PERTH, WA: April 20, 1995
PRINT POST APPROVED PP602669 00303
Number 2941
Father David Cappo,
POST ADDRESS: PO Box 50, Northbridge. 6000 WA. LOCATION: 587 Newcastle Street, Cnr Douglas St (near Loftus St)
TELEPHONE: (09) 22 77 080
FAX: (09) 22 77 087
Call for the setting up of an accord
PRICE 60C
tityof banks... the community. More than any other business group, banks impact on the life of every citizen. All of us in the community rely on banks for the proper management and security of savings and easy, unrestricted access to our own monies held in accounts. "In March this year Pope John Paul told representatives of the banking industry that profits were only one factor regulating financial life. "He affirmed the importance of human and moral factors as equally necessary to the life of banking and said that banks constitute a specific group at the service of society as a whole. "A basic banking account for low income earners is the best way to go if the banks are to regain their credibility with the Australian community and to be of service to all members of society. "The basic banking account for low income earners should have no transaction or account keeping fees, and should provide the following essential services: 1. electronic and over the counter access to savings; 2. cheque and debit-card facilities for payment of bill to third parties; 3 account statements and a mechanism for obtaining account balances;
A moral accord needs to be developed between the banks and the community, says a senior Catholic spokesman. "A moral accord would be a guarantee of essential banking services at no cost to low income earners, pensioners and other social security recipients," Father David Cappo told the Prices Surveillance Authority's Inquiry into the Banking Industry. "Without this type of accord the major banks will continue to display a disregard for the social impact of their policies," said Father Cappo who is director of the Australian Catholic Social Welfare Commission. "A moral accord is a public promise that people with low incomes have as much right to banking services as other citizens and should be treated with equity and respect. "A moral accord with the banks would underpin the key role they play, not only in economic transactions but also the direct role they play in influencing the level of economic citizenship and social particpation that people have in the life of the community. "The imposition of bank fees on low income earners while offering fee-free services to middle and high income customers indicates that banks are falling short of their social and moral responibilities. "It is clear that banks have special social responsibilities beyond other business in
4. interest on savings.
Shoosh! Rite goes wrong YOUNGWOOD, Pa. (CNS) A court injunction has silenced two women whose loud praying of the rosary has disturbed liturgies, baptisms, choir practices and other church and school events for two years. Father Ciuffoletti got a court order to keep Cynthia Balconi and Joan Sudwoj of Greensburg and Cecelia Miscovich of Hunker from shouting the rosary too loudly and from public recitation of the rosary at times set aside for silent prayer. Ms. Miscovich in court said she would abide by all church guidelines and stop the disruptive behavior. The injunction It bars Ms. Balconi and Ms. Sudwoj from entering Holy Cross Church "except at the express permission of Father Ciuffoletti." Ms. Balconi and Ms. Sudwoj did not go to Holy Cross Church on the weekend after he injunction took effect, but went to the cathedral where they prayed loudly after the Masses but did not disrupt the liturgies.
However, the following morning they disrupted a penance service for the cathedral parish schoolchildren, so the diocese took them to court again. Father Ciuffoletti told the court that the women Prayed the rosary loudly before Masses, often causing the liturgy to begin behind schedule. Often prayed after Mass, sometimes for hours, while the custodian waited to lock up the church. Interfered with 74 baptisms since 1993 by loud praying. Interrupted children's penance services, preparations for the sacraments of reconciliation and first Communion, and students' preparations for living Stations of the Cross. Prayed loudly while the choir and organist were practicing new songs. Also, he said, the women sprinkled holy water around the church and distributed pamphlets on people's vehicles during Mass.
During a children's Mass homily. Sudwoj stood up and yelled at him "using words young children shouldn't hear," such as "fornication," "adultery" and "homosexuality." Bishop Bosco, who had a two hour meeting with the women, said they had told him that "the heavens are telling them to do this." He said he had asked the women to sign written agreements to stop their behavior. "It was fruitless," he said. "I begged and pleaded in the name of Jesus and in the name of the people of this diocese ... but they wouldn't listen." Bishop Bosco said he also discussed with the women their need for legal representation at court hearings. "Jesus will defend us," they told him. In their public activities, Ms. Sudwoj and Ms. Balconi have continued to ignore anyone who tries to speak to them. When approached by court constables, priests, parishioners or the media, the women only pray louder.
'Blessed' Rice closer to sainthood The way is open for the beatification of the Christian Brothers' founder following papal approval of a miracle. Declared Venerable in 1993 Edmund Rice could become Blessed Ignatius Rice in a ceremony in St Peter's Basilica late next year, some 152 years since his death. The miracle attributed to Edmund's intercession is of an un-named young man given 24 hours to live with an intestinal crisis. Today, 17 years later, he is fit and alive. Brother Rice, who founded both the Christian Brothers and the Patrician Brothers was well on the way to being a wealthy Waterford businessman until the tragic death of his young wife in childbirth, left him, aged 26, with a handicapped daughter, and shifted his thoughts to a vocation dedicated to teaching the poor'. The Christian Brothers were to make their first Australian foundation in 1843 and Western Australia celebrated last year the centenary of their arrival in this state. Today there are 700 Christian Brothers in Australia associated with some 70 schools and other projects. - Cliff Baxter, The Catholic Weekly.