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JNews
& Herald Volume 3 Number 10
Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
November
•
5,
1993
Diocese Designates Nov. 14 As Stewardship Awareness Sunday By
CAROL HAZARD Associate Editor
As
upon
the Georgia farmer gazed
land sprinkled with the
salt
of his sweat,
he assured his granddaughter that if she walked close to the Lord, He would meet all her needs. The advice was from a man who lost everything in the depression and who gave to his church from money he had borrowed. The little girl, now a mother of five grown children and a parishioner at St. Margaret Church in Maggie Valley, will never forget the lesson she learned from her grandfather as she sat swinging her
from a rocking chair on
feet
his front
porch.
difficult to let
young child and I know it to be true." The concept of stewardship is as old as the Bible. But it is difficult to grasp, a
says Pat Signs, associate director of the
"Stewardship
a conversion of the way we look at life. We may give lip service to the fact that God takes care of us, but we still try to control our
ing basis," she says.
come from is
and human resources and using them trust,
cultivate
means more. As Christian stewards, we receive God's gifts gratefully, them responsibly, share them lovingly injustice with others and return them with
increase to the Lord. " Source: U.S. Bishops' Pastoral Letter
on Stewardship.
Photo by
JOANN KEANE
is
day, Nov. 14 as a day to reflect on God's
giving.
learning to trust
things," says Miller.
Christian steward
lives."
in all
"We can talk about
— —
ourselves
why
By
the diocese proclaims
education process," Signs says. This year' s awareness Sunday is the diocese' fifth.
"Stewardship
is
a conversion of the
way we look at life," Signs says. "We may give lip service to the fact that God
faith."
takes care of us, but
People work hard for their money, so they cling to it, says Miller. "It's very
control our lives."
we
Reverses
Policy, Will Train Pro-Life
Doctors
CAROL HAZARD Associate Editor
— Doctors
who
refuse to do abortions will be accepted into the residency
program
at
The Uni-
versity of North Carolina Hospitals.
UNC-Chapel
ate medical education at
She said the new policy was written by program directors who failed to
Hill.
with the department chairman. The chairman was out of town at the clear
That's a sigh of relief for pro-lifers,
should be involved in the healing proThere is nothing healing about
cess.
For example, a person decides to
elective abortions."
"Even though abortion
it
is legal,
the
decision should be optional to the in-
Melissa Hulett, a Chapel Hill
tern," said
School, Winston-Salem, and a pediatric nurse. "Any time you have a restriction like that, you stand a chance of losing a
a letter to prospective applicants for
Oglesbee said the policy reversal had nothing to do with pressure. However, it occurred within weeks of Stewart's first correspondence with the
residency in obstetrics and gynecology
university.
from the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine.The letter, dated July 28, 1 993,
"I
it
represents a policy reversal. It's
good news
for Craig Stewart
from the Diocese of Raleigh. Stewart, general
manager of
a
Fay ette ville car dealership, had obtained
who agree to
was shocked
were who were not
that they
screening out residents
graduate from Bishop McGuinness High
lot
of quality people." The medical school revised the origi-
most residents refuse do abortions. "... we now have a predominance of residents who do not perform indicated nal policy because
to
against pro-life doctors, Stewart con-
do abortions," said Stewart. proves that one person writing letters and making a few phone calls can make a difference." Although his efforts apparently got
tacted the university, expressed his dis-
results,
only those candidates
pitals
form indicated elective abortions
said only those candidates
do abortions would be accepted into the program. Appalled at the discrimination
may, wrote
money
to
Church but wonders how the bills will be paid. Some people wonder how they can possibly give more time. "You have to take the step and do it," says Signs. "He (God) can't show you about trust unless you take the step."
letters to
congressmen and
threatened a class action lawsuit.
The policy was
retracted within
willing to
"I think the reversal
Stewart said he fears other hoswith obstetric-gynecology residency programs might be discriminating "overtly or covertly" against pro-
we
are compelled this year to interview
who agree to perif se-
lected for residency." "If a person chooses not to
perform
Maggi Nadol, respect life coordinait was disturbing
of retribution or discrimination," said Edwin Noga, a Chapel Hill graduate from Bishop McGuinness High School
tor for the diocese, said
accepted into the residency program
that a policy so blatantly discriminatory
regardless of their willingness to per-
at a state university
form abortions. 'The policy is the same as it was," said Ross Oglesbee, attorney and assis-
effect
tant to the executive director for gradu-
spective candidates said. "Therefore,
doctors.
life
The old policy, in effect since 1982, says that candidates would be
reinstated.
elective abortions," the letter to pro-
abortions, there should not be any kind
weeks, and the hospital's old policy was
could be put into
even for a short time. am encouraged that the university retracted it and I hope they will honor their word," she said. "Physicians "I
and a hospital administrator. "In that they retracted
right decision."
it,
Stewardship is about sharing time, and treasure. But it's also about trust, Signs says. About 60 percent of parishes in the diocese are involved in annual stewardtalent
time the policy was written and mailed, she said.
since
try to
still
the
CHAPEL HILL
especially
is
an ongo-
one Sunday a year as Stewardship Awareness Sunday. "It is part of the
we
can really give of of our time, talent and we don't advance in our
but unless
treasure
Him
That's
we need to hear on
give a greater proportion of
UNC
to an-
something
Him generous giving of time, talent and treasure. But being a
move
learned this as
diocese's Development Office. "It
"Part of our faith relationship with
is
I
esan administrator, has designated Sun-
that
responsibly are one answer; so
can
other plane in our faith.
With the approach of Stewardship Awareness Sunday, Julie Miller is reminded again of her grandfather and the importance of giving back to God. Msgr. John J. McSweeney, dioc-
ship and the abundant spiritual rewards
identifies a steward? Safeguarding material
we
release them, then
bounty, the responsibility of steward-
"What
go of material things. But to a place where we can
when we come
they
came
light
to the
ship programs, Signs says.
By
calling
attention to stewardship, the diocese
hopes to offer support to parishes that have made the commitment and encourage others to think about taking the step. In a letter to parishioners, Msgr. McSweeney wrote, "One day we will stand before Him ... and He will ask us what we have done with His gifts. How will we respond?" The call to be good stewards involves our basic need to give, rather than the Church's need to receive, the letter says. "To those who have heard the call, but have not yet responded, I urge you to look carefully at all that you have been given." "Stewardship is an ongoing process of changing our lives, and giving thanks to
God for all He has
given to us," says
Signs.
Signs will
visit
parishes to help
strengthen or start stewardship programs.
She can be reached at (704) 33 (704) 377-6871.
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