02.06.04

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VOL.48, NO.5· FrIday, February 6, 2004

FALL RIVER, MASS.

Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year

It's time to hear the roar of the sleeping giant Editor's note: The following is an op-ed piece writtell by Maria Parker, associate director for public policy, for the Massachusetts Catholic Conferellce.

BISHOP GEORGE W. Coleman speaks to students at a Catholic Schools Week Mass at St. Anthony's Church, New Bedford, last week....

Pain mana·gement director receives national award ~

MemorialHome'sAnne Marie Kelly winspraise. By MIKE GORDON ANCHOR STAFF

FALL RIVER - Registered Nurse Anne Marie Kelly, director of staff development and pain management at the Catholic Me-

morial Home was recently named a recipient of the End of Life Nursing Education Consortium Award of Excellence. She was the only person selected for the award from Massachusetts and less than 10 people were honored nationally. Turn 10 page 13 -Award

REGISTERED NURSE Anne Marie Kelly, director of staff development and pain management at Catholic Memorial Home, was the recent recipient of a national award recognizing her training expertise. (AnchollGordon photo)

For many years now, writers have referred to the inaction of the silent majority when discussing the declining respect for moral values in the U.S. In my public policy work during the past 20 years, I have often referred to this silent majority as the "sleeping giant." This giant represents millions of people in this country and in this Commonwealth, including tens of thousands of Catholics who go about their daily lives disgusted by what they see and hear. Feeling overwhelmed by this movement away from our Christian roots, but not really knowing what to do about it, they ask themselves: "Am I the only one who thinks this way?" On the other hand special interest groups. whose agenda conflicts with both the natural law and moral law, have been increasingly active in winning media support, passionately working for their godless agenda. The result is increasing chaos and havoc in our daily lives, especially in the area law where. unjust laws such as those allo~ing unrestricted abortion and calling same .sex unions "marriage"tum our lives, once ordered to the natural law, upside down. Since they could not succeed in getting their way with the majority, they have turned to the courts to force their will upon us. Judicial activism seems to be rampant. Many have referred to the recent same-sex marriage ruling in Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health as "judicial tyranny." This ruling, I believe, will be the "the straw that will break the camel's back." How much is too much? When are we - people of good will of every age, race, creed, and culture - the silent majority - going to speak up against what we know is morally wrong and not in the best interest of the common good?' In the midst of this chaos, many people are voicing disillusion-

or

ment with and anger toward government officials and special interests' groups whose self-serving agenda has hurt families and the common good. The adage "the squeaky wheel gets the oil" is very true in this case. While many people realize what is going on, too many others believe that they, as individual voters, are powerless to affect change. If I accomplish nothing else in this article, I want you to know - YOU DO MATTER; MARRIAGE MATTERS; LIFE MATTERS; GOD MATTERS. It is time for each of us to stand up for what we believe. Don't allow the giant to stir and fall back into a deep sleep, ignoring what's happening around him. Don't let others intimidate you by accusing Catholics of imposing their religion on others. With regard to the Goodridge decision redefining marriage, I simply pose the question: Who is impo~ing which "values" on whom? You have the power as a constituent and a voter. Ask your representative and senator how they will vote on the Marriage Affirmation & Protection Amendment (MA & PA) on February I I. Hold them accountable. If they do not represent your values, let them know they cannot count on your vote in the future. Support legislators that do reflect your values - work for their election or re-election, donate to their campaigns. spread the word to your relatives and friends. And here's "the word": - The vote on February II will determine whether or not the people of this Commonwealth will be given the right to vote on this issue in 2006. - Seventy percent of Massachusetts' voters want to vote on the amendment, and it is up to our elected legislators to give them that opportunity. We did not elect them to merely rubber stamp the decision of four judges. -Adelay or postponement is as bad as a "no" vote itself. Everyone should contact Senate President Robert Travaglini to urge him to hold the Tum to page /3 - Giant

Bus nnspol1lltion is flpfliltllJle to SlfIte House on .fielJrumy 11/0' mmTitlge pole FALL RIVER - Motor coach transportation at the Galleria Mall. Return is 4 p.m. Contact is being arranged for people who want to go to. Diane Bolton at 508-994-8421. Cape Cod - at 9 a.m. from Holy Trinity the State House in Boston, February 11, in support of the proposed constitutional amendment Church on Route 28 in West Harwich. Pickup defining marriage as the union of one man and also at the parking lot behind Burger King in West one woman. Barnstable (Exit 6 on Route 6). Also at Kingsbury The legislature is scheduled to meet in con- Plaza Commuter Parking, on Route 3 North at stitutional convention to consider the Marriage Exit 10. Contact Charlotte LeBlanc, 508-430Affirmation and Protection Amendment. 1269. Return 4 p.m. Reservations are $5. Deadline is February 9. Area leaders of Mass Voices for Traditional The rally at the State House is to protest the Marriage have reserved motor coaches for Fall River, New Bedford and Cape Cod. Supreme Judicial Court's 4-3 ruling to allow gay In Fall River, the coach will leave at 9:30 a.m. marriage; to call upon the legislature to support from the Immaculate Conception Church park- the amendment; thereby allowing voters to deing lot on County Street, and depart Boston at 4 cide the issue on the November 2006 state balp.m. Contact Dorothy Nicolau at 508-674-8695. lot. New Bedford - 9:30 a.m. from Holy Name Any questions can be directed to Beatrice Church, 121 Mount Pleasant Street. A second Martins 508-678-3351 or Aime Lachance 508pickup point will be at the Taunton Park & Ride 679-6294.


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