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VOL. 48, NO.1· Friday, January 9, 2004
FALL RIVER, MASS.
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Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
Bishop Coleman's call to lead diocese tops local headlines By DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR FALL RIVER - The announcement from the Vatican in late April 2003 that Msgr. George W. Coleman would be the seventh bishop in the Fall River diocese, was undoubtedly the top local news story of the year. At a time when the call of a priest to become bishop within his own diocese is a rarity, the choice of then Msgr. Coleman, who in October 2002, had been elected by his peers on the College of Consulters to serve as administrator of the diocese, was hailed and cherished by priests and the community of faith of approximately 350,000 persons who worship in the 101 parishes. He is the second native son to become its spiritualleader in its 1OO-year history. Former Bishop
James L. Connolly, who served from 1945 to 1970, was the other one. But as the vicar general and first moderator of the curia since August 1994 when he was ap- , pointed by Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., as the latter reorganized the diocese, then Msgr. Coleman's expertise indeed made him the ideal candidate to lead the local diocese. Since his ordination to the priesthood in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on Dec. 16, 1964, the Somerset native had served as an associate pastor for 13 years before being appointed to direct the diocesan Department of Education, which he did for eight years. In that post he was the overseer of Catholic schools, parish religiouseducation and campus ministry irithe diocese. Turn to page two ~ Local
-" BISHOP GEORGE W. Coleman lays hands on John P. Harrington during ordination ceremonies at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River, last Saturday. (Anchor photo by Bruce McDaniel)
SelDinarian ordained transitional deacon
AMID THUNDEROUS applause at St. Mary's Cathedral in Fall River; newly ordained Bishop George W. Coleman addresses the congregation last July. (Anchorfile photo)
Church response to clergy sex abuse dominated national news By
JERRY FILTEAU
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
WASHINGTON - For the second straight year, the scandal of sexual abuse of children by priests dominated much of the religious news for U.S. Catholics. In 2003, however, there was a significant difference. Instead of 2002's almost uninterrupted flood of daily new revelations of past clerical crimes, more of the news in 2003 concerned developments in the Church's response to the crisis. There were new allegations, new lawsuits and new criminal investigations. But there were also major financial settlements of hundreds of lawsuits, diocesan and religious-order policies being strengthened, safe environment and sex abuse education programs being implemented.
A nationwide audit of each diocese's policies and practices was conducted arid an unprecedented national study was carried out to determine the full extent of clergy sexual abuse of minors in the U.S. Catholic Church since 1950. Pope John Paul II, though slowed down considerably by age and failing health, remained the world's leading religious figure. Celebrations in October of his 25th anniversary as pope brought an outpouring of academic and media efforts to assess his numerous accomplishments, his place in history and the strengths and weaknesses of what has become one of the longest and most prolific papacies in history. During the year Pope John Paul traveled to Turn to page 11 - World
FALL RIVER - Rev. Mr. John P. Harrington, a seminarian in his final year oftheological studies at Mount St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., was ordained a transitional deacon by Bishop George W. Coleman on January 3 at ceremonies in St. Mary's Cathedral here. Rev. Mr. Harrington, 47, who will serve as a deacon until being ordained a priest for the Fall River diocese sometime next summer, is the son of Maurice and Catherine (Brennock) of Braintree. His home parish is St. Thomas More, also in Braintree. In his instructions to the new deacon, Bishop Coleman told the family, friends and gathered clergy at the ordination Mass that, "Consecrated by the laying on of hands that comes down to us from the Apostles and bound more closely to the service of the altar, he will perform works of charity in the name of the bishop or the pastor. With the help of God, he is to go about these duties in such a way that you will recognize him as a disciple of him who came not to be served, but to serve." Bishop Coleman in his greeting said: "Beloved brothers and sisters: since John our son, your relative and friend, is now advanced to the Order of
deacon, consider carefully the nature of the rank in the Church to which he is about to be raised." "Strengthened by the gift of the Holy Spirit, he will help the bishop and his priests in the ministry of the Word, of the altar, and of charity, showing himself to be a servant to all. As a minister of the altar, he will proclaim the Gospel, prepare the sacrifice, and distribute the Lord's Body and Blood to the faithful. "Furthermore, it will be his duty, at the bishop's direction, to exhort believers and unbelievers alike and to instruct them in holy doctrine. He will preside over public prayer, administer baptism, assist at and bless marriages, bring viaticum to the dying, and conduct funeral rites." Bishop Coleman also addressed Rev. Mr. Harrington: "Now, dear son, you are to be raised to the Order of the diaconate. The Lord has set an example that just as he himself has done, you also should do. "Since, by your own free choice you present yourself for the Order of the diaconate, you are to be a man of good reputation, filled with wisdom and the Holy Spirit, as were those once chosen by the Apostles for the ministry of charity."