01.14.71

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Private Confession Stays

The ANCHOR An Anchor of the Soul, Sure ol!d Firm-St. f'oul

Fall River, Mass., Thursday, Jan. '14, 1971 Vol. 15, No.2

© 1971 The Anchor

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Vatican Studies Changes In Sacrament Rites VATICAN (NC)-Without any thought of ending private individual confession of sins, t~e Vatican is reportedly conducting a general review of sacramental rules-including those' for Pe~­ ance. Sources say that a re-examination of Catholicism's penitential laws with a view to possible updating because of modern moral problems is currently underway. The idea is to determine whether to keep on the Church's

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law books-which Canon lawyers call external forum-penalties for matters that belong by their nature to the "internal forum" or conscience. Examples of penalties under Vatican study are those placed on Catholics involved in an invalid marriage and Catholics aiding an abortion. . Prompted by news dispatches from. Rome stating that private confession might become obsolete and that Pop!'! Paul has asked the world's bishops to study that recommendation, the 'chief

Renews Aid For Project Equality Most Reverend Daniel A. Cronin, S.T.D., Bishop of Fall River, met Monday with Launbural W. Spriggs, executive director of the New England Region of Project Equality, and Rev. John F. Hogan, diocesan coordinator -for Project Equality, to reaffirm the Diocese's participation in the program. The program aims at maintaining and promoting employment practices fair to minority groups. The Diocese would aid the project in seeking to improve hiring and promotion practices on the part' of employets and to encourage religious organizations to "purchase materials and services only from cooperating firms.. "This program, an ecumenical venture involving all of the major religious groups in the State of Massachusetts, puts the Church's material resources to work in the fight against discriminatory employment practices," Father Hogan explained. Turn to Page Two

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RE-AFFIRMS PROJECT EQUALITY: Bishop Cronin discusses minority employment opportunities with Launbural W. Spriggs, executive director of Project Equality in Mas-. sachusetts in the presence of Rev. John F. Hogan, diocesan coordinator of the project.

Anti-Abortion Revolt at National Level Opposition on' ethical as well throughout the country is conas religious grounds against . tinuing to surface.' eased abortion procedures In Florida, an obstetrician 01'p.osed to libenilized' abortion laws, said that the American Medical Association's (AMA) stand taken last Summer leaning in favor of such procedures, as well as liberalized laws are bringing on a psychological and moral collapse in leadership of America's medical community. Bishop Cronin will be prinIn Louisiana, a bishop· declared cipal. concelebrant at a concelethat proposals to broaden aborbra ted Mass at 5 tonight in St. tion laws "represent a retroMary's Church, Taunton. Following the Mass, Bishop gression in the history of human Cronin will remain in the church rights." In Cheverly, Md., a suburb of in order that people of the Taunton area will- have the opportu- the nation's capital, a hospital nity to meet their new shepherd. official admitted a slow down in Priests of the Taunton deanery handling abortion requests has will have the same opportunity occurred because of religious to meeet their new Ordinary in objections of the hospital staff members, about 60 per cent· of St. Mary's Rectory, Taunton.

Tauntonians Meet Bishop Tonight

whom are Catholics. Dr. John L. Grady, chairman of Florida's Right-To-Life COhtmittee, a foe of lil5eralized aborTurn to Page Two

Bishop to Visit Holy Cross Sunday Parishioners of Holy Cross Parish, Fan River, will welcome Bishop Cronin on Sunday, Jan. 17 as the Ordin!lry of the Diocese makes his fifth pastoral visitation. Bishop Cronin will offer Mass at 9:30 and then proceed to the parish hall to provide the parishioners of the 55-year-old parish an opportunity to meet the new ordinary.

press officer at the Vatican said the Vatican might be studying the updating of, several concepts surrounding various Sacraments. Asked what specific changes would be made in giving General Absolution, Frederico Alessandrini, press spokesman, told . Turn to Page Fifteen

Gives Report On Poverty Campaign Most Rev. Daniel A. Cronin, S.T.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Fall River announced today the results of the Campaign for Human Development Appeal that was conducted in all parishes of the diocese the weekend of Nov. 21-22. The offerings from the 114 parishes ,amounted to $55,800. This campaign, introducea throughout the nation under the auspices of the United States Conference of Bishops under the guidance of Auxiliary Bishop Michael R. Dempsey of Chicago as national director, w'as a two· pronged effort to change attitudes and opinions about the poor and to establish. a new source of financial capital to eliminate the very sources of poverty in the United States. It is' an undertaking to help people help themselves and to. assist the poor of arising above what Pope Paul calls 'lthe hellish circle of poverty". · The fund-raising provided funds on bpth the national and local levels for self-help projects. One out of every four dollars collected remains in the diocese. As a result, Bishop Cro· nin has forwarded $41,850 to Turn to Page Six

'Fellowship of Holy 'Spirit' Theme of 1971 Unity Week Begun years ago as a way to bring "separated" Christians closer together, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is being observed this year from Jan. 18-25 as a time for prayer and reconciliation between Christians who feel set apart from others within their own faith by color, age, politics or wealth. The annual event was started more than 60 years ago through the "d~sire of Christians to enter' into deepening communion with one another." ,"In 1971 it is evident that this communion has not only not been fully achieved but that new tensions have arisen. Christians find that problems dividing them are no longer exclusively confessional but 'include rate, age, political views and economic class. That appraisal was provided in a message issued by the Protestant and Catholic sponsors of the Unity Week observance: the National Council of Churches' Commission on Faith and Order,

in, collaboration with the World Council of Churches" Commission 6n Faith and Order, and the Graymoor Ecumenical Institute. The Greater Fall River Council of Churches is holding an interfaith service on Sunday evening, Jan. 24, at 7 P.M. at the FiI:st Baptist Church on North Main St., corner of Pine. Entitled "Celebration of Christia,n Unity," the service will have a broad appeal for both youth and their elders. The service will feature a varied approach with a procession with banners, traditional hymns, audio-visual presentation, folk hymns and a candle service. Clergy of various denominations will participate in their sanctuary or pulpit robes. Youth groups will take an ac~ive part in the program. The celebration has been recommended by the Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and InterTum to Page Two


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