t eanc 0 VOL. 26, NO. 4
FALL RIVER, MASS., THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1982 ...
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Balloons bear good news
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20c, $6 Per Year
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FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUlSEnS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS
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Reagan's pro-life WASHINGTON (NC) "I think the government has a re sponsibility to opt on the side of life for the unborn," President Ronald Reagan said in a message to thousands of abortion oppon ents gathered in Washington Jan. 22 to mark the ninth anni versary of the Supreme Court decision that overturned most state laws restricting abortion. "I believe that when we talk about abortion, we are talking about two lives, that of the mother and that of the child," said the presidential message, read by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Richard S. Schweiker to thousands of pro· lifers gathered on the snow covered ellipse south of the White House. The enthusiastic but smaller than usual crowd that was gathered for the ninth annual March for Life cheered Schwei· ker, March ,for Life leader Nellie Gray, and five U.S. congress men at the hour-long rally on the ellipse before marching down Pennsylvania Avenue to lobby their Cqngressmen for a consti tutional amendment to ban abor tion. 'Both U.S. Park Police and t1re
District of Columbia Police De. partment estimated th~ March for Life crowd at 25,000, the lowest estimates by both agen cies since the annual demonstra tions began in 1974. Freezing temperatures, pre· dictions of sriow and sleet, and the fact that most congressmen were out of town because of a congressional recess may have contributed to the low turnout. Earlier last week President Reagan had also addressed the abortion question. At a news con ference, he saM, "I have been one who believes that abortion is the taking of a human life." But if there were doubts about when life begins, Reagan sug gested an analogy. "If you come upon an immobile body and you yourself could not determine whether it was dead or alive, I think that you would decide to consider it alive until somebody could prove it was dead - you wouldn't get a shovel and start covering it up," Reagan said at the press conference. "And I think we should do the same' thing with regard to abortion." The president's view "is cer tainly good moral principle," Turn to Pase Six
With bright balloons and talent and staff members will wear otic schools were results of a shows, with Masses and open school colors, dress in "crazy recent survey reported in U.S. school programs, the 34 schools outfits" and hold appreciation Catholic magazine by William C. McCready, a director of the Na of the Fall River diocese will days for each other. No homework will be a popu tional Opinion Research 'Center. celebrate Catholic Schools Week lar one-day feature at some beginning on Monday. "Catholic schools are a bar The national schools week schools. In some, older students gain at any price," he declared will take over teaching and aide and in the magazine's response theme, "The Good News in Edu cation: Catholic Schools," will be chores for a day. Activities will column, "Feedback," a majority also include writing letters of of readers agreed 'with him. symbolized throughout the dio cese with "balloon days," when appreciation to parents for proHe wrote that Catholic schools children will release helium-fill ,viding a Catholic education. "are effective, by almost any ed balloons with "good news" Prayer services, family pot standard of comparison. Paro messages from their schools. luck suppers and poster, essay chial schools have a significant Also going on at nearly every and banner contests will also positive impact on those who school will be Masses, open be on several school agendas. attend them. Graduates are school days' and registration for The Attleboros closer to the church, more inter new students: Not every grade in At St. John the Evangelist ested in thinking about a voca every school has vacancies, so School, Attleboro, the week will tion and more involved in par parents are advised to make their open with Mass and a balloon ish activities when they grow up September plans early, say prin release. Prayer services, a talent than those who do not attend cipals. show and a field trip to the the schools. Celebrations have been organ· Boston Museum of Science are "Not all graduates become ex ized on an area basis, with Ms. also planned. emplary Catholics by any means, Kathleen Burt, principal of SS. but that is an unrealistic expec At North Attleboro's St. Mary Peter and Paul School, Fall River, tion. The schools are very ef Sacred Heart, Wednesday will coordinating greater Fall River fective at influencing people to hOl\se program, fol see an open activities; Sister Mary Nathan remain close to the church and Doherty, RSM, principal of Holy lowed by a potluck supper. A in these times that is no little balloon release will be sched Family-Holy Name, New Bed achievement." uled during the week. ford, greater New Bedford; Ed Sixty-two percent of those sur Schools Are Bargain mund Borges, principal of 'St.
Confirming the value of CathMary Primary, Taunton, greater Turn to Page Seven
Taunton; and Frank Ricci and
Sister Martha Mulligan, RSM,
principals respectively of St.
Mary-Sacred Heart, North Attle
boro, and St. John the Evangel , ist, Attleboro, working at their schools. Fall RIver Area Innovative' activities will in clude publication of a "Good News in Education" 'newspaper at SS. Peter and 'Paul School, to include stories of classroom and school events. Copies will be dis tributed at weekend Masses. In other schools there will be teacher and student appreciation days, a Good News for Kids Day when students share lunch desserts, visits to church and civic officials, lectures and slide shows for parents, book and science fairs and student art work displays. Rededication ser vices for students and teachers will be featured at several schools. Taunton Area Taunton schools will display Schools Week banners at their entrances and families will join in a skating party. Students will compete in poster and button contests and nursing homes will be visited as an expression of community concern. New Bedford Area In New Bedford, where John Markey has proclaimed Jan. 31 to Feb. 6 Catholic Schools Week, schools will hold Spirit Week during which teachers, students Good news balloons