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FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS

FALL RIVER, MASS., FRIDAY, JANUARY 31,1986

VOL. 3.0, NO.5

$8 Per Year

Tragedy mourned

ABORTION'

AND ;C

Reacting to Tuesday's exp!osion路 "We commend the vIctIms of ofthe spacecraft Challenger, which the disaster at Cape Canaveral to took the lives of six astronauts and Almighty God and convey our New Hampshire teacher Christa heartfelt condolences to their loved McAuliffe, Bishop Daniel A. Cron- ones. At the same time, we pray in issued the following statement: for the safety of all who engage in "All of us have been deeply moved the perilous adventure of probing and saddened by the dreadful acci- the vast scope of God's created dent which destroyed the space- universe." craft Challenger and took the lives Expressing sorrow on behalf of of the six astronauts and Christa the National Conference ofCathoMcAuliffe. lic Bishops, Bishop James W. "We have all been reminded in a Malone, president, said: "We offer graphic manner of the danger and our sympathy and our prayers to risk inherent in the voyages of the bereaved families. At the same exploration, just at a time when, time, as we acknowledge the dedibecause of the skill and courage of cation of the professional crew the participants, space travel members to the advancement of seemed to be of routine character. Turn to Page Two

Anchor Weekend . CAPE CODDERS unfurl their banner iIi preparation for participation i~ the Jan. 22 NatIOnal March for Life in Washington, D.C. .

Pro-lifers march 13th time Mrs. Booth also commented on Members of the Fall River diocese were among thousands who the support demonstrated by march converged on the nation's capital onlookers. "Other years there Jan. 22 for the 13th annual March' wasn't much reaction. This year for life, a continuing protest people at windows and on roofagainst the 1973 pro-abortion rul- tops gave us thumbs-up signs and . some construction workers had ing of the U.S. Supreme Court. Media reports estimated there even lettered pro-life slogans on were 37,000 Washington marchers, sheets of plywood." like other observers, the coora figure disputed by Mary Ann Booth of South Dartmouth, a mem- dinator noted the large number of ber of Greater New Bedford chap- young people participating in this ter of Massachusetts Citizens for year's march. Apparently largely sparked by life (MCl) and coordinator for the diocesan contingent at the controversy over the excommunication of Mary Ann Sorrentino, march. "last year it was estimated there director of Planned Parenthood of were 71,500 marchers," she said, Rhode Island, the Washington and I think this year's turnout was March for life drew unprecedented media attention this year. Most larger than that."

television coverage linked the two events. Excommunication, as defined in the Catholic Almanac, is "a penalty or censure by which a baptized person is excluded from the communion of the faithful for committing and remaining obstinate in certain serious offenses specified by canon law.... Even though excommunicated, a person is still respon!tible for fulfillment of the normal obligations of a Catholic." Charismatic and pro-life leader and Providence pastor Father John Randall, who made Mrs. Sorrentino's excommunication public on Rhode Island Cable television proTurn to Page Six

The traditional Anchor Weekend will be observed Saturday and Sunday in diocesan parishes. Coming at renewal time for the great majority of Anchor subscriptions, it offers the convenience of resubscribing via the collection basket rather than by mail. In a time of uncertain moral standards, most recently evidenced by confusion on the part of many as to the Catholic stand on abortion, there is an ongoing need for an authoritative voice in such matters. Presenting the stand of the Church in areas such as war and peace, social justice and the right to life, the Catholic press answers that need, here with The Anchor as the official voice of the diocese, across the nation with other diocesan newspapers similarly representing their bishops. Speaking for the Catholic press in general at the beginning of February, Catholic Press Month, Father Owen F. Campion, editor of the Tennessee Register of Nash-

ville and president of the Catholi~ Press Association, made the following statement: By any measurement, Catholic publishing in the United States is a major undertaking of the Church, and for the people of the Church. In June, the Catholic Press Association - which represents hundreds of Catholic newspapers, magazines, book publishers, and general publishers - will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its beginnings. That event, and this year, focus not only upon an organization but more brQadly upon the whole Catholic . press, a pleasant and inviting picture, marked by bright colors of Christian holiness, awareness, dedication and compassion. As an industry, Catholic publishing in the United Turn to Page Six

Rainbow week for schools Catholic schools in the Fall River dioQese, like schools across the nation, will obser.ve Feb. 2 through 8 as Catholic Schools Week. The week will begin Sunday with Father Richard W. Beaulieu, diocesan director of education, celebrating the weekly television Mass at 10:30 a.m. on WLNE, Channel 6, and speaking on the significance of Catholic schools.. The national theme, "Catholic Schools: A Rainbow of Excellence" is being carried out in diocesan schools in ma!1y ways in addition

to special Masses, scheduled at all institutions. At Out: Lady of Mt. Carmel School in New Bedford, for instance, youngsters will wear rainbowcolored ribbons throughout next week and on Rainbow .Day next Thursday will come to school in "rainbow-colored" clothing, mixing colors as they please. The day will include a song and slide show themed on the popular song" Rainbow Connection" and students will be awarded citations for poems, Turn to Page Seven

C~

LIC SCHO 5 A RAINBOW OF EXCELLENCE


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