teanc 0 VOL. 43, NO. 12 • Friday, March 19, 1999
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Mass. bishops issue'statement on capitalpunishment FALL RIVER - Bishop Sean P. O'Malley and the heads of the Archdiocese of Boston and the dioceses .of Springfield and Worcester issued a joint statement today calling for the rejection of an upcoming measure that would institute capital punishment in Massachusetts. The statement, signed by Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston, Bishop Thomas L. Dupre of Springfield, Bishop Daniel P. Reilly of Worcester, and Bishop O'Malley of the Fall River Diocese, reads:
FULL SPEED AHEAD - Denita Tremblay, seated, principal of St. Stanislaus School, Fall River, and some of her students ride on a ferry escorting the USS Massachusetts back to Battleship Cove last week.
School students hail battleship's return· ~
Students from two schools enjoy cruise on escort vessel marking historic return of the "Big Mamie."
the massive ship off Mount Hope in Bristol," reported Denita Tremblay, principal of St. Stanislaus School. Although the students were initially disappointed they were not to ride the ship up Mt. Hope Bay to the Fall River Pier, "The By JAMES N. DUNBAR beautiful ferry, the 'Sail Fox' provided us a FALL RIVER - Twenty-five students wonderful opportunity to enjoy the battlefrom St. Stanislaus and SS. Peter and Paul ship as well as a scenic ride on the Bay and schools got as a good look at close as you the panorama of can get to a the Fall River 'The beautiful ferry, the 'Sail Fox' shoreline," World War II provided us a wonderful opportunity Tremblay battleship unto enjoy the battleship as well as a added. "It derway, when proved to be a they helped esscenic ride on the Bay and a good good time after cort the Battlelook at the panorama of the Fall River all, and we had ship USS Masshoreline. "It proved to be a good time the great privisachusetts after al/,and we had the great privilege of being on home on March an escort boat." 13. lege of being on an escort boat," The "Sail And like the - Denita Tremblay Fox" is a ferry unexpecteds Principal, St. Stanislaus School, that carries pasthat commonly Fall River sengers bedarken military tween New York operations, the and Connectistudents, who were slated to be on board the "Big Mamie" cut for visits to the Foxwoods Casino there. as she returned to the city's waterfront after Because the ferry is enclosed and has no four months in dry-dock in South Boston, deck, it provided a greater safety factor for found that part of their adventure scuttled. the students, who were well equipped with "An accommodations or boarding lad- cameras and film. Tremblay said none of der that was supposed to allow the students the students invited to board the battleship, to board the battleship from the cruise ship including those from Talbot Middle School, didn't have the extension needed and so all were able to board the battleship on its of us, students and teacher guides, stayed memorable and historic return. It is anticiTurn to page 13 - Ship aboard the ferry boat that went out and met
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e live in a violent culture. To counter this violence, all of us and especially our political leaders, should be concerned with fostering and strengthening the support of human life. This extends to every aspect of our civil life, even to the just punishment of serious criminals. ~'
Governor (A. Paul) Cellucci has moved in the opposite direction by filing a bill to institute capital punishment. For the ninth time, in almost as many years, we must again engage in a debate on this issue. As we have done each time in the past, so again we, the Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts, speak out against the enactment of a death penalty. Absolutely no good will be achieved by passing this bill. We all know that a capital c;rime is a horrific act that destroys a human life and is a crime of inestimable wrong. Murder, in any arid every form, must be punished. It will not, however, be deterred by the violence of capital punishment. Capital punishment, by the state, simply involves us all in the death of another person. Violence begets violence. ~
The death penalty is simply wrong. Turn to page 13 - Bishops
Annual Ethics SylDposiulD reflects on end of life' By MIKE GORDON ANCHOR STAFF
NORTH EASTON - The 10th annual Ethics Symposium, sponsored by Stonehill College and Saint Anne's Hospital, was held on March 12 at the Martin Institute of Law and Society at Stonehill College and according to Father Mark R. Hession, diocesan director of Continuing Education and .Formation of the Clergy and chairman of the program, the day was a success. "Medical technology is advancing so quickly and moral reflection on its usefulness upon the human person hasn't caught
up with that. This day gives practitioners and providers a chance to reflect. It was a very successful and informative day," declared Father Hession. More than 200 participants including area physicians, nurses, clergy, social workers and nursing home administrators attended the daylong conference, entitled "The Right to Life, and Allowing Death: A Contradiction or a Consistent Ethic?" listening to speakers address topics such as euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. , The day began with morning prayer led by Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., who Turn to page 13 - Symposium
ETHICS SYMPOSIUM - Assistant Director of the Pro-Life Office, Marian Desrosiers, talks with Father Joseph Mauritzen, chaplain at St. Anne's Hospital, Fall River, during the 10th annual Ethics Symposium. It was held March 12 at Stonehill College, North Easton. Saint Anne's and Stonehill college co-sponsored the event. (Anchor/Gordon photo)
Bishop O'Malley named to CCHD committee - Page five