Feb 26, 1999

I

vs^atnolic NEWS & HERALD

February 26, 1999

Volume

8

Number 25

Serving Catholics

in

Western

Nortli

Carolina

in

the Diocese of Charlotte

Inside Bishops'

meeting highlights

collaboration ...Page

7

McGivney sainthood cause takes to the road

in Ireland ...Page

Living the Faith Adams says embrace

Real Patch

12

life

...Page

16

Local News Conversion leads to Catholic

Church ...Page

14

Lenten Reflection ..Page

5

DSA: Seminarians The

education of future priests

...Page

15

Every Week Editorials

& Columns ...Pages

4-5

Entertainment Pages 10-11

The Transfiguration of Jesus "And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light."

— Matthew

17:2 Photo by Joann Keane

The Catholic News & Herald

2

Archbishop

The World stop

tells priests to

blessing

for lay use

oil

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.

February 26, 1999

in Brief

(CNS)

would be contrary to Section 10(3) of the Radio and Television Act of 1988, which states: "No advertisement shall be broadcast which is directed toward any religious or political end or which has any relation to an industrial abuse."

The commission interpreted the act to

—

To

ensure that people actually receive the sacrament of the anointing of the sick, Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan of Santa Fe has directed priests to stop blessing oil for private use by the laity in healing services. Archbishop Sheehan's recent directive also states that only ordained priests may use blessed oil to celebrate the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. Msgr. Joseph Pepe, chancellor of the Santa Fe Archdiocese, said that questions have been raised about 'lay people anointing with oil." "People thought they were getting the sacrament of the anointing of the sick," he said. "So the archbishop

wanted to clarify the issue."

Nicaragua!! poverty likely to increase, say church workers MANAGUA, Nicaragua (CNS) Despite international emergency aid in response to Hurricane Mitch and official optimism about the economy, church workers and academics predict

include ads by religious publications.

TV ad campaign seeks to change minds to pro-life view on abortion

DALLAS

"An abortion decision is not a rational decision. It's an emo-

pro-life view.

tional decision, a heart decision," said

Colleen Parro, who is the Caring Foundation's Dallas/Fort Worth project director. Parro, also director of

CNS

PHOTO BY Jim Dallas, The Dialog

the Republican National Coalition for Life, made the comments at a dinner

Statue move

A

crane is prepared to move a four-ton steel statue of Mary created by sculptor Charles Cropper Parks of Wilmington, Del. The statue was created for a Chicago man and was trucked to St. Louis during the recent visit of Pope John Paul II.

sponsored by the Culture of Life Foundation of Washington, D.C. U.S. health care workers assess

medical care

San Egidio Community has won the 1999 Niwano Peace Prize, which includes a cash award of about $175,000.

The community, a lay Catholic organization of about 1 8,000 volunteers, has worked extensively on behalf of the poor, in interfaith dialogue and in re-

AIDS

the impoverished, the elderly,

and drug addicts, as well as programs for thousands of immi-

sufferers its

t

& H

S

E R A

I)

I.

Volume

8

Editor:

Most Reverend William G. Joann S. Keane

(CNS)

— Those

tracking the impact of the 1996 federal welfare reform have seen "perhaps both the worst fears and best hopes realized," said

Columbia University

Curlin

and health

social

policies,

including

made some people much

off"," she said, while "others have been able to capitalize on some new opportunities to end up actually better off"." Meyers, associate director of the New York City Social Indicators Survey Center, addressed a forum sponsored by the National Association of Social Workers' Peace and Justice Com-

worse

Oregon's suicide report

draws criticism

PORTLAND,

3

Our Lady of

Production Associate: Julie Radciiffe

Thomasville

the

Highways,

P.O.

St.,

Box 37267,

Mass

for

MACS Board MACS Board

Phone: (704) 370-3333 FAX: (704) 370-3382

Meeting with

E-mail: catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

Pastoral Center, Charlotte

The Catholic News & Herald, the

Roman

USPC 007-393,

Catholic Diocese of Charlotte,

1 1

is

published by

23 South Church

March

7

— 7:00 pm

Charlotte, NC 28203, 44 times a year, weekly except for Christmas week and Easter week and every two weeks during

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St.,

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—

Eight men and seven women mostly swallowed fatal cancer patients doses of barbiturates, according to the Oregon Health Division report. The law requires an annual tabulation of suicides. But critics of the report say it has a dearth of information. "The report provides little useful information with which to protect the poor and disabled in this state, because the assisted suicide law has no penalty for doctors who do not report cases of assisted suicide," said Dr. Gregory Hamilton, president of Portland-based Physicians for Compas-

—

sionate Care.

Catholic weekly in Ireland

DUBLIN

—

(CNS)

Ireland's larg-

est-selling religious newspaper.

The

been banned from

Irish Catholic, has

advertising on the radio.

The

Irish In-

dependent Radio and Television Commission ruled that advertisements by

The

publications such as

Irish Catholic

— The

28 CHARLOTTE

—

1 1:00 am 9 Presbyteral Council Meeting Pastoral Center, Charlotte

March

at

1

Ballantyne

Commons Parkway,

to

share experiences, prayer and plans for details, call (704)

— Marian Father discusses

how

to

develop Christian character today from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the activity center of Our Lady of Grace Church, 2205 W. Market St. For details on this and other adult religious education sessions, call (336) 274-0415.

An adult education 4

NEWTON

—

series called "Father, Revelation, The Shroud" begins today at 7 p.m. at St.

Joseph Church, 720

W.

the trip, told Today's Cathonewspaper of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. "Much equipment is unusable

because of a lack of replacement parts, and pharmaceuticals such as aspirin and basic antibiotics are in incredibly short supply, as are soap and paper."

Methodists, Catholics set stage for local dialogues

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Catho-

lic-Methodist dialogue in the United States will enter a new stage next year

with the issuance of "Yearning to Be One," an ecumenical study guide for local congregations. The national United Methodist-Roman Catholic Dialogue finalized the themes, structure and overall content of the guide at a meeting in Washington Feb. 11-13. It is to be published jointly in 2000 by the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship and the publications office

of the U.S. Catholic Conference.

March

1 1

and

18.

For de-

(828) 464-9207.

BOONE

—

A Lenten healing sertoday at 7 p.m. in St. Elizabeth Church, 259 Pilgrims Way. Stations of

Matthew Church, 8015

2 GREENSBORO Waldek Ziolkowski

who made

lic,

vice

p.m. at St.

March

Cuba are falling quickly into disrepair," Michael Sheedy,

5

Ultreya

community meets today

For

visited the island nation. "Cur-

tails, call

planner February

who

sessions are

Diocesan

March 6

NC 28203 NC 28237

— Medical

bleak, according to a

rently, the hospitals in

542-1241.

Charlotte,

Charlotte,

is

troversial doctor-assisted suicide law.

apostolic action.

Advertising Representative: Cindi Feerick

Cuba

group of U.S. health care professionals

Christian

— 7:00 pm

Hispanic Editor: Luis Wolf

1123 Soutii Church

—

Ore. (CNS) A state health division report on Oregon's assisted suicide deaths is "almost useless," critics say. In the report, released Feb. 17, Oregon health official's con-

Confirmation

Secretary: Jane Glodowski

Cuba

firmed that 15 terminally ill patients died in the first year of the state's con-

banned from radio advertising

mittee Feb. 12 in Washington.

March

Associate Editor: Jimmy Rostar

Mail:

work

social

professor Marcia Meyers. Changes in

part in thefollowing events:

Number 25

Publisher:

WASHINGTON

Bishop JVilliam G. Curlin will take

February 26, 1999 •

grants in Italy and elsewhere.

Welfare ciianges reflect worst fears, best hopes, says professor

£pi$copa,, J calendar

(Satholic W N

care in

The

solving international conflicts.

Niwano Peace Foundation of Japan announced the award Feb. 18. The foundation cited San Egidio's work among

in

SAN ANTONIO (CNS)

welfare, "have

ROME (CNS) — The Rome-based

a pro-life

Caring Foundation showcased its maTV advertising campaign to shift public opinion on abortion toward the

a rise in

San Egidio Co!n!nunity wins 1999 Niwano Peace Prize

— At

jor

—

poverty levels in Nicaragua.

"The international response has been so great that we won't notice the (hurricane's) impact on the overall macro economy," said Jesuit Father Eduardo Valdez, an economist and rector of Jesuit-run Central American University in Managua. "The impact will be felt on the micro level. There will be greater poverty, but it will be camouflaged by the fact that more dollars will be coming into the country."

(CNS)

dinner in Dallas, the Missouri-based

13th St. Other

is

the cross follow. For details, call (828)

264-8338.

GREENSBORO

—

The Family Life and Liturgy commissions of St .Paul the Apostle Church, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Rd., host a family Lenten meal today at 6:30 p.m. followed by stations of the cross or a prayer service.

Children's activities are also available.

For

details, call (910)

HICKORY

—

294-4696.

Stations of the cross are

hosted today at St. Aloysius Church, 921 Second St. NE, at 5:15 p.m. for families and children, and again at 7 p.m. followed by Benediction. A Lenten meal is hosted at 6 p.m. For details, call (828) 327-2341.

HIGH POINT

— A Latin Mass

is

cel-

ebrated today at Christ the King Church, 1505 E. Kivett Dr., at 7 p.m.

The rosary is prayed at 6:30, and Bene-

February 26, 1999

In By

JIMMY ROSTAR

of the issue, too.

Professor says death

Associate Editor

CHARLOTTE — The death alty

is

pen-

paradox in Christian ethical But today the Catholic Church

at the forefront of eradicating public

sujpport of capital punishment, Wilmington professor said Feb. 16.

professor in the philosophy and

penalty a paradox in culture of life philosophy

acceptable

— —

pro-life stance.

reli-

gion department at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, discussed his view that capital punishment is an unnecessary and un-

quently, the second half of the 20th

move

century has marked a drastic, albeit gradual, return to those values as they relate to the preservation of life.

ative

today's world.

the sacredness of

life,"

Megivern, who has studied the death penalty for almost 20 years. said

framework

is

restor-

yet another choice,

he added, but while

it

Christian perspective, to be

The

comes from it

a

"would have

implemented very cautiously."

lence of the church on the

20th century, there has been a dramatic rethinking of retributive mentality around the world. Church hierarchy has played a key role in this re-

endorsement

its

in oth-

ers,

evaluation.

dignity of the human person that really is the

struggle in facing the dilemma over using lethal force against criminals,

In addition to the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, Vatican II and a string of papacies have progressively called

ultimate objection to the

heretics

death penalty."

The debate continues to make headlines around the world, espe-

breakers.

"It's

underlines Christian historical leaders'

the violation of the

The Dr.

for a return to societal

violence of the

values. values,

Crusades, beginning in 1095 under the direction of Pope Urban II, is a particular example of "a great exception in Christian ethical history," Megivern said. He explained that crusaders imposed "a new theology" that says there are two kinds of people: believers and infidels, the latter of whom may be punished by death.

"What that implied was that some human life is less valuable than oth-

James Megivern

the United States. In 1999 alone, at least six death sentences have been commuted here, including one resulting from Pope John Paul II's clemency plea during a cially

and other law-

in

pastoral visit to Missouri.

Six states have recently introduced bills to repeal the death penalty, while Massachusetts and Michigan may soon see its reinstatement.

Megivern is the author of "The Death Penalty: An Historical and Theological Survey," which examines applications of capital punishment in the West over 2,000 years.

He said a deeper understanding can be achieved by examining its use in the context of the social, moral and theological developments of the past

ers,"

Megivern

said.

"That was the jus-

tification for the Crusades."

amples of departure from Gospelbased values, Megivern said. Subse-

Megivern added that a philosophy of retribution over time has led some to a "distorted use of the Bible" to support imposing death as punishment.

"What we're really saying with this is that mercy, forgiveness, kindness, appreciation, rehabilitation aren't worthwhile," he said. "We strive for justice, but here we mean justice without any kind of human quality."

He said life imprisonment without parole is an alternative that punishes without taking more life, and is thus a

diction with adoration follows the

CHARLOTTE

Mass. For

benefiting

two millennia.

Extensive research, showing approval through the centuries of the use of death as punishment, illustrates ex-

details, call (336)

HOT SPRINGS for

884-0244.

— A Lenten

retreat

men and women called "St. & the Lord's Passion" is today

Ignatius

through March 7 at the Jesuit House of Prayer. Jesuit Father Joseph McGovern facilitates. Early registration is requested for the 15 spaces

today in

— The Emerald

Holy Angels

Ball,

Belmont, is Founder's Hall, Various sponin

sorship levels are available. Holy Angels provides programs and services

and adults with mental

for children

retardation and multiple disabilities.

available.

For details, call (704) 542-6846.

A children's 7 CHARLOTTE prayer hour, followed by a procession

suit

ad rosary,

For details, contact the JeHouse of Prayer, P.O. Box 7, Hot

Springs, N.C. 28743, or call (828) 6227366.

6

BELMONT

—

First Saturday de-

votions are at Belmont Abbey Basilica today, starting with Mass at 9:30 a.m.,

continuing with the rosary at 9:30, and concluding with the sacrament of reconciliation at 10:30.

For

details, call

Terri or Phil DeLuca, (704) 888-6050.

—

BOONE Group reunion Ultreya meets today at 6:30 p.m. at Appalachian State University's Catholic campus ministry facility, 232 Faculty St, A covered dish dinner preceded the meeting.

For details, call (828) 898-5328.

™

at

St.

hosted today at 3:30 p.m.

is

Matthew Church, 8015 Commons Parkway. For

Ballantyne

details, call

Tina Witt

7361.

GREENSBORO

at (704)

— The

846-

Ultreya for

the Cursillo community in the Greensboro area is held today at 7 p.m. in the parish center of St. Pius Church,

X

2715 Horse Pen Creek Rd. For call

Tommy

0377.

NEWTON

details,

Barnhart at (336) 766-

— The rosary

is

prayed

today following the 10 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph Church, 720 E. 13th St. For details, call (704) 464-9207.

Among is

respect for

a

"It's

worldwide

it

really is

that

the ultimate

objection to the

much more

death penalty."

— Dr. James Me'givern

The American

Catholic Church

is

—

tions of the cross

March

12 at 7 p.m.

684-6098.

Encounter, a weekend devoted to deepening, understanding, and communication within marriage, is today through March 14 at the Catholic Conference Center. For details, call Michael or Stacey Holcomb, (704) 844-8181. For reservations, call Tom or Emilie Sandin at (336) 274-4424. details, call (828)

HICKORY — Marriage

WINSTON-SALEM

is

dedi-

—

Bishop

Contact Associate Editor Jimmy Rostar at (704) 370-3334 or send e-mail to jtrostar@charlottediocese.org.

the Carolinas begins today at noon.

The parade

route begins at the corner of Tryon and 6th streets in uptown Charlotte, and proceeds south along Stonewall Street. The parade is coordinated by the Knights of Columbus and the Ancient Order of Hi-

including the First Union atrium courtyard, from noon -11 p.m. Live music, food, arts and crafts, dancing,

and children's

1999

St.

activities are featured.

14 CHARLOTTE

ria.

— The

is on Tryon 2nd and 4th streets,

festival

Street between

presents "Godspell," a musical celebration of Matthew's Gospel, at 8 p.m. today in the Kenneth R. Williams Auditorium at Winston-Salem State University. Encore performances are March IS at 8 p.m. and March 14 at 2 p.m. Cost is $8. Senior citizens tickets are $5, and group discounts are available. For details, call (336) 725-4247.

Festival and Parade of

The

bernians.

Mass

Day

book

leader who challenged people of faith in the context of the gospel of life.

"If you are going to be in favor of human life and its roots, then you ought to be consistently concerned," Megivern said. "If it's wrong to destroy life in the womb, if it's wrong to destroy it on the death bed, if it's wrong in other situations, why is it not wrong on death row?" t

McGuinness Memorial High School

CHARLOTTE

his

cated, as a U.S. Catholic

12 ARDEN The youth of St. Barnabas Church present living sta-

13

whom

professor said

an example of the philosophical and theological changes that Megivern described. But the church here emphasizes the challenges and complexities

Patrick's

we recognize that."

"That's the significance of the Universal Declaration, the significance of Vatican II, and especially the significance of John Paul II: that we're pointed more and more completely to a higher evaluation of human life," he said.

Megivern looks to the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago, to

ery other sphere,

the violation

history will someday gauge the long-range impact of Pope John Paul II's stance on capital punishment, which the pope has expressed even more emphatically in recent months. "But it is extremely significant that he is the first and only Roman pontiff" to speak out in such clear, uncompromising terms against the death penalty," he added.

For

You can't kill human beings intentionally and directly. In ev-

for killing.

human person

prominent," said Megivern of Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI and especially John Paul II.

The

the sacredness of life, then the heinousness of the crime is irrelevant.

It doesn't mean you're overlooking it, or making it less horrible than it was.

"On the contrary, what you're saying right up front is that people are not is

of the dignity of the

all life.

"This particular line of popes has been inspired by Christian personalism, and they have

made

But, he added, "if your basic principal

those

Megivern

stressed,

It is a challenging stance indeed, he said, especially given the brutality of crimes like the terrorist bombing in Oklahoma City by Timothy McVeigh

in 1995.

Especially in the latter half of the

matter during some periods of time, along with

is

favorable option.

said the si-

Megivern

option

"The short answer

U.S. Catholic leaders are

penalty more so than ever before, there is still nominal support among the laity, statistics show. Referring to the laity as a "sleeping giant," Megivern said American Catholics can "wreck the system" of capital punishment by including death row inmates in their

a

In an interview with The Catholic News & Herald, Dr. James Megivern, a

in

While

calling for the abolition of the death

a

history. is

The Catholic News & Herald 3

the New$

— A charismatic

celebrated today in St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Rd. East, at 4 p.m. Prayer teams are available at 3 p.m., and a potluck dinner follows Mass in the school cafeteis

For

;

I

details, call Josie at (704)

527-4676,

GASTONIA — A Mass in

Vietnam|

celebrated at St. Michael j Church, 708 St. Michael's Lane, to- I day at 2 p.m. For details, call (704).

867-6212. ese

is

4

The Catholic News & Herald

Editorials

Siiaring stories of my favorite people One thing I learned from being a mother, and now a grandmother, is that there's a sure way to get

The Pope

the attention of children: Tell

Speaks

When

POPE JOHN PAUL

II

shows modern need for reconciliation, says pope

Prodigal son By

JOHN TH AVIS

Catholic

News Service (CNS) The

VATICAN CITY

—

biblical

parable of the return of the prodigal son mirrors the need by modern Christians to reconcile with God, Pope John Paul II said.

Speaking at the start of Lent at a general

audience Feb.

17,

the pope said that through

prayer, penitence and charity, Christians can

prepare themselves for receiving divine grace in the period leading up to Easter.

This process of inner conversion was simply and profoundly illustrated by the prodigal son in Christ's parable, who left his home, had a change of heart and returned to the father, the pope said.

"How many men and women of every age have recognized in this parable the basic outline of their own existence!" he said.

"It is a path which, after the bitter experience of sin, leads back to the house of the father through an examination of conscience, repentance and a firm purpose of conversion," he said.

The pope said Lent marked an especially appropriate time for inner reflection of one's own faults and participation in the sacrament of penance. The period should "help us enter back into ourselves and abandon with courage whatever prevents us from faithfully following the Gospel," he said.

Later in the day, the pope led a procession at the Rome Basilica of Santa Sabina, then placed ashes on the foreheads of those attending an Ash

Wednesday

came

them

to spinning a tale,

Line

I

—

—

neat guy! recalled the saint stories

I

I

I

read a

new book,

used to

tell

my

Our Time"(Twenty-Third Publications). Written by Ed Ransom, a former submariner in the Navy and now a children as

catechist in his parish, the saint

book

"Saints for

tells

call to

was a joy to read again about some of the saints favorites: Elizabeth of Hungary, Peter

who were my

Spirituality

for Today

CNS

many

people in the world "are waiting to collect the crumbs that fall from the table of the rich."

He said that charity combined with fasting were not only important personal practices, but a way to highlight the need for a more just system of distribution of goods, so that all can live with dignity. the fact that too

FATHER JOHN CATOIR

mind

The pope said the Ash Wednesday service reminds Christians that they are only passing through this world and are destined to die. But he said that death, a consequence of sin, should be seen in the perspective of the hope brought

by Christ's resurrection and his saving sacrifice.

Vatican contacts British government about status of Pinociiet VATICAN CITY (CNS) The Vatican said it had contacted the British government

—

about the fate of former Chilean dictator Gen. in October for alleged human rights abuses. The Vatican said only that it was motivated by the claim of the current Chilean government for sovereignty in the controversial case. In a statement Feb. 19, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Vails confirmed what had been announced the previous day by British Foreign Office Minister Baroness Symons: that the Vatican had written to the British government inquiring about the status of the 83-year-old Pinochet.

Augusto Pinochet, who was arrested

Columnist

Annulments: Obstacles to true and valid marriage Anyone who has lived through the nightmare of a marriage with an emotionally sick person deserves

great compassion and understanding. As a presiding judge in the appeal court for my diocese, I have processed hundreds of cases over the last 30 years.

This article is offered to help you to understand the church's thinking in these matters.

Tribunals throughout the world have benefited

from the jurisprudence of the Roman Rota, which sets the precedents for our canonical understanding of true marital consent.

CNS

Our jurisprudence has been

significantly refined as a result of a continuing dialogue with experts in the field of psychology.

For instance, as far back as 1973 the Roman Rota decided that marital consent is not true and valid unless both parties possess the basic capacity for an interpersonal relationship. No one can oblige himself to do what he is incapable of doing. Even if the person does not want or desire the character defect, it still renders him or her incapable of giving a true and

valid consent.

Those who marry must be able to see their spouse as a separate person, not as an extension of their own ego. A husband who cannot appreciate his wife's way of thinking and feeling without distorting it or projecting his own needs and motives on every-

Columnist

Claver, Elizabeth Seton, Rose of Lima, Kateri Tekakwitha and Francis Xavier. And there were a few saints who were new to me: Bruno, Jerome Emiliani, Gabriel Possenti, Frances of Rome and Vibiana. It was so nice to make their acquaintance.

Another saint perhaps new to most would be Marguerite Bourgeoys, a French-born woman who left her country to go to Canada to care for and educate children in the French settlement at Ville Marie, the present day Montreal. This became her life, and she founded an order of nuns to carry out her work, the Congregation of Notre Dame. I know all about St. Marguerite Bourgeoys because she is the patron of my parish in Brookfield, Conn.

Ed Ransom's book is special because he does

more than simply

tell

the story of each saint he

He presents these saints as real people who experienced many of the same problems, hopes, fears and dreams we do. selected.

As the publisher puts it, "Each saint has a message for our time, one which proclaims that mercy, piety, wisdom, forgiveness, charity and the other virtues are relevant and attainable through grace."

I

strongly

me

recommend

that

when

a child pleads,

and grandparents look to the saints for great material. We have this rich heritage. We should pass it on to the children.

"Tell

liturgy.

works of charity during Lent, to

antoinnette bosco

the story of a

honored each day of the year.

It

The Bottom

stories.

had a great advantage as I entered the journey of motherhood. A nonstop reader from age 4, I had read just about every fairy tale and mythology yarn written. More than that, I had memorized all the stories in the great "Bible History" books that accompanied our catechisms in elementary school. Then, when I became a teen-ager, my fascination with the saints took over, and I never found a book about these incredible faith-ancestors of ours that I didn't want to read immediately.

Admittedly, I had an edge when it came to getting my children interested in the saints. We had our own, personal namesake saint: St. John Bosco. And his story was loaded with color.

This poor Italian farm boy was a great juggler, strong enough to defeat three bullies at once, bright enough to get a seminary scholarship. He never forgot his roots in poverty and yearned to help the poor boys who filled the alleys of city streets.

He founded what I used to call the "Boys Town of Italy," which sparked the hatred of mean, greedy business owners. They resented him for taking away their ultracheap labor pool and these boys teaching them a trade. Don Bosco's enemies even plotted to have him killed, but got their comeuppance when a strange, big, gray dog showed up suddenly to protect the gentle priest.

My kids thought their special saint was really a it

In a sermon, the pope emphasized the need for

February 26, 1999

& Columns

a story," parents

thing she says or does, is incapable of fostering a conjugal interpersonal relationship. Here are some personality disorders which present obstacles to a true and valid marriage.

Extreme selfishness. As an ingrained, predictable character flaw, this state destroys real love and affection. Everyone is a little selfish. However, an extreme personality disorder exists when the person is barely aware of anything but his or her own experiences and states. Like little dictators, they tolerate

—

no opposition.

Extreme immaturity. This is a permanent* trait which blocks the capacity to relate to one's spouse in a human way. Such people argue severely over nothing and then often become extremely withdrawn. They are filled with self-pity and blame everyone for their problems but themselves.

Compulsive personality disorder. This condition renders one incapable of experiencing warm and tender emotions. It can take the form of a blind perfectionism which tries to impose order. The person insists on conformity to a degree which destroys any hope for a normal personal relationship.

—

—

All of these serious character disorders have been by the church's high court. The disorder

spelled out

exist prior to the marriage and be perpetual in nature in order to be eligible for an ecclesiastic annulment.

If you think you have a case, you will need to present your story to the tribunal of the diocese orarchdiocese where you are now living. The tribunaf where your marriage took place is also competent.

Please do not write to me to see if you have a case. column is syndicated nationally, and I cannot handle the volume of mail to be your personal guide.

must

My

local pastor may be of help in directing you to the proper authorities. A court-appointed advocate can assist you in presenting your petition.

May God bless and protect you. Remember, it is possible to forgive and begin again. With the help of

Your

God's grace, heart.

all

things are possible.

Do

not lose

ers joke that to get hit

One

Light

natural death.)

by

When

FATHER THOMAS

a

New York

taxi driver

articulate Russian Jew here for forty years.

Candle

you wear

who

was

cab is to die a wonderfully

a

Lenten

has lived and worked

a clerical collar

you

find that

Reflection

conversations often turn to religion and faith. That's what happened. The driver also managed to condense his whole life story within the span of the ride.

This he did with such passion for his family and faith J.

that

McSWEENEY Guest Columnist

A Manhattan miracle

—

but I wouldn't want a great place to visit to live there." That's one cliche that lots of visitors apply to Manhattan. I understand, but I certainly "It's

The

The Catholic News & Herald 5

& Co umns

fdit oriais

don't agree.

Living in Manhattan is different. The sheer staof this island, the smallest of New York City's five boroughs, boggles the mind. Stop to consider that more than one and a half million people live on this 28-square-mile island. That's more than the population of Alaska and Montana combined. Millions more commute to work here every weekday.

Having lived here for three years, I have come to understand that Manhattan is more than an entanglement of wires and tunnels and skyscrapers, more than its sights and sounds and smells. What makes it work and- what makes it home is the humanity of it all.

When I use the word "humanity" I always remember Charles Schultz's cartoon of the indomitable Lucy arguing with Charlie Brown: "Oh, I love humanity! It's just people I can't stand!"

Well, there is abundant evidence that convinces me that a generous human spirit flourishes here in Manhattan's congested canyons as much as it does in the smallest town.

Take one day last week. I was in a taxi careening up Third Avenue toward my apartment. (New Yorktistics

I was profoundly moved.

As I reached for my wallet

FATHER

pay him, he broadly gestured with grace and a smile, "No, Father there's no charge." Astounding!

No sooner had the cabby driven off that I realized I had left my briefcase in the taxi. In an instant I I assumed that whoever accepted the inevitable came across it in the cab would probably just take off to

CHRISTOPHER

—

DAVIS Guest Columnist

—

with it before my new friend the driver could spot it.

Surely it would be too much to hope that a stranger

would return it. Not true!

Within an hour I got a phone

who

call

from a

woman

near me, explaining that she had found it, and all I had to do was pick it up from her doorman at my convenience. She told me that when she got into the cab after me, she pointed the briefcase out to the driver. They both agreed the quickest way to get it back to me would be for her to handle it.

When I offered- to send her a reward, she exclaimed, "Oh no, I wouldn't think of it! Someone once did the same for me, and since then I have returned a wallet with $400 in it, a dog ID tag, a bag of Christ-

mas

lives

presents, and

now your attache case.

Please,

I

am

only too happy to return the favor!" Once again I was astonished, though I shouldn't have been.

At The Christophers we are always reminding people that they are important and can change the world for the better. That was one day when a couple of my neighbors took the trouble to remind me.

Father Thomas

J.

McSweeney

is

director

of The

Tile Transfiguration of

Jesus

Sunday we read about the Tranfiguration of our Lord Jesus. Peter, James and John were privileged to see Jesus in a vvay they had never experienced before. The apostles were used to Jesus' appearance, actions and habits. They were used to seeing the son of Mary. They had laughed with him, ate with him, and cried with him. They see the same person in In the Gospel for this

the reading today, but in a different way.

This triumvirate catches a glimpse of the were comfortable with, Peter, James and John saw the Son of Man in his transfigured glory. The mystified disciples heard the voice of God coming from heaven, "This is my beloved Son on whom divine. Instead of seeing the Jesus they

my favor rests.

Listen to him." Instead of being

were awestruck and dumbfounded.

They had seen the glory of God, an honor reat ease they

served for only a few of the prophets... or is it? see that same transfigured God, that same Jesus, in our neighbor, friend and family. see that same transfigured God in the poor, neglected and marginalized. see that same transfigured God in the rich, the well-to-do, and

We

We

We

elite.

Christophers.

Pope John Paul

II

asks, "I

exhort every

Christian, in this Lenten season, to evidence his

Purgatory revisited Q. I am 74, raised Catholic, andfinallyfind there are many truths of ourfaith I don 't know much about. One is purgatory.

What

exactly

when we go others pray for us.

example, that selves;

is

Corner

that? I did not know, for

there

we cannot pray for

personal conversion through a concrete sign of love toward those in need, recognizing in this person the face of Christ and repeating as if almost face to face: "I was poor, I was marginalized... and you welcomed me."

Like the apostles on Mt. Tabor, we see the transfigured Christ. see the transfigured Christ in every person we meet. Do we take advantage of this graced opportunity? Do we repeat the words of St. Peter in Gospel of Luke when we meet someone in spiritual, physical or material need "...how good it is for us to be here...?" Or, do we pretend that we have seen

Question

our-

We

I also learned that Masses should be said for the

people there.

But now when someone

dies,

often

it

is

requested that memorials be sent to Hospice, a heart or

cancer society thisfit in

A. puzzle

and

so on.

This

is

with prayingfor those

You ask a lot of good many others as well.

wonderful, but

who have

how

does

questions, which

I

know

and

good to clear up exactly what Catholic teaching is about what we call purgatory. The Catechism of the Catholic Church sums it up by noting that those who die in God's grace and friendship, but may still be imperfectly purified, undergo a "purificaFirst

it's

tion" to enter the joy of heaven.

It

then adds, 'The church gives the name purgatory to

this final purification

of the elect, which

is

entirely different

punishment of the damned" (No. 1031). first of all that in the church's understanding expressed here, purgatory is an event, a process, not a place or location.

After death we enter into a wholly different framework of existence where there would seem to be no time or place in our sense of those words. know, of course, that for God there is no past or fit)m the

Note

We

future. In his eternal vision, all

is

in his

knowledge

as

one present moment.

Thus, in spite of a lot of folklore that (especially during the Middle Ages and later into the Renaissance) made purgatory into a kind of minihell where people endured ages of torture and pain, the church consistently avoids speaking of purgatory as being "somewhere," or lasting some "time."

As the catechism says, something happens to us at or after death which, if necessary, prepares us for

the face-to-face vision and presence of God.

How

FATHER JOHN DIETZEN

CNS Columnist

died?

about indulgences? Don't

we

believe they

hope everyone knows the church's understanding and

take "time" off of purgatory?

by now

that,

in

I

teaching, an indulgence of "one year," for example,

does not mean one year off of purgatory. It means rather whatever alleviation of that final purification might be achieved by one year of fasting or other penance for the benefit of those who have died.

Part of the problem has been some confiision concerning the ancient and consoling Christian belief that we, the living, can assist those who have died with our prayers.

This doctrine is one significant aspect of our belief in the communion of saints, which unites all who are joined in Christ, whether still on earth or in the next life.

Some Christians through the centuries have not been content to accept that belief as it lies, but have tried to embellish it with all sorts of theories about hundreds of years of affliction in some mid-place between heaven and earth, and how we can "shorten" this time of terror by our prayers.

Such horrible images may literally scare the devil out of someone, but again they are irrelevant to the actual teaching of the church on the subject.

As for your question about memorials, while the Eucharistic Sacrifice is the pre-eminent form of prayer for the dead, the catechism reminds us that gifts of charity, indulgences and works of penance are also good ways to commend our deceased loved ones to the mercy of God (No. 1032).

felt

nothing?

We

see the transfigured Jesus in the sacra-

ment of penance, through the forgiveness of our sins. Most especially, we see Jesus in the most Blessed Sacrament. In the Eucharist we see the body of Christ made present in a most excellent

way.

we

We may come to him any time.

Whether

are a saint or a sinner, Jesus calls to us.

He

beckons us to come to him, to adore him, to love him. As Catholics, do we appreciate the miraculous gift that Jesus has given, his very body and blood? Have we become complacent with the Jesus

we

We

"Itnow" like the apostles?

His glory shines around us daily. During this Lent may God help to transfigure our knowledge and understanding of him. May each of us grow in love for Jesus in each other and Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. are transfigured through Christ.

Father Christopher Davis St.

Lawrence Basilica

is

parochial vicar at

in Asluville.

6

The Catholic News & Herald

People

February 26, 1999

the News

among winners

Angelou, Spielberg

1999 Christopher Awards

of

NEW YORK

(CNS)

— Poet and

novice film director Maya Angelou has been selected for her first Christopher Award for "Down in the Delta," her directorial debut,

was chosen

and Steven Spielberg

for his fifth for "Saving

Private Ryan."

Also honored with the Christopher Award for films is writer/ director Roberto Benigni for "Life is Beautiful" and writer Sherman Alexie and director Chris

Eyre

for

film that explores

can society

is

"Smoke

Signals," a

how Native Ameri-

coming

to terms with its

Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of "Grace and Glorie" with Gena Rowlands; "Nicholas' Gift," also on CBS, with Jamie Lee Curtis and Alan Bates; "Ruby Bridges," an ABC special; and "Travis," an ITVS/PBS documentary about a child born HIV positive.

Among the books receiving the Christopher Award are "The Children"

by David Halberstam; "Walking With the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement," by John Lewis with Michael D'Orso; "The Gift of the Jews: How a Tribe of Desert Nomads Changed the

Way

past.

The Christopher Awards

are pre-

sented annually to writers, producers and directors of films, books and television specials judged to be works that express the highest values of the hu-

man

in

spirit.

This year's awards were to be presented Feb. 25 in New York.

A

special

award was

to

go to Den-

former New York Jet who made a remarkable recovery after being paralyzed by a spinal cord injury during a 1992 game.

Byrd, who has been able to regain some movement, will receive the James Keller Award, named for the founder of The Christophers, for his work with the Dennis Byrd Foundation, which helps children who face physical and other challenges to lead nis Byrd, the

happy, productive lives.

"Dennis Byrd's story is one of courage, dedication and caring," said Father Tom McSweeney, director of The Christophers. "He went from a life-shattering accident, where doctors said he might never walk again, to a remarkable recovery and then a life of service to others in need. Dennis exemplifies The Christophers' belief that every individual can truly make a dif-

Everyone Thinks and Feels," by "Free and Faithful: My Life in the Catholic Church," by the late Father Bernard Haring; and "Free the Children: A Young Man's Personal Crusade Against Child Labor" by teen-

Thomas Cahill;

ager Craig Kielburger.

Other book winners are "The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition," by Caroline Alexander; "The Life of Thomas More," by Peter Ackroyd; "Love's Harvest: Family, Faith, Friends," by Christopher DeVinck; and "Maurice & Therese: The Story of a Love," by Auxiliary Bishop Patrick V. Ahern of New

York.

Books

for

young people selected Awards are: "Raising

for Christopher

Dragons," by Jerdine Nolen, illustrated by Elise Primavera; "The Summer My Father Was Ten," by Pat Brisson, illustrated by Andrea Shine; "Mary on Horseback: Three Mountain Stories," by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Peter McCarty; "Shipwreck Season" by Donna Hill; and "Holes" by Louis Sachar.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of awards presentations by The Christophers. The awards have recognized 2,800 creators of more than

ference."

1,100 words in film, television and

Television specials being honored with Christopher Awards include the 12-part HBO miniseries "From the Earth to the Moon," narrated by Tom Hanks; "About Sarah," a CBS special starring Mary Steenburgen, Kellie Martin and Diane Baker; the CBS-

erature.

The award

CNS

Turner issues brief apology for remarks on pope WASHINGTON (CNS) — After he was criticized for saying the Ten Commandments were

"a little out of date," and that Pope John Paul II should "get with on population issues, media mogul Ted Turner issued a one-sentence apology Feb. 17. "Mr. Turner regrets any offense his comments may have caused while in Washington, D.C., and extends his heartfelt apologies," said a statement released by his publicist in Atlanta, Phillip Evans. The Washington Times reported that Turner made the remarks Feb. 16 in Washington at the 27th annual meeting of the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, where Turner was honored. it"

Don't Go

Home Without Is. When

lit-

bronze medallion inscribed with the winner's name and the Christopher motto: "Better to light one candle than to curse the is

PHOTO BY Nancy Wiechec

Benedictine Fattier Cyprian Davis Benedictine Father Cyprian Davis talks with Catholic News Service recently in Washington. "We live in a society where racism is still a reality," said the priest, whose book "The History of Black Catholics in the United States" is still seen as the definitive work in its field.

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The Catholic News & Herald 7

from the Cover

Inter-American bishops' meeting liigliliglits collaboration WASHINGTON

— Meet-

(CNS)

coincided with the

ing in Cuba, bishops from North and

Pope John Paul

South America agreed to work more closely in response to Pope John Paul

Cuba.

II's

anniversary of

first

historic visit to

II's

The president of the U.S. bishops' conference said the meeting in Cuba showed how "the world has not forgotten" the Cuban people, suffering "the horrible impact" of the U.S. trade em-

recent apostolic exhortation.

During the biennial meeting, held

Feb. 14-16 in Havana, officials from the Latin American bishops' council and the Canadian and U.S. bishops'

bargo.

conferences agreed to establish an ad hoc commission on the application of the apostolic exhortation, "Ecclesia in America," on the 1997 Synod of Bish-

Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza of Galveston-Houston, conference president, spoke to Catholic News Service in a Feb. 16 telephoiae interview from

ops for America.

his

The Latin American known by its Spanish acronym as CELAM, represents

Havana

hotel.

He said one of the "major ways" for

bishops'

Church

bishops' conference said

American countries.

Msgr.

Peter

the meeting

in

Cuba

En-

showed how "the world

glish-sector general secretary of the Cana-

has not forgotten" the

Schonenbach,

dian Conference of

Cuban people,

suffering

government on the

Catholic Bishops, said

"the horrible impact" of

the bishops agreed that the document, released by the pope during his recent visit

"We hope to create groundswell of opinion since there is growing understanding among people that the embargo is wrong, yet the politicians have not yet come to that conclusion," he said.

"The embargo ought to be lifted and other ways sought to engage Cuba to move it toward becoming a free country," he added.

Following an opening Mass, the bishops began two days of discussions on the state of the Cuban church after the papal visit as well as on the applicaa

...

meetings, held every two years.

"They actually changed the name of the organization from the Meeting of Inter-American Bishops to the Meeting of Bishops in America in order to stress the oneness of America as defined in the exhortation," Msgr.

Schonenbach said on his return to

Canada.

Five cardinals and more than two dozen bishops and priests attended the meeting.

This was the first time the gathering had been held on the communist-

The meeting

tion of the pope's apostolic exhorta-

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Brazilian Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves, president of the Pontifical

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during the Feb. 16 meeting, which lasted four-and-a-half hours and stretched into the wee hours of the

for Latin America, also

on

reflected

morning.

the

"lineamenta," or outline,

Synod of Bishops next year in Rome.

Also on the agenda were reflections on projects to mark the jufor the general

"A

lot of

the Cuban

bishops said this was a 'kairos'

moment for

their church," said

bilee year 2000.

Msgr. Schonenbach

IVIsgr.

said the relationship be-

Schonenbach.

"Kairos"

tween the bishops of Cuba and those of other

is

a

He said Castro, who has been known to deliver six-hour speeches, spoke at length on several subjects, including his recent visit to Venezuela and the merits of Cuba's education system.

Thanks

New

to a "provi-

dential insight" from

Testament term

episcopal conferences

for

"time of grace."

was strengthened.

"A lot of the Cuban bishops said this was a

Cardinal Bernard F. of Boston shortly before midnight, Msgr.

Law

Schonenbach

moment for their church," he "Kairos" is a New Testament term for "time of grace."

After the official close of the gathering, the bishops met privately with Cuban President Fidel Castro at the 'kairos'

said.

said,

Castro's attention was drawn to fact that if the group did not dine soon it would be the beginning of Lent, the church's 40-day period of fasting and sacrifice.

"So that got us into the meal, but he (Castro) kept on talking and talkt ing," said Msgr. Schonenbach.

Msgr. Schonenbach said Castro up to his talkative reputation

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Cuban President Fidel Castro (right) meets with Catholic bishops from Latin America, the United States and Canada at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana Feb. 16. Cuba was hosting an inter-American meeting of bishops

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to Mexico, would serve as the foundation for their joint

ruled island.

show sup-

to

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The bishops talked about the need for the U.S. church to enter a "more frequent dialogue" with the U.S.

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The Catholic News & Herald

In

February 26, 1999

the News

USDA graded on policy on farmworkers, civil rights, other issues By

mark PATTISON News

Catholic

Service

WASHINGTON

(CNS)

—

A

watchdog group gave the U.S. Department of Agriculture a just-aboveaverage grade on a 10-point report card it prepared to evaluate the agency's policies on extending credit farmers, protection of to farmworkers, market access and other issues.

Taken together, the report card from the Time to Act Campaign gives the

USDA

2.15, or just

a

marketing opportunities unique to small farms." The campaign gave Bs for risk management, such as crop insurance, and for helping beginning farmers.

C-plus grades were handed out in the conservation category, and in the outreach and organization category.

Cs were given in three categories: extending credit to farmers; civil rights enforcement and monitoring; and research and extension, which look at ways to improve farm productivity through technology.

USDA earned Ds from the group in assisting farmers with market access and protecting farmworkers. ster the

grade-point average of

above a C.

think I would have graded them lower on some of the things," said Holy Cross Brother David Andrews, who heads the National Catholic Rural Life Conference.

While he is not a member of the campaign. Brother Andrews attended the press conference in Des Moines, Iowa, where the report card was issued in February.

The highest grade was a B-plus for market development, which "bol"I

"In

some

'quickly

cases,

USDA

has acted

and decisively.' But in most change is slow to come,"

made

in the 10 areas

campaign is made up of individu-

who

als

served as

mem-

commission bers.

report called

Its

Dan Glickman

tary

access as the first

was

"Joan of Arc" filming Sixteen-year-old actress Leelee Sobieski portrays Joan of Arc in a scene from an AllianceAtlantis production being filmed near Prague in the Czech Republic Feb. 22.

The film about the 15th-century French heroine and saint is to air in the United States as a

CBS

miniseries in

to

Act Cam-

implement

He added

that

"things are so desper-

in agriculture

people are hunkered down and ready to do anything," and they "are willing to open up the sluice gates" to try to make ate,

is-

their farm profitable.

Last fall a Catholic bishop raised the same concern as the Time to Act

Campaign about

prices being paid

farmers, calling

it

nomic issue but

a

not just an eco-

moral and justice issue that should concern everyone.

Bishop Robert J. Carlson Sioux Falls, S.D., asked state and federal

nomic opportunity

to farmers and ranchers of all sizes and every effort must be made to uphold market con-

agencies to investigate prices farmers are currently getting for what they produce and whether there is "anything criminal" at the bottom of it.

said.

it

getting so bad."

maintain any economic opportunity

calling for

Glickman's resignation in six months, simply because it's

farmers are going to

in

Andrews

farm advocates

"may be

if

accurate,

is

Brother

independent family

sue needing improvement, and said the subpoena authority granted in the Packers and Stockyards Act is the place to start.

The USDA's Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Administration "should subpoena processors and retailers to access price data for a fullfledged investigation of anti-competitive practices," the report said.

"A fair and competitive marketplace is fundamental to providing eco-

ditions,"

Glickman's

forecast said,

recommendations

market

listed

It

America."

the commission's

are

lose half of the remaining family farmers in the coming months."

By issuing its report card, the it

Time

If

efforts to

going to maintain any eco-

ers

agriculture."

Act Campaign said

the

and how worse it's going to get in rural

his

staff to "redouble their

and his staff to "redouble their efforts to implement the commission's recommendations if independent family farm-

the campaign's report said. "In the hog industry, for example, we could

to

Dan Glickman and

on Agriculture Secre-

nomic opportunity

trying to promote recommendations

make

will not

paign happy."

He noted that news reports said Glickman in a speech to the National Farm Forum in Virginia Its report called on was talking about "how bad things are,, Agriculture Secretary

The

areas, real

Time

by the USDA's

National Commission on Small Farms, which was convened last year.

Brother Andrews predicted that

Glickman would "tend to ignore" the report and "go with the flow, which

have a desire to learn about everything from

"I

May. With a budget of $20 million it is said to be the most expensive

teachings and writings to

made-for-TV movie

world around me.

I

my

faith

and the

had no desire for these

ever.

things before. When CNS

PHOTO FROM Reuters

I

began

to desire to Maur£en

I

came

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In

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Jesuit

The Catholic News & Herald 9

the Ncw$

criticizes

animal rights movements The article cited positions expressed by a leading U.S. animal rights advocate, Tom Regan, who has theorized that not all humans should necessarily share in basic animal rights; among those who might be excluded would be children under the age of 1 and people with mental retardation.

The Jesuit magazine said this kind of thinking ignores the qualitative difference of nature that exists between animals and all human beings. Even

ByJOHNTHAVIS News Service (CNS) A leading

Catholic

ROME

—

Jesuit

magazine has sharply criticized animal rights movements, saying they ignore humans' unique dignity as spiritual beings.

"The human being is not only from animals but is superior ...

different

to them; he has a value

and an incom-

parable dignity that animals lack," said

an editorial in the Feb. 20 issue of La

people with grave disabilities still maintain their human nature and

Civilta Cattolica.

"Animals, because they are not persons, do not and cannot have rights,"

therefore their

The

said.

it

human

dignity,

it

said.

editorial said this doesn't

The magazine, whose articles are reviewed at the Vatican prior to publication, expressed deep concern that some animal rights advocates have adopted a two-pronged approach: on the one hand, insisting that animals have basic rights, and on the other, claiming that "marginal humans" such as the disabled, the sick or even

mean animals can be mistreated or

young children

CNS

that their nature as living and feeling

PHOTO FROM Reuters

mans.

Pope discusses Middle East witii Arafat, international authorities VATICAN CITY (CNS) In back-to-back meetings with Palestinian

According to the "Catechism of the Catholic Church," animals are due respect and kindness and should not be made to suffer or die needlessly. At the same time, the catechism says it is le-

and international authorities, Pope John Paul II voiced the Vatican's continued support for peace in the Middle East and his enduring personal wish to visit the Holy Land. The pope made his remarks Feb. 19 during separate audiences with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and delegates from a Romebased U.N. meeting on year 2000 events in Bethlehem. Arafat, visiting the

a delib-

gitimate for humans to use animals for food and clothing and to carry out

Vatican for the seventh time, reiterated his previous invitation for a papal visit, adding, "There will be a big celebration."

erate attempt to blur the basic distinc-

medical experiments on animals

beings should not be respected by hu-

—

The

— do

not.

editorial said this

was

tion

between humans and animals:

within reasonable limits.

that

humans

Animal rights groups in Italy immediately criticized the Jesuit article.

Italy's anti-vivisection league said the editorial had given "superficial treatment to a question that involves the suffering and death of billions of animals every year."

A Green Party official, Annamaria Procacci, said the church's position "denied animals even their dignity." t

are self-aware, spiritual

beings. This self-awareness also gives

human

suffering a distinctive quality

that

not found in the suffering of

is

animals,

On

it

a

said.

more

torial said

practical level, the edi-

animal rights claims would

lead to "absurd consequences." If

all

animals have an equal right to exist, for example, then human responsibility would extend to protecting some

the mice?"

it

Vatican asks people to give

up smoking, donate money to AIDS By

JOHN THAVIS

The funds could

News

Service

VATICAN CITY

(CNS)

Catholic

— The

organizations that sponsor programs to

Vatican has called on people around the world to give up smoking for a day and donate the equivalent money to

fight

—

Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers was designed as

It cited World Health Organization statistics showing that 3.5 million people die each year because of smoking, a figure which is expected to triple over the next 30 years.

It called for a strong awarenessraising campaign about the risks of tobacco products.

The council's idea follows an earlier church suggestion of small acts of personal penance, which during the jubilee year Catholics can use to gain an indulgence from tempoi^ punishment for sins.

a penitential preparation for the year

the council said.

2000. At the same time, it aimed to provide concrete assistance to AIDS sufferers

Come enjoy

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and increase awareness about

the health risks of smoking, said a Feb-

i

AIDS or assist the disease's victims

the sick, their relatives, widowers,

widows and orphans, it said.

A main benefit of this initiative would be to draw attention to the damage smoking causes to the health of tobacco users and those around them,

AIDS. The proposal by the Pontifical

said.

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February 26, 1999

Readings Book Review CINDY

Reviewed by Catholic

News

WOODEN

reflects the author's passion for base-

Service

ball

In the dark of night, priests and

monks sneak into St. Peter's Basihca to pray. One night, one of them is mur-

his appreciation of the dedica-

workers

in their struggles for justice.

presiding over liturgies in "Basilica" is a Latin American, Pope Pius XIII, generally referred to as "Tredi," which is short for the Italian

word

of prayerful clerics to the world's largest church, is ficvisits

One

pontiff separates Tredi

"Basilica"

iam D. Montalbano

By William D.

Angeles Times' bureau chief

from the pope Montalbano described as the "Inflexible Pole"

and the "Never Never

Montalbano.

Vatican during his eight years as the Los

Rome

In the book, de-

scribed by the publishers as an "ecclesiastical thriller,"

G.P.

Pope."

While

Putnam's Sons

304

pp.,

—

derful descriptions of

$23.95.

with credible creations of his own imagination to produce a page-turning "whodunit" set at the Vatican.

For example, early in the book the star sleuth Brother Paul, a former Miami cop turned religious goes after a historian who stole pages he had cut out of a medieval manuscript he was studying in the Vatican Library.

A U.S. historian was found guilty in 1995 of a similar theft, but only after he had successfully smuggled the pages into the United States.

In Montalbano's book, the stickyfingered academic is relieved of his haul just outside the Vatican gates by Brother Paul and Father Luther practicing an

more from

—

common Roman

sport

nalists often find the easiest

make sense of what to cover

Of

deep respect for especially

works especially Bad guys and good

Catholics"

who are tired of

change in the church; groups every bit as extreme who believe nothing has changed enough; a secretive, wealthy group of laity and clerics who believe they are the only remnant of the Holy Roman Church; and thugs from a drug

who

are trying to

kill the pope. won't make a difference in anyone's faith life, and the agendas of the various groups of quarreling are nothing a Catholic reader hasn't heard before.

But the Vatican's a great setting for a mystery and Montalbano took obvious pleasure in using it for his last book.

T

cartel

"Basilica"

a

many aspects

of church concern for the poor and its efforts on behalf of social justice.

Like Montalbano's first solo novel, "The Sinners of San Ramon," the book

life,

is

course, that

"commando

—

At the same time, the book reveals

like

is

to

guys inside and outside the Vatican push their own agendas.

In Montalbano's book there are

—

—

it

way

going on there they would politics.

well in a thriller.

not pious fiction.

Every character from the pope on down is portrayed in a very human fashion, weaknesses of the flesh and all. It must be said, however, that the concupiscent clerics at least feel guilty about their failures while the bed-hopping reporter does not. is

a journalist's explorations

than a penitent's pilgrimage.

In addition to being the headquarters of the universal church, the Vatican also is an independent state and jour-

drive-by bag snatching fi"om a moped.

"Basilica"

—

hidden fountains the book is written

fact

unfortunately

side streets and

its

Montalbano blended

—

"Basilica"

sometimes reads like a traveler's guide to Rome with won-

(New York, 1999).

its

Cindy Wooden dent in the

News

is

Rome

trying to prolong the moment, to comemmorate it with a brush arbor shrine, to somehow sanctify the holy.

Was Peter a perfect guy? No. But he was obedient and loving enough to serve as the foundation stone of the

12:1 -4a

Timothy l:8b-10 Matthew 17:1-9

2) 2

briefly reign-

Published posthumously, "Basilica" shows how well Will-

the

Genesis

ured, and poor Peter blusters about,

Psalms 33:4-5, 18-20, 22

,

3)

ing, rather lackluster

know

1)

for 13th, "tredicesimo."

tion.

to

February 28, Second Sunday of Lent. Cycle A. Readings:

The pope

dome to the floor below.

The story, including the nighttime

came

Word to Life

meeting them

to

people's basic needs and helping

dered after being pushed from the walkway inside Michelangelo's majestic

and

tion of church

senior correspon-

bureau of Catholic

By JEFF HENSLEY bad things happen to people, the worst thing they can do is spend large amounts of time seeking to answer the question "Why?" One of my favorite Ziggy cartoons shows the little round fellow walking down the street. In every shop window is a sign with two words. The same words are lettered on the T-shirts of those who walk by him. The same words are blinking in a sign on a blimp floating in the sky above him: "Why me?"

When good things extraordinarily good things happen to us,

church which would bring salvation

we

the appearance of our Savior."

When

—

often ask the

often

to the nations.

And so we do that

you and I. What will and weak and reveals our own flaws on our path to

As more

foolish

says in Timothy, the an-

of our

all

why

questions has

do with grace than with goodness. "God has saved us and has to

called us to a holy

not because of

life,

any merit of ours, but according to his design

—

—

the grace held out to us

world began but now made manifest through in Christ Jesus before the

God will make our mortal dust enough, enough for the foundation

answer that has to do with our own

We

it

swer to

question. And quickly with an

virtue or worthiness.

is

obedience to God? Plenty. Does that make us unusable by God? No.

same

we come up

to

stones of his glorious purposes, if we will only believe believe, obey and

reach this

—

answer despite our intimate knowledge of our own imperfections.

love.

In this Sunday's Genesis Scrip-

ture reading,

Abram

Questions: Have you been tempted to believe God has given up on you? Have you considered going to the Bible to read about the sins and errors of God's heroes?

acts in obedi-

ence to God's direction in such a way that God is able to say to him, "All the communities of the earth shall

Was Abram

find blessing in you."

perfect person

who always

a

acted in

accord with God's will? No. But he was obedient enough to be a tremendous channel of blessing for the human family, obedient enough to be the foundation stone of the Jewish people through whom

"God has saved

us and has not because of any merit of ours but according to his own design the grace held out to us in Christ Jesus before the world began...." called us to a holy

—

God's salvation was to come.

In

Matthew, Jesus

is

life,

— 2 Timothy

transfig-

1:9

Weekly Scripture Readings for the week of Feb. 28 - Mar. 6, 1999 Sunday, Genesis 12:1-4, 2 Timothy 1:8-10, Matthew 17:1-9; Monday, Daniel 9:4-10, Luke 6:36-38; Tuesday, Isaiah 1:10, 16-20, Matthew 23:1-12; Wednesday, Jeremiah 18:18-20, Matthew 20:17-28; Thursday, Jeremiah 17:5-10, Luke 16:19-31; Friday, Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28, Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46; Saturday, Micah 7:14-15, 18-20, Luke 15:1-3, 1 1-32

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The Catholic News & Herald 11

tntert ainmen

Movie Review

"My Favorite Martian" laboriously drawn out to movie length pare

wise, several female characters are

News Service YORK (CNS) Yet an-

supposed to amuse, but Daryl Hannah is simply bland as a TV operator sweet on Tim, Elizabeth Hurley gets few laughs as an on-camera

By GERRI Catholic

NEW

—

other forgettable TV sitcom the big-screen treatment, with likewise results, in

"My

is

given

The U.S. Catholic

(Disney).

the

Ray Walston

Christine Ebersole

classification

in A-lll

is

- adults.

title role, this frantic,

flailing

TV

update teams

Tim

newsman

Tiie

(Jeff

human form posing

Motion Picture

rector

is

(Christopher Lloyd).

The comedy

is still

drawn out

to

di-

re-

America rating

as

Tim's odd Uncle Martin

riously

when

Donald Petrie

witty, especially

Association of

Daniels) with a crashlanded alien who assumes

is

barrassing to Tim's sex-starved landlady. By and large the characters amount to walking cartoons, but they are wacky without being

Conference

Based on the 1963-66 sitcom with Bill Bixby and starring

and emwatch as

bimbo,

brunette

Favorite Martian"

a sitcom, labo-

movie length, but

the frenetic goings-on can't disguise a

threadbare narrative.

Sensing a career-making story, initially sets out to expose the alien but is won over once he realizes ominous government agents are out to snatch his bogus uncle with dastardly

Tim

sorts to vulgar toilet humor.

PG. Nostalgic fans of the show will appreciate Walston's appearance as a Martian hunter and the twist ending that reveals a hidden agenda. However, based on this dopey movie, the suggestion that a sequel could be down the road should definitely blasted into the farthest reaches of outer space.

Due

fo

some

humor and

intent.

innuendo and

Daniels and Lloyd go into overdrive competing with the real star of the show the special effects. The prime one is the Martian's talking silver space suit which has a life of its own, rushing around uninhabited and uncontrollable in ways likely only to

instances of profanity, the U.S. Catho-

—

toilet

Conference classification

adults.

The

is

t

on the staff of the U.S. Catho-

is

Conference Officefor Film

lic

—

is

PG — paren-

guidance suggested,

Pare

amuse young schoolchildren.

With not much happening story-

few

A-III Motion Picture Associa-

tion of America rating tal

a

and Broad-

casting.

Kathy Troccoli In

TV of Note Tuesday, March

12,

2,

9-10 p.m.

EST (A&E) "New York

Underground."

From

the "Inside Story" series, an exploration of the world beneath the city, including a subway system where concert violinists vie with graffiti artists for the public's attention.

Wednesday, March 3, 8-9 p.m^ EST (CBS) "Shania Twain's Winter Break." Musical special in which the Grammy-winning country-pop singer performs, along with guests Elton John and The Backstreet Boys.

Friday, March 5, 9-10:30 p.m. EST (PBS) "Star Crossed Lovers." From the "Great Performances" series, tenor Placido Domingo and soprano Renee Fleming perform selections from "Faust," "Otello," "Romeo and Juliet," "The Merry Widow" and "West Side Story" with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Saturday, March 6, 8-9 p.m. EST (PBS) "In Search of Tuscany With John Guerrasio." Special in which the food critic and author guides viewers through the heartland of Tuscany, exploring the heritage, cuisine, wine and crafts of Northern Italy's small towns and such tourist meccas as Florence and Sienna.

Concert March

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— — restricted.

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"Office Space" Ajay Naidu and David Herman portray two fed-up employees in the comedy "Office Space." The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R

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The Catholic News & Herald

12

February 26,

the News

In

McGivney sainthood cause takes to the road By

nancy HARTNAGEL News

Service

WASHINGTON

(CNS)

Catholic

—

Do-

minican Father Gabriel B. O'Donnell took the sainthood cause of Father Michael J. McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, on the road to Ireland's

weeks

—

County Cavan

—

for

two

examine them

in January.

As part of the research he must do as postulator for the cause,

O'Donnell went

McGivney's

grating from separate towns in Cavan, the couple met and married in the United States. Only seven of their children lived past childhood.

The parents "had some property over there, but it wasn't a great deal," Father O'Donnell said. He made photo copies of land records, but has yet to

in search of

Father Father

roots, especially records

concerning his parents and grandparents.

The most interesting discovery was that the McGivneys "were part of the great emigration of the potato fam-

he told Catholic News Service in a phone interview from Knights' headquarters in New Haven, Conn.

Father McGivney, who lived 1852-90, was the eldest of 13 children born to Patrick and Mary Lynch McGivney in Waterbury, Conn. Emiine,"

fully.

"There were a number of McGivney families and some spelled the name differently, sometimes 'McGibney,' sometimes 'McGeveney,'" he said. An Irish genealogical buff and former archbishop of Cavan advised him they were all the same fam-

—

Though skilled

when

fact that the

—

the parents were unthey arrived, he said, "the

McGivneys came

through

New York

titute as

some

in either

or Boston would indicate that they weren't quite as des-

Father O'Donnell found no record of Father McGivney's grandparents.

Vatican says world's Catholic

1

were."

billion

document-

News

Catholic

priest continues to increase, the year-

Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — It's official

—

for the first time, the world's

Catholic population has surpassed

1

billion.

The Vatican announced the event when it unveiled its 1999 annual yearbook Feb. 20, in a presentation to Pope John Paul II. The latest statistics show that while the Catholic population con-

number of priests holding about steady and the number

tinues to increase, the is

of religious

is

slowly dropping.

According to the statistics, dated Dec. 31, 1997, there were about 1,005,000,000 Catholics registered in the world's dioceses, representing 17.3 percent of the global population.

By

regions. Catholics represented

62.9 percent in the Americas, 41.4 per-

cent in Europe, 27.5 percent in Oceania, 14.9 percent in Africa and 3 percent in Asia. They were served by more than 219,000 parishes and more than 115,000 missionary stations

book noted that the number of seminarians was rising, up about 2.5 percent from the previous year.

It said the church's pastoral workforce totaled nearly 3.4 million: More than 4,400 bishops.

More than 404,000 priests, of which nearly 264,000 were diocesan

— —

The Dominican

said.

said Irish records

from the period are scarce, partly because Catholicism had been outlawed in Ireland until the 1820s and partly because of the chaos of the famine 1845-50,

when

1

across the world.

While the number of Catholics per

Dignity

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"Neighbors Helping Neighbors" • •

interested in the priest's pastoral sig-

provided an important context for Fa-

McGivney

ther

as the eldest child of

famine immigrants.

"I don't think the McGivneys came to the United States looking for a bright new world," he said. "I think they were desperate for food and sustenance."

In family lore passed

(800)S20-$5U

Metnhm ofSi.

Lawrener parish

down

to

nephews still alive, he there are no stories or anecdotes

about Michael, but

many about

his

The

postulator believes Father is historically and psychologically bracketed in family history.

"He's kind of the first fruits out of this terrible devastation of the Irish famine," he said.

This might also explain Father McGivney's enigmatic quality and unsmiling portraits, Father O'Donnell

McGivney

J

Father O'Donnell, so he stressed Father McGivney's parish and diocesan ministry as significant nificance, said

"for priests

and seminarians

who

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The Dominican, himself IrishAmerican, said he recently read a great deal about the famine and the lives of new Irish immigrants in the United States. It made him realize they "lived in subhuman conditions," he said. "We have lost touch with how poor people were."

Father O'Donnell said the Knights' founder "can be a tremendous reminder of the cultural transition that's occurred over a hundred years." r

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somewhat beleaguered in this time."

He also noted that Father McGivney, who founded the Knights in 1882, "anticipated in many ways the movements that we have celebrated so

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tance of one of these could lead to Father McGivney's beatification.

The congregation was especially

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torical research."

ther McGivney's intercession, that he has just begun to investigate. Accep-

lived well into the 20th century.

According to the yearbook, the Vatican maintains diplomatic relations with 168 states, also a record, t

reassured him, he said, "that is a theological discernment on the part of the church. It isn't the conclusion to his-

In Ireland, he recalled, a priest writing a book about Cavan priests who emigrated during the famine told him of "an oral tradition that the McGivney family left lock, stock and

reli-

2 million catechists.

They

miracles,"

younger brothers, Patrick and John, who became priests after his death and

lay

it

the cause of canonization

million Irish

reli-

aries.

think

died and another 2 million emigrated.

said,

secular institutes.

I

writings.

he

originally,"

More than 24,400 permanent deacons, which increased 4 percent.

gious.

And

added.

from Cavan

great-nieces and

priests.

Ireland.

in

life

"There's really not going to be any way that we can sort all this out," he

ing the cause, he said, this is somewhat important because "many people claim to be cousins or relatives."

One McGivney family in upstate New York has an oral tradition that Michael, while studying in Canada, visited their home, said the postulator.

Another in Detroit believes they are related, but they "don't even come

clergy.

— — More than 58,000 male gious who were not — More than 819,000 female — More than 31,000 members of — More than 26,000 mission— More than

suggested. "He must have heard terrible things from his parents about

probably accounts also for the sensitivity of his heart to suffering."

After Ireland, Father O'Donnell traveled to Rome to consult with the Congregation for Sainthood Causes.

He found officials "both interested and cooperative," he said.

The postulator hopes to submit the cause's historical documentation and official positio or biography to the congregation in 2000. He said he told officials there will not be much in terms of Father McGivney's papers or

critical for

Father O'Donnell said the

ByJOHN thavis

999

in Ireland their

Though not

years,

others."

population has surpassed

Consequently, he said, "we really can't be sure who his aunts and uncles

1

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The Catholic News & Herald 13

February 26, 1999

In

Pope says Lenten conversion

the News

is

Wey part of jubiiee preparation

By CINDY

wooden

News

Catholic

Service

VATICAN CITY

(CNS)

—

aticum for the Journey Toward the Third Millennium."

He

said he accepted the pope's in-

repentance and conversion are not only important parts of preparing for Easter but also will

vitation to preach the retreat "with

Catholics help prepare for the

Holy Year 2000, Pope John Paul II

Father and his closest collaborators."

"At the same time," Bishop Leonard said, "I obviously have a bit of apprehension, because thinking about guiding the pope does have a certain

said.

effect."

Lenten

reflection,

celebration of the

"Do not

let

this favorable

time

great joy because I think it is a very interesting spiritual experience to live the preparation of Lent with the Holy

lus address, his last public appoint-

Pope John Paul Nonnato Parish on the southeastern edge of Rome.

During his Mass homily, the pope said that especially during Lent,

ment before beginning

Catholics are called to let themselves

pass in vain," the

pope

said Feb. 2

Lenten

1

in his

midday Angea

weeklong

retreat.

necessary to be freed from indifference and from the distractions of the world and to listen to the voice of God that echoes in the church and, even before, in the conscience of each person," the pope said.

Dedicating time and serious attention to examining one's conscience is an important part of Christian life, he said. It reveals the truth about one's life and helps people see the distance between their actions or attitudes and the ideals they hold.

Pope John Paul asked for prayers for his Feb. 21-27 retreat, which was to be preached by Bishop Andre-Mutien Leonard of Namur, Belgium.

Bishop Leonard, 58, told Vatican Radio the retreat, which will include three sessions each day, would have the theme: "The Eternal Trinity: Vi"It is

Earlier Feb. 21,

visited St. Ra3Tiiond

be questioned and nourished by the of God. "Man does not live by bread alone; our hearts need God most of all," he

Word

said.

The pope

also asked parishioners

the sacrament of penance.

"In the frequent practice of this sacrament, the Christian experiences divine mercy and becomes, in turn,

able to pardon and to love," the pope said.

He

hoped

said he

final

prepara-

tions for celebrating the year

would awaken

in

more people

2000

a desire

sacrament and would make more time available for hearing confessions, t

to receive the

stimulate priests to

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scheduled for March 14 in Washington to celebrate the canonization last October of Edith Stein.

A dialogue, prayer service and organ concert have been planned by the Discalced Carmelites, in collaboration with The Catholic University of America, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the Archdiocese of Washington.

A dialogue on "Edith Stein's Challenge for Our Times" will be presented

by Eugene Fisher, director of Catholic-Jewish relations for the U.S. Catholic bishops, and Suzanne Batzdorflf, author and niece of Edith Stein, beginning at 3 p.m. in Gowan Hall Auditorium at Catholic University.

Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore will lead an evening vespers service at 6 p.m. in the lower church of the shrine, including prayers for all who died in the Holocaust and for an end to ethnic and religious persecution.

At 7 p.m. Franciscan Sister Mary Jane Wagner will present an organ concert of pieces by a favorite composer of the saint and others chosen to highlight the troubled times that led to her death in the Nazi gas chambers and relating to her life as a contemplative nun.

The events are free and open to the public.

St. Edith Stein was born into a Jewish family but was baptized a Catholic in 1922 and entered the Carmelite monastery of Cologne, Germany, in 1933, taking the religious name Sister Teresa Benedicta of thfe Cross. She died in 1942 in the Birkenau section of the Auschwitz concentration camp and was canonized by Pope John Paul II on Oct. 1 1, 1998.

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its

,

14 The Catholic News & Herald

February 26, 1999

Around the Dioce$e

woman

the most to her.

berly reluctantly agreed to grant Scott's request that he enter Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., to continue his conversion process.

They relocated to Milwaukee. As Scott's journey took him in one direction, Kimberly's took her in another: She began to question who God really was, and listened with doubt as Scott described the Catholic Church as a teacher of biblically based truth.

Although he had promised Kimberly he would study and pray for another four years before even possibly converting, Scott felt an undeniable

now been almost 10 years since entered the Catholic Church, and she continues to share her conversion story with thousands a message of faith she brought to St. Gabriel Catho-

enter the Catholic Church the following Easter. Kimberly offered her pain up to God, but felt an intense feeling of abandonment by her husband.

Faith journey brings to Catholic

By JIMMY

Conversion

Church

ROSTAR

Associate Editor

CHARLOTTE — Kimberly Hahn a time when the very thought of becoming CathoUc made her weep.

Her opposition caused much turmoil in her life, threatened to break up her marriage, and left her with feelings of abandonment by those who meant

remembers

It's

call to

Hahn

—

lic

Church

in Charlotte

on Feb.

13.

Her presentation was part of "Dare to Call

Him Abba," a series of four talks

by Kimberly and her husband, Scott, on topics about God, Mary, Scripture and conversion. The series was sponsored by the Catholic Evangelization Commission of Charlotte.

The Hahns appear frequently on television, in print and through speaking engagements to discuss a variety

Photo by Jimmy Rostar

Scott and Kimberly Hahn sign books and meet audience members at St. Gabriel Catholic Church Feb. 13. They gave four talks on God, Mary, Scripture, and conversion. project on contraception, caused her to

right decision."

by using

Today, Kimberly Hahn can say that with joy and enthusiasm, although the process she endured was a tumultuous one. "All that pain welled up inside me," she said, "and (yet) I really sensed the love of God in the midst of it."

said.

The journey begins

father, a minister.

She graduated from college and got married in 1979. Her husband, Scott, was also an evangelical Presbyterian. They decided to enter Gordon-

Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts that fall to pursue master's degrees.

She said a Christian ethics

which she pursued

class, in

a social

issues

reaffirm her pro-life position

— and

reevaluate her stance on birth control.

Kimberly began to sense that Scott was experiencing a time of discovery.

"Some of what he taught disturbed

cluded research on the Catholic view-

me," she said of her husband's class work, which included discussions on

point, led to a deeper understanding of

liturgy and t)fpology.

Study

for the project,

which

the nature of God and of honoring his gifts as

in-

him

he intended, she

Later studies at the seminary turned up another inkling of Catholic teaching. "I came to a Catholic understanding of justification, that we're made right with God when he makes us his children," she said.

By the time she graduated, she said, she could no longer embrace "a Protestant understanding of justification" namely, that humans are justified by faith alone. She said Scott also had begun to study the issue, and his findings on Catholic teaching shook him to the very core.

Still, Kimberly was perfectly "happy to be an evangelical Protes-

—

tant."

After graduation, the settled in Virginia.

Hahns

Kimberly was

pregnant with their first child, and Scott had become a minister, teaching

much

After

consideration, prayer

and study, Scott told Kimberly he felt he was being called to the Episcopal Church. Kimberly was crushed.

"The last thing I wanted to be was

# #2 ^ #

1

Dealer

In

In In

challenges

morning in the Hahns' home. Scott wanted to raise their children in the Catholic tradition. Kimberly felt pushed away, and recalled feeling that Scott's

conversion "was costing me everything" their marriage.

"Two different times I walked the block wanting to leave," she said. "The pain was so excruciating."

— even perhaps .

A fork in the road

him not

to the Episcopal Church, but

a year had passed when Kimberly's father reminded her of a prayer that promised total obedience to God and his plan. She admitted that she hadn't prayed it in a long time. Her father urged her to ask for grace.

A month of soul searching ensued.

Still convinced that she would be giving up her mind and heart by entering the Catholic Church, she finally found the courage and faith to pray that

towards

Roman

prayer.

As he continued teach, Scott

was

and

to study

offered the dean's po-

He

sition at the seminary.

turned

down, saying that he needed time sort out questions about his

The Hahns moved nia,

and

news His

in

faith

"I

own

it

to

faith.

to Pennsylva-

time Scott delivered more

that left Kimberly heartbroken:

journey seemed to be taking Catholicism.

remember

...just feeling like

the

joy I had in the Lord had literally drained out of my body through my feet,"

Something clicked.

"The powerful message God gave me was that I had placed myself in the

Kimberly said. devout Presbyterian, Kim-

See

Still a

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"I can truthfully say to you there has not been one backward glance for me," Kimberly told her Charlotte audience. "There has not been a moment of doubt as to whether or not this was the

Raised in a loving, evangelical Presbyterian household, Kimberly learned about Scripture and living one's faith from her mother and her

The first Mass Kimberly attended was an Easter Vigil in 1986 in Milwaukee. It was the Mass during which Scott became Catholic.

"To me, it was a day I wanted to forget," Kimberly said. "It was the day that ended taking communion together, and my heart was very, very

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February 26, 1999

The Catholic News & Herald 15

Around the Diocese

DSA: Seminarians

Preparingthose to whom

ministry of service, and a key component of the annual support appeal.

It's a massive undertaking, providing for these men of faith.

And the respon-

"Jesus Christ told his disciples to pray

and so everyone must for work and pray that many young men vocations,

willfollow the Lord's

— Pope John Paul

call.

II,

September 1993.

Let

ByJOANNKEANE Usually direct services are associated with the DSA beneficiary ministries. Educational ministries, Catholic Social Services and Multicultural Ministries provide tangible support and service.

However, of the life sustaining ministries supported by the Diocesan Support Appeal, one stands apart from the others: The education of future priests for the diocese.

It can be years in the making before the diocese reaps the benefits.

But make no mistake, the end benefit is

sibility

in fact a

falls

upon the shoul-

your

Editor

of seminarian education

we shall someday turn for spiritual guidance

ders of those to

whom

they will

someday minis-

light

ter.

"A vocation, the response to

DSA 99

a

vocation, de-

pends to a very high degree on the witness of the whole community, the family, the parish," said Pope John Paul II in a 1993 address. "It is people who help vocations to grow. It is priests who by their example attract young men and help them respond to Jesus' words: 'Follow me.' Those who

have received a vocation must be able In an era where a critical shortage to give an example of how to follow." of priests is becoming all too comCoordinating such mon, vocations to the efforts in the Diocese of priesthood in this dioCharlotte is how Father cese are encouraging.

"Throughout my own Eric Houseknecht spends "The Diocese of Charpriestly formation, his days when he's not lotte is blessed with 24 tending to the faith young men studying for was continually needs of Our Lady of the priesthood," said amazed, humbled Consolation parish in Bishop William G. Four years Charlotte.

Curlin. and affirmed by the ordained, Father "This June we will Houseknecht is well tremendous spirit of celebrate the ordination aware of the need to culof two new priests, who love shown to me by tivate, educate and enwill accept the joys and courage future priests; challenges of serving the people of our and draws from his own God and the people of diocese." experience. "Throughout Western North Caro-

—

my own

I

priestly forma-

to

me

Bishop Curlin.

"While we rejoice in this

lina," said

— Father Eric

was continually amazed, humbled and affirmed by the tremendous spirit of love shown tion,

I

Houseknecht

blessing,

we

face certain

challenges in order to educate, nurture and re-

by the people of our diocese.

cruit future priests."

The

cost of educating seminar-

ians in this diocese exceeds $538,600

Hahn,

from page 14

bird cage," she said. "In praying a

prayer of total relinquishment, no matter what the cost, I handed the key back to the Lord and he unlocked

—

the cage.

"He

said,

'Now

you're ready to fly

again with me.'"

For the first time in about three years of spiritual struggle, Kimberly felt true joy.

She said listening to and witnessing the power and mystery of the baptismal rite "meant so much to me, and as we left there I remember thinking, 'Lord, I don't know what you've done for Hannah, but I know you've done

something

in

my

As Scott had so ardently tried to encourage her before, Kimberly began to embrace a new sense of faith.

Kimberly's period of conversion continued, and it wasn't without doubt and fear. But as she kept studying, she said, "the fabric

Homecoming Kimberly no way

of truth just became

and more beautiful."

She learned and embraced Catholic teachings about the sacraments, about the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist, about the role of Scripture and sacred tradition in the church.

A growing understanding of the intercession of Mary and the saints comforted her greatly, she recalled. rich

was

said her decision

in

But with her and Scott's third child, Hannah, on the way, another step toward the Catholic faith was taken. final.

As she prayed, she

heart.'"

she felt a conviction in her heart that their daughter was to be baptized Catholic. said,

With that understanding, she overcame one of her most steadfast road-

annually.

And

allocation

from the support appeal

blocks to accepting Catholic teachings.

"I began to realize that there is a rich truth to the communion of saints

12 percent of the overall support ap-

I needed as a Christian," she said.

She grew to love the saints not as

that

equals to or replacements for Jesus, but "as an extra way to him."

Kimberly Hahn became a Catholic

Her

her conversion, she

233

N.

Sam -5pm

Greene

able to see," she explained. "But

I don't think I've rejected what I was given.

"I think I've come to the fullness of the faith by the mercy of God." t

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Due

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training for these future priests.

"If we feel involved in the redeeming work of Christ and the Church, we must always pray for vo-

cations," said

harvest

to re-finance

the

is

Pope John Paul

"The

II.

t

great."

The Seminarians program is one of 35 ministries partially orfullyfonded

by the Diocesan Support Appeal.

Contact Editor Joann Keane at (704) 370-3336, or send e-mail to jskeane@charlottediocese.org.

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16 The Catholic News & Herald

February 26, 1999

Living the Faith

Real Patch Adams tells Catholic

students to 'dance through CLARE MACDONNELL

By

News

Catholic

ARLINGTON,

Service

am

named Hunter

real-life physician

"Patch" Adams, portrayed by actor Robin Williams in the hit movie, told Catholic high school students in Arlington to embrace life and to not be afraid to reach out to others.

The movie tells the story of Adams' determination as a medical student to treat patients with humor and humanity.

Dressed

in

who

is

—

—

—

mismatched

colorful,

garb, the gregarious doctor,

a billionaire of the richness of life."

He said he will make $4 million this year and all of it will go back into his work. With a note of sadness in his voice, he said that the first donation to his clinic came 14 years into the project.

"Last week, two large foundations gave us all the money we need to build the hospital," he said. "It has taken a film the modern church to draw an interest in my work."

He cautioned the students about the temptations of fame. "I don't want mine you to be seduced by celebrity or anyone else's," he said. "Forget the

— The

Va. (CNS)

also

name and remember

spoke from the auditorium stage at Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington to kick off the school's 24th annual "Superdance" fund-raiser a professional clown,

"Take

did not leave the stage without giving the school an example

of his clowning

While it

upon

intent, tliat tlie

raised $1.5 million.

In his remarks,

minute you leave

Adams

shared with the students said his father

your house you

what he told him

give,"

as a child: "Be thankful you are alive, then look around to see

who else is at the party."

Adams is one of several doctors who run the Gesundheit clinic in

West

Institute, a holistic

He

Virginia.

and

his col-

leagues are currently planning to build a in

northern Virginia,

Adams

graduated from George Washington University in the District of Columbia and the Medical College of Virginia.

Inspired to

become

he

will

he said.

clowning as a public service which "changes the mood on the streets by being playful and funny." He will even disrupt family disputes if he thinks he can ease the pressure by clowning

a doctor while

institutionalized for depression as a

has led clown contingents to Russia and Bosnia, trying to bring smiles in the midst of war.

"None of this is what I started out to do," he said. "But the thrill of the quest is palpable everyday and I want

a result of his experience as a patient, he

was

cystic fibrosis or with another suffer-

Adams

crowd sim-

told the

ply but emphatically,

"I

love people."

As

a pioneer in the idea of treating the

Church of the Holy Innocents, New York

is

a

The Shrine Dedicated to Children

Who Have Died Unborn

who or who

have died before birth

memorial

for

children

all

through miscarriage, abortion

When usually

is

are stillborn.

parents suffer the loss of an unborn baby, there

no

burial or

any way

for

them

to

honor and remem-

ber their child. His Hohness, Pope John Paul his encyclical letter

now "living in

to offer that intoxication to you."

Adams challenged the students to move beyond the Superdance event by spending a week with a child who has

teen-ager,

Who Died

Dedicated to Children

around.

Adams

hospital to provide free, holistic care.

Born

abilities.

performing

pointed out that the humor in the movie starring Williams was understated.

He is much crazier than the movie portrayed him, he said.

He described himself not as a birthday clown, but more like "the nut on the street." He views his

yourself, with

In 23 years, the school has

The

the deeds."

Adams

for cystic fibrosis.

It is the largest high school fund-raiser for cystic fibrosis in the country.

life'

the Lord" and are with

This shrine

II,

reminds us in

Evangelium Vitae, that these children

offers

God for all

eternity.

an opportunity for families to enter the

name of their child into the Book ofLife vAiich. is encased at the shrine between statues of the

Eternal Flame candle.

Holy Family and beneath

Our shrine

is

"The ideal patient is someone who wants a deep, intimate friendship for life," said Adams. "When I see a patient, I want to spend two or three hours with him."

Referring to the fact that he has made no money and has gained no material possessions from his work, Adams told the students, "I've only known pain to practice medicine but I

'Take

it

tent, that the

upon yourself, with inminute you leave your

forgiveness

house you will give," he said. "Make yourself act conscientiously toward this goal.

my feet

Think

that every day

dance through

'Maybe and remember

to yourself,

will save lives,' is

life."

and

The Holy

Sacrifice

Friday of every the

love.

month

Book ofLife and

of the Mass

in

is

celebrated

on the

for the

comfort of their

families.

a superdance, so

t

name into our "Hook of life, name of the child, or contact:

Ifyou iioiild like to enter a child's

Elementary Principal Needed

Dominiijiie Guileaii at (212) 279-5861 cxl. 224

Summerville Catholic School, with 400 students in grades K-4 through 8, is seeking a principal beginning with the 1999-2000 school year. Now in its fourteenth year of operation. Summerville Catholic School has an excellent reputation, a dedicated .staff, outstanding parental suppon, three supporting parishes, and an enthusiastic and

Church of the Holy Innocents 128 West 3-th Street

on our

We

last

honor of the children inscribed into

please send us a letter uith the

leader to build

the

a place of prayer, healing,

ing individual.

patient instead of the disease.

energetic student population.

are

or E-mail us

at: Sliriiie(o^innoi't'nts.coni

New York, \V 10018

community-minded and implement long-

are seeking a student-oriented,

past accomplishments, help devote, refine

range plans, and be an integral part of our spiritual and academic development as

we

move into the twenty-first century. Desired qualifications: %\ j

\ :

\

.

Master's degree

.

Eligibility for

in

administration or education.

SC elementary principal's certificate.

.

Five years experience in administering a Catholic school.

.

Active

(md practicing

Please send letter of interest and resume to:

Rev. Msgr. Christopher

Lathem

28 Sumter Ave., Summerv ille,

Ad

sponsored by the Respect Life Office, Diocese of Charlotte.

For information, callMaggi Nadol (704) 370-3229

Catholic.

SC 29483