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fa third Vatican council were held today, the Vatican would have to invite more than 4,500 bishops - nearly twice the number that participated in Vatican II. The sealing section for cardinals would have to be doubled, too. In 1962 there were 85 princes of the church: today there are 176. The numbers keep going up, and not just at the top of the church hierarchy. Since 1Pope John Paul II was elected in 1978, the number of lay missionaries has grown from about 3,000 to 126,000. The number of catechists has increased 15-fold, from 173,000 to 2.6 million. The Vatican published its Statistical Yearbook of the Church in May, with statistics updated to December 31, 2000. For number-crunching experts, the book offers everything from global totals of first communicants to analytical charts on priest-toparishioner ratios. Year after year. most of the raw numbers in this volume continue to rise. The ones that don't often flag a problem. For those who track such things, world Catholic population reached 1.45 billion at the end of 2000 - up 12 million over the previous year. That doesn't include places like China. where Catholics can't be accurately counted, so you probably could add up to 5 million to the global figure. The down side: the percentage of Catholics in the global population has dropped from 17.8 per cent in 1978 to just under 17.3 per cent at the end of 2000. So the general population is growing faster than the church. The fastest church growth continues to occur in Africa, which saw its Catholic population jump nearly 5 per cent during the jubilee year - from 124 million to 130 million. But a flag went up when Vatican officials saw the tally of Catholics for Europe - a drop of 1.5 million Catholics in a single year, even as the continent's population grew by 18 million. It was the fifth straight annual decline in Europe, the only place in the world where the Catholic population is going down. During the current pontificate, the church's social role has grown across the world, and it's reflected in the numbers: more than 103,000 church-run health and social institutions, compared to 64,000 in 1978. Continued Page 2

Archbishop writes Pentecost letter to Year 12 students Archbishop Barry Hickey has written a Pastoral Letter to Year 12 students. His message to them is "to believe that Christ has called you to act in his name, and ask the Holy Archbishop Hickey Spirit to guide you in the choices you make". Comparing their situation to the early Church at the time of Pentecost, he wrote: "God has prepared you for action. He is asking you, as members of the Church. the Body of Christ, to carry the light of truth into the world" Archbishop's letter - Page 2

A church window at St Mary's Cathedral in Winnipeg, Canada, depicts a scene from Pentecost. The feast marks the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles 50 days after Christ's resurrection. Pentecost is Greek for the 50th day. It is also referred to as the birthday of the Church because, from that point on, the apostles carried forth the message of Christ to the world.

Record 111

16 May, 2002

Winter appeal targets set

Archbishop Barry Hickey has written a letter to all Year 12 students in the Catholic education system in the Archdiocese.

PASTORAL LETTER Dear Young People

I

t is a pleasure to offer a small present to all the Year 12s in our Catholic Schools this year - a booklet of extracts from Pope John Paul's talks to youth over the past few years. It was assembled and published here in Perth. So far I have presented the books in five schools and by the end of this year I will have given it to all the Year 12 students in all our secondary Schools. Why have I selected Year 12? The reason is that you are about to finish your schooling and go out to further studies or to find employment. You graduate from secondary school with ideas, enthusiasm, maturity and faith to make a mark on the world. It is because I want you to be young people of strong faith ready to bring your Christian ideals and commitment to our society that I offer you some inspiring words that our Holy Father directs to each one of you. It is also why I want to talk to you about Pentecost. In your Religious Education lessons you will have learned that on Pentecost, fifty days since the Resurrection of Christ, God sent the Holy Spirit to the young Church, the Apostles, Mary and many followers of Jesus, to enable them to spread Jesus' Good News of salvation around the world. This event was a great display of the power of God. The Holy Spirit transformed those fearful people into strong and courageous witnesses of the Risen Lord. The same Spirit is at work today, and wants to work in you. You have been baptised and confirmed. God has prepared you for action. He Is asking you, as members of the Church, the Body of Christ, to carry the light of truth into the world. At the time of Pentecost Jesus' followers faced big challenges and suffered opposition. Many of them lost their lives precisely because they were followers of Jesus. Yet they went out courageously to tell of God's love and show the way to salvation. The world today, though vastly different from the world of Jesus, is similar in the resistance it raises to the call of Christ to repent and follow his way, the only way to true peace and ultimate salvation. You have a role to play in the mission of the Church. Be ready for it. First of all, reflect on your Baptism and Confirmation. Those Sacraments made you holy and called you to action. You carry in your very selves the image of Christ who now asks you to spread his love and his message. As you reflect, turn your heart to God in prayer, asking for the power and the gifts of the Holy Spirit that you have received. Believe that Christ has called you to act in his name, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in the choices you make. You will find that the standards of the world are often not those of Jesus Christ. You will rim into greed, exploitation, dishonesty immorality, envy, violence, jealousy and selfishness. This is all part of the sinfulness of the world from which Jesus offers to save us and turn our lives around. Be generous, joyful, chaste, loving and courageous. It takes great courage to say "no" when your friends try to involve you in something you know is wrong. Courage is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. You already have it. Draw strength from the Bread of Life in Holy Communion. Remember that when you go to Mass it is Jesus' own body and blood that you receive, and receive him devoutly and worthily. If you fall, and all of us fall at times, seek forgiveness and reconciliation in the Sacrament of Penance. In this way you will maintain a close and personal union with Jesus your Saviour. Draw inspiration from the Holy Scriptures, and read good Catholic literature, as we can only too easily drift along with the crowd without the support of a strong faith, nourished continually by prayer, the Sacraments and the Word of God. I wish you well in your studies and I hope that you are able to discern your future path at the end of your schooling. Some of you are called to the Priesthood or the Religious Life. Most are probably called to marriage, although some will remain single. Whatever your unique calling is to be, know that Christ, who loves you, has great hopes for you. This Pentecost, be aware, as St Paul said, that you are a temple of the Holy Spirit. Allow God to dwell within you and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit. I will be with you in my prayers. + Most Rev B J Hickey Archbishop of Perth Pentecost 2002

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The St Vincent de Paul Society aims to help 150,000 Western Australians with the proceeds of its winter appeal launched last week. Target figure for the appeal is $225,000. President of the society, Brian Bull, said the appeal would supply funds for emergency help in supplying essentials such as pots and pans, mattresses, clothes, blankets and food. Mr Bull said through the generosity of the WA public, the society could do something to help the needy. it is only the ongoing support of the people in the WA community that allows the Vinnies society to continue its vital work." Mr Bull said. The totally sponsored launch of the appeal was held as a breakfast function at the Kalamunda Ice Works, and featured a parade of recycled winter coats. Officials said needy families could receive a set of pots and pans from a donation of $25. A $40 donation would provide two, Australian-made 100 per cent woollen blankets; $58 would finance the purchase of a double mattress; $100

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would assist a family to buy a winter school uniform and shoes; $150 would permit a child to attend a Young Vinnies camp; and $280 would provide a person with a psychiatric disability two weeks accommodation. 50 years' service medal - Page 4

The Catholic Church, figuratively speaking

increases have come in Africa, Asia Continued from Page 1 That figure includes 16.500 clinics, and South America. One statistic the Vatican doesn't 14,000 homes for the elderly, 8,700 mind seeing drop is the number of orphanages and 11,800 marriage annulment requests handled by advice centres. But the exception to that trend is a diocesan and regional tribunals downturn in the number of church- around the world. The new annulrun hospitals, which went from 6,640 ment cases introduced have actually In 1978 to 5,853 in 2000. That's a wor- decreased slightly over the last 22 risome development, and a sign that years, from about 7Z000 to 75,000. One trend the Vatican has carefully the church in many countries - particularly in Europe and the Americas tracked over the years is the number - can no longer afford to maintain big of marriages between a Catholic and a non-Catholic. health complexes. The rate of mixed marriages seems In almost every category, what the yearbook calls the church's "work- to have peaked in the 1990s at close force for the apostolate" has to 9 percent and has now levelled off increased. In some cases, like cate- at 8 percent. Europe is the only continent that has chists, it's been a genuine explosion. while in other areas, like diocesan shown an increase in mixed marclergy, it's a tenuous rise. The year riages under Pope John Paul II, but the 2000 saw an increase of 769 diocesan rate has dropped substantially there priests in the world, and the Vatican over the last two years, too. will gladly take that. The number of permanent deacons also has MANNING & ASSOCIATES enjoyed a steady increase during Pope John Paul's pontificate, going from about 5,000 in 1978 to nearContact Lens Consultants ly 28,000 today. Mark Kalnenas (B. optom) But the population of men Grove Plaza, Cottesloe and women religious continues to drop - though the 9384 6720 rate of decrease has slowed. Male religious priests today number about 139,000 compared to 158,000 in 1978, and women religious have gone from 985,000 to 801,000 in the same period. Church experts seeking consolation can turn to the FRIDAY 31 MAY AND pages that break down SATURDAY 1 JUNE 2002 those numbers by continent and by country: In The special guest speaker with be FATHER PAUL MARIA of the Family of Mary Co-Redemptrix, from Italy, many dioceses of Africa SIGL accompanied by four of his Sisters from the same Comnumbers of and Asia, the munity The Sisters will provide music/hymns for the day. The Uniting religious have risen signif- All priests am welcome at both venues to concelebrate Church icantly over the last two Holy Mass. Bookshop decades. Friday 31 May 2002, 730pm: Can we help you? and The Vatican also found Fr Paul will be celebrating Holy Mass and giving a talk Resource hopeful signs in the con- at Corpus Christi Church, 43 Loche St, Mosman Park of Suppliers theological and tinued increase in the num- (next to Iona College). Centre religious books. worship of the world's Saturday 1 June: ber resources, music, cards. stoles. Assemble at Mercedes College, Victoria Square, Perth seminarians. Mail order available. at 9am. Mass with Archbishop Hickey at 10am at There were 62,000 semi- Cathedral, including some communities in national 2nd Floor Wesley Centre, 93 William Street. Perth, narians at the higher edu- dress. Talks - inspirational music- slides. GPO Box M952, Perth WA 6843 cation level in 1978, and BYO lunch. Tea/coffee will be provided. The pmuam Tel: 9486 1577 Fax: 9486 1599 more than 110,000 at the concludes at 4.30pm E-Mail: resource@wa.uca.org.au Contact 9383 3255 end of 2000. The biggest Visit us at: www.wa.uca.org.au/bookshop

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Bishops' refugee stance praised One of the Vatican's most senior agencies, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants, has praised the Australian Bishops' statement in March on refugees and asylum seekers. A letter to the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference signed by Archbishop Stephen Fumio Hamao, president of the council, was released at the latest Bishops' plenary conference in Sydney last week, attended by Archbishop of Perth, Barry Hickey and Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton. It states The Bishops' strong statements in this touching appeal, the pertinent presentation of numerous aspects related to the institute of asylum, and the competent description of the International scene show a constant attention to the dramatic necessities of these marginalised people as well as a deep and lived awareness of the prophetic mission of the Church. "Please be assured that our prayers accompany the follow-up of the statement that it may contribute to forming the conscience of the members of the Government and of the entire Australian people." In launching the statement Archbishop Francis Carroll, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference, points out that is not only for "the challenge the Government but for the whole Australian Community. "As part of that Community, the Catholic Church pledges its continuing support for these suffering people." The bishops hope that many people, especially members of the Church, will obtain a copy of the statement at a time when the treatment of asylum seekers is presented to us in the media almost daily. The statement is available from

Archbishop Francis Carroll

the Catholic Bookshop, GPO Box 829, Canberra ACT 2601 for $2.00

($3.00 posted) - GST included. Please contact the Bookshop for postage costs on bulk deliveries. Tel: 02 6201 9887; Fax: 02 6262 7560. Email: bookshop@agency. cangoul.catholic.org.au It is also available on the ACBC www.catholic.org.au website (under what's new) and on the

Australian Catholic Migrant and of recent events in the Middle to appeals for humanitarian assisRefugee Office website www. East, the Catholic Bishops of Aus- tance to the victims of violence. In tralia are appalled by the escala- the spirit of the religious leaders acmro.catholic.org.au. The Australian Bishops also tion of violence, by the suffering who gathered in Assisi at the released a special message to cel- inflicted on innocent people by Pope's invitation in January, we ebrate the independence of East both sides, by the violation of pray with our Jewish and Islamic Timor, to be marked with cere- sacred places, in particular the friends for a just and peaceful resChurch of the Nativity, and by the olution to a conflict which has monies on Monday (May 20). been allowed to continue for too It invited all Australians to pause wanton destruction of property." The bishops said," We condemn long." in prayer and thanksgiving. The conference also approved a Archbishop Carroll said: "Aus- all acts of terrorism, especially tralians have long had a special attacks on innocent civilians, as number of national initiatives in affiliation with the people of East well as disproportionate acts of response to Pope John Paul ll's Timor and we recognise the work reprisal causing death and injury call for "ecological conversion" in of countless communities across to many people going peacefully the Church. This week's Plenary meeting of Australia in giving practical sup- about their business. Any acts of port to the people of East Timor self-defence must be governed by the Conference has highlighted the special responsibility given to the principle of proportionality. in their time of need." "While defending the right of one of its committees in this area Australians may recall the moment of liberation in Septem- both the Palestinians and the by changing the committee's ber 1999 when the results of East Israelis to have their own states, name. Henceforth the Bishops were we consider that the occupation Committee for Justice, Developreferendum Timor's announced and despite intimida- of any part of the Palestinian Ter- ment and Peace (BCJDP) will be tion and threats from the militia ritories by the Israelis should called the Bishops' Committee for an overwhelming majority of East cease. This is clearly essential if Justice, Development, Ecology Timorese voted for indepen- peace is to return to this troubled and Peace (BCJDEP). The Bishops also approved the formation of a region. dence. "We appeal to Catholics to join national body of advisers on the This was quickly followed by mass killings and destruction as a other people of good will in pray- environment. Named Catholic policy of "scorched earth" was put ing for those who are suffering in Earthcare Australia, it will be an Into effect. Martial law was the Middle East and to contribute advisory Council to the BCJDEP. declared and the militia attacked the three traditional places of refuge: the United Nations compound, the Red Cross compound and Bishop Belo's residence. There were no safe havens ORDER OF CANONS REGULAR OF PREMONTRE for the people of East Timor. But on Monday May 20, 2002 East Timor will be truly living the tradition of the 'Acts of the Apostles' ... independent. Bishop Hilton Deakin, Chairperson of Caritas AusIf you would like to know tralia, will represent Archmore about life as a Bishop Carroll and the Norbertine priest or brother. please contact.: Bishops of Australia in East Timor for their indepenFr Peter J Stiglich. 0.Praem. dence celebrations. St Joseph's Priory The Australian Catholic P 0 Box 364 Bishops' Conference also Canningmn WA 6967 condemned the situation in Telephone: (06) 9468 Z729 the Middle East. Email: norbertaLanct au "Like so many people around the world learning

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Fifty year service medal for Ninnies' veteran Tom Perrott of the Nedlands Conference of the St Vincent de Paul Society has been presented with a 50-year service medal. He received his medal from the state president of the society, Brian Bull, at a ceremony in Nedlands in early May. Mr Perrott, who statistics show has actually served 67 years for the society can remember his first community contact as a 16-year-old and while still a student at the Christian Brothers College in St George's Terrace, in 1935. He said at the suggestion of the society's chaplain, Brother Doody, he volunteered to work with the parish council at St Brigid's, in West Perth. He accompanied the West Perth president. George Furlong, on a home visit to a woman and they gave her a fiveshilling (50c) voucher. The woman, who had a nine-year-old son, told them: "my rent is now paid and I can use this for food." Mr Perrott remained with the St Brigid's Vinnies until his marriage and

The St Vincent de Paul Society president, Brian Bull, with Tom Perron.

Needle sharing a desire to form intimacy The Coalition Against Drugs is education. (WA Govt. community calling on the WA Health Minis- Drug Summit June 2001, Issue ter, Bob Kucera to take a hard look Paper 8.) at needle exchanges in the light of Coalition spokeswoman, Wendy studies showing human nature Herbert said a study of Australian and needle exchanges are now needle exchange attendees found contributing to the spread of the In a 12 month period the number deadly disease, hepatitis C among Infected with hepatitis C jumped Injecting drug users. from 21% to 43% overall, but for No matter how much money those under 20, it jumped to 76%. and time is spent on educating About 31% of needle exchange drug users about the dangers of attendees admitted to sharing blood-borne diseases, and over- needles. (Mac Donald et al. Medcoming community prejudice to ical Journal of Australia March 3, their primary disease addiction, 1997). the overwhelming desire to form Studies carried out in Chicago. trust and intimacy with another Montreal and Vancouver have user by sharing needles, will found that needle exchange users always overcome the cold logic of share needles at slightly higher

Healing services arranged Catholic Mission is organising regular Eucharistic celebrations in Perth for returned mission workers. The first one was held at St Denis' parish, Joondanna last Saturday afternoon. It was attended by returned mission workers from the Kimberley, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, Angola, Zambia. Burma and Thailand. The Eucharist offers people who have returned from mission work, caught between two cultures, a deeper, more healing sense of 'home'. It is a 'home' where they can bring and share the memories and concerns they have for the communities they used to serve. It is a 'home' where their story of personal conversion, which is the gift of Mission, can take root. We would like to thank Father Leo Spicer OSM for providing this opportunity for such sharing, healing and growth to happen, and for making us feel so much more 'at home'. If you are interested in attending the next Eucharistic celebration for returned mission workers, in Perth, feel free to contact Catholic Mission on 9325 5264 or at catholicmissionperth@bigpond.com.au for more details.

_Page 4

rates than drug users not frequenting the exchange. Needle exchanges act as locations for effective networking among drug users, enabling them to spend less time tracking down ready sources of supply and thus allowing them to score more frequently each day. (Janet D Lapey Needle exchange programs: 1998 report). Needle exchanges operate on the false premise that needles handed out free will not be shared. The resources spent on needle distribution would be betterspent on prevention and rehabilitation of intravenous drug users.

move to Subiaco, eight years later, then served with the St Joseph's conference. A move to Wembley saw him join the City Beach Conference for 19 years, and finally with Nedlands for another 14 years. He said he had been fortunate to have had the support of his wife, Eileen, for 57 years. Mr Perrott said he had been doubly fortunate, in that he has also experienced how the Vinnies can help those in need. He had been hospitalised at St Jolui of God's from September to Christmas 2001, then convalescing at home since. He has received Communion each day at home - "thanks to the members of our society" who brought it to his home Apart from Brian Bull. senior St Vincent's members attending the presentation included Monsignor Nestor. Sister Agnes, Neville McGill and the chief executive officer of the society, Alan Jennings.

Newman art festival to feature Hans Heysen and Norman Lindsay works A Norman Lindsay and four Hans Heysen paintings will have pride of place at the Newman College Art Festival next weekend. The festival - a departure from the previous art exhibition - opens on Friday, May 24 at 7.30pm and closes the following day. Organisers are also raffling a $10,000 William Boissevain painting, at $100 a ticket, which will also cover the admission to

the gala opening of the exhibition. Sandy Harold of the organisers. the Newman Parents and Mends Association, said this year for the first time the event will include music and international foods components. Ian Parmenter from the ABC's Consuming Passions food program will be making a presentation on boutique wines as part of the international food festival on the Saturday.

Embroiderer sought for antique Spanish vestments

A skilled embroiderer is needed to restore vestments originally created in a Spanish workshop in the 1830s. Archdiocesan Archivist Sister Frances Stibi said volunteers with a talent for embroidery would be given guidance by a world class expert, Mrs Rusty Walkley, of Bicton, while undertaking the restoration. "The major problem is that some of the pure silver thread in the decorations has unravelled," Sr Frances said. "Volunteers do not need experience in working with high quality silver thread. They will be given instruction as they go along, but they must be skilled in embroidery. "The thread is of such high quality that none of it has tarnished.

"Friday June 7 has been set as the day when Mrs Walkley will begin to guide the restoration at the Embroiderers' Guild. She will also provide the materials. "Volunteers who would like to learn from an expert while contributing to an important restoration should contact me on 9223 1358. It is a great opportunity for an enthusiastic embroiderer." Sr Frances said it was not known how the vestments came to the Archdiocese, but Mrs Walkley had been able to identify them as having been made in a Spanish workshop by a number of hands in the 1830s. The identification was based on the style, the embroidery, the type of satin and the padding used under the silver thread.

Ask no questions... Recently reported in the Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyers journal, the following are questions actually asked of witnesses by attorneys during trials and, in certain cases, the responses given by insightful witnesses: Q: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning? Q: The youngest son, the twenty-year old, how old is he? Q: Were you present when your picture was taken? Q: Was it you or your younger brother who was killed in the war?

Q: Did he kill you? Q: How far apart were the vehicles at the time of the collision? Q: You were there until the time you left, is that true? Q: How many times have you committed suicide? Q: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th? A: Yes. Q: And what were you doing at that time? Q: She had three children. right? A: Yes. Q: How many were boys? A: None. Q: Were there any girls?

Archdiocesan achivist, Sister Francis Stibi with the vestments

East Timor Independence Day - Monday May 20 After the long journey to free- Tel: 9223 1311 or freecall 1800 024 dom, East Timor becomes the 413. newest member of our internaLet us pray: tional community. Caritas AusJesus, you have always stood tralia has been involved in by the people ofEast Timor. You emergency relief and develop- are the light that has shone even ment in East Timor since Sew on the darkest of nights when tember 1999. all seemed lost. Today, you rise Through the generosity of the again in the people of East Australian community Caritas Timor as they celebrate their Australia has been able to provide victory for Justice, for peace and food and basic household sup- human dignity. We give thanks plies to returning refugees and that the day of freedom has shelter for many people living in come and we also pray that you the Oecussi enclave. On behalf of will be with the East Timorese the people of East Timor, Caritas as they continue to rebuild their Australia thanks you for your sup- lives. We ask this through Christ port. For liturgy and other infor- our Lord. Amen mation visit www.caritas.org.au or Poor yet Proud - Page 13

16 May, 2002

Reeord

Renowned family campaigner to speak in Perth Mrs Rita Joseph, the prominent Catholic writer and speaker on social issues, particularly those affecting women and children, will speak at two functions open to the public in Perth next Thursday, May 23. Mrs Joseph will speak on "The UN and the Family" at 1.30pm in the Boardroom at CWA House, 1174 Hay St, West Perth, at a function organised by the Family Council of WA. For many years, Mrs Joseph represented the family at all major UN human rights conferences. She was an adviser to the Australian delegation at the UN Cairo+5 conference in New York In 1995 and has just returned from the UN Child Summit in New York. She has written extensively on

the dangers for women and children in many of the radical feminist resolutions carried at UN conferences, in the UN's push to make the legalisation of abortion compulsory, and in its disregard for freedom of conscience. Her work has been published extensively in secular and religious journals both here and overseas. She has made a special study of Pope John Paul's writings on family and on women. Her second speaking engagement in Perth will be at St Mary's parish function centre, Franklin St, Leederville at 730pm on Thursday. Organised by a group of Catholic women, the evening will address the role of Catholic women in Church and society today and examine various trends helping or hindering their lives.

Mrs Joseph's lunchtime function will follow immediately after the Rally for Life at Parliament House from noon to 1pm. The two venues are within walking distance and for those attending at CWA House there is ample parking at the rear. The Parliament House rally has been organised by the Coalition for the Defence of Human Life to mark the fourth anniversary of the passage of the Acts Amendment (Abortion) Act 1998. In the following week, on May 27, the Commission for Australian Women will meet in Perth at the Redemptorist Monastery retreat house in North Perth. The WA representative on the Commission is Dr Jennifer Skerritt and the diocesan liaison person is Mrs Sue Larsen.

Father Tom O'Prey dies with family in Wales An Irish priest who spent 35 years in the Perth Archdiocese died in Wales on Friday of last week. May 10. supporting Project Compassion Fr Thomas Patrick O'Prey was because the money went to peoborn in Derrygonnelly, County ple who had nothing, and his Fermanagh on May 15, 1938. parish supported him. After his studies at All Hallows, Bencubbin regularly had the he was ordained on June 21, highest per capita level of con1964 and came to Western Aus- tributions to Project Compastralia sion and outstripped many He took up his first appoint- much larger parishes in total ment as Assistant Priest at Shen- funds. ton Park on November 18, 1964. After seven years in BencubHe went to Kensington in 1968, bin he was appointed chaplain Leederville in 1971 and at Hollywood Hospital in 1982. Northam in 1973 before his first living at Cottesloe with Bishop appointment as Parish Priest at Healy who described him as a Bencubbin in 1974. very successful hospital chapMr Kevin Hogan, a parishioner lain with a great way with peoat Bencubbin and a friend for ple. the rest of his life, said that Fr This was followed by stints as O'Prey loved the country and parish priest Gosnells from 1986 was highly regarded. and Floreat at Wembley "He was an extraordinarily from1994. Fr O'Prey had a long humble man and much loved in and difficult struggle with canour parish," he said. cer and after throat surgery "He was a talented man and some three years ago was forced gave great homilies, the shortest to retire. and the most telling I have He lived with the Little Sisters heard." It was a talent he put to of the Poor at Glendalough until great use doing Reflections for about three months ago when the ABC for an extended period he finally accepted his sister's while he was at Bencubbin. invitation to spend his last days He devoted a lot of energy to with her in Wales.

Obituary

Christian Brothers returning to basics of founder The Christian Brothers are returning to their basics - their grass roots - to the educational principles and spirituality teachings of their founder, Edmund Rice. The Provincial for the Brothers in Western Australia. Brother Tony Shanahan, said the future direction for the congregation was to work with the deprived and the marginalised. much as Edmund Rice had done in Waterford, in raeland. 200 years ago. Br Shanahan said education reforms in the 1980s has seen many of the schools that had formerly come under the congregational control of the Brothers amalgamate. The reforms had seen the laity taking a bigger role in teaching, although the original Edmund Rice principles were still adhered to. It had meant the Brothers had become less visible in the community, but that did not mean they were no longer there. The order is continuing a vital function in education, but there

had been a redeployment of its resources.

The order would continue with congregational control of its main colleges - Aquinas. Trinity and CBC Fremantle. It would continue to emphasise in those colleges the ideals of Edmund Rice, who was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1996 for his work in 19th century Ireland and for establishing the Christian Brothers order.. But one of the directions for teaching would be to further increase awareness in social justice issues. Br Shanahan said: "Edmund Rice had been quite a wealthy businessman. "I suppose many of the boys in the colleges come from a similar affluent background. "But that does not mean they can have a worthwhile life ignoring social justice and other important community issues." Br Shanahan said he was aware that many people in the community at large equated social justice with political issues.

He was unafraid that the schools might be accused of becoming political. "There have been no complaints," he said. "But in a way that might not be such a good thing. It might mean we are missing our target in raising the awareness among the boys and the community in general." The reforms of the 80s had put many of the former Christian Brothers schools under the control of the Catholic Education Office. But the Christian Brothers still

had a role in assisting new schools to get established. Schools such as Karratha and Rockingham that began under Christian Brothers' guidance. have since been absorbed into the CEO system, but reflected the benefit of the early guidance from the order.. A big thrust in future would be establishments such as the Edmund Rice Centre. at Mirrabooka, where it was applying Rice's ideals and principles to help refugees, asylum seekers and Australian Aboriginals. See also story page 9

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Page 5

I say,I say... A

a s a friend of mine pointed out recently, phrases such as This is n ethically complex issue" are often code for "let's go ahead and do it anyway." At about 7am on Friday April 19 I found myself in a hospital looking at a baby. There is a certain point where words fail, I think, to adequately express some experiences in life. The surprise I found myself experiencing was not any of the usual things you often hear about babies. It was the fact that this child, only a few minutes old, was already aware and looking, albeit in a limited kind of way, at the world around.I was surprised because I had expected a newborn baby to be not so much aware, as oblivious, and clamouring to be fed. Pope John Paul II has described the sea change in which (largely affluent) societies such as our own have embraced the wholesale elimination of human beings in the earliest and the last phases of their lives as the 'Culture of Death.' He has included in the Culture of Death the totalitarian deformities of the 20th century built largely on aberrant ideologies enforced by mass murder, and has traced its philosophical origins to a deformed way of thinking about the human person, the body and, even more interestingly, sexuality. However his reflections on the Cul-

ture of Death have also produced a development in theology popularly referred to by observers of his pontificate as the Theology of the Body. It is part of the antidote to the Culture of Death. But what caused this moment of meditation as I looked at this particular baby? One of the thingsIremember most about the moment was experiencing this child's awareness. I was surprised and intrigued by this one particular thing more than anything else at all. What happened next was, for me, quite interesting. As I looked down at this baby and as it looked straight back at me, probably without seeing me clearly at all,I found myself thinking 'Only nine or so months ago, little baby, and Peter Carnley would have approved of you being harvested.' It was at that moment, one of intuition and revelation, that I knew everything I will ever need to know about Peter Carnley's deformed understanding of human life and its ethics. The experience moved me to think of another Anglican cleric, the Reverend Dr Hewlett Johnson, Dean of Canterbury, also known in the 1930s as 'the Red Dean' for his sermons extolling the virtues of socialism. The good Dean toured the Soviet Union at exactly the time when Stalin was busy (as we now know) deliberately starving

with Peter Rosengren

seven million Ukrainians to death in a program of forced collectivisation. He was also in the midst of conducting that systematic series of purges at all levels of Soviet society that historians now refer to as the Great Terror. Nobel Prize-winning author Alexander Solzhenitsyn, chronicler of Soviet-style communism, estimates that Stalin's rule killed approximately 65 million people. However, the reverend Dean returned to Britain after having been shown only what Stalin wanted him to see - happy Communist youth, happy factory workers, happy proletarian harvesters (bringing in the sheaves presumably) - and enthusiastically declared like other Western intellectuals before and after him such as George Bernard Shaw, and Sidney and Beatrice Webb, that he had seen the future and that it worked. Gregory Wolfe, biographer of the great English journalist and convert Malcolm Muggeridge wrote of the Red Dean that he "embodied everything that was most fatuous in liberalism. Preaching from the pulpit of Britain's most ancient and venerable Christian shrine Johnson waxed eloquent about the glorious social experiment taking place in the Soviet Union." Muggeridge, who was a correspondent In Moscow at about the same time later wrote "As a symbol from the communists'

point of view the Dean is incomparable. All their ridicule of Christianity, all their confidence that its day is done seems to come true in his very person." The Anglican communion does not have a monopoly on intellectually underwriting mass murder of the born or the unborn. Naive, weak or foolish Christians of many, perhaps all, denominations have blundered into it. Thankfully, other Christians have been heroic: I think of Lutheran Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Archbishop von Galen, the group of students known as The White Rose, or Nikolaus Gross in wartime Germany. But it is a disturbing feature of the Anglican mentality or system that It appears to be more prone to foolish pronouncements by men of the cloth that end up helping to underwrite the killing of large numbers of very innocent people by arguing either that it is not going on, or by indulging in the worse travesty of terming It a virtue. In the case of Peter Carnley and the unborn children who will he harvested for their body parts, could anyone ever effectively satirise such a thing? A divine who declares the killing of the smallest human life a step forward for the human race? I doubt it. And so I write this for the unborn because I. unlike they, according to Peter Carnley, still have a right of reply.

TO JESUS THROUGH MARY column of Narian devotion

A Layman's meditations

0

n this great Feast of Pentecost, which Is the birthday of the Church, we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. In The Sunday Readings Cycle A pp 201. Fr Kevin O'Sullivan OFM says: "Pentecost" which means "fiftieth" was the second of the three most important of the annual feasts in the Jewish calendar. It occurred seven weeks after Passover and was primarily a feast of thanksgiving for the harvest: the first fruits of the wheat crop were offered to God on that day. Later on the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai was also commemorated on this feast day. All Jewish men, not legitimately Impeded, were expected to come to Jerusalem, to the temple, for the feast. Hundreds of Jews from outside of Palestine also came, and the city was usually full to overflowing. In the first reading, (Acts 2:1-11) St Luke describes the events of Pentecost Sunday. He says; "When Pentecost day came round,' the apostles had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. "They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech". When things are difficult to describe, people try to overcome the difficulty by comparing the thing concerned to something else. St Luke compared the Holy Spirit to a mighyt wind and tongues of fire. The Holy Spirit is like a powerful wind, which blows things away; the Holy Spirit blows away mistaken ideas about God. The Holy Spirit appeared in the form of tongues of fire; when we are filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit, we shall use our tongues to make Christ known and the Faith will spread like wildfire. St Peter's sermon on Pentecost Sunday led to 3,000 converts being received into the Church. Blessed Pope John XXIII prayed for a "new Pentecost" for the Church. Signs of a "new Pentecost" are evident in Africa, where 3,000,000 converts are received into the Church annually. Africans are hungry for Christ, but because Catholic missionPage 6

by Peter Dwan aries in Africa are hamstrung by a lack of finance. 4,000,000 of the 7,000,000 converts to Christianity annually join Protestant churches. Donations for evangelisation in Africa may be sent to the Sisters of St Peter Claver. 154 Cotham Road, Kew 3101, Victoria. In the second reading. (I Corinthians 12: 3Z 12-13) St Paul says: "There are a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done. but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose." Different people have been given different gifts, but we have all been given gifts, which God means us to use to help the Church. For example, those with a good voice should join the parish choir, and good cooks should bake for parish coffee parties. If we are generous with our time, talents and money, then we might be surprised what the Holy Spirit does through us. Parish life runs smoothly when people contribute according to their ability. Today, unfortunately, many don't seem to do their fair share, leaving too much to the same generous few. The gospel, (John 20: 19-23) is known as the Johannine Pentecost, and records Christ's appearance to the Apostles on Easter Sunday, during which He gave his Missionary Mandate; "As the Father sent me, so am I sending you." After saying this, Jesus breathed on them and said: "Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained." As those words also indicate, besides conferring the Holy Spirit. Christ gave the Apostles the power to forgive sins through the sacrament of Confession. The Apostles and their successors needed the light of the Holy Spirit to help them decide whether to give or refuse absolution. It is a shame that this sacrament isn't appreciated by many Catholics today, with few going to Confession regularly. However, Confession is appreciated by many converts. For example, G K Chesterton said that he became a Catholic, so that he might know for certain that his sins were forgiven. May the Holy Spirit help us appreciate Confession.

I

n the past we used to like above all From The Gospel of to extol the greatness of a person, Mary - a month with THE putting emphasis on their privithe Mother of God by leges; today we prefer to emphasise the CM'EL Fr Gabriel Amorth SSP. services they rendered on the plane of OF St Paul Publications. salvation. These two aspects are not MARY RRP $23.50 contradictory but need to be integrated, each one being true. For this reason in the past we stressed. Jesus told us clearly that he would in the Assumption, the fulfilment of the remain with us always. even to the end redemption since Mary was glorified in of time, and so he is always present. body and soul. When he wants to appear, he makes In theology, it was expressed by the this presence visible; then, once he has term: wholly redeemed. Mary's confor- achieved his purpose. he again renders mity with her son was highlighted: it himself imperceivable to our human was only right and just that she be asso- senses. Still his presence continues. ciated to his glorification having been The same thing happens with Mary. associated with him in the whole work And even more, not only has her presof the redemption. especially in the ence no limits in space and time, as paschal mystery. Insistence was placed they did when she lived on earth in on the appropriateness of the fact that only one place and for a limited amount that flesh from which Jesus had of time like all of us; then even her received his own flesh should be glori- activity could be limited by hours fied, and it was added: as, through the which pass and don't return. merits of Christ, exemption from origiNow this is no longer so. Her maternal sin was applied to her preventive- nal care over us has no limits and, as ly, so it is only right that preventively the Second Vatican Council says, it is a the fruits of the redemption likewise be work that will continue until all men applied to her. All of these are valid are led into their blessed home (cf. LC arguments, held even today. But today 62). In this way it is easy to understand we prefer to add other motives. Every the reasons and the consequences of privilege is given to Mary in view of a the assumption of Mary. scope that exceeds the personal sphere; Assumed into heaven, she is alive and, even her assumption does not escape as our true mother, is always at our side this criteria. For that reason it was not with a presence that is ever active even conceded to Mary only to honour her if we do not see it. Hers is a constant person, but in view of a salvific event. and total presence because it is no Mary had received from Jesus a new longer bound by the limits of space and mission which will last till the end of time that she herself had during her the world: her maternity over all earthly life. It is a maternal and efficahumankind in the economy of salva- cious presence in the order of salvation tion. Her mission on earth is not fin- which we describe by the titles with ished, as it is finished for other human which we address her: Mediahix of All beings who can only contribute with Graces, Refuge of Sinners, Advocate, their prayers in the communion of Help of Christians. saints. For Mary this is not the case. Reflection It was therefore necessary that she be About us - Let us realise that Mary is found in the totality of her person, body always at our side and let us feel her and soul, in order to carry out this new near, even if we do not see her. On mission in our favour. account of this, let us have continual Now the body of Mary, like that of and trustful recourse to her. We will Jesus, is no longer tied to time and know only in heaven how much we space. Therefore, their presence along- have cost her and what she has done side each one of us is unceasing. To for us, the dangers from which she has offer an example, think back to the var- saved us, the inspirations that she has given us, the strength which she has ious apparitions of the risen Lord. He gave the impression of entering Infused in us, the graces she has and exiting a room even though the obtained for us; and all this without our doors were closed. This has given rise even being aware of it. Whoever reflects on the part of theologians to efforts in seriously on these truths, on the conunderstanding the properties of a risen stant presence of Jesus and Mary at our side, will live full of confidence and will body, among them subtlety. The reality is something different. never suffer from a feeling of solitude.

The question of censorship, again The behaviour of figures like New South Wales Premier Bob Carr and the Victorian Attorney General in relation to the crass pornography of the film called Baise Moi is a sad reminder that Australia is still a long way from an understanding of what constitutes a rational, adult response to the excesses of the entertainment industry and the dangers of censorship. Carr, the senior State Premier in Australia, could barely contain his glee as he presented himself as the great defender of truth and beauty against the evil demons of censorship. Following the line that is consistently espoused by the media, he proclaimed that adults are entitled to watch whatever they like. Strangely enough, he doesn't actually believe what he says. Every State in Australia has laws banning child pornography, even child nudity, and there are tough penalties for anyone downloading such things from the Internet or possessing magazines containing such images. The restrictions imposed on what adults can view are strict and whenever they are enforced the same politicians are proud to declare their support for such actions. Needless to say, The Record endorses this kind of censorship. But it raises the question of why we cannot have a mature, considered response from our leaders whenever an "adult" Issue involving adults arises. The sadly childish response from Carr and others has all the hallmarks of a compulsory cliché that nobody understands, but many feel obliged to utter.

The Record PO Box 75, Leedeiville, WA 6902 Tel: (08) 9227 7080, Fax (08) 9227 7087 cathrec@iinet.net.au

The anti-censorship brigade are not defending a principle: they acknowledge that censorship is necessary for the good of society and they carry it out. In defending society against censorship they are, generally speaking, on firm ground because, generally speaking, censorship is psychologically and morally unhealthy because it involves one person trying to control others, and control of other human lives is not a healthy thing. However, society cannot function without some measure of control and the enthusiasm shown by these same politicians to control the speed at which we can drive, the level of exaggeration we can put into advertisements, and the details of a huge range of business relationships all demonstrate that they have no interest in the psychological or moral aspects of control. Why, then, are they unable to develop a mature response to the powerful perversions of the entertainment industry? Why are they unable or unwilling to consider the merits of particular cases? In this instance, we are told, the film includes scenes of violent rape involving actual sexual intercourse and numerous other

perversions of human sexuality and human relationships. Parliaments almost compete with one another to have the toughest fines and jail sentences for organisers and audiences if the entertainment is two dogs fighting, but the NSW Premier proclaims himself a champion of freedom when the entertainment is the assault and rape of a woman. There is no reason why the perverts who make such films and the people who try to make money out of them should have their "work" classified as fit for public consumption. The final result of the re-classification which took it off the market is patently the right one. If Bob Carr or any other Premier is not aware of the damage this sort of trash can do to individuals and families (and, eventually, to children), he ought to appoint a researcher for a week to give him a summary of the scores of quality, scientifically valid studies of the effect of pornography on personal relations. There are other problems buried deeper in our refusal to recognise the damage that is being done by our attitudes to inappropriate sexual displays. Whenever the

subject comes up, the media resort to their old mantra "Sex is 'natural." So it is. But it is not natural to perform sex acts for the entertainment of others, and it is not natural to watch others perform sex acts. It is not natural to run a cinema and charge people money for the opportunity to debase their own emotions and understanding by watching others perform such acts. There is within human sexuality an inherent sense of privacy, a deep realisation of the intimacy of this profound human relationship. Intimacy is the word that was most commonly used to express the essence of the marriage relationship because it conveyed the sense of completion and exclusiveness which all healthy people know in their hearts is their true desire. The word and its meaning have been all but lost from public affairs as Premiers and others fall over themselves to defend the indefensible. The great sadness of it is that neither the leaders nor the commentators of our community have the wisdom, strength or courage to stand up for decent standards of self restraint. They hide their own inadequacy by clamouring about censorship when what the community needs is not censorship. but a consistent voice in favour of what is good in human nature. • The opinions expressed in this editorial, and any other Record editorial, are not necessarily those of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Perth.

Role-call for rally

The virtue of prudence

Aroun4 the ta0(e

IF

,rank Calneggia's eloquent and Instructive comment on the question of the Church's toleration of evil (The Record. 9 May) raises three points which merit attention. First, it is true that 'irrational patience sows vice'. However, the Catholic moral tradition has long held that, in certain careLetters to the editor fully circumscribed situations, the toleration of one evil is entirely reasonable if that is the only way to avoid an even greater evil. Such patience is clearly not 'irrational'. It is an exercise of the virtue of prudence. Second. Mr Cahieggia doubts the policing of laws governing embryonic stem cell average amount taxpayers spend on govresearch. There is no reason to assume school students, and the State only ernment that his doubts cannot be addressed in the legislation being drawn up at the moment. Dart of the explanation why such a high provides 21 per cent of that. Secondly, the State consequently saves I urge him to influence the shape of this I . cost was imposed on mothers who legislation by contacting his federal mem- request the storage of umbilical cord blood over $590 million a year because it doesber. (High cost to mothers, Record 9 May) could n't have to educate these 105,000 students, Thin', he teaches that God always gives a be found in the Finance pages of The West an average saving of over $5,600 each. Thirdly, lower State and/or Federal levels person 'one clear choice between good and Australian of the same date. funding would force more of these stuof evil'. This is an interesting point of theolA new public company, Cryosite Ltd was into Government schools at great dents ogy, but it is not the point in question. Exchange Australian Stock listed on the taxpayers, and/or increasing class cost to What we face is a political dilemma, not with stated purpose of storing umbilical sizes.Finally, those who choose a non-gova theological problem. A quick reality cord blood. school for their children are not check reveals that it is not God but the AusFollowing its launch it closed over-sub- enunent tralian Government that has placed the scribed with a market capitalisation of $14 only pursuing diversity and choice, as is Church in an awkward position on the million.This would indicate that umbilical their entitlement as taxpayers (with heavy question of embryonic stem cell research. cord blood is a valuable source of stem support from the UN Declaration of Human rights), they are also saving taxpayers hunAccordingly, it is entirely reasonable to cells and has a high commercial value. dreds of millions of dollars in capital and suggest that we have only three options: Because the stem cells are less likely to (a) to rail against the Government, in which be rejected, ills of great value to the donor recurrent costs each year, despite the discase we will be sidelined and even more and those genetically related to the donor. criminatory funding policies of successive State governments. embryos will be destroyed; (b) to say nothIt also indicates that it is not necessary to ing, with the same result; or (c) having reit- resort to the unethical practice of harvest- LA. Eastwood erated our objection to any destruction of ing and experimenting on stem cells from Executive Director human embryos, to work hard to ensure embryos. Parents and Friends' Federation of WA Inc. that the least evil is done. A child last year in Singapore, suffering The third option was judged 'legitimate thalassemia, was cured using stem and proper' by Pope John Paul H in the con- from from another baby's placental blood. cells text of abortion law reform (Evangelium ow that I have seen the fancy and Brian A. Peachey that is good enough for me. vitae 73), and expensive pamphlet produced by the Woodlands Fr Joseph Parkinson Commission for Australian Catholic Bayswater Women, I am prompted to Ask again my All correspondents on this issue agree it is questions regarding the value of the exer(WA) MLC Christine Sharp's cise. morally repugnant to kill human embryos. submission to the Governreported s They differ whether to oppose the Prime 1. How much is all this costing, for someMinister's plan in the hope of preventing ment (The West 6/5/02) to limit State thing we don't need and the majority of all such killing, or go along with his plan funding for non-government (Private) Catholic women didn't ask for? on the assumption that it is inevitable and school students to $1,000 each ignores a 2. Who is paying? In doing so hope to limit the carnage. That number of important factors. 3. Who has all the jobs? Firstly, even the highest-funded non-govIs a subjective judgement and the correMrs C V Phillips spondence on this aspect of the subject is ernment school students receive total public funding of only 65 per cent of the Queens Park closed. Ed.

The cost of caring

A valuable question

N

Private funding benefits

Green

hy is it that, by and large, and makW ing allowance for honourable individual exceptions, Catholic schools,

associations, agencies and parishes are conspicuous by their absence at the antiabortion rallies held in Parliament grounds? Could it be that what we do not see does not affect our lives? Could it be that we have lost the battle in our hearts, long before we enter the battlefield? Or could it be that we simply can't be bothered, really? Or is the deepest reason for our indifference found in an ill-disguised tendency that has become commonplace among Catholics these days, whereby the call to holiness is no longer relevant in our lives, and we prefer to settle for a life of mediocrity, marked by a minimalist ethic and a shallow religiosity? This tendency was pointed at by Pope John Paul II in his address to the Bishops of Japan in the course of their 2001 Ad Limma visit, when he said, "the call to holiness, while it applies in specific ways to Bishops, priests and Religious men and women, is a universal call. There are different ministries and different roles in the Church, but this cannot mean that some are called to holiness and others are not. "Everyone who is baptised is drawn into the holiness of God, and therefore "it would be a contradiction to settle for a life of mediocrity, marked by a minimalist ethic and a shallow religiosity" (Novo Millennio Ineunte, 31). "In a sense, the holiness of clergy and religious is intended as a service to lay people, enabling them to grow more and more In the way of holiness, so that they can fulfiltheir baptismal vocation. A laity imbued with Christian virtue to a heroic degree... "The truth is that holy Pastors will produce holy lay people. We must keep this vision in mind." May I beg all Catholic priests to encourage their congregations to attend the rally; all principals of Catholic schools to encourage the students entrusted to their care and their families - to attend; all Catholic associations and agencies to come in great numbers! Let our silence and absence not be construed by the enemies of the Gospel of Life that we are not concerned, let alone agree that innocent human life does not deserve to be protected. Raymond de SO117.41 The Layman's Hour • The Rally for Life is on Thursday, May 23 between 12 noon and 1pm at Parliament House.

Features

17 sea Brit rim a e Dr Warwick Neville, Research Fellow with the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference, analyses the political and High Court decisions affecting the life of embryos.

T

wo recent decisions, one political, the other judicial, have changed (and will continue to do so) the moral landscape of this country. The political decision was that of the Prime Minister, later joined by every State and Territory leader, to allow the use of frozen, so-called 'surplus embryos' from in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments, for medical research. The judicial decision was the refusal of the High Court of Australia to consider the merits of an earlier judgment of the Federal Court to allow single persons to access artificial reproductive technology generally and IVF in particular. (See last week's Record.) Why all the fuss? For many reasons, but let's put some basic facts on the table, firstly in relation to IVF and embryo research. rvF should, above all else, change its acronym to BB - 'Big Business.' The IVF Industry takes more than $60 million from the public purse each year, via Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, in relation to IVF treatments. The industry has produced more than 60,000 frozen embryos around the country. These embryos were manufactured in laboratories ostensibly or 'officially' to remedy the state of 'childlessness' of certain couples, although rvF does not, per se, treat any underlying condition of infertility. Moreover, it has a 'success' rate, in terms of successful implantation and/or live births of somewhere between only 11-15%. That is to say, on a purely cost-benefit analysis, the return for the outlay of vast sums of money is very low. Little is said about the hidden costs of IVF to women and their families in the form of the emotional roller-coaster upon which women (and their families) ride

during each treatment cycle and the impact on their reproductive health of the super-ovulant, and other, drugs used in the IVF process. Is it any wonder that very significant numbers of feminist academics write strenuously against the use of IVF and the artificial reproductive technology industry precisely because these biotechnology prospectors exploit women? The titles of the works of these feminists indicate their vehemence and protest - Janice Raymond's Women as Wombs and Robyn Rowland's Living Laboratories, to name only two. And so to the 'political decision.' After 'Dolly' the sheep was cloned in 1997 (after more than 276 attempts), governments all around the world began to grapple with the spectre of cloning in relation to humans. In Australia, the peak medical research body, the National Health and Medical Research Council, directed one of Its specialised sub-committees (the Australian Health Ethics Committee) to prepare an advice to the Minister for Health. The formal advice was provided to the Minister on December 16 1998. In the course of that advice dealing with scientific, ethical and regulatory aspects of cloning of human beings, there was discussion about cloning techniques and what are called 'stem cells'. Stem cells are, essentially, the foundational building block cells which, in the course of the maturation of an embryo, differentiate and become blood cells, muscle cells, bone cells etc. After the NHMRC advice in 1998, the House of Representatives referred it to a committee chaired by Kevin Andrews MP. After a lengthy public consultation, the committee issued a report in August 2001. In general terms, while the committee recommended that cloning be banned, it split as to the use of 'surplus embryos' for research purposes. The majority of the committee recommended that destructive research on embryos be permitted: the minority, including Mr Andrews, rejected such a proposal. The current 'fuss' about the Prime Minister's decision relates to the media-fed push by certain scientists to access the 60,000 frozen embryos around Australia

C141St, • • n

A researcher at Osiris Therapeutics in Baltimore displays a stack of petri dishes. The company is testing gene therapies that use adult mesenchymal stem cells. Researchers hope to use the therapies to repair bone loss, regenerate cartilage and help heal damaged cardiac muscle.

so that stem cells can be harvested from these embryos. Perhaps unsurprisingly. there are a few problems with this proposal. First, in using these embryos scientists will ensure their destruction for the simple reason that extraction of embryonic stem cells (ES cells) kills the embryo. The philosophical and ethical traditions, with the prominent exception of flagrant utilitarianism, have consistently opposed the use of one member of the human family for the benefit of another. Members of the human race ought never be used as a means to an end. Secondly, some scientists have claimed regularly that they need to use ES cells because they have the potential to differentiate into any and every kind of tissue. While this may be true, Ills also the fact that there are other, medically and ethi-

Adipogenic cells that form fat tissue develop in the lab at Osiris Therapeutics in Baltimore. The company has had success in developing the human tissue from adult mesenchymal stem cells.

Page 8

cally more acceptable sources of stem cells. These are adult stem cells which all of us have. They too can differentiate into all kinds of other tissue and because they are taken from the patient, tissue from adult stem cells is not rejected. That is to say, there is immediate 'donor compatibility' between tissue developed from adult stem cells and the patient. Moreover, there is abundant proof from around the world of significant clinical applications of adult stem cells. There is no evidence whatsoever of any clinical application of tissue from embryonic stem cells. The claims about ES cell research are, at best, highly conjectural. The push to access, farm and harvest ES cells from frozen embryos is coming from drug companies who wish to access these embryos as human guinea pigs for their toxicology studies and the development of new drugs. It is certainly not, despite media hype to the contrary, about making persons with quadriplegia or paraplegia walk again. If the damaged skeletal and nervous systems and other tissues in such persons are going to begin to be repaired, it will only be with the use of stem cells from their own bodies. The tragedy of the Prime Minister's decision, enthusiastically endorsed and refined by other political leaders, is that it has opened the door on destructive embryo research. One class of members of the human family, by political decree, and in opposition to all major medical research codes since the Second World War, have been declared unworthy of legal or any other protection. Instead, according to our political leaders and certain scientists who have extensive financial interests in biotech companies, they can, and should, be exploited. Politicians and others seek to justify their decision because of the medical research which 'may' come from the use of these embryos. They say also that because these embryos are destined to die anyway, better that some good come of them. The answers here are twofold: first they should not have been created in the first place. Secondly, the same argument, that it is better for one man to die for the whole people, has been used before an 11,50). Just as that Divine Person was led like a lamb to the slaughter. so here, the silent, utterly vulnerable frozen generation are being led to the slaughter - for rather more than 30 pieces of silver.

Features

A cause for celebration

Father Paddy Meagher SJ was principal celebrant at the Christian Brothers Bicentenary Mass at Perth Entertainment Centre last Friday, with six other priests as concelebrants.

Am lmost 5000 people made up the lege, which grew from CBC Leederville; congregation for the bicentenary Chisholm Catholic College, which evolved ass in the Entertainment Centre from CBC Bedford and St Marks College In Perth last Friday to celebrate the foun- and the Highgate High School; Collie dation of the Christian Brothers. Catholic College - formerly St Edmunds The Mass was held to celebrate the foun- College; Kolbe Catholic College, Rocking dation in Waterford , Ireland, of the Chris- ham which began with Christian BrothHan Brothers' order with the ers administration; John-Paul College, establishment of their first school by which grew from CBC Kalgoorlie; St Edmund Rice. in 1802 Luke's College Karratha and St Joseph's, at Rob Marshall. of 'ninny • welcomed the Albany; and the Ursula Frayne and Francongregation including the Director of cis Xavier Colleges, East Victoria Park. Catholic Education in Western Australia. Unable to attend were the Nagle ColMrs Therese Temby, and the Christian lege, of Geraldton (formerly ST Patricks) Brothers' Provincial, Bro Tony Shanahan, and St Mary's College, Broome (formerly retired members of the order and the Ngulungu College). board members of the colleges and The Entertainment Centre was filled schools. almost to capacity as the principal celeStudents, parents, and representatives of brant, Father Paddy Meagher SJ, said the Christian Brothers' schools and colleges Mass assisted by concelebrants, Fathers from throughout the metropolitan area Ian Esmond, representing Aquinas, Don and from country centres attended and Hughes, CBC Fremantle, Ray Hevern, Tartook part in the Mass. dun, Paul Fox, Gingin, John Sherman, St They included 'ninny, Aquinas, CBC Fre- Patrick's and John McGannon, North mantle, Catholic Agriculture College, Perth. Bindoon, Christian Brothers Agriculture Two soloists, Rebecca Bird and Mark College. Tardun and Clontarf Aboriginal Alderson, were accompanied by a massed College. choir of more than 200 voices assembled As well, the principals, staffs, students from Trinity, Aquinas and CBC Fremantle and friends of schools that have an and an orchestra - also assembled from Edmund Rice heritage and that can trace the three colleges. Janelle Nundelle, of the their foundation to the Christian Brothers, Contarf Aboriginal College, read the also attended. Gospel message, and seven other students: They included Aranmore Catholic Col- James Smith (Aquinas), James McKenna

Two soloists and a choir of 200 sang.

(Trinity), Chayce Morrell (Agricultural College, Bindoon), Garrett Bray (Trinity), Les Oakley (Contarf), Micheal Perks (Agricultural School, Tardun), Adam Spashett (CBC Fremantle), and Matthew O'Leary (Aquinas) also read messages. Students also presented a tableau depicting the Edmund Rice heritage - a sacred story in music and song depicting how the founder was born into a land of great poverty, persecution, deprivation and religious oppression in Ireland in 1762, in Callan, in County Kilkenny and how he established a legacy which has few parallels in Irish history

%bae

1

We are approximately 5,000 priests & brothers worldwide. We see ourselves as an international family. We have given ourselves to God for the most abandoned. We are involved in a variety of missionary works in Australia and throughout the world. • parishes • education • overseas missions • youth • prison chaplaincies • hospital chaplaincies • social welfare We are the

Oblates of Mary Immaculate

Who are you? Are you, also, one of us in spirit? For further information please contact: Vocations Director St Mary's Seminary 62-94 jacksons Road Mulgrave, 'Vic 3170 Ph. (03) 9795 3535 Fax. (03) 9701 0222

Musicians from Trinity, Aquinas and CBC Fremantle combined for the orchestra.

vocations@oblates.com.au Page 9

Book review

16 May, 2002

Book gives overdue insight into ALP's dramatic split

with Tony Evans

H

ilaire Belloc bestrode the Catholic world like a colossus in the first half of the 20th century; a champion of the Faith, outspoken, dogmatic, argumentative and fearless. As an historian, he believed that the Church had been ill served by the writing of mostly anti-Catholic history, and his own books, whether biography, poetry, novels, travel or essays, sought to redress the balance. He fought for the Church with his pen as did his friend and contemporary G.ICChesterton. His most endearing and long-lasting book (never to be out of print) is The Path to Rome, the story of his walk, following a straight line from eastern France, across the Swiss Alps, into Italy, and across the Apennines, and so to Rome - all the result of a vow he had made before a statue of Our Lady. His Catholicism is intrinsic to the work, confident, unapologetic and often laced with humour. Here he is at the beginning of his walk annoyed because when he entered a village in the early morning, Mass was already over. He ruminates on the importance of attending Mass each day, and lists some reasons why we should do so: "At Mass... for half an hour just at the opening of the day you are silent and recollected and have to put off cares, interests, and passions in the repetition of a familiar action.... it is the function of all ritual to relieve the mind of responsibility and initiative and to catch you up (as it were) into itself, leading your life for you for the time that it lasts. "In this way you experience a singular repose after which fallowness I am sure one is fitter for action and judgement. 'The surroundings incline you to good and reasonable thoughts, and for the moment deaden the rasp and jar of that busy wickedness which both working in one's self and received from others is the true source of all human miseries. "Thus the time spent at Mass is like a short repose in a deep and well-built library, into which no sounds come and where you feel yourself secure against the outside world. "From these considerations it is easy to understand how put out Iwas to find that Mass was over on this first morning of my pilgrimage." The Path to Rome, Lond. 1902

FM9?. 10

Record III

1950s LABOR AT THE CROSSROADS

An insight into what could have been is provided by a key player in the dramatic events of those years. Eric Aarons who rose to become general secretary of the Communist Party in Australia wrote the book What's Left, published in 1993. On p118 he describes the party's reaction in the 1950's to Kruschev's denunciation of Stalemons andDemocrats by in. He wrote: "I made the point at Gavan Duffy should be the central committee meeting, read by anyone interest- which decided the matter, that our ed in political events of more than outlook was such, that had we 50 years ago, the struggle for the been in power, we too could have soul of the ALP, the betrayal and executed people we considered expulsion of members who were to be objectively, even if not subtrue democrats and the effects on jectively (ie, by intention), helping a once great and honourable our enemies". party These were not the delusional Anyone doubting the power of fantasies of some obscure and the media should ponder the vir- Impotent left-winger. Those who leading communist Ted Hill to tual disappearance - apart from think these things could not have solve industrial disputes in that the occasional oblique comment happened in Australia should state. - of any reference to the phenom- remember what occurred during Control of the trade unions ultienon of communism since its col- the Spanish Civil War. Then, mately meant control of the seleclapse only a little more than a Republican forces executed 55 tion of candidates for political decade ago. 000 people, including 12 bishops, office. The ALP faced the very A monolithic power founded on 6,832 religious, comprising 283 real possibility of falling under a philosophy of hate: hatred of nuns, 4,184 priests and 2,365 communist control, an event with religion, hatred of classes, the cre- monks. frightening implications for the ator of the bizarre concept of nonIn Australia, events at the time nation. persons, it was probably the first show the communists had It was these turbulent events empire in recorded history based achieved the first step in their pro- that gave rise within the ALP to on the denial and attempted elim- gram; control of key trade unions, the need to form industrial ination of God. Founded in the and were well on their way to groups, to counter the seemingly revolutionary turmoil of post 19th their ultimate goal of control of unstoppable communist juggercentury Europe, it grew from a the ALP By 1945 the communists naut. tiny band of Marxist revolution- controlled or heavily influenced Faced with the difficulties of crearies to a world power dominat- the powerful Ironworkers' Associ- ating an organised and cohesive ing more than a third of the globe. ation, the Sheet Metal Workers' force to oppose the communists, A ruthless colonial power hid- Union, the Amalgamated Engi- senior ALP members approached ing behind the subterfuge of neering Union, the Waterside BA (Bob) Santamaria, to help 'Democratic Socialism', it main- Workers' Federation, the Sea- mobilise the anti-communist tained power by a deliberate offiforces. At the time a high percially sanctioned policy of terror centage of the Catholic commuand military might. nity were trade union members; Its victims are legion; its leaders many of them active in their from Lenin to Andropov. until unions and the ALP Gorbachov recognised reality, Santamaria, a law graduate from were to a man, megalomaniacs. Melbourne University had been monsters, who without a qualm recruited by then Archbishop presided over the deliberate murMannix to develop and head der of hundreds of millions and Catholic Action. the destruction of entire societies. Alerted by events in Spain he With an explicitly stated aim of and a small group had already, on world domination it developed their own initiative, been involved and supported, through propaIn opposing communist activity in ganda, deceit and money a globthe Australian Railways Union. al network of spies, fellow Aware of the sectarian implicatravellers and, what Lenin exquistions, Santamaria was initially itely termed 'useful idiots'. reluctant about deeper involveIn developed industrial men's Union, the Federated ment, but repeated entreaties economies the major tactic Clerks' Union, the Australian Rail- from leading ALP figures eventuinvolved gaining control of key ways Union and large sections of ally led to the creation of the unions and thus eventually con- the Building Trades Union. Catholic Social Studies Movetrol of the labour movement and The 1945 peak council of the ment; generally known as the its political wing, which in Aus- trade union movement, the ACLU 'Movement', to help with the work Congress, was dominated by a of the groups. tralia meant the ALP Few people understand how communist majority of 93. From At first highly successful, the close the communists came to this position of strength the com- groups' success became their munists embarked upon a cam- downfall, and Santamaria's fears achieving their goals here. Now, with the threat removed, paign of strikes and industrial were realised as a combination of the broad media has shown little mayhem, culminating in the sectarian bigotry, deceit, self interinterest in telling Australians the famous 1949 coal strike; est and the instability of the leader facts surrounding the dramatic described by then Labor Prime of the ALP Dr Evatt, all coalesced events of their recent political his- Minister Ben Chifley as a "pre- into what has become known as tory. Considering the material revolutionary strike". the 'Split'. This was the great diviThe situation had become so sion which gave rise to the Demoavailable this is surprising. It had everything; intrigues, dogged loy- bad that the strike was broken cratic Labor Party and ensured alties and betrayals, Soviet spy only when the Chifley govern- that the ALP did not win governrings, secret police, conspiracies ment declared a state of emer- ment for nearly 20 years. at the highest level, a Royal Com- gency and sent troops in to mine It was the most extraordinary mission into espionage, all culmi- the coal. event in Australian political histoEven earlier in 1946, a Victorian ry, the subject of a number of nating in a massive split in one of the oldest political parties in the Labor Government Minister books, which, with one or two world. admitted meeting regularly with exceptions, have done little to disDemons and Democrats 1950's Labor at the Crossroads, by Gavan Duffy Available from News Weekly Books, 582 Queensbury St, North Melbourne Vic 3051 Price $27.95 plus postage Review by Barry Morgan

D

The ALP faced the very real possibility of falling under communist control

pel the left's obscurant version of what occurred at the time. Gavan Duffy's Demons and Democrats is a factual and highly readable account of the Split; of the events leading up to it, the personalities involved, the machinations, the illegalities surrounding the infamous 1955 'Hobart Conference', the betrayals and loyalties. These things don't happen in isolation and frequently, like ripples in a pond, can radiate out affecting events decades later. In the foreword Bill Hayden writes It compendiously revisits one of the most momentous events in this nation's political history ...It also allows the younger generations to revisit these events and better understand them....". It is good advice. History exists to be learnt from. and those who ignore its lessons run the risk of repeating its mistakes. A minor criticism of the book is the lack of detail of the influential role Western Australia played in the drama. Although the author covers the essential details, another book, The Burkes of Western Australia by Brian Peachey, provides a deeper insight into the important, some would say pivotal, influence of the West Australian players. One of those most demonised by the post-Split mythology of the Left is Bob Santamaria; the reluctant recruit who 'once he had put his hand to the plow did not look back'. Clyde Cameron, veteran warhorse of the labor movement, a major player in the Split, and Minister in the Whitlam government provides the book's appendix headed Vale Bob Santamaria. He reveals that Santamaria fought communism because of the immediate danger it posed to the nation, but once the danger had declined he returned to his original position,"that capitalism not communism is the worst enemy". It is something we apparently are still in the process of learning. This book should be required reading for students of political history and anybody interested in the influence of politics on society now and in the future. Somebody once said, politics is too important to be left to politicians; I'm sure they were right.

Ré

The World in brief

Cursillo movement VATICAN CITY (CNS) - For more than 50 years, the Cursillo movement has led thousands of Catholics to a deep conversion and commitment to holiness, Pope John Paul II said. As a sign of the maturity of Cursillo and its growth in more than 60 countries and sonic 800 dioceses around the world, the movement has asked the Vatican for official recognition as an association of Catholic faithful, he said. The pope met May 4 with Italy's national, regional and diocesan directors of Cursillo, whose meetings begin with a three-day experience of learning about the Christian life and building Christian community. While Cursillo has brought "abundant fruits of conversion and holiness of life," the pope said, the sign of a movement's maturity is its harmony with and commitment to the local and universal church.

Democratic hope VAI1CAN GUY (CNS) - Pope John Paul II offered Albania encouragement in strengthening democratic structures and forging national unity after decades of communist dictatorship. Meeting May 10 with the country's new ambassador to the Holy See, Zef Bushati. the pope said Albanians could look to the example of their countrywoman. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and other Albanian Christian heroes. like 15th-century George CasSkanderbeg who triota repelled ihrkish forces. Pope John Paul said Albanians constantly refer to their famous citizens and are "rightly proud of their human and spiritual gifts. It is these virtues that can help (Albanians) realize their objectives of reconstruction and development." he said.

Old Testament WASHINGTON (CNS) - A Vatican document on understanding the Bible is important for Catholic-Jewish relations because it accepts as valid Jewish interpretations of Scripture which parallel Christian views, said several biblical scholars from both faiths. This means that the Old Testament contains a divine revelation unrelated to the coming of Christ and Christianity which was valid for the Hebrews at the time of its writing and is valid for contemporary Judaism, they said at a May 7 conference in Washington. Belief is the factor that distinguishes Catholic and Jewish readings of the Old Testament, they said. Jewish scholars referred to the Old Testament as the Hebrew Bible. The conference was held at The Catholic University of America and sponsored by the university, the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs and the Rabbinical Committee for Interreligious Dialogue. The Vatican document was prepared by the Pontifical Biblical Commission and made public last December. It is titled "The Jewish People and Their Sacred Scriptures in the Christian Bible."

International News

16 May, 2602

Siege end brings relief By Judith Sudilovsky

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (CNS) - The most difficult moment of the more-than-one-month standoff at the Church of the Nativity was when armed Palestinian gunmen entered the church, said a Franciscan friar after the remaining 124 people left the compound on May 10. When the Palestinian gunmen entered, we found ourselves invaded by these people with guns. It was frightening, since we were unable to hide and we had not expected this," said Father Nicolas Marques, master of clerics of the Franciscans. "We found ourselves between two forces, the Palestinians on the inside and the Israeli military on the outside. "The church should not have been occupied, because the Palestinian Authority had guaranteed protection for all the holy places, so they should not have come inside, but maybe, with the situation the way it was, it was their only option." he said. "I am not condoning it nor am I justifying it; I just don't think it was an appropriate place for the gunmen," he said. On May 10, Palestinians and Israelis reached an agreement allowing for the 13 most-wanted Palestinians to be flown by the British to Cyprus until they are dispersed among various European countries. Twenty-six others were sent to Gaza. Some 75 Palestinian civilians also left the church. The evacuation was delayed for several hours when a group of 10 international peace activists who, a week earlier, had broken through Israeli army lines and entered the church refused to leave for fear of being taken Into Israeli custody and deported. Eventually, they were escorted out of the church by soldiers. The Franciscan friars and nuns remained in

The Israeli army did supply a minimal amount of food that the friars used, he said. During the siege, the gunmen entered the Armenian section of the church and took gold objects, including a candelabrum, icons and the bishop's pectoral cross, said Father Marques, who had been into the Armenian section to confirm the thefts. "Anything that seemed like gold they took," he said. "I don't know why they did that." Later, the Palestinians said they had returned the objects, but Father Marques could not confirm that detail. He said there were moments of extreme tension when the Palestinians waited for a possible Israeli attack. "But Imust say that the Palestinians respected us and never were violent toward us or disrespectful," he said. "Only when they stole the food, but that is understandable because they were hungry." Throughout the ordeal, he said, the friars celebrated Mass twice a day at the grotto. Before the Israeli army cut phone lines, the Franciscan community was strengthened by phone calls of solidarity from their superior, who passed on the prayers and thoughts of others Franciscan Father Nicolas Marques, a priest from around the world, he said. Mexico, describes the situation inside the Church The only women inside the church were of the Nativity. four Franciscan sisters and several women the church compound, Father Marques said. who worked at the Greek Orthodox Israel said it would leave Bethlehem as soon monastery, he said. as the church crisis was resolved. It appeared He said no damage had been caused to the the army was preparing for its departure as a Church of the Nativity other than some shatnumber of army transport trucks arrived in tered windows and damage to some of the the city. mosaics. The first few days the friars shared their food Two fires caused extensive damage to other with the Palestinians, Father Marques said. parts of the church compound. he said. He Eventually, the Palestinians took the food for said he did not know how the fires had startthemselves from the convent kitchen and gar- ed, nor did he know who started the shooting den. at different times. They also broke into the Casa Nova pilgrim "I can't distinguish between one rifle and hostel and took pillows and blankets, he said. another," he said.

Lay people asked to develop policy By Dennis Sadowski CLEVELAND (CNS) - During a May 5 prayer service for healing, Bishop Anthony M. Pilla of Cleveland pledged to involve lay people in helping the church develop its policy to protect children and regain the confidence of parents in the wake of the church's sexual abuse crisis. At the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Bishop Pilla somberly apologised for "any pain, suffering and alienation I may have caused anyone" in the handling of abuse cases. "I know my words alone cannot possibly be sufficient.Iknow that I cannot possibly know the pain of victims and their families. And I know that all this for some may not be enough to ease your pain," he told about 1,000 people who

as accused clergy and their faminearly filled the cathedral. "I hope our prayer this evening lies. will bring hope to everyone. I "Can the church and all the peohope that God's grace will bring ple involved be healed?" he asked. healing, reconciliation and for- And in response, he said. "With God all things are possible." giveness," he added. Other church efforts to promote The bishop acknowledged that deeds, rather than words, are healing in the midst of the clergy needed to ensure that victims and abuse scandal include actions their families are treated justly, taken by the Diocese of Oakland, that calm is restored to priests and Calif., and the Los Angeles Archtrust in church leaders is rebuilt. diocese. The Oakland Diocese provided "The policies and decision-making of the future need to reflect a healing service in March for vicaccountability, openness and tims and is conducting a retreat communication with the people for survivors this summer. The Los Angeles Archdiocese of God at all levels of church leadhas distributed an informational ership," he added. Bishop Pilla urged people to brochure titled "Respecting the continue to call upon "the Spirit Boundaries: Keeping Ministerial of God" for a just conclusion to Relationships Healthy and Holy" the crisis enveloping the church. to its nearly 300 parishes as well He asked people to remember as its schools and other instituvictims and their families as well tions.

Cardinal Ratzinger takes new role By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) - When Cardinal Bernardin Gantin celebrated his 80th birthday May 8, the most important of his potential duties as dean of the College of Cardinals passed into the hands of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. The office of dean is largely ceremonial, unless the office of Pope is vacant; in that case, the dean calls all the world's cardinals to Rome and presides over the funeral of the Pope. The dean's major responsibility when there is no Pope, however, is to preside over the daily preparatory meetings in which the cardinals discuss the challenges facing the church, deal with urgent Vatican business and prepare for the actual conclave or election of the next Pope. Under rules, cardinals who have celebrated their 80th birthdays

may participate in the preparatory meetings, but not in the election of the next Pope. According to canon law, once the dean reaches age 80, his responsibility for the preparatory meetings and the conclave pass to the vice dean, currently Cardinal Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Cardinal Ratzinger celebrated his 75th birthday in midApril. He was elected vice dean of the College of Cardinals in 1998. Although approved by the Pope, the dean and vice dean of the college are elected by and from among the six cardinals holding honorary titles to dioceses on the outskirts of Rome. Church law has no mandatory retirement age for the positions of dean or vice dean; the only requirement is that they continue to live in Rome. Cardinal Gantin, who had been prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, was elect-

ed dean in 1993, when Brazilian Cardinal Agnelo Rossi returned to Brazil. Also celebrating his 80th birthday May 8 was Korean Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan. retired archbishop of Seoul. Cardinals Gantin, Kim and Ratzinger were named to the College of Cardinals by Pope Paul VI. The May 8 birthdays leave the college with 124 members who are under age 80 and therefore eligible to vote in a conclave; 117 of the 124 potential electors were named cardinals by Pope John Paul. sIn addition to Cardinal Ratzinger, the under-80 cardinals named by Pope Paul are: Kenyan Cardinal Maurice Otunga, 79; U.S. Cardinal William W. Baum, 75; Aloisio Cardinal Brazilian Lorscheider, 77: Puerto Rican Cardinal Luis Aponte Martinez, 79; Filipino Cardinal Jaime Sin, 73; and Samoan Cardinal Pio TaofinWu, 78.

Executions halted ANNAPOLIS, Md. (CNS) Maryland became the second state to halt executions pending a review of the practice and a moratorium imposed by Gov. Parris Glendening on May 9. The Maryland Catholic Conference, which had lobbied hard for the moratorium for a decade. commended Glendening and encouraged other governors to take the same step. Glendening issued the order a week before Wesley Eugene Baker was to be executed. His order also included a stay of Baker's execution and a promise to stay all other death sentences that come up until the review is completed and its recommendations acted upon by the Legislature. Glendening noted that he continues to believe the death penalty is warranted in some cases and that Marylanders support capital punishment. "It is imperative, however, that I and our citizens have complete confidence that our process is fair and impartial," he said. The University of Maryland is conducting a review of death penalty cases in the state that is scheduled to be completed in September. 0138 states with capital punishment, Illinois is the only other one to have a moratorium on executions, though many have had legislation introduced calling for them. In the last few years more than 100 people on death rows nationwide have been exonerated, most because reviews of the cases or DNA matching proved they could not have committed the crimes. Page 11

16 May, 2002

International News

ReCor

Report condemns US inaction over persecution WASHINGTON, D.C., MAY 11, 2002 (Zenit.org).- A federal agency monitoring religious liberties around the worldhas taken the Bush administration to task for not acting more forcefully against the worst offending nations. Recently, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its third annual report, containing policy recommendations for the president, secretary of state, and Congress. The commission has also published detailed country reports and recommendations on China, Indonesia, North Korea, Sudan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The report looks at religious freedom issues in more than 20 countries, as well as criticising U.S. government inaction. "Actions taken by the executive branch in response to serious violations of religious freedom have

been sporadic," USCIRF says in its report. The State Department is required to issue an annual report naming "countries of particular concern" and recommending possible sanctions. For three years, Burma, China, Iran, Iraq and Sudan have made that list, but no extra sanctions were placed on them beyond earlier U.S. policies, observes the USCIRF: At the same time, the commission recognises that its interventions have had some positive effects on U.S. government policy. The document points to results obtained in the case of Sudan. The commission had been one of the first to call for a special envoy for Sudan, a post subsequently created by President George W. Bush in September 2001. The report also notes achievements in influencing policy in China, Pakistan and Viet-

nam. It also focuses on a number policies and practices that govern of counties that violate religious religious and spiritual organisafreedom. Burma, for instance, tions and activities." The report "systematically violates the reli- lists a lengthy series of recomgious freedom of Buddhist monks mendations for U.S. officials in and ethnic-minority Christians their dealings with China. The and Muslims," the report says. commission also calls for cooperThose believers face difficulties in ation with other countries to presobtaining permission to build sure China on this point. places of worship or to print the Moreover, it recommends that U.S. companies doing business in texts they need. Regarding China, the report China avoid any cooperation in draws attention to "the serious violations of religious freedom. deterioration of religious freeIndonesia is also identified as dom." It notes with satisfaction problematic on religious liberty. the speech Bush made during his The report notes key conflict recent visit to China, in support of regions where religion has played religious freedom. But interna- a central role, including the tional pressure notwithstanding, Molucca Islands and the island of China "has continued to commit Sulawesi. severe violations of freedom of The report recommends that the religion and belief," the report U.S. government should strongly contends. encourage Jakarta "to maintain The report calls upon the Chi- scrupulously neutral and profesnese government to "substantial- sional troops in the Moluccas and ly change its system of laws, Sulawesi." It adds that "rogue ele-

World Youth Day numbers downgraded TORONTO (CNS) - The World Youth Day 2002 national director said he hopes for 350,000 registered delegates for the gathering in Toronto July 23-28. By May 5, more than 172.000 people from 165 countries had registered, said Basilian Father Thomas Rosica, World Youth Day national director. The United States had the largest delegation, with more than 46.000, followed by Canada at nearly 29.000. Italy had more than 12,000 registrants. Initial projections estimated 750,000 participants. Ottawa archdiocesan officials also have downgraded predictions for the days in the diocese a period of prayer, service and learning about the local church which precede World Youth Day. Some 25,000 young people originally were expected to participate in the Ottawa Archdiocese; now some 5,000 are expected. Organisers cite fears of travelling following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States and the high cost of travel from other continents to Canada as a reason for the drop off. Msgr. Pat Powers, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Ottawa, said

Colombian youths in Medellin organise part of the hundreds of thousands of wooden crosses requested by the Catholic Church in Canada for pilgrims attending World Youth Day in Toronto in late July. Photo CNS/Reuters

while the estimated number of young people visiting the archdiocese July 18-22 might be dis-

appointing, it was "providential," because the diocesan collection for the Days in the Diocese yield-

ed only $400,000. The goal was $2 million. "We would never have had sufficient funds to finance the expense of hosting the 25,000 guests." Msgr. Powers said in a recent update on World Youth Day activities in the archdiocese. Father Rosica said he believes the events surrounding World Youth Day would inspire a new Pentecost for the church in Canada. "World Youth Day is truly a Catholic. Pentecost experience because it is Catholic and universal. To be Catholic is to be universal and open to the world." he said. He said World Youth Day 2002 would be a symbol of "God's spirit poured out once again on the young people of the world." The throngs of young people who participated in past World Youth Day festivities echo the experience of the early church, when crowds streamed into Jerusalem to hear what Jesus taught, Father Rosica said. "These young people are happy. Their goodness, authenticity and joy could not help but inspire and attract others to the Christian way of life," he said.

UN contradicts itself on abortion says Cardinal By Tracy Early NEW YORK (CNS) - The president of the Pontifical Council for the Family said in a New York address that actions at the United Nations regarding abortion and the family often contradict the organisation's own principles. Speaking in Spanish at an interreligious symposium on May 7, Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo said the Universal Declaration of Human Rights upheld the right to life, but that this right "in various ways is rejected, especially regarding the crime of abortion." He also noted that the Declaration on the Rights of the Child adopted by the World Summit for Children, held in 1990 at the United Nations, called for "legal protection before as well as after I)irth." Page 12

"Yet, many delegations and gov- protection," and the reaffirmation ernments refuse to recognise that of that position in the Declaration fact, that right to life, and the truth on the Rights of the Child. that life does indeed begin at the "Still, it seems that in almost moment of conception," he said. every debate in which the role of Participants in the symposium the family is discussed this basic also included Bishop Carlos FY. and recognised truth is chalBelo of Dili, East Timor, along with lenged, and too many delegations Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Bud- attempt to change the underdhist and Hindu representatives. standing of the makeup and role In opening remarks, UNICEF of the family in society and in the director Carol Bellamy said reli- life of the child," he said. gious communities had a vital The cardinal also pointed to role to play in "building a world failures to act in ways that recogfit for children," and she praised nised the right of children to edu"people of faith" she had seen at cation, health and shelter. work serving children around the Although these social needs are globe. not specifically religious matters, Speaking of the family, Cardinal religious communities have an Lopez quoted the Universal Dec- obligation to "point out when and laration of Human Rights' state- where the political and the secument that "the family is the lar arenas have strayed from their natural and fundamental group true path," he said. unit of society and is entitled to The religious leaders who par-

ticipated in the symposium had agreed beforehand on the text of an interreligious declaration of "Commitment of the World's Religions to Children." William F Vendley, an American Catholic who is general secretary of the World Conference on Religion and Peace, read the declaration at the end of the symposium. and presented a copy to the president of the U.N. General Assembly, Han Seung-soo of Korea. Advocating a climate favouring "the survival, protection and full development of children," the declaration cited the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its reference to "special protection owed to a child before as well as after birth." But Vendley said there was not a consensus on abortion among participants in his organisation.

ments in the Indonesian security forces, particularly those that have taken sides in the sectarian conflicts, must be brought under control." Shifting to the Middle East, the report targets Iran and Iraq. "The government of Iran engages in or tolerates systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom, including prolonged detention and executions based primarily or entirely upon the religion of the victims," comments the report. As for Iraq: "Saddam Hussein's government has for decades conducted a brutal campaign of murder, summary execution, arbitrary arrest and protracted detention against the religious leaders and followers of the majority Shia Muslim population and has sought to undermine the identity of minority Christian (Assyrian and Chaldean) and Yazidi groups."

Guerrillas may face Church expulsion BOGOTA. Colombia (CNS) The Colombian bishops are "seriously considering" excommunicating members of the guerrilla group that killed 117 people inside a Catholic church. "I personally have no doubt they deserve excommunication, because they have placed themselves outside the church by brutally attacking ... and showing total contempt for the house of God, and especially for innocent people," said Archbishop Alberto Giraldo jaramillo of Medellin, president of the Colombian bishops' conference. The rebels who would be excommunicated belong to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known by Its Spanish acronym as FARC. On May 2. they launched a cylinder bomb that blew up a Catholic church in the rural town of Bojaya. The church, the only brick-and-concrete building in a town of homes made of wood and hay, was being used by the local pastor as a refuge for some 500 civilians seeking protection from fighting between the FARC and paramilitary groups in the region. Archbishop Giraldo also said the bishops would launch an international campaign "to let all the people, especially European nations, know the terrorist nature of the FARC and the support that in this regard the people of Colombia need from Europe." Archbishop Giraldo spoke of the recent European Union decision to place the paramilitary groups in Colombia on the European list of terrorist organisations; the list did not include the FARC. The archbishop said the bishops supported Colombian President Andres Pastrana's demand that the European Union review its decision regarding the "openly and evidently terrorist nature" of the FARC. Bishop Fidel Cadavid Mann of Quibdo, the diocese where Bojaya is located, said the paramilitary forces shared the blame for the church bombing because they were using civilians as human shields.

Record

Asian News

16 May, 2002

East Timor poor, yet proud NEW YORK (CNS) - A "new consciousness of democratic ideals" and "assertive nationalism" is emerging in East Timor, said Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo of Dili, East Timor. In a statement presented to a group of religious leaders in New York, on May 6, prior to the U.N. General Assembly's Special Session on Children, Bishop Belo said the citizens of East Timor, which receives full independence on May 20, are determined to run their country after some 400 years of colonial rule and occupation. "Thday, we are witnessing an emergence within our country's various sub-cultures (of) a new consciousness of democratic Ideals and a new self-understanding expressed in a new form of assertive nationalism and a determined gaze toward the future, with a steadfast will to take up the life and destiny of our nation," said Bishop Belo, corecipient of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize. The bishop said a recent report by global development organisations concluded that the East Timorese people are determined to control the country's vast natural resources with "modest help from Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, seen here in 1999 when he visited the village of Suai in East Timor. He told a gaththe outside." However, despite the hope and ering of religious leaders in New York that East Timor was currently seeing a new "new consciousness of of demoPhoto rieJte's optimism from their upcoming cratic ideals. Independence, a harsh reality of sium. Bishop Belo said East Timor indoors after sundown. To me, this sive acceptance of poverty, and to East Timor is that most citizens is still recovering from the is a way of saying that because expose and bring to justice perare impoverished, with nearly 60 destruction that occurred after the women cannot do much, she is petrators of violence against percent underfed, the bishop said. 1999 U.N.-sponsored referendum poor - yes. sometimes she is the women," he said. "The quality of life for most peo- in which the East Timorese voted poorest of the poor," he said. The bishop called on religious ple is far, very far from what it for independence from IndoneBishop Belo said the church's leaders to initiate programs that should be," he said. sia. Armed militias, sponsored by justice and peace commission, promote the dignity of women The two-day symposium the Indonesian military, destroyed along with UNICEF and other and their role in society. addressed by Bishop Belo was most of the country's infrastruc- non-governmental organisations, "Let us not become stumbling sponsored by UNICEF and the ture and killed about 1,000 peo- have been working at raising blocks to the promotion of women New York-based World Confer- ple. awareness on issues affecting and women's rights, but instead ence on Religion and Peace. The bishop also addressed what women and children and at erad- become signposts toward giving Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, he described as the "feminisation icating poverty. them their share of responsibility president of the Pontifical Coun- of poverty." He said East Timo"As a result, a relative awaken- and participation in society and cil for the Family, along with rose culture forces women into an ing among our people is begin- in religious circles," he said. ning to emerge, to lessen, if not In a separate speech at the symProtestant, Jewish, Muslim. Bud- often brutal, subordinate role. "There are still women in bring to a close, long years of sur- posium May Z Bishop Belo spoke dhist and Hindu representatives. also participated in the sympo- remote villages who have to stay rendering to fatalism and to pas- of a 15-year-old girl he knows who

does not attend school, comes from a poor family, yet is rarely seen without her cell phone. "You wonder where she gets the money for the load on her cell phone? From the customers who patronise her. For her, the cell phone is her lifeline to economic means. It is how she sets up her appointments," he said. "She is one of the unfortunate young people of our land, and to my great pain, the number seems to be growing," the bishop said. Bishop Belo provided other examples of children who yearn to become police officers in order to protect their country from "bad people," and of Muslim children who co-exist peacefully with their Christian neighbours. "Being a pastor of a very oppressed people was a very difficult task, but with the grace of God, we survived it all," he said. Bishop Belo said a diocesan assembly in January placed the formation of children and families as the diocese's top priority. He said the church decided to focus on children in order to shield them from the pain of the past. "My generation has suffered enough violence. We have so much work to do to heal our veil, violent past. I pray our children will be spared," he said He said that the East Timorese. who at independence will become the poorest country in Asia, possess a wealth of spirit often absent in the industrialised countries of the West. "When almost everyone had a relative that was killed or did the killing, we held on to our faith that one day we will overcome all sufferings." he said. "When there were many women in almost all our villages who are widows and victims of rape, and children orphaned, we held on to our faith that one day, the world will be safe and beautiful again," he said.

Chinese Catholic youth connect Nepalese parliament passes abortion bill through Net to build support SHANGHAI. China (UCAN) - for us," Chen said. Catholic youths of a faith group in Besides individual sharing and eastern China are exploring the relations among members, group use of the Internet to contact and discussions are held mainly dursupport each other. ing summer and winter vacations The Signpost Youth Club in Ning- in August and January. bo diocese, Zhejiang province, Their activities include Bible serves to foster faith formation for study and sharing of articles on young Catholics working and Christianity, organising Church studying in different places in and functions, networking among outside the province. Catholic university students and Tight work and study schedules rendering voluntary service to as well as distance, with some orphanages, homes for the eldermembers living in other ly and hospitals. provinces, have made constant The club founded in 1999 caters contact difficult to maintain, said to the spiritual needs of the Chen, a member. increasing number of young The members are exploring the Catholics as regular annual sumuse of the Internet, such as emails mer and winter catechism camps and chat rooms, to maintain con- for university students are insuffinections, Chen said, adding that cient, Chen told UCA News in members believe God will guide April. them in this. The diocesan faith group also "Today's society is seriously aims to gather like-minded young affecting our normal faith life. people who want to become holy "Ills very hard to find a classmate persons by following Christ. with the same faith to share with. "As Catholic youth, we under"If we do not establish a commu- stand clearly that the Church nication network, our lonely faith needs not only the wisdom of will diminish," he added. senior Catholics in order to devel"But with the youth club, it op, but also the vitality of youth," reminds us that while we are he said. alone in a distant place, the broth- More than 80 percent of Catholic ers and sisters in the club will be churchgoers in China are elderly thinking of us, caring and praying people, he said. . ... _ _ .. ... _

"If this phenomenon does not change, our Church has no hope," he added. The student member recalled what Coadjutor Bishop Hu Xiande of Ningbo said to a summer camp for high school students in 2000, "I see the hope of the Church in you all." Chen said the group's name "signpost" implies that young people must be willing to be the light and a road sign for people who turn to Christ. According to a Signpost coordinator, most of their members, aged 18-30, have at least a junior high school education. Some years ago, among the 60 participants of the summer camps, more than 20 signed up as club members. In 1999, the youth, who returned home for winter vacation, gathered at the cathedral to draft the guiding principles of the club. They also resolved to make members feel they belong to the Church, and encourage young Catholics to be active in Church activities. They were helped by Father Xu Wenzhou, parish priest of Ningbo Cathedral, and Father Xu Jiwei. In 2000, Father Xu Jiwei was assigned as administrator to neighbouring Taizhou diocese.

KATHMANDU (UCAN) - do not take the legalisation of Nepal's lower house of parlia- abortion seriously "as everyment has voted to legalise abor- body knows abortions are being tion. with little opposition. done almost openly." The proposal amends the con"It is very difficult for a woman stitution to guarantee abortion in Nepal to abide by the present rights to women and is part of a law and keep an unwanted foelarger bill on women's property tus, especially if she is not marand other rights that will come ried," he said." A Church official Into effect after it is signed by who spoke on condition of King Gyanendra Bir Bikram anonymity said that many Catholics "do not realise the Shah Dev. Abortion is currently punish- gravity of the crime of abortion. able by law as infanticide. The We must not be hypocrites as new law would allow abortions even Christians and Catholics in if requested in the first 12 weeks Nepal resort to abortions. They of pregnancy, or within 18 weeks are using artificial contracepin cases of rape or incest, if the tives and having permanent mother's life is in danger or in birth control operations too." An elderly Catholic laythe case of foetal abnormality. Father Silas Bogati, parish woman who did not want to be priest of Assumption Church in named said that "these things Kathmandu, said, "I know of are just not talked about pubonly one anti-abortion activist in licly at church or with a person Nepal ... a Hindu." The priest of the opposite sex." She also said it is now "too late" to cam- noted the lack of proper guidpaign against legalising abor- ance from the Church. "A priest tion. Legalisation had been called some of us women togethproposed and defeated in vari- er a few years ago and told us ous forms since 1996, but the that it was okay for us to stop current proposal was approved confessing contraceptive use by an overwhelming majority of repeatedly," she disclosed. Catholics may feel they can 147 votes to 1 by the lower house get away with abortion like they on March 14. Shyam Sharma, a convert to do with contraceptive use, she Catholicism, said that Catholics added. Page 13

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Official Engagements MAY 16

Opening of new premises for Centrecare Skills Training at Midland - Bishop Sproxton

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Mass and Presentation of Youth Book to Year 12 students for St Brigid's College - Archbishop Hickey Institution of Acolytes, Northam - Bishop Sproxton

18

Confirmation, Floreat - Emeritus Bishop Healy

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Confirmation, Claremont - Rev Fr Tim Corcoran VG Confirmation, Doubleview - Mgr Michael Keating Confirmation, Northam - Bishop Sproxton

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Confirmation, Queens Park - Rev Fr Greg Carroll Mass of Pentecost Sunday, St Mary's Cathedral Archbishop Hickey Preach at "Churches Together" Service, Karrinyup Archbishop Hickey

PULPIT FOR SALE NORANDA. Antique Pulpit f or sale. Ring Angela on 9276 9317

Pentecost Conference Mass for Catholic Charismatic Renewal - Emeritus Bishop Healy 19-23 Clergy Seminar - Archbishop Hickey, Bishop Sproxton 24

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26

Mass celebrating Scalabrinian Feast Day, West Perth Archbishop Hickey Diaconate Enquiry Day - Archbishop Hickey

27-31 Federation of Catholic Bishops' Conferences of Oceania, Papua New Guinea - Archbishop Hickey. Bishop Sproxton 27

Commission for Australian Catholic Women Reception Fr Vincent Glynn

Archdiocesan Panorama HOLY FACE OF JESUS PRAYER GROUP We meet on Tues May 21 at Holy Trinity Church, 8 Burnett St, Embleton, beginning w ith Adoration at 7.30pm followed by prayer meeting. Please bring a plate to share a 'cuppa'. FLAME YOUTH MEETING Kaye Rolllings fmi. Intercessors Moderator for flame Ministries International, will be speaking on 'Life's Short - Pray Hard' at the Flame Youth Meeting, Fri May 24. The meeting begins at 8pm at The Alverna Centre. St Lawrence Church, 392 Albert St, Balcatta. Children's Ministry will be available for children aged up to 12 years. The meeting caters for youth 18+. Info: Linda 9382 3668 or email fmi@flameministries. Org SPIRITUALITY IN THE PUB Monthly gatherings of Spirituality in the Pub are planned to resume Wednesday July 24. Fourth Wednesday of each month, 7.309.10pm at the Elephant and Wheelbarrow Hotel, 53 Lake St, Northbridge. Speakers to be announced soon. SOLEMNITY OF HE SACRED HEART OF JESUS A t St Mary's Cathedral, Victoria Square, Perth on Friday June 7. 6.50pm Holy Rosary and litanies. 7.30pm Holy Mass and Consecration to the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart, followed by Benediction.

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Principal celebrant: Archbishop Hickey. (Novena to the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart from Thursday May 30 to Friday June 7after weekday 12.10pm Mass, after Sat 6.30pm Mass and after Sun 11.30am Mass at the Cathedral.) UNDERSTANDING YOUR TEENAGER The Shenton Christian Council (an ecumenical body under the auspices of the WA Churches' Commission on Education) is organising this evening, presented by Graham Hyman from Queensland at the Shenton College on Monday May 20 at 7pm. Admission free. Information 9384 2475. CHILDREN PRAYING FOR CHILDREN Bring your children to St Mary's Cathedral for a holy hour led by children who pray for the unborn. Sun 26 May at 2:00 PM at St Mary's Cathedral. Catholic primary schools are particularly encouraged to attend. A DIOCESAN SYNOD? Archbishop Hickey has expressed the hope to address the priorities outlined in his 10Point Plan to revitalise the Archdiocese in a Diocesan Synod. after discussing the points at various levels throughout the communities.To get the discussions off the ground, switch on to the Layman's Hour with Raymond and Theresa de Souza (Radio Fremantle, 107.9 FM Sun 19 May at 7:30 PM). Is there any area/practice you would like to see improved? Modified?

No: 3311 ISSN: 1327 - 3531

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Phone: (08) 9227 7080. Fax: (08) 9227 7087 e-mail: cathrec@iinet.net.au Publisher: Roman Catholic Archbishop of Perth. The Record, established in 1874, is distributed to Catholic churches. presbyteries. religious houses and subscribers throughout the Archdiocese of Perth and the Dioceses of Geraldton, Bunbury and Broome. Advertising rates Display: $6.60 col cm (Gsr included) Classifieds: $3.30 a line (GST included) Deadlines: Editorial: Tuesday, first mail. Advertising: Booking: Monday midday. Copy: Tuesday midday. Member. Aust Catholic Press Association; Aust Religious Press Association. The Record follows the Holy Spirit's teaching at the Second Vatican Council on the role of the Catholic print media. The Record will not return copy or photographs submitted for publication unless specifically requested in writing upon submission. The editor reserves the right to accept or reject any material submitted and to edit such material for clarity and brevity without recourse to the author. Page 14,

Abolished? Ring 9494 2100 to express your views on Personal Holiness; Lay Formation; Family Life; Sacramental Life in the Church: Catholic Education; An Evangelising Church; Vocations; Fidelity to the Truth; Witness to Love: Solidarity with the Poor. C ATHEDRAL YOUTH FORUM A fter the success of the first Cathedral Youth Forum last month, young folks in Perth are invited to participate in the second Cathedral Youth Forum of the New Millennium to discuss the implementation of the Archbishop's 10-point plan to revitalise the Archdiocese. All welcome! Legion of Mary Headquarters, 36 Windsor Street. East Perth.Tuesday 28 May 2002 at 7pm and hear about the works of the various youth groups in Perth. Organised by the Cathedral Knights and St Gabriel Communications. Inquiries: 9202 1300. BUSINESS PERSONS' MASS Will be celebrated at All Saints Chapel. A llendale Square, Perth on Friday May 24, at 7am followed by a Breakfast Meeting at the WA Club, 101 St George's Terrace, Perth. Inquiries: 9384 0809. PRAYERS FOR PEACE IN THE HOLY LAND A s part of the activities of Christian Unity Week, the Blessed Mary MacKillop Catholic Community in Ballajura will have a Prayer Service for Peace in the Holy Land on Sunday May 19 at 4pm. Please join us - all are welcome. Our Church is at the corner of Pelican Pde and Cassowary Dve, Ballajura. ECUMENICAL GATHERING In the Southern Hemisphere Christian Churches celebrate Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from May 12 to May 19. You are invited to attend an Ecumenical Gathering organised by the Focolare to present ecumenical experiences based on its spirituality and to pray together for Christian Unity. Little Sisters of the Poor - Activity Room, 2 Rawlins St, Glendalough, Sunday May 19, 3-5pm. Children welcome. Please contact us in order to provide supervision on 9349 4052, 6278 3425. MUNDARING PARISH ALPHA COURSE Commences Monday May 20. A light meal will be served at 7pm followed by video and short discussion. Alpha is run over 10 weeks and covers a range of topics. As it examines the basics of Christianity it can have an impact also on those who have never known Jesus. Inq: Meg 9295 1682. ANNIVERSARY MASS An Anniversary Mass for Sister Irene McCormack who died in Peru on May 21, 1991 will be held at 7pm, Tuesday 21 May, in St Joseph's Convent Chapel, York Street. South Perth. REMEMBRANCE MASS A Mass for the families and friends of babies lost before, during or after birth. Wednesday May 29, 7.30pm at Good Shep-

herd Catholic Church, cnr Morley Dve/Altone Rd, Lockridge. Info: Shirley 9279 9165 or Cath 9377 4657. There will be prayer teams available for those who would like individual prayer. ST CATHERINE'S CATHOLIC CHURCH GINGIN "CORPUS CHRISTI" On Sunday June 2. 12 noon BYO Lunch 2.15pm Eucharistic Procession through the streets of Gingin led by Bishop Peter Quinn, R osary and Benediction. 3pm Concelebrated Holy Mass at the grotto. (Main Celebrant: Bishop Quinn). Afternoon Tea provided. For more details. contact: Margaret 9571 3387. Sheila 9575 4023 or Fr. Paul 9571 1839. Coaches Depart: St. Mary's Cathedral, Victoria Square. Perth for Gingin at 10am. Return to St Mary's Cathedral, at 6pm. For Transport Arrangements, contact: Francis Williams on Tel: 9459 3873, mob: 0404 893 877. Cost S14 per person (return). BULLSBROOK PILGRIMAGE Shrine of Virgin of the Revelation, 36 Chittering Rd, Bullsbrook on Trinity Sunday. May 26. There will be Holy Rosary at 2pm followed by Holy Mass at 2.30pm. Celebrant: Emeritus Bishop Peter Quinn. All are welcome. Bus transport: 9277 5378. Information: SACRI on 9447 3292. CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION A Solemn procession of the Body, Blood. Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ present in the Most Blessed Sacrament will take place on The Feast of Corpus Christi, Sunday June 2. Holy Mass will be celebrated at 10.30am, main celebrant Most Rev. R obert Healy. Followed by a procession through the streets of Toodyay commencing from St John the Baptist Parish Church at 12.30pm. A reception follows, BYO. Bus services available contact Lucia D'Amico 9331 3078. Info: Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate 9574 5204. CARMELITE MONASTERY FINAL PROFESSION The public are invited to join the Carmelite community and the Cavanagh family for the Final Profession of Sister Caroline Cavanagh, which will take place at the Carmelite Monastery, Adelma Rd, Nedlands, during a concelebrated Mass on Friday May 24 (the Solemnity of Our Lady Help of Christians), at 10.30am. Archbishop Hickey will be the Principal Celebrant of the Mass. Light refreshments will follow. PERSONAL ADVOCACY SERVICE ANNUAL STREET APPEAL Friday May 24, from 7am to 6pm. Personal Advocacy promotes the value and dignity of people with intellectual disability. Collectors and general helpers are urgently required. If you can volunteer an hour or two of your time on Friday may 24, in Perth Central Business District of Fremantle. we would be very pleased to hear from you. Please contact Maria Dumitro on 9275 5388

TIMETABLE 2002 THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH: METROPOLITAN PARISHES

The Church obliges the faithful "to take part in the Divine Liturgy on Sundays and feast days". . . . the Church strongly encourages the faithful to receive the holy Eucharist on Sundays and feast days, or more often still, even daily. - The Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1389. APPLECROSS Mon/Wed/Fri 7am, Thes/Wed/Thurs 9am Mass, Sat 730am ARMADALE 'Ries 7pm. Wed 9am, 7pm Thurs 8am, Fri 9am ATTADALE 'Ries 745am (8.30am in school holidays), Thurs & Fri 8.30am, Wed & Sat 9am B ATTA Mon 8am. 'flies-Fri 9am (English). 730pm (Italian Mass), Sat 8am BALGA ("Majella" Mass Centre) Sat 9am BALLAJURA 'Ries 6.30am, Wed 7pm, Thurs 9am, Fri 12 noon BASSENDEAN Mon-Fri 6.45am, Wed 9am Children's Mass, Fri 7pm, Sat 730am BATEMAN Mon 7am. Tues 5.30pm, Wed 8am, Thurs 7am, Fri 5.30pm, Sat 8.30am BAYSWATER Mon-Fri 9am BEACONSFIELD Mon-Sat 8.15am BEDFORD Tues-Fri 9am BELMONT Mon-Thurs 8.30am, 1st Fridays 7.30pm BENTLEY 'Ries 8am, Wed 10.30am (Brownlie Towers), Thurs 8am (Cenacle), Fri 9.15am, Sat Barn BRENTWOOD 'flies-Sat 9.30am (times subject to change). CARLISLE Mon-Thur 9am, Fri 7pm, Sat 8am CITY BEACH Mon-Fri 6.45am, Wed 9am School Mass during term, Sat 9am CLAREMONT Mon 8am, Thurs/Fri 7am, Ries 5.30pm (Convent), Wed 9am, Sat 8am CLARICSON Mon 7am, Tues/Wed/Sat 8am (Presbytery), Fri 9am (Convent) CLOVERDALE Mon 8.30am (Comm. Serv.), 'flies 5.30pm, Wed 9.15am, Thurs-Sat 8.30am COMO 'Ries 730am, Wed-Fri 9am, Sat 730am

COTTESLOE Mon-Fri 8am, Sat 8.30am Thurs 11am, Fri & Sat 8am KALAMUNDA Mon & Fri 9.30am, & Thurs CRAWLEY 6.30am, Wed 730pm St Thomas More College Chapel, Mon-Fri 5.15pm KARRINYUP Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri 730am, DIANELLA 'flies/Thurs/Fri/Sat Wed 9am, Sat 8am 8.15am, Wed 9am ICELMSCOTT DOUBLEVIEW 8am Mon-Fri 9am (Church), Sat 8am (Convent) KWINANA 'files/Thum/Fri 9am, Wed EAST CANNINGTON 8.15am, Sat 8.30am Tues 9am LEEDERVILLE EAST FREMLANTLE Mon & Tues 8am, Wed 9am, 'flies-Sat 9am. 1st Fri 6.30pm Thurs-Sat 8am EAST VICTORIA PARK LESMURDIE Mon-Sat 9am Mon-Fri 6.40am & 9.15am, Sat ELLENBROOK 8am, Public Hols 9.15am, First Wed/Fri 730am Friday Mass 7.30pm and All Night Vigil EMBLETON Mon-Sat 8.30am LOCKRIDGE Tues-Sat 8am FLOREAT YNWOOD-LANGFORD L Mon, Wed, Fri 6.45am Mon-Fri 9am FREMANTLE MADDINGTON St Patrick's Basilica, 8.15am, Wed 6.45pm, 'flies Mon-Fri 12.10pm & 7pm, Thurs-Sat 8.15am Sat 12.10pm MAIDA VALE FRE1VIANTLE Mon (Comm. Serv.)/Tues 8am, Ursuline Convent Chapel, MonWed 7pm, Thins llam (Nursing Fri 7am Home), Fri 9.30am GIRRAWHEEN MANNING Mon/Ries/Thurs/Fri 6.45am, Mon(Comm.Serv.)/Tues/Wed/Fr Wed 9am, 1st Saturdays 8am 8am, Thurs 9.15am GLENDALOUGH MAYLANDS Tues 5.45pm, Wed & Fri 730am, 'flies-Fri 9am Thurs 9.15am MAYLANDS POLISH GOSNELIS CHURCH Mon-Fri 8am, Mon-Fri 6.30pm (Fri 9am during School Term), MAYLANDS UKRAINIAN Sat 8am CHURCH GREENMOUNT Tues-Fri 9am Mon-Wed 8.15am, Thurs 7.30pm, MELVILLE Fri 9am, Sat 8.30am Mon 9am, Tues 8.30am, Wed-Fri GREENWOOD 9am, Sat 10am Mon 6.45am, 9.15am (Comm. ERRIWA M Serv.), Ries 9.15am, Thurs 9am at RAAF Estate, Wed 6.45am & 9.15am, Thurs/Fri Baltimore Parade. 9.15am, Sat 730am MIDLAND GUILDFORD Mon/Tues/Thurs 7am, Wed & Fri 'flies-Fri 8.30am, 9.30am, Thurs 9.30am (Italian), 1st 'Ries (Mass at St Jude's Sat. Public holidays 8am Nursing Home) 8.45am MIRRABOOICA GWELUP Mon 8am, Tues-Fri 9am Wed 10.30am MORLEY HIGHGATE Mon-Fri 7am & 9am, Sat 8.30am Mon-Fri 7am, Sat 8am MOSMAN PARK HILTON Mon-Sat 9am Mon-Sat 9am (Church), MT LAVVLEY Mon-Fri 7am (Foley Village) 'Ries 730pm, Wed 9am (RSL INNALOO Chapel), Thurs 9am, Fri 9am Mon 730am, Tues/Thurs 8am, (RSL Chapel), Sat 9am Fri 9am, Sat 8am (Comm. Serv.) MUNDARING JOONDANNA Mon 8.20am, 'flies/Thurs 7pm,

Fri/Sat 8.20am NEDLANDS Thurs & Fri 9am NEDLANDS Carmelite Monastery, Mon-Fri 7am, Sat 730am NOLLAMARA Tues 8.30am, Wed-Fri 9am NORTH BEACH Mon 8.30am (Comm. Serv.), Tues 5.30pm (Convent), Wed 9am, Thins 10am (Retirement Village), Fri 9am, 1st Fri 9.30am (Meath Homes, Trigg) NORTH PERTH Redemptorist Monastery, MonSat 6.30am, Tues-Fri llam also, Wed & 1st Fridays 5.40pm also, Sat 4.30pm Novena Mass (this is not a Vigil Mass) OCEAN REEF Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri/Sat 8.30am, Wed 8am, Tues/Fri 7pm, 1st Thum 7pm OSBORNE PARK Mon-Sat 8am PAL1VIYRA Mon/Ries/Wed & Fri 7am. Thurs & Sat 9am PERTH Al! Saints Chapel - Allendale Square, Mon-Fri 12.10, 1.10pm, Sat 11.30am PERTH St Mary's Cathedral, Mon-Fri. 7am & 12.10pm, Sat 7am PORT KENNEDY Tues 7.30pm (Home Mass), Wed 9.15am (School), 7pm (Presbytery), Thurs 9am (Presb), Fri 7pm (Presbytery), 1st Fri 7.30pm (Centre) QUEENS PARK Mon-Fri 6.45am (*7.45am during school holidays), Wed/Thurs 9am also, Fri 8.15am also (during school term), Sat 745am REDCLIFFE Fri 9am RIVERTON Mon-Fri 6.30am, 8am, Sat 730am RIVERVALE Mon-Tues & Thurs-Sat 6.45am, Wed 9am ROCKINGHAM Mon-Thurs 730am, Fri 9am, Sat 8.30am ROSSMOYNE (Pallottine Community) 'Ries & Wed 9.30am, Thurs 730am, Fri 6.30am SAFETY BAY (St Joseph's Convent & Retreat House) Mon-Sat 8am

SCARBOROUGH Mon 8.30am (Comm. Serv.), Tues-Sat 8.30am, Holy Days of Obligation: 9.30am SHENTON PARK Mon-Fri 8am SOUTH PERTH Mon/Thes/Fri 10am, Wed 7am, Thurs 5pm. Occasional variations. SPEARWOOD Mon & Fri 9am, Tues/Wed/Thurs 8.15am. School holidays: Mon-Fri 9am SUBIACO Mon 9.15am, Tues 11.45am, Wed 7.30pm, Thins & Fri 7am, Sat 8am SWANBOURNE Mon-Wed 7am THORNLIE Mon-Thurs 8.45am, 'flies/Thurs/Fri 8am, Wed 6.45am. Fri 7pm (1st Fridays Barn), Sat 8am, 1st Sat Cenacle, Mass 10.30am VICTORIA PARK Mon-Fri 6.45am & 12.15pm, Wed 10.15am Italian, Sat 730am, Public holidays 730am WANNER00 Mon-Fri 9am (Church), TuesThurs 7am (Priory chapel) WEMBLEY Mon-Fri 6.45am, except public holidays 8am, Sat Barn WESMINS11.1t (Mirrabooka Parish) Mon 8am, 'Ries-Fri 9am WEST PERTH Mon-Sat 7am Summer (730am in Winter) WHI'TFORDS Mon 9am, Tues-Fri 7am & 9am, Sat 8.30am WILLAGEE Mon 8.15am, Tues 6.30am, Wed 9am, Thurs & Fri 6.30am, Sat 730am WILLETTON Mon 9am (Comm. Serv.), 'flies 6.30am, 9am, Wed 7pm, Thurs 9am, Fri 12 Noon VVIISON Tues 715am, Wed 7pm, Fri 4.30pm (Chapel) WOODVALE Mon 9am (Comm. Serv.), TuesFri 9am YANGEBUP Mon/Tues/Thurs 7.45am. Wed 6pm. Fri 8.30am

Page 15

The Last Word

The right religic„ y conversion happened 47 years ago but the memory of why I became a Catholic is as fresh in my mind as it if happened yesterday because receiving the gift of the Catholic faith is without doubt the best thing that has happened to me especially at this time in my life. I was born in 1936 in a small, close knit, coal mining village in Yorkshire, England, where most of the village community were either low Church of England or Methodist. There was a smaller Catholic community in the village most probably descended from Irish and Scottish immigrants. When I was born English Catholics were still only about 6 per cent of the total population. Therefore, English Catholics still tended to be regarded with suspicion by the majority of the population. Some very strange rumours had sprung up around them, which I was very much aware of. A common belief was 'Catholics don't pray to God, they pray to the Virgin Mary.' This idea was no doubt reinforced by the fact that our village Catholics, in spite of their smaller numbers, had by far the biggest and grandest procession of all three denominations, which centred on the Virgin Mary and was held every May. My world was rather grey and drab so my child's soul must have yearned for colour and spectacle and it was the Catholics who provided it. The beautiful statue of the Virgin Mary borne aloft on a bed of spring flowers behind little girls dressed in lovely white dresses and veils scattering rose petals as they walked looked heaven-sent even if Catholics weren't supposed to pray to God. When I was about seven years old I was invited one afternoon by a friend who was a Catholic to cross the portals of this mysterious Church, which wasn't supposed to pray to God. The sight of the altar with its spotless white linen, flowers and candles, the golden, curtained tabernacle with its mysterious red light, the beautiful statues of the Sacred Heart and Mary Immaculate and the fourteen Stations of the Cross filled me with awe. I came out thinking that I didn't care what anyone said about Catholics not praying to God. How could they not in a Mace as peaceful and beautiful as this? I told my friend there and then that I wished I could be a Catholic. It wasn't that I didn't like chapel-going or have good times there. There were picnics, anniversaries and harvest festi-

Patricia Halligan (nee Kende11) at age 18 in 1954, the period of her life when she became a Catholic. Patricia now lives in Mandurah.

vals. The hymn singing. Bible study and fellowship were truly magnificent but for me something was missing. That something was of course the sacramentals and the True Presence of fesus in the tabernacle but I wouldn't have known then

what big words like sacramentals and tabernacle meant or the theology behind them. Years later when I had stopped going to chapel I went nursing and made another Catholic friend who introduced me to Benediction on Sunday evenings.

Again, the mystery appealed irresistibly to my starved senses, but his time it wasn't enough. I just had to find out why it was like this, so one day I bravely knocked on the presbytery door and a young priest explained that the ladies went to be instructed

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Page 16

at the convent while the men were instructed at the presbytery, so off I went in search of the convent. Ihave never forgotten the peace and tranquillity of that place and the kindness of the Sisters of Mercy who taught me for a while until I continuedrny instructions with a priest in a parish closer to the hospital where I worked. The more I learned the more curious I became to know 'why the Catholic religion is the right religion' so I asked him outright one day using those very words. He quoted me the Petrine Text and explained it to me. I had never heard of it before although I thought I knew the Bible well. Nothing in my Methodist religion had ever distinguished St Peter from any of the other disciples. In fact, the successor of St Peter, the Pope, was such a vague personage in my mind he was not even connected with the Bible. However, what was really more Important and what really made up my mind was the way the Methodists had taught me about the person of Jesus Christ. I had always loved Him. How could I not when they had taught me how good, kind, gentle and merciful He was? How He deserved to be loved by us and, what is more, obeyed, because he had suffered a cruel death on the Cross for love of us. Quite simply I would become a Catholic to please Jesus because I was sure that is what He wanted of me. Like King Oswy at the Synod of Whitby in 664 and no doubt like many more converts to Catholicism since then I accepted that 'Peter is the guardian of the gates of heaven' and like King OswyIdecided that 'I shall not contradict him'. It was simple obedience to Jesus whom I had first learned to love that made me a convert to Catholicism. While I do believe that all religions contain the seeds of truthIhave never stopped believing that only in the Catholic religion can the full richness of the Christian faith be found. Even so, I have never stopped thanking the Methodists for teaching me that a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the beginning of that Truth. Finally, to make sure that I would have plenty of support and encouragement my new-found religion heaven provided me with an Irish Catholic husband and the sharing of our beautiful faith has brought us nothing but peace, comfort and joy. • Do you have a conversion story? Write and tell us about it. Please include a photo if possible.

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