March 5, 2004

Catholic san Francisco

A major milestone Review Board report and John Jay study examine abuse crisis

Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper

(CNS PHOTO FROM ICON PRODUCTIONS)

By Jerry Filteau Catholic News Service

Mary is lifted by a soldier as she kneels by Jesus carrying his cross on the way to Calvary in this scene from “The Passion of the Christ,” which opened in theatres nationwide on Ash Wednesday. See page 3.

State Supreme Court rules against Catholic Charities’ claim of religious freedom By Catholic San Francisco Staff California’s Supreme Court on March 1 affirmed lower court rulings that Catholic Charities is not a religious organization for legal purposes and therefore is not protected from government intrusion by the U.S. or California Constitutions. At issue was whether or not the State of California could legally force Catholic Charities to provide contraceptive coverage to its employees in violation of its religious beliefs. The Court ruled the State was within its rights to force Catholic Charities to violate its religious beliefs because Catholic Charities is not a religious institution. This ruling has far reaching implications beyond Catholic Charities and contraceptive insurance coverage according to Ned Dolejsi, executive director of the California Catholic Conference, “This case was never about contraceptives. It was never about insurance. It was about our ability to practice our religion—providing food, clothing and shelter to the neediest among us—as a religious organization which is part of the Catholic Church.” Dolejsi said the Court’s logic would extend to other Catholic institutions, including hospitals and schools and issues beyond contraception. “The Court’s action upholding the power of the state to force the Catholic Church to violate its core beliefs on contraception undermines the rights of each and every Californian,” he said. Dolejsi called the Court’s ruling “a bitter disappoint-

ment to everyone who believes that freedom of speech and freedom of religion are the cornerstones of our society.” State Senator Jackie Speier (D-San Mateo) sponsored the Women’s Contraception Equity Act (WCEA) in 1999. The bill passed and went into effect in 2000. Speier’s bill forces all California employers which provide prescription health care to their employees to include in that package contraceptive coverage. Only at the request of the California Catholic Conference was an exception made for religious employers morally opposed to contraception. The religious exemption was narrowly defined however. It excludes from protection religious organizations which hire or serve large numbers of people from other faiths or perform services not primarily and directly intended to proselytize. Catholic Charities filed suit claiming the law forced it to provide contraception or refuse prescription coverage to its employees entirely. Either option violated the organization’s religious principles, it claimed. In a 6-1 ruling, the California Supreme Court found that Catholic Charities, and by implication Catholic hospitals, schools and social service organizations, did not fit the narrow definition of a religious organization. It further found, that even had Catholic Charities fit that definition, religious organizations have few rights from government interference. “Religious beliefs do not excuse compliance with otherwise valid laws regulating matters the state is free to

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Catholic Church reached another key milestone in dealing with its clergy sexual abuse crisis Feb. 27 when two major documents on the extent of the abuse and its causes were released simultaneously. At the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Bishops’ National Review Board released its report on the causes and context of the abuse and presented the John Jay College study of the nature and scope of the abuse. The documents are important breakthroughs. They provide for the first time a full objective accounting of the problem and a thoughtful independent critique of what led to this sad chapter in church history. “This study and this report, while painful to read, form a vital benchmark,” said Bishop Wilton D. Gregory of Belleville, Ill., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, at a press conference following the release of the two documents. The John Jay study — conducted by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, one of the nation’s top institutions in that field — said its survey found that at least 10,667 people had reported plausible claims of childhood sexual abuse by 4,392 priests or deacons between 1950 and 2002. This represents 4 percent of the approximately 110,000 diocesan and religious priests who served in REPORT / STUDY, page 22 the United States in those years.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES, page 18

INSIDE THIS WEEK’S EDITION New threat to marriage . . . 6 Editorial and letters . . . . . 14 Scripture reflection. . . . . . 16 Background on abuse. . 17-18 Marriage amendment . . . . 19

News in brief SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT MARCH 7

March 5, 2004

~ Pages 4-5 ~

Datebook and review . . 20-21

~ Pages 12-13 ~ FIFTY CENTS

www.catholic-sf.org VOLUME 6

•

No. 9

2

Catholic San Francisco

March 5, 2004

On The

Daly said. Father Daly can be reached at (415) 614-5683…. Happy 60 years married to Betty and Bill Lynch, native San Franciscans, married at St. Dominic Church, and Holy Name parishioners for the last 42 years. Offering their loving congrats are their son, Bill, with by Tom Burke wife, Geri, and daughter, Theresa Miller, with husband, Tom….Honored this Sunday Liked the one about the kid whose letter to God at St. Mary’s Cathedral asking for $100 was intercepted by the White House with the Girl Scouts’ where thoughtful staffers sent the lad a $5 bill in an Marian Award are Carley official envelope thinking he’d be impressed. “Thank Dunleavy and Nikkole Ortiz, you for the money,” the boy wrote in a follow-up mis6th graders at Marjorie sive to the Lord. “Just wanted you to know that the peoTobias Elementary, Brittany ple you sent it through in Washington, D.C took out $95 Dunleavy, an 8th grader in taxes.”…Remember that it’s a guaranteed good at Benjamin Franklin time at tomorrow and Sunday’s Flea market sponsored Intermediate and Gabriela by the Women’s Guild of St. Elizabeth Parish. Betty and Bill Lynch with grandkids, from left, Marracq, an 8th grader at “Thanks in advance,” said Aldiva Fontana, guild secreBrendan Miller, and Greg, Karen, Kevin and Billy Lynch. St. Thomas More Elementary. tary. (See Datebook)…Speaking of Datebook, rememThe recognition is given ber that Lenten Opportunities – spiritual and other – Namur University in Belmont on March 10th. Among to cadettes who study the Blessed Mother are listed there for your perusal and use. Received too calligraphers involved in the task was “the longtime through research and essays. Proud folks are late to make it onto the page is this invitation to see and scribe” to herself, Queen Elizabeth. “It’s the first bible Paulette and Peter Dunleavy, Antoinette and hear about a “handwritten bible” at Notre Dame de to be completely written and illustrated by hand since Greg Marracq, and Christina and James Ortiz… the invention of movable type 500 years ago,” said Janiece Bacon Oblak, who is coordinating the evening, which begins at 7:30 p.m. For more info call (650) 508-3757…. Seminarians studying for the Archdiocese dined with members of the Vocations Committee from Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish February 7th at the home of committee co-chair, Marie Murray and her husband, John. “Support of the men committing their lives as future priests is a way we can affirm their decision and welcome them into our community,” Marie said. “It was a wonderful home cooked meal and we are grateful,” said seminarian Mike Quinn. “The Father Jerome Foley, pastor, St. James Parish, vocations committee at IHM is showing congratulates Marian Award winners, from left, Gospel hospitality,” said Father Tom Carley Dunleavy, Brittany Dunleavy, Daly, vocations director for the Gabriela Marracq, Nikkole Ortiz. Seminarians took chow recently with the welcoming clergy and Archdiocese. “They are also a good Vocations Committee of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish. Kneeling example for parishes who want to help Remember, this is an empty space without ya’!!! from left: Father Roberto Andrey, Jim Shea. Standing from left: with vocations but are not sure how.” Send items and a follow up phone number to On the Father Stephen Howell, Father Paul Arnoult, Ngoan Phan, Vocations committees “help create a Street Where You Live, One Peter Yorke Way, SF 94109. Gloria Oswald, Ulysses D’Aguila, Paul Casey, Paul Zirimanya, vocations culture in the parish for men Fax (415) 614-5641; e-mail tburke@catholic-sf.org. Joseph Campos, David Schunk, John Sakowski, Mike Quinn, and women who may be thinking about Do not send attachments except photos and those in jpeg, Marie Murray, Matthew Hysell, Michael Konopik, Don Oswald. the priesthood or religious life,” Father please. You can reach Tom Burke at (415) 614-5634….

Where You Live

Catholic san Francisco Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper

Official newspaper of the Archdiocese of San Francisco

Most Reverend William J. Levada, publisher Maurice E. Healy, associate publisher & editor Editorial Staff: Jack Smith, assistant editor; Evelyn Zappia, feature editor; Tom Burke, “On the Street” and Datebook; Patrick Joyce, contributing editor/senior writer; Sharon Abercrombie and Jayme George, reporters Advertising: Joseph Pena, director; Mary Podesta, account representative Production: Karessa McCartney, manager

LIVING TRUSTS WILLS ●

●

PROBATE

MICHAEL T. SWEENEY ATTORNEY AT LAW 782A ULLOA STREET SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127

(415) 664-8810

www.mtslaw.info

FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION

McCoy Church Goods Co. Inc. Competitive Prices & Personalized Service

Business Office: Marta Rebagliati, assistant business manager; Virginia Marshall, advertising and promotion services; Judy Morris, circulation and subscriber services Advisory Board: Jeffrey Burns, Ph.D., Noemi Castillo, James Clifford, Fr. Thomas Daly, Joan Frawley Desmond, James Kelly, Deacon William Mitchell, Kevin Starr, Ph.D., Sr. Christine Wilcox, OP. Catholic San Francisco editorial offices are located at One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco, CA 94109. Tel: (415) 614-5640 Circulation: 1-800-563-0008 or (415) 614-5638 Advertising: (415) 614-5642 News fax: (415) 614-5633; Advertising fax: (415) 614-5641 Adv. E-mail: jpena@catholic-sf.org Catholic San Francisco (ISSN 15255298) is published weekly except the Fridays after Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas and the first Friday in January, twice a month during summer by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco, 1500 Mission Rd., P.O. Box 1577, Colma, CA 94014. Annual subscription rates are $10 within the Archdiocese of San Francisco and $22.50 elsewhere in the United States. Periodical postage paid at South San Francisco, California. Postmaster: Send address changes to Catholic San Francisco, 1500 Mission Rd., P.O. Box 1577, Colma, CA 94014 If there is an error in the mailing label affixed to this newspaper, call 1-800-563-0008. It is helpful to refer to the current mailing label.

GIVE US YOUR CAR AND WE’LL GIVE THEM HOPE Donate to SV

DP

St. Vincent de Paul Society Marin – San Francisco – San Mateo Serving the poor since 1860 Donate your Car, Boat or RV

1-800-YES-SVDP

ROBERTS CORNED MEATS SINCE 1910

“Try our corned beef for your St. Patrick’s Day needs!”

1010 Howard Avenue San Mateo, CA 94401

(650) 342-0924

1030 BRYANT STREET SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 PH: 415-621-2624 FAX: 415-621-2963 EMAIL: CORNBF@AOL.COM

March 5, 2004

Catholic San Francisco

3

Commentary The violent message of Mel Gibson’s movie, “The Passion” By Jack Smith If nothing else, Mel Gibson’s movie “The Passion of the Christ” — and the blaze of publicity about it — have flash fired a discussion of Christ in every corner of America. The argument is not, as many claim, an argument about Mel Gibson, or the wacky anti-Semitic vitriol of his father, or Gibson’s own less than clear adherence to a somehow separate Catholicism - though these are all foils for the real argument. A culture plunged by the narcissistic boomer generation into the despair and isolation of unmoored self-discovery now asks not “who am I?” – but with Satan, in the opening scene of “The Passion,” asks Christ, “Who are you? Who is your Father?” If this film succeeds only in causing millions of Americans to ask that question, “Who are you? Who is your Father?” then it signals one of the greatest successes in cinema history. Yet there are detractors. Reviewers with a negative spin on the film tend to fall into three general categories: (1) those who fault the film for being or opening the door to anti-Semitism; (2) secular critics who fail to grasp the significance of the film because they are culturally and religiously illiterate; and (3) those who are put off by the film’s emphasis on the “Passion of Christ,” mostly Christian critics whose conception of Christ is not so passion oriented.

No one should begrudge the fears of some Jews that a “Passion Play” produced by a man whose father is an outspoken anti-Semite will lead to a rise in anti-Semitism in the context of a world rife with rising anti-Semitism. Nonetheless, the film itself is not at all anti-Semitic, and committed American Christians, most of whom are profoundly philo-Semitic, will not be led to pogroms by this film. If anything, they will be led to a greater appreciation of their Savior and their Holy Mother as real flesh and blood Jews. The Jewishness of Jesus, his mother and disciples, is often an abstraction for Christians (something that was, but is no longer, or has changed). This film reminds us that Mary and Jesus and Magdalene and John are Jews and they are our heroes. Anti-Semitism, in light of “The Passion” is not an option for a committed Christian and it is counter to the hard, in your face, endlessly repeated message of the film, “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” This quote from Isaiah 53:5 is the first and only opening credit of the film. The message of Christ’s sacrifice for the collective guilt of all people for all time is reiterated throughout the film, as in the opening scene, where Satan taunts Jesus – Can one man take the full burden of all men’s sins?

Quinn Colloquium set for March 13 Immigration and the Christian responsibility to support immigrants are topics for the eighth annual Archbishop John R. Quinn Colloquium to be held at the University of San Francisco McLaren Center on March 13 from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Titled “Strangers no longer: Together with immigrants on the Journey of Hope,” the program will feature presentations from nationally respected thinkers on immigration followed by questions and answers. Bishop Thomas Wenski, Orlando, Florida, will offer a theological perspective; Dr. Nadia Rubaii-Barrett of New Mexico State University will speak on economic and social considerations; and Dr. Michele Waslin, senior policy analyst with the National Council of La Raza will speak on related public policy issues. Also scheduled is a personal testimony of an immigrant. The colloquium is free and open to the public, but space is limited. For questions or to reserve a space send email to piendakm@sfarchdiocese.org or call 415-614-5567. T H E

U N I T E D

I R I S H

S O C I E T I E S

“BUILDING

FOR

O F

S A N

THE

Many reviewers point to the disparate character development of Pilate and Caiaphas as an indication of the director’s anti-Semitism; Pilate’s character is complex, hesitating, vacillating. Caiaphas is one-dimensional; he just wants Christ dead. The film may be faulted for that, but perhaps it has everything to do with Gibson’s Catholic imagination. In popular Catholic imagination, Pilate is a well developed and much pondered character. Many myths have arisen about him, including the one portrayed in “The Passion” where Pilate’s wife discourages him from crucifying Christ based on a dream she had. Another popular myth is that Pilate’s wife heard in a dream the voices of millions over the centuries reciting the Creed, “He was crucified under Pontius Pilate.” Pilate’s name is on the lips of Christians every time they say the Creed, and he has become an archetype of a certain kind of politician or public figure. On the other hand, while many Protestants know their biblical names well, you’d be hard pressed to find a modern American Catholic who even knew who Caiaphas was. In Catholic liturgy and popular thought, Pilate is the unjust judge and Caiaphas is one of a crowd which includes each and every one of us. It is we, not an abstracted historical person who cry “Crucify Him!” Neither does the film’s imagery of Caiaphas or the Sanhedrin resonate with a modern Christian’s vision of Jews or Jewish leaders. If anything, with their staffs and stoles and robes and hats, they are more reminiscent of Catholic or Orthodox Bishops, which given the director’s suspected feelings about bishops, may not be unintentional. On the other hand, the most heroic character in the film outside of Jesus and Mary, and one of the few given any development as a person, is Simon of Cyrene, a Jew pressed into service by the Romans to help Christ carry the Cross. But now that the film is released, the most important indicator of whether the film fosters anti-Semitism is whether it actually does. Here is the reaction of evangelical Christian leader Dr. James Dobson, “Speaking personally, I was deeply affected by a single thought while watching the movie: I did this to Jesus.” THE PASSION, page 7

F R A N C I S C O

P R E S E N T S

FUTURE”

MARCH 14, 2004

Starting 12 Noon • Beginning 2nd & Market and continuing to City Hall

St. Patrick's Day Mass at St. Patrick's Church • Sunday, March 14th, 2004 - 9am

Parade Hotline: 415-675-9885

located at Mission & 4th Street

www.sfstpatricksdayparade.com

Catholic San Francisco

NEWS

March 5, 2004

in brief (CNS PHOTO BY KAREN CALLAWAY, NORTHWEST INDIANA CATHOLIC)

4

Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Celebrate 200th anniversary year BELMONT, Calif. — The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur opened a yearlong celebration of the congregation’s 200th anniversary with a special Mass in the chapel at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont in February. “There are myriad stories to tell about our history but the most extraordinary thing that can be said about our past is our present,” Sister Camilla Burns, congregational leader, told the approximately 400 guests at the Belmont Mass. At the same time on the East Coast, nearly 1,000 friends and supporters of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur gathered at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore to mark the anniversary of the congregation’s founding on Feb. 2, 1804, in Amiens, France, by St. Julie Billiart.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul begins new advocacy focus WASHINGTON — Two hundred newcomers among the 700 people participating in the annual Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington were seasoned experts on aiding the country’s poor, but less practiced at bringing those concerns to the rest of the world. For the first year, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul joined 12 other sponsoring organizations at the annual conference that brings together people in various Catholic social service programs for a few days of issue briefings, skills workshops, lobbying Congress and oldfashioned bonding with others in the same line of work. Eugene Smith, the society’s national president, explained that the decision to join the annual gathering was part of a new focus on advocacy being added to the society’s core work: providing food, household goods, emergency cash and other things needed by the poor through parish-based councils.

Bush administration hits China on religious rights WASHINGTON — The Bush administration criticized China for “backsliding” on key human rights issues, including religious freedom. In its annual report on international human rights, the U.S. State Department said China increased its crackdown on underground church members, democracy activists and protesting workers. The report, released Feb. 25 in Washington, covers the worldwide human rights situation for 2003. The Bush administration said that whatever progress was made in advancing human rights, many countries took several steps back in 2003. “Even a cursory reading of the country reports for 2003 confirms that many — too many — governments across the globe still violate the most basic rights of their citizens,” said Secretary of State Colin Powell at a Feb. 25 press conference on the report.

South Dakota bill outlawing most abortions awaits governor’s OK PIERRE, S.D. — Legislation declaring that life begins at conception and outlawing nearly all abortions in South Dakota is awaiting action by the state’s Catholic governor, who has not taken a public stand on the bill. Gov. M. Michael Rounds, a Republican who took office in January

A cross of ashes is seen on the forehead of preschool student Moises Flores during Ash Wednesday service at St. Mary School in East Chicago, Ind., Feb. 25. The Christian use of ashes comes from a Jewish custom of sprinkling ashes on the head as a sign of repentance.

2003, was expected to announce his decision to sign or veto the measure by March 15, the last day of the seven-week legislative session in South Dakota. “We’ll sit down, look through the bill and make a decision as to whether we sign it or not sign it,” Rounds was quoted as saying. “I’ve consistently said I don’t commit to any particular bill until I’ve had a chance to see it when it comes to me.” Rounds’ official biography lists him as a member of St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pierre and a member of the Knights of Columbus. The state House of Representatives approved the bill in a 54-15 vote Feb. 25, the day after the state Senate had passed it. The legislation would make performing an abortion a class 5 felony, for which doctors could be punished by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

House passes Unborn Victims of Violence Act WASHINGTON — The U.S. bishops’ pro-life spokeswoman called House passage of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act Feb. 26 “a vote for justice for women and their children.” Under the measure, approved in a 254-163 vote, those who injure or kill a pregnant woman and her unborn child could be charged with two separate crimes by federal prosecutors. “Abortion activists recoil from any acknowledgment of a child’s existence before birth,” said Cathy Cleaver Ruse, director of planning and information for the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “But their arguments are as ridiculous as they are offensive,” she said in a statement. “This legislation explicitly exempts abortion.” The bill was passed after the House rejected an alternative measure that would have increased penalties for those who attacked a pregnant woman but would not have recognized her unborn child as a victim of the attack as well.

Theology of the body proves popular topic for study groups ST. PAUL, Minn. — Every Sunday evening, a group of young adults from Minneapolis and St. Paul gathers in dif-

Mon - Fri 9 to 5:30 Sat - 9 to 5:00

GENERAL

CONTRACTOR

Team Work.....Working Together

OFFICE 650.595.0867

●

FAX 650.631.5857

You have more options than you know

To help St. Denis Catholic High School in Uganda Father Joseph tells us 60% of his students are orphans from AIDS and need your love and help! Classics to Clunkers, running or not. We do everything for you and you’ll receive a tax deduction for your car. Please give us a toll free call today. God Bless!

800-511-4409 AUFER’S

RELIGIOUS SUPPLIES

Serving The Catholic – Christian Community since 1904

JEFFREY R.TUCKER

WASHINGTON — Even before a rebel insurgency forced the ouster of Haitian President Jean-Bertrande Aristide Feb. 29, advocates of the desperately poor Caribbean nation expressed new worries about the country’s future. By March 1 The Associated Press reported that the process of restoring order to Haiti had begun, but the violence that began in early February caused groups from parishes across the United States to cut short or cancel mission trips to their “twinned” parishes in Haiti. “A couple of medical teams that were supposed to go down were holding out as long as they could,” said Theresa Patterson, executive director of the Parish Twinning Program in Nashville, Tenn., which oversees the twinning programs at 345 U.S. parishes. “We’ve reached the point where I could not recommend anyone trying to go there now,” she added in an interview with the Tennessee Register, Nashville’s diocesan newspaper. The timing couldn’t be worse, since January through May are the busiest months for trips by U.S. parishioners to Haiti.

DONATE YOUR OLD AUTO

www.unchildren.org • United Fund For Children, Inc.

License # 1 5 1 5 1 6

U.S. advocates of Haiti keep close watch on troubled nation

Real Estate Advise for Seniors

West Coast Church Supplies 369 Grand Avenue South San Francisco (Easy access: 3 blocks west of the 101 freeway) 1-(800) 767-0660 Bibles, Books, Rosaries, Bible Studies, Statues Jewelry, Medals, Crucifixes, Pictures, Teaching Aids Baptism, Wedding and Anniversary Gifts

ferent homes to study what they believe is one of the most revolutionary teachings of our time. They are computer programmers, plumbers, social workers, engineers, theologians — people from every walk of life. Yet they share a common interest: Pope John Paul II’s theology of the body. And this group is not alone. Pockets of young adults who have discovered the pope’s teachings on sexuality are suddenly meeting all over the country. Study groups have formed in Denver, Atlanta, New York, Dallas, Baltimore and are in at least 26 states and five countries. The groups are studying a series of 129 talks Pope John Paul gave from 1979 to 1984 focusing on the meaning of the human body, sexuality and marriage in light of biblical revelation. The collection of talks, which has been published in a book titled “The Theology of the Body: Human Love in the Divine Plan,” seeks to answer two fundamental questions: What does it mean to be human, and how can human beings find true happiness?

Kaufer’s is your source for custom work.

Statues, Woodwork, Marble, Refinishing and Repairs 55 Beverly St., San Francisco 415-333-4494 • FAX 415-333-0402 e-mail: sales@kaufers.com www.kaufers.com

I have 22 years of local real estate knowledge Together we’ll plan your best course of action

(650) 558-6892 PATRICIA GIOSSO free consultation:

R E A L E S TAT E S E R V I C E S WWW.PATGIOSSO.COM

Chinese Medicine

A safe and effective treatment for many conditions Digestive Ear, Nose & Throat Emotional Gynecological

Musculo-skeletal Neurological Respiratory Smoking, Alcohol & Drug Addiction

Call now for Package Rates & Seasonal Offers Insurance Accepted/Gift Certificates Available

Monica Whooley L.Ac. Clouds Rest Healing Center 2717 Judah Street, San Francisco, CA 94122 – Phone (415) 661-0608

Catholic San Francisco

March 5, 2004

WASHINGTON — A consortium including Catholic Relief Services and the Catholic Medical Mission Board was awarded one of the first federal grants in a new campaign to provide care and support for people with HIV/AIDS in nine foreign countries. The $335 million grant announced Feb. 23 will finance a five-year program through which the five-member consortium will provide drug treatment and other support for 137,600 people with HIV/AIDS. The other members of the consortium are the University of Maryland Institute of Human Virology, Interchurch Medical Assistance and the Futures Group. Christine Tucker, director of HIV/AIDS global response for CRS, said the specialties each member brings to the consortium mean that they will be able to very quickly get necessary anti-retroviral drugs to people with HIV/AIDS in the targeted countries. CRS, the U.S. bishops’ overseas relief and development agency, already has programs of education and support for people with HIV/AIDS in many of the countries where it operates. Catholic Medical Mission Board provides health care services throughout the developing world.

Pope begins Lenten retreat, makes appeal for children in danger VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Before beginning a weeklong Lenten retreat, Pope John Paul II made a special appeal for children victimized by adults. Children “are often the innocent victims of the wickedness of men,” he said at his weekly Angelus blessing Feb. 29. “The church dedicates to them special care because it is Christ himself who tells us: ‘Whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me,’” he said. “May this period of the liturgical year transform itself into a generous contest of solidarity toward these little ones, especially those in serious danger and difficulty,” he said. The pope dedicated his Lenten message this year to children, including those harmed by sexual abuse, forced prostitution, drug abuse, forced labor and military combat and human trafficking. The pontiff made his remarks from his apartment window overlooking St. Peter’s Square a few hours before the start of his week of spiritual exercises.

Agricultural trade reform best way to cut poverty WASHINGTON — Reforming agricultural trade between the United States and other countries may be the best way to reduce poverty rates in other nations, said an official of the U.S. bishops. Trade has effects not only on poverty but on jobs and the environment, said Walter Grazer, who directs the U.S. bishops’ environmental justice program. “We care about the poor,” Grazer said, so the best anti-poverty pro-

March 26-28

April 8-11

April 16-18

In Search of the Living God Silent Retreat for Men – Fr. Joseph J. Fice, S.J. Jesus said, “What Do You Want Me to Do for You?” Palm Sunday Silent Retreat for Men – Fr. Bernard J. Bush, S.J. A Scriptual Approach to the Paschal Mystery Holy Week Silent Retreat for Men/Women – El Retiro Spiritual Directors

(CNS PHOTO FROM REUTERS)

gram we have is to reform agriculture.” He added, “We care about small and moderatesized family farms in the United States,” which can also be negatively affected by current U.S. agriculture policy. Grazer and Doug Norell, director of legislative services for Catholic Relief Services, spoke at a Feb. 23 workshop on “Alleviating Global Poverty — Reforming Agricultural Trade,” held during the annual Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington. At issue are federal crop subsidies. The subsidies, most of which go to large corporate farming entities, allow U.S.-grown crops to be sold in other countries for less than what a local farmer can get for his crops. The depressed local prices can plunge the farmer into poverty.

Catholic Relief Services gets grant to fight AIDS

April 2-4

5

Families take shelter in a van after their Al Hoceima home was lost during an earthquake in northern Morocco Feb. 24. An earthquake of magnitude 6.5 killed more than 500 people and injured hundreds more. Pope John Paul II called for a show of solidarity in helping the victims.

Pope says Catholic lawmakers must defend life, marriage VATICAN CITY — Lawmakers, especially if they are Catholic, must not advance measures that go against the basic values of life and marriage between a man and a woman, Pope John Paul II said. “It is part of the church’s mission to not give up inviting all men and women of good will to build a society based upon fundamental and irrevo-

ST. CLARE’S RETREAT

PRAY THE ROSARY

Santa Cruz

2381 LAUREL GLEN ROAD SOQUEL CA 95073

2004

Monday through Friday at 7:00 p.m.

March 12 – 14

A Silent Retreat for Women, Open to all. Fr. Antonius Wall, OP “The Experience of God’s Love in Suffering”

KEST – 1450 AM radio

March 19 – 21

A Silent Retreat for Women, Open to all Fr. Gerald Barron, OFM. CAP. “From Crisis to Renewal”

March 26 – 28

A Married Couples Retreat, Open to all Fr. Michael Barry, SS. CC. “This is the Woman that you gave me!”

April 2 – 4

A Silent Retreat for Women, Open to all Fr. Antonius Wall, OP “The Experience of God’s Love in Suffering”

CATHOLIC RADIO HOUR Rosary – Prayer Reflections – Music

Discipleship in Easter Light Silent Retreat for Men – Fr. Robert Scholla, S.J.

All reservations require a $10 deposit per person. Weekend retreats start with dinner at 6:45 p.m. Friday and end Sunday at noon. Reservations must be made by mail and will be confirmed with directions and brochure. Suggested retreat donation $100.00 private room; $90 per person double occupancy. $10 deposit required. Please write or call for more details.

Apr. 30 -May 2 The Joy of Marriage Retreat for Married Couples – Pete and Sue Fullerton – Fr. James R. Hanley, S.J. Apr. 30 -May 2 “Lord, Teach Us to Pray” Retreat on Prayer for Men/Women – Fr. Gerard P. McCourt, S.J. – Fr. William J. Rewak, S.J.

cable values” that respect human dignity, the pope said. Pope John Paul made his appeal Feb. 28 in his address to Carlos Luis Custer, Argentina’s new ambassador to the Holy See. “Legislators, especially Catholic legislators, cannot help draw up or pass laws that are contrary to the basic and essential norms that regulate moral life,” the pope said. He said “a national and world order that is appropriate for the human being” respects and protects every person’s right to life, starting “from the moment of conception to one’s natural end.”

(831) 423-8093

THE SISTERS OF PERPETUAL ADORATION INVITE YOU TO ATTEND THE SOLEMN NOVENA IN HONOR OF

Call (650) 948-4491 for information / flyer 300 Manresa Way, Los Altos, CA 94022

E-mail: retreat@elretiro.org Web: www.elretiro.org

GREAT ST. JOSEPH Conducted by

Spiritual Retreats for Men and Women

Fr. Christopher La Rocca, O.C.D. March 11th to March 19th, 2004 At 3:00 P.M.

Services: Daily Mass –– 7:00 A.M. Holy Rosary –– 2:30 P.M. Benediction –– 3:00 P.M. Novena Mass –– 3:05 P.M. Send petitions to: Monastery of Perpetual Adoration 771 Ashbury Street San Francisco, CA 94117-4013

6

Catholic San Francisco

March 5, 2004

Legislation proposed in state assembly seen as another threat to marriage By Patrick Joyce The same-sex marriage license furor at San Francisco’s City Hall has largely obscured legislation in Sacramento that may well represent a greater threat to the traditional view of marriage as the union of one woman and one man. The legislation, AB 1967 by Assemblyman Mark Leno of San Francisco, attempts to create a historic transformation of the institution of marriage with a few simple changes in the California Family Code. The bill would remove the words, woman and man, male and female, from the code and replace them with the words person and persons. The bill drew quick opposition from the California Catholic Conference and several statewide organizations committed to protecting traditional family values and supporters of Proposition 22, a defense of marriage initiative approved by the voters in March 2000. “The Catholic Conference will oppose AB 1967,” Ned Dolejsi, executive director of the conference said. “It flies in the face of state law - the people passed Proposition 22 by an overwhelming majority. It’s certainly their right to put something in, but one would expect common sense will prevail and it will be rejected by the Legislature.” On the surface, the legislation, entitled the “California Marriage License Nondiscrimination Act,” seems designed to overturn Proposition 22. Supporters of AB 1967, however, are attempting to avoid a direct challenge to the initiative by claiming that it applies only to marriages performed outside of California. The 14-word initiative, which was supported by more than 61 percent of voters, states: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” That language now appears in the state law as Section 308.5 of the Family Code. In addition to removing the words man and woman from the description of marriage in another section of the code, the Leno bill declares that: “Where necessary to implement the rights and responsibilities of spouses under the law, gender-specific terms shall be construed to be gender-neutral, except with respect to Section 308.5.” The bill then describes the reason for this exception in this way: “The Legislature finds and declares that this act does not amend or modify Section 308.5 of the Family Code, which addresses marriages from other jurisdictions, as enacted by an initiative measure.” Assemblyman Leno told Catholic San Francisco the bill is worded in this way because “Proposition 22 amended section 308 of the family code which specifically deals with how marriages performed outside of California are defined. I am not trying to touch Section 308.”

Become a MENTOR for a homeless youth. Local nonprofit seeks volunteers to mentor homeless/formerly homeless youth. Make a difference, become a mentor. Call 415-561-4621 mentor@homeaway.org I did it so can you! Sponsored by: John Clifford Alain Pinel Realtors

“Leno’s got it wrong,” Randy Thomasson, executive director of Campaign for California Families, said. Although only one sentence long, Proposition 22 was carefully worded to cover both marriages performed here and in other states, Mr. Thomasson said. “The word ‘recognized’ prohibits recognition of out-ofstate homosexual marriages,” he said. “The word ‘valid’ prohibits courts from inventing homosexual marriage within California. . . . It ties the hands of activist judges as well as legislators.” Mr. Leno’s reading of the law is “a farce,” Ben Lopez a lobbyist for the Traditional Values Coalition, a leading opponent of same-sex marriages. “Proposition 22 clearly states that marriage is only between one man and one woman. It says nothing about where the marriage comes from.” The two opponents of AB 1967 pointed out that a law passed by the legislature cannot overturn an initiative approved by the people. Mr. Leno agreed with that reading of the California Constitution but said it was irrelevant since his bill does not change Proposition 22. Mr. Thomasson said that California law provides the proponents of same-sex marriage with a way of changing the law - at the ballot box. Mr. Leno is not taking that route, he said, because “He knows the people of California, the mothers and fathers and grandparents will not support his attack on marriage.” Mr. Leno said he was not attacking traditional marriage. He believes current California marriage law is unconstitutional, Mr. Leno said, and he is concerned about equal rights, love and federal benefits. “All American citizens should have the same rights, benefits and responsibilities if they enter into committed relationships,” he said. “. . . under the law I refuse as an adult who has worked my own business for 25 years and served in public office with great respect of my constituents for six years to be defined legally as a second-class citizen.” “There is nothing that more clearly manifests all of our common humanity . . . than our ability to love and our ability to love another human being in a committed and intimate fashion. So to construct laws that would deny some of these loving couples the 1,049 federal benefits that come with a marriage license is untenable.” In discussing the prospects of passage for the bill, Mr. Leno pointed out that the legislature’s Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Caucus had all three of its bills signed into law last year. Mr. Dolejsi, of the CCC also mentioned that legislation but said, “It’s unfortunate that on the heels of the unprecedented advances that the gay and lesbian lobby on domes-

tic partnerships made last year that now they feel the need to once again go after a marriage bill, flying in the face of Proposition 22 passed only four short years ago.” Mr. Lopez said AB 1967 was an attempt to go over the heads of the people. “The radical gay community failed at the ballot box, failed in the court of public opinion,” he said. “Now they hope to win over symCalifornia State Capitol pathetic liberal judges who will agree with their interpretation of Proposition 22.” “Both nature and a vote of the people agree that marriage is for only a man and a woman,” Mr. Thomasson said. “To turn marriage upside down and reject the vote of the people is against our democracy, our republic, and against God’s natural design. At least 10 state laws protect marriage for a man and a woman. Proposition 22 is only one of those laws.” Mr. Leno said the San Francisco issuing of marriage licenses was “of great support.” He performed marriage ceremonies but did not go through the process himself, Mr. Leno said, because “my partner died ten years ago.” “As a person of faith I have great respect for religious beliefs and convictions . . .” he said, “ but we don’t base our laws in this country on any particular religious belief.” If AB 1967 became law, same-sex couples who were married in another state would find their marriages not recognized here. That, Mr. Leno said, would open the first court challenge to Proposition 22, one that he hopes would lead to overturning it.

ALFA OMEGA C O N C R E T E W O R K FREE

Andre Aguilar

E S T I M AT E S

Minor Repairs ● Removal ● Foundation Repairs and Replacement ● Side Walks ● Permits ● Root Removal ● Trip Hazards ● Water Intrusion ● Diversion Channels ● Concrete Sawing ● Excavation For Underground Utilities ● Work For Other Contractors

●

415-826-7119 Ca Lic. 897784

or

415-826-0159 Senior Discount Work 7 Days

TAX PREPARATION

CALL 415.259.0593 Offer In Compromise

Audit Levy Protest

THE BROADMOOR Welcome to the Security, Comfort & Elegance of America’s Finest Retirement Hotel Centrally Located

●

Overlooking Cathedral Hill

JOAN C. RODMAN, JD, CPA

(415) 771-9119

Tax ● Probate ● Wills ● Trusts

1499 Sutter Street

TO SENIOR CITIZENS:

Don’t live alone!

Don’t spend your precious remaining years in terrible loneliness. Why not live where you can choose friends from 150 active men and women sharing a fashionable address – and sharing fun of planned and unplanned social activities? We’ll prove to you that living in lovely surroundings, dining tastefully and being pampered costs no more. A single monthly payment (starting at $995 a month) provides three meals per day seven days a week, including holidays . . . room cleaning service . . . sunny rooms (most with baths), suites, too, in a 10-story concrete building . . . 24hour desk attendant . . . physician on call . . . color TV . . . hobby rooms . . . card games and parties . . . a splendid location on major bus lines, only blocks from Union Square . . . and much more. Managed by the West’s specialists in residence hotel hospitality. Visit us today or call for brochure. FOR DISTINGUISHED SENIOR CITIZENS

1000 Sutter Street, San Francisco, California 94109 Corner of Sutter and Hyde • (415) 673-2511 • www.granadasf.com

●

San Francisco, CA 94109

March 5, 2004

The Passion . . . ■ Continued from page 3 That indeed was my own thought, and that of most Christian reviewers who have seen the movie. A final reflection on this topic: Reviewers who dislike the movie tend to think it places blame on identifiable characters, namely Pilate, Caiphas, or Jews for Christ’s crucifixion. Those who like it insist it implicates themselves, personally. That’s not strange. The Cross and the abyss of Christ’s mercy are a scandal and a contradiction. To conceive it is a spark of faith. Moving to the next category of critics, if there is any doubt about the gulf between the world of media elites and the rest of America look no father than New York Times movie reviewer A.O. Scott. He reveals at the end of a scathing review of “The Passion,” in which he lectures director Gibson on the finer points of Christian history and belief, that the reviewer has in fact never heard of Christ or Christianity. Scott demonstrates great confidence when he misses the entire point of the Christian message: “In most movies certainly in most movies directed by or starring Mr. Gibson - violence against the innocent demands righteous vengeance in the third act, an expectation that Mr. Gibson in this case whips up and leaves unsatisfied.” Would Scott have been more impressed had Christ taken the bad thief’s advice, jumped down off the Cross and slaughtered the Jews and Romans with an army of His holy angels?

Absence of vengeance is the power and meaning of the Cross – a point made most powerfully when Christ in final agony forgives even those still tormenting him at the foot of the Cross. To Scott’s credit, however, in the midst of his pontificating admits, “Anyway, this is a film review, not Sunday school.” Reviewers not as bold as Scott, recognizing their ignorance of things Christian, typically have sought out an “expert” for help in trashing the movie. The “expert” is rarely though, the bishop of a major diocese or pastor of a significant protestant church or an established and respected seminary rector. It is almost always a fringe academic with a well-established axe to grind. Gibson has said that his movie is a composite of the four Gospels. It also includes some elements drawn from pious tradition and some wholly based on Gibson’s imagination. Is that unfair? Is that in any way different from what any Catholic praying the Sorrowful Mysteries or the Stations of the Cross does? For some experts, the film must be condemned for adhering too closely to the Gospels, which they say are unreliable polemics written well after events. Others say it must be condemned because of the extra-scriptural characters and events which are included by the director. Can these contradictory criticisms stand side by side? Yes, but only in this way. If Gibson avoided both scriptural and extra-scriptural sources for his movie, it would not have been made.

Catholic Radio Hour Week of March 8 – 12 Weeknights at 7 p.m. – KEST 1450 AM Radio Pray the Rosary – hosted by Fr. Tom Daly One half-hour of prayers, reflections and music Monday:

Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary; Sunday Soundbite; The Transfiguration of Jesus; Fact of Faith: Lent and Operation Rice Bowl; Holy Lives: St. Frances of Rome.

Tuesday:

The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary; Author reconciles science, faith: Roy Varghese.

Catholic San Francisco

The third category of critics takes issue with the heavy emphasis on the cross in the movie. In by far the best review of “The Passion,” New York Times writer Kenneth Woodward takes note of this tendency. He argues, “It is Christians, not Jews, who should be shocked by this film.” But Woodward thinks it good that Christians be shocked. He characterizes the attitude of a too comfortable American Christianity with a quote from H. Richard Niebuhr, 60 years ago: “A God without wrath brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross.” That certainly summarizes my own Catholic education of the 1980’s, and I think it explains why so few of my era and class find Christ compelling or necessary: He is an unnecessary redeemer, otherwise infringing on my life and lifestyle. The beaten, slashed, bloody, swollen, spat on, kicked, nailed, crucified and pierced Christ of “The Passion” is, to me, compelling. I can better believe he is able to forgive me, and that I must forgive because of the enormity of his sacrifice. The most emotionally powerful scene in this movie occurs as Christ falls carrying his Cross on the way to Calvary. He already has been so disfigured and tortured, that one reviewer commented that any normal man would have been dead three times by now. Rejected and shamed with eyes swollen shut, he barely summons the energy to speak a word to his mother who runs to his side. Still bearing under the Cross he says to her tenderly and confidently, “See how I make all things new.” Reviewer, Steve Greydanus, said it bordered on “Divine gallows humor.” But it is not. He can in that humiliating THE PASSION, page 11

Wednesday: Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary; Earthquake in Bam, Iran: Joe Carney with CRS; Church arson: Fr. Frank Quesada. Thursday:

Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary; Three-Minute Theologian.

Friday:

Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary; Office of Film and Broadcasting: Third Commandment.

Advertising Pays!

HELP US WORSHIP AS ONE FAMILY

Special Needs Companion Services The Choice of Discriminating Families for Assisted Living at Home ● ● ● ●

Personalized and compassionate Caregivers are carefully selected, trained and employed by us Locally owned and operated by Jeannie McCullough Stiles, R.N. Services include: meal preparation, light housekeeping, daily exercise, medication reminders, shopping, and assistance with bathing

Call us for a needs assessment

(415) 435-1262 E-Mail: info@specialneedscompanionservices.com www.specialneedscompanionservices.com

Special Needs Companion Services

Aloha from the Molokaëi Catholic Community!

New Beginnings Built on NOW OPEN! 130 Years of Tradition

Ask Us About Our Charter Member Incentive.

Elder Care Alliance Communities

Elder Care Alliance is a nonprofit faith centered organization sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Regional Community of Burlingame, and the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

AlmaVia of San Francisco

■

Assisted Living

■

Dementia Care

Large one bedroom and alcove apartments 24-hour staff and state-of-the-art security systems Spiritual care services Assisted living and dementia care programs

Call Today for More Information! One St. Thomas More Way (Off of Brotherhood Way)

■

San Francisco, CA

415.337.1339 ■ www.almavia.org RCFE Lic # 385600270

7

As far back as 1988, we recognized that our Church was too small to hold our growing faith community. Our dream is simple. To build a new place of worship for our Molokaëi Catholic Community in the name of Blessed Damien, Molokaëiís priest, Molokaëiís hero. Our parishioners and friends have contributed $680,000 over a period of 10 years to the Blessed Damien Building Fund. This is a major accomplishment. However, we are far from reaching our goal of $2,000,000. Our financial resources on Molokaëi are nearly exhausted so we appeal to you for help and support. Any contribution you make to the Blessed Damien Building Fund will be humbly appreciated. As we look forward to the day when Blessed Damien of Molokaëi becomes a saint, we dedicate this building effort to him and commit to continuing the mission that he began over 150 years ago. Please send your tax-deductible donations to: Blessed Damien Building Fund Molokaëi Catholic Community P.O. Box 1948 Kaunakakai, Hawaii 96748 Thank you for your generosity,

ò Molokaëi Catholic Community Planning & Building Committee

8

Catholic San Francisco

March 5, 2004 PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Compassionate Catholic Families Help African Orphans Overcome Plight The story of Rute Salomao is one that every American Catholic should hear. It is proof that God is working in our world, and that He has an amazing role for us – not only as a Church but also as faithful individuals. It is also proof that our Lord can turn disaster into hope and despair into joy...and that we can participate as instruments of that remarkable change. Rute’s story began with a cry of desperation and a prayer for help. Her story ends with God’s miraculous answer to prayer…and with a new beginning. “In less than a year’s time, Rute’s childhood collapsed around her. The sudden deaths of her mother, father and older sister ripped away everything that gave her comfort, support and stability. Suddenly, she was no longer the ‘daughter’ or ‘sister’ in a poor but intact family. She had become an orphan – and the caretaker of her younger brothers and sisters,” explained Jim Cavnar, the president of Cross International Catholic Outreach, a mercy ministry serving the poorest of the poor overseas. While visiting Africa with the goal of assisting Christian outreaches, Cavnar met a group of Catholic laywomen who were serving the poor in Mozambique. These women explained Rute’s plight, and asked Cross International Catholic Outreach to help her. “The death of Rute’s parents put unbelievable pressures on her, and you could see the pain in her face. She was struggling to feed herself and her family because as young as she was, she was the only one her younger siblings could turn to. On top of that, the house they were living in was on the verge of collapsing. It was little more than a shack, and one wall was beginning to buckle in,” Cavnar related. “The Catholic ministry

I was working with in Africa wanted to help Rute and the other children, but they didn’t have the financial resources to provide the food or to build a new home. That support would need to come from some outside source.” And thankfully, it did. A Catholic

discovered, and a solution had been found. But, more than that – a young woman had her tearful prayers for help answered through the power of Christ and His Church. “We all felt the hand of God at work in how Rute and her family were

The death of both parents made sixteen-year-old Rute the head of her family. Cross International Catholic Outreach and its ministry partners in the U.S. are helping her by providing a safe home, food and other necessities. This is just one example of the many ways American Catholics are having a tangible and meaningful impact on the lives of poor through the ministry of Cross International Catholic Outreach. family in the United States learned about Rute Salomao’s need and they responded by providing the funds needed to construct a simple but sturdy home. Other American Catholics also stepped forward to supply her family with food and other necessities. In little more than a week’s time, a specific and urgent need had been

helped, and no one knows a greater sense of satisfaction than the donors who provided the gifts for her food and house. They were able to play a major role in God’s plan of mercy, and they know that their contributions have had a tangible and meaningful impact. Rute and her family live in a safe house today, and her once dashed

dreams have been renewed. The donors’ willingness to act for God’s glory has made all of that possible.” Cavnar also pointed out how relatively little it can take to provide such a significant impact in the lives of the poor. The cement block home constructed for Rute was $3,500, and the food and other necessities her family is receiving only cost a few dollars a week. “Our other efforts to help orphans in Africa are equally cost effective. For just $61.92, we can supply food to a child for a full year,” he explained. “It doesn’t take a lot to make an impact, but it does take a willingness to become involved – to step forward and say, ‘I will take part. I will make a difference.’ With that commitment, God can answer prayer and work miracles. He can work through us to bless the poor.” Now that Rute is safe and her family has been helped, Cross International Catholic Outreach is working with its African ministry partners on other needs, just as real and urgent as Rute’s. “As we resolve one need, we try to reach out to another orphan – another family struggling to survive,” Cavnar said. “If Catholics in America continue to support our work, we will be able to respond – building more homes, feeding more children, supplying medical care and meeting other urgent needs. In that way, God will work in us and through us, and what a blessing that will be!” Readers interested in supporting this ministry and the others partnering with Cross International Catholic Outreach to help the poor can use the Cross brochure enclosed in this issue of the newspaper. Contributions can also be mailed to: Cross International Catholic Outreach, Dept. AD00188, 490 White Pond Drive, PO Box 63, Akron, OH 44309-0063.

A Special Outreach During Lent Will Bless All Who Accept the Challenge “As God does all in and through love, so we are called to imitate His example.” With those words, Most Rev. Sam Jacobs highlights both an incredible truth and an important challenge for faithful Catholics during this season of Lent. At a time when we marvel at Christ’s incredible love and sacrifice for us, we also seek ways to honor and glorify Him by imitating His example. One powerful passage of Scripture that can guide us is 1 John 3:16-18, which reads: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.” Bishop Jacobs, who serves on the board of Cross International Catholic Outreach, finds great inspiration and blessings in that passage – especially during Lent. The ministry’s president, Jim Cavnar, agrees. “We both see our ministry to the poor as a response to Christ’s sacrifice, and many of those who contribute to

our outreach share that view,” Cavnar said. “By meeting the needs of the poor during Lent, the power of Christ’s own sacrificial love is living on and on. It is continuing to have an impact in our modern world, and we see it in the smiling faces of hungry children eating a meal...in the tearful thanksgiving of a family provided with shelter...in those and so many other ways.” Cavnar shared a concrete example of how a donor’s gift during Lent can have this long-lasting and profound benefit to the poor. “A contribution can be used to dig a fresh water well in a poor village,” he said. “By helping to fund that kind of project, you are creating a significant improvement for an entire village that can serve hundreds of poor families for generations to come. Imagine knowing that your sacrifice during Lent is having that kind of tangible impact for a village. You’ll also be strengthening the faith of every person there – they will see your gift as an answer to prayer and a blessing from God.” Readers can make a gift to help the poor through Cross International Catholic Outreach by using the ministry brochure enclosed in this issue of the newspaper.

“Cross” Strengthens Its International Outreach Cross International Catholic Outreach continues to develop its relationship with the Vatican and the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the Holy Father’s outreach ministry to the poor. In a recent meeting with Pope John Paul II, Joseph and Ann Brennan also shared their excitement about the outpouring of support Cross International Catholic Outreach has received from American Catholics. Earlier this year, Cross and Cor Unum collaborated on a special mercy outreach to earthquake victims in Iran.

March 5, 2004

Catholic San Francisco

9

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

INTO AFRICA – “Cross” and Support From U.S. Catholics Bring Merciful Relief & New Hope to Needy Orphans The images on the TV news were horrifying. As a rushing torrent of flood waters swept away everything in their path, hundreds of African men and women frantically climbed the trees to escape. When they reached the top branches, many could be seen lifting their babies and young children up to the rescue teams in helicopters. With danger and death literally lapping at their feet, those mothers and fathers were focused on only one thing – giving their little ones a last chance for survival. Weeks later, long after the TV news had moved on to other things, those infants and toddlers lucky enough to be rescued were placed in special orphanages. Some were reunited with their loved ones, but many remain there still, waiting for parents who will never arrive. “I met the nuns serving in one of those orphanages, and I was very moved by their resolve to honor the lost parents by safeguarding and caring for the children they had fought so hard to rescue,” explained Jim Cavnar, president of Cross International Catholic Outreach. “What I saw reminded me of James 1:27 – ‘Religion that is pure and undefiled before God is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction.’ These nuns are doing more than offering words of compassion or sympathy. They are doing something tangible and inspiring. They are putting their Catholic faith into action.” As Cavnar continued his travels through Africa, he saw similar outreaches to orphans everywhere he went. Poverty and disease are brutal killers, and Africa has many orphans as a result. Again and again, the Church and its ministries had stepped forward to help, literally saving the lives of these children in desperate need. “We Catholics honor and defend life as a blessing from God, and we have always had a special place in our hearts for children – particularly children like these – children with nowhere else to turn,” Cavnar said. “What is amazing is seeing those long-held beliefs being manifested in real, tangible and meaningful ways. These outreaches in Africa are a real tribute to the potential of the Church and to the impact Christians can have in the world today. It makes me proud to be a Catholic when I can support a work of mercy like this.” Cavnar was also clearly impressed by the way entire communities were coming together in Africa to help the orphans. The work wasn’t simply an outreach by priests and nuns. It involved hundreds of families in the towns and villages – most of them struggling under the burden of poverty themselves. “I met family after family who had opened their door to accept one or

PHOTOS: clockwise from top: A typical rural village in Africa. Crosses marking the graves of infants and toddlers have become an all too common sight. They are a tragic reminder of the hard life orphans face when their parents die.

have been blessed by God with two or three children or grandchildren. If we can continue to get that kind of response from Catholics in the U.S., we could have a huge impact in Africa over the next several months. We could rescue thousands of children! What a blessing that would be – particularly during Lent as we consider the love of our Lord and seek ways to honor His great sacrifice for us.” Gifts made during Lent will also have a dramatic impact when they are

With the death of her parents, Martha Marconi, 13, has become the “mother” to her four brothers and sisters. With help from Cross, a home was built to replace her leaky thatched shack. Where they find love, orphan children thrive. They are deeply grateful for the help you provide to them. Little Amelia is one of the orphans lucky enough to be provided with a home and daily care. She tends a garden as a daily chore and she has new hope for the future!

more needy orphans. And these were poor families who were struggling themselves. They were acting in faith and out of compassion for the children who were suffering,” he explained. “In addition to being a healthier environment for the children, this method of home-based care is also extremely cost-effective. A child’s food and basic needs can be sponsored for less than $65 for a full year! That’s a tremendous impact to have with your donation. In fact, I can’t think of a better way of using your donated dollars to help the poor.” Cavnar hopes the amazing effectiveness of this outreach in Africa will attract support from American Catholics who have a heart for the poor worldwide. The cost of the outreach is low enough that virtually

everyone can participate on some level – ultimately, having a major impact through the combined contributions. “We’ve already had people step forward with a willingness to support two or three orphans because they

received in Africa in time for Easter celebrations. “Imagine that moment. Imagine when the priest or nun receives word that Catholics in the U.S. have sponsored the orphans in the area he serves. Imagine the joy and hope those children will feel on that Easter morning,” Cavnar said. “And of course, we can all share in their excitement. That’s what makes this kind of outreach so special. It gives Catholics all over the world an opportunity to share in something powerful and inspiring. We can feel unified in our faith and in our mission – and that can make our experience of Lent and Easter all the more meaningful.”

How to Help Africa Your help is needed for Cross International Catholic Outreach to bring Christ’s mercy to the poor overseas. Use the enclosed postagepaid brochure to mail your gift or send it to Cross International Catholic Outreach, Dept. AD00188, 490 White Pond Drive, PO Box 63, Akron, OH 44309-0063.

10

Catholic San Francisco

March 5, 2004

obituary

Father Michael Ruck, Maryknoll priest for 57 years Sister Emma Rose Maryknoll Father Michael “We spoke on the phone everyKeechler, BVM Joseph Ruck, who attended San day,” Mrs. Shea, who now lives Francisco’s St. Paul Elementary across the bay in Albany, said. School, died February 6 in “He did a lot to set up communiMountain View. The late priest cations in Bolivia from the middle also served as parochial vicar at of the jungle. He was a longtime Our Lady of the Pillar Parish, ham radio operator and spoke with Half Moon Bay in the mid 1980s. people all over the world. He was He was 84 years old and a priest very clever, very resourceful.” for 57 years. Additional survivors include a Ordained for Maryknoll in niece, Christine Ruck, of South 1946 from their seminary in San Francisco, and sister in law, Ossining, New York, Father Ruck Barbara Ruck, nephew William served among the poor of Bolivia Ruck, and his wife, Siobhan, of and Mexico for more than 30 San Francisco. Another member years. He is also a former vocaof the family and Mrs. Shea’s tions director for Maryknoll. brother in law is retired San Jose “My brother was a very strong priest, Father Tom Shea. Father Michael Joseph Ruck person,” said Emilie Shea, the late A funeral Mass for Father priest’s sister and a 1938 graduate of St. Paul High Ruck was celebrated Feb. 10 at Maryknoll Residence School. “He always had a very good disposition. He in Los Altos with interment in Maryknoll Cemetery. was the oldest in the family and was very intelligent Remembrances may be made to Maryknoll Fathers and getting the highest grades.” Brothers, P.O. Box 302, Maryknoll, N.Y. 10545.

Sister Emma Rose Keechler, a Sister of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and who taught in San Francisco Catholic schools for 36 years, died Feb. 28 at her congregation’s Caritas Center in Dubuque, Iowa. The Petaluma native was 93 years old and a religious for 74 years. Sister Emma Rose Sister Emma Rose will be remembered Keechler, BVM for her service at St. Paul, St. Philip and St. Thomas More elementary schools in San Francisco. She also taught at St. Leo’s in San Jose and schools in Iowa and Hawaii. Sister Emma Rose is survived by two sisters, Bernice Baugh of Petaluma, and Lorraine Watson of Sacramento. A funeral Mass was celebrated March 3 with interment in Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Remembrances may be sent to the Sisters of Charity, BVM Retirement Fund, 1100 Carmel Dr., Dubuque, Iowa 52003-7991.

Homebound, ill or incapacitated? Watch the TV Mass each Sunday morning at 6:00 a.m. with Msgr. Harry Schlitt. The TV Mass airs on WB-Channel 20 (cable viewers Channel 13) and Channel 26 (cable viewers Channel 8).

For Advertising Information Please Call

Myopia Control Clinical Trial ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢

Where Friendships Grow…

Are you nearsighted (Myopic)? Is your vision worsening? Are you between the ages of 8 & 18? Would you like to wear contacts?

San Bruno optometrist and researcher, Dr. Thomas Aller is currently seeking volunteers to enroll in a one-year study of the use of bifocal soft contact lenses to control the gradual worsening of myopia in children.

Assisted Living • Dementia Care • Skilled Nursing Qualified participants will receive all eye examinations, contact lenses and solutions without charge during the study.

415-614-5640

For more information, contact Dr. Aller by phone at (650) 871-1816 or through his web site at www.draller.com

Mercy Retirement & Care Center Oakland • 510.534.8540 w w w . m e r c y r e t i r e m e n t c e n t e r. o r g RCFE Lic # 015600255

An Elder Care Alliance Community Elder Care Alliance is cosponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Regional Community of Burlingame and the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Business Card Directory Heating • Air • Ventilation Innovative Mechanical, Inc. 80 TANFORAN AVENUE, #7 SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94080 TEL. (650) 583-8222 FAX (650) 583-4761 WEBSITE innovativemech.com

SEAN McGEE PROJECT MANAGER/ESTIMATOR

HEATING VENTILATION AIR CONDITIONING GENERAL SHEET METAL

Limousine / Weddings

3

BAYE LIMOUSINES

CONSTRUCTION INC.

Serving the needs of the San Francisco Archdiocese Since 1969

Loan Agent

CALIFORNIA REAL ESTATE LOANS, INC. 600 No San Mateo Drive • San Mateo, California 94401-9838

Real Estate Sales

Realtor Today

RICHARD J. HUNT, G.R.I. Broker Associate

Courteous Chauffers & Beautiful Limousines

(415) 682-8544 richhuntsr@cs.com

(415) 334-4224

Art Green

BAYE LIMOUSINES

Broker Associate

650-523-5875 Serving the entire Bay Area

Off. (650) 342-4466 Pager (415) 679-3211 Fax (650) 342-9504 website: www.crelinc.com/bob Email: Bob@crelinc.com

ROBERT A. CAPPA, JR.

650-588-3893

Going Places...

For Advertising Information Please Call 415-614-5642

Real Estate Loans

Construction

MARCHETTI

LIC # 468809

SNF Lic # CA020000237

650-574-8059

Homes & Income Properties Sales and Exchanges

OVER 35 YEARS EXPERIENCE 1390 Noriega Sreet San Francisco, CA 94122

Catholic San Francisco

March 5, 2004

11

The Passion . . . moment tell his proud mother the truth. Her son is achieving the goal for which she raised him. He has made all things new and this is how he does it. Many commentators have argued that we have hidden the Cross in the closet for the last few decades because we modern Americans no longer believe in sin. It is, I think, the opposite – We don’t believe we’re made new. We cannot accept at the end of the bloodiest century that one man has taken on the burden of all sin. This is again the tempting objection of Gibson’s Satan. We ignore and medicate and psychoanalyze our sins because we do not believe in a God powerful and loving enough to remove them. The Passion is violent because Gibson wants us to believe in the Son of Man who lifts all burdens, the Son of Man who lifted the burdens of the director himself. “The Passion” is a personal testimony of the God who loves that much, not a theological treatise vetted by every conceivable scholar and skeptic. Gibson deftly shows Easter to be the victory of the Cross. It is something to be accomplished, not by us, but by Christ. But we certainly are called to participate in the suffering of the cross which none of us can bear ourselves. Amy Wellborn, a popular Catholic columnist, made the best response to revisionist critics who consider contemplation of Christ’s suffering a medieval invention or obsession, “If early Christians didn’t emphasize the Passion as an element of personal spirituality (which is what I think the issue is) that is because they happened to be living it.” Even after Easter Sunday, the early Christians lived the Cross, many through their own martyrdom. We have no reason to think we are exempt. No man arrives at Easter except by the Cross. No man truly believes in Easter except by the Cross – and Easter without the Cross is hollow, it has no power, it is denial in a delusion of warm feelings, and it is how we too reflexively regard our faith. “The Passion” was co-written by Gibson and Benedict Fitzgerald, the son of Robert and Sally Fitzgerald, close collaborators and friends of American Catholic author Flannery O’Connor. Benedict Fitzgerald also wrote the screenplay adaptation of O’Connor’s novel, “Wise Blood.” Like “The Passion,” O’Connor’s works are not for the faint of heart. They are full of violence and full of grace.

(CNS PHOTO FROM ICON PRODUCTIONS)

■ Continued from page 7

Monica Bellucci stars as Mary Magdalene, Maia Morgenstern as Mary and Hristo Jivkov as John in a scene from the movie "The Passion of the Christ." The film, produced and directed by Mel Gibson, is a vivid depiction of the last hours of the life of Jesus. It received an R rating from the Motion Picture Association of America for sequences of graphic violence.

Dallas Morning News Columnist Rod Dreher found similarity between Gibson’s style in “The Passion” and O’Connor’s maxim, “To the hard of hearing you shout.” That is what Gibson is doing here with his emphasis on the suffering of Christ and the violence and humiliation of it all. He is shouting “Jesus loves you this much and more!” Does it make a difference to us? O’Connor captured the difference Christ’s death and resurrection should make through the words of a faithless but sharp minded murderer in her short story, “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” Before she’s shot by the murderer, the main character, an old lady, pleads for her killer to consider Jesus. He doesn’t believe in Jesus, but he knows what faith in Jesus

FINANCE DIRECTORY

LOWEST RATES AVAILABLE! “NO MONEY DOWN LOANS”

implies. He tells the old lady, who doesn’t know it herself, “If he did what he said, then it’s nothing for you to do but throw away everything and follow him, and if he didn’t, then it’s nothing for you to do but enjoy the few minutes you got left the best way you can.” “The Passion” is one man’s violent way of showing a numb culture, “He did what he said.”

Donate Your Car To Catholic Charities CYO We’ll give 50% of the sale price to your parish church or school

Call (415) 592-9266

WE WILL PROVIDE THE LOWEST INTEREST RATE FOR YOU!

TAX PREPARATION

CALL 415.259.0593

Kara Fiore 650-212-5050

GUARANTEE MORTGAGE

Extension 878

C O R P

Offer In Compromise

Audit Levy Protest

JOAN C. RODMAN, JD, CPA

The Symbol of Very High Customer Satisfaction

We offer

• “NO COST” Home Loans • FREE Pre-Approval • 100% Financing • No Documentation Loans • 100% Equity Lines Serving the Peninsula Since 1986 E-Mail Address kfiore@gmwest.com Web Site: www.GMMortgage.com

Tax ● Probate ● Wills ● Trusts

Real Estate Broker, Calif. Dept. of Real Estate (tel. 915-227-0931). License #00930036

JA H A

Get Financial Freedom

Supplement retirement income with tax-free cash If you are a homeowner 62 years or older, a reverse mortgage from Financial Freedom™ could be the way to get the extra cash Benefits to you: you need. • ∑ No monthly mortgage payments required Call Liz McCaughey at •∑ ∑ Supplement Income 1-800-475-5521 •∑ ∑ Reduce debt to learn how much tax-free cash may be available to you. •∑ ∑ Fund healthcare •∑ ∑ Income is tax-free www.financialfreedom.com

Loans will be made by Financial Freedom™ Senior Funding Corporation, a subsidiary of Lehman Brothers Bank, FSB. © 2003 Financial Freedom Senior Funding Corporation ™ The flag symbol and name “Financial Freedom” and “The Reverse Mortgage Specialist” are trademarks of Financial Freedom Senior funding Corporation.

A ne w CD that sounds great.

For experience, knowledge & integrity call

James A. Harrison Owner

HARRISON BENAVENTE TAX SERVICE ●

5240 Mission St. San Francisco, CA 94112-3732 Phone: 415-585-9323 Credit Cards Accepted Fax: 415-585-1700 Se Habla Español E-mail: habetxrfnd@aol.com

Income Tax Electronic Filing Rapid Refund

● ● ●

Bookkeeping Notary Public Other Clerical

Welcome to State Farm* Put your money to work with a variety of certificates of deposit earning competitive rates. And get the Good Neighbor®service you deserve from your bank. To find out how you can Bank with a Good Neighbor call me, visit statefarm.com or call toll-free 1-877-SF4-BANK.

Jennifer Selvitella, Agent Lic # 0C89496

133 Southwood Center, So. San Francisco, CA

650-827-1969 jenniferselvitella.l22v@statefarm.com EQUAL HOUSING

Available in the U.S. only. STATE FARM BANK • HOME OFFICE: BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS

ASIA PACIFIC GROUPS www.asiapacificgroups.com

REAL ESTATE & HOME LOANS PURCHASE or REFINANCE

Good or Bad Credit Cash Out/Debt Consolidation Home Equity Lines of Credit ● First-time Homebuyers ● Zero Down Payment ●

Reasonable Fees

New Customers Will Receive $10.00 off their Income Tax Preparation Fees When They Bring In Or Mention This Ad.

●

(650) 992-3313 or

(415) 608-6820 Finance Lender and Broker Lender Licensed by the Department of Corporation

37 St. Francis Square, Daly City, CA 94015

12

Catholic San Francisco

March 5, 2004

Buddy’s Buddies By Jayme George and Royd Hatta

Welcome to the first edition of Buddy’s Bugle. I am Buddy, and this is my bugle.

It’s March and that means springtime, rainy days, and St. Patrick’s day. Who is this mysterious St. Patrick, and why does he have his own day? More importantly, why don’t I have my own day? Read on for the scoop from St. Patrick himself and my friend, the Ireland expert, Seamus the Snake.

While vacationing on the French Riviera— as I often do—I met Pierce Brosnan, also known as the devastatingly cool British spy, James Bond. To my surprise, I learned that Pierce is actually Irish and was born in Navan, County Meath in 1953. A few other little known facts about the Irish actor— Pierce first entered showbiz as a teenager when he joined the circus as a fire-eater! Pierce eventually left the circus to study acting at the Drama Center in London. Then, after only two weeks in Hollywood, Pierce landed his first acting gig in his own television show. That’s the story on my new buddy, James Bond. I mean Pierce Brosnan.

“The Story of Ireland” by Richard Brassey and Stewart Ross from Orion Children’s Books and Dolphin Paperbacks. “Brave Margaret” by Robert D. San Souci, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport from Aladdin Paperbacks. “The Leprechaun in the Basement” by Kathy Tucker, illustrated by John Sandford, from Albert Whitman and Company. “Shamrocks, Harps, and Shillelaghs: The Story of the St. Patrick’s Day Symbols” by Edna Barth, illustrated by Ursula Arndt from Clarion Books, New York.

Interview with St. Patrick Buddy: Welcome to Buddy’s Bugle, St. Patrick. Tell me a little about yourself. St. Patrick: Well, I was born in England to a wealthy Christian family at the end of the fourth century. I lived a pretty comfy life until I was sixteen years old, when I was kidnapped by Irish slave traders who took me on a boat to Ireland. It was pretty frightening. I knew that people who became Irish slaves were as good as dead, for they never returned to England. B: So you were a slave in Ireland at sixteen years old. Then what? SP: I spent a total of six years on a lonely mountain tending sheep. During that time I prayed a lot, rediscovering a faith in God that I had not practiced in years. One day, I heard the voice of God telling me to escape. God told me there would be a boat waiting to take me back to England. Even though it was extremely dangerous, I trusted in God, left the mountain, and began a treacherous journey to the sea. Sure enough, I found the boat that took me home. B: What was it like to be home? SP: I was very happy. People threw big parties for me and everything. But I felt like I had unfinished business in Ireland. I decided to become a priest and go back to teach the Irish about God and Jesus. B: Were you nuts? Those people held you captive. What where you thinking? SP: A lot of people did think I was crazy. Even the Church, but in 432 they let me go back. So I set out to evangelize the nation of Ireland. B: How did that work out? SP: At that time, Irish people were considered pagans because they did not believe in only one god; instead they had many gods and goddesses who were represented in nature. Since I had spent so much time in Ireland, I was

familiar with the language and the customs of the people, and they felt comfortable hearing my stories of God. Soon, I had quite a following. B: I think congratulations are in order. SP: Not yet. Things got tough for a little while. A Christian king from England sent soldiers to Ireland to murder and kidnap my followers. Many were taken as slaves to England. I appealed to the Christian king to let my followers go free, but the king just scoffed at my request. When the Church in England did not punish the king, I became angry and sent a letter telling the Bishops that God would punish them. Well, the Church officials did not like this at all, so they told me to come back to England to face some punishment of my own. B: Oh no! How did that make you feel? SP: I was sad and confused. I wanted to be faithful to the Church, but my people in Ireland needed me, and I was doing good work there. Eventually, I decided to stay in Ireland. Now I am celebrated every March 17 for bringing Christianity to Ireland. B: You have lived quite an adventurous life, and your day is well deserved. I have just one more question for you. How can I get my own day? SP: Umm, you’ll have to talk to the pope about that one, Buddy.

Ir

By

Pa is th st no co Ire

ra la ne be is ice on no go al

Ire ab to ha th Pa th gi ab re

Coo

Take it is why I ha

To make ◆2c ◆ 1/2 ◆ 1 cu ◆ 1/2 ◆ 10 c use ◆ an a

Using bowl until sugar. Ha part is ca dish and lightly. Ba baked, sp

March 5, 2004

Catholic San Francisco

13

Buddy’s Hide –n– Seek

Did St. Patrick rid reland of its snakes?

y Seamus (Shay-mus) the Snake

It’s a common misconception that St. atrick ran all the snakes out of Ireland, which why he is so celebrated by the Irish. Well, here are a couple of problems with that tory. First, snakes aren’t all bad. At least, ot bad enough to be banished from a whole ountry! Second, there were no snakes in eland when St. Patrick got there. Millions of years ago there were not sepaate continents like there are now. All the nd was mashed together in one big contient called Pangaea. Over time, Pangaea egan to break up and drift around, and what now Ireland was once covered in ice. As the e melted, people and animals could just walk n over while it was still attached to what is ow Scotland. But when the snakes tried to o to Ireland it was too late, there was ready water separating the two land forms. That’s how my kind never made it to eland. So how did the snake story come bout? Remember that snake in the bible who old Eve to eat the forbidden apple? Well, he as given all us snakes a bad rap, and from hen on we have come to symbolize evil. St. atrick converted the Irish to Catholicism, hus ridding the country of the pagan relions, which were considered evil. The story bout the snakes is really just a symbolic epresenatation based on historical events.

oking with Chef Buddy

t from me, the only thing worth cooking is dessert. That ave chosen to make the Irish dish, Gooseberry Crumble.

e you need: ups self-rising flour cup brown sugar up superfine sugar cup butter cups goosberries, but you can also e blackberries or even apples adult (to help with the cutting and oven parts)

your fingers, lightly rub butter into the flour in a large l the mixture feels like breadbrumbs. Mix in the brown ve an adult help you cut off the ends of the berries, this alled the “top and tail.” Place the berries in a oven-proof top with the crumbly mix, pressing the surface down ake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees Farenheit. Once it is prinkle the sugar on top and enjoy with ice cream!

While visiting Ireland, Buddy lost his watch, cooking pot, moon, pizza, four-leaf clover, pencil, sailboat, and shillelagh (hammer). Can you find them in the picture above?

Kid’s Creations And now, a poetry reading from the aspiring poets of Sacred Heart St. Dominic Elementary School in San Francisco.

B P O N O E K A N S T J P

O A S U G F A M I N E O R

O G A A J O Y C E P T B A

K A S H I L L E L A G H Y

BOOK OF KELLS PATRICK CLOVER SNAKE FAMINE SAINT BUDDY ST. BRIGID SHILLELAGH

O N I C W N V D T T A L G

F S B E J N T O G R E E N

K C O R M A H S P I L K I

E D G P O E T R Y C I F X

LEPRECHAUN GREEN PAGANS DRUIDS SHAMROCK GAELIC POETRY BOXING POTATO

L E U E I R E X U K C I O

L G C L O V E R Y D D U B JOYCE EIRE BOG

S D I U R D I G I R B T S

I am a block of fresh marble, Not yet sculpted by my Creator’s hand. My Creator’s hands sculpt me into a dove, Emerging with flying wings. I am no longer that block of marble, –Tranea Boyland, 8th grade But a beautiful dove. I think of the stars, and I think of the moon, When a bird flies high, or even a balloon. I wish I could fly and meet the Lord, And I know He’d be happy, and that’s for sure. When I have a chance to look into His eyes, I feel the joy of a girl that flies. – Riahna Beltran, 7 th grade

Buddy wants to see what you can do. Please send artwork, poems, stories, and even good ideas to Buddy’s Bugle and they may end up on this very page! Just get yourself a stamp and mail entries to:

Jayme George Catholic San Francisco One Peter Yorke Way San Francisco, CA 94109 Then check the Bugle to see if you have become a published author or artist!

14

Catholic San Francisco

March 5, 2004

Catholic san Francisco Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper

Knowledge will help healing Earlier this week, the U.S. Bishops’ National Review Board, composed of prominent lay people, released its report on the causes and context of the clergy sex abuse crisis in the U. S. Catholic Church. At the same time a study, commissioned by the Review Board and the Office of Child and Youth Protection at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, described the scope and dimensions of abuse over a 50-plus year period – 1950-2002. These documents shed significant light on the sex abuse crisis and deserve thorough study and consideration. The tremendous amount of data and the cogent analysis by the Review Board of statistics and interviews go a very long way in helping the U.S. Catholic Church come to terms with one of the saddest chapters in its history. We urge Catholics to read the Reserve Board report and the John Jay College study for themselves (see www.usccb.org). Journalist and writer William Bole, in an article for National Catholic Reporter last month, said, “The impression usually left by media accounts is that sexual abuse of minors is a recent or ongoing scourge in the Catholic Church.” Bole wrote that plaintiffs’ lawyers proclaim the abuse “will never stop” unless the church has to pay, big time, for these crimes. He noted that a cover story in a national magazine did its part by asking, “Are our children safe yet?” Certainly, lawyers are right to seek justice for victims and journalists are right to examine the Church’s response to the crisis. But, we ask as did Bole, what if the molestation of minors is something that happened a long time ago in the Church and has rarely happened since, as far as anyone knows? What if the kids have been safe in the Church, or as safe as anywhere else, for two decades or longer? Bole concludes, “That would be closer to the empirical truth as understood by most experts on the subject. By nearly all accounts, most of the known cases of sexual abuse by Catholic priests occurred well before the 1990s. Some researchers have even traced these offenses primarily to a cohort of men who graduated from seminary in the early 1970s, at the height of the sexual revolution in the United States.” The Review Board report and the John Jay College study confirm that the incidence of clergy sex abuse of minors began to rise in the 1960s, peaked in the 1970s, and has declined since. While the number of abuse victims, known and unknown, is tragically large, the number of active priests in ministry between 1950 and 2002 also is very large. The figure of four percent of priests involved is about the rate for other groups such as teachers, coaches and scout leaders. It is estimated that there are as many as 48 million people in the nation who have suffered sexual abuse as a child. Beyond providing assurance that minors are safe in the Church today and recognizing that the majority of priests fulfill their roles honorable and chastely, the abuse reports contribute much to our knowledge and understanding – and to a healing among all affected. MEH

Look to the Cross During this past week, there were both positive and negative signs in the struggle to bring Catholic teaching to everyday life. In the U.S. Congress, the House of Representatives passed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, a measure that brings justice for women and their children. Under the measure, those who injure or kill a pregnant woman and her unborn child could be charged with two separate crimes by federal prosecutors. In South Dakota, legislation declaring that life begins at conception and barring nearly all abortions has been passed and sent to the governor. However, the California Supreme Court, sadly and wrongly in our opinion, ruled against Catholic Charities on an issue concerning religious freedom. Under the narrow definition of a “religious organization” defined by legislation authored by State Senator Jackie Spier, even Mother Teresa’s outreach to suffering people would not have qualified for a religious exemption to provide contraception coverage to employees. Moreover, the Supreme Court ruling is troubling and ominous – both in the scope of Catholic organizations affected and the important issues – like abortion – that now are raised. Be aware that there are strong forces at work to oppose the Catholic Church and Catholic teaching at every opportunity. These forces actively and purposely are trying to drive any Catholic presence and influence from public life in America. The scripture readings for the second week of Lent, in the words of St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians, resonate in our ears even today: “For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame.” Their minds are occupied with earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself” And as did St. Paul, we call out to the faithful: “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord.” (Phil 3, 17-4,1) MEH

Kudos all around Kudos to Catholic San Francisco for your Feb. 20 issue. Archbishop Levada, Jack Smith and Maurice Healy’s articles show an extreme amount of courage in taking on the subject of same-sex marriage. On speaking to different individuals with conflicting opinions, CSF expresses with great clarity, an overwhelming sentiment of mine and others on this subject. Many of us were deeply disappointed by Mayor Newsom’s unexpected quickness to make such an inflammatory decision flaunting the will and vote of a large majority of California voters. Kudos also to CSF for the excellent offerings of Evelyn Zappia, Tom Burke, Bishop Frank Quinn, Patrick Joyce, Sharon Abercrombie and Jayme George. As a native San Franciscan and still a resident, I appreciate the articles about the past and present history of the parishes and schools in the archdiocese. Joseph Sullivan San Francisco

The Catholic voice The Feb. 27 article in Catholic San Francisco by Ambassador Ray Flynn, National President of Your Catholic Voice, should be required reading for all Catholics, especially those from San Francisco. Entitled “Politicians ignorant of the people,” it spells out the situation in California and Massachusetts from the point of the Catholic vote being recognized. Catholics will definitely play an important part in the 2004 election. However, since they are represented in both parties rather than as one united force, they do not receive the recognition they deserve. Hopefully, they will identify themselves as Catholics in their political activity at all levels. The voice of Catholic voters must be heard. James Grealish Daly City

Mayor Newsom’s fiat nullifying marriage as a union between a man and a woman is a logical outgrowth of the decay of the nuclear family which has transpired over the last 40 years. In the late 1960s, the out of wedlock birthrate was about 5 percent. In the 1990s, it was over 32 percent and was no longer a stigma, despite the fact that every study has shown that children in traditional nuclear families fare better in school, are less likely to end up in poverty, are far less likely to be delinquents, and are better equipped to deal with life’s difficulties due to the mentoring afforded by a traditional nuclear family of a father and mother. As well, the acquiescence of parental responsibility for children’s welfare and development in the past forty years, to become “society’s responsibility” so the parents could achieve “self-actualization,” has frankly resulted in the children afforded a lower priority in the lives of their parents when children should be the chief concern of the parents.

Catholic San Francisco welcomes letters from its readers. Please:

➣ Include your name, address and daytime phone number. ➣ Sign your letter. ➣ Limit submissions to 250 words. ➣ Note that the newspaper reserves the right to edit for clarity and length. Send your letters to: Catholic San Francisco One Peter Yorke Way San Francisco, CA 94109 Fax: (415) 614-5641 E-mail: mhealy@catholic-sf.org

Why worry? I find it rather odd that this newspaper is devoting so much time and space to an institution which the Catholic Church does not recognize: civil marriage. I was raised with the belief that if you weren’t married in the Church, you weren’t married. What difference does it make what the state may decide? That has nothing to do with the requirements for a Catholic marriage. The Church does not protest when divorced people are married by the state even though such people would not be permitted to marry in the Catholic Church. Would you fault any Catholic who happens to work at City Hall for marrying these divorced people? We have a separation between church and state. However, if you do want to take up a state issue and make it your own, I wish you would devote as much space to capital punishment (which destroys life) as you do to gay marriage (which celebrates the love of two people for each other). Do the editors of this newspaper even try to understand the plight of its gay constituents? For one week, try to put yourselves in the shoes of gay and lesbian Catholics - those who due to no choice of their own were created by God as gay and lesbian. Do you actually believe that God created ten percent of his people to be shunned, discriminated against, and condemned by a church he founded? Richard Morasci San Francisco Ed. Note: The Church does recognize civil marriage as something sacred and valid between two people who are not Catholic. Any Catholic is bound by the form of marriage which includes that it be witnessed by a priest or deacon and two witnesses.

L E T T E R S

Seen it coming

Letters welcome

Adding to this conundrum is the breakdown of marriage which has been popularly replaced by cohabitation. Marriage not only provides security and stability but as well requires a commitment on the part of the man and woman to work out solutions to the difficulties which life presents. Growth in that commitment sometimes requires compromise, sacrifice, and prioritizing as well as accommodation. Survey after survey has demonstrated that the marital commitment affords much more lasting relationships than cohabitation. The New Age secular definition of marriage to which the thirty-plus year old Gavin Newsom subscribes is as ill conceived as the out of wedlock birthrate and cohabitation phenomena that has plagued the traditional nuclear family. Newsom may have secular knowledge but he and his minions lack the wisdom which maturity affords. Mike McAdoo San Francisco

When in Milan Eight years ago I landed in Milan on Ash Wednesday for a meeting with Professor Enrico Manfrini, the Pope’s own sculptor over the last three decades and whose bronzes do much to enhance the beauty of St. Mary’s Cathedral here in San Francisco: He had offered to design the commemorative medal for our 1997 USA Salesian Centennial. After spending a full day in his studio, he invited me to join him for supper at home. A superb cook, he surprised me with a luscious filet mignon that Ash Wednesday evening. I had quietly decided to feign forgetfulness and not embarrass my gracious host, when he gently answered what he must have felt was my unspoken question: “In Milan, Father Larry, we follow the Ambrosian Rite: our Lent begins next Monday, five days after yours, and it lasts forty continuous days, including Sundays, like Jesus in the desert who fasted forty days and forty nights, without skipping Sundays. You begin your’s five days earlier and make up for the four Sundays of Lent and for Palm Sunday.” When in Rome. So, eight years ago, I resigned myself to observe Ash Wednesday in the Ambrosian Rite and the rest of Lent in the Latin Rite. Fr. Larry N. Lorenzoni, S.D.B. San Francisco

March 5, 2004

Catholic San Francisco

15

The Catholic Difference In early December 1980, Warsaw Pact infantry and armored divisions, most of them Soviet, moved into position along Poland’s borders. Three months earlier, the Solidarity movement had sprung to life in Gdansk’s Lenin Shipyards. After a tumultuous infancy, Solidarity seemed doomed to be strangled in its cradle, as Czechoslovakia’s “Prague Spring” had been in 1968. The stakes were enormously high. A Warsaw Pact invasion of Poland would almost certainly have met with violent resistance from the aroused Poles. Had massacres ensued, would the West have remained idle? As the calendar pages turned in the first week of December 1980, it seemed entirely possible that Poland, the flashpoint that ignited World War II in Europe, would be the flashpoint that ignited World War III – a war that could have been fought with nuclear weapons. Then, remarkably, there was no invasion. Warsaw Pact troops stopped advancing toward Poland and then retreated. What had happened? While I was preparing Pope John Paul II’s biography, I talked about that hair-raising period with one of the wisest men I’ve ever known, Jan Nowak, former director of Radio Free Europe’s Polish service. Jan told me that two men had saved Poland from invasion. One was a familiar name: Zbigniew Brzezinski, who in December 1980 was serving his last weeks as President Carter’s national security adviser. As Jan unfolded the tale, though, Brzezinski could do what he did because of an unheralded figure who died in relative obscuri-

ty last month, after living in exile under an assumed name for twenty-three years. His real name was Ryszard Kuklinski. By 1980, Colonel Kuklinski had spent his entire adult life in the Polish Army. A tour with the International Control Commission in Vietnam in 1967-68, where he met many Americans, convinced him that communist propagandists were painting a false portrait of the United States. Then, in August 1968, the reform communism of the “Prague Spring” was crushed beneath the treads of Soviet tanks; Kuklinski was appalled. His concerns increased exponentially when he became a senior Polish Army war-planner with access to the highest-level information. In his new position, Kuklinski learned that Soviet military doctrine anticipated a western nuclear response to a Soviet invasion of western Europe – a response that would fall, not on the USSR but on Poland, as the second wave of Soviet troops passed through Kuklinski’s homeland en route to the west. The USSR, Kuklinksi concluded, was no “fraternal ally;” it was a predator, prepared to sacrifice Poland for its own aggressive purposes. What was a Polish patriot to do? Kuklinksi offered his services to the United States and for nine years, from 1972 to 1981, was the single most important western intelligence asset behind the iron curtain. At daily risk of his life, Colonel Kuklinski provided the U.S. government with some 50,000 pages of highly-classified documents that were of immeasurable assistance to Western defense planners and arms control negotiators.

Ryszard Kuklinski’s greatest service came in the Solidarity crisis of late 1980, when he gave the U.S. the entire operational plan for the proposed Warsaw Pact invasion of his homeland. With that in George Weigel hand, Zbigniew Brzezinski and private-sector leaders like the AFL-CIO’s Lane Kirkland were able to organize an international trade embargo of the USSR, should an invasion take place; such an embargo would have been a devastating blow to the Soviet economy, and the Soviets backed off. Martial law, imposed in Poland a year later, was bad enough. A Warsaw Pact invasion, given its possible international consequences, risked Armageddon. By providing the crucial intelligence that helped forestall the invasion, Colonel Kuklinski may well have prevented a nuclear holocaust. Kuklinski’s remarkable story is now told in gripping detail in Benjamin Weiser’s A Secret Life: The Polish Officer, His Covert Mission, and the Price He Paid to Save His Country (Public Affairs). I wish the book a broad readership. George Weigel is a senior fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

Guest Commentary

Speaking out about television The Super Bowl’s offensive halftime incident was of little surprise to me. A stunt like the tearing off of Janet Jackson’s gladiator’s costume — exposing her right breast — by Justin Timberlake as he sang the words “Got to have you naked by the end of this song” was bound to happen. For more than three decades, TV programming has featured an increasing amount of sex and violence. But over the past several years, writers, producers and advertisers have sunk to new lows. Melissa Caldwell of the Parents Television Council said, “They are continuing to push the envelope.” She told me broadcast networks and many cable companies are showing fewer family programs, while increasing the amount of sexually explicit and violent content. Commenting on the report “What a Difference a Decade Makes,” Caldwell said that sexual content in TV programming in 1999 was three times as frequent as in 1989. During that same period references to pornography increased 300 percent, references to masturbation increased 700 percent and references to genitalia increased 650 percent. An American Academy of Pediatrics document titled “Sexuality, Contraception and the Media” says that numerous studies “illustrate television’s powerful influence on adolescents’ sexual attitudes, values and beliefs.” Caldwell said, “There is a growing body of evidence

stating that kids who watch programs containing sexual content become sexually active earlier and are more likely to have multiple sexual partners.” When it comes to violence on television, the situation is even more disturbing. Caldwell said the depiction of violence even during the evening family hour increased 41 percent from 1998 to 2002! The American Psychological Association reports that violent TV programs lead to aggressive behavior by children and teenagers who watch those programs. “Psychological research has shown three major effects of seeing violence on television: Children may become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others; children may be more fearful of the world around them; and children may be more likely to behave in aggressive or harmful ways toward others.” Eli Rubinstein, chairman of the 1971 “Surgeon General’s Report on Television and Social Behavior,” told me that positive programming induces pro-social behavior as effectively as negative programming induces anti-social behavior. He explained: “The problem is that most television writers know action and violence hold an audience better than more positive, softer themes. As they say in television news, ‘If it bleeds, it leads.’ Getting them to change is most difficult.” The American Psychological Association suggests parents ban any programs they find violent or offensive. Caldwell

said that more than 50 percent of American youth have television sets in their bedrooms and that “when young people are unsupervised, they often watch violence and sex.” She strongly suggests parents remove Tony Magliano bedroom televisions. Caldwell also stressed the importance of contacting the networks, local stations, cable companies, advertisers and, most important, the Federal Communications Commission. She warns, “Silence gives consent!” The Parents Television Council (www.parentstv.org) provides e-mail links and addresses for television executives and advertisers, making it convenient to send a message. In his recently released 2004 World Communications Day message, Pope John Paul II encouraged families to be “outspoken in telling producers, advertisers and public authorities what they like and dislike.” Tony Magliano is a columnist with Catholic News Service

Spirituality

The Agony in the Garden: The place to sweat blood In describing Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, Luke says this: “In his anguish he prayed even more earnestly, and his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.” Biblical scholars agree that the accounts of Jesus’ death do not highlight so much his physical suffering as his emotional anguish and how his decision for love, to respond to a higher moral call, left him lonely, humiliated, misunderstood, prostrate in pain. It’s Jesus, the lover, who sweats blood in Gethsemane. What is the lover’s anguish? Some years ago, there was a TV series entitled, “Thirty Something.” One episode went this way: A group of men, all married, had gathered for a men-only evening at a downtown hotel. One of the men, several years married, found himself attracted to one of the hotel managers, an attractive woman, with whom he had to deal all evening in terms of arranging food, music, and drink. She was attracted to him, too, and though nothing other than practical talk passed between them during the evening, the romantic chemistry intensified. As the evening was ending, both did what comes naturally; they lingered near each other, not knowing what to say, but sensing a special connection they were reluctant to break off. Finally, the moment came to part. The man stalled, thanking her yet again for her help and graciousness, and she, not wanting to lose the moment, said to him: “I very much enjoyed meeting you. Would you like to get together again

sometime?” The man, guiltily fingering his wedding ring and apologizing for not being more forthright earlier, did what few of us have the moral courage to do. Not without sweating a little blood, he said: “I’m sorry. I’m married. I should have made that clearer. I need to go home to my wife.” My dad, the most moral man I’ve ever known, used to say: “Unless you can sweat blood, you’ll never keep a commitment, in marriage, in priesthood, or anywhere. That’s what it takes!” He was right. One of the great lessons of Gethsemane is precisely that. To keep any commitment, we have to sweat blood because, like Jesus in the garden, there comes a time when we have to enter into a great loneliness, the loneliness of moral integrity, the loneliness of fidelity, and the loneliness of responding to a higher will. And that, as Jesus showed, requires a painful emotional asceticism. To make commitments and to remain faithful to each other requires being willing to experience what Jesus experienced in the garden, namely, emotional crucifixion. Scripture says he gave his will over to his Father, but it was a very particular part of his will that was undergoing struggle and resistance in Gethsemane. The lover in him had to let go of some things. The same is true for each of us: ● Whenever you stop flirting with a romantic possibility because you are already committed to someone, when you go home because that’s where fidelity calls you, you sweat blood in

the garden and feel what Jesus felt in Gethsemane. ● Whenever you willingly, without resentment, give up some of your freedom because children, family, church, and other needs have their rope around you, you Father sweat blood in the garden Ron Rolheiser and feel what Jesus felt in Gethsemane. ● Whenever you willingly, without resentment, accept that some wonderful, legitimate opportunity for pleasure and enjoyment cannot be yours because something else is calling you to a deeper place, you sweat blood in the garden and feel what Jesus felt in Gethsemane. Goethe, in his poem, “The Holy Longing,” suggests that there comes a time in life when “a desire for higher love-making” sweeps you upward to a place where you become “insane for the light.” That describes both Jesus in Gethsemane and the invitation he left us. Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser is a theologian, teacher and award-winning author.

JOHN EARLE PHOTO

A life risked for freedom

16

Catholic San Francisco

March 5, 2004

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

Scripture

Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18; Psalm 27 Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 9:28b-36

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF GENESIS (Gn 15:5-12, 17-18) The Lord God took Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” Abram put his faith in the Lord, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness. He then said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as a possession.” “O Lord God,” he asked, “how am I to know that I shall possess it?” He answered him, “Bring me a threeyear-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” Abram brought him all these, split them in two, and placed each half opposite the other; but the birds he did not cut up. Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram stayed with them. As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram, and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him. When the sun had set and it was dark, there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch, which passed between those pieces. It was on that occasion that the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates.” RESPONSORIAL PSALM (Ps 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14) R. The Lord is my light and my salvation. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? R. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Hear, O Lord, the sound of my call; have pity on me, and answer me. Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks. R. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Your presence, O Lord, I seek. Hide not your face from me; do not in anger repel your servant. You are my helper: cast me not off. R. The Lord is my light and my salvation. I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord. R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

A READING FROM THE LETTER OF ST. PAUL TO THE PHILIPPIANS (Philippians 3:17-4:1) Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us. For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame.” Their minds are occupied with earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord. A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE (Lk 9:28b-36) Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.

FATHER WILLIAM NICHOLAS

Lost in Transfiguration In J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” one of the main characters is the mysterious Strider. He is a wild outdoorsman who is in fact, Aragorn, the last descendent of an ancient line of kings from the Land of Gondor who have long since abandoned the throne. Yet to many of his companions and those who know him as the wild ranger, his identity is met with a great deal of skepticism. This ranger is a king? As the first novel, “The Fellowship of the Ring,” draws to a close, as the small fellowship travels down the Great River, they pass through what is known as the Argonath, a monument of two colossal statues, pillars of the ancient kings of Gondor, ancestors of Strider and symbols of his heritage and identity. As the boats pass between the great statues, the hobbit Frodo observes Strider, whose expression has changed dramatically. As they passed between the giant images, Frodo no longer saw the wild ranger of the north; before him in the boat sat Aragorn the king, the descendent of the great kings who was destined to reclaim the throne of Gondor. From that point in the epic, Strider’s place and portrayal in the story is told through the lens of his identity as king, of which Frodo saw but a brief glimpse as they passed between the Argonath; an identity that is finally realized in the final novel, appropriately titled, “The Return of the King.” In the Gospel of the Second week of Lent we hear of another transformation. This one is centered upon Christ and His identity. On the mountain Peter, James and John see a brief Transfiguration of Jesus, but not the simple, plain-speaking teacher, a carpenter from Nazareth. They see before them the divine Messiah, the fulfillment of the hopes of Israel, standing between Moses and Elijah, the two great pillars of the Law and the Prophets. Over them all is heard the voice of the Father – “This is my chosen Son. Listen to him.” Like Frodo, when he looked upon Strider’s transformation, Peter, James and John are overcome with awe at the Transfiguration, an image that stays with them as they continue to follow Him.

It does not end there, however. St. Paul reminds us in the second reading that all of us are much more than our lowly bodies. Christ has destined us to share in the same Transfiguration as He transforms our bodies to be like His in glory. In seeing that brief glimpse of Christ transfigured, we also see a glimpse of our own salvation, when we too will be transfigured after the pattern of Christ. As moviegoers prepared to see Mel Gibson’s new film “The Passion of the Christ,” many wondered how Mr. Gibson would incorporate Christ’s divinity into the violent portrayal of His Crucifixion. But we as people of faith already know how to look beyond the bloodied figure of Christ on the Cross to the divine Messiah crucified for our salvation. We have seen that divinity in and through the Transfiguration. That is the lens through which we must observe Christ’s ministry, that is the lens through which we must observe Christ Crucified. Just as the centurion looked upon His broken body on the Cross and realized “truly this man was the Son of God,” so too must we superimpose the image of the Transfiguration on all stages of Christ’s life and ministry. In Christ we see the fulfillment of the original covenant made with Abraham in our first reading from Genesis, and for the rest of the Gospel, we are to view Christ through the lens of the Transfiguration, especially when His ministry reaches its tragic but triumphant summit. As we gaze upon the Cross of Christ throughout this season of Lent, as we look to the bloody corpse of our Crucified Messiah, we see in that image, the true glorification of Christ the Lord, beyond which lies the glory of our Messiah, transfigured before our eyes, the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets represented in the figures of Moses and Elijah. Over the image of the Cross we continue to hear the voice of the Father – “This is my chosen Son. Listen to him.” It is through the lens of the Transfiguration that we no longer see the broken body of Jesus, but the glorified triumph of the Savior.

Can a Nation “Under God” Be Religiously Free? By Douglas W. Kmiec Catholic News Service Is America a nation “under God”? Michael Newdow, a well-known atheist, doesn’t think so. In late March the U.S. Supreme Court will give him a chance to tell them why public schools may not constitutionally ask willing students, including his 9-year-old daughter, to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Recently I had occasion to debate this issue with Newdow at the Stanford Law School. A medical doctor with a law degree, Newdow has made a career of litigating against public religious references; he is a selfassured product of the Enlightenment. What other purpose, Newdow asks of the Pledge, could a reference to God have than to unconstitutionally establish religion? The answer that eludes Newdow is: Plenty. First, the words are an accurate summary of our historical origin. Newdow may disagree with that history, but he has no license to rewrite it. He may think the founders would have been better advised to place their trust in skeptics and materialistic philosophers who shunned the divine, but the facts are to the contrary: Every U.S. president has asked God to bless the nation. Newdow may find the self-evident truth of inalienable rights traceable to a Creator to be absurd or ridicu-

lous, but again, Jefferson, Adams and others contributing to the Declaration of Independence thought this the very foundation of a democratic republic. Rights that depend on government alone — even Newdow’s constitutional right to disbelieve — can be withdrawn at will if they are anchored on no source higher than man. Newdow makes much of the fact that the words “under God” were not added to the Pledge until 1954. Seeking to tarnish by the time frame, he alludes to Joe McCarthy and the “red scare.” McCarthy was by many accounts a demagogue. But there was then, and now, something scary about a worldview that has as its central tenet, as the Congress then said of communism, “the subservience of the individual.” That some in Congress voted for the additional words out of their personal religious motivation is no more objectionable than Newdow making up his mind on the matter; the freedom is mutual and the principle reciprocal. The Supreme Court has written approvingly twice of the Pledge of Allegiance in opinions dealing with public religious displays. The Pledge “does not establish a religion or religious faith” or “communicate an endorsement of religious belief,” reasoned the court. It quite simply is not a prayer. It is a pledge of loyalty and statement of patriotic unity for a republic founded on certain principles: indivisibility, liberty, justice and equality in basic human right.

Moreover, the court differentiated between religious displays that were overly specific or particular and those that more inclusively capture American tradition and its transcendent premise. These holdings thus give lie to Newdow’s argument that there is no difference between “under God” and “under Jesus or Vishnu or Zeus.” During the debate, it occurred to me that the real contestants were not Newdow and the school district, but censorship and freedom. What Newdow ultimately wants is to censor what his daughter can learn of the nation’s religious origin. But here he misconstrues his own unquestioned parental right to express his ideology to include a right to suppress the teaching of her mother, her school and the larger society. There is no such unilateral right of censorship. Following the debate, Newdow’s little girl came over to greet her father. It was obvious that she is a great object of her father’s love, and I told him so. Newdow seemed surprised by the candor of my observation, but readily welcomed and affirmed it. A remarkable illustration of how love of neighbor, even in the midst of serious constitutional argument, triumphs. Douglas W. Kmiec is dean and St. Thomas More Professor of Law at Catholic University of America.

March 5, 2004

Catholic San Francisco

17

Understanding of child sex abuse has evolved in last 50 years WASHINGTON (CNS) — In the late 1960s there was so little professional literature available on people who sexually abuse minors that “you could read it all in one morning,” said a longtime Canadian expert on the issue, psychologist William L. Marshall. In telephone interviews with Catholic News Service, he and other leading North American experts described a sharp learning curve on sex abuse in the United States and Canada and a few other countries around the world in the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s. They said most other countries haven’t even entered that learning curve and still do not regard child sexual abuse as a problem or are barely beginning to address it. They described a combination of pervasive societal, legal, professional and organizational obstacles that made it far more difficult years ago to recognize child sexual abuse, report it, prevent it, arrest or treat perpetrators of abuse, or generally provide the tools to halt child sexual abuse as a major problem in society. Those facts will present an important context for Americans, and American Catholics in particular, when they try to come to grips with the data released Feb. 27 on a national study on the nature and extent of sexual abuse of minors by U.S. Catholic clergy from 1950 to 2002. But the experts interviewed said most people do not realize how little was known even in the most advanced countries until recently about sexual abuse of children, the impact on the victims, the psychological or other factors driving the perpetrators, the treatment needed for victims and perpetrators, or a variety of related issues. Contributing to the lack of knowledge was a combination of gaps in state or federal laws, lax prosecution of offenders, societal attitudes demeaning children’s claims, and implicit anti-disclosure policies by organizations serving children — public schools and a wide range of nonprofit religious and child-service organizations. Monica Applewhite, president of Texas-based Praesidium Religious Services, which provides child abuse prevention training for a number of U.S. religious and child-service organizations, said such organizations traditionally tended to disbelieve claims by children and to stand by the adult leader or volunteer who was accused. Father Stephen Rossetti, president of St. Luke Institute in Maryland, one of the leading institutes in the country treating Catholic priests and religious who have addictions or psychological or behavioral problems, including sexual abuse, cited two significant shifts over recent decades in societal attitudes toward sexual abuse of minors: — “When a child reports abuse, there is a tendency much more to believe it” than there used to be. — “There is a better sense of the possible damage for every victim.” In 1985, when the U.S. bishops held their first national discussion on how to deal with sexual abuse of minors by priests, Father Michael Peterson, founder of St. Luke and one of the nation’s leading priest-psychotherapists, wrote to them saying that the question of why priests or others are sexually attracted to youngsters “is just (now) being investigated in a scientific fashion.” “We are at approximately the same point in time with pedophilia in the medical/psychiatric world as we were with alcoholism in the late 1950s when the American Medical Association finally agreed that alcoholism was a disease in its own right,” he wrote. Marshall, a recently retired professor of psychology at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, told CNS that when he started in the field in the late 1960s he was one of only a handful of researchers in the world working in that area. Society’s awareness of the problem of child sexual abuse was low and most efforts to treat offenders were ineffective, he said. Another Canadian expert, R. Karl Hanson, said there was “a major societal change in the attitude toward child sexual abuse” around the time he got involved in the field in the early 1980s. Hanson is a senior research officer for Canada’s Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.

‘”Mosaic” TV program airs Suday morning on KPIX-Channel 5 Patrick Vallez-Kelly, associate director of the San Francisco Archdiocese’s Office of Worship, talks with host Tom Burke about the Lenten season and the opportunities for renewal and reconciliation at hand in preparation for Lent. Mosaic will air at 5:00 a.m. on KPIXChannel 5 on Sunday, March 7. Mosaic is a co-production of the CBS affiliate and the Office of Communications of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

He and Marshall were among a group of eight world experts who were convened in Rome last April to help Vatican officials understand the nature and scope of child sexual abuse and how to deal with such abuse by Catholic clergy. Hanson said when he was a student, for example, his psychology textbooks said incest was very rare. “It was one in a million,” he said. “Now we know it’s closer to one in 10.” “I don’t think it’s because the rates of incest have dramatically increased — in fact, I think they have decreased — but there’s been a major change in the willingness to address this very dark element of our society,” he added. Among psychologists in the 1870s, especially in France, he said, “there was a clear and informed discussion of child sexual abuse and its consequences. ... Freud gave a very different twist to it, and we interpreted these (child claims of abuse) more as fantasy than as fact. Freud’s contribution was in fact more confusing than clarifying.” The revival of attention to child sexual abuse as a reality “became an issue largely as a logical follow-up of interest in child physical abuse” by parents in the late 1950s and the ‘60s, Hanson said. In the United States, it was in the 1960s that all states passed laws requiring physicians to report signs of physical abuse of children to authorities. “(Attention to) child sexual abuse really started only in the late ‘70s and it was really in the ‘80s that there was a major societal change,” he said. He added that the time frame he was discussing applied to the United States and Canada and was somewhat similar for England, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. “Europe is quite different,” he said. “Each country in Europe has a different attitude, and they haven’t followed the same trends at all. ... France is starting to (address it), but they’re just starting to now. ... It’s barely being discussed in Italy. Germany is doing something. ... (There’s) a tiny bit in the Nordic countries. In places like Japan it’s ignored, not an issue at all.” Parallel to the changes in North American societal attitudes were changes in the understanding of those in the psychological professions, he said. “The major change was from considering it a psychological oddity or a fantasy/rare event to being a pervasive and common experience.” Marshall, the retired Queens University professor, said treatment programs for offenders before 1980 were not effective. “In the ‘60s you had a choice between a Freudian psychoanalytic approach, which wasn’t at all effective, or aversion therapy, like shock therapy. Those early behavioral interventions were useless,” he said. “In the mid-’70s to early ‘80s you could have got something adequate, but your chances were very slim. ... It was sheer luck where you went,” he added. Asked about statements by bishops that in those days most treatment-givers often advised a quick return of priests to ministry after treatment, Marshall said, “In retrospect it was dumb advice. ... They were doing their best to guess what was most effective. It’s not the advice that I would have given in the ‘60s, but in fairness, we were all in the dark.” He said he would never advise putting a priest who has sexually abused a child back into the circumstances in which he previously offended, but he does not agree with the U.S. bishops’ current policy either. At last April’s Vatican meeting, he said, “my recommendation was not to chuck these men, but to put them in jobs” within the church’s bureaucracy where they would be monitored and would have something constructive to do, contacts with people, an income and access to ongoing treatment. He said that since Canada reformulated its criminal code on sexual offenses in 1983 it has had success in reducing recidivism by putting its money into treatment, both in prison and after release. An Iraqi man carries a wounded boy from the scene of an explosion in the holy city of Karbala March 2. Multiple explosions tore through crowds of Shiites gathered for the Ashura religious festival in Baghdad and Karbala. More than 145 died in the explosions and hundreds were injured. Iraq's highest Sunni religious authority condemned the attacks, warning Iraqis not to "slide into sectarian strife." Shiites make up the majority of Muslim believers in Iraq. The feast marks the martyrdom in 680 of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Hussein, the third imam of Shiitic Islam.

Sentencing in Canada is “proportionate to the crime rather than to the wrath of society” and the length and nature of treatment and supervision during and after prison are based on a separate assessment of the offender’s risk level for recidivism and his progress in treatment, Marshall said. “You don’t have to do some of the draconian things your (U.S.) states do.” “Part of the process is not just treatment, but post-treatment procedures,” he said. “One of the problems of (the U.S. bishops’) ‘one strike and you’re out’ is that it takes offenders totally out of the loop of treatment. ... The probability of re-offending goes up considerably.” Hanson said current treatment programs for sexual offenders “aim at cognitive and behavioral therapy and are action focused, such as teaching people with intimacy deficits practical steps in developing warm, caring relationships.” Now, he said, studies of adults who have sexually abused children show that the recidivism rate drops from about 17 percent for those who are not treated to around 9 percent or 10 percent among those who go through treatment. Applewhite, whose organizational clients for child abuse prevention training include Catholic dioceses and religious orders, said that even as research on child sexual abuse grew dramatically over the past couple of decades, most of it has been directed at abuse within families. She said research on other “acquaintance abuse” and specifically on “organizational abuse” — abuse by adults the child comes to know through school or religious and child-service organizations — is “very thin.” Applewhite said the dynamics of organizational abuse are quite different from those of incest. For example, she said, most incest victims are female, while more males are victims in organizational abuse. She said organizational abuse has received a lot of media attention because of lawsuits, but “there is very little research because the organizations don’t want to be researched” — in part because of the huge potential for legal liability if past practices and decisions become known, as has happened in the Catholic Church. For the U.S. bishops to have opened themselves to such research is “unique,” she said. She also highlighted the establishment of national standards of conduct for church personnel in the bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.” Many religious bodies and national child-service organizations have national guidelines but, for fear of legal liability, leave the development of standards to local branches or agencies, she said. Father Rossetti said of the charter and its implementation, “Within the church the most important thing that has happened is the prevention plan. ... Every diocese has to have a prevention program, and that’s where the money should be — in prevention, before it happens. A lot of people don’t realize the extensiveness and the aggressiveness of the Dallas charter. The church right now is doing more to deal with and prevent child sexual abuse, far more than any other group in society.” Applewhite seconded that view. She predicted that the child safety training and the information about that training which the Catholic Church is giving nationwide to hundreds of thousands of Catholic parents, volunteers, teachers, youth ministers, priests and other personnel will result in new demands for better child safety programs and policies in other organizations serving young people. “I think people’s eyes have been opened,” she said. “It takes dollars to prevent abuse and it takes an incredible commitment.” As a result of the clergy sexual abuse crisis of the past two years and the church’s response, she said, “child sexual abuse in the United States today has a voice like never before.”

(CNS PHOTO FROM REUTERS)

By Jerry Filteau Catholic News Service

18

Catholic San Francisco

March 5, 2004

Laws changed with evolving child sex abuse awareness By Jerry Filteau Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — The awareness of and research on sexual abuse of children as a problem in the United States is intimately tied up with the evolution of laws in that area in the last half-century. The National Review Board report and John Jay College study on sexual abuse released Feb. 27 goes back more than 50 years to examine the incidence of sexual abuse of minors by priests and deacons. While the study goes back to 1950, U.S. public awareness of sexual abuse of children as a significant social problem did not emerge until the 1970s or ‘80s — and then only as a result of attention to physical maltreatment of minors by family members that emerged in the 1960s. “It was not until the 1960s ... that child maltreatment issues prompted nationwide interest in protecting the physical and mental well-being of children,” says a 2002 paper, “Current Trends in Child Maltreatment and Reporting Laws,” by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information. The paper says, “In 1963, the first model statute mandating the reporting of child abuse was drafted. ... By 1967, every state had enacted reporting laws that included physicians as mandated reporters. “In general,” it adds, “these statutes were limited to nonaccidental physical injury. Other forms of maltreatment, such as neglect and sexual and emotional abuse, were added later. Reporting laws were also expanded in the late 1960s and early 1970s to include social workers, teachers and a range of health service professionals as mandated reporters.” In 1974 the federal government took a more direct role in U.S. child maltreatment policy with the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, allocating federal funds to states to help them implement programs to identify, treat and prevent child abuse. Since the passage of that federal act, reporting of possible child abuse or neglect has risen dramatically, from 60,000 reports nationwide in 1974 to nearly 2.8 million in 2000, according to the 2002 paper.

Catholic Charities . . . ■ Continued from cover regulate,” Justice Katherine Werdegar wrote for the majority. The Court further ruled that the state need not even be justified by a “compelling government interest” when imposing generally applicable laws on religious organizations. Carol Hogan with the California Catholic Conference said, “There’s a new religion in California and its called secularism, and there’s no room for dissent.” The implications could be far reaching according to University of Texas Law Professor Douglas Laycock, an attorney who specializes in religious liberty issues. The Court offers “a rationale that would say Catholic hospitals are not religious institutions and can be required to perform abortions,” he said. “The trend is to less and less protection for the free exercise of religion, and to narrower and narrower judicial interpretations of state and

Of 879,000 minors identified as victims of substantiated abuse or neglect in 2000, it says, 10.1 percent were sexually abused. Several experts on sexual abuse and its prevention told Catholic News Service that legal, societal and professional attention to the sexual abuse of children in the United States and Canada really emerged in the late 1970s and the 1980s as a follow-up to the growing attention to physical abuse of children. Mark Chopko, general counsel of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said there were three main phases in the evolution of U.S. child abuse reporting laws since 1960, each resulting in dramatic increases in reporting. The first was the initiation of basic reporting laws in all states in the 1960s. The federal law in 1974 brought a substantial boost to the development of child protective services in the states. In the years that followed, the third phase was marked by substantial refinement and expansion of child protection services and mandated reporting legislation in the states, including the specific inclusion of sexual abuse of minors among the offenses that must be reported. Where many states initially listed physicians as the only mandated reporters, many have added educators, social workers, nurses and a variety of others to that list. In some states any person who knows or reasonably suspects that a child is being abused or neglected is required to report it. Kathleen McChesney, who had a 30-year FBI career before she became director of the U.S. bishops’ national Office of Child and Youth Protection, said key developments in law enforcement over the past 30 years include: — “More people willing to come forward and report.” — A lessening of the stigma of being an abuse victim, although “there still remains a stigma.” — “New technology to support cases that wasn’t available many years ago,” using things such as DNA testing to

get beyond the conflicting stories of the victim and the accused. — “Law enforcement officers around the country have been trained in dealing with victims” and their families sensitively, making it easier for other victims to come forward. McChesney said greater communication and transparency in the criminal justice system also support more prosecution of such crimes. The cumulative result of all those changes has been “a more efficient, effective criminal justice system” for dealing with sex crimes against minors, she said. A number of states have extended the statute of limitations for prosecuting such offenses in recent years, in part out of growing awareness of how many years it takes before some childhood victims are able to say what happened to them. Many states also have toughened penalties for such crimes. Psychologist William L. Marshall, a Canadian expert on sexual assault and treatment of offenders, said his country’s criminal justice approach has been different from the United States in several key respects. Since the 1970s U.S. and Canadian psychologists have rewritten the books on how to diagnose and treat offenders, he said. Many older theories were simply disproved through empirical studies, and effective treatment now takes a comprehensive, dynamic approach to behavioral and cognitive modification. He said Canada’s criminal laws on sexual offenses were recodified nationally in 1983 and since then Canada has made a systematic effort to focus resources on treatment during and after prison, with significant results in reducing recidivism. By contrast, state legislation in the United States is “all over the spectrum” and is usually geared more toward punishment than treatment, he said.

federal legislation attempting to protect free exercise,” he said. Richard Myers, professor of constitutional law at Ave Marie School of Law in Ann Arbor Michigan said the decision is “very disturbing but not surprising. It is consistent with a broad trend of governmental mandates that make it very difficult for Catholic institutions, particularly in the area of health care, to fulfill their missions.” Myers said that in the area of abortion, government has been more willing to provide broader exemptions. “But it is a matter of legislative grace,” he said, “This ruling tells you that they (religious organizations) don’t really have a constitutional claim for that protection.” Catholic Charities was joined in this case by numerous religious organizations including Focus on the Family, Family Research Council, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Southern Baptist Convention. Randy Thomasson, executive director of Campaign for California Families, called the ruling an attack on religious

freedom. “The state has no right to trample the religious values of the Catholic church or any other religious organization,” he said. He urges leaders of all faiths to get politically involved. “The invasion of the church has begun,” Mr. Thomasson said, “If nothing else this shows why ministers of all faiths must be involved politically, because if we do not shine the light of truth for religious freedom, the darkness of the government will wipe it out.” Joining Senator Jackie Speier in defending her bill’s intrusion into religious practice were State Attorney General Bill Lockyer, Planned Parenthood Federation, Dignity/USA, Catholics for a Free Choice, Women’s Ordination Conference, and the American Civil Liberties Union. Justice Janice Brown wrote in the sole dissent, “the Legislature’s refusal to grant a broader exemption – one which would not embroil the government in the unseemly task of deciding what is ‘religious’ – is inexplicable.” Lawyers for Catholic Charities are considering an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

d e i f i s s Clapecial S ,000s 0 0 2 r Ove ustomer h c a e R ntial C cisco, PoteSan Fran& Marin! in Mateo San

2 ADS FOR THE PRICE OF

1

Buy one commercial or private classified ad and get 2nd ad free. Example 1–4 line ad for $1000 Now get 2 ads for $1000 Ads must be prepaid.

Call (415) 614-5640 or (415) 614-5642 or fax or e-mail ad copy & credit card info to (415) 614-5641 or jpena@catholic-sf.org * Special good thru the month of March 2004. *

Catholic San Francisco

March 5, 2004

19

Federal marriage amendment would strike a blow for freedom By Mary Ann Glendon President Bush’s endorsement of a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage should be welcomed by all Americans who are concerned about equality and preserving democratic decision-making. “After more than two centuries of American jurisprudence and millennia of human experience,” he explained, “a few judges and local authorities are presuming to change the most fundamental institution of civilization.” Some of those judges are in Massachusetts where the state is cutting back on programs to aid the elderly, the disabled, and children in poor families. Yet a four-judge majority has ruled in favor of special benefits for a group of relatively affluent households, most of which have two earners and are not raising children. What same-sex marriage advocates have tried to present as a civil rights issue is really a bid for special preferences of the type our society gives to married couples for the very good reason that most of them are raising or have raised children. Now, in the wake of the Massachusetts case, local officials in other parts of the nation have begun to issue marriage licenses to homosexual couples in defiance of state law. A common initial reaction to these local measures has been: “Why should I care whether same-sex couples can get married?” “How will that affect me or my family?” “Why not just live and let live?” But as people began to take stock of the implications of granting special treatment to one group of citizens, the need for a federal marriage amendment has become increasingly clear. As President Bush said, “The voice of the people must be heard.” Indeed, the American people should have the opportunity to deliberate the economic and social costs of this radical social experiment. Astonishingly, in the media coverage of this issue, next to nothing has been said about what this new special preference would cost the rest of society in terms of taxes and insurance premiums. The Canadian government, which is considering samesex marriage legislation, has just realized that retroactive social-security survivor benefits alone would cost its taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. There is a real problem of distributive justice here. How can one justify treat-

ing same-sex households like married couples when such benefits are denied to all the people in our society who are caring for elderly or disabled relatives whom they cannot claim as family members for tax or insurance purposes? Shouldn’t citizens have a chance to vote on whether they want to give homosexual unions, most of which are childless, the same benefits that society gives to married couples, most of whom have raised or are raising children?

How can one justify treating same-sex households like married couples when such benefits are denied to all the people in our society who are caring for elderly or disabled relatives whom they cannot claim as family members for tax or insurance purposes? If these social experiments go forward, moreover, the rights of children will be impaired. Same-sex marriage will constitute a public, official endorsement of the following extraordinary claims made by the Massachusetts judges in the Goodridge case: that marriage is mainly an arrangement for the benefit of adults; that children do not need both a mother and a father; and that alternative family forms are just as good as a husband and wife raising kids together. It would be tragic if, just when the country is beginning to take stock of the havoc those erroneous ideas have already wrought in the lives of American children, we should now freeze them into constitutional law. That philosophy of marriage, moreover, is what our children and grandchildren will be taught in school. They will be

Affordable Funerals – Cremations Caskets – Urns C O L M A CREMATION & FUNERAL S E RV I C E S FD #1522

required to discuss marriage in those terms. Ordinary words like husband and wife will be replaced by partner and spouse. In marriage-preparation and sex-education classes, children will have to be taught about homosexual sex. Parents who complain will be branded as homophobes and their children will suffer. Religious freedom, too, is at stake. As much as one may wish to live and let live, the experience in other countries reveals that once these arrangements become law, there will be no live-and-let-live policy for those who differ. Gaymarriage proponents use the language of openness, tolerance and diversity, yet one foreseeable effect of their success will be to usher in an era of intolerance and discrimination the likes of which we have rarely seen before. Every person and every religion that disagrees will be labeled as bigoted and openly discriminated against. The ax will fall most heavily on religious persons and groups that don’t go along. Religious institutions will be hit with lawsuits if they refuse to compromise their principles. Finally, there is the flagrant disregard shown by judges and local officials for the rights of citizens to have a say in setting the conditions under which we live, work and raise our children. Many Americans—however they feel about same-sex marriage—are rightly alarmed that local officials are defying state law, and that four judges in one state took it upon themselves to make the kind of decision that our Constitution says belongs to us, the people, and to our elected representatives. As one State House wag in Massachusetts put it, “We used to have government of the people, by the people and for the people, now we’re getting government by four people!” Whether one is for, against or undecided about samesex marriage, a decision this important ought to be made in the ordinary democratic way—through full public deliberation in the light of day, not by four people behind closed doors. That deliberation can and must be conducted, as President Bush stated, “in a manner worthy of our country—without bitterness or anger.” Mary Ann Glendon is Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard. This column was first published in the Wall Street Journal.

McAVOY O’HARA Co. S E RV I N G W I T H T R U S T A N D C O N F I D E N C E SINCE 1850

Your Bay Area Funeral Service Family Owned State Licensed Funeral Providers State Licensed Funeral Directors Nationally Certified Bereavement Facilitators Honored to be the Bay Area Distributor of Trappist Monk Caskets and Urns

Evergreen Mortuary 4 5 4 5 G E A RY B O U L E VA R D a t T E N T H AV E N U E For information prearrangements, and assistance, call day or night (415) 668-0077

7747 Mission Street Colma, California 94014 888.757.7888

FE 523

DURING DIFFICULT TIMES . . .

FUNERAL SERVICES DIRECTORY

Simplicity and Affordability Make Good Sense

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION CALL 415-614-5642

ARTHUR J. SULLIVAN & CO. FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES FD 228

Visa, Mastercard and Discover Accepted Our Service to families does not end when we present our families with a roasted turkey

G R I E F S U P P O RT G RO U P S p o n s o re d by Du g g a n’s Se r r a Mo r t u a r y T h i s i s a n o n g o i n g g ro u p , o n a d ro p i n b a s i s

2 n d a n d 4 t h Mo n d a y s Ti m e : 3 : 3 0 - 5 : 0 0 p m A l m a V i a Se n i o r C e n t e r 1 T h o m a s Mo re Wa y ( a t Bro t h e r h o o d Wa y ) , S F Please Contact: St e p h a n K a p p l e r o r Me rc y Fe e n e y

650/756-4500 415/587-4500 Traditional and Cremation Services CALL FOR A FREE BROCHURE ON PRE-PLANNING

500-WESTLAKE

A V E N U E , D A LY C I T Y FD 1098

Most convenient San Francisco/Peninsula location Unlimited Parking

The Catholic Cemeteries Archdiocese of San Francisco Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery Intersection of Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025 650-323-6375

2254 Market Street San Francisco, CA 94114 Arthurjsullivan.com

Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery 1500 Mission Road, Colma, CA 94014 650-756-2060

Third Generation of the Sullivan Family to serve you.

Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery 270 Los Ranchitos Road, San Rafael, CA 94903 415-479-9020

A Tradition of Faith Throughout Our Lives.

PREPLANNING AVAILABLE

First Quality Caskets & Urns SOLD DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC

SAVE UP TO 50% OR MORE Free Delivery to the Funeral Home of Your Choice in the Bay Area

No Extra Charges or Fees by the Mortuary

CASKETORIUM 93 Leland Ave., San Francisco

●

●

415-585-3451

Cell Phone (415) 722-8500

20

Catholic San Francisco

Lenten Opportunities March 5: 1st Friday Mass of SF Catholic Charismatic Renewal Board at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Gough and Geary St., SF with rosary at 7 p.m. and liturgy at 7:30 p.m. Msgr. Fred Bitanga, pastor, St. Patrick Church, SF will preside. Music by El Shaddai. March 6, 7: Regional Conference of Filipino Catholic Charismatic Prayer Communities at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Gough St. and Geary Blvd., SF “Come one, come all,” said information promoting the event. “Bring the whole family.” Tickets $35 both days or $20 per day. Teens and younger $10 per day. “Come and experience the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Renew and revive loving relationships with Jesus.” Call Tessie or Mario Vierneza at (415) 468-1346 or Letty Ramos at (415) 469-0560. March 9, 16, 23, 30: The National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi Lecture Series featuring talks from speakers including Franciscan Sister Ramona Miller, Father David Anderson of the Byzantine Rite, Steve Syder of St. Mary’s College, Darlene Pryds of the Franciscan School of Theology, and Stephen Cordova of Campion College. Presentations are at 7:15 p.m. at the Shrine, Vallejo and Columbus, SF. Call (415) 983-0405. March 12, 13: An Introduction to the Jesus Prayer with Father Lucien Coutu at Our Lady of Fatima Byzantine Catholic Church, 101 20th Ave. at Lake SF. Call (415) 752-2052 or michelv@byzantinecatholic. Fri. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. with liturgy at 7:30 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. with Vespers at 5 p.m.. $25 per day or $35 for both days. March 13, 14: Divine Mercy Adult and Youth Conference at Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Parkway. Now is the time of mercy. Experience and share the good news of God’s mercy.” Family rate $110; adults $65; youth $25. Call (510) 412-4715. March 13: Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur offer Saturday Morning Prayer 9:30 – 11:30 each 2nd Sat. of the month at their Province Center, 1520 Ralston Ave. across from Ralston Hall on their university campus in Belmont. Call (650) 593-2045, ext. 350. Today, Visioning a Just Society with Notre Dame Sister Margaret Hoffman. March 9 and 15: Panel discussion on Mel Gibson’s film, The Passion of the Christ. March 15 is 7 – 9 p.m. at the Pastoral Center of the Archdiocese, One Peter Yorke Way, SF. “This gathering is for anyone who will have seen the film by then,” said Mary Jansen of the Office of Young Adult Ministry which is sponsoring the event. “It’s an opportunity for people to ask questions and have a discussion about the film.” Panelists will include a Catholic filmmaker, a representative from the Anti-Defamation League and others. Refreshments will be served. Call (415) 614-5596 or jansenm@sfarchdiocese.org. March 9 is at the Jewish Community Center of SF, California at Presidio from 7 – 8:30 p.m. Includes keynote address and dialogue with similarly comprised panel. Call (415) 981-3500. March 18: The Sisters of Mercy commemorate their 150th year in the Archdiocese in 2004. Among events celebrating the occasion is a speaker series with presentations March 18th at 7 p.m. at Notre Dame Plaza, 347 Dolores St., SF, and April 1st at 7 p.m. at Mercy Center. For more information, call Liz Dossa at (650) 340-7480. March 23: Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur offer Catholic Scholar Series in Ralston Hall 1520 Ralston Ave. on their Notre Dame de Namur University campus in Belmont. Today, hear Sulpician Father Richard Gula. Call (650) 593-2045, ext. 350. March 27: Day of Recollection sponsored by the SF Guild of the Catholic Medical Association at St. Cecilia Church, 17th Ave. at Vicente, SF from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Light breakfast and lunch included in $30 fee. Facilitated by Dr. Pierre Barbet and based on the book A Doctor at Calvary, “this discussion and reflection on the Passion of Jesus Christ will provide a medical perspective on the aspect of Christ’s physical suffering.” Members of the medical community especially invited. Call (415) 219-8719. March 28: Passion Cantata featuring voices of Peninsula choirs at St. Matthew Church, One Notre Dame Ave. off El Camino Real in San Mateo. The 2:30 p.m. concert includes songs and readings reflecting on the Passion of Christ. March 29, 30, 31, April 1: Journey with the Holy Spirit on this Parish Mission with Paulist Father Rick Walsh at St. Pius Church 1100 Woodside Rd., Redwood City. Morning and evening presentations. Call Sister Mary at (650) 368-0429 or mary@pius.org. Sundays: Concerts at 4 p. m. at National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi, Vallejo and Columbus, SF. Call (415) 983-0405 or www.shrinesf.org. Open to the public. Admission free. Sundays: Concerts at St. Mary Cathedral at 3:30 p.m. Gough and Geary Blvd., SF. Call (415) 567-2020 ext. 213. Concerts are open to the public. Admission free. March 7: Emma Lou Diemer, organist.

March 5, 2004 reunion,” said Annette Anton, director of alumni relations and a 1969 graduate of the school. Members of the classes of ’34, ’39, ’44, ’49 will also be recognized, she said. Takes place on USF campus from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. More information is available by calling the Alumni Office at (415) 422-6431 or (800) 449-4873. April 25: St. John Ursuline High School, SF, all classes. Contact Gayle Vannucci at (650) 692-4196. Sept. 18: St. Paul High School, San Francisco, class of ’64, 1 p.m. at the Terrace Room of El Rancho Motel, Millbrae. Contact classmate, Liz Hannan, at lizhannan3@yahoo.com.

Datebook 32nd annual United for Life Dinner takes place March 20th at the Irish Cultural Center, 45th Ave. at Sloat Blvd., SF. Tickets $35 per person. Tables of 10 available. Human Life Award will be presented to Msgr. Edward Kavanagh, a priest for 55 years and a Sacramento pastor whose talk will address Living for Life: 40 years in the Pro-Life Movement. Call (415) 567-2293.

Taize Prayer 3rd Wed. at 7:30 p.m. with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in their Province Center Chapel, 1520 Ralston Ave., Belmont across from Ralston on the college campus. Call (650) 593-2045, ext. 350 or www.SistersofNotreDameCa.org. 1st Fri. at 8 p.m. at Mercy Center, 2300 Adeline Dr., Burlingame with Mercy Sister Suzanne Toolan. Call (650) 340-7452; Church of the Nativity, 210 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park at 7:30 p.m. Call Deacon Dominic Peloso at (650) 322-3013. 2nd Fri. at 7:30 p.m. at St. Peter Church, 700 Oddstad Blvd., Pacifica. Call Deacon Peter Solan at (650) 359-6313. 2nd Fri. at 7:30 p.m., St. Dominic Church, 2390 Bush St., SF. Call Laura McClung at (415) 362-1075 3rd Fri. at 8 p.m. at Woodside Priory Chapel, 302 Portola Rd., Portola Valley. Call Dean Miller at (650) 631-2882 1st Sat. at 8:30 p.m. at SF Presidio Main Post Chapel, 130 Fisher Loop. Call Catherine Rondainaro at (415) 713-0225

Retreats/Days of Recollection —— VALLOMBROSA CENTER ——

McLaren Center, 2130 Fulton St., SF from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Day’s topic is Stranger No Longer: Together with Immigrants on the Journey of Hope. Please RSVP to (415) 614-5567. March 20: 32nd annual United for Life Dinner at the Irish Cultural Center, 45th Ave. at Sloat Blvd., SF. Tickets $35 per person. Tables of 10 available. Human Life Award will be presented to Msgr. Edward Kavanagh, a Sacramento pastor whose talk will adress Living for Life: 40 years in the Pro-Life Movement. Call (415) 567-2293. March 20: Dinner and raffle benefiting Palestinians in need at St. John of God Church, 5th St. at Irving, SF beginning with no-host social at 5:30 p.m. and dinner featuring Arab menu at 6: 30 p.m. Proceeds will be used to feed families in the Ramallah region. Tickets $25 adults/$10 children. Call Martha Ayoub at (415) 664-2015. The Adoption Network of Catholic Charities offers free adoption information meetings twice a month. Singles and married couples are invited to learn more about adopting a child from foster care. Call (415) 406-2387 for information.

TV/Radio

Food & Fun March 6, 7: Annual Flea market at St. Elizabeth Parish, Goettingen and Wayland St., SF. A bundle of fun and treasures including snack bar. Sponsored by parish Women’s Club. Sat. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. March 13: Shamrock Shenanigans, a lunch and fashion show benefiting Scholarship Fund of Catholic Professional Women’s Club. “Lots of raffle prizes,” said Joan Hggins, a member of the organization. Takes place at United Irish Cultural Center, 45th Ave. at Sloat Blvd. in SF, beginning with no-host social and silent auction at 11:30 a.m. and lunch at 12: 30 p.m. Fashions from Shaheen’s of Lakeside Village. Tickets $35 per person. Call Noel Leonard at 584-2983. March 13: 2nd Annual International Food Festival benefiting St. Dunstan Elementary School 1133 Broadway, Millbrae from 5 – 9 p.m. Foods from many lands including Greece, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, Asia plus delectable desserts,” said Gale Yip. Entertainment, chldren’s activities, silent auction and raffle. Tickets $25 adults, $20 seniors, $12.50 children 5 – 14. Call (650) 692-9323 or (650) 583-4986. March 20: Casablanca…As Time Goes By, annual auction benefiting Mercy High School, Burlingame. Set in the famed Kohl Mansion, the evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with Silent Auction and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner, live auction and dancing till midnight. Tickets $60 per person. Contact the Mercy Development Department at (650) 762-1190. March 20: Italian Catholic Federation presents renowned singer, Moreno Fruzzetti at San Mateo Performing Arts Center, 600 N. Delaware St. in San Mateo. Singer Simona and comedian, Florio Vivino, join him on the bill. Doors open 7:30 p.m. Showtime 8:30 p.m. Tickets $42.50/$37.50. Call (650) 355-1274. March 22: 6th anniversary and Mardi Gras Feast of National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi, Vallejo at Columbus, SF featuring Cajun buffet and dancing to the music of the Zydeco Flames from 5 p.m. Tickets $50 per person. Enjoy organ recital of French classics at 4 p.m. Call (415) 983-0405.

Social Justice/ Family Life March 13: 8th Annual Archbishop John R. Quinn Colloquium on Catholic Social Teaching at USF’s

Mon – Fri., KEST 1450 AM, 7 p.m.: Catholic Radio Hour features rosary, music and commentary with Father Tom Daly. Sunday 6 a.m., WB Channel 20/Cable 13 and KTSF Channel 26/Cable 8: TV Mass with Msgr. Harry Schlitt presiding. 1st Sun, 5 a.m., CBS Channel 5: Mosaic, featuring conversations on current Catholic issues. 3rd Sun, 6:30 a.m., KRON Channel 4: For Heaven’s Sake, featuring conversations about Catholic spirituality.

Consolation Ministry Groups meet at the following parishes. Please call numbers shown for more information. St. Catherine of Siena, Burlingame. Call Elaine Yastishock at (650) 344-6884; Our Lady of Angels, Burlingame. Call Louise Nelson at (650) 343-8457 or Barbara Arena at (650) 344-3579. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Redwood City. Call (650) 366-3802; Good Shepherd, Pacifica. Call Sister Carol Fleitz at (650) 355-2593; St. Robert, San Bruno. Call (650) 5892800. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Belmont. Call Ann Ponty at (650) 598-0658 or Mary Wagner at (650) 591-3850. St. Isabella, San Rafael. Call Pat Sack at (415) 472-5732. Our Lady of Loretto, Novato. Call Sister Jeanette at (415) 897-2171. St. Gabriel, SF. Call Barbara Elordi at (415) 564-7882. St. Finn Barr, SF in English and Spanish. Call Carmen Solis at (415) 584-0823; St. Cecilia, SF. Call Peggy Abdo at (415) 564-7882 ext. 3; Epiphany, SF in Spanish. Call Kathryn Keenan at (415) 564-7882. Ministry for parents who have lost a child is available from Our Lady of Angels Parish, Burlingame. Call Ina Potter at (650) 347-6971 or Barbara Arena at (650) 344-3579. Young Widow/Widower group meets at St. Gregory, San Mateo. Call Barbara Elordi at (415) 564-7882. Information about children’s and teen groups is available from Barbara Elordi at (415) 564-7882.

Reunions March 20: The University of San Francisco honors Golden Alumni. “The class of ’54 will be officially welcomed on that day as they celebrate their 50th

St. Patrick’s Day in East Palo Alto Concert and Dinner ❖ Friday, March 12, 2004 At St. Francis of Assisi Church 1425 Bay Rd. East Palo Alto, CA 94303 5:30 PM 7:00 PM Corned beef and cabbage Typical Dances in honor of St. Patrick – Recognition of an old-time Irish-American family who did much for East Palo Alto – the Kavanaugh’s – Recognition of East Palo Alto youth when “given a chance” through Creative of Montessori and St. Elizabeth Seton School, 2 of the many schools which help mold E.P.A.’s Children.

Mark Forrest

MARK FORREST is “a university trained oratorio singer in the grand tradition of Frank Patterson . . . and the immortal John McCormack.” The husband of Muriel, a former Miss Ireland, he is a native of Dublin. When you listen to “his riveting voice,” “you find yourself missing Ireland, even if you’ve never been,” according to one T.V. reporter

Tickets: $30.00 ($15 for dinner, $15 for concert) can be purchased from St. Francis of Assisi Church 1425 Bay Rd. – East Palo Alto, CA 94303 Tel. (650) 322-2152 E-mail: sfofassisi@sbcglobal.net

250 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park. For fees, times and details about these and other offerings call (650) 325-5614. Presentation Sister Rosina Conrotto, Program Director. March 13: The Art of Spiritual Practice: What Opens You Up to God’s Presence? What Connects You Deeply to Your Soul? Suzanne Young facilitates. March 19 – 21: A Retreat With Therese of Liseiux led by Father Tom Madden, former director of Vallombrosa. Come and explore the spirituality of this popular saint and Doctor of the Church. April 25: Take Time to Nurture Your Relationships, a Family Retreat, sponsored by Peninsula parishes of Deanery 11, 1:30 – 5 p.m. at Vallombrosa Center, 250 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park. Let team speakers Eileen and Bill Healy help you uncover “the four barriers and four builders of relationships.” Geared toward parents and their junior high and older children. Activities provided for younger children. Free admission. Register by April 15th with Laurie Coulter of Sabina Spence at (650) 366-7085; Sister Mary Keefe at (650) 368-0429; Terry Mooney at (650) 5917349, ext. 29; or Michele Otte at (650) 323-6353.

–– JESUIT RETREAT HOUSE/EL RETIRO –– 300 Manresa Way, Los Altos. For fees, times and details about these and other offerings call (650) 948-4491. March 26 – 28: Young Men’s Spiritual Exercises for ages 17 – 25. $60 per person includes lodging and meals. Call Brother James capehart at (408) 406-9391 or jbullock@legionaries.org.

–– MERCY CENTER –– 2300 Adeline Dr., Burlingame. For fees, times and other offerings, call (650) 340-7474 or www.mercy-center.org. March 20: The cultures, spirituality and mindfulness of China, Korea, and Japan help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Meditation Program at Mercy Center from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Haiku contest, lunch of Asian foods, and door prizes too.

Returning Catholics Programs for Catholics interested in returning to the Church, have been established at the following parishes: St. Philip the Apostle, 725 Diamond St. at Elizabeth/24th, SF. Call the parish office at (415) 282-0141; St. Hilary, Tiburon, Mary Musalo, (415) 435-2775; St. Anselm, Ross, parish office at (415) 453-2342; St. Sebastian, Greenbrae, Jean Mariani at (415) 461-7060; Old St. Mary’s Cathedral, SF, Michael Adams at (415) 695-2707; St. Dominic, SF, Lee Gallery at (415) 221-1288; Holy Name of Jesus, SF, Dennis Rivera at (415) 664-8590; St. Bartholomew, San Mateo, Dan Stensen at (650) 344-5665; St. Catherine of Siena, Burlingame, Silvia Chiesa at (650) 685-8336, Elaine Yastishock at (650) 344-6884; Our Lady of Angels, Burlingame, Dorothy Heinrichs or Maria Cianci at (650) 347-7768; St. Dunstan, Millbrae, Dianne Johnston at (650) 697-0952; Our Lady of the Pillar, Half Moon Bay, Meghan at (650) 726-4337; St. Peter, Pacifica, Chris Booker at (650) 738-1398; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Mill Valley, Rick Dullea or Diane Claire at (415) 388-4190; St. Mary Star of the Sea, Sausalito, Lloyd Dulbecco at (415) 331-7949.

Datebook is a free listing for parishes, schools and non-profit groups. Please include event name, time, date, place, address and an information phone number. Listing must reach Catholic San Francisco at least two weeks before the Friday publication date desired. Mail your notice to: Datebook, Catholic San Francisco, One Peter Yorke Way, S.F. 94109, or fax it to (415) 614-5633.

heaven can’t wait Serra for Priestly and Religious Vocations Please Call Archdiocese of San Francisco Fr. Tom Daly 415-614-5683

March 5, 2004

Music TV

Catholic San Francisco

Books RADIO Film

21

Stage

Reviewed by Jayme George Once upon a time, dramatizations of the bible were not headline-making news. But in the wake of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ� the negative implications drawn from biblical interpretations can be downright explosive. So it’s understandable why director Charles Carner might be a little nervous about his film “Judas� which airs March 8 on ABC at 9:00 p.m. “Judas� is the final project of the late Paulist Father Elwood “Bud� Keiser, founder of Paulist Productions. Emmy award winning writer Tom Fontana was the executive producer and wrote the screenplay at the request of Keiser. The resulting film, based on scripture, is an in-depth look into the life of the infamous apostle who betrayed Jesus. While “Judas� is not sheathed in the same controversy that surrounds Gibson’s “Passion,� Carner is still wary about following in the footsteps of that film. “On some levels I’m quaking in my boots right now because of possible comparisons,� Carner told Catholic San Francisco. “But ‘Judas’ is a different movie and should be seen in its own light, its own respect.� For Carner—known for his directorial work on “Crossfire Trail� and “Who Killed Atlanta’s Children?�—�Judas� is his first overtly religious film. “This movie tells a very familiar story in a way that we have not heard it before,� said Carner. “It can reach a new audience and get people to take another look at the scriptures.� Making such a spiritual film is a humbling experience, said Carner. “We would start each day of shooting with a prayer, I tried to let the spirit work through me,� he stated. “When you are telling the story of a savior, you don’t want to screw it up.� Unfortunately, Carner’s fear of “screwing up� is what makes his trepidation with

this subject matter almost palpable. Judas’ character raises questions that apply to modern day Catholics and non-believers alike, but the movie always answers them with a placid, “God loves you,� and fails to address any real questions of faith that would have been as pertinent in ancient Judea as they are now. Johnathon Schaech, of “That Thing You Do� and “How to Make an American Quilt,� plays Judas. He gives a brooding performance, which is impressive considering that the role was written with such limited depth that brooding would seem to be an emotion beyond his character’s reach. The film attributes Judas’ rebellious nature to witnessing his own father being crucified at a tender age. From that moment on, Judas is overcome with the desire to wage war against his oppressors. Therefore, the messiah Judas is looking for could not be more different than the one he eventually finds. American actor Tim Matheson, wellknown for playing villainous characters, makes an appearance as Pontius Pilate. Fellow American Jonathan Scarfe (of “ER� fame) plays Jesus. The rest of the cast is rounded out by unknown British actors who can’t help but add a decidedly awkward feel to the discordant ensemble. It seems unfair, however, to place blame on Carner and cast for the shortcomings of “Judas.� At its core the movie is suffering from a severely malnourished script, which is pretty disappointing from a guy who won an Emmy. “Judas� sets out with the lofty goal of giving new life to an old story, but despite the admirable performances and the earnest effort supplied by Carner, Fontana’s uninspired screenplay fails to follow through. “Judas� will air as an ABC Premier Event on ABC television March 8, at 9 p.m. Check local listings for the exact time and channel. $GYHUWLVHPHQW

7ZR 3HQQV\OYDQLD 3ULHVWV +RVW

T R A V E L

T

I M E

Alaska Cruise

$QG 3DFLILF 1RUWKZHVW 9DFDWLRQ

2Q -XO\ MRLQ \RXU 6SLULWXDO 'LUHFWRUV )DWKHU

'DYLG .ULVV 3DVWRU RI 2XU /DG\ RI WKH 9DOOH\ 5RPDQ &DWKROLF &KXUFK LQ 'RQRUD 3$ DQG KLV EURWKHU )DWKHU $DURQ .ULVV 3DVWRU RI +RO\ 0DUW\UV 3DULVK LQ 7DUHQWXP 3$ RQ WKLV GD\ YDFDWLRQ LQFOXGLQJ D VHYHQ GD\ GHOX[H $ODVND &UXLVH ZLWK +ROODQG $PHULFD /LQH DQG D VHYHQ GD\ 3DFLILF 1RUWKZHVW YDFDWLRQ 0DVV ZLOO EH FHOHEUDWHG GDLO\ RQ ERDUG VKLS IRU WKRVH LQ WKH JURXS ZKR ZLVK WR SDUWLFLSDWH <RXU JURXS ZLOO IO\ LQWR 6HDWWOH IRU D QLJKW EHIRUH D VFHQLF PRWRU FRDFK GULYH WR 9DQFRXYHU ZKHUH \RXÂśOO ERDUG WKH ILYH VWDU PV 9ROHQGDP 1H[W WUDYHO WKURXJK D ZRQGURXV PD]H RI IRUHVWHG LVODQG DQG JODFLHU FDUYHG IMRUGV SDVW FKDUPLQJ FRDVWDO YLOODJHV PLJUDWLQJ ZKDOHV DQG FDOYLQJ JODFLHUV WR -XQHDX 6NDJZD\ .HWFKLNDQ DQG VSHFWDFXODU *ODFLHU %D\ $IWHU WKH FUXLVH \RXÂśOO VWDUW D VL[ QLJKW PRWRU FRDFK WRXU YLVLWLQJ %ULWLVK &ROXPELD WKH &DVFDGH 0RXQWDLQV :DVKLQJWRQ WKH *UDQG &RXOHH 'DP /DNH &RHXU GÂś$OHQH 0RQWDQD <HOORZVWRQH 2OG )DLWKIXO DQG *UDQG 7HWRQ 1DWLRQDO 3DUNV -DFNVRQ +ROH :\RPLQJ ,GDKR )DOOV 8WDK WKH *UHDW 6DOW /DNH 0RUPRQ 7DEHUQDFOH DQG PRUH <RXÂśOO IO\ KRPH DIWHU D QLJKW LQ 6DOW /DNH &LW\ 3ULFHV IRU WKLV GD\ YDFDWLRQ VWDUW DW RQO\ SHU SHUVRQ GRXEOH RFFXSDQF\ LQFOXGLQJ SRUW FKDUJHV DQG WD[HV DQG LQFOXGHV ORWV RI HVFRUWHG PRWRU FRDFK VLJKWVHHLQJ WKURXJKRXW WKH 3DFLILF 1RUWKZHVW WKH VHYHQ GD\ GHOX[H $ODVND FUXLVH VHYHQ QLJKWV LQ TXDOLW\ KRWHOV URXQG WULS DLUIDUH IURP 6DQ )UDQFLVFR RU 6DFUDPHQWR WUDQVIHUV DQG EDJJDJH KDQGOLQJ GHSRVLWV DUH QRZ GXH )ULHQGV DQG IDPLO\ DUH ZHOFRPH )RU LQIRUPDWLRQ UHVHUYDWLRQV EURFKXUH

DQG )DWKHUV¡ OHWWHU FDOO GD\V D ZHHN

Âľ<285 0$1Âś 72856

3URYLGLQJ FDUHIUHH YDFDWLRQV VLQFH

(ABC/BOB D'AMICO)

Story of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Judasâ&#x20AC;? to air March 8 on ABC-TV

The public ministry and passion of Jesus are viewed through the perspective of his betrayer in the unconventional Gospel drama "Judas," premiering Monday, March 8, (9-11 p.m.) on ABC. The earnest -- but flat â&#x20AC;&#x201C; production takes a novel approach in its retelling of Scripture by refracting the Light of the World through the dark prism of the turncoat disciple. An introductory disclaimer informs viewers that "Judas" is an "interpretive dramatization" of the life of Christ, and the script's liberal use of poetic license may raise some theological red flags and detract from the otherwise reverent tone. Starring are Johnathon Schaech as Judas (above right) and Jonathan Scarfe as Jesus.

Catholic San Francisco invites you

to join in the following pilgrimages EASTERN EUROPE Including: Divine Mercy Chapel St. Maximilian Kolbe Childhood home of Pope John Paul II Salzburg & Vienna and the Infant of Prague

May 10-22, 2004 Departs San Francisco 13-Day Tour

only

2,799

$

Pope John Paul II

Visit: Warsaw, Niepokalanow, Glogoweic, Lodz, Krakow, Auschwitz, Vienna, Prague, Salzburg and more.

LOURDES and the GREAT SAINTS of EUROPE June 7, 2004

Departs San Francisco 12-Day Pilgrimage

only

$

2,699

Fr. Michael Lacy Spiritual Director St. Bernadette

Visit: Paris, Lisieux, Normandy, Versailles, Chartres, Nevers, Paray-LeMonial, Ars, Lyon, Toulouse, Lourdes

For a FREE brochure on these pilgrimages contact: Virginia Marshall â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Catholic San Francisco

(415) 614-5640 Please leave your name, mailing address and your phone number California Registered Seller of Travel Registration Number CST-2037190-40 (Registration as a Seller of Travel does not constitute approval by the State of California)

22

Catholic San Francisco

March 5, 2004

Report / study . . . ■ Continued from cover According to the study, up to the end of 2002 costs related to sex abuse totaled $573 million, with $219 million of that covered by insurance. Costs incurred in 2003, and therefore not part of the report, include several large group settlements, notably the $85 million settlement agreed to by the Boston Archdiocese last fall. Sources estimate that when the 2003 costs are added the total could be in the neighborhood of $750 million. The all-lay National Review Board, formed by the bishops in their 2002 “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” issued the accompanying report on the causes and context of the abuse crisis.

The Review Board report said, the “crime of sexual abuse of minors is not a problem unique to the Catholic clergy. … Indeed, it is a contemporary societal problem that affects numerous families and many secular institutions as well as other churches and ecclesial communities.” However, the Review Board report said “the number of incidents of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy, at least over the last fifty years, is significant and disturbing.” It called sinfulness the overriding key to understanding and interpreting the crisis. “The actions of priests who sexually abused minors were grievously sinful. The inaction of those bishops who failed to protect their people from predators was also grievously sinful,” the board said. “Somehow the ‘smoke of Satan’ was allowed to enter the church, and as a result the church itself has been deeply wounded. Its ability to speak clearly and credibly on moral issues has been seriously impaired.” The John Jay study noted that most of the reported abuse occurred between 1960 and 1990, peaking in the 1970s. The board’s report said one of the apparent causes of the crisis was that, “historically, seminaries paid inadequate attention to the human formation of candidates for the priesthood.” Before the Second Vatican Council, held 1962-65, seminary formation, it said, “focused almost exclusively on intellectual and theological formation. ... Sexuality was not meaningfully discussed.” After the council, it said, “seminaries changed in significant ways,” in some ways for the better but in other ways for the worse. “The rigid moral absolutism that had guided clergy and laity alike was giving way to moral relativism, with its attendant uncertainties and ambiguities.” “The rapidly changing climate — from a strictly regimented atmosphere to an ‘anything goes’ atmos-

(CNS PHOTO BY PAUL HARING)

See full report at www.usccb.org

Review Board members Robert Bennett and Anne Burke.

phere — contributed to the current crisis,” it said. “The discipline of celibacy is not itself a cause of the current crisis,” the board said, but it said if the church wishes to uphold that discipline it must do a better job of explaining celibacy to seminarians and preparing them to live a celibate life. The board also called for more careful screening of seminary candidates and more careful oversight of priests in the first years after ordination. Noting the significant difference in abuse rates by diocesan and religious priests, it suggested bishops consider living arrangements for diocesan priests that would provide something akin to the community life and support found in religious orders. Noting that “the overwhelming majority of reported acts of sexual abuse of minors by members of the clergy victimized boys,” the board said the question of admitting priesthood candidates who are homosexually oriented must be addressed. “It seems clear to the board that the paramount question in this area must be whether a candidate for priesthood is capable of living a chaste, celibate life, not what the candidate’s sexual orientation might be,” it said. “But given the nature of the problem of clergy sexual abuse of minors, the realities of the culture today and the male-oriented atmos-

phere of the seminary, a more searching inquiry is necessary for a homosexually oriented man by those who decide whether he is suitable for the seminary and for ministry.” The report sharply criticized bishops who ignored allegations by victims, who protected abusive priests, who prized secrecy to avoid scandal, who treated victims more as a legal problem than a pastoral concern. It said many bishops relied too heavily on the advice of therapists in deciding to return offending priests to ministry. It called for further steps to make bishops more accountable for their actions, including “greater participation by the laity in the life of the church.” It commended the bishops for the steps they have taken in the past two years to end the abuse and create a safe environment for children in parishes and Catholic institutions. “The policies and procedures put in place over the last two years do not remediate, nor can they excuse, the multitude of preventable acts of abuse that preceded them,” the board said. “But in acknowledgment of those acts of abuse as crimes and sins lies hope for the future. That hope can be fulfilled, however, only if the bishops maintain a commitment to meaningful reforms and vigilant enforcement that outlasts the immediate crisis and becomes ingrained in the character of the church itself.” At a second press conference following the release of the John Jay study and the board report, Bishop Wilton D. Gregory of Belleville, Ill., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, described the two documents as “a vital benchmark” in the bishops’ efforts to right the wrongs of the past. The documents are also “an urgent summons to act as fully as possible in reaching out to victims,” he said. In Rome, two top U.S. officials at the Vatican welcomed the issuance of the report and study, saying they will help the church address the root causes of the scandal. “We have to be honest. We cannot deny what happened,” said Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and formerly a Catholic newspaper editor in Philadelphia. He said the church’s first step to prevent a recurrence has to be “an intense process of selection and formation of candidates for the priesthood and a deep spiritual life among bishops and priests.” Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, formerly archbishop of Denver and now head of the Vatican office dealing with the sacrament of penance, said it was a “courageous act” for the bishops to entrust the research on those issues to a secular institution and a lay review board. He said that there has been some discussion recently of establishing a “committee of episcopal peers” to monitor the accountability of bishops and step in when questions arise about a bishop’s governance. Catholic San Francisco staff contributed to this story.

SERVICE DIRECTORY For Adver tising Information Call 415-614-5642 • E-mail: jpena@catholic-sf.org

PAINTING Interior painting. 35 years experience. Reasonable prices. Fast, clean & reliable. Peninsula area. Free estimates.

PAINTING & REMODELING John Holtz

Ca. Lic 391053

General Contractor

Since 1980

HANDYMAN

Painting & Remodeling

Carpentry, Cabinetry, Painting, House Cleaning, Refinishing Floors and Furniture, Door & Window Instal., Cement Work. Se habla Español & Tagalog.

Interiors Exteriors Kitchens Baths

Plumbing • Fire Protection • Certified Backflow

All purpose: Painting, Fencing, Carpenter, Small Roofing Repairs, Skylight Repairs, Demolition Work, Rain Gutter Repair & Cleaning, Landscaping, Gardening, Hauling, Moving, Janitorial.

John Bianchi

Plumbing Works San Francisco ALL PLUMBING WORK PAT HOLLAND CA LIC #817607 BONDED & INSURED

415-205-1235

650-244-9255 Spells Wally 650-740-7505 Cell Phone

1537 Franklin Street • San Francisco, CA 94109

All Mfg. Warranty: Rebates and Special Dealer Finacing goes to Registered Owner/s

Healing Your Inner Child

St. Robert’s Parish San Bruno

P.O. Box 214 San Bruno, CA 94066

Lila Caffery, MA, CCHT

INSURANCE

Christian Family Counselo r

St. Dominic’s Parishioner

•Individuals, Couples, Family •Addictions; Food, Chemical, Love •Enneagram Personality Work •Spiritual Direction• Sliding Scale

Al Zeidler Insurance Agency 35 Mitchell Blvd. Suite 9-B, San Rafael, CA 94903

* Homeowners * Life * Business * Bonds * Umbrella’s Serving The Entire Bay Area Phone: (415) 507-0231 Fax: (415) 507-0236 Email: zeidlerins@sbcglobal.net

Catholic San Francisco

Lic. No. 390254

Barbara Elordi, MFT Expert Plumbing Repairs ●

General Repairs Clean Drains & Sewers Water Heaters ●

●

SANTI PLUMBING & HEATING San Francisco Only, Please

FAMILY OWNED

415-661-3707

Lic. # 663641

24 HR

LEGAL SERVICES TAX PREPARATION ROGER HO ATTORNEY

AT

LAW

Wrongful Termination ● Workplace Discrimination / Harassment ● Wage / Salary Claims ● Civil Rights ~ 415-752-0358 ~ rajho98@yahoo.com ●

Tax Preparation By CPA Free Consultation Free Estimate

650-589-9225 Lic. 69547

Al Zeidler Broker Lic: 0B96630

Tell our advertisers you saw their ad in

100 North Hill Drive, Unit 18 • Brisbane, CA 94005

not a licensed contractor

HOLLAND

Auto Broker

415-337-9474 • 650-888-2873 www.innerchildhealing.com

Phone: 415.468.1877 Fax: 415.468.1875

Call (650) 757-1946

PLUMBING

Wally Mooney

• Relationships • Addictions

Confidential • Compassionate • Practical (415) 921-1619

PLUMBING

HANDYMAN

415-614-5642

• Family • Work • Depression • Anxiety

Contractor inspection reports and pre-purchase consulting

415-239-8491 not a licensed contractor

Call

When Life Hurts It Helps To Talk Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Over 25 years experience

(650) 355-4926

Not a licensed Contractor

You Can Reach 90,000 Catholic Households with this Ad!

AUTO SALES

Dr. Daniel J. Kugler

(650) 355-5588

IT’S A SAFE BET!

COUNSELING

Licensed Marriage, Family and Child Therapist. Offers individual, couple + family and group counseling.

The Peninsula Men’s Group, now in it’s 7th year, is a support group which provides affordable counseling in a safe and nurturing setting. Interested candidates may call for a free brochure.

(650) 591-3784

SOUND SYSTEMS Intelligent Sound and Communications Solutions Since 1985

KANSORA COMMUNICATIONS

974 Ralston Ave. #6, Belmont, CA 94002

PAULA B. HOLT,

LCSW, ACSW Adult, Family, Couple, Psychotherapy, LCS 18043 Divorce resolution, Grief resolution, Supportive consultation. Substance abuse counseling, Post trauma resolution, Family Consultation.

Support and help a phone call away! 121 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94118

PLEASE

415-289-6990

PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS

CHURCHES – SCHOOLS – THEATRES COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS – SPORTS FACILITIES ●

●

Sound Systems Digital Carillons / Bells

●

●

Intercoms / Paging Systems Cable TV & Data Systems

415-453-2898

WWW.KANSORA.COM CA LICN # 747210

March 5, 2004

Irish Tradesman

Catholic San Francisco Classifieds

For Infor mation

Call: 415 614-5642 Fax: 415 614-5641

Irish Handyman Irish Handyman

Framing, Trim, Decks, Fences, Tile Settings, Carpentry

available. Carpentry, plumbing, stone work, landscape construction.

Dryer/Washer Outlets, Light Fixtures, Switches, Outlets, Trouble Shooting, Dedicated Circuits, and All Electrical Needs

415-652-2094

(650) 271-1628

Email:

415-509-8473 Not A Licensed Contractor

Not a licenced contractor

This parish seeks a temporary employee who will be responsible for general maintenance of parish grounds and buildings. This person, who will capably make repairs and oversee routine upkeep, will have an understanding of plumbing, carpentry, etc. 30 hour work week.

Cost $25

If you wish to publish a Novena in the Catholic San Francisco You may use the form below or call 415-614-5640 Your prayer will be published in our newspaper

Contact Father Tony La Torre, St. Charles Church, 880 Tamarack Ave., San Carlos 94070 Tel: 650-591-7349

Name Adress Phone MC/VISA # Exp. ❑ Prayer to the Blessed Virgin ❑ Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Please return form with check or money order for $25 Payable to: Catholic San Francisco Advertising Dept., Catholic San Francisco 1 Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco, CA 94109

Prayer to St. Jude Oh, Holy St. Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near Kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need, to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition. In return I promise to make you be invoked. Say three our Fathers, three Hail Marys and Glorias. St. Jude pray for us all who invoke your aid. Amen. This Novena has never been known to fail. This Novena must be said 9 consecutive days. Thanks. B.E.

Prayer to St. Jude Oh, Holy St. Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near Kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need, to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition. In return I promise to make you be invoked. Say three our Fathers, three Hail Marys and Glorias. St. Jude pray for us all who invoke your aid. Amen. This Novena has never been known to fail. This Novena must be said 9 consecutive days. Thanks. B.N.

Seeks caregiver/ companion position. Excellent refs. and car.

Lynn 415-752-5314

Piano Lessons

By a Conservatory Graduate

Room $1,000 plus $200 Food Allowance in exchange for assisting an elderly lady in Marin County Adult Beginners

(415) 273-4116

Children of all levels

Yearly Recitals At Clarion Hotel $50 mo. once a week lesson

650-869-5479

Facilities Manager

PUBLISH A NOVENA Pre-payment required Mastercard or Visa accepted

* Not a licensed contractor

Certified geriatric home aid. 12 yrs exp.

St. Jude Novena May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved & preserved throughout the world now & forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus pray for us. St. Jude helper of the hopeless pray for us. Say prayer 9 times a day for 9 days. Thank You St. Jude. T.P.R.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit Holy Spirit, you who make me see everything and who shows me the way to reach my ideal. You who give me the divine gift of forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me. I, in this short dialogue, want to thank you for everything and confirm once more that I never want to be separated from you no matter how great the material desires may be. I want to be with you and my loved ones in your perpetual glory. Amen. You may publish this as soon as your favor is granted. C.S.

23

Piano lessons

Employment Opportunites

novenas

Select One Prayer: ❑ St. Jude Novena ❑ Prayer to St. Jude/S.H.

caregiver elderly electrical available assistance

Available For Construction:

jpena@catholic-sf.org

Catholic San Francisco

~ Teacher Job Fair ~ Saturday, March 6, 2004 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Marin Catholic High School Gymnasium 675 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Kentfield, California

Elementary Job Faire

Host High Schools Include: Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) Convent of the Sacred Heart (San Francisco)

Saturday, March 13, 2004 Mercy High School 3250 19th Avenue San Francisco, 94132 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Immaculate Conception Academy (San Francisco)

*Please note that this is the correct date and time

Mercy High School (San Francisco)

Junipero Serra (San Mateo) Marin Catholic (Kentfield) Mercy High School (Burlingame) Notre Dame (Belmont)

*Bring Résumés* Campus parking closed. Use nearby neighborhood parking.

For More Information: Please Call Sara Smith (415) 614-5668 or e-mail: smiths@sfarchdiocese.org

Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep (San Francisco) Sacred Heart Preparatory (Atherton) Saint Ignatius (San Francisco) San Domenico Upper School (San Anselmo) Woodside Priory (Portola Valley)

Register and submit resume on-line at www.sfarchteachersfair.org

CLASSIFIED AD INFORMATION

DEADLINE THURSDAYS - 3 PM

TO PLACE AN AD: By phone, call (415) 614-5639 or (415) 614-5640 or fax (415) 614-5641 or e-mail: vmarshall@catholic-sf.org; Mail or bring ads to Catholic San Francisco, One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco, CA 94109; Or by (please include credit card number & expiration date).

COMMERCIAL ADS: (Four line minimum) $15 for four lines, $2 per EXTRA line – applies to

PRIVATE PARTY ADS: (Four line minimum) $10 for four lines, $1.00 per EXTRA line – applies to

by telephone, mail, or fax. ONLY VISA or MASTERCARD ACCEPTED.

Business Services, Real Estate, Buying or Selling for profit, and Transportation Dealers.

PAYMENT: All ads must be paid in advance. Money order, or imprinted checks. Credit Cards

individuals only, Garage Sales, Help Wanted, Transportation / Vehicles. 1st line has 19 spaces, subsequent lines have 26 spaces. Every letter, punctuation mark or spaces between words counts as a space.

START HERE

CATEGORIES:

Announcements Appliances Business Opportunities Child Care Children’s Misc. Collectibles Counseling Education/Lessons Electronics Employment Financial Services For Sale Garage Sales Health & Fitness Home Furnishings Miscellaneous Office Equipment Personals Pet Supplies Professional Services Religious Articles Wanted to Buy Automotive Real Estate

☛

PRIVATE PARTY

(Please Print Legibly)

COMMER.RATES

Classified display ads may be prepaid or billed.

RATES

NAME CITY METHOD OF PAYMENT

❏

VISA

CREDIT CARD # SIGNATURE

ADDRESS ZIP

$15 $17 $19 $21 $23 $25

ADD $1 PER EACH ADDITIONAL LINE

ADD $2 PER EACH ADDITIONAL LINE

TOTAL ENCLOSED:

PHONE

❏ CHECK ❏ MASTERCARD

$10 $11 $12 $13 $14 $15

❏ MONEY ORDER EXP. DATE REFERENCE # leave blank please

CATEGORY:

❏ ❏

CLASSIFIED DISPLAY 25 per column inch – 1 time $ 20 per column inch – 2 times $

TERMS We reserve the right to reject or cancel advertising for any reason deemed appropriate. We want our readers to know that it is not always possible to verify promises made by our advertisers.

24

Catholic San Francisco

March 5, 2004

Mercy nun recieves national honor WASHINGTON — Mercy Sister Petra Chavez, founder and CEO of Caminos/Pathways Learning Center in San Francisco, received the 2004 Sister Margaret Cafferty Development of People Award for her efforts to empower low-income immigrant women through access to computer training. The award, presented annually by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, is named in memory of the late Presentation Sister who served as director of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and a member of the U.S. bishops’ CCHD committee. It honors an individual whose life exemplifies a commitment to the development of people and the elimination of poverty. Caminos is a computer education and career training program that prepares Latina women from 22 countries to qualify for jobs in the technology field. Courses range from basic typing to common office software, Web page design, e-marketing and computer repair. Introducing Sister Petra at a Feb. 22 ceremony in Washington, Father Robert Vitillo, CCHD director, said the first project for which the women of Caminos sought CCHD funding was a sewing cooperative. They soon realized that the income from that business would not lift the participants out of poverty and changed their focus to computer repair work. Many participants soon quadrupled their wages, he said. “Sister Petra has devoted 25 years to helping lowincome immigrants empower themselves to take their place in the community to which they contribute so much through their hard work and creativity,” he said. “Her particular commitment to mentorship programs is a striking

(CNS PHOTO BY KEN TOUCHTON FOR CCHD)

By Catholic News Service

Sister Petra Chavez works with a student at Caminos/Pathways Learning Center in San Francisco. The Mercy sister has received the 2004 Sister Margaret Cafferty Development of People Award for her efforts to empower low-income immigrant women through access to computer training. The award is given by the U.S. Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

example of CCHD’s mission to offer a hand up to people actively working to break the cycle of poverty.” In accepting the award, Sister Petra said the women at Caminos “never cease to amaze and inspire me.” Her work with the poor has led her to understand that

just as power corrupts some people so too can powerlessness lead to corruption, she said. Before founding Caminos in 1999, Sister Petra worked for 12 years with the Central American Resource Center in San Francisco.

San Francisco parish reaches out to poor in Holy Land Martha Ayoub is an Arab. She is also an American citizen, a devout Roman Catholic and the bridge between the Arab Christian community and San Francisco. For many years she was a member of the Archdiocesan Peace and Justice Board representing the Arab community. She is also the driving force behind Voice From the West. Voice From the West is a nonprofit organization helping

Cost for a delicious Arab dinner is $25 for adults and $10 for children. The event begins following the 4:15 p.m. Mass and will be held in the parish hall. Advance reservations are requested by calling Martha Ayoub at 415-664-2015 or mailing check to St. John of God, Voice From the West, 1290 Fifth Avenue, San Francisco 94122.

the poorest of the poor living in villages near Ramallah, where Martha grew up in the West Bank of the Holy Land. On March 20, St. John of God Church in San Francisco will be sponsoring a raffle and dinner in support of the ministry of Voice From the West to which all are invited. All proceeds will be used for the direct support of the poor in the Holy Land, regardless of faith.

Blessed Trinity Gift Sets

E-mail: sales@kaufers.com Mon. – Fri. 8:30–5:00 ● Sat. 9:00 – 4:00

Satin Purse Set

Clear Folder Set

70–0182R $30.75

70-0184R $23.75

Preknotted Tie

Veil

Church supplies – Books – Religious Articles Web Site: www.kaufers.com

ER REEALOG .COM D OR UR UFNION CAWT .KAUFERS YOND COMMNE AT WW

KEEPSAKE BEARS – $10.50 8” Plush bears with embroidered symbols for sacramental & everyday occasions. A sweet & cuddly reminder!

A LI GIFT HOP ON OR S

Damask fabric. 73-9021R White, 12”L – $6.00 73-9023R Navy, 14”L – $6.00

“Susan”Veil

“Wendy” Veil

Lace edged veil with satin/lace bow on a hair comb. 95373R – $21.50

Satin edged veil with satin flower wreath 92024R– $27.50

Children’s Book of the Bible

er Ordurs Yo AY! TOD

Call 800-874-6987 415-333-4494 FAX: 415-333-0402

Irish-Satin Headband and airy nylon veil both adorned with scattered shamrocks. 700R – $28.95

This engaging book explores bible stories and their characters by giving the reader background information on what it was like living in biblical times. Important moral principals such as gratitude, obedience and honesty are illustrated and explained through the use of stories. This is sure to become a family favorite 13-1186R $19.95

Capilla Series Invitations

Latest Innovation! A Quad-fold, Die Cut! $4.98 per package of 8. Envelopees included. Featuring Art work by Simeone, Cromo NB (Milano, Italy) Avaiable in English (E) or Spanish (S) Language. 73-5550R (E) 73-5551R (S)