FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS
t eanc 0 FALL RIVER, MASS., FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1986
VOL. 301 NO. 1
Church wary of P.I. race, says bishop MANILA, Philippines (NC) The Philippine bishops' conference has declined to endorse candidates for the Feb. 7 presidential election, said retired Bishop Francisco Claver of Malaybalay, Philippines. Bishop Claver, who works with the institute on the Church and Social Issues, said the hishops want a fair and honest election 'and that they are sensitive to charges of partisanship and would not identify with any party or candidate. Cardinal Jaime Sin of Manila has met with the opposition candidates, but also has refused to endorse a ticket. Corazon Aquino, widow of murdered opposition leader Benigno Aquino, and her former chief rival, Salvador Laurel, have announced they wHl challenge President Ferdinand Marcos in the election. Mrs. Aquino will be the presidential candida,te, but she and La'urel will run as a team for his party, the United Nationalist Democratic Organization. Cardinal Sin said he thought most Philippine bishops see Mrs. Aquino as the moral alternative to Marcos, but they cannot and should not commit the church to support her candidacy. But Cardinal Sin said the church shouId not offically dedare its support for any candidate, so that separation of church and state can be upheld. The cardinal has frequently criticized the Marcos government. But he embraced Marcos during a birthday celebration for him earlier this year, later explaining that he has a dual role as critic and 'as seeker of reconciliation among the contending Philippine factions. Cardinal Sin was asked about the endorsement after Mrs. Aquino had declared her confidence that she enjoyed the support of the church. Laurel has said the cardina'l promised the church's moral backing. "Cory probably meant many bishops would vote for her," the cardinal said, adding he was confident she could effeotively exercise moral leadership if elected. "But I say that as a private citizen, not as the 'archbishop of Manila," he added. Bishop Claver said the Philippine :bishops are expected to draft a pastoral letter on the election when the conference meets in mid-January.
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MSGR. ANTHONY M. GOMES, diocesan Bishop's Ball director, looks' ~pprov足 ingly at Erin Rose material held by Catholic Charities Appeal staff members Fern White (left) and Rosann Patota. Erin Rose is among decorator shades of cloth that will adorn Lincoln Park Ballroom Jan. 10. (Torchia photo)
,Final ,Ball preparations underway Over 100 volunteer workers will meet at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lincoln Park Ballroom, North Dartmouth, to decorate for the 31st annual Bishop's BaH, to take place Friday, Jan. 10. The presentees' and bishop's boxes, the orchestra stage, the foyer and the dance floor will be adorned with materials in decorator colors of sweet pink, Erin rose, pure white and silver lame. As in the
past, the materials are a gift to the Ball from the Swan Finishing Company of FaH River. Ball proceeds benefit diocesan summer camps for underprivileged and exceptional children. Msgr. Anthony M. Gomes, diocesan Ball director, announced that Al Rainone's Orchestra will provide music in the main ballroom from 8
p.m. to 1 a.m. next Friday and Monte Music will play from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the ballroom lounge. The presentee program will be at 9:10 p.m. and the Grand March is scheduled for 10 p.m. Msgr. Gomes wiII introduce Bishop Cronin at tpe conclusion of the Grand March. Tickets wiIl. be available at the door.
Natasha's funeral Mass at North American College
Pope consoles parents ROME (NC) -
Pope John Paul
II has expressed his "profound
sympathy" to the parents of an ll-yea,r-old U.S. girl killed in a terrorist attack on Rome's airport Dec. 27. In a message read Dec. 30 at the funeral of Natasha Simpson, the pope said he was praying for the repose of her soul and for strength for her family. The message was read by U.S. Archbishop Justin Rigali, an official of the Vatican Secretariat of State. He ,represented the pope at the funeral Mass at Rome's North American College. The pope w::mted the girl's
parents "to know that he is close to them in the pain and suffering that only they as parents can experience in all its fullness," the message said. The pope offered them "the support of his prayers," it said. The girl was killed when four terrorists, .identified byauthorities as Palestinians, hurled hand grenades and shot at a crowd of people at Leonardo da Vinci Airport. Fifteen people, including five Americans, died in the attack, and 75 were wounded. The pope has called the raid a "despicable attack" and a "bloody event which offends
human and Christian consciences." The girl's parents, Victor and Daniela Simpson, are journalists accredited to the Holy See who frequently cover Vatican events. Victor Simpson and the couple's 9-year-old son, Michael, were also wounded in the attack, but not seriously. Several hundred people attended the funeral Mass. Among concelebrants were two Vatican officials, Irish Father Diarmuid Martin, a member of the Pontifical Council for the Family, and Msgr. Pierfranco Pastore, secreTurn to Page Two
VATICAN CITY (NC) Governments must guarantee religious rights because human destiny "cannot be reduced to material and economic factors," says Pope John Paul II. "Only when the integr~1 spiritual as well as material wellbeing of people is promqted witl human dignity be upheld., .and almighty God's eternal will be respected and obeyed," he said in a speech to Ataul Karim, Bangladesh's new ambassador to the Holy See. There is a growing global awareness that there are certain universal rights and duties which "include freedom of expression. of assembly and of religious belief and practice," the pope said, speaking in English. "It is the task of the political and juridical order to encourage and make possible the exercise of these liberties," he said. The pope said that the -Holy See's diplomatic effort focuses particularly on "the defense of fundamental human rights" in its efforts "to promote dialogue ,and collaboration among people and nations." "In this cause all people of Turn to Page Two