SERVING . . . SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD it THE ISLANDS
t eanc 0 VOL. 25, No. 11
FALL RIVER; MASS., THURSDAY; MARCH 12; 1981
I .arise today Through a mighty strength, Through my invocation of the Trinity, Through my belief in its threeness, Through my avowal of its oneness To the only Creator. I arise today,' The strength of the Seven Heavens with me, The radiance of the sun with me, The brightness of the moon with me,
Death penalty end sought
The splendor of fire with . me, The might of the light* ning with me, The swiftness of the wind with me, The depth of the sea with me, The fixity of the earth with me, The firmness of the rock with me. I arise today, God's strength guiding me, God's might sustainine me,
20c, $6 Per Vear
God's wisdom directing me, God's eye looking before me, God's ear listening to me, God's word speaking for me, God's hand protecting me: The way of God stretching out before me, The shield of God as my shelter, Th~ hosts of God guarding me against the snares of the demons; Turn to Page Two
CCA chairman is Gerardi
Abortion and 路the law
WASHINGTON (NC) - Cath- Caron, general counsel for the potential problem of dealing ROME (NC) - The death pEm- olic dioceses, schools, hospitals National Conference of Catholic with these guidelines," said CaV. Vincent Gerardi, a member alty is unjust and unacceptable and orphanages'may find them- Bishops, said the abortion pro- ron. of St. John the Baptist parish, in today's world and "ought to selves in "an act of civil disobe- visions of the 1978 Pregnancy "We would regret a. federal New Bedford, and a retired high be abolished," said the influen- dience" unless a federal law re- Discrimination Act should be policy which would force the school department chairman, is tial Jesuit review, Civilta Cat- quiring many of them to pro- ruled unconstitutional because church fnto what is inevitably 1981 diocesan lay chairman for tolica, in an editorial in its vide health coverage for abor- of their infringement on freedom 路an act of civil disobedience," he the 'Catholic Charities Appeal. . added. March 7 issue, analyzed three tion is overturned, the U.S. bis- of religion. His appointment was announc"There are literally thousands The Pregnancy Discrimination ed today by Bishop Daniel A. major traditional arguments in hops' chief attorney argued last of Catholic organizations - di- Act, signed into law by President Cronin, who will be honorary favor of capital punishment and week. Appearing in a federal appeals oceses, orphanages and schools Carter in 1978, makes it unlaw- Appeal chairman for the 11th rejected them one by one. Turn to Page Two The bottom line, it said, is court in Washington, Wilfred R. - every one of which has the year. that a person's "inalienable Gerardi, a graduate of New right to life" cannot be taken Bedford public schools, holds a away, even jf he committed a bachelor of science degree in serious crime. The unusua:tly education from Fitchburg State long, 12-page editorial was viewCollege and a master's degree . ed by some Vatican observers as from Bridgewater State College. a major signal of a gradually After teaching five years in New changing church stance. Sup-' Bedford schools, he served for porting that view was the fflct 21 years as industrial arts dethat Vatican Radio gave C(lnpartment chairman in the Franksiderable space to the editorial lin school system. in its news broadcasts. The lay chairman served for The 132-year-old n1agazine is five years in the National not an official publication of Guard before serving from 1940 the Holy See, but is considered to 1946 in the U.S. Artillery to reflect Vatican views in its Corps. major editorials. Gerardi has been active in the From the social and ci'vil St. Vincent de Paul Society for standpoint the arguments to 35 years, serving the entire time justify the death penalty, Civil.ta as secretary and for 10 years as said, "qre essentially three; the treasurer of h,is parish conferprotection of society, dissunsence. ion an~ the expiation-compe,nHe has also served as secre路 sation Qf the evil done." tary and president of the New A PROUD DAY: Bishop Daniel A. Cronin dedicates the new religious education and . Bedford district Vin~entian conRegafding the protection of society, it said: "Let us empha- parish center of St. Thomas More Church, Somerset; left, Msgr. John J. Regan, V.E., pas- ference and was for six years Turn to Page Seven tor; right, Rev. Howard A. Waldron, pastor emeritus. (Torchia Photo) Turn to Page Three
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