THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Thurs. Jan. 22, 1976
Pope Instructs the Church Continued from Page One by Franjo Cardinal Serer, prefect of the doctrinal congregation, and Archbishop Jerome Hamer, its secretary. It rejects the idea that "so-called norms of the natural law or prece:"ts of Sacred Scripture are to be regarded only as given expressions of a form of particular culture at a certain moment of history." Rather, revelation and philosophy both point to "the existence of immutable laws inscribed in the 'constitutive elements of human nature . . . identical in all beings endowed with reason." Turning specifically to sexual ethics, the document repeats the teacQing of the Second Vatican Council that the morality of conjugal acts "does not de,end solely on sincere intentions or on an evaluation of motives. It must be determined by objective standards. These, based on the nature of the human person and his acts, preserve the full sense of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love." "These final words," the declaration continued, "briefly sum up the Council's teaching . . . on the finality of the sexual act and on the principal criterion of its morality: it is respect for its finality that ensures the moral goodness of this act." The document calls this princiule "the basis of (the Church's) traditional doctrine ... that the use of the sexual function has its true meaning and moral rectitude only in true marriage." It endorses the norms "clearly taught" in the encvclicais Casti Connubii and Humanae Vitae. The first was issued by Pope Pius XI in 1930, the second by Pope Paul in 1968. Noting that "today there are many who vindicate the right to sexual union before marriage," the declaratign comments: "This opinion is contrary to Christian doctrine, which states that every genital act must be within the framework of marriage." While urging a sensitive pastoral anproach to homos~xuals, the document concludes that "no pastoral method can be employed which would give moral justification to these acts... Homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered and can in no case be approved of." The declaration describes masturbation also as "an intrinsically and seriously disordered act," mainly because "whatever the motive for acting in this way, the deliberate use of the sexual faculty outside normal conjugal relations essentially contradicts the finality of the act." The "current tendency to minimize as far as possible. when not denying outright, the reality of grave sin," is rejected. This is done by some who equate mortal sin with a so-called "fundamental option" and deny that so-called "peripheral" acts can be gravely . sinful. The document calls it "wrong to say that particular acts are not enough to constitute mortal sin. . . . A person therefore sins mortally not only when his action comes from direct contempt for love of God and neighbor, but also when he consciously and freely, for whatever reason, chooses something which is seriously disordered." It acknowledges that "in sins of the sexual order ... it more easily happens that free consent is not fully given." But it adds: "Although prudence is recommended in judging the subjective seriousness of a particular sinful act. it is no way follows that one can hold the view that in the sexual field mortal sins are not committed." The virtue of chastity is not confined "solely to avoiding . . . faults." Rather, "It is aimed at attaining higher and more positive goals. "Whatever the state of life, chastity is not simply an external state; it must make a person's heart pure in accordance with Christ's words: 'You have learned how it was said; You must not commit adultery. But I路 say this to you: if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart.' " ~ The document stresses "esteem for the virtue of chastity, its beauty and its power of attraction. This virtue increases the human person's dignity and enables him to love truly, disinterestedly, unselfishly and with respect for others." It concludes with a series of brief exhortations to various categories of persons: - To bishops: To "instruct the faithful in the moral teaching concerning sexual morality, however great may be the difficulties in carrying out this work in the face of ideas and practices generally prevailing today," and to see that "sound doctrine" is taught in schools of theology and in seminaries. - To parents and teachers: "To lead their children and their pupils, by a complete education, to the psychological, emotional and moral maturity befitting their age." . - To artists, writers and communicators: To respect moral norms in their productions and not to give priority to "any so-called aesthetic purpose, or to material advantage or to success." "It will especially be necessary," the declaration says, "to bring the faith~ul to understand that the Church holds these principles not as old and inviolable superstitions, nor out of some Manichaean prejudice, as is often alleged, but rather because she knows with certainty that they are in complete harmony with the divine order of creation and with the spirit of Christ, and therefore als~ with human dignity."
Necrology JAN. 31
Rev. Charles J. Burns, 1901, Pastor, St. Mary, North Attleboro
Rev. William F. Sullivan, 1930, Pastor, St. Patrick, Somerset Rev. Manuel C. Terra, 1930, Pastor, St. Peter, Provincetown
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The Parish Parade
REV. TIMOTHY GOLDRICK
Pri路est Vocation Cape Topic
SANTO CHRISTO, FALL RIVER
OUR LADY OF GRACE, WESTPORT
Installation ceremonies for the Council of Catholic Women have been postponed from Sunday, Jan. 25 to 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1 in the church hall. Guests are invited and arran'gements are under the direction of Miss Patricia Rivera and Mrs. Lorraine Lima, who may be contacted for reservations at 6746227 or 676-0076. A jar party will highlight the council meeting set for 7:30 Tuesday night, Feb. 10, with members bringing jars of food to be raffled. Chairpersons are Mrs. Emily O. Borges and Mrs. Elvira Furtado. The next in a series of council-sponsored parish dances will be held Saturday night, Feb. 14 in the hall. Preliminary plans have been made for a March rummage sale. Mrs. Hilda Silva, chairman, will announce the date at a later time. Mrs. Palmira Aguiar, longtime council publicity chairman, concludes her years of service this month - at age 80. The Anchor's good wishes go with her as she "retires." ST. JOSEPH,
"Calling All Cooks!" is the battle cry of the Council of Catholic Women, which is compiling a parish cookbook, with sales to benefit a proposed parish center. All Westport cooks are asked to write their favorite recipes on file cards, signing each one as the contributor's name should appear in the book. Cards may be deposited in the designated receptacle at the church entrance. There is no limit on the number of submissions which may be made, although all may not be used. Detadline for recipes is Sunday, Feb. 1 and further information is available from Mary Lekom or Beatrice Lekom, project co-chairwomen, telephone 636-4542.
An All-Cape "Vocations to the Priesthood . Night" will take place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1 at Our Lady of Victory Church, Centerville. All area young men who are juniors or seniors in high school and who would like to learn about the priesthood are invited and may. register with their parish priests. The evening will begin with an Italian dinner prepared and donated by members of Our Lady ATTLEBORO Knights of the Altar superviof Victory Women's Guild apd will continue with a talk by Rev. sors and cadets will hold a planFrancis Connors, pastor of Our ning session at 7:30 tonight at Lady of Victory, on "What the home of John Morin, 33 Riverside Ave. Priesthood Means to Me." The youth drop-in center will Rev. Mr. John Oliveira, a sembe open from 7 to 9 p.m. tomorinarian of the diocese, will discuss seminary life and a discus- ,row in the parish hall. All young sion period will follow. The people in sixth grade and over program will be coordinated by are welcome to attend. Officers of the Knights of the Rev. Mr. Joseph Costa, a semAltar wil attend 9 a.m. Mass inarian assigned to vocation work in the diocese as part of Saturday, Jan. 24. A luncheon meeting will follow in the hall. his field traiing. ST. STANISLAUS, The evening is under the FALL RIVER sponsorship of the Cape Cod The silver jubilee of Sister Vocations Committee, a part of Mary Lawrence of the faculty of the diocesan vocation program the parochial school will be directed by Rev. John J. Smith. marked at a concelebrated Mass The Cape Cod committee is at 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 25. A headed by Rev. Timothy Goldrick banquet will follow in the school and members are Rev. George hall. Coleman, Mrs. Charles Fuller, A final meeting for those planMrs. Richard Farley, Sister Pa- ning to participate in a .trip to tricia Hughes, MSMBT, John Egypt during the February Hill and Rev. Mr. Costa. school vacation will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1 in the school.
Collection
Continued from Page Three theme of the Congress, "the hungers of mankind," will be echoing in varied ways through the celebration of the Lenten Season by faithful of the United States. Naturally, it is precisely the Eucharist that we recognize as the Food, the Bread of Life, which uniquely satisfies the most hunger that members of the human family experience."
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Rev. John J. Oliveira, diocesan coordinator for the Eucharistic congress to be held this summer in Philadelphia, will address the Project Leisure group at 2 this afternoon in the school auditorium. All are welcome to attend. A coffee hour will follow the program. Skiers of all ages are invited to join a group skiing weekly at Klein Innsbruck in Franklin. Further information is available from Rev. William G. Campbell at the rectory. The 1923 Club will hold a buffet dance at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24 in the school hall. Donations of clothing, boots and rubbers are requested for a rummage sale to be sponsored Saturday, March 27路 by the Women's Guild. Arrangements for pick-ups may be made with Mrs. James Charette, telephone 678-4637. ST. JOSEPH, NEW BEDFORD
The Couples Club will sponsor a buffet-dance with the theme of Hearts and Flowers from 8 to midnight, Feb. 7 in the parish hall. Music will be by the Al Rios orchestra and tickets may he reserved by calling 999-5571 or 993-0832. NOTRE DAME, FALL RIVER
A Bingo party directed by Mrs. Joseph Gagnon will feature the meeting of the Council of Catholic Women scheduled for 7:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26 in JesusMary auditorium. Those wishing to donate prizes may bring them to the lower church this weekend after the 4 p.m. Saturday or 10:30 a.m. Sunday Masses. Turn to Page Seven
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