11.22.91

fALLRIV,lft DlOCESAN 1'1EWSPAPIR, FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS' ·>IAFlI;!iCQI!ii& .IIIIS"NI'o)$ VOL. 35, NO. 46

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Friday, November 22, 1991

FALL RIV.ER, MASS.

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Prolifers meet at Vatican

Strategies discussed VAT1CAN CITY (CNS) - In the first meeting of its kind, representatives of prolife movements acros the spectrum came to the Vatican to tell about their work and debate strategies in the fight against abortion.

The Nov. 14-16encounter began quietly with speeches by officials of the sponsoring Pontifical Council for the Family. It ended on an activist note, when one group took the microphone after the session was officially closed to read an open letter to Pope John Pauill.

Among those attending was Randall Terry. founder of Operation Rescue, the controversial U.S. organization that uses civil disobedience to block abortion clinics.

Reaction among participants to Operation Rescue's tactics was· mixed, with some expressing admiration and others questioning its effectiveness.

Eight prolife groups, including Operation Rescue, sponsored a petition to the pope that called for excommunication of Catholic pol- . enting the truth related to the legal dean. "Wefelt we could not knowiticians who refuse to "repent and aspects of the case," said Dr. ingly participate in the advanceretract" statements in favor of Christopher M. Kiernan, univer- ment of a lie." abortion. It was handed to the sity vice president and academic In the 20/20 segment, reporter pontiff during a group meeting John Stossel said the' case has Nov. 15. made Ms. Russell "a celebrity" The pope, in a talk to the apand "America's most prominent proxi mately 150 participants, advocate of fat rights, as she puts stressed cooperation among proit." life groups and said they should Shejoined NAAFA, the National respect their different approaches Association to Advance Fat Acwho has played with several Rhode to ~he issue. ceptance, and according to Dr. Island ensembles, has chosen a "Your greatest strength is in the Kiernan "is trying to advance their classical program for Sunday's quality of your witness for human position, using her version of what concert. dignity, for the family and for life, she says took place at Salve RegIt will include selections from in mutual collaboration and in the works of Joao de Sousa Car- ina, which was not proven in court." respect of legitimate differences," Before her lawsuit was settled in valho, a contemporary of Mozart, he said. who was among the foremost Por- July, Ms. Russell made the rounds In describing the gravity of the tuguese composers of the 18th cen- of TV talk shows, condemning the problem, the pope spoke about tury, as well as compositions by· university for its alleged mistreat- abortion in the same dramatic ment of her, but "this is the first Bach, Handel, Franck, Boelmann terms that he has used increasingly time she's done it since the case and Dillon. over the last year. He left no doubt was closed," said Dr. Kiernan.

The concert is dedicated to Mrs. that one reason the Vatican has "R ussell has been adept at man- sponsored several meetings on proGeorge Souza, 87, who has been a ipulating the media for the past six member of the Mt. Carmel choir life issues in 1991 is because it has a since she was a teenager and is years into providing her a plat- sense of urgency about the issue. form upon which to espouse her only now withdrawing from the The pope said the modern age music ministry of the parish. A anti-Catholic propaganda and fanwitnesses "exterminations at a rate tasies," said Steven E. Snow, an Marian medalist, she is the mother never seen before in the history of of Sister of St. Dorothy Mary attorney for Salve Regina Univerhumanity," and he warned that sity, in a letter sent to 20/20 pro- . "strong and potent forces" are Margaret Souza, principal of Our ducer David Sloan before airing of promoting a "culture of death." . Lady of Fatima High School in the segment.

Warren, Rl. Sister Mary Margaret Among these forces, he said, were will be among those present at Stossel said on the program that selfishness, consumerism, economic Sunday's celebration.

"Ms. Russell became an activist interests and "a superficial femiRebuilding of the organ and six years ago when officials at a nism that is afraid of the greatness preparations for its solemn bless- nursing school told her she was of maternity." ing have been directed by Msgr. too fat to graduate."

He urged societies to adopt "a Luiz G. Mendonca, pastor of Our She had enrolled at the univerclear policy favoring life and the Lady of Mt. Carmel and a dioceTurn to Page II Turn to Page II san consultor.

THANKSGIVING IN AMERICA

As some feast, others scrounge in trash containers

"20/20" TV show protested at Salve Regina

By Marcie Hickey

Portrayal of Salve Regina University of Newport, RI, in a Nov. 15 segment of the ABC-TV newsmagazine program "20/20" and a previous TV Guide advertisement which was widely regarded as "Catholic bashing" have elicited indignation at the Sisters of Mercy-run university.

The advertisement was headed "How the nuns at Salve Regina College made her life a living hell."

Salve Regina president Sister Lucille McKillop, RSM, said the ad constituted "an institutionalized attack on the Catholic Church, on Catholic colleges and on religious who have given their lives to the education of their students.

Systemic change is necessary if truth rather than bigotry or titillation is to be the rule."

The 13-minute 20/20 segment titled "Being Fat - Is It Such a Crime?" dealt in part with allegations by former Salve Regina nursing student Sharon L. Russell that the university discriminated against her because of her weight. But in 1985, when she sued Salve Regina and five faculty members for $3 million, seven of her eight charges against them, including that of weight discrimination, were dismissed by the United States District Court for Rhode Island.

When approached by 20/20 last August, Salve Regina declined to participate in the program's planned report on Ms. Russell

when it became clear after extensive discussion that "they intended to focus on the iss.ue of weight" and were "not interested in pres-

Organ blessing

at Mt. Carmel, New B.edford Almost exactly a year ago, members of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parish, New Bedford, gathered in their church for a Mass of dedication and blessing, following a $3 million, 18-month renovation program which totally refurbished the 1903 church building. _ This Sunday they will gather again, this time at 3 p.m. for a solemn blessing of Mt. Carmel's newly rebuilt Hook and Hastings organ, followed by an organ recital by Dwight Thomas of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Providence.

The recital will conclude with a solemn Te Deum and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at which Dom Aurelio Granada Escudeiro, Bishop of the diocese of Angra, Azores, will preside. .

The organ, originally installed at Mt. Carmel in 1932, has been rebuilt and amplified by the DeLisle Pipe Organ Company of Fall River. It now has 32 ranks totaling 2239 pipes.

Organist Thomas, who has studied under Vance Westgate, John Hubert and S. Deane Place and

2

Th-e Anchor Friday, Nov. 22, 1991

Haitian returns blasted by church spokesman

Holy days hottest

t~pic

at bishops' parley

WASHINGTON (CNS) ~ As the U.S. bishops adjourned their annual fall meeting Nov. 14, final decisions on holy days of obligation and a proposed statement on Native American concerns remainWASHINGTON (CNS) - The ed to be resolved by mailed-in balWashington Office on Haiti and a lots from bishops who were absent. priest heading a Miami-based HaiThe six existing U.S. holy days tian apostolate have chastised the were retained, though some could Bush administration for its decistill be lifted when they fall on a sion to return some 2,000 Haitian Saturday or Monday. boat people to their homeland.

Statements on children, the en"We think it's an outrageous vironment, priests' councils and decision to forcibly repatriate Haithe teaching ministry of diocesan tians given the repressive regime bishops were approved, but pronow in power," John Kozyn, assoposed norms for lay preaching ciate director of the Washington ' Office on Haiti told Catholic News were defeated.

On liturgical matters, the bishService. The office was founded by the Eastern province of the Holy ops approved a new Lectionary for Masses With Children and Ghost Fathers.

The U.S. State Department an- several other liturgical changes, all nounced Nov. 18 that it would' of which require Vatican confirbegin that day sending almost 2,000 mation. But results of their vote on MSGR. ALAN Detscher, associate director of the U.S. Haitian boat people back to their a slight change in the English translation of the words "Verbum bishops' ,committee on the liturgy, leads prayer at the bishops' country to head off the threat of a Domini" after readings were incon- fall meeting. (eNS photo) mass exodus.

A day later a federal judge in clusive, again requiring the votes Miami issued a temporary res- of absent bishops. sary of the arrival of Christopher norms after some declared them The prelates nearly unanimously training order halting "repatriaColumbus in the New World. unciear and unnecessary. tion of Haitians who are aboard approved a plan to use non-bishop A statement pledging church Auxiliary Bishop Emil A. Wcela U.S. flagged ships." The legal action scholars to approve Scripture commitment to children and famiof Rockville Centre, N. Y., chairtranslations.

They also set $3 milwas taken at the request of the lies, approved by a 221-4 vote mail of the bishops' Committee on Miami-based Haitian Refugee Cen- .lion as the maximum amount for Nov. 14, was termed "the most Pastoral Research and Practices, which they can sell or mortgage ter. important document we've dealt had asked approval of the norms, property without obtaining prior A center spokesman said the with at this meeting" by one saying typical uses might be to Vatican approval. order would delay Haitian returns archbishop. allow a lay Spanish-speaker to The bishops approved new social for at least a week.

Archbishop James P. Lyke of preach at a Mass being celebrated responsibility guidelines for their Since a Sept. 30 military coup Atlanta, in praising the statement by a priest who was not fluent ousted Haiti's president, Father conferences' investment portfolio, titled "Putting Children and Famienough in Spanish to give a homabout $105 million, and a worth Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the numlies First: A Challenge 'for Our ily, or to bring in a lay person to 1992 budget of just under $40 Church, Nation and World," urged ber of Haitians attempting the 600 preach at a children's Mass when million. mile journey from Haiti to Florida that it be made "accessible to all the ordained minister does not They elected seven committee has swelled. the people" when it is formally relate well to young people. chairmen and chose Archbishop Father Thomas Wenski, direcreleased on Jan. 6, the feast of the Robert F. Sanchez of Santa Fe, Support for the new Lectionary tor of the Pierre Toussaint Haitian Epiphany.

N. M., to a three-year term as Catholic Center in Miami, charged The nearly 50-page statement is secretary of the National Conferthat the U.S. government falsely the product of three bishops' comof Catholic Bishops and the ence assumes that "because the Haitian mittees: domestic policy, internaU.S. Catholic Conference. .

NEW YORK (CNS) - Father boat people are poor they are ecotional policy and marriage and In a voice vote, they agreed to Richard J. Neuhaus, author of nomic refugees, not political reffamily. changes in allocation guidelines "The Catholic Moment," said ugees."

With regard to the AIDS crisis, Unlike Cuban boat people, who for funds collected in a nationwide the statement said: "Instead of , defeat of a proposal to reduce the' number of holy days of obligation rOlitinely are granted political asy- collection for retired religious. promoting the illusion of 'safe sex,' But holy days were clearly the helped turn the church in the lum, Haitian boat people normally we need to warn our children and hottest topic at the Nov. 11-14 direction it must go if it is to make are treated as economic refugees. society of the dangers of sexual meeting, prompting extensive and When intercepted at sea by the promiscuity and drug abuse. Our the contribution he envisioned in his book.

U.S. Coast Guard, they are shipped at times impassioned debate before moral convictions about expressThe bishops' refusal to accept back to Port-au-Prince, the Hai- the balloting. Bishops from large ing human sexuality within marEastern dioceses led the fight for tian capital, where Red Cross riage now represent not only ap-. the holy days proposal during their retaining all holy days and bishops workers give them $10 to get home. propriate moral guidance, but also annual fall meeting in Washington , as the National Conference ofCathU.N. High Commissioner for of the Midwest and West were the wise health counsel."

Refugees Sadako Ogata was among chief proponents of change.

Also in the statement was a olic Bishops was significant, he The bishops voted to retain all those critical of the U.S. decision proposal expressing particular said in a Nov. 14 speech.

"A powerful statement was being to send Haitians home, as were six holy days of obligation cur- concern for children in Iraq and made," he said. "The bishops were Sen. Connie Mack III, R-Fla., and rently observed by U.S. Latin-rite Croatia.

Catholics, but a vote on eliminatRep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y. A statement on the environment, saying, we've had enough of being "Returning Vietnamese, Russian ing the obligation of Mass for "Renewing the Face ofthe Earth," . told how to be acceptable to the Jews, Cubans, Nicaraguans and three holy days - Jan. I, Aug. 15 , says a Catholic vision of the envir- taste-makers. It is time for us lovothers back to the repressive coun- ' and Nov. 1 - when they fall on onment does not mean choosing ingly, but with self-confidence, to say, sorry, world, but we have to tries from which they were fleeing Saturday or Monday was incon- between people and the planet. be Catholic." would have been unthinkab1e. How clusive. Final results would not be "We seek to explore the links Father Neuhaus, a tormer Luthcan we justify it for Haitians?" known until bishops not at the between concern for the person eran minister who directs the Instimeeting were polled by mail. asked Mack. and for the earth, between natural tute on Religion and Public Life in Under conference rules, aneast State Department spokesman 180 votes, or two-thirds of the con- ecology and social ecology," it New York, commented in the annRichard Boucher told reporters ual Merton Lecture at Columbia Nov. 19 that the United States can ference's 269 active Latin-rite bish- says. "The web of life is one."

A statement on priests' cou'ncils University, named for the late of ops were required for passage no longer be a global haven for all discusses the councils from four Trappist Father Thomas Merton. any of the proposals. Eastern-rite refugees. perspectives: their historical deFather Neuhaus' Merton lecture, bishops could not vote since any But citing a Haitian proverb velopment, their theological basis, titled "The Catholic Moment: No that "the teeth of the shark are change would affect only Latinrite the canonical or legal aspects of Guarantees," called for a strong sweeter than misery," Father Wen- Catholics.

Also left unresolved, because such councils, and practical aspects Catholic commitment to ecumenski said many Haitians fe~l they of establishing and maintaining ism. have no choice but to attempt an some bishops had left before the Some conservative Catholics meeting adjourned, was a state-' effective councils. escape on rickety rafts. have turned a.way from ecumen-' A document on the bishops' ment pledging to address the socioeconomic plight of Native Ameri- teaching role and on their response ism, he said, seeing it as an effort' cans, especially in terms of in- to those who do not accept some to dilute Catholic truth.

And there is a style of ecumenDA YTON, Ohio (CNS) - Re- fluencing U.S. policy. The vote on church teachings prompted much ligion is almost an "invisible in- the document was 165-5, but 180 debate but was approved on a ism, he added, oriented to "good voice vote. Developed over a five- feelings" rather than to truth, that stitution" on prime-time network votes were needed for approval. declares, "Let's pretend that our Bishop Elden F. Curtiss of Hel- year period by the bishops' Comteievision, according to a Univerdeepest differences really make no ena, Mont., had urged his fellow mittee on Doctrine, the highly sity of Dayton communications bishops to approve the l4-page theological text was titled, "The difference." professor who studied a month's As a further challenge to ecudocument which expressed "soli- Teaching Ministry of the Dioceworth of TV episodes. "Symbolimenism, he noted that many memdarity with the Native American san Bishop: A Pastoral Reflection." cally, what it suggests is that rebers of the evangelical-FundamenIn other action the bishops voted community" as the United States ligion is not very important," said commemorates the 500th anniver- down, 141-107, lay preaching talist-Pentecostal community, are Thomas Skill.

for Masses with Children was substantial, after an amendment was approved stipulating that a study be made within three years of the "pedagogic implications of introducing children to the liturgy." . The 825-page Lectionary for Masses with Children, designed primarily for children ages 5 to 9, now goes to the Vatican for approval. Its changes include shortening or omission of readings considered inappropriate for children and retranslation of passages that may confuse young Massgoers. ' One proposed change that stirred much discussion and was overruled was use of the term "feed box" instead of "manger." One bishop declared that he could not imagine singing "Away in a feed box" instead of "Away in a manger."

But permission was obtained from the American Bible Society to change the word "feed box" back to "manger" and make other slight changes in the translation, which ~h_e Bible society owns.

On Scripture translations, an ad hoc committee will choose a group of scholars to act as a board of censors and grant the "nihil obstat" for Scripture translations and explanatory notes. "Nihil obstat" is Latin for "nothing stands in the way," a judgment by an official church representative that a book contains no errors offaith or moral teaching.

The bishops' meeting also fea-' tured a look at the future of Catholic health care and a progress report on revision of the bishops' 1975 ethical directives for Catholic health facilities.

Father N.euhaus lauds holy days stance

Unseen empire

hostile towards Catholics. But being "the" church imposes "heavy burdens," he said, and those baptized in the name of the Trinity must be recognized as brothers and sisters. , Father Neuhaus said the abortion debate had shown that the Catholic Church is the only institution able to bring religious truth to bea'r effectively on American public life; but that the opportunity for the Catholic Church to contribute to American public philosophy was "largely being missed."

Since the Second Vatican Council, he said, the Catholic Church in the United States has experienced confrontation between conservativetraditionalists who see almost unqualified "devastation, debilitation and confusion" and liberal-progressives who see "an initial liberation followed, especially under this pope, by repression and disappointment."

Prayer's bad day RICHMOND, Va. (CNS) - A Catholic judge from North Carolina may not open his daily proceedings with a prayer, a federal appeals court in Richmond has ruled.

"It definitely will be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court," North Carolina District Judge William Constangy said after the ruling.

"I'm very optimistic of our chances [there].

1I11I111I11II1I111111111111111111111111111111111111111I1I11I11I1111II111 THE ANCHOR (USPS-545-020). Second Class Postage Paid at Fall River, Mass.

Published weekly except the week of July 4 and the week after Christmas at 887 Highland Avenue. Fall River. Mass. 02720 by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River. Subscription price by mail. postpaid $11.00 per year. Postmasters send address changes to The Anchor. P.O. Box 7. Fall River. MA 02722.

THE ANCHOR ~ Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., Nov. 22, 1991

3

Robbers nab saint's jawbone PADUA, Italy (CNS) -Armed the popular 13th-century saint. men entered an Italian church and Two men with stocking caps over stole a reliquary containing the their faces held visitors and a cusjawbone of St.. Anthony as fright- . todian at gunpoint as they removed ened pilgrims looked on, the Ital- the l2-pound gold reliquary and a ian news agency ANSA reported. gold tabernacle. The men left The recent robbery occurred in the quickly after an alarm sounded, Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, escaping in a car with two accoma pilgrimage site for devotees of plices, witnesses said.

AN AWARDS ceremony recognizing outstanding family life ministers capped a Diocesan Office of Family Ministry "Shared Ministry Day" Sunday at St. Mary's parish, South Dartmouth. Pictured: Father Horace Travassos, center, family ministry office director; Jerry and Scottie Foley, left, family ministry program directors; and award recipients, from left, Lorraine Da Ponte, ministry to widowed; Deacon Jim and JoAnne Marzelli, parish family ministry; John and Cathy Poisson, volunteer recruiting; Mary and Paul Becker, family ministry outstanding service award; Linda J. Eaton, separated and divorced ministry. Not pictured: Fred and Dot Cormier, recipients of an award for marriage p'reparation, and the Beckers' daughters, Laura and Barbara, recipients of family life appreciation awards. (Studio D photo)

Cape Cod project benefits from CUD collection This weekend, diocesan Catholics will be asked to contribute to the Campaign for Human Development, the U.S. bishops' program to combat poverty in the United States.

They can take pride in the knowledge that one of 210 community-based self-help projects funded this year by the bishops is in the Fall River diocese.

CORD, Cape Organization for the Rights of the Disabled, is now in its third funding period, having been assisted by CHD since 1989.

Headquartered in Hyannis,.

CORD, which has a membership' of over 300 people with disabilities, has organized mentally retarded people to speak out on issues affecting their independence, economic status and freedom. It

has fO,cused especially on assisting persons segregated in outdated institutions to enter society's mainstream.

In previous years, CORD has dealt with such issues as architectural barriers, access to transportation, aid for the hearing impaired and convenient parking for the handicapped.

National Level On the national scene, Chicago Cardinal Joseph L. Bernardin, speaking at a program launching the 1991 CHD campaign, called the agency "the living embodiment of Catholic social teaching."

He linked it to the iOOth anniversary of "Rerum Novarum," Pope Leo XIII's encyclical on socialjustice issues, saying "With its threefold mission of empowering

Ball chairpersons named Frank Miller of Corpus Christi parish, Sandwich, and Mrs. Andrew W. Mikita of Holy Redeemer parish, Chatham, are, honorary chairpersons of the 37th Annual Bishop's Charity Ball to be held Jan. 10 at White's of Westport.

They represent the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, the cosponsoring organizations of the Ball.

The event benefits diocesan summer camps for exceptional and underprivileged children and other charitable apostolates of the diocese.

Members of the Ball committee, St. Vincent de Paul conferences, . and affiliates of the DCCW are urged to send names of persons, groups and organizations for listing in the Charity Ball Booklet.

Listings are in six categories, each entitling the donor to tickets for the Ball.

For information on assisting the summer camps or other diocesan apostolates, contact the Bishop's Charity Ball Headquarters, 410 Highland Ave., P.O. Box 1470, Fall River 02722; tel. 676-8943 or 676-3200.

the poor, educating people about poverty and justice issues, and building solidarity between poor and non-poor, CHD has become an integral part of the church's response to some of the most pressing social and economic problems facing our society," the cardinal said.

He described the campaign as "a journey that engages people in their faith life and in doing so transforms their lives and their communities" and said it "encour- . ages people to use their God-given talents and skills to improve their situation and make a lasting difference for themselves and society."

Three-quarters of the funds collected for the campaign on the weekend before Thanksgiving goes to the national office; the remaining 25 percent stays in the diocese' for local use.

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4 THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., Nov. 22,1991

themoorin~ Making Thanksgiving Real Be it myth or fact, Thanksgiving is usually viewed as a time for people to come together. Although legend has it that the first Plymouth get-together embodied unity and community, we know well that such ideals were not part of Puritan belief. If the Pilgrims got together with the local Native Americans, it was out of necessity, ,not love of neighbor.

Nevertheless, they took advantage of the situation. So successfl,ll were the Puritans and their Congregational heirs in promoting Thanksgiving that even into the early days of this century, it路 was celebrated almost as a Protestant version of Christmas.

Despite such beginnings, Thanksgiving has become an all-American holiday. For all practical purposes, it has developed into a wonderful ecumenical celebration, bringing together all faiths at nondenominational services that tolerate all and en~ourage each.

It is the one time of the year that Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and the rest of the rainbow coalition of religions represented in the United States recognize the one God who created all. This alone should be sufficient reason to give thanks.

This accord, temporary as it might be, is not confined to churches, synagogues, mosques or temples. Thanksgiving has become a time for families to gather. In many cases, this is an event even more difficult to organize than are public religious gatherings. Nevertheless, despite inherent obstacles, this holiday has evolved as a great opportunity for families to try achieving some semblance of togetherness.

It is the great time of tra veling. M ore people are in transit on Thanksgiving than at any other time of the year. In this nation of scattered families, this is a remarkable accomplishment, an annual shining moment when family unity becomes a dream fulfilled, at least temporarily. Given the crass materialistic attitudes that permeate our social order, this holiday should be treasured as a graced moment.

This year, why not attempt to extend the Thanksgiving spirit of harmony and fraternity to all the days of the year? God knows we need it!

In a land sharply divided on so many issues, in an age of legal combativeness and social and racial conflict, the creative spirit of America is challenged to its limits. How, for example, can the desperate homeless, the victims of AIDS and the hurting unemployed celebrate solidarity and concord when they are rejected and even despised?

What about the victims of massive banking frauds or stock swindles? With life savings and hopes plundered and destroyed by their own elected officials, where can they turn?

The list of others who have been "given the turkey" is ever growing.

We as a people have made Thanksgiving our distinctive holiday. It has done much to bring us together. But much more must be done if all Americans are to offer heartfelt thank's on Thanksgiving Day. The Editor Letters Welcome Letters to the editor are welcomed. All letters should be brief and the editor reserves the right to condense any letters if deemed necessary. All letters must be signed and contain a home or business address.

the

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Published weekly by The Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River P.O. BOX 7 887 Highland Avenue Fall River, MA 02720 Fall River, MA 02722-0007 Telephone (508) 675-7151 FAX (508) 675-7048 PUBLISHER

Most Rev. Daniel A. Cronin, D.o.. S.T.D. EDITOR Rev. John F. Moore

GENERAL MANAGER

Rosemary Dussault ~ Leary Press-Fall River

"Weare bound to give thanks always to God." 2 Th. 1:3

Iraq's winter of discontent BAGHDAD,lraq(CNS)- The sold at a fraction of prices prevailmathematics of U. N. sanctions add ing on a runaway free market.

Iraq's trade minister, Mohamup to hunger for thousands of Iraqis this winter. But figures show- mad Mehdi Saleh, is proud of the ing how the country imports food fact that frozen French chickens have arrived in warehouses to be are far less clear.

"I would estimate that less than distributed at about one-sixth of 50 percent of Iraqis' food needs are the market price. Asked by the being met," said Douglas Broder- British news agency Reuters how ick, head of Catholic Relief Servi- . Iraq managed to buy the birds, he ces in Iraq. "The middle class and replied: "I don't know."

Relief workers say that before rich are spending their savings.

August 1990, when the United The poor are living on whatever Nations imposed a trade blockade they can lay their hands on."

Catholic Relief Services is the to punish Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Iraq spent $4 billion a year to feed U.S. bishops' overseas relief and itself. development agency. CRS began Back-of-the-envelope mathemaworking in Iraq in April, after the tics suggests that Iraq now is Persian Gulf War. .

Aid workers - private and offi- spending $1.3 billion a year to cial - say that all available data meet one-third of basic requirepoint to hardship for the most ments, or about $100 million a vulnerable Iraqis this winter be- month, aid workers say.

Under the sanctions, Iraq is not cause of shortages and a world allowed to sell any oil. The monthly trade embargo. food bill could be met by selling "There are 2 million young, sick about 156.000 barrels of crude oil and vulnerable in this c'ountry," per day or 4.7 million barrels per Broderick said. "My impression is month. that Iraq is on a long-term slide."

Iraq has rejected strings-attached Broderick and other relief lJ. N. proposals that would have workers say the government is allowed it to sell a limited amount somehow managing to provide of oil.

Iraqis with about a third of their food requirements at subsidized prices, but are puzzled how.

Iraq has never been more than 30 percent self-sufficient in food.

Government schemes to slash reliance on imports were abruptly suspended by the Gulf crisis, but For Peace the embargo has given fresh impetus to the plans.

A Imighty God our heavThe government repeatedly has enly Father, guide the nasaid it has no money. It says its $4 tions of the world into the billion in hard currency is frozen way of justice and truth, in foreign bank accounts by governand establish among them ments seeking war reparations or that peace which is thefruit awaiting Iraq's total compliance with Gulf war truce terms. of righteousness, that they But officials are coy about how may become the kingdom the government manages to put of our Lord and Savior limited quantities of flour, sugar, Jesus Christ. Amen. tea, oil and other essentials into government shops, where they are

praye~BOX

Oil Minister Usama al-Hiti told Reuters that Iraq was producing only 450,000 barrels a day for domestic consumption and was selling nothing. "We cannot sell:" he said.

Broderick and others among the 25-strong international relief organization community say that Iraq's food rationing system is effective and helps keep widespread hunger at bay. . "The rationing system is working. People are receiving their rations. I see people's rationing cards and they show that there are occasional shortages, maybe tea this month, detergent the next, but on the whole it is working," he said.

In testimony before the House Select Committee on Hunger Nov. 13, CRS spokesman Alex Rondos said the availability of some food on the market in Iraq does not mean people are not suffering.

"It means that those people who can afford the food do not suffer as much," Rondos said. "But the people who receive our assistance do not have the type of income it takes to survive."

"Agriculture output is at risk because spare parts, fertilizers and pesticides cannot be purchased," he added. "Communications are breaking down; the telephone systems don't work. Gasoline is being poorly refined, aggravating pollution. Electricity generating plants are working without spare parts, and there is no evidence that they will improve performance."

Rondos urged the committee to change the sanctions to "allow the provision of essential human needs." He reiterated the standard suggested to the committee in August by Bishop James -A. Griffin, CRS board chairman, that essential human needs included those "necessary for the proper functioning of Iraq's food distribution, water supply, sanitation and health care systems."

What is Christ's kingship?

Daniel 7:13-14 Revelation 1:5-8 John 18:33-37 Though today we celebrate a feast instituted by Pope Pius XI on December II, 1925, the readings which help us reflect on this observance come from a much earlier period of our religious history.

The historical Jesus simply could not have claimed or admitted kingship during his trial. Just a hint in this direction would have brought immediate condemnation and crucifixion. If the Roman authorities had envisioned today's feast, they would have used it to defend Jesus' death sentence.

Evangelists walk a tightrope when they come to this part of their gospels. Though they want to use titles for Jesus which show him to be more important than ordinary humans, they must be careful not to give their enemies ammunition to use against them. If Jesus actually claimed to be king, then he was not executed for religious, but civil reasons. Anyone setting himself up as king must be plotting to overthrow the Roman government.

Notice how Jesus responds to Pilate's question: "Are you the King of the Jews?" First he avoids it, asking, "Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?" Then, when pressed further, he distinguishes between kingdoms and kingdom·s. "My kingdom does not belong to this' world," he proclaims. "If my kingdom did belong to this world ..."

Even after such a basic disti~c­ tion, Pilate still insists on using royal titles. So Jesus argues that his real destiny is not to sit on a throne, but. .."to testify to the truth."

For some reason, Pilate's next query, "What is truth?" has been left out of our passage. Since John seems to believe the Romans crucified Jesus bec~use of their unwillingness to listen to the truth, its omission is baffling. Perhaps those who chose our readings were so

Daily Readings Nov. 25: On 1:1-6,8-20; On 3:52-56; Lk 21:1-4 Nov. 26: On 2:31-45; On 3:57-61; Lk 21:5-11 Nov. 27: On 5:1-6,13-14, 16-17,23-28; On 3:62-67; Lk 21:12-19 Nov. 28: On 6:12-28; On 3:68-74; Lk 21:20-28. Suggested readingsjor Thanksgiving: Sir 50:22-24; Ps 138:1-5; 1 Cor 1:3-9; Lk 17:11-19 Nov. 29: On 7:2-14; On 3:75-81; Lk 21:29-33 Nov. 30: Rom 10:9-18; Ps 19:2-5; Mt 4:18-22 Dec. 1: Jer 33:14-16; Ps 25:4-5,8-10,14; 1 Thes 3:124:2; Lk 21:25-28,34-36

By FATHER ROGER KARBAN intent on finding Scripture texts to back up today's celebration that they missed the sacred author's actual message!

Because the early Church's historical situation eventually became just a faint memory, the modern Church had no problem creating this feast.

Yet, whether Christ's kingship is scriptural or not, we, like the evangelists, must continually go beyond ordinary human comparisons in order to understand Jesus' uniqueness.

The author of Revelation contributes' to this effort. Without applying royal titles to the Lord, he still describes him in very distinct images. Jesus is "...the Alpha and the Omega, the One who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." Since Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and Omega, the last, we can easily transfer this concept into our culture by declaring Jesus the "A and the Z." He is everything for us. He was around when things began and he will be there when they end.

Our first reading originally did not apply to Jesus. Yet early Chris-

tians frequently found him there.

When they heard about " ...One like a son of man coming on the clouds of heaven...... they logically thought Daniel was describing the Lord's Parousia return.

Other images also seem to fit a Second Coming setting: "He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his king~ ship shall not be destroyed."

While the Lord's first followers thought he would receive this glory only when he returned to take them with him to. heaven, second and third generation disciples gradually began to experience his greatness even before the Parousia. They believed that what will be, already is.

Real Christians have difficulty restrict~ng their imag~s of Jesus to just one point in history...even their own. Those who truly know him discover that time and history are insignificant. He certainly died during one specific historic period, but he rose into all of them.

Is it appropriate to honor the Lord with a royal title today, when such an office i~ almost entirely ceremonial? Perhaps we continue to use it only because we are not reflective enough of our own experiences to conjure up anything better.

Legion of Mary annual reunion The annual reunion of the Legion of Mary of the diocese will be held at 2 p.m. Dec. I at S1. Mary's parish, Fairhaven.

It will include recitation of the rosary and exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

the church. A social in the parish hall featuring entertainment by each of the Legion groups will follow.

Lunch will be served. The public is invited to attend.

The Legion of Mary's apostolate is one of evangelization and is open to men and women, young and old. Presently there is one

Fri., Nov. 22, 1991

5

junior group for boys and girls up to age 18.

Information on establishing a parish group or joining one of the nine existing praesidia is available from Father Barry Wall at St. Anthony's parish, Mattapoisett, or Father Matthew Sullivan at Sacred Hearts Provincial House Fairhaven. '

CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Nov. 28 - 5:00 P.M. - BLESSING OF CRIB Daily Illuminations 'till Jan. 1 Sunday - Thursday 5:00 - 9:00 P.M. Friday - Saturday 5:00 - 10:00 P.M.

DAILY SCHEDULE AS OF NOV. 29 Masses:12:10 - 4:00 - 6:30 P.M. Christmas Concerts: 3:00 & 7:30 P.M. Sacrament of Reconciliation: 1:00 - 8:30 P.M. CHRISTMAS BAZAAR NOV. 29 - 30/Dec. 1 Decorations, crafts, treats, specialty items

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The Anchor Friday, Nov. 22,1991

By DOLORES CURRAN

Early last November at a gathering of 150 women, some heated anger was expressed over the topic of Thanksgiving football. "I am really tired of fighting for Thanksgiving," one woman said.

"Last year, I asked the family to choose the time of day for Thanksgiving dinner. They studied the game sched ule and chose 4 p. m. as

The holiday game: Thanksgiving vs. football "the best time: So I planned everygame. We even have the game on during dinner." thing to be hot and ready at four.

"But when 4 o'clock came, they, i agree with the first woman didn't want to leave the game they who told her family to choose. If were watching. I waited a halffootball is more important than hour and told them dinner was family togetherness, then I would fin~ a family with which to celegetting cold. They came to the table but they were angry, ate fast, brate the holiday and leave the and went back to TV." football fans at home to watch So what was she going to do this television. year to prevent a repeat? "I told A lot of women agree. "Why not them to choose between Thankshave a Thanksgiving for those who don't put football ahead of giving and football,~' she said. "I'm not going to spend three days in conversation and enjoyment of one the kitchen for a sullen 30-minute another and let all those who prefer dinner. Either they agree to a three football congregate at another hour block of time without foothorneT' one wife suggested.

Another woman spoke up. "I've ball or I don't cook Thanksgiving dinner." just given up on trying to eat "I wish I could do that," a young together on Thanksgiving. I cook woman said, "but my father and a turkey the day before and set it father-in-law have to watch every and the trimmings out on a table in

the TV room. People can eat whenever they want in front of the TV set." So much for a family dinner.

Later, a friend told me about the time she invited some good friends to a dinner on a Monday night.

The couple accepted the invitation but when the husband realized they weren't going to watch Monday Night Football, he became frantic.

He asked if they couldn't bring the TV into the dining room. When my friend said no, he spent most of the dinner hour calling friends to tape the game for him. "He ruined ourdinner," my friend said, bitterly.

Addiction to TV football is as insidious as any other addiction.

For a brief time several years ago, the football leagues agreed to non-

game holidays but ad vertising revenue was so great, they soon changed their minds - and our holidays.

I just can't understand turning a family gathering over to football.

With family time so limited these days, Thanksgiving is one of the few times we can get together and share conversation, memories, and laughs. Why have Thanksgiving in the first place if football is the main event?

Maybe the answer one woman gave is the right one. "I'm glad we have football. My family can't converse about anything anymore...

So we just turn on the game and nobody has to relate to one another."

Interesting, isn't it, that we call them relations?

Is childhood an endangered spe,cies?

By

ANTOINETTE BOSCO

Kids don't get to be kids anymore, at least that is what my son John, father of two elementary school-age children, believes. Childhood, which used to be a time for exploring the world with wonder and joy has become an endangered species. ' Richard Louv's recent ,book, "Childhood's Future,' (Houghton Mifflin), pointed out some "in-

convenient facts," as Washington Post reviewer Paul Taylor put it.

He said, "A child in America today is almost twice as likely to live in poverty as an ad ult - something that's not been true of any other society in history as near as scholars can determine.

"A child in America today also get's less time and attention from his or her parents than children of any previous generation in America, thanks to the multiple upheavals of divorce, out-of-wedlock births, single-parent households and wage-earner families."

We're only beginning to see the effects of this on children.

Just recently, The Wall Street Journal ran a story on relaxation classes for 5-year-olds to fifth

graders. Children are sO stressed out these days that many schools are adding a "relaxation teacher" so that kids "take a guided-imagery tour of a happy, magical place" to help them get de-stressed and rested.

Educators promoting these programs say that "relaxation should be the fourth R," reported the Journal. However, some parents are protesting, worried that relaxation techniques are "mind control" and can undermine parental authority. ' But shouldn't the greater concern be that children are so stressed out that schools believe they have to add that "fourth RT' Another recent article in New York Family discussed student competition for school admission

through standardized tests, interviews and recommendations.

Familiar? Yes, except this was a piece about getting children into kindergartens in New York private schools! Can a 5-year-old go through this kind of competitive testing and still remain a child, and an unstressed one at that?

Yet another piece came to my attention, an interview with Robert Coles, author of "Children in Crisis."

In a survey of 5,000 children, he found that 60 percent "rely on moral standards that have as their main purpose self-gratification."

He specifically mentioned cheating in school, which is a "natural first test of child ren's sense of right and wrong."

The study showed that 21 per-

cent ofelementary school children said they would try to copy answers or glance at another student's test.

By high school the percentage had ' risen to 65 percent.

Coles surmises that one reason for such moral "shortcuts" is "the pressure to succeed .... Some children merely reflect the values of their society."

So here we have the scene: children in poverty, children severely stressed out, children being forced to be competitive from kindergarten on, children morally illiterate., What has happened to childhood in America?

It seems we've moved far away from the innocent age expressed

by Charlotte Bronte a century and a half ago: "We wove a web in childhood, a web of sunny air..." .-J

By

FATHER JOHN J. DIETZEN Q. ,Could you give us some information about the church's po~tion on relics of the saints? I am puzzled why we do not encourage the veneration of relics. Is there a special prayer one can say, for example, when venerating a relic? (Illinois) A. Veneration of relics is one of those areas of Christian practice which possess a solid theological and spiritual foundation, but which also has an almost built-in temptation for misunderstanding and abuse.

Modern traditions regarding relics more restrained As most Catholics know, veneration of the bodies of the saints, especially martyrs, goes back to the very early church.

Sometimes the blood of the martyrs was collected on a cloth to be kept as a reminder to the Christian community of that individual's fidelity and courage in professing the faith.

Later the Eucharist was celebrated and churches were built over their tombs.

By the 800s and 900s, however, problems began to surface. Possession of certain saints' bodies became a source of prestige for churches and monasteries.

When St. Thomas Aquinas died in the Cistercian monastery of Fossa Nuova, it is reported that ,the monks there decapitated his body to be sure of keeping his remains.

The tug of war between the Cis.: tercians and Dominicans for St. Thomas' body continued for decades after his death.

Buying and selling, even stealing bodies ,or parts of bodies of saints became common. Transfer of relics became a major international business.

To this day church law explicitly forbids "alienation" or permanent transfer of major relics from one place to another without the pope's permission (Canon 1190).

It's not surprising that this strange sort of dealing with the bodies of saints should be reflected in popular piety of the Middle Ages and beyond. Veneration of relics gave rise to all kinds of feasts, shrines and pilgrimages.

Mishandling and sale of relics was one of the major abuses at-

tacked by I(:aders of the Protestant Reformation.

In 1563, the Council of Trent offered three reasons for venerating the bodies of the saints: they were living members of the body of Christ; they were temples of the Holy Spirit; and they are destined to be raised and glorified by him.

(Session XXV) These motives obviously remain valid.

But the church remains understandably cautious, lest this far less central aspect of Catholic devotion again assume an importance way out of proportion.

Some carefully controlled options for veneration of relics offered in former church law are not even mentioned in the present Code of Canon Law. (This may simply be due to the decline of the importance of relics in popular Catholic devotion.)

The church's current nOrms and grants for indulgences do not include any prayers or actions relating to relics of the saints.

In the late Middle Ages it became customary, and then required, to insert a saint's relic in every altar, the old "altar stone." This almost always turned out to be a tiny piece of bone or other body part.

This is no longer required. Relics may be placed in altars today only under certain conditions, one of which is that the relic be at least, large enough to be recognizable as part of a human body (Rite of Dedicating a Church, n. 5).

Ve'neration of relics then can be a means of praising the goodness of God and of honoring our brothers and sisters who are saints. It is critical to preserve that focus.

Teaching children to give thanks By

Dr. JAMES & MARY KENNY,

In an increasingly alienated and automated world, the 'family remains a safer harbor of interpersonal relationships. Home is the place where people go to lick their wounds, to put up their feet and relax, t9 brag a little, to let down and cry.

J

Home is the place where positive regard for one another is the norm, where children' first learn gratitude and to say thank you!

Thanksgiving is a family feast that celebrates gratitude.

Our early settlers, after suffering through a year of pain and death, were grateful to the land for its bounty, to the Native Americans for their gifts and to God for his mercy. Setting down to eat together, they shared a resounding thank you with their Native American neighbors.

How do we teach our children to say thank you? The worst and least effective way is through lectures, constant nagging of our

children that they must always be grateful for benefits recei'ved. .

The message is, of course, correct, but the method is poor. Lecturing, no matter how wise and accurate our words, is an ineffective way to change behavior.

The best way is through example.

Parents should regularly express gratitude to each other, to their children and to God. Children learn by watching their parents.

This Thanksgiving I plan to thank God for the freedom of our brothers and sisters in Eastern Europe from an economic system that failed to provide necessities and from a political system that ruled through fear and oppression,.

Thank you, God, for our chance at a peaceful settlement in the Middle East. Bless the efforts and skill of Secretary of State James Baker, soften the hearts and positions of the Israelis, the Syrians and their neighbors. Be gentle with the lands where you were born and lived.

Thank you, God, for the Cable News Network with its on-thespot coverage' of world events, allowing us the information we need' to make compassionate decisions and to see events as they occur and are.

Thank you for the original Thanksgiving, a beautiful model and symbol that at a bad time one

must still recognize the good and be grateful.

Thank you to those who read our column, whether you agree or disagree, and to those who take the time to write us letters applauding the good and pointing out our omissions and mistakes.

Finally, I thank my spouse and children for the love and sharing, even the arguments and conflicts, that we all go through together.

Tharrk you!

Cure .. Anxiety is the great modern plague. But faith can cure it." Smiley Blanton, MD

, THE ANCHOR -

· Sex education Dear Editor: Several years ago when I was working in the schools, I was overwhelmed with a comment from a 10th grade Catholic school student. It read, "I don't think you have the right to teach us about abortion, what is right and what is wrong because it's just your opinion." Recently in an 8th grade CCD class the same sentiments were echoed back to me. On a local level the Falmouth public schools have approved the distribution of condoms in school. Former Secretary of Education William Bennett told the National School Board Association that sex education in the schools lacks one crucial ingredient: "It rarely gets to the question of moral right or wrong."

So why do our kids feel that we shouldn't teach them right or wrong in our schools and churches? Why do our schools feel that, despite opposition from large numbers of people in the community, they will implement a plan to distribute condoms?

One reason I feel that O,ur Catholic boys and girls feel this way is because we have diminished human sexuality from a sign and call in sharing the creative love of God to a "just the facts" approach. Our children have been presented valuefree programs that do not address the serious issues concerning why clo our adolescents become sexually active at a young age?

They have been presented programs that create a false sense that there exists something called "safe sex." In addition, they live in a disposable society, from paper products to relationships, from fast food products to quick fixes to life's problems.

So what can we do? William Bennett recommends three principal guidelines for sex education.

First, courses in sex education should teach children sexual constraint as a standard to uphold and follow. Second, courses should stress that sex is not simply a physical act, it is tied to the deepest

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values from one generation to the next. They need to make their voices heard in their choice of elected' officials. If we as parents abdicate this right to teach our children our values, there is a world of others ready to teach their values.

So to the 10th grade Catholic school student and the 8th grade CCD student, I say not only is it our right, it is our duty. As Church and as family, we need to instruct our children in the ways of the faith. This is our baptismal commitment.

Jean M. Roma Cotuit

Chr,·st,·anpresence Dear Editor: After Peter struck the high priest's servant and Jesus told him to put away his sword, we know of no further attempts to rescue the Lord.

I have come to believe that it is important for Christians to be present now where the innocent are being led to death ...

We know, of course, that no torment shall touch the souls of those innocents who are killed before ever being born, but there has been much question as to whether or by what means they may enjoy the true union with God, in the beatific vision, for which they were created.

The Church has always recognized, in addition to baptism by water, a baptism of blood and baptism of desire ....[Baptism of blood] is usually applied only to those who shed their blood for Christ. ...[therefore] it is uncertain that they receive a baptism of blood because their deaths are not the result of any voluntary action of theirs by which they associate themselves with Christ...

It might also be thought that baptism of desire is foreclosed to these children because they have no opportunity to learn of Christ and his Church and thus cannot really desire. to become members of his Mystical Body.... But we

DONNA Michaud and her husband Ronald display plaque awarded Mrs. Michaud as New England Fraternalist of the year by the New England Fraternal Congress. She is a lifelong member of the Catholic Association of Foresters, which nominated her for the award, citing her work for the needy and homeless under auspices of the Salvation Army, the St. Vincent de Paul Society and her home parish of St. Kilian, New Bedford? should remember that John the Baptist, while yet unborn, leapt for joy in his mother's womb at the near approach of the Lord, also yet unborn ...

God may make. himself known to whomever he pleases, in such manner as he pleases, but he seems to prefer ordinary means to extraordinary. That is a good reason for us to be present at 'the abortuaries and to give voice to prayers and songs of praise....These children, who will so soon taste the cruelty of this world, may never know kindness in any other form .... Let Christ live in us so that at our near approach these innocents may respond as the Baptist did. Let our voices sounding in the ears of these little ones be cause for them to leap for joy.

Atty. Russell J. Redgate West Barnstable

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tmii1 · Nov. 23 1984, Msgr. Christopher L. Broderick, Pastor Emeritus, St. Pius X, South Yarmouth Nov. 25 1946, Rev. Philias Jalbert, Pastor, Notre Dame, Fall River Nov. 26 1945, Rev. James R. Burns, P.R., Pastor, Sacred Heart, Fall River Nov. 27 1948, Rt. Rev. Patrick E. McGee, Pastor, St. Mary, North Attleboro Nov. 28 1959, Rev. Adrien A. Gauthier, Pastor, St. Roch, Fall River Nov. 29 1965, Rev. Francis A. McCarthy, Pastor, St. Patrick, Somerset

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Successful youth programs highlighted at congressional hearing WASHINGTON (CNS) - Conyoung people should not be directed gressional hearings typically focus at broken families. on something that's going wrong, "I'm from a broken family,"noted but recently eight teenagers took the world-famous singer. Many of the witness stand at a hearing to the youth who addressed the heartalk about programs they believe ing also come from single-parent are going right and helping them families, had spent time in foster succeed. homes or had other family proPreceded by entertainer Diana blems. .

Ross, the national spokeswoman Willie Starks, a Los Angeles for the National Children's' Day 10th grader, said his mother, a sinFoundation, the teens from var.gle parent, taught him to feel good ious parts of the country described how they were helped by various . about himself and stressed the importance of a good education. educational, support or training As a participant in the Young Black programs. The event was tied to Scholars program, Starks said he National Children's Day activihas been encouraged by workties. shops and speakers that emphasMiss Ross, who grew up in ize personal creativity and achieveDetroit's public housing projects, ment. told the House Select Committee Another student, Carri Farmer on Children, Youth and Families of Joplin, Mo., said she has learned that the responsibility for all the how to handle abuse at home and 'problems affecting the nation's bad experiences with foster families through the Independent Living Program, established to prevent homelessness.

"I now know how to provide for myself and become an asset to 102 Shawomet Avenue society rather than a burden," Miss Somerset, Mass.

Farmer said.

Vernor Toland of Aurora, Colo., Tel. 674-4881 told the committee he believes 3V2 room Apartment God's grace and the support of an 4V2 room Apartment employment and training service Includes lIeat. 1I0t water, stove reo saved him from the criminal path friprator and maintenance service. he took to support a crack cocaine habit.

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"When I stepped out of the institution two years ago [after an armed robbery conviction) I knew nothing about personal finance, independant living and finding and keeping a job," said Toland.

Programs like the Jeffco Employment and Training Services that he was assisted by "are the bridge between failure and success of young people today," Starks said.

Committee member Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III, D-Mass., cited statistics defining "how the odds are stacked against our kids": - Twenty percent of the children in this country live in poverty; - Thirty percent "of our preschoolers are not immunized against mumps;" - Thirty percent of ninth graders do not graduate from high school four years later; - Ninety percent of high school students try alcohol or drugs and 4.5 million kids have a drinking problem; -About 100,000 children "on any given night sleep on our streets."

And, he said, "teenage boys in America are more likely to die of gunshot wounds than 'all natural causes combined."

The youths in the hearing room were providing examples of how to rise above trying circumstances, Kennedy said.

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Jubilarians celebrate on Cape Cod

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Sister Theodora was a seamstress, gardened and made altar breads.

Sister Helen Theresa of the Holy Spirit Yankowski, a native of New York City and also a golden jubilarian, counts sewing and cooking among her talents, during her career preparing meals for some 360 students and staff at the Good Shepherd house in Peekskill, N.Y. Her specialties included pies and gourmet pastries and she has also made many items for gift shop sale.

Relatives, friends and fellow community members of the jubilariansjoined them at Harwich for a Mass offered by Rev. Tom Mara, a retired priest living on Cape Cod. Concelebrants were Msgr.

John J. Smith, pastor ofSt. Pius X Church, South Yarmouth, and Rev. JohnJ. Ryan, C.SS.R. of the Mission Church, Roxbury.

With a total'of 160 years of service to the church, three contemplative Sisters of the Good Shepherd recently celebrated jubilees at Cranberry Pointe Nursing Center, Harwich.

Ludlcw native Sister Marie Joseph Plummer, who marked 60 years as a religious, has specialized in fine sewing, doing cutwork and embroidery on altar cloths and making lace for vestments, as well as sewing sisters' habits and serving as a sacristan.

In 1941, goldenjubilarian Sister Theodora Protulis, a native of Roxbury, entered the Boston community of the Good Shepherd, where some sisters cared for girls and women in need of rehabilitation while the contemplative sisters prayed for their successful recovery.

In addition to her prayer life,

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i F ATHER TOM MARA, who celebrated their jubilee Mass, is joined by (seated) Sister Theodora Protulis and (standing from left) Sisters Helen Theresa Yankowski and Marie Joseph Plummer.

Cardinal Leger dies at 87 VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Canadian Cardinal Paul Emile Leger, 87, who had been a member of the College of Cardinals longer than any of its current members, died Nov. 13 in Montreal after suffering an asthma attack and respiratory ~omplications.

The retired archbishop of Montreal, he was named a cardinal in 1953 by Pope Pius XII. In a telegram to present Montreal Archbishop Jean-Claude Turcotte, Pope John Paul said, "I recall with emotion the long pastoral service he, accomplished in Quebec, particularly in Montreal, the radiance of. his open and charitable,personality in the world and his collaboration with the Holy See in the College of Cardinals since 1953."

Cardinal Leger was named archbishop of Montreal in 1950 and

served there for 18 years, then resigned to work for 12 years in Cameroon with victims of Hansen's disease.

Born in Valleyfield, Quebec, on April 26, 1904, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1929.

In 1933 he was sent by his Sulpician superiors to Japan, where he founded a seminary at Fukuoka. . Returning to Canada, he taught social sciences and was later vicar general of the Montreal archdiocese.

In a 1983 interview with Catholic News Service, Cardinal Leger said, "I think that old age is the most beautiful time of life, because then you can realize by your memories whether your life was worthwhile....

When I think over my life, I thank God that he allowed me to do what I did."

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Condom handout gets director fired BOSTON (CNS) - Catholic Charities officials in the Archdiocese of Boston have fired the director of a Catholic-run shelter for homeless women because she pro-· vided condoms to the residents as part of an AI DS education program.

Following the firing of director Gayle Basten, "our policy remains the same," said Charities spokeswoman Elise Lapham in a Nov. 14 statement released to Catholic News Service. "We will continue to provide AIDS education. We believe that abstinence is the only sure way to protect oneself against acquiring the AIDS virus.

"Wedo not distribute condoms," she said. "We comply with all state regulations and Gov. William Weld does not have a problem with the content of our AIDS education program."

Catholic Charities receives state funds to run the shelter, St. Patrick's Shelter for Homeless Women in Somerville, Mass.

The governor, who advocates condom use for preventing the spread of AIDS, told the Boston Globe daily newspaper he did not object to a state-funded shelter stressing sexual abstinence in AIDS education.

Catholic Charities shelters have an AIDS education program that stresses abstinence as the only sure way of avoiding contracting AIDS. Ms. Basten provid'ed workshops and seminars on abstinence, safe sex and AIDS awareness. She also made condoms available.

She told reporters, "It comes down to a choice.... The women who come here do have the right to choose if they want to read that brochure or to use a condom."

In September, Charities officials had learned ofthe distribution and asked her to stop.

Under contract with the state, the shelter must provide AIDS education in addition to food and other services, according to an official of the state Department of Public Welfare.

However, the official, Mary Claire Kennedy, told reporters that the state does not require facilities "to distribute condoms. The department neither encourages nor discourages the distribution of condoms."

The Massachusetts chapter of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights in a statement Nov. 13 applauded the Catholic Charities action, calling it a "cour. ageous and principled act" and urged advocates of condom use to "respect the religious freedom of Catholic institutions."

CHRIS BURKE

"Life Goes On" star writes autobiography

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - For actor Chris Burke, first came the ABC-TV series "Life Goes On," then recognition as a star. Then came fan mail. Then his autobiography - "A Special Kind of Hero."

The book, written with author Jo Beth McDaniel, recounts the life and stellar career of a 26-yearold with Down's syndrome.

Burke plays Corky Thacher, a youth with Down's syndrome who is the only son in a blue-collar family. In its third season, the series airs Sundays, 7-8 p.m. Eastern time.

In a Los Angeles interview with Catholic News Service in his trailer on a Warner Bros. location, he spoke about what his life is like since he became a Hollywood figure.

"I have changed a lot" because "I showed what I can do," said Burke, a Catholic. "That means a lot to me."

Stardom has brought fame, the New York native said. On a summer visit to New Hampshire with his family, for example, people at a restaurant one morning stopped at . their table "Excuse me, are you Corky?"

Burke recalled their saying. "Oh, I love your show!" . At Mass, meanwhile, a woman whispered to those around her, "That's Corky!" And after church, he said, people "asked me for my autograph."

Corky's accomplishments have WASHINGTON (CNS) - Catholic educators say the U.S. bishops prompted some viewers to say the are implementing their commit- series offers false hope to people ment of a year ago to up their with mental retardation.

But Burke says it encourages moral and financial support to Catholic schools. The "Statement people to face challenges which of the United States Bishops in scare them.

He steers clear of suggesting' Support of Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools," passed script concepts, but he has ideas.

"I'd love to do a story where at the bishops' November 1990 general meeting in Washington, Corky goes to a regular day camp, called for support via fund raising like where I go," he said, referring and creating offices to help schools to Camp Anchor, a summer probudget wisely and increase paren- gram on Long Island for youths with disabilities. tal involvement. "Many dioceses are moving ahead to organize their He also envisions a spinoff serparents and there has been a tre- ies about "when Corky was first mendous amount of energy in creat- born," he said. The program would ing development offices," said show Corky's parents "just like my Mercy Sister Lourdes Sheehan, parents" and demonstrate "what the U.S. bishops' secretary of they had to go through, the hearteducation. ache," he said.

It should tell how "they take me home, try to raise me and the doc-· tors think I cannot do a lot."

Burke's parents moved from New York to Los Angeles for the series.

His father, Francis, a retired New York police inspector, moved first.

When the series was renewed, Marian Burke resigned from her. New· York job to join them full time.

They travel with Chris for his work and guest appearances and often meet parents of Down's syndrome children who have "so much hope for their children, which they hadn't had before," Mrs. Burke said.

Her son, she said, "has shown

Diocese, of Fall River -

what young people can do in spite of the fact that they have Down's syndrome."

"Everything they show Corky doing" in the series, Chris can do, she said.

"He can ride a bike," she said.

"He did serve" as an altar boy. "He did swim with dolphins. He did recite 'The Raven.'"

Burke has grown as an actor, said Mrs. Burke, who works with him on lines the night before his taping. At the studio, his acting coach works with him.

"Chris this year is studying first by himself," Mrs. Burke said. "Then I s~ep in and I give him all his cues."

"He could not do that his first two years," when someone had to work with him all along the way, Mrs. Burke said. ~'So you see he is . still learning and still improving upon himself. It has proven so many times that the plateau every doctor told us that Chris was going to reach has not been reached yet.

He is still learning and he is still . capable of learning more." . Young Burke often makes guest appearances, his mother said.

"It's very hard for us to ever turn

Fri., Nov. 22, 1991

9

anybody down," she said. "We feel we have an obligation to give back somewhat ofwha't we have received because of what we've received from Chris being such a wonderful young man. We thank God for that." .

Chris's book is available through bookstores. A portion of sales proceeds is donated to the National Down's Syndrome Society.

Being a Witness "To be a witness means to live in such a way that one's life would not make sense if God did not exist."-Cardinal Suhard

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THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Nov. 22,1991

UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC-women who retained their faith through 40 years of communist rule kneel in prayer.

Rebuilding the church in Eastern Europe without putting into doubt the firm faith of Catholics who see symbolic value in practices no longer part of the post-Vatican II world is a complicated and delicate task facing the Vatican. (CNS photo)

Social Security Notch: fact or fantasy?

By Martha McSteen It's ha,rd to believe, but many Americans with identical earnings I'!istorie,s may receive substantially different Social Security benefits when they retire.

Consider the case of Edith Detviler, who was born in 1917.

She and her sister, Audrey Webb. born 15 months earlier, went to work in 1957 for a southern California bindery on the same day doing the same job for the same pay. Their work records were nearly identical and they earned almost the same amount during their careers, including paying virtually the same in Social Security taxes.

And, they even retired on the same day 25 years later.

But. that's where the similarity ends. Even though their work and salary histories are identical. Edith receives almost 21 percent less in Social Security benefits than Audrey - a difference of $184 a month in 1991 simply because of the difference in birth years. This is a fact. not fantasy.

While opponents believe there isn't a problem, this is a classic example of the Social Security "Notch" - a pothole in the retirement benefits structure which has caused some 12 million AmericanS - half of all retirees - born between 1917 and 1926 to receive benefit checks smaller than those born a few years earlier or later.

Unless you're one of those victims, you're probably unaware of the Notch inequity. In a 路nutshell. the Notch was created inadvertently when Congress enacted a new Social Security benefit formula in 1977 to slow annual cost-of-living adjustments, which had gotten out of control and threatened to bankrupt the system. The aim was to ,slow growth in future benefits.

But, what happened was for the first time in the history of Social Security, benefits dropped sharply.

The average-earning 65-year-old retiree born between 1917 and 1926 receives approximately $912 a year less in Social Security benefits than the same average worker born between 1912 and 1916, and $454 a year less than the same worker born from 1927 to 1931.

The notch also hurts the retiree's family since spouse and dependent benefits .are based on the worker's benefit. The same holds for survivor benefits.

There is, however, encouraging news on the horizon for those affected by the notch. Earlier this year, a bipartisan group of representatives and senators introduced a consensus Notch correction bill.

This legislation, H.R. 917/S. 567, would lift benefits of "Notch" retirees to the level of those born later, but still below tlJe level of those born earlier.

The Notch reform legislation is both affordable and fiscally sound.

Costs to correct the Notch would peak at $4.8 billion in 1995 when Social Security is forecasted to have an $88.7 billion surplus for the year. Even after correcting the Notch, the Social Security Trust Funds reserve is expected to grow to over $1 trillion by the end of 1999. In fact. the system is expected to remain solvent for 50 years until 2040 - without any increase in tax ,rates.

Support in Congress for correcting the Notch benefit inequity is growing. In fact', more than half of the Congress have endorsed the corrective legislation. You also have an opportunity to influence this legislation by contacting your representatives in Congress and encouraging their support.

The bottom line is that the Notch problem can be solved without raising taxes for current working Americans or jeopardizing their future benefits. When it comes to retirement, all Americans deserve. a fair shake.

Martha McSteen.!ormeracting Commissioner ofthe Social Securill' Administration. is the presid~nt of the 5-million member National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.

Swansea COA Swansea Council on Aging seeks volunteers to deliver Thanksgiving dinner to shutins on Thanksgiving Day, Information: 676-1831.

Thanksgivblgs past Traditions help keep. families together; and Thanksgiving Day, the oldest truly American holiday, has ties going back to the nation's agrarian past.

"Over the river and through the wood, to grandfather's house we'll go," the opening lines 'of Lydia Marie Child's beloved poem, "Thanksgiving Day," recall the days' when the holiday was spent with, grandparents out in the country.

But fewer of these traditional gatherings are being held "over the river and through the wood" as the number of farms continue to decline and small towns lose their businesses and young people.

And as grandparents move off the farm into town they are less likely to find time to prepare the great holiday meals that play a central role in traditional Thanksgivings. Working part time. they find little time for baking bread and pumpkin pies.

When our six kids were growing up, one of our major family traditions was the Thanksgiving trip to their grandparents' house in a country town. When Grandpa Townsend died and Grandma became less active, the celebration moved into the "cities."

When the day is observed at our house. my wife is a grandma too. but a fulltime working one. and getting Thanksgiving dinner together i,s like doing a jigsaw. We pre-

pare the turkey. but the veggies. salads, hot dishes. pies and other desserts flow in from all directions.

The mass productions are becoming part of the family tradition now. and each child or growing family does its part part. With four grandchildren now. we may even bring back a tradition from my childhood ._- the children's table.

I hated sitting at the kids' table when I was growing up. but it was located in the kitchen where we could keep an eye on all out favorite dishes: mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, rutabagas, cakes, pies and gelatin with whipped cream.

And what a rite of passage it was to be admitted to the grown-ups' table in the dining room with its white tablecloth, linen napkins, lighted candles and dishes with fancy nuts and mints!

After dinner. our two uncles sat down to play honeymoon bridge in the living room, the aunts tackled the mounds of pans and dishes in the kitchen. and we kids were sent out to a movie.

The next generation. our kids. stuffed themselves at grandfather's house. then played games. went outdoors or watched TV football. The adults, men and women, tackled the dishes and took walks before heading to other family celebrations.

The traditions have increased

I

By

BERNARD CASSERLY and multiplied today at our old colonial overlooking the park. lake and Minnehaha Creek. Holiday drinks are served (mostly sodas); the fireplace is aglow; the TV is silenced. and tales of the "old days" are spun.

As our children' grow. marry and move out of town. it becomes harder to preserve the old Thanksgiving ways. but the pull to come together is strong. The old house still has plenty of room. especially when the call of in-laws brings absences at the table.

Daughter Katie has offered to hold Thanksgiving at her new suburban spread. but her mother and I are not exactly ready to give it up. The feast has become easier to put on when the menu is delivered all savory and ready-to-eat.

Yet as we see the,snow fences go up across the way. we know the seasons are changing and winter js nigh. Our lives are changing too. and we know the day will come when our children will take over and begin to build on the traditions that have helped keep our family together. '

TV hit "Murder, She Wrote" shows class can succeed in Hollywood a show that was "not violent" and LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Robert F. O'Neill, who also is had "some moral point."

CBS-TV hit "Murder, She Wrote" Catholic'and who recently left the There's a murder each week, is one of the top shows worldwide, show, where he was supervising said O'Neill, noting the implied proofto many that class can win in producer for 154 episodes, said violence that is basic to the series.

"Murder, She Wrote" is clean intenHollywood.

However, he said, "the v.illain is The lighthearted whodunit reach- tionally. always apprehended and brought "We set a standard seven years ed peak TV status beginning with to justice," its premiere in 1984 and without ago," said O'Neill, who worked "As a Catholic I would not want relying on double entendres or , with the executive producer and my name associated with some~ crude language. It continues as a creator of the show, Peter Fischer. thing vulgar," said O'Neill. top show with audiences each The TV producers wanted "a What he wanted instead, he said, Sunday night, 8-9 p.m. Eastern murder mystery, without being' was something of whic1:t he, his time. grizzly and without being salachildren and grandchildren could Angela Lansbury, 66, who was a cious," he said. They wanted be proud.

Broadway star long before she "something we could be proud of," became the award-winning star of the TV mystery series, said .television doesn't have to get crude to keep an audience.

"I don't think it's necessary, but it's something we seem to have fallen heir to, in the '90s particularly," she said in an interview with Catholic News Service in Los Angeles. "But it doesn't go well with me."

"We've neverfound it necessary, and I don't think in our show it is," she said.

"I don't condone it in any show," added'the award-winning star, who took three of her five Golden Globe honors for performance in the hourlong series. "It's unfortunate young people have to hear it or that it should become normal speech, but that's the nature of our society."

Actor Ron Masak, who plays Sheriff Mort Metzger on the series, gives Miss Lansbury credit for the show's high tone.

"It starts with the star," said Masak,a Catholic.

"We have a very classy lady" who "brings class to the set," he said.

"It's like going on a ship," said Masak. "The crew reflects what their officer is. The crew of' Murder, She Wrote' reflects the professionalism of Angela Lansbury."

ANGELA LANSBURY

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Nov. 22, 1991

Prolifers Continued from Page One dignity of woman," at the political,legislative and individual levels.

Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, head of the Council for the Family, said the Vatican had called the meeting so the church and other organizations could better counter a "dangerous concentration of antilife forces."

The cardinal said that despite today's threat, the church remains optimistic.

"We are absolutely convinced of our eventual victory over the culture of death," he said.

That appeared to be one point of consensus during the meeting.

Another was encouragement for a papal encyclical on life issues, expressed in a mess!!8e to the pope.

The main differences that emerged from the encounter were in strategy - for example, what to do about Catholic politicians who favor abortion rights.

The petition given the pope wanted direct intervention by the hierarchy in this regard. It accused 27 U.S. politicians and abortion rights supporters, 26 of whom were Catholic, of"notorious acts and/ or statements which enable, support or condone abortion."

The petition asked the pope to declare that the politicians' actions are contrary to the faith and a scandal to the church, and said that if public retraction is not made, he should excommunicate them.

New York Gov. Mario Cuomo and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, 0Mass., were on the list. Others included House Speaker Thomas S. Foley, D-Wash.; Sen. Daniel P. Moynihan, D-N. Y.; and Frances Kissling, president of Catholics for a'Free Choice.

Joseph Scheidler, director of the Prolife Action League, handed the petition to the pope. Scheidler later said he was pleased that the Vatican meeting "did start to aim toward action."

Scheidler was one of about 50 participants who signed a separate open letter to the pontiff, asking, among other things, that the pope encourage local bishops to condemn the "scandal" of Catholic politicians who support the right of women to have abortions.

Those who drafted the letter had expected to be able to read it during the final assembly. When Cardinal Lopez Trujillo ended the meeting before that was possible, Philippine activist Cecilia de Siebenthal walked to the podium and began reading the text aloud, as the cardinal and other officials looked on.

People were still signing the letter when ushers turned out the hall lights 10 minutes later.

Gail Quinn, director of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for Prolife Activities, said many participants expressed frustration about Catholic politicians "declaring a proabortion stance and nothing being done about it."

But people were divided on whether the church hierarchy should take specific action against them, she said.

Bishop James T. McHugh of Camden, N.J., a member of the U.S. bishops' prolife committee, said he thought the idea of the church disciplining such politicians would be ineffective and inadvisable.

There also was a wide range of opinions on Operation Rescue's confrontational tactics. The fact that the group was invited at all,

11

ad, saying it was "anti-Catholic" dismissed before the case went to to put "nuns and hell in the same' jury, leaving only a breach of consentence." She also sent a letter to tract claim based on the university's unwillingness to promote her Sloan on behalf of the board of to the senior level of nurses' clinicorporation of Salve Regina, askcal training. ing him to "desist from airing this Because Ms. Russell was from program and feeding misinformaConnecticut and Salve Regina is tion to your viewers." What finally in Rhode Island, her case was aired, said Sister Laliberte, was heard in federal court, which app"fairly innocuous." lied state law., .

Sister McKillop said she objected "The court, instructed the jury more to the ad than to what eventhat they should rule in favor of tually appeared on the program.

Russell if they found that, viewing "Catholics are too prone to accept the university's requirements as a Catholic bashing," she said. "They whole, Russell had substantially tend to think it's funny. How many ABOUT 650 people attended the annual benefit dinner met its requirements even though protested [the ad), and if they for th~ Providence reg.ional community Sisters of Mercy Mt. she admittedly did not fully com- didn't, w,hy not?"

Sister McKillop said she felt the St. Rita Health Retirement Centre in Cumberland, RI. ply," Snow explaine'd in his letter. 'program did nothing to advance' The ruling in favor of Ms. RusAmong those at last Sunday's event at the Venus de Milo in sell was upheld on appeal, but the the rights of fat people; "and I'm Swansea were, from left, Sisters M. Monice Houston and university maintains that "substan- sorry about that. If handled corBeverly Thorpe, RSM, Bishop Daniel A. Cronin, and Sisters tial compliance," a rule of com- rectly it could have done something so that no people - fat or mercial law, is an inappropriate M. Lourdette Harrold and Rose Angela McLellan, RSM. Catholic - would be discriminated standard for colleges.

(Studio D photo) against."

"The contract, which everyone University officials declined to likes to say is a technicality, is comment on specific statements vitally important to education or... made by Ms. Russell on 20/20 any agency that has a responsibilliation in front of classmates, she except to say that her allegations ity to set certain standards for Continued from Page One against the college and faculty licensure, certification, or awardsity, then Salve Regina College, in ' "was never able to produce a single independent witness to corrobowere untrue. They had no desire to ing of degrees," said Dr. Kiernan, 1982, thinking the small Catholic rate..her story... which should have attack her personally; theY]iaid. adding, "Do you want a doctor institution was "a. place where who has only substantially comp"The university has at all times people would be nice to her," said , been easily verifiable if true." lied with standards for licensure?"

During the trial, Salve Regina acted fairly and with compassion Stossel.

Nevertheless, in July the univermaintained that Ms. Russell receivfor Sharon Russell," said Dr. KierThen, Ms. Russell claims, nurssity paid Ms. Russell the amount ed unsatisfactory grades in clinical nan's statement. "We are grieved ing instructors began harassing directed by the court: one year of at the untrue, unfair, and biased courses after such incidents as falher because of her weight, listed on tuition and one year of lost wages, ling on a practice dummy during a treatment given our teachers and her college application as 300 required CPR course and inability about $44,000, said Dr. Kiernan in our university by Sharon Russell pounds. She later weighed "in a statement issued on behalf of the to train patients in nutrition, said and the media." excess of 300 pounds," reported university.

Dr. Kiernan. She then agreed to a Though the university considers Laurel Bristow, also an attorney University officials Nov. 17 said contract by which she would lose M.s. Russell's case closed, her apfor the university. two pounds a week on a diet con- they felt that criticisms of Salve pearance on 20/20 "adds a new "1 was taken aside, I was told I Regina in the trol program or withdraw from 20/20 piece had been dimension," said Dr. Kiernan in would never make it around a bed, toned down after they, along with school. an interview after the program I wouldn't fit in a uniform, and When she failed to lose the parents, students and alumni, pro- aired. The college will review the look at me - 'we're just going to segment and "take it under ad visehave to do something about your ' weight and report for monitoring, , tested to ABC over the TV Guide ad, which, in addition to the she transferred to St. Joseph's Colment whether or not we feel the weight!''' Ms. Russell said on 20/20. lege in West Hartford, Conn., also attention-grabbing headline, said show was injurious to the college She quoted nursing instructors operated by the Sisters of Mercy. "Tonight 20/20 focuses on a very in a way that was illegal," he said. as saying "Sharon cannot effecheavy is-sue. Does a Catholic nursAfter repeating her junior year At issue is the fact that 20/20 tively diet teach because she has and losing a significant amount of ing school have the right to expel a filmed on campus and outside a not been able to intefllalize the weight as a result of surgery, she good student and destroy her dream faculty member's home without concept for herself." graduated in 1987 and is now a simply because of her weight?" permission and lied to campus In his letter to the program, nursing administrator at All ChilBut when the show aired, there personnel about what they were Snow noted that though Ms. Rusdren's Hospital in St. Petersburg, were no references to the Sisters of doing, said Dr. Kiernan. If they sell complained of repeated humiFla. Now weighing 280 pounds, Mercy, and the claim that Ms. had asked, he added, "permission 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 20/20 reported. Ms. Russell said - Russell was "expelled" was cor- would have been granted. There she just cannot lose anymore rected to say that she withdrew was no attempt to say 'don't come however, was seen as significant weight. from the university. Nor was there near our campus.... by many of those present - if not In 1985, before her case went to mention of a "living hell."

Dr. Kiernan said the university a Vatican endorsement of the organtrial, claims against the Salve Sister Rosemary Laliberte, , has not ruled out taking a'ction "to ization, at least a nod of recognifaculty members and all other president of the Sisters of Mercy prevent [Ms. Russell) from contion. claims but twQ, were dropped. A of the Providence, RI, regional tinuing" her defamation of Salve "I'm tremendously encouraged claim of invasion of privacy was community, also objected to the Regina. to be here, and I think it's an implicit recognition of Rescue as a viable part of the prolife movement," said Terry, a born-again Christian. He met briefly with the pope, giving him an Operation Rescue book, video and T-shirt.

Terry addressed the assembly for about five minutes in the final session. Afterward, several participants expressed admiration for Catholic Christian focus and values ~escue's courage, but some were Residence for boys only (student population co-ed) doubtful about whether civil disobedience would work for them.

College-prep curriculum - over 90% continue to college Silvio Ghielmi, a leading Italian prolife activist, said Rescue's tactics can be "excellent" in the right Reasonable tuition rate for 5 or 7 day boarding cultural context. But there is a risk that such groups will be seen as Comprehensive athletic and activities programs "condemning the sinner as well as the sin" and will therefore be coun,Small city location in northeastern New York State terproductive, he said.

Application deadline - February 15 Bishop McHugh said he thought Operation Rescue mystified marty. prolifers from around the world.

He noted that in many Third World countries, such tactics would be difficult if not impossible, given economic and political conditions.

"What Rescue has done in the United States is not immediately exportable everywhere else," he said.

"20/20" show protested

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THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Nov. 22, 1991

DEFT FINGERS repair a Vatican tapestry designed

by Raphael in the 16th century. Sisters of the Franciscan Missionaries of mary are responsible for this delicate restoration work. Members of the worldwide community serve in the Fall River diocese at Espirito Santo and Our Lady of Angels parishes in Fall River. (eNS photo by James L. Stanfield, Š 1991 National Geographic Society)

Money woes still dog Vatican

..

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The Vatican, forecasting a budget deficit of $86 million for 1992, says it needs an increase in local church contributions.

The predicted deficit would be one of the largest in recent years, despite cost-eutting measures adopted by Vatican' offices.

According to a Nov. 7 Vatican statement, the Holy See's expenses for 1992 are expected to reach about $180 million, with income foreseen at about $93 million. The resulting deficit is slightly under that predicted for 1991 - a result of holding spending to a 2.1 percent increase for next' year, the statement said.

The figures were made public after a Nov. 6-7 meeting of the cardinals charged with monitoring Vatican finances.

The Vatican has made up most of its chronic budget deficits by applying Peter's Pence, a world-

wide annual papal collection, to the following year's shortfall. For 1992, the Vatican said, Peter's Pence is expected to increase about 7 percent to about $62 million.

More help in covering the deficit will come from the Vatican City State's expected surplus of $7.9 million, the statement said. The city-state makes much of its income in museum tickets' and sales of stamps and other items.

That still leaves more than $16 million to be made up. In the past, the Vatican has had to dip into its investment portfolio to bridge the gap.

Last April, the Vatican asked the world's bishops to examine ways in which dioceses can help keep Vatican financed solvent.

During a two-day meeting at the Vatican, officials stressed that they could not keep relying on Peter's Pence to cover annual shortfalls in operating expenses.

Butter, not guns, says pope

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The end of the Cold War should prompt governments to shift funds from their military budgets into food aid for the world's hungry, says Pope John Paul II. The pope, addressing members of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization Nov. 14, said continuing poverty in many places means that "the fight against hunger must be vastly extended."

The recent red uction of world tensions and antagonisms, he said, should be matched by a decrease in the amount of money spent on the manufacture and purchase of weapons. Resources thus released can be devoted to development and food production, he said.

"I pray that the governments of the world will dedicate themselves to this noble task with the same energy as was given to protecting themselves against those whom

they once considered their foes," he said.

The pope also offered strong cautionary words to organizations that tie development aid to birth control programs, condemning "any initiative which would seek to increase the world's food supply by an assault upon the sanctity of the family or by interference with' parents' right to decide about the number of their children." , "Rather than forbidding the poor to be born," aid programs should "ensure that the' poor share even now in the material goods which they need in order to support their families," the pope said.

Environmental protection must also be an essential part of food development, he said. Any realistic efforts to increase the world's food supply must be based on "respect for the fields, forests and seas, and their preservation from overexploitation." he said.

The dreaded Index lives, but differently VATICAN CITY (CNS) - For Vatican officials nostalgic for the old rules, last June would have been a good time to dust off a pastoral relic: the Index of Forbidden Books.

It was June 14, 1966, that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith announced that the Index was being retired from active'service. The list of banned books no longer had the force of church law, and penalties were removed against Catholics who read them.

It was a landmark decision in the wake of the Second Vatican Council, reflecting the church's more open attitude toward communication and greater confidence in the judgment of individual Catholics.

But the principle that stood behind the Index is still very much alive at the Vatican. A number of books today - indeed, more than ever, according to some officials - are considered an "occasion of sin" and should be avoided by the faithful.

"The penalties have been lifted, 'but not the moral responsibility of Christians to refrain from reading books that would be harmful to their faith," said one Vatican official. , To "read or not to read" is a decision now left to the individual conscience. Yet from time to time a wistful suggestion is floated at the Vatican's doctrinal congregation: wouldn't a new type of index simplify life for the Catholic reader?

So far, the Vatican has not acted on the idea - perhaps because the congregation staff realizes the dif-

ficulty of keeping up with religionrelated publications worldwide.

While the Index was repealed in 1966, that doesn't mean the books it listed are considered suitable reading for today's Catholics. Indeed, the presumption is that their contents were rightly judged "inimical to the faith." Church officials acknowledge, however, that the ed ucati,on and sophistication of today's Catholic readers make the danger remote in many cases.

A few of the nearly 5,000 books indexed in the 1948 edition were carryovers from the 16th century, when Pope Paul IV - an enthusiast of the Inquisition - first commissioned a complete catalogue of forbidden books. The list grew quickly during later centuries, reflecting church sensitivity to schools of philosophy, the Reformation and changing moral attitudes in literature.

From the titles, one can see that church authorities were also quick to pounce on the bitterly satirical tracts directed against Rome and "papism."

"A Letter From Rome Shewing an Exact Conformity Between Popery and Paganism," a 1755 work by Conyers Middleton, belongs to this category, as does an anonymous 1668 essay titled "Roman Prostitution, or, The General Conclave of the Whores of the Court to Elect a New Pontiff."

Next to this, John Stuart Mill's "Principles of Political Economy" must have seemed tame - yet there it is, still on the 1948 Index.

Joining him were the father of modern philosphy, Rene Descartes:

the empiricist John Locke ("An Essay on Human Understanding"); and Francois Voltaire, a Jesuiteducated philosopher who later took up his pen to criticize the church.

The Index was loaded with 19thcentury French writers: the 1'0-, mantics Honore Balzac and George Sand (for all their love stories), Victor Hugo, the realist Emile Zola and Nobel Prize winning symbolist Maurice Maeterlinck.

Most of the titles were not great literature, however. They were minor and largely forgotten works on the Bible (including several versions ofthe New Testament), religious instruction (dozens of catechisms and prayer manuals are listed) and various ,church topics ("Usury Explained" and "The Fallibility of Popes" are two selfexplanatory examples from the 17th century.)

But even in its heyday, the Index's forbidden books could be consulted by scholars who had obtained special permission. Until recently, these volumes were kept under lock and key at Catholic universities: now many of them are on the library shelves of Rome's pontifical universities. , Earlier this century, Cardinal Merry del Val said that in publishing the Index, the church was acting as a mother, protecting her children so that "their lips do not brush up against the tempting cups of poison."

Today, the church believes .he pqison is still there, but assumes its children are a little more grown up.

Just war theory: is it outdated?

VATICAN CITY (CNS) When an editorial in an authoritative Jesuit magazine called the "just war" theory outdated. it sparked little debate over controversial, centuries-old criteria for judging a war's morality.

Maybe the 4,OOO-word editorial was a foregone conclusion. It was heavily based on examples from the Persian Gulf War, which the pope criticized almost daily with a string of anti-war injunctions. Its supporting evidence drew from post-World War II papal quotes starting with Pope Pius XII. The editorial appeared in the Rome-based. semi-monthly La Civilla Cattolica, which often reflects Vaticans views.

PopeJohn Paul II never directly commented on the "just war" theory, but his Gulf war speeches emphasized that the destructive power of modern warfare was disproportionate to the injustices needing rectification, a main criterion for the "just war" theory.

The pope also continually complained about the destructive effect of the war on civilian populations, another cornerstone of the "just war" theory.

The "just war" criteria also say that a war must be fought for ajust cause, such as self-defense or to regain territory unjustly seized.

'Although the pope never formally brushed aside the "just war" theory, his thinking was clear: People should spend less time trying to justify war and more time figuring out peaceful ways of resolving disputes.

About the only morally permissible reason for fighting allowed by the pope and the La Civilta Cattolica editorial is strict self-defense against an act of aggression.

The pope's concerns did not begin with the Gulf war. They were previously expressed during the 1982 Falklands War when deaths were measured in hundreds instead of hundreds of thousands.

The 1982 war was fought by Great Britain and Argentina in the South Atlantic over rival claims to a string of islands called the Falklands by Britain and the Malvinas

by Argentina. ' The pope traveled to both countries during the fighting to plead for peace. ' In Argentina he condemned "the absurd and always unjust phenomenon of war."

"Today, the scale and the horror of modern warfare - whether nuclear or not - make it totally unacceptable as a means of settling differences between nations," he said in Great Britain.

As one Vatican official put it, the pope does not examine fighting by the "just war" theory, but starts from his own abhorrence of war.

World War II was the pope's training ground. He spent it as a clandestine seminarian in his native Poland under German occupation.

The war brought an end to hated Nazi rule, only to have it replaced by decades of harsh, Soviet-supported communist governments: The pope's 13-year pontificate has been a constant pleading for world leaders to develop peaceful ways of conflict resolution by strengthening international organizations such as the United Nations.

In countries where Catholicism is a major 'influence, such as in Central America, the pope also encourages local church officials to take the initiative in reconciling warring parties. This has led to

official mediation by bishops in the civil wars in EI Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua.

But these situations are limited.

In the long run the pope sees the need for nations themselves to take on a collective responsibility for resolving tensions before they turn into hostilities.

His 1991 social encyclical, "Centesimus Annus," said: "The United Nations, moreover, has not succeeded in establishing, as alternatives to war, effective means for the resolution of international conflicts. This seems to be the most urgent problem which the international community has yet to. resolve."

The Vatican follows this up at wurld meetings by stressing the need for an international authority which can implement policies among nations. , The pope stated his bottom line in his 1990 Christmas message as war clouds thickened over the Persian Gulf: "May leaders be convinced that war is an adventure with no return!"

Pointing Finger "Hope is like a pointing finger painted on a door that is closed to you. It points, directing' you to another door further on that will open to your big opportunity."Norman Vincent Peale

Iteering pOintl ST. JOHN EVANGELIST, POCASSET Ecumenical Thanksgiving service 7:30 p.m. Nov. 27, First Congregational Church, Falmouth town green.

Generation, a newsletter for older Catholics, is available at the church; a newsletter for parishioners will be distributed each Sunday of Advent.

Confirmation I parents' meeting 7 p.m. Nov. 25. Little Rock Scripture Study program on the Birth of Christ 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, parish center; a Tuesday morning session also available. Information: Father Robert Donovan, Deacon Jim Marzelli or Bob O'Brien.

HOL Y GHOST, ATTLEBORO Women's Guild meeting 7 p.m.

Nov. 25. Grade 2 first reconciliation workshop 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. tomorrow. Thanksgiving Mass 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 27; food items from Thanksgiving tables may be brought for blessing and parishioners may dress as Indians or Pilgrims.

CHRIST THE KING, MASHPEE Youth group drop-in night 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, parish hall. Thanksgiving Mass 7 p.m. Nov. 27. Parish second anniversary brunch after Masses Sunday. Cub and Boy Scout uniforms for swap shop will be accepted 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, CCD center.

ST. PATRICK, WAREHAM ~th grade liturgy 10 a.m. Sunday.

Children's Christmas choir will sing at ear.ly Mass Christmas Eve; practices will be at noon Sundays Dec. I to 22. Persons willing to bake sweet ~read for ~athering after ThanksgivIng Day liturgy may contact Sister Beth Henken, 295-0780.

ST. MARY, N. ATTLEBORO Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve service 7:30 p.m. Nov. 27, Congregation Agudas Achim, corner Toner Blvd. and N. Main St., N. Attleboro.

Thanksgiving Masses 7 and 9 a.m.

Nov. 28.

CATHEDRAL, FR Southeastern Massachusetts T rumpet Guild directed by Gene Crisafulli will perform a concert 3 p.m. Sunday.

APOSTOLATE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES Apostolate members are available to provide workshops on understanding disabilities and including disabled in parish, school and community life; programs can be geared to audiences of various ages, study groups, parish organizations, schools, youth groups, etc. Information: Kathy Volkmann; 679-8373.

Thanksgiving Mass, dinner, and social 3:30 p.m. Sunday, St. Vincent's Home, FR. Participants asked to bring a canned good and a pie.

ST. DOMINIC, SWANSEA Pro-life meeting after 8 a.m. Mass tomorrow. Job application and resume writing seminar with parishioner Roland Marineau 7 p.m.

Dec. 5, lower rectory. Confirmation II special program 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Nov. 25; Gerald Furtado will present video "Snqwstorm in the Jungle."

Food bag donations for youth group may be left in center kitchen or side entrance of church before Nov. 25.

Names of persons in need of assistance through youth group Christmas giving tree project may be submitted to Jeanne Nadeau or Frank Lucca.

D. of I. Alcazaba Circle 65 Daughters of Isabella meeting and potluck supper 7 p.m. Dec. 5, K. ofe. Hall, Hodges St. Gift exchange facilitated by Santa Claus; gifts also requested for shutins.

A CROATIAN CHILD, displaced from his Yugoslavian home, plays with a toy horse at a shelter in Zagreb. He is one of over 300,000 Croatians fleeting ethnic fighting, according to Catholic Relief Services, which has allotted them $100,000 in emergency as~istance. (CNS photo)

ST. ANNE, FR The parish will sponsor a GIFT weekend retreat Feb. 14 through 16, 1992, open to teens through adults, both men and women. Information: Rebecca'Mancini, 675-2631. St. Anne novena service 3 p.m. Sunday, followed by healing service until 5 p.m., shrine.

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER, HYANNIS Thanksgiving Eve Mass 7 p.m.

Nov. 27; those attending asked ~o bring baked goods for gathering to, follow in center. Young people in grade 7 or up interested in participating in young adult guitar Mass each Sunday contact Sue Mandel, 3628065. Those who wish to donate Thanksgiving dinner for needy families may contact rectory, 775-0818,

by Nov. 25.

CATHEDRAL CAMP, E. FREETOWN Servants of Christ ministry today through Sunday.

ST. MARY, NORTON Thanksgiving Mass 7 p.m. Sunday; food itemsfor the needy may be deposited in boxes provided at all weekend Masses. Socks, combs and toiletries also needed.

Pro-life meeting 2 p.m. Sunday conducted by Paul and Pauline Griffin, committee chairpersons and representatives to diocesan Pro-life Apostolate. Persons unable to attend but interested in joining the group may call the Griffins at 222-4996.

SEPARATED/DIVORCED CATHOLICS Cape Cod and Islands support group meeting 7 p.m. Sunday, St. Pius X parish center, S. Yarmouth.

Elaine Piepgrass will be guest speaker. Recently divorced or separated are invited to small group or one-toone ministry beginning at 6: 15 p.m.

Information: 362-9873, or Father Richard Roy, 548-1065. Attleboro area meeting 7:30 to 9 p,m. Sunday, St. Mary's parish center, N. Attleboro; information: 695-6161.

NB area support group meeting 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 25, Family Life Center, 500 Slocum Rd., N. Dartmouth; open discussion. Information: Louise Reinsch, 991-4019.

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Nov. 22, 1991 ST. JOSEPH, NB Adoration of Blessed Sacrament for feast of Christ the King9:30a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Sunday.

LaSALETTE SHRINE, ATTLEBORO Ecumenical healing service for Vietnam Veterans and their families 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23, conducted by Father Philip Salois, MS, chaplain at VA Hospital in Jamaica Plain. A combat infantryman with the 199th Light Infantry Brigade in Vietnam, Father Salois was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. He returned to Vietnam in 1990 with a group of veterans on a mission of healing and reconciliation. The Nov. 23 service is also open to members of the public who wish to join and support the veterans in prayer.

ST. JOSEPH, TAUNTON Ushers' meeting 7 tonight, rectory. CCD grades 6-8 penance service 7 p.m. Nov. 26. Centering prayer workshop 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Nov. 30, parish center; centering prayer group meets 7 to 9 p.m.

Thursdays.

CORPUS CHRISTI, SANDWICH Rite of Welcome for catechumens and candidates in RCIA program 4 p.m. Mass Nov. 30. Sandwich Self Help Support Group for sight loss sufferers meets I to 3 p.m. third Fridays, parish center; volunteers needed to transport participants to meetings. Information: 1-800-427-6842.

Catholic Daughters of the Americas meet 9:45 a.m. Nov. 25, parish center. Topic: electricity conservation.

Turn to Pag<: 16

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THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Nov. 22,1991

By Charlie Martin

Song of Thanksgiving

.~

By Christopher Carstens Once upon a time a small band of English men, women and children sailed across the Atlantic in a boat not much 1.0nger than a school bus. At the end of their firsc fall harvest, they gave thanks to God for ensuring that, if they were careful and very lucky, most' of them would not starve to death that winter.

In our time: we have an interesting way of commemorating those events. On Thanksgiving, we eat until we can barely walk, and then we lie on the couch and watch football games.

Now, there's nothing wrong with thanking God. In fact, it'~ a good idea, something we could all do more often.

But here's another way of celebrating Thanksgiving. This year, in the week before Turkey Day, remember something that someone has done for you - something that really matters - and say thanks in a way that person will notice.

Most of us go through our lives with very few thank yous. When they come, especially when they aren't expected, it is a real boost.

In seventh grade at Taft Junior High, my math teacher, Mrs. Shaw, loaned me a book on math games and puzzles, making it clear that this was a book she had treasured for years and years, one she only lent to students she really trusted. . I lost it.

Of course, she made me pay for the book. I think she asked for $7, the price it had cost new. Down deep, both of us were aware she would not ever find another copy' because it had ,been out of printfor. years.

She never made a big deal out of it. I think she sensed that, at 13, I .could ha~dly handle her criticism on top of the shame and guilt I already felt so deeply.

I wish I had written her a simple note. "Dear Mrs. Shaw: Thanks for not being too mad about the book. I like your class."

In the ninth grade, I went out for football. I made the team, and even played sometimes. I could have written a note about that.

"Dear Coach: Thank you for letting me be on the football team. It was fun."

Who has made a difference in your life this year? If you think a moment, you can probably come up with a list of two or three people who have touched your life in a positive way.

This Thanksgiving, let those people know what they have meant to you.

Maybe one of your thank-yous will be a flower with a note: "Sally, thank you for being a friend."

Another might be a card for your minister or your confirmation teacher, sharing your appreciation for the extra time they put into making your classes interesting.

Have you ever considered sitting down with your mom, in a quiet moment, and just telling her that it means a lot when she works all day and comes home tired but still finds time to help you with your homework? She'd probably like hearing that. , No doubt God appreciates a sincere thanksgivil)g. But I don't think God.needs it.

People need to be.th~nked. It can feel like nobody appreciates what you do. When sOmebody shares appreciation in a visible, audible way, it can light up an entire week. -Lots ..of people save little thank-you n'otes for ye;us and take them out to look at them on days when they feel down.

This year, cdebrate Thanksgiving by giving somebody thanks. It can be a really precious gift.

Giving thanks

By Hilda Young recently - lost a job, lost a loved I was really feeling blue recently, one, suffered a divorce, received I don't quite know why. No good bad news from the doctor? Why reason. No catastrophes, no ill- not give them a telephone call neses, no excuses. It was one of right now? .

Who do I know who does nice those "sneaky self-pity attacks," as things for other people with little a priest friend calls them.

Ever have one? You feel lonely, or no thanks, little or no recogniuseless, confused, misunderstood, tion? The mail carrier; the parish tired, fuzzy, abandoned, power- secretary; the telephone operator; the school secretary. Remember to less. Sad. And then for no good reason a tell them how much I appreciate friend from across the country them next time I see them.

Who do I know who rarely called, "Just to say 路Hi.... receives mail or lives alone? My After I hung up the phone it struck me how much easier it is to aging aunt, my cousin on assignkindle joy when someone helps. It -ment in Alaska, the neighbor from my youth who retired last year. means so much to have someone simply touch your life with theirs.- Write a brief note or send along a "thinking of you" card.

It also hit me how often I am too 'sluggish or too kelf-centered to see My friend's call helped open my the opportunitrs to share my life eyes anew to the joyous obligation with others. I stopped, thought, we have to reach out and open our who do I know who has been hurt lives to others, no matter how

Love that's freely given Wants to be freely received All the love you've poured on us Can hardly be believed And all that we can offer you is thanks All that we can offer you is thanks.

Creation tells a story That began so long ago Of love that longed to share its life In hope that love would grow The sun repeats each morning The story is retold And just in love's retelling New chapters yet unfold Your care called out a people Your love made them your own You freed their hearts and calmed their fears And finally brought them home It's when our trials are ended We most easily forget But. your friendship never ceases Your love shows no regret So now we stand in wonder Of all your love has done To hear your tale and offer thanks That we are not alone Just fill us with your Spirit To make your people one . So we can join your story To the one told through your Son Written by Darryl Ducote. Sung by The Dameans (c) 1973

by Franciscan Communications; 1978, by Damean Music; 1980 by North American Liturgy Resources How will you offer thanks this Thanksgiving?

Many of us will follow the traditional path of gathering with family and friends for a day of fun and shared meals.

Some will take part in special parish liturgies. Others might be helping to路 produce a meal for the'homeless, the elderly or other forgotten people in society.

St. James - St. John On November 8, students in grades four through eight .at St. James-St. John School, New Bedford, took part in a special Veterans' Day program organized by sixth grade teacher Jane Rioux.

The ceremony, which took place before an 'assembly of the whole student body, began with a presentation of both the American flag and the St. James-St. John School flag. Following this, several students shared readings, which included the proclamation on Veterans' Day from President George Bush.

The ceremony was planned to make the holiday meaningful and educational for the students.

To help celebrate the the~e of "Discover Catholic Schools," the students have placed a "Discover" tree in the school's foyer. It will be decorated by the entire student 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

weak or inadequate we might think we are ourselves.

The experience also reminded me that those occasional sneaky self-pity attacks can be changed into times of personal growth if we accept them. Then we're never really alone.

A prayer of thanksgiving for friends who phone seemed appropriate too.

Some will spend time close to the earth, perhaps taking a walk as they express to God their gratitude for the abundant beauty of creation. . However we give thanks, doing so is one of life's most profound路gestures. Expressing gratitude changes us inwardly. Doing so uplifts our emotional well-being. We are more likely body each month during the school year.' In addition, a mission project will be offered each month.

For the month of路 November, fall motifs adorn the tree, and students are collecting canned goods for the New Bedford Market Ministries.

In December, white doves will cover the tree and gifts for the needy will be placed under it.

CYO hoop season underway Some 74 teams representing 17 parishes have begun competition in this year's Fall River Area CYO Basketball League. The season began Nov. 8 with the annual league jamboree and Veterans' Day weekend featured a complete schedule of games in all divisions.

FatherJay Maddock, Fall River Area CYO director, is assisted by Al Vaillancourt, John Medeiros, Charlie Medeiros, Rick Lepage and Tom Coute. More than 800 young people ages 10 to 21 are participating in this year's program.

Boys and girls up to grade eight compete in Junior Divisions while 9th and 10th grade boys participate in the prep division and young people in grade II to age 21 participate in the senior division.

The CYO Hall on Anawan Street in Fall River, built in 1895, will be

to see our life differently when we view it through eyes of appreciation and thanksgiving.

In my opinion, Thanksgiving Day also is one of the year's holy days. In our Catholic tradition, we have special days throughout the year when we remember events in Jesus' life or the life of Mary, for example. These days help us recall our personal connection with God. While Thanksgiving obviously is not an officially recognized holy day, surely a day focused on looking to the source of all life is holy and blessed.

The Dameans"'SongofThanksgiving" speaks of this spirit of holiness. When we pause to reflect on how goodness fills our lives, we are likely to create a list without end. Thus, in the song's words, "Now we stand in wonder of all your love has done, to hear your tale and offer thanks."

Indeed, Thanksgiving is a day for our spirits, a time out of time to experience the fact that God's love cannot be lost, no matter what occurs in our lives.

Yet, as we give thanks, we do not deny that at times hurt and emotional emptiness deeply affect us. Thanksgiving does not try to sugarcoat such personally painful realities. Rather, it helps us refocus and to realize that we are not alone evenwhen we encounter personal grief and hurt.

As we celebrate' ThanksgiVing in 1991, I encourage everyone to use this occasion as a means of support and healing in life. No matter what your age, give thanks in some specific way. .

Use music, activity, gift giving, prayer or whatever has meaning for you. Connect with God in your own unique way.

Remember once more all the "love that's freely gi'ven" to heal your hurts, uplift your spirit and bless your life's journey.

Your comments welcomed by Charlie Martin, RR 3, Box 182, Rockport, Ind. 47635.

HIV tests offered PHILADELPHIA (CNS) Mercy Catholic Medical Center in Philadelphia has begun notifying 1,050 patients that an orthopedic surgeon who treated them has tested positive for HIV, the virus which causes AIDS. The medical center, which operates Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital in Darby, Pa., and Misericordia Hospital in West Philadelphia, began the notification voluntarily and is offering free confidential couseling and HIV testing to the patients, according to a center statement. "The most current medical evidence indicates that risk of contact is extremely low," the statement said.

No Preference "We are created to praise, honor and serve God. We therefore no more prefer health to sickness, riches to poverty, honor to disdain, long life to short."-St. Ignatius Loyola open seven days a week until April.

High school age students are invited to use the basketball courts, pingpong tables, pool tables and other equipment on Saturday nights. . Father Maddock conveyed his gratitude to contributors to the annual Catholic Charities Appeal, which helps fund Cya programs.

THE ANCHOR-piocese of Fall River-Fri., Nov. 22,1991

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COYLE-CASSIDY High School headmaster Michael Donly, left, accepts a plaque commemorating the Taunton school's reception of the U.S. Department of Education Recognized School of Excellence Award, presented earlier this fall in Washington. The plaque was presented by Dennis Smith of the state Department of Education in Boston. Head table guests at the school's celebration at the Venus de Milo were Bishop Daniel A. Cronin; Father Richard W. Beaulieu, director of the diocesan Department of Education; Michael Guerra, executive director of secondary schools for the National Catholic Educational Association; and Sister Ann Moore, associate superintendent of diocesan schools. (Breen photo)

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Coyle-Cassidy celebrates award TAUNTON -- More than 450 friends and supporters of CoyleCassidy High School gathered at the Venus de Milo in Swansea Nov. 16 to celebrate the school's Recognized School of Excellence Award presented by the U.S. Department of Education earlier this fall.

Among those on hand for the gala were Bishop Daniel A. Cronin and Dennis Smith from the Boston office of the Department of Education, who represented Edu- ' cation Secretary Lamar Alexander.

Smith formally presented the offical plaque of excellence to C-C headmaster Michael J. Donly.

"This is a great award for a great school," Smith said in his remarks.

"This recognition program was devised to find out what the good schools are doing right so that other schools can follow their example... Coyle-Cassidy is one of the top 200 high schools in the country."

Donly accepted the award for C-C academic principal Dr. Donna A. Boyle and the more than 50 current staff and faculty members who work at the Taunton school.

"Tonight," Donly said, "we are celebrating an a ward of excellence, not perfection. As a school, we are very much aware of a need to constantly seek new directions and ways of improving. As headmaster and as a spokesman for the entire faculty, I promise to you and to all who avail the,mselves of the atmosphere of Coyle and Cassidy a tireless pursuit of the priorities which we hold as a school of excellence."

"The top priority is the spiritual development of our students in an atmosphere where the message'of Jesus is our fQcus."

Guest speaker for the evening was Michael Guerra, executive director of the secondary'department of the National Catholic Educational Association in Washington.

"Catholic schools like Coyle and Cassidy," Guerra said in his remarks, "have foots that go deep into the Catholic community. They draw life, and give life to the Church. It has the power of family, and this sense offamily comes from who we are and what we believe.

"Coyle and Cassidy is part of the family of the Spirit, the source

of our power to touch the hearts and minds of our students and colleagues.

"Coyle and Cassidy is a wonderful example of excellence in education ...a gift to the community and to the Church."

Former faculty and staff members in attendance included former Bishop Cassidy principal and the first principal of Coyle-Cassidy, Sister Virginia O'Hare; Sister Margaret Higgins, a former teacher and guidance counselor; Mrs. Kay Curley, the school's secretary for 26 years; and Mrs. Dorothy McGovern, a longtime instructor at the school.

Representing the diocese was Bishop Daniel A. Cronin, who said, "I rejoice with you, Mr. Donly, in the reception ofthis award. I am very proud of the work that you, Dr. Boyle, and, indeed, the whole faculty of Coyle and Cassidy has accomplished. But, most of all, I am proud of your students and all that they do."

Joining Bishop Cronin was Rev. Richard W. Beaulieu, director of the diocesan Department of Education and a former principal of the school from 1977-1981, and Sister Ann Moore, associate superintendent of diocesan schools.

Many area priests and religious were also in attendance.

Barbara Loughlin, administrative assistant for the City of Taunton, represented Mayor Richard Johnson and the City Council.

She read a letter of congratulations from the Brothers of the Holy Cross, who staffed the former Msgr. Coyle High School in Taunton.

Former State Senator John Parker, and his wife, Mae, were also in attendance.

The principals from the three other diocesan high schools, Rev. John Murray, SJ, from 'Bishop Conno,lIy; Brother Robert Wickman, FSC, from Bishop Feehan; and Theresa Dougall from Bishop Stang, were also recognized. Also attending: Kathryn Simpson, principal of Taunton Catholic Middle School; Dennis Poyant, principal of St. Mary's School, New Bedford; Daniel Saunders, director of Bristol-Plymouth Vocational School and Rev. Arnold Medeiros from Our Lady of Lourdes school in Taunton.

Coyle-Cassidy chaplain, Rev. William Boffa, gave the blessings. ,The event was coordinated by CC's director of Development Michael Tabak.

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At Stonehill, the only Catholic college serving the Fall River diocese, you can obtain a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Humanities, Sociology or one of eight other areas. Earn a certificate in seven useful disciplines including Accounting, Substance Abuse Counseling, or Paralegal Studies. Or take noncredit courses in Computers, Personnel, Fund Raising, and - more. All in convenient evening classes, on a campus just one , minute off Route 24 at the Brockton/Easton exit A Stonehill education is one you can be proud of. Because we teach both the value of excellence, and the excellence of traditional values.

Call us at (508) 230-1298 for complete information.

.

StonehIIL C:loseby batf_from ordIn8l"(

0+-

16

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Nov. 22, 1991

Continued from Page 13 ST. PATRICK, FR Preparation class for December and January baptisms 7 p.m. Nov. 25, school. Religious educatiqn students will bring donated food items for offertory procession at 9 a.m.

Mass Sunday. Vincentians will donate Thanksgiving dinners to parishioners in need; names of potential recipients may be placed in colle~­ tion basket or submitted to rectory

by Sunday.

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SACRED HEART, N. ATTLEBORO Confirmation students will be accepted as candidates at 10:30 a.m.

Mass Sunday. Thanksgiving Mass 7 'p.m. Wednesday. Advent wreaths ; will be made I to 3 p.m. Nov. 30, church hall. Holiday food drive continues through Christmas. Two VCRs needed to replace ones stolen from school. RCIA inquiry session 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2. Volunteers·needed to guide visitors to church on N. Attleboro House Tour Committee "Candlelit Treasures" tour 2 to 7 p.m. Dec. 8; 1'l2-hour shifts, script and directions provided. Information: Father Marcel Bouchard or Mary Lou Vandal, 699-2568.

ST. MARY, NB Lectors' Advent evening of reflection 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10; all lectors should attend. RSVP to Mary Vigeant. Women's Guild Christmas meeting 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9; sweets and entertainment will be provided. Participants asked to bring wrapped gift for Yankee Swap. New members welcome.

ST. MARY, FAIRHAVEN Youth group will pa.rticipate in ecumenical Thanksgiving service 7 p.m. Nov. 26, Unitarian Church, ·Green St. Adult Scripture discussion group meets 7 p.m. Thursdays, Larry and Elaine Ferreira's home; information: 992-7557.

ST. LOUIS de FRANCE, SWANSEA Ladies of St. Anne Sodality Christmas party 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4, Somerset Lodge; Allegro Glee Club will provide entertainment. All ladies and friends of parish invited. Reservations: 674-1892 or 672-9813 by Dec. I. ST. FRANCIS OF.ASSISI, NB Men's League meetin·g II a.m.

Sunday, church hall. Schedules for eucharistic ministers and lectors available in ushers' room this weekend; altar boy schedules in sacristy.

SSt PETER AND PAUL, FR Vincentian Thanksgiving food drive this weekend. Thanksgiving Masses 7 p.m. Nov. 27 and 8 a.m.

Nov. 28; items for Thanksgiving tables will be blessed. Parish council meeting 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Women's Club Christmas party 6 p.m.

Dec. 8, Leone's restaurant; reservations: Mary Tyrrell, 672-0227.

O.L. ASSUMPTION, OSTERVILLE Turkeys will be accepted until Sunday and delivered to needy Nov. 25.

O.L. CAPE, BREWSTER Ecumenical Thanksgiving service 7 p.m. Nov. 27. Men's Club dinner meeting 6:30 p.m. Nov. 26; reservations: Don Dunn, 385-4085, or Art Barnum, 896-7855, before Nov. 25.

Service 'for d~af HOLY NAME, FR -.,-;..Canned goods donations may be St. AnJle's H9$pital is equipleft at church entrances this weekend; offertory procession with canned Jt~4 .wit~~telec,g~m~q~~l'ti()l)~ device known asTDQJor, the goods at Thanksgiving Masses 5: 15 p.m. Nov. 27 and 7 and 9 a.m. Nov. provide 24~ d!af. I~/order 28. Women's Guild Christmas party ~l.)y!':.s!~~icei!to$~,~~OIU;~ at Fall River Country' Club 6:30 . h~aiing:i.npa. . ~ St:iAnne'~ p.m. Dec. 3; reservations: Debbie h~s a d(!~lcated~no r servMello. 678-8006 by Nov. 24. lri;jts~~ergeI)FY de.mem; SACRED HEART, NB This number is 508-6 -~653.

Ladies of St. Anne Advent dinner 6 p.m. Dec. 10, Flaming Steak house; reservations: Sharon Vieira, 997HOLY TRINITY, 6678, or Muriel Denault, 993-0316, WEST HARWICH

by Dec. 2.

Ongoing educatiori for catechists and interested persons 2 to 5 p.m.

ST. THOMAS MORE, Sunday, Dr. Ernest Colla mati and SOMERSET First penance parents' meeting 9 Joanne Mercier will speak on "We Celebrate-We Believe, the Gift of the a.m. Sunday. Family Advent Liturgy Domestic Church, the Gift of Fam4 p.m. Nov. 30; home Advent wreaths ily, the Gift of Worship." will be blessed.

ST. ANTHONY of the DESSERT, FR Exposition of Blessed Sacrament noon to 6 p.m., holy hour 5 to 6 p.m.

Dec. I, St. Sharbel Chapel, 300 North Eastern Ave., FR. HOLY ROSARY, FR Bible study continues 7: I 5 p.m.

Thursdays until Dec. 19 with exception of Thanksgiving night. Father T.A. Collins, OP, will speak Dec. 5 and 12 on St. Matthew's Gospel chapters 26 and 27: "The Passion and Death of Our Lord." All welcome. Information: 678-1066.

ST. JULIE, N. DARTMOUTH Thanksgiving liturgy 7 p.m. Nov. 27; children's and adults' choirs will provide music. Vincentians will distribute food baskets to needy on Sunday.

HOLY ROSARY, TAUNTON Holy Rosary Sodality Christmas party Dec. 3, Fernando's on School St. Information: Anna Sienko.

ST. PATRICK, SOMERSET Grades 5 through 8 will present Thanksgiving program 10:30 a.m. tomorrow.

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The Priests and Parishioners of Our Lady of M ount- Carmel Church I

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cordially i';vite you 10· The Solemn Blessing

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of Its Newly Rebuilt Organ on the feast day of Christ the King

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Fir:/;;~:;~;:;~t~~~::=~ication . An Organ ,Recital

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November 24, 1991 Hook & Hastings Organ GUIDED TOURS OF THE CHURCH WILL BE AVAILABLE AFTER THE CEREMONY

ST. PATRICK, FALMOUTH Thanksgiving Mass 5:30 p.m. Nov. 27; food donations for needy asked.

Junior and senior high school boys who wish to attend ECHO retreat Dec. 6 to 8 may contact Father Richard Roy. ST. ANTHONY, MATTAPOISETT Children's choir (grades 2 through 6) rehearsals for Christmas 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays beginning Nov. 30.

WIDOWED SUPPORT Cape Cod area meeting I :30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Christ the King parish education center, Mashpee; topic: getting ready for the holidays.

COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC NURSES Greater NB chapter meeting Dec. 7, Sacred Heart Nursing Home, NB, following 9 a.m. Mass. Gifts for Market Ministries will be collected.

ST. GEORGE, WESTPORT Evening of recollection ~ith Jon Polce Dec. 4. Food donations for needy will be accepted at Masses this '. weekend.

ST. JOAN OF ARC, ORLEANS Guild Christmas luncheon noon Dec. 3, Linnell House; reservations may be made at thrift shop by Nov. 23.

O.L. VICTORY, CENTERVILLE Men's Club meeting and election of officers 7 p.m. Dec. 3. Mass intentions for January to June 1992 will be accepted in parish office beginning Dec. 2. Cape Cod Hospital Auxiliary Five Rivers Branch meeting 10 a.m. Nov. 25, parish center; hospital foundation president Richard Johnson will speak. Parish will join second annual "Night of Prayers for Life" 9 p.m. Dec. 8 to I a.m.

Dec. 9; sign-up book for an hour of Eucharistic adoration located in candle room.