Hornsby Plan Means Annihilation A month ago the Reverend Patrick J. O'Neill, superintendent of diocesan schools, proposed a ph~n to the Fall River School Department. At that meeting with the Fall River School Committee and the Diocesan School Board, Father O'Neill outlined the proposal in general terms and expressed his wish that if the School Committee could accept the proposal in principle, then all of the administrative details could be determined at a later date on the appropriate levels. Monday evening, March 2, the Reverend James Hornsby of the Fall River School Committee presented a plan entitled "A Sec-
Reacts .to New Proposal ond Look at Shared Resources:' This plan has many points of agreement with Father O'Neill's plan. However, there are some serious points to be reconsidered. Mr. Hornsby in giving the historical growth of the parochial schQol system goes into detail on the lack of integration of the people of varying religious, national, and racial backgrounds into the public school system of the city. We are in accord with the historical aspects. However, when Mr. Hornsby states: .
criminatory distinctions made on t\1e basis of race, religion and national background is in itself contributing to racial, religious
"Furthermore, I think that any system which· perpetuates dis-
Vol. 14, No. 10, March 5, 1970 Prce 10c $4.00 per Year
GJThe ANCHOR
and ethnic hatred and misunderstanding:' We take a firm stand in our disagreement with such a statement. While the original historThe proposal for the developical purposes for establishment are sound, such a conclusion is ment of separate courses on reo utterly false. It is a direct accu- Iigion, along with the values of sation against' the English, Marxism communism is unrealFrench, Polish, Portuguese, Cape istic. No school district in the Verdean and Irish groups that country subscribes to such a prohave received the benefits of a _ gram because of legal prohibiparochial education, or are tions. presently in our parochial "What the Hornsby plan tells schools. us," father O'Neill said, "is in Mr. Hornsby's insistence on .substance to fold-up and fade the importance of the public away quietly. That isn't shared school system is disturbing. Fa- resources, that is annihilation:'
Trace Nun Vocations Drop To Turbulence of Times
Fr. Lussier Requiem Rites
PHILADELPHIA (NC) - An inquisitive priest has learned that the turbulence of the times, in addition to changes in religious communities, is the No. 1 reason for the decline in vocations to the Sisterhood in this Pennsylvalllia area. Msgr. Edward J. "What do you think could or Thompson, who is Philadelshould be done to help increase phia archdiocesan vocations vocations to the Sisterhood?" director, reached his concluMore than 92 per cent "assion based on 5,600 replies to his two-question survey which was conducted among 7,300 juniors and seniors in 28 area high schools, novices and postulants in i5 communities and 39' Sisterhood vocations directors. The Philadelphia prelate asked: "What do you feel are the reasons for the present day decline in vocations to the Sisterhood?"
Church Leaders Support Pope On Celibacy WASHINGTON (NC) Though controversy on the issue of mandatory celibacy for priests persists, Church leaders around the world are rallying in ever-growing numbers behind the firm position of Pope Paul VI. Prelates joining with their national conferences, or speaking individually, have made strong public pronouncements supporting the Pope's insistence that the celibacy law must remain in force. For example, the Scottish bishops issued a joint declaration backing the Pope and asTurn to Page Six o
Music and Choir Directors Set For Workshop The Diocesan Music Commission has scheduled a workshop for all those "directly responsible for the musical participation in the parish liturgy." It will be held at Bishop Stang High School, North DlJrtmouth, on Sunday, March 15. The workshop, announced by Rev. James F. Lyons of St. Mary's Church, Taunton, Commission Chairman, will stress the place of music in the new rite of the Mass to be imple~ Turn to Page Six
serted that our restless, turbulent, changing, violent times have much to do with the de<;line," Msgr. Thompson said, adding that changes in religious communities were also cited as a chief factor in the decline. "Reasons for girls not entering the convent were found in the girls themselves by all groups questioned," Msgr. Thompson observed. "These reasons included: the good life, fear of loss of freedom or individuality, reluctance to make a life-time commitment, the plethora of temporary servo ice-salvation opportunities outside religious life. Putting all these things together, we have the profile of a very free-spirited girl who never had it so good and who, in her own way, can do her thing for self and for society without really adverting to what it really means to consecrate and vow herself to Christ permanently:' The survey disclosed "many possible postulants just don't know what is the true, solid nature of religious life, so therefore, they won't even consider it," he declared. Msgr. Thompson said most' high school girls questioned view the religious life as "mysterious, medieval, secret, hidden, not normai, depersonalizing, irrelevant, unnecessary, going out of business:' He added that the large, publiCized number of nuns leaving religious life is a factor in the vocation decline. Regarding suggested solutions to the vocation crisis, Msgr. Thompson said 14,000 answers ranged from "getting rid of voca· tion directors to eliminating Sisters and religious life completely:' Other suggestions included prayers for vocations, updated spiritual formation programs and a general deepening of the spiritual life of Sisters, he asserted. Programs of convent visits for interested girls, association of nuns with possible candidates, school talks by young nuns and better religion courses in high schools also were suggested.
ther O'Neill states, 'The genius of our American way of life is that we don't try to standard differences, but that we stand together in spite ·)f admitted differences . . We need diversity, we need competition-even in cur education system:'
A Pontifical Concelebrated Mass Qf Requiem was offered this mornnng at 10 in the Sacred Heart Church,
HONEST, IT'S GOOD FOR YOU: Big sister is right. This is good, nutritious milk sent from the United States by the Catholic Relief Services. But little brother requires convincinghe never had a cup· of milk before. Such basic essentials of life are missing from the daily diets of millions of overseas children. The collection in all diocesan churches this weekend will help provide some of the needs of these hungry children. See Bishop Connolly's pastoral on Page Six .
Catholic Conference Secreta~y Scores Welfare Reform Delay CLEVELAND (NC) - "There tion. The approach of the adminsimply is not going to be any istration has led some to queswelfare reform this year - and tion whether it really wants the maybe not for many years," said bill passed:' Msgr. Lawrence J. Corcoran, secThe monsignor urged the diocretary of the National Confer- esan group to help bring about Secretary Finch's hopes that ence of Catholic Charities. Addressing the annual meeting greater national attention, in the of the Catholic Family and Chil- form of discussion and debate, dren's Services of Cleveland, will be given to the question of. Msgr. Corcoran said: "We, like welfare reform. "We can help realize it by so many others interested in social welfare, were heartened to stimulating and arranging for see the present federal adminis- such discussions,': he said. "By tration espouse the cause of wel- doing this, we help provide an fare reform. We hoped to see the understanding of welfare probpublic welfare system cured of lems, and help clarify the need its weaknesses, its contradic- for welfare reform. "Only when such understandtions, its inequities-yes, even its cruelties ... * >I< ing becomes universal will there "Now, however, the cold, hard be a widespreaq demand for truth is beginning to dawn. change in the welfare system. There simply is not going to be Only then will' we witness Conany welfare reform thjs year- gressional action to accomplish and maybe not for many years:' it." Msgr. Corcoran traced events The question of national priorof the past year: "The President ities follows inevitably from disannounced his intention to re- cussion of welfare reform, Msgr.· form the welfare system shortly . Corcoran said. "It is obvious that there must after he took office, early in 1969. Not until August did he "be a reordering of our national make his national televised pro- priorities. Many will agree on posal, followed a month later by this. But, national priorities rethe submission of legislation to flect individual priorities. The one will not be changed without Congress. "Little reference was made to a change in the other:' Secretary Finch spoke about it He urged a reevaluation of at the National Presss Club, and what is a necessity and what is a tried to prod Congress into ac- luxury.
No. Attleboro for the repose of the soul of Rev. J. Omer Lussier, pastor of the parish since July 26, 1966 who died suddenly on Monday evening, March 2 as he vested to offer Mass at 7 o'clock. Father Lussier, the son of the late Louis O. Lussier and the late Victoria Labonte Lussier, was born on Sept. 2, lS03 in Weedon, Canada. He attended Notre Dame School, Fall River, St. Joseph High School and ColI(lge, Mont Laurier, Canada and St. Mary's· Seminary, Baltimore. Ordained on May 26, 1927 by the Most Rev. Daniel F. Feehan in St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River, he served as an assistant in the following parishes: St. Stephen, Attleboro; St. Roch, St. Jean the Baptist, and Notre Dame, all in Falll River; and St. AnthollY of Padua, New Bedford. In July, 1951, the late No. Attleboro pastor was named administrator of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish, New Bedford and four years later was re-assigned to St. Stephen's Parish, Attleboro as pastor. Following 11 years of service to the people of the area, Father~ Lussier came to the assignment at the No. Attleboro Parish until Turn to Page Two·
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FATHER LUSSIER