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Archbishop George Pell held a news conference in Sydney on Monday morning to refute and clarify impressions created by the 60 Minutes program on Sunday night. An accompanying news release emphasised two key points: • In the case of the two girls abused by a priest who was already in jail when he met the parents, there was no requirement. either in the letter used by Richard Carleton or in the agreement signed by people accepting compensation, that they remain silent. • In the case of David Ridsdale. Archbishop Pell repeated the emphatic denial he had made in a statutory declaration the previous Thursday that he had ever made any attempt to buy Ridsdale's silence, and pointed out that conflicting statements made elsewhere by Ridsdale suggested that the phone call was made after Ridsdale had been to the police about his uncle's abuse of him. In the same statutory declaration, he said that when he took David Ridsdale's phone call, he was aware that allegations of criminal conduct were being made against the senior Ridsdale, that they involved a number of children. including members of Ridsdale's family. He added that he had no reason to believe Ridsdale was innocent of the allegations. The text of Archbishop Poll's media statement follows (starts next column):
The pastor who came in from the cold - Page II
sponds
"Last Sunday night's 60 Minutes program once again poignantly highlighted the long term damage involved in child sexual abuse. No one watching could fail to be moved by the sufferings of the victims aid the evil of the perpetrators. "Ifirmly stand by whatIsaid in my sworn statutory declaration and statement of last Thursday - namely that I did not attempt to silence any victim or buy them off. I repeat here that the allegations that I
attempted to silence anyone are totally unfounded and untrue. "I have no doubt David Ridsdale has suffered terribly because of his experiences, but his allegations about me are wrong. in my view 60 Minutes deliberately set out to ignore all of the positive aspects of the Melbourne program which I introduced in 1996 to combat sexual abuse and to help the abuse victims personally and financially. At this stage I should correct a mislead-
lug impression from the 60 Minutes programme. When a person accepts compensation from the Melbourne Archdiocese no confidentiality applies. To suggest this is hush money is absurd. During my ambush on 60 Minutes I was unclear and imprecise on the confidentiality requirements. I over-stated these limitations. A person who chooses to accept an ex-gratia compensation offer is required to sign a release. That document contains no confidentiality restrictions and anyone who accepts a compensation payment is free to disclose the details if they wish. So how could this be construed as a cover up mechanism?
Panel
The basis of the accusations against the Church of Melbourne. and me personally, Is that ex-gratia compensation payments from the Independent Compensation Panel are "hush money". They are nothing of the sort. Hush money was never paid. The headlines in the papers are absolutely misleading. One of the foundations of the Melbourne three-part programme against sex abuse was that each agency would have significant independence. These agencies worked independently of my advice and direction. At the end of an individual case they would make a recommendation to me which I had undertaken to accept unless I had good reasons to the contrary. The rationale and procedures of the Compensation Panel were published in October 1996. They have always been available for examination, they have received little or no sustained criticism. Continued on Page 10 Editorial - Page 7
Carleton admits lie: ABC website The ABC website carries an audio recording from its Radio National progranune PM. dated 28 February this year. Ills introduced with these words on the web page: 'Richard Carleton has been a household name in TV journalism since the 70s, but today the 60 Minutes reporter admitted that he lied and misled viewers in a story about the 1995 massacre of five thousand people in Srebrenica. Under cross examination in the ACT' Supreme Court, Mr Carleton said his 60 Minutes story had misrepresented a mass grave at Preador, leading viewers to believe it was the exhumed grave of the Srebrenica victims. . . ." The address of the website is: http://www.abc.net.au/pm/PMChronoi dx2002_Thursday 28February2002.htm
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Correction
File photo: Archbishop George Pell of Sydney responded on Monday this week to the ambush interview aired on the Australian edition of 60 Minutes on Channel Nine on Sunday evening.
Last week's edition of The Record carried a story on Page One which reported the Perth liaison officer for the Australian Commission for Catholic Women. Sue Larsen. saying that it was not on the Commission's current agenda to push for the ordination of women priests, and that the Commission's biggest achievement was the network of women brought together across Australia through its 30 diocesan contacts. In fact, the comments were made by the Chair of the Commission. Mrs Geraldine Hawkes, not Sue Larsen. The Record apologises for this error.
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Record III
Children quiz bishops on the Net the studio in St George's Tce. The primary school students packed about 200 questions into Appeal launched their session from 9.30am to 10am and the secondary schools mainArchbishop Barry Hickey and tained a similar pace from 10.15 — Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton 11am. Not all could be answered. were bombarded with questions The numbers tuned in throughfrom primary and secondary stu- out the State were not known, but dents when they launched Life- the potential audience was about Link Day live on the Internet on 51,000 students and the whole Wednesday morning. world could tune in through the The two Church leaders LifeLink website at www.lifeanswered questions from stu- link.com.au. dents in 'real time' via a live video Archbishop Hickey was the first feed provided by WestNet from Australian Archbishop to use the Internet in this way when he launched LifeLink Day in 2000, Correction and it is believed this is the first The Carmelites are indeed a time two Bishops have been interholy Order and their presence active on the net simultaneously. in a diocese is both a sign and LifeLink Day launches the a source of holiness, but even schools' participation in the Archso Carmelite nuns do not enter bishop's annual LifeLink Appeal Holy Orders as we reported in to support 12 social service agenlast week's edition of The des which help more than 48.500 Record on Page 9. Reporting Western Australian families and that the Archbishop used the individuals in a wide variety of expression compounded the ways. error. Together, the agencies provide
Helping others
Bishop Sproxton and Archbishop Hickey answer students' questions.
about $18 million of services each year. LifeLink was introduced by Archbishop Hickey in 1992 and every dollar contributed to the appeal goes directly to the agencies. LifeLink schools day is designed to encourage students to learn to take responsibility for those less fortunate than themselves by getting involved in the Church's
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LONDON. JUNE 2,2002 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor thinks it is time for Britain to lift its historic ban on any heir to the throne marrying a Catholic. BBC reports. The archbishop of Westminster called for a repeal of the age-old ruling as he prepared to take part in a multifaith service to mark the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's coronation. "I think with regard to the Act of Settlement, It's not really and shouldn't be relevant in today's world and today's Britain." the cardinal said of the 1701 law governing the marriage of an heir. "After all," he added, "it's not so much that it is an act of discrimination against Roman Catholics - which it is - but it seems to me to be discrimination against the royal family." Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said the present law needed changing so that Prince William could marry someone of any faith. "He can marry by law a Hindu, a Buddhist, anyone, but not a Roman Catholic," the cardinal said. "That seems to me anomalous andI think It should go."
Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor
St Vinnies' food bills climbing With the chill of winter already upon us, the State's biggest charity St Vincent de Paul is receiving more requests for help than ever before. "I'm hungry" is something we all say sometime during the day. "We are lucky because we have the money to go and buy something" said Mr Brian Bull, State President. For a family faced with noth-
ing to eat, a food parcel of basic necessities will help them, but sometimes they require more than that. "St Vinnies volunteers visit people in their home and deliver much needed food parcels only to find that they do not have the basic necessities" said Mr Bull. St Vinnies Belmont Food Depot has spent over $750,000 on food, which is an increase of
9% compared to this time last year. "The depot at Osborne Park has no pots and pans to hand out to the needy. A tax deductible donation of $25 will enable St Vinnies to buy a set of pots and pans. Because we buy In bulk means that every donation received goes further" explained Mr Bull. The Winter Appeal hotline is 9475 5416
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soda! services. Schools become highly creative in their fund-raising and educational activities which can be organised at any time during the year. Many schools use the LifeLink program for on-going instruction about the need to respond to the Gospel message in practical ways. The services supported by LifeLink include employment and training, drugs and other addic-
tions, emergency and community support, a variety of disability services, family and individual counselling, migrants and refugees, Aboriginal children, a women's refuge, HIV/AIDS pastoral care, and natural family planning. When launching the day, Archbishop Hickey reminded both primary and secondary students that LifeLink was a practical application of the Jesus' teaching that the two great commandments are to love God and love one another especially those who are poor or suffering difficulties. "We want you to learn to love one another and to grow up helping other people," he said. "The challenge of loving others is to love those who don't love us and those in need." The children's questions covered a wide range of subjects, but with Confirmation in the offing in most primary schools there were some searching questions about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and prep, iration for the Sacrament.
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The radio audience of Perth's Sonshine Fm station responded to an on-air appeal with 141 sponsors for children - the highest number achieved on a nationwide basis. The station put to air the appeal on behalf of Compassion Australia and expected to attract around 50 sponsors. The total number of people volunteering far outweighed the number at interstate broadcasters. The next highest was 75. Compassion Australia WA regional manager, Roger Ellem said the response showed the passion of Perth listeners when Five livewires promoting the sponsor appeal are announcer Derek Whitakcompared with the rest of Aus- er, Paul Mabury of Scope Music, Chris Harban, of Compassion Australia, Scope's Kriste, and Marlene Bamford, of Sonshine. tralia. He said: "No other state Sonshine general manager, Mr Ellem said the number of responds as well as Western Barry Grosser, said: "This is people dying from poverty each Australia. These funds will help radio at its most powerful - day is ten times that killed in the children in third world coun- when you make a real differ- World Trade Centre terror tries affected by war, famine and ence in the lives of others. This attacks on September 11 last disease." is the passion of Sonshine Fm." year.
6 June, 2002
Re'cord
as LiteLink Day appeal is launched In response to the question "What gifts of the Holy Spirit do you use to help people?", Archbishop Hickey said he relies most on Wisdom, Understanding, and Reverence and Awe for God. In relation to Reverence and Awe for God and his great willingness to help us, he reminded the children of the story of the boy who provided five loaves and two fish to enable Jesus to feed the multitude. "I want to bring my five loaves and two fish to see what Jesus can do with them," he said. Bishop Sproxton nominated Courage "to stand up for what you believe in" and Wisdom and Knowledge "to know what the Lord is asking me to do in my life". He added that the fruits of the Spirit would come to those who attempted to live according to the gifts of the Spirit. When asked how best to prepare for Confirmation. Bishop Sproxton said: "Pray. Pray especially for an open heart to receive the Spirit." He also urged students to study carefully their lessons on Confirmation in class and also to take them home and talk about them with their parents and other family members.
Mass question One of the early questions in the secondary schools' session concerned how frequently should one go to Mass, with the rider that the priest 'repeats himself over and over and it is boring'. Archbishop Hickey said if students looked at the heart of the Mass they would come to realise that it does not matter who says it or whether they give exciting or boring sermons. "Mass is Jesus offering himself to the Father for us. It is a re-enactment of the Last Supper. It is Jesus present and offering us again the graces that flow from his Crucifixion. "When we can see what is going on in the heart of the Mass, it can never be boring. "It does not depend on the priest or the music or anything else. It is Jesus giving himself to us." "We want you to learn to love one another and to grow up helping other people," Bishops face the camera. What students saw is displayed on the monitor at right of photograph.
Making God 'No.1' On Wednesday morning students also extruded a lot of personal information from the Archbishop: • He does not lie awake worrying about becoming the Pope. • He nominated Italy (becauseIlived them for a few years) and Korea (because I visit(x1 recently) for the World Cup. • His favourite sport to watch is AFL foot-
ball, to play is tennis, and his lather played league football for Subiaco. • His favourite language is English because of its strength and beauty but he also speaks Italian and some Spanish. French and Latin. His role model was his father because he was "very honest. very prayerful and a loving husband to my mother." • Both he and Bishop Sproxton chose St Joseph for their Confirmation name. • Both were altar servers as boys. Arch-
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ple in their happiness and their sorrow. Bishop Sproxton concurred and added: 'The key to happiness is being able to love other people". The most difficult thing the Archbishop had encountered in his job came soon after his appointment when the diocese was running out of money. Our welfare agencies had to trim their budgets and could not give as much help as we wanted to." he said. "We went to the parishes and they responded most generously"
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bishop Hickey could not remember wanting to be anything other than a priest. but Bishop Sproxton started thinking seriously about it in his final year at school For both men. their passion for the priesthood continued to grow. Both were asked: What does the expression "Living life to the full" mean? Archbishop Hickey said it meant putting God as No.i. making Jesus the one you want to follow, always looking around you to see when people need help, and learning to be with peo-
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6 June, 2002
I
was Baptised as a baby - a "cradle Catholic". My family was fairly ordinary. My parents were good people who took us to Mass on Sundays and sent us all to Catholic schools. We received all the Sacraments at all the "right" times. Unfortunately, it didn't really work.I was taught the basic doctrine of the Catholic faith for the first five years of school, and then it stopped. Upper Primary (late 60s) religion lessons were fuzzy, feely, 'make a poster to show how much God loves you' stuff. High school Religion (early 70s) was a series of lessons questioning the Faith and deciding how to respond. The teachers (many of them nuns) seemed to be losing their faith and intent on dragging us with them. My responses to God were, at the best, apathetic. I giggled with my friends during Mass, and made the decision that a sin Isn't a sin as long as nobody else gets hurt. After I left school, I never stopped feeling "Catholic", but I just didn't practise the Faith. I did always enjoy religious discussions with friends, however. I trained to be a teacher, but without my parents' presence, I drifted away from Mass completely. It was laziness and apathy, and for years I was constantly in a state of mortal sin. But I did feel guilty. I always knew that I should be going to Mass. My parents had moved to Darwin, and next I managed to obtain a teaching position there, at a Catholic school. I got to Mass if I was around when Mum
Reconversion story: Carol Phillips and her family.
and Dad were going.I met my future hus- whether they were Catholic or Protestant. Our first Bible group was Baptist. band at that school, that first year. By 1987, we had met new friends, and He was a Mass-goer, which impelled me to make more effort. I found also that as I they happened to be involved with Right taught the Catholic faithI was reinforcing to Life issues. This was a new turning point for me. The my own beliefs. My principal believed in teaching doc- pro life friends we continued to meet were trine, so I consolidated ways to teach the committed Catholics (like us), but who essential truths of Catholicism. rejected the modernist trends in the But my commitment was still vague, and Church that I had hitherto so blithely I had a tendency to question and reject accepted. some Church teachings. The more pro-life I became, the more I We got married in 1984. We were Mass- rejected feminism and modernism in the goers, but were more enthusiastic about Church and elsewhere. the innovations in Catholicism, and were I began to study the faith, and bought keen to attend Bible study classes, and read book after book by orthodox
Book's success in South Australia Archbishop Hickey's book "John Paul II speaks to youth" has proved an unplanned hit in South Australia. The Archbishop produced the book as a gift to Year 12 students in WA and it is not on sale or generally available. However, when Bishop Hurley. of Port Pine, visited Perth for Bishop Sproxton's ordination he took a copy back with him and gave it to the Diocesan Youth Ministry Coordinator, Alice Priest, who obtained 50 copies for their recent Diocesan Assembly of Youth. She recently wrote to the Archbishop to say that the book had been a big success and over the three days many were found in a quiet moment with JPII or sharing with a friend something they found in the text and needed to share. "I was moved to discover in recent weeks two young adult participants from the assembly in the Cathedral after work praying together and reading their copy of JPII Speaks to Youth." she added. The Port Pine assembly included six young adult detainees from Woomera Detention Centre and through them the book made its way to the Centre. "Thank you for your vision and for your ministry with young people," Alice Priest wrote.
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Catholic authors, like Frank Sheed, Hillair Belloc, and Scott Hahn. As I became convinced, I became more committed and thoroughly orthodox. In 1996 I began to genuflect before receiving Holy Communion and receiving on the tongue. I began to wear the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt Carmel. Now, the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady's protection are very important to me. I cannot say that my personality has changed; I still have all the same faults I have always had.Istill try to rely too much on myself, instead of on God. I am no closer to sainthood, but I have decided that God's way, through the Catholic Church. headed by His vicar on Earth, is the way to Heaven. Rebellion, whether through miniscule step-by-step innovations or not, is flouting God, and is therefore not the way to be holier. Only evil should be fought: not the one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I began home-schooling my children in 1999. I try to instil in them a respect for God's laws, no matter how difficult they may be to obey. Most of all, I want them to know the Catholic faith so well that it would go against reason to ever reject it. If they ever do,Iwill pray constantly that one day they will come Home, just as I did. Perhaps someone, somewhere, wir; praying for me for those years. Then again. perhaps God was just claiming one of His Own. Carol Phillips Queens Park
A perspective on caring Human Life
Pope John Paul II
Carers
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parents in Perth. Their thoughts are published in a new anthology that gives a rare insight into some special lives. The mothers - and two grandmothers and a father - have all written about their experiences with their son or daughter who has an intellectual disability. Their writings have been brought together in a book. Undivided Lives - An Anthology produced as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations for i.d.entity.wa (until recently known as Catholic Care), one of Western Australia's peak being pampered," she said. The publication of Undivided organisations caring for people Lives is one of a range of projects with intellectual disabilities The result is an easy-to-read col- i.d.entity.wa is organising as part of lection of short pieces that cover a their 25th anniversary celebralifetime of experiences including tions. The idea for the collection of the full gamut of emotions - from times of anger and frustration to stones developed from a series of others filled with happiness and workshops organised over a numlaughter - and the constancy of ber of years by i.d.entity.wa's family counsellor and group facilitator, love. The President of Carers WA, Dr Jenny Gardner. In the workshops, parents were Jane Barrett, launched the book during an afternoon of pampering encouraged to write about some of planned as a Mother's Day cele- the issues that were a concern to bration for more than 150 mothers them as parents of children with of people with intellectual disabil- an intellectual disability. Their ities at the Novotel Langley on May writing expanded from there, covering broader issues. 11. "We got to the stage where writThe afternoon included a range of free activities the mothers ing stories and producing a book enjoyed at their leisure, including was the next logical step and when massage and reflexology and a we advertised the idea in our performance by post-graduate newsletter, 14 women and a father drama students from Curtin Uni- took up the invitation to tell some versity. Their sons and daughters of their experiences," Maureen were cared for during the after- said. The result is a range of short, simnoon by staff from i.d.entity.wa. The Executive Director of i.d.enti- ple stories and poems that are ty.wa, Maureen Jewell, said the day grouped in sections covering the was planned to highlight to moth- first days of their babies' lives and ers of children with intellectual their early years through to adultdisabilities that they are special hood. Undivided Lives is available too. "The afteroon was a chance for from i.d.entity.wa at P.O. Box 5, them to have time for themselves South Perth, 6951 or telephone and experiment with the luxury of 9474 3303.
6 June, 2002
11 Record
Weather fails to deter ceremony The onset of wintry conditions did not deter the parishioners of Corpus Christi Parish, Melville-Myaree, from celebrating the feast day naming their parish last Sunday on the feast of Corpus Christi. Families gathered under the covered area of the Mel Maria Corpus Christi school for a parish luncheon. Each family brought a delicious dish of food resulting in a smorgasbord that would be the envy of many a restaurant. With the three weekend Masses completed, Fr Larry Reitmeyer joined the gathering and after the welcome by Parish Council Chairman, Chris Lemmon, Fr Larry said Grace and the feast began. But the joy of the day was not all self centred. As part of the celebrations of the Feast Day. the Parish Craft Group had on display some beautiful knitware and patchwork that they have been making and are now about to send to Pregnancy Help. Those less fortunate or hurting within the Body of Christ were remembered in a very practical and special way.
Left to right: Mr & Mrs Chris Lemmon, Fr Larry Reitmeyer and Mrs Hogan.
Display of craft items made by the Parish Craft Group for Pregnancy Help.
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Page 5
Opinion
Page 6
Reflection
say,I say...
with Terry Quinn of the Perth Catholic Social Justice Council
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council or a diocesan meeting. The princiot long ago on one of my more Science without humanity ples of Catholic Social Teaching, like the glum Monday mornings, thinking Worship without sacrifice how much I had to do for another It was not without good reason that Seven Social Sins of Gandhi, have week, I decided to see how many sets of Mohandas Gandhi was called Mahatma emerged out of the active involvement of sevens I could collect. Over the following or "Great Soul". His life and teachings were people of spiritual depth in the world around them. weeks I managed to collect 16. entirely Quistlike. The Popes from Leo XIII to John Paul II There were those that I knew well - days As clever as any military strategist, he of the week, colours of the rainbow and opposed the might of British imperialism may have taken the lead in forming social the seven Sacraments. There were those I in India with non-violent "soul force". He principles for the Church but the hard knew less well. The Seven Gifts of the Holy fought for the improvement in the status work was done by thousands of faithful Spirit, the Seven Virtues, Seven Deadly of the "untouchables" of India, whom he and thoughtful 'people of God' before them. Sins, Seven Corporal Works of Mercy and renamed Harijans or "Children of God". It was and remains an involvement Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy. In the midst of non-violent activism he And there were others I knew even less pursued a spiritual life of extraordinary steeped in the Gospel, in prayer, reflection well. depth. He was as familiar with the Gospel and action by giving compassionate and They are the Seven Penitential Psalms, of Jesus as he was with the Hindu Scrip- critical attention to the world around them. Far from disdaining our times, the Second the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin tures. Mary, the Seven Last Words of Jesus on the The seven social sins of Gandhi emerge Vatican Council saw the Church as being Cross, the Seven Deacons of the Acts of both from his spiritual depth and his In solidarity with the whole contemporary human family. Apostles, Seven Churches of the Apoca- involvement with the poor. lypse and the Seven Liberal Arts. There We are called to engage in dialogue and He spent one full day a week in silence are still two more I can add to the list - and prayer. Gandhi taught that when we struggle with the people of our times. This Gandhi's Seven Social Sins and the Seven begin a new project: "Recall the face of the means that the Church does not have all Principles of Catholic Social 'leaching. poorest and most helpless people whom the answers and if we think it does, we are Gandhi's seven social sins are: you may have seen and ask yourself if the almost certainly wrong. Jesus kept teaching the confused AposPolitics without principle step you contemplate will be of any use to Wealth without work them. Will they be able to gain anything tles after the Resurrection and they were Commerce without morality by it? Will it restore them to control over still not getting it even at the Ascension (Acts 1, 3. 6). Why should we be any difPleasure without conscience their own life and destiny?" Education without character This is pretty good advice for a parish ferent? It also means that the Catholic
Church has been summoned by its OW11 ecumenical council to draw all the baptised into joint responsibility for the ministry of the Gospel. To better prepare ourselves for the task ahead, the principles of Catholic Social Teaching should therefore be as familiar to Catholics as are the Seven Sacraments, the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit or the Seven Deadly Sins. I leave it to the interested reader to do a little personal research as to what are the lesser known sets of sevens that I have mentioned above. Here though is the set of the Seven Principles of Catholic Social Teaching; myth we could have a discussion about them for The Record The Dignity of the Human Person Rights and Responsibilities of the Human Person The Common Good The Dignity of Work Option for the Poor Subsidlarity Care for God's Creation Hang on. Now I seem to remember Seven Founders of the Servites of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Am I right? That makes 17 sets of sevens. Any others?
TO JESUS TI IROUGI 1 MARY devotion co(ionn if
A Layman's meditations
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oday's liturgy highlights God's mercy to sinners. The ftrst reading from the prophet Hosea (Hosea 6:3-6) contains a pertinent message for us all. Hosea lived in the eighth century BC. A native of the northern kingdom of Israel, he preached there about 750-730. The people had taken on the worship of Baal and other pagan deities as well. Even though the Jews had abandoned God, he didn't abandon them. He sent prophets to remind them of their duty. Hosea was one of these prophets. However, neither the kings nor the people heeded the words that God spoke through him. His marriage, whether real or symbolic, to a prostitute, indicates the infidelity of Israel, who should have been the faithful spouse of God but wasn't. The reading begins: "Let us set ourselves to know the Lord; that he will come is as certain as the dawn.., he will come to us a showers come, as spring rains watering the earth. While saying they want to know the true God, they show that they think him to be like one of the pagan fertility gods, coming in the form of "showers and spring rains that water the earth" and makes their land fertile. The reading continues: "What am I to do with you, Ephraim? What am Ito do with you Judah?" This is an anthropomorphism. God is, as it were, deliberating with himself on how he will deal with them. Although Hosea is speaking in Ephraim (another name for the northern kingdom) he knows Judah (the south) is almost as disloyal. It says further: "This love of yours is like a morning could, like the dew that quickly disappears." Hosea is saying that the people's love for God isn't constant and only amounts to lipservice. He is saying that their love only lasts as long as the dew which is dissipated as soon as the sun rises. What about our love for God? It goes on: "That is why I have torn them to pieces by the prophets, whyIslaughtered them with the words from my mouth." Whatever punishment God inflicted on Pa9e 6
by Peter Dwan them cannot be said to have come unexpectedly. He had warned them through his prophets. Elijah. Amos and now Hosea. It concludes: "Since what I want is love not sacrifice, knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." In the Sunday Readings, Father Kevin O'Sullivan OFM says: "Sacrifice offered from true love for God was acceptable and commanded by him, but sacrifice from the disloyal and unfaithful to gain temporal favours, was loathsome to God. What God wants is an intimate knowledge of himself based on love, not theoretical knowledge. Burnt offerings coming from a false heart are malodourous, not sweet-smelling". The second reading (Romans 4:18-25) is St Paul's answer to Judaizers. who with the Pharisees held that carrying out to the letter the words of the Mosaic law was necessary for salvation, pointing out Abraham was saved by his faith. He adds that our faith too will save us. The gospel (Matthew 9:9-13) is an account of the call of the apostle Matthew, who had been a tax-collector and the ire of the Pharisees. The tax-collectors in Palestine were Jewish agents. The Roman system left room for abuse and injustice. The agent was free to make as much profit as he could provided he handed a prescribed amount to the Romans. Matthew gave a dinner after his call, and a number of tax-collectors and sinners were there. The Pharisees asked Christ's disciples: "Why does your master eat with tax-collectors and sinners?" When the disciples reported this question to Christ, he replied, and I quote the New American Bible translation: "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick Go and learn what this means: 'I desire love and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous but sinners." There is a certain amount of sarcasm in Christ's answer. The Pharisees considered themselves perfect. Christ is telling the Pharisees to go and learn the meaning of the words: "I desire love and not sacrifice."
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fter a lengthy re-elaboration, preceded by harsh dissent. the Vatican Council Second approved, on November 21. 1984, the Constitution on the Church, Lumen gentium. containing an eighth chapter dedicated entirely to the Virgin Mary. The crowning of that chapter took place when Pope Paul VI promulgated, in front of the whole Council, the title it had attributed to Mary, Mother of the Church, with the purpose of acknowledging a truth amply contained in the Marian document they had approved which, in part, compensated for other titles desired by a large part of the conciliar Fathers, of which it was preferred not to make an official declaration. The first of all these titles would have been "Universal Mediatrix of Grace." Here are the words of the Holy Father. "We declare the most holy Mary 'Mother of the Church,' that is, of the entire Christian people, faithful and pastors alike, who call her their most loving mother.... Divine Motherhood is the reason why Mary is related to Christ in a unique way and is present in the work performed by Jesus Christ for the salvation of humankind. Similarly, her divine motherhood is also the main source of the relationship between Mary and the Church. Indeed, Mary is the Mother of Christ who, while assuming human nature in her virginal womb, united to Himself as head His Mystical Body which is the Church. Hence, as Mother of Christ she must also be considered mother of all the faithful and pastors, that is, 'Mother of the Church'." Ills a title of great import. Even if the solemn proclamation was only made in 1964, we find it already understood in the maternity of Mary towards all of us, as illustrated by such Church Fathers as Irenaeus, Epiphanius, Ambrose, Augustine and others. Vatican Council II had hesitated before this title which proclaims Mary not only the mother of all individuals, but also of the ecclesial community as a whole.
And still it had already included in this Marian document the expression used by Pope Benedict XIV in 1748: "The Catholic Church. taught by the Holy Spirit, honours Mary with filial devotion and affection as a most beloved mother" (LG 53). The reasons behind the hesitation were two. Above all, the Council wanted to make it clear that Mary is also a member of the Church, and her presence at Pentecost and her later participation in the Jerusalem community show her in this light. But it is also true that Mary is likewise a type and model of the Church itself: both virgins and mothers, generating children of God through the working of the Holy Spirit. Pope Paul VI said: "One cannot speak of the Church if Mary is not present there" (Marialis cultus 28). A second fear they had was this: that the title 'Mother of the Church' lends itself to misunderstanding, as if the Church had been born of Mary and not of Christ. Even this fear is a reasonable one, but it is enough to explain things. We have seen how the title 'Mother of God' could lend itself to even greater misunderstanding without adequate explanation. The title 'Mother of the Church' emphasises the cooperation of Mary at the birth of the Church and in all its undertakings. It is a cooperation subordinate to and dependent on the action of Christ; but it is an evident cooperation, from the incarnation to Pentecost, from Pentecost to the Parousia. For this reason the Council took pains to underscore the role that Mary had and continues to have - by virtue of the will of the Lord.
L, anD ,E OF MARY
From The Gospel of Mary - a month with the Mother of God by Father Gabriel Amorth SSP, St Paul Publications, RRP $23.50
60 Minutes and the truth T
he 'IV program 60 Minutes set its own standard for truthfulness for its attack on Archbishop George Pell, of Sydney, in its frequently repeated advertisement for the program. The program promised that it would make "the gravest possible charges" against the Archbishop. Even if the charges it finally made had had any substance, they would never have qualified as "the gravest possible charges". Richard Carleton must have heard of such things as murder, treason, rape, paedophilia, lifelong active homosexuality, satanic worship and a few other things, all of which would be graver charges to level against an Archbishop. jaded television viewers may be inclined to dismiss this observation as par for the course and therefore insignificant, but it is not irrelevant, insignificant or acceptable. It is a straightforward case of Richard Carleton, the 60 Minutes executive team, and the National Nine Network lying to viewers across Australia. These are not excitable children who might unconsciously exaggerate a statement. They are professionals who have spent much of their working lives weighing the meaning and impact of words. One guaranteed effect is that anyone who saw the advertisement but not the show would have the impression that George Pell had been up to something nefarious. The bigger problem. however, is that the advertising set the standard for the show that followed. The journalism was third rate at best, both in the preparation and presentation of the story. The allegations made by David Ridsdale
Media has no perspective
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rchbishop Pell is attacked for offering cash but not 'great sorrow' to a molested child's relatives.' If he'd offered 'great sorrow' but no cash. wouldn't the media howl? 'Talk's cheap,' they'd say. Whatever the church does, it will never please the media. The tragedy of paedophiles infiltrating the priesthood and other professions - teachers, social workers etc. continues. Spawned, perhaps, by the never ending flow of casual and perverse sex spewed out by the self same media. Meanwhile, the media, quick to headline sex abuse by Catholic priests, don't keep their reports in perspective. • reports of 'hundreds' of US priestabusers don't mention that this represents fewer than one percent of priests. • in the 1990's, 600 Victorian school teachers were sacked or asked to resign for misconduct. " . an Australian political party (ALP) has a policy of allowing boys as young as 16 to be legally involved by adults of any age in homosexual acts. Slanted reporting reveals that our media are motivated - not by an interest in protecting children - but by a desire to discredit the Church. ' Herald Sun, June 1, 2002 " Herald Sun, November Z 1999 Arnold Jago Mildura
New exclusive ritual s Geraldine Hawkes (The Record is concerned about excluMay M sive rituals in the Church for example "in 30)
some parishes, washing of the feet on Holy Thursday is still only open to men". In the Gospels we never hear that Jesus washed the feet of women, either at the Last Supper or on any other occasion. We do however hear of a woman who washed His feet, anointing them with precious ointment whose perfume filled the house. Would Ms Hawkes' concerns be allayed If a ceremony were to be devised and enacted in every parish on the Saturday before Palm Sunday, in which a woman was delegated to pour Chanel No 5 over the feet of the presiding priest? J K Watt Claremont
The Record PO Box 75, Leeclerville, WA 6902 Tel: (08) 9227 7080, Fax: (08) 9227 7087 cathrec@iinet.net.au
were serious and deserved investigation. Viewers were given no indication of why they were being made at that time nearly 10 years after the events, what or who prompted them, and to what extent they were tested by the 60 Minutes team. There was also no indication whether David Ridsdale told the police that then Auxiliary Bishop Pell had tried to buy his silence, and if he did not, why he did not. Ridsdale's two sisters said he had told them about the alleged phone call on the day he went to the police, so his silence on this matter to the police is relevant. Carleton mentioned that Gerald Ridsdale was charged the next day, but there was no mention of when the police first began investigating Gerald Ridsdale, when he was first charged, and when the investigation of Gerald Ridsdale first became public knowledge. Regardless of the answers to these questions, they are part of good journalistic Inquiry and they are part of a proper presentation to viewers so they can make up their minds based on fact. The other journalistic principle is that Archbishop Pell should have been given the charges with time to check his own records (if he had any) and his memory for relevant details. His responses and Ridsdale's charges could then have been double-checked
before decisions were made to air them or in what form to air them. Things got worse in the 60 Minutes dirty tricks book when it came to the case of the two girls abused by a priest who was in jail before the parents met Archbishop Pell. The parents did not accuse Pell of trying to buy or enforce their silence, but Carleton did. He pretended that a letter he held tried to enforce silence, and the letter was shown to viewers, though in a way that made it impossible to determine what was actually in the letter. As it now transpires, there was no such demand in the letter, nor is such a demand made by the Archdiocese of Melbourne under the rules set up by Archbishop Pell. ABC TV news on Monday night reported the family saying they did not regard the offer of compensation as hush money. The 7.30 Report the same evening reported Broken Rites spokesman Wayne Chamley saying "claims of hush money are misguided". Again, if Pell had been told of Carleton's charges in advance, Carleton's errors would have been exposed before the program and its false advertisements were aired. The procedures adopted by the Melbourne Archdiocese and the arm's length position of the Archbishop are matters of public record and could easily have been checked in advance by any responsible
journalist. It would have made a lot of difference to the way questions were framed - if the questions were being asked by a responsible journalist! Since Carleton did not deal truthfully with the letter he had in front of him, we can't be sure he would have dealt truthfully with any other information, but from the viewers' perspective it would have been nice to know that the information had been checked. The biggest problem about the 60 Minutes approach to truth is that it leaves the very nasty impression that 60 Minutes has no concern about the sexual abuse of children, but is prepared to abuse and distort this serious subject to turn it into a vehicle to attack the Catholic Church. The sexual abuse of children is a desperately serious problem right across our community. The role of clergy in this reprehensible behaviour is particularly distressing to Catholics because it is so contrary to the life and mission of the Church, but it remains a fact that the clergy is not the source of most of society's problems in this area. The media have a role to play in airing the subject, limiting its occurrence, and seeking solutions for victims and their families. That role is debased when the serious issue of sexual abuse of children is perverted into an attack on the Church and one of its most forthright leaders. The gravest charges in this case lie against Richard Carleton, 60 Minutes and Channel 9.
ArouncJ +he tai2te Letters to the editor
Word of Wisdom: Archbishop Anthony Bloom Page 10
Commission let down
n Wednesday, May 22, a gathering at the Redemptorist Monastery Retreat Q Centre was arranged for certain invitees to
meet with the members of the Commission for Australian Catholic Women. Ills about both the way in which invitees were selected and the conduct of the meeting that I write with great sadness. First, it would appear that invitations were only sent to certain Catholic agencies and other bodies in the Archdiocese of Perth as well as to parish priests or their selected representatives. I only learned about the visit of the Commission by accident through The Record's mention of it at the conclusion of another article but followed up the matter to see whether Icould attend as, when a member of the Catholic Social Justice Council,Ihad been involved in the organisation and facilitation of forums to encourage reflection on and discussion of the Report, "Woman and Man: One in Jesus Christ". At the gathering itself I was disappointed that there appeared to be no conscious representation of Aboriginal, migrant women of a non-English speaking background and refugee women; three of the groups which were specifically targeted by the research management group behind the Report. MoreoverIwas deeply disillusioned by the organisation of the evening which: (a) only allowed an hour for the invitees to meet and talk with the members of the Commission (b) only permitted the members of the Commission and their Executive and Administrative officers to introduce themselves (c) had a series of speeches from selected participants
(d) left only five or so minutes at the end for other questions and comments from the floor. As I learned that the Commission was only in Perth essentially for that evening I was left wondering what was the purpose of the visit, except as a public relations exercise. At least certain printed material was available which one could take away to study. From that I at least learned the web address of the Commission which I have been unable to elicit so far from the Australian Catholic Bishops' website. However,Icould not help reflecting afterwards that a much more inclusive and personalised way of disseminating this information and receiving feedback would have been if: (a) there had been a open invitation to anyone in the Archdiocese of Perth who was interested to attend a morning, afternoon or evening mini-conference with the Commission: (b) there had been a sustained attempt to target a wide range of women, to ensure that all Catholic women of whatever age, class, socio-economic, race etc. were represented. If the above-mentioned conference had been the format, rather than what amounted to a cocktail party, people would have had a better chance to really dialogue with the members of the Commission. Such a format also would have allowed for a large number to be broken up into small groups to dialogue with individual members of the Commission (each member chairing a small group), so that members of the Commission could not only explain what has been achieved so far and allow absorption of the Action Plan but hear what a wide range of interested people, especially women, have to say, not just
• The opinions expressed in this editorial, and any other Record editorial, are not necessarily those of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Perth.
a selected few. The issue of women's participation in the Catholic Church in Australia is too vital an issue to be handled the way it was. What is needed as well is the opportunity for women (and interested men) of the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth to meet and talk with the Perth representative on the Commission, Dr Jennifer Skerrit, who was absent from the gathering, and anyone else who is appointed to facilitate the work of the Commission in Western Australia. Finally, it is necessary not only that everyone who wishes to is given the opportunity to be heard but that they are listened to respectfully in a true Christian spirit. Judith Woodward • Dr Skerrit, who holds a senior position In the public service, was called away on short notice - Ed.
Issue of "man" resolved "There is a short reference in the frontpage article of The Record (30-5-2002) about the lingering desire of some members of the 'Commission for Catholic Women' to impose a neutered language on the Church liturgy. Linguistically informed Catholic women who joined in the debate resolved the problem years ago. but their sensible proposition is ignored. So let me state it again. 'Man' (Latin 'homo') is an ancient noun that occurs in all Germanic languages and dialects. The Anglo-saxon Dictionary' defines it as meaning `ge wer ge wit (either male or female). In the Anglo-saxon dialect a male was referred to as a 'werman' and a female as a `wifman' (even a young girl was a wifman). The term 'wer' (Latin 'vie) is still alive in many Germanic languages, in English in the term 'werewolf. Ills because of the inherent meaning of 'man' as representing a 'human being' that statements like that of St. Hildegard von Bingen, asked to explain the nature of her mystic visions said that those experiences are 'hard to understand for a man'; even more pointedly, the Anglo-saxon Chronicle of 640 AD describes Aorcengota as 'a holy virgin and a wonderful man.' It would pay Catholic women to go back to their roots, linguistic or otherwise, instead of being led by the nose by slanted ideologues. I don't think Church authorities would object to the use of 'werman' where the Latin text speaks of Mr" (male being). (Much of the above is based on an extensive discussion by Suzanne Scorsone on feminist linguistics in 'Cornmunio' Spring '89.) Matt Bruekers Lesmurdie
Bunbury Pastoral Letter
the sp
The g tits In his first pastoral letter to to the people in his Bunbury diocese, Bishop Holohan's asks the question 'Where is the Holy Spirit?' The pastoral carries a special emphasis for decision makers on diocesan and parish councils and finance committees, school boards, the hospital board and other organisations. The Recordpublishes an abridged version here.
Bishop Holohan officiates at the consecration of the new Pemberton Church.
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Where is the Spirit leading us?
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ishop Gerard Holohan raised the question "Where is the Spirit leading the Bunbury diocese?" in his first pastoral letter to the people and decision makers of the diocese. He posted the 33-page letter on the diocesan website (www.bunburycatholic.org.au) and also produced a six-page summary for general distribution. Written to all in the diocese, it carries a special emphasis for decision makers on diocesan and parish councils and finance committees, school boards, the hospital board and other organisations. In essence, the letter is a detailed invitation to grow in the gifts of the Spirit, in recognition of the signs of the limes, and in discernment of what God wants people to do. "Like the first Church in Jerusalem, the diocese of Bunbury and its parishes are meant by God to be visible signs of the invisible presence of Christ and the Holy Spirit in the cities and towns of our diocese," he said. The Holy Spirit would give the diocese all the guidance and gifts it needed, but the guidance might appear only as the next step to be taken, not a blueprint for the future, and the gifts only as potential for the diocese to develop. Each diocese needs to see the signs of the times and consider how to cooperate more fully with the Spirit. The signs of the times are the evidence of God's presence and purpose; they are not social trends or negativity. God is the source of all love and goodness, so every loving and good human word, gesture and act is the result of the Spirit's influence in a person's heart and reminds us that each person has been created in God's own image and likeness. God's purpose is to draw everyone into a closer personal relationship with him, and effects of responding to his purpose are growing personal inner harmony and peace, growing harmony and peace with others, and growing harmony and peace between the individual and the rest of creation. Jesus commanded the Church to spread his message of the kingdom of God, which is the Gospel term for the power of God that Jesus offers all who are willing to accept it into their lives. The greatest demonstration of this power was his Resurrection. Christian experience over the last 2000 years shows that this power can change all who accept it, so they become more loving and good at all levels of their lives. The power of the kingdom can heal the sinfulness that is part of the human condition and the ultimate cause of inner conflict, personal failings and weaknesses. Jesus' basic requirement for drawing on the power of the kingdom is to repent and believe the gospel, leading to the new experiences of God that Jesus revealed. These experiences of God, along with the beliefs needed to experience them, are identified in the Apostle's Creed, the Seven Sacraments, the Vision and Commandments of
Christian morality, and the Lord's Prayer. Jesus modeled the proclamation of the kingdom by always being present to others in love and moral behaviour. God also intended society to reflect his image and likeness and this is achieved through individuals and groups behaving with love and goodness instead of selfishsness and greed. Examining what the Holy Spirit is doing in the Church today, Bishop Holohan said there were three basic principles to consider at all times. The first is that the Church is both divine and human, the second is that God never imposes on human freedom, and the third is that the divine always reasserts itself over human weaknesses in the Church. All three were necessary for understanding and faith in the present circumstances which were not the worst in the Church's history and which were already showing signs of the divine reasserting Itself. The causes of drift from the Christian faith included affluence, which Jesus predicted when he said some people's faith would be "choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life", and science and technology which tempted many to believe they could live independently of God. The many signs of renewal in the Church included the Second Vatican Council and its call for personal conversion to God, so that where faith was once thought of as 'full submission of a person's intellect and will to God' it was now seen as complete personal response to God. This change involved the process of New Evangelisation which the Bishop said would be the subject of a later pastoral letter. The starting point, however, was personal conversion at every level of the diocese. It also involved renewal of the parish as a faith community, renewal of the vocation of the laity. and working towards greater Christian unity which would be achieved by opening ourselves to all the experiences of God that Jesus left us. In the Church's consultation to determine where the Spirit is leading the diocese it was necessary to recognise that the Spirit is working in all who are praying, worshipping and living as Jesus taught, and that each one has received the fullness of the Spirit, like the Apostles at Pentecost, through the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. Responsive people, those who pray, worship
The Spirit of Reverence brings responsive to a growing awareness of God's closebelievers and Jesus demonstrated it many times love. and ness as live turning to him in prayer, and Father, his praising Jesus taught, will him. Those who grow in crucified those forgiving experience the gifts of the Spireven if it as appropriate to their this Spirit realise they are never alone them. disowns else everyone stage of life and would The Spirit of Wonder and Awe increasingly new receive responsive believers to love God as fully moves and insights them. understanding as they can in return for all God's gifts to life entire his live to determination his stated Jesus as the Spirit them as God the Father wanted, and confirmed that he guides this towards renewed had done everything before he died. Without out of only Law God's live would people Spirit, The hope. life and not like Spirit would give fear. They would rationalise what they did teachings. Christ's about inner strength needed Working contrary to the gifts of the Spirit are the to rise above disappointof human sinfulness which include coneffects ment disillusionment, guilt and biases, negative attitudes, bad habits, ideas, fused any other obstacle towards a emotions and attractions that weakundisciplined renewed life. Throughout his letter, Bishop of temptations. face the in us en Holohan offers discussion points to help groups beings and groups in the human weaken They within the diocese to spend time working togethand trends, and media pressures social of face parIn messages. lucid but deep, er through his would know they People attitudes. social and ticular, he asked all diocesan decision-making gifts of the Spirit as they the with working were to meeting each at hall-hour bodies to spend a began to enjoy the Fruits of the Spirit which are discuss the various issues he raised. love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, The gifts of the Holy Spirit trustfulness, gentleness and self control. took who those promised ishop Holohan part in the discernment process the fullness of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, his teaching on which is summarised here: The Spirit of Wisdom promises responsive believers the growing ability to see everything as God sees, just as Jesus did. It would empower them to see examples of the love and goodness of God in others and themselves. Those who respond to the gift would leave behind negative self images and the inclination to see only the negative in life. The Spirit of Understanding promises responsive believers the growing ability to understand, as Jesus did, the meaning of God's actions. Just as Jesus understood and foretold his death and resurrection and explained them on the road to Emmaus,responsive believers would grew in the understanding of the meaning of God creating us in his image and likeness. The Spirit of Right Judgement would enable responsive believers to judge the true value of everything, as Jesus taught in his many parables about true and false values. It would help them to base major personal and parish/diocesan decisions on values that really matter. The Spirit of Courage empowers the responsive believer increasingly to do as God wants when this is not easy, as Jesus did. It empowers them to overcome difficulties and temptations against living the way Jesus taught, and empowers them to resist social and peer pressures to do wrong, even to die for their faith. The Spirit of Knowledge leads responsive believers to gain new insights into God and to know him better. Gradually it becomes easier for them to distinguish the Spirit's influence from the other liner influences that affect every human being. Bishop Holohan closes the door of the old church.
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Bishop Holohan on the steps of the old church in Pemberton, in November last year.
Is it the Spirit? From Bishop Holohan's letter to the people of the Diocese of Bunbury:
Human weaknesses intrude into the best of personal reflections and group discussions. To work out whether the Spirit or human factors are prevailing, we need to use the criteria of the Fruits of the Spirit. Whatever is contrary to these Fruits is not of the Spirit. [Galatians 5: 22-231. Love is of the Spirit - rivalry, disrespect and efforts to dominate are not. Joy is of the Spirit - low morale, undue anxiety and discouragement are not. Peace is of the Spirit - anger, tensions and disharmony are not.
Patience is of the Spirit - temptations to give up, intolerance of contrary views and impatience are not. Kindness is of the Spirit - harsh attitudes, lack of sympathy for those in need and harsh criticisms are not. Goodness is of the Spirit -unethical suggestions, tolerance for breaking God's Commandments and gossip are not. Trustfulness is of the Spirit - ignoring official Catholic teachings, powerplays and efforts to impose decisions by a few on the majority are not. Gentleness is of the Spirit - insensitivity, disrespect and efforts to dominate discussions are not. Self Control is of the Spirit - uncontrolled emotions, jealousies and rudeness are not. Let each of us look honestly into our heart to discover whether or not our ideas and convictions have been stirred by the Spirit. Let every consultation body evaluate honesty whether it is the Spirit who underlies its discussions, or whether human weaknesses have too great an influence on what is said and decided. Page 9
Stories
6 June, 2002
Record
Pell responds to the 60 Minutes 'ambush' with Tony Evans
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orty years ago a towering Christian figure of great dignity, influence and spiritual insight was Archbishop Anthony Bloom of the Russian Orthodox Church in Britain. When he appeared on television dressed in black, with his splendid black beard, he had his audience hanging on every word. In answer to that perennial question directed at most Christians at some time or another, 'why does God allow so much innocent suffering in the world, he replied:
44 T think you cannot I answer that kind of question from the point of view of the believer while remaining on the ground of the unbeliever. "One can argue about a system from within, and what those of us who believe in a personal God do believe is that the world, as we see it now, is not the world as God made and willed it. "It is the free will of men that has introduced into it qualities, characteristics which do not belong to it originally. You may. of course, say why did God create men free? It would be so nice if nothing wrong had happened simply because nothing could happen. "But then there would have been nothing good either. because love, for instance, is conditioned by freedom. 'You may say that God has taken a risk, if you reason from Man's point of view - the point of view of one who doesn't know the final outcome. "But I would say God knew what He was doing, knew that it was worth the cost, and if you turn to certain saints they will answer the same - a man like St Seraphim of Sarov, who is a Russian saint who died in the middle of the nineteenth century, said that since he knew God he could say it was worth suffering, for thousands of years every moment of one's life, in order to know Him."
Continued from page 1 There are four members. Mr Chernov QC was the first chairman (now a judge of the Victoria Supreme Court), Mr Habsberger QC his successor was also appointed to the Victorian Supreme Court. Ms Sue Crennan QC is the present Chair. The panel was designed to eliminate legal costs for the victims (lawyers were not necessary and rarely used) and once the Independent Commissioners' determination on the facts was given, the Church did not oppose compensation to the victim. It remains a fair system and is comparable with Australian statutory criminal injuries compensation schemes.
spoke to me in August 1992. That he went to the police straight after he spoke to me cannot be reconciled with his other statements. In the tape shown to me (but which did not go to air) it was alleged I offered David a house and car. As an auxiliary bishop of Melbourne I had no capacity to provide such things. This claim is untrue. David's claims are inconsistent, discre(lited and wrong.
Case of two girls
Let me set out a few facts surrounding the tragic case of the two young girls abused by Father O'Donnell. The perpetrator O'Donnell was already in gaol when I met the parents. There had been wide publicity. David Ridsdale This meeting took place as part David Ridsdale alleges that he phoned me in January 1993 to tell of a gathering at a Melbourne me of abuse by his uncle. I spoke parish around 1997 to apologise with him but have no record of and dialogue with victims and exactly when the conversation their families. There was no secret about the meeting. I attended took place. He accuses me of saying "What another such meeting at the same will it take to keep you quiet?" I parish. One girl was offered ex-gratia deny emphatically using any such words or any words to that effect. compensation after her case had People rarely swear at bishops been investigated by the Indeand priests, whatever they might pendent Commissioner. The Melbourne counselling say about us. I would remember if anyone, especially a young agency has authorised significant friend I was trying to help, swore payments for the medical conditions of one of the girls. These at me. I remember such things. At the public meeting with vic- have been accepted. In the letter of offer there is no tims and supporters one young fellow shouted that I was "a pious reference to any requirement of big bastard". I remembered that. secrecy and in the standard release there is no such reference David never swore at me. David said he phoned me in Jan- or requirement also. A person to whom an offer is uary 1993 and then went to the police.I took the call at Mentone. made may choose to reject the Until late January 1993 I was on compensation offer. In that event holiday at Torquay as was my they are free to take proceedings to court. If that occurs, it is the practice for nearly 30 years. In the Sun Herald on Sunday it intention of the compensation was alleged that David Ridsdale scheme that the rights of both the spoke to the police in August 1992. applicant and the Archdiocese This date is also found in a cou- remain unaffected by the previous discussions. Hence the need ple of magazines. He has never alleged that he for confidentiality. At no stage.
Richard Carleton interviews Archbishop Pell on "hush money" allegations.
Archbishop Pell being interviewed on 60 minutes last Sunday night. even during these confidential discussions, are people prevented from speaking about the abuse they suffered. People have always been free to use this system or the courts. The letter pointed this out. The invitations to use the courts is no attempt to hush people, because a trial inevitably brings wide publicity. The letter to family X which Carleton offered to me contained no reference to confidentiality. It is strange that Carleton did not acknowledge this.
was appointed Episcopal Vicar of Education, a non-executive parttime position representing the bishop on March 25, 1973. My main task was to chair the diocesan education board, an advisory group on policy. In 1974 I was appointed Principal of the Aquinas Campus of Institute of Catholic Education in Ballarat. a tertiary college of advanced education preparing teachers for Catholic schools. This was more than a full-time job.Iwas in Melbourne on one or two days a week. I had no direct role in the Walsh I remember the Walsh family appointment or supervision of from Ballarat East. but cannot teachers. Gerald Ridsdale was born in clearly identify Robert Walsh. 1934. I was born in 1941. We His story is a sad one. were never in any seminary His claim to have sent me eight letters is a mystery. We have together. I was training at Werchecked our records for 12 ribee 1960-63 and Rome 1963-67 months here in Sydney and can He was training at Weffibee 1954find no such letter. Iwonder what 58; Genoa 1958; Ireland 1960-61. I always strive to work amicably address he used. He never wrote with all my brother priests. This to Towards Healing in Sydney. In cases like this I always included Gerald Ridsdale. We respond. When the allegations were never close friends and overdo not touch my area of respon- lapped at St Alipius for about a sibility I refer them to the appro- year. I accompanied him in 1993 to priate bishop or religious the Magistrates' Court. My symsuperior and nominate the pathy was always with the victims agency which handles complaints. When they touch the and when I explained to his archdiocese of Sydney I refer lawyer I would insist on saying them to our investigations agency. that Ridsdale had done great damage to his victims, the Church Seventies Ballarat and himself, he declined to call During those years there were me as a witness and asked me to always three or four priests in res- accompany Ridsdale to court. I idence. I was appointed junior had little idea of the full extent assistant to Ballarat East - a busy and gravity of his crimes.I did so parish with five Catholic schools in priestly solidarity. This was a and a Catholic teachers' college mistake as it misled people about early in 1993.1was never appoint- my basic sympathies for the viced as chaplain to St Alipius Boys tims, borne out by all my subseSchool and never worked there.I quent work to root out this evil.
Being barbecued on 60 Minutes
When Archbishop Pell was ambushed by Richard Carleton on 60 Minutes he joined an elite group of political, business and religious leaders who, even though they might have felt confident and on the side of right and even media savvy, found themselves in continuous 'please explain' mode. The 'Love Canal case' is one of the key case studies used in public relations to highlight problems in agenda-setting in modern media. Page 10
The Love Canal, an abandoned electrical toluene, leachate and 3-4-5-T, Agent Orange, canal in the US, was bought in the early were seeping from the land. Journalists start1940s by Hooker Chemical, an industrial ed to report on birth defects. By 1979, after company, to dispose of its company waste observing silence on the advice of legal from its Niagara Falls plant. counsel, Hooker decided to go public about The Niagara Falls Board of Education insist- the issue and allowed its president to be ed that Hooker sell the land next to the canal Interviewed by reporter Mike Wallace on to construct a school, despite public and the CBS network show 80 Minutes. strong warnings from Hooker about the The interview lasted two hours but in the potential dangers of the land. eight and a half minutes that made it to air, By the 1970s such lethal chemicals as the Hooker president was barbecued. As
Eric Zuesse. a public relations commentator said in 1981, "If you believe that the guilty party in the Love Canal tragedy is the Hooker Chemical & Plastics Corporation, then you've been snookered." - Dr Mark Balnaves Associate Professor Mark Balnaves is ar-ordinator of the public relations program at Edith Cowan University. He is also co-author of the US French andGerman editions of thePenguin Atlas of Media andbeam-ration.
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Books and Authors
Rabid anti-Catholic author tells of his changed philosophy
ie author of best-selling mass-market books added another new book to the bookstores on May Z likely to be both influential and controversial. Scott Halm.a former evangelical Protestant minister who set out to prove why the Catholic Church is wrong and ended up becoming a Catholic, is a respected theologian and Scripture scholar, and co-host of two popular television shows in the US. His newest book, is "First Comes Love: Finding Your Family in the Church and the Trinity" (Doubleday). Zenit interviewed Dr. Hahn about a book that is likely to be influential - and controversial. ZENIT - Of the 10 books you've authored or coauthored, you say this is your most important. Why? HAHN - Because this is the first book in which I've been able to give the big picture of why I became Catholic. My other books bore fruit in a systematic or apologetic way, which many people appreciated. But none of that would have been possible without the biblical theology you find in "First Comes Love." With this book. I'm getting to the roots, which, for me, come down to three ideas: covenant theology, family solidarity, and the mystery of the 'ninny. When I was a Protestant. I affirmed all of these; I just never connected them. What I found, over time, was that the three converge in Catholicism. ZENIT - How do you see these Ideas converging? HAHN - Perhaps no one has brought it all together more concisely than Pope John Paul II. The first time he left the Vatican as Pope, he traveled to America and gave the world a key to understanding his papacy It was - • .1 a llinitarian key, but it was also familial and covenantal. He said: "God in His deepest mystery is not a solitude, but a family, since He has in Himself fatherhood. sonship. and the essence of the family, which is love." ZENIT - That's a compact statement. How do you develop these ideas and their interrelationship? HAHN - I usually explain them in terms of the "Family of God." and there are layers of meaning in that phrase. On the most superficial level, it means that the family your household and mine - belongs to God, and thus the Christian family is a domestic Church. Thldng it to the next level, we see that the Catholic Church is the earthly household of God, and that every member of the family has a distinctive role to play, a particular vocation. That's why the language of the Church is saturated with family terms. We call priests "father" and nuns "sister." We speak of baptism as "birth" and Eucharist as a family meal. All of this is beautiful. and yet all of this is secondary The most profound revelation of all is that God Himself is a family. When He revealed His name, his essential identity, He did so in family terms: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ZENIT - But aren't those words meant to be metaphors? Wasn't God trying to reveal Himself in terms that everyone could understand? HAHN - No and yes. In revelation. God always accommodates Himself to human ability, either by stooping down to our level or by lifting us up to His. I would say, however, that the family language and the family itself - is one way that God lifts us up to His own level. It's not His "role" that He's revealing here, as lawgiver or creator or redeemer. God is all those things because of the things He has done. But "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" is something of a different order. It's not a title; It's a name. And the name represents not something He's done, but Someone He is. A person's name, in the ancient world, stood for your soul, your most essential identity. And so the family is not something metaphorical about God, but something metaphysical. "Father, Son, and Holy Spina" is Who God is, from all eternity - unlike "lawgiver," "creator," and "redeemer," which are terms that depend upon His action in time. It would be more accurate to say that my family, the Hahns, are a metaphor for the Minify than to say that "Father, Son, and Spirit" is a metaphor for God. ZENIT - If the idea of the Family of God is so essential to Christianity why do Christians in the third millennium find it startling? HAHN -Ithink it's because we no longer know what family is. We read Jesus' words, and we nod at all the talk about God's fatherhood and human brotherhood. But we really are not equipped to understand what Jesus means. We don't know anything like the institution that Jesus called the family. ZENIT - Why? Because of the breakdown of the family in Western society? HAHN - No, it goes much deeper than sem Hahn is a that. Ancient cultures - in Rome, China, prolific writer of Israel, Africa - viewed the family primariboots ly in religious terms. Your family was not the nuclear family, or even the extended family, but all your relatives in the present generation as well as in the past and the future. 'lb describe this, I've bor•••••••_
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Dr. Hahn received his BA from Grove City College in Pennsylvania with a triple major of Theology. Philosophy and Economics (magna cum laude). He obtained his MDiv (summa cum laude) from Gordon-Conwell Seminary in 1982. In May 1995. he was awarded a PhD in Systematic Theology from Marquette University (Phi Beta Kappa). His dissertation was titled Kinship by Covenant: A Biblical Theological Analysis of Covenant Types & Texts in the Old and New Testaments. Dr. Hahn is a former ordained Presbyterian minister with ten years of ministry experience in congregations, and a former Professor of Theology at Chesapeake Theological Seminary. Dr. Hahn entered the Catholic Church at Easter 1986 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin while his wife, Kimberly, entered at Easter 1990 in Joliet, Illinois. (He and his wife have jointly authored a book documenting their conversion. It is entitled: Rome Sweet Home:Our Journey to Catholicism). Since 1990. he has served as Assistant Professor of Theology and Scripture at Franciscan University of Steubenville. He is founder and director of the Institute of Applied Biblical Studies: and editor of the Bulletin of Applied Biblical Studies since 1983. He has given over 600 talks in the U.S. and other countries on theological and biblical topics related to the Catholic faith. Dr. Hahn and his wife reside in Steubenville with their five children.
Or. Scott Hahn, addresses a crowd of more than 3500 at the first Fullness of Truth regional conference in Houston in early February. Fullness of Truth is a Catholic evangelisation ministry founded by Dr. Kenneth Zammit. Scott Hahn was a Presbyterian minister, and militantly anti-Catholic - until he reluctantly began to discover that his "enemy" had all the right answers. Kimberly, also a top-notch theology student in the seminary, is the daughter of a well-known Protestant minister, and went through a tremendous "dark night of the soul" after Scott converted to Catholicism. Their conversion story and love for the Church told in Rome Sweet Home has captured the hearts and minds of thousands of lukewarm Catholics. (CNS photo by Doug Creamer)
rowed a term from Carle Zimmerman of Harvard, who claim credibly. It's the only contender that is truly universal, united throughout the world as ills one through time. called this transcendent bond the "trustee family." The true Church transcends ethnicity, class, and everyZENIT - How does the covenant fit? HAHN - Covenant is what held the trustee family togeth- thing else that divides people. James Joyce was right when er. In the ancient world, a covenant was the sacred oath he defined Catholicism as "Here comes everybody." This that sealed or renewed a family bond. Marriage was a is the trustee family writ large, as only God can write it. covenant, and so was adoption. ZENIT - You develop the doctrine of the n the Old Testament, God entered a covenant rela- Trinity in ways that will surprise even your tionship with His chosen people. In the New Testa- longtime readers. I'm thinking in particument, Jesus renewed this and called it the "new lar of how you describe the "bridal matercovenant" in His blood. With that action, He created and nity" of the Holy Spirit. This sounds like sustains the Church as His abiding family, a trustee fami- the stuff of controversy. ly. HAHN -Ihope it's just the stuff of ScripZENIT - What did the ancients have that modern Chris- ture and Tradition. There's no time to tians lack? sketch out the idea here. It takes up an HAHN - I think it's this profound religious sense of the chapter and a large portion of the entire family. Today, we talk about family values, and we even in my book But it's an idea I've found expressed endnotes preach the religious foundations of these values. But we're the Bible. It echoes in the Fathers of the Church throughout still miles away from the trustee family. In the trustee famespecially the Syriac Fathers such as St. Epluem and ily, a sacred bond united members in the present genera- Aphrahat - and in the saints, from Catherine of Siena to tion with the ancestors who gave them life; the same bond Maximilian Kolbe and Edith Stein. For theological support, united them with their future descendants, who would I've relied upon the great Matthias Scheeben as well as perpetuate the family name, honor, and worship. This is Cardinals Congar and Ratzinger. hardly what most folks today mean when they speak of ZENIT - That sounds rich. "the family." But this is exactly what Jesus meant. Until we recover His vision, we can't adequately understand His HAHN - It is, but God wants to lavish His riches upon Church and His sacraments. Nor can we begin to under- us. The beauty of the faith is that God makes His revelastand and praise the Blessed Trinity, Who is the heavenly tion available so that anyone can think deeply without a archetype of all human families. doctorate. He makes the raw materials for contemplation ZENIT - Many denominations would claim to be God's of the mysteries available to ordinary people, like garage mechanics, shop workers, journalists like you, and dads trustee family.. HAHN - But only the Catholic Church can make the like me.
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The World in brief
Bishop reconciled
ROME (CNS) -- A top Vatican official said he expected Zambian Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo, who has been in an undisclosed location since reconciling with the church last year, to return to Italy and full ministry at the end of summer. Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said the African prelate was living outside Italy in a 'community of prayer and religious life' with priests and a retired bishop. "He is serene and happy, above all because of a regained peace of soul, and he Is preparing for a return to full exercise of the sacred ministry,' Archbishop Bertone said In a interview with 30 Days, an Italian Catholic magazine, that was to appear on newsstands in early June.
Gospel priority VATICAN CITY (CNS) Despite a shortage of resources and changing cultural climates, religious orders dedicated to missionary work must keep preaching salvation in Jesus as their No. 1 priority, said the head of the Vatican's missionary office. Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, spoke at the opening of a May 27-31 meeting with more than 230 superiors of missionary institutes. The congregation's task of supporting, directing and increasing Catholic missionary activity around the globe would be impossible without the religious orders that train and deploy thousands of missionary priests, religious and lay people, he said.
Vocation call
ROME (CNS) On a church feast dedicated to the Eucharist. Pope John Paul II urged Rome's young men to respond generously and without reserve if they felt a call to the priesthood. The 82-yearold pope let a Vatican cardinal celebrate the May 30 liturgy. the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, which in Rome ends with a eucharistic procession through the city streets. '(God's) people need the Eucharist,' the pope said in his homily during Mass, celebrated on the front steps of Rome's Basilica of St. John Lateran. 'In fact, it is the Eucharist that makes the church missionary. But is this possible without priests, who renew the eucharistic mystery?' he said.
Internet upset
WASHINGION (CNS) The president of the National Council of Catholic Women reacted sharply to the May 31 federal court decision that threw out part of a law aimed at keeping children away from pornography on the Internet. 'It is bad enough that pornographic and obscene sites on the Internet make untold dollars of profit through the exploitation of women,' said a statement from NCCW president Barbara Garavalia. The three-judge panel said the law went too far because the filters can also block access to sites that contain protected speech. Page 12
Pardons undermine truth
by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on the basis that CAPE TOWN, South Africa their deeds had no political moti(CNS) - South African church offi- vation. Most of those pardoned cials have criticised the presiden- fought in the struggle against tial pardon of prisoners refused apartheid and are members of the amnesty by South Africa's Truth ruling African National Congress and Reconciliation Commission. and the Pan Africanist Congress. "Reparations have not yet been "It is a slap in the face for the made to those identified as vic- poor that the presidential pardon tims by the truth commission and comes quicker than the promised who gave up their civil rights to reparations," said Holy Family Sissue perpetrators," said Neville ter Shelagh Mary Waspe, coordiGabriel, who heads the justice nator of the Johannesburg and peace department of the Diocese's justice and peace comSouthern African Catholic Bish- mission. Freeing people who were ops' Conference in Pretoria. refused amnesty "undermines the "You can't expect people to sign truth commission's work," she away their human rights and then said in a telephone interview from change the rules of the game. This Johannesburg. Noting that "the Is a grave injustice," Gabriel said purpose of amnesty and reparaIn a telephone interview from Pre- tions is to bring about the healing toria. of painful injuries," Gabriel said, South African President Thabo "we need to ask whether these Mbeld pardoned 33 people in pardons help South Africa's healMay for crimes including murder ing process or make it worse." and robbery. Among them were "It is like rubbing salt in the men who were refused amnesty wounds of those who are owed By Bronwen Dachs
reparations as well as victims of petitioning the head of state for a apartheid whose stories were not pardon or a reprieve. You make a heard by the commission," he proper motivation and leave it to said. The commission probed the him to decide," Maduna said. occurrence of human rights abus"In principle, the president is es from 1948, when the national- entitled to consider any applicaist government took power, until tion for a pardon, but what Mbeki the country's first all-race elec- has done is questionable in our tions in April 1994. current political context." Gabriel To qualify for amnesty - as part said. He also said that selective of the settlement between the presidential pardons for those former white government and the refused amnesty by the truth comnow-ruling African National Con- mission make a de facto general gress - applicants had only to amnesty. "There are clear indicamake a full disclosure of their part tions that across-the-board disIn atrocities and prove that they cussions about a general amnesty were politically motivated. are taking place," Gabriel said. Justice Minister Pennell The truth commission, which Maduna has insisted that the closed its offices in March after presidential pardon is not the six years of hearings, is due to start of a general amnesty for publish parts of its final report in those jailed for political offences. late June. He said at a May 16 meeting in Gabriel said he expects this docPretoria that he expects more ument "to come out strongly in applications for pardons and favour of individual compensareprieves from people serving tion for those identified as vicsentences for political violence. tims, as well as symbolic and "Nothing prevents anyone from soda! reparations."
Cup delays First Communion Mass Bishops
praise new treaty
By Paulinus Barnes
MANCHESI'Elt. England (CNS) - An English priest postponed his parish's first Communion Mass so his congregation could watch England's opening match in The 2002 FIFA World Cup. In a move welcomed by parishioners or St Gabriel Parish in Castleton. Father Mark Harold moved the June 2 Mass from llam to 1pm. Father Harold, a soccer fanatic, said he made the decision because he feared people would be "glued to their TV screens" watching England play Sweden in Saitama, japan, in a match that kicks off at 10:30 a.m. in Britain. Father Harold. a Manchester United season-ticket holder, told the English weekly paper The Catholic Times that he did not want to cause any split loyalties between families on the day. "The dates for the First Holy Communion were planned quite a while ago." he said. "Then about three weeks ago people started asking me whether I knew that the first World Cup match started at the same time.
English soccer star David Beckham, left, on Awaji Island, Japan, preparing for The 2002 FIFA World Cup, signs the shirts of fans.
"I took the hint, so I started asking around if people wouldn't mind the First Communion Mass being postponed.I also asked the opinion of people who weren't interested in football, and they
thought it was a good idea. "Parents, teachers, children, and even the organist said they would like to watch the game, as would I - even though I'm a Scotland fan - so the decision was made."
Catholic hospitals face moral threat By Tracy Early NEW YORK (CNS) - The future of Catholic hospitals is threatened by efforts to end their access to public funds unless they provide services such as contraception and abortion that violate Catholic moral standards, according to Auxiliary Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan of Brooklyn. "We've got a tough battle ahead of us," he said in an address May 24. He said Planned Parenthood and other organisations promoting reproductive services were working for state legislation requiring provision of these services by hospitals receiving Medicare and Medicaid, funding essential to hospital budgets. These "adversaries" of the Catholic approach to health care are starting in New York and California, with an expectation that other states will follow if success is achieved there, he said. "I don't think we can win in the legislatures," he said. "Our hope is in the courts." Bishop Sullivan made his remarks in an address to the May
19-24 Catholic Health Care Administrative Personnel Program, known as CHAP, which is held annually at St. John's University in New York with co-sponsorship by St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centres. Sister Annelle Fitzpatrick, a Sister of St. Joseph who has been coordinator of the program since its inauguration in 1984, said it drew 50 participants this year, including six from Ireland and four from Australia. Both houses of the New York Legislature have passed versions of a bill that would require employers that receive public funds to cover contraceptives in insurance for employees. Bishop Sullivan said he expects the governor to sign a final bill. The fact that large sectors of the Catholic population disagree with church teaching on contraception makes it difficult for Catholic officials to fight such legislation politically, the bishop said. He said the conscience clause for this bill applied only if most of the employees and most of the patients in a church-run institu-
non were members of the sponsoring church, a condition not found in Catholic hospitals. Catholics operate the largest system of nonprofit health care facilities in the nation, and pressures become more intense when a Catholic hospital is the only facility in a region, Bishop Sullivan said. Noting that medical services such as cardiology are not mandated, he said the New York State attorney general justified the demand for reproductive services on the ground that the U.S. Supreme Court had declared them "constitutionally protected." and had not done so for other areas of medical care. The attorney general has set up a bureau of reproductive services In his office, and intervenes to insist on continued provision of these services whenever a Catholic hospital seeks to merge with a non-Catholic institution, he said. In some cases, he said, arrangements have been made for those services to continue without the Catholic institution providing them directly.
WASHINGTON (CNS) - The U.S.-Russia nuclear treaty is a step toward a safer world, but more needs to be done, said the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The treaty, signed on May 24 by U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin, represents one of several steps needed to attain the goal of a "mutual. verifiable global ban on nuclear weapons." said Bishop Wilton Gregory of Belleville, Illinois, USCCB president. "This treaty is an example of the useful role that independent initiatives can play in moving forward the longstalled nuclear arms-reduction process," Bishop Gregory said in a statement released on May 28. The bishop noted that. despite a proposed two-thirds reduction in the U.S.-Russian nuclear warhead arsenal, both countries still will have "thousands of deployed nuclear weapons and thousands more held in reserve for possible future use." The bishop argued for more drastic cuts in nuclear arms, saying the U.S. bishops disagree with those who say the United States cannot reduce its nuclear stockpiles any further without jeopardising national safety. "Much deeper, more irreversible cuts, in both strategic and tactical weapons, are both possible and necessary," he said. The bishop called on the U.S. government and other nations to promote the development of democracies in countries that have nuclear weapons and those that seek to obtain them. "The United States, with other nuclear powers, has a special responsibility to use its influence and resources to lead in the construction of a more just and stable international order," he said. The treaty said the United States and Russia should reduce their nuclear arsenals to 1,700 to 2,200 nuclear warheads apiece by 2012.
ecord
6 June, 2002
ride Call to missions remains rHarley aises cash for youths strong says John Paul By Julie Carroll
By Cindy Wooden
VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Being a foreign missionary is difficult, and sometimes life-threatening, but Jesus continues to Call Christians to make disciples of all nations. Pope John Paul II said. "In the face of the problems, the difficulties, the misunderstandings and the drop in vocations to lifelong missionary work, the temptations of discouragement and tiredness can arise sometimes," the Pope told more than 230 leaders of missionary religious orders. "Resist these risks by drawing the strength to overcome every obstacle from your deep union with God: he told the missionary leaders on May 31 at the end of a five-day meeting sponsored by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. According to the congregation, the superiors represented about 400.000 priests, religious and lay people involved in missionary work around the globe. The meeting focused on challenges to missionary work. cooperation with local bishops and relations with the Vatican congregation, which oversees the Church's missionary activity Pope John Paul told the superiors that members of religious orders always have been the frontline forces of the Church's missionary efforts. "Many of them have left their homes, their families and countries of origin, pushing with courage toward the farthest corners of the earth to bring the message of the Gospel to every man and woman." he said. "Frequently they faced difficulties and obstacles, hardship and sacrifices. Some sealed their witness to Christ with martyrdom,"
Pope John Paul II presides over a Mass for the feast of Corpus Christi in Rome. After the Mass, celebrated on the steps of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Pontiff was driven through Rome. Photo. CNS,Reuters
the Pope said. Like the vast array tals and work for justice and of holy missionaries of the past. peace. he said, today's missionaries must In Africa and other parts of the go forward with dedication and world, ongoing civil conflicts and with trust that God is with them the growth of religious fundaalways, "in moments of spiritual mentalism make the missionarintensity and of 'harvesting the ies' job more difficult, they said. fruits,' as well as in times of hard In some parts of Asia, governwork and suffering." ment restrictions on religious In regional reports to the assem- freedom hamper the Church's bly, the missionary superiors mission, while in many parts of spoke of cultural characteristics the continent, the Christian faith that make many peoples open to Is seen as "foreign" to local culthe Christian message, especially ture. respect for spiritual beliefs and In Oceania and Latin America, traditions, strong family life and a the growing focus on amassing feeling of community, and grati- material goods and enjoying the tude for Catholic schools. hospi- moment run counter to the mes-
Church's stren By Ann Aubrey Hanson SAN DIEGO (CNS) - While scandal rocks the church in America, and headlines scream "Can the Catholic Church save itself?" the work of the church continues quietly around the globe, saving lives, improving quality of life and attempting to foster peace. "There is a strength and sense of permanence" in people's minds when they think of the Catholic Church, said Paul Hicks, an American working in Mindanao, the largest island in the Philippines. for Catholic Relief Services, the development and aid arm of the US Catholic Church. Hicks of St. Columba Parish in San Diego, was interviewed by The Southern Cross, San Diego diocesan newspaper, during a recent trip home. "There is a long-standing global sense of appreciation for the Church," Hicks said, adding that in Mindanao there is a "historic experience of trust and relationship with the church," more so than with transient governments. In Mindanao, CRS is welcomed as an envoy of the Church, though the agency is there to serve, not proselytise, he said. On Mindanao, Christians and Muslims live together and work without problems, with the Muslim population happy to partner with CRS for the good of the community. Though there is tension from radical Muslim factions on the southwest side of the island, the rest of the population finds ways to work together.
sage of justice, morality and eternal salvation preached by the missionaries, they said. At the meeting's final Mass , Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, head of the evangelisation congregation, told the missionaries: "No obstacle or difficulty will stop us from reaching new lands and peoples. "We will not allow any political or ideological wind or storm to put out the fire of the Spirit which has been given to us, the interior passion which impels us to bring Christ to our brothers and sisters or the joy of proclaiming the kingdom of the Father, who is rich in mercy," the cardinal said.
COON RAPIDS, Minn. (CNS) - A chain of Harley Davidsons and racing bikes ripped and roared through the serene countryside, leaving a brown cloud of dust in their wake. Heads raised as 24 snarling engines proclaimed the pack's arrival in sleepy farming towns along the way. Leatherclad bikers stared purposefully at the gray horizon before them as if on a dangerous mission. Once at their destination, they lined up their bikes in a neat row, unstrapped their helmets - and filed into St Francis Xavier Church to pray. It was the bikers' first of five stops at Catholic churches to raise money for parishioners at the Church of the Epiphany in Coon Rapids to attend World Youth Day in Toronto on July 23-28. Epiphany custodian Bob Mathewson organised the event, which brought in close to $1000. The bikers started their pilgrimage at Epiphany, where Father Joel Cycenas. flanked by red-and-purple-vested Knights of Columbus, used a tree branch to sprinkle holy water on the bikes. After the blessing. Father Cycenas traded his stole for a black leather jacket, revved up his brother's Harley and led the procession of bikers. From Epiphany, the 44 riders traveled 150 miles round-trip to nearby parishes. At each church, the bikers had the opportunity to take a tour, pray and enjoy refreshments. They also received a playing card at each stop. The person with the best poker hand at the end of the trip was awarded $100.
persisting Sentiment swings on suicide
"Conflicts within cultures and communities are the biggest impediments to programs' success," said Hicks. "Seventy percent of our work is conflict management. Most of the time, these conflicts are inherent - political, social and familial." CRS' social justice efforts are based on "a universal Catholic concept of solidarity" he said, and peace is dependent "on creating communities where people can get along to get things done" for the good of the community for the good of all the citizens. "All of our work is seen through a 'justice lens,'" said Hicks. "In all we do, we ask ourselves, where is the justice, measured by the Church's social justice teachings. After all, if you want peace, you must have justice." Hicks has been with CRS for three years, first in Albania and now in the Philippines. He was in Honduras with the Peace Corps in 1993-1995. In Mindanao, he now wears several hats, but his primary title is project manager for the new agriculture-natural resources program. His main task is to travel throughout the island, meeting the people of the farming communities and gathering facts and opinions relating to agriculture and land use. From that information, he evaluates the needs of the region and helps to design the project. As elsewhere around the world, in Mindanao CRS is present in an advisory capacity, training local residents to do the work when CRS leaves.
PRINCETON, N.J. (CNS) - A Gallup Poll of American attitudes on a range of moral issues showed strong opposition to the cloning of humans or animals, abortion, suicide, homosexual behavior and affairs between married men and women. But half of the Americans polled said doctor-assisted suicide was morally acceptable, and more than half said it was morally acceptable to conduct medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos and for unmarried men and women to have sex. Among 14 topics rated according to their moral acceptability, the death penalty ranked highest, with 65 percent judging it to be acceptable, followed by divorce and medical testing on animals, each considered morally acceptable by 63 percent of the respondents. Least acceptable were cloning humans (7 per cent), affairs between married people (9 per cent) and suicide (12 per cent). The Gallup Poll was conducted May 6-9 among 1,012 adults contacted by telephone. The margin of error for the survey was plus or minus 3 percentage points. Asked to rate the overall state of moral values in the United States, only 1 percent described it as "excellent," 17 percent as "good," 41 percent as "only fair" and 40 percent as "poor." Older Americans, women. those who describe themselves as conservative and those who attend religious services weekly were more likely than other groups to assess the nation's moral state as poor. More than half (52 per cent) of those who attend church weekly said they felt moral conditions were poor, as did 35 per
cent of those who attend nearly weekly and 34 per cent of those who attend less often than that. Asked whether they felt moral values in the US were getting better or worse, 24 per cent of the respondents said they were getting better and 67 per cent said they were getting worse. However, in the same May 6-9 survey, 56 per cent of Americans said they were satisfied with the general state of the country and only 40 per cent said they were dissatisfied. "Despite Americans' overall satisfaction with the state of the nation these days, the poll finds that the public is fairly critical of the state of moral values," said a report by Gallup researcher, Lydia Saad. "Fewer than one in five adults give the country high ratings on this score, and most see values deteriorating rather than improving." For each of the 14 issues in the survey, respondents were asked, "regardless of whether or not you think it should be legal," whether "you personally believe that in general it is morally acceptable or morally wrong." Fifty-three per cent of the respondents said abortion was morally wrong, an increase of eight per cent since the same question was asked by Gallup in May 2001. While 83 per cent said suicide was morally wrong, only 44 per cent had the same assessment for doctor-assisted suicide. Ninety per cent said cloning humans was morally wrong, and 66 per cent said it was morally wrong to clone animals. Medical research using stem cells from human embryos was considered morally acceptable by 52 per cent. Page 13
Asian Catholic News
6 June, 2002
Listen to our voice, say disabled KATHMANDU (UCAN) - A group of disabled Nepalese children have raised their voices saying they want recognition and equal opportunities, not pity and sympathy. Twenty-two disabled children held open discussions with government and civil leaders, along with many journalists, calling for change and telling of the challenges they face. They gave "speeches," many of them through sign language, sang songs, performed a play, and screened video films about themselves at the May 24-25 meeting on "Hamro Awaz Sunnuhos" (listen to our voice) at Bhikutimandap Hall in central Kathmandu. The hall, the largest in the country, had a row of small "stalls" decorated with posters and banners for each of the children to sit in and meet visitors. Hari Sapkota, one of the children on crutches, said, "We may be physically disabled, but if you give us equal opportunities, we can compete and stand out in society."
"Do not think we are weaker than you. We do not need your sympathy or pity. The agony of being discriminated against has been ours to bear - there is no respect or consideration that we are part of society," he added. Sapkota stressed that disabled children do not want to be separated from society or regarded as being different. Josh Bahadur, a fifth grader from eastern Nepal's Ilam district, told UCA News, "Nothing works from my waist clown but I do not feel weak" "I go to my village school by dragging myself. It is uphill, so it takes me one and a half hours to reach there. But in the evening I beat the others as it is downhill. I play as goalkeeper in soccer games," he said. However, many of the children also spoke of the difficulties they face. Sapkota, who hails from western Nepal's Baglung district, told UCA News that disabled children have to pay admission and monthly fees even in special schools. Yet,
those without fingers are never given extra time to complete examinations, he lamented. He noted that a few disabled children have received "some sort of identity cards" from the government to help them commute, but are still charged fares by local buses. "The bus conductors like the general public know nothing about these cards," he said. He pointed out that despite government rules to help the disabled, footpaths and roads "are not at all built for wheelchairs." He also noted that although there is a government office in Kathmandu that offers the disabled free wheelchairs, "getting them involves bureaucratic hassles." The event that gathered the children from 16 districts was organized jointly by Save the Children Fund United Kingdom, National Federation of the Disabled, and the Nepalese Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare. Simon Mollison of the Save the Children Fund told UCA News, "The program here
was chalked out by the children themselves, who have success stories to tell." "We call these people disabled but in fact they are more able than us, and the stories of their efforts and achievements put us to shame," he added. At the May 24 inauguration that some 500 people attended, popular writer Jhamak Kumari, seated in a wheelchair, released a pictorial book, "Bais Thunga Fulham" (22 blooming flowers), on the daily lives of 22 children. IChagendra Shangraula, whose book was also released, said in sign language that many disabled people are confined by their families in "dark rooms," or sleep on straw inside cow stables like animals. "Our Hindu country is infected with the misconception that a child is born handicapped owing to the past sins of the parents, who become embarrassed" to admit the child's existence, he added.
Problems not solved through violence Obituary
Father Edward le Joly
HONG KONG (UCAN) - The Christian Conference of Asia has called on India and Pakistan to start peace talks to "transform the climate of grave fear" gripping the South Asian region. The conference, a fellowship of 108 member councils and Churches in Asia with a membership of 55 million, issued May 27 a statement addres.sed to Indian Prime Minister Atal Behar' Vajpayee and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. It expressed concern over the "heightened tension" along the border, while urging the Indian and Pakistani governments to start "confidence-building" measures. "Long-term solutions must be found to thorny issues such as the status of Kashmir and the rise of armed militants and fanatics," the statement said. "These problems will not be solved by further violence. "We strongly urge both governments to focus the scarce resources of both nations on the alleviation of poverty, education, employment-creation, health and on building interreligious harmony," it added. The signatories, who included conference officers from Hong Kong, India, Korea. Malaysia. New Zealand and Sri Lanka, noted that peace is built in "small steps." Every step toward peace is important in developing a "culture of peace," the statement added. Meanwhile, South Asians for Human Rights, a regional NGO comprising more than 1,000 human rights activists, also issued a statement on May 30 at the end of its meeting in Lahore, Pakistan. The statement said, "The spectre of another conflict between India and Pakistan is again haunting one fifth of humankind," but the people of both countries "desire only peace. Unfortunately,
diabolic designs are beginning to cloud the minds of governments," it said. "This is what the terrorists want and this is what people on both sides must resist." India and Pakistan, it said, must
"resolve to eschew war and trust the process of sustained dialogue to resolve all causes of tension." "Geography has thrown us together and we cannot run away from our duty and obligation
towards one another," it added. The organization formed two years ago pledged itself in the statement to struggle against militancy, militarization and fanaticism in South Asian countries.
CAlfilTrA. India (CNS)- Belgian Jesuit Father Edward le Joly, who served as spiritual director to the late Mother Thresa and her congregation. died May 27 in Calcutta. He was 93. Missionaries of Charity sisters prayed with their superior, Sister Nirmala Joshi, four bishops, priests and hundreds of other faithful during the funeral on May 29 at the Jesuit cemetery in Baruipur, outside Calcutta. reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. Father le joly had been the Missionaries of Charity "confessor and spiritual father" for 33 years, Sister Nirmala said after the service. "He was a great spiritual help, and till the end we had kept in contact with him." "The holy man was good to us." she said. The priest's retreats and spiritual writings. "especially the meditations. which even Mother Teresa used, help us so much," she said. Edward le Joly was born on April 11, 1909. in Liege, Belgium. He served several years in the military and obtained a doctorate in law, after which his father, a jeweler, wanted him to join the family business. He joined the Jesuits in 1933. opting to be a missionary in India. He arrived in Calcutta at the end of 1937. As spiritual adviser to the Missionaries of Charity, Father le Joly wrote three books on or for the congregation: one was a book of meditations that Mother Teresa used daily. Father le Joly wrote 22 other books that resulted in 77 translations in various languages. The Calcutta provincial. Jesuit Father Francis Jerome, said Father le Joly was known for his spiritual direction. "He used to sit in front of an empty chair waiting for people to come to him," Father Jerome said.
DURI. Indonesia (UCAN) Catholics of a parish in Padang diocese, western Indonesia, have benefited from a pilot project that empowers them to help themselves. At the beginning of 2001, St. Joseph Church in Dun, a town about 90 kilometres north of Pekanbaru, capital of Riau province, offered assistance to
eight Catholic families from four parish stations. Each family received a couple of young pigs, seedlings, manure and medication. Pekanbaru is 900 kilometres northwest of Jakarta. Bambang Siswanto, head of the parish's social committee, told UCA News on May 5 that one of the pigs given to Antonius Sihombing, a
parishioner, eventually gave birth which is very useful for us.Ihope to seven piglets. According to an more needy people, especially agreement with the parish, those living far from the parish Sihombing returned the sow, the centre, can be helped," Siswanto mother pig, to the social commit- quoted Sihombing as saying. tee. From his farm, Sihombing Another Catholic, Yosef Hariancould pay school tuition and ja, who received seedlings and boarding fees for his child, manure, said the parish's assisSiswanto added. tance helped improve his family's "The committee gave something income. "Vegetables from our
yard are enough not only for the family's consumption, but also for sale to add to our income, which enables us to pay our child's school tuition," Harianja was quoted as saying. Siswanto said the parish wants to empower people to help themselves. That is why "we don't give people fish but fishhooks," he said.
Poll Devi fans her 2-year-old daughter at a camp In Devipur near Jammu, India, May 27. Thousands of Indians living near the border with Pakistan have fled their villages in fear of a coming war between the two countries. Indian bishops have called for dialogue to end the tensions between the two countries. Photo CNS Reuters
Pilot project helps parishioners help themselves in Indonesia
Page 14
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Stargazing
with Dr Moonunit Vacanctare PhD (Oxen) Dip. Fencing
This month: Aries (sign of the Ram) ne would imagine that your little experiment with the penguins, which you describe as catechesis but which fellow parishioners still talk about in hushed tones, would have been enough to indicate that your fascination with these creatures is, quite frankly. disturbing - this. quite apart from the embarrassment to your family. I will say
O
no more on the subject but be aware. I know what you are up to. Later this month I predict you will win a fortune. lose it. win it again and then lose it again. Be prepared for paranoia. depression and ostriches. Lucky numbers: 3.1428571. Lucky colours: fluorescent yellow. Do not accept foolish advice from complete strangers. Beware three fat men with balloons who plan to jump from a great height in order to land on you. In such situations as these I always advise stargazers to adopt the Boy Scout motto: be prepared.
Teen abortion drug warning Concern has been expressed at tion is a sales and marketing effort recently reported lobbying (The defying common sense". Ms Joseph Advertiser, June 3) by drug compa- said that the description of the drug ny Schering for permission to sell as 'emergency contraception' was the morning-after pill Postinor-2 inaccurate and did not reflect the without prescription through super- abortion inducing nature of the drug. markets and vending machines. The "Women are not being told that drug is expected to be released in one of the effects of the morningAustralia, initially on prescription, in after pill is that the embryo is prevented from implanting in the July. Spokesperson for the Australian uterine wall, thereby causing an Federation of Right to Life Associa- early abortion. tions, Mary Joseph, has called on "By describing morning-after pills Federal Health Minister Senator Kay as 'emergency contraception' or by Patterson to reject moves to intro- describing an embryo as a 'fertilised duce the drug into Australia. ovum', those offering these drugs are "There is advice on the Schering misleading women and denying parent company Internet site them the opportunity to give their (www.women-and-men.de) that full informed consent to an abortion. morning-after pills are not suitable "Regardless of opinions on aborfor regular use", said Ms Joseph. tion, women should be given full and "The proposal to make this drug accurate information on the action freely available to teenagers or any- of morning-after pills, including the one else though vending machines fact that this drug can cause an early or supermarkets without prescrip- abortion," she said.
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THANKS PRAYER to St Jude. Say for 9 days. Most holy apostle, St Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus. the Church honours and invokes you universally as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me I implore you of that particular privilege given to you to bring visible and speedy health where health is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities tribulations and sufferings. particularly "here make your request". and that I may praise god with you and all the elect forever. I promise o blessed St Jude to be ever faithful of this great favour to always honour you as my special and powerful patron and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen. MS
Confirmation, Bentley - Mgr P McCrann Confirmation for the Indonesian Community at Applecross Bishop Healy 9
11 12 13 14
Confirmation followed by Latin Mass, 10.30 am, Pro-Cathedral Archbishop Hickey Disciples of Jesus Gathering, Aranmore College Bishop Sproxton Heads of Churches Meeting. Wollaston College Archbishop Hickey Visit Confirmation Candidates. lona Presentation Primary School - Archbishop Hickey Council of Priests' Meeting, Glendalough - Archbishop Hickey, Bishop Sproxton Confirmation, Mosman Park - Archbishop Hickey Confirmation, North Beach - Mgr Michael Keating14 / 15 Confirmation, Beaconsfield - Fr G Carroll
14-16 Parish Visitation and Confirmation, Mosman Park Bishop Sproxton 16 Thanksgiving Mass for Fr Robert Carrillo's Silver Jubilee of Ordination to Priesthood. Canning Vale - Archbishop Hickey Graduation Mass, University of Notre Dame Australia Archbishop Hickey 18 Confirmation. Newman College (at Our Lady of the Rosary, Doubleview) - Bishop Sproxton Inaugural Major Benefactors Dinner, University of Notre Dame Australia - Archbishop Hickey Confirmation, John XXIII College - Mgr Michael Keating 19 19 Launch for "Australian Centre for NaproTechnology and Fertility Care. St John of God Conference Centre, Subiaco 19/20 Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Mark Coleridge, Melbourne Bishop Sproxton 20 Presentation of Youth Book. St Norbert's College Archbishop Hickey
Archcliocesan Panorama HEALING MASS In honour of St. Peregrine, patron of cancer sufferers and helper of all in need will be held at the Church of SS John and Paul, Pinetree Gully road. (off South St) Willetton. on Thurs June 20 at 7pm. There will be Veneration of the Relic and Anointing of the Sick. For Info: Noreen Monaghan 9332 8292. SOUTHERN AREA MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUP Bateman Parish Meeting Room, Wednesday June 26, 7.30-9.00pm. Coffee and tea provided. Please drop in and visit us. Contact Aileen 9330 2651, Jenny 9332 4532. Lesley 9337 6295, Margaret 9364 8146. FLAME YOUTH MEETING Why do we believe in only One God? What is 'one holy catholic and apostolic Church"? Flame Youth Ministry presents 'I believe.. we believe... '. Explaining the Nicene Creed. 8pm Fridays. starting June 28 till August 2. The Alverna Centre. St Lawrence Church, 392 Albert Street. Balcatta. Children's Ministry available for children up to 12 years.The youth meeting caters for youth 18+. Information Linda 9382 3668. or email: fmi@flameministries.org BULLSBROOK HEALING MASS Shrine of the Virgin of the Revelation. 36 Chittering Road, Bullsbrook. Holy Mass is celebrated for the physical and spiritual healing of the sick on June 9. Reconciliation and Holy Rosary in the Shrine commence at 2pm. Mass at 2.30pm followed by the blessing of the sick and the anointing of the seriously ill with the Sacrament of the Sick. TWILIGHT RETREAT FOR YOUNG MEN Come apart to the beautiful surrounding of the Redemptorist Monastery. 190 Vincent St. North Perth. for an evening of prayer and reflection on God's call in your life. Saturday June 15. 4 - 10pm. Includes Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help at 4.30 and Mass at 5pm. Supper is provided. Enquiries: Fr Hugh Thomas: 9328 6600. MENTAL HEALTH The group for carers and people with mental health concerns meets on the second Monday. The next meeting will be on 10/06/02 at 7.30 pm in the parish centre of Our Lady of Lourdes. 23 Marda Way. Nollamara. Further details, Pat 9275 2809 TALKS AT JOHN XXIII COLLEGE 'Dealing with difficult people', presenter Hasser Graham (Psychologist) S5 (donation unwaged).Tues 11 June 7.30-9.30pm. 'Transforming our wounds', presenter Murray Graham (Inigo director). Donation for lnigo Centre. Sat 15 June, 11am-1pm. Venue for both talks: Multipurpose room, John XXIII College. Details: Murray 9383 0444.
COUPLES FOR CHRIST A Christian Family Life Renewal Movement, invites: married couples. singles, men and women. A Christian life program orientation talk on Friday 21 June, 7pm for a 7.30 start. St Joachim's Church parish hall, 122 Shepperton Road Victoria Park. Inquiries: Philip & Helen Lee, tel 9361 0580. COVENANT SUNDAY Schoenstatt Family Day Picnic, 9 Talus Drive, A rmadale. You're invited to join the Schoenstatt Families in prayers, family activities and fun for the children! Covenant Sunday - June 23. Joy in the Family" Picnic at 12pm. activities at 1pm. BYO Eats. Covenant Devotions at 3pm. COLUMBAN STUDENT REUNION A ll ex seminarians of St Columbans College are invited to a special closure weekend on the 16,17 and 18 August. We would like you to join us for this occasion. Please contact us (02)9488 8844. Fax (02 9449 4967. Email:cmi@ columban. org.au or write 420 Bobbin Head Rd. North Turramurra.2074. We need to hear from you! SPIRITUALITY IN THE PUB Monthly gatherings of Spirituality in the Pub are planned to resume Wed July 24. Fourth Wednesday of each month 7.30-9.10pm at the Elephant and the Wheelbarrow Hotel, 53 Lake St, Northbridge. WHITENOISE Gospel Arts Expo - bands, singers. dance, art. multimedia. Sat. July 27, 6.30pm. The Bridge Theatre (146 Beaufort St, Mt Lawley). S5 entry (under 13 free). Stalls to promote your group/activities available. Contact Natasha at Scripture Union (9443 5055) for tickets/more info. SISTERS OF MERCY FAREWELL Our Lady of Lourdes Community wishes to invite all ex-Parishioners. Students and Friends of Our Lady of Lourdes to a Farewell Mass for the Sisters of Mercy (West Perth) on Wednesday June 12 commencing at 9.30am. For further information please contact John Topliss on 9349-1233. CENTENARY CELEBRATION DINNER St Joseph's Parish Northam will celebrate the 100th anniversary of their church on July 13. The parish will be holding a Centenary Celebration Dinner on Saturday July 13 at 7pm at the P B Kirby Centre. Tickets are available by telephoning Nick Spadaccini on 9622 15238 or 0428 929 076. Prior to the dinner a Vigil Mass will be held at 5.30pm on Saturday July 13. On Sunday morning July 14 at 9.30am, a Mass to celebrate the occasion will also include the laying of a commemorative stone, the blessing of the a bell and will be followed by Morning Tea in the Kirby Centre.
Page 15
The Last Word
aryCa remarka service family a Churc
M
ary Carr was a lady who lived her IrishCatholic faith to the full, for all of her 96 years. A lifetime's devotion to her family, the Church and the Church conununity sets Mary apart as a most remarkable woman in what might seem at first examination, a quite unremarkable life. But it was a life packed with service to others - of loving and caring for those around her and those in need - and one that went mostly unheralded. It was a life of teaching and nurturing the young - of standing up and being counted when it was needed and of recognising and filling the needs of her parents, her husband, her children and grandchildren. Her last few years have been marked by her devotion to her parish and to good works within the parish, and to her family. She died on April 9, 2002. Her Requiem Mass was held in her parish church, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Willagee, at which Father Lyons spoke of Mary's great faith and her great devotion to Our Lady. Mary Carr is survived by her three daughters, Margaret Kerrigan, Pat Conway and Mary Carr and her son Owen Carr, her 11 grandchildren and her much loved 11 great grandchildren. Since her husband, George died in 1990, Mary has busied herself with her family, always happy to have spontaneous visits from family to chat about the happenings of her children and their families. These grandchildren often would have a holy picture or a religious picture book given to them to take home. Mary lived alone, happy working in her garden until last November when a slight stroke left her a little unsteady on her feet. She moved to Illawong Hostel in Hamilton Hill in November and became very settled there, even finding an old school chum from St Joseph's days living across the hall from her. With regular visits from Fr Lyons from her parish and a Minister of the Eucharist from Hilton when her father won a contract she was allowed to continue with parishioners walked great disParish, she felt she was still able with the Melville Road Board to the classes. tances to get to Mass, some from to live her faith. cart stone for the building of CanMary was very devoted to her as far away as Canning Bridge. Both of Mary's parents migrated ning Highway. He purchased a parents, nursing her mother at Mary Carr from Ireland. firstly to eastern property in Palmyra with enough home prior to her death and George always gave the most distant people a ride home, leaving Australia and then to Western space to stable the horses and Australia at the time of the gold there was one in the area. Her with sheds for the dray used in telling her husband-to-be that she his family at times to walk the would only marry him if he would shorter distance to their home. rush at the turn of the last centu- parents were very involved in the this project. move into the home she shared Later local Catholic community whera special bus ran each SunryHappy days were spent at school Mary's mother, Mary St Ledger. ever they resided, her father often and within the Palmyra parish with her father so she could con- day for these people. left County Clare on a ship as a being the altar boy for the priest, that extended from North Fre- tinue to care for him. Mary was very proud of her Irish Mary taught for the Education 16-year-old, one of eight children reciting the Latin responses mantle to Canning Bridge. St Department until her marriage at heritage and St Patrick's Day was of parents who were peasant and travelling to outlying Anne's in North Freman- the age of 35 to George Carr, the a favourite of hers. She always celfarmers who struggled to keep areas with the priest to ebrated this feast day - from the tle was where they boy the family had known all Mass and the sports day that foltheir large family, still suffering say Mass. travelled to Mass and those years ago in Kellerberrin lowed at Subiaco Oval in days the effects of the potato famine. His responses for to play tennis and had kept up the friendship gone by, to just last month attendMary's father Michael Morrow the Mass were before an oratory had come from County Cavan. always in a very ing Mass in Willagee, wearing her was built in Point over the years. George and Mary were married green ribbon. Although her parents had left loud Irish Walter Rd and their homes as teenagers for a bet- brogue to the In later years. Mary and George later St Ger- In St Gerard's Church Palmyra on ter life in Australia they brought embarrassin September 7. 1940 and four chil- travelled to Ireland and visited the ard's dren arrived in quick succession. house where her mother had with them an unwavering ment of his Palmyra. During World War II, George been born, still with the rustic fireCatholic faith that was instilled children. Mary was later into their own family. Mary told attending St was often on air raid warden duty place and very much as her mothat the Fremantle Hospital leaving er had described it. She also When Mick arrived in WA, he the story of Joseph's stayed at the Bishop's Palace in travelling by High School Mary at home in a blacked out attended Mass in the church her Perth and claimed to be a cousin horse and when she house with four small children mother had attended as a child. of Bishop Gibney. sulky from answered an and her elderHe spoke of seeing Bishop Sal- their home ly father who advertisevado coming to the kitchen for in Coogee to with ment that led lived food for the Aborigines who Beaconsfield to her study- them. walked to the city with him from for During this Sunday ing at ClareNew Norcia. He met Mary St Mass and then Mary mont Teachers' time Ledger who worked as a cashier her parents College and could always In a Menzies boarding house. waiting while becoming a find time to Romance blossomed through she and her teacher in many run a stall at Mary often keeping a bone for brother attended the annual parts of the state. Mick's dog. Mary and Mick were Sunday school Once Mary com- parish bazaar married in Menzies by Father Instruction housie before pleted her course she or Fagan and Mary was born in the returning home later in taught at many country nights in the goldfields town on July 10, 1905 the day. schools always taking Cate- fund raising activities of and baptised by the same priest. In 1914 the family moved back chism classes out of hours. Mary's family moved house as to Kellerberrin where among At one time Mary was reported the parish. her father's carder contracts took friendships renewed with the to the Education Department for She became a him to different areas of the state. Catholic families of the town, was teaching religion at the Hope Val- member of She attended about 13 schools in the Carr family, and Mary, many ley School and the superinten- the Sacred her primary school years, her par- years later married George, the dent of the area was sent to Heart SodaliMary's first Communion group at the Christ the King ents always sending her and her second son of that family. The investigate. But because Mary did ty. Church at Beaconsfield around 1911 when the family brother, Owen to the convent if family moved, yet again, in 1919 the instructing out of school hours was living at Coogee. Many of the
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