really is. As the The announcement came from Bishop Sean O'Malley Quakers say, it must 'speak to our condition' if it is not of Fall River, Mass., who sought formal approval by .-going to be irrelevant and useless. So instead of having the Vatican for this cause because Father.Peyton is bur- children listen to and mouth words someone else has ied in Easton, a town within his diocese. Reading of composed, children should be shown how to do their this brought back many memories. own praying, how to reach way down inside themselves As Bishop O'Malley was reported to have put it, and Vfay out beyond themselves" so that they can inFather Peyton "encouraged millions of families around crease their self-understanding, as well as their underthe world to pray daily, especially the rosary, to standing of other people and of the whole world. strengthen families and to achieve world peace. He knew No matter how families teach children about praythat with prayer all things became possible." ing today, one thing has not changed: the truth that FaI talk to parents of youngsters today who say they ther Peyton devoted his life to, that prayer strengthens want to get their children to pray more, but too many families.

The Bottom' Ll路 ne

High-octane Catholicism CRACOW, Poland - The Dominican basiliCa of the Holy Trinity, just off the market square of Cracow's Old Town, hosts a weekly Sunday evening Mass for university students. The liturgy is magnificent: solemn without being stuffy, reverent without being sac-' charine.

A splendid choir, composed of students and led by students, leads the jeanclad congregation in Taize chants and old· Polish hymns, a fine blend of the contemporary and the traditional. The preaching is intense and the response to it is similar - teen-agel's and twenty-somethings are hang.ing on to every word of a homily as if their very lives depended on I it.

That's not just the way it is during the academic year, with its pressures 'for accomplishment; that's the way it is during the summer holidays. This past July I, shortly after the Jagiellonian University closed, I brought two old friends to the basilica for a look at the students' Mass, warning them ahead of time that it might be a little "thin" at this time of year.

I needn't have worried. My friends were amazed at the size of the young congregation and by their fervor. "They're notjust here to ful-

fill an obligation," one said.

"They're really praying. Did you see those faces?" I did, and in them one can read the unfolding of the 21 st century according to a story line you won't find in the newspapers or in academic social science.

The first things those young

George Weigel faces tell us is that enlightened opinion had it all wrong a hundred years ago, when it was confidently predicted that a maturing humanity, tutored by science, would "outgrow" its "need" for religion in the 20 th century. Things worked out rather differently. The 20th century proved that human beings could indeed organize the world and our lives without God; but it also proved that, without God, we can only organize. the world against each other, and in the most brutal ways.

The students in the Dominican basilica in Cracow are the children and grandchildren of some of the principal victims of the secular-sci-

entific hubris of the 20th century.

Their faith shouldn't be read as mere reaction, however.

WhatJ see in those young faces is the deeper truth of our times: that humanity has not lost its thirst for the transcendent, for a Truth and a Love that satisfy the deepest desires of the human heart. They have begun to find satisfaction for that thirst in Jesus Christ. They want to explore all that that discovery means. That exploration will shape the human future even more profoundly than politics, economics, and science.

The second thing to be discovered on Sunday evening in Cracow's Basilica of the Holy Trinity is robust confirmation ofthe iron law ofChristianity's encounter with the modem world: Christian communities that maintain clear doctrinaland moral boundaries flourish, while Christian communities whose doctrinal and moral borders become porous, even invisible, decline and typically perish.

There is no contradiction, as some would have it, between the doctrinal and the pastoral. Doctrine is the vehicle that makes the pastoral pilgrimage of Christian life possible. And the young want, not pandering, but challenge. "Don't ever settle for anything less than the

I really was not suggesting what I was talking about I want to thank the many read- little more lively, especially with Yet again, holy water is a sacers who took the time to send along my priest, and second, it would be ramental blessed by a priest, inreactions to my column on squirt a great way to draw the youth to voking God's blessing on all who guns, even those who felt it was church, speaking from a youth use it. It would seem the more we inappropriate in a Catholic news- point of view. It would make Mass share holy water, the better. paper to talk about using them as more fun."

Again, I am not suggesting we modes of sharing shots of ..-...;..---------r--=::;;;;~-,.,load a couple tons of holy holy water in large water into one of those hechurches. licopters they use for forSomehow the latter 0 est fires and unload showfolks missed my sneaky W0 0 ers of holy water on places way of saying I was NOT like Manhattan or the Los suggesting what I was Angeles Coliseum. On the talking about. I mean, other hand, if it brought you know, like I specifiBy Dan Morris joyful thoughts and the cally let myself off the comfort of knowing that hook by saying, "I am others wantto share the reNOT suggesting anything as draI think Ijust heard somewhere ality of God's love, it might be matic as making them (squirt guns) between 4 and 18 million Catho- worth a conversation.

I wonder how much one of those an optional liturgical device." lics say, "Someone has to tell that This is supposed to be an adroit kid (aka Alex) that one does not fire-engine pumper trucks costs. way of beating the liturgy police attend Mass for fun." (Don't worry, Comments are welcome. Ein court if they send me a sum- Alex, I will not rat on you.) mail Uncle Dan at mons. I simply click my boot heals, Why not? cnsuncle@yahoo.com. salute smartly and say, "Hey, I said Perhaps semantics has raised its I was NOT recommending that a head, blinked its eyes and snorted. celebrant strap on the Humungo It seems many Catholics prefer the Water Canon Mark IV and use it words "joy" and "joyful" rather to hit folks in the far comers of . than "fun." Mass should be joyful. the church with holy water, even However, Mass should be fun? though there are many for whom Hmmm. this might bring a smile and a drop The core issue, of course, is of sacramental joy." reverence.

For the record, a number of Sacramentals like holy water readers thought the notion (that I should be treated with the honor did NOT suggest) of long-range and respect shown to things that holy water distribution via squirt remind us of God and his Son and guns sounded fun. A young man the Holy Spirit. named Alex, for example, eLoading squirt guns with it mailed a note saying that "it would (even the Mark IV), thus might be one great way to make Mass a have its legitimate critics.

moral greatness you're capable of' - that's been the message of Pope John Paul II at World Youth Days, and that's what they preach in the Dominican basilica in Cracow. The response to both ofthese challenges shows us another truth: if you preach it, they will come.

The third thing one learns on Sunday evenings in Cracow is .to expect the unexpected and to imagine the unimaginable. The parents, indeed the older brothers and sisters, ofthe young men and women I saw on July 1 never expected to live in freedom; yet they do. They never expected to see reconciliation between Latin-rite Catholics and Greek Catholics in Ukraine; yet they have. They never expected a Polish pope; yet they have experienced the unimaginable, and wit-

nessed a son of their land change the course of history and become

the moral reference point for the entire planet.

Don't tell these young people that some things can't change. They know that the Gospel helps us see possibilities amid what seems impossible.

George Weigel is a senior fel- . low ofthe Ethics and Public Policy CeJ:lter in Washington, D.C.

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COFFEEHOUSE CONCERT WITH JOHN POLCE Internationally known Christian singer/songwriter John Polce will present an evening of music for all ages on Friday, August 17 at 7 p.m. at St. Pius X Church Center, 5 Barbara Street, South Yarmouth, MA. Tickets are $4 (no charge for children & students), and can be obtained at the door the day of the performance.

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THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River -..:... Fri., August 10, 200 I

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THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., August 10, 2001

Pope's 1,OOOth general audience marked with 22,000 altar servers

By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - Under the hot sun and the hoses ofthe Vatican fire department, 30,000 people attended the 1,000th general audience of Pope John Paul II's nearly 23year pontificate.

Although temperatures were in, the 90s, the audience was held in St. Peter's Square because a pilgrimage of 22,000 EUropean altar servers meant the crowd was almost four times the capacity of the airconditioned audience hall.

A huge silver thurible, more than four feet tall and suspended on a frame, billowed incense over the square as altar servers wearing thick leather gloves pushed it like a swing.

According to the Prefecture of the Papal Household, which distributes the free tickets to the general audience, since the beginning of Pope John Paul's pontificate'in 1978 more than 16 million people ,have participated in his Wednesday gatherings. .

The pope's series of audience talks about the Psalms was interrupted as he focused instead on the ALBERTO GARCIA Aspe of Mexico displays a shirt fea- meaning' of serving at the altar. turing Our Lady of Guadalupe as he celebrates a winning "Today this square" which is goal recently at the Latin American soccer finals in Colom- hosting the l,OOOth general audibia. (CNS photo from Reuters)

ence since divine providence called , me to be the successor of the Apostle Peter, opens itself to thousands of boys and girls who have come from all over Europe inpilgrimage," the pope said.

He told the altar servers 16,000 of whom came from par-' ishes'in Germany - that the white ,robes they wear at the altar should remind them of the white vestment they were given at the time of their baptism - "even though it does not fit any more."

"Baptism is the point of departure for your authentic liturgical service which places you alongside your bishops, priests and deacons," , he said.

Serving at the altar, the pope said, is an opportunity to experience up close the fact that "in every li, turgical act Jesus Christ is present and working."

Altar servers are more than priest's assistants, he said.

"Most of all, you are servants of Jesus Christ, the eternal high priest.

Therefore, you are called in a particular way to be young friends of Jesus. Work to deepen and cultivate this friendship with him. You will discover that in Jesus you have found a true, friend for life," the pope said.

Pope John Paul also asked the altar servers, most of whom were teen-agers, to think about the symbolism of carrying lighted candles, as they often do.

"You are the light of the world," he told them. "Your service cannot be limited to the inside of a church.

It must give light to everyday life: in your school, your family and the various parts of society, because one who wants to serve Jesus Christ in the Church must be his witness everywhere. ''I spoke about friendship with Jesus. How happy I would be if from this friendship something more blossomed," he told boys in the group. "How beautiful it would be if some of you discovered a vocation to the priesthood."

And, he said, "Isn't it possible that the Lord is calling one or another of you girls to embrace the consecrated life in order to serve the , Church and your brothers and sisters?"

The experience of being an altar server also has something to teach those who will have a vocation to marriage, he said.

"Service at the altar teaches that an authentic union always must include an openness to mutual and spontaneous service," he said.

N-ew ambassador to Holy ,See is former 'Republican chairman

By JERRY FILTEAU

went to graduate school and then moved to Colorado. There he earned ' WASHINGTON - The U.S. a law degree, beCame a real estate Senate has confirmed former Re- developer and was an active volunpublican National Committee chair- teer for various organizations. ' man Jim Nicholson as U.S. ambasIn the early stages of the 2000 sador to the Holy See. campaign season, he was instrumenHe was to be sworn in at the State tal in the formation of a Catholic Department today.

Task Force within the. Republican Nicholson, a National Com63-year-old mittee. The task {n a statement on his force,composed Catholic, was vice chairman of nomination, President of prominent the Republican Bush described Nicholson Rep ubI i, c a npOPE JOHN Paul II waves to young people as he makes his way through St. Peter's National Committee 1993~97 as "a proven leader who C a ~h~ 11 c ~' ", Square. The pope's 1,OOOth general audience was attended by 22,000 altar servers. (CNS a solid sense of wtor e thO photo from Reuters) and chairman will bring . h' k s reng th en e c~mmltment to IS wor. 'party's outreach from 1997 until this January, WIth the Holy See on cntl-. to and standing whe.n he joined cal world issues." . in various U.S. the law firm of Catholic circles.

Greener and Nicholson Hook in Washington. graduated from West Point in 1961 CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) - As violence Passionist Father Ciro Benedettini, aVatican spokesNominated as ambassador to the and served as an Army Ranger and continued to escalate in Israel and the Palestinian terri- man, said Arafat's meeting with the pope focused路 on Holy See by President Bush in April, paratrooper, earning several:military tories, Pope John Paul II met privately Aug. 2 with ''the persistent situation of unheard-of violence which he succeeds Corinne "Lindy" awards including the Bronze Star Yasser Arafat, president of the Palestinian Authority. continues to mow down victims, especially among the Boggs, who held that post for three and the Vietnamese Cross for GalThe 25-minute meeting was held at the pope's sum- civilian and unarmed population and has not spared even years before returning to the United lantry. M'ter eight years ofactive ser- mer residence at Castel Gandolfo. the holiest sites."

States in Marth. vice he went into the Army Reserve Arafat was in Rome for talks with ltaliah govem- , "His Holiness, in expressing his condolences for the In a statement on his nomination, for 22 years, retiring with the rank ment leaders, urging them to use their influence within many victims caused by the repetition ofclashes, firmly Bush described Nicholson as '''a of colonel. the European Unibn to garner support for a plan to send reaffirmed the absolute necessity of putting an end to proven leader who will bring a solid A strong advocate of intemational observers to the Middle East to monitor all types of violence whether it be the fruit of attacks or sense of commitment to his work volunteerism, Nicholson has a long ongoing violations of the mid-June cease fire. reprisals," Father Benedettini said. with the Holy See on critical world personal history ofvolunteer service.

Nemer Hammad, the Palestinian representative in The pope, he said, called for a return to negotiations issues."

Nicholson and his wife, Suzanne, Rome, told reporters Pope John. Paul had made it clear and assistance by the international community as "the Born and raised in Iowa, have three grown children, R.I., he supported the idea of sending observers to the re- only means capable of providing hope for reaching Nicholson served in the military, Nick and Katie. gion. peace."

CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE

Pope meets with Arafat, calls for end to violence on both sides

THE ANCHOR -

Dioce~e ofFall River- Fri., August

10,200 I

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Federal agent sees similarities in role as permanent deacon

By STEVE ElivlNO CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

THESE POSTERS are part of a series of nine available through the Baltimore Archdiocese illustrating the development of an unborn child. Each poster shows the fetus .and its size with a description of new features and functions at that stage. (CNS photo)

Pro-life posters chronicle steps in child's development

By CATHOLIC

NEWS SERVICE

The last poster in the series whose mother is considering BALTIMORE - A series of - under the headline "Here I abortion. posters created by the Respect am!" - features five photos of The "spiritual parents" are Life Committee in the Archdio- babies who are special to the encouraged to name the unborn cese of Baltimore chronicles the Respect Life Office, including child and to pray for him or her development of an unborn child Brenegan's nieoe and Chavez's daily. At the endo(l1!rie months, in words and pictures. a baby showef'is:-.helcljn which granddaughter,'~•"." . .,0, ..

The nine "Little One" postAnother' 24-inch by 30-inch supplies and money are colers - one for each month of poster containing all nine im- l~cted for donation to local pregpregnancy - are available in ages is in production and should nancy centers.

English or Spanish.

De available by September. It "Spiritual adoptions have alEach of the 16-inch by 20- will bear the headline, ''The First ways been well-received, but to inch posters heralds a new step Nine Months - Watch Me reach even more people, it is in the words of the child: nice to have a type of vi"I grabbed my hand tosual to show the humanity day," "I can suck my "Our purpose is to help restore of the unborn child," thumb now," or "I looked Brenegan said. around today," for ex- the humanity of the unborn child The 20-member Rein the hearts and minds of every- spect Life Committee, ample.

"Our purpose is to help one who sees the posters," said chaired by Paul Melanson, restore the humanity of the Linda. M. Brenegan of the Balti- hopes to sell out of'the unborn child in the hearts 2,000 sets of nine posters and minds of everyone more archdiocesan Respect Life already printed. who sees the posters," said Office.

Grace Kissane, who Linda M. Brenegan of the chairs the Respect Life Baltimore archdiocesan Committee at St. Louis Respect Life Office.

Grow."

Parish in Clarksville, said she is "The text speaks only to the Cardinal William ·H. Keeler looking forward to incorporatbaby's development, which of Baltimore said he was im- ing the posters into the spiritual makes (the posters) suitable for ·pressed with the posters, which adoption program at her parish, any secular or religious educa- were very well received by the .which has a thriving Pro-Life tional purpose - public and pri- other U.S. bishops when he took program. vate schools, doctors' offices, them to Atlanta for a national "Having the pictures will be hospitals, churches, etc.," she meeting in June. wonderful," said the mother and added. .

"They reflect on reality in a grandmother.

Ruth Bielobocky of Ion De- way that ties into the spiritual In the St. Louis program, sign in Frederick designed the message we need to preach Kissane said, parishioners select posters, which also contain text about the importance of every pink or blue pledge cards, name describing the monthly develop- human life," he said. "They're the unborn child and commit to ment process. In the third beautifully done and instantly praying for him or her. month, for example, the unborn tell the story of the development "Prayer is really an effective baby can squint, swallow and of an individual baby." tool against abortion, something move his tongue. He even has The posters also serve as a even children can do," she said. his own set of fingerprints. means to promote the spiritual Contributing to this story was Brenegan did the pastel paint- adoption program, inspired by Jennifer Williams in Baltimore. ings for the posters, while the late Archbishop Fulton J. For further information or Estella Chavez, an employee of Sheen, in which participants to order the posters, call (410) the archdiocese, translated the pledge to pray daily for nine 547-5537 or e-mail text into Spanish. months for an unborn child life@archbalt.o~

type of employee who can do it and still accomplish their job VALPARAISO, Ind. - Is a here." federal agency that routinely con- . In addition to his liturgical fronts drug dealers, armed sepa- functions, the deacon is involved ratists, spies and gangsters any with youth ministry at his parish. .Father David Gosnell, pastor place for a man of God? For Deacon Michael at St. Elizabeth Seton, described Prendergast, a lifelong Catholic Deacon Prendergast as "full of and 24-year veteran of the FBI, energy, rarin' to go, always on the the answer is yes. To him, there move. He brings the wisdom of is no conflict between his work the job." and his faith.

The pastor added, "Mike brings "One flows right into the his unique gifts, as we all do. He's very open. You never other," he said. "Both vocations very think of him as an FBI agent. He's are about people."

As a sp~cial agent with the very gung-ho about his faith, his bureau, Deacon Prendergast is service to the Church."

Deacon Prendergast and his currently involved in combating gang and drug activity. A mem- wife of 19 years, Lucy, have two ber of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish children, Sean, 17, and Megan, in Valparaiso, he was ordained a 13. They moved from Chicago to deacon of the Gary diocese a little Northwest Indiana 10 years ago.

He concedes that police officmore than a year ago.

"I have not had any conflicts ers, by the nature of their work, with my faith and my job," he told tend to spend more time exposed the Northwest Indiana Catholic, to society's underbelly. However, Gary's diocesan newspaper. "I he feels he has a duty to uphold think there's an unrecognized and respect the dignity of each inbond among law enforcement and dividual.

He said he has never had to individual faiths."

Deacon Prendergast, 47, is the shoot at a human being but only ordained minister in the "wouldn't hesitate" if the occaFBI's Merrillville office, but he's sion arose.

Becoming a deacon has helped certain that there are other agents involved in ministry around the his work with the bureau, he said.

"It's fortified my understandcountry. ". Thomas Gancarz, his supervi- . ing of the people I'm investigatsor, could not recall any other or- ing," he said. "As FBI agents dained agents but said, "It's kind we're here to rectify the situation. of neat that someone can pursue Does it always work? No. We something in life they desire. It's deal with people with problems.

Hopefully, in time, we can help rather unique."

Gancarz added, "Mike is the them see the light of day."

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FBI SPECIAL agent Michael Prendergast works his beat fighting gang and drug activity in downtown Gary, Ind. Prendergast, who was ordained a deacon last year, has been with the bureau for 24 years. (CNS photo by Karen Callaway, Northwest Indiana Catholic)

10

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THE ANCHOR - Diocese ofFaH River - Fri., August 10, 2001

New series borrows' .', page from Catholic

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'Black Like Me'

By MARK PATTISON CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

son," Shapiro said.

"They were both' with the HOLLYWOOD (CNS) family of the other person, Forty years ago, Catholic au- and out in the real world. And 'thor John Howard Griffin by the end of the day, they returned his skin from white to ally had the experience of black with the help of a drug, feeling what it was like to be and traveled around the deep the other person," he said.

'South to experience firsthand Shapiro also did a the effect of racial segregation, "Flipped" episode making a and animosity. gang member ,a cop fo~ a day, The resulting book, "Black and vice versa.

Like Me," was a sensation and Another "Flipped" segali eye-opener. ment, perhaps less serious but The MTV cable channel is no less a revelation, switched borrowing a page from "Black mother and daughter, he said.

Like Me" with its new series "By the end of that experi"Flipped," which premiered ence, they each had a proMonday. It will be shown found, emotional gut experi10:30-11 p.m. EDT Mondays. ence of what it's really like to The show puts two people be the other person," Shapiro into each other's lives for a said. "Consequently, more day to see if they can see the compassion, more understandother's point of view more ing, more tolerance, less arclearly afterward. guing, less hostility on both, "Imagine if one day, your sides. And it really vastly imteen-ager suddenly had to be proved their relationship, and you for the day," said Brian hopefully those of the people Graden, MTV's president of who watch." programming, in a press conHe added, "All of this is ference with TV writers. real. And it's just such a plea"They had to put on the sure to do a series like this, clothes ... listen to your boss, where you have the experienc:e they had to then, of course, to show young people what fun home, make dinner, clean it's really like to be on, the the house, all of tliat stuff," othe~ side, by letting them exhe said. "By the end of the, perience it rather than just tellday', they would probably have ing them about it." a whole new degree of empaShapiro w_as tabbed for the thy for what it's like ~o be project because of his long you." . ' history of youth-oriented Griffin's scenario, was documentary features dating staged anew for "Flipped" by , back to the original "Scared its executive producer, Arnold Straight."

Shapiro; Shapiro also has done the, "In the case of the (episode) specials "Scared Silent," about 'Black and White Like "Break the Silence: Kids Me' .:....:.. which is inspired by Against Child Abuse," "Kids that ,1961 book by John, Killing Kids" and UPN's Howard Griffin, 'Black Like' :'Teen Files."

Me' -'- u~ing special-effects He received an Emmy makeup, we made a white' nomination in July for the teen-ager black for a day and ~ "Teen Files" special "Surviv"an African-American, teen-' ing High School.'~ He has won' ager white for a day, and put', ,an Oscar, 15 Emmys, three them into situations', where', Humanitas Prizes, the the)1 would really, really see Peabody Award and the Anhow it felt t? be the other per- gel Award.

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ICaIV~Ullle~ NEW YORK (CNS) - Following are recent capsule reviews issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Office for Film and Broadcasting.

"Greenfmgers" (IDP) Enjoyable yet predictable com-

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edy about a hardened British prisoner (Clive Owen) who takes up gardening as part of his rehabilitation, and is aided by a celebrity horticulture expert (Helen Mirren) to eventually compete in a prestigious flower show. As written and directed

by Joel Hershman, the film's famil-, iar story, line of triumph over adversity is tempered by fine performances and lus~ garden shots. A sexual encounter, brief nudity and some rough language and profanity. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-ill---.: adults. The Motion PictureAssociation of America rating is R - restricted.

''Original Sin" (MGM) Tawdry drama set in the late

Latest transition: Odyssey Channel out, Hallmark Channel in , HOLLYWOOD (CNS) - The Odyssey Channel programming decisions.

"For us to do pretty much what we want is still a will undergo another transformation when it becomes value to us," Gonzalez said. "We want to do broadthe Hallmark Channel.

The switch took effect this week with the first of a ba,sed faith programming as much in the media as posthree-part miciseries produced by Hallmark, ''The In- sible," she added. "So being part of the Hallmark Channel is a pretty wonderful thing to us." finite Worlds of H.G. Wells."

The 15 hours weekly'represent 8.9 percent of a 168The National Interfaith Cable Coalition, which had been programming'40 hours weekly on Odyssey, will hour week. By comparison, the National Interfaith Cable haye its time cut to 15 hours a week, seven of them on Coalition holds less than eight percent of the stock in Crown Media, which runs the Hallmark Chaimel here Sunday.

The daily Mass will be gone from the schedule, but and several Hallmark Channels overseas.

Hallmark and the Jim a Sunday Mass will remain, Henson Co. had been equal said a spokeswoman for minority partners in the Faith & Values Media, Odyssey Channel. Under which develops programthe new own~rship strucming for the interfaith cable ture, Hallmark assumes cregroup. ative control in programSometime in the fall, ming the cable channel, Faith & Values Media will ' which reaches an estimated debut "New Moming" at 7 31.5 million U.S. housea.m. Eastern time weekholds. days. It's a half-hour proSustaining a cable changram with "inspiration and nel for religious believers exploration for adults to according to the precepts help them prepare spirituoutlined by Odyssey's preally for the day ahead:' said decessors has proven eluMelissa Gonzalez, Faith & Values' spokeswoman. sive.

Until then, Hallmark Odyssey started out as will show in that time slot VISN, or Vision Interfaith ''LifestyIe Magazine" MonSatellite' Network. VISN . days, "Our FamilylNuestra permitted no on-air prosFamilia" Tuesdays, "Prielytizing or fund solicitaTHE HALLMARK Channel made its de- tion, and banned denigratmary Focus" Wednesdays, ''At Home Live" Thursdays but Aug. 5 with the first of a three-part ing other religions' beliefs and "On Main Street" Fri- miniseries "The Infinite Worlds of H.G. Wells." and practices. days.

VISN, which showed Tom "Ward stars as Wells and Katy Carmichael In early 2002 an is Jane, his. one true love. (CNS photo from programming from the Nahourlong program, as yet Hallmark Entertainment) tional Interfaith Cable Conuntitled, will be shown sortium - a mix of Cathoweekdays at noon. To be hosted by a cleric, it will look lic, mainline Christian and Jewish TV production comfor "answers to problems that we.al1 have: family, faith" panies'-later added Baptists, with the channel renamed work, and relationships:' Gonzalez said, adding it will VISNIACTS, or American Christian Television Sysbe similar to the "Padre Alberto" talk show that airs on tem. the Spanish-language Telemundo network.

But that effort proved unsuccessful, and the channel For the time being, however, she said, reruns of was renamed Odyssey ,with a greater emphasis on dra"Rescue 911" will appear there.. matic programming that reflected the values espoused , Sunday programming, according to Gonzalez, will by the participating production companies.. include three hours of worship, with a Catholic Mass In 1998, faced with tighter budgets and fewer cable featured each week, plus a half-hour program looking franchises carrying Odyssey, the interfaith cable group at contemporary issues from a faith perspective. Mary sold 75 percent of its interest in Odyssey to Henson and Alice Williams' "Odyssey Weekly" show will be re- Hallmark, which split it equally. A reworked program tained but retitled; Gonzalez said. lineup borrowing heavily from the Hallmark and Henson Religious programmers may have up to 14 addi- program libraries debuted in April 1999. tional hours for their shows, but they'll have to buy the Henson's stake in the Hallmark Channel has lesstime from the Hallmark Channel - and those hours ened, but not been eliminated entirely. The Hallmark will be between 4-6 am.

Channel will debut a new weekday series "Jim Henson's ''There may very well be" religious broadcasters who Telling Stories with Tomie de Paola," 7:30-8 a.m. EDT will buy time, Gonzalez said. "Nothing's set in stone at Mondays-Fridays. this point, but there's definitely some interest."

Hallmark is best known for its ongoing "Hallmark While F.aith & Values media continues to pro-, Hall of Fame" made-for-TV movie series, with regram the hours given it by Hallmark, it is not re- peats from the series running weekly ,on the Hallmark sponsible for making the cable channel's overall Channel.

1800s in which a Cuban coffee baron (Antonio Banderas) is plunged into a world of deceit when he discovers his American mail-order bride (Angelina Jolie) is a manipulative seductress with designs on the family fortune. In writer-director.

Michael Cristofer's melodramatic tale of lies and romantic obsession, the transforming power of love is undermined by cloying dialogue and predictable twists. Several intense sexual situations with nudity, brief violence and a few instances of profanity. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification isA, IV - adults with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America tating is R - restricted.

"The Others" (Dimension)

Eerie psychological thriller set in 1945 about a mother (Nicole Kidman) and her two photosensitive children who live in darkness 'in a remote isl~d mansion, but soon discover they are not alone; WriterdirectorAlejandro Amenabar's chilling tale of isolation is well-written, deftly building tension until its startling conclusion while prompting questions about faith and the mysteries of life after death. Mature questioning of afterlife, some menace with several frightening mo- ' ments.. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification isAill - adults. The Motion Picture Association ofAmerica rating is PG13 - parents are strongly cautioned.

Some material may be inappropri-

ate for children under 13.

"The Princess Diaries" (Disney) Conventional comedy about a gawky 15-year-old girl (Anne Hathaway) who suddenly discovers she is the sole heir to a tiny European country, and with the help of her newfound grandmother (Julie Andrews) must learn to act like a princess. Although mildly pleasant, director Garry Marshall's film has a pre-fab quality that even the classy Andrews cannot overcome. Slight undermining of authority and a few brief kissing scenes. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-I - general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G - general audiences.

Church can do more ~o· promote vocations, archbishop says

By CAlliOUC NEWS SERVICE

U.S. dioceses have vocation recruitment programs, noting that "unfortunately that means 20 percent do not."

"Even worse, perhaps," he added, "is the fact - discovered in a survey last year by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate - that less than 50 percent of the priests in the nation are actively involved in inviting men to join the ranks of the priesthood," the archbishop wrote in America's July 2-9 issue.

WASHINGTON - If the Catholic Church really wants to increase vocations, it needs a better strategy, according to the chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Vocations.

'To date the Church has addressed the vocation problem in scattershot fashion - and with scattershot results," said Archbishop Roger L. Schwietz of Anchorage, Alaska, in an article in America magazine.

He said that about 80 percent of

Citing some current statistics on the priesthood, the archbishop said that about 50 percent of the men ordained this year are under 35.

Fewer than 500 men are ordained each year compared to 35 years ago when there were 1,000 ordinations a year.

'The number of priests and religious are falling as the number of Catholics increases," the archbishop said. "In 1965 there were 46.6 million Catholics in the United States.

Today there are 62 million."

Pope urges young Catholics to attach themselves to Christ VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope John Paul n, in a message for World Youth Day in Toronto next year, urged young Catholics to steep themselves in Church tradition while experiencing the joy of living the Christian faith.

He asked youths to "steer .clear of the mediocrity and conformism so widespread in society" by attaching themselves firmly to Christ.

He plans to join hundreds of thousands of young people in Toronto next July 18-28 for the international youth celebration.

"In this secularized age, when many of our contemporaries think and act as if God did not exist or are attracted to irrational forms of religion, it is you, dear young people, who must show that faith is a personal decision which involves your whole life," Pope John Paul said.

In his message, released at the Vatican July 31, he invited young Catholics to "come and make the great avenues ofToronto resound with the joyful tidings that Christ loves every person.

"In the heart of a multicultural and multifaith city, we shall speak of Christ as the one savior and proclaim the universal salvation of which the Church is the sacrament," he said.

The gathering's theme was to be Christ's words in ~·<t·

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the Gospel of Matthew: "You are the salt of the earth ...

You are the light of the world."

Just as salt was long used to preserve food, "you are called to preserve the faith which you have received and pass it on intact to others," the pope told young Catholics.

"Your generation is being challenged In a special way to keep safe the deposit of faith," he swd.

He told them to "discover your Christian roots" and study the Church's history and spiritual heritage.

"Only by staying faithful to God's commandments, to the covenant which Christ sealed with his blood poured out on the cross, will you be the apostles and witnesses of the new millennium," he said.

The pope said Christ offers believers his "light," a new way of looking at the world and at other people.

Faith "is notjust a collection of theoretical assertions to be approved and accepted by the mind, but an experience to be had, a truth to be lived, the salt and light of all reality," he said.

The 81-year-old pontiff asked young Christians to guard against being influenced by "those who are disillusioned with life and who have grown deaf to the deepest and most authentic desires of their heart.

"Dear young people, do not be content with anything less than the highest ideals," he said.

'~". ...

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,

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., August 10,2001

11

Another factoris the average age of religious: diocesan priests, 59; religious order priests, 63; and women religious, 68.

The archbishop said that a key event for the future of vocations will be the Continental Congress for Vocations in Montreal next April, the third such event. The first vocations congress was in Brazil in 1994 and the second was in Rome in 1997.

Before next year's meeting, he said, dioceses and regions will host sessions to gather input for the meeting's facilitators who must develop a pastoral plan for vocations.

Such a plan, he said, should include the following objectives: "Keep concern for vocations in front ofpeople; make priests and religious visible among the young; (and) help young people believe they can make a difference and nurture a spiritual life."

As Archbishop Schwietz sees it, every diocese and religious order needs "a multifaceted recruitment plan" and a national plan to assist them, which could include a national Website to' which inquiries for the religious life could be directed.

Dioceses and religious orders also 'need at least one full-time vocations director, he said. This person would

be engaged in more than just "mailing pamphlets and running ads" and would actively recruit potential candidates through interviews with young people, he added. The director also would get together with them at campus liturgies or young adult programs.

The archbishop urged priests and religious to "personally promote vocations." He noted a study by sociologist Dean Hoge that found 89 percent of the'200I ordination class had personal conversations with priests about their decisions.

He recommended that children of all ages be informed about the religious life and the priesthood, just as they are about other professions, and urged that young people become as involved as possible in all aspects of Church life.

The archbishop also advised targeting special groups, particularly Hispanics, pointing out that in this year's ordination class, 13 percent are Hispanic - compared to the percentage ofHispanics in the United States, which is estimated at 25 to 30 percent. .

At the very least, the archbishop suggested, petitions for vocations should be a part of every Mass, Catholic school or religious education program and family prayer.

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12

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River'- Fri., August 10,2001

South African bishops condemn promoting condoms to fight AIDS

By BRONWEN DACHS CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE

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CAPE TOWN, South Africa - The Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference said the promotion of condom use to combat AIDS was an "immoral and misguided weapon against the disease."

They also said husbands and wives must deci~e for themselves how to defend against AIDS when one of them already has contracted the deadly disease.

Condoms do not guarantee protection against AIDS and lead to a "breaking down of the moral fiber" of society, the bishops said in a recent statement that followed the close of their seven-day plenary meeting in Pretoria, capital of South Africa, "Condoms change the beautiful act of love into a selfish search for pleasure, while rejecting responsibility," the bishops said.

"Abstain and be faithful is the human and Christian way of overcoming HIV/AIDS," the statement read, When one spouse carries the AIDS virus, "there is the real danger that the healthy partner may contract this killer disease," the bishops said. In these cases, couples must "listen to their consciences" in deciding how to defend themselves from spreading AIDS to the noninfect.ed partner.

"The Church accepts that everyone has t~e right to defend one's life against morta,1 danger, This would include using the appropriate'means and course of action," the bishops said.

"Decisions of such an intimate nature should be made by both husband and wife as equal and loving partners," the bishops said, without referring directly to condoms as a means of protection.

The bishops said that "the promotion and distribution of

condoms as a means ofhaving socalled 'safe sex'" sends the wrong' message to society.

They said promoting condom use was equal to telling society "it is all right to use another person for selfish pleasure" and that there was no need for people to practice self-control or abstinence.

In what they described as "an extremely difficult and time-consuming exercise," the bishops said they "had to find a way to blend the Church's traditional teaching on the sanctity of family life and values with the compflssionate out-reaching role demanded by Christ."

The bishops' meeting followed comments by Bishop Kevin Dowling of Rustenburg that a traditional Catholic evaluation of moral behavior can, in some rare circumstances, lead to the acceptance of the use of condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS. Condoms "do not guarantee protection against HIV/AIDS" and "may even be one of the main reasons for the spread" of the virus, the bishops said.

More than 4.5 million South Africans are HIV positive or have AIDS. The nation has the highest 'prevalence of HIV infection among adults in the world. , In neighboring Botswana, more than a third of adults are HIV-positive; in Swaziland, more than a fifth are infected.

The bishops encouraged'young , people infected with the virus "to speak up openly and help your companions to avoid the disease."

They called on young men to "respect girls and young women and relate to them without making sexual demands of them."

The bishops called on all South Africans to "break the silence" surrounding AIDS and to accept' those'who are diagnosed with the disease.

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NAZAR HABASH, 17, and Nadeem Issad, 18, stand in the ruins of the Palestinian police station in the West Bank town of Ramallah. Ttie building was destroyed by Israeli forces in retaliation for a Palestinian suicide bombing in ~he city of Netanya in May. "I believed in peace, but that was before," said Issad. "Now I don't believe peace is possible." (eNS photo

by Debbie Hill)

, Year, of violence takes toll on young Catholics in West' Bank

By JUDITH SUDILo'VSKY CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

RAMALLAH, West Bank Just as the long, hot summer days continue to stretch out before them, young members of the Catholic parish in Ramallah see their own 'futures looming ominously in front of them.

The young people, either recent high school graduates or entering their senior year, normally would hang out with friends at one of the modern' Internet bars or chic cafes or shop at the fash: ionable boutiques that used to, line the busy streets of Ramallah - the Palestinian, affluent center of the West Bank.

Last year the boys worked summer jobs, earning extra spending money. But this year no work is to be found. Traditionally parents do not allow their high-school: aged girls to work.

A year of violence and death has taken its toll on the West Bank's youths, who feel they have nothing to look forward. to. They have lost their innocence and hope for the future.

"I have a friend who lost an eye in one of the demon,strations," said recent high school graduate Nadeem Issad, 18, his anger evident during an interview that followed Mass in Holy Family Church in Ramallah. " I believed in peace, but that was before. Now I don't believe peace'is possible," Issad said, Some of his anger also is aimed at the U.S. government and media, whom he blames for giving Israel weapons and reporting only on Israeli casualties.

Issad studied at the Catholic seminary in BeitJalla through last year. The young man struggles to find a balance between his anger

Vatican foundation approves $1.7 million in grants for indigenous VATICAN CITY (eNS) - The Vatican-sponsored "Populorum, Progressio" Foundation, established by Pope John Paul II to help indigenous and African-American communities in the Caribbean and Latin AmeriCa, has approved grants totaling more than $1.77 million, The foundation's administrative council, made up mostly of Latin American bishops, approved the funding for 215 projects during an' early July meeting in Coban, Guatemala, The Vatican's Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," which coordinates and promotes charitable giving, issued a statement about the meet. mg.

The foundation's funding comes mostly from the Italian bishops' conference and is used only for projects on behalf of indigenous, mestizo and African-American communities in poor rural areas.

The projects approved in July came from 19 countries and deal mainly with agricultural production projects, artisans and small businesses, wells and other community infrastructure projects and education, the Vatican said.

The meeting in Guatemala included a special focus on that country, especially its indigenous peoples who make up an estimated 55 percent of the nation's population and an even higher percentage of its poor, the statement said. ,

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PALESTINIAN CATHOLIC students Nazar Habash, Maureen Alahati and Nadeem Issad (back) stand near the destroyed car of'two Israeli soldiers who were lynched by angry Palestinians in the West Bank town of Ramallah last fall. "l don't have any hope for peace," said Habashrecently. (eNS photo by Debbie Hill)

and the respect for life and aversion to killing he was taught in the seminary.

Nightly gunfire disrupts freedom of movement in Ramallah, said Maureen Alahati, 16.

"Before we were free to go shopping or see friends. Now it is very difficult to do .these things and our parents are much more afraid to let us go out. The shooting at night makes me very anxious," Alahati told Catholic News Service.

She said Palestinian police positioned themselves in empty buildings throughout the city including one across the street from her house.

The year of violence has taken its toll on the teens, disrupting their studies for the all-important final exams, which determine their course of study in college.

Instead of studying, Issad showed CNS how he could see the nightly shoot-outs from his bedroom window., And when graduation finally came, the young people did not celebrate because two people were killed during clashes at that time.

"During other summers my friends and I had lots of parties, we'd go dancing. Before I felt calm and relaxed. Now even if I do socialize I don't feel relaxed so it is as if I am doing nothing," said Nazar Habash, 17.

"I don't have any hope for peace, We've tried that route for the past nine years and we have not had peace," he said. "I believe we Palestinians have the right to defend our country, all of Palestine, all of our country ,which Israel took." , The youths think of their future in a limited sense, not knowing if there will be peace or continued clashes in their neighborhood. They don't know how often the universities will be open or if they will be able to reach the university in Bethlehem or , nearby Bir Zeit.

Book

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., August .10, 2001 Continuedfrom page one

pictured by Wray as a person more widely known an appreciated today that ever before in history.

The book had its start some three to four years ago when Wray visited a daughter in the Chelsea section of Landon where the local parish was that of Our Most Holy Redeemer and St. Thomas More.

"I became friendly with the pastor, FatherAlan Hopes, the vicar general of the Westminster Diocese, and I discovered More lived the last IO year of his life in that area. He had a relic, a piece of the hair shirt More wore and he showed it to me, and I developed an intense interest."

After much reading, visiting the many pertinent sites and talking with people who knew much about More, Wray made subs~uent trips to Canterbury, where More's head is buried; and was allowed a privileged visit to the cell where More lived up to his execution.

"It was during this time of study of More that I suddenly realized how popular he was becoming in the United States," Wray recalled.

'The impeachment and trial of President William Clinton was going on and the name of St. Thomas More came up repeatedly."

Wray said that "none ofthe newspapers picked it up. But Rep. Henry Hyde of Illinois, a Catholic - in arguably one of the most famous speeches in history before the U.S. Senate after Clinton was impeached in the House where More's name

Step

TALKED ABOUT new book looks at the Thomas More now being honored by the very Church in England which martyred him and also mentioned during the impeachment trial of the president of the United States. (Anchor photo)

Kenneth Starr' and others as well, referred to More using More as an example of the integrity needed in

office," Wray noted.

"Obviously they were pointing out that Clinton was not an example of the kind of integrity they felt was . demanded of the office," said Wray, who added, "butnone ofthem would give me copies of what was said."

Wray discovered on his own that not a single quotation used in the House or in the Senate during the hearings or trial "were ever spoken

by More. Every single quotation was taken from a book by Robert Bolt who wrote the famous, award-winning play, 'A Man For All Seasons,' which subsequently was made into a movie," said Wray.

"So here is author Bolt, whose character of More is being quoted in one of the most important events of our time and it makes it look like More actually said these things, when he did not," asserted Wray.

"And More would never had said those things he is quoted as saying, because anything St. Thomas More would have said in the vein of integrity, honor and office would have been introduced in atheological way and he would have referenced Christ, the Catholic Church and obligations as Catholics," Wray contended.

"Of course none of that was said

by Bolt and none of that mentioned in the House or in the Senate proceedings either," Wray added.

Wray said it was the hearings on Clinton that pressed him even more in wanting to write about More and his impact on modem times.

Continued from page one

tor; subsequently was a teacher in the Fall River Public School System at the Morton Middle School; served in the U.S. Navy as Hebrew cryptologic technician and was honorably discharged in 1994.

Accepted as a seminarian for the diocese on Aug. 15, 2000, he did his pre-theology studies at Mount St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md.; did apostolic work in the soup JOSEPH R. kitchen at St. Francis Parish in Harrisburg, Pa.; and served during the summer at St. Mary's Cathedral.

Joseph R. Chagnon Chagnon, 22, born in Fall River, is the son of Paul and Judith

House

came up - frequently referred to integrity and duty of office and opened his remarks supposedly quoting Thomas More. .

"Even the special prosecutor,

(Donnelly) Chagnon ofSwansea and belongs to St. Michael Parish there.

He has a brother, Mark Chagnon.

He attended the Luther Elemen,...-

CHAGNON

KARL C.

tary School in Swansea and Case Junior High School and graduate from Case High School, Swansea, in 1997. He received a bachelor's degree in history from the Univer-

sity of Dallas in 1994.

Prior to formal admission as a seminarian for the diocese on Aug. 15, 1997, he did volunteer work at .., Charlton Memorial Hospital, the Swansea Historical Society and the Fall River Soup Kitchens.

During his four years ofcollege at St. John Seminary College in Brighton, he taught religious education at St. John/St. BISSINGER Hugh Parish; performed other apostolic work teaching religious education to mentally challenged adults; and this summer assisted at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Attleboro. .

13

What is interesting, says Wray, is that in the aftermath of the U.S. proceedings, in November 2000, Pope John Paul n, made St. Thomas More, "that man of singular virtue," the patron of statesmen and politicians. . Wray said he feels that More, "this timeless man for all seasons, is, duri~g this millennium echoing . again: on the Potomac and the Tiber in Rome, and on the Thames too, where the Anglican Church has adopted him. That church, as part of its millennium celebrations, has made St. Thomas More part of 'The Trail of the Thames' in which his childhood home. Lambeth Palace and his cell have now been opened to the public."

"It is indeed unusual to see a man of yesteryear's history; a man con- . victed of treason and executed, being taken even by the Church that killed him and now viewed as a role model for the morals of today." said Wray.

Wray said More "accepted it all willingly knowing he was not guilty and never said a word against Henry vm whom he had spend a life of service to. More understood what was happening, and knew it had to be. He felt clearly that to accept the oaths being required by the King recognizing him as head of the Church in England, would have endangered his own soul and that his only ambition was to save his own soul."

The author said it is interesting that his alma mater, the University of Notre Dame, in its political science area, hopes to teach and bring

a new integrity to American political life. And another Thomas More aficionado, Thomas Monaghan, founder ofDomino pizza, has similar leanings, founding a new conservative law school, Ave Maria, outside of Detroit, Wray reported..

The new book, in paperback, is at most bookstores and is also available on the Website www.lstbooks.com.

Although happy with the book being published by 1stBooks, Wray said he would have preferred to have it published by a Catholic publishing house, and still has hopes of that.

"I was told repeatedly that St. Thomas More was not someone readers asked for and that books on saints don't sell anymore," Wray said, with a smile. "Perhaps all that will change."

C. Robert Wray is a former U.S. Navy officer who later taught, coached and headmastered for more than three decades in independent schools before retiring. He and his wife Paula (Roche) Wray currently live in North Falmouth, andinNaples,Fla. They have four children and four grandchildren.

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statement saying, 'The administration unequivocally is opposed to the cloning of human beings either for reproduction or for research. The moral and ethical issues posed by human cloning are profound and cannot be ignored in the quest for scientific discovery."

The bill still must go through the Senate, where it has been introduced

by Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan. Msgr. William P. Fay, general secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, urged passage of a complete ban on cloning human embryos in a letter sent to members ofCongress shortly before the House floor debate began.

Highlighting the urgency of the

issue, Msgr. Fay wrote, "Some researchers have already announced that they are trying to produce a liveborn child by cloning - despite an overwhelming scientific consensus that about 99 percent of new humans created by this method would die before birth, and the rare survivor would sufferfrom massive medical problems.

Embryonic cloning involves removal of the 23-chromosome nucleus from a woman's egg and replacing it with the full 46-chromosome nucleus of a person's regular somatic, or body, cell. The resulting embryo is a genetic duplicateofthe donor of the nucleus. The most famous example of animal

cloning using this technique was the sheep "Dolly," produce9 in 1996.

When Bush and the pope met, the pope condemned "the creation for research purposes of human embryos destined to destruction."

When some suggested afterward that the pope had left a door open for research on "extra" embryos originally created to implant in awoman's womb but not used that way, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said that was not the pope's intent.

According to Church teaching, the deliberate destruction of a human embryo - no matter how or why it was created - is morally unacceptable, even if the aim is to help others, he said.

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14·THEANCHOR ~Diocese of Fall River-Fri., August 10,2001

OUR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

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OUR CATHOLIC YOUTH

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Bishop Stang students participate in gaInes \ NORTH- DARTMOUTH Seniors Vincente Di Santi and Michelle Jarvis of Bishop Stang High School participated in the 2001 World Scholar-Athlete Games this summer at the University of Rhode Island.

They joined more than 2,000 other scholar athletes represent-

ing 160 countries and all 50 states. Di Santi played baseball in the games and Jarvis competed in tennis. The World Scholar-Athlete Games uphold the traditions of the Olympics and celebrates scholarship, athletics and growth between nations..

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP Institute participants share a moment together between sessions. More than 30 teens took part in the five-day program held near Plymouth.

eLI participants learn leadership, faith PLYMOUTH - Close to 50 participants including teens, young adults and adult youth ministers helped to make this summer's Christian Leadership Institute (CLI) "very successful," according to Bud Miller, youth and young adult ministry director for the diocese.

Held at Camp Cachalot, a Boy Scout Camp in Myles Standish' State Forest nel!-r Plymouth, the five-day leadership training program for high school aged youth helps young Catholics love Jesus, commit themselves to His Church and embrace the life of Christian discipleship through service and leadership.

Participants then take those ski lis and that love of Christ home .with them to their own parishes where they bring it to others in parish youth groups and other activities. At CLI young people learn to develop and strengthen their skills for leadership and Christian ministry and that's important says Bud Miller. "CLI is a very spiritual experience. It's an opportunity for young adults to strengthen their faith and learn about leadership."

The days saw participation in a variety of interactive workshops

covering such topics as leadership participants. If these teens are any sty les, communication ,skills, , indication of what we can expect group dynamics, consensus seek- from this coming generation, the GJilifdrt:'" '..'it~,cj rf~' ) ing and planning skills. Each .day Church is in good hands," he conf r;., ~ ;,1 ", ' 'r;. ,~. """ t "," ;f( I' ,. , .'.. ' J':' i~ ,I,~ also included faith reflections that tended. focused on themes like the perTeam members and presenters ST. LAWRENCE, New Bedford, Religious Education stuson and identity 'of Jesus Christ, for eLI 200 I were: Victor dents receive their certificates of attendance to learn the way the Catholic Church and Catholic' . Bergeron, Laura Bouchard, Steve identity.

Byers, Christina Constantino, of the Lord. They are pictured with the director of religious It also blended fun and outdoor Alexis Escobar, Kevin Gingras, education, Teresa Ouellette. activities like volleyball, swim- Debbie and Christian Jezak, Jean l1}ing, Frisbee tossing and c:moe- Kelly, Ryan Levesque, Donna . ing with prayer and workshop op- Martiniak, Steve Medeiros, Bud portunities.

Miller, Val Monteiro, Bobbie "The teens were very well cho- Paradise, Kristine Pereira, Rich sen for this year's CLI," said Prunier, Monica Rivera, Caitlin Miller. "All of the adult team Ryan, Rob Surette, Father David leaders were impressed with the Sharland and Father Hernando quality, maturity and faith of the Herrera.

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MANY SMILES were found at this summer's CLI which blended leadership and faith together..

• SUMMER CONFERENCE - Junior Patrick Flaherty of Bishop Feehan High School, Attleboro, par. ticipated in the Wisconsin Whitewater Leadership ConferenGe this summer. The conference featured talks on leadership, discussion gro"ups and offered Flaherty an opportunity to meet students from around the world.

He was sponsored by the Attleboro Rotary Club and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Flaherty of Attleboro.

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ELECTIONS - Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River, recently announced its senior class student council officers for the 2001-2002 school year. From left are President Leslie Viveiros, Vice President Carolyn Bloomfield, Secretary Rebecca Brooder and Treasurer Lisa Ramos. Below are officers for the sophomore class student council. From left are President Vanessa Coelho, Vice' President Tara Barboza, Secretary Matt Oliveira and Treasurer Gradeigh Mack.

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THEANCHOR-DioceseofFall River-Fri., August 10, 2001

15

By CHARUE MARTIN • CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE THERE YOU'LL BE

When I think back on these times And the dreams we left behind I'll be glad 'cause I was blessed To get to have you in my life When I think back on these days I'll look and see your face You were right there for me In my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky In my heart there'll always be a place for you, for all my life I'll keep a part of you with me And everywhere I am there you'll be And everywhere I am there you'll be Well you showed me how it feels To have the sky within my reaoh And I always will remember all the strength you gave to me Your love made me make it through Oh, lowe so much to you You were right there for me (Repeat third verse) 'Cause I always saw in you my life, my strength And I want to thank you for now for all the ways You were right there for me You were right there for me Always (Repeat third verse) There you'll be Written by Diane Warren Sung by Faith Hill Copyright (c) 2001 by Realsongs (ASCAP), Hollywood Records "There You'll Be" is yet another hit for Faith Hill. She is

the Country Music Association female singer of the year, but her numerous pop-chart hits demonstrate that her appeal reaches beyond country fans.

The song is offthe soundtrack to the big summer flick "Pearl Harbor." As a single, the release speaks about the power of attachment between those who care

crets to. All of this can be good for how we experience our lives.

Yet, do we genuinely make the effort to know our friends beyond such'roles? Do we take the time to understand their fears, disappointments and problems?

Do we convey the kind of emotional safety, that most enables YOUNG PEOPLE light candles from a flame held by them to be themselves?

Toronto Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic to mark the year count, Offering friends these impordown to World Youth Day 2002. (CNS photo by Bill Wittman) ~ .~ tant qualiti~s doe~ not mean al«~ ways agreemg WIth or approving of their decisions. However, if situations arise when we need to challenge friends about behaviors that could harm them or others, we do so with much caring.

TORONTO (CNS) - A Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

Indeed, true, lasting friend- candlelight procession thatconTrudeau said he returned to ship becomes a safe place, an eluded a Toronto rally heralded the Church following the deaths emotional connection that the beginning of the countdown of his brother three years ago helps others grow and be- to World Youth Day 2002. and his father last September. come what God wants them to "Slowly, carefully, I started "Tonight we realize that be.

World Youth Day has finally ar- to rediscover my own religion," I cannot hear this song's lyr- . rived on the shores of Lake he said. ics without thinking of our Ontario," Basilian Father ThoTrudeau said that he realized friendship with God. While the , mas Rosica, World Youth Day that the Church was less about song speaks eloquently about national director, told a group providing answers then it was friends, even more does it de- of about 3,000 people who gath- guiding him to ask the right scribe how God reaches out to ered outside Toronto's city hall questions. about each other. us. God's availability, under- for the rally.

"That's what the Church is The girl in the song reflects standing, forgiveness and supFather Rosica told the crowd to me. A teacher who guides me about her friend: "WhenI'think port are always "right there" for that the biannual celebration toward my own answers, gives back on these days, I'll look and us. " provided citizens an opportunity me support and information to see your face." She will never YVe need to do our part to nur- to give the world a glimpse of help me figure out the biggest forget "all the strength you gave ture this friendship - to make Canadian hospitality. question of all:' How do I do to me" and how "your love made talking with God a part of each "Now is the time to open justice to the wonderful gift of me make it through." day. wide your hearts and minds and life that God has given me?" he She summarizes her feelings Human friendships some-' churches and homes," he said. said. by saying that "I want to thank times experience transitions and Youth who attended the rally "Lead the way in collaborayou for now, for all the ways you changes. Circumstances may tion and generosity, kindness and displayed an excitement and enwere right there for me." limit how a friendship contin- hospitality. The entire world has thusiasm that they get to playa The emotional power in her ues. But this is not true with its eyes fixed on you," he said. role in World Youth Day's sucwords invites us to ask how we God. Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic cess. are there for our own friends. Do We can truly say to God that of Toronto led prayers and, Ana Majewska, 17 of we make their difficulties and when we reach out, "there you'll Scripture readings. He drew Kitchener, Ontario, said she was struggles a focus of our concern?, be." cheers when he told the crowd, happy to see her peers openly Friends play many roles. They Your comments are always "the principal hosts of the young express their faith. are the people we hang out with, welcome. Please address: , will be the young."

"I love seeing that there are chat with at school or over the Charlie Martin, 7125 W 200S, Also speaking at the rally was active Christian youth in Internet and perhaps tell our se- Rockport, Ind. 47635.

Justin Trudeau, son of the late Canada," she said.

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Toronto rally signals WYD countdown

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Looking at the big picture

By CHRISTOPHER CARSlENS CAlliOUC NEWS SERVICE

It's Saturday night, and you're waiting for the perfect moment for the big pitch. You and your parents have had a pleasant dinner together, and you're all watching television in the living room.

"Mom, dad," you start, "I've been thinking, and I've got an idea.

It's time for me to buy my own car."

You pause as your parents turn to each other, worned.

"Look, I've got a summer job and I've saved $900. I found this great little car on a lot near school.... So if you'll just sign the loan, I'll make the payments. It shouldn't be hard. I can keep my job during school, so money won't be a problem."

Ifyou talk fast enough, and your

parents don't think 'too hard, you may sell this one.

Me? I'm not buying it. This deal is a setup for misery.

You've got $900. A very basic safe car will cost at least six times that much, and a vehicle that you also think is cool will cost $10,000, minimum. The friendly guy at the car lot probably didn't mention the taxes, license fees and other sneaky costs which run up that price another $1,000 before the car rolls off the lot. The monthly payment on that cool car will be at least $350.

At a typical teen-ager'.s wage, earning the payment will take 11 hours a week of flipping burgers or filling grocery bags. Insurance will cost another 3.4 hours of work a week, and a tank of gas will cost another three. You'll be working

almost 18 hours a week just for your car, before you buy new tires or get the thing repaired, let alone spend a dime on yourself.

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flge FOR' YOUT" '. ABOUT YOUT"

I've seen way too many teens chain their lives to an automobile.

Sure, you can probably work all those hours, but what will it cost you? ' Studies show that students working 20 or more hours a week during the school year are less en-

gaged in class, earn lower grades, do less homework, cheat on exams more often and are less committed to higher education. Surprisingly, they are also 33 percent more likely to drink and experiment with drugs.

Teens who work 20 hours or more a week after school are inevitably exhausted, and it ,shows in their school performance and sociallives. Talking with them when they're older, they tell me: "I missed high school. All I did was work."

There's another sticky little problem. Mom and dad sign the papers, and so they own the car.

You can call it your car, but the law is clear: Kids not yet 18 can't sign contracts.

If you miss a payment, your folks are stuck with the bill. If you get sick of the smell of French fries and quit your job, they are really

on the hook. If they take over payments, they'll resent it. If they sell the car - your car - you'll hate them. I've seen it happen again and again.

I suggest that if your parents want another car and can afford it, they should buy one. If they let you drive this car, it's perfectly reasonable to expect you to cover your own insurance and your own gas.

Working 10 hours a week should take care of that commitment, leaving you money to spare.

It will also let you take care of your education and have a life, and that's what high school is really about.

Your comments are welcome.

Please address: Dr. Christopher Carstens, c/o Catholic News Service, 3211 Fourth St. N.E., 'Washington, D.C. 20017.

16

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., August 10, 2001

Women of color, women of faith gather in North Carolina

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St. Paul Church in New Bern, N.C. ''A lot of young adults my age' CHARUJITE, N.C. - For Sis- are leaving the Church, and I think ter Antona Ebo, the National Gath- we need to address that in the comering for Black Catholic Women in ing years," she told The Catholic Charlotte was a long time coming News & Herald, newspaper of the .Diocese of Charlotte. but weU-worth the wait.

The gathering was sponsored by The "double-digit" sister, as she caUs herself, has been a woman re- the sisters' conference, an organizaligious for 55 of her 77 years and is tion that includes African-American a founding member of the 33-year- women religious and lay male and old National Black Sisters' Confer- female associates from across the .

United States, and supported and ence based in Washington.

Sister Ebo, a Franciscan Sister of hosted by the Charlotte diocese.

It consisted of three days of pleMary, has lived through racisrn from all sides, including professing vows nary sessions, workshops, liturgies segregated from the sisters in her and social activities that focused on community and being denied entry the concerns of African-American THE BOSTON Province of the NationalCouncil of Catholic Women recently met in Portsto nursing studie§ in her home-town Catholic women. mouth, N.H. Fourteen women from the Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Using the theme "Black Catho- .attended, including the Boston Province Director and former Fall River DCCW President hospital. lic Women ... Untapped Treasures ... Magnify the Lord;' the Theresa Lewis, center. With Lewis are, from left: Father Lawrence Conley from the Diocese sessions and workshops were of Maine, chairman of the NCCW Moderators and Boston Province moderator; Deborah geared toward empowering Blaine from the Diocese of New Hampshire, incoming Boston Province director; Lewis; Joanne women to recognize their own Hillenbrand, immediate past NCCW president and guest speaker; and Joan Higgins, past worth and use their gifts in up- NCCW treasurer and guest speaker. , lifting the Church through ministry, vocations and growth.

"There are some serious issues that we need to look at, issues that pertain to us as black women, issues that pertain to us with respect to our PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - Fourteen women from ton Province would be included with the Provinces of role as black women in the · Catholic' Church, and issues the ~all River Diocesan Council pf Catholic Women New York, Hartford, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, · that pertain to us in terms of (DCCW) recently attended the National Council of St. Louis and Kansas City. That would incorporate :. how do we continue to be in Catholic Women (NCCW) Boston Province Meet- 1,541 members. The Committee feels this would lead solidarity with our people," ing held here. Theresa Lewis, past Fall River DCCW . to improved communication and support.

The recommendation, along with the proposed Bysaid SisterPatricia J. Chappell, president, and current Boston Province director, pre· a Sister of Notre Dame de sided over the gatheri~g of 35 representing the Maine, Law changes will be voted on at the National ConNamur and president of the New Hampshire, Springfield and Fall River dioceses. vention in Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 26~30.

At the convention, Lewis' two-year term of office The attendees heard NCCW Women Task Force ·black sisters' conference.

"We have come together to speaker Joanne Hillenbrand and past NCCW trea- as director of the Boston Province will come to a look at what we need to do as surer Joan Higgins speak about the potential reorga- close. The next Boston Province director to come black Catholic women to be nization regarding the regional breakdown of states. from the Fall River diocese will be in eight years.

DONNA HARRIS of Paducah, The changes, ifpassed, could encourage new memLewis is currently a candidate for the NCCW heard within a church that we Ky., listens during the opening love;' she said. bers to join the Council while maintaining the current Nominating Committee to be voted on at the national meeting of the first National GathThe event was a fusion of membership core. According to the proposal, the Bos- meeting. ering for Black Catholic Women the old and the new, lay and recently in Charlotte, N.C. (CNS religious, the past and the photo by Chris Keane) present. . Women religious, some in So, to be a witness to an assem- their habits, seemed to float through bly of more tlian 800 African- the gathering rooms: Other particiAmerican women - both lay and pants - wearing garb and headdresses in remembrance of Africa, religio~s, from aU walks of life and from more than 85 dioceses - was the Caribbean and other countries a dream come true for her and count- of origin - reconnected with old less others who traveled from aU ar- friends and met new ones during the eas of the country and beyond. weekend.

The gathering, held'July 27-29, Spirituals and songs of praise, was the culmination of 10 years of both spontaneous and planned, fell . planning, praying and perseverance from the lips of women celebrating on the part of the sisters' conference . the gathering. to bring African-American women . Through interpretations of Gostogether in the spirit of sisterhOQd pel and Christian songs, the Nia and solidarity. . . Dance Troupe, liturgical dancers They came to meet each other, from the Diocese of Owensboro, discuss the major issues that concern Ky., elicited shouts ofjoy and caused the community and Church, and participants to wave their outbond as a people united in their Ca- stretched hands. tholicism to enact change.

"How can I not be excited about . "I wanted to attend because I this, when black women, black , needed to see other black Catholic women of faith, get together, we al.EASY ON THE KNEES - George Belliveau, a member of St. Joseph's Parish, New women that are like me, and I've most intuitively know one another's makes the prayer life of his colleagues easier by. replacing and restoring the Bedford, never seen this many black Catho- stories. My story is like someone worn pads on the church's kneelers. Belliveau, 84, who has performed the repairs for lic women before in my life. This is else's story;' said SisterMary Roland something that I can tell my child Lagarde, a Sister of the Blessed Sac- .many years, does the work free 'of charge in his own home workshop and donates all of about;' said Stephanie Fisher from rament from Chicago. the material as well. (Photo courtesy of neighbors Hugh and Hazel Murray) CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE

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Dio.cesan women attend regional NCCW meeting

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