Pope Defends Role of Pius XII '/
The ANCHOR An Anchor 01 the sour, Sur. and -Firm-Sf. Paul
Fall River, Mass., Thursday, March 14, 1974 Vol. 18, No. 11 漏 197.4 The Anchor $5.0&R;:~y~: K 01 C Magazine Says
Burden of Catholic Schools Is Not Impossible Load NEW HAVEN (NC)-"If Cath- Catholics "then at the lower olic schools fail it will not be economic rungs were able to for the lack of money but for build and operate the vast Cathlack of will," said the editor of . olic school system in times of Columbia, the Knights of Colum- poverty and depression, they certainly should be able to maintain bus monthly magazine. In an editorial in the April the system now when many have issue of the magazine, the editor, reached middle-class and upperElmer Von Feldt, asserted that middle-class status and live in an the financial burden imposed on era of unprecedented affluence," Catholics by their school system He argued, however, that if is "a heavy but not impossible the financial burden of Catholic load," schools is to be borne, "all CathHe cited an estimate by the olics, those with children in National Catholic Educational school and those without, must Association that the actual cost be convinced that the cause is of educating the 3.6 million chil- worthwhile." Von Feldt asserted that recent dren in Catholic schools this year will be $1.6 binion, not in- Supreme Court decisions suggest cluding any capital improvement an anti-Catholic bias on the part expenses. . of the justices. On the same day, "Catholics in the United States he said, that the court rejected number around 48.5 million," several forms of aid for nonpubVon Feldt said. "The total of lie schools, which would have income-earning adults is esti- gone in large measure to Cathmated at around 25 million. The olic schools, on the ground that number of Catholic families is the aid provided a narrow sectaaround 10 million; the number rian benefit, it upheld a state law of families with children in giving construction loans to 7 Catholic schools, about 2 million. Protestant colleges. "This inescapable conclusion," "Thus the estimated $1.6 bil- the Columbia editor said, "is that lion annual cost of Catholic if the benefit is mainly to Protschools represents $64 for each estant institutions, then it is Catholic wage earner; $160 for not narrowly sectarian and thereeach Catholic family; and $800 fore constitutional, presumably for each family with children in because the Protestant commuCatholic schools," nity forms a majority in the Von Feldt maintained that if land,"
Bishops Issue Joint Statement On No-f'aultDivorce Proposal ST. PAUL (NC) - While the state of Minnesota considers- a new law which would allow nofault divorces, the state's bishops have issued a statement reaffirming the Church's traditional teaching that "a validly contracted marriage in the eyes of the Church is indissoluble," The bishops said, however, that they have no basic objections to changing civil law to allow divorce on the grounds of "irretrievable breakdown,"
The no-faUlt divorce would not require third party witnesses to corroborate acts of misconduct on the part of one of the spouses. It would require only an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage contract. In outlining the Church's unchanging position, the bishops' statement said "the Church continues to teach that validly married Catholics who get a civil divorce are not free to marry. Only the civil effect of their morriage is dissolved."
VATICAN CITY (NC) - Pope Paul VI, after almost a week of bed rest as a result of a mild influenza attack, appeared at his window at noon March 10 to bless crowds in St. Peter's Square and defended the memory of Pope Pius XII. The Pope's voice sounded strong as he spoke to crowds over loudspeakers and the window of the papal apartment was wide open despite a chilly路 wind. The Pope had last been seen publicly on the previous Sunday, March 3. He was scheduled that day to go on a week-long retreat but was sent to bed by his doctors because of a mild bout of flu.' Pope Paul's defense of Pope Pius XII was part of a trihute paid 'by him to his predecessor for the 35th anniversary of the coronation of Pope Pius, March 12, 1939. Although Pope Paul made no allusion tel it, his tribute to the late Pope was taken as an answer to charges that Pius XII had refused to act to stop a Nazi execution of more than 300 Romans in March 1944. Pope Paul recalled in his talk that he had been "for many years at the direct and daily service" of Pius XII, whom he described as "a great Pope" whose name "surely will remain venerated and glorious in the history of the Roman Pontiffs,"
POPE PLEADS: Appearing at his apartment window on Sunday, Pope Paul ..VI vigorously defended the papal role of Pius XII during the threatening years of World War II and its German occupation of Rome and Nazi persecution of Jews, Pope Paul said his predecessor was "an erudite man, always studious, open to the modern methods of research and culture and always firm and constant in faithfulness both to the principles of human rationality and to the intangible deposit of the truths of faith." Pope Paul's words were all the more significant -because of a defamation trial being held in
Rome at present in which a descendant of Pius XII has called into question the accusations of American historian Robert Katz, author of the book "Massacre in Rome" and the -producers of a movie based on the book, which allege Pius Xl[ had foreknowledge of the mass execution by the Germans but failed to act to save the victims. Turn to Page Two
Holy Year Pilgrinlages Begin Sunday Area pilgrimages to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Fall River will open the diocesan observance of the Holy Year on Sunday. Parishes of Greater Fall River have organized reoresentative'> to take part in the Sunday afternoon service at St. Mary's Cathedral. Similar pilgrimages on the following Sundays will welcome groups from the TauntonAttleboros Area and the New Bedford-Cape Cod Area. Since the seating capacity of the Cathedral is limited to 800, tickets have been distributed to each parish so that a representation, proportionate to its size, may be guaranteed entrance to the Cathedral. Very Rev. Luiz G. Mendonca, V.G., pastor of Our Lady of Mt.
Publish Guide For Chaplains WASHINGTON (NC) - "Pastoral Care of the Sick," a practical guide for Catholic chaplains in health care facilities, has been published here by the U. S. Catholic Conference. It was edited by the National Association of. Catholic Chaplains. Some topics covered by the 200-page work include the theology of pastoral care; and the pastoral ministry to the mentally retarded, the aging, the handicapped, the confined, and children. _The book is avaIlable from the Publications Office, U. S. Catholic Conference, 1312 Massachusetts Ave., N. W., Washington, D. C. 20005. The price is $7 per copy, $12 for two. Bulk rates are available on request.
Carmel Parish in New Bedford of Holy Year celebration at the and Chairman of the Central Cathedral. Tum to Page Two Diocesan Committee for the Holy Year, will open the service with a prayer. The Scripture for the Bible Service will be read by Sister Barbara McCarthy, O.P. of the Diocesan Education Center in Fall River. Rev. Peter N. Graziano, assis. Edward F. Kennedy, 175 Hightant pastor at St. Thomas More land St. and a member of St. Parish in Somerset and President Joseph's Parish, Taunton, will of the Priests' Senate, will de- serve as 1974 lay chairman for liver the homily. the Taunton area in this year's The General Intercessions and Catholic Charities Appeal. The the Rite of Reconciliation will be appointment was announced toled by Rev. Barry W. Wall, assis- day by Rev. Msgr. Anthony M. tant pastor -at St. Mary's Cathe- Gomes, diocesan director of the dral. Appeal. The Bishop, who will preside The Taunton area includes at each Sunday pilgrimage, will Dighton, North Dighton, North then greet the pilgrims and offer and South Easton and Raynham. Benediction of the Blessed Sacra- Kennedy will assist Rev. Walter ment. Turn to Page Four Music for all three Sunday pilgrimages will be given by the Cathedral Choir under the direc'tion of Rev. William J, Campbell and David Carrier. On Sunday,- March 24, parishes of the Taunton-Attleboros Area will participate in the pilgrimage. Those of the New Bedford-Cape Cod Area will travel to the Cathedral on Sunday, March 31. Later in the year, area parishes will be able to schedule pilgrimages to certain designated churches within their own area. Plans are being made to also designate certain homes for the aged as centers of Holy Year celebrations for the benefit of senior citizens. Various groups will be' able to participate in designated services in area parishes and individuals will be able to take part in a weekly designated day EDVVARD ~ KENNEDY
Lay Chairman For Taunton Area CCA