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FALL RIVER, MASS.

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Massachusetts bishops oppose new gambling measure

By DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR BOSTON - Proposed legislation that would expand legalized gambling in Massachusetts including slot machines at racetmcks is being opposed by the four Catholic bishops in the Commonwealth.

In a joint statement on October 31, Boston Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., Bishop George W. Coleman of Fall River, Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell of Springfield, and Bishop Robert 1.

McManus ofWorcester, said, "The expansion ofthe state's dependence upon gambling is a current and a critical issue, which we are compelled to address."

MSGR. STEPHEN J. Avila, right, diocesan director of the TV Mass Apostolate, introduces In stating their opposition, the Father Craig A. Pregana to the television audience watching the Mass on WLNE Channel 6 bishops noted that gambling often goes beyond legitimate recreational in this file photo. Longtime Channel 6 cameraman, Ken Grady, is at left. pursuits and can victimize the poor.

They also opined that the state should not rely on gambling for needed revenues, and urged state legislators to vote against proposals to expand gambling.

Although bishops of the four

By DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR one, said John E. Kearns Jr., director of communica- dioceses in the Commonwealth in FALL RIVER - "Deacon, I've been to Mass and tions for the Diocese of Fall River, who, with Msgr. solidarity have consistently spoken received holy Communion," the elderly woman said Stephen 1. Avila, director of the TV Mass Apostolate, out against any increases beyond proudly from her bed in Newport Hospital, R.I., on a coordinate the broadcast of the weekly Mass. recreational ganlbling for at least the "From the calls and letters I've received, not only past 20 years, the current ordinarrecent Sunday afternoon.

Because she was bound in a large surgical corset, do people in the Fall River diocese and other parts of ies' revisiting of gambling comes Massachusetts tune in to the Mass, but also people in as a new proposal works its way was this a story hard to believe?

No. The Mass she "attended" was on WLNE Chan- Rhode Island and parts of Connecticut," said Kearns. through a joint legislative commitMsgr. Avila agreed. . nel6, originating in New Bedford. It is broadcast at 11 tee. While there have been no rec"The primary mission of the Television Apostolate ommendations as yet, the matter is a.m., Sundays. Her Communion canle at the hands of an extraordinary minister of holy Communion, one is to reach out, to bring the Liturgy, the Mass to those slated to come up in the legislature who because of their infirmity or difficulty cannot go in coming weeks. of 30 or more that serve the hospital daily.

"I always tune in to the Mass from Fall River," the to Mass, and many Catholics - throughout the entire Among several measures that woman said. ''And I loved the homily. It was almost region - tune in to our broadcast Mass," Msgr. Avila would go beyond current limits is like being back at St. Joe's. I have been unable to get noted. one authorizing slot machines at "We're a regular fixture for many ofthe homebound various Massachusetts racetracks. to Mass, so this is the Mass 1'm at every Sunday."

The hospitalized woman's story is not an unusual None of them currently has them.

1itrn to page 12 - TV Mass

Fall River diocese's TV Mass is favorite ofregion's shut-ins

Edward F. Saunders Jr., executive director of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, the public policy voice of the Massachusetts Catholic bishops, explained what's happening.

"The Massachusetts bishops have no problem with legitimate small recreational gambling. But when there is talk ofa large expansion ... even authorizing a casino and so forth, there is a whole side of social issues that arise."

Several years ago, he said, the legislature authorized Simulcast racing at Massachusetts's racetracks.

"It means that those at local tracks receive broadcasts of mces held at other tracks in the country and can place wagers on them here," he said.

"That bill had a sunset provision in it and it ends at the end of this year. If nothing is done, that authorization will cease. But the Senate has placed an amendment on the Simulcast bill to authorize slot machines. So the Senate is using the Simulcast extension as a vehicle to get the slots issue before the legislature and get it signed into law," Saunders said.

The House has yet to address the issue.

But Saunders says a restricted timeframe indicates a movement is likely to get underway soon. ''Legislative rules are that the legislatures in the ftrst of two years - and we are now in the first year - cannot hold formal sessions after November 16," he said. "So we can expect something to happen very soon."

Turtl to page 13 - Gambling

Bay State's same-sex marriage law seen affecting nation's society, morals

By MIKE GORDON

"Nothing is more important to the social order of a country than BOSTON - Massachusetts' its families," he said. "They are allowance ofsame-sex couples to the backbone of the social order obtain marriage licenses has "set and when one region or state gets off alaml bells" on a variety of off the same page as the rest of merging social and moral issues the country in defining the cennationally, says Scott T. tral axis of marital and sexual FitzGibbon, a Boston College pro- morality, it must be addressed."

His testimony was in support fessor of law.

In his October 20 testimony to of the Federal Marriage Amendthe U.S. Senate Committee on the ment before the committee right Judiciary regarding an exanlina- now.

FitzGibbon, who teaches a tion of the constitutional anlendment on marriage, FitzGibbon seminar called "Marriage: -Law said grave concerns are appear- and Theory," said it's the hope of ing on local and national levels of Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., committee member, that it will society and culture.

ANCHOR STAFF

soon report it out and it will come before the Senate.

He addressed the social and moral consequences of the rec.ognition of same-sex marriages, which came about in the decision of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in the Goodridge v. Department of Public Health case. The resulting law went into effect in May 2004, making Massachusetts the only state where same-sex couples can obtain marriage licenses.

One ofthe biggest areas where that decision has made an impact is in the area ofeducation and our 1itrn to page 16 - Morals

,.

BISHOP GEORGE W. Coleman greets this year's recipients of the S1. Thomas More Awards presented at the annual Red Mass. From left, Stephen J. Hanna, assistant register of probate; the bishop, Judge Armand Fernandes Jr.; and Attorney Russell Redgate. (Photo by John E. Kearns Jr.)

Friday, November 11,2005

Sister Margaret Louise Ouellette SUSC TAUNTON Holy Union and the former Bishop Cassidy Sister Margaret Louise Ouellette, High School. She later taught at 78, a native of Fall River, who Coyle and Cassidy High School spent her teaching ministry in and was chair of the Business Taunton schools, died October Department, edited .its newslet30at Longmeadow Nursing ter, and was a member of its Academic Board and Discipline Home here.

The daughter of the late Eu- Board.

Sister Margaret Louise's gene L., and the late Margaret (Casey) Ouellette, she gradU;ated teaching assignments ended from Sacred Hearts Academy and when she became director of Thibodeau Business College in development for the Holy Union Fall River. She had also studied Sisters. She later became secreat the Massachusetts Memorial tary to the provincial, served as Hospital of Nursing. office manager, and became secIt was while she was em- retary to the Holy Union archiployed as a private secretary that vists in Fall River. she entered the Holy Union NoShe held office in numerous vitiate in Fall River on February regional business, education, 22, 1956. She professed vows healthcare and civic associaA "COURAGE" member leaves the rectory at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at St. James tions. in 1958 and 1964. in 'New Bedford, following a monthly meeting. (Photo by Peter Pereira/New Bedford Church Sister Margaret Louise conShe leaves a sister, Jean M. Times. Used with permission.) , Standardtinued her education at Sacred Sullivan of Fort Myers, Fla.; Hearts College in Fall River and nieces and nephews; grandnieces Catholic Teachers' College and and grandnephews; and her Holy Providence College. She received Union Sisters. a bachelor's degree in business Her Mass of Christian Burial education from Rivier College in was celebrated November 3 in Nashua, N.H. ,the chapel at Coyle and Cassidy In Taunton, she taught at the High School. Interment was in Editor's note: The foUowing meets one Saturday per month Courage members say being gay formerS1. Mary's High School S1. Francis Cemetery, Taunton. is reprinted with permission of at Our Lady of Guadalupe Par- is not a sin, but living a gay the New Bedford Standard ish' at St. James Church on lifestyle is.

Times.

County Street. Although the "It's not homosexuality that is Montie Plumbing cnapter began in 1995, current a sin, it's acting out," said Joe, & Heating Co.

By BECKY W. EVANS . membership is small - atten- who requested anonymity along NEW BEDFORD STANDARD-TIMES Over 35 Years dance at meetings ranges from with the other Courage members STAFF WRITER ofSatisfied Services two to six people. ' interviewed by The StandardReg. Master Plumber 7023 NEW BEDFORD - They But even with four regular Times.

JOSEPH RAPOSA, JR. gather once a m~mth to pray, members, the group serves an Joe, a 60-year-old New share their problems and encour- important role in the local Catho- Bedford resident who works as 432 JEFFERSON STREET age each other not to surrender lic community, said the Rev. Ri- a tour operator in Boston, said FALL RIVER 508-675-7496 to their so-called addiction. This chard D. Wilson, who facilitates converting to heterosexuality is is not a support group for alco- the Courage meetings at his par- neither his goal, nor the goal of holics, but rather for gay Catho- ish.

Courage.

SERVICEo .. By caring family and service:Jamily professionals lics who strive to obey the Catho- \ "They're a minority within a Instead, he aims to use his holic church's teachings on homo- minority," the Rev. Wilson said mosexuality as a means of TRUST. ..In the people you know sexuality by not acting out on of the members. strengthening his faith and forgtheir sexual desires.

"They find it helpful to get to- ing a closer relationship with CHOICE... Custom"designed. personalized tributes Courage is an international gether and share, so they can be God. spiritual support group endorsed reminded that they are not the "Sometimes your cross is AFFO RDABILITY... Dignified services at affordable cost by the Vatican that helps men and only person trying to live this what brings you to God," he said. women with same-sex attrac- out."

Courage members say chaste tions live "chaste lives in fellowAccording to the Catholic living can be a freeing experience ship, truth and love," according church, sexual acts outside of a that allows them to focus on their jBIlRaYl.. SIAJ.lV.A.N • ASHt'ON. c:otJGHJ..lN. DJUSCOU. www.waring·sulJivan.colll to the organization's Web site. marital union between a man and faith and build healthy relation.\ SERVICE (',,\IlLY AEFlUATI; Of An'S... sr:RVlCECORP,I\Tl. In RiX:K5TREH. P.'!'!' RIVER, M.'D:no $O,H;•. 14~ The New Bedford chapter woman are considered sinful. ships with people not based on sex.

"It's not just about making a "WE CAN SAVE YOU HUNDREDS OR big huge effort at self-control, but EVEN THOUSANDS OFF YOUR FUNERAL learning to trust in God and let the Lord guide oneself," the Rev. EXPENSES. " Wilson said.

"It's about trying to put your feelings through the prism of Christ ... to love with them in- . stead of lusting after them," he said.

CASKETS URNS Courage members admit that many people think they'are odd . ".834 ASHLEY BLVD I v and self-denying for choosing a NEW BEDFORD, MA 02745 life of celibacy. But they don't seem to care.

FUNERAL PLANNING "It's like we're counter-cultural," Joe said. "We stand ~ it eMifrfor tlitMe you. {qw against the tide .... We give up OPEN MONDAY - FRIDAY 10 AM - 4 PM attraction and the glitter of falseness in our world to focus SATURDAYS - 10 AM - 1 PM wholly on Jesus and going to WE PRICE 40-70% LOWERI heaven."

John, who travels from ApPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE 24 Attleboro to attend Courage

Gay Catholics use chastity to strengthen faith, Church ties

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Turn to page 12 - Courage '

Friday, November 11" 2005

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Battle looms over parental options in public schools' sex education

By DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR

BOSTON - Concerned parents told a legislative Joint Commission on Education that their children are being exposed to explicit graphics and opinions harmful to their faith at mandatory sex education classes in the state's public schools, and wanted to make attendance elective.

House Bill I015, introduced in January, one of four parental notification bills being mulled by the Joint Commission, would require written permission from a parent or guardian before a student could participate in sex education offered in schools.

"Currently it is Massachusetts Law that a parent has the right to opt-out oftheir children taking required human sexuality classes," reported Maria Parker, assistant director of public policy for the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, the public policy voice of the Catholic bishops ofMassachusetts.

"Surprisingly, most parents are unaware that they have that right, or what their children are being put up against. Especially with the same-sex marriage decision, there is some horrific information being handed out ... like the little black book that contains hardcore sexual pornography that is being given to fourth-graders."

She said that when parents leam about this, "they are absolutely shocked," Parker reported.

"Many parents think that what their children are learning is proper health information. There are many misleading names given

then collects 'blood money' for them."

Parker reported that Planned Parenthood's Website, "shows that its strategic plan for 2002 to 2007 is to establish vendor contract relations with school sysnoted. sex ed classes."

The proposed legislation, "Picture yourself as a parent tems in Boston, Worcester and authored by State Rep. Elizabeth of a high schooler and your son Springfield to offer comprehenA. Poirier, who represents Mas- is the only one not attending the sive sexual education; and to have sachusetts' 14th district, which class," she said. "He becomes their people appointed to all comcomprises North Attleboro, and embarrassed and ostracized. So missions and boards having to do sections ofAttleboro, Norton and the current statute of having him with sex ed."

Neary agreed with the assessMansfield, would instead give the attend those classes is not workparents the right to opt-in to the· ing. The proposed bill changes the ment. "So those of us who adclasses, if the parents thought the whole picture, and is fairer. The here to faith issues should be concurriculum suitable for their chil- rights of the parent are being cerned what they might offer the trampled." young students as guidelines. dren.

Poirier said the measure would Planned Parenthood is one of the "It would mean sex education courses would become an elec- also contain a conscience clause largest supporters of abortion."

Also testifying before the legtive; leaving the parents to find for teachers, whose moral, reliout what is being taught and then gious values would allegedly be islative commission was Mrs. deciding if they want their chil- breached by teaching the current Carol McKinley, a mother of dren to take them," Poirier ex- content of the sex education cur- three. She submitted examples of some of the materials given the plained. riculum.

The state representative said it Raymond T. Neary, director of' children in the courses. "They can is her opinion "that parents have Project Parent, a proponent ofthe only be described as pornograthe responsibility to teach their measure, told the Joint Commit- phy," she maintained.

"Because students in kinderchildren morals and standards. It tee at its October 27 hearing in is not the school's responsibility. Boston that "this is a civil rights garten through grade 12 will be Parents should not be forced to issues, the civil rights ofparents." taking the courses, we have to be have their children attend those Then, he added, "They are bla- concerned and wary," Neary stated. classes if they don't them want tantly in violation oftheirtitle."

Dr. Alice Slattery, a retired Neary, a Catholic, and a memto."

While the concept ofthe bill is ber of St. Edward the Confessor Frarningruim educator and mother easy to understand, said Poirier, Parish in Medfield, told The An- ofseven, also questioned whether the difficulty in getting it out of chor in an interview that the bill all schools were adhering to the committee "is because we have a "is being opposed by Planned Par- law in mv reporting and with relegislature more liberal in nature enthood and the Massachusetts gards to statutory rape requirethan at any time previously. So Teachers' Association, who want ments.

Atty. Robert Joyce asked legwe need to alert parents to call to keep the statuS quo."

A teacher with 30 years of ex- islators to protect parental rights their legislators and ask them to move this important parental no- perience in the classroom, and a "in the free exercise of religion tification bill out ofcommittee and former elected member of the from a growing and absorbing MTA, he alleged that "Planned government. Avoid the shameful to vote in favor of it."

One of the immediate and fa- Parenthood provides materials for hypocrisy of publicly seizing esvorable consequences for the stu- the sexual education courses and sential parental rights, and then bedent is that any stigma attached to not attending the required classes is removed because it would be an elective, Parker

moaning the deterioration of the family."

Parker said that getting the bill out of committee "is going to be tough, because the majority of members of the committee are against us. She reiterated Poirier's urgings to parents, "especially of school-age <;hildren, to. call their legislators and let them know about this."

Another parent notification proposal, Bill 1079, dealing with AIDS Education, "is nothing other than a bill to promote use of condoms and contraception, and we would be opposed to that one," Parker stated.

The highest incentive for making sex ed classes in schools elective, she said, "is that given by our late Holy Father, John Paul II, who spoke about our faith teachings on human sexuality and the right .and duty ofp~nts in teaching that. It is serious because it is airectly connected to the fact that the parents transmit, give their children life."

She also said Pope John Paul spoke firmly when he said that one "should never disturb the natural period of innocence, from age five to puberty, by unnecessary information about sex."

Parker summed it up quoting Vatican Council II's Charter on the Rights of the Family: "Since they have conferred life on their children, parents have the original, primary and inalienable right to educate them, in conformity with their moral and religious convictions, taking in account the cultural traditions of the family which favor the good and dignity of the child."

Diocese of Fall River

OFFICIAL His Excellency, the Most Reverend George W Coleman, Bishop of Fall River, has announced the following appointment: Reverend Lawrence Jerge, C.S.C., from Parochial Vicar, Christ the King Parish, Mashpee, to Parochial Vicar, St. Patrick Parish, Falmouth..

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Friday. November 11,2005

T HE LANDING Priestly continence for the Kingdom The recently concluded Synod ofBishops on the Eucharist proposed to Pope B~medict that the Church must do a betterjob explaining the ''relatio~­ ship between celibacy and priestly ordination ... in full respect ofthe tradition of the Eastern Churches."

The bishops recognized that for the faithful to appreciate why the synod fathers determined thilt the ordination of "married men of proven virtue" was "a path not to be followed," the 'faithful first needed to understand better the history and theology of priestly celibacy. They perceive that many Catholics have been misled by the sound-bytes ofopponents of the celibate priesthood, which most reporters have unc~tic~y ~cepted ~d repeated: that priestly celibacy is a rather recent pract~ce, mstltut~ onl~ m 1139 for economic reasons, and therefore that there IS no good histoncal or theological reason why priests should not be. allowed to marry..

The first step in providing a better explanatIon for the conn~tIon between priesthood and celibacy is to correct some common nusunderstandings. One confusion is between doctrine and di~ipline. Priestly celibacy is a discipline, a practice, of the Roman CatholIc Church, and the~­ fore, like the discipline concerning Eucharistic fasts, can change. It IS possible for married men to be validly ordained. This contrasts with the Church's doctrine, based on Christ's own choices and the constant teaching and practice of the Church, that women cannot be validly ordained priestS. This cannot and will not change.

The second confusion concerns whether priests will ever be allowed to marry. The answer is no. In the entire history of the Church, East and West, priests have never been permitted to marry. When in 11.39, the S.econd Lateran Council declared that lJlIDTiage attempted by a bIShop, pnest or deacon was invalid, this was not the beginning of priestly celibacy, but a declaration of something that had always been prohibited. What has occurred, rather, is that married men have been ordained. The ordination of husbands was quite common in the early Church, is still customary in the eastern Churches - both the Orthodox and those in communion with Rome - and even occurs in the Latin rite today with former Anglican or Episcopalian priests who have entered the Catholic Church. In all such cases, past and present, before ordination the married men made the commitment that should they become a widower, they would not remarry.

Many Catholics wonder why the sequence of the sacraments is relevant - why a married man can get ordained but an ordained man cannot get married. The reason points toward perhaps the thir~ ~d p-l0st common confusion about the history of celibacy and the pnesth~od:. what married men did after ordination in the early Church. The sacramental sequence is crucial because once a man was ordained, he consecrated himself fully to the service of the Lord and therefore observed a "law of perfect continence" in relation to his spouse. He would never remarry because he would never have been able to consummate that marriage.

This lex continentiae is implied in the Gospel. When St Peter, who had a mother-in-law and therefore was married (Mt 8:14), told Jesus, ''we' have left our homes and followed you," Jesus replied that ''those who have left house or wife or brothers or parents or children; for the sake of the kingdom of God" would receive a great inheritance in this life and in the next (Lk 18:28-30). ... . .

This leaving of horne, wife and children was seen, too, .m the early Church. The Council of Elvira, Spain, in 305, decreed that it was "good absolutely to forbid bishops, priests and deaconS- ... to have relations with their wives and procreate children." Since this precept did not provoke a .huge outcry, it could not have been a revolutionary novelty; it was Illfr~ly a restatement of what had clearly been the practice of the Church dUring "" the centuries ofpersecution. The Second Council ofCarthage in 390 stated that such continence for the kingdom was practiced universally from the beginning of the Church. St Jerome wrote at that time, "The apostles were either virgins or continent after having been married. Bishops, priests and deacons are chosen among virgins and widowers; in any case, once they are ordained, they live in perfect chastity." .

In the early Church, the issue was not marriage before ordination, but continence for the kingdom after ordination. From the beginning priestly service demanded total dedication. It still does.

Next week we will discuss in greater depth the ''tradition ofthe Eastern Churches."

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OfTHE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER· Published weekly except for two weeks in July and the week alter Christmas by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720, Te.lephone 508-675-7151' - FAX 508-675-7048,E"mail: theanchor@anchornews.org. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $14.00 peryear.

Send address changes to P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA, call or use E-mail address Member: Catholic Press Association, New England Press Association, Catholic News Service PUBLISHER - Bishop George W. Coleman .

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Roger J. Landry fatherrogerlandry@anchornews.org.

EDITOR David B. Jolivet daveJolivet@anchornews.org NEWS EDITOR Deacon James N. Dunbar jlmdunbar@anchornews.org REPORTER Michael Gordon mikegordon@anchomews.org OFFICE MANAGER Mary Chase marychase@anchornews.org

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the living word THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL J;N WASHINGTON 'HOLDS FLOWERS AND MESSAGES LEFT BY VISITORS TO THE MONUMENT IN THIS FILE PHOTO. TODAY IS VETERANS' DAY, RECOGNIZING ALL WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE MILITARY FOR THIS COUNTRY.

(eNS

PHOTO FROM

REUTERS)

"FOR YOU HAVE GIRDED ME WITH STRENGTH FOR BATTLE; You HAVE SUBDUED UNDER ME THOSE WHO ROSE UP AGAINST ME" (PSALM

18:39).

The e.nd of the world .'

Creed, "He will corne again in One of the tenets· of our glory to judge the living and the Catholic faith is that the world, as we know it, will someday . dead, and his kingdom will have no end." coine to an end. This truth is This belief in Christ's second not always a popular one, even coming was not lacking among among some Catholics, who the first Christians, who were fmd it hard to imagine that the convinced that Our Lord's world will end. To many, such an idea seems simply incredible. return was imminent (Rev 22:20). Eventually, they began The reason we believe in the to believe that his return might end of the world is that Jesus revealed it. Frequently, Jesus referred to the end of time. In one of his discourses, He said, Putting Into "Heaven and earth will t~e Deep pass away, but my words will not pass

By Father David away" (Lk 21 :33); and, A. Pignato before he ascended into heaven, he told his disciples, "1 am with you always, even until the end not be so soon, although it of time" (Mt 28:20). could still happen at any Usually, when Jesus spoke of moment (l Thess 5:2; 2Thess 2:3-12). This is why they the end of the world, He was prayed, as we still do at Mass, speaking o.f his second coming, with which it will coincide. He to be delivered from all anxiety told his disciples, "they will see - so anxious were they to see the Son of Man coming on the their Lord again. .

1 wonder at times if we, clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (Mt 24:30; see today, are as anxious for Our also Mt 16:27; Jn21:23); and; Lord's return. The attitude of he repeatedly told themto contemporary Catholics doesn't watch and be ready, for neither always seem to be one OJ the day nor the hour of his eagerness to see Jesus return. return was known (MkI3:33; In fact, if the mere mention of it Mt 24:42, 25:13). Perhaps, one does'not evoke comments of of the reasons people have disbelief, the alternative reaction difficulty imagining the end of might be thoughts of dread, rather than hopeful anxiety. the world is that they ·have lost But, maybe, if we focus on sight of the beliefthat Christ will come again, even though what will happen at the end of the world, we might regain that we pray each Sunday in the

hopeful vigilance that characterized the early Christians.

With the end of the world will corne the full and defirIitive manifestation of Christ's glory, together with his complete Lordship and dominion. The universal salvific mission of Christ will be fulfilled and completed, as Christ hands over to his Father the kingdom of God, with every other authority and power subject to it (lCor 15:24). The end will also bring the defirIitive triumph ofgood over evil, and the final vindication ofjustice and truth. What has been hidden will be revealed, and intentions will be laid bare (Mt 10:26; ICor 4:5). The frustration experienced from every deception and injustice will come to an end. In short, the whole world will come to recognize Christ as the savior, and the truth about God will finally be acknowledged by everyone.

When we consider these truths about the end of the world, how can we not groan inwardly with anticipation, and echo the first Christians in saying, "Come, Lord :Jesus!"?

And how can we not be resolved to use and live each day of our lives to prepare our souls for the end of the world, when we will finally meet Christ and welcome him into our lives, hopeful that he will likewise welcome us into his?

Friday. November 11, 2005

the anchoiS)

With a song in my heart Since the Indianapolis Colts did millennium, folks in the Northa tune on the New England Patri- east, like Steppenwolf, have been ots on national television this on a "Magic Carpet Ride," ofplayweek, I thought I'd maintain a off appearances and .championmusical theme for this week's ships from both the Red Sox and column. For you younger read- Patriots. But after watching Moners, this will be a minicourse in 60s and 70s ....- - - - - - - - - rock.

In my teen-age years, Joni Mitchell sang, "Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you

By Dave Jolivet got 'til it's gone." I'm afraid to admit this, but _ for New Englanders I think they've "paved paradise and day night's bludgeoning at the put up a parking lot." hands of Peyton Manning, 1 feel We've had it so very good here like a crew member on Gordon for the past five years or so. And Lightfoot's "Wreck of the I did try to savor every blessed Edmund Fitzgerald." moment of this journey, knowing Last year, Sox fans croaked how true George Harrison's "All along with a bullfrog named Things Must Pass," message was. Jeremiah, singing Three Dog Since the dawning of the new Night's "Joy to the World." This

My View

From the Stands

year, we lamented, along with the Beatles, "Don't Let Me Down."

And through this whole Theo Epstein thing, we all experienced, along with Neil Sedaka, that "Breaking Up is Hard to Do." Things won't get much better either. With Johnny Damon, Bill Mueller and Kevin Millar ready to "Hit the Road Jack," a la Ray Charles, we should all give credence to Creedence who saw a "Bad Moon Rising" somewhere "Up Around the Bend."

We will never forget that wonderful climb up the "Stairway to Heaven," that began with Super Bowl XXXVI, continued on with Super Bowls XXXVIII and XXXIX and culminated with the 2004 World Series. But much like a Led Zeppelin would, we're "Free Falling," along side Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Optimal navigation There is a nifty little device The key is to get back on the boat to be with God during our that has become more familiar in lives on earth, and to stay on a path.

Children are allowed to travel recent years called a Global course that will ultiinately take us in their parents' boats and leam Positioning System or GPS. It is to heaven. Through grace and an option available in some prayer we stay on the course set the ways of navigation for as automobiles but they are more out for us toward the destination. long as is needed, but ultimately they too must acquire their own commonly purchased and used The Eucharist is the fuel for the by those who navigate boats. boat and GPS to complete their journey. Scripture is our map. journey with God. And someThey range from small hand-held Once our internal GPS is times we may allow someone to devices to larger more elaborate working, it becomes evident to travel in our boat to whom we systems. us in a timely manner when we When navigating a are not even related, boat, what is great about r-----------r---.:;:~:_~h simply because we feel called to do so. a GPS is that it shows an exact line between Optimal navigation the starting point and the then, is the goal as we use our GPS to journey destination. Your boat with God. If we find appear~ as a dark triangle navigating along ourselves off course, that recognition is already a the line on a small

By Greta MacKoul gift of God and the first screen. If you get off movement back, knowcourse, all you have to ing that the mercy and do is turn the boat to get back on the line and you will go off course. This awareness is forgiveness of God will always be there. Even if we've been return to the right direction. due to grace and to the interior heading toward other destinaThese systems are especially work already accomplished. We tions, God has always had us valuable when traveling in the can still see the light of God's clearly in his radar, waiting for dark or in poor visibility. path and are aware that we are our return.

In many ways a GPS is a no longer on course. All that is Greta MacKoul is the needed then is to return to God good model for our own author and illustrator of "The journey of faith. We all know through prayer, reconciliation or Ocean Flowers, A Parable of that we are supposed to be on a some change in our lives. path toward God, to grow in Sometimes however, because Love" and numerous articles. faith with God. Wouldn't it be of our own choices, temptations Greta and her husband George, with their children great if we all had our own or spiritual blindness, we move Maxwell and Marysa, are haJ')d-held devices, to stay on farther away from God. We members of C,hrist the King course, and that whenever we move away in such a way that.

Parish in Mashpee. got off course, it would become our boat is way off course and immediately clear to us? In when this happens we can no many ways that is exactly what longer see or feel the light of we are called to do; to develop God. Our boat is navigating in an internal GPS so that we unfamiliar territory, in fact, we know how to stay on course might even go so far as to navigate to a nearby island and and also are aware when we move away from God and need get out of the boat. It can seem to return. that our GPS is no longer For optimal navigation, we working. look to our faith to provide us On occasion we will realize with the coordinates that will on our own that we need to help us develop our own GPS, return to God because the which is an interior prayer life agony of our lives will make this and conscience that will allow us clear to us. Sometimes it will be to stay on course in our spiritual someone erse who will shine the journey wfth God. Our GPS light of God and make the desire allows us to navigate our own for a return to God possible.

Our Journey of Faith

508-999-1226

5 Sure, we're all sorry to let go of the good times and the bragging rights that come along with being a champion. But in no time we'll grow accustomed to the disappointments and frustrations, and in the words of Billy Joel, we'll let every one of our heroes know we love them "Just the Way You Are." Monday night's game appears to have punctuated the end of an era and left many of us feeling like Maureen McGovern, questioning will there ever be a "Morning After?"

Sure there will, but as Bob

Dylan warned, we know "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall."

We'll just sit back and wait once again, for another "Simple Twist of Fate."

Dave Jolivet is aformer sports editorlwriter wlwfreque"tly gives IIis view oftile u"ique world of sports.

Comments are welcome at daveiolivet@ancllonl~.

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Friday, November 11, 2005

Our lives are on loan from 'God The third servant has just heard of his maSter's return from his long journey. He immediately goes to his field with a shovel and digs into the ground. "Aha! Here it is ... the coin the master gave me when he left." He rubs off the soil that is still loosely clinging to the piece and heads off to meet the master.

As he approaches, there is already a group ofpeople surrounding the master. The first servant steps forward and offers his return. ''Master, you gave me five talents, but I have made investments and have made five more." Then, the second servant does the same thing. ''You gave me two talents, but I have worked with them, and they have yielded two more." Finally, the third servant steps forward embarrassed and makes up a poor excuse. ''I was afraid, so I just wanted to keep what you 'gave me safe. Here it is back."

Immediately, the servant has his dirty coin ripped out ofhis hands: Then, the master's two guards seize him and throw him out, while the first two servants share in their master's joy.

The Parable of the Talents as

good lesson. We should all take the Good News to others? Have Matthew retells it is familiar to freedom to make choices about time to discover and develop our us. We know that the master is how we spend them. God trusts we increased that gift by leading talents, especially for God's others to love and trust God by God and we are the servants us with life and freedom, but greater glory and out of our example? Or, have we not how do we respond to God? who will have to make an charitable service to our account of our lives to him With gratitude, joy, and enthusi- valued our faith enough to think that it might benefit anyone else? brothers and sisters. However, when he comes again as judge asm? Or, with fear, dread, and is this the most urgent message Have we even been ashamed of ofthe living and the dead. It reluctance? Do we thank God our belonging to Christ, so that that Jesus is trying to teach us? for his blessings, or do we easily leads us to draw the If we read the evangelist's conclusion ''I must make good blame him when we decide that we have hidden it from other people's sight? use of the talents God he has not given us our As the Church's liturgical has given me." And It fair share? Do we share year comes to a close, we contains the moral "God Homily of the Week our lives with others, or meditate upon the Scriptures will expect more from do we selfishly keep to XXXIII Sunday in that remind US of the last things. those to whom he has ourselves?

When we die, God will judge us given more taients or DO we regard life as ·Ordinary. Time according to how we have aptitudes. We interpret precious, cherish it, and . engaged our lives, our faith, and the parable this way live according to God's . : By Father our capacity to love, which we because the word plan? Or, do we look at it Karle. f;3issinger ''talent'' in many as a burden, handle it with have received on loan from him. ~~~~ carelessness, and neglect . How we employ them in languages, including words closely, we notice that our destiny? You have to admit, freedom and the results we yield English, can refer to either will determine whether we will the master distributes the that's how the third servant money or abilities. In fact, it is number oftalents ''to each treated his tender. By burying it in be welcomed as "good and because of this very parable that according to his ability." So, if his backyard, he disposes of it faithful servants" or cast into the monetary word "talent" also the talents themselves do not like oldjunk. Not only does he ''the darlrness outside, where carne to mean a physical or represent abilities, as we often . cover it with dirt, but also he there will be wailing and natural aptitude. This meaning think, what is the meaning of impnidently and recklessly puts it grinding ofteeth." Come to has largely prevailed and replaced the former. . this parable? where it could get spoiled, lost, think of it, how we exercise our We should also note that the or found by another to do with it freedom now determines the So this Gospel says that master does not actually give the whatever he pl~. those who use their talents will happiness we experience here, talents outright, but loans them Like our natural lives, we as well as in the hereafter. receive an eternal reward, and those who do not will have to to the servants. also receive our faith as a gift Father Bissinger is apriest of We receive our lives on loan from God. Have we valued that endure punishment without end! the Diocese of Fall River curWithout a doubt, this is a from God and we certainly have gift of faith to want to spread rently studying in Rome.

Liturgy ofthe Eucharist: Preface ·and Sanctus After the presentation and offering of the gifts comes the very essence of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass: the great Eucharistic Prayer.

The offerings of mere bread and wine to God are obviously inadequate. However, because they symbolize the lives ofthose present at Mass they become more valuable.

Yet even so they are insufficient, for only that which is of infinite value is worthy of almighty God. The real gift offered to God at Mass is our Lord Jesus Christ himself. As was explained early in this series, the Mass is the sacrifice ofthe Body and Blood of Christ, who offers himself on the altar, by the hands of the priest, to God, as he offered himself on the .cross to save the world. At Mass, we are able to participate intimately in Christ's sacrifice; for the offerings on the altar, representing the offering of our lives, become Christ himself. ' The Eucharistic Prayer opens with a hymn of praise and . thanksgiving called the Preface (from the Latin for "before the '" face," a coming before the face of God). Originally, the Preface' was freely composed by the celebnint. Later, ·it assumed a fixed format, though its content varies according to the feast or season.

The number of prefaces in the Roman rite has varied . considerably. At one time, there

was practically a preface for each Mass throughout the liturgical year; at another time; there were as few as 10. We

Lovih~f

and Living' the. Mas$: now have over 80 proper prefaces for Sundays and feast days, liturgical seasons, special celebrations (e.g., Masses for the dead and nuptial Masses), votive Masses, and so on.

Each Preface has a prelude in the form of a spoken or chanted dialogue between the celebrant and the congregation. This introductory dialogue is common (with variants) to all rites of the Catholic Church and consists of simple acclamations which probably formed part of Jesus' prayer at the Last Supper: Priest: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.'

Priest: Lift up your hearts.

People: We lift them up to the Lord. " Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Recall that to "giv"e thanks" translates the Greek verb which now names the whole Mass: Eucharist. . The priest says or sings that

it certainly is right and proper to thank God for all we have and are; but he is now talking to God and no longer to us. Then the text varies so as to express the theme of the particular celebration.

A startling truth is disclosed in the conclusion of the Preface: When we come before God to offer our prayer and adoration, we do so in the company of the angels and archangels and the whole company of heaven.

Combining the thunderous praise of the angels as described

by Isaiah (Is. 6:3) with the cry The rest of the Eucharistic of the people on Palm Sunday Prayer, or Canon, reenacts the (Mt. 21:9; cf. Ps. 118:25-26), drama of the Lord's gift of we join the celestial choirs in himself. Soon Christ will become glorifying the Holy Trinity: present on the altar in the Sanctus, sanctus. sanctus ... sacrament of his Body and Blood, .Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of and we will stand by faith in the power and might, Upper Room and on Calvary.

Heaven and earth are full of Fatller Kocik, an autllor of your glory. two' books, one on tile liturgy, Hosanna in the highest. is cllaplain at Cllarlton MemoBlessed is he who comes in rial Hospital, Fall River, and the name of the Lord. resides at St. Tllomas More Hosanna in the highest.

Parish, Somerset.

In. Your Prayers Please pray for the following priests during the cqming weeks

Daily Readings Nov13

Prv31:10-13,1920,30-31; Ps 128:1-5; 1 Thes 5:1-6; Mt25:14-30 or 25:14-15,19-21 Nov14 1 Me1:10-15,4143,54-57,62-63; Ps 1'19:53,61,134, 150,155,158; Lk 18:35-43 Nov15 2 Me6:18-31; Ps 3:2-8; Lk 19:1-10 Nov16 2 Me 7:1 ,20-31; Ps 17:1 ,5-6,8,15; Lk 19:11-28 Nov171 Me 2:15-29; Ps 50:1-2,5-6,14-15; Lk 19:41-44 ·Nov18 1 Me 4:36-37,52- .

59; (Ps) 1 Chr 29:10-12; Lk .

19:45-48 No.v19 1 Me 6:1-13; Ps 9:2-4,6,16,19; Lk 20:27-40

Nov. 14 1940, Rev. Francis J. Duffy, Founder, St. Mary, South Dartmouth 1977, Rev. William A. Gal~jn, JCD, Retired Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton \ \ .

2001, Deacon John H. SchQndek,

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. Nov. 15J~---~~ ~.-

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1939, Rev. Thomas F. LaB-ocl1e;Assistant, Sacred Heart, Taunton 1943, Rev. DanielE,DCifan;'Paste5r, Immaculate Conception, North Easton C·// \ \

\\

Nov. 16 \ 1856 Rev. John Brady, Former Pa~tor, Sandwich, New Bedford, Wareham \ \ . .

\

\

Nov.17 \ \

1980, Rev. Henry R. Canuel, Former J;>astor, Sacred Heart, New Bedford \..0'

Nov. 19 1982, Rev. Msgr. Lester L. Hull, Retired Pastor S1. Mary, Our Lady of the Isle, Nantucket 1990, Rev. Philodore H. Lemay, M.S., La Salette Provincial House, Attleboro .

Friday, November 11,2005

Hive jive Wednesday 9 November 2005 - Homeport - Anniversary of the 1872 Boston Fire 800 buildings lost (one year, one month, and one day after the Great Chicago Fire).

1 had just given a talk on bees (no, not birds). Parishioner Doris Branco approached.. "Father," she said, "You sure know a lot about bees. Have you read the novel 'The Secret Life of Bees?'"

No, but I had read an article by Sharon Rome in the "Forest Letter," a publication ofthe Shantivanum House of Prayer in Easton, Kansas. I had used it for meditation. Other than that, I know absolutely nothing about bees - but when has ignorance of the subject ever kept me from writing about it?

Bees may seem to be an unusual topic for meditation. It turns out they make an excellent subject for reflection. The beehive is the ecclesiastical symbol of the Church Universal. It is also, in religious art, the symbol of this community's patron, Bernard of Clairvaux.

The hive, like the Church, is a structured community. As for Bernard, he was known as "The Man with Words Sweet as Honey." The bee skep

appears in our parish crest, a double symbol.

When you approach a beehive, you can tell if it's healthy by just listening and watching. There should be a

loud hum as each bee goes about his or her task - queen, drone, or worker. All the worker bees are female, but let's not go there! If you observe a parish for a while, you can tell if it's alive with the Holy Spirit - or not. You should see parishioners going about the Lord's work as busy as, well - bees.

Honeybees are social creatures. They live a life of community, service, and sacrifice. Each bee has a task that serves the greater good and thereby contributes to the success of the community.

There are nursemaid bees, housekeepers, guardians, food gatherers and, of course, the queen - between 20,000 and 60,000 bees all told.

Bees have a terrific sense of direction. They use the sun as their compass. On sunny days, the bees return to the hive to report the precise location of the best pollen. This data is communicated by an elaborate ritual dance.

On cloudy days, the bees stay home. No dancing in the rain.

The life of bees serves as a fine meditation on the Church.

Like the bees, people of faith have a compass giving them direction not the sun but the Son. In a church, as in a hive, each member is called to fulfill a task to meet the needs of the whole community. The success of all depends upon each individual. Matthew's Jesus bestows the responsibility of keeping the keys on Peter in 6:18. But read on. In 18:18, the keys are issued to the whole community of believers.

Although the bishop holds the master key - all Church

ministries flows from the bishop - in a certain sense, all members of the community have passkeys. Through the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, you have been vested with dignity as a child of God and bestowed with the rights and responsibilities, the authority and the power of those who are fully initiated into the faith community.

Never, never be intimidated by a pastor who wears a huge key ring jangling from his belt. He thinks he holds all the keys.

He doesn't.

The English word "authority" comes from the Latin word auctorem or auctor. It literally means "one who causes to grow." Those in the Church on whom power and authority has been bestowed bear the responsibility ofhelping others grow. It is the way of the hive and it is the way of the Church. A hive that does not grow is a dying hive. A church that does not grow is a dying church. The Catholic Church in the United States is growing by leaps and bounds. We are by far and away the largest

denomination in the country, and we are constantly increasing. Praise God. Do you know it takes 160,000 bees to produce just two l2-inch altar candles? And it takes a lot of parishioners to build a congregation into a community. The parish priest cannot create community by himself. We all must do our part to grow a church.

I remember when, as a seminarian during the days of the Second Vatican Council, the dean of men summoned us to the chapel for an unscheduled assembly. Seems the document on the Church had just been issued in Rome. He announced to us seminarians, "The Vatican has just proclaimed that the Church is a community. So, I, as dean, order you to be a community. You are dismissed." Obviously, the dean of men had never meditated on bees.

Father Goldrick is pastor of SL Bernard Parish, Assonet Comments are welcome at ~ernard4ssone~oLco~

Previous columns are at www.StBernardAssoneLore·

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ABBEY ENGSTROM of Woodland, Calif., sings a protest song during a student anti-war demonstration at St. Mary's College in Moraga, Calif., recently. About 100 students walked out of class at noon to protest the ongoing war in Iraq. (CNS photo by Greg Tarczynski)

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Friday, November 11,2005

1'8 Do space aliens have souls? The curious can check Jesuit's book

By CAROL GLAlZ CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - Galaxygazing scientists surely wonder about what kind of impact finding life or intelligent beings on another planet would have on the world.

But what sort of effect would it have on Catholic beliefs? Would Christian theology be rocked to the core if science someday found a: distant orb teeming with little green men, women or other intelligent forms of alien life? Would the Church send missionaries to spread the Gospel to aliens? Could aliens even be baptized? Or would they have already experienced Jesus' universal or galactic plan of salvation?

Curious Catholics need not be space buffs to want answers to these questions and others when they pick up a 48-page booklet by a Vatican astronomer.

Through the British-based Catholic Truth Society, U.S. Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno has penned his response to what he says are questions he gets from the public "all the time" when he gives talks on his work with the Vatican Observatory.

Titled "Intelligent Life in the Universe? Catholic Beliefand the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligent Life," the pocket-sized booklet is the latest addition to the society's "Explanations Series," which explores Catholic teaching on current social and ethical issues.

Brother Consolmagno told Catholic News Service that the whole question of how Catholicism would hold up if some form oflife were discovered on another planet has piqued people's curiosity "for centuries."

He said his aim with the booklet was to reassure Catholics ''that you shouldn't be afraid of these questions" and that "no matter what we learn, it doesn't invalidate what we already know" and believe. In other words, scientific study and discovery and religion enrich one another, not cancel out each other.

If new forms of life were to be discovered or highly advanced beings from outer space were to touch' down on planet Earth, it would not mean "everything we believe in is wrong," rather, ''we're going to find out that everything is truer in ways we couldn't even yet have imagined," he said.

The Book ofGenesis describes ,路two stories of creation, and science, too, has more than one version of how the cosmos may have come into being.

"However you picture the universe being created, says Genesis, the essential point is that ultimately it was a deliberate, loving act of a God who exists outside of space , and time," Brother Consolmagno said in his booklet.

"The Bible is divine science, a work about God. It does not intend to be physical science" and

explain the making of planets and solar systems, the Jesuit astronomer wrote.

Pope John Paul II once told sci': entists, "Truth does not contradict truth," meaning scientific truths will never eradicate religious truths and vice versa.

The limitless universe ''might even include other planets with other beings created by that same loving God," he added. "The idea ofthere being other races and other intelligences is not contraryto traditional Christian thought.

Brother Consolmagno said that, ' like scientists, people of faith should not be afraid of saying "I just don't know."

Human understanding "is always incomplete. It is crazy to underestimate God's ability to create in depths of ways that we will never completely understand. It is equally dangerous to think that we understand God completely," he said in his booklet.

He, told CNS that his booklet tries to show ''the fun of thinking" about what it would mean if God had created more than life on Earth.

Such speculation "is very worthwhile if it makes us reflect on things we do know and have taken for granted," he said.

He said asking such questions as "Would aliens have souls?" or "Does the salvation of Christ apply to them?" helps one "appreciMASSIVE BABY stars, nestled in a cloud of glowing gases and shining as bright as 300,000 ate what it means for us to have a suns, are at the center of a galactic "family portraif' in this view from the Hubble Space soul" and helps one better "recogTelescope released by NASA July 23,1998. The snapshot of the celestial area, 200,000 lightnize what the salvation of Christ years away, could provide clues to how ancient, massive stars formed, the Space Telescope means to us."

Brother Consolmagno said he Science Institute said in a statement. (eNS photo from Reuters, NASA) tried to show in the booklet that ''the Church is not afraid of science" and that Catholics, too, should be unafraid and confident in confronting all types of speculation, no matter how "far out" arid spacey it may be.

By CINDY WOODEN For science fiction fans, education in science and tech- tor of the project, said infinity CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE Trekkies, or telescope-toting space nology at several ofRome's pon- was chosen as the topic for the enthusiasts, the booklet's last chapVATICAN CITY -A dialogue tifical universities and sponsors project's first international conter reveals where there are refer- between science and theology re- public lectures and conferences ference because "it is the only common argument of study in ences to extraterrestrials in the Bible. quires a careful definition of by visiting scientists.

Brother Consolmagno said the terms and respect for the limits The cardirial said debate about the mathematical, physical, huBible is also replete with references of knowledge' in each field, said the origin ofthe world is just one man and theological sciences." to or descriptions of "nonhuman participants in a Vatican-spon- area where scientists and reliThe conference, he said, will intelligent beings" who worship sored project. gious believers must clarify terms look at suchquestions as: "Is inGod. For example, he said the The participants ofthe project, and recognize the limits of their finity in modem mathematics simply a formal tool without any Scriptures talk about angels, "sons "Science, Technology and the own discipline., of God" who took human wives, Ontological Quest," held an inPeople who support "creation- referential value?" and "Are the and "heavenly beings" that ternational conference in Rome ism" as the only acceptable infinity of human freedom and "shouted for joy" when God cre- November 9-11 bringing together Christian explanation of the the infinity of God's freedom ated the earth. scientists, mathematicians, phi- world's origins, he said, are "tak- mutually exclusive, as some The booklet, however, offers no losophers and theologians to dis- ing something never meant to be 20th-century philosophers ''hard and fast answers" to extra- cuss infinity. a scientific explanation and call- claim?"

Rodolfo Guzzi, a director of terrestrial life, since such specula"Believers have an obligation to ing it science." tion is ''better served by science fic- listen to what modem secular sciThe creation story in the Book earth observations for the Italian tion or poetry than by definitions ence has to offer, just as we ask of Genesis, he said, was written Space Agency, said, "It makes ofscience and theology," he wrote. that the wisdom of faith is taken "to explain that the world was sense that the program is filled He said the booklet is meant ''to into consideration as a voice of created by God, not how it was with questions, because these are put a smile on your face" and, per- expertise on humanity," said Car- created." questions we ask ourselves as haps, make people think twice about dinal Paul Poupard, president of A theologian cannot pretend to we try to understand the world.

"The concept of infinity, who could be peeking at Earth from the Pontifical Council for Culture, use the Bible as irrefutable proof alien telescopes far, far away. which coordinates the project. . of the scientific process of the which permeates various levels Readers in the United States and The cardinal and others involved world's creation, just as scien- of science, was born of the huCanada can order this booklet and in the project spoke November 3 tists cannot use biology or phys- man need to understand, first of other CTS publications through the at a Vatican press conference. ics as irrefutable proof that God all, the infinity of God. That was society's Website, wWW.ctsThe'two-year-old project, was not involved.in the process, what first caused people to look online.org.uk, or by E-mail, funded in part by the John he said. beyond their physical surroundorders@cts-online.org.uk Templeton Foundation, provides Msgr. Gianfranco Basti, direc- ings," Guzzi said.

International conference discusses infinity, limits ofknowledge

Friday, November 11,2005

9

Bishops to air place of professional lay ministry in work of the Church

By JERRY FILTEAU CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

TRAPPIST BROTHER Paul Halaburt installs hand-sewn bedding in a casket in the finishing room at New Melleray Abbey in Peosta, Iowa, recently. Since 2000, the Trappist monks have been making wooden caskets, using lumber from the abbey's forest, to support themselves and their charitable works. The monks see the craft of casket-making as a reflection of their views on the simplicity of living and dying. (CNS photo by Karen Callaway, Northwest Indiana Catholic)

Trappist ministry serves the living by preparing a place for the dead

By STEVE EUVINO

charities."

A staff of 12 monks and 12 lay people produce the caskets.

GARY, Ind. - Since 2000 the As with other Trappist commuTrappist monks ofNew Melleray ' nities, these monks hid formerly Abbey in Peosta, Iowa, have been worked in agriculture and livemaking wooden caskets, using stock. lumber from the abbey's forest.

Mulgrew, a friend of the What began as an endeavor to monastery, had been making offset sagging farm profits has caskets locally when he apbecome a growing business, servproached the monks. He had ing clergy and laity alike. the know-how, the monks had The abbey sells 850-900 casthe lumber, and they combined kets and coffins annually, in adtheir efforts. dition to wooden and ceWhile casket-making ramic urns for cremations. may sound unusual The business is fittingly "This is not First World capitalism," Mulgrew believes these are called Trappist Caskets.

According to its he said in a telephone interview with the only monks who proW e b s i t e , the Northwest Indiana Catholic, news- duce handmade caskets www.trappistcaskets.com. paperofthe Gary Diocese. "This re- the process is in keeping with the Trappist view of these traditional caskets and flects the lifestyle of the monks urns reflect the values of good, contemplative work, one con- simplicity as a way ofliving and dying. monastic life. The abbey, sistent with the Rule ofSt. Benedict," Trappists, the Website which is in the Dubuque says, view death as "the fiArchdiocese, sells directly which the monks follow. nal step along a path they to the public at wholesale have been following all along prices ranging from $775 to tion of up to 2,500-3,000 caskets - the path to God." $1,975.

While Mulgrew touts the com"Our goal is to balance old- annually.

According to Mulgrew, the bination of the monks' simple world craftsmanship with reasonable prices," according to the abbey has sold caskets to people lifestyle and their careful workWebsite, which describes the cas- in all 50 states - thanks to a com- manship as selling points for the kets and urns as a "soulful alter- bination of targeted advertising, caskets, Trappist Brother Tobias native" to mass-produced mortu- word of mouth and the Internet. Shanahan sees faith as a more Clientele has included entertain- powerful draw. ary products.

"The fact that these are made Sam Mulgrew, operations gen- ers and clergy, induding Cardinal eral manager for Trappist Cas- Roger M. Mahony of Los Ange- by people of faith, people who kets, said someone could spend les, who has reserved a casket for care, people who respect life the public knows that, and it's innearly three times as much on the himself.

With a 1,500-acre forest - the teresting how people are attracted abbey's most expensive casket.

The aim is not to undercut the second-largest privately owned to that at the death of a loved funeral industry, but rather, forest in Iowa - that is consis- one," said Brother Tobias, who Mulgrew said, to reflect the mis- tently replanted, the monks are works in the office.

"The temporal world is impornot at a loss for wood. However, sion of the abbey.

"This is not First World capi- Mulgrew said, the monks are not tant - God created it - but it is talism," he said in a telephone in- looking to grow beyond making temporal," he added. "God's beautiful gifts still pass away. terview with the Northwest Indi- 3,000 caskets a year.

"They're not doing this for That's one of the powerful realana Catholic. newspaper of the Gary Diocese. "This reflects the wealth," he said. "This is to pay izations we represent. People see lifestyle of the monks - good, bills and take care of the monks' that and have confidence in us."

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

contemplative work, one consistentwiththeRuleofSt.Benedict," which the monks follow.

While it may not be capitalism at its'most profitable; the businesSis growing - so much so that the abbey recently received local zoning approval to build a new woodworking facility at the abbey.

That new facility is expected to result in 400 percent growth, said Mulgrew, resulting in produc-

WASHINGTON - This fall the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops plans to issue a major resource document on lay ecclesial ministry, a phenomenon of growing importance in the Church.

When the bishops meet in Washington November 14-17, they will vote on the proposed 83page document, "Co-workers in the Vineyard of the Lord: Resource for Guiding Development of Lay Ecclesial Ministry."

The introduction calls the document a "pastoral and theological reflection on the reality of lay ecclesial ministry," an "affirmation of those who serve in this way," and an attempt to pull together the current "best thinking and practice" in that field.

The proposed document discusses the appropriate human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral formation of those who seek to engage in lay ministerial leadership in the Church. It also addresses the .role of lay ecclesial ministers in the Church community, their relationship to the Church's ordained leaders, guidelines and procedures for authorizing lay people to enter such roles and concerns that should be dealt with in the ministerial workplace.

"The term 'lay ecclesial minister' is generic. It is meant to encompass and describe several possible roles," the document says.

"In parish life - to cite only one sphere of involvement - the pastoral associate, parish catechetical leader, youth ministry leader, school principal and director ofliturgy or pastoral music are examples of such roles."

It says the role of a lay parish life coordinator in parishes without a resident pastor "is another example oflay ecclesial ministry, although it differs in kind from the other roles because it exists simply because ofthe shortage of priests."

While it draws no hard and fast line, the document basically distinguishes between the many U.S. Catholics who exercise some lay ministry on a limited, volunteer basis and those who exercise a leadership role in an area of ministry after appropriate preparation and formation, working w.ith au-

thorization from the pastor or bishop to act in the name of the local Church and collaborating closely with the Church's ordained ministers.

Hundreds of thousands of U.S. Catholics contribute some of their time and talent to Church ministry in roles such as lectors, pastoral council members, catechists, extraordinary ministers ofCommunion, choir members, and those who visit the sick or assist in sacramental preparation, youth ministry or programs of charity and justice.

But the bishops' document focuses on those who hold ministerial leadership roles, most of them in partor full-time paid positions.

The document says that according to the latest national study there are 30,632 lay ecdesial ministers who work at least 20 hours a week in paid positions in U.S. Catholic parishes and 2,163 more who do such work at least 20 hours a week on a volunteer basis.

All Catholics who work to build up God's kingdom, whether in the secular world or in some ministry within the Church community, are responding to the baptismal call "to work toward the transformation of the world," the document says.

But it says that the growth in lay ecclesial ministry ~ almost unheard of before the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s but now a major part of Church life in the United States - deserves special attention. ''The ministry is lay because it is service done by lay persons. The sacramental basis is the sacraments of initiation, not the sacrament of ordination," the docwnent says.

It adds: "The ministry is ecclesiaJ because it has a place within the community of the Church, whose communion and mission it serves, and because it is submitted to the discernment, authorization and supervision of the hierarchy. Finally, it is ministry because it is a participation in the threefold ministry of Christ, who is priest, prophet and king."

Lay ecclesial ministry "entails an explicit relationship of mutual accountability to and collaboration with the Church hierarchy," the document says.

Its adoption requires approval by two-thirds of the members of the bishops' conference.

OPERATION PLANTING SEEDS' All are invited to a

Holy Hour for Vocations to the Priesthood NOVEMBER

14 -7 P.M. AT

HOLY ROSARY PARJSH,

80 BAY STREET, TAUNTON www.FaliRiverVocations.org

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Friday, November 11,2005

DVD/video reviews

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NEW YORK (CNS) - The following are capsule reviews of this week's DVD and video releases from the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"Darling LiIi" (1969) Uneven musical comedy set in World War I about a London music hall entertainer (Julie Andrews) who feigns romance with an Allied pilot (Rock Hudson) to ferret out military secrets for the Germans.

Produced and directed by Blake Edwards. Andrews' charming performance and the lavish re-creation of the period's rickety automobiles and biplane aircraft are generally pleasing but some lovemaking scenes and a couple of striptease numbers place it in the adult category. The splendid-looking DVD features a so-<:alled "director's cut" - which, in this instance, means a shorter version than that released theatrically. The omittedmaterialincluding some ofAndrews' vocals - shows up under the extensive "deleted scenes" feature. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G general audiences. (paramount) "The Emperor's New Groove" (New Groove Special Edition) (2000) Wonderful animated feature in which the cocky emperor (voice ofDavid Spade) ofa mythical South American kingdom is turned into a lowly llama by his wicked adviser (voice of Eartha Kitt) and must rely on a good-hearted peasant (voice of John Goodman) to regain his empire. With its simple message that kindness is best, director Mark Dindal s sprightly film tickles with crisp animation, bouncy music and an excellent ensemble cast of voices. The handsome letterboxed DVD features perceptive audio commentary by Dindal, along with producer Randy Fullmer, art director Colin Stimpson, and several animators. There are two cut scenes; one, fully animated, was eventually deemed too serious, and the other is in black-and-white story reel form. Other extras include Sting's music video of an Oscarnominated song from the movie, a game and more. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I - general patronage. The Motion Picture Association ofAmerica rating is G- general audiences. (Disney) "I Love Lucy: The Complete Fifth Season" (1955) The comprehensive release of every episode of the granddaddy oftelevision sitcoms continues on-

ward with this issue of26 episodes from the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz show's fifth season. These are the ones that finished up the Ricardos' and the Mertzes' trip to Hollywood and th.eir tour of Europe. In addition to such classic episodes as "Lucy Visits Grauman's" (where she steals John Wayne's footprints) and "Lucy's Italian Movie" (which includes the famous grape-stomping sequence), the great-looking discs include several interesting extras, not seen since the original . broadcast, and restored from a 16mm print: plugs for the movie "Guys & Dolls" and the Ball-Arnaz ''Forever Darling," the couple makingan appeal fortheAmencan Heart Association, and saying "goodbye" to viewers till the new fall season.

There are also some interesting flubs, such as co-star Vivian Vance nearly getting seriously hurt by JAMIE FOXX and Jake Gyllenhaal star in the movie "Jarhead." For a brief review of this Arnaz's foot as he and Lucy are hoisted upward by a helicopter. In film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo from Universal) addition, there are episodes of the pre-'l Love Lucy" radio show, ''My . appealing largely Native American experimentation gone awry. Based Favorite Husband," restorations of cast, offering an agreeable, re- on the popular video game of the the original stick-figure openings freshingly offbeat story of love same name, director Andrzej that were replaced by the familiar . and forgiveness during the holi- Bartkowiak's film aspires to the anitruited heart, imd revelatory auday season. Smattering of crude claustrophobic suspense of. dio.:only comments about Ball and language, mild sexual humor and "Alien," but is little more than the series from creator Jess innuendo, a nongraphic bedroom stretches'of mindless mayhem Oppenheimer. Ideal family viewing. scene, and a permissive view of strung together by an absurd plot, I~SMt)~e (CBS) premarital sex. The USCCB Of- which completely crumbles dur"Star Wars Episode m: fice for Film & Broadcasting clas- ing the movie's carnage-heavy cli(al>slIles Revenge of the Sith" (2005) sification is A-III - adults. The max. Excessive bloody violence Satisfying, but decidedly dark NEW YORK (CNS)-The fol- Motion Picture Association of and gore, including dismemberclimax of the "Star, Wars!' saga, in lowing are capsule reviews ofmov- America rating is PG - parental ment and decapitation, pervasive which Anakin Skywalker (Hayden ies recently reviewed by the Office . guidance suggested. rough and crude language and Christensen), seduced to the dark for Film & Broadcasting ofthe U.S. "Daltry Calhoun" (Miramax) some profanity. The USCCB Ofside by the sinister Sith Lord (and Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Modestly endearing tale set in fice for Film & Broadcasting classoon-to-be evil Emperor) Palpatine "Chicken Little" (Disney) .' small-town Tennessee about a sification is 0 - morally offen(Ian McDiarmid), betrays his menDisappointing computer-ani- reformed good-for-nothing sive. The Motion Picture Associator Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) mated comedy adventure (Johnny Knoxville) who, with his tion of America rating is R - reand forsakes his Jedi ways to be- based on the classic nursery rags-to-riches story facing a re- stricted. come DarthVader. Full ofeye-pop- rhyme about a little chick versal offortune, seeks reconcili"Jarhead" (Universal) ping visuals, writer-director George (voiced by Zach Braff) who, ation with the daughter he abanIntermittently arresting war Lucas' sixth and final chapter of after humiliating himself by doned ~s an infant - now a pre- movie based on Anthony his sprawling space opera returns sounding the alarm that the sky cocious, musically gifted teen- Swofford's memoirs of his exto the series' earlier mythic tone, is falling, gets a chance to save ager (Sophie Traub) - when the periences in the first Gulf War, balancing video-game-style techni- face - and his hometown girl's mother (Elizabeth Banks) which follows a unit of Marines Cal wizardry with human drama and when his apocalyptic announce- shows up on his doorstep with from boot camp to deployment resulting in, by far, the best install- ment .later proves true. Directed news that she is dying and asks in Iraq - seen through the eyes ment of the ''newer'' trilogy. Spe- by Mark Dindal, the movie's vi- him to take over. the parenting of a team of snipers (Jake cial features on the two-disc DVD . brant, through unremarkable, ani- reins after she is gone. Directed Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard) include commentary by Lucas and mation goes for a more 3-D look, by Katrina Holden Bronson, the - where they battle scorching crew members, deleted scenes, a but the flat story and character- film has its narrative bumps but heat, boredom and each other as feature-length behind-the-scenes izations lack much emotion, they are smoothed over by its airpower wins the war. Direc.tor documentary, and a IS-part collec- charm or wit, undercutting the heartfelt emotion and redemptive Sam Mendes' absurdist, obscention of Lucas' minidocumentaries. film's warm themes of family message about hope and second ity laced, meditation on modem Stylized fantasy violence, including bonds and believing in oneself. chances. An implied sexual en- warfare is by turns surreal and severed limbs, and a scene ofchild The USCCB Office for Film & counter, some sexual discussions, sardonic, but despite solid performenace. The USCCB Office for Broadcasting classification is A-I underage drinking and smoking, mances and some striking visuFilm & Broadcasting classification - general patronage. The Motion a mildly irreverent scene, brief als, the film's familiar depiction is A-II - adults and adolescents. Picture Association of America fisticuffs, and scattered crude lan- of grunt life feels warmed-over, The Motion Picture Association of rating is G - general audiences. guage and profanity. The USCCB presenting a morally ambiguous America rating is PG-13 - par"Christmas in the Clouds" Office for Film & Broadcasting view of war and its desensitizing ents are strongly cautioned. Some (Slowhand Cinema/Majestic classification is A-III - adults. psychological effects on combatmaterial may be inappropriate for Films) The Motion Picture Association ants. Combat related violence, children under 13. (20th Century Romantic comedy about a of America rating is PG-13 including disturbing images of Fox) young widow (Mariana Tosca) parents are strongly cautioned. charred bodies, a few graphic who travels from New York to Some material may be inappro- sexual encounters with partial Michigan to surprise her pen pal- priate for children under 13. nudity, shadowy shower nudity, Movies Online suitor (Sam Vlahos), an elderly "Doom" (Universal) excessive sexually explicit lanman whom she's never met, only Unremittingly violent sci-fi ac- guage and humor and profanity.

Can't remember how a recent film was classito fall in love with his good-look- tion adventure set in the future The USCCB Office for Film &. fied by the U.S. Conference of Cattlolic Bishops? ing son (Tim Vahle), a ski resort about a team of Marine comman- Broadcasting classification is L Want to know whether to let the kids go see it? You owner. She mistakes the son for dos (led by Dwayne "The Rock" - limited adult audience, films can look film reviews up on the Catholic News her correspondent, while the son, Johnson) deployed to secure a re- whose problematic content in turn, confuses her with a hotel mote scientific research facility on many adults would find trouService Website. critic. Producer-writer-director Mars that is crawling with nasty bling. The Motion Picture AsVisit www.catholicnews.com and click on "MovKate Montgomery's Sundance, mutant creatures unwittingly un- sociation ofAmerica rating is R ies," under the "News Item" menu.

Utah-shot film has assembled an leashed by the facility's genetic - restricted.

Friday, November 11, 2005

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,Religious freedom: Vatican II modernizes Church-state ties

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Editor's Note: Tllis is a con- Church and intolerance for othtinuatim' ofa major series ofar- ers when Catholics are a majorticles tlris fall to mark tile 40tll ity," said his 1966 commentary, anniversary oftile end oftile Sec- published a year before his m,d Vatican CounciL Tile stories death. are meant to sllow tllat tile "The declaration has opened implementation of tI,e Council the way toward new confidence and tlleir effects are OI,goitlg. in ecumenical relations and a new

not the notion of religious freedom, was the real sticking point for many of those who opposed the declaration even to the end," wrote Father Murray.

When the declaration was finally approved, it also included a confession of past Church straightforwardness in relation- transgressions against religious

By AGOSTINO BONO ships between the Church and the freedom.

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE "Although in the life of the world," Father Murray wrote.

WASHINGTON - One of The declaration said that "the people of God ... there has at the final documents approved by right to religious freedom is times appeared a form ofbehavthe Second Vatican Council was based on the very dignity of the ior which was hardly in keeping perhaps its most controversial human person as known with the spirit of the Gospel and text, the Declaration on Reli- through the revealed word of was even opposed to it, it has gious Freedom, which cata- God and by reason itself." This always remained the teaching of pulted Catholicism into the mod- freedom must be recognized the Church that no one is to be ern world of church-state rela- and protected by nations as a coerced into believing," said the civil right because the exercise declaration. tions.

This confession was sugIt set the foundations for of religious freedom requires Church dealings with secular, "immunity from external coer- gested by Cardinal Josef Beran of Prague in the then comre ligiouslyp lural istic munist-ruled CzechoslovaWestern democracies and for Pope John Paul The Declaration Of] Religious kia. Noting the burning of II's ringing denunciations Freedom stated that, because of heretics and the forced conversions to Catholicism in of Church persecution in communist-ruled coun- human dignity, each person had the his country's history, Carcivil right to religious liberty and to dinal Beran asked that the tries.

The declaration, practice religious belief in commu- council approve the decla"Dignitatis Humanae," nity with others. This was a profound ration "in a spirit of atonealso lent credibility to the development from centuries of ment for past sins."

Cardinal Beran and other council's call for ecuChurch teaching that complete reli- council fathers from commenical dialogue and dialogue with non-Christian gious freedom belonged only to the munist-ruled, countries Catholic Church as an institution be- joined the U.S. bishops as believers.

In the process, it reha- cause it contained the fullness of strong supporters ofthe declaration. Bishops behind the bilitated the declaration's divine truth.

Iron Curtain saw it as necmain drafter, Father John essary to preserve some semCourtney Murray, a U.S. blance of Church life in their Jesuit who in the 1950s was cion," it said.

"The right to this immunity homelands because the declarabarred by the Vatican from writing on Church-state relations, continues to exist even in those tion did more than establish the especially on efforts to recon- who do not live up to their obli- principle ofreligious freedom: It cile Catholicism with U.S.-style gation of seeking truth and ad- also was a strong call for Church separation of church and state. hering to it," said the declaration. independence from the state and It was approved by a vote of for protections against state enThe priest eventually was invited to joint the Vatican's Secretariat 2,308-70 Dec. 7, 1965, the last croachment against organized refor Promoting Christian Unity, day votes were taken and the day ligion.

"If it (civil authority) prethe Vatican agency that drafted before the council ended.

But the approval came after sumes to control or restrict rethe document.

The Declaration on Religious "vehement debate" with strong ligious activity, it must be said Freedom stated that, because of opposition from many Vatican to have exceeded the limits of human dignity, each person had officials and bishops from its power," the declaration said.

Among the declaration's Sothe civil right to religious liberty strongly Catholic countries such and to practice religious belief as Spain and Italy, where Ca- viet-bloc supporters ,was Archin community with others. This tholicism was the state religion. bishop Karol Wojtyla ofKrakow, Opponents of the declaration Poland, elected Pope John Paul was a profound development from centuries of Church teach- argued that by accepting the II in 1978. On the council floor ing that complete religious free- principle of religious freedom in 1965, the 45-year-old archdom belonged only to the Catho- the Church would be contradict- bishop argued that no state has lic Church as an institution be- ing itself. This view was counter the power to dominate religion.

Archbishop Wojtyla was "keen cause it contained the fullness to the view of other theologians, such as Father Murray, that on the document" and it "conof divine truth.

In a commentary after the Church teachings can evolve verted him to human rights," said council, Father Murray noted the based on changing circum- Gregory Baum, an expert at the implications of the declaration's stances, a process called "de- Council, and currently a retired religious studies professor at McGill velopment of doctrine." groundbreaking stance.

Father Murray's 1966 com- University in Montreal. ''He became "The Church does not deal with the secular order in terms mentary said that resistance to a champion of human rights of a double standard - freedom development of doctrine was around the world - not just relifor the Church when Catholics behind much of the opposition. gious rights - based on the hu"The notion of development, inan dignity of the person." are a minority, privilege for the

THIS IS A detail view from the oath each cardinal had to swear by at the start of the conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI. The text is in Latin. (eNS photo by Nancy Wiechec)

Rigor mortis? At synod, bishops give lip service to Latin lingo VATICAN CITY (CNS)- Latin limped through another synod in October, as bishops paid lip service to the assembly's official language but did their real communicating in the vernacular.

When Cardinal Angelo Scola opened the synod withthe traditional reading in Latin of the "relalio ante disceptalionem" (pre-discussion report), bishops throughout the synod hall reached quickly for their translation headphones.

The Vatican's translators, also unprepared for the task, had to work from a parallel Italian text.

Only one participant, Latvian Cardinal Janis Pujats, addressed the synod in Latin in both his six-minute speech and free discussion periods.

Unlike most previous synods, Latin was not even offered as a language for small-group discussions.

Chinese bishops wrote a letter to the synod'in Latin, explaining why they couldn't come to the assembly. When it was read aloud, a synod official said the Chinese prelates evidently still thought Latin was the lingua franca of the synod.

That prompted laughter among some synod participants, who reported mistakes even in the pro forma Latin phrases used to introduce speakers at the synod.

"There was some confusion about (Latin) Case endings," said one source.

From the synod's opening gavel to the closing Mass, it was clear that Latin is struggling to survive even at theVatican.

The final propositions, traditionally prepared in Latin for voting, had to be accompanied by an Italian transIBtion this time around. The only Latin the bishops really needed to know was in the voting boxes marked ''placet' (acceptable) and "non placet' (not acceptable.)

Those who understood neither Latin nor Italian were in trouble.

Bishop DonaldW Wuerl ofPittsburgh saiq one ofthe most poignant moments of the synod was when

he saw that some of the younger bishops weren't able to follow the proceedings. ''1 think we have simply moved beyond Latin as a common lingua fmnca in the Church:' Bishop Wuerl said Asked ifhe saw a natural replacement, he said: ''If you were to judge by the conversation at the coffee break, English is a widely disserni'nated language."

Latin came up inoneofthe synod propositions on liturgy, which called for training of seminarians so they are able to say Mass and lead pmyers in Latin. But a proposal to promote Mass in Latin for international, multilingual gatherings ofCatholics was downgraded from a recommendation to a suggestion Pope BenedietXVI, who presided over the synod and led daily pmyers in Latin, surprised people last April when he gave a lengthy inaugural message of his pontificate in flawless Latin. Many of the cardinals in attendance had to read the text in translation afterward.

In June, the pope encouraged the faithful to memorize common pmyers in Latin, so they can pmy in the same language when they meet at international events.

But Latin gave up the ghost long ago as the primary working language at the Vatican. Recently, everything from papal encyclicals to the universal catechism has been written in vernacular languages, then translated into the"official" Latin version Vatican Radio, which broadcasts in more thari 30 languages, including Esperanto, has no programming in Latin. But it does feature a 000man Latin campaign: U.S. Carmelite Father Reginald Foster, who has been a Latin secretary to four popes.

Father Foster, featured on a weekly radio showcalled 'The Latin Lover," where he extols the beauty of Latin said most younger priests and bishops don't know Latin well, and the Church's Latin teachers are .disappearing, too.

112

Friday, November 11,2005 .

·Courage

Continued from page two

meetings in New Bedford, said only possible but necessary in a he is selective in telling his gay chaste Christian life and to enfriends about his decision to live courage one another in forming and sustaining them chastely.

5. To live lives that may serve "1 still have gay friends, but 1 don't always come out to them," as good examples to others.

After reviewing their goals, the said the 53-year-old Hospice home health aide. "It's like I've group read and discussed two gone back in the closet and come spiritual meditations written by an Italian priest and a French out a different way."

John said he stayed away nun. Joe, who selected the medifrom the Catholic Church for 20 . tations, said they reminded him years while he led a "pretty pro- . of the purpose of Courage.

"It's about not following a miscuous" gay lifestyle.

"I put my faith on the back lifestyle that gets you in trouble, burner and .probably didn't re- but rather to follow' Jesus," he spect it," he s~d. "I'm not sure said.

Some meetings tum into theoif I prayed anymore, but I alway.s FORMER FALL .River Bishop Daniel A. Cronin is shown at a Mass taping in 1977. (An- . had my spirituality." logical discussions or philosophi-. chorfile photo) .

Although he considered join- cal debates; while others focus ing a non-Catholic church that. on prayer or members' personal struggles with chastity, the Rev. embraced homosexuals, John Continued from page one who grew up Catholic and at- Wilson said.

"Courage meetings can be and those in nursing homes and hos- to come down to celebrate the tele- have a school community and their tended seminary for a few years priest come in. We bring in priests during high school - found he very weighty sometimes," said pitals because ofour affiliation; our vised Mass."

He said the priests "bring their to talk about various campaigns could not abandon his Catholic Steven, a Boston resident who is wonderful relationship with Chanactive in the New Bedford Cournel6 which has broadcast the Mass readers and servers, their parish's they are linked with. And at Christ- beliefs.

About 10 years ago, John was age chapter. . for 43 years," he added. "It is great musical contingent and also invite mas and Easter we expand the Mass "You're spilling your guts and to know we can do this and hope- their parishioners to be the congre- time to an hour with the bishop forced to take one of his clients gation at the Mass," Msgr. Avila, keying on the season's message." to a Catholic Mass. While pray- talking about where you're at fully will, well into the future."

Channel 6 provides the techni- ing the rosary, John said he felt right now," he said, noting that Kearns said the Fall River dio- pastor of St. John Neumann Parcese was one of the first to take ish in East Freetown, added. cian and the equipment for pre-re- a strong desire to return to the Courage groups promise anonymity and confidentiality to their All priests in the diocese are in- cording, videotaping the TV Mass church. advantage of the technology oftele"It was very comforting and members vision to bring the MaliS to the vited to take part, and an effort is Saturdays in the chapel at Bishop made to have different priests as .Stang High School in North soothing," he said of the com"What is heard here" stays people. mon family prayer recited by here," he said. ''For many, because ofadvanced celebrants, so as to offer different Dartmouth.

While mostly Catholic men age or illness, the opportlmity to hear homiletic styles and approaches and "After taping the Charmel 6 Catholics. "I missed that."

The experience led John back between the ages of 30 and 60 the Word of God, to join in the hear different music.

Mass technicians edit the tape to While that currently is the way fix mistakes or cut out bloopers, to the church. He said he also attend the New Bedford meetprayers of the Mass are a source of consolation in their own living. things are done, in the beginning it and it is ready for airing," Kearns began attending Courage meet- ings, the support group wel. ings in Boston once a week after comes people of any age, genThey also hear a homily. It is a full was different, Kearns and Msgr. explained. .

He acknowledged that a tape realizing that his gay lifestyle had der, religion or sexual orientation, Mass, 30 minutes, and the homi- Avila recalled.

In the early years, Miss Marga- compiling bloopers that occurred not delivered what he was the Rev. Wilson said. lies are timely, and to the point."

Courage members say they Msgr. Avila and Kearns also ret E. Sullivan, a member of New during the years "is around, and in searching for: happiness.

"To me, the gay lifestyle isn't believe other SouthCoast resipointed out the diocese's offering Bedford's St. Lawrence Parish, and 1998, when we celebrated the TV dents struggle with same-sex atis on a regular broadcast channel. its organist, played and directed Mass' 35th anniversary, some of the best way," John said.

But he admits that practicing tractions but do not know where Some televised Masses in otherdio- music for the TV Mass. She died us saw it." ceses are on cable Tv, which is [me, in 1998. Sisters of the Resurrec. to turn.

Kearns recognized Don Brown, celibacy is not easy.

"It's still an ongoing struggle," "Courage is the church's bestprovided people get cable. But not tion, 'who staffed the St. Xavier one of Channel 6's part-time ted)all people can afford cable, and not Day Nursery in New Bedford, were nicians for many years, "as a truly he said. "I have to pray and call kept secret," Steven said. all hospitals, nursing homes and in- instrumental as sacristans for many dedicated professional who has up my friends for support.

Participating in the support stitutions have cable channels, they .years, until they left the diocese.

Attending Courage meetings group has strengthened his selfbeen so kind and· meant so much , "The TV Mass began in 1963, to us." said. in New Bedford helps, too, he image. He said he now has more .

"From the very beginning, and is officially 43 years old this . Although many people think that said. confidence to try new things, Charmel 6 has been very accom- fall," said Kearns, who has been the televised Mass is cost-free, it is .On a Saturday night in Sep- such as sing in a choir. modating," said Kearns. The broad- part ofit since 1986, "following the not, Msgr. AvilasaiQ. Kearns re- tember, two Courage members "I never would have done that cast of the Mass was moved from death ofFather John F. Hogan, who ported that it costs the diocese more met with the Rev. Wilson in the before," he said. "I thought I 8 a.m: to 11 a.m., a year ago Sep- began the broadcast. Everyone he than $60,000 yearly to broadcast the cozy sitting room at St. James sang flat." . tember. came in contact with always noted Mass. Msgr. Avila said the monies Church's rectory.

Joe also credits Courage for "The station too has been very that he had a sparkling personal- "come partly from the generosity . They began the meeting by re- improving his self-image. He regood to deal with. It might be that ity." of those who contribute to the citing the Lord's Prayer and the cently returned from a national Bishop Daniel A. Cronin then Catholic Communications Collection serenity prayer. Then the Rev. Courage conference in New the TV Mass has been their longest running program over the years." asked Father Marcel A. Bouchard, the diocese takes up every January." Wilson read the five 'goals of York, which was attended by about 250 members.

• Because the Mass is broadcast at the time a parochial vicar at St. Halfof that goes to the national Courage: at a later morning hour has advan- Julie Billiart Parish in North office for projects of national 1. To live chaste lives in ac"I began to realize that it's not Dartmouth to take over the. TV scope. The other half remains with ~ cordance with the Roman Catho- just me but others who go tages, Kearns said.

"The sad fact - what I'm hear- Mass "and he asked me to help," the diocese to cover some of the lic Church's teachings on homo- through this suffering," he said. ing from many ofmy colleagues in Kearns recalled. .

TV Mass. sexuality.

"It's really a community based In 1988, then Father Avila was communications - is that many 2. To dedicate our entire lives on shared woundedness."

"The Communications Collectelevised Masses in other parts of assigned to direct the. TV tion doesn't cover all the costs, so to Christ through service to othBoth men said they have the country have been moved to Apostolate, and since that time, and the remainder comes from Catho- ers, spiritual reading, prayer, learned to define themselves beearlier and earlier morning broad- notwithstanding his different as- lic Charities;' Msgr. Avila reported. meditation, individual spiritual di- yond their sexual identity. casts. They come too early, when signments in the diocese, has re- "Throughout it all, Channel 6 has rection, frequent attendance at "We are so much more than those in nursing homes and hospi- mained at the helm. been very good to us, trying to Mass and the frequent reception sexual beings," Steven said. tals are not up and ready for Mass Kearns has assisted since then. keep the costs down as much as of the sacraments of Reconcilia"We are each a child' of God, yet. So we appreciate what Chan''Msgr. Avila, who introduces the it can." tion of the Holy Eucharist. and our destiny is to be united nel 6 is doing by broadcasting the celebrant each week, is the face of Although many of the people 3. To foster a spirit of fel- with God." Mass at a time appropriate for the the TV Mass," Kearns said. and the technology have certainly lowship in which we may share For more information about viewers we aim to serve."

Kearns' responsibility is sched- changed since the inception ofthe with one another our thoughts tile Courage Program, contact Msgr. Avila was quick to point uling the celebrants, coordinating, televised Mass,· its purpose has and experiences, and to ensure Fatller Ricllard D. Wilson at out that "how really encouraging it and more currently, working the not changed, Kearns said. "We that none of us will have to face Our Lady ofGuadalupe Parisll is to see pur priests, many ofwhom audio board at the pre-recording. continue to bring the Sacrifice of the problems of homosexuality at St. James Cllurcll, 233 are alone in their own parishes and ''We also try to offer a variety of the Mass to those who cannot alone.

County Street, New Bedford. busy with weddings and funerals themes. For instance, during physically attend," he empha4. To be mindful of the truth Tel. 508-992-9408. E-mail: . and so many other things, willing Schools.Week we make sure we sized. that chaste friendships are not www.st;ames-nb.org.

TV Mass

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Friday, November 11, 2005

Steering Points EUCHARISTIC ADORATION WEST HARWICH - Our Lady of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel is in need of volunteers. Consider signing up to spend an hour with the Lord.

Empty slots are: Monday at 2 a.m. and 9 a.m.; Wednesday at 11 a.m.; Thursday at 3 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Friday at 10 p.m. and Saturday at 6 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. For more information call 508-4304716.

Good Friday," November 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette. For more information call 508-2225410.

HEALING MASSES

FALL RIVER - District One Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Women will meet November 17 at 7 p.m. in the parish hall of Immaculate Conception Church. Lisa Kurowski of Bristol Elder Services will be guest speaker. Refreshments will be served. For more information call Bella Nogueira at 508-673-6145.

ATTLEBORO - La Salette Father Manuel Pereira will lead a healing service in Portuguese Sunday at 2 p.m. at the National Shrine ofOur Lady of La Salette.

For more information call 508222-5410.

MASHPEE - Dr. Aaron Lazare will give a. talk entitled "Our Families Adoption of Eight Children: 39 Years'Later," Sunday at 11 a.m. in the chapel at Christ the King Parish. For more information call 508-477-7700.

MIDDLETOWN, RI. - La Salette Father Andre Patenaude will lead a healing service November 14 at 7 p.m. at St. Lucy Church, ·909 west Main Road. For more information call 401-849-9764.

MISCELLANEOUS

LECTURESI PRESENTATIONS ATTLEBORO - La Salette Father John P. Sullivan will give a talk entitled liThe Sacrifice of

Gambling

FALL RIVER - St. Anthony of the Desert Maronite Parish will hold its annual Christmas Bazaar and Food Faire November 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There will be crafters, Lebanese food and desserts. There will also be a number of activities for children including cookie decorating, omament coloring and photos with the Snowflake Princess. For more information

'call Claudette Azar at 508-9928383.

call Holy Cross Family Ministries at 508-299-PRAY.

INDIA - Father Paul Cruz of India seeks donations of rosaries, statues and holy pictures for St. Antony's Church.

They are also seeking pens and pencils for their school children.

Send items in care of: Father Paul Cruz, St. Antony's Church, Kanjirakodu P.O., Kundara 691 501, Kollam, Kerala, India.

SOCIAL EVENTS

NORTH DARTMOUTH The Diocesan Divorced-Separated Support Gro.up will meet .

November 14 from 7-9 p.m. at the Family Life Center, 500 Slocum Road. It will include the video presentation "Forgiveness." For more information call Bob Menard at 508-6732997.

SUPPORT GROUPS SCOUTING

CENTERVILLE - A Mass honoring military veterans will be celebrated by Bishop Francis X. Roque at Our Lady of Victory C,hurch, 230 South Main Street, on November 15 at 2 p.m. The Mass is also for the intention of the sainthood cause of Father Emil J. Kapaun.

All are invited.

RETREATS EAST FREETOWN -AYes Retrea( for post confirmation youth, will be held November 1820 at Cathedral Camp. Interested young people should contact their parish priest or youth minister for an application. For more information call Frank Lucca at 508-324-4576.

NORTH EASTON -A Family Retreat will be held November 20 from 2-4 p.m. at the Father Peyton Center, 518 Washington Street. It is an opportunity for family members to reflect on how they pray together and will include recitation of the rosary, discussion and refreshments. For mor~ information

Continued from page one

considering additional revenue from gambling to fund various programs.

We acknowledge that some of our schools still rely upon revenue from bingo and other games of chance.

We seek to lessen that reliance in the future.

"However, casinos and the authorization for additional slot machines will raise gambling to a new level in our Commonwealth. In addition these can also encourage addictive gambling. The state should not depend on gambling for re- . sources to pay for needed services.

"We urge our state legislators to vote against these proposals."

The teaching of the Catholic Church on gambling is sUOlffied up in "The Catechism of the Catholic Church" (No. 2413). It reads: "Games of chance (card games, etc.) or wagers are not in themselves contrary to justice. They become morally unacceptable when they deprive someone of what is necessary to provide for his needs and those of others. The passion for gambling risks becoming an enslavement. Unfair wagers and cheating at games constitute grave matter,' wlless the danlage inflicted is so light that the one who POPE BENEDICT XVI prays in front of the tomb of Pope suffers it cannot reasonably conJohn Paul II in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican sider it significant." on All Souls' Day. (CNS photo from Reuters)

Thejoint committee mulling the are compelled to address. We opproposal, a new panel, is the Com- pose the proposed expansion of mittee on Economic Development gambling in the Commonwealth.

"The Church sees gambling as and Emerging Technologies. The Senate chairman is Sen. John Hart something neutral, a legitin1ate recofSouth Boston. The House chair- reational activity when done in man is Rep. Dan Barsley of the moderation. However, we also see Berkshires, who, Saunders said, "is that in gambling, especially in casivery much on record as opposed nos and high stake lotteries, there . are increased dangers and abuses to any expansion of gambling."

The full statement by the bish- that warrant vigilance and concern.

There is no doubt that gambling can ops follows: "The expansion of the state's victimize the poor and often surdependence upon ganlbling is a pass 'legitimate recreation.' ''We appreciate why the state is current and critical issue, which we

NEW BEDFORD - The A Cappella Vocal Ensemble Sine Nomine will perform November 20 at 3 p.m. at St. Lawrence Martyr Church. For more information call 508-992-4251.

508-992-9408.

BUZZARDS BAY - A support group for family and friends of those, dealing with emotional troubles, depression and mental illness meets on the first Sunday of each month from 3-4:30 p.m. atSt. Margaret's Church.

For more information call 508759-7777.

NEW BEDFORD - Courage, a support group for those dealing with same-sex attraction issues while trying to live chaste lives, meets November 26 at 7 p.m. in the rectory of St. James Parish, 233 County Street. The meetings combine prayer and sharing as members strengthen and encourage each other to walk together with the Lord. For more information call Father Richard Wilson at

FALL RIVER - Registration for the "Family of God" (grades one-three) Brownies, and the "( Live My Faith Award" (grades four-six) Juniors, will take place at St. Anne's School, 240 Forest Street on November 15 at 6:30 p.m. Please use the cafeteria entrance. For more information call Pat Latinville at 508678-8667.

_.'

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In honor of Sister Lucia dos Santos, seer ofFatima, who died February 13,2005, age 97.

Lucia pray for us.

St. Anne's Prayer "Good St. Anne, Mother ofMary, and Grandmother of Jesus, Intercede for me and my petitions. Amen."

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PRACTICE THE DEVOTION OF THE FIRST SATURDAYS, AS REQUESTED BY OUR LADY OF FATIMA

On December 10, 1925, Our Lady appeared to Sister Lucia (seer of Fatima) and spoke these words: "Announce in my

name that I promise to assist at the hour ofdeath with the graces ,necessaryfor the salvation oftheir souls, all those who on the first Saturday of five consecutive months shall: 1. Go to confession; 2. Receive Huly Communion; 3. Recite the Rosary (5 decades); and 4. Keep me companyfor 15 minutes while meditating on the 15 mysteries ofthe Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me. " In a spirit of reparation, the above conditions are each to be preceded by the words: "In reparation for the offenses ~ommitted against the Immaculate Heart of Mary."

Confessions may be made during 8 days before or after the first Saturday, and Holy Communion may be received at either the morning or evening Mass on the first Saturday.

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14

Friday, November 11,2005

FATHER SAMUEL Leonard, IVE, pastor of St. Kilian Parish, New Bedford, gives instructions to teachers in its religious education program during a recent meeting. They meet bi-monthly to路 evaluate the program and plan future activities, as well as on-.going academic and spiritual formation. At right, sixth and seventh-graders from the religious education program lead a rosary prayer in the chapel recent/yo The program is led by director Ana Aldarondo.

STUDENTS FROM St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro dress as saints during an assembly on All Saint's Day, November 1.

THE SOPHOMORE class at Bishop Stang High School, North Dartmouth, recently held elections for class officers. From left: Nicholas Walther, president; Kaitlin Walsh, vice president; Hollis Dunlop, secretary; and James Tenaglia, treasurer.

THE CROSS COUNTRY Team from Saint Mary-Sacred Heart School, North Attleboro, recently completed its fall season tied for first place. It competed inthe Rhode Island CathoIicAthletic League against 20 other teams. From left, front row: Alysha Robinson, Elizabeth Magill, Paul Reilly, and John Trout.

Middle: Conor Dean, Nick Andrikopoulos, Michael Keane, \MIliam Trout, and Thomas Marcotte. Back row: Coach Tracey Magill, Conner Reilly, Dimitri Andrikopoulos, Evan Dean, Scott Robinson, and Coach Lisa Dean.

FIRST-GRADERS at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, New Bedford, work on a mural after completing their annual study of C~ristopherColumbus. It depicted the voyage of the ships the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria.

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Saying thanks in路 a troubled year

MOLLY FRANCE, center, from St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Youth Organization in River Ridge, La., and other teens from the New Orleans Archdiocese, make an entrance with beads and parasols into a regional meeting October 28 at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Atlanta. More than $60,000 was raised nationally in September to ensure youth groups from the hurricane-affected Gulf Coast region could still attend the conference. (CNS photo courtesy of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry)

Youths find strength in Catholic faith to tackle social problems "I also learned that you can ATLANTA (CNS) - Before her confirmation class at St. help people, but it's a long proMichael the Archangel Parish in cess to get anything accomKailua-Kona, Hawaii, began look- plished," Inafuku added. "I never ing into the problems of knew how complex it was to do homelessness and decrepit low- things, but it can be done. You income public housing on the is- just have to try."

At the October 27-29 youth land of Hawaii, Miyeko Inafuku really never gave much thought conference in Atlanta, the Cathoto homelessness. "But after we lic Campaign for Human Develbegan, I realized that even just 'opment recognized Inafuku and nine other Hawaiian teens as winthinking about it isn't enough you've got to try to do some- ners of its 2005 multimedia youth thing," the teen told The Georgia arts contest for their video called Bulletin, Atlanta's archdiocesan "Let Their Voices Be Heard! Pubnewspaper, at the National Catho- lic Housing and Homelessness in Hawaii." lic Youth Conference.

By CHARLIE MARTIN - CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE THANK YOU This year I find much of what perspective. It is through living our Look around, the writing's on Thanksgiving means echoed in "days" that we change, heal, grow . the wall The Calling's 2001 release ''Thank and create what our lire can be.

Don't you think we're all feeling You" off their fIrst album, Life remains an incredible crazed? " "Camino Palmero." adventure no matter what occurs.

In a world where nothing's Given all that happened dtuing Sometimes situations turn out far the past year, we might all-like as it seems better than we ever expected.

Paved with broken dreams I the song's character - feel a little Other times we are surprised by found truth "crazed" We have observed the intensity of pain that emerges.

Through it all, we learn who Well, my God, I should know several events that brought great you're right suffering to God's family. we are as the image and likeness I should know it's right to say I of God. We discover the eternal goodness that dwells within us. thank you for my days Refrain: We gradually realize that our true Come around and see home cannot be found in life's the other side events. Instead, these events point Stepping stones away from the us toward the path back to God. limelight We grow to understand that we came from love and that to love Come around and breathe in peace of mind we will return.

And for it all, I thank you, I Maybe in a year like 2005 we also leam the value offocusing on thank you all dimensions ofthe present Sit down, lose yourself moment. In reality the present in thought moment is all we have. Perhaps Then you might find out it's all the present holds moments of we've got peace, moments of beauty, Take a chance, the future's in The year started with the aftermath of the devastat- moments of hope and moments of your hands unconditional love. Ifyou have Make it what you can before ing tsunami in Asia. Summer brought the pain of the terrorist known such moments during this your time has reached the end past year, then Thanksgiving attacks in London. Then, during (Repeat refrain.) beckons you to express gratitude.

August, September and October, Come around and see Thanksgiving also offers we witnessed the loss of lives, the other side another type of moment, a Stepping stone away from the homes and dreams as hurricanes struck violently in America. During moment for prayer. IfThanksgivlimelight ing brings your family together, 2005, God's family experienced Come around and breathe in that is a blessing. If you are many tears and much uncertainty. peace of mind fortunate to enjoy well-prepared And for it all, you, you'll make it Do we feel a residual sadness food, another Thanksgiving on your own now? tradition, this too is a grace. Yet, Many will agree that they walk Yeah, you're free whatever the specifics of your on a road ''paved with broken Stepping stones away from dreams." Yet, it is helpful to have a Thanksgiving, seek some mothe limelight ments for quiet. day like Thanksgiving. Even with Come around and breathe in Light a candle, invite God s all our challenges, both personal peace of mind presence and say humbly to your and global, we can join the song's And for it all I thank you, Creator: ''For all my days, I thank character and say: "Well, my I thank you, God, I should know you're right, I you, I thank you, I thank you."

I thank you, I thank you Your comments are always should know it's right to say I Sung by The Calling welcome. Please write to me at: thank you for my days."

Album: Camino Palmero clllnartin@sWilldiallQ.llet or at In giving thanks we do not (c) 2001 by RCA Records 7125W200S, Rockport, IN ignore suffering. Rather, expressIt's time for the most original 47635. ing gratitude helps us gain American holiday: Thanksgiving!

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What a difference a word makes"

By KASE JOHNSl\JN

.

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

I've done some things that I want to forget, but can't. I've hurt people because of words I've said to them. I've hurt people because I didn't say any words at all. I've hurt people by criticizing the words they used, and I've laughed at people because they couldn't find the right words to use.

"Words." Sinlple. On their own thei have a specific, nonoffensive meaning (for the most part), but put together with other words they can be extremely hurtful to others.

For exanlple: The word ''hair'' is a perfectly unobtrusive word on its own, signifying the fibrous strands of substance found on top of a head. Even adding "is" to make "hair" into a sentence isn't hurtful at all. "Hair is." That's true, "hair is."

I believe that ''hair is" never made anyone feel badly, never made someone cry or hurt

someone's feelings. Even adding the word "stupid" to our short little sentence doesn't hurt anyone. ''Hair is stupid." Yeah, I agree, hair doesn't think, make decisions or ponder the meaning of life, and hair doesn't know how to finish an algebra problem. "Stupid," normally a negative word in most situations, does not add a negative spin to this sentence because we can all agree that hair has no intelligence.

So, we have our sentence, ''Hair is stupid."

What if we add a simple, personal possessive pronoun like "your"? We get "Your hair is stupid."

Now this group of words strung together could very well turn someone's otherwise good day into a really bad day, a day that they wish would end. It could

change the next day to come and the day after that, trying to avoid the same insult from people.

Step back for a moment, and eliminate one of the other words from the sentence like ''your is stupid."

This doesn't even make any sense, but in conversation, if someone were to only hear ''your ... is stupid" it still might prove extremely hurtful.

Imagine three friends in a crowded music store. People all around them are listening to headphones, the store is piping in "The Postal Service," muting a lot of voices throughout.

One friend turns to another and says something. All that the other friend hears is "Your .., is stupid."

Not knowing what the friend actually

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said, her brain starts to spin, ~ ofall the things of hers that could be stupid, all the things that she already is self conscious about - hair, laugh, voice. Her mind plugs all of these into the sentence, at the same time trying not to act like she is hurting inside.

"Your hair is stupid."

"Your laugh is stUpid." ''Your voice is stupid.

Words can mean nothing, and they can mean everything.

I've done some things that I want to forget, but can't. I've hurt people beca~e of the words I have said to them. I've hurt people because I didn't say any words at all.

I've hurt people by criticizing the words they used, and I've laughed at people because they couldn't find the right words.

But it's not finding the right words to use that's the problem; finding the right combinations of words is.

Friday, November 11, 2005

Morals

FATHER DANIEL Coughlin, chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives, stands with his mother, Lucille, after receiving the 2005 Distinguished Service Award from the Washington Theological Union recently. (CNS photo by John Whitman)

Chaplain calls his work on .Hilla balance of contemplation, action

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oftheology and ministry, honored ther Coughlin~hmked his archthe priest for "his commitment bishop, Cardinal Francis E. and dedication to pastoring at the George, for allowing him to work parish level and at the highest lev- in Washington as House chaplain, els of government." and House Speaker Dennis Father Coughlin said he gladly Hastert, R-Ill., for naming him to accepted the award "to affirm the the post in MiUch 2000.

Father Coughlin's 91-year-old power of prayer to transform the world we live in and underscore mother, Lucille, came from Chithe importance of chaplaincy in cago for the reception.

"The House is a wonderful inthe workplace of government leaders, especially in times ofcri- stitution to the people who work sis." there," said the priest, who is the The honor comes at a time in first Catholic to serve as House the country's history, he said, chaplain since the body elected its ''when religion's place in govern- first chaplain in 1789.

His duties include many ofthe ment is scrutinized and the role ofchaplain and prayer in the leg- pastoral responsibilities he might islature has been contested in the have in a Catholic parish as well as invocations and benedictions courts."

Father Coughlin also said he for ceremonies and meetings. He was "proud to receive this award also delivers the prayer that opens. as an American Catholic priest each day's session of the House during these times when respect - unless a guest is scheduled to for priests has been tarnished and present it.

The tradition of opening the a subtle but real· anti-clericalism can be found even in surprising lawmakers' proceedings each day corners of the Church." with a prayer was established by A priest of the Chicago Arch- the Continental Congress in 1774. diocese and a Chicago native, FaFather Coughlin, who was ordained in 1960, said that a while ago a friend asked him, "How long State of fJC\'clopmcnl are you going to keep doing what you are doing?" .

He said he told his friend he had ''four major obstacles to thinking about retirement" - Pope John Paul II, Chief Justice William Rehnquist, Federal Reserve &.ooIi<Iilillapom:tlJi> chairman Alan Greenspan, "and dle No. I o!m oIdle U.N. my mother." Since the deaths of NiIIalaiam ~ 0daIs. 11>0 pal the pope, 84, and Rehnquist, 80, by bI4fCSImIIe I"'=Y 4lIlI and the retirement of Greenspan, liz ~ ctdlooe..tlo !Mblb:ll&¢ 79, Father Coughlin said, "She's the only one still standing."

I'I!Iam at pe.c¢e CltIg 011 leu lllan S1 8 day. 1990 and 2001 At 91, Lucille Coughlin, who . ,.,..... also has a daughter and another son, continues to usher at Wrigley Field in Chicago, home ofthe Chicago Cubs. She told Catholic News Service she just finished ..... her 17th year at the ballpark and 10 o --:""c: has no plans to stop.

III 30 50

WASHINGTON (CNS)- Father Daniel Coughlin said his work on Capitol Hill as chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives is the "balance ofcontemplation and action, prayer and reflection, words and listening" he has longed for his whole life. ."1 wrestle with angels at times to create prayer that will lift controversy to resolve arid inspire differences to seek the common good," he said recently at a reception where he received the 2005 Distinguished Service Award from the Washington Theological Union.

"In pastoral care of members and those around them, I have uncovered depths of public service, the highest motivations and contemporary suffering that the public wili never know or appreciate," he added.

In the time he has spent with people at the Capitol, he said, he has learned that "AJ:nerica is in good hands." .

Washington Theological Union, a Catholic graduate school

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public schools reported FitzGibbon.

"The court decision brings with it a new era in our schools and life," he said. "The matters of homosexual marriage will be addressed in Boston public schools." He cited a memorandum from Thomas W. Payzant, superintendent of Boston public schools, in which reports of inappropriate speech are being addressed. FitzGibbon said the effect of this social movement in support of same-sex marriage is to encourage the introduction of vivid and sometimes graphic presentation of various sexual practices in classrooms.

According to a teacher who spoke on the National Public Radio program, the debate of gay marriage is prompting kids to ask a lot more questions like what is gay sex. FitzGibbon says a result of the court decision is that students in public schools will be taught about the merits of legalization of samesex marriages. Opponents of same-sex marriage are concerned that schools may be forced to teach about hom'osexual behavior as a positive, alternative lifestyle for children.

In Canada, where same-sex marriage is recognized, that issue is coming to the forefront according to teacher Murray Corren. He stated while school curriculum is not anti-homosexual, it does have omission that have the effect of encouraging the assumption that all people are or should be heterosexual.

Corren, who took advantage of the same-sex marriage law in Canada, wants curriculum changed to include Queer history and historical figures as well as the contributions made by queers to civilization according to an interview he gave with a Vancouver paper.

FitzGibbon says there will be an inevitable clash between school officials and parents who hold ethical beliefs or belong to religious communities that do not support those practices.

He likens it to the issue of abortion, which was imposed by the courts against the wishes of many Americans and was in conflict with religion and moral beliefs.

FitzGibbon says as courts have struck down parental consent laws regarding abortion, they may eventually limit parents access to information and their right to influence school activities regarding same-sex marriage.

He contends that a Federal Marriage Amendment would help protect against this erosion of rights.

He further asserts that a social and moral consequence of the recognition ofsame-sex marriage is the deconstruction of the intellectual and social definition of marriage.

If the Commonwealth sets the

Continued from page one

terms of marriage, it closes the door on the roots of the institution and those authorities who would define it by custom, nature, tradition and religion.

FitzGibbon says marriage is something defmed by the state, but the state has failed because it has not adopted a comprehensive definition of marriage by cornmon law or statute.

The result is confusion and the possibility that the barriers will further expand like in Canada where two heterosexual men took advantage of the same-sex marriage law and married one another in order to take advantage of a tax break.

Same sex marriage also degrades and destabilizes marriage because legal ~uthorities and social policy makers are losing their grasp on a commo~ understanding of marriage and it will become harder to distinguish from non-marital cohabitation.

FitzGibbon also contended that same-sex marriage leads to the degradation and destabilization of the family. He said cohabitation often leads to family turbulence and parental splits, resulting in children often being raised by reconstituted couples, and posing greater risk for physicalor sexual abuse when children are cared for in the home by adults who are unrelated to them.

He added that when a state gets off the same page as the rest of the country with regards to who is and who is not married, it creates disorder and a coherent soCial order carmot be maintained Another look at the harms stemming from same-sex marriage appears in the November I issue of the Boston Phoenix. An article by Michael Bronski, "Queer as your folks," addressing a study that contends gay parents create gay kids.

It was reporting a study, "How Does the Sexual Orientation of Parents Matter?," conducted from 1981 to 1998, and published in a recent issue of the American Sociological Review.

In the study, professors Judith Stacey and Timothy J. Biblarz from the University of Southern California, found that children of lesbian parents were more likely to experiment with same-sex relationships than those raised by heterosexuals; that girls tended to be more sexually adventurous than those raised by straight parents; and both boys and girls raised in such homes were found to be more sexually and culturally permissive than their peers.

"So there is quite a lot of concern, being raised from the issue of same-sex marriages."

FitzGibbon concluded.

"More than 35 states have adopted a defense of marriage statue or constitutional provision.

1 judge the Federal Marriage Amendment to be of the greatest importance.".