January 27, 2006
The Catholic News & Herald 1
www.charlottediocese.org
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
Perspectives:
State of the world’s children; horrid crimes test, affirm faith | Pages 14-15
Established Jan. 12, 1972 by Pope Paul VI January 27, 2006
Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
Letting the sun back in
Court orders review of ruling striking down abortion notification law by PATRICIA ZAPOR catholic news service
KAREN A. EVANS staff writer
LIBERTY, N.C. — On a large plot of land in Randolph County, a small garden sits outside a house that has been owned by the Williams family for generations. A blue-and-white sign just outside the garden reads “Tanner Lee Williams, Sept. 28, 2003.” Two stone benches provide a quiet place to sit and remember a life that never was. On Sept. 28, 2003, with just two weeks left in her pregnancy, Diana GardnerWilliams began having See GARDEN, page 5
C o nt i n u i n g
th e
Sisters of Mercy celebrate 105 years in Asheville by
CAROLE McGROTTY correspondent
ASHEVILLE — Three Sisters of Mercy are continuing 105 years of serving people in western North Carolina. It began when three Sisters of Mercy opened an 18bed tuberculosis sanitarium in 1900. They originally intended to open a school, but the need for the sanitarium changed their plans. After new treatments were implemented for treating the disease, the facility became See SISTERS, page 9
no. 16
Upholding decision
Memory garden brings healing, hope to family by
vOLUME 15
Photo by Karen A. Evans
Diana Gardner-Williams points out a photograph of her first son, Tanner, to her 15-month old son, Shivere as they sit in the memory garden she and her husband planted. They designed the memory garden to honor Tanner, who was stillborn Sept. 28, 2003.
WASHINGTON — In a rare unanimous decision in an abortion-related case, the Supreme Court Jan. 18 reversed a lower court’s ruling that struck down New Hampshire’s parental notification law. The opinion written by retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor sent back to the appeals court the issue of the law’s lack of an exception in cases where the teen’s health is at imminent risk from continuing the pregnancy. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops welcomed the ruling, saying she hoped “it will end the disposition of lower courts to enjoin the enforcement of reasonable common-sense abortion regulations for years while challenges are appealed.” See LAW, page 8
Courage and fidelity Pope blesses Swiss Guards on corps’ 500th anniversary by CAROL GLATZ catholic news service
VATICAN CITY — On the 500th anniversary of the founding of the world’s oldest active army, Pope Benedict XVI gave his apostolic blessing to a contingent of Swiss Guards who were lined up in formation in St. Peter’s Square. From his apartment window in the Apostolic Palace
Jan. 22, the pope thanked this “well-deserving” corps for its “500 years of service.” He imparted “a heartfelt” apostolic blessing to about 70 guards gathered in the square and to former guards who were watching the event from Fribourg, Switzerland, via a live, televised link. Pope Benedict recalled See GUARD, page 7
CNS photo by pool via Reuters
Swiss Guards attend a special Mass in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican Jan. 22. The elite corps, which is charged with the protection of the pope and Vatican, is celebrating its 500th anniversary.
Around the Diocese
Culture Watch
In Our Schools
Hibernians elect new officers; Silent No More in Charlotte
Pope’s first encyclical; St. Louis Jesuits return with new CD
St. Michael students buzz Bee; tasty lesson at Immaculate Heart of Mary
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