miH
1 3d V H 0 DNin
AbV^n
ATHOLIC
NOSTIH NOI133110: jN
0£6£ 83
UC00-B0
I
News & Herald
Kerving Catholics in Western North Carolina
in the
Volume
Diocese of Charlotte
1
Number
11
•
November
15, 1991
Magic Johnson HIV Revelation
Draws Church By JOANN
Praise, Criticism
KEANE
Associate Editor
—
CHARLOTTE
Basketball star
Earvin "Magic" Johnson's announcement that
he
is
infected with the
HP/
virus
and
that he will turn his efforts to teaching young
safe sex
president of the Metrolina
AIDS
Project
(MAP). AIDS has been seen "as something relegated to the gay
has
who
Grary Gelo,
will
be principal of the new All Saints Catholic School
if prospective students about his goals for the elementary school
which
in Charlotte, tells parents
will
open
Photo by
in the fall
of 1992.
JOANN KEANE
become more
in
Sister Frances
cation within the diocese of Charlotte, that
media and not letting news leak, "I would have liked to see him take some weeks to reflect on what God would have him do, rather than to say within 24 hours that he felt God wanted him to get the message out about safe sex." She regrets his ommission of "bypassing reflective time and moving only into a dimension of safe
comes
Those hoping their children will attend All Saints seemed more
sex."
concerned with space
and talked with
sonally meeting the
New School
By JOANN
KEANE
Associate Editor
— When
CHARLOTTE will
they build
come?
they
Diocesan plans to build an elementary
on newly acquired acreage in southeast Charlotte were answered unequivo:ally by the Catholic community with a school
than 300 people interested in
quality Catholic education for their children
turned out for All Saints Catholic School's
Nov.
information session.
1 1
St.
Matthew
new
Church, located a half-mile from the
school site hosted the two-hour session.
Monday's meeting was to explain programs offered at All Saints Catholic school,
no
as
Joel
hope
nesounding yes.
More
For those experienced
it,
edu-
in Catholic
surprise.
availability.
and Patty Hobbs of Matthews
up
to sign
Of
in January.
their
two
children, their first grade son attends
Matthews Elementary, pre-kindergarten. lic
'
the
younger
in
is
'We looked into it (Catho-
schools), but the waiting
lists
and our
location' ' were prohibitive. ' 'Regionalization
puts us in a better position to get the quality education.
a matter of getting him We'll find out come Jan. 20."
It's just
(their son) in.
pleasantly surprised at the turn-
Peggy Lindsley shares that concern. Her two school-age sons attend McKee Road Elementary. She and her husband have two younger daughters, "so eventually
Michael Skube, superinten-
we'llhavefourchildren in Catholic schools."
dent of schools for the Diocese of Charlotte.
She was impressed with the All Saints plans and philosophy, but anxious about getting in. She said interest is "evident by the large group here tonight.. .there is a high demand." Availability is not as issue for Cindy
new
and also to showcase plans for the
"We
facility.
originally projected
have between 100-200
we were
out." said Dr.
at the
we'd
meeting, and
'People certainly want Catholic education in the city,
and we're encouraged with the
response." It
was an opportunity for Skube to Gary Gelo, All Saints' new prin-
introduce ipal, to
community.
the
vision about the religious
"He and
shared his
spiritual as-
Geppert.
Her two children
choice. All Saints, however,
achievement of very student, and stressed
utes
throughout the evening his expectation of
community
of parent involvement, and above
that the
demic excellence achieved by Catholic schools, Franciscan Sister assistant superintendent statistic
Mona
Wingert,
of schools, shared
upon statistic that point to the higher
scoring levels of parochial students, particularly those in the Charlotte area.
people
call
asking
pare with the
CAT
scores," says Sister fornia
by the
how
Mona. The
Achievement Test) state
three, six
is
eight.
and
city
CAT (Cali-
administered
of North Carolina
and
"Many
our schools com-
to the state
in
from her home.
families,
school will be child-centered."
reality is
teens today are sexually active, whether like
it
or don't like
need to do
is
it.
look
That's reality.
sexual
at alternatives to
She thinks teenage sex
behavior."
we
What we an
"is
emotional response rather than cognitive response. Instant gratification, rather than a lifetime
commitment."
Teens
they are invincible.
feel
Mary Margaret lie
Sister
said teens today don't see
AIDS. Since the vims
dormant anywhere from months
to
HIV
college classmates with full-blown
symptoms. HIV, or human immunodeficiency vims, causes AIDS. Johnson, who led the Los Angeles Lakers to five professional basketball championships, announced Nov. 7 at a news conference that he vims, and will
is
infected with the
HIV
retire.
The dramatic statement by Johnson, a popular athlete
known
for his ability
on the
court and his upbeat manner, shocked bas-
would
like to think that if
he waited
ketball fans
God a bit more, that at least
starting with the level
of abstinence could
have been part of that message," said
Sister
ago, and
alike.
who was married two months
whose pregnant wife has
negative for HIV, told reporters
at the
tested
news
conference that he will become a national
Frances.
Whether Johnson's promise out about "safe sex"
and non-fans
Johnson,
is
to
speak
a positive develop-
spokesman about HIV because he wants young people to understand "that safe sex is
ment "depends on what he means by safe sex. I practice safe sex by not participating," commented Dominican Father Albert Moraczewski, director of the Houston office of the Pope John XXIU Medical-Moral
the
Research and Education Center.
of AIDS, a ravaging disease
Father Moraczewski said Nov. 8 that
he hoped Johnson would emphasize
way
to go."
Some
observers
public
—
Johnson's deci-
would force
the
especially African-Americans and
young people
—
to face
more than 125,000
that
Another Milestone For
felt
sion to reveal his condition
up
in this
to the existence that
has killed
country.
See Johnson, Page 16
St. Mary...
are already
is
seven min-
"I'm looking
to a
school."
Gelo, on hand to meet the prospective
all,
Addressing the audience on the aca-
patients in
students at St. Patrick's School; she has a
pect of school, his high expectations for
alot
"I
AIDS
years, today's teens will be seeing their
the
Enthusiasm For
facility for
Belmont, said "unfortunately, the
their classmates with
Social Services, admires Johnson for per-
Show
a residental
CEO of the House of Mercy,
can
AIDS." While Trinitarian
much
Mary Margaret Wright,
Sister
face of this athletic hero has been put on this
Sheridan, diocesan director of Catholic
Parents Of Potential Students
Mercy
president and
disease. This publicity will help in the fight
against
even though such
our culture."
community, but now
personalized because the
marriage and chastity
admonitions "seem to be asking too
people about "safe sex" prompted a mix of
sympathy and criticism from Church ethicists and those involved in AIDS ministry. "I believe Magic Johnson will make a difference and as a result of his efforts, our awareness has been raised," said Mercy Sister Mary Thomas Burke, chairman of the Human Services Department at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and board
"fidelity in
is
for the single person"
filled
effervesence.
faces
how
He
great
the
room with
it
was
them.. .to have faces to
fill
to finally
meet
the area (of All
Saints). "Quality Catholic education
trumpet I want to sound." Gelo that parental
his
told the sea of anxious
is
is
my
confident
involvement is a critical key to
the success of the
new school.
This, coupled
with his dynamic style,andhisstrongCatho-
make All Saints a school
lic
roots are sure to
to
be reckoned with. For Geppert, Gelo's point rang loud
grades See School, Page
Msgr. William Wellein leads parishioners
in
prayer at the laying of the cornerstone for the
1
Mary Church now under construction
in
Shelby. Story on Page 2.
new
St.