SERVING . .. SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS
t eanc 0 VOL 25, No.4
FALL RIVER, MASS., THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 1981
20c, $6 Per Year
Salvador aid is (leplored WASHINGTON (NC) - Re. sumption of military aid to El Salvador has prompted quick and strong denunciations from church groups which have long fought to have the aid permanently cut off. The aid, in the form of mili路 tarly training and "non-lethal" military equipment, was resumed in the face of what the State Department called a major military offensive by leftist guerrillas attempting to overthrow the government of Jose Napoleon Duarte. The aid had been temporarily suspended following the murders in early December of four American Catholic women missionaries, three of them nuns. Archbishop John R. Roach of St. Paul-Minneapolis, president of the U.S. Catholic Conference, expressed "profound disappointment and disagreement" with the decision, made less than a week before the Carter administration left office. Church and human rights groups in El Salvado.r had accused the government security forces of being involved in the early December murders as well as other killings. The State Department said investigatiom; into the murders are continuing. Archbishop Roach also called provision of military aid a "costly gamble" because of the possibility that it might lead to more direct U.S. involveme:llt in El Salvador's civil war. Archbishop James A. HLckey of Washington and B:ishop Thomas -Kelly; usce general secretary, had met with Secretary of State Edmund Muskie De,c. 17 and with President Carter Dec. 22 pressing their case that aid not be resumed.
BISHOP CRONIN DISTRIBUTES COMMUNION AT MASS FOR HOSTAGES
'Setting all the captives free' "Peace is f'owing like a river Flowing out from you and me, Flowing out into the desert, Setting all the captives free."
ing the morning and many made the effort to be there," said Msgr. John J. Oliveira, episcopal secretary and vicechancellor.
In his homily Bishop Cronin noted that it is a natural desire to meet for a. Eucharist of thanksgiving at times of The yearning of the nation for the freedom of the special rejoicing. He expressed his delight that negotiations American hostages in Iran found expression Monday at a between the U.S. and Iran had been carried out in a statesnoon Mass spontaneously arranged at St. Mary's Cathedral manlike manner. as the hours of waiting drew down. "Peace is the fruit of justice and we must all work for The liturgy offered by Bishop Daniel A. Cronin inpeace," he said, also requesting prayers for former Presicluded the singing of patriotic hymns. It was attended by dent Carter and newly installed President Reagan as they students from nearby St. Anne's School and Dominican enter upon their new lives. Academy as well as by many more persons than are usually present for the cathedral's regular noon Mass. In a special word to the children present, the bishop "Word of the special service got around the city dur:rurn to Page Six
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The decision also was criticized by Network, a Catholic social justice lobby in Washington, which four days earlier had issued a statement signed by representatives of. 34 Catholic peace and justice offices l.:lrging Carter and Muskie not to resume the aid. The "non-lethal" equipment, such as the loan of two transport helicopters and the provision of communications material, is intended by U.S. officials to shore up the security forces without contributing to the country's internal Violence, which church sources say took some 10,000 lives in 1980.
TODAY IS THE EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SUPREME COURT ABORTION DECISiON