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FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSmS CAPE COD &THE ISLANDS VOL. 34, NO.6
•. Friday, February 9, 1990
FALL RIVER, MASS.
Now, more than ever, without the Catholic press, you can't understand the world. The most historic "summit" of the century may have been the visit of Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev to Pope John Paul II. The strongest movements for dignity and freedom in Eastern Europe are religious - in Poland, in Hungary, in Czechoslovakia, in Lithuania and in the Ukraine. The most visible leadership in the battle to defend the right to life in the United States is Catholic. Radio brings us the headline news about such events; televi-
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sion transmits gripping pictures; secular newspapers and magazines provide more detail. Only the Catholic press, however, gives a tho"rough understanding and appreciation of the religious dimension of the extraordinary events of our age. ,To be an infprmed Catholic and to identify with Catholics throughout the world who are living their faith in a heroic manner, read the Catholic press! Statement for Catholic Press Month by Archbishop John P. Foley, Pontifical Council for Social Communications
CPA head urges freedom of press ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (CNS) - "Freedom of the press is necessary in every society, including the church," said the president of the Catholic Press Association in a statement issued for Catholic Press Month, observed in February. "Speaking the truth with love is not always good politics," Father John T. Catoir said, "but if the Catholic press is to be an authentic press there must be room even for the unpopular views of critics." The press association's headquarters in Rockville Centre released Father Catoir's statement along with those of Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, and St. Louis Auxiliary Bishop Edward J. O'Donnell, chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Communications and honorary president of the Catholic Press Association. In his remarks, Father Catoir, who also heads The Christophers, said, "Respectful criticism often contains the seed of purification and reform. No human organization is above criticism." He said, "The Catholic journalist is always respectful of orthodoxy. Reporting on the news and giving it careful analysis, however, is ajob that can bring us into areas of tension. This is a healthy tension for all concerned." Father Catoir quoted a recent writing from Bishop Karl Lehmann of Mainz, West Germany, who "insisted that the Catholic press
cannot be made into 'an extension of the long arm of the church.' " In his statement Bishop O'Donnell said, "The signs of messiahship to which Jesus appealed were signs of service to others: 'The blind see, the deaf hear, lepers are cleansed.' "The Catholic press best expresses the word when,like him, it speaks for the weak and powerless in society." The task of the Catholic press, Bishop O'Donnell said, is "to take the age-old revelation that God makes of his will for us and to apply it to the needs of today." Archbishop Foley's statement said, "Now, more than ever, without the Catholic press, you can't understand the world." He recounted events of the past year with religious overtones, including the meeting of Pope John Paul II with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, the growth of religious liberty in eastern Europe and the murders of six Jesuits in EI Salvador. Only the Catholic press, however, gives a thorough understanding and appreciation of the religious dimension of the extraordinary events of our age," Archbishop Foley said. In other news of the Catholic press, editors, writers and business personnel of Catholic newspapers and magazines will hold their annual convention April 18 to 22 in Nashville, Tenn. Turn to Page Six
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THE POPE GREETS two little girls on his arrival in N'Djamena, Chad. Story on papal trip on page 2. (CNS/ UPI-Reuters photo)
Bishops, nuns, priests urge end to Salvadoran aid with Catholic News Service Reports In separate statements, U.S. Catholic bishops, New England region members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and the heads of the 10 U.S. provinces of the Society of Jesus have called for a halt to U.S. military aid to EL Salvador. . The bishops' letter originated as an open letter to Congress from top officials of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men., Then
Richmond, Va., Bishop Walter F. Sullivan and Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton asked to sign it and invited other U.S. bishops to join them. In addition to Bishop Sullivan, heads of 31 other U.S. dioceses signed the letter. They included Fall River native Bishop Joseph P. Delaney of Fort Worth, Tex.; Buffalo Bishop Edward D. Head; Sacramento Bishop Francis A. Quinn; and St. Augustine Bishop John J. Snyder.
Many bishops who signed the letter are members of Pax Christi USA, an international Catholic peace organization with national branches around the world. Over 90 U.S. bishops, about one-fourth of the total U.S. hierarchy, are members of the organization. Among those signing the statement of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious were representatives of II communities Turn to Page Six