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Catholic
News & Herald
Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
Fall
colors dominate the landscape
in this
Volume 6 Number 9
photo taken on the grounds of the Catholic Conference Center
•
November
Photo by
Hickory.
in
1,
1996
JOANN KEANE
Pope Says Church Accepts Diocesan Couples Mark Golden, Silver Anniversaries Evolution As Well-Supported By
MIKE KROKOS Editor
CHARLOTTE — Ann
and Gordon
Forester offer this advice to newlyweds:
Be
unselfish,
God
sure
you want
is
work together and make
a part of your marriage if
to live "happily ever after."
The parishioners
Paul the Greensboro are not at St.
Apostle Church in licensed counselors, but many would consider them experts: The Foresters
have been happily married 50 years. the more than 100 couples from the Diocese of Charlotte who renewed their wedding vows at the annual 25th and 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration Oct. 27 at St. John
They also were among
Neumann Church.
proms, and began dating. Their romance blossomed, but it would be five years before their wedding day as Gordon traveled overseas to serve his country in
World War II. On June 15, 1946, the couple finally tied the knot. 'There were more weddings that day than any other in the history of this country
(because of the war)," Mrs. Forester
noted.
Over the
years, the Foresters
have
learned to respect each other and also make sure God is a part of their lives. "It
may
not have been true in the very be-
we soon learned the Lord was very important to both of us to help us get through," Mrs. Forester said.
ginning, but
Church accepts evolution as a theory well-supported by research in a
to the fall celebration in Charlotte. All
tual
257 couples were invited this year. Barbara Evans, who assists the diocesan Office of Justice and Peace with special projects, helped coordinate what
plained scientifically.
told,
has
become
a well-attended event.
"We
had 113 couples sign up to attend the Mass, and nearly 450 scheduled to be here including family and guests," she
By
ROME II
the celebrating couples in his homily.
"Eighteen years ago this week, I saw my mother and father together for the last time. My mother was dying of cancer. When she passed away, my father turned to me with tears in his eyes and said, 'Son, you've lost your mother; I've lost
my
life.'"
—
message to Pope John Paul
In a
said the
variety of scientific fields.
At the same time, though, the pope development of the spiriaspect of human life cannot be ex-
In a statement Oct.
meaning
find points of
agreement
22
to the plenary
For example, he said, Pope Pius XII wrote in a 1 950 encyclical that there was
no conflict between evolution and the certain firm points of faith
where no con-
cession can be made.
"Today, nearly half a century after
knowledge leads
come up with evidence of evolution independent of one another.
of evolution,
appropriate to speak of 'the theo-
new
to recognition of the
more than a hyPope John Paul said. Charles Darwin introduced evolu-
theory of evolution as pothesis,"
in the fact that several scien-
disciplines had
'the theory'
tionary theory in the 19th century with
"On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection." The Vatican of late has shown a his book,
ries'
of evolution," he said. "This plurality accounts, on the one hand, for the
heightened interest in evolution theory. At a June symposium, co-sponsored by the Vatican Observatory and encour-
diversity of explanations that have been proposed as the mechanism of evolution and, on the other hand, for diverse phi-
aged by the pope, participants suggested that to view the development of human life in terms of an "ongoing creation" is
losophies."
a scenario that
it is
The pope noted first
he was not the pontiff to state that science and
makes increasing
sense,
that
See Evolution, page 3
"We
can see this in your lives as well," the bishop said. "Spouses who understand true friendship. ...a friendship rooted in the love which is selfless, generous, patient and kind."
Bishop Curlin also said happy marriages include God. "Today, we honor that unselfish love that is Jesus Christ;
See Couples, page 3
in
this area.
the publication of the encyclical,
session of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the pontiff said there was tific
Church can
doctrine of the faith, as long as there were
said that the
"More than
Bishop William G. Curlin addressed
the best friend in
(CNS)
international scientists,
said.
Natives of Chicago, the couple met in high school, went to each other's
LYNNE WEIL
"Without Him, it couldn't have worked." "With six kids, we would have never made it," Mr. Forester added. For the past 1 6 years, the diocese has asked all parishes to submit the names of couples eligible for the celebration. After the names are compiled into a master list, each of the couples isinvited
inside Supplement this issue: The Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte 1995-96 Annual Report
News
Briefs
Parish Profile
10-11
12